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Padmé packs to go to Naboo. She and Anakin talk and more. ;D

Chapter Ten

Black or Red?

The next day...

"I still don't understand," Anakin followed his wife around their master chamber as she continued to pack. "Why do you have to go again?" It was so...sudden. It didn't make any sense.

First she was busy. Then the last day or so she hadn't been nearly as busy, but now she was leaving him for a couple of days. Maybe longer. What was happening?

Anakin scowled as he crossed his arms.

Which did not go unnoticed by Padmé.

Padmé touched his face. "I hate leaving you," Padmé kissed his cheek and went back to packing. "But there's something I need to take care of." Someone she needed to talk to. She might have done it over communications, but she wanted to speak with this being in the flesh.

"Anything I can help you with?" Anakin could sense she was upset. Why however, he did not know.

Padmé paused, was there? "No," She shook her head. She needed to handle this on her own. "No, I'm afraid not." At least she hoped not. Padmé hoped this was all a big misunderstanding. Perhaps even a lie...somehow. So she silently hoped. Nothing that Anakin needed to solve with his lightsaber, Jedi reflexes, or an anything further.

Anakin wasn't entirely convinced. "Did Master Windu...did he say something?" He knew Windu wasn't his biggest fan. The feeling was actually mutual. Anakin also sensed Windu probably wasn't a fan of Padmé now that he knew she was his wife.

"What?" Padmé said in a surprised voice. "No," Padmé knew Anakin didn't like Master Windu. Anakin had long felt Windu didn't like him very much and was out to get him out of some petty jealousy. Padmé was never entirely convinced, nor did she feel that way yesterday. "He was very nice. Very kind." Padmé assured him. Master Windu was a little grumpy or perhaps annoyed would be the better term.

Padmé took a deep breathe to calm herself as she said, "He also brought some information to my attention."

Judging by his wife's tone, disturbing information. "What was that?" Anakin curiously, but with a touch of concern. He still wasn't convinced about Master Windu. It wasn't that he didn't trust Padmé, but only because he didn't trust Windu very much.

Padmé hesitated, "I want to speak with this person before I tell you or anyone else...or take further action." She silently asked the Force that she didn't have to.

"Not because I don't trust you, but because I still don't believe it." She didn't want to. She had been raised to think the best of everyone and she still carried that belief. One she planned to pass to Luke and Leia.

"Why don't you come with us?" Since Padmé was still breastfeeding Luke and Leia, they were coming with her.

In many ways Anakin wanted to, he wouldn't mind getting off Coruscant. Unfortunately, "Can't," He shrugged. "The Council could comm me back at any moment." Possibly today or tomorrow. He couldn't leave the planet just yet.

Padmé couldn't help but smile, "I thought you weren't going back." He had been so sure of his decision.

Anakin shrugged again, "I thought I wasn't, but I...I don't know." Joining the military wasn't an option now that the war was ending. Anakin predicted the Ruusan Reformations would be enforced again.

Nor was a being a stay at home dad. Anakin had considered the idea of becoming a programmer. While he may have loved droids, many beings in the Republic did not. No thanks to the Clone Wars and the Confederacy's Droid Army. While Anakin didn't agree, he could understand that outlook after endless battles with armies of droids. "I guess I'll hear what they have to say." What they wanted to do.

Padmé couldn't help but be pleased. She didn't want Anakin to give up on his career. His dreams. From being a Jedi Master to being a Jedi Council member.

And from what little she could read off of Master Windu, they certainly weren't going to throw him out. Especially after he arguably won the war.

She didn't know what they were planning, but she actually had a good feeling about it.

Anakin smiled, "I guess I can weigh all my options and hear what they have to say." Though he wasn't too hopeful.

Alright, but you stay busy." She didn't want him moping around the apartment or landing himself in trouble.

"I'm sure I'll think of something." Anakin looked at the flimsi in his hand.

Padmé glared at him, "But no illegal speeder racing." She knew what her husband and brother-in-law liked to talk about. "This isn't the outskirts of Theed," She reminded Anakin. "The paparazzi will find you." She warned him. Not only would it get him in further trouble with the Jedi, but her as well.

Anakin grinned, "Wasn't even planning on it." That much was true.

Anakin looked down at his hand of durasteel. He flexed the fingers. He had something else in mind. He smiled to himself.

Padmé looked at her husband curiously. What was he up to now? She shook her head. "Hey," Padmé smiled up at him. "We're okay? Aren't we?"

"Yes," Anakin reassured her.

Well, mostly. "I just...wish you weren't leaving or I could go with you." Anakin paused. Not sure if he should say this, but "And that you hadn't been so busy lately."

"I know," Padmé wrapped her arms around his neck. "I wish you could too." She leaned against his strong chest. "And don't worry, everything's going to work out." Padmé looked up at him."Is that all?" She sensed not.

"Well," Anakin wasn't sure how to say this. "Angel, we haven't had... since..." Anakin finally decided to just spit it out. "We haven't had any sex in a month." Fearing he would start an argument.

"Sex, yes, I'm aware." Aware, but couldn't believe it had been that long. Of course, her days had really blended together as of late. "And by the way, it's been twenty nine days since we last made love." So not quite a month.

Anakin smiled. "You've been counting."

"And deciding," Padmé added with mysterious tone while opening one of her dresser drawers.

"Deciding?" Anakin didn't know if he liked that. Decide what? What now?

Padmé then held up two new matching pairs of lingerie. "Black or red?"

Anakin gawked.

In less than a moment, he decided, "Neither," Anakin finally answered. Taking the lingerie from her and tossing them on somewhere over on the floor.

She didn't need them. She was sexy the way she was.

They began kissing.

"Just promise me we'll never go..." Anakin said through each kiss. "Without..."

"Promise." Padmé continued to press her soft lips against his own.

Anakin pulled away and took her in his strong arms, "Like you promise not to work so many long hours anymore anymore?"

"I can't promise anything," Padmé said in agreement. "But I shall try."

"You better not," Anakin warned in an almost jealous-like tone.

"Oh? Or what?" Padmé asked in a playful tone.

No, she better.

Anakin grinned at her fondly, "Better not or I'll..."

"You'll do what?" Padmé asked in that same playful tone. She was dying to hear what he'd do.

A moment later, C-3PO was almost knocked down as Anakin carried a giggling Padmé over his shoulder.

Later...

Out on the balcony, the speeder docked as Anakin and Padmé kissed once more.

Anakin wore his robe, with the sash tied, but was only partially covering his chest.

Padmé was dressed in a grey and blue robe and gown.

Threepio, Moteé, and several guards just left with Luke and Leia. They were now boarding the skiff over on the landing pad.

Now it was Anakin and Padmé's turn to say goodbye. At least that's what they were supposed to be doing.

"We are...doing that again...and again." Anakin said through kiss after kiss. "The moment you come home." He could almost see it, or had he?

A possible vision?

"Agreed," Padmé gasped. She tried not blush as Anakin's hands began to make their way further down her backside. "What?" She saw the funny look on Anakin's face.

"Oh," Anakin shook his head. "Nothing. Just keeping an eye out for more paparazzi droids.

Padmé sighed. Not again. She tried to look off into the distance at the platform a few blocks away. "Do you think Luke and Leia are..."

"They're fine." Anakin nodded as he firmly took her in his arms. "They're sound asleep aboard the skiff." Anakin could almost feel...echoes from the cockpit. Moteé singing to the twins. Threepio complaining about space travel. The guards checking the ship over.

"It's you I'm worried about," Anakin finally said.

Padmé smiled at him. "I won't be long." As he once told her. It was only a few days. "I'll be back before you know it." Padmé began to pull away. All but her hand.

"Okay," Anakin held onto her hand and squeezed it. "Just be careful."

"I will." Padmé kissed once more. "I love you." She climbed into her red speeder.

"I love you too." Anakin said.

In the co-pilot's seat, Captain Typho fired the speeder up and and they were off.

As the speeder began to leave, Anakin yelled out, "Wear the black one!" It was one of his favorite colors.

Padmé looked back at him in bewilderment and near embarrassment. Hoping Captain Typho did not know what Anakin was referring to.

Anakin could only laugh at her look.

Minutes later...

Leaning against the balcony railing, Anakin watched as the skiff disappeared into the Coruscanti atmosphere.

He then stayed there for several minutes. Keeping a sharp eye open for any paparazzi droids.

Really how he and Padmé had protected the twins from them for so long was something of a mystery. But one he and Padmé were incredibly thankful for.

As soon as the ship was out of the sight in the atmosphere, the communications began to go off.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Anakin eagerly raced over. He didn't want to stay in the apartment any longer than he had to. He didn't like being here alone. When Padmé and the twins were here, it was home. When they weren't, it was nothing more than an empty apartment to Anakin.

Anakin thought and hoped it be the medcenter healers on the other end of the comm.

Unfortunately not.

"Skywalker," Said a deep voice.

Mace Windu.

Anakin narrowed his eyes.

Almost wishing he had ignored the comm or simply read the comm identifier.

"The Jedi Council will see you now."

What do you think? Any idea what Anakin is up to?

Trivia: I'm not sure what people thought of droids after the Clone Wars ended, but I could see it not being very positive.

Anakin and the Council talk in the next chapter. Then we will see Padmé and Panaka in the following chapter.

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