Author's Note: So this particular fic is very special to me. It's the first one I wrote after going more than a year without writing anything. It's the first one I wrote after realizing I shouldn't be so stuck on one thing, that I could actually branch out and write what makes me happy *now* as opposed to getting stuck on what *used* to. And as silly as I think they are in the movies, I've always loved Anakin and Padme's relationship in The Clone Wars, so we're starting there, and see where the fic fairy takes me next. Thanks for starting this journey with me guys, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I loved writing it!
Thank you to guest user nat123 for letting me know the documents didn't come out correctly. Everything should be fixed now!
Coruscant didn't really have seasons. It was too far from the system's sun, and thus, had needed a sophisticated Weather Control System to help make the planet habitable for most species.
Oh, there was rain and sun, but no snow or growing green leaves to help an individual tell the difference in time of year.
But Padmé had always imagined that at certain times of the year, you could tell what season the planet would've been in by the feel of the wind. Leaning on her balcony railing, the last rays of sunlight catching the shimmer of her blue pearled nightgown, she felt the chill bite of the wind on her bare shoulders. She shivered.
A warm, muscled body pressed against her from behind.
"Cold, my lady?" Anakin asked as he wrapped his arms around her.
She jumped, her hands automatically reaching up to throw off her attacker before her brain caught up, and she rested them on his arms instead.
"Ani! You scared me! Do the Jedi have classes on how to sneak up on people and give them heart attacks?" She chided him, looking up so he could see the open grin on her face.
He chuckled. "No, that's just more a side effect of having to sneak up on battle droids every other day."
She turned her gaze back out toward the skyline and snuggled closer against him, gripping him tighter without thinking about it. "I'm so glad you're back safe."
"Hey," he said softly, moving a little more in front of her while pulling her head back up towards him with a hand on her chin. "I know it seemed bad, but it was really just a scratch, and I'm all better now!"
"Just a scratch!" She exclaimed, pulling away almost completely, his left arm only loosely circled around her. "Anakin, when a person is shot in the side and unconscious for 30 hours because their ship crash-landed and couldn't call for help for two days, that is not called a scratch!"
"Hey, hey." He spoke soothingly, pulling her back into the comforting circle of his arms.
Padmé let her husband hold her close, taking strength from another of their too-short stolen moments. She let out a sigh, the breath she exhaled ruffling the folds of his tunic slightly. He tightened his grip a bit.
"I wish you didn't have to take such risks," she mumbled into his chest.
"I know," he replied, running his glove-covered robotic arm through her hair a few more times. He couldn't feel it at all, but he knew how much comfort the motion brought Padmé, and that's what mattered to Anakin. "It won't be forever though. Every day we get closer to catching Dooku and Grievous and ending this blasted war. Then," he gently took her shoulders, pushing her slightly so they could each see the other's face. "And then we can take a real vacation together."
Padmé could see the earnestness in his eyes.
"With my new knowledge of the planets out there, we'll easily find something far away from Coruscant where we'll be able to be ourselves! Imagine it, Padmé." He took her two hands in his. "We wouldn't have to hide who we are." He bent his head to her ear, whispering, "Husband and wife."
Padmé felt another shiver, her eyes fluttering closed for a second. Though this time she wasn't sure if it was from the chill "winter" wind or Anakin's enticing words.
Anakin's face was still close to her ear. At the feel of his warm breath on her neck - a contrast to her otherwise chilled skin - she unconsciously tilted her head closer to his.
"Ani, that would be amazing, but I just don't know-"
"Hey, hey," he whispered and she felt the corner of his mouth pull up as he tilted his head for a kiss.
The depth of the gesture surprised them both. As they savoured in their stolen moment, Padmé secretly wondered if life would ever actually grant them something so precious as that.