A/N- This Chapter goes well with the song by Rascal Flats " What Hurts the Most." Review or Follow as always! - GP

Chapter 11 - What Hurts The Most

Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palpatine searches for a way to live long past his dying body through cloning technology and his attempts at descendants. One of his " experiments" escapes and comes to live a slave's life on Naboo. He will meet and forever his destiny changed by the fateful meeting with none other than one young Naberrie girl…

Location: Theed, Naboo

Winter Fete Day 4 Year 29 BBY

The last two days have blown by. Decorations had gone up, and the whole family was reunited for once. The house has been bustling as guests- friends of the fair Senator andof Dorme's arrived over time. The house had smelled delicious with the baked goods and dinner prepared the morning of the wedding. The event had gone off smoothly, no problems had occurred, and the bride looked beautiful in her off-white gown. Her new husband had made sure to wear the regal color of the blue as this was the color of his house. The crowd had been pleased with the ceremony- and all seemed happily enjoying the reception festivities. All except the man leaning back in his chair eyeing the onlookers- he's not drunk yet. He's had two glasses of Cornellian whisky- straight from Ruwee's cellar. His gaze is that of a relaxed nature but his heart throbs enviously against his chest- just as it had a few days ago with his revelations.

He sips Cornellian whiskey. He likes the hot liquid sliding down his throat so easily, much like the fizzy drinks he drank with Padme' each summer when it was hot. His belly churns from the two shots he's consumed so far. His eyes dance on his best friend. She laughs with her sisters' as they dance together on the ballroom floor. Palo eyes her hungrily from distance. Anakin yearns to smash his brains in. His thoughts of his best friend echo through the force and any force user can feel them and his sexual desires. Anakin grits the table upon hearing these thoughts. The thought of another man having her makes his stomach churn. He chugs the last part of his whiskey and begins to stand. He can't do this- and sense that man's desires for her- knowing what he knows now.

He exits the loud music of the reception and slips out to the balcony. He needs the fresh air to wake him up. He leans against the balcony and places his elbows on the rocky banister. He watches the darkened sky, all stars in sight. The air is chilly and his breath comes out in long puffs. The circles float off into the distance away from him. His thoughts ponder on what to do. Can he just wipe those feelings he has uncovered to the side? Can he choose to keep his feelings to himself? His desires to kiss her- to be more than friends.

" You're missing the garter throwing," calls a familiar friendly voice.

He doesn't turn to his friend. Obi-wan comes to also place himself near the banister and states, " Sabe' caught the bouquet, if you'd like to know."

Anakin stares off in the distance and he mutters, " Good for her."

Obi-wan can sense his friend's pain. He senses the truth of his feelings for the young woman have bubbled to the surface. He can see why he cares for her. Padme' is kind and has a wild spirit, much like her friend. He wants to help his friend, but he isn't sure what he can do.

" You can't help me, just go back to the party, Obi-wan." Anakin's voice answers.

Obi-wan raises an eyebrow and pats his friend's shoulder in reassurance. " I'm not leaving you alone since you plan on drinking away those feelings of yours."

Anakin chuckles a bit and keeps his eyes on the distant view of Theed. The lights twinkle as they always have on a cold winter's night. HIs breath comes out in large puffs as he laughs at the irony of the situation. He's at a wedding alone, realizing the one woman he actually wants is his childhood friend.

" It's a bit cliché', isn't it?" He admits to Obi-wan.

Obi-wan squeezes his shoulder and chuckles too. The irony does have some symbolism in this situation. He replies, " Are you going to tell her?"

He shrugs and admits, " I can't stand watching her with another man."

Obi-wan's breath comes out and floats high in the sky. He watches the warm breath leave his body and tries to figure out a way to give his friend the best advice.

" Is she worth risking your friendship?"

Anakin ponders on that thought. Is she worth risking their friendship? The answer is yes. Every laugh, every pointless fight, every thought is worth it.

Obi-wan pats his friend's shoulder in reassurance. " If she's worth that. Go find her and tell her how you feel."

Anakin nods and knows he's right. He heads towards the doorway and scans the room. His eyes do not land on Padme' at all. He scans the room and finds Sabe' sipping on her glass of wine. He leans down and taps her shoulder. She smiles when she notices who is standing beside her.

" Have you seen Padme?" He yells over the music.

She nods and leans in yelling back, " Yes! She was headed outside for some air. But-"

Anakin smiles at her and thanks her without allowing her to finish what she was saying. Anakin heads towards the garage. Usually if she needs some fresh air during a party that is where they would go.

( Garage)

She closes her eyes feeling the instance pull of his lips on hers. She bites back a soft moan as his lips engulf hers. Her hands pull back into his dark curly locks. His lips leave hers and aim towards her neck. She angles her neck into his view. The precious pale flesh awaits for the taking. She sighs as he bites down on her neck to leave his mark there. She likes it when he left his mark. It shows her how much she is his. She moans softly as he pulls the shoulder strap off her lilac dress and kisses her shoulder blade and arm. His hands yank at the soft light fabric separating him from touching her breasts.

Padme' bites her lip as his fingers touch the thin fabric laying between her breast and his fingers. " Palo, " She whispers, feeling the sensations throbbing from between her legs. Her head falls back at his touching. It felt so good to be touched. She giggles as he pulls at the other shoulder strap on her left arm. It dangles against her side as she pulls at his hair. Her grip on his hair moves to trailing down his neck and down his shirt. Her hands stretch under his shirt and touch his olive skin. His skin is soft and hair travels down his chest. She sighs in content as he touches her. " Palo- I-" She attempts to plead for more. She is ready. She knows she wants him to bed her. Her body aches. It also doesn't help that she's had several shots of whisky so her gaze is a bit hazy. The romantic aura in the room dies with a fiery explosion. Her need and desire dies within her, as she hears the voice of someone familiar calling her name. The familiar baritone is close enough that she knows he has found them in the garage, sitting across his speeder.

Oh kriffing sith hells….She knows this will not end well. She pulls her hands away from her boyfriend's olive skin as she hears his voice falter. She knows they're dead or at least her boyfriend will be if he doesn't move promptly away from her. Palo pulls away from her awaiting neckline as he hears the venom spill from the monster's lips, " What in kriffin sith hells are you doing?"

Palo gulps and is terrified to meet the eyes of the monster. He stands up in a stiff position and eyes the terrifying blue eyed monster standing there with the coldest stare. His eyes shine with menace and disbelief. I'm dead… Is Palo's last thought before being lunged into the back wall. He half expected to make it out with at least one black eye or two.. Perhaps a broken nose to go with those beautiful black eyes. He'd be the talk of Theed University.

But the smack never comes, instead he is thrown against the wall and held there by the blue-eyed raging monster. But the monster is not near him. His body is being held against the wall without anything! His body trembles in fear of this predator. His brown eyes turn towards Padme' telling her to run. She eyes him and the angry boy in between the two of them.

Her eyes shine in astonishment. She has never seen her friend hold someone against their will via the force.

Anakin's cold stare turns on his friend and he demands, " What the kriffing sith hells are you doing?"

Her brown eyes stare back at him, anger replacing her fear. She wraps her arms around herself feeling her dress straps are not completely up as Palo had left them. Her bare skin is visible, but the material of her bra hid any of her chest. She demands, " None of your business. Anakin, put him down."

Her tone is commanding and formal. She has learned in her previous classes that commanding sometimes is necessary in a hostile situation. She stands up to him in all of her height which isn't much on his commanding six foot height.

His mouth has formed a grimace, tracing lines of the frown deep within his features. He demands again, " Why in Kriffing Sith hells are the two of you half naked laying on my speeder?"

Padme' shudders a bit at his menacing tone. Her friend is falling on the edge of a darkness within himself. She snaps back, " That is none of your business. Put him down, Ani."

Her use of his nickname does nothing to soothe his anger. He turns back to the frightened Palo slammed against the wall. His tone commands, " I want to know what you were thinking! "

Palo shakes within his boots and manages to stammer out, " I- we- were about to-"

Anakin cuts him off with the closing of his throat. His anger is evident within the force. This man had no right to touch her! How could she even think of giving away her virginity?

The gurgling sounds coming from the man on the wall bring him back to the present. Palo's lips are turning purple. It is a thrill knowing he can crack his neck with just a slight snap. He ha sbeen practicing with the force lifting objects during his and Obi-wan's training simulations, but the feeling of this power over another felt wonderful and it scared the living sith hell out of him.

" Anakin, you're killing him! Stop! Stop it now!" Padme's pleas from behind him.

His eyes turn back onto his best friend and he demands, " I will put him down if you tell me this is the last time I will find the two of you-" He cannot finish his sentence, the disgusting words won't leave his mouth.

Her eyes plead with him. Brown on Blue. " Say it, " He commands, his power from the situation growing with every moment.

Her chest feels heavy as she gives in. " Yes! I promise this won't happen again!"

His hold on the Palo lessens and he sags against the wall. Padme' scrambles to her boyfriend's side and examines his neck. There are no marks evident. Nothing but the fearful chokes and sobs of the poor man cowering in fear.

" Palo, you can't tell anyone about this." She whispers.

Palo chokes out, "Th-ey wo-n't b-elie-ve me i-f I d-id-."

She tries to help him up but he pushes her away. His feelings of fear and cowardice are evident. Anakin smirks at the power over the scrawny looking insect. Palo pushes himself away from the pair of them and says nothing to his girlfriend. Padme' attempts to follow him, but Anakin stops her with his commanding voice, " Where the hell are you going?"

She whirls on her heels and walks straight up to her friend and slaps him across the face. " You're a bastard! How could you hurt an innocent man?"

Anakin's rage is now on his friend and the consequences are dire. He snaps, " That man is hardly innocent in this situation."

Smack! Her hand hurts this time as she makes sure it leaves a mark. The third time, Anakin catches her hand and she demands, " Let me go."

His cold eyes stare her down as he releases her. She keeps the distance between them close. Her anger seething off of her in waves in the force. " You have gone too far! I have tried to understand you being protective over me, but you could have killed my boyfriend!"

Her words do not waver his fury. He shouts, " Do you have any idea what you are getting into? You've known him for how long, two months? You don't know if he's just after sex or not!"

Her head cocks to the side and she yells loudly, " He cares for me. He isn't just after sex! And how can you ignore the fact that you almost killed him?"

His stormy eyes glint in knowing. He retorts coolly, " I wasn't going to kill him. I was teaching him a lesson."

Her fury is a storm of emotions through the force. He senses the mixture of pure rage, betrayal and most of all hurt. He had hurt her. He senses the force push and he cannot react in time as he's slammed hard into the back wall. The wind is knocked out of him as he tries to gain his breath. Again he feels the slamming of the force wave into his body. He hits the wall again and coughs at the impact.

She stands over him, powerful within her rage. The dark side swirling around both of them. Her voice drips in venom. " How do you like being taught a lesson? Hmm? Does it feel good?"

He coughs and spits the blood in his mouth onto the floor. He stands, holding his shoulder that he's pretty sure is dislocated from the impact. It will hurt like hell putting it back in, but it will heal within a few days of force healing.

She clenches her teeth as she barks out, "If you can't see what you are doing is wrong, then I can't let it go. After tonight, I want nothing to do with you! You're turning into someone I don't want to associate with."

He coughs again and wipes the blood onto his suit. She notices the blood, and a part of her wants to apologize for the damage she's done. Yet why should she? He could have killed someone she cared for! Why should she apologize for giving him a taste of his own medicine?

Padme-

No! Stay out of my head. I can't be friends with someone who will go out of their way to hurt another innocent human being!

Anakin's heart strings throb against his chest. Seeing the desire upon his friend's features had broken his control. She had been sitting there moaning that man's name. Her lips still showed signs of those stolen kisses on her bright red lips. He hadn't known what he was capable of. Qui-gon had warned him of the darker nature of the force, but this felt good. And yet his best friend had just ended their friendship over such a slip-up. His heart aches- knowing she's done. He senses it within their force connection.

She senses the tears forming in her eyes. The tearing of her own heart making this choice. She wasn't given any other choice. He has chosen to hurt someone she could potentially love. A man she isn't even sure will come back after this. How can she forgive him?

You can't-at least not for a while. The force strokes her, knowing they need to go separate ways for a while- whether this means forever or not- it does not matter in that instance. Before he can see her sink to her knees and cry she flees for the cold night.

He coughs and tries to call out to her, but the air is still knocked out of him. He watches her leave and he pushes his shoulder back into place. He lets out a howl and leans against the wall.

Padme'- no please-

To Be Continued.