Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. All characters and likenesses belong to LFL.
AN: Here's chapter 4! Again, thanks for all the great reviews!
A Matter of Trust
Chapter 4: Love Knows no Boundaries
Obi-Wan bowed before the council members. Present were Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Kit Fisto, Adi Gallia, Plo Koon and the newest member of the council, Luminara Unduli. Luminara was selected to replace Stass Allie, who was killed when the Chancellor was abducted, for she had been assigned to protect him.
"The mission was successful. But Chancellor Palpatine informed me that General Grevious is still at large," Mace Windu began.
"Yes, thanks to Anakin, we were able to capture Count Dooku. However, for unknown reasons, the Count was killed by General Grevious," Obi-Wan reported.
"Wanted to keep secret what Dooku knew, the Dark Lord did. Assume we must, that Dooku was but the apprentice," Yoda said.
"I agree master Yoda. Grevious said something to that effect just before he killed him. He then launched all the escape pods to prevent our survival. Fortunately, we are lucky Anakin was able to pilot what was left of the ship and land us safely," Obi-Wan replied.
"Where is Anakin now?" Mace asked. Obi-Wan sighed.
"That is something we must discuss masters. Despite Anakin's excellent performance of his duties, I must report that he has confessed to breaking the code," Obi-Wan began.
"How so?" Adi Gallia asked.
"He has formed an attachment and has been married to Senator Amidala for three years," Obi-Wan stated. The council was stunned to silence and Obi-Wan caught sight of Adi Gallia shaking her head in dismay. She had never liked Anakin at all.
"Have you discussed the danger of this with Anakin?" Master Tiin asked.
"Yes master, but Anakin claims the they love each other and that he will not leave her," Obi-Wan replied.
"Then he should be expelled," Adi Gallia suggested.
"But he still may be the chosen one," Luminara argued.
"How can he be? He is far too attached and far too emotional to be a true Jedi," Adi replied.
"I will say masters, that Anakin performed his duties extremely well on the Imperial Hand. The presence of Senator Amidala seemed to ground him and gave him focus. His recklessness was dampened by his concern for her safety," Obi-Wan said.
"But he has broken the code, which warrants expulsion from the order," Adi argued.
"Obi-Wan has suggested that Anakin's attachment has aided him in a positive manner. Perhaps, non-attachment is the wrong path for young Skywalker," Kit Fisto spoke up.
"I'm inclined to agree with Adi, the code is not to be taken lightly," Mace interjected.
"I believe I am not the best to judge anyone on this," Ki-Adi Mundi spoke.
"Master Mundi, your situation is completely different than Skywalker's," Adi replied, referring to Master Mundi's exemption from this particular part of the code.
"Master Yoda, what do you think?" Mace asked. Yoda's ears twitched.
"Dangerous attachment can be. Council them both you must Obi-Wan. Try and convince them separating would be for the best. If refuse they do, make a decision on Skywalker's future in the order we must," Yoda said.
"Meet with them in the morning Obi-Wan. We will convene for another meeting on this matter at the same time tomorrow evening," Mace said.
"Master, before we dismiss, may I make a suggestion?" Luminara asked.
"Of course master Unduli," Mace replied.
"My former padawan, Barriss Offee is a good friend of Anakin's. Perhaps she could accompany Master Obi-Wan tomorrow and talk to Anakin," Luminara suggested.
"Good idea. Obi-Wan, seek out Barriss and explain the situation to her. Then, have her accompany you tomorrow morning," Mace ordered. Obi-Wan bowed.
"Yes master," Obi-Wan replied.
Anakin watched her with a smile, as she brushed out her beautiful curls. She was dressed in a purple nightgown, revealing the bulge in her stomach. She was so beautiful and he sometimes felt that he didn't deserve her. His sudden frown did not go unnoticed by his beloved.
"Ani, what's wrong?" she asked softly. He gave her a half smile.
"It's nothing," he replied.
"Don't shut me out, I want to help you," Padme pleaded. He turned to her, tears welling in his eyes. She ran her hands up his smooth chest and rested them on his shoulders.
"I would have killed him. He was unarmed and I would have killed him if you hadn't stopped me," Anakin said. She held him tightly, as he buried his face in the nape of her neck, as sobs began to rack his broad shoulders.
"What is wrong with me Padme? How can you even stand to look at me?" Anakin cried. He brought his face up to hers where her chocolate orbs met his ocean blue pools. She gently swiped his tears away with her thumbs, as she held his face in her hands.
"I love you Anakin Skywalker. That will never change," she stated, as she brushed his shaggy curls from his eyes.
"But my anger, why can't I seem to control it," he asked, frustrated.
Padme swallowed hard and slowly stood up. She walked over to retrieve a datapad from her desk drawer.
"There's something I need to show you Ani. Something that I wasn't supposed to find and something that will make you very angry. It will hurt you and I don't want to show you, but you have to know. You have to know so you can begin to heal and take control of your anger," Padme said, as she turned on the datapad and handed it to him...
Anakin sat there, staring numbly at the datapad. Tears silently streamed down his cheeks. Disbelief, sadness, and anger were all emotions that were passing over his handsome features. Padme clutched his hands in hers, tears sliding down her cheeks as well.
"I stumbled upon this just the other night and it made me sick. I...I couldn't believe that...someone would do that to you," Padme cried, as she hugged him close and cried.
"Why...why would they do this...whoever it was?" Anakin said, his jaw clenched in anger.
"I think...I think it could have been the Sith," she replied. Anakin's eyes widened, as he remembered back to that night. It was like a dark blanket had covered him. Something inside of him caused him to snap. It told him to kill those who had killed his mother, and not to just stop there, but to kill the entire village. His anger had erupted and he had killed in cold blood. He had touched the dark side and used it to kill that night. Someone had tried to turn him to the dark side and they would have succeeded had Padme not pulled him back. Suddenly, he remembered something that Obi-Wan had told him after Geonosis.
"I...I remember something Obi-Wan said that Dooku told him on Geonosis," Anakin said, finally finding his voice again.
"What was it?" Padme asked.
"Dooku told him that the senate was under the control of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious. But Obi-Wan didn't believe him and neither did the council. Padme's jaw dropped at the prospect that the council had just ignored such a threat without further investigation. She had always thought the Jedi council members to be wiser than that.
"I would have thought the Jedi would have taken a statement like that more seriously," Padme replied. Anakin scoffed.
"The council thinks that they would be able to sense something like that, even though Master Yoda always admits that the dark side clouds everything," Anakin replied.
"What should we do?" Padme asked.
"I think we should tell Obi-Wan when he comes for us in the morning. Then we can decide what to do from there," Anakin suggested.
"Do you think the Sith Lord is actually someone in the Senate or that he is just controlling someone in the Senate?" Padme asked.
"I don't know," he replied honestly. Anakin lowered his head in shame.
"Whoever did this to my mother wanted to turn me to the dark side and I've been playing right into their hands," Anakin said shamefully.
"But you don't have to anymore. And I'll always be here to go through everything with you. We'll face whatever we have to and we'll face it together," Padme told him. Anakin pulled her into his lap, as they sat down on the couch. Padme cuddled close to him and rested her head on his chest.
"If the Sith Lord knows that you found that information, you and the baby could be in danger," Anakin said, as he gently caressed her growing stomach.
"I couldn't bare it if anything happened to either of you," he said.
"But we'll be fine, because you're here with us. Have faith in our love Ani, for it will always be enough to save us," Padme replied.
"You're right. We need each other now more than ever. The council will not take lightly to the news of our marriage. We're going to have one hell of a fight on our hands," he stated. She smiled slightly.
"Well, I think from our past experiences, it's safe to say that we make a pretty good team," she said, tracing the lines on his bare chest. He gave her one of his roguish smiles.
"That we do," he replied, before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. He moved down her jaw line and to her neck where he sensually kissed his way up and down. Padme closed her eyes and tangled her fingers through his hair. She felt that familiar warmth spread though her body, as his hands touched her. He slowly lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
Ruin. That was the best word to describe the condition of all his carefully laid out plans. He had grossly underestimated the power that Amidala had over Skywalker. Or at least, underestimated it in the wrong manner. She was not supposed to be on Grevious' ship when Skywalker and Kenobi came to rescue him. Why in blazes had she been coming to see him that morning? To annoy him with more of her pitiful pacifist talk? He asked himself these questions angrily, barely being able to contain his rage.
Reaching into the force, he consulted his visions of the future. At one time, only days ago, he had seen the chosen one falling to him. He had been planning on manipulating Anakin's dreams again, as he had when he ordered the death of his mother. She was supposed to be why he turned, not why he didn't. Now, those visions of Anakin's turn and Amidala's death were gone. What he saw now sickened him. He saw happiness for Skywalker and his family with no chance of darkness prevailing.
He sneered evilly, as he opened his eyes. More than thirteen years of planning was down the drain. He foresaw that if he struck now, he would be destroyed. No, he needed an apprentice and had to suppress the roar of anger that threaten to escape his mouth when he realized he could never have the chosen one. He needed someone new and someone powerful. No Jedi possessed the incredible connection that Anakin had to the Force, and now he would never have him, because of that meddlesome woman. He opened his senses to the Force now. He would have to begin to search for another to train as his apprentice. Someone useful and powerful enough, at least until someone more powerful came along that is.
This would set his visions of grand Empire back several years he knew. But he would have to adjust or he would be destroyed before his plans could be realized. He would now begin his search for a new apprentice...
Happiness and bliss were emotions that reverberated through the Skywalker apartment. Padme and Anakin lay in bed together, limbs tangled, bodies entwined, sleeping peacefully in each other's arms. Anakin slowly opened his eyes and stretched his arms over his head. He brushed Padme's curls aside and kissed her cheek. Padme stirred and turned on her back.
"Good morning handsome," she said, stretching her arms.
"Morning beautiful angel," he replied, pecking her on the lips.
"Oh," Padme exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his face getting serious. She smiled.
"Nothing, your son just kicked me. Here, feel," she said, placing his hand on her bare stomach. The baby kicked again and Anakin's eyes lit up in wonder.
"Hey, what makes you think it's a boy. She kicks hard like you," Anakin teased. Padme huffed playfully.
"So you think it's a girl?" she asked.
"Yep," he replied.
"Okay, we should discuss names anyway. And this is a good time," Padme said.
"Before breakfast?" he asked playfully, earning him a smack on his stomach.
"You and that stomach. And knowing my luck, our baby will eat just like you, with better table manners of course," Padme teased. He chuckled.
"I'm not that bad. Mom tried to teach me some manners," he protested.
"Yes and you were far too busy being a boy to listen to her," Padme replied. Anakin chuckled again. It felt good talking about the good memories he had of his mother. Something was different now. It no longer pained him to think of her. Perhaps, knowing the truth had healed him more quickly than he could have imagined.
"Do you have a boy's name picked out?" Anakin asked.
"As matter of fact I do. What do you think of Luke?" she asked hopefully.
"Luke...I like it. What does it mean?" Anakin asked.
"It means Light in ancient Nubian," Padme replied and Anakin smiled.
"It's perfect and it even matches the name I chose if we have a girl," Anakin replied.
"You chose a Nubian name?" she asked, highly impressed. Though, as a Jedi, Anakin had been schooled in many languages. He nodded.
"What do you think of Leia?" he asked. Padme smiled.
"Leia means little angel in ancient Nubian," Padme replied, knowing that Anakin would make it a point to know a word like that. Anakin nodded.
"You're my angel and she'll be my little angel," Anakin stated.
"If we have a girl," she stated. He smiled and kissed her tenderly. Knowing they would soon have company, the couple knew that they had to get up and get ready.
Obi-Wan Kenobi glanced over at Jedi Knight Barriss Offee, as they rode the turbo lift to Senator Amidala's (or was it Skywalker now?) apartment. Barriss was silent and Obi-Wan knew she was not happy about what he had revealed to her. Anakin was her friend and he supposed that she felt betrayed. Barriss was also very distrusting of politicians, even though Obi-Wan had tried to assure her that Padme was different from other politicians. Part of him was still very much angry at them both for being so selfish. But another part of him, the part of him that considered Anakin and Padme as a brother and a sister was happy for them. He had seen the way they had looked at each other and there was definitely some sort of connection between them. The two Jedi arrived at the Senator's apartment. Obi-Wan pressed the door chime to alert their hosts of their arrival.
Anakin answered the door with Padme at his side. He was dressed in his usual dark brown and black Jedi tunic and pants. The senator was dressed in a simple royal purple gown and it was then that Obi-Wan noticed the bulge in her stomach. And judging by the look on Barriss' face, she did also.
"Come in," Anakin said. Obi-Wan and Barriss entered and Padme motioned for them to take a seat. Anakin and Padme took a seat on the couch across from them, hand in hand. Anakin went straight to the point.
"What has the council decided?" Anakin asked.
"Perhaps before we discuss that, maybe I could have a word with Padme. Barriss would like to speak with you Anakin," Obi-Wan began. Anakin and Padme exchanged silent glances, then they both nodded.
"We can speak out on the veranda," Anakin told Barriss, as he led her out there.
Obi-Wan smiled gently at Padme and she smiled back.
"You're with child?" Obi-Wan asked. Padme couldn't help but smile.
"Yes," she replied.
"How did Anakin take it?" he asked.
"Anakin is as thrilled as I am. We both want this baby," Padme assured him.
"I apologize for the questions Padme, I'm only doing as the council has asked," Obi-Wan replied. Padme nodded.
"Padme, the council believes that it may be best for you and Anakin to divorce or separate at the very least," Obi-Wan said.
"You want me to leave to Anakin?" she asked in disbelief.
"The council wants you and Anakin to separate," Obi-Wan replied.
"What do you want Obi-Wan?" she asked.
"This isn't about me Padme," Obi-Wan replied.
"That's funny, because I think it is. Anakin and I consider you family! I thought you considered us family as well," Padme crossed her arms over her chest.
"Padme, you know this isn't my decision. I consider you and Anakin my family too, but even that is considered attachment and is against the code. I must be very careful," Obi-Wan replied.
"I would never leave Anakin, it would break his heart and mine. And I won't deny our child his or her father," Padme replied. Obi-Wan sighed heavily. Meanwhile, Anakin and Barriss own conversation was not going any better.
"What are you doing here?" Anakin asked.
"The council believed that I may be able to get you to see reason since we're friends, or at least I thought we were," Barriss bite off. Anakin snorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Anakin asked.
"What do you think it means! You're married! What in blazes are you thinking!" Barriss cried.
"You know, I'm getting really tired of that question. Padme and I love each other and we're about to start a family," Anakin replied.
"You're a Jedi and your attachment to this woman is dangerous!" Barriss protested.
"I love her so don't even ask me to leave her, because I will never do that," Anakin stated.
"You'll be expelled! Come to your senses!" Barriss cried.
"Then the council can expel me if that is what they wish. I love being a Jedi, but I love her more," Anakin replied.
"You're going to throw all your training away for some fling!" Barriss yelled. Anakin scoffed.
"It is not some fling! But it doesn't matter, because you'll never understand. This conversation is over," Anakin said, as he went back inside. Barriss calmed her emotions and released them into the force, before following him back in. Padme stood up and went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She could tell his conversation with Barriss did not go well.
"Senator Amidala, do you realize that the council will expel Anakin for his marriage to you?" Barriss asked. Padme took a deep breath.
"I know and I never wanted Anakin to have to give up his career for me. But we're in love. And we've made the decision to do whatever we must to be together. Anakin is a wonderful Jedi and a wonderful husband. I know that he could do both. I implore you both to make this suggestion to the council for him. I know it's not the Jedi way, but Anakin is different. Love and attachment are a part of who he is, you can't change that," Padme implored. Barriss crossed her arms over her chest.
"We had done a pretty good job of it before you came back into his life and seduced him," Barriss accused the Senator. Obi-Wan had not been expecting that and was not able to hide his surprise.
"What?" Padme asked in disbelief.
"You've crossed the line Barriss!" Anakin yelled, his jaw clenching.
"You're the chosen one!" Barriss reiterated.
"Don't call me that, you know I hate it!" Anakin yelled back.
"I never thought you'd turn your back on the Jedi, Skywalker. And especially not for a politician," Barriss said.
"They've forced me to do it. I'm nothing without Padme. It would be wise for you to stop attacking my wife," he replied. She was about to retort, but Obi-Wan stopped her.
"Barriss, I believe we have their decision. We must now report back to the council," Obi-Wan interrupted. Barriss stalked out of the room, followed by Obi-Wan.
"The council will probably wish to see you both before they make their final decision. Is it all right if I come back after the meeting?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course Obi-Wan, why don't you join us for dinner?" Padme suggested.
"Very well, I'll see you both then," Obi-Wan replied.
"You were out of line," Obi-Wan chided the young knight.
"Me? He's the one that's married with a baby on the way!" Barriss retorted.
"Yes, but attacking the Senator is only a sure way to drive Anakin farther from us," Obi-Wan replied wisely.
"She seduced him. He's not even thinking straight," Barriss replied.
"I disagree. I've known Padme since she was just 14 and she's not like that," Obi-Wan replied. Barriss was silent for the rest of their trip back to the temple.
Anakin hugged Padme tightly.
"I'm sorry she attacked you," Anakin told her.
"Anakin, what if she's right?" Padme asked.
"What?" he asked.
"You are the chosen one. You have an important duty to the Jedi. What if I'm not supposed to be interfering with your life?" Padme asked, defeated. Anakin lifted her chin so their eyes would meet.
"No Padme, I'm meant to be with you. The Force showed me that I was, don't ask me how or why, but it showed me that you were my destiny. We have to stand up for what we believe is right and this is right. Our marriage is right, please don't ever doubt that," Anakin pleaded. She sniffed and brushed a few tears away.
"I'm sorry, I guess she just got to me a little more than I would have liked," Padme replied. He kissed her softly.
"Don't listen to them Padme. They're going to try and place blame on us both, but we have to be strong. I know in my heart that being with you is the right thing. And I know you believe it too," Anakin told her. She nodded.
"You know I do. I just hate that you might have to give up being a Jedi for me. It's been your dream," Padme replied.
"You're my dream," Anakin answered. Tears welled in her eyes again, as Anakin's lips moved passionately over hers, conveying his undying love for her...