CHAPTER 5

Padmé followed Obi-Wan's quick footsteps as well as she could. They rounded the corner and every nerve in the senator's body was sent reeling. Everything she had ever known was gone. Before her, in a small isolation cell of white foam and padding was Anakin, her Anakin; the husband whom she had thought to be dead. He was alive, but not well. His fingers twitched, itching for something. His body and hair, she could see were dirty and she looked thinner. Anakin Skywalker, the young strong Jedi she had known as husband, lover and friend was nothing more than a hollow shell. He was balled up in a restless sleep in the corner of his cell. Padmé glanced up at Obi-Wan wetting her lips.

"I cannot do this," she stated. Obi-Wan turned to face her. He saw her eyes glisten in the halogen lights, felt her strength fading. He knew that only three things in the galaxy could have this effect on her: her twins and their father. But now one was right within her reach with no guarantee of getting him back. Obi-Wan cupped Padmé's chin in his hand.

"Yes you can Padmé," he said. Padmé shook her head, but Obi-Wan stopped her. "Listen to me Padmé," he said, grasping her hands. "You can be so brave in the senate with everyone against you, yet you hesitate now." Padmé bit her lip. "I know why, Padmé. Because more is at stake than a law or bill. Your happiness and that of your family hangs in the balance. But if you do not do this, Padmé Skywalker, all hope goes with you. If you walk through that door..." he said, indicating the door to Anakin's cell. "Then both he, you and Luke and Leia have the chance everyone dreams of... a second one."

Padmé bit back her tears as the prospects newly rolled around in her head. They could be a family; a true family. Anakin would get the chance to be what he never had... a father. He looked at Obi-Wan again.

"That is, of course if this works." The Jedi Master shrugged.

"You don't know until you try." Padmé smiled a strained smile and nodded. Obi-Wan glanced at the doctor to open the door. Padmé moved forward and the white from the cell illuminated her tear stained face as she entered a new future.

Anakin snapped to a sitting position as he heard his cell door slam open. Almost immediately he thought he was still dreaming, in the fuzz that was his mind he swore to "the Force" that he still was dreaming. Standing in his midst was the angel of his dreams. She glowed with a renewed faith and prominence such as Anakin had never seen.

No, have seen her before. Angel. Angel. Who? Angel.

Padmé stepped into the cell as she watched Anakin sit up and stare at her without blinking. She could see it behind his eyes: recognition, memory. He knew her.

Obi-Wan saw it, too and felt it as well. Anakin knew this woman. Jog his memory he thought to Padmé, deep down knowing she could not hear him.

"Anakin?" Padmé began. He did not move, not one inch, for fear of the apparition disintegrating before his eyes. "Do you know who I am?" she asked, not expecting any response. Angel. "Do you remember me?"

Anakin blinked, and then blinked again and again waiting for the moment when she would disappear. But she did not. Anakin nodded. Angel.

It was a quick, short movement, but Obi-Wan caught it as did Padmé. Obi-Wan began reciting a silence prayer to himself.

"Can I come closer, Anakin?" Padmé asked. Without a response, she took two steps closer, but Anakin still did not move. Padmé began ringing her hands. "You look different, Anakin," she said. Anakin glanced up at her, his blue eyes so innocent in the lights of the room. Padmé smiled. "But those eyes are still the same." Angel.

Suddenly, Anakin crawled toward her, sat at her feet and wrapped his arms around her legs. He sat there, hugging his wife's legs as if her were her child, but the love was undeniable. Obi-Wan smiled to himself, and the doctors around the cell began coming up to him and to each other congratulating everyone. But the commotion was unheard by the two people in the cell.

Padmé raised her face to the ceiling, her alabaster skin reflecting their rays, her chocolate brown hair glowing and her deep brown eyes glistening with a never before known happiness. She gave thanks to every god she knew that Anakin now had hope.

She then looked back down at the man who knelt at her feet like a child asking forgiveness. Padmé smiled at him and knelt down to his level, looking him dead on for the first time in five long months. His hair was longer, his skin a few shades lighter, but his eyes still held all that was Anakin and would be Anakin again. She gently put her hand to his face and he seemed shocked by the movement and contact. Padmé then put her cheek to his, feeling his skin for the first time in to long.

"Oh, my love," she whispered in his ear. "Come back to me." She slowly pulled Anakin to her in a soft embrace and she felt him cling to her for his life.

He was coming around

For weeks afterwards, Padmé came everyday to see her husband. Obi-Wan could see the spark returning to Anakin's eyes and he silently thanked the Force. Padmé saw it, too. Anakin still had not said a word to her, but she could see him beginning to recognize her more and more.

She sat in the cell with him one day, two weeks after their first encounter, holding his hand while he listened to her talk.

"I still remember being so nervous when I was elected queen. I was fourteen, how could I not be scared?" She smiled, and Anakin returned the gesture. "Anyway, that's how I met you, Anakin," she continued, hoping this story would bring him around. She had been telling about her work in the Senate and how she hoped to retire soon, but this had no effect. She had decided to dig deep into her past and open old wounds.

"My planet was being invaded and I left for safety reasons, but our ship, that was captained by two Jedi lost fuel, and we had to stop on a planet to fix it." Padmé noticed how at the word Jedi, Anakin's eyes sparkled somewhat. She smiled. "I went with the older Jedi into town to look for the part we needed when we came to a small corner shop." Padmé paused and moved closer, now fully facing Anakin. "That's when a little boy about this tall..." she showed him with her hand, "... was sitting on a counter and wouldn't stop looking at me. The older Jedi went to the back with the shop owner to look for the part and we were left alone. That's when he actually spoke to me." Padmé took Anakin's other hand in hers, and Anakin looked at their joined hands. "The first thing he asked me was..."

Padmé stopped. She had sworn that besides her talking, Anakin had mumbled something. She studied his face that was still facing downward. "What, Anakin?" she begged. Anakin lifted his chin and his eyes met hers.

"Angel," he whispered. "Angel," he repeated louder.

Padmé's eyes widened and she nodded happily. "Yes Anakin!" she proclaimed. "That's what you said. 'Angel.' That's what you called me." Anakin smiled, bit his lip and leaned forward.

"Padmé," he said, and his wife's heart soared.

"Yes! That's me. That's my name," she said. "You remember!" Padmé leaned forward and pulled Anakin into a warm embrace. He was returning to her. He was coming back. Before she pulled away, Anakin whispered something else into her ear.

"I love you?"

Padmé's eyes betrayed her and she began crying softly. "I love you too, Anakin," she whispered and she felt him squeeze her tighter.