He stank of smoke.

Satine noticed that first, how he’d carried the stench of Mustafar back with him.  The sort of smell you’d dream of, she thought.  The kind that haunted nightmares, made guest appearances in flashbacks.  

They’d never escape it.  They could run for the rest of their lives and never escape.

“Padmé…”  Obi-Wan swallowed convulsively.  “Bail…”

Bail has Padmé, she translated.  And then, he cannot speak.

Weeks ago - days ago - hours ago - she would have said it was impossible to render Obi-Wan speechless.  His voice was his greatest weapon and greatest gift.  He could never be without it.

And yet…

Still.  They’d manage until it came back.

“The baby?”

“Alive.”

Not born.  That was good.  She was sure that was good.  Right now the baby would be early.  Better it stay in a little longer.

“You should rest,” she said.  “You need rest.  I’ll go to Padmé.”

“Can’t,” he said.

“Ben…”

“Can’t.”  After a moment he added, “He choked her.”

No.  “What?”

“The Force…”

Ani Force-choked Padmé?  No.  No.

After all she’d seen today, everything Anakin had done today, Satine shouldn’t have been stunned by the notion of him choking his wife.  Shouldn’t have rejected it out of hand as impossible.

And yet she was.  She had.

“The Darkside?”  She didn’t need to ask, not really, she knew Anakin had to have Fallen.  But some desperate part of her hoped it wasn’t true - despite everything, despite knowing deep down…

“His eyes,” Obi-Wan started, and that was proof enough.  “I…”

Satine’s stomach sank.  She knew, already, what Obi-Wan was going to say, and her heart was breaking.

“Dead,” he said.  “He’s…”

His breath shuddered.  His eyes fluttered shut.

Satine was on her feet in an instant, leading him to a seat before the first tear fell.  “Ben…”

“He’s dead,” Obi-Wan gasped.  “He’s dead.”

“I know.”  Tears pricked her own eyes.  “I know, darling.  I’m so sorry.”

“My padawan-”

His voice broke on a sob and there was nothing Satine could do but hold him.  Obi-Wan had killed his padawan.  There was nothing anyone could say to make it better.