Padme and Anakin landed on Mygeeto. A cold, frigid planet of mostly thick crystalline ice. It's people were a lemur-like race and lived in modernized highly technological cities made of ice. Padme exhaled, then watched as the very breath from her mouth turned into a mist of frozen crystals. She wore a thick linen cloak that belonged to Anakin in his early Padawan days. It was too small for him now, anyway, though too big for her. But warm enough to protect her and the baby.

"Anakin... why are we here? It's so cold," she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"It's one of few places not under control by the Jedi. It was already secured by Ki Adi Mundi and his battalion of clone troops shortly after the Chancellor died. I also chose Mygeeto because..." he smiled, "in the language here, Mygeeto means gem. You're my gem," he said, cupping her chin. "The people here are good. They will help us."

"What if Ki Adi comes back?"

"He won't. As long as there is stability on the planet, the council will see no reason to send him here. The Jedi are needed elsewhere. Otherwise, I will kill him if I must."

"Don't talk like that," Padme snapped. "I don't want to hear anything else about killing."

"I'm sorry my love." Anakin paused, bringing his anger to a controllable level. He held his head down, their suitcases slung over his broad shoulders. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to fulfill the prophecy, then announce my retirement. Everything is wrong. Wrong, Padme." His body slumped beneath the black cape he wore, and his head seemed to disappear behind the hood that concealed his face. "You were right. I ruined our lives."

Padme gave him a look of utter surprise. "When did I say you ruined our lives? Anakin, if I had to do it over again I would. Please, don't talk like this..." she rubbed his arm.

"When I first proposed when we were back on Naboo, you said we couldn't be together because a relationship would ruin our lives. You were right. Look at all that's happened."

"Do you regret the baby too?"

"I regret nothing. But ruining your life and career. You shouldn't be on the run here in this cold place with me."

Anakin dropped their suitcases and looked around. Padme drew close to Anakin and laid her head on his chest.

"There's no other place I'd rather be. Anakin... you think Obi Wan might help us?"

"No. Don't even mention his name. He's one of them and can't be trusted."

"But he loves you," Padme proclaimed.

"He's as loyal to the Order as anyone I have ever met. If directed by the council to turn on me, he would. Besides... the Jedi are in the process of rebuilding the Republic. They've taken over the chancellor's office, they've installed the Order's most politically astute Jedi, Ayrua Securla into office. The Senate is under their control now. I hate to say it, but Palpatine was right. The Jedi did exactly as he said they would, they have overthrown the Republic."

"The Republic was corrupt, Anakin... it needed to be done."

"It's against the tenets of the Order. Thousands of years of down a black hole.. and they talk about me! They're all hypocrites and I'm glad to be done with them. From now on, it's you, me, and the baby. That's all that matters."

"That and finding a new home," Padme replied.

"Already done. I made arrangements prior to coming here. Our house is just above that crystal enclave. It's modest, compared to what we're used to, but it will do."

"I don't care, as long as we're together."

Obi Wan stood at the center of the Room of a Thousand Fountains, pacing back and forth as the council questioned him. All of the members were there. Either in blue holopresence form, or physically present in the room. Mace Windu led the discussion while the Supreme leader of the Jedi, Master Yoda watched passively from his seat.

"You've not had any communication with Anakin Skywalker? Any idea where he might have gone?"

Obi Wan rubbed his beard. He disliked the line of questioning intensely and couldn't wait to insert some questions of his own. It seemed, Mace had already made up his mind, convicting Anakin of treason -- even going so far as to accuse Anakin of being an apprentice to the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, otherwise known as Chancellor Palpatine.

"I have not spoken to Anakin since you asked me to convince him to spy on the Chancellor," Obi Wan replied, in what sounded almost like an accusatory tone. "Something, that made him feel bad, and very dishonest. If he lost his way, we have no one but ourselves to blame."

Mace Windu smacked his lips. "Yes... Master Jedi... you say these things, but you were not there to witness the reluctance with which he addressed the situation. He was fully prepared to strike me down in favor of a Sith Lord. And nearly did!"

"Nearly, is not enough to convict him. In the end, he did the right thing."

"But he is also married. I wonder, Master Kenobi, if you knew about his marriage to Senator Amidala... and that he had fathered her child?"

"I did not know about the wedding," Obi Wan replied. And that was the truth. "But I was aware, that Anakin did harbor some rather... interesting feelings for the senator."

"And you did not report it?" Kit Fisto asked.

"He was only a Padawan when those feelings were expressed to me. As far as I knew, I had taken great care in teaching him to be mindful... to repress his feelings. Apparently, he did not."

"Master Yoda, what do you think of Senator Amidala's child?" Plo Koon asked. "How do we approach this rather...sensitive situation?"

The little green master looked about the room...eyes squinted. Chills crawled up Obi Wan Kenobi's spine. The way the other Masters salivated over this scandal...salivated over the possibilities surrounding Anakin's child.

"Tread carefully, we must," Yoda said. "It is situation, to be handled with great care. I sense, this child is very powerful. More powerful than his father. Say it, I did not in talking to the senator, the potential of the child she carried. Emanate from her, the force did. Stroong, yes, the force is with this unborn."

Yoda pointed his gimer stick. "The children, remain with their father, they must not. He is too volatile. Unsteady. Unpredictable he is."

"Are you suggesting, we take the children into our care?" Obi Wan asked.

"We've done it before. Anakin Skywalker would not be the first." How do you think you got here? Mace Windu wanted to say. And look how that paid off.

"With all due respect, Master Windu, Master Yoda. I don't feel it is our place to take Senator Amidala's child. Even if the father is Anakin," Obi Wan objected.

"The child was conceived while Anakin was still in the Order. Therefore, the child will come with us," said Mace.

Obi Wan shook his head, unable to digest what he was hearing.

"I recommend Obi Wan Kenobi. He will track the Skywalkers down. He knows Anakin better than all of us," Ki Adi said.

"And what if he refuses?" Obi Wan asked.

"Then you must do what you need to do. Bring him to us, dead or alive," Mace replied. "Anakin has crossed over to the dark side. I was there. I saw it, I felt the darkside emanating from him. I always have."

"I can't kill Anakin, he is like my brother," Obi Wan nearly cried.

"Put aside personal feelings you must. The boy you knew is no more. Possessed by the dark side he is. Courting the dark side he always have, including his relationship with the Chancellor."

"I won't kill him. I will convince him to come back."

"I doubt he will," Mace said. "But good luck. All in agreeance to send Obi Wan Kenobi to track Anakin Skywalker down and bring him to justice, say 'I'."

All members raised their hands.

"It is done. Meeting adjourned."