XXV
It was the morning after the wedding. I could feel his cool metal hand curl around my waist, a light pressure on my bare skin. "Good morning, Mrs. Skywalker," he whispered into my ear. "That has a nice ring to it," I turned into him as his metal hand slid up my side to caress my back. "Do we have to go back?" He chuckled running his other hand down my cheek. "We have a duty," I placed my hand over his. "Duty," he scoffed, his eyes grew dark and he pulled sharply away. In an instant he was out of the bed, pacing before the window. "Annie," I sighed reaching out for my dressing gown, wrapping it around me. "I'm sorry Padmé…" He was unable to finish as I took his hand and pulled him to out onto the balcony. "All of this is for us. Let's not spoil it with anger." I leaned into his side. "You always were the optimist," he smiled as he kissed my hair. "Then let's make the most of our last few days here." I squeezed his hand before turning back into the bedchamber. "We could just stay in," he leaned against the door frame with a rougish grin. "As much as I would like to do that, I think we should get some alternative forms of exercise," I pulled the simple silk gown over my head and tied my hair back with a piece of blue ribbon. "Get dressed," I batted him playfully on the arm before hurrying out into the hall.
We were in the meadow again. Not a cloud overhead. The sky was as endless as the sea and there was just enough breeze sway the grass around our bare feet. Anakin stood facing the edge of the field, his loose tunic waving proudly in the wind. "I want to raise our children here," I sighed wrapping my hand around his arm. "Away from the violence, the politics. Here they could be children." I looked up into his pale eyes. There was so much fear. "What are you feeling? Let me in Annie, let me help you." I sat beside him, urging him down onto the soft grass. "What if I can't be a good father to them? I wouldn't even know how to start." He laid back and closed his eyes. I leaned over his chest to brush my hand across his cheek, "You will be a wonderful father," I kissed him softly before rolling onto my back to gaze up at the sky.
He stalked around the apartment throwing his various cloaks and robes in his small satchel. "How long do you think you'll be gone?" I stood by the door watching him anxiously. "As long as it takes. I will try to have R2 send you updates." He responded coldly. He pulled the satchel onto his shoulder and pushed past me to the landing pad just outside the apartment. "Annie," I followed but kept a safe distance. "He threw the satchel into his speeder before turning back to me. "Be safe," I managed as I felt the tears begin to fall. His eyes flashed with some primal emotion as he stalked toward me. I backed away, fear wrapping itself around my heart. He continued forward until I was cornered between the wall and my husband's dark gaze. His arms shot out on either side of my face as he lowered his face to meet mine. "I love you, Padmé. I promise I will come back to you and when this war is over we can go back to Naboo and forget about the order and the senate," his voice was husky and low before capturing my lips in a bruising embrace. My hands slid up his sides to twist into his hair. He pressed hard against me until I thought we would melt through the wall. When he finally pulled away, I lifted a shaking hand to wipe the tears from my cheek. "I love you, Annie," I managed as he walked back to the speeder and disappeared into the night.