Spoilers: No new spoilers in this chapter.

Disclaimer: It's not mine... *sniff*

A/N: As always, I hope you enjoy this, and please let me know what you think!

Slipping Into Darkness

Chapter 15

As a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan had a very disciplined mind. But that did not stop conflicting emotions from rising within him now. Part of him felt a profound sense of relief, as though some great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He was not sure what had caused this sensation, for much responsibility still rested on him as a Jedi, a soldier, and a general. But for some reason, his future felt different. He felt…free. And he knew that the reason for this change was somehow related to what Anakin had done. But that thought renewed the other emotions that Obi-Wan was attempting to control, chief among them, his worry for his former Padawan.

He knew that Anakin was strong in the Force, and in all truth, he was probably the most powerful Jedi in the history of the Order. But Obi-Wan was no stranger to the strength of the Dark Side. The image of Qui-Gon being struck down by a Sith Lord was forever burned into his mind. He remembered how he and Anakin had been defeated by Dooku on Geonosis, and remembered watching as the Count stood against Master Yoda. And Obi-Wan was still not certain of how strong Sidious was, for surely his power had been even greater than that of the two students he had sent against the Jedi. The battle which Anakin had fought must have been intense, and Obi-Wan was incredibly proud of his former Padawan. But, even though he knew that Anakin had won, if he didn't survive, Obi-Wan would always view this as a hollow victory.

The Jedi was drawn from his thoughts as he approached the room where the comms unit was located. He took a moment to center his mind in the Force, then stepped inside. There, in the middle of the room, was the projected form of Master Yoda.

"Master Obi-Wan, good to see you it is. Been informed, I have, of your defeat of Grievous."

"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan answered. "The battle for Utapau is nearly finished. And it seems our other battles are as well. I have also sensed the darkness lift from the Force." Obi-Wan was unsure of what else to say. There was much he wished to ask, and yet he was not certain that he wanted to know the answers to his questions.

"Spoken with Master Windu, I have, and much there is that has taken place."

Obi-Wan nodded gravely, but remained silent. Yoda seemed to sense his thoughts.

"Fear for your former apprentice, you do."

Obi-Wan allowed himself a small inward smile. Anakin had once told him that Jedi Masters had a talent for stating the obvious. As with many other things Anakin had told him, it had proven to be true. But, unfortunately, that thought only made his worry for the young Knight all the more intense.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan answered finally. "I am worried for him." He almost expected Yoda to remind him of the danger of attachment, but instead, the aged Master's expression grew somber.

"Badly hurt he was. Uncertain, the Healers are, if he will survive."

The cold sensation that had settled in the pit of Obi-Wan's stomach intensified. For a brief moment, the image of Qui-Gon's funeral pyre floated through his mind, but Obi-Wan pushed it away, instead choosing to focus on the present. He needed to understand what Anakin had faced.

"What happened, Master?"

"Showed him, his vision did, that Palpatine was the Sith."

"Palpatine!" Obi-Wan's shock momentarily overcame his worry. Indeed, Obi-Wan had never fully trusted the politician, yet he had never suspected that Palpatine had been a Sith Lord. Even Master Yoda and Master Windu, who had met with the Chancellor on a daily basis, had never known.

A sudden truth pierced Obi-Wan's heart. Palpatine had always shown a great interest in Anakin. What if Palpatine had wished for Anakin to join him? Surely Anakin would never have agreed. Still, the thought filled Obi-Wan with dread, and again made him wonder what horrors Anakin had seen in his vision. But before Obi-Wan could complete the thought, Yoda's next words drew his attention.

"To confront Sidious alone, Anakin chose. But told Senator Amidala of his plans did he, before he left." Yoda placed both hands on his cane, and Obi-Wan recognized it as an expression of great solemnity. "When informed Master Windu was, left he and three other Masters to face the Sith." Yoda looked down. "Killed were Master Fisto, Master Tiin, and Master Kolar." Obi-Wan bowed his own head. That was indeed a great loss to the Order, and to the galaxy. He could only hope that Anakin would not give the Order another reason to mourn.

"Injured and nearly killed as well, was Master Windu. Not certain of everything that happened is he, but watched he did, as Anakin defeated Palpatine." The aged Master moved to look Obi-Wan in the eyes. "Saved the Order, Anakin has."

Obi-Wan felt the truth of Yoda's words. If Anakin had not acted, then the Jedi Order would have been destroyed, and the Republic as well. The galaxy would have had to suffer through dark times, waiting for a new hope to arise. Again, thoughts of the burden Obi-Wan could no longer feel rose foremost in his mind. Anakin had saved him as well, of this he was certain.

But none of this comforted Obi-Wan. The only thing that would bring him peace would be standing by Anakin's side, as the young man had done so many times for him.

"Master, with General Grievous dead, the Confederacy is left without a leader. The battle here is nearly won. With your permission, I will to return to Coruscant."

He waited for the elder Jedi to respond. He wondered if Yoda would refuse, reasoning that Obi-Wan's place was with his troops, serving the Republic, and that his presence would not change Anakin's fate. If that were the case, Obi-Wan knew that he would follow Qui-Gon's example and simply defy the Senior Council member's wishes. But rather than object, Yoda only nodded.

"Permission you have, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master."

"Returning to Coruscant as well, am I. Needed the Jedi will be to maintain peace once word of Palpatine's death spreads." Obi-Wan gave a small smile as he reflected on Yoda's words. Maintaining peace was not a task any Jedi had been given for some time. It was a duty that Obi-Wan would relish. Indeed, the Order owed Anakin more than they could ever repay. He hoped that they would have the chance to thank him. Once more, Yoda seemed to read his thoughts.

"Trust the Force, you must, Obi-Wan. In it's hands now, Anakin is."

Obi-Wan was grateful for the comfort, and realized the wisdom of Yoda's words. He could do nothing to help his friend now. All he could do was trust that things would happen as they were meant to.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan answered, bowing his thanks once again.

"May the Force be with you," Yoda said, offering a bow of his own.

"And with you," Obi-Wan responded.

As the hologram of the ancient Master faded, Obi-Wan could only hope that the Force would be with Anakin as well, for his battle was not yet finished.

Padmé had never felt so unsure of what to do. Even the crisis with the Trade Federation had felt simple by comparison. After she had felt Anakin slip away from her, Padmé had suddenly sensed his return. But now, once again, his presence was fading. He is hurt, she realized. But how badly? Is anyone there to help him?

More than anything else, she longed to go to him, to be by his side. But the promise she had made to him held her where she was. Only for a moment did she consider breaking her word. But as she remembered the look of desperation on her husband's face, she knew she could do nothing to help him, even if it broke her heart.

"Is there anything I might do for you, M'Lady?" Threepio asked.

The poor droid had been incredibly worried since he had found Padmé kneeling on the floor, weeping. Since then, he had refused to leave the room until he knew that she was alright. But Padmé would never be alright until Anakin was back by her side.

"No, thank you, Threepio," she answered.

"Oh, I feel so helpless," she heard the droid say quietly. Helpless, Padmé reflected, was indeed the perfect way to describe her feelings. She placed a hand on her abdomen. Would her husband ever have the chance to see their child?

"Anakin…" Padmé whispered softly, his name escaping her lips as a sob. What made her sadness all the more difficult to bear was that every part of her ached to be comforted by her husband, to feel his strong arms wrap around her, protecting her from the pain. But, he could not be with her now. Would he ever be with her again?

Padmé's heart clenched but no tears fell; she had none left to shed. Instead, she closed her eyes and imagined herself back at the lake on Naboo. She remembered a time before politics and the war, when there was only her and Anakin and the love they had for each other.

In the landscape of her mind, Padmé stood on the balcony where she and Anakin had shared their first kiss. She could feel the warm breeze that came from the lake, and she could hear the sound of the birds singing. She listened to the gentle rustle of the leaves, and the distant crashing of waves. This place indeed held a most precious memory. But it was not here that Anakin had captured her heart, she realized. No, he had done that all those years earlier in Watto's shop. Since that day so long ago on Tatooine, her love for him had only grown. Now it encompassed all of her being, filling her spirit and binding her soul to his. They completed each other, two halves of the same whole. But what would she do if the other half of her heart were forever missing?

The small fragment of peace Padmé had found in her memory quickly faded as reality crashed around her once more. She gave a small, soft cry of protest, then returned to her vigil at the window. There, she was no longer aware of time's passage, and she stood, simply lost in her worry and loneliness. She felt as though she were caught within a nightmare, only this time there would be no waking up, no finding her love laying beside her.

Her hand unconsciously found its way to the japor snippet that hung around her neck. Its comforting weight was normally a welcome symbol of Anakin's love for her, but at this moment, it only served to remind her of his absence. The pain of that void raced through her mind again, paralyzing her with grief.

Why did you have to confront Palpatine, Anakin? Padmé silently asked her husband. Why? Wasn't there another way? She clutched the pendant tighter. There must have been some other way, some way for you not to sacrifice yourself…

Padmé had thought that there were no more tears left within her, but now she found that she had been wrong. Her world grew blurry, and she closed her eyes allowing salty tears to fall down her cheeks. She knew that Anakin was hurt; she could feel it. But if Anakin was losing his life, she could do nothing. This was not an enemy she could defeat. No army could reclaim her husband, no weapon could save him from death.

Without him, life would be empty. She would no longer feel his touch, or see his smile. She would never again hear the sound of his laughter, or lose herself staring into his eyes, the blue depths of which rivaled any lake on Naboo.

"Anakin…" she whispered again. But just as despair nearly overcame her, she felt something else rise within her. It began as a small spark, a barely visible flicker of light. But as she focused on it, it began to grow. As it overtook her, she realized what it was: hope.

When all else seems lost, hope remains. Padmé had spoken those words in a speech after the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo. At the time, she had wanted to console her world and the many people who were then mourning the loss of their loved ones. But now she found that those words comforted her.

Perhaps she could not fight this battle by Anakin's side, but she could choose to remain strong for him and for their child. She could have faith that he would be alright. She could…hope. It did not make the thought of losing him less difficult, but now her despair no longer threatened to overwhelm her.

Her tears stopped falling, and she looked out into the Coruscant night once more. The darkness no longer seemed so invincible.

TBC

A/N: The next part will be up on Monday.

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