Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here.
AN: Here's chapter 19! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 19: An Angel's Wings
The last six months in seclusion had passed quickly. Anakin's days were spent in training with Obi-Wan mostly in the meadow and by the lake. The Force was extremely strong on Naboo and it seemed to enhance Anakin's abilities. It had proved to be an ideal place to train, as the Force was so easy to feel here. Over the last six months, Obi-Wan found himself questioning the ways of the Jedi. He had journeyed back and forth between Coruscant and Naboo a few times in the past months to meet with the council. The first time he arrived back on Coruscant was after three months on Naboo. It was a big shock to his system to feel how stagnant the Force felt on Coruscant as compared to Naboo. He realized that it was no wonder why they couldn't sense the Sith Lord, when he was able to cloak himself easily on a dead world like Coruscant. Obi-Wan had been lucky to have an extra crystal for Anakin to use. Anakin built his light saber under Obi-Wan's guidance and then his saber training began. He had progressed at an amazing, almost alarming rate and Obi-Wan was still stunned at how easily Anakin learned the ways of the Force.
Padme's days were spent in daily meetings with acting Senator Tarkin over the holocom and the rest of the time, she planned her wedding. It was now fast approaching and today was her final fitting for her dress. Captain Typho and Dorme had made the journey to Theed to pick up Padme's dress and she was now trying it on.
Padme stood still, as her mother zipped the dress up and then stood back, while Padme observed herself in the mirror.
"Oh Padme, you look beautiful," Jobal gushed. Shmi was in awe as well.
"Jobal is right Padme, I believe you are going to be the most beautiful bride in the galaxy," Shmi said.
"Anakin is going to faint," Sola giggled. Lea giggled with her, as Padme twirled in the mirror, a bright smile on her face. Even though the situation in the Senate continued to deteriorate, it had been a wonderful six months for their families. Jobal and Shmi hit it off so well, that it was like they had been friends for years. After months of talking it out, Shmi convinced Cliegg that they could take up farming on Naboo. Jobal, Shmi, Ruwee, and Sola had all taken a trip to Tatooine about three months ago to discuss things with Cliegg and Owen. Ruwee was committed to helping Cliegg and had acquired a stake of land about a mile from the Naberrie home. Ruwee and Cliegg got along well and after crunching some figures for Cliegg, Ruwee convinced him that farming on Naboo would be more profitable. So, a month later, Cliegg, Shmi, Owen and Beru left Tatooine for good. Darred, being an architect, designed a nice modest home. And now, Cliegg, Owen, Beru, Ruwee, and Darred worked to help them build it. Despite the happy times for their family, the threat on Padme's life was still very real and very constant. They had heard reports that Aurra Sing had been lurking around Naboo, but thanks to security, she was spotted and quickly fled Naboo for fear of capture. She eagerly watched for a security breach or just the right opportunity. She was hoping that all the attention that the Senator's wedding was drawing would reveal that opening, but due to the Chancellor's attendance, security was triple the normal on and around Naboo.
"Oh Padme, I think that dress was made for you," Lea said. The dress had a straight collar which rested just above her bosom. The bodice hugged her curves perfectly in all the right places and very thin silver spaghetti straps adorned her shoulders. The skirt was long and full, but not overly full. The dress zipped up the back, just below her shoulder blades. Padme sighed dreamily, as she stared at the dress she would be married in just a week from today. Slowly, Jobal and Shmi began helping her out of it and back into a dark green Senatorial gown for her daily meeting with acting Senator Tarkin.
"Good afternoon Senator," Tarkin greeted.
"Good afternoon acting Senator Tarkin," Padme greeted formally.
"What of the bills I proposed?" Padme asked.
"I'm sorry Senator, but I'm afraid that it did not even make it to the floor," Tarkin said regretfully.
"Why not?" Padme asked.
"I'm sorry milady, but the Chancellor has spoken to me and with the war, he thinks the Senate can simply not be bothered with this right now. There will be a more appropriate time for this down the road," Tarkin said.
"A more appropriate time? Since when is helping end slavery in the outer rim and funding to help refugees on war torn worlds not appropriate!" Padme ranted.
"I know that these two bills were very close to your heart Senator. But we are at war and there are just more pressing matters right now. The Republic's funding is being stretched to the limit as it is," Tarkin replied.
"The Republic is pouring all it's money into this war and as a result, its people are suffering! We cannot let this war destroy the principles on which the Republic was founded!" Padme argued. Tarkin smiled sympathetically at her.
"You know I agree with you Senator, but I'm afraid Chancellor Palpatine's decision on this is final. He will not allow these bills to the floor at this time. Fighting in the outer rim has intensified and the Chancellor has adjourned the Senate for three weeks at which time we will begin reviewing the budgeting of the war," Tarkin informed her. Padme clenched her jaw, but swallowed the haughty response she wanted to retort. He did not agree with her. She knew he would always be one of Palpatine's strongest supporters. But she smiled politely instead.
"Thank you for all you've done Tarkin," she replied.
"You are very welcome milady. I suppose I shall see you in about a week. Chancellor Palpatine thought it would be a nice reprieve for me to return home for a few days, therefore I shall be accompanying him to your wedding. I look forward to the blessed event," Tarkin replied. Padme again forced a smile.
"Thank you, both Anakin and I will look forward to seeing you both. Good day, acting Senator Tarkin," Padme replied, as the transmission blinked out. In the next room, Lea, Sola, and Jobal could hear Padme's yell of frustration.
"That sounds like it didn't go very well," Sola said.
"I'll go see what I can do," Lea said, as she got up and went to find Padme. Currently, Shmi was at the small market of the nearby mountain town the lake house resided near. And she had dragged her son with her.
Anakin stood around the marketplace, bored to tears, while his mother went about picking up the things she needed. He walked around the shop they were in aimlessly, when something behind a glass case caught his eye. The minute he saw it, he knew that it had been made for Padme. It was a silver pendant in the shape of angel's wings on a long silver chain. Tiny sapphires adorned the tips of the angel's wings, three on each side. Money was never something Anakin Skywalker had much of. As a slave, he had nothing. All the money ever made by him in Watto's shop was kept by his old master. Then, on the Moisture farm, money was very tight and there was never much left over. But Anakin quickly learned that his ability to fix things, particularly ships and speeders was valued highly in his time on Coruscant and Naboo. Bail Organa was probably Anakin's favorite out of all Padme's Senator friends, but the man proved to be mechanically inept. Anakin had helped him fix his speeder shortly after he first arrived there with Padme. Bail had been so impressed by his abilities that he found other things for Anakin to fix. He was so happy to find a worthwhile, honest mechanic that he not only paid Anakin handsomely for his work, but told all his friends too. They had kept Anakin busy during the day while Padme was dealing with her Senatorial duties. While Anakin had insisted that Bail did not have to pay him, he insisted and Anakin had stashed quite a savings in a short time. He beamed when he realized he had enough to buy it and quickly purchased the necklace.
As Anakin and Shmi left the shop, Anakin showed his mother what he had found for Padme.
"Isn't it perfect mom?" he said, obviously very pleased with his finding.
"It is sweetheart. She's going to absolutely love it," Shmi said, as they headed toward the speeder. Anakin loaded his mother's bags into the back of the speeder, before he hopped in and sped off toward their residence.
Anakin arrived home and went looking for Padme. He entered their bedroom and saw clothes strewn all over the place. Normally, Padme was very neat and tidy, except for when she was depressed and angry. He picked up an empty candy box, which had once contained Padme's favorite brand of chocolate covered shuura.
"Something tells me that the meeting with Tarkin didn't go very well," Anakin said. He heard the faint sound of water in the bathroom and realized that his angel was probably curled up in a bubble bath about now. He smiled, as he held the small box in his hand. Time to go cheer up his beautiful wife to be.
Obi-Wan searched around for Lea. He had seen her eye him after dinner and then slink off. He had suspicions that she was somewhere waiting on him. For fear of being seen entering her room by anyone other than Anakin and Padme, Obi-Wan decided to go outside and around the house to her veranda. Using the Force, he lifted himself onto her veranda and sure enough found the door unlocked.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were coming," Lea teased, as she turned from her dressing table.
"Of course I was coming. You just snuck off so suddenly after dinner that I wasn't sure where you went," he said, with a smile.
"Well, here I am Jedi," Lea said, with a feral grin. Obi-Wan felt that familiar heat spread to his core. It had been a week and he had just returned this morning from Coruscant. He had attended a few Council meetings concerning the war and also the capture of Senator Amidala's assassin, which they had not been able to do yet. Just a week without her had nearly killed him and he wondered when she had developed such a hold over him.
"It's been a week Obi-Wan, why aren't you kissing me yet?" she asked. He snapped out of his daze and quickly closed the distance between them. Obi-Wan's lips descended on hers in a searing kiss, while their hands traveled all over each other. Lea tugged at his tunic and broke the kiss long enough to lift it over his head. She tackled his lips again and Obi-Wan found himself surprised by her aggressiveness. Together, they let the bed catch their fall...
Padme soaked in her warm bath water, trying to relieve some of the stress. She smiled, as she heard the door slide open, knowing it was Anakin.
"Hi baby," she said softly, as knelt beside the tub.
"Hi, I take it the meeting didn't go very well?" he asked. She nodded.
"No, but everything's better now," she replied, as she leaned up and brushed her lips against his.
"Tell you what, why don't I help you out of here. Then, you can tell me everything that happened. It'll make you feel better," Anakin said. She smiled and nodded, as he grabbed a fluffy towel. He helped her dry off and then wrapped her in her soft, blue robe. He led her out into their bedroom. She sat on the sofa, while he undressed and put his sleep pants on. He joined her on the sofa and pulled her into his arms, where she cuddled close, resting her on his chest. She was silent for a moment, before finally speaking.
"My proposals didn't even make it to the floor Ani. Chancellor Palpatine refused to even let them see the light of day. Apparently, the war takes precedence over the well being of the people," Padme said.
"You tried angel. That's more than anyone else is doing," he replied.
"I went into public service to help people Anakin. But the Republic is falling apart. This war represents a failure to listen. Nothing I've done lately has done any good, because no wants to listen," Padme replied.
"That's not true angel, you know that. Do you know how touched my mother and I were when you presented that bill to propose an end to slavery in the outer rim? We were speechless Padme. Neither of us expected it to go very far, but just the fact that you tried means more to us than you'll ever know," Anakin told her.
"But I wanted to do more than that Anakin. Slavery shouldn't exist! And all those refugees on those war torn planets need help and the Chancellor turns a deaf ear to their suffering!" Padme said, as a few tears escaped down her cheeks. Anakin brushed them away with her thumbs. He raised her chin and brought her eyes to his.
"The people of this galaxy couldn't have better representation. You're such an amazing woman Padme, I can't help but be in awe of you sometimes. I ask the Force what I did to deserve you, because there are times that I realize how out my league you are," Anakin confessed.
"That's not true at all Anakin. We were made for each other baby," she told him, as she brushed her fingers through his shaggy curls.
"You think?" he asked. She smiled and kissed him tenderly.
"I know we were. Don't you ever think you're not good enough for me or let anyone tell you that you aren't. You're everything to me and you're all I'll ever want or need," she replied.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too Ani, so much," she replied, as she held his face in her hands.
"I have something for you angel," he said, with a shy smile. She smiled back.
"What is it my love?" she asked. He placed the small box in her hand and Padme's eyes widened.
"I hope you like it. When I saw it, I couldn't help but think it was made for you," Anakin told her.
"Oh Ani," she said, in surprise, as she carefully opened the hinged case. She gasped, as she laid eyes on the pendant.
"Oh Anakin, it's beautiful. I love it Ani," she said, as she planted kisses all over his face.
"I'm glad angel," he said, as she pushed her hair aside, allowing him to put it around her neck. She leaned her back against him and turned her head to his.
"Oh, it's beautiful Ani," she repeated, as she kissed him. He angled his head, drawing her lips into a passionate kiss. She surrendered herself into Anakin's strong embrace, as his lips moved over hers in a passionate dance...
The next week passed by furiously, as the final plans for the wedding were executed. Security on Naboo was tripled in light of the Chancellor's imminent arrival for the Senator's wedding. Aurra Sing cursed, as she absolutely no way to bypass so much security. Nute Gunray was growing impatient, but she assured the viceroy that the Senator would not stay on Naboo forever. The lure of the problems in the Senate would draw her out soon, despite the dangers to her life. And then, Aurra Sing would have her and finally collect the bounty...
In the next chapter...the wedding... :)