Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

Anakin stood nervously next to Obi-Wan. They were waiting outside the council chamber.

"Calm down, Anakin," Obi-Wan told him.

"That's easy for you to say," Anakin muttered, then said louder, "What do you think they will do to me?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. He honestly didn't know. Nothing like this had even happened before, to his knowledge.

They were called in. Yode spoke first, "Wished to see us, you did."

"Yes, Master," Anakin answered. He swallowed several times before continuing, "there is something I need to tell the Council."

Anakin took a deep breath, "When I escorted Senator Amidala home to Naboo after the Battle on Genosis, I went against the Jedi teachings and married her."

Many of the members looked at Anakin with slight surprise.

"Much courage it took to come forth," Yoda replied, "Discuss this matter in private, we will."

Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed and left. They walked back to their shared Master-Padawan quarters. Anakin immediantly started pacing.

"Anakin, go take a speeder out. Be back in an hour," Obi-Wan instructed. He knew Anakin needed to calm down before the Council called him back in.

"Yes, Master," Anakin replied and left. Obi-Wan shook his head. He wasn't sure what was going to happen. Anakin was his apprentice, after all. He may be partial to blame, although he had nothing to do with it. Obi-Wan had had his suspicions and voiced them early on, but the Council thought nothing of it. He wasn't blaming anybody. It was the will of the Force.

Obi-Wan sat back in his chair. He had nothing to do but wait.

"What are we going to do?" Padme asked Anakin. His ride had calmed him a bit and he was now at Padme's. He had told her about the meeting with the coucil.

"I don't know," Anakin shrugged, "I won't let them take you away from me."

"Anakin, I don't want to take you away from the Jedi," Padme laid her head on his shoulder.

"I don't need the Jedi," Anakin pulled her closer to him, "I need you. The Jedi have done nothing to stop this war! They are fighting, yes, but not getting to the root of the problem. Yoda says there is a sith lord controlling us, but won't search him out. I am being controlled by emotionless stones!"

Padme look surprised at Anakin. She knew that he had conflicting views on the Republic and the duty of Jedi, but hadn't realized how deep it was.

Anakin groaned, "They're calling me back. I be back tonight."

"Are you sure?" Padme asked as he rose to leave.

"Nothing will keep me from you," Anakin promised, kissing her, and left. Anakin stood in front of the Jedi Council, waiting. Yoda nodded to Mace Windu.

"Anakin, you have broken part of your oath as a Jedi. If you are the Choosen One, you must act like it. Your marriage with Senator Amidala must end and you will stay away from her."

Rage bubbled inside of Anakin, "And if I refuse?"

"Then expelled from the Jedi Order, you will be," Yoda responded gravely.

"A path we all hope you do not chose," Mace added. They were dismissed. Once out of the room, Anakin went into a dead run. Obi-Wan had gone to the meeting with him, but he didn't even pause to speak. Anakin raced out of the Jedi Temple to Padme's apartment.

Padme was waiting for him. Obi-Wan had called her and quickly told her what the council had said. She had to let Anakin go. She did not want to, but she couldn't ask him to give up his dreams for her.

"Anakin, I-" she started when he walked in, but he stopped her with a crushing embrace. She then noticed that tears were in his eyes.

"I won't leave you, Padme. I can't leave you," Anakin murmured. He pulled back to look at her.

"Ani, I don't want you to give everything for me," Padme told him.

"I'm not asking you, Padme. I knew when I was a boy that I would marry you. The Force told me. The council is wrong. They do not understand. They all think that I shouldn't be there. They've only put up with me because of that prophecy."

Padme felt her heart would break. Anakin didn't look like a powerful Jedi at that moment. He looked like a lost boy. He had lost his mother. He had no father. The Jedi didn't want him to begin with. Anakin sank down on the couch. He didn't belong anywhere but with her. Padme sat next to him. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. She just held Anakin, reassuring him that he was wanted here. Obi-Wan looked at Padme from across the table. She had asked to meet with him in a small tapcafe.

"Has Anakin talked to you?" Padme asked.

Obi-Wan shook his head, "No. The council is getting anxious. It's been a week."

Padme nodded, "Why did you train him?"

Obi-Wan was surprised by the question, "I promised Master Qui-Gon I would."

"If Qui-Gon had not asked you to, would you train Ani?" Padme asked seriously.

"No," Obi-Wan responded after a moment.

"Anakin has told me about his time in the Temple. It sounds like he is seen as an outsider," Padme commented.

Obi-Wan sighed, "Yes, that is true. There is a lot of resentment around him."

"Then is it any wonder that he acts how he does? He doesn't feel that he belongs, Master Obi-Wan. He doesn't know I'm meeting you. I think you should talk to him," Padme rose.

"Where is he?" Obi-Wan asked.

Padme shrugged, "Most likely down by the docking bays. Thank you, Master Obi-Wan for meeting me."

Obi-Wan nodded and Padme left. He wandered outside, wondering what he was going to do. He did not agree with the Jedi Council's decision. He had felt the rage swell up in his apprentice. It was dangerous. Anakin had told Obi-Wan about his brush with the Dark Side on Tatoonie. Obi-Wan shared his concerns with Master Yoda, but this was only going to make it worse.

Obi-Wan sighed. He was going to meditate before finding Anakin. He hoped he would recieve some answers from the Force soon.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called.

Anakin glanced up. He was tinkering with Padme's ship, must to her pilot's annoyance.

"Anakin, we need to talk. The Council needs your decision," Obi-Wan began.

"That's all that matters to you, isn't it? The council," Anakin spat out, "I'm surprised you kept your promise to train me."

"Anakin, that's not true. I am worried about you."

Anakin dropped a tool, irritated, "What do the Jedi think they will accomplish by expelling me? Nothing. I won't leave her and I can't change who I am."

With that, Anakin went back to his work. Obi-Wan knew not to press. He turned and left. Anakin should not be cast out. His rage bubbled in him like lava. If he doesn't learn to control his anger, he will turn to the Dark Side. Obi-Wan had to wonder if the Jedi Council knew how wrong they were. Padme wanted to ask Anakin if he had spoken with Obi-Wan, but didn't want to pry.

"Just say it, Padme," Anakin muttered.

Padme sighed, "Have you talked to Obi-Wan?"

"Briefly."

"Ani, I don't-"

"Want me to give up my future, I know," Anakin snapped.

Padme was taken aback by his sharp tone, "Ani, I-" She stopped and left the room. She didn't know what to say to him. She sat down on their bed, massaging her temples.

"Padme, I'm sorry," Anakin walked in, sitting next to her. He took her hands, "I shouldn't have snapped at you. Tomorrow I'm going to speak to the Jedi Council. Will you be here when I return?"

Padme nodded, "Even if I have to walk out of the Senate chamber."

Anakin smiled softly, "I love you."

Anakin took a deep breath as he entered the Council chamber. He bowed before Master Yoda.

"Have you come to a decision?" Mace Windu asked.

"I have," Anakin nodded, "Kick me out of the Jedi Order. You never wanted me here anyways. Might as well take your chance to get rid of me."

With a bow, Anakin turned and left. He went to his rooms in the Temple and packed up his few belongings. He hurried out of the Temple to the apartment building by the Senate building.

Padme was there waiting for him.

"I walked up and told them that I was finished. I didn't give them a chance to argue," Anakin told her without preamble.

Padme hugged him, "Ani, I'm sorry."

The door chime rang. C-3PO opened the door and let Obi-Wan inside.

"If you think you are going to get me back you are wasting your time."

"Anakin, will you at least come talk to me?"

Anakin looked at Padme, who was silently encouraging him, "Okay."

Padme watched as the two Jedi walked out. She could only hope that this all turned out alright.

Obi-Wan waited for Anakin to speak. They were walking through a garden. It was relatively empty.

"You can't convinve me to change my mind," Anakin told him.

"No, I can't."

Anakin was surprised at his answer, "Isn't that why you came?"

"No."

"Then why are you here?"

"Anakin, I thought you should know that there were many Jedi who wanted you," Obi-Wan said simply and left.

Anakin shook his head in disbelief. He turned and went back to Padme, wondering what Obi-Wan wanted. "You heard his decision, Obi-Wan," Mace Windu said.

"It's not wise to kick Anakin out of the Order. He is very powerful. If he doesn't have the proper guidence, he will use his anger. The Council has only fueled his anger," Obi-Wan argued.

"And you think you have not?" Ki-Adi-Mundi commented

"I'm sure I have caused him some frustration, just like any Master would. By letting him go, his anger is going to grow. He needs the Jedi to teach him to curb his anger."

"And what do you suggest we do about Senator Amidala?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.

Obi-Wan sighed, "She seems to calm him. I don't like it anymore than any other Jedi, but she has managed to keep him sound. Prehaps we should just allow it."

The members of the Council exchanged looks. They nodded to Obi-Wan and he was dismissed. Obi-Wan let out a breath. He hope he got through to them. Anakin could not be let out on his own. He knew that chaos would ensure.

"Do you agree with what Obi-Wan says?" Mace asked Yoda as they sat in a small meditation chamber.

Yoda responded, "Much anger, young Skywalker has. Controlled it must be."

Mace nodded, "He does need to learn to control it. Do you think that if we let him go, it will ensure disaster?"

Yoda nodded, "Against taking him, I was. Too old. Too much anger. Stay as Obi-Wan's padawan learner, he must."

"And what of Senator Amidala?" Mace asked.

"Only one choice, with her, he must be allowed to stay." Obi-Wan hurried to Anakin and Padme's. He had just spoken to Master Yoda who had told him that he would keep training Anakin. Anakin was being allowed to stay with Padme, but this whole ordeal was to be kept quite. The Council did not want it known amoung the Jedi. Most of the Jedi were gone anyways, out fighting in the war, so many were not aware.

Obi-Wan was surprised to see Padme's handmaiden Dorme locking the door. She gave him a surprised smile, "Hello, Master Obi-Wan."

"Where's Anakin?" he asked hurriedly.

"The Senator and Skywalker have just left for Naboo for the week," Dorme informed him, "They are going to her parent's house and then the Lake Retreat."

Obi-Wan nodded, "Thank you, Dorme."

Dorme suddenly frowned as Obi-Wan ran off. How did Obi-Wan know it was her? Anakin stared out of the viewport, distracted. Padme had a pilot for the shuttle, but let Anakin fly.

"Ani?" Padme walked into the cockpit. He didn't respond. She laid a hand on his shoulder and he jumped.

"Oh! Hello, Padme," Anakin said, turning to face her.

"Ani, are you okay?" Padme's soft brown eyes peered into his.

He shrugged, "I suppose."

Padme kissed his brow, "Thank you, Ani."

"For what?" he asked, confused.

Padme just smiled. She stood up and left him alone with his thoughts once more.

Anakin and Padme arrived at the Lake Retreat. They had already visited Padme's family.

Anakin's mood lifted. This was their place. Padme smiled softly at him as they stood on the balcony where they shared their first kiss. Padme rested her head against his shoulder, "It's so peaceful here."

Anakin nodded, "No war, no political upheaval. It's the one place we can go a truly be alone."

Padme leaned deeper into his embrace. They stood there for quite awhile, watching the sunset in silence. Finally, they returned inside for the evening meal. Padme smiled at Anakin from across the table. Their conversation was light.

After dinner, they retired to a familiar chamber. Padme smiled at him, "This is so much like the first night we were here."

"Yes," Anakin responded, kissing her temple, "except this night will end different."

"Tomorrow we will have to go to the meadow."

"Where ever you want."

"Even out to the island with the sand?" Padme raised an eyebrow.

"Ick," Anakin shook his head as if he was shaking sand out of his hair, "I hate sand. I hope I never have any reason to go back to that planet."

Padme chuckled. They curled up together on the couch, watching the fire. After awhile, Padme looked up at him, "Ani?"

He looked down at her, "Hmm?"

"I love you."