A/N: Thanks to Shattered-Destiny00 for rewiewing. I'm glad you like my story!

Alrighty. Some romantic fluff and lemon ahead. Chapter is rated M.

Chapter Fourteen

Fragile Things

Had Anakin not been so heady with love, he would have realized that Obi-wan was in trouble. His mind was lost with the feelings Padmé had stirred in him.

The birds flew in flocks from treetop to treetop. Down on the grasses of Naboo's meadows were the young couple. They lay side by side, their eyes fixed to the puffy clouds that dotted the blue sky.

"I'd like to live here." Anakin said softly, breaking the serene stillness.

"And how would Obi-wan feel about that?"

"I'd convince him that that Naboo would be good for my mental well-being. And such a calm environment would be good for training. "

"And where would you two live? Down the hallway from me at Varykino? He'd wake up one night and find us in bed together and then it would all be over." She said playfully.

Anakin laughed boyishly. "I didn't think about that."

"You never 'think' about anything."

"Oh I think about things. Mainly…us together, doing some scandalous things to each other."

Padmé burst into laughter. "You're a wicked, disgusting boy."

"You need more of those in your life. I think that those dignitaries and wealthy suitors who want your hand in marriage bore you to tears."

She sat up. "Maybe."

There was a pause. Padmé's eyes gaze settled on the waterfalls in the distance.

Anakin's stare echoed hers, his eyes taking in the infinite countryside.

He smiled suddenly and was on his feet with much exuberance.

"What?" Padmé looked up at him.

"Let's go." He motioned over to the waterfalls.

She stood up. He took her hand in his and started running toward the river in the distance.

"Gods, you're so fast. I'm getting tired."

He stopped for a moment. "I'll carry you, then." He crouched down and she climbed onto his back, her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms holding on to his shoulders.

She slowed him down a bit, but he was still going for the falls with considerable speed.

The forward motion cast a breeze on Padmé's face. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling.

When she opened her eyes, they had reached the falls. Anakin set her down on the grass gently.

"You wanna go for a swim?"

"Anakin, I'm wearing silk. The water will ruin it."

He looked at her with that gaze. The one where his eyes burned with lust.

"No one you were going to be wearing your dress."

Her eyes lit up playfully. "Anakin!"

He looked at her with nonchalance.

"What?"

"We're outside. Someone could see!"

He laughed. "There's no one here but us."

"This isn't private property. There's no way of knowing if anyone will show up."

"What did I tell you, Padmé?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm uptight and need to loosen up."

"Well, then."

She was absolutely still, apprehensive.

Anakin unclipped his belt and threw off his leather tabards.

Padmé looked at him, giggling nervously.

He looked over at her, smiling softly. He was younger than her, but in that moment he looked at her as though he was older and found her completely endearing.

"When you said you were inexperienced sexually, you really meant it."

"You're so mean."

"Had you even kissed a boy before me?"

She blushed furiously. "Yes! His name was Palo!"

He grinned. "Calm down. No need to be ashamed."

"It's kind of difficult when you tease me about it constantly."

"You're just so fun to rile up. I can't help it."

His tunic dropped onto the grass, followed by the gauzy shirt underneath. He sat on the ground, taking his boots off.

Padmé was unmoving. She still hadn't garnered the courage to follow Anakin's lead.

He looked up at her. "I've seen you naked before. Why are you so hesitant?"

"It's just new to me."

"Well, let me help you."

He stood before her suddenly. There were no words, just his eyes locked with hers.

His irises were a saturated blue almost like the sky above them. He touched her face, cupping her cheek. She closed her eyes and felt his kiss, soft against her lips. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him so that every line of her body fit against his own. She melted into the embrace, snaking one arm around his neck and the other into his hair.

He pushed her lips apart with his own and she exhaled into his mouth, whimpering. There was a moment where all they did was breathe into each other and then their lips began to slide against each other with fiery passion.

His sigh purred against her mouth.

And then he pulled away, feathering kisses down her neck. Her knees grew weak and she leaned into him. She felt his hands pull at the hook closures on the back of her dress. They unclipped one by one. He slid the material down until her torso was bare, his mouth brushing up against her breast.

She mewled. Her dress was pooled around her ankles then and she felt him press a trail of hot kisses down her body. His mouth parted over her belly, tongue tracing a line around her navel.

"Oh Gods, Anakin." She moaned. Her fingers dug into his hair.

He laughed softly against her skin. And then he was off his knees and standing at his full height.

"Anakin!" She yelled, her face flushed. "Why did you stop!?"

"We're not done." He smiled.

"Now that I've done you the service of undressing you I think you should do the same for me."

She looked down at his pants hung low on his hips.

"I thought we were going for a swim."

"Why can't we do both?" he asked, his voice hushed.

Her hands grasped the fabric and she pulled them down until he was as equally unclothed as her. She blushed.

He laughed and took her face in his hands, his mouth crashing onto hers. She felt his hand on the back of her thigh and she hopped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

He walked them over to the rocky pool of water until they were waist deep in it.

The sun was directly over head and the water glistened like diamonds as they made love.

Some hours later the meadow was cast in a film of golden light as the sun began to set over the hills.

Padmé and Anakin lay among the grasses and wildflowers, wrapped in his Jedi Robe.

Her eyes fluttered open sleepily.

Anakin was still asleep.

Padmé traced his brow and his eyes opened slowly.

"It's getting dark, Ani." She said softly.

They both sat up.

"I really don't feel like putting my dress back on. It took me forever to put it on this morning."

Anakin threw her his brown tunic. She laughed and put it on. It was extremely loose on her and on her short stature looked more like a kimono dress.

Anakin dressed himself and looked over at her. She looked completely adorable in his tunic. Delicate and fragile. He wondered sometimes how his touch didn't break her. The water of the thundering falls had made her hair wild and frizzy and smudged her eye make-up.

She always focused on looking so well-kempt, but in that moment the raw, messy natural beauty of her was incredible sexy.

By the time they returned to Varykino the Lake Country was dark.

After dinner they went outside and enjoyed the stars in the sky.

Padmé noticed that Anakin was unusually silent. She looked over at him.

"Is something wrong, Ani?"

He looked over at her wistfully. "No. No, everything is right."

"Then what is it?"

"I love you."

"I already know that."

"No. I don't think you do. I've said it to you, but I don't think you actually believe it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Padmé."

She knew where the conversation was going and she tried to keep her composure.

"Anakin…" She warned.

"I want you to be my wife and I want to be your husband."

"Anakin, we can't get married."

"Why not? We love each other. Isn't that the ultimate expression of love?"

"Jedi's can't marry."

"No one has to know." He said softly.

She sighed in frustration. "And how do you propose we keep that big a secret?"

"It's possible. People have done it before."

"And has it ended well for the couples?"

"I have no idea!"

"It's not going to be an easy life." Padmé said.

"My life has never been easy. But at least we'll have each other."

Padmé walked back inside, her features twisted in worry.

"Marry me, Padmé."

She was silent for a moment and then she turned to face him.

"No."

He looked at her in shock.

"No?"

"I can't."

"Don't you love me?"

"I love you very much."

"Then why?"

"It's irresponsible. "

"Damn responsibility, Padmé. Do something for yourself for once."

She looked away from him, rubbing her arm nervously.

"Wasn't one of your biggest dreams to settle down like your sister and have a family?"

She looked at him wordlessly and there was a longing in her eyes.

"Yes."

"I could give you everything you could ever want. Children."

She looked stricken, her eyes glazing over with tears.

"You think that would be fair on our children? Our secret life. You away on missions."

"I told you I would leave the Jedi order for you."

"The order needs you more than I do." She said softly.

He raised his voice. "The order has done nothing for me! Nothing but given me ridiculous rules to follow and disapproving glares. I don't owe them anything."

"We're done talking about this." Padmé said wearily.

The anger on his face faded into a defeated sadness and he walked away.

Padmé stared at his figure until it disappeared into the dark corridors of Varykino.

She walked to her room and found that he wasn't there. When she went to his adjacent bedroom she found that he had locked his door.

Padmé returned to her room and cried silently until she was so exhausted that she fell asleep.

Anakin lay in bed, unable to sleep. He stared at the high ceiling.

He felt like something was suddenly out of place. He focused and sensed pain, emanating strongly from Obi-wan's force signature. His eyes closed, senses attuned.

And there it was. The vision.

There was blinding light. Obi-wan was lying on his back, covered in blood. Pale and unconscious.

Something was definitely wrong.

He forgot momentarily about his fight with Padmé, extremely worried for his master. He got up out of bed and found his com-link.

"Hello Master Jedi. I recommend that the council investigate some troubling news. Upon meditation I had a vision where I saw Master Obi-wan Kenobi unconscious at an unknown med-center. I feel much pain from him in the force. I don't know his whereabouts, but I assume he told the Council where he was headed. Perhaps someone should be sent to his rescue."

A blue hologram of Ki Adi-Mundi illuminated the room.

"Hello, Padawan."

"Hello Master."

"Master Yoda has been notified. He has felt the same rift you felt in the force."

"Where is Obi-wan?"

"He intended to go to Kamino, a planet near the Rishi Maze."

"I'm worried for him. He looked near death in my vision. Whatever measures the Council is planning on taking should be taken quickly."

"We are doing everything we can, young Skywalker."

"I think I should go and see what I can do for him."

"No, Padawan. Your mission was to protect the senator. Her safety will be compromised."

Anakin sighed, irritated. "Yes, Master. You're right."

"Don't worry."

Anakin nodded and turned the com-link off. He walked out of his room to the living area of the Lake retreat, the fireplace still illuminated with fire.

He stared at the flames numbly.

At that moment he felt as though he was losing the two of the most important people in his life.