Anakin left the training room, completely wiped out. Chasing children around for hours, wasn't as easy as it looked. Obi Wan Kenobi waited just outside the door, eager for an update on Anakin's first day.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Uplifting. Thank you, Master. You can't imagine how much this has meant to me."
Anakin was in an unusually cheerful mood. More than several days had passed since he and Padme married, and two since he had seen her last - but somehow, the children had made him happy.
"Although... there was one Padawan learner who was quite resistant."
"Really?" Obi-Wan asked. "Which one would that be?"
"Ronan Powo Ka."
"Ah... the clairvoyant."
"Aren't we all clairvoyant?"
"The child's gift is stronger than that of any other Jedi, even those of adult age."
"Even stronger than Yoda's?"
"Sometimes..." Obi-Wan answered.
"He doesn't seem to like me much."
"I wonder then, what he might have seen...?" This piqued Obi-Wan's curiosity.
"You assume his reluctance has something to do with me?" Anakin was quite offended. And just as suddenly as he had taken offense, did his mood begin to sour.
"No, well... I don't know. I assume you ought to find out."
Obi-Wan slapped Anakin across the shoulder then drifted off, a smile across his face. Again, Anakin was at ease. It didn't seem that the Jedi Master had meant any harm. When Obi Wan was finally out of sight, a gleaming protocol droid turned the corner at the other end of the hall. He moved quickly. As quickly as a droid of his type could possibly move.
"Threepio!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Master Skywalker!" Threepio screamed. "I have a letter from Senator Amidala, it's most urgent!" he said, waving it about in the air.
"SHH!!! Has anyone seen it?" Anakin asked the droid in a hushed voice.
"No sir, I was most discreet."
Anakin turned and walked to the training room again, leaving the slow walking droid to dawdle behind. With a wave of his hand, the door opened. Anakin slipped inside then ripped the letter open.
In Padme's handwriting, the letter read: "Tonight, my love."
Anakin pressed the letter against his chest and sighed heavily. Traces of Padme's Force-scent was all over it. He shoved the letter in his pocket then hurried out. As he came by Threepio again, who had not yet made it to the training room, he stopped and whispered:
"You will stay at the temple tonight, Senator Amidala and I will be busy -- tell no one," he whispered, brusquely.
"Of course, Master."
The confused protocol droid stared after the departing Jedi... "Humans!" he muttered in mock astonishment.
Cobra Sien had finally gone. And Padme was glad. She locked the door behind him by way of entering a security code -- something she had forgotten to do earlier.
She ran to her room.
Padme stripped out of her dress and took a shower, vigoriously scrubbing her hand, where the foul stink of Cobra's touch had lingered. Something Anakin, no doubt, might have sensed.
When she was done she blew her hair dry then brushed it feverishly. How long til Anakin arrived? She paced to her room and searched the lingerie cabinet for something pretty to wear, settling on the gown she might have worn on their wedding night - had it gone as planned. A revealing number, with strategically placed coverings. She put a thin silk robe over it then ushered the servants and droids out of the flat for the night.
When they were gone, she sprayed a little fragrance on her fingertips then ran them through her hair. When she was done, she sprayed her fingers again and dabbed them behind her ears.
The doorbell rang.
Padme's heart began to flutter, and her hands began to shake. At long last --- he was here. Padme ran to the door, entered the security code and flung it open. But it wasn't Anakin who stood on the other side.
"Cobra?" she exclaimed, unable to contain her surprise.
Cobra's eyes dropped to Padme's gown, then grew to the size of saucers. She pulled the robe she wore closed as Cobra shoved his way inside of the apartment.
"What are you doing here?" she gasped.
"I forgot my picnic basket."
"This is totally unacceptable," Padme snapped.
"I will only be a moment," Cobra insisted.
Padme watched as he dropped to his knee over the picnic blanket and stuffed remnants of their meal back into the basket. Just as he had gathered the blanket, the door to Padme's flat slid open.
Her heart stopped... probably for several seconds. She looked to the door, then back to Cobra again.
"Anakin!" Padme exclaimed. Various emotions ran through her...feelings of surprise, joy, embarrassment--"
Cobra stood and looked at the Jedi, an arrogant sneer spread across his face.
"I can explain..." Padme started.
Anakin pulled the letter she had written him out of his picket then tore it in half.
"The letter... wasn't me for me, was it?"
A look of worry intermingled with hurt filled Padme's eyes. "I can explain," she gasped.
"Explain? Whatever for? And you are?" Cobra demanded.
"Her husband." Anakin blinked.
Padme lurched over, suddenly unable to breathe. In two words - their careers were over. Ruined. How could he? Her hand gripped the back of the sofa. But Anakin's eyes were trained on Cobra. He was seconds away from wiping the floor with his smug face.
Anakin's walk across the room was slow and deliberate. He looked at the picnic basket on the floor then back at Padme again.
"It's not what you think-" she tried to explain.
But there was a storm in Anakin's heart. A typhoon. Never had he felt so hurt -- this was as bad as watching his mother die on Tattoine. His trust was not easily earned. He loved her, how could she?
"Cobra... please leave," Padme demanded.
But faster than she could blink, Anakin was already on him. His mechanical hand tore into the Senator's neck as he slammed him into a wall, at once, shattering one of Cobra's ribs.
Cobra wheezed, unable to breathe.
"Anakin! Please, stop it!" Padme pleaded.
And with that, hearing the terror and sadness in her voice, Anakin released him. Cobra slid to the floor in a quivering heap. Anakin grabbed the man by the collar and shook him.
"Speak of what I have told you to anyone... and I will destroy you." Anakin's lip quivered. Padme had not seen him this angry since that horrible night on Tattoine.
Cobra nodded.
Anakin pulled him from the floor then shoved him out of the door. When he was done, he turned a heated look unto Padme. She shook her head, then stumbled back.
They held each other's gaze for several moments, then suddenly, Anakin stormed away, out onto the veranda. The last thing he wanted was for Padme to see him cry. A stream of tears rushed down his cheeks. It took every ounce of restraint within him, to stop himself from crushing her. When he was hurt, there was a need to destroy that which caused him pain. Even if it were Padme.
Padme watched Anakin. She stood where the living room and veranda met.
She had faith in him. What happened on this night was based on a misunderstanding. He was hurting. But not because of Cobra or what he thought he had seen. It was his mother. Anakin had not been given the chance to properly grieve. As a result, he was a like volcano erupting..
"It was all a big misunderstanding," Padme pleaded.
Even a fool could see, that despite his strength and abilities, Anakin was fragile. He wiped a tear away, still unable to speak.
"We were working on a bill."
"Dressed like that?" Anakin spat.
"I wore this for you."
Padme walked across the veranda and wrapped her arms around Anakin's waist, laying her head against his back.
"We've waited so long..." she muttered. "Don't let a misunderstanding ruin it for us."
Anakin peeled her arms away with his mechanical hand. Without turning around, he muttered, "I just don't know what I will do without you," he said. "I can't breathe without you, Padme."
"When I said I'd never leave you, I meant it."
And finally, he was able to face her. Unwashed tears made her face a blur. "I thought you were gone forever. That he would take you away from me. That you would realize that you're too good for me."
"Too good for you!?" Padme exclaimed. "But Anakin... we're equals... how could you think such a thing?"
"We're equals... but you're good. And wise."
Padme rubbed his cheek. "And so are you."
He was almost convinced, but wondered how she could say such a thing after what he had done tonight.
Anakin held her by the shoulders, then let his fingers trail up and down her arm.
"Anakin, I'm cold. Let's go inside."
And suddenly, it was as though nothing had ever happened.
It was only hours ago, that Padme tried wondered why she loved him so much. Alas, the answer had finally revealed itself. Anakin was unlike anyone she had met before. He was wild and free... an emotional storm. So unlike the formal, emotionally restrained people she had lived with for most of her life. With him, she was ifree/i. Free to nurture, free to love.
Anakin swooped Padme off of her feet and carried her into the flat. He strides were long, strong, swift, erratic... she wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart beating rapidly... her hands shaking. Anakin wiped an errant strand of hair from her eyes. She caught him by the back of his hand and kissed it.
They held each other's gaze as they walked through the apartment.
Soon, the door to Padme's bedroom slid open. Their bedroom. She slipped from his arms onto her feet and waited. The newlyweds blushed profusely as Anakin untied his sashed and ripped his tunic open.
"After you," he said, motioning her toward the bed. Anakin slid out of his undershirt and stood bare chested on the other side of the room.
How awkward, Padme thought. And now, she was terrified.
Padme's silk robe dropped to the floor and he gasped, her milky skin luminous in the hazy moonlight that streamed through the window. He walked toward her, his eyes fixed upon her face. Suddenly, his comlink beeped.
A look of horror crept into Padme's eyes, then an amused smiled as he crushed the receiver in the palm of his mechanical hand and tossed it across the room.
"Was that Obi Wan? Do you think - it might be important?"
"More important than this?" Anakin asked, as his lips covered hers.
Padme stood on her toes, arms wrapped around his neck. He gathered her toward him, wrapping her legs around his waist before falling forward, so that she fell onto the bed beneath him.
He kissed her hungrily, as though he were ravaging her...
Ten long years he had waited... and finally, she was his.
