Aftermath

Captain Rex waited for Three-pio to announce him. "Milady, Captain Rex here to see...." Three-pio paused wondering what to call his maker, "the Maker."

"Send him in." Captain Rex bowed slightly at Three-pio and entered Lord Vader's chambers.

"Lady Vader, how is he?" he asked her,

"He's alive," Padme whispered softly. "Why are you here?"

"I don't know how much your husband has told you about his job. I wouldn't wan to breech any confidences," Rex stated speaking softly.

"Not much. You can tell me," she stated. He stared back at her blankly.

"I can tell you. We are part of Vader' fist. We are sworn to protect Lord Vader, loyal to him, not the Empire. If anything happens to him we are to swear our loyalties to you, milady." Captain Rex blinked several times, "I don't know why I told you that," he stated slightly grumpy. "I should go."

"Captain Rex," Anakin whispered.

"Yes Milord."

"Anything happens to me. Return Obi-Wan his lightsaber," came the weak voice of her husband.

"Yes, milord. It will be done. You have my word." A smile creased Anakin's face.

"That will be all," he whispered. Captain Rex saluted and then stopped at General Kenobi.

"General Kenobi, might I inquire as to what happened to Ashoka?" he asked.

"I don't know, Captain. We can hope for the best." Captain Rex nodded and saluted again before leaving. Anakin struggled to sit up drawing on the strength of the Force.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that."

"Anakin, what did I tell you about your lightsaber?"

"This lightsaber is your life. You must take care of it."

"You must return mine," Obi-Wan chided gently. Anakin's face turned white.

"I cannot."

"Why not?"

"You....I don't want to fight you, Master. I have explained this already."

"How often does this happen?" Anakin looked at Padme. "Love, I think you should go lie down," he struggled to get to his feet.

"No. Anakin, you can barely get up."

"You need to get off your feet," he stated, swinging his feet from the bed and standing, he wobbled once and then took a few steps each step stronger than the one before. "I mean it, Padme."

"Anakin, I don't think you are hearing me. You are treating me like a prisoner. I'm your wife, not a prisoner." Without warning Anakin's face softened and he scooped her into his arms.

"Love, I'm so sorry that you feel that way. You don't have much longer. Two months? It will all be over. Please, do it for me." How could she resist those eyes?

Once Anakin and Obi-Wan left the room Obi-Wan asked again. "How often?"

"Not often, Master, just a few times a day. It's not that big of a deal."

"Anakin, you must stop this."

"It's usually not this bad. I defied him, when I came to him for help."

"Anakin, you have defied both myself and the Council on numerous occasions and I don't ever remember the punishment being so severe."

"He's trying to help me. I can't seem to produce the necessary emotions for Sith lightning. Without that, my master Sidious, assures me she will die. He's trying to help me save her."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Anakin, he was behind the war. Count Dooku was taking his orders from him. Why would the man who had ordered her demise on many occasions suddenly have a change of heart and want to keep her alive?"

Anakin stared at him, pondering his words. "He's helping me become a Sith?"

"Is that what you want?"

"I want to save the people I love from dying."

"Is that fair?"

"What do you mean?

"Your mother, for example. When you found her, was she in pain?"

"yes," Anakin's voice was a mere whisper.

"If there was a way to prolong her life."

"Yes," Anakin cut in.

"But every day that she lived she would be in more pain than the day before would you make her suffer or love her enough to let her go?" Anakin looked away.

"I don't know, Master. I know that's not the answer you want but it's the only one I can give."

"Fair enough."

"I always seem to be letting someone down."

"Don't let yourself down. I would hate for there to come a day when you couldn't face your own reflection. You can't be what everyone wants. Settle with making yourself proud, respecting yourself."

"Can you reconsider having me guarded?"

"I wish I could. If you step outside you will be assassinated. Those are not my orders."

"Anakin."

"You are a liability. He promised me."

"You trust a promise made by a Sith?

"I have to go, Obi-Wan. Watch after my wife. She is often impulsive."

"Sounds like someone else I know," he muttered as Anakin's robe swooshed by him and Obi-Wan looked after him. He was struggling. That was very clear. "You were right," he told Padme feeling her come up beside him. "He can be saved. You were right."