Come Undone
Chapter 5
Obi-wan walked back into the sitting room and tried to regain his composure. It had been one thing entertaining his suspicions, making subtle (and not so subtle) inquiries about the presumed love affair, yet quite another to actually find his young apprentice actually in bed with the woman that he claimed to love… Obi-wan ran his hands over his face and through his hair as the reality of the situation came crashing down on him. The angry look of defiance that Anakin had given him, the cutting remarks, it had been a bluff he knew but the words still stung. It was if he were trying to punish his master for his failure. Obi-wan shook his head, if only Anakin could understand that the Master was quite able to castigate himself without the help of his young Padawan, yet after a moments reflection, he realized that there had sensed more fear than anger from Anakin. Fear of what? Most decidedly not fear of the Council, Anakin had defied them in ways far worse than engaging in an affair although he was sure that Amidala's political career would take a bruising if...
"Master," came a voice so full of petulance that he had almost not recognized it as Anakin's. He paused, "I see you got my message." Anakin suddenly looked down at the floor, uncomfortable, to Obi-wan; he gave the impression of almost regressing. Moments ago, there had been a young man that was so angry and full of fire, he looked as if he could tear the world apart if he had been so inclined. Now, in his place, stood a young, obviously frightened, Padawan learner. A person who was regretful, properly subdued and so very venerable. Vulnerable and just possibly, reachable...
"Anakin..." Obi-wan began and his heart sank as saw the mask of anger cloud the young man's features again. "We really should discuss this rationally."
Anakin moved over to the opposite side of the couch like a caged nexu, slowly and deliberately, never taking his eyes off of his master once he had raised his head to look at him again.
"Rationally Master?" Anakin replied, the arrogance creeping back into his voice. "What do I know about being rational, isn't that what you're thinking?"
Obi-wan refused to rise to the bait, "Anakin, why?"
"Why what master? I thought I'd made it perfectly clear in the message. I love her..."
"I received your message, my young apprentice," Obiwan interrupted. "BOTH of them."
Anakin flushed but he did not drop his eyes. After a moment of tense silence, Obi-wan motioned for him to sit down. When Anakin refused, he added "Please..." and with a soft growl, Anakin obliged as the silence descended on them like a shroud.
"How long has this been going on Anakin?" Obi-wan asked finally. "Or dare I ask, WHAT, and please, don't patronize me anymore. If I haven't earned your trust by now, there's no point in me being here at all."
Anakin recoiled as if slapped but said nothing for a moment. He seemed to be trying to find the way, just the right way to start but seemed to be lost again.
"Was it, on Geonosis?" Asked Obi-wan gently, "when it started?"
Anakin slowly nodded, then shook his head. "Before, when we traveled to Naboo together after the second attempt on her life on Coresaunt."
"You've been... for three years?" the Master shouted, loosing control himself.
"It's not like that!" Anakin shot back. "It's not what you think!"
"Not what I THINK?" Obiwan snapped. "And what in blazes is that supposed to mean?"
Neither of them noticed the shadowy movement from the bedroom. Quietly, Padmé
made her way into the room and stood in the corner, her back towards the men.
"I love her," the Padawan said slowly through gritted teeth. "She loves me."
"And..." Obi-wan pressed.
"She is my wife." Anakin finished and then looked up. "Padme'..." he said softly and rose to join her.
"Wife..." Obi-wan echoed hollowly.
Anakin put his arms around her and whispered something in her ear; her reply was too soft for anyone else to hear as she rested her head against his chest.
"Until now, we've kept it a secret," Anakin started stroking her hair tenderly. "But we can't anymore… not now…" and at last, the couple slowly turned to face the Master.
I took a few moments for the sight to sink in, and when the realization hit him, Obi-wan sucked in a deep breath. Anakin just stared back at him defiantly again, not saying anything,
"I need to sit." said Padme' softly. "Please Ani..."
"You should be in bed," Anakin whispered tenderly, his attention devoted entirely to her. "We didn't mean to wake you…"
"I couldn't sleep, I don't know if it's the baby, or what..." She slowly looked up, bleary eyed, and her voice regained its familiar edge. "Master Obi-wan, always a pleasure no matter what time of day. Or night..."
Obi-wan regained some composure at last. "Does anyone else know?"
Padmé shook her head, and then considered. "People have been whispering, and I think the Chancellor MIGHT have an idea…"
"Bed," Anakin repeated, ignoring the conversation, and Obi-wan noticed the gentle use of force heavy suggestion in his voice.
"Stop it Ani," she scolded him gently, more awake now. "It's not going work tonight. Perhaps it's just as well that we talk about this now, at least with your Master. We've started down the path, it's best to take it one step at a time."
Anakin, offered Padmé a quick half hearted smile, and carefully lead her to the couch to sit next to him.
After a few more moments of awkward silence Obi-wan broke down.
"I've failed you," he gasped. "I've failed you, I've failed the council, I've failed Master Qui-gon...."
"No Master!" Anakin cut in sharply. "Of course not, we did not choose to fall in love..."
"But you should have… I should have seen this coming!" Obi-wan cried out exasperated.
"And what would you have done master?" Anakin interjected. "A Jedi mind trick to… to dissipate my feelings? To rob me of that thing that makes us human?" He grew angrier. "Ah Yes! The NEW Jedi order! Emotionless automatons. Why not just replace us all with droids? Or better yet CLONES! The Army of the Republic will be standing down soon, what better way to replenish the Jedi Order? Obedient, well trained, they would never question their elders... What a perfect galaxy to bring my child into!" Padmé gripped his arm tighter in fear. "With this wonderful new resource I won't have to worry that my wife will find an empty cradle when she awakes because the Jedi have decided to take our baby!"
At this Padmé cried out, "Anakin! Please, enough!" She buried her face into his chest. "Please..."
Anakin paused, and sensing his wife's terror and confusion, he tried to regain control of himself again.
"Now do you understand master? She is my life, and the child... my child..." he trailed off, turning his attention back to Padmé.
Obi-wan just sat across from him in shocked silence. There was nothing he could say, nothing he could do. At last, he spoke again.
"You seem to have a very dim view of the order my young apprentice. And you, Senator..."
"I'm not a child anymore Obi-wan," Anakin cut him off. " I haven't been one for a long time, in case you have not noticed."
"I see that," Obi-wan retorted. "But you are still acting like one!"
"I don't have to listen to this!" came the heated response.
Obi-wan had had enough. "You've gone behind our backs, broken every vow, especially the most sacred one, and I'm supposed to just pretend everything is OK? Have you lost your mind Anakin?"
" I love her!" Anakin repeated coldly.
"That is beside the point!" Obi-wan snapped.
"What do YOU know of love anyway MASTER?" Anakin shot back again, his voice rising..
"Master Kenobi, Ani please..." Padmé tried to interject, but they carried on as if she had never said a word.
Obi-wan's composure slipped another notch and his tone became cold and even. "Do you realize what kind of a mess we have here? Do you realize what you have done? What jeopardy we could all be in?"
"We? My WIFE and I are starting a FAMILY! That is the ONLY WE involved here!"
" The council will not be able to ignore this!"
"They've ignored us long enough!"
"They will be forced to expel you! You've given them no other choice!"
" Better they expel me than to be without her!"
"And what about the Senator? Senator Amidala, I dare say this is hardly the highlight of your political career!"
Anakin blanched but Padmé sprang to her feet, furious.
"What about ME?" she cried fiercely, ignoring both Anakin's and Obi-wan's pleas for her to sit down. "First you talk about me as if I am not here and then you DARE make assumptions about things that I already know!" She rounded on them both, first to Obi-wan, and then to Anakin and back again. "I am HIS wife! The mother of YOUR child! What concerns one of us concerns us both!" She placed her hands on her belly, beginning to pale. "Concerns the three of us..." her knees began to buckle and her voice trailed off.
Alarmed, both Obi-wan and Anakin sprang to their feet as she started to fall . With the Master on one side, and her husband on the other, they lowered Padmé back to the couch. Anakin threw his Master a grateful look.
"Senator, Padmé please... " said Obi-wan after a moment's reflection. "Calm down, things will be alright..." he sighed. "I will go to the council for you and speak to them. This can't be the first time a Jedi has... well..... It just can't be."
"We can handle this..." Anakin replied, obviously trying to sound more confidant than he felt.
"No, we can't Ani..." Padmé interrupted him weakly. Anakin took her hand and bit his lower lip but said nothing. 'Master Obi-wan has been your mentor for most of your life... we need friends right now Ani... we can't let our pride stand in the way any more, please..."
Anakin cast a look to Obi-wan who returned his gaze thoughtfully and nodded.
"I will go to the Council then, alone at first. There must be something we can do."
Padmé gave him a shy and weary smile, "Perhaps then Master Kenobi, you will also continue the other tradition. You have been a father figure to my husband, now perhaps, a grandfather figure to his child," she looked at Anakin adoringly and he kissed her tenderly on the cheek. They both looked at Obi-wan who managed to looked exasperated, nervous and touched all at once.
"Gods help me," he sighed in mock sorrow, rising from the chair. "Another Skywalker, I am truly doomed..."
"Could be worse," said Anakin and Obi-wan and Padmé both looked at him wonderingly. Anakin smiled mischievously, "twins..."
Obi-wan winced and Padmé made as if to hit him. After a moment,
Anakin also rose and gently helped Padmé to her feet...
"Bed," he told her in no uncertain terms. "Now…" Padmé did not resist or argue this time.
"Anakin," Obi-wan started in a low voice. "Are you coming back to the temple tonight?"
Anakin looked to his Master, to his wife then back to his Master. At last he shook his head. "There is no one else here, I'm truly sorry Master, I must stay with her. I will join you within a few days, I promise…"
Obiwan nodded his assent and headed across the room. When he reached the doorway he paused one last time and turned to his Padawan.
"What are you going to do Anakin? What if...." he couldn't continue the thought.
Pausing at the entrance to the sleeping quarters, he offered Obi-wan a half smile.
"Do Master?" he said sadly. "I will still have my wife, my child... after that, everything else will just have to fall where it will... If you will excuse us Master, my wife needs her rest."
"Of course," Obi-wan agreed. "Perhaps we should discuss this further tomorrow, after a good nights sleep," not that he would be getting any himself tonight he thought to himself.
"Yes Master, goodnight then." Anakin put his other arm underneath Padme' legs and carried her the rest of the way, her head resting easily on his shoulder. The door closed behind them but Obi-wan stared at it for the longest time. So many questions, so many possibilities. Why was he suddenly afraid for all of them....
