"And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter." Elizabeth's reaction to an invitation from Lady DeBourgh, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Chapter 18: 'A' Is For Nerfherder
Though her first inclination was to drop the journal and run screaming out of the classroom, Padmé instead took a calming breath and closed her eyes before placing it back down on the desk. "Compared to any woman's diary, no. Rather boring for my tastes."
With a snarl, Anakin whipped her around, bringing his face mere inches from the young woman's. "What did you read?"
"Nothing that did not make me think how pathetic you are," she hissed.
Anger Padmé knew a Jedi should not feel tore across Anakin's face as he seethed at her. "You are to never touch my belongings ever again," he said menacingly, his tone easily conveying what would happen if she disobeyed.
Padmé said nothing but boldly stared into his blue eyes.
Neither person blinked.
Then, for the slightest of moments, his blue eyes flickered down to her slightly parted lips, and it momentarily it seemed like he was going to kiss her.
Momentarily.
"Goodbye, Miss Padmé," he hissed, releasing his grip on her. "I never wish to see you in my classes or otherwise."
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Jedi Temple
Nearly a month passed before Padmé heard from Rabé. The letter was handed to her during breakfast, and she had snuck off to the 'fresher and risked being late to class in order to read it.
My Dearest Padmé,
Palo and I are happily and settled here on Naboo. Though his art and my task of keeping the house clean has kept us busy, we are quite happy…
The letter went on and on, and Padmé read it with bittersweet emotions, both rejoicing and agonizing over her friend's fate.
If it would not be much trouble, I would like to have you come stay with us for a while. Partly due to my own fault, we did not part on the best of terms, and that has cost me many a night's sleep. Please do come, for I dearly wish to see you once more and hear of your adventures at the Jedi Temple.
Your Friend,
Rabé
Without hesitation, Padmé bolted from the 'fresher to her room. There, she instantly sent her friend a reply saying that she would gladly go to Naboo.
Albeit a stubborn and passionate woman, Padmé was kindhearted and much nobler than she usually conveyed to… a certain person. Because of this, the young woman found that she was unable to quit Master Skywalker's class and, although Remedial Piloting was permanently dropped, Padmé respectfully attended her lessons.
Still, Padmé felt a little trepidation as she walked up to Anakin's desk after class. She had purposely lagged behind everyone else after class so that they could be alone lest he should mock her or explode again.
The Jedi was hunched over his seat, chewing on his pen as he graded a huge stack of essays, of which one was hers and was sure had a failing grade. Anakin did not look up when she came to stand before him but instead said, "Can I help you Miss Neberrie?"
Swallowing, Padmé prayed that he was in a better mood than when she'd last seen him. "I… I'm not going to be here for the next few weeks," she stammered. "I'm going back to Naboo to visit a friend, and I was wondering what I would need to make up."
"There will be nothing to be made up," he replied flatly. Tossing the pen down on the desk, Anakin stretched while regarding her from behind guarded eyes. "I too am going to be leaving the Temple and, coincidentally, Naboo is one of my destinations. Would you care for me to escort you there?"
So shocked was the young lady that she blurted out, "Please?" in a dumbfounded way. Was he actually offering to help her? When it became apparent that he was not going to attack her, Padmé rested her hands on the wooden desk. "After my trip I… I… I won't be returning to the Temple."
His bushy eyebrows rose at her in surprise, but Anakin said nothing.
"It seems that I might be entering into politics sooner than I had expected," she explained hastily.
At this, Anakin stood up and began to pace. "Stay in the Academy and at the Jedi Temple, Miss Padmé."
"It would be impossible for me to so Master Skywalker…"
"You will not become a Senator."
Resisting the inclination to laugh, Padmé asked incredulously, "Whatever can you possibly mean?"
"Precisely what I said," he said gravely, sitting back down in his seat with hands calmly folded before him. "In a year, you will be married and with child."
At this, Padmé did laugh but immediately sobered as the Jedi continued to give her his overly-serious look. Without noticing that she was doing it, her hands slid down to her stomach. "With who?" she asked, Ferus coming to mind.
"That," said he, "shall entirely be up to you."
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Later that evening, Padmé found herself in a starship headed for Naboo. Sitting next to her in the cockpit was Anakin, but she did not speak to him.
Oddly enough, it was he who broke the silence. "Are you still going to be a Senator, then?"
"I don't know," she shook her head.
"Probably," Anakin muttered. "Women like you never make room for the important things in life…"
Despite her vow to not allow Anakin to get under her skin, Padmé riled at this low insult. "Well, that shows how much you know about women, Master Skywalker."
In a move that Padmé knew she'd regret, she marched over to Anakin and, cupping his face in her hands, kissed him soundly on the lips. At first, his lips protested against hers, and she could feel the uncomfortable shifting of muscles beneath her fingers…
But he kissed her back.
Gasping and crying out, Padmé pulled away from him so forcefully that she toppled over backwards and landed on the hard floor. This only made him laugh at her which only infuriated Padmé more.
"Why is it that you find my touch so repulsive?" he asked on a more serious note as his companion remained sitting on the floor.
With what little dignity she still had, Padmé sat up and glared at him in such a way that would have intimidated any other man. "Where do I begin?" she asked dryly. When he made more room for her on the seat, Padmé stubbornly sat down as far from him as possible.
"We're coming up on Naboo," Anakin seemingly announced out of nowhere. This comment, though it was kindly meant, earned him another glower.
As a matter of fact, she continued to ignore him as they landed on Naboo and walked down the ramp of the ship. Only when the freshness of the planet's air hit her did Padmé momentarily forget all of her troubles… even Anakin.
He too seemed to be under such a trance. Gone was the arrogant and unfriendly look that had graced his handsome features mere moments before- had she not known him, Padmé would have guessed that he had to the temperament of the noblest kind of gentlemen.
But, this was reality.
"You asked what I saw in Saché," Anakin said softly, almost so quietly that she did not hear him. His sad blue eyes looked deep into hers and, for once, gone was the ever-present mocking. "She was life before all this." Even though he said no more, Padmé knew very well what he meant- before his enslavement, the Jedi Order, and the war. "And it felt so good," he whispered.
"I know what you mean," she whispered, laying her soft hand upon his gloved one.
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Spoiler for the next chapter: Finally Rid of Him
"Rabé, come quickly!" came the sudden sound of Palo screaming. His loud footsteps caused them both to rush to the door through which he burst in. "I have an invitation," the man announced breathlessly, pointing out the window at the speeder that was flying off towards the large mansion in the distance, "from Lady DeBourgh. She wishes for us to dine with her tonight so that she can make acquaintances with our, ah… guest."
"Did you accept, dear?" Rabé asked eagerly, her term of endearment nearly making the observing Padmé gag.
"Naturally," he said, obviously trying to not act too excited about it. "Hopefully, you will have something more decent to wear," Palo said with a pointedly disgusted look at Padmé and her plain clothes.
"Of course," she stammered, his rudeness totally catching her off guard.
Nothing more was said on his part before the artist walked back outside.
"She must have heard you were here, somehow," Rabé shrugged. "We'd better be getting ready before my husband bursts a hernia."
