The Clones dropped to the ground as droid ships flew low to get a better aim. Anakin and Obi-Wan held their Lightsabers out, deflecting any bolts that came within their range. The small group had been searching, then chasing, Dooku for most of the day but they had lost the count over half an hour ago and were now waiting for the Jedi and Clones to come and get them. R2D2 successfully made contact with the Jedi Temple and a new fleet were coming to help get the stranded Jedi off the planet. Anakin lost concentration for a moment as he checked for his men, causing him to get a laser bolt to his shoulder, the blast forcing him backwards. The Clones formed a defensive blockade around the two Jedi as Obi-Wan checked on his friend. The fall had caused his head wound to open up again.

"Anakin?"

"I'm good," Anakin replied, but he was losing more blood and was slipping into unconsciousness. Anakin barely registered being moved back to the cave where they had set up camp. The clones covered Obi-Wan as he tended to his friend's wounds. Eventually he managed to stop the bleeding from his head, but dust and sand caked the outside of the cut. The blast wound on his shoulder didn't look too bad, but Obi-Wan was more concerned with how much blood Anakin had lost. Half and hour later the droids were coming in fast. Fatigue started to take over Obi-Wan and the Clones. The Jedi Master desperately hoped that the council would appear soon. His wishes were soon fulfilled as a Clone ship, along with Master Windu, landed in between the tired soldiers and the droids. Obi-Wan scooped up Anakin with the help of the Windu and carried him towards the ship.

The ride back to Corascant was no more peaceful. Trying to treat the injuries the group had sustained proved difficult, Anakin the most difficult of all. Had Anakin been conscience Obi-Wan would have joked about his stubbornness. Upon landing at the Jedi Temple a whirlwind of healers and medical assistants helped them rush the injured of the to Hospital Wing. Obi-Wan faintly registered Padmè's presence, seeing her in the corner of his eye as he followed the holobed, that contained Anakin, from the hanger.

"Ani!" Padmè called out before she could stop herself. "Obi-Wan! What happened?" She said as calmly as she could manage, making her way over to her friend, Master Yoda following behind.

"Senator Amidala, Master Yoda. Out arrival was anticipated. We crash landed and Anakin got caught in the debris. I tried to get him to rest but then more droids attacked..."

"Too much like you, your former Padawan is, Master Kenobi," Yoda stated "The teachings of Qui-Gon in you both I see. To the Medical wing we must go." The two Jedi went in search of Anakin in the sterile white of the hospital. Neither had stopped Padmè from following them, but she didn't want to give anything away. Cautiously she went with them, trying not to show too much panic in her movements. A little emotion would be forgivable, the pair were childhood friends and Padmè didn't have to follow the Jedi code, but too much emotion would cause suspicion.

They soon found Anakin and watched through a glass window at the chaos that he had caused. Master Windu already stood watching, making sire the fiery young Jedi didn't cause too much trouble once he awoke. So far his presence was redundant. Anakin hadn't woken up and the gash near his eye looked worse then when he first got it. Padmè's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of her husband. Covered in dust and sand, gauze wrapped around his shoulder and his metal arm exposed. By the time the healers had finished, Yoda and Windu had left, leaving only Padmè and Obi-Wan. Anakin still wasn't awake but the healers seemed confident for a full recovery. His vitals were steadily improving and his well know dislike for the place seemed to help speed up the process. Obi-Wan finally let the healers look over his own injuries, now that he knew Anakin was okay.

Whilst waiting for the healer to check him over, Obi-Wan realised how hypocritical he must seem. He had often reprimanded Anakin on forming emotional attachments whilst training him. Perhaps, emotional attachments couldn't be stopped, an inevitable part of life. After spending so much time with someone you bound to feel an impact if something were to happen to them. Relaxing into a meditation state, Obi-Wan pondered this further.

Two days later, Padmè snuck into her husband's room once all the droids, healers and Jedi had left. She noticed his Padawan braid still in place, obviously he didn't even have time to cut it before the mission, but he found time to give her a note. A cryptic message that gave Padmè all the answers she needed. Smiling at the memory of thr gesture, she twiled the braid gently in her fingers. The last time she ever would. Padmè had liked the braid that he had worn for the majority of 10 years, but to Anakin it was just another form of control. To him meant that he couldn't be with Padmè, it meant he had to leave his mother behind. Anakin had always dreamed of being a Jedi, but sometimes the emotional cost was too high. He couldn't wait to get rid of the braid, not because he was eager to become a knight, which he was, but to be free of one less controlling factor. At least as a knight a Jedi had a bit more freedom. Padmè pondered what their life should have been like, what it would be if they had no responsibilities to the Republic, if it was just them and now the baby. A tear ran down her cheek, happy moments that would be stolen from them.

"Don't cry," A small but distinct voice said. Padmè opened her eyes to see Anakin's bright blue eyes slowly focussing on her.

"Don't you ever do that to me again Anakin Skywalker, don't you even try it!" she choked, laughing and crying together. The relief that her Husband was safe overwhelmed her.

"I promise Angel,"

"No you can't," Padmè replied, a smile tugging on her lips. Anakin let out a soft chuckle has he closed his eyes again for a moment, then looked into her eyes.

"You should go," Anakin suggested, Padmè couldn't help the saddened expression from taking over her features. "You cannot be seen here with me, besides, it isn't good for the baby, you worrying over me like this."

"Ani I will always worry over you," she said leaning in to stroke his hair, leaning her forehead against his, "Since when were you so rational anyway?"

"I figured we can only afford for one of us to be emotional and irrational if we don't want the council or Senate to find out. Go, I'll come home as soon as I can,"

"I know you will," Padmè whispered, giving him a quick but passionate kiss before leaving the room, keeping to the shadows as she made her way home. Anakin sighed as she left, closing his eyes again, trying to give into sleep. He hadn't slept well for years, starting when he first left Tatooine but getting progressivly worse as time went on. Obi-Wan had said the dreams pass with time, but all his seem to do was magnify. Said Jedi watched Anakin from the door.

"Master," Anakin greeted not needing to open his eyes to see who it was.

"Not anymore, as I said I am not responsible for you anymore," He replied, walking in and taking a seat next to the bed. "You need to cut that braid now, can't have you seen as a reckless young Padawan anymore. Just a stuborn knight," Anakin chuckled sligtly. Obi-Wan had become his Father-figure when he left his mother. No-one else wanted to take him in as a Jedi Padawan or as a friend, Obi-Wab had done both. Anakin had hated lying to his friend, his brother, about his secret life with Padmè. More importantly he didn't want disappoint his teacher. Everything he had done since his first assignment went against what he had been taught. No attachments, no possessions, don't trust had been Obi-Wan's biggest advice, politicians. But Anakin loved his wife and trusted her with his life.

Obi-Wan had suspected the pair for a while, but since Geonosis it seemed to have gotten worse, but more discrete at the same time. Almost like they had something to hide now. He wanted to approach Anakin with his concern, but how would he do it without the younger man taking offence.

"Was that Senator Amidala leaving before?"