Anakin strode through the Jedi temple, his thoughts full of anger and
resentment at the council. They still treated him like a child, a child
who couldn't be trusted.
He felt a twinge of guilt remembering his answer about Chancellor
Palpatine's intentions.
The Chancellor had been impressed with Anakin's report and had praised his
work on this mission. He'd left the matter of the Clones open though, and
Anakin knew that if Palpatine felt they were needed, he would order more
made.
Palpatine had also been correct on how the council would react to him going
both home and to Palpatine first.
"They would have you put your wife after everything, as a reminder that you
are breaking their rules in being married. I speak nothing of myself, I
know you are being respectful, but the Jedi will see it differently. They
will question your loyalties, Anakin."
"My loyalties are to the Jedi, of course, but also to my wife and yourself.
This shouldn't be an issue." Anakin answered.
"No, it shouldn't, you are correct, Anakin. But it may be. So be wary, my
young friend. And enjoy your homecoming." Palpatine smiled and clapped him
on the shoulder.
Anakin smiled at the memory. Palpatine was his friend, he just wanted what
was best for him and Padme.
Padme was still sleeping when Anakin entered the darkened bedroom. He could smell the scent of her perfume, he'd had it made specially for her from the flowers by lake on the retreat on Naboo. It reminded him always of when they'd first realized that they loved each other. Anakin moved to the bed and sat gently beside the slight form of his wife. He watched her breathe, a soft smile on his face. At such moments, he felt at peace in the Force, the universe. A contentment fell on him like a cloak and he took a deep breath, savouring it. Padme looked up sleepily and reached for him. "I was dreaming of you." She whispered. "You're all I ever dream of." Anakin answered. Then he bent down and placed his mouth on hers, kissing her deeper as she pulled him down to her. The oneness he felt with Padme as they made love, as always, removed everything else from his mind. Amplified as they were through the Force, the feelings of love and passion were shared and all Anakin could hear was Padme's voice, calling his name. After, Padme lay with her head on Anakin's chest, listening to his breathing as he slept. His body was still slight, but more muscular than when they'd married, and carrying scars it hadn't before. His right hand of course, was prosthetic, but had been covered with pseudo-skin to look and feel natural. She loved the times like these, when Anakin and she could just be together, no other distractions. But it never lasted long. An hour, two, then back to reality. Something that Anakin was starting to resent, more and more. Especially her involvement in the Senate. He felt it took her away from him too much, and he'd never been patient about that. She sighed and rose, gently so that she wouldn't awake him. She dressed and went out into the living room, turning on the lights. She sat and began to pour over the Trade Delegations Treaties again and made notes on various points that she had argued. She knew she was a minority in the Senate, and that unless more could be swayed, she would not win. Even the Supreme Chancellor was against her, stating that she was standing in the way of peace over trifles. Bail Organa was on her side, as were about 20 other delegates, but that wasn't nearly enough. Bail believed that defeat was inevitable as soon as the Senate resumed. Which would be tomorrow or the next day, as soon as the Chancellor had time to look over the latest version of the treaty. Padme heard a sound from the bedroom, and walked to the doors, listening. She heard Anakin's voice inside, and entered quickly. Anakin lay in a tangle of blanket, thrashing and crying out. "Mom, please..don't go...Padme..no.." he moaned. Padme ran to the bed and gently shook him. "Ani, wake up. It's allright. I'm here." She said urgently. He awoke with a start, his eyes wide and a sheen of sweat on his face. He looked around for a moment, then focussed on her. "What's wrong, Ani? Why are you having nightmares again?" Padme asked, worried. The nightmares had started about 6 months before, and had been getting more frequent. "I don't know. I just can't clear my head." Anakin said, pulling his knees up to his chest and placing his head on his knees. Padme rubbed his back and shoulders, trying to lessen the tension. "I'll be back in awhile." Anakin said suddenly, rising and dressing quickly. "Where are you going?" Padme questioned. "To the temple, there's something I have to do." Anakin answered briefly. He bent and kissed her quickly before heading out of the door almost at a run. Padme watched, concern etched on her face.
The Jedi Temple had one of the most extensive physical education facilities in the Republic. Anakin had trained on every piece of equipment in it. And he wasn't missing any of them tonight. He started on the easier pieces, and quickly moved to the more difficult. He worked hard, pushing the limits of what he knew he could do. The sweat poured from his body and still he worked, twisting and turning his body into various contortions. Leaping higher, falling farther, trying to lose himself in the movements. He was 2 hours into his workout when he felt a presence watching him. He did a triple somersault and landed in front of Yoda. "My Master." Anakin bowed his head. Yoda looked at him impassively. "Impressive your agility is. Not so your emotional control. Why is this?" Anakin shrugged. "I had a nightmare, I need to clear my thoughts." "Not by ignoring them, is this achieved. Meditation in isolation is what is needed." Yoda replied. "I do meditate, it doesn't work." Anakin answered shortly. Yoda just looked at him, piercingly it seemed to Anakin. "I do!" he said defensively. Yoda shook his head. "Lack of control in you is growing. Aggressive you are becoming, more and more. To the dark side aggression leads. Calm yourself." "Master Yoda, I'm trying to. Honestly." Anakin answered after taking a few breaths. "Discuss this later, we will. Perhaps more training, is needed. Consider it, I will." Yoda answered. "You are to report to Geonosis, tomorrow and take messages to the Jedi in charge there." Yoda continued. "Tomorrow? I just got back!" Anakin exclaimed. "Anakin Skywalker. You are a Jedi, or you are not. Choose." Yoda was not happy, and Anakin knew he'd overstepped his bounds. "I am a Jedi, Master Yoda. I will leave on the first transport." Anakin answered firmly. Then he turned and left, and Yoda watched him, again impassive.
Padme was still sleeping when Anakin entered the darkened bedroom. He could smell the scent of her perfume, he'd had it made specially for her from the flowers by lake on the retreat on Naboo. It reminded him always of when they'd first realized that they loved each other. Anakin moved to the bed and sat gently beside the slight form of his wife. He watched her breathe, a soft smile on his face. At such moments, he felt at peace in the Force, the universe. A contentment fell on him like a cloak and he took a deep breath, savouring it. Padme looked up sleepily and reached for him. "I was dreaming of you." She whispered. "You're all I ever dream of." Anakin answered. Then he bent down and placed his mouth on hers, kissing her deeper as she pulled him down to her. The oneness he felt with Padme as they made love, as always, removed everything else from his mind. Amplified as they were through the Force, the feelings of love and passion were shared and all Anakin could hear was Padme's voice, calling his name. After, Padme lay with her head on Anakin's chest, listening to his breathing as he slept. His body was still slight, but more muscular than when they'd married, and carrying scars it hadn't before. His right hand of course, was prosthetic, but had been covered with pseudo-skin to look and feel natural. She loved the times like these, when Anakin and she could just be together, no other distractions. But it never lasted long. An hour, two, then back to reality. Something that Anakin was starting to resent, more and more. Especially her involvement in the Senate. He felt it took her away from him too much, and he'd never been patient about that. She sighed and rose, gently so that she wouldn't awake him. She dressed and went out into the living room, turning on the lights. She sat and began to pour over the Trade Delegations Treaties again and made notes on various points that she had argued. She knew she was a minority in the Senate, and that unless more could be swayed, she would not win. Even the Supreme Chancellor was against her, stating that she was standing in the way of peace over trifles. Bail Organa was on her side, as were about 20 other delegates, but that wasn't nearly enough. Bail believed that defeat was inevitable as soon as the Senate resumed. Which would be tomorrow or the next day, as soon as the Chancellor had time to look over the latest version of the treaty. Padme heard a sound from the bedroom, and walked to the doors, listening. She heard Anakin's voice inside, and entered quickly. Anakin lay in a tangle of blanket, thrashing and crying out. "Mom, please..don't go...Padme..no.." he moaned. Padme ran to the bed and gently shook him. "Ani, wake up. It's allright. I'm here." She said urgently. He awoke with a start, his eyes wide and a sheen of sweat on his face. He looked around for a moment, then focussed on her. "What's wrong, Ani? Why are you having nightmares again?" Padme asked, worried. The nightmares had started about 6 months before, and had been getting more frequent. "I don't know. I just can't clear my head." Anakin said, pulling his knees up to his chest and placing his head on his knees. Padme rubbed his back and shoulders, trying to lessen the tension. "I'll be back in awhile." Anakin said suddenly, rising and dressing quickly. "Where are you going?" Padme questioned. "To the temple, there's something I have to do." Anakin answered briefly. He bent and kissed her quickly before heading out of the door almost at a run. Padme watched, concern etched on her face.
The Jedi Temple had one of the most extensive physical education facilities in the Republic. Anakin had trained on every piece of equipment in it. And he wasn't missing any of them tonight. He started on the easier pieces, and quickly moved to the more difficult. He worked hard, pushing the limits of what he knew he could do. The sweat poured from his body and still he worked, twisting and turning his body into various contortions. Leaping higher, falling farther, trying to lose himself in the movements. He was 2 hours into his workout when he felt a presence watching him. He did a triple somersault and landed in front of Yoda. "My Master." Anakin bowed his head. Yoda looked at him impassively. "Impressive your agility is. Not so your emotional control. Why is this?" Anakin shrugged. "I had a nightmare, I need to clear my thoughts." "Not by ignoring them, is this achieved. Meditation in isolation is what is needed." Yoda replied. "I do meditate, it doesn't work." Anakin answered shortly. Yoda just looked at him, piercingly it seemed to Anakin. "I do!" he said defensively. Yoda shook his head. "Lack of control in you is growing. Aggressive you are becoming, more and more. To the dark side aggression leads. Calm yourself." "Master Yoda, I'm trying to. Honestly." Anakin answered after taking a few breaths. "Discuss this later, we will. Perhaps more training, is needed. Consider it, I will." Yoda answered. "You are to report to Geonosis, tomorrow and take messages to the Jedi in charge there." Yoda continued. "Tomorrow? I just got back!" Anakin exclaimed. "Anakin Skywalker. You are a Jedi, or you are not. Choose." Yoda was not happy, and Anakin knew he'd overstepped his bounds. "I am a Jedi, Master Yoda. I will leave on the first transport." Anakin answered firmly. Then he turned and left, and Yoda watched him, again impassive.