A/N: Hey lovely readers :) so, it's getting to exam time and I've got two big assignments due in a couple of weeks, so I'm afraid I won't be updating this for a while until they're out of the way. Sorry, but university calls :) Please enjoy! xx
Chapter 26
A blunt ache in her neck roused Padme from her sleep, and she yawned, slowly sitting up from where she had been resting beside Anakin with her head on his shoulder. Grimacing, she rolled her neck; it was stiff from her uncomfortable sleeping position, and she stretched out her limbs. It definitely hadn't been the best sleep of her life, but she'd been with Anakin, and that was all that mattered.
She drew her attention back to him as he lay beside her, his mouth parted adorably as he snored quietly. He looked so peaceful, so innocent and young, as though everything that had happened the day before ceased to exist. A fond smile danced across her lips as she studied him, and she couldn't help but reach out and stroke his hair softly, taking care not to wake him. Though, with all the morphine in his system, she doubted he would.
A few moments later, a nurse entered the ward, a different nurse from the night before, and she glanced at Padme in confusion. Padme sat up and smiled at her, as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Hello," the nurse said slowly, eyeing her with suspicion. "Who are you?"
"I'm his I.C.E," Padme explained, matter-of-factly. The amount of scepticism she'd received since she'd been here was beyond ridiculous. What was so terribly wrong with wanting to be with Anakin whilst he was recovering? There wasn't anything sinister in it, yet it was like she was planning to stage a breakout.
The nurse simply nodded her head and smiled, suddenly a lot warmer towards Padme than before, and approached the bed. "I'm just here to check Mr. Skywalker's medication and pain levels," she announced, her gaze drifting down to Anakin's sleeping form.
Nodding her head in understanding, Padme bent lower towards Anakin and kissed his forehead softly, right between his brows. "Ani…" she whispered in his ear. "Ani, time to wake up." Her hand come up to brush his hair and stroke his cheek, all the while she continued calling to him quietly, coaxing him awake.
Eventually, he began to stir and uttered a low groan. His eyes fluttered open slowly, trying to focus, before they fixed on her face, and he gave her a small, dopey smile. "Padme…" he muttered groggily and blinked his eyes a few times, disorientated. She felt his fingers twitch beside her thigh, where she was sitting, and she took his left hand with hers, twining their fingers together.
He was so utterly adorable as he lay there, that Padme couldn't do anything but beam down at him. She wanted to take a picture and record it to memory of the way he was looking at her – like she was his sun, his reason to live, his very life force. She continued to play with his hair sweetly with her other hand, overcome with loving affection and greeted him softly, "Morning, Ani."
She longed to kiss him, and probably would have if the nurse hadn't moved in beside the bed, rearranging his IV drip. "How are you feeling today, Mr. Skywalker?" she asked him, as she carefully peeled off the bandage over his right eye, revealing a series of neat little stiches that stretched from the top of his brow to the start of his cheekbone.
He flicked his eyes up to the nurse and bit the inside of his cheek, as though he wasn't sure how he was feeling. Suddenly, he frowned. "Hungry." The answer was so unexpected that Padme burst out laughing. Of course. Despite the fact that he had four broken ribs, a broken arm and stiches over his eye, the only thing Anakin cared about was food. It was so typical and so classic Anakin.
It was almost comical.
The nurse, however, didn't find it anywhere near as amusing, and clicked her tongue. "Your pain, Mr. Skywalker. How is your pain?" she reiterated with a huff, and Padme and Anakin shared an amused smirk between them.
"M'fine," he insisted immediately. "Fit as a fiddle. You can discharge me right now."
Padme stared at him incredulously – surely the morphine had made him delusional! There was no way he would be discharged today. To make a point, he tried to sit up, pushing against the bed with his good arm, but he let out a loud groan of pain and clenched his eyes shut, hissing violent curses through his teeth and immediately fell back onto the pillow. He clutched his chest, where his broken ribs were, and Padme merely frowned at him, partially concerned and partially apathetic. The nurse seemed unfazed by his display and merely changed his IV, upping the dosage of his pain medication.
"I'll bring you some breakfast, Mr. Skywalker," she said, before leaving the room.
When she was gone, Padme sighed and fixed him with a pointed look. "That was stupid, Anakin," she scolded him. "You could have punctured a lung!"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm fine, Padme," he insisted stubbornly.
She crossed her arms. "Yes, that was definitely the reaction of someone who is completely fine and uninjured," she shot back, arching one eyebrow. He could be ridiculously pig-headed sometimes.
"It's just a few broken ribs, Angel. I'm not going to die. But, I might if I don't eat something soon! I'm fucking starving!" he complained dramatically, staring at her, blue eyes wide. "I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday...on the plane ride here!"
Padme only sighed in disbelief and shook her head. Really, he was being overly melodramatic; as though having not eaten for an entire day was the worst thing that could ever happen to him, and not being in a car accident, breaking four ribs and almost losing an eye. "I think you've got your priorities mixed up."
"No. I don't."
"The nurse is bringing you some breakfast, Ani," she reminded him with a bemused smile. "Just be patient, alright?"
Anakin grumbled under his breath and nodded reluctantly, so Padme bent over and kissed his mouth gently in an attempt to sate him. It worked. He slid his good arm up her side to cup her jaw as he moved his lips against hers. There was an underlying hunger in his kiss, Padme could feel it, as though he hadn't kissed her in years, and Padme basked in his desperation, and touched her tongue to his, equally desperate. He devoured her, and she let him, because he needed this.
So did she.
After everything that had happened yesterday, he was hungry for her. She'd almost slipped through his fingers, and he'd almost been killed. That alone was enough to spark an intense desire in both of them, and when they finally broke apart for air, both were breathing heavily, chests heaving, eyes darkened with need.
Anakin ran his hand through her hair in such a gentle action that made Padme close her eyes at his touch. "I almost lost you yesterday," he whispered sadly.
She bit her lip and caught his hand, covering it with her own. "I almost lost you...forever," she countered, voice trembling with the truth of it.
"Never again," he said fiercely, his blue eyes sharp and intense, burning into her own. "I promise you, Angel. I'm never going to make you want to leave me ever again. I swear it."
"Ani…" she pressed a sweet kiss to his palm, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm not going anywhere." Her vow was solemn and true.
The smile he gave her in return was blinding in its beauty. Padme squeezed his hand in reassurance, reiterating her promise. Surely this was just a test, a challenge, to see how much she truly loved Anakin, and she'd come out on top. Her love for him was stronger than anything, the only thing that matched it was his love for her. No matter what life threw at them, Padme knew she would be exactly where she was, right beside Anakin, where she belonged. To her, he was home.
"That's gonna leave an impressive scar," she said after a few minutes, flicking her eyes up to the stiches next to his eye. It looked quite deep. He'd been lucky not to lose his eye. At the thought, she reached out with her hand, delicately tracing around the stiches, as they pulled his skin tight across the angry, red line.
Smirking, Anakin winked, all arrogant and smug. "Reckon it'll make me look even sexier, in that rugged, manly sort of way, don't you think?"
She rolled her eyes at his statement. "You're so full of yourself sometimes, you know that, right?"
He shrugged. "Hey, don't deny it. You think it'll look sexy on me." He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she shook her head, unable to keep from laughing at him.
"Sure, Ani, whatever you say," she quipped back, flashing him a smirk, which made him widen his eyes in mock horror.
"Well, if that's how you feel," he clutched his hand to his chest, "then maybe I should just fly back to Chicago. I'm sure I could find a girl there who will agree with me."
Padme scowled, a spike of jealousy rousing inside her at his teasing words. "You're not going anywhere, Mister," she told him firmly. "You're mine, Anakin Skywalker. You belong to me." She fixed him with a firm stare.
Her sudden ferociousness surprised her, but it only made Anakin grin smugly, and he reached out for her forearm, tugging her forward towards his mouth. "Good answer," he whispered, then kissed her soundly. This time, she held back none of her former reservations, regardless of the fact that they were in a public place. Her hands cupped his face, and she kissed him forcefully, almost angrily, letting all of her emotions spill out into that one kiss.
Unfortunately, his sore ribs protested, and Anakin let out a low groan of pain.
Padme stopped the kiss abruptly, and sat up, staring at him in horror. "Oh, god, I'm so sorry, Ani," she gushed, her eyes scanning his body, darting down to his chest then back up to his face. "Are you alright? God, I'm so careless…"
Anakin only smiled at her and shook his head. "It's alright, Padme. I'm fine. It was my fault anyway, I just got a bit…carried away." He grinned mischievously at her. "It's hard to remember that I've got to be careful right now when you're so beautiful. I want you so bad it hurts." It was then she noticed the flicker of desire swimming in his blue eyes, the way he raked over her form with an almost predatory gaze. She whimpered softly under the heat of it and summoned her self control.
Rolling her eyes, she tried for playfulness. "Anakin, you're in the hospital! Sex should be the last thing on your mind right now. You can't even move!"
He raised his eyebrow. "Angel, sex with you is always on my mind...Always," he muttered, low and husky and sexy, and Padme felt goose pimples prickle on her skin and a warm blush heat her face at his ardent declaration.
Thankfully, she was spared from giving a response by the return of the nurse, with a breakfast tray for Anakin. She plopped it down on the rolling stand in front of him and informed him that his arm would be getting put into a hard cast shortly. Once she was gone, Padme helped Anakin by lifting off the hood of the tray. He turned his nose up immediately when he noticed that all they'd given him was oatmeal and some black coffee. He groaned and glanced up at her with a disgusted look on his face.
"What? I thought you were hungry?" Padme reminded him as he pouted up at her.
"I am," he grumbled. "But not for oatmeal. I hate oatmeal. It's disgusting."
She sighed. "Stop being a drama queen, Anakin. It's not going to kill you."
"It might," he eyed the bowl of oatmeal sceptically, as though it was suddenly going to come alive and attack him. "I mean, just some toast and jelly would be fine. Anything really. But not…" He shuddered.
"Oh my god, you're such a baby!" She cried at him, shaking her head in amusement. "I feel sorry for the nurses having to take care of you."
"I'd much rather have you take care of me," he purred seductively, and she fixed him with a pointed look.
"Yeah, well that's not going to happen... Not unless you eat your damn breakfast and stop whining."
He frowned petulantly, but picked up his spoon and slowly brought it up to his mouth, rather clumsily as he was using his left hand. The face he made once he swallowed was so hilarious that Padme couldn't help but laugh at him. He could be such a child sometimes, and as annoying as it was, she also found it rather endearing.
Whilst he was eating his breakfast, Padme went outside and called her father. He'd gone home after dropping her at the hospital last night, but seeing as Anakin was about to get his arm put in a cast, she felt it was the right time for her to go home, have a shower and get out of her clothes from last night. When she checked herself over in her phone camera, she groaned at how awful she looked. Her makeup had run, giving her panda eyes, and her hair was a tangled mess, no longer the luscious curls that she had styled so elegantly last night. With a sigh, she did her best to tame it, before dialling her father.
He picked up on the second ring. "Hello, Padme. How is Anakin?"
Again, she was struck by his consideration for her boyfriend, knowing how much he disapproved of their relationship and having not been shy in expressing his views. "He's alright," she replied. "Broken arm and four broken ribs, but he should be out of the hospital in a couple of days. He's getting his arm put in a cast today."
"Well, I'm glad to hear he's not too seriously injured. And, how are you, Sweetheart?"
"Better, Dad," she conceded. Compared to yesterday, she felt so much lighter, far less anxious. "I'm sorry I was so… crazy yesterday."
"Don't be sorry, Padme" her father told her. "You were worried about Anakin. I understand."
"Thanks, Dad." Her face lit up in a broad smile at his words. "Would I be able to ask a favour? Could you come and pick me up from the hospital? I really need to get home, have a shower and get out of these clothes."
"Of course. I don't have to teach until this afternoon. I'll be there shortly."
"You're the best, Daddy. I really appreciate it!"
Ruwee laughed into the phone. "Of course, Sweetheart. Anytime. Bye."
He hung up, and Padme smiled. Even if he was strict in his views and rather stiff, he loved her and would do anything for her. Really, she could understand why he was so protective of her. She was his baby girl, his youngest daughter, and what father didn't want the best for their daughters? Even if they didn't see eye to eye on every matter – namely Anakin – Padme never doubted for a moment her father's love for her. He proved it time and time again, coming to her aid when she needed it the most.
Anakin noticed her happy expression when she re-entered the room and peered at her curiously. "What are you so pleased about?" He asked through a mouthful of oatmeal.
Padme perched on the side of his bed and smiled. "Dad's picking me up soon," she informed him, before her eyes flicked to his half-eaten breakfast. "Wow, you really don't like oatmeal do you?" She knew from experience how much and how fast Anakin was capable of eating, and was surprised at how untouched his food looked.
His expression contorted into a frown. "No. I really don't. I told you that, Padme," he huffed.
She reached out and took his hand, running her fingers soothingly over his knuckles. "Duly noted. Well, how about I bring you something when I come back this afternoon, hmm?" she suggested brightly. "I could smuggle you in a Big Mac and some fries," she added with a wink, hoping to win him over.
It worked.
His eyes widened considerably, and he stared at her, surprised. "You'd really do that for me?" he uttered in awed disbelief. "You'd smuggle in food?" When she nodded, he only gaped at her. "Are you even allowed to do that? I mean, you're too much of a goody-two-shoes to break the rules, Angel," he taunted with a smirk.
"Fine," she huffed, crossing her arms at his tease. "If you don't want it, then I won't do it. Suit yourself."
He caught her fingers in his fist, squeezing them tightly. "I didn't say I didn't want it," he said seriously. "I'm just…surprised you would do something like that.."
"Of course, I would, Ani," she countered with a wide smile. "Anything to make you stop complaining."
His grin was wolfish as he laced his fingers with hers. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?" he whispered softly.
"Mmm," she hummed, bending over so her lips were inches from his, wafting hot air over his face. "I can't remember. Remind me again?"
He stretched his neck to kiss her lips softly, tongue flicking out to trace her bottom lip in such an erotically charged way that she shuddered. "I can't wait 'til I get out of here," he whispered into her mouth. "So, I can remind you properly."
She smiled. "I look forward to it."
"Padme?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you also bring me a large mocha frappe, too?" he added with a sly grin. "Pretty please?"
"Ani..." she rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, alright..." she said with a shake of her head at his cute little pout and puppy dog eyes, causing him to grin wider.
Ruwee arrived a few moments later and texted Padme to let her know, and she said goodbye to Anakin, giving him another loving kiss, promising that she'd be back later, and then walked out to her father's car. It felt strange to be out in public when she was still dressed so elegantly from her class function, which had quickly turned into a disaster. It made her feel like she was some sort of paid escort, returning home after a night of work, and she hurriedly walked to the car and slid into the front passenger seat as covertly as possible, so no one would see her...or Ruwee.
She thanked her father again for the ride home, expressing how grateful she was, but he brushed off her gratitude with a kind smile. "Always, Sweetheart," her assured her sweetly, and she couldn't resist leaning over and pecking him lightly on the cheek, her heart swelling with affection. She'd have to make it up to him somehow, she vowed.
By the time she arrived home, Dorme was slowly crawling out of bed, which was late, even for her. She yawned and blinked, bleary eyed, at Padme as she stumbled into the kitchen to make some coffee, muttering a sleepy, "good morning." Padme laughed and shook her head. Her roommate was terrible in the mornings and could rarely function properly before 10 am. It was a wonder how she ever made it to her 9 am classes, but it usually involved several large cups of coffee and a lot of swearing.
Deciding to leave Dorme to herself, as she'd clearly had a big night, Padme went into the bathroom and stripped and had a long hot shower, before getting out and throwing her wet hair up into a messy bun on top of her head. Face clean and devoid of makeup, she dressed casually in a pair of sweats and one of Anakin's sweaters that he'd left behind the last time he'd visited. It might have been silly and cliché, but Padme adored wearing his clothes around the house, particularly his sweaters. There was just something so comforting about them, the way they hung off her petite frame, the way they smelled like his cologne. She'd taken to wearing them around the apartment frequently, and even though they were too often apart, it felt like he was there, with her, wrapping her up in his strong arms, and she loved it.
By the time she went back out into the kitchen, Dorme was more awake, though only barely, sitting at the kitchen counter looking more worse for wear and cradling her mug of coffee like it was a newborn baby. "Morning," Padme greeted her brightly, and Dorme only grunted. "Had a big night last night, huh?"
Dorme yawned and nodded her head slowly. "Didn't get home 'til, like..4 am."
Smirking, Padme laughed. "Were you at Trey's?"
"No. We went to dinner, then he took me to a bar afterwards. We shared a cab home, and then he just walked me up to the front door, kissed me goodnight and told me he had a really great time, and he'd call me." Dorme frowned. "Like, what the fuck? I bought all this new lingerie for nothing!"
Padme gave her best friend a sympathetic smile and sat down beside her. "Well, maybe he wants to start things over with you. You know, date you. Properly. I mean, you guys had a good time, right?"
A shy little smile crept upon Dorme's lips, and she ran her finger around the lip of her mug. "Well, yeah, we did. It was really good, actually. I didn't realize how much we had in common until last night. Like, we don't normally talk a whole lot when we're…well... y'know?"
"Well, that doesn't sound all that bad to me," Padme reassured her. "Just wait. I'm sure he'll call you."
Dorme seemed to brighten up a little and took another sip of her coffee. "Where were you last night?" she asked through a yawn. "How come you didn't come home from your function? You didn't…oh god, you didn't sleep with someone, did you?!" she asked suddenly, eyes growing wide.
Padme recoiled in disgust at the very thought of sleeping with another man who wasn't Anakin, and she shook her head furiously. The idea was mortifying. "What?! NO! Of course not, Dorme! How could you even suggest that?!"
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry!" Dorme raised her hands up in surrender. "Just...you come home this morning, in what you wore last night, with makeup all down your face and your hair a mess…well, it sorta looks like the aftermath of a one night stand from where I'm sitting."
Padme sighed and nodded. It did look rather suspicious, she had to admit. "No. Anakin was in a car accident last night," she explained in a small sad voice. "He was in a taxi, heading to the airport, when they were T-boned by a driver running a red light."
Dorme gasped and gaped at her, horrified. "Oh my god ! Is he alright?!"
Padme nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, it's not too bad. Broken arm and a few broken ribs, and a nasty gash over his right eye, but other than that, he's okay. I spent all last night in the hospital with him."
"I'm sorry, Padme," Dorme said as she reached out and took her friend's hand. "How are you coping with all of this? That's a pretty shitty day, to be honest."
The undeniable truth of it made Padme laugh. It had been a shitty day. The worst day of her life actually. So much had happened, and while she was still dealing with the aftermath of that, at least it was a new day. "I'm exhausted," she admitted and flopped down on the seat opposite Dorme. "I could sleep for a week."
Dorme chuckled light-heartedly. "I don't blame you. When are you going back to see Anakin?"
She shrugged. "This afternoon sometime. He's getting his arm cast on this morning, so there's no point in me being there all day."
"Well, then, take the day off," Dorme advised. "Don't go to class. Make yourself some coffee and eat a block of chocolate and take a nap."
"I think I might do just that," Padme grinned at her. "But, first, I need your help." When Dorme raised her eyebrow, intrigued, she continued, "I need to go shopping."
"Shopping? "
"Yes," Padme nodded, a wicked grin spreading on her face. "Shopping. For...lingerie," she dropped her voice, low and sly, and she didn't miss the proud grin that curled her best friend's lips. "Seeing as you're the expert, of course."
"Well, I certainly know how to find a bargain," Dorme admitted and puffed up her chest, all smug. "This is going to be great! My sweet little P, finally becoming a woman. I can show you a whole new world of exciting things, Girlfriend!"
Padme rolled her eyes and snorted. "Easy there, Aladdin, you don't want to scare me away. I know all about your… kinks, and I don't want any part of that, thank you very much."
"Oh please, Padme," Dorme drawled, waving her hand. "Don't worry. You're safe in my hands. Right." She stood up abruptly, downing the rest of her coffee in one quick swig. "Get dressed. We're going. Now."
With a bemused laugh and shake of her head, Padme watched as her friend stormed off into the bathroom to get ready.
This was bound to be an eye opening experience, she was sure.
