Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Location: Coruscant – Imperial Palace Skywalker Residence
"Oh, Ani. Oh, yes", Padmé cried out.
She and her husband were in the throes of passion mid-day, which was unusual.
They both climaxed and Anakin rested his head upon Padmé's breast.
"What brought that on?" She asked after she got her breathing under control.
Anakin looked up at her. "A man has to have a reason for making love to his beautiful wife?"
Padmé playfully rolled her eyes. "No, my sweet, you do not. It's just unlike you to have free time in the middle of the day. You usually work right until dinnertime and then after that you're back at it for another hour or so.
Anakin sighed. "You're right, I actually don't have the time, but I needed a break. Sometimes I wish I could renounce my titles and have the family move to Naboo."
She cocked him an eyebrow. "What makes you think our eldest children would entertain such a request?" Would she enjoy living back on Naboo? Certainly, but she gave up that life long ago.
Anakin frowned. "Because they belong with us", he said matter-of-factly. Children belonged with their families. He didn't have a family after he left his mother on Tatooine a lifetime ago and didn't want to let go of the one he made, not after his brief tenure as a Dark Lord of the Sith.
Now it was Padmé's turn to sigh. "They have their own lives now. Luke is going to graduate from flight school soon and he has a girlfriend now. Leia has… her job working for Mothma." And a budding romance with a man she's loved for some time now, she thought.
"I can understand Luke not wanting to join us, but Leia can clerk for the Senator of Naboo while the Senate isn't in session. While I wish she'd be in a relationship, she isn't and there's no telling if she will anytime soon", he said.
"If that's what you want to believe, then I'm not going to try and argue with you", she replied, not realizing how the statement sounded.
"That's the second time you've indicated that you know more than you're telling me, Angel", Anakin said. He wanted answers and wanted them now.
Padmé knew she was dangerously close to having to admit what Leia told him even though she gave her word that she wouldn't.
"I'm just guessing. I don't have a clue, although I've noticed that her free time is somewhat… more occupied than usual", she said.
Anakin seemed to buy the explanation. "Alright", he said. I guess I'll remain emperor for the time being. It wouldn't be right for me to quit in the middle of a war."
"This war was partly started because of the young man you found, Ani. It's not just a war, but a personal one", she reminded him. Finding Din had greatly impacted her husband. She knew it and so did he. He would never admit it.
"Din is a good man and a zealot for getting the job done. Sometimes I wish he'd take more of an interest in a personal life than work. I'd be happy to see him find a good woman and settle down a bit", Anakin said. He wanted the young man's life to include things other than war. He knew all to well what a life of war could do to a person. Din was heading that direction and fast.
Padmé just nodded in response. Her husband wasn't making her silence easy.
"What if you tried to set him up with Bail Organa's niece?" Anakin suggested. She was an attractive woman and would likely jump at the opportunity to strike a relationship up with Din.
"The pretentious blonde?", she asked. "Ani, Din is many things, but tolerant of snobs isn't one of his traits." Padmé felt protective of both Din and Leia.
"Well, maybe someone else. I just want the man to be happy", Anakin replied.
"I think he's content on where he is in life", Padmé said. "What you need to be content with is heading back to work."
"What, no repeat performance?" Anakin asked as he gently kissed his wife's neck.
Padmé moaned in response. "Fine", she breathed, "then you head back to work."
She turned and kissed the love of her life.
Location: Coruscant – Imperial Palace Leia's Apartment
Din had briefly stopped by his apartment to shower and change out of his uniform. He threw a few pairs of clothes and toiletries into a small overnight bag and headed out.
It was rare that he and his team would be taken off the standby roster for any period, let alone a week. He intended to make the most of it.
He walked to Leia's apartment and rang the chime. It didn't take long for her to answer the door.
She practically jumped in Din's arms and kissed him. The two stood in the doorway for a minute as they enjoyed being able to show their affection towards one another after Din's brief period away.
Leia finally pulled away from Din. "Come in, I'm so happy that you're back." She had a broad smile on her face and excitement that was impossible to mask.
Din walked in and set his overnight bag on the floor. "It's good to be back. What's even better is that I'm off for a week."
Leia looked at the bag and back up to Din. "Well, isn't someone being presumptuous", she teased. She was happy that he was presumptuous. She wanted him to take as many liberties in their relationship as he wanted.
Din honestly didn't know if she was serious. "I just thought… I mean…" He felt his cheeks start to blush.
Leia laughed. "Din, please be presumptuous with me." She enjoyed his brief embarrassment. It was good to see him with a range of emotions.
Din relaxed and laughed with her. "Go easy on me, Leia. I'm about as used to being in an actual relationship as you are." It was true, he wasn't a man that stayed attached with a woman for more than a brief period of time.
"I'll be many things, but easy on you won't be one of them", she said as she gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"I'll have to make that sacrifice", Din said as he put his arm across Leia's shoulder and steered her towards a couch.
"So, what're we doing tonight?" he asked as he relaxed on the couch. The firm pillows felt good against the strained muscles in his back.
"I thought we'd do something casual. We can start with going to a nice pub I found in the entertainment district", Leia said.
"And after?" Din asked as he caressed Leia's thigh, aching to touch the flesh beneath her dress.
"After, I thought we could both relax in my hot tub", she said with a wink.
"Oh, I didn't bring anything to wear in water", Din said.
"You won't need anything", Leia said innocently.
"I'm really starting to like this plan", Din said as he kissed Leia and gently pushed her back on the couch. The woman was going to spoil the hell out of him and he was fine with that.
"Just what… do you… think you're doing?", she asked in between kiss.
"I'm being presumptuous", Din responded boldly.
The two kissed passionately and Leia pulled his shirt over his head, trailing her fingers down his muscular chest.
Din opened her blouse and kneaded her mounds with both hands, which elicited a gasp from his lover. He pulled his pants down and hiked up her skirt.
He paused and looked into her eyes.
"Please, do it", Leia said to him, unable to wait any longer to feel him again.
That was all the encouragement that Din needed. "Anything for you, sweetheart", he said as he slipped into her.
Both moaned and Leia threw her head back.
Din knew he wouldn't last very long. He ached for her while he was away.
Leia grasped the armrest of the couch with both of her hands and breathed in and out very quickly, nearly hyperventilating as she closed her eyes.
"No", Din said. "Open your eyes and look at me", he gently commanded.
Leia forced her eyes open to look into his. She gasped at the intimacy of the moment.
Soon she began to shake and screamed as she tried to keep her eyes open. Din cried out and finished as sweat poured from his brow.
The couch turned out to be very sturdy.
Location: Coruscant – Imperial Palace Wedge's Apartment
Wedge stretched out on his couch while his wife brought him a beer.
"So, you're off for a week, huh?" his wife asked.
"Apparently so", Wedge replied. "When your boss' boss decides the squadron needs some downtime you know there's something amiss."
"What did Din do this time?" Dalia asked as she handed Wedge his beer.
"Acting chaotically is what", Wedge said. "He nearly got himself killed by thinking he could be the only one to fix a problem."
"But Din has always been a little too hands on, he has been for years", his wife responded.
"I know, and I love the man, but it's getting bad even for him", he said after he took a long pull from the beer bottle.
Wedge's wife sat at the end of the couch and took his boots off.
"Maybe he needs the downtime more than anyone", she said as she started to rub Wedge's feet.
Wedge groaned; his entire body was sore from being close to the explosion. Everyone was a little banged up.
"Well, I think he's going to pretty preoccupied…", Wedge began.
Dalia rolled her eyes. "With what? Another project? You ought to knock some sense into him."
"No, nothing like that, Dalia. He's…", Wedge was very hesitant to go any further.
"Wedge, you'd better just say it. You know I don't like secrets", she said as she slapped him on the leg.
"Do you remember when we saw him at the bar with the Princess a couple of weeks back?" he asked.
"Wedge, you don't mean… Din and the Princess?" She asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes, I do. Apparently, they've been getting quite comfortable together", Wedge continued.
"Wedge, that's wonderful", Dalia exclaimed. "I never would've thought that Din would date royalty. It's like a holofilm."
Wedge grunted. His wife had always been a hopeless romantic.
"I think so too, but if he could stop taking unnecessary risks, I'd be even more happy for him", Wedge said dryly. "He's my best friend, but he's going to get himself killed."
This was a sobering thought for his wife. "Well, all you can do is watch out for him."
Wedge simply sighed in response. He took another pull of his beer and looked at his wife.
"Aren't you going to have anything?" he asked as he sat up and scooted next to his wife, nuzzling the crook of her neck.
She let out a giggle. "I don't think it's a good idea for me to be drinking for a while, Wedge."
Wedge sat back and looked at his wife. "Why's that? Don't tell me you've pledged yourself to sobriety."
His wife looked at him slyly. "I was going to wait to tell you until we went out for dinner tomorrow night, but…"
"But what?" Wedge was confused.
She took his hand a placed it on his stomach. "You're going to be a daddy, sweetheart."
Wedge froze. "Are you serious?" he whispered. "I've only been back a couple of weeks."
Dalia smiled brightly and nodded. "It's early, but the doctor is certain."
Wedge jumped up and whooped. He picked his wife up at the waist and twirled her around.
She laughed as Wedge took her to the bedroom. It was time for them to celebrate.