The sand that swirled around him was a deeper orange than he was used to. This was not his old home. The storm seemed to settle and the maelstrom dissolved into an arena, the howling of the wind becoming the howling of a huge crowd. He walked across the sands to three pillars that stood in its very centre. Three figures were chained there, two men and a woman, was that Padme?

He paused at seeing her, watching in fascination as she nimbly removed her restraints and began to climb the pillar. He was one of the other men, how could this be? He continued to watch the scene as his vision swirled with the sands, he could barely make out the other man and he moved towards him. A rumble from behind had him spin around as a great lumbering beast drove at him and he rolled out of the way and across the orange sand, idly reaching down to touch it, feel the clay like quality of it in his hand. The screech of another creature met his ears and he looked up to see an enormous reptilian like insect rise up on its hind legs and move to strike the third man. Before it could strike, another figure leapt in front of it with a sparkling jabber and thrust up into its neck, where upon it toppled back and away from them. Anakin rolled to his feet and came face to face with the spearman.

"Obi-Wan," he said, as he was jolted from his vision back to the simple room on the farmstead. How had he gotten back here, again? His recollection of the last few days slowly drifted back to his increasingly aching head.

"Obi-Wan? As in Obi-Wan Kenobi?" came the lyrical tones of Padme, who he recognized immediately. "Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. What made you think of him?"

She placed a soft cool cloth on his forehead and it eased the headache that had suddenly started building.

"I had a vision," said Anakin, his voice croaky and his lips too dry for comfort. She quickly brought him some water for him to sip and he was very grateful to her for that. He marveled at her beauty in these simple surroundings, her hair cascading down her back in large dark curls, her dark brown eyes full of concern and, he knew now, love. How he ached to be able to show her how much he shared those feelings, but the code would forbid such things. He would have to make an impossible choice soon, but at that moment, still feeling the effects of the Sand Mans poison rushing through his system, he could keep that decision for a clearer headed time.

"With Obi-Wan?" she asked, "I suppose it does make sense, this is where you two met, all too briefly."

"He's in trouble," said Anakin, feeling a little stronger and sitting up. She helped him to get more comfortable against the back of the bed with a number of larger pillows for support, her face twisted into one of concern and sadness.

"Anakin, Padawan Kenobi died on Naboo at the hands of the sith over ten years ago. Don't you remember?"

He shook his head gently, as this only made his headache feel even worse. He sighed deeply, unsure of how to break the news to her, the news he was just realizing himself thanks to the vision.

"There's something I have to tell you. It won't be easy for you to hear, but you must." He took her hands gently in his, knowing that this might just solve his earlier dilemma for him without even having to choose between Padme and the order.

/How am I going to do this?/ he thought as he looked into her hypnotic eyes. In a way it was wonderful news, a lost Jedi had been found safe and well. On the other hand, Obi-Wan had lied to her and her people who had put their deep and abiding trust in him. He was not sure how she would take this information, or the fact that he had suspected the man named Latterie since their first meeting and mentioned nothing to her until now. He could not bear the thought of seeing her disappointed in him.

"Obi-Wan is-" he began but was stopped by the entrance of young Owen Lars.

"It's time," he said quietly, sadly, his demeanor subdued since Anakin returned with the wrapped body of his step mother. He had loved her as his own mother after she had joined their family and he had almost lost his father trying to rescue her. Now his step brother had returned and with him he had had to experience the death of another mother. He realized the Jedi must be going through something similar, but where had he been these last five years? If only he had been here a month, a week, a day sooner, even, perhaps more could have been done to save her.

He left the two young people to themselves, Anakin still looking green from the poisoning wounds he had sustained from the ceremonial blade used by the Sand man accused of the worst crimes against Shmi's person. As his right as the accused, the Sand man had challenged Anakin to fight to the death. Anakin had succeeded, proving his allegations to be true, but he had received a number of deep wounds for his trouble. The tribal leader had acknowledged Anakin's victory and the other four Sand people involved in Shmi's capture and abuse had been left to the desert by the tribe, who believed the desert would swallow them to return them cleansed in their next life. The lad had returned with Shmi's body and been able to stagger to the first of the farm building before collapsing from the strain of his injuries and his overwhelming grief enveloped his weakened body.

Anakin stiffly lent forward and pulled his legs off the bed and set them down on the floor. Just this movement had him breathing heavily, but Padme was at his side to stop him from falling forward. Their faces mere inches from each other, they could feel each other's breath drift across their cheeks. His deep blue eyes locked with her brown eyes and all thoughts of the universe outside were lost to them both once again. Were they there for an instant or an eternity? Neither could tell, but the love, the passion that flowed between them was no longer capable of being hidden. She leaned in and he found the light, delicate touch of her lips against his own and he didn't want that feeling to go away. He leaned into the kiss and delicate touches descended into passionate caresses and he lifted his hand to reach into that mass of curls. He winced as a burning wound on his arm complained at the move and the moment was broken. Still breathing heavily, but for different reasons, he leaned back away from his love. Her face was flushed with excitement and a little embarrassment at her forward approach, but her smile was warm, how could he not love that perfect being before him. He smiled warmly back at her, but his smile was tinged with sadness.

Misunderstanding his sadness as his grief, Padme placed her hands on his shoulders as the comforting friend came to the fore.

"Are you sure, you're up to this?" she asked gently, supporting him as he rose to stand.

"I have to do this, Padme, I have to lay her to rest." He took her support, grateful for her strength at that moment. As they approached the door to his room, he straightened himself and pulled away from her. He was determined to attend the simple funeral supporting himself and Padme stepped back just a little so that he could take the lead from the room.