Energy coursed through Obi-Wan's limbs as he rushed to Anakin's side. His eyes were closed, and his breathing uneven and shallow, but he was alive. He let out a small moan as Obi-Wan knelt beside him.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly. "Can you hear me?"

Anakin only moaned in response. Obi-Wan forcibly grabbed his arm and hissed, "Anakin! Anakin, do you hear me?"

Anakin's eyes slid open. "Master," he said weakly. "I'm...I'm sorry for...for…"

"Ssh," Obi-Wan said. "Save your strength."

"Master, I...I…"

"That's an order, Anakin."

"I'm...I'm not…" He coughed violently, and to Obi-Wan's horror, a stream of blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. "I'm not…"

"Anakin," he whispered.

"Good at...at following...orders," Anakin finished hoarsely.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure whether to laugh or to cry. "Be quiet, Anakin. Please."

"I...I can't. I have...to tell...to tell you…"

He shook his head. "You don't."

"But I…" Anakin inhaled, his breath rattling faintly in his chest. "I lied…"

Obi-Wan's rough fingertips stroked his cheek. "It's alright."

"I kept...I kept a secret," Anakin continued, his voice tremulous. Obi-Wan softly rested his palm on Anakin's cheek, and he leaned into the touch. "We...we did."

"Who?" Obi-Wan breathed, though he feared he already knew the answer.

Anakin's facial muscles twitched, and he slowly shut his eyes.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan cried. His strong hands trembled as he placed them on his friend's muscular chest and desperately tried to pump air into his lungs. A thin line of blood dribbled out of Anakin's mouth and onto the collar of his dark tunic. "Anakin!"

He coughed, and Obi-Wan rapidly wiped the blood from his mouth. Anakin's eyes reopened, bloodshot and full of tears. "Obi...Obi-Wan…"

"You have to be quiet, Anakin. You have to save your strength."

"No...point…"

"There is," he said, his lips dry.

"No, there….there isn't. I'm...I'm going to...I'm about…" His chest shook. "...To die. I...I know. I feel...I feel it. Obi-Wan…"

"Anakin!"

"I need...I need to...to tell...tell you…"

His voice trembled. "Anything."

"Me and...and….I….I have…"

Obi-Wan's thumb slid across Anakin's cheek and, impossibly, the younger man's blood-stained lips pulled into a smile. Gently, Obi-Wan lifted his head off the ground and onto his bent knees. He began to brush Anakin's tousled, sweaty hair out of his eyes, and felt his former Padawan's body slacken.

Anakin sighed, his breath warm against Obi-Wan's tunic. "Padmé," he breathed. "I...I…" He gasped, suddenly desperate for air. "I love…"

Obi-Wan's blue eyes softened. "I know."

A tear slid down Anakin's cheek. "I'm...I'm sorry."

He continued to stroke his hair. "Don't be."

"But she…"

His throat tightened. "I know," he said. Anakin began to open his mouth to say something, but Obi-Wan pressed his hand over his mouth. "It's okay."

Anakin blinked, and Obi-Wan gently rubbed the tears from his face. "I love you, Anakin," he said softly. "I always will. No matter...no matter what."

For a long moment, Anakin remained silent. Finally, he spoke: "Take care of her."

"I will," Obi-Wan said. Anakin's eyes slid closed. "I promise."

Obi-Wan slowly rested Anakin on the floor, stroking his friend's cheek and lightly kissing his forehead in a gesture of farewell. His eyes were closed peacefully, and the corners of his mouth were turned up in a small, grateful smile. Despite everything, he looked happy.

As he drew away, Obi-Wan felt tears burning in his eyes. For the first time in his life, he allowed himself to truly cry. He turned to look at Anakin through watery eyes, and saw him lying perfectly still, brown hair spread messily across the floor, dark robes glistening with freshly shed blood. His lightsaber had rolled away from his hand, and Obi-Wan's throat tightened painfully as he recalled all the times he had lectured him about misplacing his weapon. He bent down and wrapped his hands around the lightsaber's hilt, its weight comforting in his hands. Carefully, he placed Anakin's lightsaber on his belt, next to his own, and walked away for the last time.

He had a promise to fulfill.