The Next morning:

~Anakin's POV~

The break of day was an eerily silent event, plethora's of unspoken words hanging in the air like the drifting smoke of wood fires in a deserted camp. Outside, speeders raced past, creating softly illuminated outlines between the blinds, shadows arcing in different zig-zags across the floor.

Anakin stopped and stared at the shadows for a moment. He had never realized that those were there when he had lived here. Then again, he had often noticed that not many people knew what they had until it was gone.

Sighing, he returned his gaze to the innate lump on the couch in the main room. Her dark brown locks were strewn about her face as if snake-like coils. He wished he could feel sleepy, bleary, or even a tad bit exhausted, but he could not. He was wide-awake, and he knew why. The goodbyes still swirled in his head like the eddying tornadoes of the Rodian plains.

The night before had been the start of much more tense night's Anakin was sure to come in the future. Carefully, he laid his hand on his dismantled, corrupt saber and inhaled a deep breath. He was going to engage in another set of goodbyes this morning; only it would be single sided.

Thanks to a bit of tweaking with the Force, Padme had not awoken when he had slipped from her side in bed twenty minutes before. Leaving the security of her warm body next to his had been one of the hardest things Anakin had ever been forced to do in his life.

Standing fully dressed and boots strapped, he found that the second hardest thing he had ever done in his life was to walk inside of the room that used to be his and see the twins asleep in bed. Standing in the doorway, his eyes suddenly stung with wetness. His eyes scanned the room, trying to ingrain every detail of the tableau into his mind.

It seemed as if the twins had not dared to touch even a single modicum of what was inside. There were still old candy wrappers and droid parts scattered everywhere, barely out of place.

Luke and Leia had attempted to keep some sort of orderliness about, more from Padme's persuasion he was guessing than their own ambition; otherwise his children had yet to change a single thing. A small part of him was glad, even though he himself had not spent much time in the room. He had used it more of a storage closet, really.

On the bed in the corner, Luke and Leia did not sleep side by side as they used too when they were little. The differences in gender were becoming quite clear to both of them, and awkwardness was not an unusual symptom of growing up. They were back to back, though, as equals and partners. Luke's right arm hung over the side of the bed.

A dribbling of drool rolled down his cheek. Anakin, thinking back to the confident, matured air his twelve year old had given off the night before in front of the council, chuckled softly.

He remembered those days. Leia had a section of the blanket balled into one fist, like she had done as a baby in her cradle, while the other supported her head.

Her face was set into such a peaceful look of relaxation that Anakin felt his heart melt. The night before had not been filled with anything other than support. The food had been just as horrible as it always was and their predicament had gotten no closer to being fixed, but they had been together.

He supposed that was maybe a reason why Leia would sleep so soundly. Anakin half wished he could curl up next to his children and join them in slumber. He more wished that he had thought to have done it before. Odd, he thought tiredly. How one comes to regret those things that were never done when is impossible to do them.

Quietly, careful not to make any noise whatsoever that could alert them to his presence, Anakin crept over to stand above the beings who were made from his flesh and Padme's, confirmation of their love and respect for each other, proof that to serve the Light was to also serve love.

He reached out with a trembling hand. He would miss them so much. He never wanted to say goodbye, yet he knew that he must.

He was the Chosen one.

Sometimes Anakin wondered why the Force had selected him to be the one to bring Balance. Many times, he had compared himself to others. Anyone-all of the other Jedi would have been better choices, but no. The Force had picked him, and by extension, his entire family. Why?

Gently, Anakin swiped a piece of Leia's silky hair away from her face. His Leia. His little girl. His second angel. How he would think of her and miss her every single day he was gone.

If not for that stupid prophecy, I wonder if she would be here, he thought. After all, if Qui-gon hadn't believed him to be the Chosen one, he would never have met Padme or been brought to the Temple. Would Luke and Leia ever have been born?

Would the Jedi be enslaved? The Dark Side added. Anakin bristled, guilt and shame flaring within him again. He pushed it away. He would focus on his mistakes later. For now, he had to say goodbye to his family. "I love you," he whispered, no louder than the barest shrill of wind.

He could not risk any of them waking up. He had put a very strong mind influence over them the night before, but Luke and Leia might have been able to break through even subconsciously.

They were strong in the force. They would be grater Jedi than he could ever imagine. Which was why he had to do this. He had too. "I love you so much, my little one. Be strong, be brave, keep your focus," he silently instructed, barely moving his lips.

Leia shifted underneath his touch. Anakin quickly recoiled, watching her face for any signs of wakefulness, but the maximum Leia did was flutter her eyelids and mumble something incomprehensible.

Anakin let out a breath of relief as he moved on to Luke on the other side of the large bed. "I wish I could go with you," that was what his son had told him the night before, eyes downcast with shame, shoulders slumping with burden. Anakin remembered the feel of his quivering chin as he had taken it between his fingers.

"I need you here, to look after your mother and sister. Will you do that for me, son?" he had asked, and tearfully Luke had promised him that he would. Not that Anakin had ever held any doubt that Luke would say no, he was just as over protective of those he loved as Anakin was.

It would get him into trouble in the future, as it had gotten Anakin into trouble, but that lesson was not for him to give. Life taught its own lessons, and in time it would teach him those that he needed to learn as well. Perhaps some that would help Anakin balance the Force once and for all. Then, maybe, my family can find peace at last, in the end.

He gently caressed Luke's soft cheek, remembering the look of worried anxiety in the eyes of Lux and Ahsoka when they had stared at him the previous night. How strained Padme and Nava's laughter sounded.

The solemnity of Intrepid's unwavering gaze, akin to her trying to commit his face to memory. How Obi-wan had not left his side or made any attempt to hide his terror.

None of them had expressed any doubt that could suggest they thought that Anakin could not handle it. They had merely feared for his well-being. He understood the feeling; and felt endless appreciation knowing that they shared it. He still hated to worry them.

Luke's cheek beneath his hand was warm and smooth. Do I feel a bit of stubble coming in there? Anakin wondered in mingled shock, amusement and pride, pulling his hand back to stare at it as if looking for any stubble on his own fingers to explain the uncertain likelihood of a beard growing on his son. He almost did not want to contemplate it.

If I'm going to have to protect Leia from the boys, Force, what in the galaxy am I going to do with Luke to protect him from the girls? Anakin wondered helplessly, running a hand through his hair.

He gazed down at Luke with limitless love. He was afraid of what Sidious might do to him on this trip, his stomach twisted with the possibilities of the temptation, yet his voice did not waver a she whispered to Luke another goodbye and earnest 'I love you' before departing the room. The door slid closed behind him, smoothly. Neither twin woke.

Anakin could sense Sidious coming, along with Vader. Those two always seemed to travel together as far as Anakin had been able to tell. From what Anakin could deduce, this was because Vader was genuinely devoted to Sidious. He thought of him as a father.

Anakin wondered what sort of son would want a father like that, and came up with the answer of one who had been cloned for one reason; to destroy Anakin with his own power.

The day on Mustafar had changed all that, but the question once again raised why in Anakin's mind. Why was Vader, innocent of any wrongdoing except for being born to the wrong people, deserve a life of the dark? Why hadn't he been born the Chosen One?

Why did you pick me?

He shook his head. These were blasphemous thoughts. He should not question the will of the Force. If you do not question it, then isn't it the enslaver, instead of a tool for you to use? The Dark Side coiled around him, squeezing the breath from his lungs.

Anakin ignored it, instead digging deeper into the thin undercurrent of Light that accompanied all living things. He inhaled deeply as if it were a glorious scent and bade himself to move further. Cautiously, he leaned over Padme. She was in a deep sleep, curled in the exact same position Leia had been in. Anakin's eyes glinted.

He had a sudden urge to run his hands through her long, silky hair. He reached down as he had for Leia to grab a strand when suddenly Padme's hand shot out from beneath the covers and grabbed his wrist in a firmly painful clench. Anakin was so astonished that he could do nothing but gawk as the other hand snapped out with a small blaster pointed towards his face.

And Padme hadn't even seemed to have woken up. In fact, her eyes were fluttering open blearily. After a few blinks, she opened them fully and seemed to notice something. She glanced up at him, then at his hand in her grip, then at the blaster she had pointed at his face.

She gave him an illuminated smile, eyes twinkling. All Anakin could think was that she was gorgeous when she smiled…And that his wrist was starting to grow numb.

Padme continued smiling impishly at him for a moment, before she remembered just why he was up so early. She released his wrist and stowed the blaster back beneath the covers.

"Good morning, Anakin," she said softly, not meeting his eyes. The use of his full name told him that she was unhappy with this new arrangement. Anakin sighed. He had not wanted to do this to her, but it seemed that he had no choice about it now.

Anakin plopped down next to her in bed, and stretched out his mechanical hand. Moving across the bed, Padme came to sit next to him on the edge, gripping his hand tightly in her fingers. For a moment, they sat in silence, thoughts elsewhere.

At length, Padme spoke softly. "I love you," it was a choked and simple statement. He nodded, not looking up. "I know," he agreed, also softly. "I love you too," there was little else to say. They had said enough to each other the night before by way of physical means.

"Rex and the 501st have all promised me to help you three in any way they can. They'll look over you, Padme," he told her, trying to sound assuring. He could feel more than hear Padme's soft snort of amusement.

"Being taken to some mysterious wasteland by a Sith, and you think of us," she observed. Anakin could feel the somberness within her, the fear that he might not come back, the anguish that she couldn't do anything.

He squeezed her hand. "Is there something else you believe I should be worrying about?" He asked. "How about yourself?" Padme suggested, slyly. Anakin chuckled deep in his throat, turning to her. Her shoulders were slumped, eyes downcast. Anakin put a finger beneath her chin and directed her gaze towards him.

His face fell when he saw the tears streaking down her cheeks. Solemnly, he swiped them away with his thumb, eyes scanning her face, from her elegant neck to the smooth roundness of her forehead. The face of an angel. His angel.

"I'm coming back, Padme," he reminded her, desperate to make the flow of sadness stop. It killed him to see her so forlorn. He would do anything-had already given everything-to make her happy.

"I know," Padme choked, chin trembling as she stared at him as if the sight of him was hurting her. She abruptly closed her eyes. A few more water droplets leaked from her eyes. Anakin quickly swiped them away.

"But the thought of that sleemo hurting you, Anakin…Of you being all alone…Without anyone there to help you…I hate it," she growled. Anakin nodded. He could only imagine how hard it was for her to watch him go. Anakin knew that if it had been him, he probably would have had to have been tied down. She was the stronger of the two.

"I know, my soul mate," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her warm body pressed to his, as if his long lived dream of protecting her from every galactic evil could now become true.

Padme's shoulder shook silently as more tears flooded down her face. Anakin closed his own eyes, unable to bear watching her grief any longer. At that thought, he let out a humorless chuckle.

"I've seen more death, cruelty, torture and pain than I'd care to have seen. I've fought in two wars now, without ever closing my eyes against the ugliness of it or shedding a tear," he whispered against her cheek.

"And yet, when I see your pain I feel as if daggers are slicing through my heart, and I can't bear to watch," he marveled. "Did you say goodbye to the kids?" Padme asked huskily.

"Yes. I didn't want to wake them, though. It will only be harder on all of us. I think Luke is growing a beard," he confided. Padme let out a barking laugh. "Force," she breathed. "What are we gonna do about that?" She asked. "Prepare the paddle and get lecture tips from Nava," Anakin guessed.

"I thought corporal punishment was against the Code," Padme admonished. "If Luke is anything like I was as a teenager, then corporal punishment is going to have to become the code. That or we're dropping them off with Obi-wan and running. It's the only way," he told her. Padme giggled.

Then, she sobered. "Once, we could have dropped them off with Beru and Owen," she whispered. Anakin stiffened at the name of his stepfamily. "Thinking about them?" he asked softly.

"I hate to admit it, Ani, but their death has sort of gotten pushed aside. What with all that's been happening lately," Padme lamented for the people who had so generously opened up their home and dealt with having two highly wanted criminals of the Empire living with them.

"Yeah," Anakin muttered. "I still owe Vader for that one. I'll add it to his tab," he promised. Padme shook her head at him. Anakin perked up when he sensed Vader and Sidious getting closer. His grip on Padme tightened. "I have to go," he whispered in her ear. Her own grip on him tightened.

Reluctantly, Anakin gently peeled her from him and stood, his mechanical hand still in her embrace when the door slid open and there stood Sidious and Vader staring expectantly at them.

"Ah, Anakin," came the amiable voice of a traitor. "Ready to go?" His eyes flicked to Padme degradingly. Padme scowled at him, looking for all the universe as if she'd very much like to put a blaster bolt through his head. Anakin gladly would have given her permission had she asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Anakin looked down at his wife a last time, and finally released her hand. Padme cringed when he did, but said nothing. She sat straight with her chin tucked high. Anakin was proud of her. He turned and began ailing towards the door.

"Take care of the others," he tossed over his shoulder, cloak lapping at the ground as if it wanted to remain there. Anakin knew he did. Padme made no reply to that until Anakin was half way out of the door.

"Anakin," he turned, surprised at the serious clap of her voice. He met her fiercely blazing deep brown eyes, sending through an intangible wave link all her love and strength. Anakin felt power course through him along with a burst of energy and confidence.

Padme did not appear to realize the effect her look was having on him. Sidious and Vader noticed. Their faces darkened with displeasure and disgust. They could never understand love.

"May the Force be with you," Padme said. Anakin nodded, bowing his head subtly. Her word carried more authority than the Council and The force combined. Anakin doubted that with that look in her eye, he had a choice in the matter anymore.

"And with you, Padme," he replied. Then, turning sharply on his heel, Anakin allowed the Sith to escort him out. The door snapped closed behind him, Padme's eyes still on his back.