A/N: Thank you for the review, Maria!
This is the last chapter. I want to know if you think all the
chapters fit together. I started out writing until chapter five or
"Anakin's Mission." with the idea of this story being about their love
being a secret. But after a while I got a different idea, and changed the
title. It used to be called "Secrets." I hope the change was all for the
best.
"Do you realize we are lying to our friends and family? The ones who love us the most and only want the best for us." Padmé whispered, while still facing away from Anakin. She dared not let herself turn and look into his eyes.
" You are the only family I have left, Padmé." Anakin stated. He slid on the couch closer towards the back of the senator. She heard him move and hesitated.
" Master Obi-wan is like family to you." She said, ignoring his comment.
" Padmé, I know that's not all that's bothering you. I sense it. What is it, really?" His voice was warm and welcoming. At last, Padmé turned to him. Her heart beat, throbbing in her chest, when she saw his face deeply worried. She said the first thought that lurched up her throat.
" I don't know. I-" She stood there, with Anakin hanging by her every word. " Everything, Anakin. Everything." She told him as if he were a little boy, and she, his mother.
" Why do you put everything in the wrong perspective, Padmé?" He got up off the sofa as if it were on fire. He was becoming impatient with her pessimism.
" Why do you lie to yourself and think everything will turn out alright? Anakin," She spoke his name as if he had died, and afraid to say it too loud. " ,something could happen to you one day, when you are blinded by your own optimism and arrogance." He heard her voice choke. " That's how you lost your arm. Did you learn nothing from it?" Her pitch rose in her voice, as if she were begging him, not lecturing.
Anakin looked down upon her in sympathy, which never had done before. He could tell that he was worrying her. It struck him with guilt. How could he hurt her so much without even being aware of it. He looked down at his right sleeve. The gold covering of his mechanical hand peeked out, he wiggled his "fingers". He mentally admitted he had been too sure of himself that day he had faced Dooku, but he still sensed more troubles beyond this.
She gulped, and her stern voice returned.
" The senate is falling apart. It's all because I wasn't here to keep the Military Creation Act dead, and Chancellor Palpatine is now ruling our senate because I wasn't here. I missed everything that is important to me." Her voice couldn't have been any harsher, even if she was yelling. She kept her strong-held voice from shattering. " The Naboo depended on me to make peace, and I have failed them."
Anakin looked up. The almost-Jedi stood very still, his dark robes seemed a boundary around him, he wanted to speak but couldn't utter a sound. He couldn't believe how much this senator had to go through. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be all right, but couldn't allow himself to, not quite yet. Anakin's face pursued a defeated frown.
" It's not all your fault, Padmé." He assured her weakly. She dismissed his gesture quickly with a soft nod. He began to reach out his hand to her, but froze, and slowly retreated it.
" We can't keep this hidden marriage, Anakin. It's tearing me apart." He immediately knew she didn't want this.
" No, You are blaming all of your problems on us. I know it's not so, Padmé. These are rough times in the republic. The only thing we can depend on is each other." He dared to take a few steps toward her.
She stood her ground." I've been doing this since I was 12." She reminded him. "I think I know the difference. You're just a Jedi." She regretted it as soon as it came out.
The Jedi Padawan stopped in his tracks. His face was overshadowed by hurt.
" Very well, M'Lady." Came his defeated reply.
The way he addressed her made it clear. She felt about to erupt. Padmé Naberrie-Skywalker then blinked out the tear that had stayed with her ever since that fearful day she had started as a senator. One simple tear that held more despair and struggle than most twenty-four year- olds would have experienced. The tear lingered and slowly rolled down her right cheek. Her eyes glazed, threatening to bring more.
Anakin immediately came to her side. The warmth of his body next to hers broke the ice she had formed over the years. He embraced her and she formed fists to rest on his chest. Her breath shivered on his cloak and she kept her eyes tightly shut.
Anakin held her close. He set his chin lightly on the very top of her head. He could have stayed there forever, just breathing in the sweet smell of her hair. He gently kissed her head and rocked her. He savored this moment, for he knew it would probably never happen again, not like this.
She did not shed another tear; one was all she needed. She was very comfortable in his protective grasp. For once, she needed him to hold her, and it was almost as good of a feeling as any, at this time. She already knew she loved him, but now she knew she needed him. And he needed her.
Padmé slowly pulled her head off his chest and craned her neck up to him and smiled ever so slightly, assuring him she was healing. He eagerly smiled back, in a small no-teeth smile like hers.
For the moment, the galaxy seemed at peace.
THE END
A/N: Since no one knows how they end up untill episode 3, this is how it'll have to end. Hope you enjoyed. :)
"Do you realize we are lying to our friends and family? The ones who love us the most and only want the best for us." Padmé whispered, while still facing away from Anakin. She dared not let herself turn and look into his eyes.
" You are the only family I have left, Padmé." Anakin stated. He slid on the couch closer towards the back of the senator. She heard him move and hesitated.
" Master Obi-wan is like family to you." She said, ignoring his comment.
" Padmé, I know that's not all that's bothering you. I sense it. What is it, really?" His voice was warm and welcoming. At last, Padmé turned to him. Her heart beat, throbbing in her chest, when she saw his face deeply worried. She said the first thought that lurched up her throat.
" I don't know. I-" She stood there, with Anakin hanging by her every word. " Everything, Anakin. Everything." She told him as if he were a little boy, and she, his mother.
" Why do you put everything in the wrong perspective, Padmé?" He got up off the sofa as if it were on fire. He was becoming impatient with her pessimism.
" Why do you lie to yourself and think everything will turn out alright? Anakin," She spoke his name as if he had died, and afraid to say it too loud. " ,something could happen to you one day, when you are blinded by your own optimism and arrogance." He heard her voice choke. " That's how you lost your arm. Did you learn nothing from it?" Her pitch rose in her voice, as if she were begging him, not lecturing.
Anakin looked down upon her in sympathy, which never had done before. He could tell that he was worrying her. It struck him with guilt. How could he hurt her so much without even being aware of it. He looked down at his right sleeve. The gold covering of his mechanical hand peeked out, he wiggled his "fingers". He mentally admitted he had been too sure of himself that day he had faced Dooku, but he still sensed more troubles beyond this.
She gulped, and her stern voice returned.
" The senate is falling apart. It's all because I wasn't here to keep the Military Creation Act dead, and Chancellor Palpatine is now ruling our senate because I wasn't here. I missed everything that is important to me." Her voice couldn't have been any harsher, even if she was yelling. She kept her strong-held voice from shattering. " The Naboo depended on me to make peace, and I have failed them."
Anakin looked up. The almost-Jedi stood very still, his dark robes seemed a boundary around him, he wanted to speak but couldn't utter a sound. He couldn't believe how much this senator had to go through. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be all right, but couldn't allow himself to, not quite yet. Anakin's face pursued a defeated frown.
" It's not all your fault, Padmé." He assured her weakly. She dismissed his gesture quickly with a soft nod. He began to reach out his hand to her, but froze, and slowly retreated it.
" We can't keep this hidden marriage, Anakin. It's tearing me apart." He immediately knew she didn't want this.
" No, You are blaming all of your problems on us. I know it's not so, Padmé. These are rough times in the republic. The only thing we can depend on is each other." He dared to take a few steps toward her.
She stood her ground." I've been doing this since I was 12." She reminded him. "I think I know the difference. You're just a Jedi." She regretted it as soon as it came out.
The Jedi Padawan stopped in his tracks. His face was overshadowed by hurt.
" Very well, M'Lady." Came his defeated reply.
The way he addressed her made it clear. She felt about to erupt. Padmé Naberrie-Skywalker then blinked out the tear that had stayed with her ever since that fearful day she had started as a senator. One simple tear that held more despair and struggle than most twenty-four year- olds would have experienced. The tear lingered and slowly rolled down her right cheek. Her eyes glazed, threatening to bring more.
Anakin immediately came to her side. The warmth of his body next to hers broke the ice she had formed over the years. He embraced her and she formed fists to rest on his chest. Her breath shivered on his cloak and she kept her eyes tightly shut.
Anakin held her close. He set his chin lightly on the very top of her head. He could have stayed there forever, just breathing in the sweet smell of her hair. He gently kissed her head and rocked her. He savored this moment, for he knew it would probably never happen again, not like this.
She did not shed another tear; one was all she needed. She was very comfortable in his protective grasp. For once, she needed him to hold her, and it was almost as good of a feeling as any, at this time. She already knew she loved him, but now she knew she needed him. And he needed her.
Padmé slowly pulled her head off his chest and craned her neck up to him and smiled ever so slightly, assuring him she was healing. He eagerly smiled back, in a small no-teeth smile like hers.
For the moment, the galaxy seemed at peace.
THE END
A/N: Since no one knows how they end up untill episode 3, this is how it'll have to end. Hope you enjoyed. :)
