Chapter 59 Voice of Padmé Amidala
It's good to get away from Bail, even if it's just for twenty minutes. The box we are seated in is just a little too intimate for my liking.
The foyer is crowded as the hundreds of theatre patrons flood to the bars for refreshment. So far things are going very well. The ballet is excellent, and the audience seems to be having a good time.
"Thank you," I say to Bail as he hands me a glass of wine.
"You're welcome," he replies. He takes a sip of his own drink as he looks around. "Full house," he comments. "This is fantastic."
I nod, looking around as well. Everyone seems happy, which means this is a success. And that means we can do it again. I'm amazed at how much money we made on this evening- it will go a long way to help the indigent and poor. Oh no… I stop as I spot Anakin standing across the room. He looks so handsome in his formal black robes, his hair tied back neatly behind his head. I've missed him so much! He is smiling, so I guess he's having a good time. I look at the woman he's with, frowning with dismay when I see how beautiful she is. So the rumours are true…Her dress is tight and revealing- her midriff is bare as well as her arms. I suppose that's not surprising- twil'ek females are known for this. And yet, it bothers me. It bothers me that Anakin is with her, that he's laughing at her jokes, that she's touching his arm. I can't help but be jealous. Suddenly I don't want to be here anymore. I'm miserable and I want to go home.
"Everything all right, Padmé?"
I turn to Bail and force myself to smile. "Yes, of course," I tell him.
He frowns. "You just had the oddest expression on your face," he tells me. "Like you were…angry all of a sudden."
"Now why would I be angry?" I ask, taking a sip of my wine. "I'm having a wonderful time."
I'm not sure he believes me, but says nothing more. "Well if you're okay, I'm going to go have a visit with Mon Mothma," he tells me.
"Yes, go ahead," I tell him. He leaves and I take the opportunity to go to the fresher. Anything to get away.
Of course there are a lot of women with the same idea as me. Luckily I know of a private wing, and luckily I have the security code for it. I head down a hall way to a secure door. Keying in the code, the door slides open and I enter the small living area. It's quiet in here, and I'm grateful for that.
I remember in the past how Anakin and I would slip away here, unable to sit together, unable to be seen together in public. We had to be very creative, always looking for a way to steal a few moments together. But those days are gone forever now- and the sooner I learn to accept it, the better.
I use the fresher, and as I'm washing my hands, I hear someone outside in the living area. Great, I think. I didn't think anyone else still had the security code for this suite. I guess I was wrong.
I enter the living area, and am astonished to see Anakin standing there.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," he replies.
"I…I just wanted to get away from the crowds," I tell him.
He nods. "Same here," he replies.
I can feel my heart pounding inside of me as we stand and stare at each other. He looks so handsome I have to keep a tight hold of my impulses. It was be so easy to give in to my need for him right now.
"Where your date?" I ask him.
"My date?" he asks. "She's not my date. We're just…here together."
"Sounds like a date to me," I reply.
"Is that a problem?" he challenges. "You don't want me any more."
"I never said that," I reply. "In fact, I think I told you that you were the only man I've ever wanted," I remind him.
He nods. "You did," he replies. His eyes move over me slowly. "You look beautiful tonight," he tells me. "Spectacular in fact."
"Thank you," I reply. "So do you," I add.
"Thank you," he replies. A few moments of heavy silence pass, and then, before I know what's happening, I'm in his arms. We're kissing, our hands pushing and pulling at one another's clothes. All rational thought is gone, all that remains is the undeniable need we have for the other.
"I've missed you so much," Anakin breathes against my ear, his hands reaching around behind me to unclasp my bra.
"I've been miserable without you," I counter, fumbling with the buttons of his fly.
"How much time do we have?" he asks, running his hands down my arms.
"Fifteen minutes," I say.
"Plenty of time," he says, and pulls me to him to kiss me again. We step out of our discarded garments and move to the sofa. We have limited time, so the sense of urgency is heightened. That's something we're used to- and we've never had trouble making the most of our short time together.
A short time later…
"That was amazing," he murmurs against my ear.
I smile. It was amazing.
"It was," I say, turning in his arms. "Incredible," I add, and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss me again. Our kiss is more tender this time, less rushed. Anakin picks me up, his arms wrapped around me tightly.
"I can't get enough of you," he murmurs against my ear.
I simply nod in response, his power over me undeniable and inescapable.
"We're going to miss the start of the second act," he tells me with a smile. "I hope you don't mind."
I shake my head. "I don't mind," I assure him. He nods, and then brings his mouth to mine. I'm totally helpless to resist him. He has always had this effect on me- and I know he always will. I just can't seem to resist this man. Am I foolish to even try?
I return to the chancellor's box a little later. I'm grateful for the dark, for I know that my face right now would betray me. I've managed to put my clothing and hair back in order- I'm grateful that Anakin was thoughtful enough not to tear them this time - but my body is still tingling all over and I'm sure it shows in my eyes.
"Where have you been?" Bail hisses at me, giving me a stern look. "You've already missed twenty minutes!"
"Sorry," I say, not giving him an explanation. I can feel him staring at me, but I ignore him and simply watch the ballet on the stage below.
Voice of Anakin Skywalker
"Everything all right?" Nomi asks as I join her finally.
"Yes," I reply. "Sorry- I got talking to someone," I tell her. It's not a lie- there was some talking.
"You missed the most incredible duet," she tells me, and then proceeds to describe it to me. I nod as though interested, though really I'm anything but. No doubt Padmé will regret what happened here tonight- but it's not like either of us planned this. I certainly didn't set out to seduce her- nor her me for that matter. It's like a chemical reaction when we're together- neither of us able to resist the other.
Remembering that my companion is force sensitive, I force myself to stop thinking about Padmé and focus on the nonsense that's happening on the stage in front of me.
Voice of Luke Skywalker
Leia's driving me crazy, she truly is. I don't think she's sat still for more than ten minutes since Mom left for the ballet. We've been trying to do our homework, and yet every time she hears a sound from outside the den she looks over to the doorway, expecting to see Mom walk through the door.
"Leia, would you cool it already?" I say finally. "I'm trying to study!"
She frowns and sits down. "Sorry," she replies. " I'm just…anxious."
"Yeah no kidding," I mutter. "Mom will be home when the ballet is done," I remind her. "And not a minute sooner. You jumping up every ten seconds isn't going to make the time go any faster."
"I know that," she retorts angrily. She sighs. "I guess I'm just hopeful that Mom and Dad got to see each other tonight," she tells me. "And that on some level they connected."
I'm hoping the same thing, actually. But I haven't said so. I'm not as much of an optimist where my parents are concerned as Leia is.
"If anything is going to happen, it has to be up to them," I tell her. "Us pushing them together isn't going to accomplish anything."
"You don't know that," she replies. "Haven't you noticed that they've been avoiding each other lately?" she asks.
"So?"
"So people only do that if they either hate each other, which we both know they don't," she explains. "Or if they can't resist each other."
"Leia, come on," I say. "You've been reading too many romance holos," I tell her. "Get a grip on reality."
Leia simply frowns in response, and returns to her studying.
Mom arrives home an hour or so later, and goes straight upstairs. Even though we don't see her, both Leia and I can sense her emotions. She's a mess. Something obviously did happen at the ballet. Mom's never this emotional unless Dad is involved. What it is that actually happened I don't know. But I have to admit something- Leia was right. I hate it when she's right.
Voice of Padmé Amidala
I have a long shower before bed, noticing as I get undressed that my panties are inside out. What is happening to me? Why can't I control myself any more? I feel like a brazen hussy, throwing myself into Anakin's arms at the smallest amount of encouragement.
As I get ready for bed, a debate rages on in my mind. What do I do now? I can't let this continue. I'm far too embarrassed to go talk to him; I don't trust myself around him even if I weren't. Do I send him a message? He already knows how I feel, but after what happened tonight perhaps I need to tell him again, to assure him that I feel the same way. Does that make me a hypocrite? I'm so confused…but who do I go to for guidance? Who can I confide in? there's no one, I'm on my own here.
