Chapter 6: You Are an Angel


by: dreamingofani


A/N: I dedicate this chapter to Emily (My Emmy), and our brilliant idea for an explosions class that is officially our long-standing joke of the year. Here's to you, Emmy. Love, Seymore (LOL)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


'Cause when there's you, I feel whole

And there's no better feeling in the world

But without you I'm alone

And I'd rather be in love with you.


Turn out the lights now

To see is to believe

I just want you near me

I just want you here with me

And I'd give up everything only for you

It's the least that I could do.


-Michelle Branch- I'd Rather Be in Love


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The sun was beginning to set over the lake, with thousands of brilliant colors of light reflecting upon the glistening water. Anakin Skywalker stood on a rose-covered balcony that overlooked the lake. He leaned against the railing, looking out over the water. He closed his eyes and took in a deep, relaxing breath.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Padmé was in her closet, putting on her dress. She finished and took a deep breath. The dress fit like a dream, magically following her every curve. She was rather amazed, especially after always hearing Sola complain about it not fitting right. But that had always been the first rule of the Wedding Dress: no alterations. Padmé was pleased that it fit so well, and it was very satisfying to know that it was finally hers. And that maybe she could pass it on someday.


She put the headdress atop her head and closed her eyes. She turned around to face the mirror, opened them and...


She sucked in a breath of amazement. She never thought she would see this day, though she had secretly dreamed of it forever.


It was time. She had butterflies in her stomach, but then an image of Anakin flashed through her mind. Him giggling in the fields, his innocent and carefree soul...


And then she knew that this was the right thing to do, the best thing she would ever do in her life. Too bad her family couldn't be here to see her... Well, some sacrifices had to be made for the sake of secrecy.


She took another steadying breath and walked out towards the balcony.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Anakin's thoughts were interrupted by a warm Force-feeling that washed over him completely. That feeling, that presence that he knew better than any other. He straightened up and looked towards the end of the balcony. He felt very nervous of what was to come.


But then he saw his bride approaching, and every feeling of anxiety and self-doubt within him completely melted away. He stood in awe of all that she was. He was transfixed by her beauty, much like he had been the first time they met in Watto's shop. Her sweet little smile arrested his breath. He couldn't help but smile himself.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Padmé saw him, standing there, so patient. A deep kind of love shined through his brilliant blue eyes, and Padmé could feel her knees weaken beneath her. But she kept walking, towards her Anakin, whose golden hair glimmered in the sunlight, whose hands were outstretched, waiting to be entwined with hers.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Her white dress flowed to the ground and trailed behind her. Intricate designs covered the creamy white fabric. A simple matching headdress adorned her curly hair, with only a few soft curls peeking out the sides. Anakin had seen her so many times, in all sorts of dresses. Each moment, every second of her beauty, had been burned into his memory. But of all those days, all her outfits, never had he seen her as beautiful as this. She was only feet away, but every nerve, every fiber of his being positively pulsed her name. His entire body ached for her. Closer, closer she walked. But every step she took seemed like an eternity to each of them. It took all her self-control to not sprint into his arms. But she finished her march properly. Step...step...breathe...


Finally, she stood before him. Padmé stared into her firey blue eyes, and he into her alluring brown ones. They remained trapped, in awe of each other.


Anakin opened his mouth to whisper, but his eyes never left hers.


"Are you an angel?" he breathed.


Padmé smiled at the memory of the innocent little boy she had first known, the boy who very much existed within the handsome man standing before her.


They heard a man clear his throat, and they looked up to see an aged Nubian Holy Man, dressed in the traditional ceremonial robes.


"Shall we begin?" the man asked. Anakin nodded.


"Do you have two valid witnesses?"


"Yes, those two droids," Anakin said, indicating Artoo and Threepio.


"Excellent," the man said, clearing his throat once more.


"We are gathered here on this day," he began, reciting the ancient Nubian texts of marriage. "To bring together the souls of this man and this woman, who have risen above all other obstacles, and declared their undying love to each other for all eternity." He paused for a moment. "Anakin Skywalker, do you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold, to love and to care for, until Death do you part?"


"I do," Anakin said without hesitation.


"Would you like to add anything to this vow?"


"Padmé," he started."My love, my beautiful love. You are my life, Padmé, my very soul. I pledge myself entirely to you. I will love you forever, and I will be with you always. We may someday be apart in body, but our hearts, our souls are connected forevermore. I have always loved you. Even from the moment I met you, in the stench of Watto's shop, I knew that I would marry you someday. I will give anything, do anything, just for the honor of being your husband. I am your protector, Padmé, and you are my angel," he spoke earnestly. Padmé felt her heart beating through her chest.


"And do you, Padmé Amidala, take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold, to love and to care for, until Death do you part?"


"I do..." Padmé breathed.


"Would you care to add anything to this vow?"


"Anakin...Ani...you have always been watching over me. I never worry about harm coming to me, as long as my brave Jedi is by my side. You once saved my planet from the Trade Federation, but even greater, you have saved me from myself. I love you deeply, and hiding my love from you, from myself, is the mistake of all mistakes. I will love you forever, my shooting star..."


"I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you always be together, forever and across the stars. Anakin, you may kiss the bride."


Anakin reached out his hand, and Padmé took it in her own. She grasped his mechanical hand as well, much to his surprise. He gently pulled her into his arms, and he closed his eyes as her lips delicately warmed his. It was so honest, so passionate, breathless. Their lips finally pulled away, and they seemed to stare into each other's souls, taking in this beautiful moment and everything they'd just done. They turned and stood side by side, facing the breathtaking Nubian sunset. The radiant colors reflected off the water and illuminated Padmé's face.


"Come here..." Anakin whispered and pulled her into a tight embrace. They both stood, staring off over the sunset, Anakin's arms wrapped snugly around his wife. He began to sing an old lullaby gently into her ear.


"As I look into your sparkling eyes, I am swept up by this rushing tide..."


Padmé smiled.


"Until the worlds fall and the oceans rise..." he whispered.


"...I will always want you by my side," Padmé finished in a whisper. The sun had fully set behind the mountains, and hints of darkness crept in around them. She leaned up and kissed him.


"Oh, Anakin, I love you so..." she whispered against his cheek.


"I love you too, my Padmé. Mrs. Skywalker..." he said, and finished with one of his trademark goofy grins. She erupted into a fit of giggles. He seized the opportunity and scooped her up into his arms. She giggled again, but Anakin silenced her in a kiss. He drew back, and she very seriously wrapped her arms around his neck. The fabric of her dress spread across his arms, and he carried her inside the resort and into their room, completely disregarding the droids. He gently laid her down on the silky sheets of their bed. He carefully removed his cloak and leaned down to kiss her. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, reveling in his touch and the press of his body against hers. She pulled him down for another hungry kiss, and she forcefully began to peel off his robes. He devoured her body with kisses.


"You are an angel," he finally decided, after ten years of wondering. She pulled him back into her arms, where she felt he belonged for all time.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A/N: Well, the moment we've all been waiting for. Two more chapters coming up soon.