Nov 2002
Disclaimer 1: It all (SW) belong to Lucasfilm, I don't own it.
Disclaimer 2: The song is by Martina McBride and I don't own that either :P I removed one line "It happens to alot of men" because it didn't fit in the context of the story.
Part 2
*Knew just what to say, And you kissed away, All my tears.*
She sat on her bunk, her eyes closed, as they traveled aboard the refugee transport to Naboo. That was the problem with long space flights, they gave her too much time to speak. She rubbed her forehead, trying valiantly to fight back the tears that threatened. Cordé. Yet another friend she'd lost in a long list of friends. Sabé, Rabé, Eirtaé, Yané and Saché. Yané was the only one of the six who might still be alive and chances of that were slim. And now Dormé was taking her place again. Another friend's life put on the life for her.
Gentle hands slid around her shoulders and she looked up, startled. Anakin's compassionate blue eyes met hers. "I'm sorry about Cordé," he told her softly.
She blinked away her tears, finding a tumultuous smile for him. "That wasn't your fault."
"I know," he knelt in front of her, searching her gaze. "I'm still sorry you had to lose her."
Padmé blinked rapidly before stretching out her arms and wrapping them around his neck. His arms slid around her, holding her as she ducked her head against his shoulder. There was a tension in his frame, the soothing motion of his hands rubbing her back comforting her. She'd always been strong, yet for some reason Cordé's death had hit her harder than the others. Maybe it was simply that she didn't need to be reminded of her own mortality, maybe it was that she'd died protecting her, another casualty of a senseless war. She held Anakin tightly, allowing herself to be comforted by his presence.
"I won't tell anyone if you want to cry, Padmé."
"I can't."
He pulled back, a gentle half-smile on his lips. "You can. I promise I won't tell anyone."
She laughed then, lifting one hand to brush her eyes. "Thank you, Anakin."
He nodded, his hands slipping from her reluctantly as he stood. "I'll always be here if you change your mind."
"I'm fine, really." She reached out and gently squeezed his hand. "Thanks."
He gave her a long look before nodding and turning on his heel. Stepping out of the room, he left her to her thoughts.
Padmé wasn't sure what to make of Anakin as they stepped up to the rail of the lake retreat. She barely registered what she was saying to him, simply enjoying his company. She felt the brush of his hand on hers and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard, fighting against the tension rising in her body. His touch was like standing too close to an electrical current and made her shiver. She forced it down, keeping her gaze focused on the island in the middle of the lake. The soft touch on her back almost made her jump and she looked up to find him staring at her with his deep blue eyes.
She read promises in them. Promises of passion, of devotion. Of love. She searched his eyes, certain she was seeing things, unable to speak. She watched, not moving, as he came closer, his eyes darkening with their intensity. Her face tilted towards his as he came too close, her eyes closing slowly as his head came towards hers. She wanted this. His lips slowly and gently settled on hers, almost innocent in their exploration. Heat spiraled through her, sending goose bumps across her skin and curling her toes. She tilted her head, allowing him better access to her lips and kissing him back. The energy flowing through her veins thrilled her, washing away all the sorrow and darkness of the previous days. It made her long for more, for-
"No." she pulled away suddenly, realizing what she was doing. "I shouldn't have done that."
She barely heard his apology, which sounded more like a confused question, and felt guilty. She couldn't encourage him, no matter how much she wanted to. Staring back across the lake, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. That kiss, as innocent as it had been, had held darker undertones. Undertones of passion and promise. She couldn't allow that to happen. There was just no way they could ever have anything more. Yet, at the same time, she was thankful for the kiss. It had helped remind her than there were things worth living for.
Disclaimer 2: The song is by Martina McBride and I don't own that either :P I removed one line "It happens to alot of men" because it didn't fit in the context of the story.
Part 2
*Knew just what to say, And you kissed away, All my tears.*
She sat on her bunk, her eyes closed, as they traveled aboard the refugee transport to Naboo. That was the problem with long space flights, they gave her too much time to speak. She rubbed her forehead, trying valiantly to fight back the tears that threatened. Cordé. Yet another friend she'd lost in a long list of friends. Sabé, Rabé, Eirtaé, Yané and Saché. Yané was the only one of the six who might still be alive and chances of that were slim. And now Dormé was taking her place again. Another friend's life put on the life for her.
Gentle hands slid around her shoulders and she looked up, startled. Anakin's compassionate blue eyes met hers. "I'm sorry about Cordé," he told her softly.
She blinked away her tears, finding a tumultuous smile for him. "That wasn't your fault."
"I know," he knelt in front of her, searching her gaze. "I'm still sorry you had to lose her."
Padmé blinked rapidly before stretching out her arms and wrapping them around his neck. His arms slid around her, holding her as she ducked her head against his shoulder. There was a tension in his frame, the soothing motion of his hands rubbing her back comforting her. She'd always been strong, yet for some reason Cordé's death had hit her harder than the others. Maybe it was simply that she didn't need to be reminded of her own mortality, maybe it was that she'd died protecting her, another casualty of a senseless war. She held Anakin tightly, allowing herself to be comforted by his presence.
"I won't tell anyone if you want to cry, Padmé."
"I can't."
He pulled back, a gentle half-smile on his lips. "You can. I promise I won't tell anyone."
She laughed then, lifting one hand to brush her eyes. "Thank you, Anakin."
He nodded, his hands slipping from her reluctantly as he stood. "I'll always be here if you change your mind."
"I'm fine, really." She reached out and gently squeezed his hand. "Thanks."
He gave her a long look before nodding and turning on his heel. Stepping out of the room, he left her to her thoughts.
Padmé wasn't sure what to make of Anakin as they stepped up to the rail of the lake retreat. She barely registered what she was saying to him, simply enjoying his company. She felt the brush of his hand on hers and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard, fighting against the tension rising in her body. His touch was like standing too close to an electrical current and made her shiver. She forced it down, keeping her gaze focused on the island in the middle of the lake. The soft touch on her back almost made her jump and she looked up to find him staring at her with his deep blue eyes.
She read promises in them. Promises of passion, of devotion. Of love. She searched his eyes, certain she was seeing things, unable to speak. She watched, not moving, as he came closer, his eyes darkening with their intensity. Her face tilted towards his as he came too close, her eyes closing slowly as his head came towards hers. She wanted this. His lips slowly and gently settled on hers, almost innocent in their exploration. Heat spiraled through her, sending goose bumps across her skin and curling her toes. She tilted her head, allowing him better access to her lips and kissing him back. The energy flowing through her veins thrilled her, washing away all the sorrow and darkness of the previous days. It made her long for more, for-
"No." she pulled away suddenly, realizing what she was doing. "I shouldn't have done that."
She barely heard his apology, which sounded more like a confused question, and felt guilty. She couldn't encourage him, no matter how much she wanted to. Staring back across the lake, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. That kiss, as innocent as it had been, had held darker undertones. Undertones of passion and promise. She couldn't allow that to happen. There was just no way they could ever have anything more. Yet, at the same time, she was thankful for the kiss. It had helped remind her than there were things worth living for.