**I've had this story up before, but I'm reposting a chapter a day so more people get to read it**

Chapter Three

Sleeping Arrangements and Interrogations

Padme tried to keep her eyes open, but they continued to occasionally drop. After a moment, she would shake herself and opened them abruptly, only to do it over again a few minutes later.

         Beru noticed this as she kept one eye on Shmi and the other on Padme. She said timidly, "Um, Padme, why don't you yourself get some sleep? It's true Anakin didn't get himself any sleep last night, but neither did you."

         Padme looked at her, surprised. "You knew I was in the garage?"

         Beru smiled and almost laughed. "Of course! You really are tired, aren't you? How else would Threepio have become covered? He looks like a new droid."     

         Padme weakly nodded her head and forced a smile. "Okay, you win, I am tired. But I promised Anakin I would watch over his mother while he slept."

         Beru shook her head. "Don't worry about that. Owen and Mr. Lars and I aren't going anywhere."

         After a little more persuading, Padme finally agreed to get some sleep herself. She urgently repeated to Beru and Owen how Anakin, and now herself, were to be instantly called as soon as Shmi showed signs of waking up. Then she paused, thanked them, and headed out the door.

         When Padme was standing alone in the hallway, she realized she didn't know where she was to go to sleep. The only logical place was the garage with Anakin, so she decided to go there. Besides, it would be easier and quicker for Beru and Owen to get them if need be if they were in the same place.

         When Padme entered the garage, she smiled at the sight of Anakin laying asleep on his 'bed'. He was breathing slowly, obviously sleeping deeply and peacefully too. His expression was soft and adorable.

         Padme silently searched all over the garage, but it was obvious Anakin had found and taken the last of the blankets, and she was too tired to go anywhere to find others. She didn't know what to do, because she would rather not sleep at all than sleep on the bare, cold garage floor. Then suddenly Anakin shivered in his sleep, and she frowned with worry. Padme had noticed how the garage was freezing, and the desert got even colder at night.

         She told herself it was practical, as she walked towards Anakin, for them to use themselves in a method for body warmth. She would be warm, and on a blanket, and Anakin would be warm, if they slept next to each other.

         She slowly stepped closer and closer to Anakin, careful not to wake him, then knelt beside him. He was sleeping on his right side, his head on his Jedi robe as a pillow. She paused and stared at his face, then smoothly stroked his soft cheek.

         After a moment, she laid down on her right side closely next to him, her back to his chest. She blushed a little, and didn't know why, but soon found herself falling fast asleep beside him anyways, warm in both her body, and deeply in her heart.

         Anakin awoke when he felt something shift next to him. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Padme lying by him, asleep, and his jaw dropped. What was she doing there?!

         But soon, Anakin forgot his curiosities, and began to simply enjoy sensing her presence so close to him. He smiled hugely. Obviously she had decided to get some sleep too, and had come to him for a bed. Well, to share his blankets, but that was good enough for him. He quietly breathed in the sent of her brown locks in front of his face, and his heart melted.

         She suddenly shifted again, onto her left side, and now she laid with her face in front of his, still deeply sleeping. She looked beautiful asleep, like a stunning angel. Her chest rose and fell to a slow rhythm, and her face seemed to glow in her calm slumber.

         Anakin silently studied every curve, every muscle, and every inch of her face and neck. She was even more striking asleep, and that was saying something.

         Without even realizing what he was doing, Anakin gradually leaned forward towards her, and tilted his head. Careful to make it light enough to not wake her, yet deep enough to be counted as one, he kissed her softly. He brushed his lips against hers for a moment, and then pulled back slowly, his eyes drinking her in. He knew this was how he wanted to wake up every morning for the rest of his life… next to Padme.

         He smiled warmly, and then draped his left arm around her side. With his other hand he cautiously picked up her head slightly, slipped his right arm underneath it, then laid it back down. He was using his elbow as a pillow for her.

         Anakin smiled with love once more at her, and then shut his eyes. In no time at all, he was fast asleep again.

         It was Padme who woke up next, and she warily lifted her head up. She was only slightly surprised to find that Anakin's arm had been her soft pillow, and that his left arm was draped over her. Anakin must have been shocked when he had found her next to him sleeping, but evidently made a move while she was asleep. She knew she should be mad, but there was no anger in her. She was actually somewhat embarrassed, but also somewhat pleased and flattered. It had been several hours since she had come to sleep next to Anakin. He was still asleep next to her, his left arm still wrapped around her middle. Padme calmly laid her head back down and stared at this young, handsome man in front of her. This young man… she knew loved her despite rules, limitations, and restrictions.

         And did she love him back? She cared deeply for him, deeper than any other man before, and she felt her stomach tie up whenever he entered the room. And whenever he flashed that dazzling smile at her…

         For a moment, she decided to be truthful to herself and not to lie, and she gazed at the face in front of her with longing. Yes, she settled on. She did love Anakin, and with all her heart. She had fallen in love with him the moment he had said those first words on Coruscant.

         So have you… grown more beautiful, I mean.

         Then, like something out of a book, another phrase she had heard before in her life came into her head, one she could not ignore.

         A Jedi shall not know anger. Nor hatred. Nor love.

         Padme closed her eyes and sighed heavily, breathing in Anakin's scent beside her. When she opened her eyes, they were full of a mix of emotions: determination, resolve, purpose, and… sadness.

         Padme silently slipped out of Anakin's hold, then departed for his mother's bedside.

         A few minutes later Anakin also awoke, and the first thing he noticed before he opened his eyes was that Padme was no longer next to him. He placed a hand on the spot on where she had been, and felt that it was still warm. Clearly Padme had not left too long ago. Soon, Anakin himself got up, folded and returned the blanket, replaced his Jedi robe on, and started for his mother's room.

         Not surprisingly, he found Padme sitting in her spot beside his mother. Once again he was touched at how Padme showed such visible extreme care and attention to a woman she had only known briefly ten years ago and was suddenly placed in her aid.

         Anakin went to his usual place beside Shmi, and murmured hellos to a worn out Beru, Owen, and Cliegg. After hours of staying up, Beru and Owen took a much-needed break. Beru bid everyone farewell and said she was going to return to her home now, to spread the news about Shmi's return and to get some sleep herself, but promised to return later. After Owen and Beru shared an emotional private goodbye outside and she'd left, Owen went to his bed to sleep for a few hours too. Cliegg wouldn't leave the room, but was persuaded to move to a far away corner and fall asleep under a blanket in his hovering chair. Within minutes he was sleeping, and Anakin and Padme were once again alone to talk softly to each other.

         Anakin was saying, "When she's better, we have to take my mother to Naboo. She'll love it, I know she will. It's so much more beautiful than Tatooine, she will be shocked."

         Padme grinned and said, "I agree. Which place do you think she will enjoy the most?"

         Anakin frowned in concentration. After a minute, he replied, "Well, I think the palace would be too big for her, despite its majesty. So… I think she'd like your isolated retreat. The island."

         "Be more specific!" Padme laughed. "The gardens? The balustrade's view? The meadow? Or just the house?"

         Anakin smiled as he thought. "Well, now I've narrowed it down to either the meadow or the balustrade's view. Which do you think?"

         Padme thought hard, then replied, "The meadow is spectacular and awe-inspiring, especially the waterfalls; but the balustrade's view is captivating and breath-taking. You can see so much beauty from standing in one spot. Oh, she's your mother, Anakin! You tell me."

         Anakin smiled. "The balustrade. She'll love the view, and the mountains with their reflections, and the water, and the greenery."

         Padme said with a smile without thinking, "Anakin, I didn't know you saw all that. Half the time you were looking at me." Then, realizing what she had said, Padme blushed madly. She covered her mouth and whispered nervously, "Oh, Ani, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed you like that."

         Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry, it's the truth! I was spending half the time looking at you... how could I not? But I'm not embarrassed, so don't bother to fret."

         After a long moment, Padme whispered, "Ani… you're so bad!"

         "That's not the first time I've heard that." She laughed with him.

         They talked comfortably for a few more minutes, and then suddenly Shmi moved and opened her eyes. After twelve hours of a deep sleep, Shmi was rested and ready to talk. Her bones and sprains and cuts had been covered or bandaged securely, and were already starting to heal.

         She turned her eyes to Anakin and smiled lovingly. "Oh, Ani… my Ani. My knight in shining armor. W-where am I?"

         Anakin smiled back warmly, and took her bruised hand in his tenderly. "You're back at your home, Mom. Cliegg and Owen are here, at the homestead. Your safe, remember?"

         Then Shmi remembered, and tears came into her eyes. "Yes… thank you, son. You rescued me."

         Padme blinked away tears, and stood up slowly. "Maybe it's time for me to go. You two have a lot to catch up on."

         But Anakin stopped her. "No, Padme! Stay… please. I want you here."

         Padme smiled and resumed her seat. But she remained quiet as Anakin and his mother exchanged moving words over the next ten minutes.

         After a while, Shmi turned to Padme. "Hello," she whispered unsurely. "I'm sorry… but… you look familiar. But it can't be possible that we've met before… can it?"

         Anakin stood up and walked around the bed and stood next to Padme. He gazed down at his mother. "Mom, you have met her before," He placed an arm around Padme's shoulder. "This is Padme Amidala, but you knew her as Padme. She came with the Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Jar Jar Binks ten years ago as a queen's handmaiden from Naboo, remember? Master Qui-Gon took me with him when they left for Coruscant to make me a Jedi, and Padme here was the young girl with them."

         Soon, Shmi broke into a smile. She whispered weakly, "Of course… I remember. You and my Ani became… fast friends back in Mos Eisley, and… you came with us to the Podracing tournament. Hello again, Padme."
         Padme beamed back at her. "Hello, Mrs. Lars," she said softly.

         Shmi smiled even more. "Why… I never thought I'd see you again. Now how did a beautiful Queen's handmaiden like you come to be here with my Jedi son?"

         Anakin answered for her. "Mom, Padme's no longer a handmaiden. In fact she never was. She was just playing the part of one secretly, while she was really the Queen of Naboo. Her decoy was only pretending to be her since her life was at stake. Trust me, everyone was surprised, especially me." He winked at the girl beside him.

         Shmi gasped. "A—a queen was in my home? Oh, Ani, I never thought I'd ever met royalty! Was the house clean? I don't remember. Oh my, Your Majesty!"

         Anakin laughed. "Mom, calm down, please. Besides, Padme's not the Queen of Naboo anymore. Now she's just the senator."

         Padme pulled a face at him. "Just the senator?" she asked with a fake scowl.

         Anakin held his arms up and grinned. "Sorry. Now she's the former Queen of Naboo, Senator Padme Amidala Naberrie, a representative for her people in the Galactic Senate." He joked, "Satisfied?"

         Padme grinned. "Yes. You must introduce me properly to your mother, Anakin."

         Shmi noticed the clear connection between Anakin and Padme, but said nothing. She merely continued, "So… Padme… what are you doing here? Not that I don't want you here! I'm simply curious."

         Padme nodded understandably and replied, "I'm now a senator for Naboo in the Galactic Senate, like Anakin said, and because of my strong stand on a very particular, important issue, attempts have been made on my life. While Anakin's Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, investigates the source of the attacks, Anakin has been assigned to protect me further. He came with me to Naboo for a few days, and then decided to come here in search of you. I volunteered to follow him, to Tatooine, and now here I am."

         Shmi grinned nodded. "My Ani… a bodyguard for an important, beautiful person like you. How extraordinary!"

         Padme blushed and smiled, and after Anakin gave her shoulders a squeeze, he returned to the other side of the bed.

         Over the next hour or so, Anakin accounted to his mother everything that had happened after he had left her that day on Tatooine, all the way up to his return from Ansion a week or so ago. At this time, Padme went back to the garage for more sleep.

         As soon as the door closed behind Padme, Shmi turned to Anakin with a serious expression on her face, but a twinkle in her eyes.

         "So, how long have you been in love with her?"

         Anakin sat there, shocked at his mother's words. Trying to be smooth, he replied, "What are you talking about, Mom? She's just a senator I'm protecting. An old friend."

         Shmi frowned slightly. "Ani, I know you to well. Tell me."

         Anakin sighed, and then looked at his mother. "Mom…" he whispered. "I'm in love."

         Shmi's smile spread from ear to ear. "She is rather pretty, isn't she?" She winked at him.

         Anakin stared at her. "Mom, you must be joking! She's an absolute angel! The most beautiful, stunning creature to ever travel across this universe, and you say she's rather pretty? She's gorgeous!"

         Shmi smiled even more. "Oh, my Ani's found himself an attractive woman to fall in love with!"

         Anakin sadly shook his head. "Nope. Jedi aren't allowed to marry, much less get into a romantic relationship. It's forbidden."

         Shmi stared at him, stunned. "What? They have rules about that sort of thing?"

         Anakin nodded. "They say it would make things too complicated, and would affect our judgment. Oh, they have endless reasons, but you know me. I just have to break every rule I hear," he said miserably. "And this is one rule I've really broken. I'm head over heels in love with Padme, Mom, and I can't make those feeling disappear no matter how hard I try!" Anakin buried his head in his hands and sighed.

         Shmi lifted her hand and placed it on Anakin's hunched shoulders. "Sweetheart," she said softly. "Tell me everything."

         Anakin felt like a big weight had been taken off his shoulders. He had been completely keeping all of his feelings and emotions about his situation with Padme, and about Padme, to himself. Now, his mother was the perfect person to unravel all of this to. She had listened with love and understanding, in a way only a mother could. She had never interrupted, and had offered encouraging words to her son when he had finished with a heavy sigh.

         After a moment, Shmi said quietly, "She sounds like a very special woman, Ani. One of a kind."

         Anakin smiled at what he thought was a great understatement. "Yeah," he whispered. "She is. But…"

         "…But what?"

         Anakin ran a shaking hand through his hair. "But I'm a Jedi, Mom."

         Shmi patted her son's hand. "Ani, I have no experience in this matter. But I asked you this question once before ten years ago." She looked into her son's blue eyes. He was all grown up. "What does your heart tell you?"

         Anakin didn't answer, but merely gasped and laid his head down on her bed, beside her stomach, and sobbed quietly. His heart and soul were being overwhelmed by several emotions, thoughts, and feelings, and he couldn't handle it anymore at that moment. He cried quietly, and then looked at his mother.

         "I know what I have to do now, Mom. Thank you."

         For the next few minutes, they talked peacefully as Shmi gave Anakin a brief summary as to how she had made her way to the Lars homestead, and what had happened after.

         Suddenly, a loud gasp was heard across the room. Now awake, Cliegg hovered his chair as fast as he could across the floor and to Shmi's side.

         Both Shmi and Cliegg started to tear up as they exchanged loving words and handholding, and Anakin knew it was time he left the room. As he paused for a moment at the door and looked back at his mother, he saw how much she really loved this man, and he was truly happy for her.

TBC…. Tomorrow…:D

PLEASE REVIEW! I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT!