Truths
Obi-Wan was aware of a dull, growing ache in his skull. The weight of this task was suddenly crushing. Padmé was pregnant? Obi-Wan's mind strayed for a moment, drifting into memory. No, he should have known, he could have known. He shouldn't be surprised by this. He was Anakin's friend, his brother, that was what blinded him. In the past, he had never wanted to know the truth of Anakin and Padmé's realationship. Somehow, somewhere in his consciousness, he must have known, but refused to believe.
"Obi-Wan?" The patient voice asked again, "What are you talking about?"
"Look," he began, fighting against the headache to regain his composure. "I'm sorry, but there isn't time to explain. We must leave at once."
"What about Anakin?" she asked finally, "I think he's in trouble."
Obi-Wan looked back at her compassionately. She was no longer a senator but a wife and mother to be, who was deeply concerned for her husband. Somehow, he had to convince her to push this concern aside or she would never leave. "You . . . and your child are the ones we must worry about."
Padmé set her expression, appearing very calm, though he could sense she was anything but. "But what about Anakin? I know that he's in danger, and I truly believe that we must-"
"I know," Obi-Wan said, knowing Padmé could be extremely determined. "But you must believe me."
"Why?" she asked, her calm façade slipping a little. "How can you be so certain that he's not in danger or even dead?"
"If Anakin had died," Obi-Wan said, somewhat bitterly, "I would have known. My lady, through the force . . ." he paused. Padmé was no jedi, she wouldn't understand. He said simply, "I know when some one dies. I will never forget what that feels like. Believe me, Anakin is well enough for now."
"When I am safe-" she began considering.
"I will return and find Anakin," Obi-Wan finished. "I promise you that."
Finally, Padmé nodded.
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Shaak Ti was surprised to find the missing Jedi suddenly bursting through the doors to the Temple. "Anakin!" she came to him, "what happened?"
"There isn't time," he said, neglecting to call her master. "I have to find Obi-Wan."
"Anakin," Shaak Ti said, catching his arm as he tried to move past her, "Obi-Wan has not returned and Master Yoda has called for all Jedi to return to the Temple. If Palpatine means to strike against us-"
Anakin pulled from her grip, "Why hasn't Obi-Wan returned?"
Shaak Ti contributed his disrespect to the fact that he was still in bad shape. He looked weak and exhausted. "Anakin can you hear what I say?" she asked gently. "I know these having been trying times but you must stay focused in the force. If you lose sight now-"
"I know, Master," he said, feeling annoyed. "But something terrible is about to happen, and only I can prevent it from happening."
"What Anakin? What are you talking about?" she called out, but it was no use.
He had already disappeared down the hall and into his small chamber. Taking a small bag, Anakin gathered the few possessions he had ever acquired in his past. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he moved out of the Temple, careful to avoid Shaak Ti. There was not point in explaining. He would never be returning here anyway. Obi-Wan, I hope you can understand. Maybe I was never meant to be a Jedi, but I know now there is something more important to me. I have to save Padmé. Good bye, old friend.
Into the night, Anakin raced, toward a senatorial suite in the square of 500 Republica.
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Padmé looked at the ship that sat on her veranda, it wasn't a Republic craft. It was a small fighter, alien. Obi-Wan opened the cockpit and helped her climb inside. Gazing about the interior, she was reminded of Anakin, who was arguably the best pilot in the whole galaxy, and with a pang of sorrow, she wished that it was her husband who was whisking her to safety.
Obi-Wan seemed to sense this. He said nothing as he gently set her bag down next to her. It felt light and only half full. Well, I didn't exactly give her much time to pack, he considered. She had taken her most important belongings, the few things that meant something to her, before grabbing a few random pieces of her wardrobe. She had packed half-heartedly, as if she realized the simple fact of hiding. She had to leave as much her life behind as she could.
As the ship pulled away from the planet, Padmé must have realized why Obi-Wan's ship was not a Republic fighter. She knew he had gone to Utapau and must guessed that he returned in this very craft. That revelation brought a new question to mind, "The council doesn't know about this errand of yours, do they?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "No, the council doesn't know. This errand has nothing to do with my duty to the jedi, but with my duty to a friend and to his family." A gentle smile seemed to cross his face. Going against the Code because he believed something else to be more important . . . Qui-Gon would have been proud.
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Anakin at last stumbled into the apartment he had shared with Padmé for nearly three years. There was an empty feeling in the room that caught his attention even before he noticed the dimly light surroundings. Clothes and other items were strewn about, like the place had been searched. Anakin stretched out through the force. She had been here, she had just been here.
Running from the bedroom to the common room and finally out onto the veranda and landing platform, Anakin realized the truth. She was gone. No, she was here. She was just here, I can feel it. "Padmé," he called, trying to find her in the force.
How could this have happened. How could I have failed her? I said I would never fail her! "Padmé!"
A/N: Questions? Comments? Let me know what you think