Maul was tired of being stuck in his room forever. He stalked over the the door and swiped his fingers, trying to open it with the Force. What was normally so easy wasn't working, for some reason. The door refused to slide open. He huffed and tried again, to no avail.

"What is wrong with me?" he hissed. He swiped his fingers again, this time at a mirror. Immediately, it disconnected from the wall and toppled to the ground, shattering.

"What the kriff is going on?"

Just then, his personal robot wandered in from the kitchen. "Your dinner is ready, sir."

"Why the kriff won't my door open?" Maul snarled.

"Oh, sir, Lord Vader has instructed that you stay in your chambers until receiving your assignment. Storm troopers are posted outside your door, and Lord Vader has used his exemplary Force skills to secure all exits. He is quite skilled, so I'm afraid that getting out will be very difficult. No one is allowed to come in or out of your chambers unless instructed by Lord Vader."

Maul howled in rage. The robot burst into flames, and burned until it was only scraps of metal. Objects began to fly around the room, smashing. Maul's eyes glowed Sith yellow.

"Vader will pay for this insult!" he screamed, a crazed gleam in his eyes. "When I get my hands back on the Empire, he will pay for all of his foolish actions! How dare he come here in the first place!" He flung the chandelier at the wall, where it smashed into a million pieces. "Once I'm done with Vader," he vowed, "he'll come to wish he never set foot in this galaxy!"

Padme paced back and forward in front of her bed, her brow creased in worry. Biting her lip, she ceased as she stared through her window, watching the sun begin to peek over the horizon. A chilly breeze drifted through the open window, stinging her skin. She shivered.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She hurried into her huge closet. Racks of her dresses and clothes lined the wall, along with Anakin's Jedi robes, formal and informal, and his other clothes. She raced down the center, to where Anakin kept his cloaks. She grabbed his favorite, a long black one, and wrapped it around herself. Immediately, warmth seeped into her. She brought the fabric to her nose, breathing in the sweet scent(help; this is just too sweet). Anakin's scent. She sighed. Though she had never told him this, his sweet scent brought her peace. Happiness. Comfort.

Pulling it more tightly around her, she reentered her room. The cold did not seem to bother her anymore. Anakin would always be her savior.

Still, she wanted to hear his voice, and know what was going on with the Empire. She grabbed her comlink, which was by her bedside.

"Anakin?"

"Padme!" She smiled upon hearing his voice, so joyful to hear hers. "How are you? Are you safe? Is that man still. . . ?"

"Yesterday was all right. Nothing happened concerning him. But right after I commed you last. . ." Her voice hardened. "He left more roses, and a chocolate cake. And do you know what he called me?" she spat angrily. "An angel."

A low growl escaped from Anakin. He clutched the comm more tightly in his hand. A sickly gold flickered in his bright blue orbs, but was gone just as quickly. "Did he touch you?" he growled.

Padme immediately recoiled at his reaction. "No. . .not yet. Luke and Leia are amazing." She paused. "They. . .well, they caught him spying on me two nights ago. Unfortunately. . .he escaped. B-But I'm fine, Anakin!"

"I swear, if he dares touch you. . ." he sucked in a breath as the Force swirled around him, revealing the extent of his fury. "I will snap. His. Neck." (I don't know about you guys, but I'm quite enjoying writing all this possessiveness ;)

"I'll be fine, Anakin(seems like Padme remembers how dangerous Anakin is when he's angry). Luke and Leia will protect me. But thank you." She sighed. "I miss you so terribly, Ani."

"Likewise, my angel. Hopefully I'll be back soon. Unfortunately, Maul is up to some of his tricks. . ." He sighed in annoyance. "I'm headed to Kamino soon to keep more Imperial troops from being cloned. Maul, the kriffing fool, decided to contact the Prime Minister and tell him that I was an enemy, headed there to destroy all of the clones and limit their supply of troops. Now they are ready for me, with two hundred stormtroopers."

Padme gasped. "Anakin, how are you going to defeat two hundred stormtroopers single-handedly?"

He grinned. "Fear not, my love. They are no match for 'The Hero With No Fear'."

Padme rolled her eyes. "Stay safe, Anakin. I want you returned back to me in one piece."

He laughed. "Oh, don't worry. I won't become a mechanical monster this time," he teased.

Padme smirked. "I'll hold you to that promise." She paused. "I love you, Anakin. Please don't leave me again. I want my Anakin always, not Vader."

"I won't, Padme. I promise. Love you too, my angel. Stay safe."

After breakfast, Padme settled onto the couch in her room, watching a holomovie on the Jedi Order. It seemed so long ago. Now there were almost no Force beings left in the galaxy.

She laughed. The actor that played Anakin looked nothing like her beloved. As did the actor that played Obi-Wan. For that matter, none of the actors looked like the actual people. She giggled, imagining Anakin's reaction.

"Is that supposed to be me?" Anakin asked, disgusted. "That guy's hair looks ridiculous! That scar looks so fake! And besides, you can tell that he dyed his hair! And got a fake tan! I mean, come on! Do people seriously think that he looks similar to me?! No one can, or will ever be able to copy my amazing look." He thought for a moment. "Or my awesome Jedi skills. No one can rival the powers of 'The Chosen One'! He doesn't even come close! Dooku would have slit his neck in the first second!" (OH MY GOSH I CAN'T HELP IT- this is beyond hilarious I'm laughing so hard; just in case you guys were wondering, me putting in Anakin's sense of humor was a make up for the heartbreaking scenes in part 3 of His Everything ;)

He grinned at her, smirking teasingly, as a smile overtook her face.

She fell back onto the couch, laughing with mirth. Her Anakin had such a good sense of humor. She really loved him dearly.

Suddenly, Leia poked her head through the door. She seemed to have something to say to Padme, but as soon as she saw "Anakin" on the screen, her eyes widened. "Is that supposed to be Dad?"

Padme burst out into another fit of laughter. "Yes," she choked.

Leia joined her. "A-Anyway," she said, trying to pull herself together, "you have a visitor. The guy from yesterday. He seems pretty sweet, actually(Leia's not as practiced with the Force, and he has his mental walls up). Do you want to see him real quick? I'll be right outside, and Luke is in front of the complex with the rebels. If anything happens, and for some reason the rebels and I don't catch him, Luke will. He's right under your balcony. And we searched the man; he has no weapons, or anything at all, except some stuff he brought for you."

"Sure," Padme shrugged, clicking off the holomovie. "Send him in."

Leia retreated, and returned with the man Padme had met yesterday. He was just as she remembered: dark hair, bright green eyes, charming smile, and a kind, respectful countenance. He was carrying a bunch of alstroemerias(see below for picture and description) a case full of fruit, and a box of chocolate.

He smiled at her. "Good morning, Miss Padme. How are you?"

"Good." She gave him a smile.

Leia cut her eyes at the man, and then turned to Padme. "I'll be right back." Giving the man a pointed look, she left.

"I thought you looked a little lonely yesterday, so I decided to give you some company for a little bit. You don't mind, do you?" he asked, looking at her.

"No, not at all. Thank you for coming." Was her loneliness really that obvious?

"I haven't seen you around, so I assume you've been here for a while. I decided to bring you some fresh fruit, you know, just so you could have something different."

"Oh. . .thank you." He seemed really nice. So considerate.

He opened it, revealing an assorted variety of fruits, many from Naboo. "I hope you enjoy them. I also got you some chocolate, just because it's amazing, and it reminded me of your eyes." He smiled, placing everything on her bed.

"Thank you," she said. "I really appreciate the gesture. That's very kind of you."

"I also brought you so flowers," he continued. "Alstroemerias are very beautiful, just like you, and they smell wonderful, just like you. I hope you like them."

"Thank you. . . ? I'm so sorry, what's your name."

He paused. "Maximilian."

"Thank you so much, Maximilian. I love them."

He smiled earnestly. I'm so glad, Miss Padme. I picked them out just for you."

She smiled back. "What's your home planet?"

"Corellia. What about you?"

"Naboo."

"Oh, it's gorgeous in Naboo! Naboo is probably the most beautiful planet in the galaxy."

She smiled happily. "I know! The scenery is amazing! I love it there."

"So do I," he said, gazing at her intently. "We are so similar, you and I." Suddenly, he leaned forward and kissed her.

I hope you all enjoyed part 17 of Reunited at Last! I worked really hard on this chapter! Follows, favorites, and reviews much appreciated!