Crimson Tears
Chapter 13
By aznJEDI13
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Anakin and Amidala and everyone else. Heck, he owns just about everything in the story. This is purely for fan enjoyment.
Notes: This takes place during the Clone Wars. I must warn you right now that I'm not a big fan of Anakin turning into Darth Vader so it probably won't end with anything like that. I hope you like this; I've been reading too many ami/obi ones I was sooooooooooooo mad. That was completely random and I'm going to write a bunch of stories to rebel against them!
Thanks to everyone who left a review! Please continue to do so. I was so shocked, I've never had so many reviews and I enjoyed reading them over and over again so please continue! I like long reviews too!!!
Speaking of confusion! Sorry about Chapter 12 being posted three times! Something happened when I uploaded it and it's very weird. I'm just going to have to leave it like that because other wise it won't read my posts!
Sorry that it seems like I've been absent lately! But I'm back!!!
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To new friends and old friends – glad you're in my life no matter what.
'…All I wanted was a friend to look at me and comprehend…'
He watched her eat. She took perfect little bites and cut her meat in perfect little squares. At least he thought they were perfect squares.
Suddenly she looked up and met his eyes, finally realizing he had been watching her.
"Do you need something Anakin?" She asked quietly.
He shook his head, "No. Of course not."
She smiled playfully, "You just like to watch me eat?"
He raised his brows in questioning, "I can't?"
"No," she looked down, flushing red, embarrassed, "No, of course you can."
She continued to eat. He smiled. Once in a while she would look up and see if he was still watching her. She was perfect, just absolutely perfect. She asked him suddenly, "Aren't you going to eat?"
He jumped, a little startled by her voice, "I don't know, I like to watch you eat."
She shook her head mirthlessly, "You're as skinny as can be and I swear, every day I'm learning new things about you, Anakin Skywalker."
He smirked, sending her heart to do flips, "Is that a compliment?"
"Depends." She laughed mockingly.
He shook his head, "Do you know I'm a sentimentalist, Padme?"
He reached out and took her hand. She gulped and before she answered she looked down at his hand and studied it; "I'm beginning to see…" Her voice trailed off.
His touch was electrifying. Emotions ran through her body with his single touch. His hand was coarse and rough, but gentle and compassionate.
"Tell me Anakin…" She began.
His brows raised again in question, "Yes?"
She looked down at her plate of food, slightly embarassed, "These images you remember…"
His eyes narrowed, "Collin's told you…"
She nodded, "He's told me some." She paused, "What about your recent ones?"
Silence. It filled the void between them and suffocated each of them, "I-I was on the beach," He paused, closing his eyes and trying to remember, "You were there…"
She stayed silent, hoping he would finish and fill her in on the rest. But he didn't.
"That's all?" She asked curiously.
"That's all…" He gulped, "Padme, I don't know what to make of these images," He paused, his voice caught in his throat for a moment, "They're so realistic…"
She reached for her glass, "Yes," Her heart lept suddenly, "I know…"
Confusion was evident on his handsome face, "And, I don't know why, but you're in most of them…"
Her glass fell out of her hand and shattered on the ground.
"Padme, are you all right?" He looked at her pensively.
"Just fine Anakin." she glanced around, "I almost forgot… " her voice trailed off, trying to find a logical explanation as quickly as she could, "I have something to do…"
She stood up and placed her hand on his cheek, "I'll see you at the pool later on today, right?"
He nodded, "Yes," He paused, "Collin's coming isn't he?"
"Yes, of course." She said though distracted.
She turned to walk away; he grabbed her hand, "Padme?"
"Yes, Anakin?" Her eyes bore into his and blue pierced brown for the first time in a long time.
He smiled, once again sending her heart ectasy, "I've enjoyed getting to know you. You're my friend – I'm glad you are."
She smiled, "I know. I've enjoyed it too." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, "I'm very glad you're my friend."
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She hurried down the corridor, towards her quarters. Anakin was remembering more then just bits and pieces; he was really seeing images now. It scared her and excited her at the same time.
She turned the corner and ran smack into Collin.
He looked over at her and smiled, "Padme."
She smiled back, the years of training as a Senator finally coming in handy as she threw him one of her special superficial smiles. Her voice strained slightly as she spoke, "Collin."
"How is Anakin?" He craned his neck at the end of his sentence.
Her smile disappeared and she looked away from his eyes, replying, "Great."
"Making progress?" He questioned.
She nodded, continuously, not really paying attention and she slowly let her voice trail off, "Yes, of course…"
"That's good…" he fidgeted, "Well, since…you're mind's a little at ease since he's progressing, can I offer you dinner after our pool session later today?"
"I'm flattered," She began, searching for some excuse quickly in her mind. Finally, she flashed her left hand up into his face, "But I'm married…"
Collin looked away, disgusted, "He doesn't know, he doesn't remember. You're married to a ghost Padme."
She slapped him. She slapped him so hard; her hand ached after it had happened. But it didn't matter he deserved it. And if she had another chance she would've done it ten times harder.
She pulled her hand back and narrowed her eyes at him, "Don't say that." She paused, her voice seething with anger and her nose flared, "Don't ever say that."
He rubbed his cheek, tenderly, "You can't say that you love him, can you?"
She shook her head, straining her head in irritation, "I can." She closed her eyes in anger, "And I will."
His eyes grew wide appalled, "How? He is a boy now, nothing like a man. He's insecure, he's…"
"I love him, Collin, nothing can change that love." She pointed her finger at him, "Not even you."
He backed up, "But Padme--"
She cut him off, "Now, if you'll excuse me…"
He moved out of her way and watched her run down the corridor.
She came to her quarters, flung herself on the bed and cried. She cried out of joy. She cried out of fear. She cried out of anger. She cried out of love.
She slipped into a peaceful sleep. Dreams did not join her this time cause it seemed everything was going to be all right – sooner or later.
Thoughts ceased and dreams fled her as Anakin's words came back to her. Wiping her eyes, she smiled contentedly.
You're my friend – I'm glad you are.
And with those words echoing through her mind, vivid scenes began, once again, to reel through her mind and throw her into a whirlwind of memories and unforgotten emotions.
Moonlight streamed through the light curtains, casting an ethereal glow on their dinner, combined with the candlelight the food seemed to look more delicious then she guessed it was.
After all, Anakin cooked.
It looked really good on the outside, she assured herself. Anakin only laughed when she made that admonishment.
It was nights like this one that she lived for though. Basking in the warmth of Anakin's arms, feeling secure and impenetrable at the same time, having love run through ever fiber of her body as it was spooned against his.
They had yet to touch the now cold dinner, as their bodies lay entwined on the sheets of their small bed. Their one room apartment was dark, though the feelings of unconditional and unwavering love hung in the air.
His arm tightened around her small body and he mumbled against her shoulder through his light sleep. She smiled slightly at the sound of his slurred words and his husky breath on her bare skin.
She looked down at their dinner table and realized the candles were almost out.
She snuggled deeper into his embrace and kissed his knuckles lightly. He stirred and his eyes opened slightly, sleep still threatening to tear him away.
"Beautiful," He mumbled against her dark brunette tresses, "Oh, Padme…"
Certainly, she lived for these sweet, tender moments.
His body half crushed her and half comforted her at the same time and she enjoyed that feeling. Ever since their first days together in the Clone Wars, she had always felt the need to have him near her, to have his presence there soothing her soul, comforting her heart, and easing her mind.
"Mm…" She mumbled, placing a kiss on his pectoral muscle, "Ani, wake up, love."
He stirred again and this time his eyes opened and stared down at her, "Beautiful."
She nodded, contently closing her eyes, "Dear, our dinner's cold."
Pressing his lips to her hair, "Mm…" He briefly paused and kissed the top of her head, "This is much better."
She laughed, untangling herself from his arms and propping herself up on one elbow before leaning over to kiss him.
He moaned against her mouth and pulled away, "Missed you, Am, so much."
She kissed him again and then pulled back, caressing some of his dirty-blond hair, "Miss you too, Anakin." His name rolled off her tongue so perfectly, so precisely right it made her heart do flips at the very sound of it.
"I can't stand to be away from you, Am, it makes me want you more, makes me miss you more."
She chuckled, "Well, absence does make the heart grow fonder," She paused, still smiling and laughing – still creating music to his ears. Her brown hair spilled down her shoulder and down around her neck, "Shall I send you away again to miss me more."
He kissed her again, pressing his body against her, "You decide." He whispered.
She laughed, her arms encircling his neck, "I think not." He caressed her lips with his once more and then pulled away to trail kissed down her neck. Her breath was shallow and caught in her throat slightly, "No, you definitely will be coming home more often."
He pulled away and blue met brown, piercing her soul, seeing to her heart, "You're my best friend Padme. I love you." He paused, a smile growing on his face, "I don't like leaving you for so long."
She smiled back and reached up to caress some of his hair, "I know."
"You're a part of me. You complete me." He admonished, his husky voice sending shivers down her spine as his breath flew over her flushed and nude body. He smiled, "From the moment I met you, I felt something. I was reminded of you everyday." He paused, "It was like, we were destined, preordained for this fate."
She nodded, "Of course we were."
He shook his head, "You know me inside out, Am. My secrets are yours. You know those inner most pieces of me and you still love me, why?"
Leaning forward she caressed his lips with her own and pulled back astonished, "How can you ask such a thing Ani?" She shook her head, "Your imperfections, your incompleteness is the attractive part of you. I think it's the attractive part of everyone. We are drawn to people that we love and can help at the same time." She paused, "And then how can we not love them when we know everything, more than just their accolades and accomplishments, about them. In fact, I think we love them more."
He sent her his best boyish charmed smirk, "That's why I love you." He paused, "You're smart, beautiful…"
She hit him playfully, "Stop flattering me Ani. I told you I don't like being put on the spot."
"You deserve it." He kissed her bare shoulder, "Its all true baby."
She snuggled closer to him and yawned, "It doesn't matter Ani. I don't like this constant praise." Her eyes began to close.
He nodded and roped an arm around her bare back; "You're amazing." He kissed her shoulder again, "I love you, Padme."
She nodded her head leaning forward as her eyes closed completely, "Love you too." She mumbled.
He smiled to himself. She loved him completely, no matter what he had done wrong or right and no matter what mistakes he had made and would make. He was content with life.
She loved him for him. She was his best friend.
Padme stirred slightly waking to Anakin's somewhat abrupt movements. She looked up at him, "What are you thinking about, love?"
He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose, "You're more than my best friend Padme, you complete me and make me whole and perfect." He smiled, "Without you, I feel lost and alone, but with you, its like I'm alive again and again."
She smiled back at him, "Go to sleep Ani."
And he did just that, but he never saw her close her eyes and sleep in contentment. This was love and she was sure it couldn't get any better or worst.
To be continued…
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