Part III

Padmé looked almost stunned by as the realization of his words registered to her. "We could do what?" she dared whisper, in case the Jedi were listening in.


"You heard me," he insisted, his eyes on hers. "We could return to Naboo and join lives."


She broke first, walking to the foot of the bed, pacing and muttering to herself. "We can't, they would know. Of course they'd know. Why couldn't I just have kept my mouth shut?"


"You can't blame yourself for what happened in the past. We were sentenced to die. We thought we were going to die," Anakin replied, his voice soft and soothing in the attempt to calm his beloved down. "What you said saved my life again."


She turned back and made eye contact, a small sigh shuddering her beautiful face. "Our lives will be destroyed."


"We already tempted fate once before," he said, lifting his eyebrows as she began pacing again. "I don't know what they taught you about men at the diplomatic school you attended, but this one will protect you. And he will honor you. And he will love you, cherish you and yours until the end."


She was shaking as she turned back to him. "Ani," she whispered softly, tears threatening her perfect control. "You will be expelled from the Jedi Order."


"It doesn't matter to me," he spoke loudly now, trying to convince her. "It didn't matter to me when you fell."


Padmé lowered her eyes and tried to imagine what that must have been like. He must have been so distraught.


"As I have said before, I thought you died and I was imagining my heart as a scar of what we once shared, of the love we both felt. I know you feel it, Padmé. I could feel your heart. I can see it. It moves me beyond breath, beyond anything I have felt before. You complete me."


Padmé returned to his bedside and sat down. "What do you propose we do?" she asked lightly.


His face broke out into a small smile. "You will?"


She nodded slowly, watching his face flush and a handsome, ecstatic smile broke out. She leaned over, a grin on her own face, kissing his lips and his forehead, breathing in the wonderful scent.


It was intoxicating, the feeling of love.

* * *

Anakin was released the following morning, and quickly afterwards summoned to the Jedi Council. He found Obi-Wan and Mace Windu waiting for him, along with the score of the other surviving members of the Jedi Council. Yoda was in his usual chair, peering at Anakin as he swept in.


"Healed well have you," Yoda said, gesturing toward Anakin's arm. "Survive this new circumstance, you will."


Anakin nearly laughed as he extended the shiny metallic arm and just for show curled his fingers into a fist. "I'm not sure how much longer I can love my new arm, but I am grateful for it. I wouldn't be able to use my lightsaber otherwise."


Obi-Wan chuckled. "I'm not sure you could stay alive without it."


Anakin gave a small smile and bowed to the Council.


"We have two small favors to ask of you, Padawan," Mace began, folding his fingers into a triangle. "The first favor is to conduct your briefing in the Jedi Library. We wish for you to fill out your report over the past few days."


Anakin nodded. "Yes, Master. And the other?"


"I feel that Senator Amidala is in no immediate danger," Mace replied. "Escort her back home to Naboo and return here. We will then send you and Obi-Wan back to Geonosis to oversee the clone army."


Anakin nodded and bowed, silently moving out. Once the doors had closed, he let out his long breath. How many of them could see through his cold exterior and feel the love he had soaring through his veins? He had just proposed a marriage between him and the Senator. The Jedi Council wasn't stupid. They would find out eventually.


A flush broke out across his face as he started for the elevator, eager to complete his first task to return to Naboo. As he pressed the button, Obi-Wan cleared his throat behind him. "Master," Anakin choked out, bowing.


Obi-Wan glanced at him curiously. "I was beginning to think you were hiding everything," Obi-Wan said, his voice arched and suspicious. Anakin kept his gaze steady. Breaking it would show he was lying to his Master. "Do you have anything you wish to tell me?"


Anakin swallowed the dagger in his throat and shook his head. "Nothing at all, Master."


"Ah," Obi-Wan said, looking faintly relieved. The doors parted and Anakin practically jumped inside. "May the force be with you."


Anakin managed a tight smile as the doors slid shut tight.


Then he finally allowed himself to breathe again.


One crisis down. Another to go. He could hardly believe that in just a few short days, he would be married.


Forever.