AU: I've been gone awhile, but now I'm back, hopefully older and wiser, and I hope it shows in my fics. )
This is a post AotC fanfiction, and being fanfiction, may be slightly AU in some chapter.
Chapter One
"Do you really have to go?" Padmé asked her husband, as she laid close to him on the comfortable bed. Her brown eyes were closed in contentment, but she was frowning as she spoke those words.
Anakin Skywalker gave a deep sigh, and tightened his grip around her, his artificial fingers wrapping around her shoulders. He caught sight of the golden fingers, and an emotion passed through him briefly, before he could register it.
"My orders were to escort you back. Obi-wan would want me back as soon as possible," Anakin replied. He gave her a kiss on her brown curls. "You know I would gladly stay if I could." He turned to his side, facing her, and lifted his head up, supporting it with his elbow. "I could stay, you know. I'll tell the Council that I fear for your safety. They'll compromise my safety, but never yours," he remarked, in a slightly bitter tone.
Padmé opened her eyes and studied her husband's face. He gave her a small smile in reassurance, and before she could ask him the question she'd been asking him since his fight with Dooku, he replied her.
"I'm fine, Padmé. A little wounded pride-wise, and an artificial hand, but hey, at least technology's so advanced that this hand actually feels real, albeit gold." He flexed his hand, giving her an impish grin, before swooping down to kiss her lightly on the lips.
"You keep doing that," she complained, but not without a smile on her face.
"Who else, if not me?" Anakin asked teasingly, as he tenderly placed his forehead on hers, so that his blue eyes met her hazel ones. "Do you love me?" He asked suddenly.
Padmé furrowed her brows at the abrupt change in subject. "Don't be silly, Ani," she told him, placing her hand on his cheek.
He shook her hand away, and looked at her intensely. "Do you love me?" He asked again.
"Ani, I'm married to you," she said matter-of-factly. She wrapped her hand to the back of his head and pulled him towards her to kiss him, but he pushed her hand away, and sat up on the other side of the bed, his eyes focussing on a point on the far end of the wall. Padmé sat up too, but refrained from touching him, knowing how much he valued his space when he was in one of his 'moods'.
"Why won't you answer the question?" He asked, an unreasonable anger overcoming his reasoning powers.
"Yes." Padmé wrapped her hands around his waist, and placed her head lovingly on his back. "Ani, yes. I love you. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I'll love you tomorrow." Anakin stiffened, and then relaxed visibly. Turning his body to face her, he met her eyes apologetically. She shook her head slightly at his apology, and smiled lovingly.
"I'll love you until the day I die," she whispered, pulling his head towards her once more.
Except this time, Anakin did not pull away.
Master Yoda looked out of one of the full-length windows in his room, a frown on his face, as he tried to locate the darkness that have seemingly fallen on the Republic unknowingly. His eyes narrowed as he looked on at a tall building in the distance – the Supreme Chancellor's office.
A/N: This is a short chapter, I know. But it's just to get the ball rolling. The later chapters will probably be much longer, but no promises. As this is my first fanfiction in a LONG time, reviews are very much appreciated.
