Chapter 27

The next morning, Anakin talked his attending nurse into letting him leave the hospital for an hour. The fact that she found him extremely handsome and charming certainly helped his cause; as did a suggestion placed her mind by Anakin. He decided that he needed to see his children, for it had been months since he had seen them last.

Taking a cab, Anakin headed to 500 Republica Boulevard. Knots of anxiety tightened within him the closer they got to the building. He couldn't remember when he'd been there last, but as it came into view, memories of the night that his marriage ended flashed through his mind:

"I think it's best if we don't see each other anymore."

"What are you saying? Surely you don't mean that!"

"I am. I can't do this anymore, Anakin. I can't live with the lies, with the mistrust. I'm sorry Anakin, but it's over. I want a divorce."

"A divorce? You can't be serious!"

"I'm very serious. This marriage isn't working, and I can't keep pretending that I'm happy. I'm not happy, Anakin. I haven't been happy for a while."

"And it's my fault there's a war going on? That I'm called into duty and need to be away from you? Do you think I want to be away from you?"

"I never said that. I understand your commitment to the Jedi Order, to the Republic; but you don't seem to understand mine. You don't respect mine. You question me, you mistrust me….you frighten me, Anakin. I'm sorry."

"Sir?"

Anakin shook himself from his reverie and noticed that the cab had stopped outside of 500 Republica. All of a sudden, he wasn't sure he could do this, he couldn't walk into the apartment where he'd spent such happy times with Padmé, the apartment where it had all come crashing down.

"Sir? Are you getting out?"

Anakin took a deep breath. "Yeah, yeah I'm getting out," he said. He got out of the speeder and looked up at the tall building. Maybe she's changed the security code, he mused as he walked to the entrance of the building. Only one way to find out.

Entering the vast building, Anakin headed to the bank of elevators. He waited for one, and the, once inside, entered the security code. It worked, and soon he was being carried upward to the penthouse suite. In a matter of seconds, he was standing in the vestibule of his erstwhile home, and was struck with a wave of emotions. He walked into the apartment, sensing that his children were not there. He frowned, and looked around, heading into the spare bedroom that he assumed was the twins' nursery. As he stood in their room, tears filled his eyes as he looked at the cribs they slept in, the toys they played with; he felt their essence in every corner of the room, but they themselves were not there.

"Anakin? What are you doing here?"

Anakin turned around to face his ex-wife, who stood watching him. She frowned when she saw the tears in his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Where are the twins?" he asked.

"They're down in the ship with Dormé," she replied. "We're on our way to Alderaan, and I just came back to get Leia's favourite stuffie."

Anakin nodded in understanding. "I see," he said. He sniffed, and wiped the tears that had run down his face with the back of his hand.

"If I'd known you were coming..." she began. "Come down to the ship and see them. They're having their nap, but.."
"No, that's not the way to be reunited," he said. "I'll see them on Alderaan, won't I?"

She nodded. "Of course," she said. A frown creased her brow. "I'm worried about you," she said. "Did the doctor check you out?"

"She said I was fine," Anakin said, not telling her the whole truth. "Obi-Wan is fine too."

"That's wonderful news," she said. She regarded him for a moment. Padmé knew Anakin well, and knew that he wasn't being completely honest with her. He was not fine; but until he was willing to talk to her, to trust her again, she couldn't push the issue. "So, I suppose I'll see you at the funeral tomorrow."

Anakin nodded. "You will," he said.

She gave him a smile. "I really need to be going," she said and turned to leave.

"Padmé wait," Anakin said.

She turned back to him at once. "Yes?" she asked hopefully.

"Did you keep any of the clothes I left here?" he asked. "Or did you throw them out?"

She frowned. "I didn't throw them out, Anakin," she said, hurt that he'd suggest she would. "I put them in a box."

"Okay good," he replied. "I'm tired of dressing like a pirate."

She smiled. "Come with me," she said. "I'll get it for you.

"I appreciate it," he replied, and followed her out of the nursery.

"I put them in here," she said, indicating the large walk-in closet in the master bedroom. "I can't reach the shelf without a chair, though," she added with a small smile.

Anakin smiled. "Ah," he said, looing into the closet. "I remember that shelf. Is this it?" he said, indicating a box.

"That's the one," she said.

"Great," Anakin said, picking it up and bringing it down from the shelf. He set it down on the bed and opened it, making a mental note of how much he had to buy.

"I've never seen your hair so long," she commented.

Anakin looked up at her. "It's kind of a pain at this point," he said, closing the box. "Not a lot of barbers on Florrum."

"I used to cut your hair all the time, remember?" she said.

Anakin nodded. "I remember," he said. "But you're on your way to Alderaan, I won't put you out."

She smiled. "The twins are sleeping, and it won't take long," she said. "Unless you want to go to the funeral looking like one of Hondo's men."

Anakin frowned. "Does it look that wild?" he asked.

"Well…" she said, not wanting to offend him.

"Enough said," he replied. "If you're sure you have time, cut away."

Padmé smiled. She didn't really have the time, but felt compelled to take advantage of the moment. Right now, things were better between them than they'd been in months. "I'll be right back," she said. "You know where to sit."

"I do indeed," he said, standing up and walking into the large ensuite fresher.

"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" Padmé asked when she returned with a large towel and cutting shears.

"It does," Anakin agreed. He let her pull his long hair out of the hasty ponytail he'd put it in after his morning shower. "A mess, I know," he added when she started combing his thick locks out.

"It's so thick that's why it gets so messy," she said. "But I've always loved your hair," she said, smoothing down the section she'd just combed through.

Anakin closed his eyes as her hands worked through his hair, doing his best not to get turned on by what she was doing. But it wasn't working. It had been a very long time since they'd been together that he was utterly starved for her touch. He sensed that she was feeling the same, and knew that he needed to end this before something happened that could only serve to make things even more complicated between them.

"Looks great," he said, opening his eyes and glancing at the mirror. "A lot better, thanks," he said.

Padmé stopped, shears in her hands. "I'm not finished, Ani," she said. "I need to tidy up the ends," she said. "It won't take long."

Anakin nodded. "Okay," he said.

Anakin was correct in his assessment of Padmé's feelings. Touching him, running her fingers through his glorious tresses was more than a little arousing. His proximity, the scent of him, the incidental touch of his broad, muscular shoulders as she brushed the hair from them was driving her crazy. But she knew that she dare not initiate anything remotely sexual, not now, not yet.

"There, much better," she said, brushing errant hairs from his shoulders. "What do you think?"
"I look human again," he said with a smile. "Thanks to you."

Padmé laughed. "No problem," she said. "Now I really need to go. I'll see you at the funeral."

Anakin nodded. "See you then, thanks again."

"My pleasure," she said, and then left the room.

Anakin sat at the dressing table looking into the mirror for a few moments after she'd left him. That was …interesting, he mused as he stood up. The shave from earlier and the fresh haircut made him feel like a new man. Deciding his own clothes would be a nice change from the pirate togs he'd been wearing, he went into the bedroom and changed.

"Did you have trouble finding it?" Dormé asked as Padmé finally joined her in the ship.

"Yes," Padmé lied. "But here it is," she said. "Let's be off.""

Coruscant Medical Centre

"How are you feeling this morning, Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka asked as she took a seat with him in the patient lounge.

"Quite well, thank you Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said. "I slept like a baby last night."

She smiled. "So did I," she replied. "I didn't realize how tired I was."

Obi-Wan nodded. "It's been a trying time," he commented. "And now, hopefully, it's behind us."

"And now what?" she asked. "We don't even have a place to live, Obi-Wan, no source of credits. What's to become of us?"

Obi-Wan considered this for a moment. "Perhaps we ought to contact Rex," he said. "Have him go to the temple to assess the damage."

Ahsoka frowned. "That would be rather tough for him, considering what happened there," she said.

"It would," he agreed. "But it must be done. If we are ever to revive the Order, we need to start somewhere, no matter how painful."

"I suppose you're right," she said, looking up as Anakin entered the lounge. "Where have you been?"

"And where did you get those clothes?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin laughed. "Jealous?" he asked as he took a seat.

"No, just…curious," Obi-Wan replied.

"I got them in Padmé's apartment," Anakin said. "I went there this morning to see the twins, but ended up seeing just Padmé. She had some of my clothes in storage."

"And the haircut?" Ahsoka asked.

"She cut it," Anakin said. "She always used to cut my hair."

"She did? Interesting," Ahsoka said, looking at Obi-Wan with a smile.

Anakin frowned. "Don't start," he said. "I don't want to hear it."
"You almost look presentable," Obi-Wan remarked with a smirk.

Anakin smiled. "Well, I need to be if I'm to go to the funeral tomorrow," he said. "And so do both of you."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, but the only extra clothes I have are at the temple," he pointed out.

"Maybe Rex can have a look for you," Ahsoka suggested.

"Rex?" Anakin asked. "He's going to the temple?"

"We're going to ask him to assess the damage there," Ahsoka explained.

"General Skywalker, there you are," Doctor Jenkin said as she entered the lounge. "Are you ready to meet Doctor Wallig? He's expecting you at 11."

"I'm ready as I'll ever be," Anakin said, standing up.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka watched him leave, each of them concerned about their friend. But getting help was a positive first step.

"I'll go contact Rex," Ahsoka said. "You should probably get back to your room. I think you've officially overdone it already."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Yes Doctor," he said as he stood up. He winced as the pain in his shoulder grabbed him. "I think perhaps you're right," he said.

Ahsoka frowned. "Let me help you," she said, standing up taking him gently by the arm.

Anakin sat in the psychiatrist's posh office feeling extremely ill at ease, despite the very comfortable chair he sat in. He looked around at the walls, seeing evidence of the man's extensive education as well as holos of who Anakin assumed were the man's children and perhaps grandchildren.

"So, how are you feeling today?"

"Fine."

Dr. Wallig expected Anakin to be a challenging case, and was prepared for it. "You slept well, then? I'm told you were showing classic symptoms of over exhaustion."

Anakin nodded. "I did," he said. "A shower and shave helped too."

Wallig smiled. "No doubt," he said. "I see you also managed to procure a change of clothing. Was that the purpose of your little sojourn earlier? Doctor Jenkin told me you'd gone out."

"Well, my purpose was not to get them, but I just happened to manage it nonetheless," Anakin answered.

"What was your purpose, then?" Wallig asked.

Anakin was tempted to tell the man to mind his own bloody business, but realized that this was all part of the treatment. "I was hoping to see my children," he said. "I haven't seen them in months."

"I'm surprised to learn that you have children," Wallig said. "I didn't think the Jedi could have families."

"We're not," Anakin replied. "Well, with a few exceptions."

"Were you given an exception?"

"No," Anakin said. "I wasn't."
Wallig realized that he'd struck a nerve, and decided to pursue it. "How old are they? Your children?"

"They are twins, and are eight months old," Anakin replied.

"And you haven't been able to see them because of the Purges," Wallig commented. "I'm sorry."

Anakin frowned. "Thanks," he said.

"You must miss them," Wallig said.

Anakin looked at him, annoyed. "You think? Of course I miss them! Do you think I wanted to be away from them for their whole lives? I'm a stranger to them! My own children don't even know my face!"

Wallig nodded. "Let's talk about that, Anakin."