Thank you all for being so faithful in your reviews! I really appreciate it! I'm afraid that Obi-Wan does not make an appearance in this chapter. (Sobs) This one is filled with Padme/Anakin angst. As I said before, except for my AU differences, the plot and timeline of this section of the story will be pretty much the same as the ROTS novel. So, you can fill in the missing events (Obi-Wan killing Grievous, Anakin killing the Jedi at the Temple, etc) with those parts from the novel.

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Anakin strode into Padme's apartment and paused in the living area. He could sense a hint of Obi-Wan's Force signature in the room. Instantly angry and jealous, he stalked down the hallway towards her room. He found his wife sitting at her vanity. She looked pale and withdrawn. "Why was Obi-Wan here?"

Padme had been dreading, even fearing this moment. "He came because I asked him to." Technically that was true.

Anakin watched as Padme carefully stood up. His eyes widened as a realization dawned. "You told him about us, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I'm worried about you, Anakin. You're obsessed with your dreams about my death!"

"Why did you do that, Padme? He looked at me like he didn't even know me!" Anakin walked towards one of her windows and sat down on the ledge. "What did he say?"

"At first he didn't really know what to say. He was devastated." Padme thought that Anakin looked like a lost child – so vulnerable. "He wants to talk things over with you before he makes any decisions about what to do."

Anakin snorted. "He could have gone against the Council for once in his life and talked to me this morning!"

"Anakin, he has the chance to end the war if he destroys General Grievous! He couldn't put that off!"

"That's a BIG 'if.' The Council, in all of their wisdom, have probably sent Obi-Wan to his death because they didn't send me with him!"

"Do you really have so little faith in Obi-Wan's abilities?"

"He's not as good a swordsman as I am. I've saved his life ten times!"

Padme tried to stamp down her growing irritation. "Has he ever saved your life?"

"Well,…yes."

"Have you kept a running tally of those?"

"That doesn't matter! The fact is that I should be with him! He'll need me on this one."

"The Council seem quite certain that Obi-Wan is the man to bring Grievous down."

"The Council," Anakin scoffed. "What do they know except how to hoard power?"

Padme was beginning to wonder if Anakin had lost his mind! "What are you talking about?"

"The Chancellor is convinced that the Council is going to try and wrest control of the Republic away from him. I'm beginning to agree with him."

Padme gaped at her husband. "The Council SERVES the Republic! They would never seek to control it! And as for wresting control away from those who should have it, the Chancellor is the one who's guilty of that!"

"Don't start that again!"

"It's the truth! The Chancellor has completely blinded you! You're turning your back on the Jedi!"

"No, it's they who have turned their backs on me!"

"The Jedi took you in and trained you, despite their misgivings, going against precedence in doing so. They didn't have to do that!"

"They took me in begrudgingly. They don't trust me! They never have! They wouldn't make me a Master because they fear me! They fear my power!"

"Mastership is something that is earned, not given away by the Chancellor!"

Anakin jumped up, eyes aflame. "I HAVE earned it!"

Padme wasn't going to let Anakin's growing anger intimidate her. He needed a heavy dose of reality! "What have you done to earn it, Anakin? Tell me."

"I've proved myself over and over in battle. The Republic would have lost this war by now if it weren't for me! I have more power than any Jedi on the Council could hope to have!"

"Power is only one of the many qualifications necessary for Mastership. The most important qualities are emotional control, discipline, wisdom and experience." None of which you have.

"What do you know about it?" Anakin couldn't believe Padme was talking to him this way! Why didn't she understand?

"I asked Master Yoda about it while I was at the Temple."

Anakin continued as though Padme had never spoken. "They're jealous of me!"

"Does that include Obi-Wan? Is he jealous of you? Has HE ever demonstrated a lack of trust in you?"

That calmed Anakin down a bit. "No, not until this morning." He moaned as he flopped down on the bed. "Oh, why did you have to tell him?"

Padme placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. "He can help you, Anakin. I know he can. You NEED him." Padme regretted those last words the instant they left her mouth.

That hit a nerve in Anakin. "What do you mean, 'I need him?'"

She had already spoken the words, so Padme figured she might as well back them up. "You need him, Anakin, because he's your foundation, your anchor. You depend on him more than I think you realize."

Deep down, Anakin knew the truth of her words…and his resentment flared. He hated being so dependent on Obi-Wan, when for so long he had thought himself to be extremely independent. It also irritated him that it was so obvious to Padme. Had anyone else noticed? Had Obi-Wan? "What makes you say that?"

Padme sat down next to Anakin on the bed. "Whenever you're not around him, you question your destiny, your purpose, your values – as you're doing now. You are more at ease, more at peace when you are with him. And you get panicky at the thought of losing him."

Anakin did not want to hear anymore! He would prove to Padme and to himself that he didn't need Obi-Wan! "That's going to change from this moment forward. I will stand on my own two feet!"

Why did that thought scare Padme more than his dependence? "Please talk to Obi-Wan about your dreams. Please don't do anything without talking with him first!"

"I don't need his help with this! I have other options. Besides, he's BUSY right now." Bitterness crept into Anakin's voice.

"What options? Please tell me they don't involve Palpatine!"

Anakin jumped to his feet. "Will you get off of him, already?"

"The more time you spend with the Chancellor, the more cynical you become about the Jedi. He's brainwashing you, Anakin! Can't you see that?"

"He's my friend! How dare you accuse him of that!"

Anakin's barely controlled fury was starting to scare Padme, but she was sick and tired of hearing him defend Palpatine. "He's blinded you, Anakin."

"I get enough of this from Obi-Wan and the Council! I don't need it from you, too! They're using me to spy on the Chancellor! They're committing treason! Why aren't you upset about that?"

Padme stood up as quickly as her oversized belly would allow. "Why aren't YOU upset about the Chancellor using you to spy on the Council? Why is it so wrong when the Council does it, but okay when the Chancellor does it?"

That gave Anakin pause. "Well, the Chancellor is doing what he thinks is best for the Republic."

Padme spoke quietly, but with conviction. "The Jedi are doing what they think is best for the Republic."

Anakin's eyes narrowed as he stared down at his wife. "So, you're taking their side over mine?"

"No, I'm taking their side over the Chancellor's."

Anakin backed away from Padme. He couldn't believe this was happening! He had lost the support of both Obi-Wan AND Padme? He turned quickly and left her room. Anakin ignored Padme's cries for him to stay. He had only one ally in this galaxy now, only one who truly understood him.

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Padme stared at the smoke cloud billowing up from the Jedi Temple. It looked like the whole place was up in flames! What could be happening? There was no mention of it on the news, which was unbelievable! Every hair on the back of Padme's neck was standing on end and her stomach was in knots. Everything felt wrong…dark. Padme said a silent prayer for all of the Jedi in the Temple, especially the children. Her thoughts turned to Obi-Wan. Was he okay?

Padme's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a speeder landing. She moved quickly to greet her husband. He looked…different. "Anakin, what is going on? What's happening at the Temple?"

"Nothing that you need to worry about."

"I AM worried! It looks like the whole place is on fire! What is going on?"

"A rebellion has been squashed. Just as the Chancellor thought, the Jedi were trying to take over the Republic."

"That's a lie and you know it!" Why was Anakin talking about the Jedi like they were the enemy?

"It is not a lie! I saw Mace Windu try to murder the Chancellor with my own eyes!"

Mace Windu, a murderer? Padme didn't believe that for a minute. "What did the Chancellor do to provoke Mace?"

"Nothing!" Anakin growled in disgust. "You would take Windu's side! Would it sadden you to know that he died for his treachery?" A feral smile crept up his face. "All the Jedi will pay for their treason."

Mace was dead? Padme backed away from this stranger in her husband's body. Obi-Wan! "But YOU are a Jedi!"

"Not anymore, I'm not. I am a loyalist to the Republic and to the Chancellor."

"You can't be both a loyalist to the Republic and to Palpatine!"

"Be careful what you say, Padme. That could be considered treason."

The coldness in Anakin's voice chilled Padme to the bone. "What about Obi-Wan? Is he a 'traitor,' too?"

Anakin's eyes glowed. "All Jedi are traitors, especially those who were on the Council."

Padme back away again. Were? "Is Obi-Wan dead?" She could barely utter the words.

"I don't know. All the Jedi traitors across the galaxy are being dealt with by their clone troopers."

Padme's stomach lurched. She cupped her hand over her mouth, willing herself not to get sick. Obi-Wan! It couldn't be true! This could NOT be her husband saying these things! This could not be Anakin talking so coldly about his best friend's death!

"You stay here. I have some business to take care on Mustafar. It shouldn't take too long."

"But I've been called to a special meeting of the senate," Padme choked out.

"Fine. But don't attempt to go anywhere near the Temple. To do so would be to risk your life."

Padme fell back onto her sofa after Anakin left. It felt like the entire galaxy was being ripped apart – and with it her heart! She put her face in her hands and sobbed. "Obi-Wan!"