Eriks leadinglady – Happy Birthday! Did you have a nice day? I hope so! Thanks for the nice comments on the story – I'm quite anxious to hear what you think of this chapter. It's a key turning point – and one I've kind of focused the whole story around. Hope you enjoy! You might have to protect me from a few angry readers! Yikes!!
BabaBiP – Thank you! I hope you like this chapter – I have to warn you… it's pretty high on the bummer factor.
QueenNaberrie - The good news is that yes, Anakin is about to make an appearance... The bad news is... it's still going to be an angsty chapter. Brace yourself!
Avschick33 – You'll be happy to know that I didn't leave you with too much of a cliff hanger this week. However, I'm afraid I may need to send you a virtual tissue or two. Bear with me!!!
HaChosenOne - Well, the good news is that Anakin is the voice's owner, but the bad news is that... things don't exactly get much better.
Jedi Master Arie Skywalker – Here are some virtual chocolates! I hope they help get you through the next couple chapters, because things are going to get pretty crazy!! Nevertheless, I appreciate your support very, very much!
DelilahDeanSkywalker – Wow, thank you so much! What a wonderful compliment to find waiting for me this morning – made me grin from ear to ear! Hope you continue to enjoy the story. We're actually beginning to come down the home stretch.
ALL - Oooooh boy... we've finally reached the chapter that spurred this entire story. I hope you enjoy it... although... I kinda have a feeling you guys might decide to take a contract out on me when you get to the mid-way point. I'd better take cover just in case- Ow! Who threw that tomato??
Anakin stared, afraid to blink in case the scene before him was nothing more than a mirage.
In truth, he didn't know what to think. His every emotion had been spent until all that remained was a vague sense of numbness. He was in shock, he supposed, and why not? Mere hours ago, he had watched a royal procession escort his wife's body into a kriffin' cemetery.
And yet there he was, staring at her very beautiful, very alive face.
He was suddenly overcome with an urge to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all - that is, until he saw Obi-wan lean down and gingerly take Padmé in his arms. Then and only then, did his emotions return...
...along with the familiar white-hot flames of rage.
"Get away from her," he seethed.
Obi-wan cast a startled glance over his shoulder. "What?"
"I said - get away from her! Now!" When the Jedi didn't obey, Anakin reached for his saber, deliberately letting his fingers hover over the hilt. I dare you, he whispered through the Force. Just give me a reason.
"Ani?"
Padmé's voice, so soft and tentative, had the effect of any icy blast of water. He shook himself, glancing around the room as if he couldn't remember how he'd gotten there. Slowly, he returned his gaze to Padmé, finally noticing the tears of pain streaming down her cheeks.
He was by her side in an instant.
"What happened?" he murmured, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
"My... rescue attempt..." she wheezed, offering a weak smile. "Not so... successful."
"Rescue attempt?" He kept his tone light. "Who were you rescuing?"
"Obi-wan-" She let out a hacking cough, splattering blood on his tunic.
"Shhhh," he soothed, trying to keep his alarm hidden. "Save your strength... you can tell me about it later." He avoided Obi-wan's gaze, unable to bear the grief reflected there. "My shuttle is docked outside the reception area. Give her to me."
"The wound is deep, Anakin. I don't know if shuffling her from person to person is a wise choice-"
"She's my wife. Give. Her. To. Me."
Padmé whimpered as she was passed into his arms and he pressed an apologetic kiss to her forehead. Retracing his steps to the lobby, Anakin kept his gait as smooth as possible, trying not to jar her further. Obi-wan followed at his heels, nattering on about one inconsequential thing after another. It was an old pain management technique - one that actually seemed to work...
...until they neared the main exterior doors.
"Stop," Padmé mumbled. "Please..."
Anakin glanced helplessly towards the shuttle before settling her on one of the nearest upright sofas. Needing to keep busy, he used the edge of his cloak to dab at her face, steadfastly ignoring the sight of the pale, clammy skin beneath.
"You're going to be all right," he mumbled unconvincingly.
Padmé reached for him, loosely grasping his wrist. "Anakin..."
"No. No! We're almost there, Padmé! We just need to get through those doors over there and then-"
"Too late..."
"That's not true!" Fear had Anakin scooping her up again, a reaction he instantly regretted when she cried out hoarsely. He glanced around wildly, no longer caring that his gaze instinctively sought out his former Master. "What should we do? We have to help her!"
"You already know the answer," Obi-wan replied sadly. "We must obey her request."
"No! That can't be all..." A sob choked him and he fell to his knees, still clutching her tightly. Padmé burrowed into the embrace, running a comforting hand along the contours of his jaw line. Reaching up, he linked their fingers, brushing a gentle kiss across her knuckles. They stayed that way until her arm grew tired, dropping back to rest atop her swollen belly. A fresh burst of sorrow pierced him, shattering what was left of his soul.
Amidst the chaos... he had forgotten.
"The baby," he whispered. Please no... no no no no no.
"'S all right; Obi-wan will help you..." she slurred. "Beautiful, Ani... they're so beautiful... like angels."
Anakin tensed as he watched her eyes slowly focus on something in the distance... something only she could see. He had seen such behavior before, on bloodied battlefields across the war-torn Galaxy.
"No," he begged. "Please... please don't leave me again!"
"Oh Ani..." She took in a ragged breath. "Don't you... see? I'll... never leave you."
He wondered if it was ironic that she died just then... her promise still hanging in the air, lips still parted on a lie.
ACROSS RECEPTION AREA - SAME TIME
Obi-wan's head dropped to his chest, eyes slamming shut against the sight before him. The attempt was futile - he could still envision every detail of Anakin's devastation: the way his tears fell into a tangle of soft brown curls, the way his hands still caressed her lifeless face.
I failed him.
Tucking his hands within his robes, Obi-wan moved towards one of the dusty windows and stared across the barren landscape. He didn't know what to say, what to do. Where would he and Anakin go from here? Would he ever be forgiven? Did he even deserve to be?
You must release these emotions to the Force, Padawan.
For the first time in well over a decade, Obi-wan Kenobi scoffed at Qui-gon's teachings. Perhaps this was one time he shouldn't release his guilt - perhaps this time, he deserved to suffer for his mistakes.
After all, Anakin would be suffering for the rest of his life.
Balling his hands into fists, Obi-wan began replaying the day's events in his mind. Why did Padmé come after him? She had promised to leave the planet and if he could say anything about the Senator, it was that she always kept her promises. Only the most monumental of discoveries could have changed that... but what might that have been? And why did it require her to carry a blaster?
"I think Padmé wanted to give me a warning," he mused aloud. "She was supposed to be on a ship far away from here, but for some reason she reappeared in the doorway to my quarters. Cody reacted quite violently and I... I killed him, Anakin. But his fingers tightened on the trigger in that split-second he hovered between life and death... maybe it was an instinctive reaction to the pain? I don't suppose we'll ever know for sure. And it doesn't really matter, does it?"
The silence remained heavy with accusation and Obi-wan nodded.
"I should give you some time alone. Find me when you are ready and I will help you prepare her bod-... um, prepare her for the journey. Take all the time you need."
He was slowly trudging in the direction of his quarters when Anakin finally spoke:
"Are you happy?"
Obi-wan froze, reeling from the horrific insinuation. "I am many things right now," he managed. "But happy certainly isn't one of them."
"Why not?" Anakin gestured helplessly towards the body still cradled in his lap. "Padmé is dead. That's what the Council planned, isn't it?"
"By the Force, of course not! Besides the fact that she was your wife, she was also one of my dearest friends. Surely you couldn't really think I would ever..." Obi-wan pinched the bridge of his nose, gentling his tone. "Obviously, you're not thinking clearly right now. I understand you're upset-"
"You understand?!" Anakin roared. "How could you possibly understand? You don't know what it's like to love someone the way I loved Padmé. Oh, but why would you? You're Obi-wan Kenobi, a shining example of the perfect Jedi!"
"I'm far from perfect-"
Anakin snorted bitterly. "Well, I suppose you proved that today. After all, an innocent woman was killed on your watch."
"I-" The guilt was overwhelming and the Jedi had to turn away. "I'm so sorry."
A long moment passed before he heard Anakin move, his strangled sobs mingling with the sounds of Padmé's body being readied for transport. Obi-wan forced himself to remain still, granting his former Padawan a final moment of privacy with the woman he had loved with his entire being.
It was all he could do.
I will find a way to get him through this, Padmé, he vowed silently. The twins will have a father, you have my word.
Rest well, my beloved friend.