One Last Encounter

AUTHOR: Abigail

SUMMARY: There was only one way that Anakin and Padme could have stayed together…Twists the plot from RotS.

CHAPTER 10: Lightning

RATING: T

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.

NOTE: Finals are over. YAY! Sorry…Anyhoo, hope everyone is still liking this…remember, I don't mind any form of criticism at all. Just try to be a little nice about it. I just loved writing this chapter…

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Padme was dreaming. It was nothing like a nightmare, yet it wasn't happy enough to be a dream. It was more like a picture show, playing in her head. Some images were familiar to her, others weren't. Some made her happy, yet some made her sad. And other images just confused her. But she knew that she felt somewhat at peace, and for some reason, that was very comforting for her.

At one point, the soft images dissolved away and all she could see was water. Blue, pristine water that was as calm as the Nubian Lake retreat. Naboo…Padme was content, as she let her mind lightly float on those warm waters, her mind clear like the lake. Then she felt a recognizable presence. It was Anakin. My love…She reached out to him, but he was farther away then she thought. She tried to get closer, but the harder she tried, the more distant he was. She called out his name, and he disappeared.

Padme began to cry as the water changed and mutated into somethingshe couldn't recognize.It was cold, choppy, and ugly. Padme was frightened as the water began to swell around her. And then she suddenly grasped the thought that this foreign water was her own tears…

She could feel herself drowning, the water above her head now. Soon, she was helplessly lost in its power and was drug under by its strong current. Padme had quickly given up, as she stopped struggling for breath. The images in her head went black, but she could see a tiny light, barely flickering in front of her. Suddenly, she woke up.

Anakin was standing above her, his lit saber blinding her waking eyes. Her body was suddenly racked with painful aches that stretched throughout her muscles. Padme felt like she did after her first day of training with Obi-Wan. She struggled to sit up, her arm muscles easily giving way to the throbbingpains that disabled them. She looked back up at Anakin, who had turned his weapon off, placing it back in his belt. He sat down beside her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice unusually casual.

Padme nodded her head, still feeling slightly confused from her dream and tenderness of her body. Her eyes drifted over to the two cribs that lay in the corner. Padme gasped, her hands clutching the sheets on the bed. "Anakin...Luke, Leia…" Padme struggled, trying to get the words out that were flashing in her mind.

"They are perfectly safe, Padme. I just got them to sleep," Anakin said, watching a wave of relief pass over Padme's vexed face. Padme placed her hand on his shoulder, letting her head drop onto her chest. Tears were seeping out of her eyes, and she exhaled loudly. Anakin let her rest for a moment, preparing himself for the questions she was about to ask.

"But Ani, where…where were they? What happened…I didn't--" Padme started, but Anakin cut her off.

"Don't ask any questions, Padme. Just know that they are fine. You're under enough stress already…" He said all of this, as if he were warning her. Padme was confused as she looked into Anakin's calm eyes. She wiped a tear from her face and studied him harder. He quickly turned away, looking out their front window. Padme hastily stood up, and began to walk over to their cribs, anxious to see they're shining faces, those tiny little smiles that warmed her heart during these dark says…

"Stop Padme," Anakin interjected. Padme obeyed, halting just in front of Luke's crib. She could easily sense trouble, as she slowly turned around to face Anakin. He was standing now, facing her as well. His weapon was out, in front of face and outstretched arms. Anakin's face was hidden under the coverage of his hood, but Padme could easily see the lines of anger being drawn across hisskin."I can't let you go any further, Padme…" he said, his voice suddenly distant and cold.

She looked at him, the surprise in her eyes very prevalent. She searched for that inner strength, but only weak words came out of her mouth. "What do you mean Anakin?" she whispered, her voice unwillingly full of fear. Obi-Wan had always told Padme to speak without fear, but all of his teachings were in the very back of her mind at this moment. Anakin slowly walked forward, until the tip of his saber danced in front of Padme's nose. The humming noise vibrated off of Padme's ears and filled her brain with distraction.

"Stay away from them," he said, his eyes shining with evil. Padme was scared, as she felt herself being drawn further and further into a corner that she didn't want to be trapped in. She tried to analyze the situation. She was unarmed, and standing in front of an extremely skilled Jedi, now Sith Lord, who happened to be holding a light saber, inches from her face. He had threatened her, and Padme was at a loss of what to do.

She felt weak and small in front of this stranger, who seemed so strong and powerful. Padme back up against Luke's crib as Anakin inched even closer to her. Her throat was dry and she could feel the sobs rising up in her. Padme was so desperate, that she was beginning to submit herself to begging. "Anakin…please, please don't do this," she whispered, tears slipping down her face. He continued to glower at her, his face unchanged by her hopeless plea.

"Move, Padme. Don't make me destroy you…" Anakin seethed. Padme sobbed out loud, when he finished his words. She brought her shaking hands out toward him. "You won't do that Anakin. I know there is good in you still… I can see it hiding." Anakin rapidly brought the saber down to her face, where it rested just above her throat. Padme whimpered as he angrily peered into her frightened face, his eyes flashing with the colors of the dark side.

"You lied to me Padme. You said you would join, support me…But you've betrayed me. My master was right about you all along. You've always been my weakness. Always!" he yelled, his voice dripping with hostility. Padme looked into his eyes, those hateful eyes that were staring straight back at hers. And it suddenly hit her. She had been his weakness. This past week had been a whirlwind of feelings, yet Anakin was truly holding back all the while. It would have been easy for him to totally give up his life and completely give himself to the Sith, yet he hesitated. She was the one that stopped him.

But Padme felt like he was past this, past his feelings for her. And she felt like she was past fighting for him, fighting for his love. Yet, Padme had been raised with the values of endurance and strength, and it was not in her body to give up. She raised her eyes to Anakin, and frantically searched her heart for something to say. Anakin began to pull back his weapon, ready to lunge at her on any impulse. Padme's fears disappeared, and she quietly whispered her final words to Anakin, the man who was rapidly dying away in front of her.

"I love you," she said, her lips barely moving. Padme quickly shut her eyes, not wanting her last image of him to be Darth Vader, the horrible monster from her nightmares that had taken her husband, her love, and soon her life away from her. Instead, Padme focused on better things. Time of long ago, when there was nothing but their love. Only soft kisses, passionate embraces, and loving words. She thought not of the nightmare she was currently living, the pain, anger, the hate…No; the nightmare will be over soon…Padme waited for the moment. She had no idea what dying would be like. Padme had heard stories that death was peaceful. She hoped so, knowing that she would be at peace with the memories she had.

But Padme was suddenly ripped from her reverie, when she heard the clatter of Anakin's light saber, falling to the ground. Her eyes flew open, and she was staring straight into Anakin's face. Anakin…Darth Vader was gone, the mask had vanished, and all that was left was her Anakin. Both of them stood there, motionless, as she watched her love come back to her. It seemed so slow, that Padme felt like she had already died. Is this what it is like?

But all thoughts vanished when she felt Anakin's arms closed about her. The distance between them was gone, and they were one. She trembled in his arms, at his touch, the feeling that she had been missing for so long. Padme felt his presence everywhere. His hands in her hair, his strong body pressed against hers, his very life in her soul. Neither one of them said a thing, as he pulled her to him and kissed her, softly and possessively all at once.

She brought her hands up to his face, touching him and feeling the softness under her own fingertips. Their kisses stalled for a moment, and Anakin gently ran his fingers across her slightly swollen lips. Padme kept her eyes shut, afraid that as soon as she would open them, this dream would be over and the both of them would be thrown back to the place in time where they were dying.

But Padme couldn't resist it any longer. She would rather look into his eyes one last time then to feel the emptiness that remained inside. And when she did so, she found herself staring back at him. His beautiful eyes had always been the gateway to his soul, and Padme could fully see his soul at that moment. She had been right. The goodness within him had thrived. She brought her shaking hands up to his face and kissed him again. "Padme…" he softly sighed. "I love you too."

Anakin pulled Padme to him, holding her tightly, letting his forehead rest against her shoulder. But Padme began to struggle under him, her strained voice mumbling words he couldn't hear. He let her go, as she backed against Luke's crib again, a look of pure terror on her face. Anakin felt his presence and slowly turned around, face to face with Darth Siddious.

"Insolent fool!" Siddious yelled, coming closer and closer to Anakin. "I knew you weren't strong enough to do it…" Siddious quickly threw Anakin against the opposite wall, reveling in how easily this Jedi let his guard down. Anakin struggled to get up, but he wasn't strong enough. He tried to drain his mind of all emotion and thought, but the force was too far away from his grasp. Anakin observed his saber, still lying at Padme's feet. But Padme was stunned, as Siddious crept toward her, an evil laugh escaping his lips. The force was drawn to this man of evil, escaping the grasp of Padme and Anakin's minds.

"I'll just deal with you myself," his disfigured voice screeched. Siddious lifted his hands out toward Padme as he said, "I'm sorry I have to do this Senator Amidala. But you were always too strong for your own good, and I'm afraid Vader and I can't let you get in the way any longer…" Anakin watched helplessly as a sinister sneer worked its way to Siddious's mouth. The room suddenly burst with energy as lightning escaped the Sith Lord's fingers, traveling through Padme and knocking her off of her feet.