Padme groans tiredly as the heat of morning sun filters its way through the bedroom curtains to warm her face, shining a light no amount of trying can help her ignore. She's not ready to wake up just yet, not nearly… Waking up means what she's been dreading for days has finally arrived; it means the end of her and Anakin's time together. It means that Anakin will be catching his plane in a few hours' time to go back home, far away from her and the baby and this bed… As soon as she opens her eyes, there'll be no more pretending that they have more time. She has to accept the reality that, by this time tomorrow; she'll be waking up alone again.

And what's worse than all that, she has to work today. There's just no getting out of it; she has far too much to do, petitions to bring forward, speeches to write, bills to argue for and a crucial meeting with Bail very early on… One more day off, no matter how little time she has to spend with Anakin, is just unthinkable. But the idea of leaving the warmth of her bed to get ready and head out for the day truly is, the least appealing thing in the entire world…

Is it really too much to ask to just lay here, in peace, snuggled deep in the blankets ignoring the rest of the world? Maybe she can even convince Anakin to join her… All day, all night… Forever… They can just hide away, warm and close where nothing else can reach them, no arguments, no distance or jobs to tear them apart… It would be so… Wonderful. But the idea is just so impossible that her eyes blink themselves open stubbornly with her jaw stretching into a great yawn smothered into the pillow. Anakin has to go home, and Padme has to go to work… He has two branches of 'Skywalker's' to run, never mind beginning to plan to open another here, and just the idea of how much work is probably piled up on her desk has her groaning miserably.

"Finally awake, huh?" Anakin's still rough, morning voice pulls her from her thoughts and she twists around to look over at him with an effortless smile. She's always loved to see him first thing in the morning, even from the beginning, when their less than platonic sleepovers were still innocent. Just as usual, his hair is mussed from sleep and a lingering tiredness has left his eyes slightly puffy, which really isn't a surprise, considering that the better part of the night had been spent in the throes of passion instead of sleeping. "About time…" He groans and bends to take her lips with his own in a crushing, feverish kiss.

"Mhm…" She rolls over when they part, to tuck her head beneath Anakin's chin and revel in the warmth of his body as his arms come tight around her body, holding her to him. "I wish I wasn't up yet… I don't want you to go…"

She feels more than hears his chuckle, with the rumble of his chest against her head. "Neither do I… Let's just run away together, somewhere far – we'll make our own country where you're President and we never have to be apart again."

There's no stopping Padme's laugh at the incredulity of his suggestion. With anyone else, such a thing could be laughed off as entirely unserious, but this is her boyfriend, not someone else's. No matter how ridiculous, if it means they can be together, she's sure Anakin means it on some level. This isn't even the first time he has proposed running away together! Still, feeling playful herself, she indulges him. "Just the one country?"

"An empire then… We'll make it how we want it to be." His large, calloused palm slowly makes its way along Padme's body until it reaches her smooth stomach, gently caressing her through her nightgown. "The baby can be our heir." A hint of pride crackles in his voice, prompting Padme to lifts her head to look him in the eye. She could almost believe he's taunting her… But she knows him better than that. Anakin just simply isn't politically minded, he doesn't care who runs what so long as there is relative peace. She only wishes that she could be surprised that his first instinct is a dictatorship of all things.

Exasperated, Padme laughs trailing a hand along his chest, "Uh-uh! We will rule a democratic empire. If someone wishes to lead, then people have to vote them into office."

"Really?" Anakin sighs, "Even in the fantasy?"

"Of course! I won't be an unelected leader…"

"Padme, your voting public amounts to you and me!" He snorts, rolling his eyes and her own narrow tightly in response.

"Then you had better vote for me!"

He abandons the subject with an overdramatic sigh and Padme lets her head come down to rest on his chest again. They don't have much time this morning. She really doesn't want to look at the clock on her bedside table to see just how little there really is. It's so much nicer to just snuggle into Anakin and let her eyes close again… It would be so, so, easy to fall back asleep… And she's terribly tempted. But she can't. "Y'know," he murmurs quietly into Padme's hair, "I could just stay for another few days…"

The offer somehow manages to make her smile again because his intent is so painfully obvious, it's adorable. He's asking her to ask him to stay. She knows he has plans to see to once back home, people to see and his business to run, and yet with just a few words from her, he'd be ready to abandon everything. Anakin always bent to her every whim and desire, desperate to please her in every way. It's always been this way since they were children, when he'd let her pick all their games or the movies they watched. Anyone else would think she's the luckiest woman in the world at having such a devoted lover by her side.

But Padme can see beyond the romantic aspects of it and to the truth. She's not lucky. While, of course, Anakin's devotion makes her feel extremely beloved which she's sure is the intention, it also adds a certain… pressure to their relationship. More hot water to the ever boiling pot that is their life together. His determination to make her happy in all ways, no matter what means that Padme has to be the thinker. It has to be her who holds firm in the face of temptation just like now, because if she doesn't, Anakin's passion would sweep them both away and their lives would suffer for it. He just doesn't see it the same way. Usually, this can be somewhat irking, if not sweet. Everyone has their roles within their relationships, and Padme resigned herself to being the serious one with Anakin years ago. But now, they're going to have a baby. They're going to be parents. She doesn't want to always be the bad guy, the nagging mom who ruins the fun by constantly saying no… That's not who she is, and it frightens her to think that maybe, just maybe… That's who Anakin will force her to become.

It's not his fault, not really. She knows that if she voiced these concerns, he'd try to hold back that side of himself, for her sake. That he would reassure her about the baby and their impending parenthood until he's breathless, but the words catch in her throat and die there. She should tell him. It's the honest thing to do, the healthy, normal thing to do. But she just can't do it.

So she doesn't.

To drown out her fears, Padme leans up again to kiss him, just a small brush of their lips, but Anakin has other ideas. He sighs into the kiss and pulls her upwards on his body and somehow they're even closer. She knows what he's doing. She knows because she's doing it too. They're hiding… Hesitating, ignoring for a final few moments that she isn't going to ask him to stay, which means he has to go. They've always been good at playing pretend.

Anakin's tongue slides into her mouth and Padme opens for him willingly, savouring the taste of him on her tongue… Even if they both have morning breath. She doesn't care. This time is too precious to give a damn about something so insignificant. With a surprising skill, Anakin manages to roll their bodies, so quickly that Padme finds herself on her back before her surprised gasp can leave her mouth. This is nice… This is exactly what she needs before he leaves, the heavy weight of him above her… To memorise every inch of him so that when his side of the bed is empty, she can close her eyes and pretend otherwise. With this in mind, Padme pushes back, slipping her tongue into his mouth now, and her fingers climb the hard expanse of his back, higher and higher until they can tangle into his thick, golden tresses. She loves Anakin's hair now… While always extremely attractive as a teenager, the darkened blonde waves that reach his shoulders make him even more beautiful. Before, he was her Ani, her sweet loving, Ani. Now… Now he is still her Ani, but he's more rugged, and just downright sexy. As her mom says, he's grown into a man.

And she wants that man. Now.

But they just don't have the time. She's usually showered and getting dressed by now… And not to mention the traffic first thing in the morning! She's never going to get a cab at this rate – oh! Anakin's hand has wandered along the length of her body and dipped beneath her short nightie while Padme was lost in her worried thoughts. Now his travelling fingers trail across her outer thigh to just barely brush the very tips of his fingers across her swollen, needy clit and the ghost touch sends her hips canting upwards, seeking more.

"I really don't have time for this…" She whispers against Anakin's lips and feels them quirk upwards into a lusty smirk as the pad of his thumb presses down against the sensitive bundle of nerves just hardenough to pull a low moan from her throat. This is ridiculous; it shouldn't be this easy to win her over. But it is. And it's not just her, Padme can feel the stiff length of him pressing against her thigh… He's every bit as aroused as she is, and the thought only makes her squirm.

"I don't care." He whispers, and then smiles that charming Skywalker grin and takes her lips once more. For a moment, nothing appeals to Padme more than the kiss. Her hips move up again, desperate for more of his touch and Anakin gives it easily, rubbing precise, hard circles against her clit, making her whimper and shudder against him as he mouths wantonly at her throat. This is a bad, bad idea... But he isn't going to stop, and honestly, she doesn't want him to.

Padme whines when he pulls his hand away from her, making Anakin laugh lowly at the frenzied need he's created in her. It's just cruel, to stop now… "Anyone would think you want me…" He challenges and her eyes fall into thin slits once more before understanding dawns upon her. Two can play at this game. If Anakin wants to tease her, then Padme would tease him right back. Between them, he is the easy one to win over and she's had plenty of practice.

"I do." She purrs, not missing the way his eyes darken lustfully at the sound. One hand slips along his hip and dives beneath the tight black material of his shorts to fill her palm with the firm cheek of his backside which makes him shudder intensely. Oh, Ani… That's nothing. Using this, Padme pushes his body down, against her own and spreads her thighs to fit him against her in just the right way. The hard bulge of his groin presses insistently against her core, and she just can't resist shifting against him softly. "I want you so bad…" Craning her neck, Padme whispers her words and takes his earlobe between her teeth, tugging gently and swears she feels him grow harder against her.

"Padme…" He growls, but when she leans back to look him in the eye, it's with a sweet, innocent smile.

"What?" She moves again, rubbing her moist core against him, rocking her body to drive him to madness. "Don't you know how much I want you? I always want you, Ani… When you're not here, it's so lonely. I lay in bed at night all alone… Touching myself and thinking about you." It's almost impossible to keep herself from smiling, almost. Despite the teasing nature of her words, there's an element of truth to them, too. She does miss him when he's not here, physically as well as emotionally. No one can make her body sing like Anakin can, and her own touch is a pale imitation.

"Fuck…" He throbs powerfully against her and begins to move in time with Padme's rocking, sawing his hard erection against her in a way that makes her sigh with need too. "I need you. So. Fucking. Bad." Each word is emphasised with a sharp thrust against her, and Padme momentarily forgets her sensual mission to enjoy the pleasure it brings her. She needs him too, but not yet. Not yet.

Smirking, she pauses her movements to reach for the thin straps of her nightie and carefully slides then down her arms, keeping her eyes carefully trained on Anakin's' even through his are focused, well, lower. The soft, silky material erotically slips down her body, revealing inch by inch of her pale skin to his dark eyes until her breasts are free, revealing her puckered nipples which are peaked and begging for his touch. If there is one thing Anakin Skywalker has always loved about Padme's body, it's her breasts. She'd been so unconfident about them once, comparing her small size to the other girls in school, but Anakin always made her feel like a Goddess. As if she were walking perfection… No one else has ever made her feel that way. No one.

Without hesitating, Anakin takes her breast in his palm, squeezing with a gentle pressure that has her back arching up for more. His thumb strokes a gentle circle around the soft area surrounding her nipple, and her nipples grow harder immediately… The effect this man has upon her body is indescribable, incomparable. "I want you like I did last night." She whispers, fixing the most seductive glance she can muster onto her face. "I want you to make me feel good like that again." Her lips trace his jaw with barely there kisses, "Remember how good it was? How you made me scream your name…? You're the only one who does that, no one else… No one ever felt as good inside me as you, Ani…"

"Mine!" He grunts, pushing her flat against the mattress and Padme's lip sinks down into her teeth. She loves it when Anakin gets all riled up… This is when her gentle lover fades into the masculine beast who takes her hard and fast with a seductive, primal flair until neither can move for hours afterwards… That's what she wants right now. If he's going to leave her, then Padme needs to be loved, hard. She needs to savour being with him for as long as possible, no matter how much trouble it might bring her later in work… That doesn't matter. Not to her, not right now. She needs him, rough and slow… To draw it out and make her feel alive.

Anakin's beautiful azure eyes have darkened to nearly black with want, she notices as he leans back on his knees to shrug the heavy blankets off of their bodies… His dark gaze sweeps over her, eliciting a powerful shudder through Padme's body. He wasn't looking at her like the woman he loved, but as a starving man eyes a feast before devouring it. Suddenly, she feels small and oh so feminine beneath him. Her chest heaves and her skin prickles against the cool morning air, the scrap of fabric lying uselessly bunched around her hips does nothing to warm her… But she doesn't need it to. Not when she has this dashing, gorgeous man above her, ready to ravish her senseless.

"Yeah, Ani." Padme nods, breathless as his thumbs dip into the hem of his shorts, "Yours."

For one, brief moment, his entire body stills as a feral, wild gleam takes light in his eyes… His one true desire has come true. Padme's acknowledgement of his deep possessive need to claim her as his for all time. And at any other moment, such need of his would never be fulfilled by her, as it was something she'd always deemed as unhealthy or old fashioned… But it's Padme's arousal that rules her mouth now, not her mind. And in her heightened, sensitive state, it's her turn to want to please him now.

Anakin sheds the only little layer of clothing on his body and falls down heavily onto her, but Padme welcome's his weight above her, arms and legs automatically winding themselves around him tightly. This is what she needs. Neither of them reaches out, to the top drawer of her bedside table where the condoms they both know are there, lie unused. It's more than a little late for those, anyway. He kisses her, fast and deep, swiping his tongue into her mouth and Padme stretches her neck up to follow his lips just as both his hands find her breasts, tugging and flicking her nipples with skilled fingers. Sharp bolts of pleasure run the length of her body, morphing into liquid heat which pools between her legs. The urge to clench her thighs to relieve the ache her wonderful, golden boy has awakened within her is powerful, and it leaves her giddy with need.

Cupping the back of his neck in her palm, Padme pulls him down to her lips again, desperately thirsty for him. There is simply nothing like kissing Anakin, whether it's a slow and gentle kiss, harsh and passionate, or a mere affectionate brushing of their lips. None of her past lovers could ever make her feel the way he does, and she wouldn't wish that they had. What she shares with Anakin is special, a mutual love strong enough to survive living on opposite sides of the country. Sometimes, when she feels this way, Padme can even agree with Anakin's declarations that they were born for each other.

Sometimes it feels that way.

"Uh!" She cries out and lets her head fall back against the pillows as Anakin surges within her. It's wonderful… It feels so good… He feels so good inside her. Her ankles cross just above his backside as he grunts, slowly withdrawing himself from her body and Padme's teeth sink down into her bottom lip. Oh…

"You're… Such a tease…" Anakin pants into her skin before resting his face in the warmth of her neck, and Padme can't not laugh up at the ceiling, grin wide and amused. That is, until he takes her wrists into his hands and pins them suddenly by either side of her head… "You're going to pay, Naberrie." He grins down at her, and Padme's eyebrow rises. They're each as stubborn as each other, neither will willingly lose any challenge if they can help it. And Padme likes to keep him on his toes…

Unable to cease her smiling, despite the nature of the challenge, she rolls her eyes because he will do nothing and they both know it. "Well then, Skywalker… I look forward to… Paying…"

Unfortunately, there's no more time for laughing as Anakin's hips thunder into her own faster, harder, in lustful retaliation. If this is paying, then she can think of one or two other little misdeeds worth repenting for… So long as Anakin joins her, of course. Her breathless moans and Anakin's heavy breathing are the music of the morning, drowning out any talk or banter that might've been spoken… All she can focus on is Anakin… Anakin above her, Anakin inside her and Anakin all around her. It's perfect. It's home. It's absolute bliss.

The bed shakes powerfully in time with Anakin's lustful aggression, colliding with the wall thrust after Earth shattering thrust, and Padme speaks to him in soft, sensual whispers of how much she loves him, how good he looks and feels… And Anakin's fingers thread through her own where they're pinned beneath his palm as his eyes clench shut tightly in a poor attempt at maintaining what small measure of control he has left. "Padme…" He moans, hips moving vigorously and she rocks up to meet him every time, seeking as much of pleasure as her body can steal. "Fuck, Padme. You're so – so… Good. So good for me… Ugh."

"Ani…" Is all Padme can say before he swoops down to take her lips in a forceful kiss and she's left utterly helpless beneath him, helpless to him. But it's not enough… She needs something more now. She's right there, on the edge of ecstasy, and thrust pushes her closer and closer to the physical euphoria both their bodies crave so desperately. But… She just… She can't get there. Something's missing.

Tearing her lips away, Padme breaks her wrist free of his tight hold and cards a hand through his long locks again, letting the thick, sandy-blonde waves slip between her fingers until her nails scrape gently against his scalp and fists tightly, making Anakin hiss against her throat with the slight pain of it. "Ani, I want to be on top…" She whispers. "Now."

Unable to deny her anything, especially such a passionate demand, Anakin emits a small, aroused, breath and nods gently. She needs this, to dance her hips against his until they're both a puddle of sated exhaustion. Padme needs Anakin beneath her, submissive to her will… She likes to watch his face as he loses his control. Nothing is as arousing as the way he tenses beneath her, stiffening against the onslaught of pleasure she wrings out of his body. She wants it so badly. Gently withdrawing himself from her body, Anakin rolls to the side with an elegance few others possess and settles onto his back against the pillows with a wide, entirely enticed smile. "Oh, to be so loved…" That's what her sister once said about the way Anakin looks at her… And Padme has never forgotten it. Even now, in the midst of some of the most intimate moments of their life together, Anakin stares at Padme like she's some form of enthral being, never leering, only beholding… She never feels more wanted, or attractive than she does in moments like these.

Slinging a leg over his strong hips, Padme's eyes flick downward to watch his hands fill with her waist and feels her lip twitch just slightly with the urge to smile. Her own hands settle on Anakin's shoulders, squeezing into the hard flesh tightly as their bodies align themselves once more and –

Oh…

Throwing her head back against the onslaught of sheer, heavenly pleasure, Padme feels the ends of her long hair tickle her lower back and rises up, onto her knees to lift herself off of him until merely the hard, swollen head of him remains within her. She keeps it slow, just for now, and Anakin's hands ascend her body, worshipping every inch of her pale, milky flesh and the contrast of her smooth skin against the work hardened rough palms is addictive. "Yes…" She whispers, sinking onto him again, "Yes… Oh, Ani…"

His thumbs circle Padme's soft areolas and her hips jerk automatically at the tease, creating a smug wolfish grin upon his mouth. It doesn't last very long, one tight circle of her hips upon the next decent has Anakin's own head falling back against the headboard; eyes shut and jaw slack… His hands abandon her breasts to slip beneath the bunched up, abandoned nightie around her hips to guide her into more little circles upon each plunge. "That… Oh Fuck! Keep… Just like that…"

Quite simply, there is no feeling which can ever compare to the sensation of Anakin deep within her body… To be filled so completely by the thick solidness of his arousal… He stretches her inner core so deliciously, stirring the deepest pleasurable agony throughout every inch of Padme's body. There is so much more to their relationship than sex, their love is built upon a solid foundation of trust, and a lifetime of affection borne of deep friendship. They'd been friends for years before their romantic awakening for one another. And their decade of separation only made the desire for one another more intense, and truly reaffirmed just how much Padme loves Anakin and needs him in her life.

"Mm…" She sighs as he cups her breast again, squeezing gently. "I… I'm going to miss you so much…" Comes her whispered confession, breathless as their hips collide yet again. She is going to miss him. So much. But she meant what she said, for Anakin's sake, she's willing to share him with his work for now… Even if it feels like her heart is being torn out of her chest when he leaves her. It's only a temporary arrangement, and it'll be over sooner than they both know it. But his absence is going to be felt every moment he isn't with her.

Beneath her, Anakin groans, low and husky, because there is nothing he likes as much as her praise. He thrives on it. "My Angel…" He whispers, which only serves to make her grin. Angel… The once constant pet name he gave her as a love struck teenager… He doesn't use the term quite as often these days. They've just grown out of such things by now. But that doesn't mean Padme doesn't adore hearing it fall from his lips every now and again. Her grin quickly turns shy as she bends down, hovering just above his mouth for a moment. It would be so easy to just kiss him now, but she doesn't. There isn't any time, Anakin leans forward, the very tip of his tongue flicking out to taste the length of her throat, sending a shiver along her spine. "I'll miss you too. You have no idea how much."

"I love you…"

"I live for you."

It doesn't take much longer for their movements to quicken as the urgent need rushing through their body intensifies. As he stiffens inside her, Anakin began to lose himself, panting harshly through his nose, jaw locked tight as his hips buck up to meet hers relentlessly. It's hard, and passionate and oh God, it's just what she needs. Padme swears she's never been this aroused in all her life… Not even in the midst of their little, back of the car reunion… She's so wet, and it makes the connection of their bodies so slick and easy. This isn't the usual case of mad, passionate lovemaking before their separation. No. It's… More. And less. It's pure sex. Just fiery lust coursing through their blood as their bodies strain to find that little piece of heaven on Earth with each other. Her hips ache at the constant, quick movements, but that doesn't deter Padme, not for one second. She ignores the slight pain and carries on riding her boyfriend to bliss.

"Uh!' Every jab of his hard cock against her sweet spot draws another cry deep from Padme's throat. 'Ugh…" Her fingers find the cold steel of the decorative headboard and wrap themselves around it tightly, bracing herself against it as she rocks her hips in quick, desperate movements over Anakin's. "Yes… OhgodohGod…" Suddenly, she throws her head back with a loud, indistinguishable cry, unable to so much as string together Anakin's name as the pleasure burns white hot and explodes throughout every inch of her. Moments later, and a few shaky thrusts, Anakin joins her with an almost pained groan, and Padme rides them both through it, wringing every drop of pleasure she can, while she has the chance. It seems to last forever, and yet, it's not nearly long enough.

As she slumps over his body and falls easily into the slow, loving kiss Anakin gives her, only one thought fills her sleepy, incredibly sated, mind.

She is so late for work.

Dorme greets her with a wide, Cheshire cat grin when Padme rushes into her office, arms full of documents and folders and hastily drops them onto her desk. As she suspected, there's already a very large, very intimidating pile of paperwork waiting for her, and she doesn't want to know how many e-mails currently fill up her inbox. After dropping Anakin off at the airport and enduring a painful, lingering goodbye, she got herself caught in the worst traffic holdup in the world. It's really just her luck…

"Bail has been through twice to see you." Her brunette assistant smirks from where she sits opposite Padme's desk and she just barely manages to not groan. Oh no… She was supposed to meet with Bail to discuss the legislation about tracking online behaviour President Mothma is attempting to force through congress. This is extremely important and she completely forgot all about it in favour of those… Shenanigans with Anakin this morning.

"Shit…" Never one to normally curse, Padme leans two hands on the desk and closes her eyes. This is bad. Very bad. They need every moment they can get to work toward undoing this! It's an invasion of every American citizen's privacy veiled behind 'security'. She's supposed to be a professional… But this morning with Anakin was important too. Who knows how long they're going to have to be apart? They needed this morning, and despite this mess, Padme just can't regret it.

"Well, it seems like you had a lovely morning, at least. Worth missing your meeting with Bail." Dorme chuckles and walks around the table to sift through the various documents for sorting out. It's physically difficult, to hide her agreeing and not divulge exactly how lovely this morning has been until now… As much as she would love to tell her friend all about it, and she will, now isn't the time. Her office is not the place for girl talk. It's for work. Which she should be doing right now.

"I just slept in, that's all. Please call Bail and let him know I'm on my way to speak with him now." Padme requests as she hurriedly steps toward the office door. The sooner she can reach Bail's office, the sooner she can wholeheartedly apologise for keeping him waiting. It's just not like her to do this… Hopefully, that can buy her a little goodwill.

"Of course." Dorme nods behind her. "But, Padme?"

"Yes?" She freezes by the doorway, frowning. She doesn't have time for this…

"Your skirt is on backwards."