A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for reading, and for the follow. Fafic: Thanks for the review! Between you and engineerwenlock, you made my week. I'm sorry that it took me so long to post, school's been hell and I've had some trouble with this chapter, as we are going through a fairly important, transformative bit of storyline. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it, and I will continue to post chapters. Enjoy!

I do not own Star Wars or its characters.

Chapter 10

Padme looked up as they entered, and Anakin saw her expression change from worry to relief. She hurried to them, throwing her arms around her husband, "I was so worried." She pulled away slightly to look into his eyes, "Where have you been?"

He smiled, "I was at the temple, that's all."

"All night?"

He tried to look reassuring, "I was doing some research in the archives. I lost track of time… Hey, what's wrong? What were you worried about?"

She seemed to remember something, her face hardening into hurt anger, "We need to talk."

Anakin was confused, "Yeah, absolutely, sure. What is it?"

She turned to walk a few steps away, whirling back towards Anakin, "Why did you lie to me about Palpatine?" Obi-Wan, who had been slowly sneaking toward the door, stopped.

Anakin shook his head, his brow furrowing in confusion, "I don't…"

She stormed toward him, "Dark side, Anakin. Palpatine tried to turn you. I have to find out from Windu?"

Obi-Wan looked from one to the other, finally staring at his former padawan, "Palpatine tried to- Anakin, what happened while I was gone?"

Anakin looked down, his voice soft, his focus still on Padme, "You weren't supposed to know about that."

"Really? That's your defense?"

"Padme, I can explain-"

"Can you? How?" She looked hurt and angry and miserable, and a little bit like she might cry, and the combination was heartbreaking. He looked over at Obi-Wan, who stared at him with a mix of incredulity, horror, and betrayal. That was all right. He hadn't expected them to understand. It still hurt though.

"He tried. He didn't succeed. I left him, and told Master Windu all that had transpired. I wasn't- I wouldn't do that."

Padme sighed, collapsing back into the chair, her hands in her lap in a sorrowful gesture, "It's not that, Ani. Of course I don't think you would give in. I don't care that he tried to turn you, I care that you lied to me about it."

He walked over to her chair, taking her hands in his and looking into her eyes, "I'm sorry. I really am. I shouldn't have kept this from you." He turned, walking away toward the window, "It's just- it scares me to death." He looked back at her, "Something's happened. I'm not the Jedi I should be."

She looked worriedly at him, "What do you mean?"

Anakin shook his head, "There has to be some reason, doesn't there? Something… something in me that he thought he could control. Something… wrong." He felt tears prick his eyes and he looked out the window, into his own vague reflection through the rain, "Lately… I don't know. I've been having these feelings. Rage… hate… I wanted more, even though I knew I shouldn't." He paused, "He said… he said he could save you… that if I turned… together we would be strong enouph to unravel the secret. And for just a moment… For just a moment…" He looked back at his wife, "so help me, for just a moment I thought he was right. I actually considered his offer. What sort of monster would do that?"

Padme opened her mouth to speak, but instead Obi-Wan's soft voice was heard from where he leaned against the doorframe, "A caring one." He smiled as Anakin looked over at him, a surprised expression on his face, "That was ever your weakness, Anakin: You care too much. It is one of your best traits, even if it is your worst. It is quite obvious. That the Chancellor attempted to exploit it… that is no fault of yours."

Anakin had to confess, he had entirely forgotten his friend's presence until now, "But… Why did he choose me? Out of all the Jedi, why me?"

The bearded man shrugged, "Who knows. Who cares. It is possible he picked your name out of a hat. Of course, you are one of the most powerful Jedi the order has ever seen. That could have… tipped the scales a bit, don't you think?"

Anakin stared intensely at the floor, looking away.

Padme spoke, "He's right. It's not your fault. You shouldn't blame yourself. Although… is this still about that stupid dream? I told you not to worry about it."

"I won't. Lose you."

She smiled sadly, "But you will lose me. Or I'll lose you. One of us must go first, it is the way of the world. It won't be anytime soon though, I promise. I'm going to live. We're going to raise our child together."

He stared at her, longing, need and sorrow mixed in his eyes, "And if you're wrong?"

She returned his gaze, resoluteness and pleading radiating from her, "Then I wouldn't want to spend my last days desperately trying to stop it. If it's inevitable, let it come. If it's not, we have nothing to worry about. Either way, I want you-" She paused, "I need you, to stop this. To end this ridiculous obsession with saving me and let go."

Anakin gave a feeble protest, "Padme-"

"Otherwise, if I do die… I know you. You're going to lose control and do something you'll regret. I don't want that for you. You deserve better. You carry enouph guilt. Let me go, Ani. Please."

He stared at both of them, breathing heavily, his eyes wide and desperate, then suddenly he walked out of the room, muttering, "I need to get some sleep."

Padme moved to follow him, and felt a heavy hand fall on her shoulder, "Give him some time, Padme. He needs to think and sort things out for himself."

Padme didn't look back at the other man. Her thoughts were with her husband. It wouldn't matter much longer what he wanted, she was expecting the baby any day now, and after that it would all be a moot point. Still, Obi-Wan was right. It would do no one good if she barged in on him when he so clearly wanted to be alone.

Obi-Wan said his goodbyes, after which Padme wandered into the bedroom. Anakin was curled up in the middle of the bed, asleep on top of the covers, and as she watched he twitched slightly and moaned a faint, "No…" His face was screwed up in distress.

She ran her fingers through his damp hair, muttering soothingly as she kissed his forehead. He whimpered softly and snuggled closer to her. She smiled, then grabbed a blanket to throw over him and left the room, closing the door behind her. She had to get to the Senate. There was important business being discussed today, including Palpatine's retrieved files, and, even more urgent, the election of a new chancellor.