Hello wonderful Peeps! This will be a four or five part story, depending on the kind of inspiration I get (and time I have). I've been thinking about writing this all summer, so be prepared for awesomness! (Just kidding, it'll just be a really fluffy christmas Anidala). Not a lot of drama, but just some Christmas fun.

Cheers!

WQ

(P.S. For those of you who follow my other fics, I have been working my butt off recently and have had no time to write anything. However, I am currently working on my next chapters. Thanks for being there for me!)

Thanksgiving had always been a huge affair with Padme's family. Food, football, food, family, food. Lots of food and a ton of pie. Padme could most certainly depend on there being at least 6 different kinds of pie. Not that she complained any.

She sighed. College was in her past now, that was a relief. Job hunting? No fun, but at least she had found a place. It was her life's goal to be a politician, so as an assistant to the mayor... well, everyone has to start somewhere. Assistant mayor...more like a glorified secretary.

She blew the hair out of her face and glanced lazily at the score of the game. 10 -16, her team in the lead. Football wasn't exactly her thing, but she had grown up on it.

Snatches of conversation were flying around, but one caught her interest. Her mother was talking to her older sister Sola.

"Yes, it is sad. I was so sorry when I heard about it", said Padme's mother.

"Is she getting treatments?" Sola asked.

"Yes, but the chemo is rough on her. You heard what her son did when she told him about her cancer?"

"No, what?"

"That kid dropped his full ride scholarship to one of the best schools in the country and came back to take care of her. He was going for an engineering degree, but now he's just finishing up at the community college*."

"That's awful! I mean, it was sweet of him to come home for her, but a full ride? Ouch", Sola said.

"Well, Shmi had her hands full with her daughter, who's in her senior year of highschool, plus the illness, I guess Anakin thought it best. But you're right, it does seem such a shame that he had to leave all that."

Anakin? Pame thought. Oh that's right. Anakin Skywalker. The Skywalkers had lived across the street for as long as Padme could remember. He mother had always encouraged her to go play with the Skywalker kid, but they ran in different circles. She was two years older, but she remembered the highschool years. He was the one the young teenaged girls were always giggling about, blushing and whispering whenever he was around. He had got a full ride scholarship? Impressive, and not exactly expected. Padme has always thought he was more of the party type. Guess not.

"I guess I should take a meal over there sometime", Padme's mother mused. "I'm sure Shmi would appreciate it."

Sola nodded and the conversation turned to the upcoming Christmas.

"Of course we're having Christmas here", her mother said. "The house is big enough for everyone, so it makes sense."

"Is dad seriously going to do lights extrazagansa this year?" Pame said from the couch.

"You know your father, dear", Jobal sighed. "He does that every year."

It was something that Padme's father had started when Padme and Sola were little. Every year, he would turn their large front yard into a winter wonderland of Christmas lights. The house across the street, where the Skywalkers lived, always used to do the same. It became a sort of competition, who could have the best light display.

After awhile, Padme didn't remember when, Ms. Skywalker and Padme's father sort of slacked off on the displays. It must have been after the kids grew up, but Padme's mother always said it was because the electricity bill needed a rest. Padme smiled. Her mother had always grumbled about the light project, but everyone knew she loved it as much as anyone in their family.

But over the past few years, Padme's dad had been slowly increasing the light show again. The family had turned a blind eye and let him do his thing. Truely, theirs was the house that when people drove by, they would stop and look for awhile.

In the memory of the old rivalry, Ms. Skywalker always wrapped at least one tree in candy cane stripes. Growing up, Padme had always loved those candy cane wrapped trees in the Skywalker's yard.

"Is Ms Skywalker going to do any lights this year?" asked Padme.

"Probably not, dear. The chemo has been really rough on her", said Jobal.

Padme nodded and heaved herself off of couch. She needed to move around a bit. After debating with herself for awhile, she finally to go outside and take a walk.

Grabbing a hat, scarf, and jacket she went to the door.

"You going out?", her mother asked.

"Yeah, I wont be too long", Padme said. "I'm just going to take a walk around the neighborhood."

"Have fun, and be safe."

Padme smiled. Her mom always said that when she went out.

Turning out of the long driveway, she started to walk what her family called "the loop". In their neighborhood, the was a circle that was almost exactly one mile. It was great for bikes when they were younger. Now, Padme just used it for walks.

About halfway around the loop, Padme heard the noise of a motorcycle. No, from the sound of it, there were definetly more than one.

Around the corner ahead of her came two cycles. One was blue and white, the other black and yellow. Two college age guys were driving them, while a teen clung to the back of the guy on the blue and white cycle. They took the corner so sharp, Padme was afraid they would fly off, but they didn't.

Unfortunetly, the driver of the yellow and black cycle over-corrected from his turn and flew straight towards Padme. They both reacted just in time. Padme lept off the street into the grass, while the biker, pulled away to the other direction.

The driver of the blue and white cycle pulled up short, and both riders jumped off.

"Are you okay?" asked the girl. She was short, with bleached white hair and blue highlights, making her tanned skin seem darker than it actually was.

The driver of the yellow cycle ran over.

"Damn! Are you alright?" he asked.

"I swear General", said the other guy. "You're gonna run over someone for real one of these days."

"Don't listen to them", said the crazy haired girl, helping Padme up. "We're really sorry. Honest."

"It's okay", said Padme, shakily. "That was just close, ya know?"

"Tell her that you're sorry, Skyguy", said the girl.

The driver of the yellow cycle that had almost run Padme over, stuck his hand out awkwardly. "Sorry", he said. "I guess I should be more careful in the future."

Padme took the offered hand. "You're forgiven", she said, a bit primly. "Try going slower next time, that way you don't run anyone over."

"Noted", said the guy.

He wasn't bad looking, Padme told herself. What was it the girl had called him? Skyguy?

"What's your name?" she asked.

"You going to turn me in or something?" he asked, with a twinkle in his eye.

Padme tilted her head and batted her eyelashes. "Maybe I should, after all I'm pretty sure almost running over the assitant mayor is illegal somewhere in the rules.

The guys eyes widened. "Oh... You must be Padme Amidala, like from across the street?"

"And I guess that would make you Anakin Skywalker."

"Yeah", he grinned. "Look, we're sorry about almost running you over. Want a ride home?"

"On one of those things?" Padme said, pointing at the motorcycles. "I don't think so."

"Come on! They're fun! I ride behind Rex all the time", said the girl. "I'm Ahsoka, by the way. His sister", she said, pointing at Anakin.

"I'm not sure it's really my thing..." said Padme uncertainly. "Besides", she said, thinking of an excuse. "I don't have a helmet."

"Anakin's got an extra one in the storage compartment of his bike", said Rex, not catching her hint that she didn't want to ride the motorcycle.

"Cooooome oooon", said Ahsoka. "It'll be fuuuun. You look like you need some fun."

"I'm really fine..." Padme trailed off as a helmet was placed on her head with exclamations of "we couldn't possibly think of leaving our almost run over victim to walk home by herself!"

So there she was, clinging for dear life to the back of a guy she barely knew, as he and his best friend reved their bikes.

"Gun it!", Ahsoka hollered.

The bikes jumped to life. Padme clutched the back of Anakin's leather jacket so tight she was afraid her nails would punch holes in it. Anakin just laughed and sped up.

"Wrap you arms around me!" he yelled back to her.

"What?!"

He laughed. "It's safer than pulling that jacket off with you!"

Immediatly, Padme had visions of flying off the motorcycle, clutching a black leather jacket. She unclenched her hands from the leather and wrapped her arms around his torso.

They flew down the street, going faster than what Padme knew to be the speed limit. They were on her street. Thank goodness. She was just about to tell Anakin to stop when they rode straight past their houses.

"Hey!" she yelled over the wind. "We just missed my house!"

"So?!" he yelled back.

"What do you mean, 'So'? You just missed my house!"

"We said we would take you home. We didn't say when!" He laughed.

"This isn't funny!"

"Aw hell, just enjoy the ride!" Ahsoka yelled from Rex's bike.

Padme figured that they weren't going to stop until they decided to, so there was no use fighting it. Might as well enjoy herself...if she could. At the speed they were going, Padme was sure they would all crash and die.

But as they went on, she found herself slowly losening her death grip on Anakin Skywalker. Turning her head, she started looking at the trees as they flew by. If it wasn't for the cold, biting wind, this would have been pretty cool.

When they rounded a corner, Padme saw were they were headed. The neighborhood park. It was very lovely this time of year, the tree all colored and half bare. The geese that usually frequinted this area were long gone.

Anakin and Rex pulled off to the side of the road and parked. As they all climbed off the bikes, Padme turned to Anakin.

"So first you almost run me over, then you kidnap me under the pretense of taking me home. Lovely."

"I know... I'm so thoughtful, aren't I?" he grinned at her.

"You think your so funny!"

"I am funny."

Padme huffed. "Why are we here?" she asked.

Ahsoka grinned. "We're meeting up with the rest of the guys and drawing names for the secret santa", she said excitedly.

"There's more of you? Oh wow", said Padme. "Do you all tear around on motorcycles?"

"Naw", said Rex. "Fives owns a truck and they all like to carpool around in that."

"Fives?" Padme asked, confused.

"He's my brother", Rex explained. "He was born May 5. Too many fives in his birthdate, so we call him Fives."

"Interesting", was all Padme could think of to say.

"Come on you guys", said Anakin. "I see them waiting for us."

"You're not going to take me home?" said Padme, exasperated.

"Oh come on. Have some holiday cheer. It's much better than walking around by yourself", said Anakin. "Look, I'm really sorry about almost running you over, and I wanted to make it up to you. Guess you and I don't a lot of things in common. This was my way of saying sorry. The park's really nice this time of year."

"I know. I live in the neighborhood", said Padme, though not as irritated.

"I can most definetly drive you home if you want", he said.

"No, you meant this as an apology, and I'm going to accept it. You're forgiven, and yes, I do enjoy the park."

His face broke into a grin. "Awesome. Come on, let's catch up."

Ahsoka and Rex were walking up ahead, hand in hand. Rex leaned down and whispered something in her ear and she started giggling. Padme noticed both of them frequintly glancing back and then laughing.

"What's up with them?" she asked Anakin.

"Who knows? They are always like that it seems. They're devious little schemers, always pulling crazy stunts and weird jokes." He shrugged.

"So are they... together?"

"Yeah. Mom wasn't to keen about it at first, it being one of my friends and all, but when she learned that Rex was only a freshmen in college, she was more okay with it. Ahsoka's as senior in highschool, so their ages aren't that far apart."

"How is you mom?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. But thanks for asking."

They walked along in silence for awhile.

"So, Secret Santa, this early?" she said, trying to break the awkward silence.

"Yeah, it's fun since there's a lot of us. We do one present per week until Christmas. We could put your name in the helmet if you wanted."

"You guys draw from a helmet?"

"What else would we draw from?" Anakin laughed.

Padme shrugged. "Most people draw from a hat."

"Well, we are not most people."

"I gathered that."

They reached where "the guys" were all hanging out around the picnic tables. Ahsoka had seated herself on one of the tables like a queen surrounded by loyal subjects, which was more or less true, seeing the way she ruled over the rowdy crowd. The main attraction... Arm wrestling.

The one winning had dark hair, and a tattoo near his hairline. The group hollered as he pinned yet another arm to the table.

"Way to go Fives!" Someone yelled, slapping him on the back.

"So that's Fives?" Padme whispered to Anakin.

"Yup", he said, nodding.

"Alright, listen up!" Rex yelled over the noise. "The General is here and Fives don't stand a chance against him! Sorry bro."

Anakin grinned at Padme and cracked his knuckles. "Watch and be amazed, mi'lady."

Padme just rolled her eyes at the biker. Seating himself across from Fives, Anakin gripped the other guy's hand.

"Prepare to go down", he said.

"Not a chance, General", returned Fives grinning

As they started the arm wrestling match, Padme turned to Ahsoka. "What's with the nicknames?"

"Oh like 'General' and stuff?" said Ahsoka, obviously more interested in the arm wrestling. "Well, when we were all kids, the guys used to play soldiers like all 8 to 10 year olds do. Anakin was the general of course, Rex the captain, and I was a commander. I only ranked that high so I'd have to stick with Anakin 'cause mom made him watch me. The guys were all good sports about it", she said smiling. "They've all looked out for me most of my life. They scared away my first boyfriend, Lux Bontari. I think he'll be tramatized for life. Not like he doesn't deserve it", she muttered under her breath.

"Bontari?" Padme asked. "I know that name."

"That's because his mom is a lawyer."

Padme shook her head. "No, Nina Bontari is a friend of my moms I think."

"Oh, well she's nice, but her son's a douche."

"Why would you say that?" Padme asked.

They were interupted by a shout from the picnic table. "I WON!" Anakin shouted. "Whoooooo!"

"Better luck next time Fives", Ahsoka hollered. "But you know Anakin wins every time."

Yeah, with muscles like that, I bet he does. Padme mentally shook her head. What?! Oh no you don't Padme. Not again. You are not going to do this. Do Not Think About How Cool He Is! Too late. She sighed. Bad Brain. Just because he's hot, and rides a motorcycle, and wears leather... doesn't mean you get interested.

"Earth to Padme!" said someone, waving their hand in her face.

"Huh?"

"Secret Santa. Ahsoka had me put your name in", said Rex.

"Oh, that's not-"

"Necessary? She said it was. And when girlfriend commands, I obey", he said shrugging. "So, three things. One, what's you favorite color? Two, favorite restraunt, and three, favorite movie.

"Um", Padme thought for a minute. "Favorite color? Blue I guess. Sky blue. Restraunt? Probably P.F. Chang's. But I also like Jason's Deli. And favorite movie? I don't know really. I don't watch a ton of movies."

"You don't like movies? How could you not like movies?!" she heard Anakin gasp.

"It's not that I don't like movies, it's just that the endings always seem predictable."

Ahsoka pretended to choke and die. "She needs to see The Fault In Our Stars then. I didn't really think that they would kill A-" Anakin clamped a hand over her mouth.

"No one likes to hear spoilers Ahsoka", he said laughed. "So don't go and- ewww!"

Like a true little sister, Ahsoka had licked Anakin's hand that was covering her mouth. Padme tried not to look amused, but after all, she and Sola had done things like that too.

"Skyguy cried during that movie", Ahsoka said, trying to get back at her brother for shushing her.

"Did not!"

"You totally did, though."

"I didn't!"

Ahsoka shrugged. "I don't care what lies you choose to tell your friends, but I know the truth."

"It was a sad movie!" Anakin protested.

Padme couldn't hold her laughter in any longer. "You guys are hilarious", she chuckled.

Ahsoka leaned against Anakin dramaticaly. "We know."

"Alrighty guys!" Rex hopped up on the picnic table, blue and white scarf flapping in the wind. Yelling over the noise of the group, he called out, "We have two things of importance to do here tonight before the sun goes down and we all turn into snowmen." He paused for dramatic effect. "One, tonight here we have an honorary guest, and as the tale goes, said guest had a near death experiance today. Remember, YOLO. You only live once. Please welcome Padme Amidala."

The group turned to Padme who stood next to Anakin, slightly embaressed at the attention. "No, you will not be required to make a speech", said Rex noticing her face.

"However, as honorary guest and friend of Anakin's, she is being entered in the Secret Santa. But enough of that. Ahsoka, the helmet please."

Ahsoka handed up a helmet full of little slips of paper.

"So here's the rules you guys. And remember that these rules are meant to be followed, not broken." Ahsoka glared at the group sternly. "The rules are: No gag gifts, no white elephant gifts, and definetly no trick gifts. You may not puzzle lock your gifts, or anything of that sort. I'm looking at you Cut-up."

Cut-up shrugged. "You're taking all the fun out of it."

Ahsoka ignored him. "Alright, let's pass it around."

Pulling a slip of paper out, Ahsoka passed the helmet to Rex, who pulled a slip and so on. When it came around to Padme, she quickly pulled a slip of paper and stuffed it in her coat pocket. Everyone else were looking at theirs and trying to look at mysterious. Ahsoka was smirking and Rex kept glancing over at Padme and nudged Ahsoka. They both burst out laughing. Padme felt her face getting hot. What were they laughing about?

She looked over at Anakin. He shrugged. "They're always carrying on like that. So who did you get?"

"I'm not supposed to say", she said smiling at him.

"Oh I meant like... if you wanted help or something-"

"Well I'll let you know if I do, Mr Skywalker."

"Well", he said, putting on a flirting smile. "I guess you'll need my number if your going to 'let me know' at some point."

Padme raised an eye. "Are you asking for my number?"

"Maybe", he said winking.

Padme chewed on her lip. After a moment's thought, she agreed. "Okay, but I will callblock you if you get annoying."

Anakin raised his hands in mock protest. "I'll be angelic."

"Alright then, hand over your phone." Quickly typing in her number, she saved it and handed his phone back. "And yours is?"

Anakin gave her his number. "So, sorry again about almost running you over."

"It's in the past." Padme said smiling up at him.

They got on his bike and strapped their helmets on. The sun was going down and the temperature was dropping quickly. That, combined with the wind rushing at them, Padmefelt herself trying to shrink behind Anakin so he would block all the wind. She tried not to 'snuggle up', but it was hard, considering that she was cold and Anakin felt really warm. The ride back to their street wasn't long, and Padme found herself wishing it would take a little longer. She had no idea why she as feeling this way. Maybe it was just from the really weird afternoon she had had.

All to soon, Anakin pulled up to her house.

"So uh, we're here."

"Um, yeah." Come on Padme. You're a grown woman. Pull youself together. You just made a friend. Just a friend, not a crush. "Thanks for giving me a ride home. Um, see you around, yeah?"

He grinned. "Yeah, sure. Of course."

She took off her borrowed helmet and gave it to him, her gloved hand accidentally brushing his. Blushing, she turned around and practically ran inside. Why did he make her feel like this? She wasn't some awkward highschool teenager anymore. Hell, she barely knew Anakin Skywalker. Sure, they had been neighbors since they were kids, and had gone to the same school, but she only knew a little about him.

Coming in, she decided not to say anything about ut to her mother, especially with Sola sitting right there. The teasing would never end if Sola ever got wind of any of this.

"You back dear?" her mother called from the living room. "You were gone awhile."

"I just was out longer thatn usual, that's all Mom", Padme called back.

Avoiding anymore talk with her family, Padme went upstairs and flung her hat, scarf, and coat on the chair in her room. Flopping down on her bed, she ran the past hour over in her head, wondering if she had done the right thing by giving Anakin her phone number. Thinking back, she probably shouldn't have. After all, she barely knew him. Sighing, she buried her face in her quilt. Stupid, stupid Padme.

Suddenly she remembered that she hadn't looked at who she had got for her secret santa. The secret santa that she was kinda roped into because, far be it from her to not participate. That would mean that someone wouldn't get their presents.

Grabbing her coat, she felt around in her pocket. She found the little slip of paper. Sitting back on her bed, she carefully opened it.

Written in neat handwriting was the name...

Anakin Skywalker

She was so screwed.

So, thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!

Note* I'm not saying that community college is a bad thing. I will be going to a community college (soon). My point was, the college was local. I'm not trying to offend anyone. Also, Padme's family is kinda rich, so they might look down on that kind of thing. Idk. I'm just a writer. *insert double thumbs up*