Obi Wan had long gone when Anakin finally drew his battered self from the grass in the Temple gardens, the ancient bollop tree, Master Yoda's favorite, at his feet.

What was there to say? It was his own anger and jealousy that blinded him. It was his own anger that cost him the promotion to Jedi Knight. Obi Wan was right. All he ever did was try to make him the best he could be. He would never betray that trust in order to take Padme away just to have her for himself... or would he?

Doubt still lingered at the back of Anakin's mind. And what of Padme? Why would she tell him such a thing if it wasn't the truth? And how did she come to be in possession of the items anyway? Did she do these things simply to taunt him? To test his love?

Anakin walked -- ran to the temple. It suddenly dawned on him that the only time he was centered and in control of his emotions was when he was out on the battlefield. And so, it was to the battlefield where he would return. There, he could swallow his love for Padme, eat his embarrassment of being so easily squashed by Master Obi Wan out in the garden... there he could think about others, and not only himself. There, he could be what he was meant to be... a Jedi.

As for Padme... well, she could have the life she longed for. She could go back to being a Senator and everything will be right again.

Anakin raced to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, where Master Yoda meditated. When he entered, the ancient man opened but one eye, and spoke... "that tree... as ancient as I, it is. Or was I shall say."

Anakin dropped to his knee and bowed his head almost reverently. "Master Yoda... I beg your forgiveness. I was arrogant. I was fool and showed no reverence for the tree or Master Obi Wan's teachings. For that, I ask that I am sent to help the Jedi resist the Separatists in the Outer Rim Sieges. I am also asking that my promotion to Jedi Knight be deferred until I have proven myself worthy of such an honor."

Master Yoda stabbed the padawan in the shoulder with his gimer stick. "Ready you are your humility shows. But honor your request I will. To Zalust you will go in the morning."

"No, Master. I will leave tonight," Anakin replied, looking up to meet Master Yoda's gaze.

"Very well," Yoda said as he climbed from his little hover disk. "To Zalust you will go tonight."

The sooner, the better, Anakin thought.

Padme couldn't sleep. In fact, she tossed and turned for most of the night, between climbing out of bed and checking the veranda with hope in her heart... that husband might be there. She stood barefoot on the cold marble flooring her hands covering her eyes as she wept. He wasn't coming back.

Dawn broke. Padme's focused her gaze on the Jedi Temple's highest tower, still longing to see her husband's ship flying towards her in a blaze of ion fury. She stood on the veranda until blistering sunlight filled the apartment and distant skies were overrun with air traffic as civilians went about their daily business.

Threepio watched his master's wife, his brain computer whirring with confusion as he tried to determine what was wrong with her. Her eyes were leaking and had dark circles beneath them. If they continued to leak, the poor woman could dehydrate. Like people on tattoine when they went without water for too long.

Threepio approached the saddened woman with a glass of water in his hand. She refused, and he begged her to accept. With some reluctance she finally did and allowed the nagging protocol droid to sit her on the couch.

He left the room to fetch a blanket. And when he returned she was fast asleep, her legs curled beneath her.

It was several hours later when Padme woke up again. She sprang up, the first words on her lips, "Anakin-" then she remembered... he was gone and wasn't coming back.

Then suddenly a voice called out from a corner of the room.

"Looking for someone?" it said...

Padme knew that voice. A voice she met with dread and sickness in her belly. "What are you doing here?" she asked, with undisguised contempt in her voice. "You were ordered to stay away from me."

"The charges were dropped," Cobra said.

"Dropped?" Padme gasped...

Cobra laughed. "Of course, did you think the charges would stick? Chancellor Palpatine dismissed them himself."

Padme's lips formed a thin white line. "Anakin wouldn't want you here."

"You mean your secret husband? Anakin Skywalker is in the Outer Rim territories fighting the Separatists."

Padme drew the robe she wore over her gown closed, then shot the man an accusing look. "What do you what, Senator?"

"My life back."

"You ruined your reputation, not me. You were the one who behaved in a manner unbefitting a Republic Senator."

"You mean like, marrying a Jedi and keeping it a secret?"

Padme went silent.

"And you were the one who reported the incident to the Jedi Council."

"I merely defended my-my husband!" It was Palpatine who wrote the council, Padme thought. The same Palpatine who dropped the charges.

Padme turned and looked at the ship on her veranda and a cold chill ran up her spine. Cobra walked toward her and she backed away. Then in a sudden move, he grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to pull her close.

Padme struggled and fought against him. But he was too strong. Cobra jerked her toward him and pressed his lips against her own. He held her for several seconds long, his lips cold and dry as she squirmed to be free. In a desperate move to pry him away, Padme bit his bottom lip.

Cobra growled, dug his fingers into her shoulders and shook her. Padme spat in his face.

Cobra set her free and wiped the spittle from his nose and cheek with one of his gloved hands. Padme took a fighter's stance.

"Get out!" Padme ordered.

Cobra...gave her a long menacing smile. Just as he did, Threepio came trotting into the room. "Is anything wrong, my lady?" The senator sounded like she was in trouble and Threepio was going to protect her... He was fully prepared to call security!

"Senator Sien was ljust eaving," Padme tersely replied.

Without another word, Cobra backed his way to the veranda, then climbed into his ship.