Darren is suddenly too close. He grabs her arm.
"You need me Padme."
"Let me go," She says evenly, trying to struggle out of his grasp.
Darren just tightens his grip and stares at her.
"Hey!" A tall sandy haired man comes jogging over, a large dog loping beside him.
"She said to let go," He says forcefully.
Darren raises a brow at the man.
"Don't you know who I am?"
"I don't care who you are, now let. Her. Go."
Darren releases Padme and turns towards the man staring him down.
The young man just stands there with a bored look on his face.
Darren, angered at the young mans unwillingness to be intimidated, steps into his space
The man holds out a hand and pushes Darren lightly on the chest.
"That's close enough," the man growls. His eyes are bright blue, full of fury. The menacing look in his eyes combined with his stature and the giant dog beside him cut quite an imposing figure. Darren backs off. He tips his black hat at Padme.
"You'll need me one day," he says before walking off.
The sandy haired man turns towards Padme.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes I'm fine, thank y... " She looks up into his intense eyes. "Ani?" She says in shock.
Anakin smiles softly, the hard look in his eyes gone. "H'lo Padme."
"It's so good to see you! How are you?"
"Doing good." Anakin rocks from side to side, hands in his pockets.
Padme's gaze is drawn to the giant dog sitting patiently by anakin's feet.
"He gorgeous." She kneels down beside the dog and rubs his soft ears. Anakin crouches down beside Padme.
"Shhh, don't let him hear you say that," Anakin says in a mock whisper, grinning, "it'll only inflate his ego even more."
Padme laughs, a real laugh, it feels like she hasn't laughed in forever.
"What's his name?"
"Artoo"
Padme looks up at Anakin.
"Weird name I know, but there's a good story behind it."
"I hope to hear it some day."
Anakin is about to respond but then Artoo starts growling.
Tensing, Anakin glances over his shoulder and sees Darren standing at a distance watching them with a frown on his face.
"Uh, do you want me to walk you to... wherever you're going?" Anakin asks hesitantly.
"That would be, yes, if it's not too much trouble," Padme says grateful he doesn't ask about Darren.
Anakin stands up and offers a hand to help her up, she takes it. Padme's heart skips. Her brown eyes are once again drawn to his intense blue ones. Focus, she thinks. She turns and walks towards the parking lot Anakin walking. beside her making small talk. Artoo walks ahead, exploring the cars, but always staying within Anakins line of sight.
They arrive at her car. It's not until she opens the door and turns to get in when Anakin speaks.
"Wait!"
She turns back to look at him, noticing a fine scar running through his left eyebrow.
"Uh," he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, looking away, "I know it's been a long time, and we've only met once when we were kids, but... would you like to get dinner with me sometime?"
Padme wants to say no, she has thousands of excuses, reasons not to, but she she finds herself staring into his captivating eyes and smiles.
"I'd love to. You have a phone?"
Hi digs into his pocket and pulls it out. He unlocks it and hands his phone to her. Huh, he's only wearing one glove. She brushes the thought away.
She takes his phone and enters her number. His phone is dented at the corners and the screen is cracked.
She hands it back. "Let me know when."
"Okay, I will." He smiles again, gives a little wave, and walks off. Padme gets into her car and puts her hands on the wheel.
I really hope I don't regret that.
Padme walks through the door and lets out a sigh. She massages her forehead. Today was a long day.
"Padme? Sabe asks, "Are you alright?"
"Yes I'm fine," Padme says waving her off.
"Uhuh" Sabe eyes her and crosses her arms.
"I ran into Darren,"
"Why that..."
"And Ani," Padme finishes quickly
"Ani?"
"Yep, you remember that little boy we inadvertently rescued on our service trip?"
"Oh my goodness, how is he?"
"He says he's doing good."
"And?"
"And… he asked me out."
Sabes eyes widen
"I said yes."
Sabe smiles. "Good for you."
"Where are the twins?"
"Napping."
Padme lets out a relieved sigh and nods.
Sabe laughs. "Come on," she says, pulling her to the couch, "Tell me about him."
Padme laughs, "We're not exactly school girls anymore Sabe."
Sabe just looks at her expectantly.
"Ok, fine.
"Darren cornered me when I was walking across the park. He gave his usual speech, you know, how he thinks I need him, can't live without him."
Sabe scoffs.
"I tried to ignore him, but he wouldn't have it this time. He grabbed me."
"What about the restraining order?"
"You think that actually does anything? He's got so many officers and judges in his control. Anyways, then Anakin comes along and tells Darren to back off. I didn't even recognize him, he's changed so much."
"Is he pretty?"
Padme blushes.
"Oooh, he's very pretty. And a knight in shining armor."
Padme laughs, "more like a knight in dusty leather."
"Really? A bad boy?"
"I don't think he's a 'bad boy' he was actually very sweet."
"I'm glad," Sabe says, "You need someone kind in your life."
"It's just one date, I don't even know if he's going to follow through."
"Oh, he will."
Padme is about to respond, but then a baby starts crying. And then another.
Padme goes towards their room, but turns back to her friend, "Thank you Sabe."
"Always. I'm here for you, remember?"
"How could I forget," Padme says with a small smile.
Padme puts Luke and Leia to bed and heads to her room. She gets ready for bed and sits down with a book. Finally.
A few minutes later her phone buzzes. She huffs, irritated, but answers anayway.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Anakin, are we still on?"
Padme hesitates. "Of course."
"Okay, great. Um… there's this diner, it's nothing fancy but the food is really good. Does that sound okay?" He asks.
Padme thinks he almost sounds shy.
"It sounds perfect."
"Great, awesome… okay, bye," And he hangs up.
Padme just sits staring at her phone. What? She's still trying to figure out if it cut out or something else when her phone rings again.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hi Padme, it's me, again. I uh, I think I forgot to actually ask you when you wanted to go." Padme suppresses a laugh. A grin spreads on her face.
"I can go tomorrow night at five."
"Sounds good… I'm not forgetting anything else am I?"
Padme laughs this time. "No...This is your first date isn't it," she teases.
"Yes. But I think it was definitely worth the wait."
Padme doesn't know how to respond to that.
"Uh right, okay, g'night Padme."
"Goodnight Anakin."
"You forgot to ask her what time you doofus," says the energetic teenager sitting atop the counter.
Anakins eyes widen and he quickly calls Padme again. After he hangs up Ahsoka launches at him.
Who was that Skyguy?
Anakin sighs. "No one Snips."
"Uh huh. Then why is your face bright red?"
"I'm just meeting with an old friend,"
Ahsoka scoffs.
"Who happens to be very beautiful," Anakin finishes.
Obi wan comes through the door carrying some groceries. Anakin and Ahsoka come over to him and each grabs some.
"Anakins going on a daayate." Ahsoka sing songs.
"Ahsoka!"
Obi wan looks at Anakin, surprised.
"That's good!"
"Um, yah," Anakin says, rubbing the back of his neck.
"With whom, may I ask?"
They all head to the kitchen and start putting the groceries away.
"Yah skyguy, what's your girlfriends name?" Ahsoka says jumping up to sit on the counter again.
"She's not my girlfriend," he says shooting Ahsoka a dirty look. "And um, it's Padme actually."
Obi wan looks up in surprise. "Padmé Amidala? The girl you claimed you were going to marry one day? Off the counter Ahsoka." She jumps down.
"That's, that's the one." Anakin says, his face turning very red.
Ahsoka bursts out laughing. "You said you were going to marry her?" She grins.
"I was nine!"
"And fourteen," Obi wan mumbles to Ahsoka.
Anakin growls. "I'm taking Artoo out." Anakin abruptly turns around and the dog follows happily. He slams the door cutting off Obi wan and Ahsoka's laughter.
A/N
This was not the story I was planning on publishing first, but I wrote the first three chapters in a day and the ideas are still coming strong. The first few chapters are just establishing the relationships, it will get more exciting soon, I promise. Thanks for reading!
-rebel