Title: Remember 04
Rating: PG
Summary: We make a lot of mistakes in our lives. This is about doing what is right at the end of all things. Anakin/Obi-Wan slash, m/m
A/N: I want to thank all those who read and reviewed. I really appreciate that. The next chapter is the last chapter. I've written this story a couple of months ago so shrugs
"Come on, Padmé," Anakin urged desperately as his wife gave another pained cry that tore through his soul. "Please, hold on…I need you, please…"
She did not seem to hear him as her body shook with every contraction.
"Anakin…I'm so sorry…not strong enough…Anakin…love you…"
His heart faded into despair. Padmé was the strongest woman he had ever known. He was the strongest Force-user ever and he was helpless to save her. He laid a comforting hand on her forehead as her face twisted with pain and agony.
"Padmé, please stay. I need you, Padmé, please don't go, please…" he begged.
His entire body shook from despair, anger, pain – helplessness. He had not learnt enough to save her. Maybe Palpatine could – maybe Palpatine was the only person in the entire universe that could save him like the way he kept on saying. Maybe Obi-Wan was just lying to him. Maybe the Jedi wanted Padmé dead. Maybe he should just kill them all.
A scream from Padmé shook him from his hate-induced thoughts. She gripped his hand tightly as if it was the only connection to the reality.
"If it's a girl…I've always wanted one…name her Leia…" she choked out.
A small baby slipped out silently without crying.
"It's a boy," announced the droid.
A ghost of a distant smile settled on her lips.
"Luke…call him Luke…"
Suddenly, there was another scream and Anakin sensed another life. Twins? Padmé had twins? Another baby slipped out as silent as the first.
"It's a girl," continued the medical droid as it ran a cloth over the newly-born infant to clean her.
A small smile crossed her face but was torn away by a twist of pain. She screamed, her voice filled with gasps and groans of agony. Anakin tried to fight against the onslaught of tears.
"Please, Padmé, please hold on…I need you…we have such beautiful children…they need you…"
"Anakin, Anakin…so sorry, cannot hold on…so sorry…I love you…" she mumbled.
"I love you so much," Anakin choked out as he buried his face in her hair.
She smelled like spring fading into the bitter chill of winter. She smelled like flowers and fresh water on a spring day long gone from his memory.
He felt gentle hands on his shoulders, pulling him away. He shrugged them off, growling dangerously at the interruption. Why would they not leave him alone to wallow in his misery? Had he not suffered enough already?
Obi-Wan had watched the entire scene unfold before his eyes like some tragic story played on the Holonet. He had not spoken at all the entire time Padmé gave birth to twins or Anakin's subsequent breakdown. He did not trust himself enough to speak because all he could feel were emotions storming inside him. It was as if decades of Jedi teachings melted into nothingness.
He buried the pain he had felt when Anakin told Padmé he loved her. He tried to ignore the hurt in his heart when Anakin pushed him away. Recalling Yoda's words, he burnt them into his mind.
Clear your mind must be. Uncertainty brings about doubt. This path only once can you walk.
Obi-Wan swallowed a lump in his throat and turned to a group of soldiers, nodding his head. They rushed forward to practically pry Anakin from the operating table. Anakin fought like a crazed animal, half-mad with despair. It took six men to hold him back.
"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go now before I kill you – every single one of you!"
Obi-Wan closed his eyes before muttering an order for the men to drag Anakin outside of the glass-walled room.
"Padmé is my wife!" Anakin screamed, thrashing about. "You took everything from me! Where is your promise now, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan opened his eyes but did not say anything.
"Where is your promise now?"
Promises.
They were empty manifestations of hope. Jedi never gave promises only assurances but right now, he could not care less about being a Jedi. Right now, only one thing mattered.
Obi-Wan laid down on the operating table beside Padmé. The lights were too bright. Padmé's gasps were getting faster and faster. Anakin's tortured face was too clear from the other side of the glass wall. Everything was so surreal.
He found Padmé's slender fingers and slipped his own fingers through them, pressing them into his palm. Obi-Wan could feel the lingering essence of Anakin's love on her fingers. Anakin loved Padmé.
Obi-Wan felt tears stinging his eyes. He turned to see Anakin through his glazed eyes, seeing him and not seeing him at the same time.
With this, Obi-Wan would gain nothing.
With this, he would lose everything.
Anakin understood nothing as he watched Obi-Wan. Suddenly, he felt a great amount of Force power being drawn into the room. His mouth fell open in surprise.
What the hell was Obi-Wan doing?
"Saving Padmé's life, Obi-Wan is," answered Yoda solemnly as if he had read Anakin's mind.
Anakin turned to look at Yoda in shock. "But…but I thought only the dark side could…"
The old Jedi Master shook his head slowly, leaning on his gimer stick. "Blinded you were by the lure of the dark side. To save a life of another must another life be sacrificed."
"Sacrificed?" Anakin felt the slow impending dread beginning to creep into his mind. His eyes strayed to Obi-Wan.
The Jedi Master's voice was mournful and hollow as he replied.
"Survive this, Obi-Wan will not."