Chapter Fifteen

Padme and Dorme stood on the docking platform, their ship having just pulled away, when they saw the approach of another, the one in which Obi-Wan and Anakin were arriving in. They had hidden Shmi behind some large crates and a loading droid just to their left. They figured that the shock of their appearance was enough, and they didn't want to overwhelm Anakin all at once.

Anakin was the first to exit the ship, followed closely by Obi-Wan. He was expecting Padme to be on the platform waiting for him, but he was not quite expecting what he saw. Before their shuttle had arrived, he had sensed her waiting there, but was curious as to the anxious feelings she was displaying through their bond. The closer he walked toward her, the slower his steps got until he stopped completely, staring at her. She was blue. At first he thought the dissipating Coruscant sunset and his own travel weariness was playing tricks on his eyes, but on closer inspection, she was definitely blue. And what was she wearing? Whatever it was, there wasn't much of it. A familiar tingling shot through his body on his slow head to toe perusal of the seductive outfit. He was completely baffled.

Anakin on the other hand was completely amused. Although he didn't understand the reason for Dorme's green appearance, he was ecstatic that she was waiting on the platform to meet him. He wanted to rush to her and take her in his arms and kiss her passionately, green skin or not. He was about to move forward, until he noticed her hand reaching out to her left side, and then his eyes caught a thin form emerging from the shadows of some nearby docking materials, and he sunk to his knees.

"Mom?"

Shmi quickly approached him, knelt in front of him and started laughing. Padme was sure that the woman had probably not laughed in years. Then Shmi started crying, as did Anakin, Dorme, and Padme. They all watched the two forms kneeling on the ground embracing for a moment, before Anakin pulled the older woman back to her feet.

Padme glanced at Obi-Wan. He had a smile on his face while he watched the heartfelt scene, but once his attention turned back to her, his smile quickly disappeared, and Padme shuddered at the intensity of his glare. He was angry, like she had expected him to be.

With Shmi on his arm, Anakin approached a weeping Dorme. "How did you...You did this?"

Dorme simply nodded, not sure she could speak at the moment.

Shmi grinned at Anakin, removed her arm from his, and then not so gently shoved her son into the waiting green arms of Dorme. They embraced firmly and kissed each other soundly.

Anakin breathlessly whispered into her ear. "Thank you. How can I every repay you?"

Dorme pulled away gently, looking deeply into his dark blue eyes. "You don't have to repay me. I didn't do it as a favor Anakin. I love you."

Anakin once more pulled Dorme to him and firmly pressed his lips against hers before embracing her tightly once more. "I love you. Thank you. Thank you." He then held his arm arm out and Shmi joined their embrace.

Padme stood watching, tears rolling down her blue cheeks, her hand over her mouth. Obi-wan finally approached her, his eyes still glaring, but not so much as before. Dorme shot a quick glance to Padme, who in turn conveyed her need to be alone with Obi-Wan. Dorme nodded and ushered the three of them toward their waiting transport. Padme then turned her attention back toward her husband.

"You...you and Dorme went to Tatooine. By yourselves." His words were clipped and his jaw was clenching.

Padme simply nodded.

"You disguised yourselves as Twi'lek and rescued Shmi."

Padme nodded again.

"Knowing Dorme, everything didn't go as planned though, did it?"

Padme shook her head this time.

"Do I want to know the details?"

Padme shook her head no again.

Right before his loud reprimand, Padme noted a twinkle in his eyes. "You could've been hurt! You could've have been killed! Don't you ever do anything like that again!"

"Yes dear."

She was immediately pulled into a tight embrace and soon felt a shuddering along the length of the strong muscled body in her arms.

His voice was a whisper against her hair. "Promise me."

"I promise Obi-Wan. I promise." And she sealed the promise with a kiss that quickly deepened in its intensity.

Obi-Wan embraced her once more before pulling slightly away, leaning his forehead down against hers.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Hmmm?"

"Can we go home now? I'd really like to change out of this outfit."

"Yes. But...you are going to keep it aren't you? Maybe sometime you could dance for me. Ouch!"