Chapter Eight
Padme's eyes fluttered open and she turned absentmindedly. Her eyes widened when she realized she had just rolled onto an arm. She heard a moan from the other side of the bed and dared to look in the direction the moan came from. Her eyes collided with her Jedi protector's still sleeping face and her mouth dropped open when he rolled towards her. She realized slowly that she was still lying on top of his arm and when he had rolled towards her, his other arm had flown across her waist. She sighed, thinking for a fleeting moment that this is what her life had been like if she hadn't been so incredibly stupid.
She snuggled a little closer to him and was surprised when the hand on her waist gripped her a little tighter. It was almost as if he knew subconsciously what they were doing, but that didn't really matter. It just felt right to be in his arms, to be so close to him again. It had seemed like ages since he had held her like he was now and it felt so good. She felt at home, which was the most refreshing feeling in the world since she had truly only felt this way during the short time she and Anakin had had together. Again, she felt sleep take control of her and everything faded away.
Anakin's eyes opened, ever so slowly, and he looked down at the sleeping angel in his arms. His eyes closed contently for a few more seconds, then he realized the situation he was in. His eyes flew open and he jerked Padme out of his arms, practically throwing her back onto the bed. He sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands, his breath coming in sharp gasps.
Padme watched him from where she had been thrown, completely shocked to the core. She had been sleeping peacefully then was abruptly awoken when he reacted so horribly. She watched him run his hands through his hair and breathe in deeply as if he was trying to come to terms with what had happened between them the night before.
"Anakin…it's not a big deal. You shouldn't worry about it…"
He abruptly turned to look at her at the sound of her voice, his eyes narrowing at her words. "Gods, we didn't even do that when we…"
He trailed off and turned away from her, unable to finish his sentence. What he had wanted to say was that they had never been intimate like that before. And now was not the time to start that, especially with their current situation. His job, no assignment, was to protect her, not romance her. But it wasn't like he had those intentions towards her anymore.
She stared at his back, even more stunned than she had been before. That was the first time either of them had mentioned their past since they had been 'reunited', and she never would have guessed in a million years that he would be the first one to bring it up. She couldn't help but feel incredibly hurt by his actions towards her. She certainly hadn't expected him to react that way. After all, he had practically thrown her across in the bed in anger or surprise, she didn't quite know what. But she didn't respond to his hurtful words or actions, because she knew that she deserved it. He had every right to feel and act the way he did. There was no way she could respond any different.
He stood up and ran his hand through his again, in thought. Then he nodded to himself and turned to look at her. "Well, I'm hungry so I'm going to get some food. Do you want anything?"
Padme looked back at him and almost said yes, but then her emotions took over. "Why can't I come with you?"
Anakin sighed in exasperation. "I already told you."
"So what? You have one of the most recognizable faces in the galaxy. What makes you think that we haven't already been discovered?"
Anakin cringed inside because she knew he was right. God, he hadn't even considered that fact. With all the meticulous planning, he had forgotten that very important detail. He could only nod his head and allow her to follow him to the food line.
Several minutes later, while they were standing in line, an older man behind them tapped Anakin on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, but are you Anakin Skywalker?"
Padme glanced at him smugly, as if to tell him: I told you so. He smiled at her and smoothly answered the man:
"Oh no sir, but that's what everyone tells me. I don't mind being compared to such a fine looking young man."
Padme had to stop herself from rolling her eyes in disgust because the more she thought about it, the more she was angry with him for treating her the way he did earlier that morning. She almost cringed with agony as he placed his arm around her waist as if to prove the point that he wasn't Anakin Skywalker. Then he surprised them both by placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"My name's Ben Lightwater, this is my wife Sabe."
The older man nodded and shook Anakin's hand. Then, much to both Anakin and Padme's delight, the man left them alone.
They sat down several moments later with their food. Anakin sat next to her, in a lame attempt to prove that they were indeed married, but kept a safe distance away from her body.
Anakin looked up and almost choked on his food. That annoying man was back and this time, he had brought his wife. They sat down immediately across from Anakin and Padme, smiling obnoxiously.
"Hello again. I'm Kiel and this is my wife, Bea."
Anakin nodded, trying to hide a grimace while Padme tried desperately to keep herself from laughing out loud at this new development. She couldn't help but enjoy Anakin's discomfort, especially since he had done the same at her apartment.
Bea and Kiel immediately started mindless chatter and eventually started to bicker, while Anakin and Padme cast annoyed glances at each other. Suddenly, without any warning at all, Padme was thrust into the conversation.
"Sabe, dear, what do you think of it? Would you and Ben ever consider it?"
Padme blinked once, and tried to hide her confusion. She had absolutely no idea what they were bickering about. "I'm sorry, consider what?"
Bea laughed heartily and placed a hand over her heart. "Would you and Ben ever consider renewing your vows? I'm trying to get this old geezer to do it, but he doesn't want to. Really, Kiel, that' all I want…"
"Oh, I don't know. It would be pretty romantic."
Bea nodded enthusiastically, urging her to continue. Padme cast a glance at Anakin, who was already looking at her wearily. She snickered a little, and decided to have a little fun.
"Ben isn't very romantic and we haven't even been married for very long. I have to practically beg him to even kiss me before we…"
"I think that's enough, don't you, sweetheart?" Anakin quickly cut in before she could say anything else.
"Oh darling, maybe you just need to hear it. I think you just need more practice…"
Anakin kicked her from under the table, abruptly cutting off the rest of her sentence while Kiel and Bea looked on helplessly at the display. Bea decided to brave it and attempted to cut into their conversation.
"Well, how did he propose, dear?"
Anakin tried to answer for her, scared to death of what she would say, but this time, Padme cut him off.
"It was in a meadow in Naboo, our home planet. There were waterfalls and the scent of wildflowers all around us. It was very romantic…he got down on one knee and said that he had never felt more at peace in his entire life, that I made him whole, and a man. No one has ever said such beautiful words to me before…"
She trailed off, a soft smile on her face. Anakin watched her and wasn't sure what to think at that. She looked like she was in another world, off in some dream land. She looked so beautiful and happy at that moment and he couldn't decide why.
The meal ended soon after and Anakin wordlessly followed Padme back to their room. Something was nagging at him and he just had to know…
"What you said before, about the proposal, was that the way he did it?"
Padme turned to him and replied simply: "No, he didn't propose at all really."
With that, she turned back, leaving Anakin to ponder what she had just said. He had to admit he was relieved at her answer, but now, something else was nagging at him. Something that he too had thought about, night after night, day after day. But all of that was being shoved back into his face to cause him even more pain. She was the one getting married now and she was the one who had hurt him so deeply.
He followed her back into their room, more determined now than ever to keep his feelings under control.
