AN-This chapter is a little longer than the last one which was pretty short.

I'm kinda sad by the amount of reviews I got for the last chapter, I know it was short but reviews really mean a lot for me. I know it may sound selfish, but could you guys please reviews more? It really does motivate us fanfict authors into writing more or faster. I would really appreciate it.

Enough of the pity-party/guilt trip, here's the next chapter.

Confessions

Quietly as possible, she entered her apartment, letting the door slide shut with a soft thud. There was no sound, as the room was pitch black.

Good, he wasn't aware of her return. Creeping into her bedroom she went to discard her cloak when a voice made her jump in surprise.

"And just where did you go that required you to be away for such a long period of time?"

Bracing herself, she turned to face him steeling her face into her so called 'senatorial mask'.

"The meeting required more time that I had intended to give. I'm sorry if I've worried you."

Taking a step closer he questioned, "Who did you meet with."

She thought fast, "Anakin, I'm sorry but I can't tell you that kind of information."

"And why no-"

"He told me to keep this confidential. You know how it is with these cases of assassination looming over senators heads, some aren't as brave or adept as others when it comes to these kinds of things."

"And keeping this from a jedi, a jedi protector is dangerous?"

Padme shot him her most sincere apologetic look, "I'm sorry, love, but I can't. It's the same with you and the council at times. I'm sure you would understand?"

Anakin scowled but didn't press further on the topic...for now.

Smiling at the confrontation avoided Padme took his hand, "Come, let's have tea in the veranda. We haven't done that in a while."

Obi-Wan awoke to an obnoxious pounding in his head. The dry and stale texture and foul taste in his mouth was revolting which he immediately wanted gone but couldn't find it in him to move.

Getting up was not an option at the moment.

Groaning as the small slits that were his eyes opened to a blinding light, he shut them immediately while seeing star in his closed lids.

He just laid like that for a while. How long, he didn't know. What he did know was that his head was killing him. Badly.

Groggily getting up, he gingerly stretched as he sat up and nearly bowled over as he got into sitting position.

uururgggg was all his mind could process.

This is going to be a long morning.

Suddenly he thought that the last drink wasn't such a good idea, or the other three that he last had before he had lost count.

I need caf he thought desperately. After a quick whiff of himself he considered a bath to be a good option as well.

So he went, albeit, very slowly, and did just that.

After much time, Obi-Wan finally felt good enough to venture out of his room for some quiet meditation in the room of a thousand fountains. Unfortunately, fate had other matters in hand.

Along the way he encountered Mace Windu, who Obi-Wan was hoping to avoid at all cost within this critical time. Mace had a tendency to be rather...rough when it came to Skywalker as Obi-Wan liked to put it. The two just seemed to rub each other the wrong way.

"Master Kenobi." the stoic Korun master greeted.

"Master Windu."

Blunt as always, Mace cut straight to his concern, mainly being whenever present-Skywalker. As usual.

"Has Knight Skywalker reported in or even turned up last night in the temple."

Still suffering from a mind-splitting headache, Obi-Wan's legendary patience and polite demeanor was severely dampened causing him to almost bite out "No, why don't you find out yourself." Almost.

But he kept it to himself and instead did what he found to be doing more and more often, lying for his former apprentice. "Yes, he did come in last night, but left again. I'm afraid that the stress of the war is finally getting to him. He left early this morning, to where I am not sure, but it's most likely something suicidal like those races he's so fond of. You know how he is."

Mace Windu didn't look at all convinced at the excuse Obi-Wan was providing but didn't comment further. "I do, but I know that you know him better than all of us combined. If he really is suffering, call him to council to determine the amount of rest time he is required from the war."

"I'll do just that."

With a curt bow, Obi-Wan was off again heading towards his original destination.

Oh force, I hope that was the right thing...lying like that, so un-jedi like Obi-Wan thought with an inward sigh. But anything un-jedi like always related back to one person.

Anakin.

They had a rather uneventful day following the real so called 'exciting events' which led to the Anakin alienating Obi-Wan from his life. It was now close to noon time on the day that Padme was to meet Obi-Wan.

Anakin had yet to embrace Padme with all the fervor his usual candor which both concerned and annoyed his wife.

He was acting as if she was his whole world and love (She most definitely was), but at the same time she felt like it she was a delicate priceless ornament that was meant for nothing more than to be looked upon and adored. She was starting to feel loved as an object, not a person.

But Anakin didn't realize that. Padme just wished this whole issue would vanish and be gone. To go back to their already complicated lives, but lives that were still far better than the one she was living in now, or any other person connected to Anakin for that matter.

It was almost time to meet up with Obi-Wan again, but what excuse would she give her husband this time. He was already suspicious enough. The last thing she wanted from him was to find out that she was meeting Obi-Wan behind his back.

What would he think if that were to happen.

The results would be catastrophic.

Her schedule was relatively free which was entirely her doing. She had thought that prior to discovering Anakin's unusual behavior to be time well spent with her husband. Now it was time that was almost awkward emotionally while both seem to like the facade of normalcy on the outside.

It wasn't working. The lines were beginning to strain and show.

Padme just didn't know how long this happy image would last.

Thinking of the man himself, he appeared out one of her rooms she kept spare for his things, such as his tools for when he liked to tinker. He was doing that a lot lately.

There were many instances when Anakin liked to tinker. The main reasons were either if he was frustrated or in a thinking mood.

Padme hoped it was the latter.

Opting to just depart and leave it to fate to see how it turned out, Padme quietly stepped toward the exit.

Unfortunately Anakin caught sight.

And he knew she had no where immediate to go to.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm meeting with a friend." Again, not the full truth but rather an omission.

"Do I know this 'friend'?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't really call you two friends, more like...acquaintances." It hurt for Padme to say that.

"Can I come?"

"No!" She said a bit too quickly and forcefully. Trying to save herself she added more calmly, "I'm afraid you'll be bored out of your mind if you come. I know you hate politics."

"You're wasting your day off to talk about politics. Didn't you reschedule to avoid politics for the day."

Now this was the part that was hardest for Padme, and it killed her to say it but it was the honest truth that would enable her to meet with Obi-Wan and maybe, just maybe, help Anakin.

"Anakin, I don't want to say this, but I feel the need to now. This-this rift that's formed between us, I don't like it. I feel like some sort of object that you love and adore, but not as a person. Force! Anakin! You don't touch me or love me like you use to. Am I not beautiful or attractive to you anymore. Are you bored of me?"

What? How could she think that? Bored of Padme. Her not beautiful? She was the most beautiful god sent angel he had ever met.

Was he really driving them apart unknowingly?

"I need a break. I'm sorry, but I need to figure this out. It's getting out of hand, Anakin."

Cold fear clenched Anakin's heart.

She was leaving him. Padme no longer wanted him. She didn't love him any longer. She was going for someone better, someone who loved her more.

Who could love her more than me?

Obviously someone who didn't try to kill her. Anakin tried not to physically wince at that thought.

He then chocked out, afraid of what he would hear, but needing to hear the truth.

"Are-are you leaving me? Do you not love me anymore...Am I not enough for you now?"

Padme could only look on in horror. How did this gap between them escalate so far that he could even think that.

Of course she loved him still. With her every being!

"No, Anakin, No, no, no, no! That's not it. That would never be it. I love you. You know that and I always will. It's just that I need some time to figure this all out." walking right in front of him and grabbing his face gently in her hands she soothed," I want to fix this between us, and I just need a little time, that's all. Like I said before, I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Shakily, Anakin nodded in as he sank into her embrace. After a few moments of comfortable silence that was not felt in what felt like ages, they parted. Padme almost regretted letting him go, but she needed to be off to be on time for her meeting. It was for a good purpose.

Smiling softly to him Padme left the penthouse apartment and headed to her office.

Before Padme had arrived to the office, she had informed her secretary to let in any man wearing jedi robes but not to record any presence known. Elise had been Padme's secretary long enough to be trusted with this kind of secrets so Padme left it to her faithful subordinate while she waited.

It took only a few minutes of waiting before he appeared at her office door. With his hood up, face covered, no one knew who he was except for the obvious jedi garbs he wore.

Removing the hood, there stood Obi-Wan, but not as glorious as the holo tabloids showed him to be. He had large bags under his eyes as they looked tired and resigned. His hair which was always impeccable was slightly ruffled, not that uncommon nowadays, but still unsettling to see. The most noticeable was his overgrown beard.

Obi-Wan Kenobi had a reputation for his well kept and bold beard which he proudly wore and took care of. It seems that the night before the last took more of a toll than Padme had expected. That or the hurtful accusation and remarks made by her husband still haunted the man in front of her.

"Obi-Wan," she greeted.

"Senator."

"Come now, Obi-Wan, we're talking among friends. There is no need for formality."

"Sorry," he said sheepishly, "Old habits die hard." He then turned serious, "Now, we didn't come for pleasantries. Was there anything else that was unusual about him in the time since we parted."

Padme knew exactly who he was referring to. "Well," she began, "He hasn't touched me yet."

This took the jedi master off guard.

"Excuse me?"

Blushing, Padme tried to explain, "As you know, Anakin is a very deep and...emotional man. He loves people, sometimes to the extreme." Padme could see the pink tint on Obi-Wan's cheeks start to appear as he caught on what she meant. "Whenever we have time alone together, well, let's say we don't do much talking in the beginnings."

That last sentence got a rather comical expression from the Jedi master who was always deemed as cool and collected. Padme thought that it would have been funny had this situation not been so serious and important.

"I Find that he treats me as if I'm some porcelain doll that he adore and loves, but that's just it. Compared to in the past, not to overstate, but he practically worshiped me and showered me with love. Now, it's like he's almost afraid of holding me or even getting to close to me, much less anyone else for that matter."

Obi-Wan took a moment to digest this piece of information. The over loving part sounded very Anakin, but from what Obi-Wan had caught glimpses and sneak peeks of in the past, it did sound rather strange for Anakin not to take the initiative to be with his wife.

"I've thought a bit about what you said that Anakin said to you in that morning. The one about it being fifteen years. Do you know anything about it?"

"No, do you?"

"I've had some time to mediate on the information you've given me after I...recovered from that night and something tells me that it's all connected through the force. It's like the force is the cause of all of this."

"I thought the jedi believed the force to be the cause of all things?" Padme questioned.

"Yes, but this is different. It's as if the force is specifically involved in this situation, and it's not informing me to anything more than what we know so far, which is all the slip-ups and oddities that Anakin exhibits. Everything is so elusive at the moment."

Padme couldn't stop the sigh that escaped her lips. Obi-Wan knew the what she felt all too well. Both were concerned about the person in question, but were no further to solving this puzzling case.

"Then I guess this meeting is over. There is nothing more to discuss." Obi-Wan said in defeat. "I wish I could prove more help, but with how he feels about me now...it's not likely I'll be getting anything useful."

Pity wormed it's way in Padme's heart and she tried to assure him, "It'll get better. We've all seem to hit rock bottom, the only way to go now is up."

"I hope your right," he said as he turned to leave.

Just as he was about to open the door to exit he looked back and said unexpected words that filled him with gratitude and love for the man that was her close friend.

"I've decided not to tell the council anything. I'll keep it for as long as I can, that I can promise. But if they ask me directly, I will not lie to them."

Smiling a truly genuine smile she thanked him as he left. "Obi-Wan, thank you, truly, thank you. You've been far better of a friend than Anakin or I have ever deserved. Thank you."

Nodding he only replied, "Think nothing of it, you have always been a good friend and Anakin...Anakin had always been my family, a brother. I just regret finally acknowledging it now when it's too late."

With those solemn words, the Jedi master left.

He knew this was bad. Mistrustful. A blatant disrespect for privacy, but he had to know.

Who was Padme meeting?

Was it some stuffy, boring senator that she was being truthful about earlier, or someone else. Someone much more interesting to her with good looks and a charming smile.

Shaking his head of that horrible thought he continued to trail after his wife.

Anakin didn't want to do this, but if he didn't, the curiosity would kill him. Besides, if this was all as she said it was, she would never know, so no harm would be done.

Padme continued to steer her ship towards the senate. Good, just as she said she would be meeting.

Anakin at the moment felt bad and hypocritical as he was stowed secretly away in his wife's sleek Nubian ship. Bad, for obvious reason of lying and hiding. Hypocritical, well, it was the same way Obi-Wan had snuck into her ship before it had happened.

The ship started the landing sequence and was seated at her private docking bay moments later. The ramp opened up to reveal the immaculate and beautiful senator Amidala in all her conservative regalia.

Padme headed straight for her office as she said.

Anakin was beginning to think that this personal mission of his was wasted time. After all, nothing was out of the ordinary.

But then he appeared.

Concealed in the usual Jedi garbs, no one could mistake the presence of the jedi. A jedi who so happened to want his identity hidden from sights. A jedi who Anakin could spot and identify parsecs away with one glance.

Obi-Wan Kenobi.

So Padme was meeting Obi-Wan behind his back.

His own wife was meeting with his enemy.

Why? Was the only question Anakin could process.

Then it dawned on him. Was it really how he had mistaken it the first time round. The time when he had attacked his wife thinking that she had sided with his former mentor/friend turned adversary. Was she meeting with him in secret for some hidden affair?

But she had said that she loved him, cherished him and wouldn't leave him.

Then why was she doing this behind his back?

Accusations and confusion swarmed the Anakin's head combining into a mass of jumbled, broken, incoherent and desperate thoughts.

It was too much to take in.

The fact that his wife was in the same room as him doing force knows what did wonders to him renowned temper.

But Anakin refused to believe that his wife had betrayed him. She couldn't.

Not after all those years of guilt when he had acted on what he had though occurred.

But what if it did?

Just as his mind could get any more chaotic, said adversary opened the door.

The door was just slightly opened, but from what Anakin could see there was a dark saddened expression covering the man's face.

Nothing looked out of place. And by what Anakin meant was the things he usually did in there with his wife when he came unannounced and hidden. If they did, there were no signs, but by Obi-Wan's look, he highly doubted it.

Anakin strained his ears from his carefully hidden vintage point, and barely caught the last few words uttered by the jedi master and his wife, but what he heard shocked him to the core.

"I've decided not to tell the council anything. I'll keep it for as long as I can, that I can promise. But if they ask me directly, I will not lie to them."

Sounding elated and grateful Padme responded, "Obi-Wan, thank you, truly, thank you. You've been far better of a friend than Anakin or I have ever deserved. Thank you."

"Think nothing of it, you have always been a good friend and Anakin...Anakin had always been my family, a brother. I just regret finally acknowledging it now when it's too late."

Then the man left.

Anakin could only stand in the shadows mulling over what he had overheard.

There was much to think about this whole event.

And many questions to ask.

Padme felt and heard the tell-tale signs of stiffness as she cricked and cracked her neck to the side to release some tension.

Though it had been a short discussion, it had been intense.

The last words spoken by Obi-Wan almost made Padme's heart cry out in anguish about the pain her friend was in. He didn't deserve any of this, and yet he was doing all he could to help.

Checking the chrono, it was time to go home.

It wasn't too late which was good. Coming back after too long might rouse suspicion from Anakin like the last time and Padme didn't want that.

Traveling the distance to her starship, Padme boarded and departed the senate buildings unaware of the unknown stowaway in her ship.

AN- Anakin may sound all insecure, but that's the way he is most of the time. As for Obi-Wan, his angst-fest wont be going on for much longer...well not that much longer. Things with Anakin will start to improve from here for all you Anakin/Obi-Wan fans. So no worries.

Also I'm thinking of writing a new fict in addition to this one called playmate (I don't know, still paying around with titles) that's another Anakin/Padme fict. Anyways, tell me if you guys don't mind me making a new story of if you guys want me to just stay focused and continue on this one and finish it before I begin a new one.

Please review! It makes more bunnies and unicorns happy?