Chapter One

Coruscant, 20BBY

Pain was the first thing that Anakin noticed as he slowly regained consciousness. It wasn't a localized pain, but rather an all pervasive pain. What the hell happened to me? he thought as he opened his eyes. He noted that he was in a hospital room, and that he was not alone.

"Ani, thank God," Padmé said, picking up one of his hands.

Anakin turned to look at her, hardly believing that she was actually there. It had been more than three months since he had seen his wife, and part of him believed that he was actually dreaming. But when she kissed his hand, he knew that this was no dream.

"Padmé? What...what are you doing here?" Anakin asked, his voice weak. "What if someone sees you?"

"I was careful," she assured him. "No one recognized me. I had to see you, Ani. When I heard on the new that you'd been in an explosion..." she stopped as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. "I was so afraid that I would never see you again!"

Anakin gave her a weak smile. "Are you kidding me? You'll never get rid of me, Padmé," he told her. "You're stuck with me, now and forever."

Padmé smiled. "Now and forever," she said, and softly kissed him on the mouth. She looked down at him, and stroked his face softly. "I should go," she said, glancing at the door anxiously. "I just had to see you, Anakin."

"I'm glad you did," he said. "Hopefully I can get out of here soon and come home for a few days."

Padmé's smile grew. "Really? You think they'd let you?"

"Maybe," he said, starting to grow drowsy again.

Padmé could see that he was struggling to stay awake. "You need your rest," she said. She gave him another kiss. "Sleep, Ani," she said. "I'll come back tomorrow."

Anakin nodded, as he slid back into sleep. Padmé watched him for a moment as she pulled her hood up, wishing with all her heart that she didn't need to sneak around this way. Will we ever be free, Anakin? She wondered wistfully as she ran her fingers through his shaggy hair. A lump formed in her throat as she reflected that it was highly unlikely that there would ever be a time when they could live together openly. So long as he was a Jedi, their marriage needed to remain a secret, a secret that was becoming harder to keep with each passing year.

The corridor was quiet as Padmé slipped out of Anakin's room. She walked away, looking over her shoulder as she did so. She didn't notice, however, that she was being watched.

Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped into the corridor, a frown on his face as his considered what he had just seen: a woman, who was not a member of the medical staff, leaving Anakin's room. She wore a long dark cloak to hide her identify, as though she wanted to make sure that no one saw or recognized her. The ramifications of this were staggering, and for a moment Obi-Wan could only stand in the corridor dumbfounded. Who was she? Why was she visiting Anakin so late at night? Why did she feel compelled to conceal her identity? Will Anakin even give me the answers I need? He wondered as he continued on his way to Anakin's room.

Anakin was sleeping when Obi-Wan pushed the door open to his room. Obi-Wan walked over to the side of the bed, watching his best friend. How many times does that make that you've saved my life? 8? 9? He mused as he stood silently at Anakin's side. He frowned as he recalled the explosion that had sent Anakin into a bulkhead. Obi-Wan had been pushed to safety just before the explosion, pushed by Anakin who took the brunt of the force of the blast. The close call had shaken Obi-Wan deeply, not because he feared for his own life, but because the thought of losing his best friend was too painful to consider.

"Obi-Wan?" Anakin murmured as he opened his eyes, his former master's emotional distress shaking him from his slumber.

Obi-Wan smiled. "I'm here," he said. "Just making sure you're being well taken care of."

Anakin was sure that there was something on Obi-Wan's mind, but was too groggy to pursue the matter. "I am," he mumbled as he started to drift off again. "The nurses love me," he said with a trace of a smile.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Was that a nurse I saw leaving your room just now?" he asked. "She was strangely dressed for a nurse."

Anakin's eyes popped open at this point. His reaction was all the answer Obi-Wan needed. "Is there something you want to tell me, Anakin? Something you should tell me?"

Anakin frowned, fighting the lethargy in his body. "No," he said as he surrendered once again to sleep.

Obi-Wan watched him for a moment. "Now why don't I believe that?" he asked. Anakin didn't respond.

500 Republica Boulevard

Padmé arrived home shortly after midnight. The part of her that was and always had been rational chastised herself for taking such a risk. What if someone had seen her? What if the media had shown up? Anakin was, after all, a famous man. News of his injuries had been widespread. Padmé felt anxiety blossoming up within her as she considered what could have happened. And yet, it had not. No one had seen her, thank God. For this she was grateful, for there was simply no way she could stay away. Anakin had been away for months, a separation that had proven agonizing for Padmé. And then to find out that he'd been seriously injured! Her heart won out over her mind, as it always had where Anakin Skywalker was concerned.

"Can I get you something, Miss Padmé?" Threepio asked as he appeared in the living room.

"No, thank you Threepio," Padmé said as she handed him her cloak. "I'm going to bed."

"Oh, well I wish you a goodnight then, Miss," the droid replied, and then toddled off to go shut himself off for the night.

Padmé passed a restless night, the worries that were very much a part of her life preventing her from getting more than a few hours. She was anxious to see Anakin again, and reasoned that if she was there early, she could dodge the media who would no doubt be there en masse today. Padmé got out of bed and had a quick shower before leaving the apartment. It was early, not even 8 yet, and yet the traffic was already heavy as she headed for the hospital. She landed her craft, and then pulled the hood up on her long cloak. It had served her well the previous night, and she was hopeful that it would do so again.

Stepping off of the lift, Padmé was horrified to see a number of reporters already congregated in the corridor outside of Anakin's room. She turned to get back into the lift, but it had already left. Panic threatened when a hand took her by the arm and pulled her into a nearby storage room. Padmé was about to fight back when she realized who it was.

"Obi-Wan," she sighed. "You startled me!"

"I didn't think you'd want to be seen by those reporters," Obi-Wan said. "You know what they're like. Imagine what they'd make of a senator visiting an injured Jedi in his hospital room."

Padmé's face grew warm under Obi-Wan's discerning eyes and she looked away. "What makes you think that's the reason I'm here?" she asked.

"Come now, Senator," Obi-Wan said. "Why else are you here? You were here last night as well if I'm not mistaken," he said.

Padmé looked at him, shocked. "I wasn't," she lied.

Obi-Wan smiled. "You wore this very cloak," he said. "I'm not judging you, Padmé," he said. "But I am rather curious why you'd risk your reputation to visit Anakin this way. What's going on?"

Padmé frowned. "What do you mean, what's going on?" she asked. "Anakin and I are friends, we've been friends for years. Is it so inconceivable that I'd want to make sure he's okay?"

Obi-Wan sensed her heightened emotions. What was more, he knew that she was hiding something, something big. "No, I don't suppose so," he said. "But twice? In a short span of time? That's rather...unusual, don't you think?"

"No I don't," she said. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get to the office."

"Padmé, you can trust me," Obi-Wan said as she turned to leave. "I hope you know that. Anakin is like my brother, and I've always had the highest regard for you. If there is anything you need to talk about, please know that you can trust me."

Padmé considered his words for a moment. It was so tempting to unburden herself with the secret she had kept for two years, a secret that had turned her life upside down. And yet, what would be the fallout of doing so? She couldn't take that risk. "I trust you, Obi-Wan," she said. "But I really have to go."

Obi-Wan didn't detain her any longer and simply watched her leave. Then he headed down the hall way to have a frank conversation with Anakin.

"General Kenobi! Can you tell us about the status of General Skywalker?"

"Is it true that he saved your life?"

"Is General Skywalker dead?"

Obi-Wan hated the media, but fielded the questions with as much calm as he could muster. And when he'd had enough, he slipped into Anakin's room, making sure he closed the door behind him.

"Parasites," he grumbled.

Anakin, who was awake, looked at him with a smile. "Let me guess, the media?"

Obi-Wan nodded as he walked over to take a seat beside Anakin's bed. "You're quite the celebrity, you know," he said.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I don't want to know," he said.

Obi-Wan smiled as he tried to formulate the question that he needed to ask his friend. "I ran into Senator Amidala earlier," he said, watching Anakin closely for a reaction.

"Is that right?" Anakin asked, doing his utmost to remain cool. "Where?"

"Right here," Obi-Wan said, folding his arms over his chest. "Curious, don't you think?"

Anakin shrugged. "Why? I'm sure she visits doctors like anyone else."

"Well that's the thing," Obi-Wan said. "She wasn't here to see a doctor, she was here to see you."

Anakin frowned, forcing himself to remain calm. "What makes you think that?" he asked, shifting in his bed. "She hasn't been here, so clearly you're wrong."

"She's not here because of the media," Obi-Wan replied. "I managed to intercept her before they saw her. Can you imagine what they'd make of that? A senator sneaking around to visit a Jedi? Quite scandalous, don't you think?"

Anakin's frown deepened, and he looked away. "I don't know what you're implying," he said. "But Senator Amidala isn't one to sneak around, as you said."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, you're a terrible liar," he said. "I know Padmé was here to see you. She didn't deny it. And I know that she was here last night. What I don't know is why. And don't try and tell me that you two are friends. I sense far deeper feelings from both of you than mere friendship."

Anakin said nothing, and simply continued to stare at the wall behind Obi-Wan.

"Anakin, you know that you can trust me," Obi-wan said. "You know that I hold both of you in the highest regard. If there is something you need to..."

"We're married," Anakin interjected. "There, I said it. Padmé and I are married. We've been married for two years. So go ahead, tell the Council. I'm tired of the hiding and the lies." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Do what you need to do, Obi-Wan. I just ask that you be respectful of Padmé's reputation."

Obi-Wan sat for a few moments unable to respond. He expected that Anakin would tell him that he and Padme had been seeing a lot of each other, romantically quite possibly, but had no idea that it had gone this far.

"Married?" Obi-Wan said at last. "You're married?"

Anakin nodded, looking Obi-Wan in the eye.

"But...but...but why?" Obi-Wan cried. "Surely you know that the Code forbids it!"

"Of course I do!" Anakin replied hotly. "Do you think I made this decision lightly? Padmé and I are soul mates, Obi-Wan. We belong together. I...I can't even imagine living without her! Don't tell me you've never loved a woman, because I know that's not true."

Obi-Wan scowled, the image of his beloved Satine dead in his arms. "I may have loved her, but I didn't marry her!" he retorted. He sighed, and ran his hands over his face.

Anakin watched his friend, sensing his shock, his disillusionment. "I'm sorry if I've disappointed you," he said. "But if I'm forced to choose between being married to Padmé or being a Jedi, I will choose Padmé every time."

Obi-Wan looked up at him. "You would really give up being a Jedi Knight?"

Anakin nodded. "She means more to me than anything," he said.

Obi-Wan stood up and walked away from the bed. "Anakin, I...I don't know what to say," he said softly. "I hate the thought of you being expelled from the Order, it isn't right. You're a hero, the Order needs you. I need you."

Anakin sensed the ambivalence within his friend. He'd expected that Obi-Wan would immediately report him, but now he wasn't so sure. "I have to ask, and I'll understand if the answer is no. Will you keep our secret, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan looked back at him. "I'm not sure I can do that, Anakin," he said. "I don't know if I'd be able to live with that on my conscience."

Anakin nodded. "I understand," he said. "Like I said, do what you must."

"I will mediate on this," Obi-Wan said. "And I won't say anything until I tell you my decision."

"That's fair," Anakin said.

"I'm glad you think so," Obi-Wan said. "I must go now," he said. "The Council is meeting shortly."

"Will I see you again later?" Anakin asked.

"If I can get away, yes," Obi-Wan said. "Get your rest, Anakin. You're still recovering, remember?"

Anakin nodded as he watched Obi-Wan leaving, knowing that sleep would not come easily now.