A/N: Another chapter for you. I thought some healing was needed after the intensity of the last few chapters. And, once more, we are back inside Padme's head :) Hope you enjoy! xx


As warm tendrils of sunlight dribbled in through the gap in the curtains, shining softly on her face, Padme blinked her eyes open, silently yawned, and stretched lazily, back arching and toes curling, with a sort of feline grace that could only be achieved in the late morning. She rolled over onto her side to see Anakin sleeping peacefully beside her, lying on his side facing her, his bare chest rising and falling and his nostrils flaring with every deep breath. The dappled rays of sun reflected a golden sheen off his mop of curls that seemed to shimmer in the morning light. The sight of him looking so relaxed made her smile serenely– he'd been on edge all weekend and any time she'd asked him what was wrong, he'd brushed her aside with brisk - almost angry - words and gestures.

Padme was worried about him. He'd been acting so strange, so distant with her. He'd bitten her head off more than once this weekend, which was so out of character for him. Yeah, he had a temper, but this was...different. Something was weighing heavily on his mind, but whatever it was, he refused to share it with her. And, it angered her just a little. How were they supposed to last if they kept secrets from each other? They'd talked about this when he was in the hospital over Valentines Day, and he'd agreed with her. They'd already promised not to keep secrets from each other, so if Anakin was hiding something, it must be something major.

Still, she frowned, it hurt to think he'd even consider not sharing, not opening up to her about whatever it was that was so obviously bothering him. She sighed softly.

Regardless, Padme didn't want to fight with him today. They hardly saw each other enough as it was, and the last thing she wanted was to cause a rift between them on their final day together this trip. So, she decided to hold her tongue. She trusted Anakin enough to know he would tell her what was bothering him when he was ready, and when that day came, she would listen and give him her full undivided attention. That's what couples do, and she vowed to be there for him when he was finally ready to open up.

Her hand reached out to stroke his stubbled cheek softly, her fingers lightly tracing the hard line of his jaw with tender affection. She smirked, her eyes twinkling merrily. He really needed to shave. Still, she wanted to savour every moment they spent together, for she was flying back to Harvard later that afternoon. The weekend had gone far too quickly. It was already Monday, and yet, it felt like they'd only spent a day with each other. Time certainly did fly when you were having fun, she thought to herself with a smile.

Anakin's strange distant attitude aside, though, their weekend had been wonderful. The wedding was simply divine; small and sweet and full of love and joy amongst family and close friends. Padme felt privileged to have attended such a lovely event with Anakin and his family. It was the kind of wedding she hoped for one day…nothing too extravagant, just something simple and elegant, a beautiful celebration with the people she loved the most.

Against her better judgement, she couldn't help but think of her own future wedding – to Anakin, in particular – over the weekend. Perhaps it was the joyous vibe, the romantic ambiance, or the radiant smiles on Owen and Beru's faces as they gazed upon each other at the alter? Nonetheless, it was all that had preoccupied her thoughts. Which, admittedly, was a bit odd for her. Sure, weddings had always been in the back of her mind since she was a young girl, but never a priority. She wanted to graduate, to find a good job and rise up in the ranks, to excel at her career and make a real and lasting change in the world and leave her mark for years to come. All of that was more important than getting married and settling down…

At least, it had been.

The wedding had changed something within her. She wasn't exactly sure what or how to even describe it really. Just that she knew something within her...with her mindset...was now different from before. The only other wedding Padme had ever attended was her sister's – but that had been a completely different experience altogether. Padme had only been thirteen then. The thought of marriage at that age was far beyond her comprehension; too far in the future to even think about. But, attending a wedding now with Anakin, the love of her life, the man she knew to the depths of her soul she wanted to spend the rest of her days with, had altered that previously clinged-to perspective. The reality of actually getting married was suddenly a lot closer at hand.

And that scared her.

All her life, her father had brought her up to be a strong, independent, intelligent woman, who didn't need anyone – let alone a man – to make her life complete. Those feministic values had been instilled...even drilled...into her ever since Sola's wedding; due to her father's ill-kept secret of being very upset that, in his paternal opinion, his eldest daughter had married far too young and 'ruined her future'. And, after his own acrimonious divorce not long after, he'd been determined to ensure that Padme didn't follow in her sister's footsteps, and so far, Padme had turned out completely opposite of her sister. Whilst she'd been in a few relationships, she'd never really considered marriage – not even to Rush Clovis, the only other man she'd ever loved. Or, rather thought she'd loved.

No. Now, it was different, and she knew it.

With Anakin… she saw a future, a life, a family, something she'd never given any real serious thought to before. She loved him deeply, and knew she would forever, no matter what happened between them. She wanted to settle down with him, have a home together, have and raise children (and four-legged fur babies) with him, grow old and grey with him. She wanted that richly intimate togetherness that only comes from a lifetime spent exclusively with the one true love of your life. And, the wedding had brought all of those emotions right up to the forefront of her thoughts and the tip of her tongue.

As she gazed upon his beautiful sleeping form, tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of their future together, and all of a sudden, shecouldn't wait for it to get here. Her Ani. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss between his eyebrows and whispered, "I love you Anakin Skywalker," against his warm skin.

The sound and action caused him to stir slightly, and a soft smile crept onto his lips. Slowly, his cerulean orbs fluttered open to stare directly into her own brown depths so intently that she almost couldn't breathe. Even after all this time, he could still render her totally off guard with just one look from his beautiful blue eyes. His hand rose up to cup her cheek, and he stroked his thumb gently across her lips.

"I love you too, Angel."

Leaning in, their lips met in a loving embrace, lazily moving against one another, taking their time and savouring the taste and feel of each other. Without breaking their kiss, Anakin's arms snuck around her waist and pulled her into his chest, her arms wrapping around his neck and their legs tangling together under the sheets. It was a sweet, tender moment – full of the deep love and affection they felt for each other, without the underlying hints of primal lust that often surged forth between them. It was romantic, and Padme never wanted the moment to end.

Anakin let out a low growl that rumbled against her torso, as he rolled them both over so that Padme was draped across his chest, with her legs resting on either side of his hips. His hands slid up underneath her pyjama shirt to caress the bare skin of her back, and she arched into his touch with a soft sigh of delight, as his fingertips danced up and down her spine with the barest of touches. Padme smiled against his lips when his hands slid back down to eagerly cup her bottom, massaging her rounded cheeks gently as his mouth devoured hers.

After all the commotion of last night – with their argument during dinner, Ahsoka running away, Anakin dashing out to go find her, Satine breaking down in tears of worry as Ben cradled her, followed by Anakin's return two hours later with the contrite and subdued teenager, they'd been in no mood to be intimate when they'd finally come home later that evening, instead going straight to bed with barely a glance at the other. Anakin, it seemed, was now desperate to make up for that missed opportunity. Not that Padme minded, of course. It was their last day together for a while…and she wanted to make the most of it.

Their kiss soon deepened, and Anakin slowly lifted her pyjama shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the floor on the side of his bed as Padme sat up on his lap, flinging her long mane back sensuously as she arched her back. Tilting her head toward him, her rosy lips smiled coquettishly, as her mahogany tresses tumbled down in silken waves over her back and shoulders to rest upon her chest, the curly ends obscuring her breasts from his hungry view, and he carefully swept them aside to cup her breasts in his palms while gently thumbing at her pointed, pink nipples, sliding his thumbs slowly, softly around and around the quickly puckering peaks, causing Padme to whimper with pleasure. His midnight blue gaze turned molten as he watched her body respond to his touch. The skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled up at her, love and adoration gleaming in those blue depths.

"You're so beautiful, Angel," he whispered to her reverently, and she blushed, cheeks pink as a rose. As he continued to tweak her nipples, she leaned over and ran her fingers through his hair, gently scraping her nails on his scalp, causing him to shiver at the pleasurable sensation.

"So are you," she countered sweetly before leaning down to kiss him softly, her taut nipples ghosting against his chest. His hands, once more, slid across her bare back to return to caressing her bottom, as he used his grip on her hips to slide her moist center back and forth slowly against the rapidly growing erection in his pyjama pants, drawing soft moans of desire from them both.

Everything about this moment was slow and sweet – very unlike their passionate, erotic reunion had been only a few days ago. Yet, Padme enjoyed this change of pace. She enjoyed the way he touched her softly, delicately, the way his lips brushed sweetly against hers and his tongue feathered the seam of her lips, politely asking for entrance before mating with her own, rather than sweeping demandingly inside her mouth with raw masculine intensity. Yes, there was a time and place for being rough and fast, for frenzied, torrid unions of lust…but this morning was not one of those times. No, this was a moment for slow, leisurely lovemaking, for taking their time to draw out their pleasure, for caresses that danced and lingered on their bodies.

Soon, their remaining clothes were off, thrown carelessly to the floor to join her shirt, and their bodies were pressed together as close and as tightly as possible. Padme's erect nipples brushed tantalisingly against Anakin's chest with each slow grind of her hips along his hard cock. His hands were bunched up in her hair, fingers gripping her curls so deliciously, as she trailed her lips down from his mouth to nip and suckle at the skin of his throat, marking him as hers. Anakin shuddered and moaned at her love bites, as he slid his tongue slowly around the shell of her ear before gently biting and suckling on her earlobe. Gliding his right hand down her spine, he lightly traced the curve of her hip before reaching between them to brush his fingertips in a feather light touch over her swollen clit. She shuddered and inhaled sharply at his teasing touch. He reached down further to grasp himself, adjusting his erection to rub slowly, sensuously against her wetness, causing them each to groan softly in anticipation.

Lifting her head up, they paused for a breathless moment to stare lovingly in each other's eyes. Anakin mouthed I love you, thenwith a sharp thrust up, he entered her in one smooth glide. Sheathing himself to the hilt inside her, his nest of golden curls whispered caressingly over her clit as their hips sealed together, and the suddenness of his invasion made Padme gasp. She clutched at his chest and closed her eyes, as she adjusted to the feeling of him embedded deeply inside her, claiming her as his own, before she slowly began to move. Her hips rose and fell in an unhurried gentle rhythm, letting her feel his entire length caressing her inner walls with each grinding thrust. He felt so, so good inside her, and she bit her lip to hold back her wails of ecstasy.

Their lovemaking was quiet and tranquil, with the only sounds being the tiny gasps, sighs, and muffled groans emitted from their mouths accompanying the soft wet slap of each rock of their hips together. Anakin's feet flattened out on the bed and his knees bent, his hips thrusting up harder and deeper inside Padme, making her eyes roll and then flutter closed, as her nails dug sharply into the skin of his shoulders. Watching her through half hooded eyes, Anakin lifted his head from the pillow to gently lick and suckle her pert nipples with his lips and tongue as her breasts bobbed and swayed over him with each surge of their hips, both of them moaning at the sensation. This was complete bliss.

With an almost surprising feline grace, like a tiger on the prowl, Anakin soon rolled them over once more, utterly claiming dominance, as he slid his hands down her belly and hips to grasp under her thighs and lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. His knees spread wide to brace either side of her hips, and he leaned over her, sealing their mouths together in a deep kiss. His forearms flat on the mattress on either side of her head, his hands curled into her hair, he speared into her with a newfound intensity, hitting her sweet spot again and again. The headboard rocked softly against the wall with the tireless ebb and flow of their lovemaking.

Their foreheads touching, their eyes never left each other's, and their lips never parted, as they continued long into the late morning, their thrusting lasting for what seemed like several glorious hours to Padme. Suddenly, with a deep masculine groan, Anakin tensed and came in a series of hot wet bursts that bathed her feminine walls in his essence, and Padme closely followed with her own release, her inner muscles clutching at his hard cock in rhythmic spasms, her back arching off the bed to scrape her chest against his, as she whined out in complete satisfaction. Exhausted and spent, Anakin collapsed on top of her, his skin sticky with sweat, their bodies pressed intimately together from chest to hip. Padme wrapped her arms around his neck, twining her fingers in his dampened curls, and her legs embraced his hips, her feet resting on his firm backside, cradling him to her as he continued to slowly thrust in and out of her, drawing out their lovemaking until he grew soft inside her.

They lay there in contented serenity for several long minutes, neither one of them moving as their breathing slowed. Padme ran her fingers gently across the ridges of his spine, savouring the way his skin felt warm and smooth and supple underneath her fingertips. She enjoyed the solid heavy weight of him on top of her, so dominantly masculine it made her feel safe somehow, that he was here, they were together, and everything was going to be alright. It was rare for them to have moments like this, so when they appeared, Padme took full advantage of them as best she could.

Anakin soon moved off of her with another quick peck on her lips and a small grunt and flopped onto his back beside her, keeping one hand resting possessively on her thigh, brushing her soft skin tenderly, his other arm flung up over the pillow, his hand moving to rest under his head. Padme reached down and captured his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together, and glancing down, she smiled at the way his large hand dwarfed hers, the way his golden skin contrasted so prettily and perfectly with her own porcelain skin tone.

"This weekend has been so nice," Padme mused softly, as she ran her thumb gently across the top of Anakin's hand.

He rolled his head on the pillow to face her and beamed at her, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, it has."

"I don't want it to end…" her eyes were downcast as she said it, lips turning down into a tiny, miserable grimace at the thought of leaving Anakin once more and returning to Harvard, alone and lonely. Once again, that bittersweet goodbye had come back to haunt her – haunt them - more bitter than sweet the longer they spent apart.

Anakin squeezed her hand affectionately and gave her a radiant smile. "I know, Angel. Me neither. But, it won't be like this forever." His blue eyes glimmered with hope that warmed Padme's heart. "One day, I promise you, we'll be together every day, just like this." Looking into his eyes, she could see he meant every word, and she suddenly felt reassured.

Padme grinned, rolled over, and snuggled into Anakin's side, his arm coming round to hug her shoulders, her hand resting on his chest and her legs wrapping around his, rubbing her foot up and down his shins. "I can't wait for that day," she confessed softly with a deep sense of longing that she was only just now beginning to accept, given this sudden and profound change within herself, and Anakin rumbled his agreement and turned his head to press a sweet kiss to the top of her hair, before laying his head against hers.

They lay in silence for a few moments, Padme content with listening to Anakin's slow, steady breathing and hearing the thump thump of his heart beneath her ear. Once more, thoughts of the wedding occupied her mind, and she bit her lip. She wondered if Anakin knew what she was thinking about. There'd been times during their relationship where she'd been quick to shut down any idea of marriage – of settling down and creating a future together. And, during those moments, Padme couldn't help but notice the flicker of disappointment in Anakin's eyes at her reaction. It had happened again at the wedding, when one of Anakin's relatives had eluded to their possible nuptials in the future. It alarmed her a little, his disappointment that he tried to hide. Did he really think she didn't want to someday get married – to marry him? Had she cast him aside so hastily without even considering his feelings on the matter?

She wanted to rectify that mistake. Now.

Propping herself up on her elbow, she traced lazy, aimless patterns across his chest with her other hand and peered down at him through her dark curls, while his hand slid lazily up and down her spine. He met her gaze quizzically and tilted his head to the side. "What is it, Babe?" he asked.

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she sighed. "I'm sorry, Ani."

Anakin frowned in confusion and reached up with his other hand to cup her cheek. "What for?"

"For making you feel like I don't want – that I don't see a future… together… with you…" her voice trailed off in embarrassment, and she attempted to look away, but he gripped her chin tightly between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to maintain eye contact. His gaze was questioning, obviously wondering where this was coming from.

"What are you talking about, Angel?" he asked, genuinely confused. She sighed and gave a half shrug.

"I just feel like...maybe I've been giving you the impression all this time that I don't want to settle down…with you. And, I'm sorry, if I have," she took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'm sorry about the way I am, Ani – it's...it's just the way I've been brought up to think. My dad, y'know, he taught me to be independent, to take care of myself, to not rely on anyone else, and to focus on my career. And, it's not like those things aren't important to me. They are. I do want to graduate at the top of my class. I want to get a good job and rise up the ranks, to really excel in my career. I want to travel and change the world...But, the thing is... that's all my father ever taught me. He never opened my eyes to the possibility of finding real lasting happiness in a relationship, in a marriage, in having a family of my own – because of Sola's early marriage… and then his and Mom's own bitter divorce not long after…" she sighed and shook her head.

"He's always had good intentions for me, of course, but his judgement was clouded by his past, and he practically drilled it into me, to be a career woman first and foremost and not let a man define me, hold me back, or be the most important thing in my life. And, it's really hard for me to let that type of thinking go and to think about marriage and family more positively when all I've ever known my whole life is the exact opposite." Her shoulders slumped a bit with this admission.

She peered down at Anakin, but he remained silent, waiting for her to finish, keeping his blue eyes intently trained on her. "But, I want you to know, Ani, that I do want those things...Marriage, a home, and children...Just as much as you do. It's just…hard for me to truly express those feelings sometimes, because of how I've been brought up and everything, and I guess, after the wedding, I just wanted to be sure you knew and understood that. I love you, Ani. More than anything. Never doubt that."

He smiled and brought her hand up to kiss it with his lips. "I know you do, Angel. You don't have to worry about that."

She shook her head. "But, I do worry. I saw the way you looked when I kind of shut down the idea of us getting married soon! I hurt you, Anakin. It made me feel awful!" Tears of shame welled up in her eyes. "You're always so romantic and loving and expressive about it, and I'm the exact opposite, always so hesitant, reserved, and…sceptical!" A single tear slipped down her cheek and dripped on his chest.

"Hey…" Anakin cupped her cheek gently and drew her down to meet his lips in a soft, reassuring kiss. "Don't feel bad, Angel, please. I grew up next door to you, remember? I've heard more than one conversation over the years about this exact subject - you, Sola, and your dad - being discussed between our mothers. Believe me, I know why you feel the way you do, why you act the way you do. And I know and accept you, flaws and all, and trust me, your dad should be proud – he's got an amazing, independent, intelligent, compassionate, and courageous daughter whose heart is always in the right place. You're going to conquer the world, Padme, I just know it. "

Padme spluttered through her tears, forcing a tremulous smile.

"And," he added with a soft smile, "I wouldn't have fallen in love with you if you were any different than just how you are. You're perfect for me, Angel, exactly the way you are." At his words, more tears dripped down onto his chest.

Beaming, Padme whimpered and snorted wetly through her tears and kissed him deeply, winding her hands around his neck at his loving acceptance, her heart soaring with the immense affection she felt for him. He knew her so well, knew how to melt her, to destroy any insecurities she could possibly have. It was one of the many, many reasons why she loved him so very much.

"I love you, Ani," she muttered fervently against his lips, whispering his name like a prayer.

"I love you more, Angel," he responded simply.

They lay in each other's arms for several moments longer, kissing and nuzzling each other, neither of them wishing to move for the sake of savouring their precious time together. And, while she remained nestled snugly into his side, she couldn't help the enormous, radiant grin that broke out on her face. Perhaps, in the not too distant future, she and Anakin would experience a wedding of their own. And, whilst it would be a little while off yet, Padme was now one hundred percent sure in her heart she couldn't wait for their wedding bells to ring.