THE DEPARTED

Chapter Three

It was a beautiful day and the view was exhilarating to take in. The sun was shining brightly, creating a warm atmosphere, and the waterfalls combined with the meadow was more than enough to add to the calm that enveloped them. Sabe and Anakin walked side by side, while Padme kept a safe distance behind. She had been attempting to distance herself from Anakin as much as she could, but it was proving to be difficult to keep away from him when they were supposed to protecting Sabe. They had to work together, so being in close proximity was inevitable.

Padme sighed loudly, causing Anakin to quickly turn his head to show his concern. He frowned when she immediately turned away from his gaze. This had been going on ever since early that morning. What had he done wrong? He racked his brain for anything he had done or said that could have upset her but found nothing. He knew he had never been anything but good to her the entire time they had known each other. Besides, she had been acting normal when they had first arrived on Naboo…and she had changed after their talk last night…oh gods! Padme knew about his feelings for her...he bit his lip and cast one more glance before taking a deep breath.

"Padme, you know you don't have to stay back there."

Padme froze and attempted to look at both Anakin, who was staring at her expectantly, and Sabe, who was less then thrilled at this new development. Padme quickly regained her composure and shook her head.

"No, it's alright, Anakin. I'm fine back here."

He nodded sadly and turned back to continue his walk, his hands folded behind his back in deep thought. It wasn't supposed to be like this between them. To be honest, he hadn't wanted anything to change and now, because he couldn't keep his emotions in check, it had changed drastically.

Padme rubbed her aching temples and couldn't help but feel guilty. He didn't deserve to be treated this way. After all, he didn't even know why she was behaving this way. He had always been there when she needed him and this was how she repaid him. She could sense his feelings towards her but knew she couldn't fault him because she shared those feelings. But nothing could ever come from it and he had to know that.

Sabe's eyes shifted from Anakin to Padme and she slowly realized what was going on. She hated to admit it, but it was more than obvious that Anakin and Padme were in love. But it was also more than obvious that Padme wanted nothing to do with Anakin….and that wasn't fair. Anakin deserved someone who could love him completely, someone… like her. She quickly cast an angry glance at Padme before sending a sweet smile in Anakin's direction. Padme always had what she wanted and this time was no exception.

The day dragged on with an awkward silence between Anakin and Padme. Sabe tried several times to get Anakin to talk to her, but he wasn't in the mood for talking. Disappointed, Sabe finally gave up and suggested that they walk back to the Retreat, which neither Jedi objected to.

Once they had arrived back at the Retreat, Padme silently escorted Sabe to her rooms, leaving Anakin alone with his thoughts.

Padme and Sabe walked side by side, neither one really knowing what to say to the other. It was an awkward silence and the tension between them was so thick one could reach out and touch it. Padme sighed in defeat, knowing full well that her old friend was upset and that it obviously had something to do with Anakin.

"Sabe, why have things changed so much between us?"

Sabe paused, looked at Padme for a few moments then continued walking. Padme had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at Sabe's dramatic display, and decided it was more practical to talk to her and possibly get some answers from her then to join in Sabe's game.

"Will you talk to me, please?"

When Sabe refused to respond, Padme was left with no choice but to grab Sabe by the arm and force her to look her. "Sabe…this ridiculous. What's going on? We used to be such good friends. We could always tell each other everything…now, I feel like I don't even know you."

Sabe cleared her throat meaningfully before answering. "Maybe that's because you don't."

Padme's brow furrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what you think it means. It's been about ten years since we've actually sat down and had a conversation and now that you're here, you just expect everything to be like it was?"

Padme shook her head quickly. "No, that's not what I mean. I'm saying that you're different than how you used to be. You never used to do the things you're doing now."

"Such as?"

Padme sighed in defeat and released her grip on Sabe's arm. "Like chasing after Anakin."

Sabe's face fell into a look of such anger and betrayal that Padme had to take a step back in shock. "You don't know what you're talking about. Besides, I think I'm the one that should be saying this to you."

Padme stared at her in shock; unable to comprehend that Sabe might know her innermost thoughts. "I don't know what you mean."

Sabe laughed mercilessly. "Yes you do. I see the way you look at him, Master Naberrie. You have got to be the biggest hypocrite I've ever met in my life. What was it…two, maybe three days ago, you were the one lecturing me about the Jedi Code and here you are now, pining away for him like a lovesick teenager. You're the Jedi, Padme! You're the one that can't have him!"

Padme nodded her head and looked carefully at Sabe. "You're right. I can't have him. But neither can you. He would be expelled from the Order, Sabe. Is that what you really want? For him to have to give up his dream of being a Jedi, just to be with you?"

"So you're admitting you love Anakin."

"No, I'm saying that the Code forbids attachments, which is why Anakin and I can't act on any feelings we have for anyone. Don't try to ruin his life, Sabe. He's better than that and one day, he's going to be the greatest Jedi that ever lived. Please don't ruin that for him."

Sabe looked away and after a few silent moments, continued walking back to her bedroom with Padme keeping a safe distance behind her.

"Congratulations, Anakin, you're doing a fine job so far."

Anakin grinned at his Master and leaned back in his chair proudly. "Yeah, I already knew that, Master. Pretty soon, I'm not going to have to worry about you anymore."

Obi-Wan laughed good-naturedly and shook his head in feigned annoyance. "We'll see about that, my very young and naïve padawan."

That caused another round of laughter between the two men. However, once the laughter subsided, Anakin's expression turned into a more serious one.

"Master, there's something I have to ask you. I don't really know how to say it, so I'll just come out with it…are there any exceptions to the attachment rule? I mean…is there a clause of some kind, an amendment, anything?"

Obi-Wan stared at his padawan's image in shock and leaned forward slightly. "Are you in some kind of trouble, Anakin? If you are, you can tell me and I'll help you any way I can."

Anakin quickly shook his head. "No, no, no…that's not what I meant…I didn't get anyone…no, I'm not in that kind of trouble. I just want to know. That's all."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, still trying to register Anakin's question. After a few moments of awkward silence, he finally remembered that he still had to answer Anakin's question.

"Well…there aren't any amendments but…there is one 'exception'. Jedi aren't expected to be celibate, Anakin. You can have…sex…if you choose to; it's just that that act can't be a result of an attachment."

"You mean love?"

"Yes."

"That's not good enough." Anakin whispered, almost inaudibly, but Obi-Wan heard it and his eyebrows raised slightly.

"Anakin…what is this all about?"

Anakin quickly looked away from his Master's image and took a deep breath. "It's not what you think and it's really not important. I just needed to know for sure."

Obi-Wan bit his lip in thought and nodded slowly. "Do you have any other questions?"

Anakin shook his head, causing Obi-Wan to nod. "Alright, Anakin. I'll let you go, then. Just remember that I'm here and that you can talk to me. Alright?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good. May the Force be with you, Anakin."

"And you, Master."

Obi-Wan leaned forward and switched off the monitor then sat back in his chair in deep thought. It was plainly obvious that Anakin was keeping something from him. And he had a sinking feeling that it had a great deal to do with a certain Senator of Naboo.

Anakin turned off the monitor and sighed deeply. Well, that was it then. There was nothing he could do. He would just have to push away his feelings, as hard as that was going to be, but he had to do it.

He sighed again and began to pace around the room. He and Padme were going to have to have a long discussion about what they were going to do. And that, he regretfully realized, would also have to involve admitting that he had feelings for her. This was not going to be easy at all.

Suddenly, his head snapped up at the sound of blaster fire and shrill screaming. Padme's image quickly passed through his mind and without further hesitation, Anakin was out the room and sprinting to the other side of the Retreat.