CHAPTER THREE:
Future Changed, History Made

I lift my hands to touch her torn white shirt, swallowing around the lump in my throat.

Long red, jagged wounds make me angry at this war that nobody wants that she has tried to prevent. Her creamy skin is marred with cuts and bruises and they are smeared with dirt and sand.

I to lift it and I catch her flinch slightly. She is hesitant. I sense her fear. I open up my heart to her, I reach out touching her with my love and as I do, I touch upon her trepidation. She's afraid that I will look at her differently; that I won't be attracted to her if, I should see her wounds. What absurdity!

"Oh honey, you're beautiful no matter what. I love you, nothing will change that. We are both a little battered and a lot bruised both physically and emotionally. It's our scars that speak to our strengths that show our battles and prove our resilience. When I look at you, I see beauty and strength. Nothing, nothing can change that," I let my heart speak to hers, not trusting my voice.

The fear fades from her eyes and she lets me see. I ache at her pain; I hurt right along with her. She is so woven into me I feel her ache pulsing in me as I touch her body.

"Aww, baby," I mutter, "Just sit back…that's my girl…just relax," I urge.

She leans against the wall breathing slowly and calmly. I focus my mind and open myself to the Force. Rubbing my hands together softly I let the Force flow into them.

She gasps a little as a soft blue light starts to form in my palms. My hands tingle with warmth as I touch the cuts. They slowly close leaving only the faintest redness.

I work quickly, and though my mind is tiring quickly, rapidly. All but a few minor cuts are mended. I pull away exhausted. Force healing takes so much focus and energy Jedi rarely take the time to learn it, and even fewer yet use it.

"I've…I've never seen anything like that," her voice is quiet almost child like.

I smile.

"You should have used the Force to heal you…you are far worse then me," she casts down her eyes.

"It's you…It's you not hurting that heals me…not the Force," I put a hand on her cheek.

"It's here isn't it?" she whispers tears starting to make slight trails along her dusty cheeks.

I nod slowly hand not leaving her face, "The Clone Wars are here."

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Space seems so cold as I lay watching the stars blink dimly. Obi-Wan sleeps heavily next to me on the floor of one of the small but secure rooms in the Carrier One. So much changed hours ago, life changed so much.

Obi-Wan met with Master Windu and Master Yoda after he had rested and got his orders to head a platoon of CT's and head out to start rooting out the bases of the Separatists. He leaves as soon as we reach Coruscant.

I need to go get my daughter and as an expression once said 'circle the ships'. I need to make her safe and then I want to start to attack the core of the Separatists and I am going to try and do that with politics. The task is not going to be easy but I am going to fight.

I shift in closer to my husbands' firm chest, seeking his warmth and his safety. His arms tighten around my stomach and I sigh contently.

"Stop brooding love, everything is going to be okay," he breathes faintly into my ear.

I chuckle softly, he knows me and not just because he is a Jedi but because he is my husband, he reads me almost better then I read myself.

"I know, but I can't help but worry," I sigh turning my self so I can look into his face. I hate that I waking him up but I want to talk…I can't sleep.

"Sweetheart if I am going to have wake up I want something else besides 'talking', so I sincerely hope you are pestering me for something other then a long conservation," he groans flipping to lay on his back, hands folded behind his head.

I sit up staring, trying to stop a pout I feel pulling at my mouth.

"We need to find another apartment. I don't want to stay in the safe house anymore. It doesn't feel safe for one thing, and I want our own place, a home. I want Leia to stay with me on Coruscant—from now on. I want you to promise you are going to be careful and that you'll take Artoo where ever you go…" I push on his leg to make sure he is listening. That little droid is a life saver, how he made it off of Genosis with Threepio I'll never know, but while searching for them I found them on a troop carrier with Master Yoda.

"Okay, I'll contact Jas in a few hours and have him look into an apartment; he has a few people he can talk to discreetly for us…old hotel buddies. Leia will be better off with you on Coruscant so once the apartment is secured I'll contact Dex who knows someone who can set up security and install safe rooms…and I promise I will do everything in my power to keep safe, because I want to come home to you," he leans up on an elbow eyes alert a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I hadn't expected him to readily agree and have solutions to every one of my demands so quickly…I was geared for a full out discussion, "Are you so quick to accommodate me just because you think I am going to sleep with you?" I eye him curiously, not that I would be complaining or anything.

"Aren't you?" he questions running a hand over my cheek, the pad of his thumb making small circles on my cheek bone.

"Yes…though we shouldn't with you being hurt," I point out even as his hand guides my head closer to his.

"I'll manage," he grins just seconds before his lips touch mine.

Boy, he can kiss. He presses into me hard and unyielding. He runs his hands over me slowly laying me down. I never tire of this, I never fail to feel overwhelmed and at a point of ecstasy when his hands are on me. He is such a mix of assuming power, pressing strength and yet gentleness and slowly tender touches.

I intertwine my fingers in his soft hair pulling his head down harder, needing him deeper. His mouth slants against mine and I moan as he parts my lips, coming in to explore and taste.

"Obi-Wan…" I choke as his body presses into mine. His legs rub mine and his hands splay on my stomach making gentle motions. I feel the heat cascade through me like a river and I tremble all over. He is like fire burning into every part of me. Never has a man possessed so much of me, never have I wanted a man to posses me like he does. I feel reckless abandonment in his arms. He quenches my thirst, my ever refreshing water. I drown in his cool soothing depths knowing he'll give me air. I dive into the ocean knowing he pull me up.

"Padmé…my beautiful Padmé…my breath of air…my never fading sky…" he groans framing my face with his hands, staring into my eyes as he pushes me past my limits.

"My water…" I choke back a scream as I dig my fingers into his shoulder.

Merging of water and sky, two so different so opposed and yet so essential and so undeniably the same. I look into his eyes as he continues to drive rational though from my mind. He is my other part; he is my heart as I am his. I need his water to thrive, he needs my air to live. We need each other. I look at him and see the reflection of myself. I look into his pale, water blue eyes and I see his love reflecting back, I see it for I also see myself.

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Five Months Later…

Anakin fresh with pride after being Knighted by the Jedi Order makes haste through the home of Padmé Amidala at the Lake Retreat on Naboo.

He is anxious to celebrate this moment of good news now that the Clone Wars are in the first stages and good moments come with unpredictable timing.

He hadn't seen Padmé since the day they landed on Coruscant after the batter at Genosis. Much had happened in that time. Obi-Wan was announced as the successor to Master Depa Billaba on the Jedi council after Master Billaba became one with the Force the day they arrived from Genosis. Obi-Wan would be taking his place now that his padawan had completed the Trials.

Anakin searches the empty house. He hadn't much time; he was to be back at the Temple in a few hours to be assigned and to be in attendance to his Master's ascension to the council.

He finally exits the large house and starts out onto the veranda coming from the open arches of the dinning hall. He moves along scanning the area, he catches movement in the gardens outside of Padmé's bedroom. He quickens his pace till he reaches a view point.

The suns hinders his view but he can make out the bent form of an apparently older man, Paddy Accu, he assumes, and a tiny form…a child? He lifts a hand to shade his eyes. A baby girl of about seven or eight months, he'd guess. She was crawling on a soft pink blanket in the grass.

Anakin strains to make out details wondering who the mystery child belonged to. Suddenly as if the man realized he was being watched, though he couldn't see Anakin who was at an angle looking down, he scoops up the girl and starts for the staircase to the bedroom veranda.

At that moment as the man turned toward Anakin's direction a cloud moved across the sun, stopping the glare and Anakin could see clearly. The features…"She looks like Padmé," he thinks feeling light headed. He then feels anger as he sees the little girls' eyes, big, bright, and blue. They are a blue he has seen before.

He fights for air as the words of Palpatine flood his mind. Could it be? Is it possible…Was there something more between Padmé and his Master? Could it be that he had been betrayed by two of the people closest to him?

Shaking with rage and unbelief, he turns away.

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"You look very handsome," I grin brushing the always straying strands of hair from Obi-Wan's forehead, "Very distinguished," I kiss him lightly.

He 'hmps' trying to hold back a laugh, but I feel the rumble in his throat.

"My husband, Jedi Master on the High Council," I say with pride stepping back and taking a long look. His hair is neatly trimmed and perfectly in place now, I like it better when it is wind blown it makes him look a little dangerous and entirely sexy. His beard makes him look older; he's come a long way since the fresh faced padawan I fell in love with so long ago. His cream tunic is perfectly pressed and crisp, his brown robe has been tailored (my doing) to sit perfectly across his wide strong shoulders, his boots gleam so that I can nearly do my hair in them.

"You are without a doubt the sexist Jedi on that council," I smooth his hood down.

"See and I was thinking you had a thing for Master Yaddle," he grins though his tone is dry.

I pause, hand mid air and I give my best and most serious 'blank' look, "Oh…well you are still the second sexist Jedi on the council."

He isn't concerned for a second, "Well my dear just make sure and lock the door behind you when you run away with him…And I get the holo unit."

"Fine be that way," I shrug going to a mirror.

This light heartedness is some of the only we've shared in a while. The Republic had a great victory three weeks ago on the planet Swashlee, allowing Obi-Wan and Anakin to return to Coruscant long enough to have Anakin complete the Trails and for Obi-Wan to officially take his place on the council.

I haven't seen Anakin since arriving from Naboo yesterday but Obi-Wan said he passed with flying colors. I've had to remain on Coruscant almost exclusively only going to Naboo at the request of the Queen, there is still a high priced bounty on my life. I have been able to keep Leia with me almost the entire time, it takes some creative working and Dex's men did a number on our apartment, but it is all worth it.

I wish I could have kept Leia here the entire time her father was home but I left her with Paddy because I was afraid with things in a jumble it would be unwise, Obi-Wan agreed.

"We better go, they'll be starting shortly," I put the finishing touches on my hair.

"Just one minute," Obi-Wan brings a wood box from a side table.

"What is it?" I ask scooping the slight train of my black formal dress to keep from tripping on it as I head across the room.

"I want to give you this," his voice is low and husky as he hands me a long dark colored box.

I eye him with question running my hand over the smooth polished wood. Inlaid in the wood is the Jedi emblem. I want to ask what it is but for some reason I can't, so I simply open the lid.

My breath catches, I blink and close the lid again, "Obi-Wan!" I squeak.

"You were fascinated by it when we on the ship after Genosis…I constructed it the day I passed the Jedi Trials…" he opens the box running a hand lovingly over the hilt laying inside on soft deep blue satin.

"I went into the crystal cave with Qui-Gon and Master Yoda and with the guidance of the Force picked out the blue crystal it representing my 'guardian' status as Jedi. In the cave, I focused the crystal and my life. I want you keep this Padmé, to a Jedi his lightsaber is his life. I am a Jedi and as you've helped me understand time and time again, I am also human. I have put my life in you…in our daughter. This lightsaber helps unite the two driving forces in my life, you and the Jedi. A Jedi survives by the Force and his lightsaber, a man survives by love.
"One day I would like us to give this to Leia or if we are fortunate enough to have another child and they have a path that includes the Jedi Order, I would like to give it to them as a reminder that in each one of us there are many things…and if we desire enough we can have it all.
"I constructed a new lightsaber with Master Yoda and Master Windu yesterday to signal my appointment to the council. It holds a different kind of sentiment…but this one here," he smiles, "this one was my first and you never forget your first."

Tears sting and I am left with such a love that my heart hurts, "I am…speechless," I hug him fiercely and kiss him deeply. I accept the offered box and I clutch it to my chest.

"You were right though, we should go," he says firmly, he's trying to be aloof, not get emotional before he has to go before the council. I see it in his eyes though; I see his love, his tears and his pride.

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I just left Padmé at her seat in the great hall. There are only a few people seated there for Jedi don't do public praise. But there are a few senators and a couple of my teachers from years past.

A great many changes have come about in the last few weeks. I went into the crystal cave twice; once with my padawan, now Jedi Knight, to help construct his first 'official' lightsaber and then again to construct my own.

Where is Anakin? He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago!

The side door creaks and Anakin comes through.

"There you are my young Jedi Knight," I laugh good naturedly.

"Master," he replies coldly.

I take a second to look him over; there is something very different, and very off. He glares at me, mouth in a grim tight line. I notice his hands clench at his sides and the scar that goes through his right eyebrow stands white against his tanned skin, pulled taut, in fact, his whole face is strained.

"What is the matter Anakin?" I ask impatiently. I don't know why he is acting this way all of a sudden he was very genial and in high spirits this morning. This isn't behavior I would have expected from a newly Knightly Jedi.

"Nothing," he answers hard.

I can't seem to get a handle on his thoughts; they seem almost slippery and purposefully so. I don't have the patience to dissect it at the moment nor the time.

"They are ready," an assistant to Master Windu announces.

"Let's go," I smile putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

He frowns looking to my hand then my face, then straight ahead.

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My heart swells with pride as I watch Obi-Wan stand so straight as so tall, accepting his position.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, it is a good thing indeed when the council can welcome a new Master to its ranks that has earned the title Master so fully. All current members of the High Council agree there is no better a Jedi to sit on this council then one who is wise, quick to listen, thoughtful in act, well versed in history, grounded in present, mindful of the future and is faithful to his fellow comrades. All of these things you Obi-Wan, are.

"You are on this Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi—you are a Jedi Master," Master Windu turns to him and bows.

Because the Jedi frown of public praise there are no applause as Obi-Wan is acknowledged by the other members of the council or by the small crowd.

"Master Kenobi, done well you have," Master Yoda is last offering the new constructed lightsaber.

"Thank you, Mater Yoda."

I am clapping and cheering profusely on the inside.

A/N:

the rain in spring: well thank you so much! I am sorry to leave the last chapter up a bit abruptly but this chapter is about the same length :-) Yeah, I would like to cry on Obi-Wan's shoulder too! Yes, that would be the ultimate….now that I've got that thought stuck in my mind, I am going to go drool. LOL

.Lilagirl: Well I am so glad you got what you were waiting for! And thank you for the lovely comments, I appreciate being on your C2 list and I hope people enjoy reading my stories there. It such a wonderful grouping of Obidala stories, a one stop shop! I hope you continue to enjoy!

mrs. skywalker: of course the marrying Anakin thing changed, I for one can't stand him and well this is my story so I can make it Obidala LOL :-)

zan189: Thank you so much! That is what I have been striving for from the beginning to weave in a believable Obidala centered story into the original so that we have a story that isn't all that unlike the original but with subtle (and not so subtle LOL) plot twists. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for the review!

k: Thank you so much!

SuP3R G1R: Well my dear I've granted your wish, Anakin knows…now what will he do about it? Dum,duh,dum! LOL (that was my lame attempt at a scary end note) Thank you as always for your reviews!

amber75: I am glad, because I always thought she reacted a bit ho-hum about it, so blasé about it! I mean the guy just slaughter innocence in cold blood. Personally I would have throttle him, but well Padmé is geared that way lol. I am really glad you like my version better LOL, boy I sounded arrogant there for a second… LOL

blackrosemystic: Yep, they are getting to be an old married couple. But I have to say I did add in the little sleepy time scene in this chapter after reading your review and your hoping for a make-out scene. There have been far too many times I've come to site looking for just a good romantic (I am not one for heavy sex scenes) little scene to restore my faith in romance. Most times, I find what I am looking for, a lot of times I haven't. I hope mine maybe perked up your day. LOL

sarahhillary39: Thank you! I must be a simple mind because when I wrote Florna Moringale I was grinning. It was rather silly but oh well, I like a dose of silly now and again. Thanks for reviewing!

Nyoko: Oh, I am glad, AOTC was, in my opinion the worst Star Wars movie ever made. Possibly one of the worst sci-fi movies ever made, (ouch am I feeling grouchy or what…geesh… LOL I don't even like sci-fi, in fact aside from a select few I hate it…and here I am judging it….I need a life) the only saving grace in my opinion was of course the pure hotness of Ewan and the pure greatness of the wicked Yoda scenes. There are some cute moments I suppose but after seeing it in the theaters I watched it maybe twice and one time was a few weeks before ROTS came out and I wanted a refresher on the events. I didn't even watch it to check my facts when I wrote this story, I just didn't care that much. So I am glad that you think I 'Obidalaized' it all right.

Hehehe, you're right, someone would be hard pressed to write the Tuskin raiders scene worse the Lucas did. I stick to my comment I made to another reviewer back in a chapter of 'Human' about Lucas not being unable to write a decent love scene, it applies to his writing in general I think, some one should have told this to George Lucas, and just maybe the Star Wars galaxy we live in would be a lot different:

"Georgie, great idea, fab, just love the 'Star Wars' idea, but please! A 14 year old queen who looks and acts older, falling in love with a nine year old boy? Especially when there is another Jedi there who is closer to her age and so much more appealing! Please! Yeah, I know, you say she doesn't fall in love with him till he's 19, but she doesn't see him for ten years and then BAM she's 24 and a senator and falling for an egotistical power hungry teenager she knew only briefly when he was NINE! I can make lightsabers, wookies and no bathrooms believable but that? Work with me here! ... There is more you say…really? Oh, they have twins…nice, okay and…they what? They kiss…as in tongue in mouth…You sicko! There is sexual tension between siblings? I don't care if they didn't know…that just wrong! Yeah my little Georgie man, your idea is great, but your love stories suck!"

And so would end a very different story. LOL

Do you know what you praise does to my head? It swells it that's what, already I've had to go over a couple notches in my baseball hat and I've feeling I will to deflate it when I go through the door next time…you are just awesome! I am so glad you are enjoying my story!

Hey you know what, I feel a fanfic coming on, based on our little 'Save the Galaxy One Sole At a Time" crusade…boy do I feel a story coming on…hmm maybe that will be my next little project…

TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith: Amazing, boy I loving that word more and more! Separation anxiety is not a good thing to have, I am glad my chapter was able to help ;-) Baby Leia besides her little cameo in this chapter, will only be making appearances soon. Its hard working her into the story…grr, I've been working on but with baby in tow, it strains things. I love writing scenes with her and Obi-Wan, I am a sucker for daddies with babies LOL. So she'll be coming in soon.

Florna Mornigale, my little space age nurse. I must have been really tired when I decied to put that in there…though I still mind it amusing now, and I am not tired… LOL

Thank you, with your faithful agreement I declare 'gladder' to be a word. Yep, with Shakespeare, as an example I think I shall go make lots more words like… like…well I don't know at the moment but I will think of something! LOL

Actually, I wrote that C3PO was with Padmé and Anakin, Artoo staid with Obi-Wan till they were separated during the battle. Artoo hooked up with Threepio during that time, and they ended up on a Clone Trooper carrier with Yoda, and were transported to the Republic Carrier One.

sassy-satine: LOL well I am so glad to be forgiven!

I know, sometimes I too (more often then I should admit) have to send in my mind for a cleaning, polishing, the works! LOL but it's really Ewan's, Johnny's, Collin's, Russell's and darn it, even Vin's fault! There are more, but they I don't want to embarrass myself further LOL I am glad you liked the chapter and I hope you enjoyed this one too!

Well Anakin has found out, it just now waiting to see how he reacts…and I foresee a visit with Palpatine in the near future…oh yes, Anakin and evil dude are going to have a little pow wow very soon….Hmmm