"Perfect timing," Padme says as she got the ship ready to land next to Obi-Wan's. Down on the platform stood the Jedi Grand Master, facing Anakin. Anakin looked angry. This may not have been perfect timing. 

They may have already been too late.

The sound of a cruiser approaching the platform, Obi-Wan turns his attention to Padme and me. He wore an expression of anger mixed with desperation, but as he caught sight of us, all of the color drained from his face. I got the feeling this may have been a bad idea to follow him there.

Padme landed the ship, and I was already waiting impatiently at the ramp for it to open. Air hissed as the ramp lowered. I walked outside, down the ramp, and was immediately hit with a gust of hot, dry air. It was almost unbearable. I look down at my tunic that I had changed into in the ship. A faint stain of dry blood stained the front where the incisions were made. I almost wish that I had dressed lighter, but these layers protected the stitches. 

I look back up, not necessarily expecting a warm welcome.

"What is she doing here?" a voice booms.

I stop. The voice was Anakin's. But it sounded so mad. So angry. So full of hate.

This did not sound like Anakin.

Obi-Wan walks over to me and whispers under his breath, "You shouldn't be here."

His expression is one of sincere concern. I read his face for a moment. He looks so old. No longer is he the young Jedi Master sporting the youthful mullet. No longer is he training an impulsive Padawan. I never noticed until now how his face was riddled with wrinkles. They ran along his forehead in deep, prominent lines. 

"(Y/N)," he says. "You should leave."

At his words, I narrow my face toward him. He is trying to come between Anakin and me, too. I'm sure Obi-Wan is trying to do what he thinks is best for me. I'm sure he thinks he is being a good friend.

But I can handle myself.

I ignore him, and walk forward, slightly hitting his shoulder with mine. I hear him stagger a bit, before letting out a deep sigh. He knows he can't stop me. I'm far too persistent. 

"Anakin," I let out as I finally reach him. I inch closer toward him, stopping so there is only inches between our face. "What is going on."

Anakin's hard expression softens, and he closes his eyes. His prosthetic hand reaches up and grazes my cheek, rubbing his thumb back and forth. The hand feels cool against my skin. This is nice. I miss this. 

He lets out a deep breath, "Let's leave the Order."

"Okay," I respond immediately. The quick decision must've shocked him, because his eyes shoot open and he freezes.

"What?"

"This is madness, Anakin," I choke, holding back tears. "Let's leave. Now. We don't have to see anyone else ever again. Let's run away. Please, Anakin."

To my surprise, he nods. This was easier than I'd expected. "You're right." He lets out a quiet chuckle, "You're so right, my love. I'm so sorry. For everything."

Apologies could wait. Right now, all that mattered is getting Anakin and the children out of here. I craned my neck up and pressed my lips to Anakin's for a short moment, expressing my gratitude and love for him without having to say it. As I pulled away, I turned, starting toward the Naboo cruiser where the twins rest. 

"What is happening?" Obi-Wan asks.

"I'm getting the twins," I announce, "and then Anakin and I are leaving. For good."

Before Obi-Wan could speak in protest, Padme emerges from the ship. "The children aren't on the ship." She looks down and shakes her head, "I'm sorry, (Y/N). I didn't want to put them in danger. I didn't think that you would come here and run off with --"

"Where are they, Padme," I growl. Anger is flowing through my veins. No, not anger, but the hurt of betrayal. That fire burns hotter than any sort of anger. It burns brighter than the lava surrounding us on the platform.

I am so stupid. I could never even sense my children while I was on board. I was so caught up in tracking Obi-Wan I had never even considered the lack of bond I felt while with Padme. I simply trusted her word. Because I could trust her. But she lied to me. 

She gulps in response to my shift of tone. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry. I assure you they are safe." Before I can say anything, she continues, "We don't think they're safe in Anakin's possession."

"We?" I repeat. "Who is we?" I turn to face Obi-Wan. He looks guilty. As soon as I meet his eyes, he looks down at his boots. 

I look past Obi-Wan and toward Anakin. He is staring at me. "Was this your plan?" he asks. I look back at Obi-Wan, then Padme, expectant for an answer. But when they don't respond, Anakin speaks again. "I asked you a question." I look at him, noticing he was still looking directly at me. Was he talking to me? Did he think I was apart of this?

I look at him with a dazed look on my face. He couldn't possibly believe I had set him up, could he? He knows I would never do that. He knows. I don't answer him. I don't know how. But I should have tried.

Anakin marches toward me, a snarl on his face. Obi-Wan follows him with his eyes, unsure of what to do. He looks back at Padme who is still standing at the start of the ramp, as if asking her what he should do.

When Anakin reaches me, he speaks in a low voice, "Answer me, (Y/N)."

I shake my head. "Anakin. You... you think I was apart of this?" I feel the overwhelming urge to cry. This was Padme and Obi-Wan's fault. If only she had the children on board of the ship. If only she hadn't lied to me. If only Obi-Wan wasn't such a follower of the Jedi Ways. Maybe then he would just let us be free. "I didn't do this Anakin," I whisper.

"Don't lie to me!" Anakin screams, reaching out with his good hand and grabbing at my neck. Before I could even calculate what was going on, I realize I can't breath.

I attempt to shake my head in his grip. I reach up with my hands and squeeze at his wrist. He won't budge. Anakin is snarling at me, slowly gripping tighter. 

"Stop it, Anakin," Obi-Wan demands, "You're hurting her."

"(Y/N)!" Padme cries. I hear her boots hitting the ramp as she rushes down onto the platform.

But I keep my eyes trained on Anakin's. The iris's are red. As red as the lava below us. A burning hot red that is searing my own eyes as he stares at me. His nose remains in a snarl, and I hear the leather of his glove tightening as he presses harder against my neck. Did Anakin not know I loved him? Did he not understand that I would never betray him? All I've ever wanted was to be with him. This was our chance. Did Anakin not understand this?

But he did. He'd had to. He wanted to be with me just as much as I wanted to be with him. I search within his red eyes, trying to grasp onto our past. Anything. 

But I couldn't.

I now realize what Padme had warned me about earlier.

This wasn't Anakin.

This wasn't the small boy I had met all those years ago at the Jedi Council. This wasn't the cocky, know-it-all Padawan I knew in Coruscant. This wasn't the man I married and devoted my life to. This wasn't the father of my children. 

This wasn't the man I loved.

Black began to fill my vision. Everything sounds fuzzy.  I can hear the faint ignition of a lightsaber. But the man standing before me doesn't even flinch. His stare doesn't falter. 

I can hardly make out Obi-Wan yelling. "You leave me no choice, Anakin."

This is it, I think to myself. This is where it ends. I close my eyes. I want this to be over. I'm happy this is over. There isn't a universe I can live in where Anakin does not exist.

Black nearly has engulfed my vision completely. I hasn't been long since I took my last breath, but I don't even remember what that feels like anymore. 

But then the man who looks like Anakin let's go. I crumple to the floor, and my body gasps for air. Instinctively, I reach up toward my neck. It hurts to touch.

Why didn't you just kill me? I ask in my head. I open my eyes to look at the blurry figure above me. 

He turns around. The sound of a lightsaber. Obi-Wan yells. The figure leaves me. I close my eyes again, hearing the electric sound of two lightsabers clashing together.

And then I feel someone propping my up. I lay in someone's lap, their soft hands pushing the hair out of my face and holding me.

"(Y/N)," Padme says. I can hardly hear her. But she is so close I can make out the muffled sobs. "You're still breathing."

I open my eyes to find my vision has cleared up a bit. I look up at Padme. She smiles. I hate her.

I strain my vocal cords, "please. Please, kill me."

Her smile disappears. She shakes her head. I feel warmth dripping down my face. I'm crying. Why? Why am I crying? Padme reaches down and wipes away my tears. I hate her.

I close my eyes. I can hear Padme, but I choose not to listen. She is saying something frantically, shaking me as she speaks. The lightsabers sound further away now. 

I'm so tired.