"Don't worry, Ani, we'll be there soon." I placed a hand on his shoulder. I could see the look of impatience he was trying to hide. He quickly flashed a grin, noting that he'd been caught.
"I'm not worried, just anxious." He smiled a small, embarrassed smile.

"I know, so am I." I giggled a little. I was growing tired, but nevertheless I was happy. It had been more than a year since we'd taken even a small vacation together, and this one was time well deserved.

"Would you like to play our question game?" He asked, eyes lit with hopefulness, or maybe the start of a plan.

"I'd love to, but you have to ask first." I grinned. That was always his condition for us playing this game; mine was that I answered whatever he asked. We played the same game every time he went away, whether for a month or a year. It was sort of a reacquainting tradition.

"As usual." He smirked. "Let's see..." He was staring into my eyes, thinking of something that would, no doubt, embarrass me. "First time you were actually angry with me?" He gave me a devilish grin, always he asked questions he knew I'd fumble over the answers.

"Oh, come on, Anakin."

"Padmé, I won't be angry. Tell me..." He laughed.

I wasn't particularly worried about him being angry, I just didn't like remembering things like that too much.

"No, Ani. I don't want to, I mean, I don't even remember..." I remembered very well, I was trying to hide that with my eyes, but I should have realized Ani could see through that easily.

"Please, I'm just curious. I'll tell you whatever you want to know, in return." He bribed, giving me the same mischievous grin.

"Fine. But you have to promise to just let it go without much discussion, agreed?" I said, sighing in reluctance.

"Agreed." He affirmed.

"I was angry with you when I met you when we were children." I said, moving my eyes from the floor to his own, seeing a puzzled look form in them. "I was angry that you raced for me even though it was terribly unsafe. Well, angry at the risk of it all. I made that well known to Qui-Gon, in a less than acceptable way." I laughed slightly.

"So you did care about me, even then?" He asked, eyes brightened, seeming half-serious.

"Of course I cared about you, Ani. You were a great friend to me, and the next thing I knew you were about to risk your life to help me. I was bound to feel a little strongly about that." I smiled.

His face seemed to be lighting up as I spoke.

"You know why I did it now, don't you?" He asked, taking my hand again, looking into my eyes.

"Yes, Anakin. I do." I blushed again, feeling it creep back into my cheeks; the sight was filling Ani with happiness, because he was smiling broadly at me again.

"You're turn." He nudged me playfully.

"Is it true, that you loved me even when we were children? I know you may've had some feelings, but did you really love me?" I asked, looking at him wonderingly.

His eyes grew intense, and his face stiffened.

"Yes, Padmé, I loved you. Even then, as a child." He seemed to be smiling underneath the mask of seriousness he wore, and I could see the flush break into his cheeks.

I smiled and leaned over to hug him, his embrace sending chills up my spine. I knew he had always said that he loved since we had first laid eyes on each other, but to hear him reassure it in such a serious tone brought new happiness to my heart.

"Didn't you believe me?" He asked, not seeming to fully understand.

"Of course I did. It just sounded a little fantastic. I wasn't sure if you were really in love or just had strong feelings between us." I tried to explain the best I could. I had always believed him, I just wasn't sure that he had said what he was really feeling.

"No, I was always sure about you." He smoothed my hair, now sitting inches away from me.

"I knew we had a connection too, I just refused to see how strong." I admitted, looking at him warmly. "I know." He spoke confidently, smugly even.

"Oh really?" I asked, pulling back a little.

"I could feel it when we were around each other from the moment we reunited." He was reminiscing, I could tell by the smile on his face.

"It just didn't seem like it would be possible, but then I was finding it more feasible than to try and ignore it." I stood up. "Would you like some Caf?" I offered, moving toward the kitchen area of the ship.

"Please, and thank you." He said, watching me curiously. I couldn't help but note how he stared whenever I prepared a meal or anything involving cooking.

"Why do you always look at me so fondly when I cook?" I asked him, thoughtfully casting my eyes in his direction.

"No, it's my turn..." His lips were curled back in a teasing smile. All thoughts of our game, I realized, had left me before he mentioned it.

"Oh, do continue." I said, pouring his caf and my own.

"What would you change about me if you could change something?" He asked, quizzically staring at me.

"I wouldn't change anything, Ani." I smiled, handing him his Caf and sitting down beside him.
He gave me a shifted eyebrow and a small snort of disbelief

"C'mon now, Padmé, I know I must annoy you somehow..." He looked intriguingly at me.

Of course he annoyed me some times, but I wasn't going to bring anything serious up.

"I can't think of anything I'd change." I replied, looking at the floor.

"I'm not going to let you off that easily..." He chuckled.

"Well, you apologize a little too much, especially when you've done nothing wrong." I smiled, caressed his arm.

He laughed at my remark. "I suppose it's your turn now, I'm sorry." He winked at me, playfully.

I thought for a moment, trying to remember the initial question.

"Oh, yes." I cleared my throat. "Why is it you always look at me especially when I'm cooking or cleaning, just little stuff like that?" I leaned forward.

"It's because you remind me of my Mother when you do things like that for me." He said quietly looking up at me.

My face fell at the seriousness I brought back into his eyes. "Ani, I didn't mean to bring up --"
I started to say.

"No, Padmé, it's fine. I love how you remind me of her when you do things like that." He smiled and sipped lightly from his drink.

"Are you boring of this game?" He grasped my shoulder gently.
"Only if you are." I laughed softly.

"I would like to relax a moment. It shouldn't be too much farther." I could see the tension melt from his face.

"Yes, we'll be there quite soon, actually." I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I thought you didn't like caf?" He asked, gesturing towards my cup that sat untouched.

"I hate it, Ani. I don't really know why I made myself a cup." I said, not completely sure how it would sound.

"You made me a second cup, perhaps?" He hinted. "You may have it if you want it." I handed him the cup and smiled brightly.

----

"We'll be there in about fifteen minutes, Anakin." I said gently tapping his shoulder. He'd dozed off for around a half-hour.

"Did I sleep long? Why didn't you wake me?" he asked, a little bewildered.

"I thought you could use some sleep." I slid over beside him, brushing down his hair. It was wildly bushy when he first woke up, every time without fail.

He smiled and took my mouth into a brief kiss. "We'll be there soon I take it?" He asked, just conversing again.
"Yes, we will." I said, staring into his eyes. I hadn't realized how much I had missed him until that moment.

"You know, all the time you were gone, I never stopped thinking about you." It were as though we were always thinking the same thing.

"I never stopped thinking of you either, Anakin. It was torture going to sleep not having you to lie down next to me." Our hands rested in my lap.

"I know, I felt it too. I wanted so badly to talk to you, or just see you. Every minute felt like an hour being away." He said, tightening his grip on my hand.

"All that matters is that we're here now, and we'll be to Naboo in minutes, together." I squeezed his hand back.

It felt amazing to be able to comfort him, to make him see himself as I saw him, to some extent. It made me feel better when I could make him feel happier than he was without me, make him feel the love I had for him.

"You're right, Padmé. We should be happy that we're finally together." His eyes scanned my own. I detected a hint of suggestiveness in his stare and in the wicked smile I was being flashed. I could feel his eyes wash over me.

"Ani, don't look at me like that..." I warned, raising a finger in protest.

"I can't help it." He said, whining.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to learn to help it for now, Love." I smiled teasingly.
His fingers grazed the side of my face, lingering over my lips. His hands were warm, and gentle; His touch sending butterflies through my body.

I felt the ship touch down underneath us, and with much reluctance on both our parts, our contact broke. We hovered inches away from one another. "We should get off the ship, Ani." I said, feeling my heart beat in my chest.

"We should, yes." he replied, not moving. I felt as though I may have to move first if we were to leave. My feet felt heavy and hesitant to move.

I quickly stood up, a small giggle escaping my mouth. "Anakin, we really should go."
I turned to retrieve my bag, handing him his own as well.

Soon we departed the ship, and made our way to a gondola that took us across the sparkling waters. Ani was beside himself with happiness. Everything here always enchanted him so. I knew it was beautiful, but it never occurred to me that seeing this planet for what he saw as could make anyone so enchanted. He looked around, taking in every sight, smell, sound and color.

"Thank you." He spoke politely as he exited the boat first, offering his hand to me. "Thank you." I smiled at him.

"You're welcome, Milady." He jested playfully.

"This weekend seems to be off to a fabulous start." I said, seeing that gleam in his eye again.

"It certainly does..." We stood, looking into one another's eyes for a moment. I took him into a lighthearted kiss and stepped back. "We'd better put our things away." I teased.

He had a deflated smile he wore crookedly in that moment.

He sighed, seeing my mischievous smile.

"Perhaps we should..." He agreed.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 3