Chapter 7: Oops! My Bad!
This time, Anakin actually succeeded in barging out of the door and down the hallway. It was only when he reached the waiting room that he realized how odd he looked, especially considering the fact that he was running around in a blue gown that was too tight.
But what really stopped him was the fact that someone very familiar impeded his path to the front door.
Padmé.
"What are you doing here?" he gasped, already wanting to flee back to the torture chamber upon seeing his wife.
"I am late for my appointment," Padmé sniffed though she viewed his accoutrement with great interest. "What are you doing here?"
It was then that Anakin realized that he really didn't know the answer to that question. "Are you sick?" he finally decided to ask, but his voice chose that inopportune moment to crack comically.
"Well, considering the fact that most women who visit here that are sick have some transmitted disease, I hope not," Padmé said wryly.
"Oh," Anakin blushed, scuffing his toe into the carpet and ignoring the odd looks he was receiving from the other woman patiently waiting for their turn.
Pregnant women.
Bewildered, Anakin gaped at Padmé who was by then grinning.
"If you want to continue the appointment for me, you are more than welcome," she said sweetly, "but if not, I would very much like to see how our baby is doing."
Oddly enough and for the first time that day, Anakin was not at a loss for words. "You would not believe the day I've had," he said quickly, glad when she gave him a sympathetic gaze. "Those handmaidens of yours are evil."
"I rather like them," Padmé replied in an offended voice as she slipped her hand into his arm.
"But that one that has a fetish for nice nails, she is the weirdest of them all!" Anakin exclaimed, not caring if he insulted Padmé's friend.
Suddenly, anger spread across Padmé's face right as they reached the Torture Chamber door. "Hey, I take offense to that!" she cried out, slapping him soundly in the shoulder.
"And I should care because….?"
"Because that handmaiden was me!"
The past few hours flashed back into Anakin's mind and he was so surprised he actually cried out. "No, it can't be!" he gasped, flattening himself against the wall as Padmé bared a chipped nail. "It is!" After the initial shock was over, Anakin began to laugh. "And you tried to threaten me! Hah! I bet there isn't even such a thing as P.W.S.A.H.!" His discussion was momentarily cut off by the sound of his comlink beeping.
"Master Skywalker," a high pitched voice said, causing Anakin to cringe at her shrillness. "This is the CEO of Public Welfare Serving Abused Handmaidens. It has come to my attention that you have been harassing and threatening a handmaiden by the name of-"
What the CEO said was unheard by Anakin due to the fact that Padmé abruptly burst into a fit of giggles and was currently stifling them by masking her mouth with her hand.
"You shall stand trial for your crimes today at-"
"What a load of bosh," Anakin muttered, angrily flicking off the comlink.
"If that's what you insist," Padmé snickered. Swinging her hair dangerously so it nearly hit Anakin, she marched into the room and shut the door.
Anakin was walking away when the door opened again.
"Oh, Anakin?" she called out loudly though he was only a few feet away. "You were supposed to be in the Senate an hour ago."
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Coming next: Anakin addresses the Senate.
