Hey everyone!
It's update time! I have had a lot of fun drafting and redrafting this story, and have written a fair few chapters that I think you're going to like a lot! But for now, I'll be mean and only give you the latest one.
Thanks to all my reviewers! I am actually shaping the story quite flexibly due to reader response, so all comments are being read, received, appreciated and taken on board.
Please keep reviewing if you enjoy/hate/want the story to go in any specific direction and I will potentially even mold my ideas!
Without further ado, enjoy!
Sometimes as the world spins on its axis, you start to feel increasingly aware of the tricks of time. How it repeats itself. How one day can zoom by while a pause lasts a lifetime. And the odd, uncanny way that we often end up back in the exact same positions as before.
It's human nature, in these weird instances, to search for a deeper meaning. And often, that deeper meaning is plain and simply bad luck.
Or at least that's how Padme saw it. No forces of the universe could explain why she found herself pacing back and forth across her bedroom, in even deeper anguish than she had been 6 hours previously, and yet in the exact same position. Over the exact same man.
He was going to sleep with her! With the Princess! That shrill, dolled-up siren of a woman who couldn't say a single sentence that wasn't about sex. Oh god! She would be going on about ever intimate detail between her and Anakin for now until eternity, wouldn't she?! And Padme would just have to sit there and hear it.
Padme flopped down onto her bed, her head in her hands, trying to shake images of Anakin slowly kissing down The Princess' body as she moaned his name from her head. What if he went down on her?! He hadn't even done that when the two of them had sex!
She suddenly had the urge to text him. She stopped herself, overwhelmed at how pathetic she was being. What would she even say?! 'Hey Ani, if you have to have sex with That Woman could you please not go down on her?' Could she be more psycho!
Worst of all, she knew fine well that this was all her fault! If only she hadn't been such a hateful cow to him in her office, she could be lying here trembling under his touch instead of fighting off painful fantasies of him with another girl.
Suddenly she looked up, gasping. This was his plan! This was what he wanted! Her to be sat at home, going crazy picturing him doing all sorts with her. For her to be going crazy. He was an evil genius! This was the perfect revenge for how mean she had been.
She doubted he even was going to fuck The Princess! He just wanted to rile her up to prove she cared. Which, of course, she didn't!
She could swear that her reflection rolled its eyes.
She stood up defiantly, resolute in her complete, utter lack of interest in whoever Anakin decided to put his dick in. He could do whatever he wanted- she wasn't rising to his little plan.
She stormed off into the shower, slamming her bedroom door belligerently. You won't get the better of me that easily, Anakin Skywalker.
.
At her morning meeting, Senator Amidala was groggy at best. Although she had got into bed promising not another thought of him would pass through her mind all night, she had not so easily been master of her subconscious. Images of Ani and The Princess flashed like neon billboards across her mind, blinding her whenever she closed her eyes. When she eventually did manage to get some sleep, her dreams were odd amalgamations of scenarios that would inevitably end in Anakin flashing his gorgeous smirk or playful wink at some other girl. And those were the PG ones. Her mind played out every possible outcome of Anakin's date like some torturous cinema reel.
She woke up both unrested and irritated. Worst of all, she knew she shouldn't care! In fact, she didn't care! He was single! He was more than just single- he was bound by an unbreakable code that forbade him being anything more than single. Ever. He could do what he liked, when he liked, and she had no say about it!
What a terrible start to her day. She studied the dark circles under her eyes with dismay. Well today was a new day. Today was a day not to give a shit about people who she had no claim over. Today was a day for rationality to champion emotion.
That was until she was faced with yet another strategy meeting with Palpatine and the rest of the Galactic Senate. The universe was testing her. How could anyone be expected to contend with Palpatine blatantly refusing to even consider her anti-war proposals flat out and the Anakin/Princess debacle in the space of 12 hours? This was clearly some sort of challenge, putting her skills of rational thinking through the ringer.
'Chancellor, if you don't mind, I really think that your reluctance to even consider this proposal that my team has spent weeks drawing up is downright disrespectful!' she said, failing to control her rampant emotions once again. Oh well. It was a lost cause. She might as well amp up the guilt-tripping to get her point across. 'We are supposed to be in an equal democracy where all voices are heard, not some sort of patriarchal structure where our instructions are laid down to us like unshakeable laws!'
'I thought you would say that Senator' said Palpatine, his smarmy grin making her shudder. He turned to address the room, a sea of heads looking down, all too chicken to meet his gaze.
'I know you all think I am getting some sort of sick pleasure out of drawing out this war.' His steely gaze probed through all the Senators, who shuffled in their seats. 'Tell me I'm wrong.'
Silence. Padme was shocked.
He looked straight at her. 'Senator Amidala, why on earth would I want to waste more resources -and lives!- on a war that was going nowhere? I am as passionate about the democratic voice as any of you. However, I also refuse to let this pervasive threat to the Republic that we all hold so dear get out of control.'
Padme swore as long as she lived, she would never become some who said 'and lives' as if human beings were some inconvenient after-thought.
'But Chancellor-'
'Senator, I wasn't expecting you to listen to me, or indeed anyone else's opinion' he said, smiling wryly. 'So I decided to ask someone whose authority cannot be so easily refuted.'
The entire body of Senators jumped as the doors were flung open in an act far too flamboyant for this early in the morning. Standing rather sheepishly in the hallway, obviously equally unprepared for such a dramatic announcement of their presence, were Anakin and Ahsoka.
'Welcome to our Jedi heroes of the battlefront!' Palpatine rose from the raised platform of his desk, gesturing wildly towards the two, who in turn bowed modestly. 'Senators, I present the renowned swordsman and Force prodigy, whose who's skill is as rare and polished as a diamond, a once in a generation talent, Master Anakin Skywalker.'
Jesus, thought Padme. Who wrote this speech? She wouldn't be surprised if it had been penned by Anakin himself.
Ahsoka shuffled awkwardly, unsure whether to step forward too.
'Oh, and his little padawan! Come on, come inside dear!' Palpatine gestured. Padme suppressed a laugh as Ahsoka shot him a cutting stare. Anakin too was clearly highly amused, biting his lip and turning his gaze towards the carpet in a feeble attempt to compose himself.
Padme tried to stop herself scrutinizing his features for any sign of tiredness, any giveaways of a hangover, even the smallest signal that he had, say, been up all night.
She couldn't decide if it was fortunate or unfortunate that he looked as bright and golden as always.
'Good morning Senators' the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. 'We are very grateful to be able to address you personally while we are back from the frontline, so thanks to the Chancellor for this opportunity.'
Padme shook her head. What a kiss-ass.
'Excellently put Anakin, excellently put' Chancellor Palpatine had made his way over to Anakin's side and was now patting him on the arm in a way that reminded Padme of Princess Ecosa's death-grip on his bicep 12 hours previously. God, she could only imagine how inflated Anakin's head would be after all this attention. Maybe this was her cue to take him into her office and crush his soul again? No, stupid woman. Solve your current problems first before creating new ones.
'Now Jedi Knights, I was just informing The Senate how tirelessly we are working to locate the Separatist threat and bring you heroes home where you belong.' Was she dreaming or did Padme just see a tear forming in Palpatine's eye? Why was everyone so in love with Anakin these days?!
She gulped. Best not to think about that.
'Well Chancellor if I had the choice between sleeping in a damp tent or in our cold quarters in the Temple, I would reluctantly have to choose the latter' Anakin smiled, eliciting a warm laugh from the observing Senate. Padme rolled her eyes, feeling like she had woken up at the meet and greet at an Anakin Skywalker fan convention.
'It truly means the world that you are doing all you can to push through the legislation to end this war and save countless lives.' He continued, 'The threat of the Sith can be located and squashed by the Jedi on our own time without the vast strain on budget, technology and manpower of this war. In fact, we have found that often these pointless political battles are taking up valuable time which could be better spent on reconnaissance missions. So we thank you deeply for your commitment to end the bureaucracy and pursue peace.'
Padme wanted to squeal. Palpatine had snared himself on a trap of his own making, and best of all, Anakin hadn't even realized the impact of his perfectly-timed words. Palpatine's face was a picture; his fake-smile still plastered on his lips but his eyes were clouded with a murderous glare.
'Well Chancellor, I believe that if the Jedi have confirmed my research, it would only be fair to put my bill back on the table then?' Padme smiled sweetly, sitting back on her chair.
Palpatine shot a burning glace at her. For a moment, she half expected him to yell at her. But he was too well-trained for that. He transformed his scowl into a dark smile, baring his teeth in her direction. 'Astutely put Senator Amidala. I suppose if you wish to prolong these bureaucratic intricacies, we can continue this debate next week.'
'I would pencil it in if I were you Chancellor' she smiled.
Ahsoka was beaming over at her as the Senators traipsed out the meeting like sheep being herded into a pen. 'Senator that was brilliant!' she embraced her in a tight hug. 'You absolutely crushed him! I was half expecting him to leap across the room and throttle you!'
'Well you know Ahsoka, I always say truth will prevail' she smiled, 'it's just rare that it prevails at the exact moment you need it to.'
She turned to Anakin, beaming. 'And I have you to thank for that Master Jedi.'
He shot her a grin. 'You know I would do anything for you Senator.'
Padme gulped, feeling a surge of butterflies in her stomach. Thank goodness Ahsoka quickly jumped with a distraction.
'Oh as if! You didn't even realize what you were saying helped her Master!' she laughed, 'You would have backed continuing the war for another millennia if it meant you could come back to Coruscant and get on with your wicked ways-'
'Would you shut up please Snips?' he snapped, turning to bat her away.
Padme's stomach dropped as she noticed a red mark peeping up from below his collar on his neck.
'Wicked ways? What could she possibly mean Ani?' she tried her best to seem nonchalant, breezy and unbothered. And not to dwell on the slight tremor in her voice.
Anakin looked at her sheepishly. 'Oh she's just trying to make my life hell as usual, Senator. Pay her no attention.'
'Oh really Master?' Ahsoka wasn't going to let him get away with this one so easily. 'She doesn't know yet? Oh Senator are you ready for the gossip of the century?'
'Snips would you please mind shutting the fuck up?' Anakin gave her a full warning glare, his face flushing slightly.
Yep. Padme got another view of his neck. Definitely a hickey.
She tried to laugh it off. 'No Ahsoka, I haven't!' she said in an attempt at playfulness. 'Let me guess- this is about you Ani?'
'Look Pad, I think after yesterday you can probably guess –'
Ahsoka cut him off. 'No, no. You're not going to skirt around this one Master, this is the funniest thing I've heard all year. Don't rob me off my story.'
Anakin looked at the floor, wincing slightly as she continued.
'Senator, let me set the scene' Ahsoka was positively glowing, oblivious to the clear discomfort of both other parties. 'So I wake up this morning half an hour late. I rush downstairs, ready to get an earful of chastisement from my Master about how tardiness equals death in battle. But when I arrive at the training room, he's nowhere to be seen. In fact, he doesn't make an appearance for another 45 minutes. I'm all set to present to the Galactic Senate all by myself when in he comes, flushed, sweating and looking like he's been up all night.'
Ahsoka paused, gleeful smile threatening to break her face in half. 'And you know why Senator. Because he has.'
She turned back and smiled sweetly at Anakin, who looked like he wanted to curl into a ball and hide.
'What Snips? You want me to do some sort of live reaction response to your story?' he snapped, looking apologetically at Padme. 'I'm sure The Senator has better places to be than standing around listening to you humiliate me.'
The look in his eyes made Padme's heart jolt.
'Oh you humiliated yourself enough for the two of us last night Master!' Ahsoka was almost dancing on the spot with glee. 'Senator. Prepare yourself for the bombshell of the century. Last night, he went home with...'
She paused for dramatic effect.
'She knows Snips' said Anakin, ruining her build up.
'What?!' said Ahsoka. 'How does she know? Did you text her? That's super weird Master…' she grimaced.
Anakin ran a hand through his hair in distress. 'Of course I didn't text her! Look- she was at the bar yesterday, OK? Is that enough information to fuel your gossip-mill?'
Ahsoka gasped in shock. 'Senator?! You saw it live?'
Padme, reeling from the confirmation of her fears, snapped back into focus, forcing a laugh. 'I did indeed Ahsoka' she said as cheerfully as she could manage. 'I'm sorry I didn't think of getting some pictures for you. It was quite the scene.'
'I'M SO JEALOUS!' Ahsoka shrieked. 'You have to tell me everything! What was she wearing?! Did you see her straddling him in the bar?'
'AHSOKA!' Anakin snapped at her. 'Are you done now? Has my suffering been sufficient for you?'
Padme laughed delicately. 'Unfortunately I missed that particular treat. But I can confirm they looked very pretty together.'
Anakin reddened slightly. 'Well safe to say it will not be happening again. My eardrums can only take one night of that onslaught.'
'Oh I bet she was very loud Master!' Ahsoka collapsed into laughter. Padme gave a little chuckle too, trying with all her might not to picture it.
'Look Snips, I highly recommend you taking yourself back to the Temple in the next five minutes if you want to avoid me filing a scathing report of your progress to Obi Wan. Concern number one: respect for authority. Concern number two: professionalism. Want me to go on?' Anakin's attempt at discipline was weakened by how visibly uncomfortable he was.
'Ok Master, now that I have confirmed that you have the worst taste in women in the entire world, I'm good to go!' she shot him a smile.
Padme let out a breath of relief that this hideous encounter was drawing to a close.
'Well, as wonderful as it has been to catch up, I have a recently-reconsidered proposal to work on. All those arguments need to be razor-sharp if you two want to be home for good soon!' she let out a little laugh.
'Yeah Master, I bet you want her to get you home to secure a Round 2 with Little Miss Socialite' said Ahsoka, jumping out of the way as Anakin attempted to shove her.
'Snips. Last warning. Go away.' He said as Padme turned to go, her heart heavy.
'Wait-Senator?' she spun around as Anakin took two steps towards her. 'Do you have a few minutes for a chat by any chance?' his face was suddenly serious. She tried to keep her gaze firmly fixed on his deep blue eyes and not on the hateful red mark emblazoned on his neck.
'Well Ani I'm not sure what you would call this little interaction if not a chat', she tried to laugh. 'But yeah, sure. Is something up?'
He ran his hand through the back of his hair. 'Well I don't know really. I just kind of wanted to clear the air after, you know, all this.' He bit his lip.
Padme sighed. The universe was giving her a chance to make amends for her rudeness the other day and she would be a fool not to take it. How unfortunate that she was currently focusing her entire efforts on biting her tongue instead of blurting out 'DID YOU HAVE SEX WITH HER?!' right in Anakin's face.
'Look Ani' she sighed deeply. Here goes. 'The other day, in my office. I can't even begin to express how sorry I am.'
'Pad I don't car-'
'No please. Let me say it.' She looked up at him, trying to stop her eyes filling with tears. 'The way I spoke to you? The way I k-kicked you out of my office? It is just so so unacceptable. We have been so close for so long, and for me to just blatantly disrespect you like that just because I'm too repressed to deal with any situation that makes me even slightly uncomfortable is-'
'Look Padme, listen.' He grabbed her shoulders gently, prompting her to look into those eyes. 'I am so embarrassed about the other day too. Seriously.'
He laughed, hands falling to his sides as she joined in, relieved to break the tension.
'You can't imagine how unacceptable it is for me to go into your office after… after you know what happened between us and try and get with you again in the middle of the day! I would rather go through what Ahsoka just did to me 10 times over rather than relive it.' he actually hid his face behind a hand, wincing as she laughed.
'Ani it wasn't-'
'Pad you don't have to spare my feelings. I humiliated myself' he smiled warmly, making her heart ache. 'I mean, how little game could a guy have to have a one-time arrangement and think it was some sort of open invitation to disrupt someone's workspace? It's awful and I know it.'
He was laughing now, running his hand through his hair. 'Especially with a girl like you. I should be thanking my lucky stars that anything ever happened in the first place instead of turning up in your office like some sleazy creep.'
'Ani that's not how it was at all!' she cried, 'I was just...I don't know! Surprised! I hadn't even realized you were back in town! And I handled it horribly, completely disrespecting you. Please know how sorry I am, how much I value, respect and l-love you-'
He cut her off. 'Pad, I know that! You never have to worry about us' he gently nudged her shoulder. 'This friendship is for life.' He grinned, 'However many times you kick me out onto the street. Or even though I've seen you naked now.'
His attempt to be playful would have been more successful without the blush that rushed to his face.
She did a little mock-gasp.
'Sorry Pad, I shouldn't mention that' he chuckled nervously again. 'But let's just say I'm endlessly sorry for being such a virgin.'
'And I am for being such a hateful cow!' she said shakily.
He held out his metal hand in a fist for her to bump, smirk lighting up his gorgeous features. 'Friends again?'
She bumped. 'Friends.'
They started walking down the corridor. 'Can I just say Pad, if an awkward conversation in your office is the only drama to come of us sleeping together, I think we have done pretty well' said Anakin, laughing.
Padme's head was still spinning at the vast amount of information she had received over the morning. So she simply agreed. 'I agree Ani. I'm proud of us.' She decided to prod a bit. 'So, Princess Ecosa? I seem to recall you saying you would rather get smacked by one of my ornate fans than sleep with her?'
He laughed sheepishly. 'Well, I didn't actually… you know…'
He trailed off uncomfortably, running a hand through the back of his hair.
Padme's heart jolted. 'Oh really?' she said, trying her best not to sound too elated. 'What, she doesn't do that on a first date or something? Or she changed her mind about Number Ten?'
Anakin laughed nervously, blushing. 'Shit, I forgot you knew about that.'
'Oh trust me Ani, there's no aspect of the Princess's sex life that I haven't heard about in painful detail' Padme laughed, feeling a whole lot better for some reason. Even the knot in her stomach felt a lot less constricting all of a sudden.
Anakin shook his head, laughing quietly. 'Well let's hope last night is an exception to the rule, Pad.'
He shot her a smile, still blushing slightly.
'Oh really Ani? Was it that bad?' said Padme, not quite sure why she was prodding for more information.
He coughed, avoiding her gaze. 'Shall we just say, it wasn't the most opportune time for me to realism that casual sex isn't always for me.'
Padme's mouth fell open.
'And I can guarantee you, Pad' he continued, 'The Princess did not take it well.'
Padme didn't know what to say. 'I – um – so, you two didn't…'
'Progress past second base? No, no we did not' Anakin laughed. 'You know Pad, I thought being back in Coruscant would be a nice break. But I think I've had more humiliation in this last week than in the whole of last year combined! Maybe it's the universe trying to shrink my inflated ego down to size or something?'
'Well I like your ego just the way it is Ani' she laughed, a beaming smile lighting up her face like a ray of sunshine. God, she felt brilliant! Like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders! Surely this couldn't be because Ani hadn't slept with the Princess? No, it couldn't be that. She must be getting an adrenaline rush after her turbulent night's sleep or something. Yeah, that will be it. She would need to get some caffeine down her soon or she would probably crash in half an hour.
'I'm glad to hear it Pad' Anakin smirked, his golden face shocking her out of her reverie. 'I just need a few well-placed compliments and I'll be back to my usual big-headed self.'
'Well you better get back to Palpatine's office because he seemed about ready to go way beyond second base with you back there!' Padme laughed as Anakin gently nudged her.
'Jesus Pad, if I have a shred of dignity left after this week, it's no thanks to you, you know that right?' he said, turning away.
Padme smiled to herself. Maybe today wasn't such a disaster after all.
I was this close (fingers almost touching) to making Ani and The Princess sleep together. THIS CLOSE. There were full drafts and everything! But I decided to keep it PG (at least for now…)
Anyway, Padme should NOT be that happy that her one-time FWB, who she rejected last week, didn't sleep with another girl now should she? Looks like her emotions have been thoroughly shaken by that no-strings-attached encounter…
Please drop me a review if you can!
xxxxx