"Anakin!" Obi-Wan ran to catch up with his former student as he headed back towards the lift. He turned as Obi-Wan approached, his face the picture of happiness. He had never seen him so radiant
"Obi-Wan," he greeted. Something had changed, he thought. His voice seemed lighter, his posture more comfortable. It was as if a great burden had been thrown off his shoulders and he could finally walk upright again. The last time he had seen that look, Gui-Gon was introducing them on the floor of the Nubian Cruiser.
"Anakin," he repeated. He took his friend by the shoulders, and for a minute felt a lecture about 'duty' and 'obligation' coming on. Then all at once, he decided that none of it mattered anymore. The rules no longer applied to him. Perhaps, they never did. Without another thought or word he pulled his former student into an embrace, one that was happily returned.
"I hope you will understand that I am both happy and grieved at this news, Senator," The Queen's exotic accent filtered into the room.
"When can a replacement be sent to Coruscant?" Padme asked, idly rubbing her stomach with one hand. Free of her usual ornate senatorial garb in favor of a light yet highly flattering dress, she found that she finally felt like 'Padme Skywalker' rather than 'Senator Amidala'.
"I believe your replacement is already with you," the Queen replied with a hint of a grin on her flawless powder-white features. "Your handmaid, Dorme, has requested the position."
"Dorme?" she echoed in amazement, "I…I had no idea she had serious interest in politics!" The Queen favored her with a smile.
"She has been studying Political Science while attending to you on Coruscant. I am sure she will make a fine replacement although, no match for yourself of course. Naboo will not only be loosing her greatest Senator, but the senate and even the galaxy will be diminished by your absence."
"Thank you, Majesty." With a nod and a farewell, the screen went dark.
"Today is just full of surprises," Anakin's voice startled her. She turned to see his smiling face as he leaned nonchalantly against her doorframe, watching his wife lovingly.
"Anakin!" she gasped, hand flying to her heart, "I didn't hear you come in." He walked over to her and gathered her into his arms, kissing her deeply. They took their time, leisurely and thoroughly experiencing every taste and texture of the other's mouth. "Mmmmm…" she sighed happily. "I could get used to this." He caressed her cheek lightly with the back of his gloved hand, burying the other in her loose dark hair.
"Now you can," he murmured. "I'm free, Padme, free to love you without fear. As of two hours ago, I am no longer a Jedi."
"Oh, Anakin," she raised her arms to circle his neck, cupping his face with one palm. "That must have been terrible for you." He slid his hand of flesh up her bare arm until he took her hand in his and kissed it.
"I've never felt so free in my life," he said honestly. She smiled and kissed him sweetly.
"I have been freed of my duties as well," she said. "We can leave whenever we're ready." She paused, and caught his eyes to judge his reaction to her next question. "How did Obi-Wan take it?" He smiled, a truly happy smile.
"He couldn't be happier," he declared. "He said he wants to see us before we go, that he has something he wants to give us." They stood smiling at each other for another minute, and then she sighed, burying her face in his chest.
"Oh, Annie," she exclaimed, "I've dreamed of this every day since we married! It's hard to believe it's really happening, we're finally starting our life together!"
"I love you, Padme." They kissed, a simple pledge of their love that had survived despite the odds against them.
Three days later, all but a few personal items were packed and ready. The Queen had given Padme her Nubian Cruiser as a belated wedding gift, and Captain Typho and Dorme had bought them one of the latest speeders, large enough for a family. Padme had been speechless.
Anakin, settling into civilian life quite nicely, had spent the past few days buying himself a wardrobe and a few items he had always wanted, but had been forbidden to him as a Jedi. Not having any money, he traded his skills as a mechanic for his items.
"I'm telling you, Padme," he explained excitedly as styra-plast chips began spilling on the floor from the box of his latest 'toy'. "Ten years from now, everyone in the galaxy will own one of these!" Padme shook her head, confused.
"It's a holo-projector," she pointed out. He paused, but his excitement didn't waver.
"But that's just it, it's not just a holo-projector," he continued, showing her all the new features on the attractively sleek box in front of him. She laughed despite herself.
Her husband, the big kid.
But then, he certainly didn't look like a kid – not in those clothes.
She had loved Anakin's Jedi robes, thinking they only served to enhance his natural beauty, for he was beautiful to her. The clothes he had come home in the other night, however, in her humble opinion, made him look downright sexy.
"Anakin, love," she broke into his gushing tirade about the details of his 'baby'. "I can't even program the holo-recorder." He looked up long enough to comment.
"That's because you never sit long enough to let me teach you," he pointed the remote at her as he spoke. She grinned.
"Well, if your explanations didn't leave me dizzy…" she began, only to be interrupted by the chirping of the comm unit behind her. Anakin was on his feet an over to the wall with all the enthusiasm of a boy half his age.
"Obi-Wan!" he greeted before the image of his former master even appeared on the monitor. "I've been trying to reach you all morning," he complained.
"I had business," he explained, "you know how it is." Anakin nodded, mentally going through all the possible duties he would have been engaging in. "How are you doing? I see you've wasted no time in replacing your Jedi robes with something a little more…"
"Flattering?" Anakin suggested playfully.
"Informal," Obi-Wan finished with a smile. "So what did you want to talk with me about?" Anakin paused, realizing for the first time that he and his master were loosing their connection – they were no longer bound as brothers by the order, now they were just…friends. "Anakin?" Obi-Wan prompted, ripping him from his train of thought.
"Sorry, Mas-" there was a slightly uncomfortable pause until Anakin amended himself, "Obi-Wan." After a pause, one that acknowledged all the things they both knew yet left unsaid, he continued. "Padme and I wanted to invite you for dinner." Obi-Wan's face lit up.
"I'd love to!" They agreed upon a time and bid farewell. Anakin noted painfully, that he no longer wished the Force to be with him.
"Looks like I have a lot of cooking to do," Padme commented. Anakin clapped his wife on the back.
"No need, my love," he said, "tonight, I'll do the cooking!" With that he left to plan out their dinner, leaving a somewhat worried looking Padme behind.
"Have you ever cooked before, Anakin?" she called after him.
"Aw, come on," he called back, "how hard can it be?"