Disclaimer: I often get stuck inside Star Wars, so how could I possibly own it?
Awkward silence filled the sweet-scented Naboo air. Anakin and Padmé had just arrived at the lake retreat and had been enjoying the magnificent view, when suddenly, Anakin had been overcome by the young Senator's beauty, and the next thing they knew, they were kissing each other. Padmé had been the one who pulled away, saying, "No – I shouldn't have done that."
Anakin had apologized, but it had done nothing to clear the air between them. In truth, he wasn't at all sure that he really was sorry for kissing her. In fact, he felt he might like to do it again!
He followed at a respectful distance behind the Senator as when she turned away from him and began walking along the railing once more. He reveled in the sight of her glorious, shiny brown hair hanging down her back. It was twisted into yet another elaborate hairstyle, but Anakin imagined how it would look free and unrestrained, flowing down her back like one of the waterfalls she so loved.
Anakin was startled from his pleasant thoughts by a loud clatter and found himself flung to the tiled floor of the balcony, victim of yet another inanimate assailant – this time a large flowerpot. In stumbling over it he had knocked it down, and it rolled dismally on its side, sprinkling dirt across the tiles, the flower it contained drooping toward the ground. Padmé turned at the sound to regard him, first with surprise and alarm, then with amusement.
"Walk much?" she teased cheerfully as she set the flowerpot back up, then helped Anakin to restore himself to a vertical position.
Anakin shook his head at his own clumsiness. He had been beginning to display some of the easy grace of a Jedi in his movements, but now with his preoccupation with Padmé, he seemed to have lost all coordination whatsoever.
Oh, well. At least the tension between them had eased.
Later that evening, Anakin sat on the couch in deep contemplation of what had happened between himself and Padmé out on the balcony that afternoon. He remembered their kiss, and pondered how to handle it. He was a Jedi, and attachment was forbidden him, but – stars she was gorgeous! She seemed to him to be at least as beautiful as an angel – if not more so.
He was startled out of his deep contemplation by an "angelic" voice – so startled, in fact, that he jumped several inches into the air and ended up sliding off the couch into an undignified heap on the floor.
This time, Padmé just stared at him.
"You scared me," he explained in a small voice.
Padmé raised an eyebrow. "Apparently so. I was going to suggest a walk down to the pier to watch the sunset. Will you come along?"
Anakin jumped up. "Of course. You could be attacked at any moment; I ought to be there to make sure you stay safe!"
So they walked down to the pier together. Surrounded by the twilight, her smooth skin seeming to glow with the fire from the sunset, Padmé appeared more lovely than ever before. Anakin turned around and walked backwards so he could see he better and talk to her. She could have her sunset; he was watching her. As they walked further down the dock, he enjoyed the pure delight her face showed as she viewed the colors of the sunset. Then those glowing brown eyes were turned on him, and he was swept away in their gaze, leaving nothing but Padmé within his mind.
When her expression shifted to one of concern, then outright alarm, he began to worry. Before he could ask her what the trouble was, she cried,
"Anakin! Watch out! You're about to" –
Anakin didn't hear the splash he made as he fell into the lake; he was busy feeling the sudden falling sensation and the cold chill of the water closing over his head. He quickly bobbed back to the surface, and clutched at the edge of the dock before he could be dragged down again by his sodden robes. He'd become so engrossed in his enjoyment of the Senator's beauty that he'd walked backwards right off the edge of the pier.
Padmé gasped and asked if he was alright, but once she ascertained that he had not drowned she burst out laughing at him.
Anakin climbed slowly up onto the pier, hindered by his soggy clothing. He absolutely had to learn to watch where he was going.
