The next morning, Padmé stood in her closet, desperately trying to zip up her gown. It had fit just the other day, and needless to say she was distressed.

"I'm getting fat," she said miserably. Anakin came up behind her.

"Need I remind you that you're two months pregnant? You're bound to gain weight," he said softly. Padmé huffed.

"I am not two months pregnant yet! I am seven weeks and two days, according to the med droid, which reminds me, I need to make an appointment," she said walking out to get her datapad. She punched in a few keys and sighed. "Can't you use the Force to help this zip?" she asked desperately.

"If I did, it would probably get so tight that you might pass out," he said. "Besides, I'm much more interested in getting you out of that dress than in it."

She blushed heavily.

"Ani," she began, but he placed a finger to her lips.

"It's alright," he whispered. She gave a sigh and hugged him tightly.

"I shouldn't be big already! It's way too early!" she said narrowing her eyes at her belly. Sure enough, there was the barest hint of a bulge. Anakin held in a sigh and rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

"You can't even tell! Your stomach doesn't look any bigger."

"It does to me. And you're just saying that. I can tell that it's bigger," she said sadly. Anakin held her face in his hands.

"You're just as beautiful as the day I met you. That's a promise," he said to her. Padmé felt her heart melt.

"Oh Ani, do you really mean that?" she asked with a smile.

"Of course I do! I'm sorry but I have to go, I have a meeting with…" He scrunched his eyebrows as he tried to remember. "Oh well, point is I have a meeting. I'll see you later." He gave her a kiss and she heard him get in the turbolift as he left. She sighed. He never had meetings this early in the day. Ever. Her chest ached as she thought of all the possible things he could be doing.

What if he's met someone else? She thought miserably. What if right now he's on his way to her apartment and they're going to-

She stopped herself. He probably really did think she was fat. That lying son of a bantha! She collapsed on her bed and cried bitterly, feeling ugly and unloved. She cried some more for a while, before finally pulling herself off the bed and heading to the med droid's power station upstairs. She lied on a cot while the droid poked and prodded at her middle, drawing blood and listening to the baby's heartbeat. Padmé smiled when she heard it, taking reassurance in the fact that her child was safe and alive inside of her. But she still couldn't shake the sick feeling that overcame her. Where had Anakin gone? If he really had had a meeting he would have remembered who it was with. She stood up and cleared the memory chips of the droid, before making her way back to the bedroom. She sat on the bed not moving as she waited for him. Finally, at around dinnertime, he came back.

"Hello my love," she said softly as she kissed him. "How was your meeting?" she asked. Anakin's eyes furrowed.

"Meeting?" he said confused. All of a sudden a look of realization dawned over his face. "Oh my meeting! It was fine," he replied not looking at her. He really hadn't had a meeting at all. He had been in the city, picking up her presents. But he wasn't about to blow his cover.

"Why are you lying to me?" Padmé asked before bursting into tears. Anakin bit his lip. He had to tell her something, and fast.

"Because it's a surprise," he said cautiously. Padmé looked up at him, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

"What kind of surprise? The kind where you tell me you've met someone else?"

Anakin's jaw dropped open.

"Padmé, how could you even think that?"

"Well, you don't love me, I'm fat, I- my own family doesn't want me anymore? Why would you?"

Anakin sighed. He had read about hormones in pregnancy, but he didn't think they would come so soon.

"Padmé, you're going to be my wife. You're having my baby. You're beautiful, and sweet and smart and wonderful-"

"Then why don't you love me?" She cried, before flinging herself on her pillow and sobbing harder. Anakin sat down next to her.

"It's so hard for me Padmé. I haven't loved anyone since my mother. And in one day, everything I had ever known was taken away from me. I can't let myself grow close to anyone anymore Padmé, not just you." He waited patiently for her to say something.

"But I love you so much! I've given up everything to be with you, my family, my job, my friends. Please tell me I didn't do those things for nothing," she begged.

"You didn't! You know more about me than anyone else. You are my greatest companion," he said trying to ease her pain. Padmé didn't reply, knowing that nothing he said would ever make her feel better, unless it was 'I love you'.

"I'm tired Ani. I would like to go to bed."

"Alright. I'll be back in a little while," he said. He still had to figure out how to fit that blasted painting through the door.

"Promise me that I'm the only one you're with," she whispered. Anakin stared into her eyes.

"Always."

--------------------

She forced herself to stay awake as she waited for her soon to be husband's return. She had almost given up and gone to sleep when she felt him enter the room.

"Hi," he whispered softly in the darkness. He kissed her hand and lay down next to her.

"Hi."

"Are you alright? I know our conversation upset you-"

"Everything's fine Ani. I promise," she interrupted him.

"Alright, I believe you."

She smiled.

"Good night Ani. I love you," she said quickly kissing him. As she fell asleep, she vaguely remembered that the next day was her birthday. Her heart fell a bit, for she had a feeling that Anakin didn't know, nor cared. She was a little saddened at that thought, but she didn't let it get to her. After all, it was just another day.

--------------------

Padmé awoke the next morning to an empty bed. She smiled sadly. Already Anakin had left to start his day. It was unusual, for normally he would wait until she woke up before he left. She slowly got out of bed, pleased that she wasn't as nauseous today as she normally was. She giggled, thinking that maybe this was her baby's first gift to her. She sat back down on the bed and rubbed her stomach, suddenly feeling very tired again. As she was about to lie down again she heard a noise, all her fatigue gone.

"Who's there?" she squeaked out nervously. Anakin appeared from the doorway.

"It's only me. Happy birthday!" he said. Padmé's jaw dropped open.

"You knew?" she said coming over and giving him a kiss. Anakin quirked an eyebrow.

"Of course I did! I brought you something," he said, using the Force to move a breakfast tray onto the nightstand.

"Shurra fruit!" she cried. She smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you Ani," she said as she took a bite. She licked the juice from her lips and savored the taste. He hugged her back, pulling her to his chest and kissing the top of her head.

"Your welcome," he whispered. "I think your sister sent you something," he said pulling something out of his pocket. Padmé crinkled her eyebrow.

"Oh no," she whispered. "Ani, do you think I can have some privacy for a moment?" she asked. Anakin nodded and left the room.

Taking a deep breath, Padmé opened the envelope and began to read.

Dear Padmé,

Happy twenty-first birthday!

I hope you are doing well. I've missed you since you left Naboo. It's hard to believe that my baby sister is a woman!

I heard from mom that you're pregnant. Pregnant? Oh Padmé, what have you gotten yourself into. And with the Emperor's baby? I don't know what you could possibly see in that monster enough to sleep with him. You had everything Padmé. It's so hard to believe you would give it up so quickly. Needless to say, Mom isn't very happy and neither is Dad. They're both so disappointed that it's breaking their hearts. Maybe, you can find it in your heart to come back home. Darred and the girls miss you so much. Do you really think you're setting a good example for them? I don't mean for this letter to turn into a lecture, particularly on your birthday. Just know that we all need you to come back and be Padmé again.

Love,

Sola.

Padmé's jaw dropped as she finished reading the letter. What did Sola know? And to think, she had the gall and audacity to try and boss Padmé around from Naboo! Seething, she tore the letter to shreds. Normally, remarks like that from her sister would have left her in tears, but not today. Padmé had her own family now, she didn't need Sola anymore. She turned her heel on the pieces of the letter, suddenly feeling brave and powerful. Since none of her family seemed to be able to grasp how she felt about the reality of her situation, they could just-

She stopped herself and sighed, knowing that if she got too upset she could hurt the baby. She put on a dress (one without a zipper) and went to find Anakin.

She found him upstairs in the dining room.

"How bad was it?" he asked, reading the bitterness that was so obviously displayed on her face.

"Oh, it could have been worse, I'm sure. I just don't see how," she replied.

"I'm sorry," he told her honestly. Today was supposed to be special and here it was, ruined by the rambling of a psychotic sister.

"It's fine. As long as we're together everything's perfect," she whispered. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "What do you have to do today?" she asked.

"I'm yours for the day," he replied casually. Padmé's heart fluttered. He hadn't spent a day with her in so long…

"Are you sure? You don't have to if you don't want to or can't. I know how busy you are."

Anakin frowned.

"I thought you would be excited."

"I am!"

"It doesn't seem like it…"

"Hush! I most certainly am, and you should know by now."

"So what are you going to do with me?" he asked innocently. Padmé smiled coyly.

"Oh, I have a few ideas…"

--------------------

Exhausted. He was utterly and completely exhausted. Because for the past four hours all they had been doing was…

Shopping.

No store had been left unvisited. Padmé had made sure that they visited them all.

Most of the things they had bought had been for the baby. Two bassinets, because Padmé couldn't decide which she liked better, a rocking chair made from Nubian Tesla wood, a spinning mobile for the baby, countless amounts of clothes… They had spent so much that he was sure that the stores wouldn't have to sell another item for months.

He lay down on the bed, half-asleep already when Padmé came back.

Sith no, he thought as he felt the bed depress a little as she sat down. I can't take any more of this torture you call shopping.

"Aw, poor love," she murmured as she gently rubbed his back. She felt his muscles relax and smiled to herself. She had gone a tad overboard with all the shopping. It's just that she saw so many precious things for the baby, and she herself needed new gowns anyway, and then there had been that shirt that matched Anakin's eyes perfectly…

She sighed and lay down next to him.

"I love you," she whispered. Suddenly he sat up and looked at her.

"If you truly love me, you'll promise that we will never do that again."

Padmé laughed heartily.

"I promise, that because I love you infinitely, I will never ever make you go shopping ever again," she swore. Anakin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay. So I'm safe now?" he asked, eyes narrowed in mock fear. Padmé smiled at him and nodded.

"Yes love. No longer will you have to endure the horrors of shopping with me."

"Thank you. Go look in the dining room. There are two presents in there for you," he said with a yawn.

"Oh Anakin, you really shouldn't have," she started before he shushed her.

"Who knows? You may hate what I've gotten you. Just go and see for yourself. I'll be there in a moment."

Padmé smiled, giving him a quick kiss and hurried upstairs. She saw one package that spanned the entire length of the room, and another package that lay on her chair. Deciding to wait until Anakin got there, she held the small one in her lap. She ran her fingers over the gold lettering that bore the store's name and drummed her fingers along the box.

"Well don't just sit there; open it!" Anakin said as he strode into the room. Padmé smiled and immediately took the lid off the box. What she saw took her breath away.

Inside the box lay the most beautiful chocolate colored baby's gown she had ever seen. The fabric was among the softest she had ever felt, and her heart swelled when she saw the matching shoes and headband.

"Oh Anakin," she whispered breathlessly. It was more than she could have ever imagined.

"Do you like it?" he asked. Padmé nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks as she grabbed Anakin in a tight hug.

"It's perfect," she said.

"Wait, I have something else to show you," Anakin said breaking away from her hug and moving towards the large package against the wall. He opened the wrapping and used the Force to turn the painting so that it faced her. Padmé immediately recognized the painting…and its artist.

"Where did you get that Ani?" she whispered. Anakin looked at her in confusion.

"I got it from an art's dealer. The Artist is from Varykino I guess, and his name is-"

"Paolo," Padmé finished. Anakin's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. How do you know?"

"It's a long story, which I'm sure you don't want to hear," Padmé said hastily. Anakin glared at her.

"We have time."

Padmé looked at the floor.

"I met him when we were both in the Legislative Youth Program. He left early to become an artist, but…he was my first kiss," she said quietly.

Anakin's temper flared.

"I thought that I was your first everything," he said in a dangerously soft tone. Padmé felt panic begin to rise up within her.

"I haven't thought of him in years. You must believe me, he means nothing!" she said desperately. He came up behind her and gently outlined the shell of her ear with his tongue.

"Good," he hissed. "And you won't even remember the name Paolo when I'm done with you."

Padmé turned to face him, gently pressing her lips to his. He roughly tilted her head back and pressed her up against the wall.

"Mm…Ani," she moaned as he continued his well-versed kisses and caresses. Anakin almost smiled. Never again would she speak another man's name. Ever.