FORGIVABLE SINNERS

:By Laura-chan:

Summary: What if Anakin never had dreams of Padmé dying? Would he have fallen in the Sith's grasp? In this AU of RotS Anakin and Padmé, while trying to end the war, struggle to keep secret their relationship, even with their two children, Luke and Leia.

Time: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. AU

Rating: R or M

Pairing: Anakin/Padmé, my favorite.

Warnings: This story is rated R/M for a reason; in future chapters there will be strong scenes.

Also, don't mind too much my mistakes, please - I'm Italian and English is not my first language.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything apart from the plot: characters, places and background situations come from the great mind of George Lucas.

Songs: for this chapter I suggest you to listen to 'Wherever you will go' by The Calling.

'When you say nothing at all' is owned by Ronan Keating I don't have the text, only the song on cd: forgive me if I mistake some words..

Author's Note: I'm going on a short holiday with some friends of mine to Paris: so, I'm not going to update for a week, I'm really sorry. But I wrote a longer chapter (2 pages and half longer) that I hope you enjoy. More AN in the end.

CHAPTER 3

The sun was still not up when Anakin woke up, his internal clock telling him it was time to go: he sadly glanced at the side where Padmé was spooned against him.

With a sigh, he left his bed and his pregnant wife and, after having put on his breeches and a black shirt, went to the balcony, breathing in the cool air of the night; his handsome features were lightened by the artificial lights of the neons around him and by the soft crimson dawn light which you could begin to see towards east.

Staying on the balcony, with the fresh air around him, had always managed to calm and soothe him.

He sighed and passed a hand through his messy blond hair, as the wind opened his black shirt, his muscled and naked chest exposed: he will soon have to go and meet Obi-wan at the spaceport.

A soft music came from the apartment:

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark

Try as I may I can never explain

What I hear when you don't say a fact

It was a song quite popular in Coruscant: Padmé loved it and often sang it to him.

"Anakin?" he turned and saw his wife walking slowly towards him, a frown on her face, her beautiful body hugged by a semi see-through nightgown.

"Why aren't you in bed?" Padmé asked as he took her in his arms, her hands touching slightly his shoulders.

"Come back inside: it's chilly here."

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

You said it best, when you said nothing at all

"I have to go on a mission soon, Padmé."

"A mission! But you just came back!" she exclaimed, distressed.

"I know." A thumb caressed gently her cheek " But this mission could put an end to the war."

"Really?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes: but it's a secret, you shouldn't have known."

"You're not able to keep secrets from me." She joked, a smile on her face. "Don't worry, no words will come from my mouth."

"I love your smile Padmé."

"I love yours." He grinned.

All day long I can hear people talking now loud

But when you hold me near

You drawn up the crowd

Try as they may, they could never define

What's been said between your heart and mine

"I love this song," Padmé whispered, her face buried in Anakin's warm chest.

He stared down at her "Why?"

She smiled up at him and his breath caught in his throat at the beautiful sight she made.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

You said it best, when you said nothing at all

"It's sweet. It make me feel your presence near even if you're not here."

"I'm sorry, Padmé."

She shook her head sadly.

"We both knew it: we were willing to make some sacrificies and spend less time together to keep our marriage secret, so you could continue your jedi training and I could continue to be a Senator. It's not your fault, it's something we decided together."

"But I wish the Jedi Code would allow me to marry."

"Anakin, stop this: you know that also I, as a Senator, can't do whatever I want to." She sighed. "But I don't want to argue with you… our time together is too short."

They embraced and stayed like that for a few minutes.

Now the light was more intense and the young jedi knew it was time to leave.

"I have to go."

"So soon?" she mumbled quietly.

"Yes, Padmé." He kissed her hair "Obi-wan is waiting for me at the spaceport." She lifted her head.

"How long are you going to stay away?"

Anakin shrugged. "I don't know: not less of three weeks, I think."

"So long!" she asked, really disappointed.

"I'm sorry. But I can't do otherwise." His eyes were sad.

She shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry about: I'm just being a crybaby." She grinned

"It's just that I need you near now."

His mechanical hand, covered by a black glove, stroked the gown over her stomach.

"I hope to be with you when those two will finally see the light." She giggled.

"I hope so, too."

The couple parted and entered the apartment where Anakin took his black cloak and the things necessary for the journey; before exiting, he turned to his wife and took her face between his hands, kissing her softly.

Padmé opened her lips and welcomed him inside her mouth, clutching his back desperately: the kiss turned from sweet to passionate.

Anakin thrusted his hands into her mane, the beautiful curls falling on her back, tilting her head back so he could kiss her savagely, as Padmé pulled him so close that it was impossible to see where she ended and he began. His tongue licked the inside of her mouth, playing with her own and tracing her teeth, as she responded fervently.

Eventually, Anakin remembered who he was and what he had to do: regretfully, he moved his hands to her waist and parted from Padmè, she whined for the loss of his mouth, and he leaned his forehead against hers, both of them panting.

"I have to go, now." He whispered, as she nodded.

"I love you." She said, lifting her eyes, which were shining with unshed tears.

"I love you too: very much." He smiled.

"Don't be reckless. Come back to me safe and… in one piece." She smiled, touching his mechanical hand. He nuzzled her cheek, making her giggle.

"Hey, I'm the best jedi around, you should know it." He smirked. "Don't worry Padmé."

"I'll try: but be careful."

"I will."

"I'm serious, Anakin, I don't want anything to happen to you."

The young jedi was surprised by the fierce expression of her face.

"Padmé, what's going on?" he asked testily.

"I just have a bad feeling." She said worriedly, nibbling her thumb.

He smiled. "I'll repeat it, Padmé: do not worry."

And, with a last look at his wife, he went out the apartment.

With hoods over their heads, the two jedi sat in a corner, at a little round table, on the spaceship directed to Yavin two: they talked quietly between each other, often pointing to an open map of the Yavin system in front of them.

"I don't think he's on Yavin two: too crowded and too many stormtroopers. Nah, I feel that he's on Yavin four: almost desert and there's all the space he wants."

Obi-wan shook his head.

"Don't let your feelings cloud your judgement, my friend: sometimes, the nearer you are to your enemy, the safer you are. We will search both Yavin two and Yavin four, and if we find nothing, we'll try another planet."

Anakin frowned.

"Ok Master. What do you plan to do when we find him?"

"We'll find place to stay hidden and from which we could see without being seen; rememeber what the Council said, Anakin: we just have to spy."

"I know."

He nodded and they stayed silent for a while.

"Senator Amidala."

Padmé was sitting on the couch, her hair falling over her back, dressed only in her nightgown: she hadn't expected Queen Jamillia to call her, especially not this early in the morning.

"Yes, Your Highness? What can I do for you?" she replied politely, as she watched the hologram of the Queen thanks to the holonet.

"Padmé." Jamillia used her friend's first name. "I would like you to come back to Naboo."

"But…"

"No buts, Padmé." The Queen shook her head, hereyes closed in a worried espression. "In your conditions…" and the Senator could see how the other woman's eyes moved to her belly. "…it's not suitable for you to stay in Coruscant. You need to relax, and you can't do it if you're worried about the war and about the Senate. "

Queen Jamillia turned pleading eyes to her. "You have to think about your health: not only for yourself, but also for your unborn baby."

"But I'm Senator! I must stay here." Padmé argued back.

"You always think about your duty, but would you risk your child's life? If you get stressed, it's easier for you to lose it: are you ready to risk that? Well, I'm not. Also, you're still the target of some assassination attempts and on Naboo you'd be safer." The Queen straightened on her chair.

Padmé wanted to protest, but no words went out her open mouth: ske knew Jamillia was right, but she didn't want to admit it. She turned her head, unwilling to show the other woman the conflict on her face.

"Please Padmé: do it for your child and your… man."

That got her: 'If I lose the baby, Anakin would be devasted; I would be devasted.'

She sighed sadly.

"Alright, you win: I'll come back. But not now: first I have to prepare and say goodbye to someone."

"As you wish, dear friend."

Closing the communication, Padmé went to her apartment, happy that both Dormé and Typho agreed that for her safety it was better if she'd stay in another apartment… the only thing they didn't know was that she stayed at Anakin's home.

When she arrived, she called Dormé and asked her to start preparing her suitcases. Taking a dark green cloak, she called Captain Typho and told him she wanted to meet Chancellor Palpatine.

When she entered the Chancellor's studio, she was gladly surprised to see Master Yoda and Master Windu, probably talking about the war.

Palpatine stood up and walked towards her while greeting her.

"Senator Amidala! How good is to see you." He smiled.

"Chancellor, it's a pleasure to see you well." She responsed with a smile of her own, her words referring to his previous kidnapping by Count Dooku. Palpatine just nodded, still smiling.

"My dear Amidala, if I'm allowed, why are you here?"

"Chancellor, I've came to take my leave from you: I'm going to Naboo, for my Queen requested I go back."

Palpaltine took her hands in his. "We're going to miss you in the Senate."

The young woman laughed. "I'm sure Jar Jar Binks will be as good as me." Then she turned to the jedi Masters.

"Master Windu, Master Yoda, I'm glad to meet you so I can say goodbye to both of you."

"I hope you have a good journey back home, Senator." said Mace Windu with a smile, standing in front of her.

She was almost out of the studio, when she turned, like she had an afterthought "Oh, I almost forgot: Masters, could you please give my goodbyes to Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker? They are dear friends, but I have to leave now and I can't bid them farewell."

Yoda's eyes narrowed, but he replied. "A pleasure, it will be, Senator."

A black figure stood in the darkness, watching as a young woman, followed by two other women and a man, moved towards a ship directed to Naboo.

He neared the comlink to his mouth. "She's going back. Shall I kill her now?"

"Not yet." An aged voice answered from the other side. "We are not ready yet. Follow her: make sure you know whatever she does and wherever she goes. Wait for the signal."

"I expect to be payed well." He said harshly.

"You will be, my friend: if you do your work well."

He closed the communication: he trusted few people, and this man was not one of those. He shrugged: the important thing was that he would be payed.

On the other side of the city, another misterious figure was watching the city from the windows of a skyscraper.

He smirked evilly.

"Soon."

(to be continued)

More AN: Wow, this is one of my longest chapters! Well, what do you think? I know, I promised action, but then I thought that this was a good point to stop at.

Did you like it? Then Review! ;)

Yesterday I bought the soundtrack of Revenge of the Sith: it's absolutely wonderful, I love John Williams! He's a genius almost like Lucas.

Also, other than the cd, I found inside a mini-poster (it's two weeks that I'm searching a poster of episode II or III and one of Hayden Christensen… I want it, I need it! My 2 posters of Legolas are not enough…. I want Hayden with long hair, episode III version!) and a dvd with the music linked to the situations of the six movies…very interesting (and only for 21 euros! More or less 21 dollars.. it's not very much, if you consider that a normal cd costs around 20 euros).

In track 14 (The birth of the twins and Padmé's destiny) there's a chorus that sing in Italian… I think they say 'Adorata Stella' (Beloved Star)… How sweet!

Another thing: Vatel and myself were wondering exactly when Anakin, in Episode I, tells Padmé he'll marry her… because I've seen it written in almost all of the fanfictions, but I don't remember it… maybe it is in a special edition? Can you tell us, please?

Ok, I'll stop rambling.

Review Responses:

Fanfiction(dot)net

How I love you guys! I'm really moved: I repeat, I never had so much feedback! (Only for my Italian fanfictions, but they don't count).

An HUGE and very heartful thank you to:

JediSavior5, SkyBlueSW, Riderazzo, FelsGoddess, pirat, Silvain Star anime fan, LVB, Vivilp182, Mei fa-chan, Twilight Princ3ss, ani's angel (you're so sweet!), SWBabyGirl14

Anakin-Padme: did you read my mind? I have written a scene like the one you describe: just wait for next chapter and be prepared… I'm evil.

Moorplant: thanks for the reviews, they have been really helpful: see, I took your advice to write the review responses in the end.

For the AN…well, usually I find annoying when a text is full of AN because they interrupt the storyline, but I thought that two little AN couldn't really hurt: that's why I put them inside the text.

Vatel: aaah… well you see… the first and only time I've seen the Phantom Menace was when it went out in cinemas… so I don't remember it very well. I have to admit I just followed what other fanfictions say, because I didn't remember that phrase (had I heard it, I should remember this important statement, don't you think?)… I gonna to ask because I'm really curious about it.

DaydreamQueenMisha: I'm glad you appreciated the story. Thank you for your suggestion, I'll try to write something like this next time.

Adultfanfiction(dot)net

Another heartful thank you to:

ak, jeannie, bulma9013, ivorycoral.

Tara: You're right. I admit I exaggerated and you didn't deserve to be called a flamer…it was just the tone you used that made me think of a flame, but I didn't want to offend you, it was not in my intentions: I usually accept everything the reviewers say, but your review remembered me of not very friendly e-mails I received not too long ago… but I was actually glad you wrote what you thought was wrong with the story. I was only hurt when you said:

'I'm all for an AU version of ROTS but so far, this isn't a good one.'

I was just asking you not to judge a story from one chapter…

I'm not asking you to write, 'oh it was cool', 'I loved it' (I'm not asking anyone to write this, even if I appreciate it), only not be so harsh in your judgement: I repeat, I just had some bad experiences that made me want to stop writing.

I'm sorry you got offended, but it wasn't really my intent, I wanted to explain why I wrote the things I wrote.

For the dialogue part: maybe my parents are really in love, I dunno, but I've heard people (especially young people) talking to their partners like this… Maybe in Italy we're too sweet and sugary. I know that Anakin and Padmé don't speak to each other like this in the movies (I don't know about books, I never read them.) but this is AU, so I think I'm free to write whatever I want… it wouldn't be a FANfiction, don't you think?

Dru: I'm sorry, I really am, but I'm lost. I don't understand what you mean. You mean that the dialogue is too simple and seems programmed? I'll try to work more on it, but I'd like to do it by myself… It's a challenge for me.

Blue: well… That was childish. Are you proud of yourself?