A/N: SNOW DAY! Well, I'd better update before I go out and play in the snow…I slept until about noon…Anyway, here we are at Revenge of the Sith (Thank the Lord. I FINALLY get to make Ani evil.) and thus, it begins…

Chapter 9: Secret Passion

For three years, Padmé and I enjoyed our happy lives together in secret. It was hard for the both of us, with me coming back to Coruscant for less than a week, and then off again for a month in order to fight in the war. The worst part was my last day spent with Padmé, before I had to leave again, because I always knew the next day, Padmé would be gone from my arms…

I missed her so much during those times. I thought about her constantly, sending messages through when I could, but trying to keep them vague, in case anyone else got them. I admit, I was always nervous and jealous, secretly fearing that another would come to try to steal Padmé away from me.

But every time I came home, and I was greeted with her warm smile, her tender kisses, I knew my fears were not justified. She only wanted me, Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight.

That thought used to make me laugh in happiness. Jedi Knight. A little less than sixth months after I married Padmé, I finally became a Jedi.

And so both my childhood dreams came true. I was a Jedi, and I had Padmé. Everything had come full circle.

I had always thought that when I had achieved those things, the struggle would end. But it didn't. There was still a war going on. And until that war was over, my life was filled with hardship. It would follow the same cycle; finally come home after weeks of being away, fighting in the war like the Jedi I was supposed to be, spending some time with Padmé and settling into what my life should have been, only to be called back to the Jedi council with another threat, and to regretfully leave Padmé to fight in the war again.

No matter how much I disliked being pulled away from the arms of my beloved because of Jedi "duty", I knew there was no other choice. That was the risk I had to take with leading a double life. The risk of loving in secret.

But I hated it. I hated every minute of having to leave her, angry at the Jedi for making me leave her. Padmé would try to calm me, telling me that it was for the best, because ending this war would make it better for us, but a small part of me didn't listen.

A small part of me hated the Jedi for not letting me live in peace with Padmé.

And that's when I decided that when the war was over, I'd tell the Jedi about us. I couldn't stand being drawn away from her anymore, I couldn't stand her face, looking like she was about to cry, the minute I told her I had to leave again. And I couldn't stand being torn from her, she being the only one that I could fully put trust in.

If no one else did, Obi-Wan certainly sensed that I was missing someone back in Coruscant. He was always the first to know when I was upset. He would remind me that attachment and possession was forbidden, and I would reply that I knew. But inside, I didn't care. I had never cared.

During those times, Obi-Wan and I grew closer. We went from a father/son relationship to almost like brothers. We were the best of friends, I guess. Always watching each other's back and going on missions together, like when I was his Padawan. Except it was different. I was his equal.

But, I never told him about Padmé.

Even though he was my best friend, my mentor, I knew I could not tell him. He was too much stuck in the Jedi ways, he would have told, he would have gotten me expelled. I didn't risk it, even though Padmé told me it might be better if we did tell him. I didn't want to tell him. Obi-Wan would be appalled, for sure, but I also wanted to keep this secret to myself.

I didn't want to take any chances. The Jedi were too unforgiving. I knew there was no hope of me negotiating with them. They wouldn't negotiate. They only liked getting what they wanted, so long as it agreed with the "Code."

I was a Jedi, and I liked being a Jedi, but I didn't like how stubborn most Jedi were in their ways, including Obi-Wan.

Even though I didn't like some of the codes the Jedi imposed, I had to keep with the order. For that time, at least. It was the only way the war could end. During those three years, I had risen to a higher status, becoming the "Hero with no Fear". I knew, if I could end this war…then I could go and live with Padmé. In peace.

The last time I left, I dearly wish I didn't have to go. I had only been back in Coruscant a week after a two and a half-month mission. And then I would have to leave for the Outer Rim, for who-knows-how long.

More than ever, I wanted to stay with Padmé. She wasn't feeling well, and was visibly showing signs of sickness. I supposed it was because of all the stress put on our lives. She absolutely refused to go get it checked out, which puzzled me. But, with a little bit of inducing, I finally got her to agree to it if the sickness remained when I got back.

It looked to me that she maybe was a bit…afraid of finding out what it was, which made me wonder what exactly it was that she was worried about.

Padmé promised me she would see me off, but she couldn't come, because she was sick again. At least I knew she was in the care 3PO and Dormé, who promised me they would look after her.

Still worried, I even asked Obi-Wan if he thought that something serious was wrong with "Senator Amidala". But Obi-Wan said I shouldn't worry. He thought it might have been a bout of the Alderaanian Flu, nothing to fret about.

But I couldn't help but lose sleep over it. Something told me it wasn't just a bad case of the Alderaanian Flu, that it might be something else…

And, five months later, I was about to learn what it was…

I had finally been allowed to come back to Coruscant, after five months of longing for Padmé. I didn't have to worry about her being sick anymore. A month later she told me it had gone away. But the time apart nearly killed us. I couldn't hide my feelings anymore, all the time I would dream of the moment when I finally had her back in my arms again.

The chancellor had been kidnapped, and the council appointed Obi-Wan and I to lead the attack. I can't really say it was easy, after all, the attack nearly failed several times, but luck seemed to be on our side as Obi-Wan and I infiltrated the new general of the Separatists, General Grievous's starship.

When we finally found the Chancellor, he was being held hostage. By Count Dooku. I could feel my blood raging when I once again met up with this former enemy. I felt even more anger when he mocked me, thinking I was the same, inexperienced, boy he had met three years ago.

I'll show him! And more than anything, I wanted to kill him. When I touched my lightsaber with my mechanical hand, I remembered the pain I went through, pain because of him. How I hated him!

As I fought, I felt the hatred rise within me. This man was responsible for the Separatists! He was responsible for the war! He had killed so many Jedi! He was the reasons why Padmé and I couldn't live in peace!

But when he mocked me about my anger and my hatred, I had to calm it. Though my emotions begged to be used, I couldn't use them. That was the mark of a Sith, one who used his emotions to his advantages. And I wasn't going to give in to beat someone as insignificant as him. One could have anger, but could not use it. That only led to terrible things…

Count Dooku was less skilled then I had remembered. I defeated him easily and was planning on holding him prisoner. I had captured him…I had ended the war…

"Kill him!" The Chancellor told me.

I didn't want to. It was not the Jedi way. But he kept insisting, and then my anger came back. Dooku was responsible for all my pain…all my suffering…why Padmé was being worn out with stress…he was the cause of all this…He caused everything!

I killed him.

Instantly, I felt an empty hole in my heart. I shouldn't have done it. Jedi did not kill unarmed prisoners, they let them live. I shouldn't have done it…But the Chancellor assured me it was all right. I had only wanted revenge.

But the thought stuck out at me like a sore thumb. Jedi never took revenge…

The rest of the rescue consisted of making things up as we went, and there were several narrow misses that could have led to our deaths. The point is, we made it back.

And I was a hero again.

But that didn't matter. All that mattered was I would see Padmé again.

I had just gotten back, and was chatting with Senator Organa, when I saw a shadowy figure behind a column. I didn't even need to feel the presence before I knew who it was. And I could not keep myself from her any longer.

"Excuse me," I asked him.

"Certainly." He replied, walking away. I stopped, and waited for him to get a distance away, before I ran into her warm, loving arms.

I wrapped my arms around her, taking in the happiness I felt every time I was around her. I kissed her, not wasting any time in taking back what we had missed over five months. "Oh, Anakin…" she sighed, in my arms. "Thank goodness your back!"

"I missed you, Padmé." I whispered, holding her closer, feeling the world melt away as I stood there, with her. Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing mattered as long as I was with her.

When we stepped back, and got a look at each other's faces, our hearts beating at the same rhythm, I realized she hadn't changed a bit, though she looked a little more frightened. "There were whispers…" she said, shivering a little. "That…you've been killed—"

I tried to calm her down. Smiling, I replied, "I'm alright…It feels like we've been apart for a lifetime." I moved closer, wanting nothing but to feel the passion of our love once more. I lowered my voice to a whisper. "And it might have been. If the Chancellor hadn't been kidnapped, I don't think they would have ever brought me back from the Outer Rim sieges." I tried to kiss her, but Padmé stepped back.

"No, wait, not here…" She was frightened again. This was odd. Padmé was never frightened of showing our love. But there was nothing to fear. We were together now, why should the place or time matter?

"Yes, here!" I said, annoyed by hear fear over a little danger. "I'm tired of all this deception! I don't care if the council knows we're married…" I tried to kiss her again, but she would have none of it.

But this frightened her even more. My recklessness frightened her. "Anakin, don't say things like that!" She didn't like the risk we took with our secret. I knew, she was the smart and more level headed then I was.. I sighed as she melted in my arms, leaning against me.

I suddenly felt her trembling. She was afraid, that I could tell…but there was something more…I remembered how sick she was when I left. Had it come back again. "Are you all right?" I said, looking at her. "You're trembling."

Padmé looked down. Like there was something she didn't want to tell me. I knew there was something she didn't want to tell me. And I couldn't have that. I hated when she kept secrets from me. And I knew, this secret was something she didn't want me to find out, something that she was worried about telling me.

So I jumped to the other conclusion, that there was another. "What's going on?" I demanded, perhaps a little bit too forcefully.

She took a small breath, not knowing how to break it too me. "Something wonderful has happened…" she said, not all together convincing.

My brain was puzzled by that. How could she be frightened, if it was something wonderful? I couldn't think of the possibilities, I waited for her answer.

We stared at each other, eye to I, with me wishing more than ever I could just enter her mind and know what it was. But of course, as she had proved, she wasn't one of the weak minded. "Ani…" she said slowly, leaving me hanging. "I'm pregnant."

There was a silence. I was completely stunned, my breath caught in my chest while I tried to process this information. Pregnant…that means there's a baby…and if there's a baby…then that means…that means…

And it hit me. I was going to be a father. Padmé was going to be a mother. We were both going to be parents, parents to a new life that we had created.

It all fit into place in my head as I blinked and tried to release the shock. That's why she was sick…that's what she was nervous about…

I still didn't know what to say. What could I say? I wasn't even sure if I could say anything, I was so shocked. "That's…" I said, noticing Padmé was looking worried over my reaction.

But there was nothing to be worried about. She had given me the greatest gift…I was going to be a father!

I smiled, laughing. "That's wonderful!"

She couldn't release her fear that easily. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"Do?" I continued smiling, without being able to pull it off my face, for sheer happiness. "We're not going to do anything about it, all right?" A small smile appeared on her face. "This is a happy moment."

I pulled her closer. "The happiest moment of my life!" And I had meant it.

And we fell back into each other's arms with a passionate embrace. There was only one thought going through my head. I'm going to be a father…

Oh, if only things could have worked out so smoothly.

A/N: As you can see, I'm starting to make Ani EVIL!11one!1 The point of view of an evil person is fun. Since they never see themselves as evil, they see the world as evil and screwing them over…

But in the case of Anakin, I guess that was partially true…