Chapter Ten

"ANAKIN!"

He shot out of bed at the sound of her frightened voice and quickly threw on his robe over his bare chest. He opened the door and collided with Padme's heaving body. He held her, and at the same time, tried to make her calm down so she could tell him what was happening.

"It's alright now. Just take a deep breath."

He paused as he watched her breathing become more normal and he placed his hands on his shoulders for added relief.

"Now tell me. What's going on?"

"I woke up and I saw something in my room."

He nodded quickly and reached for his light saber. He turned back to her and gestured for her to go into his room.

"Stay in there until I get back. Don't answer the door for anyone but me, understand?"

She nodded, her eyes shining with fear and a little worry for him. Once she was safely inside his room, he shut the door behind him and stalked off to investigate.


Anakin sighed in defeat. After searching every inch of Padme's room, he had found absolutely nothing, not even a trace that someone had been there. He scratched his head, wondering wearily if maybe she was just seeing things. He couldn't really blame her though. After all, her life was in constant danger.

He sighed one more time and headed back to his room to let Padme know everything was alright. He pushed open the door and his heart almost broke at the sight in front of him. Padme was curled up on his bed, her back towards him, and he could see her trembling even from where he stood.

He walked over to her cautiously and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying not to wince as she jumped at his touch. She turned to face him and he bit his lip when he immediately noticed her tear stained cheeks.

"It's safe now, Padme. There's no one there."

"Are you sure?"

"I checked everything out. You're fine now."

She nodded and let him help her off the bed. She clung to him as he walked her back to her room, feeling completely drained from tiredness and fear.

When they finally made it back to her room, she looked around frightened, as if she was afraid that someone would jump out of the shadows and strike her down on the spot. Anakin watched her, concern sweeping over him, and he led her back to her bed. When she was settled, he arranged the covers around her and laid a comforting hand on her cheek.

"You're ok, now. I promise. If you need anything, I'm just right down the hall."

She nodded, seeming a little more comforted at his reassurance. She watched him leave the room and she sighed when she saw the door close. Her eyes darted around the room in agitation, as if she was just waiting for an assassin to show up at any moment. She sighed again and forced her eyes to close, hoping beyond hope that sleep would come.

It didn't. Within a matter of moments, she was out of bed and running to Anakin's room.


Anakin had finally settled comfortably in bed and his eyes were beginning to peacefully close, when he heard the soft patting of feet coming in his direction. He tried to block it out, wanting the sleep his body so desperately needed. He cautiously opened one eye only to find Padme standing over his bed. He rubbed his temple with one hand in mock annoyance, but found that she was not amused.

"Anakin, I can't sleep." She whispered.

He propped his elbows up on the bed so he could look at her more closely in the dark and realized that she really was scared.

"Well, what would you like me to do about this, milady?"

She knelt down by his bed and looked him right in the eye to show him that she wasn't kidding around.

"I mean it, Anakin. I'm scared. What if someone's in there right now, just waiting for the right moment to slit my throat or something?"

His face softened drastically at her words and he fought the urge to reach out and touch her.

"What can I do, Padme? Just tell me and I'll do it." He whispered.

He sounded more sincere in that moment than she had ever heard him speak the entire she had known him and she could feel any walls she had constructed around herself begin to tumble. She was melting for him, even in her intense fear for her own life, he was beginning to surpass anything else that was remotely important to her.

She knew what she wanted to say to him. It was just a matter of finding the courage to say it. But she knew that she had to.

"Will you stay with me…just for tonight?"

Anakin hesitated for a moment, wondering if that was such a good idea. Honestly, he didn't think he would be able to sit in the same room as her knowing that she was in a bed. But then again, if that's what it took to make her feel safe then that's what he had to do.

"Ok, Padme."

She smiled brightly, grateful that he had agreed because she knew that she was asking a lot.

Suddenly, Anakin remembered a very important detail that would definitely put a damper on his ability to get out of bed. He hesitantly looked down at the covers and then back at Padme, a sheepish grin spreading across his handsome features.

"Umm…could you turn around so I can get out of bed?"

Padme's face contorted in confusion. "Why?"

Anakin rubbed his forehead in embarrassment and couldn't look at her when he finally spoke again. "I…uh…I don't have any clothes on."

Padme's mouth dropped open out of shock and complete disbelief. "Wh…what did you say?"

He groaned in agony and looked up at her with exasperation. "You heard me. Now, please turn around so I can put my damn clothes on!"

She suppressed a quick giggle from escaping her mouth and obliged him. A thought ran through her mind for a split second, but she immediately shook her head. As much as she would love to take a peek…

"Alright. Let's go."

She followed him out of his room and managed to keep a safe distance away from him while trying desperately not to continuously picture him naked. When they finally arrived back in her room, she quickly crawled back into bed while he pulled up a chair next to her bed.

"Thank you, Anakin. You didn't have to do this, you know."

He sighed softly and looked deeply into her eyes. "I know."

She smiled up at him and closed her eyes. Sleep could come now. Anakin was here.