As usual, sorry for the delay. This is a short chapter, but I felt it had a nice break to it. The next one will be posted very soon, hopefully, and yes, it will feature the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Thank you in advance, of course, to everyone who has and will take valuable time out of their lives to read this story. I sincerely appreciate your interest.
Chapter 3
For now, he ignored the gnawing feeling in the deepest pits of his heart; instead, Anakin strove to enjoy the simple pleasures of the hard breeze blowing across his face and the magnificent vistas of the planet speeding by him as he raced back home. Such pleasures, he knew would soon become distant memories.
Anakin had already made up his mind. He would not introduce the unmitigated pain and suffering of the Galaxy to a planet that hat given him and his wife so much peace.
And what of his wife? Like him, Padme had been dealt many traumatic blows in the weeks before their arrival here. The seven years spent here have truly been rehabilitating to her mindset, but was she really strong enough leave their sanctuary and return to a world that will remind her every constant moment what it took away from her?
Anakin still did not have a clue as to his former Master's intentions and purposes for visiting, but it did not matter to him. Even if it was purely a social visit, the very basic fact that someone other than him had been able to discover this planet meant that it was in potential jeopardy. And Anakin knew that he would do anything to save this beloved haven, even if it meant leaving it.
He gazed ahead into the sky. It was disorienting to him sometimes to have been on the same planet for so long. Sometimes it was easy to forget that there was the entire rest of the world out there beyond the horizon, a Galaxy that seemed to emanate darker and darker by the day. Even without the haunting specter of his past, Anakin shuddered at the thought of having to return to such a foreboding place. Perhaps after this was all over, he and Padme would be able to again find a new home for themselves, away from the troubles of the civilized world. It frustrated him to some degree that his meditations offered him no new insight on what was in store for them. The future was as dark as a bright sunny day and as cloudy as the clear night sky.
Ani, a soft voiced called to him inside his head. Where are you?
Almost home, Angel. He spoke back to her through the bond that they had developed in their years together, a bond that allowed them to share completely with one another their thoughts and feelings. Are you getting worried?
Not worried, necessarily. Just a little jumpy, I guess. I hate having to wait by myself.
Padme… Anakin hesitated, wondering whether or not this was the right context to broach the subject to his wife. To his simultaneous horror and relief, she immediately picked up on what was troubling him.
We have to leave, don't we? Because of Obi-Wan.
Yes, Angel. I'm so sorry, but the fact that Obi-Wan can find this place means that others can too. And the only reason they would want to look would be to find us.
It was at this moment that his speeder pulled up to their house. Padme, sensing that he was home, ran outside immediately to meet her husband in a desperate hug.
"Promise me," she pleaded as she rested her head on his shoulder, sobbing gently. "I don't care that we have to leave…but just promise me that we won't go back to Naboo."
"I promise, Padme." In his heart, he made a vow never to return to his own native planet of Tatooine as well.
She sniffled and pulled her head up to look her husband in the eye.
"Is Obi-Wan almost here? Can you still feel him?"
"Yes."
"When will he arrive?"
"I don't know. The Force is very cloudy, very elusive. All I know is that he will be here soon."
"Let's forget the saber practice, then. I want to just enjoy my last day here, with my husband."
"Whatever you wish, Padme."
They spent the day with a quick hike up the mountain behind their home, following a small creek until they came upon a pristine alpine lake at the foot of a majestic, rocky peak. Out of all the places they had seen on the planet, this lake was Padme's favorite, for its clear blue waters reflected the exact sight she saw when she gazed into her husband's eyes. They picnicked in the meadow for lunch and exercised by chasing each other through the nearby woods.
Tired and sweaty from the workout, the couple swam and bathed themselves in the lake. As it always was with their visits, the day ended with Anakin and Padme racing through the waters, seeing who could best the other in speed. Though it was Padme who had to teach Anakin how to swim when they first arrived, the gifted former Jedi had quickly caught on to the skill and always threw the race so that his wife would savor the triumph, however false, of winning.
The lake was normally as gentle and still as the planet itself, but today a strong wind blew across the mountains and ran waves through the surface of the water. As they got dressed and headed back to the house, Padme took one last longing look at her favorite spot, knowing that she would never see it again. Then, with an act of determined resolve, she cut herself loose from all the pleasant memories of the place and readied herself for her still uncertain future.
It was after they ate dinner that they heard the foreign sounds of a spaceship landing. The couple calmly walked outside, hand holding hand, to meet their guest.
