Crimson Tears

Chapter 16

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!

Once again, Italics means flashbacks or dreams. =D

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'…For better or worse,

Till death do us part

I'll love you with every beat of my heart…'


Sleep ceased and memories overwhelmed. Memories of a happier time and place, memories of a life she dreaded leaving behind.


"Padme," Gentle touches running up her arm, light tickles and sweet caresses.

With eyes shut, she knew whom the touch belonged to. Still unable to see, she smiled up contentedly at him.

Tender lips brushed her cheeks, "Padme,"

Her smile widened, despite her loss of vision. Sleep continued to close her drowsy lids.

Raw whiskers on his robust chin tickled their way down her ivory skinned as he nuzzled her neck lovingly. His husky tired voice spoke once more, "Padme…"

Slowly her eyes opened to the most beautiful sight ever. Anakin Skywalker was propped on one elbow, bare-chested, and smirking straight at her.

She rolled over on her back, after resting on chest.

"Hmm…" She sighed.

He ran the back of his hand down her naked arm, "Hey."

Tenderly, she reached up and caressed his cheek, grimly touching the raw whiskers that had tingled her neck seconds before, "Hey yourself."

He smiled before leaning down and caressing her lips with her own. They lingered on her lips for a while.

She smiled up at him; "You're up early." She whispered before pulling him down for another lingering kiss.

Once she had pulled away, he laughed slightly and pushed a lose strand of hair behind her ear. Then he sobered; leaning forward and lovingly kissed that same ear.

She mumbled, "Hmm…"

Pulling at his neck, she brought her lips up to meet his for another kiss. And another kiss. And another. He pulled away and smiled at her, "Love…"

"Yes?" She answered.

Leaned forward and kissed her again, his lips lingering for more passionate kisses. Slowly she brought her arms around his neck and his went to hold her just above her waist.

His arms withdrew suddenly and he pulled away once more.

Her brows creased in consternation, "Ani…"

She brought her hand up to cup his cheek, "My beautiful Ani…" Her brows furrowed, "What is it?"

His lips met her in another passionate kiss.

She sighed against his lips and then pushed him away, "Padme…"

"Ani…"

She smiled, running a loving hand down his robust cheek, "I love you, Padme, I love you with all my heart."

Reaching for his hand, she held it against her chest, "You are my heart."

They kissed once more and then he pulled away, "Why do you love me?"

She sighed, "Ani…"

He bent his neck and dropped his head to look at her, "I want to know Padme."

She held his cheek in her hand, "I just do."

He kissed her once more, before burying his head in her chest, "Is it possible to feel anything stronger?"

She ran her hand through his golden curls, caressing the growing mat tenderly, "I don't think so."

'…You don't know me now
I kinda thought that you should somehow

Does that whole mad season got ya down…'



To see joy in Padme's eyes made him work harder. For weeks, he pressed on, doing everything and anything that would help him work up enough strength physically and mentally to some day walk.

He spent so much time in the weight room; the odor of new sweat was like the smell of a home cooked meal.

Other times, Obi-wan took him to a training room, built especially for weaponry practice. It was there that Padme refused to follow them. Obi-wan taught him how to work a lightsaber, whatever that was, and soon he became so good Obi-wan would say he could be a Jedi Knight. Again, whatever that was.

Padme was always waiting in a separate training room that specialized in helping people like him overcome disability or physical impediment.

He wondered why she never went into the other training room, but decided not to press it. He had asked her once and she had left abruptly on the verge of what seemed like tears.

He loved the lightsaber. He loved the training room. He loved them both, almost as much as he'd love to walk. Almost.

So for day and night, he'd sneak away and lift weights and do all sorts of things.

Days passed and then the days turned to weeks and before he knew it Padme was sure he could walk. He wanted to walk for himself, but also for her.

He didn't know why he wanted to walk for her. He just did.

One day he woke knowing and hoping that he would walk. He was lifting weights last minute, trying to gain more mental security in the situation. Padme and he had decided to meet there and then head to the training room.

"Anakin…" A voice called.

He looked up suddenly; unaware someone else had been in the room. The voice was strange and now unfamiliar. It seemed like years ago that he had talked to her.

He took a deep breath in, "Jewel…"

She clasped his shoulder awkwardly, "How are you?"

"I'm going to walk today," He blurted, not knowing what else to say.

Her eyes widened briefly surprised evident on her face. "You are?" She questioned.

His eyes narrowed, his face tightening in focus. "I will."

Her brows furrowed, "What makes you say that?"

He smirked, "I just know."

She kneeled, reached out and held his cheek in her hand. He tried not to flinch, "I'm sorry, Anakin," She caressed it lovingly, he pulled away. She stood stunned. An awkward silence invaded them before she spoke again, "But in six months with me you never walked. What makes you think six weeks will change that?"

He began to shake his head back and fourth, "I just know," He breathed deeply, "I just know."

She smiled a fake, stretched smile, "I'll be sure to watch."

He turned abruptly to look at her, "You've haven't in the past." He looked at her strangely. "You're jealous." He observed.

"Ani…" He turned at the sound of his name. Padme was at the door, looking awkwardly at both of them. He nodded and wheeled his chair toward her.

He stopped in front of Jewel and then looked at Padme. He smiled to himself; "You have nothing to be jealous of."

She watched him leave with Padme, "That's what I'm afraid of."

To be continued…

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