POV: Darth Sidious

Dooku has just informed me of General Skywalker's capture. I am attempting to speed up the prophecy, perhaps even change it slightly... He would be my downfall. Getting rid of the problem changes what could happen...

Anakin and Padme Skywalker are going to go through some... moderate changes. I must keep my eye on her. She must uphold her part in the prophecy.

A few more months... just a few more months...

POV: Padme Amidala

It's been about two weeks since Anakin left. He hasn't been able to contact us, nor can we contact him. I was worried about him, but I knew that he didn't belong to me. I was stupid to agree to a marriage while being unfaithful in a relationship and then tell him about it!

I hurt him so much. I could see the anger and hurt in his eyes... It hurts to remember what I said to him that day. I hadn't felt a thing while speaking with him, but I felt so much after the fact.

"Anakin," I whispered, waking him up. He and I were going to marry the next day; we were... 'celebrating' a little early...

"Mmm... Padme... good morning, my love..."

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at my face.

"Anakin, we need to talk."

"Padme, what's going on?"

"Ani, we can't do this anymore. I don't love you." He looked stunned and hurt. I still loved him, so much. I had a hard time doing this to him because he went through so much for me. He was silent for several moments. I was waiting for him to either speak or breakdown. I wished I knew what he had been thinking in those moments... "Anakin, say something to me, please." He looked at me and stared. He opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself before words came out. His eyes closed and his face contorted with such sadness. "Ani," I began to beg. "Talk, please."

"What do you want me to say? Do you want me to ask you why your mind changed? Do you want me to ask why we did what we did last night and then you decide to tell me the next morning that you don't love me and that we're over? Padme, what do you want me to say to you?"

"I want you to say anything." He still didn't open his eyes. I really wanted to see his eyes..."Anakin, look at me." He didn't listen."Anakin Skywalker, look at me!"

He got up off the bed and turned to me. I could tell that he was trying to hold back his emotions, but his tear-filled eyes gave him away."Padme, I'm done. I can't put myself through anymore of this. You told me you don't love me anymore, so I believe it's time for me to leave."

He walked across the room and grabbed his Jedi attire. He couldn't walk around in just pants, so he had to get dressed.

"Ani –"

"Anakin," he corrected.

"Don't leave please." He double-checked himself to make sure he had everything.

"Leaving. Goodbye, Senator Amidala."He began walking to the door, hooking his lightsaber onto his belt, putting his shirt on and then concealing himself in his Jedi robes.

I haven't seen him much since. I do see his Padawan a lot though. My thoughts were interrupted when a servant came into my room. "Milady, the Chancellor wishes for you to join him."

"Thank you. I'm on my way." The servant left and I followed soon after. I made my way to the Chancellor's office. "Chancellor," I said after entering his office.

"Ah, Senator Amidala. Welcome. We have a meeting with the Jedi Council this morning. They will be arriving shortly." Perhaps they have news from Anakin... Within moments, Master Windu and Yoda entered. "Masters," the Chancellor and I greeted.

"Senator, Chancellor."

"What news do you bring?" I asked.

"News of Skywalker," Windu replied.

Chancellor Palpatine looked interested. "Well? What have you to report?"

"Captured, Skywalker is. Searching for him, his Padawan is."

Anakin is captured... "Who is his captor?" I questioned.

"Dooku," Yoda answered with a sense of tragedy. "In the Force, his anguish, I feel."

"How did we get word from them?"

"Master Secura wired a droid post and patched us through. They're continuing the search as we speak. It's been going on for about two days."

Two days! Anakin has probably not been fed in two days. Dooku was getting himself in too deep this time. Taking the Chosen One is a big mistake... "Anymore questions, do you have?" Yoda asked us. We both shook our heads. "Informed on this matter, we will keep you."

Both masters exited the room. "If you'll excuse me, Chancellor."

"Certainly, Senator," he smiled.

I left and went to my quarters. I changed from my Senator garbs and got into an easy moving suit. Good for traveling... I left my quarters and made my way to my Naboo cruiser.

Anakin, you'll be safe and back in my arms soon...

POV: Anakin Skywalker

My mind was playing tricks on me and it felt as if a cruiser had crashed into my chest and stomach. Everything was beginning to ache. I'm pretty sure that my arms and legs will be unusable for a while...

How long have I been here?

"Anakin, are you still with me?"

Ahsoka has been trying to keep me awake. I can feel myself weakening; I think she feels it, too. "I'm trying, Ahsoka. Dooku hasn't come back to check on me, yet. He left some droids to guard me."

"Just talk to me every now and then. Aayla contacted the temple. Hopefully they'll send help..."

"I know you hope so, Ahsoka, but I'd rather not be the cause for anyone's life being taken away... You know that."

"Anakin Skywalker! Please. Let's just talk about something else. Hey, how honest can you be with me?"

"Okay, Ahsoka. I can be one hundred and ten percent honest with you."

"Who did you love before me?"

"I told you –"

"That you would be one hundred and ten percent honest with me..."

"Ahsoka, that's extremely personal... and painful."

"Ani, you know I'm here for you. Tell me about her."

"She's human... like me. We all make mistakes, but I made the biggest one because of her..."

"What happened?"

I felt my heart falling deeper and deeper into my body. The broken pieces were resurfacing, trying to crush what remained of my soul. "I proposed to her. We did something that we couldn't take back and then she told me she was being unfaithful by covering it up with 'I don't love you.' I saw the jewelry she brought back every night. I didn't think anything of it and chose not to. My first wedding... canceled the day before. I was so broken for a long time. Why am I not good enough?"

"Oh, Anakin..." she sighed. "I'm so sorry. I'd never treat you like that. I am faithful to you and only you, as you are to me. Love is trust. If we decide to get married someday, we're going through with it. You are more than good enough for me, Ani."

"Ahsoka... you aren't like her. She shattered me into a million little pieces. You've been here for me as long as you've been my Padawan." Six months. "You fixed me up and gave me love that I thought was a lost cause for myself. You brought hope back into my life..."

"I love you. I'm happy to bring you happiness. You are amazing. You're my Skyguy..."

I laughed. "I love you, Snips. Is it weird to say 'you're my Snips'?"

"That's actually kinda cute..." I was trying to get off of the topic of Padme. Agh, the pain was getting worse as the time went by. "Are you okay?"

"Just a little sore. Been hanging for a little while."

"More like two days, Skyguy..."

"I've been stuck here... for two days?"

"Yes..." her voice sounded sad.

"Love, I know you're trying. You are the only thing keeping me alive and awake right now. Do you understand that?"

"Yes. We're checking every room we pass by..."

The droids began to go on about something. "We're tracking an incoming ship. It's unauthorized."

"What type of ship is it, R-216?"

"Scanning... scanning. It's a Naboo cruiser." I hoped that I hadn't heard those clankers correctly... "Confirmed. It's a Naboo cruiser."

I focused on my bond with Ahsoka. "Ahsoka!" I yelled into it.

"Ani, what's wrong?"

"Senator Amidala is on Felucia."

"What? How do you know?"

"My droid protectors gave me a clue..."

"We'll be speeding up our search and then we'll find her. You first."

Knowing that Padme, Ahsoka, and Aayla's lives were in jeopardy made me feel terrible. I could feel the Force building up inside of me. "Uh..." a droid said, looking at me.

I glanced around the room briefly and quickly. Two droids, easy. Door ahead, panel activated. Lightsaber to the left, that's my escape. I built up all my power and released it with a cry. I shattered the Force bonds, along with the droids, and collapsed onto the cold ground.

I was lying there, gasping for breath and finally relaxing my stiff muscles. "Anakin? Anakin?"

I was too tired to respond. I continued to stay in my position. After a minute or two, I heard buttons being pushed on a panel on the other side of the door. I reached forward with my left hand, attempting to pull my lightsaber to me. It wasn't working out the way I had hoped it would... "Come...on..." I whispered, struggling.

The panel clicked to allow entrance. Just as the door opened, my lightsaber came to me and I activated it.

POV: Padme Amidala

I was scared to death. I thought I was going to die. To travel from Coruscant to Felucia was bad enough, but coming here on a rescue mission only to die was an absolute failure.

There was a figure on the floor holding a lightsaber toward me. The lightsaber deactivated and I heard several gasps. "Ani? Is that you?"

The figured moaned and struggled to move, but whispered, "Yes..."

"Ani, it's Padme. I'm here to rescue you."

"But... how?"

"I came from Coruscant. Master Windu and Yoda told me you were captured. I was worried about you. Worried sick, actually."

"Why...?"

I put my arms around him and tired to help him up. He was much lighter than I remembered him being... "Ani, I –"

The door opened up again. "Master!"

"Skywalker!"

Ahsoka Tano and Aayla Secura burst through the threshold and raced over to him.

"Hey..." he whispered.

He was so weak. "He needs food and a drink," I said. Aayla and I picked Anakin up off the ground, wrapping one of his muscular arms around our shoulders. He moaned in pain.

I saw Ahsoka whispering something under her breath and Anakin smiled slightly. We made our way out of the Separatist base unnoticed. Anakin continued to moan as we were taking him to safety. It didn't sound like it was solely pain anymore.

What is going on?

POV: Ahsoka Tano

"Just picture us kissing, that'll make you feel better..." I whispered into my Force bond with Anakin.

"I will... when I see you again, alone, I will kiss you. I will do more than kiss you. I really... really don't want to go with her, Ahsoka..."

"I look forward to the next time we're alone, Skyguy. Why don't you want to go with her?"

There was a pause. "She's the one."

"What do you mean?"

"Padme... is the one who hurt me."

"What?" I screamed out loud. Luckily, Aayla was on Padme's ship contacting the Jedi Council. Padme's attention snapped to me and Anakin's eyes closed. He was sitting right next to her...

"Ahsoka, what's wrong?"

"You –"

Before I could finish, Anakin's voice was in my head. "Please, don't do this. If you truly love me, you won't do this to me..."

I closed my eyes. I felt Padme's gaze on me. "You forgot that he needs food and some sort of drink."

"Thank you... I'd rather discuss this with just you and me. Not us and Padme. Just give it time, that's what I did. I love you so much. Not because of this..."

"I love you, Anakin. Forever and always," I whispered back to him.

Padme got up and went to get something for Anakin.

I looked down at him. He looked so fragile and weak. My heart sank when I realized how tired and sore he must feel. He was in Force bonds for toughly two days, in the same position, and wasn't given anything to eat or drink.

"Anakin –"

"Ahsoka –"

We both spoke at the same time. "Anakin," I spoke first. "I'm so sorry. I was...jealous. She got you first..."

"No need to apologize, love. I understand. So that's how you look at... you know..."

I laughed. "No, but you both lost it to each other."

He sighed and his face darkened. "I don't think I was her first. She cheated on me with other men. We had our first time before the wedding..."

I felt bad bringing this subject up, but it felt like he wanted to get it out. "Anakin, I'm –"

"Still hungry?" Padme, of course, had to come back and ruin our conversation.

"You go two days without anything, Senator."

"I'm sorry, Ani."

"Anakin," he corrected.

"Anakin."

"Well, actually, it's General Skywalker."

His eyes would not make contact with hers. I could feel the anger and sadness flowing within him. She glared at him, gave him his meal, and walked away. "Master..."

His eyes met mine with a hard glare. "No, Ahsoka."

"Why did you correct her?" Clearly, my calling him 'master' made him angrier...

"She has no right calling me by a nickname or by my first name. It's strictly professional with her. You are my everything and can do with me as you please."

Was he seriously selling himself to me like a slave?

"Anakin, you are not my slave. I love you, but I will not use you by any means."

He smiled slightly and began to eat the rations that Padme had brought to him. "Ahsoka... I love you so much."

I returned the smile. "I love you just as much. I won't hurt you like she did." His smile faltered and his eyes closed. I saw a single tear fall from his left eye. "Ani?" He didn't answer me nor did he move. I rushed over to him and grabbed his true hand, that way he could feel me. "Ani, what's wrong?" I heard the concern in my voice, but I wasn't ashamed of it. Not even a little bit. I loved him and I wanted him to know that I care about him. His eyes slowly opened and were filled with tears. "Tell me, Anakin. I'm here for you. I always will be."

He looked at me with a sadness that was so painful to look at. I squeezed his hand, urging him to get whatever it was out of his system. "I'm... afraid of losing you," his voice was hoarse. "I'm afraid of not being good enough for you or strong enough to protect you. I felt like dying when Padme told me she didn't love me anymore. I tried to... I tried to kill myself..."

I gasped audibly and his eyes tightly closed. "What stopped you?" I felt the need to question this.

"I'd survived for a little over five years. I figured the best way to go was to jump from the Senate building; the perfect and bittersweet end of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One. Padme began my life and I wanted to see to it that she realized she was my end. What stopped me from jumping was the call to Christophsis. Obi-Wan needed me and I couldn't let him down. I retreated from the building and made my way to the landing bay for take-off."

Something clicked inside my mind. "The same day I was assigned to you."

"Exactly. If you hadn't been assigned to me, I wouldn't be here right now."

"Why?"

"I was planning on returning to Coruscant after the battle to kill myself. I fell for you... I fell hard. I realized that I was responsible for your training to make you into a Jedi knight someday."

I was shocked. I had unknowingly saved Anakin's life that day on Christophsis almost six months ago. "Anakin... wow," I was still amazed.

"I've loved you since I met you, Snips."

I smiled. "I did, too, Skyguy."

Our moment was interrupted by Aayla... "Anakin, Ahsoka, we must leave immediately. The Separatists are on their way. They discovered that you were rescued. The Council will be waiting for us."

"Help me with Anakin, Master Secura," I commanded.

We both lifted him into Padme's cruiser. The clones will be piloting, and I was grateful for it. Aayla went to the cockpit once Anakin was safely situated in a small room on the cruiser.

Padme came into the room with Anakin and me. We were seated in such a way that it didn't give anything away concerning our secret relationship. "Ahsoka," she spoke. "May I speak with your master alone, please?"

I looked at Anakin's face, which was stone, but full of sadness at the same time. Our eyes met and he nodded. So I left. I hope she won't cause him too much pain. Actually, I hoped she didn't cause him any at all...