The Rocker Chair

Chapter 4

  It had taken him nearly a month and a half to do it but at long last it was finished. Large enough and sturdy enough to hold even Threepio's weight, yet it was delicate in its design. At least twenty six different kinds of wood from various scraps and market traders had all been lovingly reshaped and carved into his beautiful gift of the heart.  Barring any last minute decisions from Obi-wan to take off to some gods forsaken planet on some pointless exercise or another, he could bring it home to Padmé as soon as tomorrow. Well, technically, later today as it was so late. Anakin had become swallowed up the act of creation, finalizing small details and almost completely unaware of the time until a quick glance of the chrono told him how late it really was.

         Anakin tried to sneak in to the bed next to Padmé, as carefully as he could, trying not to disturb her. It was almost dawn and he wanted to get at least a few hours of sleep...

         "Do all Jedi have such cold feet?" She asked him quietly, irritation evident in her voice.

         "No," he yawned. "Just Desert dwellers." He put his arms around her tenderly but to his surprise, she pulled away. "Padmé?" he whispered quietly. "What's wrong?"

          "If you have to ask..." she snapped.

          Anakin groaned and sat up. He was too tired to deal with such things as a temperamental, pregnant wife. Still, discretion was decidedly in order here. He started stroking her arm, trying to ignore the fact that she had pulled the coverlet practically over her head.

         "Angel?" he pressed tenderly. "Please..."

         "Why don't you use one of your damned Jedi mind tricks to find out?" she started to weep and he grew more concerned.

         "Padmé, please..." he entreated."I really don't know what's wrong."

          "You LIED to me!" she sobbed, curling up and away from his touch. "I talked to Obi-wan!"

          "What?" he exclaimed, thoroughly puzzled at first and then as realization dawned on him he grew angry. "Oh for the love of... Padmé, it's not what you think..." Force! How was he going to get out of this one? There was only one way. Reluctantly, he got back out of bed and began to get dressed.

          "Where are you GOING?" she cried incredulous. "I can't believe you're just going to leave?!"

          Anakin sighed through gritted teeth. Obi-wan would pay dearly for his lack of discretion, but for now, he had to take care of business at hand.

          "Padmé, beloved... I need to take care of something... I'll be back soon enough..."

          Padmé threw a pillow at him, hitting him square in the chest and Anakin, not in the best of circumstances a patient man snapped.

          "Fine!" he shouted, "Perhaps I just won't come back at all!" and with that he stormed out of the little flat, seemingly oblivious to Padmé's tears.