Jedi Temple- medical bay

Dawn lit Coruscant's cityscape and shone through the blinds of the medical bay. The rays of sunlight brought Padme of out her slumber. Shortly after returning Anakin to the jedi Temple, Padme never left her husband's side. Obi-Wan had been called to an immediate council meeting and went straight to bed, exhausted from the search. Padme stretched and stood up from the uncomfortable chair she had slept in. She walked to Anakin's bedside and stroked his hair softly, kissing him on the forehead.

"Good morning,Ani", she whispered. He stirred in response but did not awake from his sedated slumber. Padme sighed as she held his left hand, rubbing his wrist, still encased in restraints. She kissed his forehead once more, tucking the thin sheet around him to keep him warm. The door swooshed open to reveal a sleepy Obi-Wan holding two cups of hot caf in his hands.

"Good morning, senator", he said, stifling a yawn in the back of his throat.

"Good morning, Obi-Wan."

"Any change in his condition?", he asked, handing her the cup of caf.

"No, I'm afraid not", she responded taking a small sip of the steamy beverage.

She didn't take her eyes of Anakin but had the feeling of two eyes staring at the back of her head. She sighed.

"Obi-Wan, I know what you're going to ask. It is not best time right now to talk about the extent of my relationship with Anakin", she said with annoyance underlining her tone.

"Very well, senator", he said, pulling up a chair beside Anakin's bed.

Padme took another glance at her husband. For months they had not seen each other. Every night she wondered how was he, whether he had enough food, or if he was injured, or if he got enough sleep. To finally be reunited with him but in this damaged state broke her heart. Even back home, he wasn't safe. But she knew that she would help him, in any way she can.

Her eyes wandered to the intricate scars on is chest, immediately loathing whoever dare harm her husband. A small groan erupted from Anakin. Both her and Obi-Wan were at his side in a heart beat. They watched as his blue eyes fluttered open.

"Obi-Wan? Padme? Wha-what happened? Where am I?", he rasped out, voice dry and scratchy.

"You are back at the medical bay, Anakin. The council is reading your examination report right now. What do you remember about last night?", Obi-Wan asked gently.

"I was in an alley way and there was this lady an-and...Oh god! I KILLED HER". Anakin sat up, his eyes wide at recalling the crime he had committed.

"Its okay, Anakin. We're going to help you get through this", Padme said, rubbing his shoulder gently. She placed the other hand over his and he looked down at the restraints. He looked back at Obi-Wan, confusion and betrayal written over his face.

Obi-Wan sighed. "The restraints are only temporary, Anakin. We were going to-" Anakin cut him off.

"You don't need to explain, Obi-Wan. You have every right to contain me, especially after all I have done", Anakin bowed his head, muttering curses to himself. Padme continued to rub his shoulder gently, her heart aching for her Ani.

Jedi Council Chambers

"It is settled, then. Master Yoda and I will present Skywalker's case to the senate under pretences that Skywalker has contracted a poison from the outer rim. Senator Organa has already agreed to introduce our case to the senate."

"And what of the body of the woman Skywalker killed last night, Master Windu?", Stass Allie asked.

"It has returned been returned to her family and Coruscant police has filed it as a brutal attack by a rogue criminal. I think it is clear what we have to do..."

All masters nodded in agreement.

Anakin felt the veins returning and he groaned, trying to restrain his hunger. Obi-Wan notice this and handed him a cup of animal blood.

"Here, Anakin. Take this."

Anakin looked unsure for a moment before taking a sip. He immediately coughed out the blood, gagging at the rancid tasting liquid.

"Anakin, what's wrong?", Padme asked, concerned.

He looked back at the cup and couldn't see or sense the essence flowing within it.

"Master, I can't take this. I think I can only take the essence from a living being."

"Well, good timing then."

They all looked towards master Windu as he entered the room with a Coruscant prisoner walking behind him. Padme and Anakin looked at eachother in confusion.

"Master, what is a prisoner doing here?", Obi-Wan asked, though he had a bad feeling he knew what was going on.

"This prisoner is scheduled for a death sentence later today. I am afraid Skywalker's only option is to feed from him unless he risks killing another innocent person to survive." Anakin immediately frowned at the Korun master's comment.

"What?! I- I can't do that. He may already have a death sentence but it isn't right", Anakin cried out but a part of him wanted to feed.

"What the hell are you all talking about?", the prisoner asked.

"Please Master, don't make me do this. I already have enough blood on my hands", Anakin pleaded. Padme put a hand over her mouth, shocked at what measures they had to take.

"I am sorry Anakin but it's the only way you are going to survive."

"WHAT IF I WANT TO DIE?!", Anakin screamed out. Padme gasped, looking at her husband in horror. Obi-Wan's face was mortified as he looked at the young knight.

"Please master Windu, let me and Obi-Wan talk to Anakin", Padme asked, wanting to calm her husband down. Mace nodded and left the room with the prisoner.

"Anakin, what are you thinking?!", Obi-Wan yelled at his apprentice.

"I don't want to live my life like this, Obi-Wan. I can't deal with the fact that I have literally take the life of others to feed myself."

"Please Anakin, think this through. We need you", Padme said with tears in her eyes. Anakin looked at her and felt his heart break.

"I'm sorry Padme but I can't go through with this" Padme sighed and looked down, vowing to herself that she will not lose her beloved husband to anything. Not to the war, not to death and certainly not to the enfyrite within him.

"Just say the word, Ani", she whispered. Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at her in confusion.

"Padme, what are you talking about?", Anakin asked.

"Just say the word and we can leave for Naboo together."

Anakin was shocked at her declaration, especially as she said it in front of Obi-Wan.

"Will one you please tell me what is going on here." Obi-Wan had had enough.

Anakin sighed and looked at Padme again to see her nod her head.

"Obi-Wan , there is no other way to tell you this but Padme and I are married" Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming along.

"Oh, you have really done it this time Anakin", his voice underlined with frustration. Anakin looked down sheepishly.

"Please understand, Obi-Wan. Anakin and I fell in love and it was the best decision of my life. I wanted to reveal this secret to you now because I am tired of having to hie my love for Anakin. And I refuse to wait on the side lines while you and the rest of the jedi try to help Anakin with this enfyrite issue. He is my husband and I will there for him every second of the way". Anakin was floored at his wife's commitment to him. 'She should threat me like a monster and yet here she is defending me. Maybe I can get through this and I wouldn't dare leave Padme for the rest of her life', he thought with amazement. He held her hand and both smiled at each other with love clear in their eyes. Obi-Wan looked up at the couple and couldn't deny the fact that he has never seen Anakin so happy before.

"All right, I can't say I disapprove of your relationship but you do realise I can't keep this from the Council."

Anakin smiled." Always, the goody too-shoes. Don't worry Obi-Wan, Padme and I will tell the council and I am sorry we couldn't tell you this whole time. Padme, I am sorry about my outburst earlier but I can't live like this." Padme shushed him, putting a finger to his lips.

"We are going get through this, Anakin. Sometimes we all make great sacrifices but this time you need to take what you can. I'll be there for you every second of the way. Please Anakin, feed for me and for a future we can have together."

Anakin smiled softly and looked towards Obi-Wan, determination written on his eyes.

"I'll do it."

Mace entered the room again leaving the prisoner with Anakin and left to the senate. Anakin looked towards Padme, shame written on his handsome features.

"Padme, maybe you should wait outside until it's done"

Padme shook her head vehemently. "No Anakin, we are in this together. You are not a monster to me". Anakin sighed and nodded towards Obi-Wan who held the prisoner firmly.

"Hey, what am I doing here?", the prisoner asked. He looked towards Anakin and gasped as he watched Anakin's eyes turn yellow and veins creep from under his eyes. Obi-Wan pushed him closer to Anakin.

"Wo, what are you? Let go of me!". Obi-Wan pushed him towards Anakin.

"I am truly sorry", Anakin whispered before barring his fangs and sinking them into the prisoner's neck. Anakin held the prisoner as he struggled, drinking hungrily. He broke away momentarily and Padme looked at his blood covered lips and fangs before Anakin sank down and started drinking again.

The Senate

"Chancellor Palpatine and dear members of the Senate, there has been great concern over Anakin Skywalker as he returned back to Coruscant in chains yesterday evening. Rest assured, master Yoda and Windu are here to settle the matter", Bail Organa's voice echoed throughout the senate chambers. His pod floated to the middle of the chambers and Yoda spoke up.

"On his mission to the outer rim, bitten by a rare plant, Skwalker was. A poison it contained, causing extreme bursts of aggression and hallucinations. For his own safety, on medical leave Skywalker is until further notice..."

Jedi Temple- medical bay

Anakin began to drink a bit more slowly, wanting to saviour the taste of the essence he was sure he wasn't going to get for a while. The prisoner had lost consciousness as the life faded away from him. Anakin held his prey firmly, still feeding. Padme continued to look at Anakin, wanting to make sure he was alright. Though there wasn't much for her to worry about as he was moaning quietly while feeding on the prisoner. She stroked his hair once then left his beside to watch the holonet with Obi-Wan across the room. He was watching the broadcast of master Yoda's speech to the senate.

"Under careful watch, Skywalker is."

"And how long will it be before he can return to the front lines? He is a valuable member to the war effort", a senator spoke up.

"Unsure I am but unable to leave the temple, he is, until a full recovery he has made."

Anakin looked up from his feeding and he, Obi-W and and Padme frowned at Yoda's comment. "Unable to leave? What does he mean by that, Obi-Wan?", Padme asked.

"I am not sure. I wasn't there at the last council meeting." Obi-Wan continued to look at the holoscreen, worry marring his face. Padme looked at Anakin and he sighed, shrugging his shoulders in confusion before feeding again.

"Well then, we all pray for Master Skywalker's speedy recovery. Thank you master Yoda", Chancellor Palpatine said before Obi-Wan turned off the holoscreen.

Anakin felt the life of the prisoner disappear and he stopped feeding, letting the body fall to the floor. He breathed heavily and closed his eyes, trying to retract his fangs and stop the hunger. He wrapped his chained hands around his bent knees and put his head between them, calming himself. Padme came back to him and lifted his chin.

"Ani, are you okay?", she asked softly. He gave her a small nod and felt the veins disappear. He sighed heavily before opening his once again brilliant blue eyes and looked at her.

She smiled softly. "You see. You did it", she whispered before giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek. He leaned into her kiss, wanting to feel her soft lips against him again. Obi-Wan flustered at the tender moment and called a medical droid to remove the body of the prisoner. Padme refused to look at the dead prisoner and took a wet cloth wiping the blood of Anakin's lips. Anakin saw the distant look in her eyes and held her hand, stopping her from wiping the blood. "I am sorry", he whispered.

"Anakin please listen-" but Anakin cut her off.

"No you listen. You are and angel, Padme. Always have and always will be but can you handle having a demon as your husband."

"You are a not a demon, Ani."

"I just killed someone right in front of you. I am tempted to feed on any Jedi, any being, you. How can you live with that?", his voice was pained.

"The same way I have held on throughout this war", she responded "I have gone through every night, hoping that you're safe. I have waited for you for so long and now that you are here and we are together again, I will not let you go so easily." She held his mechanical hand. "When you got this hand, you asked how can I accept it. Do you remember?" He nodded. "And do you remember how I said it was a part of you? That I will always love you for who you are?". He smiled and nodded again. "It's the same thing now. You are still the same man that I fell in love with and you always will be. Plus, I know that Anakin Skywalker will never give up so easily."

"I love you, angel."

"I love you, Ani."

Ok, here is chapter 7. I thought a sweet moment between Padme and Anakin would be a nice change. Again thank you to all my reviewers. I would love to continue this story until its final chapter, so please read and review :)