A/N: This fanfiction is from an idea I keep having that continually bugs me and refuses to go away. It's rather annoying. So I've decided to shut it up (hopefully) by writing the fic already. Oh, and this isn't Obidala. Um, I'm sorry, but ew. That's just what I happen to think though.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Is it me, or George Lucas, on the DVD extras? Exactly.

Prologue

Mustafar

One Year Ago

"I can overthrow him, and we can rule the galaxy together, make things the way we want them to be!"

His eyes were shining, bright with fervent insanity, he fairly glowed with it. And his smile, oh, his smile, it was rapturous, filled with the joy of a child. Yet it cuts me deeper than any lightsaber ever could. He wanted me to answer, to pledge my loyalty, to be his empress- doesn't he know me, at all? Me, the great lover of democracy. Me, the great dissenter. Me, the constant advocate of liberty, of justice- and then, my child, his child, kicked the wall of my belly- Me. The mother of this baby.

And I knew what my answer had to be. Every fiber of me screamed 'No!'

I had to say yes. But this, this I could not bring myself to do. So, instead, I force a brilliant smile to my face, force the rebellious, horrified, thoughts beneath a mask of happiness, because perhaps he could know my thoughts- and I rushed into the comfortable fortress of his arms.

When Obi-Wan descended, I nearly fainted from the shock. But then I felt Anakin stiffen beside me, thrust me away.

"No, Ani, I didn't know-" I stumbled over the words, could not find the eloquence that had supported me always before, and I waited, shocked into stillness, as he raised his hand to silence me forever-

But Obi-Wan, unexpectedly, saved me.

"No, Anakin, don't hurt her, she didn't know." Anakin paused. I should run, I knew, but my body would not obey. Obi-Wan continued,

"She hasn't betrayed you, Anakin. I have betrayed you both. I came to her apartment to find out where you had gone, and she would not tell me, although I could tell she knew, and I knew she would go to you, to find out whether what I had told her of your deeds was true. So, I waited, and I snuck aboard her ship." He said all this as thought I were not here. Maybe I wasn't. Anakin looked at me, and I nodded mutely. I was not myself. I was incapable of speech. This house of cards was far too fragile. A single word from my mouth could destroy us all. But Obi-Wan was not finished. He went on, as though I were a doll that could not hear, or speak, or act of her own volition. As he spoke, a sudden, violent hatred rose in me.

"Padmé is brilliant," he said, but this angry me did not believe he spoke truthfully, "But she is far too trusting. She never checks the shadows behind her for threats. Such trust should be a gift, but in these times I am afraid it is too often a curse."

Good, I thought, for I will not trust so easily again.

Then, Anakin held me at arm's length. His gaze penetrated to the depths of my soul. I struggled to hide all traces of rebellion, to be the doll they spoke about, not to, so that he would not kill my baby.

This is what we do, for love.

Apparently satisfied, Anakin first released me, then held me to him fast, as in love, though I knew, or maybe just suspected, that it was really just so that I could not escape. He motioned with his other hand, and a strangled cry fills the air- is that me?

Hundreds of clone troopers came from nowhere. They swarmed Obi-Wan, taking him prisoner. And Anakin laughed.

Obi-Wan was a prisoner.

And so was I.