Obi-Wan went to let go of Padme's hand, but in response, she squeezed it tighter. Obi-Wan looked at her and saw absolute defiance in her eyes. She is absolutely fearless, he thought.

Padme was wanting to defy Vader in any way she could, but that was not the only reason she grasped Obi-Wan's hand. She needed the strength his touch afforded her. She stepped even closer to Obi-Wan's side, preparing for this inevitable confrontation.

Darth Vader walked up to the force field. His head jerked up a bit at what he saw. He felt jealousy explode in him. Then he felt anger at still having feelings he thought were long dead. These two people, whom he once loved, he now hated with every fiber of his being.

"Now aren't you two the pretty little couple," Vader sneered.

Obi-Wan schooled his features. He was not going to let Vader bait him.

"I've changed a bit since we last met, haven't I, Master?" Vader said the last word as sarcastically as he could. He held out his arms a bit. "How do you like what you've created?"

Obi-Wan remained calm and cool. "If I remember correctly, Vader, you were the one who attacked me. I didn't want to fight you, but I had to protect myself from your blinding hatred. You have no one to blame but yourself for your…transformation."

Padme looked over at Obi-Wan. She was in awe at his composure. She had wanted to scream at Vader! He's amazing.

Beneath Vader's mask, his face was contorted in rage. He wanted to turn the force field off and strangle his former master. He'd wipe that confident look off his face! He also saw the look Padme gave Obi-Wan. He wanted to strangle her, too! He clenched his fists and tried to calm down.

"I can tell that you would like to finish what you started four years ago," Obi-Wan continued calmly. "However, you've been ordered to bring me in alive, haven't you? Are you willing to defy your master and kill me now?" The last question was a taunt. He wanted to see if he could bait Vader.

Vader's breath came in hard rasps. His body shook with barely contained rage. "There will come a time, Obi-Wan, when you will beg me to kill you!"

Padme's heart went cold at those words. "You bastard! When will your hatred stop? When will your destruction end?"

Vader turned towards her. "When everyone I hate is dead!" He turned on his heel and left, black cape flowing behind him.

Padme looked at Obi-Wan, the color gone from her face. "He's going to torture you, Obi! And as much as he hates you…" The anguish in her voice broke his heart.

Obi-Wan released a long breath. He took her other hand in his. "I had suspected as much. They're going to try and break me, get me to join the dark side. The Emperor is probably going to give Vader free reign, aside from killing me."

Padme tried to back away, in complete horror. "No, no! I can't…I can't…" She couldn't get the words out. Her legs buckled. Only Obi-Wan kept her standing. She thought she had prepared herself for what might happen to him, but the cold-hard reality of what was coming was unbearable!

Obi-Wan held her, but she tried to move away. I don't deserve his comfort! He's going to be tortured because of me!

"Padme, please! Don't blame yourself! This is not your fault! Remember your own words to me. Vader has no one to blame for his behavior but himself. What Vader does to me is on his head, not yours!" He took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. "Padme, I'm going to need you."

Padme looked into his blue-gray eyes and found them lending her strength. She straightened up and forced herself to calm down. She swallowed down the huge lump that had formed in her throat. She knew that she had to be strong for him. She looked at his concerned faced and nodded. She still couldn't form any words.

Obi-Wan put his arm around her shoulder and led her over to the table. She sat down silently. He sat down across from her, but she was finding it hard to look at him. "Hey," he said, putting his hand over hers.

She looked up into his face and saw his strength, his grace, and his love. He even offered her a small smile. He's the one who's going to be tortured, and he's offering me comfort! Buck up, Padme! Come on! She turned her hand palm-up under his and put out her other hand for him to hold. He held them both. She looked deep into his eyes and offered a return smile, giving him an unspoken promise. She vowed to herself to be strong, for his sake.