Obi-Wan sat with Anakin a few days later out in the Garden at that very bench. He looked over at anakin who seemed serene as he had come to accept to be Anakin's normal disposition.
"You found her out here," asked Obi-Wan, interupting his thoughts.
"Yes, Obi-Wan, I did. And ofcourse, I brought her inside, which would have been the natural thing to do," said Anakin calmly.
"Ofcourse. You seemed to know exactly where to find her. Do you possiblt know what was the cause of her distress?"
"I do."
"It's ofcourse none of my concern. I will not ask you what you might or might not know. Hopefully she'll make a quick recovery," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes, let us hope she will. I think we are very lucky that I found her when we did."
"Yes, we are. If you had found her too much later she may have not had the chance to live."
"Yes," said Anakin agreeing with him.
"But are you alright?"
"Ofcourse. Why wouldn't I be?"
"This is Padme."
"Senator Amidala, if you will... But to answer you're question, I'm fine. She will be fine and resume her duty as can only be expected of her."
"And what will become of you?"
"I am not quite sure I understand what you mean," said Anakin.
"What will happen when you return to the temple? Will you choose for yourself a Padawan," asked Obi-Wan.
"I have considered it over the years, but as you can well see haven't quite followed through with it. Maybe it is time for me to choose one. We will see what happens, once we return to the temple."
"I see."
*********************************
Sabe watched as the young woman who layed on the bed awoke. She looked at the ceiling and then straight at her. Sabe warmly smiled at her mistress.
"I am very glad to see you have awaken. That was quite a scare you gave everyone," said Sabe.
"What? What do you mean? How long have I been asleep," asked Padme disoriented from her sleep.
"Well, it has been a week since I have spoken with you. But, you have slept without waking for a day. You wake a bit and we would give you some water, but you were unaware of your surroundings. As soon as you would drink you would fall right back to sleep. Do you remember what happeend?"
Padme sadly nodded her head as she rememebred Anakin's harsh words. Then she remembered being so cold and someone eventually, who's hands were wanrm picking her up, taking her to where she would be safe.
"I see you do remember. Now would you care to explain to me why you felt it necessary to stay in the rain and freeze," asked Sabe evenly.
"I- I didn't notice it was raining. I'm- tired," said Padme sadly.
"My dearest friend... What happened? Come on. You must tell me," said Sabe soothingly as she layed next to Padme on the bed and took one of her hands in her own.
"It's so awful that I don't want to talk about it..."
"Come on, hon. You know you can tell me anything."
"Anakin said he didn't love me, and..."
"You actually believed him," asked Sabe almost scoffing.
"He was as sure as he was serious," said Padme.
"He's been here everyday. He wants to speak with you the moment you awake," said Sabe.
"No, no, no..."
Sabe watched in almost confusion as she shivered and shook. She took three deep breaths and only calmerd down to take deep sips of the water Sabe handed her. Sabe watched as she snuggled into bed and fell back into a deep sleep.
Sabe watched as she slept almost peacfully. She had half the mind to go to Anakin and yell at him for what he had said and hadn't said. She wouldn't do that, though. It would complicate things. Awhile ago she could've, but not now. He wasn't the same man he had once been.
********************
Anakin had visited Padme every chance he got. He always hoped her handmaids would have better news for him. It was always the same though.
One day after her being out of it nearly a week he went to see her only to be met with the even look of Sabe. She didn't look too happy to see him.
"Well, welll, well Anakin..."
"What?"
"She was awake earlier ad told me everything..."
"Why didn't you come and get me?! You knew I wanted to see her..."
" 'Why didn't I come get you?' Well, because, the mention of your name sent her shaking and caused her to want to sleep once more. She was very weak and tired. She was in absolutely no condition to see you."
"I'm sorry."
"Why did you lie to her?"
"What?"
"You don't think you're fooling me, now do you? I know you still love her as much as ever," said Sabe.
"You don't understand. It would ruin everything," said Anakin.
"What exactly would it ruin, the cold man who has taken place of the once passionate man I knew?"
"What we have worked for... I would be expelled from the Jedi order, and god only wants to know what would happen to her," said Anakin seriously.
"Is that the way it really has to be."
"Yes, Sabe, it is."
"Well, when she wakes up and is in order to talk to you, you will discuss it with her. You will not lie to her," said Sabe.
"Alright."
SHe watched as he left. She was mystified. He was a jedi now, as well as in his heart. Would he want to or even be able to give that up for Padme? Would she allow him to?
***************
Padme now slept most of the time. When she didnt sleep she ate and was in an almost daze. She was no longer herself. Everyone was worried about her.
Anakin walked into her room to see her. He was hoping she would now be awake and ready to talk to him. He saw the doctor there.
"How is she," asked Anakin.
"She's doing much better. She is just very tired. Now maybe you can answer the question no one else can. No one else seems to know what happened to her. No one seems to know why she's suddenly began to shut down. No one knows why she just sat there in a state of shock while she got drenched. Well, one handmaiden seems to know and tells me you are the person I should be speaking with," said the doctor.
"It was my fault," said Anakin.
"I gathered that. What exactly did you say to her," asked the doctor.
"I told her I didn't love her. I didn't mean it. I love her with everything inside of me. I just wanted to protect our feelings. Everytime we admit how we feel we always end up getting hurt. I never meant for any of this to happen to her," said Anakin.
He was now crying.
"I need to get out of here."
He ran out of the room.
*********
"What happened?"
Anakin reguarded the older man with a desperate look. He needed someone to talk about this with.
"I told her I didn't love her. Then I just left her there, standing alone. She might die now because of something I have done," saidAnakin.
Anakin looked at his former Master for guidance. He hadn't turned to him for guidance in over a decade. He hadn't turned to anyone in over a decade. He felt himself relax a little as Obi-Wan put his hand on his shoulder.
"Anakin, you aren't a bad person. You made a mistake. We all do. No one is perfect."
"But, I'm a jedi..."
"Yes, you are, and you did what you thought was right."
" 'What I thought was right?'. No, I killed her- or will! Don't you see it? I kill people. You save them. What kind of a man am I?" asked Anakin.
"You don't kill people Anakin. You've saved my life at least a dozen times. I am grateful for you even if I didn't always show it," said Obi-Wan.
Anakin gave him a wry smile.
************
A week later Padme stretched in bed. She had been doing much better. She wanted to start on her work ammediately, but her doctor gave her strict orders to remain in bed.
She froze as she saw a familiar figure walk into her room. She sat up and reguarded him with an even look. She was not going to allow him to know how he affected her.
"I am surprise to see her here. I felt sure the Jedi would have returned to the capital."
"We have. We have come back here now, to wait for your recovery so that we may have our meeting and return to the temple."
"So, you will be returning soon?"
"As soon as possible," said Anakin.
"What are you doing here," asked Padme.
She tried to keep her voice cold towards him. She didn't want him to know that it pained her that he would once more be stepping out of his life.
"We need to talk about something rather important. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," said Anakin.
"I don't need to talk to you. I have nothing to say to you. You said it all."
"Well, that works just fine for me because I have plenty to say to you. I won't give up until you hear me out," said Anakin.
"Well, you had your chance with me. You blew it. You're going to have to excuse me for not being too happy to see you. Get out," said Padme.
Anakin rolled his eyes and Padme shared his unfriendly stare with him. Before Padme knew what was really happening his hands were on the sides of her face and he was kissing her like he would never have another chance. Anakin knew he needed to pull away. Why was he letting his feelings betray him?
Padme broke away.
She felt she could hardly breath with the consuming force of his kiss. She then looked up at him and reguarded him with an angry look.
"What the hell do you think you're doing," she demanded.
His face turned back to one serenity. He gave her a look that was unreadable, the look of a Jedi.
"I'm very sorry, M'lady. I do not know what came over me. I don't know what I could possibly do to show you how sorry I am."
"What do you want, Anakin."
"I lied to you that day."
"I know."
"I wanted you to know that. I can't get involved with you because it goes against the Jedi order."
"Do you love me?"
"Yes, Padme. There isn't a day that I don't thin about you."
"I can't ask you to give up the Jedi. I wouldn't want you to. I guess there's nothing left but to say goodbye."
"I'm sorry, Padme."
"So, am I. I wish you could've fallen in love with someone who could be with you in the way that you deserve."
"Anakin..."
"I'm sorry. I'll leave now."
She pulled him into a hug. She felt a tear slip down her cheek. She wondered if she would ever see him again. She tightened her grip on him, not wanting to let him go, but knowing eventually she had to.
He felt her cling to him and he let her. He could not change his mind. This was his life, and he would share it with no one because they would get hurt. Finally he pulled away from her.
"There will never be a day that I don't think of you. I swear I'll love you my whole life."
"I know. I love you too."
She watched as he walked out the door. She knew that they'd never be together again. Oh, perhaps they'd see eachother someday, but things would never be the same. Anakin Skywalker had made up his mind. And when Anakin Skywalker firmly made up his mind no one could change it, not even her.
THE END
A/N: This story was originally going to be a happy ending. You may recognize parts of it from a long time ago, but now I've changed it. There will be a Epilogue. All my stories aren't always happy endings.
"You found her out here," asked Obi-Wan, interupting his thoughts.
"Yes, Obi-Wan, I did. And ofcourse, I brought her inside, which would have been the natural thing to do," said Anakin calmly.
"Ofcourse. You seemed to know exactly where to find her. Do you possiblt know what was the cause of her distress?"
"I do."
"It's ofcourse none of my concern. I will not ask you what you might or might not know. Hopefully she'll make a quick recovery," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes, let us hope she will. I think we are very lucky that I found her when we did."
"Yes, we are. If you had found her too much later she may have not had the chance to live."
"Yes," said Anakin agreeing with him.
"But are you alright?"
"Ofcourse. Why wouldn't I be?"
"This is Padme."
"Senator Amidala, if you will... But to answer you're question, I'm fine. She will be fine and resume her duty as can only be expected of her."
"And what will become of you?"
"I am not quite sure I understand what you mean," said Anakin.
"What will happen when you return to the temple? Will you choose for yourself a Padawan," asked Obi-Wan.
"I have considered it over the years, but as you can well see haven't quite followed through with it. Maybe it is time for me to choose one. We will see what happens, once we return to the temple."
"I see."
*********************************
Sabe watched as the young woman who layed on the bed awoke. She looked at the ceiling and then straight at her. Sabe warmly smiled at her mistress.
"I am very glad to see you have awaken. That was quite a scare you gave everyone," said Sabe.
"What? What do you mean? How long have I been asleep," asked Padme disoriented from her sleep.
"Well, it has been a week since I have spoken with you. But, you have slept without waking for a day. You wake a bit and we would give you some water, but you were unaware of your surroundings. As soon as you would drink you would fall right back to sleep. Do you remember what happeend?"
Padme sadly nodded her head as she rememebred Anakin's harsh words. Then she remembered being so cold and someone eventually, who's hands were wanrm picking her up, taking her to where she would be safe.
"I see you do remember. Now would you care to explain to me why you felt it necessary to stay in the rain and freeze," asked Sabe evenly.
"I- I didn't notice it was raining. I'm- tired," said Padme sadly.
"My dearest friend... What happened? Come on. You must tell me," said Sabe soothingly as she layed next to Padme on the bed and took one of her hands in her own.
"It's so awful that I don't want to talk about it..."
"Come on, hon. You know you can tell me anything."
"Anakin said he didn't love me, and..."
"You actually believed him," asked Sabe almost scoffing.
"He was as sure as he was serious," said Padme.
"He's been here everyday. He wants to speak with you the moment you awake," said Sabe.
"No, no, no..."
Sabe watched in almost confusion as she shivered and shook. She took three deep breaths and only calmerd down to take deep sips of the water Sabe handed her. Sabe watched as she snuggled into bed and fell back into a deep sleep.
Sabe watched as she slept almost peacfully. She had half the mind to go to Anakin and yell at him for what he had said and hadn't said. She wouldn't do that, though. It would complicate things. Awhile ago she could've, but not now. He wasn't the same man he had once been.
********************
Anakin had visited Padme every chance he got. He always hoped her handmaids would have better news for him. It was always the same though.
One day after her being out of it nearly a week he went to see her only to be met with the even look of Sabe. She didn't look too happy to see him.
"Well, welll, well Anakin..."
"What?"
"She was awake earlier ad told me everything..."
"Why didn't you come and get me?! You knew I wanted to see her..."
" 'Why didn't I come get you?' Well, because, the mention of your name sent her shaking and caused her to want to sleep once more. She was very weak and tired. She was in absolutely no condition to see you."
"I'm sorry."
"Why did you lie to her?"
"What?"
"You don't think you're fooling me, now do you? I know you still love her as much as ever," said Sabe.
"You don't understand. It would ruin everything," said Anakin.
"What exactly would it ruin, the cold man who has taken place of the once passionate man I knew?"
"What we have worked for... I would be expelled from the Jedi order, and god only wants to know what would happen to her," said Anakin seriously.
"Is that the way it really has to be."
"Yes, Sabe, it is."
"Well, when she wakes up and is in order to talk to you, you will discuss it with her. You will not lie to her," said Sabe.
"Alright."
SHe watched as he left. She was mystified. He was a jedi now, as well as in his heart. Would he want to or even be able to give that up for Padme? Would she allow him to?
***************
Padme now slept most of the time. When she didnt sleep she ate and was in an almost daze. She was no longer herself. Everyone was worried about her.
Anakin walked into her room to see her. He was hoping she would now be awake and ready to talk to him. He saw the doctor there.
"How is she," asked Anakin.
"She's doing much better. She is just very tired. Now maybe you can answer the question no one else can. No one else seems to know what happened to her. No one seems to know why she's suddenly began to shut down. No one knows why she just sat there in a state of shock while she got drenched. Well, one handmaiden seems to know and tells me you are the person I should be speaking with," said the doctor.
"It was my fault," said Anakin.
"I gathered that. What exactly did you say to her," asked the doctor.
"I told her I didn't love her. I didn't mean it. I love her with everything inside of me. I just wanted to protect our feelings. Everytime we admit how we feel we always end up getting hurt. I never meant for any of this to happen to her," said Anakin.
He was now crying.
"I need to get out of here."
He ran out of the room.
*********
"What happened?"
Anakin reguarded the older man with a desperate look. He needed someone to talk about this with.
"I told her I didn't love her. Then I just left her there, standing alone. She might die now because of something I have done," saidAnakin.
Anakin looked at his former Master for guidance. He hadn't turned to him for guidance in over a decade. He hadn't turned to anyone in over a decade. He felt himself relax a little as Obi-Wan put his hand on his shoulder.
"Anakin, you aren't a bad person. You made a mistake. We all do. No one is perfect."
"But, I'm a jedi..."
"Yes, you are, and you did what you thought was right."
" 'What I thought was right?'. No, I killed her- or will! Don't you see it? I kill people. You save them. What kind of a man am I?" asked Anakin.
"You don't kill people Anakin. You've saved my life at least a dozen times. I am grateful for you even if I didn't always show it," said Obi-Wan.
Anakin gave him a wry smile.
************
A week later Padme stretched in bed. She had been doing much better. She wanted to start on her work ammediately, but her doctor gave her strict orders to remain in bed.
She froze as she saw a familiar figure walk into her room. She sat up and reguarded him with an even look. She was not going to allow him to know how he affected her.
"I am surprise to see her here. I felt sure the Jedi would have returned to the capital."
"We have. We have come back here now, to wait for your recovery so that we may have our meeting and return to the temple."
"So, you will be returning soon?"
"As soon as possible," said Anakin.
"What are you doing here," asked Padme.
She tried to keep her voice cold towards him. She didn't want him to know that it pained her that he would once more be stepping out of his life.
"We need to talk about something rather important. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," said Anakin.
"I don't need to talk to you. I have nothing to say to you. You said it all."
"Well, that works just fine for me because I have plenty to say to you. I won't give up until you hear me out," said Anakin.
"Well, you had your chance with me. You blew it. You're going to have to excuse me for not being too happy to see you. Get out," said Padme.
Anakin rolled his eyes and Padme shared his unfriendly stare with him. Before Padme knew what was really happening his hands were on the sides of her face and he was kissing her like he would never have another chance. Anakin knew he needed to pull away. Why was he letting his feelings betray him?
Padme broke away.
She felt she could hardly breath with the consuming force of his kiss. She then looked up at him and reguarded him with an angry look.
"What the hell do you think you're doing," she demanded.
His face turned back to one serenity. He gave her a look that was unreadable, the look of a Jedi.
"I'm very sorry, M'lady. I do not know what came over me. I don't know what I could possibly do to show you how sorry I am."
"What do you want, Anakin."
"I lied to you that day."
"I know."
"I wanted you to know that. I can't get involved with you because it goes against the Jedi order."
"Do you love me?"
"Yes, Padme. There isn't a day that I don't thin about you."
"I can't ask you to give up the Jedi. I wouldn't want you to. I guess there's nothing left but to say goodbye."
"I'm sorry, Padme."
"So, am I. I wish you could've fallen in love with someone who could be with you in the way that you deserve."
"Anakin..."
"I'm sorry. I'll leave now."
She pulled him into a hug. She felt a tear slip down her cheek. She wondered if she would ever see him again. She tightened her grip on him, not wanting to let him go, but knowing eventually she had to.
He felt her cling to him and he let her. He could not change his mind. This was his life, and he would share it with no one because they would get hurt. Finally he pulled away from her.
"There will never be a day that I don't think of you. I swear I'll love you my whole life."
"I know. I love you too."
She watched as he walked out the door. She knew that they'd never be together again. Oh, perhaps they'd see eachother someday, but things would never be the same. Anakin Skywalker had made up his mind. And when Anakin Skywalker firmly made up his mind no one could change it, not even her.
THE END
A/N: This story was originally going to be a happy ending. You may recognize parts of it from a long time ago, but now I've changed it. There will be a Epilogue. All my stories aren't always happy endings.