I don't own Star Wars!


In the Milky Way

"SOLDIER DOWN"

Chapter 7

"The Confrontation"


Ever since Sola had arrived, Padmé had made it a point to avoid Anakin at all costs, distracting herself with her nieces and the preparation for the upcoming birthday bash of Ryoo, one of Sola's daughters, at least that's what Anakin thinks, but he wasn't too sure, he didn't want to be known as presumptuous or assuming much when it really could have been she was simply too busy for him. "Anakin, son, take a walk with me." He heard Ruwee from behind him, which immediately made him confused as to why.

Ruwee as well, just like Padmé had started to act differently around him, when first he seemed like all fatherly and respectful, he seemed stiff and unsure how to broach a certain kind of conversation they should be having. Anakin was just waiting patiently as to some sort of sign that would possibly hint at him at what really is going on around the place. Sola had kept asking him whenever she can about his plans for Padmé, asking stuff like when he'd pop the question, as if he's going to propose any second now; or stuff like what he was waiting for, or is he man enough to be in a relationship.

Of course he was man enough. He'd been thinking about pursuing a relationship with her, but he also didn't want to waste any more time when she clearly wasn't interested. Anyway, here he was, currently walking with Ruwee, and wondering what it was they were going to talk about. "Nice day isn't it?" Ruwee started as they strolled down the fields, and Anakin looked around and nodded…

"Yeah, it is," he answered, "But usually when someone tells me to take a walk, it's not just about discussing the day and its wonderful weather." He stopped and looked at the older man and Ruwee let out a deep sigh…

"Anakin, son, you've been a good tenant, very helpful for the farm, but I just want to ask you something." Ruwee then looks at him like how his superiors would when relaying a serious order. Classified. And somehow, Anakin manages to quiet down his gulp, and could feel his palms starting to sweat. He clearly hopes he wasn't being kicked out because he was occupying too much space now with Sola and the kids, or the fact he was eating too much.

Obi-Wan always reprimands him whenever they are off-base that he eats too much, like he's been enslaved for so long that he could only take a taste of sweet freedom for just a few minutes. And for a while, Anakin does feel like that sometimes. He joined the army to help the world, and yet they all await orders from corrupt politicians and whoever else there is. He wonders what's happening with the separatists by now, or who is going to be bombed next…

"What is it?" he finally asks, eager to get it over with…

"Well, there is really no easy way to put this, so I'm just going to say it," he let out another deep breath, "Do you fancy my daughter?" if Anakin was drinking something he would have already choked on it due to the unexpected question. Was he that obvious? Anakin cleared his throat and let out a few coughs to regain his composure…

"Uh, pardon? Fancy? Which daughter?" Fancy? Who uses that word nowadays? Apparently one Ruwee Naberrie was on the list. Anakin feels like he took a trip in a time machine and jumped way too far in the past where everything was supposed to be prim and proper, where girls should not linger around boys simply because it was too scandalous. Or that arrange marriages were at the top of the game, and coming from a good family with riches were the main theme…

"I think you know who." Ruwee said, giving him a pointed look, "And don't you dare lie to me son, or else you're gone, and I don't care if you're military or not, but no one gets to my daughters without getting to me first." Anakin let out a defeated sigh and looked away…

He really didn't want to answer that question. It was a tricky slope he was on. He wasn't a father, but he imagines if he's had a daughter, it doesn't matter if the guy is decent person or not, no one gets to date his daughter until he's old and gray and gone. But then again, Ruwee was getting old, he wasn't going to be around forever, so maybe he's eager to see his daughters, both of them, or at least just Padmé now settle down with a decent man, just so he knows she'll be taken care of…

"Yes." He quietly answered, "I do. But if you're worried about me doing something to her without her consent, then you have my word that I would do no such thing." He said, and finally looks at Ruwee, meeting his scrutinizing gaze. Ruwee stares at him a bit longer, analyzing, watching, until he finally nods to him in a subtle way…

"That's good to know." Ruwee said and held out his hand, "You're a good man, Anakin, and I'd hate to lose you around, so it's good that we've cleared some things up." Anakin took his hand and shook it, "What do you say with going back?" he asked the young man and Anakin nodded in reply. Somehow, his chest feels lighter knowing Ruwee doesn't hold any ill will upon him. He finds he really likes Ruwee, it reminds him somehow of Cliegg Lars. Thought he wasn't his father, he was a good man, and a better father than his own…

"I agree wholeheartedly with you sir." Anakin smiled and they both walked back to the house, where Jobal, Padmé, Sola and the two little girls were remaining to prepare for the upcoming big night. It's nice to have a party every now and then; after all, it is no small thing to celebrate a simple life.


The girls were currently up the stairs and preparing themselves for the party, while Jobal and her daughters were in the kitchen preparing the food to be served. Sola was currently washing the plates when she caught sight of Padmé, her dear little sister looking out of the window. Curiosity had gotten the best of her, so when she took a peak at the window a small smirk slowly made its way to her lips and made her lean in to Padmé…

"So when are you going to tell us about him?" she whispered to her little sister, which eventually snaps her out of her daze, and a small tint of pink paints her cheeks. Sola continued to grin, closely resembling the Cheshire cat in the Alice in Wonderland cartoon coming from Disney…

"Sola stop it." hissed Padmé, annoyed at the repeating question, Sola just shrugged, brushing off her sister's futile attempts of denying the obvious attraction the two of them have for each other…

"It's obvious he has feelings for you" she persisted and Padmé let out an annoyed sigh…

"Anakin and I are…" well, she really wasn't sure what they were, but, "…friends. Our relationship is strictly professional." She continued and from the corner of her eye, she saw her mother was looking at her with a knowing smile. She huffed in annoyance and turned around…

It was like she was a little kid all over once again, with both her big sister and mother knowing things before she even did. As a little girl she hated it when people acted like they knew better than her, granted they did, but it annoyed her to no end.

"I'm going to check on the kids." She told them both, eager to get away, and from the window which showed Anakin and her father getting along. It could almost be a perfect picture. Anakin was such a gentleman albeit a little rude at times, but he was adorable either way…

What wasn't adorable was the uncertainty she would face if she would choose to be with him. He was a soldier, sooner or later, he'd die, either in the field and away from her, and that was something that scared her deeply because she wasn't too sure how long she'd live before going after him in death.


Night could not have come sooner, and it was a full house. Anakin mostly just kept to himself, nodding every now and then, greeting those who noticed him. He's not used to small talk; there wasn't much of that in the military. It was always about weapons, girls or assignments. These folk here were peaceful folks, and frankly, he feels a bit out of place despite them praising him for being a peacekeeper.

He doesn't feel much like a peacekeeper but a serial killer, an authorized, registered serial killer. He smiles and nods, but he's really just passing through like a wind. He's there but at the same time he's also not there. He grabs himself some juice, not really trusting himself much on the alcoholic drinks because maybe, just maybe, he'd flashed back to a battleground, and young Ryoo shouldn't have to have her birthday get crashed like that despite him being invited and all.

He waded through the crowd and went out to the front porch, where he was greeted by the sound of some folks playing the guitar and singing merry tunes. He smiled and nodded at them slightly before stepping down into the windy fields, with the night sky littered with only a few bright stars. He took a sip of his cup and gulped down the small amount of liquid before taking a deep breath of fresh air. The sounds of the crowd were muted with the distance, and for a moment, Anakin was relaxed.

It wasn't that he hated crowds, far from it really. It's just because these people are strangers, and he'd rather walk around in the shadows observing them, studying their ways. You can say he's watching them like he would a suspect, but he can't help it. He's uneasy about this many people. He wasn't like this before, but experiences on the battlefield had taught him not to be too trusting. By all rights and purposes he should have at least suspected Padmé the first time he saw her hovering above his sleeping form but…

He didn't see a potential terrorist that day. All he saw was an angel.

He doesn't know when it started, but he's nursing the drink in his hands, the ice long melted into the night as he listened to the party happening, but he begins to hum a tune. A tune he's heard only once from Padmé. It was as if it was telling a tale of a warrior and a maiden who met across the stars, yet the war would soon tear them apart. He doesn't know why he thinks that, he just does. And maybe it's because he's had to deliver plenty of those messages to the loved ones his fallen brothers have that he thinks that someday he's going to die like it too.

It scares him, and rightly so, but he's not a quitter. He's a fighter, and no matter what he'll remain in service until his last dying breath, because he's sworn to do so.

He swirls his drink once more before taking another sip. So far, so good, now all he needs to worry about is how he'll manage to get through the awkwardness of actually telling Padmé that he wants to date her. Ruwee already knows, and he wasn't kicked out just yet. Sola knows, definitely not bothering to hide it. And he suspect Jobal knows too. He wonders if Padmé knows as well, but if she does she's doing a pretty good job of hiding it. And suddenly he feels his heart ache at the quite subtle dismissal.


Padmé was by the window, looking out to where she was overlooking out over in the fields, she spotted Anakin nursing a glass in his hands and took a small sip of it before looking utterly content with the night having found a quiet place to himself. She wanted to join him, really, but she wasn't too keen in having him all to herself just yet. Not to mention there were too many unwanted eyes, and she just wanted to go to her room and lock herself in.

She hates the fact she invited the whole town…

More importantly, she even slipped the invitation down Rush's door. She's still awkward around the man, and she doesn't know why she's only just realized now. She doesn't want to talk about him and her and the unfortunate relationship between them. She wants to talk about sand and the lake and some crazy antics their best friend does to computers and how one would fly an aircraft or what the other places looked like when ricocheting bullets were absent to take cover from…

Goodness, she's probably sounding like a love struck teenager once again that doesn't want to tell the boy she admires that she admires him. She lets out a sigh and looks at Anakin, standing there outside all alone and looking like he's got no care in the world…

Like he's untouchable…

Now that she thinks of it, his last name was Skywalker…

"He who walks the skies." She mumbles under her breath, and somehow, that name fits him. He may be down to earth, but there were certain times, she knows, he's way too far for her, but when he flashes her that perfect, yet crooked grin of his, she can't help but feel like he's swooping down just so he could stay with her. And she hates that she's the one that's going to hold him back if ever she comes to him to confess…

"So, when are you guys going to hook up?" asked Sabé as she suddenly appeared beside Padmé. Padmé shot the other girl a deadpanned look before opting to ignore her. "Alright, ignore me, but, mark my words Padmikins." She said and Padmé raised a brow at the other girl. Her friend was clearly tipsy if the way she slurs her words and the smell of her breath is of any indication. Sabé leans forward to whisper on her ear though, "Denial is the first step to admission." And with that Sabé sauntered away from her to refill her cup of punch.

Padmé looked out and saw Anakin still at the same spot where she last saw him, and decided maybe she should go out and talk. Just talk, with no particular topic, just get the ball rolling. She was about to move from her spot when she heard someone call out her name, and she dreaded the person who had called her…

"Padmé," relief was in his voice and she turned to see Rush Clovis amongst one of the guests. Of course, how could she have forgotten? They've probably invited the entire town to come to the party, which made her remember she was thinking about him not too long ago as well with unsavory thoughts…

"Rush." She said, hoping the small smile she gave didn't turn out to be a grimace, "How are you?" she's trying to be polite, as usual, but sometimes she wishes she could be a little rude.

"Good, but I could be better." He said, "We really didn't get to talk the last time." He looks at her like he's really missed her, and he probably does in all honesty. She knows he genuinely likes her, but he doesn't show it in the best way possible.

"Last time?" her mind flashed back to the time she was delivering to Sabé but took off the moment Rush Clovis walked in, "Oh right, it was a busy day." She said, and to be honest, she couldn't quite remember what had happened; all that she knew was that she didn't want to talk to Rush Clovis at that time or any other time for that matter. "Anyway, what did you want to talk about?" Rush looked around and reached for her hand. She was about to pull her hand out of his grasp when he started tugging her through the crowd.

"Not here," he said, "I want it to be private." He leads her expertly away from the crowds, and they reach the backyard, where a few people were hanging out and having a great time, but Rush doesn't stop, if anything his steps become hasty and his grip on her hand tightens. She feels nervous, but this isn't the first time she's sneaked away the house at night, and she feels guilty about it. Besides, Rush would never hurt her… would he?

It was only too late when Padmé realized what a mistake it was to have agreed to talking outside the house.


By ten o' clock, the guests starts leaving, and the children were already tucked in by 8pm. Just as soon as the number of guests starts to trickle down, Sola looked around for her sister, but still couldn't find her anywhere in the house. "Hey mom?" she called out and spotted her mother by with a few of her older friends, still staying behind, "Have you seen Padmé anywhere?" she looks around for added measure, but sees no one and turns her attention back to her mother…

"Last time I checked she was with Sabé, talking dear." Her mother said and Sola nodded and spotted Sabé not to long after. She quickly waded through the crowd with some excuses and finally reached the girl and spotted that Sabé was a little bit too tipsy. She had been drinking outside with the other adults she had guessed…

She liked Sabé, she was a hard core girl, and looked almost like her sister that she could be a twin, but Sabé was also a little bit too wild for her taste, and she just really wanted to know how her sister is so she could rest easy and breathe a little easier….

"Sabé! Just who I was looking for." She said and smiled, thankful that the girl was still a little bit more sober than drunk. "Have you seen Padmé anywhere?"

"Padmé?" Sabé squinted her eyes in thought, before taking a huge gulp of punch once more. "I saw her went out with Rush by the back door." She provided and Sola nodded and gave her thanks before going towards the back door, and saw a few guests out in the back talking, but she didn't see neither hide nor hair of Padmé or Rush.

She walked a few more moments around, hoping they were just around, but was able to turn up empty handed anyway. "Oh Padmé, where are you?" she whispered to herself, hoping that she'd turn up by the time the guests were all gone.


It wasn't until the last of the guests have driven home did Anakin made a move to return back to the house and help with the clean up before turning in for the night. But just before he could even go back inside, Sola was already out by the door, a frantic look on her face, "Anakin, have you seen Padmé?" she asked immediately and Anakin shook his head…

"I haven't seen her since the party started." He answered. He had thought that she would have stayed put inside the house, but well it was a party, and whoever stayed in the house for too long anyway?

"She's gone, we don't know where!" she exclaimed, clearly worried for her little sister. She had a disheveled look upon her as Anakin observed her…

"I'm sure she's just around." Anakin said, but even he was starting to worry, "Where was the last time you saw her?" he asked. Sola wasn't a worrywart, so the fact that she was worrying, worried him. Sola was the easy type of older sibling that would encourage their little sibling to go out in the world and take risks. Padmé was often the responsible one between the two, so the fact she was missing without anyone else knowing was making them all uneasy…

"By the window, but then Sabé said she saw she headed out towards the back with Rush." Sola answered, biting her lower lip to stop it from quivering, from either cold or fear, she did not know.

"Rush?" Anakin frowned, he hasn't heard that name before. Besides, who names their kid Rush?

"Rush Clovis, her ex." Sola answered. So, it wasn't a kid. If possible, his frown grew deeper…

He didn't like the idea of Padmé spending time with the male population, unless it was her father or any fellow relative. So the fact she had been last seen with an ex of hers made him a bit irritated, and dare he say it… jealous. He knows he's got no right to be jealous, at most they were only friends, but he can't help it, it's just the way he is…

"Towards the back you say?" he said to her, already angling his body towards the direction of the back of the house. Sola nodded towards him…

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll go see if I can find something, maybe she left a note or a text or something." He said and Sola nodded once more and went back in, deciding to clean the house for a while. After all, you might never know what would turn up cleaning. Maybe Padmé did leave a note but they just haven't found it yet…

As soon as Anakin reached the back of the house, he crouched down on the ground, right on the shadows, trying to see whether or not he could find a few clues on who's been here and where'd they'd gone. So far he was hoping that he'd be able to find something. He wasn't the best tracker in the field, but he'd like to think he could at least manage to find some prints and the general direction where it went.

It took him a while, until he saw a few prints. The indention, the distance between the strides helped him identify how fast they were travelling and which way. He stood up to follow the footprints, and hopes that this would lead him to the right people. He was no expert on what Padmé's footprints looked like, and frankly he always let the others handle the tracking and all that stuff, but now he learned to appreciate the lessons…

Hopefully he wasn't as bad at it as he thought.


~A few hours earlier~


"Rush where are we going?!" Padmé hissed as they trudged through the woods and into a deserted part of the town. Rush had just kept telling her to follow and follow and follow, and frankly, she was getting a bit impatient and her feet hurt like hell. She had decided to wear heels, due to the fact it was a party, that was happening in her own house, so she figured she'd change into flats once she got tired, but no- Rush Clovis had to just drag her out of the comforts of her own home just for a mere talk.

"Rush!" she exclaimed but he kept walking, holding her hand firmly in his, "You know what?" she pulled her hand roughly against him, "I'm going back home, come find me when you're ready to talk." She spat and turned around only to be grabbed harshly and yanked back towards Rush…

"No, you're coming with me." He said and pulled her roughly despite Padmé's obvious protests. They soon reached a secluded place before Padmé roughly pulled her hand back…

"What gives Rush?!" she hissed, "I agreed to talk, not to be dragged all the way out here!" she exclaimed and Rush seemed to be equally furious as well…

"This would have gone a lot smoother had you been a bit more cooperative!" Rush said. He had tried to contact her ever since she had broken up with him, but it all went to voicemail, or got ignored or she was too busy to have any time for him. He was no idiot, she was avoiding him. All he wanted was another chance, but she was determined not to give it to him.

"With what?" she demanded looking at him with equal fury…

"When you broke up with me for no reason at all!" he exclaimed, pointing at her accusingly.

"Rush, I gave you a chance already, okay? It didn't work out between us." She explained, deflating a little bit. Honestly, she didn't want to dwell anymore on the past, but Rush keeps bringing it up, and he was starting to get annoying for her…

"What did you mean it never worked out? It was going perfectly fine!" Rush defended. He always made sure she came first, though when he would make mistakes he would make amends with her. Though he admits he'd made amends more than he could count but that's got to at least count he loves her right? He was just a bit disorganized, so what?

"Fine?!" Padmé exclaimed, "For you maybe, but not for me." She said, "I don't need to explain to you Rush, I just wasn't feeling it." Padmé said and turned away but Rush pulled her back to him…

"Then I'll make you feel it this time." He hissed and pulled her close and kissed her on the lips…


As soon as Anakin had found some sort of trail, he began to follow it deeper into the woods, until he had found some small cabin. He heard some arguing and recognized one of the voices to be Padmé's until he heard some scuffling and a slap that resonated through the silent night. Whatever thoughts Anakin had had to leave them be and just wait out for Padmé was immediately thrown away and he ran to the shack and burst open through the door…

He had just come in right after Rush had retaliated with a backhand and Padmé had knocked upon the table through the strong force Rush had used. Anakin then launched himself at Rush and gave him a right hook, "Didn't your mother tell you not to hit girls?!" Anakin growled, but Rush frowned at him…

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to meddle into other people's business?!" Rush spat back as he picked himself up from the floor. Anakin scoffed…

"You forget I'm a soldier." He said, "Meddling into other people's business is my business." He answered. Rush dusted his clothes and wiped his mouth and saw a bit of blood. The bastard had split his lip! He frowned and took a good look at the intruder. It was that tenant over the Naberries, what was his name? Anakin Skywalker was it? He doesn't like the man, he looked arrogant. This man was bad news and what was old man Ruwee thinking about giving their room for rent to someone who wasn't even going to pay?

He rushed without thinking, but Anakin sidestepped and he lost balance and hit the table, careful not to jostle Padmé anymore than she was. Anakin turned and faced him and he grabbed the spare tool lying down on the table and swung it at him, but Anakin blocked it and grabbed onto it tightly. He yanked it towards him bringing along Rush and he grabbed a hold of his neck and grasped it tightly…

"You touch her one more time, and I swear that'll be the last time you ever would." Anakin hissed and pushed him with enough force to have him stumbling back pathetically. "Come near her, and I'll put you back to your place. I won't care if I have to use my rank against you, you stay away from her." He warned and Rush just slumped down there in a defeated manner. He knows when he's lost after all. Anakin moved past him and picked Padmé up gently and went out without another word, leaving Rush to his thoughts.


Padmé had woken up from a slight daze, but although things seemed a bit hazy to her, she could smell something familiar… something akin to oils and grease and farm…

And Anakin.

"Ani?" she mumbled, and felt the muscles around her tense. Was she being carried? She began to think she was being kidnapped and started to make a fuss…

"Shh, it's okay Angel." Anakin's soothing voice calmed her down, "It's okay. You're fine now." He said, "I'm taking you home."

"Home?" she asked, and try as she might to stay conscious, she could feel the darkness start to close in on her vision, "Yes, home… home's good." She mumbled and settled into his arms, and felt the slight rumble from his chest as he chuckled softly…

"Yes angel, home." He whispered as he walked back to the Naberries. He had dealt with Rush Clovis, now he just hopes the bastard would stay away…

When they had both arrived by the house. The Naberries had immediately rushed towards them, and Ruwee had cradled his daughter and brought her up to the room, and Anakin is left alone by the front porch.


AN: and that's it for the 7th chapter guys! I just want to apologize for the late update. This is an apology and a belated greeting to you guys since I obviously missed your Christmas and your New Year, so just in advance, Happy Valentine's day! I know I won't be able to update by that time. Anyway, thank you so much for your patience and your continued support! I hope you guys liked this chapter as well as the others.

Don't worry, things will get more interesting by next chapter…

I think, that really depends on your opinions, which matters big time! Love you guys! Mwah!

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