Padme emerged from her room, feeling refreshed and well rested. Entering the kitchen she saw her parents and brother-in-law seated at the table, Darred and her father eating breakfast. Her mother looked up, hearing Padme enter.

"Good morning! Did you sleep well?"

Padme nodded. "Yes, I feel great, actually. I am a little hungry though."

Padme sat down as her mother set a plate down in front of her. After she finished eating she asked where Anakin was.

"I saw him outside this morning, he's probably still out there." said Ruwee.

The four of them walked outside to see Sola staring in awe, and when they turned to look, Darred, Jobal, and Ruwee's expressions matched hers. Padme just smiled and giggled.

Anakin was standing on one hand, his flesh one, as R2-D2, C-3PO, quite a few rocks, and Ryoo and Pooja floated around him. His nieces were laughing and yelling, both with huge smiles on their faces. Sensing his wife was awake, Anakin slowly lowered everything and everyone he had been levitating, and jumped to his feet.

"Showoff." she muttered, grinning at he walked up.

Anakin kissed her, then pulled back with an innocent look on his face. "Who, me? Never. I once saw Master Yoda levitate all of the ships in the Temple hanger."

Padme laughed as Threepio sputtered and ranted about how terrified he was. Suddenly her happiness was replaced with worry, as Anakin dropped to his knees, holding his head and moaning in pain.

"Anakin!"

They moved him into the house, and after a short while he began to recover.

"What happened?"

Anakin looked at his wife, worry clear in his eyes. "It's Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan cursed in Huttese, a habit he had picked up from Anakin, as he carried Luminara to the medics nearby. He still had a hard time registering what had happened. He had engaged General Greivous, With Luminara waiting in the rafters above to intercept him if he had tried to escape. He had, and soon both Jedi were in combat with him. It hadn't taken long to overcome him, and Obi-Wan had plunged his lightsaber through the cyborg's heart.

As they were directing the battle and destroying any remaining Magna-Guards, they had soon forgotten all about the supposedly dead General. Greivous had used the last bit of life within him to drag himself forward and plunge his arm through the Mirilan Jedi's stomach. Obi-Wan had quickly decapitated him before sweeping Luminara up and running toward the main clone base.

"Hold on, Lumi. Your going to be all right." He never noticed the tears streaming down his face.

"Is he alright?" Padme asked, worried.

"Physically, yes. Emotionally, no. But thats not all. I felt something else...something dark. I think the Sith are getting ready to make their move."

Padme looked at him, knowing that he was torn between running back to help, and staying here with her.

"You should go back to Couroscant."

Anakin', head jerked up. "What? Now? No, you need me here."

"The Jedi need you more. If the Sith attack the Temple without you there, there will be more losses than if you are there."

"But-"

Padme held up her hand. "Not long ago you asked me to trust you, now I'm asking the same. Please, go."

Anakin sighed. He Didn't want to do this, and yet, he did. He hated the thought of leaving his family, but he also felt the need to go and fight the Sith. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He reached for his comlink.

"Bariss, I need a favor."

Darth Sidious looked down at his new apprentice, who was kneeling before him, eyes sulfur yellow.

"I will do whatever you ask, Master. Just give me the power needed to never be overlooked again."

The Sith Lord smiled. "You will soon be more powerful than even the greatest Jedi, but you are not a Sith yet. To earn that title, you must make a sacrifice."

"What? Anything you ask, I will do it." Zerus begged, desperate for the power promised to him.

Suddenly an image appeared on the holo projector in the center of the room. An image of an Ithorian in Jedi robes. It was Moza Ixlis, his former master.

Luminara Undili opened her eyes to find herself in a medical room onboard a Star Destroyer. Looking over she saw Obi-Wan slowly waking up in a chair by her bed.

"Lumi? Oh, thank the Force your awake! I was so scared I was going to lose you."

She smiled weakly. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I had you so worried."

Obi-Wan gave her a small grin. "Just don't do it again, yeah?" His lips descended upon hers, and soon they were both lost in their own happiness, forgetting that one of them had almost died today.

Anakin and Padme met Bariss Offee at the Theed hanger the next morning. Anakin ran up and hugged her as soon as he saw her.

"Thank you so much for this Bariss, I don't know how to thank you. I wouldn't trust anyone else to watch over her, with you being the best healer I know."

The Mirilan laughed lightly. "Don't worry about it Anakin. Just promise me that when you get to Couroscant that you will watch out for Master Undili for me. She needs to rest, and I doubt Obi-Wan will be able to hold out against her pouting for long."

Anakin laughed. "Deal."

He turned to Padme, tears shining in his eyes. "I'll be back before you know it."

She smiled back at him. "I know, be safe."

She kissed him, not wanting to let go, but knowing she must. Soon her turned toward his ship, and took off for Couroscant, once again going to save the lives of millions. She turned back to Bariss, who ha stepped back to give the couple some privacy.

"Shall we go?"

"Very well. Maybe while Anakin is off saving the world I can tell you about some of the trouble he got into when we were younger.

The two women got into the boat bound for the Lake Retreat, and Padme laughed as Bariss recounted a prank Anakin had pulled involving Master Yoda's quarters, fifteen gizka, and a pair of Obi-Wan's underwear.

TBC