Oh, Possibilities
By infinitykat
Part 8: Coming Home
"Pretty baby don't you leave me
I have been saving smiles for you
Pretty baby why can't you see
You're the one that I belong to
I'll be the embrace that keeps you warm
For you're the sun that breaks the storm" – "Pretty Baby" Vanessa Carlton
A/N: Da dada dada da da DA!! Another chapter! Hopefully ff.net will be back up by the time I'm done writing. (yep…it is…) Thanks for the reviews …on with the show… (this is the first time I've gotten to the eighth chapter! Wootwoot)
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Waiting. It was something Anakin hated, but learned it was what he had to do as of late. Especially when it involved the illusive Sith. But this was different. There was so scheduled time for the Sith to show up, but Anakin knew that today was the day that Padmé was arriving. This made waiting especially difficult, for each minute felt like an hour.
And in every minute, the hour it held left time for Anakin to hear Obi-Wan's words over and over again.
"I had trusted in you, Anakin, and you broke that trust. I know I'm not your master anymore, but I would advise that you end this immediately."
"It's too late for that," Anakin replied quietly. Obi-Wan's sense became questioning, then slowly turned into understanding.
"You didn't…" he said slowly.
"My children need a father, Obi-Wan," he said, again quietly. Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak and closed it again several times.
"They will be tested," he finally said, "They are strong in the Force, correct?" Anakin nodded.
"Of course, I haven't seen them in two years," Anakin responded, letting a little pain leak in behind his words.
Anakin thought over that conversation, flexing his brand new hand. It was amazing what two years could do in the medical field. Now, instead of a naked droid-esque thing attached to his arm, it looked as though he had two normal hands again. Of course, his new arm was mechanical, but it looked and felt like his other. It was much easier to look at as he thought.
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Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces past and I'm homebound
Three cloaked women were walking quickly down a crowded street in Coruscant, one leading the other two towards the Senatorial Apartment Building. The building only held the Emperor's chambers for the last two years, but none of the former senators' things had been touched. Some even stayed there off and on, but it had had a eerie feel about it, so no one stayed long.
But now, with the Emperor dead, several senators were slowly returning to it, forming committees and discussing what was to become of the government now. Luckily, the Empire didn't have much time to grow, so there were only a few opposing the idea of a New Republic.
Among those returning was the Senator of Naboo, who, on the advice of her Chief of Security, was making the journey to the apartment on foot. She had with her two of her trusted handmaidens, as well as her children.
As Padmé neared her destination, she heard some strands of music over the hustle and bustle of the crowd. For some reason, Padmé was extremely intrigued by it. It was music she had never heard before, but nevertheless music. She began to wander over to its source, Dormé and Sabé following curiously.
A small crowd of people where conjugated near the side of the street. Padmé and her handmaidens pushed through and saw sitting against the wall a human girl, probably in her teens. She had long, light-brown hair and she was playing an instrument Padmé had never seen before. It appeared to be made out of wood with a large round hull that had a long neck. Strings were stretched over a cavity in the hull, and the girl was strumming them. Padmé shifted Leia in her arms to get a better look. The girl finished her current song…
"And when you say," she sang, "It doesn't matter, well it does. And all it takes is a mistake to eat your words. Just one more time, I think I'll drive on home tonight."
The crowd erupted in applause and many dropped credits into a hat in front of her before going about their business again. The girl looked up and noticed Padmé. Her eyes went wide for a moment and then she looked down, embarrassed. She scooped up the credits from the hat and stuffed them into her coat pocket. The girl ran a hand over her forehead and began to play again. She sang…
"One last call to answer
Feeling full of despair
Don't think I can get through it
Just one last prayer…
And it's a leap of faith
When you believe there's someone out there
It's a leap of faith
When you believe that someone cares
And when I call out to you, will you be right there?
Right there…
Waiting for the answer
Remembering the times we would share
Somehow I feel you here beside me
Even though you're not there…"
Padmé stood listening, confused. It seemed as though…no. It couldn't be. Was this girl referring to…Anakin? And the way he could speak to Padmé without saying a word? Being lost in thought, Padmé didn't notice the girl finish her song. As the crowd began to drift away, Padmé approached the girl. She looked apprehensive.
"You're very good with that," Padmé told her politely.
"Thank you," the girl replied as she put her performance's earnings in her black coat pocket.
"What's your name?" asked Padmé.
"Judith," the girl said.
"Never heard a name like that." Judith smiled.
"I didn't think you would," she said.
"Dormé," Padmé called. She whispered something to her handmaiden and put Leia down. "I'm Padmé," she told Judith. Judith nodded. She looked at Leia.
"And what's your name?" she asked her.
"Leia," the child replied, rather shyly. Judith raised her eyebrows a bit.
"What a cool name," she said, glancing at Padmé, "I once read a book with a woman named Leia in it. She was very pretty, just like you." Leia smiled sweetly, very pleased.
"Here," Padmé said, handing Judith some credits. But the girl closed Padmé's hand around the money.
"That's not necessary," she explained quietly, "He's waiting for you. Go to him." Padmé blinked.
You know I'd walk a thousand miles if I could just see you tonight…
"Pardon?" Padmé asked, completely dumbstruck. The girl shook her head.
"You've all been given a second chance…go to him. He's waiting."
Still confused, Padmé picked up Leia and left.
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Though Anakin couldn't help thinking about Obi-Wan, he couldn't keep from noticing something. Every once in a while, he felt a sort of disturbance or ripple, rather, in the Force. It was something he hadn't felt before, so he knew it wasn't Padmé who was growing nearer every moment.
He wandered around her abandoned apartment, looking into the past and seeing their reunion after ten years. Anakin smiled at the memory, remembering needing to stop himself from embracing her but at the same time, having trouble taking those first steps towards her.
And then, he saw the scene he had made in a frustrated rage about Obi-Wan in her bedchamber while she packed. How long ago, it seemed, when Anakin was still a Padawan, so overconfident and scared at the same time.
Anakin was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the turbolift doors slide open. He turned and his stomach flipped as he saw her. Her beautiful hair was piled up behind a handsome gold headband and a single curly strand hung over her shoulder. Her beautiful eyes looking around for him. Her beautiful ears hearing him say hello. Those same beautiful eyes coming to rest on him and her beautiful mouth forming a beautiful smile.
"Ani!" Padmé ran to Anakin and leap into his arms. He spun her around, causing her to giggle wildly. When he put her down, they just looked at each other, letting themselves believe that only they exist. Anakin leaned in slowly for a kiss that Padmé enthusiastically accepted.
When they reluctantly parted, Sabé cleared her throat. Padmé looked over her shoulder at her.
"I'll be putting your things away, then?" she asked, clearly annoyed. Padmé looked back at Anakin.
"Thank you, Sabé," Padmé said, still looking at Anakin. She felt a tug at the hem of her cloak and remembered the twins. She squatted to be eye level with them.
"Look who it is, baby," she told Luke. Leia was already jumping up and down.
"Daddy!" she squealed.
Post note: Okay, not a very good place to stop. And too many beautiful's. Oh well. Promise next one will be better. Both Judy songs are by Michelle Branch, as usual. She seems to find great meaning in them. Lol. REVIEW!