AN- Every review I get inspires me to write more. So read and review let me know what you think.

He knew he was awake now, but he didn't want to open his eyes he didn't want to see that his dream was over. He didn't want to know Padme was gone, if only he kept his eyes closed longer he could still pretend. Only he couldn't pretend forever. Slowly he allowed his eyes to open, but had to close them quickly again. He wasn't in his dark room anymore; no there was a bright light above him. He slowly opened his eyes again and allowed them to adjust. The room seemed white this wasn't his room he was in a hospital. He groaned as a sharp pain filled his mind.

Where was he? He lifted his hand to shield his eyes; usually the protection of his mask shielded his eyes from strong lights. It was then he noticed his hand. It was his hand. His real hand not some black glove, not burned skin. It was his own flesh without any burn marks. He lifted up his other hand in front of his eyes and turned them both over again and again he only had one arm that was machine. He had no black armor; he could feel his legs, real legs. He touched his face and felt no mask. How could this be possible? Was he still dreaming?

"Anakin?" came a worried voice that belonged to his old master. Anakin looked up and frowned. Obi Wan was young not an old man, and very much alive.

"How did you survive?" he asked hate hinted in his words as if he wasn't happy that Obi Wan was beside him.

"You were in the accident, I was not." Obi Wan told him, "You had us worried Anakin."

Anakin began to feel his hate filling him. He wasn't Anakin, he was Darth Vader this master Jedi needed to show him respect and call him by his true name. "Anakin is gone." He growled.

Obi Wan stepped forward, "You are just confused you hit your head hard yesterday." He smiled at his friend. "I told you at times you can be to reckless and you lost another light saber."

"I killed you, I killed you." Anakin yelled sitting up, but winced from a pain in his side. Why was he in so much pain?

"Anakin calm down. You broke a few ribs as well." Obi Wan moved forward, but as he did Anakin swung at him. "Anakin!" he yelled as he dodged and Anakin fell to the ground yelling out in pain.

A doctor and a droid came rushing in as alarms sounded; they wrestled him back onto the bed with Obi Wan's help. The whole time Anakin acted like he wanted to attack his master. He was on the bed they restrained him, but he continued to yell at Obi Wan, "I killed you, I killed you."

Padme looked through the window worry plastered across her face, Anakin wasn't right something was wrong. Obi Wan was in the room with him, but Anakin had to be restrained he acted like they were enemies. The master Jedi seemed to hang his head and walk out of the room and into the one that Padme was in. Anakin kept yelling after him, about killing him, about fighting him, as if they were enemies.

"I don't understand." Padme said seeing Anakin struggling against his restraints.

"It's like he's had a complete break from reality." Obi wan told her shaking his head, "I don't understand he thinks he killed me." He paused, "and not in a remorseful way."

"How did this happen?" she asked.

"He was shot down yesterday. He escaped with a bad gash on his head and a few broken ribs, but I thought he was alright." The Jedi told her.

"That doesn't sound alright to me." She glared at him, but she knew this really wasn't his fault. She blamed herself, why hadn't she trusted what the doctor said? Why hadn't she made sure he was woke up every hour?

A droid walked in and gave Anakin a shot holding a drug that would calm him down, but still keep him awake. He stopped struggling and just looked at the walls, his eyes searching for answers for his confused mind.

"You know Anakin." Obi Wan told her, "He hardly let's you know why he's in pain, he's hard to read in that way."

Padme sighed, she knew that was the very reason she had allowed herself to sleep last night. Anakin had seemed fine.

"Maybe you should go in there." The master Jedi said.

Padme looked up, "Why me?" she asked a little to quickly.

Obi Wan sighed he had his suspicions about the two, but he chose to ignore his suspicions. "Because he trust you." He told her, "He's confused, maybe you could explain everything to him, help him realize what is real and what is not."

She nodded her head and gave an inner sigh of relief, she had almost thought Obi Wan knew about her and Anakin. It was hard hiding their relationship from him.

Padme walked into the hospital room, Anakin's eyes lit up when he saw her and a kind soft smile spread onto his face. His eyes showed he had large amounts of sedatives in his system. "This is a dream." He whispered, "I see you."

"I see you too." She said smiling. "But this isn't a dream."

He reached for her, but his arm caught on his restraint he frowned, "Obi Wan is going to kill me." He spoke looking up at her, "That's what he is doing."

"No, Anakin, why would he hurt you?" she moved forward and took his hand.

"Because I killed him, so now this is his torture." He told her, "He wants me to see you again, he wants me to believe you are really here, and then he is going to rip you away again."

"No." she shook her head, "this is real, I am real, you are real."

He began to shake his head, "You aren't real." He could feel tears filling his eyes, "You died a long time ago."

"Ani." Her heart hurt for him she could see the pain in his eyes, he really believed she was dead.

"You died, I wasn't strong enough." He told her again.

"Ani, don't talk like this not here." She told him.

"Once this was all real." He pushed his head back into his pillow, "He wants me to see that. He brought my mind to this place because this is when I was easier to break. I was easier to bend with you by my side." He shook his head, "He wants me to suffer that's what he's doing."

"Listen to me Ani." Padme almost yelled, "Hear my voice. This is real all of this, you and me. Obi Wan isn't against you."

"Yes he is." He frowned, "He turned you against me."

"No." she placed her hand on the side of his face. Anakin closed his eyes and leaned into her hand, this all felt so real. He hated Obi Wan for pulling this trick on him. Why did the ghost of his master do this to him? Why couldn't he just kill him? Anakin grew angry he should be stronger then this he should be strong enough not to be locked in this mind trick. "Ani." She called to him. "Open your eyes." He opened them.

"Tell me something only you would know." He told her.

She thought for a moment then leaned down and whispered, "We are married."

He pulled back, "Not that." He told her his eyes flashing dark.

She frowned, "Ani. What do you want me to say?" she paused, "What can I say to prove to you this is real."

Anakin leaned back in again into the pillow his hair falling in his face. Padme leaned forward and brushed it out of his face. "This feels so real, I can feel pain."

"It is real." She told him. "That is why you feel pain." She leaned down so she could whisper, "Ani you need to get better then we can take a vacation to Naboo, back to the meadow."

He smiled, "Home." He whispered back, "I want to go home."

Padme smiled, "I've never heard you call it that before, never thought you considered it home."

He moved his head and his eyes met her's, "It's the first and only place I've ever felt at peace." He told her.

"Then embrace this." She told him, "Even if you think this is all a trick embrace it, enjoy it."

He nodded his head. "If this is real was everything else a dream?" he asked.

"I believe so." She told him.

"There is no empire?" he asked.

"Empire?" she asked confused.

"The government, the republic died and became the empire. I helped." He told her shaking his head.

"Anakin the republic is still alive and well." She told him, "There is no empire. You are good." She paused, "And you and Obi Wan are a team. You don't hate him."

He looked up he was about to argue, but realized there were only two options to explain what was going on. One option was Obi Wan was really playing a trick on him, but instead of fighting it he could enjoy it, he could truly embrace thinking and feeling as if Padme was back. Option two was that everything had been a dream, that he really had been in an accident and everything, Darth Vader and the Empire was all a dream he had been locked into. Either way he wanted to enjoy this. He wanted to fully be here and now with Padme.

"Anakin?" Obi Wan's voice spoke as he stepped into the room, "Are you alright?" Anakin noticed the worry in his eyes. He remembered those eyes; they weren't the eyes of the old man he had killed, the old man that only held pain and regret. No these were the eyes of his master, his friend someone truly worried about him. "Obi Wan?" he asked, "This isn't a trick?"

"No." He spoke coming to Anakin's side smiling. "This isn't a trick."

"You are my master?" he asked.

"Yes." Obi Wan spoke, "And friend." He smiled happy to see the boy becoming himself. He tried to ignore the way he saw Anakin look at Padme he tried to forget the words he heard them speak.

Anakin took in a deep breath and let out a large shaking exhale. "I feel like it has been forever since I could breath." He spoke. "I'm real." He said, "I am free." He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The weight of the dark side.

It had been a few weeks since he had woken up as Anakin Skywalker, every night he fell asleep he feared he would wake up as Vader. He knew he shouldn't fear his future he shouldn't regret his choices. There were things here he didn't like about being back here. Obi Wan for one. That man smiled at him, that man called him friend, but he knew. He knew Obi Wan was bidding his time to hurt him, finding just the right moment to rip this away. The only thing that he enjoyed about being back was Padme.

Obi Wan blamed the injury he had gotten that caused his mind to grow confused. How convenient. Obi Wan acted like his old self acted as he had before the two had fallen out. Anakin wanted nothing to do with his old master, but knew he had to keep up the act. If he killed Obi Wan now he feared whatever power his old master was wielding would end upon his death and he wasn't ready to allow this to end.

Anakin still didn't know what was going on and why he was really hear, but he wouldn't allow himself to get close to Obi Wan he wouldn't let his guard down so the old man could kill him. No he was going to stay alive as long as he could see and feel Padme as if she was real.

"Anakin." Obi Wan said coming up next to him, "You seem some where else as of late."

"I'm fine." He had to fight himself from not glaring at Obi Wan. He didn't want to spend any time with his master.

Obi Wan looked at the young man next to him frowning. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him. Ever since the accident he just wasn't the same he almost held a hidden hate in his eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked still worried. The look in Anakin's eyes chilled his blood.

Anakin sighed as much as he tried to pretend to be his old self he still couldn't stand to be by his old master's side. He didn't trust the man. "Can I just have a moment of peace?" he closed his eyes as he leaned on the edge of the balcony. Wind blew his hair back he could smell all the smells he had long forgotten, but could remember in full now. He didn't want to admit to even himself how much he missed this.

Obi Wan stood in silence for a moment, but then nodded his head. "Master Yoda needs me to retrieve some information." He continued, "I was going to see if you wanted to come along, but why don't you stay here and rest a little bit longer, get your bearings together."

Anakin opened his eyes and looked over at him, "My mind is sound." He told him.

"I know, but your just aren't yourself." His old master told him, "Something is bothering you. Figure this out while I am gone Anakin. You can't have this conflict within you, not if you want to be a master Jedi."

Anakin rolled his eyes, "In your eyes I never will be good enough will I?"

"Anakin?" Obi Wan stepped forward placing his hand on Anakin's shoulder, "That isn't true, I believe you will be great, you are the chosen one."

Anakin shrugged the hand from his shoulder. "You think I'm not strong enough don't you?" he asked his eyes turning almost to hate again looking upon the Jedi.

"You are plenty strong enough Anakin, with strength and power but you need to learn to control your emotions better." He sighed, "Padme has requested to have a Jedi escort her home it would seem there was another attempt on her life."

Anakin's head snapped up quickly, "When?"

"A few hours ago." Obi Wan ignored the worry in the young man's eyes; he tried to turn a blind eye to Anakin's feelings for the girl. "I suggested you go with her." He knew it was wrong he knew he shouldn't be allowing the two to spend time together, but perhaps Anakin just needed some time of peace. Something about Naboo calmed the young Jedi; perhaps it was the people or the lands. Obi Wan just hoped his friend could come back and be at peace from what ever tormented him on the inside since the accident. Whatever nightmare had taken him that night had shaken him up. "The council has approved this."

Anakin smiled and nodded his head. He longed to return to Naboo with Padme he had dreamed of it for years. Feeling the mist of the waterfall, feeling the grass brushing against his hand. Holding Padme in the meadow without worrying if someone would catch them. He let out a long breath one he seemed to be holding for almost twenty years since he had lost her. He could go home. He could really go home. In that moment he looked up at Obi Wan and smiled his hate leaving for a small moment, "Thank you." He said softly. He felt lighter in that moment without his anger filling him. He felt like he could smile truly smile. Perhaps Obi Wan was planning to end this is an awful way, but right now he had given Anakin one of the best gifts he could.

Obi Wan sighed still noticing a change within his friend, but could tell perhaps this was a step in the right direction. Something was wrong deep within Anakin he seemed to be struggling with an inner conflict. He knew he shouldn't be sending his friend off with Padme, but when Anakin's eyes showed a storm ready to hit it was always her that could calm him. It was wrong the couple sneaking around, it was wrong they were even a couple, but Obi Wan worried no he feared that without an anchor he could lose himself to the pain within, the fear within, and his true loneliness. Obi Wan feared that most of all Anakin just wanted to have someone that loved him for him, not for being a Jedi, not for being strong. He just wanted someone to love him for him. That person was Padme and more harm then good would be done if she were taken from him.

Yesterday had been something Anakin never knew he had wanted. He and Padme had made it back to Naboo, they enjoyed their time together that day just like it used to be. To Padme it was something she could consider normal. She was happy, but she always was when she was with Anakin and especially when they were here on Naboo.

To Anakin these moments together filled him with so much joy he had forgotten what it felt like. All those years he had been Darth Vader, all those years in the darkness he had convinced himself that he didn't care, that he didn't want this. That having something to smile at was worth nothing. Yet here and now on Naboo with Padme he knew every thing he had once convinced himself to believe was a lie. He wanted her he wanted her forever. She was what made him, him. Without Padme there was no Anakin Skywalker.

He knew that was more true then even he could understand, because when he lost her he had allowed Anakin Skywalker to die he pushed way any thought of the light side and fully embraced the dark side. She was everything he needed to keep his temper in check. She was the only one that could calm him with just a look in her eyes. Her touch could calm any raging storm within him. All she had to do was reach out and take his arm in hers and he could breath again.

Anakin opened his eyes searching for Padme next to him, but he frowned. She wasn't there. He reached out to feel for her, but as he did he noticed his hand. His hand was not his own.

No. He thought his heart rate picked up. This couldn't be happening. It had been so real. She had been so real. He sat up in bed glancing around hoping longing to see his home with Padme on Naboo. He wasn't there. It wasn't real.

He couldn't understand what he was feeling; he couldn't understand why something hurt deep within. That dream had felt so real he had felt things he hadn't in a long time. Things he wasn't even sure he could feel anymore.

Joy. That was what he had felt. He had forgotten what it was like to have that in his life, to have something, someone to smile about. Happiness. He had truly thought she was in his arms again, that he was on Naboo with her. Hope. He had fully allowed himself to hope that he was Anakin Skywalker once more.

No. He couldn't think that way; he couldn't want the return of Anakin Skywalker, that man was weak. That man couldn't save anyone. Darth Vader was strong, Darth Vader was powerful he didn't need a woman.

A woman. Even as he thought it he knew Padme was far from just any woman. She was his light, his joy, his happiness, and his hope. She was everything that held him to the light; she was everything that made him smile. And she was gone again. That dream had felt so real that in this moment he felt as if she had just left him, that she had only just died.

"Lord Vader." One of the troopers came in through the doorway.

Vader. His anger filled him and he let it flow out of him and to the trooper. He lifted his hand and allowed the force to take hold of the man as he began to choke. He wasn't fully sure what the anger was about but he didn't care. Vader didn't care.

The quick thought washed over him, but it made him even angrier. The thought that he was upset over the name. He didn't want to be Vader he didn't want to be here. He wanted to be Anakin Skywalker on Naboo with Padme.

He let his anger consume him as the trooper fell to the ground close to death. This was who he was, this was what he was. A killer, one with the dark side. There was no good left within him. No good left.

As the trooper stood and relayed his announcement that troops had made it to the moon Vader nodded his head and let the man leave. He leaned back in the chair he was sitting in his mind haunted with the images that felt as if they had just been yesterday. Naboo. Padme. They had been together he had held her in his arms. She had felt so real everything had been so real. His heart was breaking all over again, but it wasn't just his heart. That voice he chose to ignore over all this time, the voice that belonged to Anakin Skywalker was growing louder. It screamed to be free, it screamed to go back in time and back to her arms. He leaned his head back and felt like he couldn't breath with his mask on. He tried to make his breathing even. In out in out. Just keep breathing, he told himself, it was just a dream only a dream.

He turned his head as something caught his eye and instantly he reached for the light saber that wasn't at his side. There standing near the window was a ghostly image of the old man. The old man that went by the name Obi Wan or Old Ben the man that he had killed.

"You." Anakin growled.

"Be at ease young Jedi." Obi Wan told him his voice showing no hint of hate.

"I am no Jedi." Vader spat letting hate once again fill him; he could feel that familiar fire burning within him the fire fueled by hate.

"Don't do this Anakin." Obi Wan told him, "Don't give your self to your hate." He frowned, "Don't fall for those tricks not again."

"Tricks?" Vader smirked, "They aren't tricks they were strong enough to kill you weren't they?"

Obi Wan smiled, "Perhaps, perhaps not."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Vader asked

"That is not important." Obi Wan told him, "What is important is this chance you have."

"Chance?" Vader asked his eyes spotting his light saber, but it was across the room.

"A second chance Anakin, to be who you were meant to be, to be what you were meant to be." Obi Wan told him. "You have learned to bury your guilt with anger. You must learn to find balance within."

"I don't understand." Vader said letting his guard down sounding more like Anakin looking for answers from his master then Vader demanding answers.

"I failed you." Obi Wan said, "I gave up on you, but speaking to Luke who sounded just like his mother. There is still good in you Anakin.

"You underestimate the power of the dark side." Vader told Obi Wan, "You can not change any choice I've made you can not take my power from me.

"You once believed you were the chosen one, you can be again." The master Jedi spoke. "You were seduced by the dark side. Twisted by it. You were once a good friend. You were once Anakin Skywalker."

"That name has no meaning to me." He growled, but then he looked down, "there is no hope for me." He looked up, "Anakin died the day Darth Vader was born."

"I refuse to believe that." Obi Wan spoke. "Not now."

"How are you doing this?" Vader asked

"Do not ask how but why." Obi Wan told him, "Remember Anakin."

"Remember what?" he growled.

Obi Wan began to fade as if the breeze that blew through the wind was sweeping him away, "Once you were real and you could be real once again."

It was only just a dream. He told himself again until his breathing slowed. He took in a deep breath and got ready to go see his Master.

"Anakin?" her voice rang out causing him to freeze with his eyes closed. The voice belonged to Padme.

Slowly, very slowly Vader opened his eyes, but he wasn't in his darkroom, no he was in their bedroom on Naboo. He wasn't Vader, he was Anakin Skywalker once more.

"Did you fall asleep in that chair?" she asked as she walked up to him. She wrapped her arms about his neck and sat down in his lap.

Anakin just looked at her surprised he couldn't understand what was going on. Here he was again with Padme, but only moments ago he had been back in his room. In Darth Vader's room. "I-" he paused, "I suppose so." His mind couldn't wrap around what was going on. Was this the dream or was Vader?

Padme bushed his hair out of his face and gave him a soft kind smile, "You seem out of it." She told him, "Perhaps you should have slept in the bed."

He nodded his head, but didn't respond for a moment and simply moved forward and kissed her. He smiled feeling his lips touch hers, "You're real." He said softly as he pulled away and rested his forehead on hers.

"Of course I am." She frowned, "You keep asking me that. Did you have a bad dream again?"

"I think so." He said letting himself be tricked. Even if this was a dream then he much rather have this one. He didn't want to be Vader right now. Sure he didn't feel the power that he felt as Vader. Right now he couldn't feel the power that coursed through him as he let his anger flow through him and choke that trooper, but right now he didn't care for the power. Instead right now all he cared about was her and spending his time with her.

Padme kissed him and smiled, "Well here you and I are, this is not a dream."

Anakin smiled, "I like that."

"What are those dreams about?" she asked.

Anakin paused for a moment and just looked at her and decided to tell her the truth. "The future." He looked down, "Years from now."

"And what happens?" she asked.

"I'll start having other dreams soon." He told her, "About you dying and I'll stop at nothing to keep you safe. To stop you from dying."

"I'm not going anywhere Ani." She kissed him softly, "I promise."

"But you do, you die and it's my fault." For the first time in a very long time he could feel his guilt he could see how he had caused her death. "I'm not how I should be Padme. I'm not like the other Jedi."

"What do you mean?" she frowned. "You are just as strong if not stronger."

"That's the problem." He told her, "I'm" he paused, "Drawn to the dark side."

Padme pulled back slightly shocked, but began to shake her head, "No." she told him, "I know you Ani there is no darkness in you."

"You know that isn't true." Ani told her, "My anger takes me and I can't always stop it."

She gave him a reassuring smile, "You are stronger then you think." She said softly, "All the strength you need is within you." She glanced out the window for a moment and turned back to him, "I'm going to find us something to eat." She kissed him, "Rest your mind Anakin, relax everything is alright."

AN-Mostly a filler chapter more action in the next.