Summary: They never spoke, but still sensed something of each other. Something was being lost as they stood in silence.
Pairings: Anakin x Padmé
Author's Note: This is without a doubt the most haunting scene in ROtS, in my opinion at least. And while I'm not an Anakin x Padmé fan, I can't help but think that this was probably the least cheesy romantic scene in the whole prequel trilogy, so I will be supporting them for this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

Coruscant was bathed in red, though it was not blood but only sunset, and Anakin found himself staring out the window of the empty Jedi Council chamber and towards the lonely spire off in the distance, where Padmé lived.

The Council chambers seemed so big, so quiet, so cold when they were empty. As relieved as he was not to have to be in the presence of the Council, Anakin wished that there was someone there with him now.

He wished it wasn't so deathly silent.

Anakin took a breath from his nostrils and fixed his eyes more insistently on where he knew Padmé would be. He tried to convince himself that if he stared hard enough he would be able to see her standing out on the balcony, staring back at him.

More than anything, Anakin wished he knew what to do.

Chancellor Palpatine held the power to save Padmé's life in his hands, but Anakin had sent the Jedi after him. If he died, the Republic would be safe.

And Anakin would lose Padmé, never to have her again.

There was a precipice coming, and Anakin knew he had to make a choice now, to either step away from the edge or jump.

He wished he knew what to do.

-0-

On Naboo, it was believed that a red sunset meant that rivers of blood would flow during the night. Padmé restrained a shiver as she swept her ungainly body up from the couch and moved to her spacious windows.

Her eyes sought out, instinctively, the majestic form of the Jedi Temple, silhouetted dark gray against the vermillion light of sunset.

In particular, Padmé stared at the very tip of the tallest spire, where she knew the Jedi Council chambers resided.

Though she had no proof, her heart was telling her that Anakin was there, staring back at her.

Something was happening. Padmé could feel it, deep within her bones—she was not Force Sensitive but she could taste the tension in the air, the anticipation, the waiting.

And she didn't like it.

This pall had been on Coruscant for days, even weeks. Everything seemed quieter, slowing down, as everyone—Padmé was not the only one who could sense the cloud that had fallen over them—waited for the storm to fall, for the other shoe to drop.

And now, something was about to happen. Padmé knew she was nearly done waiting, but felt no catharsis as she had expected she would.

Instead, she felt that something was being lost, as she stood there, mouthing out words she knew Anakin would never hear.

But she had no idea of just what was being lost, as the Republic began to make the final decay, where her eyes were staring into the depths of the Jedi Temple.