Chapter 8

"He will what?!!!!", Krista asked in disbelief, trying to keep her eyes in their place.

"Be your roommate", Luke said cheerfully. "Now that dad and Leia are here there are less rooms available, and Jar Jar's room is very spacious. I'm sure you will find your chambers very comfortable", he added with false politeness.

"Wesa goin' to have lotsa fun!!!!!!", Jar Jar jumped up and down, his ridiculously long ears waving around his head.

"I think I better rent a room somewhere…", Krista whispered, her gaze fixed on Jar Jar's drooling mouth.

"But Krista! You are almost part of our family! You have to stay here with us", Leia objected, pouting for effect. Krista sighed.

//The little witch is right… Besides, I have to keep an eye on Naki now that he's with that poor excuse of an ex-wife//

"You are right, Sab

"My name is Leia", the little one corrected. Krista giggled nervously.

"Oh, my bad. Sorry, darling", she apologized as she patted Leia's shoulder.

//Call me darling again and I'll burn your hair in your sleep. And if you touch me again I'll make sure Jar Jar marries you//, Leia thought angrily.

"Oh, about Jar Jar, Krista…", Luke cut in. Krista's eyes fixed on his blue ones. "Sometimes he sleep-walks around his room at night. Oh, you should hear the noises he makes! And the way he smells when he…"

"WHAT?!", Krista asked, unable to keep his disgusted expression to herself.

"Yousa don't need to worry! Yousa get used to mesa!!!!", Jar Jar soothed (tried to). "And tomorrow wesa goin' on picnic! Wesa eat yummy cookin'!", he announced.

Kirsta and Jar Jar away on a picnic for the entire afternoon… That gave Luke and Leia enough time to prepare something special for their parents.

"This isa my room! Come with mesa! Mesa goin' to show room!", Jar Jar continued. Krista shivered and allowed herself to be guided into her new room by her new roommate. As soon as their door closed, Leia turned to look at her brother.

"Luke, we have to put plan B to motion!"

"Yes, let's talk to the head cook"

*

"Yousa want mesa to feed yousa?", Jar Jar jumbled out, spitting food all over Krista's face.

"Um… No, thanks. I can do it myself", she uttered. As she stared at the food-covered, sticky, sweaty, smelling creature sitting two inches away from her she couldn't help to wonder what Anakin was doing and if his children had set her up with Jar Jar on purpose.

"Mesa remembered some-a-thing! Wesa has to stay here in wippity meadow!", Jar Jar cut in. Krista's face cringed in disbelief.

"What?!!"

"Wesa has to be good friends! Wesa camping in wippity meadow! Wesa go back tomorrow as besta friends!!!", he announced cheerfully.

*

Meanwhile, the Skywalker family was enjoying MUCH pleasant surroundings in the lake retreat. Anakin was being dragged into the dining room by his children, Padmé following them. When the doors opened Anakin and Padmé had to catch their breath.

The room was decorated with wild flowers and candles, the small squared table set for four. Soft music was playing and delicious aromas came from the nearby kitchen.

"What's all this?", Anakin asked smiling. Luke shrugged.

"Well, since this is the only time we'll have dinner with you guys..."

"We wanted to make it special", Leia finished. Padmé eyed her daughter skeptically. She knew her children were planning something.

"Okay then. Let's eat!", Anakin said as he took a seat. Leia giggled at her father's excitement and sat facing her brother. Padmé sat on the other end facing Anakin. "So. What are we having?"

"You'll see...", Leia said mysteriously. Sabé opened the door and entered the room carrying a tray full of delicious plates and drinks. She settled them on the table and smiled knowingly when she saw Anakin's hungry gaze tracing the food.

"Enjoy your dinner", she said simply before leaving the dining room. Anakin nodded absently and poured the food on his plate, eagerly digging his fork in the delicious cooking.

Padmé shook her head and carefully inspected the food. She blew softly and eyes the contents on her fork again. She turned it sideway and blew again before finally taking the food into her mouth. Anakin was already on the second course.

"Mmm", Anakin hummed. "This is delicious!"

"We cooked", the twins announced. Anakin's eyes widened and he gave them a half smile.

"Well, luckily you got your mother's skills", he said. Padmé smiled.

"What do you mean?", Leia asked curiously. Anakin cleaned his mouth with a napkin and cleared his throat.

"Your mother is a great cook, unlike me... I remember this one time when I tried to cook soup for her and it tasted of dirt and salt. It was horrible!", he explained with a chuckle. Padmé looked at him and smiled. Anakin met her gaze and smirked sadly. "But she ate it anyway"

Luke and Leia exchanged mischievous glances.

"It wasn't horrible, it was a very sweet thing to do", Padmé countered. "You cooked it for me one time when I was sick and you didn't want me to get up from the bed. You took care of me the entire weekend and...", her voice trailed off when she noticed all six eyes were on her. Her attention fell on Luke's plate. "Luke, honey, eat before your food gets cold", she gently pressed.

"Oh, about that, mom...", Luke started. He and Leia stood up and pushed the seats under the table. "We already had dinner in the kitchen"

"Yes", Leia continued, "and we are going to bed now. So we'll leave you alone"

Padmé gasped and exchanged awkward looks with Anakin. "Leia, dearest, we can..."

"It's okay, mom", she interrupted. "Enjoy your dinner".

"Good night!", Luke broke in a grin. Leia matched it and soon they were both exiting the room. Anakin looked around and realized he and Padmé were completely alone. Suddenly the lights went off and the only thing brightening the room were the candles on the table.

"Well...", he sighed as he held the bottle of wine, "would you like some?", he offered.

"Please", Padmé said, almost desperately. Anakin smiled and poured some wine on her goblet to then fill some on his own. He watched Padmé's attempt to eat and soon found his eyes locked on her hands. Padmé could feel his eyes and shifted on her seat.

"They are beautiful", Anakin cut in. Padmé cleared her throat and washed down her food with some wine.

"What?", she asked as casually as possible. Anakin mentally shook his head.

"Um, our children, of course", he answered nervously. Padmé knew that wasn't his real answer but smiled nonetheless.

"Yes, they are", she agreed with a smile. They ate in silence, not really enjoying their food but always mindful of the other.

"Padmé", Anakin whispered. Padmé gained the courage to meet his gaze. "I think we should talk about what happened"

"There's nothing to talk about, Anakin. The twins already know about each other and..."

"I wasn't talking about the twins. I'm talking about us", he corrected as he reached for her hand. Padmé's sharp intake of breath told plenty.

"W...What about us?", she whispered shakily.

"I loved you so much and I thought you felt the same for me... I still don't understand what happened between us", he shook his head.

"Anakin, that's part of our past, I don't see where you are going with all this"

"I want to know what really happened"

"We were young and had many differences. We fought all the time and argued on almost every thing... Then you left...", she paused and looked into his eyes, "and you never returned to make things right"

"I thought you didn't want me to come back", he uttered.

"I didn't", she said quickly. They looked at each other, not really knowing what to say.

"I remember when I took the shuttle to Courasant... I was carrying Luke in my arms and looking at him..."

"And?", she prompted softly. Anakin met her eyes.

"And I remember myself wondering if he would ever look like you, and what I would do if he did"

"What do you mean?"

"Because if he did look like you I would be reminded of you all the time. And I hated myself for leaving you because in that moment I realized how much I loved you"

Padmé fought to keep the tears in her eyes and she couldn't find her voice to say anything. Either way Anakin wasn't finished talking.

"And I wanted to come back so badly, to beg you to take me back and to start over"

"What kept you?", she asked, hoping she wasn't sounding too obvious.

"Before I left your room you said you never wanted to see me again. And you said you hated me". She looked away. "And I realized you would never take me back. You didn't love me"

//I did//, she thought at the edge of tears. There were so many things she had said in the past that she now regretted. But she couldn't tell him; not now that he was starting a new life. //He's getting married//. "But that doesn't matter now; You are getting married again", she forced a smile. "Krista seems like a nice girl", she said as she dug her fork in her food.

"Yes, she's great. She makes me happy", Anakin agreed with a half smile.

"I'm glad to hear that, Ani", she said earnestly. He deserved to be happy. She raised her head and noticed he was smiling. "What?"

"You called me 'Ani'. Nobody has called me that in years. I hate that nickname!", he chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sorry", she said as she gulped some wine.

"Don't be. It's nice to hear it again", he reassured with a smirk. "At least from you", he silently added. He stood and walked around the table to kneel next to her. Padmé smiled nervously and gave a little jump when he reached for her face.

"Ani-kin, p...please...", she stuttered. He smiled reassuringly and traced her lips with a napkin. Padmé felt her heart rising up her throat. When he finished he held it in front of her.

"You had wine on your lips", he needlessly explained. She just nodded and excused herself, leaving a perplex Anakin alone in the dining room.

Anakin sighed and shook his head, willing to do anything in order to feel better. Why was he feeling this sad, anyway? He was getting married again, he was starting over.

//It's the shock of seeing her again, that's all//, he reasoned.

As Padmé walked to her chambers, she thought of a similar episode that had taken place years ago...

"Try to drink like a lady, senator!", he blurt out between chuckles. Padmé threw a pillow to his face.

"Shut up, Ani!", she squealed as she tried to catch the droplets on her chin.

"You can't hold one sip in your mouth without spilling half the glass all over you!", he continued. In mock offense she spilled some wine over his head, the red liquid falling around his face. Anakin stared wide-eyed at her.

"Apparently neither can you", she shot back, barely holding back a giggle. Anakin clenched his jaw.

"Now you are on for it, senator!". He tackled her and held her hands above her head, shaking his head furiously and showering her face with wine. Padmé closed her eyes and pleaded him to stop with no success. When he was done he rolled away from her to lie on his back.

Padmé sighed and supported herself on her elbows, looking around and acknowledging the mess they had made. The fine white sheets were stained with red wine and she couldn't care less. Her eyes fixed on Anakin and she noticed he was holding his head and rubbing his eyes. Concerned, she turned to her side and placed a hand on his chest.

"Ani, are you okay?". Anakin shook his head. "Oh, Gods... Did the wine get into your eyes?", she gasped. Again he shook his head.

"I'm dizzy... I think I shook my head once too many times", he muttered. Padmé covered her mouth with her hand in a weak attempt to disguise her laughter. Anakin opened his eyes and frowned. "I'm glad to see how much my condition amuses you", he said, his voice rich with sarcasm. Padmé laughed out loud and leaned down to kiss him but he turned his face. Smiling at his stubbornness she kissed his cheek.

"You taste of wine", came the off-hand comment.

"Well, I'm covered with it thanks to you!", he spat out. Padmé giggled and shook her head. She cupped his cheek but as soon as he felt the contact he pushed her hand away.

"My, my... aren't we grumpy tonight?", she smiled. Anakin rolled his eyes and turned his back on her. Padmé's delight seemed to increase. "Come on!", she drawled. Finally, he turned to look at her and shook his head.

"I swear to the Gods, woman... You are going to be the death of me", he stated. Padmé collapsed into giggles again and snuggled closer to him. Instinctively his arms surrounded her and pulled her closer.

"I never thought we would have so much fun in our honeymoon..."

Padmé examined the tears in her fingers with a cynical eye. //Why are you crying over him again?//. Because she missed him. He made her laugh. He made her happy. //That's over! Get over it! Get over HIM!!//, she spat at herself. A sob choked her, not surprising her at all. She needed to cry. Seeing him again after all those years, seeing he hadn't changed his demeanor at all... It was too much for her to handle. She didn't care about the fights anymore; she didn't care about what separated them all those years ago. She just wanted him back.

//He's getting married//, came the reminder. He wasn't hers to love anymore. Right then and there, Padmé vowed to never remember her past with Anakin. Not ever again.

It was time to move on.