heeeeyyyyy next chapter :D I"m glad we've finally hit this point in the movie! I'm so excited!

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Now...

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Anakin was alone in the garage, tinkering mindlessly with anything he could find that was broken in the garage. Though the only sound in the room was the sound him messing with what was currently in front of him, Anakin's mind was a storm of emotions and thoughts. He didn't know how much longer he could keep himself together.

Against his better judgment, Anakin's thoughts turned to what remained of the Tuskens out in the open desert. His expression soured and he scowled, glaring at nothing in particular as the dark thoughts came to him.

None of them should be there…they should have all died, every last one of them…I should have killed them all for what they did…

Zelina's words back at the camp echoed back to him in painful clarity.

Will killing them all, innocent or not, really do any good Anakin? Will becoming a murderer make it any better? Because no matter what you say, no matter how you look at it, this is murder, Anakin!

Anakin swallowed the bile that rose in his throat at the memory, retreating from his original train of thought almost immediately. He had killed some of the women and children before Zelina stopped him, and now he had their blood on his hands. She was right, he was a murderer now. And here he was, wanting to kill more of the Tuskens.

What's wrong with me?

He hit the machine piece in his hands a little harder than necessary, setting it down with a growl as he ran a hand through his hair. Everything felt as if it was falling apart around him. He hadn't stayed on Naboo like Obi-Wan had told him to and would probably make Obi-Wan furious at him if Obi-Wan found out, Zelina was unconscious and injured, and his mother was…

He clamped down on the thought before it could get any further. It wasn't going to do him any good to think about it. If he could help it, he was going to deny it just a little longer. Desperately, he cast his thoughts elsewhere.

He found his mind wandering to the other room, where his…step-family and Zelina were. He didn't know what to think of his step-brother and step-father yet. He had not expected his mother to get married while he was gone, and he wasn't sure if he was okay with it either. Seeing Owen made him wonder if his mother had tried to replace him…

And then there was Zelina. An ache grew in his chest as he thought of what his actions had done to her. If he hadn't lost his temper, then perhaps they could have gotten out of that camp without attracting the attention of any of the Tuskens and Zelina would have never been shot.

Then there was the other thing that ate at him. Zelina hadn't said a word to him that she had been injured. He'd heard the shot and her cry, but he hadn't thought that it had been serious damage. He'd figured by the way she was acting that it had only been a graze and she had already dealt with it. But he'd been wrong, and she had been bleeding out as she drove them back to the Lars Homestead. Had she been…was she afraid of him? Was she disgusted by him? Would she be able to look at him without seeing him as a murderer? Would she be able to forgive him?

Would she tell Padme?

Would she turn him into the Jedi Council?

Anakin suddenly felt sick as he leaned forward, trying to even out his breaths. He had seen the way she looked at him back at the camp, and he couldn't shake it. No, he was sure she would never forgive him.

"I trust you Anakin…you know I do."

As the thought came back to him, Anakin suddenly became very confused. When he'd come to help her…it almost was like nothing had happened. As if she had possibly…forgiven him.

But could she have so soon? Could she ever really? How could she trust him after watching him slaughter so many people.

He would have to see, as petrified as it made him to think of bringing the topic up to her, if she would forgive him and what she would do about what had happened.

Anakin straightened, doing his best to compose himself as he sensed Padme approaching the garage. He blinked as he came back down to Tatooine, focusing intently on the piece in front of him as he aimlessly worked with what was in front of him. Only now did he remember he was working on a piece from the swoop bike. His own thoughts had him so confused he kept forgetting what he was doing.

Padme entered the room quietly, stopping just off to his side. "I brought you something…" she said softly. "Are you hungry?"

No, I'm not. I'm far from hungry, Anakin thought bitterly. "The shifter broke," he said, cursing himself silently when his voice wavered. "Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things," he added, attempting a smile.

Padme slowly put down the tray she had been holding as Anakin continued, practically rambling now. "I'm good at fixing things. Always was. But I couldn't…"

His voice broke. He had officially failed at distracting himself from the painful truth of what had happened back at the camp. Part of him wished Zelina was there with him, while the other part was glad that Padme was there.

What overshadowed both feelings was the growing pain of his loss. That insufferable pain that he just wanted to end…the guilt…it was his fault, he'd failed her, he'd failed his mother when she needed him most.

Anakin raised his gaze to meet Padme's, as if she had his answers. "Why'd she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!"

When he realized Padme didn't have the answers either he turned away, crossing the room as he tried to think of the answer he so desperately craved.

Why?

"Sometimes there are things no one can fix," Padme said softly, her own voice shaking. "You're not all powerful Ani—"

"Well I should be!" Anakin snapped back. Then I could have saved her. I could stop this from ever happening ever again.

"Someday I will be. I will be the most…powerful Jedi ever!" he vowed before he spun around to face Padme. "I promise you! I will even learn to stop people from dying!"

"Anakin…" Padme said softly. He couldn't stand to see the look on her face, so similar to the way Zelina had looked at him when he'd first tried to go at the Tuskens in the hut right after his mother died. He looked away, unable to stand the sight.

"It's all Obi-Wan's fault!" he suddenly blurted out. He had no one else to blame but him. "He's jealous! He's holding me back!" he suddenly shouted, pitching the tool in his hand into the other room. Once more he turned his back on Padme, unable to stand the look that could have possibly graced her face at his outburst.

"What's wrong Ani?" Padme asked. It was like she could see right through him. She knew that it was more than just the death of his mother bothering him.

The painful flow of suppressed thoughts came back to him painfully fast.

Murderer, that's what you are. A cold-blooded murderer. Do you even honestly regret what you did?

Anakin choked over his words for a moment, trying to steady his breathing enough so that he could talk. "I…I…"

He stopped, running a hand down his face as he struggled to find the words to explain how he was feeling. Did he even want to admit this to Padme? He didn't even know if Zelina could forgive him. Would Padme be able to? Or would she see him as a monster and leave?

"I wanted to kill them all…every last one of them…and I would have too...but...Zelina wouldn't let me. She stopped me before…before I could get too far…"

Slowly and reluctantly, Anakin turned around, still avoiding Padme's gaze. "But I still did…I killed as many of them that I could get my hands on whether they were men, women, children…and I wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't been there. Even now, I want to go back there and finish them off! I hate them so much!" he shouted furiously. "But if I did, she would never forgive me…I don't know if she even will now. And I…I hate myself for it…" he finished, his voice cracking.

His energy spent and his feelings finally out there, Anakin sat on the floor in resignation, trying to hold back the tears that sparkled in his eyes. The look on Padme's face…he couldn't take it. He shouldn't have said anything…

Padme surprised him by crouching down beside him instead of running away as he tried to even out his breathing again. "To be angry is to be human," Padme said gently. Instead of letting her words comfort him, Anakin shook his head, Zelina's words returning to him once more.

You're better than this! Don't give into this, your mother wouldn't want this!

You're better than this! I know you are! Don't sink to this level, please, I'm begging you! Let go of this hate, it will not bring you any good!

You're better than this…

"I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this," Anakin said, his voice trembling.

And then he broke. He finally broke, and Padme stayed with him to comfort him, holding him close as he cried.

The sun blazed above them as they all stood together outside at Shmi's funeral. Zelina had woken not too long ago, feeling much better and ready for action again.

At least, she felt that way physically.

She had lost both Shmi and her father in the past twelve hours, and she was sure that the connection between Anakin and Padme had grown even stronger while Zelina was unconscious. She felt so very alone right now as Cliegg gave the eulogy for Shmi's funeral.

"I know that…wherever you are…it's become a better place. You were the most…loving partner a man could ever have. Goodbye my darling wife…and thank you," Cliegg finished.

Anakin slowly moved forward, and Zelina's gaze followed him, her mind wandering to the vision she'd had while she was unconscious.

Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!

Her eyes teared up as she thought of the pain that Anakin was experiencing right now. She wanted to pull him into a tight hug and tell him that he was not alone, that he was loved; but she couldn't. This was the first time she'd seen him since he'd pulled the bullet out of her arm. Right now wasn't the time though, she could see that clearly. Anakin needed this last moment with his mother.

She watched as he kneeled on her grave, gathering a fist full of sand. It almost seemed as if holding some of the sand lying over his mother would give him some sense of holding Shmi himself. Like he was holding a piece of her. Glancing at the others, she tuned her hearing with the Force to hear what he said.

"I wasn't strong enough to save you mom…I wasn't strong enough…but I promise; I won't fail again."

Zelina felt the tears slide down her cheek at his words, taking a deep breath while her heart ached painfully and a shiver of premonition ran down her spine. She'd been having a lot of those recently.

Zelina brought her attention back to Anakin as he took a deep breath himself, standing up once more without tearing his gaze from his mother's gaze. "I miss you…" Anakin whispered. "So much!" he added forcefully.

Zelina was sure she was the only one who heard the pained statement. As he stepped away, Zelina hesitantly went to his side, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "Anakin…"

He inclined his head, glancing at her for a moment before looking away in…was that shame she saw? Zelina leaned her head against Anakin's shoulder, wrapping her arm around him at the same time. "You're not alone, alright? I'm here…Padme's here…you don't have to go through this alone," she whispered.

Anakin didn't look at her. "Why? How could you possibly forgive me Zelina? After what I did…"

"Because I know you, Anakin. I care about you, and I'm not going to give up on you. I've made you several promises, and I'm keeping every single one of them, all right? I'm with you; no matter what. You're a good person Anakin, I know you are. I'm not going to condemn you for what happened back there. I forgive you. I'm with you."

I love you.

Anakin seemed shocked, processing what she told him as he searched for words. Finally he met her eyes, and Zelina found herself entranced once more by the deep blue pools of emotion she found holding her gaze.

"Thank you," he whispered softly.

"Always Anakin…always."

Before Anakin could say anything more, they all heard familiar beeps behind them.

"R2?" Padme asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"It seems that he is carrying a message from an Obi-Wan Kenobi," 3PO translated as Anakin and Zelina both moved closer to the group. "Hm, Master Ani, does that name mean anything to you?" he inquired.

Zelina glanced at him with a frown. "It must be something important."

Anakin nodded curtly. "We'd better see it now."

Zelina had the feeling Anakin was gladly accepting the distraction. With a sigh, they all made their way to the ship to see what Obi-Wan had for them.

"Anakin, my long range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant."

Zelina frowned, leaning against the wall as she watched Obi-Wan's holographic image intently. Whatever was happening, she had the feeling that it was monumentally important. Obi-Wan had found something big.

Anakin and Padme did as Obi-Wan instructed. Now the Jedi Council would see this message as well. Zelina sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly for a moment.

"I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries in Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here. And it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala."

Zelina watched Obi-Wan closely, taking note of the fact that he looked away every moment, as if he was expected to be jumped at any moment. Anakin was soaking in the information even though he looked tired and pained, though he was desperately trying to hide it. His mother's death had taken its toll on him already.

"The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku, and are forming a—"

Obi-Wan suddenly broke off, and Zelina stood ramrod straight, eyes glued to the hologram in front of her.

"Wait…" Obi-Wan pulled out his lightsaber swiftly, activating it. "Wait!"

Zelina watched in silent horror as Obi-Wan was driven from view of the hologram, a destroyer droid coming into view. She put a hand over her mouth to hid her reaction, closing her eyes as she silently prayed.

Force, please not Obi-Wan too, please, not Obi-Wan…

Anakin seemed to be having a very similar reaction across from her, and she could sense the dread and fear coming off of him in waves. Zelina couldn't really hear anything as she stared where Obi-Wan had been seen just moments ago, her mind trying to figure out just how long it had been since Obi-Wan had recorded the image.

Mace Windu's voice broke through her thoughts. "Anakin, Zelina: we will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first mission."

Anakin hung his head reluctantly, taking a deep breath. "Understood Master," Anakin replied.

Zelina didn't say anything.

"He'll never get there in time to save him they'll have to come halfway across the Galaxy!" Padme exclaimed. Zelina rocked back and forth on her heels, trying to contain her aggravation at Windu. Padme was right: the Council was too far away. Anakin simply stared at the place where Windu's picture had been moments before, seemingly frozen in place.

"Look!" Padme pulled up a map of the Galaxy. "Geonosis is less than a parsec away."

"If he's still alive," Anakin said harshly.

"Don't tell me you've already given up on him!" Zelina suddenly exclaimed, staring at Anakin in shock.

"Ani, are you just going to sit here and let him die?" Padme asked incredulously. "He's your friend, your mentor!"

"He's like my father!" Anakin snapped at them both. "But you heard Master Windu, he gave us strict orders to stay here!"

"And that's stopped you before?" Zelina asked. "Anakin, he's like a brother or father to me too. We can't just stay here! I can't stay here! Not when I know that he's in trouble."

"He gave you strict orders to protect me," Padme said. "And I'm going to help Obi-Wan. If you plan to protect me, you'll have to come with me."

Zelina smiled at her. "I'm in."

Anakin smiled as well, his eyes sparkling. "Well then…I guess I will. It's not like you two have given me much of a choice."

Zelina chuckled before she turned her attention back to the holoprojecter they had just seen Obi-Wan's message on, and uneasy feeling seeping through her.

Don't worry Obi-Wan…we're coming for you.