Title: SouL PurPosE

Author: Ticklesivory

Summary: Obidala! What else is there? :D In this story, Padme enlists the help of a dear friend to convince Obi-Wan that she's not really dead. (Author's Privilege: This time around, there was no pregnancy or birth. Padme does get strangled by Anakin, but the question remains – is she really dead?)

Warnings: Some rather dark comedy ahead. It's all for fun! Oh yeah – this story involves my version of Dorme. We haven't spoken in a while and I miss her. (She qualifies as a warning.)

Rating: Strong T (with ice and sugar please)

Genre: Humor/Romance/Drama/etc. etc. etc.

Timeline: Post ROTS

Prologue

Once in a while, I dream of flying. It's been one of my favorite dreams since I was a young girl. And I'm not talking about flying a starship. I already know how to do that and it's not all that exciting any longer. I'm talking about actually flying. Like a bird. High up in the sky, with the wind carrying me through the clouds. When I wake up after such a pleasant fantasy, I'm always disappointed to find out it isn't real. I don't have the freedom of flight. Instead, I'm in prison – a cell of my own making. One that appeared not long after I'd married Anakin Skywalker.

We had started out so happy and madly in love but as the years passed, he became cynical of everything I believed in. He was easily aggravated and moody, and if I ever said anything to him about it, it only made matters worse.

I focused on my work and spent a lot of time in my office. Whenever he would return from a mission, he would come looking for me, angry and disappointed that I wasn't waiting at home for him. He would then sulk for hours and there was little I could do to satisfy him.

The long separations and distance often put between us due to his commitment to the Jedi Order, were the glue that was holding us together. I'm sad to confess that whenever a mission did come up, more often than not, I was relieved. However, I had made a vow to him, and I suppose I did still love him in some way, even though he had changed.

I didn't realize how much until his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, appeared on my doorstep with dreadful news. Anakin had succumbed to the evil influences of the Dark Side of the Force and had left the Jedi to join forces with a Sith Master. I collapsed onto the nearby sofa. I was in such shock, I didn't know what to say. I realized he'd been troubled lately, although he wouldn't tell me why. The things Obi-Wan told me he'd done though, were unbelievable. So much so, that I had to discover the truth of these outrageous claims for myself.

I left Coruscant to go to my husband and speak with him in person about these accusations. He'd told me he was going to the planet Mustafar and I hoped to find him there. Before leaving, I was unaware Obi-Wan had snuck on board my ship. Once I'd confronted Anakin, Obi-Wan made an appearance, which only aggravated the situation. The young man I once thought was so tender and sweet transformed before my eyes into a monster who strangled me with invisible hands. I didn't even have enough air to beg for my life.

Darkness claimed me and once again, I was free.

Like countless times before, I was soaring high above the clouds with only a blanket of white below me. Also as before, the dream ended much too soon. Only this time, I fell; through the darkness of space, past stars, and through unfamiliar systems; then straight into the solid rock of a distant asteroid, before finally landing on my ass in a stark white room with a nurse droid hovering close by.

Something wasn't right. I wasn't where I should be. I remembered exactly what had happened, and expected to be lying on the landing platform on Mustafar. This place was cold and there was no Anakin in sight. Obi-Wan was here though, and I wondered for a second why he wasn't helping me up.

"How did I end up on the floor? Where are we?" I asked although the Jedi Master refused to look at me. In fact, I wasn't even certain he'd heard me at all. "Obi-Wan? Are you listening?"

I stood up and walked around the medic table, only then realizing there was a body lying on it. I couldn't tell who it was since it was covered, but it had to be someone Obi-Wan knew because he looked upset, and he was mumbling to himself.

Oh, no!

"Anakin!" I shouted in despair. Had Obi-Wan attacked him after he'd choked me? Was he dead? I rushed forward to fling the cover back, only to discover that my hand passed right through it. Not only through the sheet but the table as well. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't grasp hold of the thing!

And then Obi-Wan said something that captured my attention and I stumbled back in confusion.

"I'm so sorry, Padme. If I had known, maybe I could've done something sooner."

At that point, he sniffled, and I ducked my head to look more closely at him. I could hardly believe it! He was crying! In the midst of his tears, though, he laughed. Kinda cynically, actually.

"Who am I kidding? I should've done something after we first met. Maybe if I hadn't been such a coward, this wouldn't have ever happened to you."