Nyce: I know, you're very smart. :) Then again, I was kinda building up to it anyways - after all, she and Obi have no drama whatsoever. But don't worry... she'll be alright. I can't kill off such a darling. No, it won't come true, I just wanted to tie in the original plot, where it was Padme getting choked instead. Besides, I thought it would drive Anakin a little further. Yes, though Leiana wears somewhat bolder colors. And I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I pictured her as Mia Wasikowska. I really like that actress. Haha, yeah, I'm considering it. Mostly with any Idriya scenes, probably. I figured I'd tie them together. :) Well, I hope this doesn't disappoint. I'm actually pretty nervous about this chapter, because its so... well... I've never been proposed to... ;)

Alyssa: Gracias

-Hale: Don't worry. Well, do worry. Its not going down like that, because I'm not going to have Anakin in a suit... idk... I just can't in this story. I hope you like this chapter, and I'm very eager to know what you think. :D

CamelotPrincess: Y u no review? :P I'm kidding, review when you can :D

And now... we shall continue on...


Nadia was getting worried, Leiana had not returned from Padmé's apartments, nor had she checked in in any way. It wasn't like her. "Marius?" she called to her son, who came into the room.

"Ie mam?" he replied in Ergonian, tinkering with the mini-holotransmitter in his hands. "What is it?" he sobered as he saw his mother's worried look.

"I need you to go to the Senate buildings. Find your father, I need to see him immediately." Nadia ordered. With a nod, the boy took off, no doubt going to find one of his older friends to take him to the Senate Buildings. Nadia looked out the window. Leiana may not have been her daughter by birth, but she had a connection with the girl.

And she couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. She turned from the balcony, trying to ease her mind.


Anakin pulled his ship out of lightspeed, the blur of white light fading to reveal Ergon. He had left Killian with Qui-Gon, telling him that he was planning on visiting Ozara, but wasn't too keen on bringing the young boy. 'I don't want to put him in any unnecessary danger if I didn't need to. I don't know what I'll find.' he had explained. His master had simply nodded, telling him that he agreed with his padawan's choice – he too had felt as if something was wrong, though he couldn't explain what.

He entered the atmosphere, landing on a strip that he hadn't seen for several years. It seemed a lifetime almost since he had come to Ergon to break up Ozara and Skandar's wedding – since he had left her and become what he was. It was almost hard to believe that he had somehow overcome his displeasure with his old friend... his love.

That was the entire answer. Anakin hated to admit it, due to what he was afraid of finding, but he still loved her. It wasn't just friendship, it hadn't been for years. Sure, he had felt betrayed, he had thought that she had lied to him about any love which she had felt – yet, he couldn't help his heart. He knew that his dearest friend would always hold his loyalty, his respect, his love. Yet, he didn't want to admit it.

He realized that he had never truly hated Ozara, not in all the years that he had harbored ill-will. No matter what he did, he did concern himself with her wellbeing every so often; wondering how she was and if she was happy with the man he had thought she had married... it was always Skandar. The little bastard that had never liked him, he only hoped they never crossed paths ever again – or he wouldn't be accountable for his actions.

The ship landed, and without thinking much he got out, using the dim moonlight to lead him from the tarmac to the building nearby. He needed a speeder. Quickly getting what he wanted, and asking the assistants to keep his ship in a safe place, and to oil R2; he headed toward where he remembered. Even the trip was familiar, as he had rented a speeder last time as well. It felt strange almost. Yet, he had to ensure she was safe. He had to.

The house was as he remembered, grand and beautiful. His mind reminded him of what it looked like last time, with all the wedding decorations – decorations which he hoped meant nothing at the time. Now it was barren, with only vines climbing up the walls. He couldn't complain about that.

"Who's there?" a voice sounded from the balcony.

"Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rowatt. I spoke to you via holo earlier." Anakin replied, coming face to face with the security guard. The other man shone his flashlight in the young Jedi's face, confirming that it was indeed Anakin Skywalker.

"Thank you sir. I just needed to make sure." Captain Rowatt said, turning the light off and allowing Anakin into the building. "If you need anything, let us know. Good night sir."

Anakin nodded, walking up the stairs as the guard went back to his post. He found Ozara's room quite easily enough, remembering the way from when he stayed there as a child. Though the last time he was there, it had housed their first real argument. The day he had seen her – almost – marry a man she didn't love. If he was honest, he would say how uncomfortable he was with being in this place. Yet, he had to have his answers from her.

After pausing a moment, he opened the door, and entered.

The room was pretty dark, except Ozara had kept the curtains open to allow the moonlight in. Anakin found it made it easier to find her bed, and approached her. He sat down on the bed, tentatively brushing a tendril of brown hair out of her face. She looked so peaceful when she slept. He chuckled lightly as he remembered various times when he had woken her in the past, it had been all in fun. Tonight was different though – though he had no intention of waking her, and stood up to go to the adjoining room.

"Anakin?" he heard her say softly, "Is that you?" he turned back around.

"I didn't mean to wake you." he replied as she reached over to her nightstand and clicked on the light – causing them both to shy away from it for a moment as their irises adjusted. His opened first as he looked down, watching as she still adjusted.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice suddenly becoming quite panicked, "Is it Killian? Is he alright? Anakin say something!"

"It's alright, Zar. Nothing's happened to him." he said with a slight chuckle, "I'm surprised you have so little faith in me." he jested, but her face flushed intensely, her brown eyes focusing on the duvet.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"I'm kidding, Zar. I didn't mean that." he replied quickly, coming closer and sitting back down. They were both silent for a moment as she toyed with the covers. "Do you remember what happened the last time I was in this room?" Anakin suddenly asked.

Ozara closed her eyes, not particularly relishing the memory. "Yes." she replied quietly. "If something hasn't happened why are you here?"

Anakin took her hand in his grasp, trying to keep her from continuing to play with the covers. "I needed two things: 1, to make sure you were safe and 2, to ask you a question." he replied.

"Well, you've ensured I'm safe." Ozara said slowly, "And I'm assuming your question has to do with why I left Killian with you."

His blue eyes met her brown, "Yes." he replied simply, looking at her in expectation. "Why?"

"Because I told you: you were the only person I would want to train Killian. Because I know you would care for him as a... father would care for his son." she answered, "And because, even though I really can't possibly endeavor to ever be back in as good of your graces as I once was – I hoped to at least help you to be something you always wanted." her head ducked down once more.

Anakin was somewhat shocked by her words, he never would have guessed it had to do with guilt. He placed a hand on her cheek, causing her to look up at him with her eyes, "You're wrong." he said quietly, admitting to her what he had admitted to himself earlier. "You never really left my good-graces." her head tilted to the side in confusing. "I realized something on the way over here, as I had time to think."

"Anakin..." Ozara said, her tone suspicious and worried. Her guard was up, but he continued.

"Those three years, the ones that I had spent at war, I still-"

"Stop, don't go any further." she said quickly, causing his moment of vulnerability to vanish, replaced by irritation and anger.

"What?"

"Don't say that, please Anakin don't say it." she pleaded, pulling her hand from his grasp and getting out of the bed. His blue eyes followed her with confusion. "We can't, you know that. Look what happened last time."

"It doesn't matter." he tried to say.

"Matter? It matters, Anakin!" she replied vehemently, "I won't destroy you!"

He got up, walking to stand in front of her. "You're right, you won't." he reasoned.

"I will, you know that. Its against the Jedi code." she argued.

Anakin scoffed, "You never agreed with that part of the code." he retorted.

"It almost destroyed us both once." she said quietly.

"We've learned."

"Have we?" she asked, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "I can't go through that again, Anakin. If the Council were to find out, you'd be expelled."
Running a hand through his blond hair, Anakin tried to quell his temper. He wasn't going to let this happen again. "They don't have to know."

"I can't do it, Anakin. I can't love you." he looked at her, seeing the pleading in her eyes.

"Can't, or won't?" he asked.

She shook her head, "You don't understand."

"I do understand. You're afraid of loving me, when I have twice told you that I love you." Anakin retorted.

"I'm not afraid of loving you, Anakin, as its already done!" she threw back at him. He stood there a moment, suddenly closing the distance between them and taking her face in his hands. Without a second thought, he brought his lips to hers in a kiss filled with longing and fear. Fear of being rejected. She pulled away, "We can't do this." she breathed out.

"Why not?"

"Because we'd be living a lie. You'd be a Jedi, I can't live in the shadows, Anakin – I can't." she swore.

"I can't do this anymore, Ozara. I can't be this way. I can't pretend to hate you, or to be so stand-offish. I can't watch as you sit in your family's apartment, the tension building because of your guilt. Losing the friendship we used to share because what it became was forbidden. I love you, and I don't care that its wrong. Perhaps the Council is wrong to forbid it, but you always said that a Jedi cannot possibly not know love. You said that compassion, and be allowed to help others, you can't help but love. Are you telling me that I can't love you?" he asked her, his eyes pleading, asking her to answer him.

She looked up at him, "No." she answered simply, reaching up on her toes to kiss him. He bent down, feeling elated as her arms wrapped around his neck, the years of pent up passion exploding in that moment.

They pulled apart, and Anakin rested his forehead on hers. "Marry me, Ozara." he said after a few moments.

Ozara closed her eyes, "You know I can't." she whispered.

"Why not? Because I'm a Jedi?" he asked. She nodded slightly, her lip caught between her teeth. "Why don't we forget all that?"

"Forget it? How?" she asked.

"Because, we're just two human beings, what does it matter?"
"You'll be expelled!" he placed a finger on her lips to shush her.

"No I won't. They don't have to know."

"I don't like the idea of hiding." she retorted.

He sighed, "I'll leave the order then."

"What? No!" she exclaimed. "You can't do that, that's your dream! Besides, the Order needs you."

"I won't not marry you. So either we marry and keep it a secret or I leave the order." he replied as if he were commenting on the weather. She pouted, her arms still hanging off his neck.

"Well, when you put it that way – I guess it would be in your best interest if I just marry you." she said with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Good decision." he replied, wondering if it was all real. "Where can we get married on this planet?"

She quickly told him that the capital would be be the best place, and that she knew someone who would marry them in secret. He then said that they would be marrying in the morning. "I guess you're leaving me with no choice, eh Skywalker?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.

He replied in kind, kissing her softly once more, "No, I'm not leaving you with a choice soon-to-be-Mrs-Skywalker." leading her back over to the bed, he motioned for her to lay back down. "Now get some sleep, you're going to have a busy day." and turned off the light.

"And where will you be?" she asked him. He chuckled.

"Its bad luck for the groom to see the bride too much before the wedding." and disappeared behind the door which separated their rooms.

'Who knew you were so superstitious?' she thought in her mind.

'Get to sleep, my love. Tomorrow will be a busy day.' he replied.


Qui-Gon wasn't happy with the turn of events. Nor was he pleased with what he saw while he meditated. On the one hand, he wanted nothing more than his Padawan's happiness; yet, he was worried that Anakin was past the point of no return. Perhaps allowing him to leave had been a bad idea.

"Master Qui-Gon?" Zhane's voice broke his reverie, "Are you alright, sir?"

The older man nodded, "Yes, I'm fine." he replied, "How's Killian doing?"

"Ah, he's doing well. I especially enjoyed showing him how to open a lightsaber without killing himself." Zhane replied, "He's been asking about Anakin though. When do you think he'll come back?"

"I have no idea, Zhane. Anakin has never been predictable, and I fear that may not be a good thing."
"He's on Ergon, right? With Oza – ahem, Miss Peregrine?" Zhane asked, Qui-Gon raised a knowing eyebrow. The girl had won the hearts of two of his padawans, he only hoped that Zhane would get over it easier than Anakin had never done.

"Yes, he is. He's checking in on her, to make sure she's safe. Who knows what he'll do then?" Qui-Gon asked, heading off to the Council chambers. "But you need to continue watching Killian, make sure he doesn't kill himself."

Zhane smiled widely, "I'm sure Anakin will be fine. He's Anakin, a hero of the Republic!" he said enthusiastically, "But you're right, I better go check in on Killian. He's pretty fun, you know. I'm glad he's here." and with that, the Nabooian sped off in the direction of the younger boy.

Qui-Gon entered the Council Chambers, the thought of his padawan and the woman that he knew he loved weighing heavy on his mind.


Something certainly was wrong when Leiana woke up. Her eyes focused on the metal-walled room that she was in, trying to figure out what had happened. The walls were stark, no personality to it at all. On one side of the very small room was a very small fresher, and besides that there was the bed she was on. Wherever she was, it was cold – she concluded she must be in a spaceship. Rubbing her eyes, trying to ease her headache, she attempted to make sense of her situation.

She remembered falling asleep on Padmé's couch, waiting for her mistress to get home. Then she had woken to see a woman hovering over her, and a sharp pain in her neck. Then darkness. Now, she had to figure out where she was, and what was going on. Listening closely, she could hear a voice raving beyond the door of her 'cell'.

"Yes, I know... I'm sorry about that... Well how was I supposed to know she wasn't the Senator? It was dark!... well what am I supposed to do now?... continue?... but that – … oh... as you wish, mistress." and with that the voice went silent. Leiana watched the door for a moment, trying to make sense of it all.

This much she figured out: whoever had taken her, thought she was Senator Amidala when she had been kidnapped. Now, plans had apparently changed. Whether for better or worse, was still in debate.

Suddenly, the door slid open, revealing a red-headed woman. Her green eyes were slightly wide, and her red brow rose in amusement. "Good... you're awake."


OMG, this chapter was hard to write. I hope I didn't make it unbearable. Please let me know if it was good or not. I've been planning it in my head for weeks, but only managed to get a fraction of what I had wanted on paper... please, please, I beg of you... review?