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[sith_happened]

Anakin was staring intently into space, lost in the memories of the weekend.

Not that he'd tell you that.

Nope.

The door was cracked open.

Delicate - Damien Rice

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[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Confused," she said simply.

[sith_happened]

He waved her towards a chair. "What would you like cleared up?"

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"The woman I was over the weekend -- is that who Luke meant when he told me I look like someone you both know?" she asked, starting with the simplest question as she sat.

[sith_happened]

"Knew," Anakin corrected very quietly, "and yes."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

That made what she had guessed so much worse.

"You were in love with her."

It wasn't a question.

[sith_happened]

Anakin dropped his gaze to study the top of his desk. "Very much so," he whispered.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey's first instinct was to hide her face.

"I'm sorry."

[sith_happened]

"It was a long time ago," Anakin said, shaking his head. "I just didn't expect to see her again."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey bit her lip as a thought occurred, her eyes flashing up to meet Anakin's.

"...was she Luke's mother?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey just stared at him.

"...I'm so sorry I look like I do, then." She swallowed thickly. "She was different, though? I had darker hair this weekend, and longer, and I didn't sound like I do, and -- "

She broke off, biting her lip. "I'm so sorry if I've caused you any pain."

[sith_happened]

She still looked enough alike that causing her pain caused him pain.

"It's nothing you could control," he said firmly, locking eyes with her. "Any pain was accidental."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Why didn't Luke tell me?" she asked softly.

[sith_happened]

"I don't know," Anakin said, "but I imagine it was to save you this kind of awkwardness."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"I don't really understand how this happened," she said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I've known loss. And a constant reminder like me must be...either horrible, or wonderful."

Her heart still caught in her throat when she saw Guy Fawkes masks.

[sith_happened]

Anakin gave her a grateful look. "It depends on the moment. You're very different people, but you have the same smile."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Don't say funny things around me," she said, barely refraining from smiling at him.

[sith_happened]

"Oh, ask around," Anakin replied, eyes twinkling. "I have absolutely no sense of humor."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Luke said as much," she said, nodding.

[sith_happened]

Anakin frowned. "He did?"

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Something like that," she said with a shrug.

[sith_happened]

"I can be funny," Anakin insisted.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Sure you can," she said, nodding.

She didn't really believe that.

[sith_happened]

"I made her laugh," Anakin said.

It came out a lot more wistfully than he'd prefer.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"...is there any way I can help?" she offered quietly.