Note from the Author

I had a pretty massive bit of inspiration today, but only half of the end result was something to be proud of. I'm sorry, but this chapter really sucks. To all of you who will get to the end of this chapter and find themselves in need of a strong drink: I've learned my lesson. No more writing marathons, no matter how strong the inspiration is. For all of you new writer's out there: writing when the inspiration is fresh can be awesome, but after about 2500 words, it starts to sound horrible. So just stop and don't keep writing! At least I can promise better chapters in the future.

AND... the story is going to be picking up pace after this. I wanted to give some time to get Anakin and Padme's emotions written out clearly, and to start their relationship on a good track. And now thatall of that is done, I think we can proceed! Yippee!

As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, it really means a lot. I'm done writing boring stuff, so let's get on to the more interesting parts of this story!

And I want to thank froovygirl for suggesting a "Padme's point of view" chapter. I think my attempt was an utter fail, but I'm certain there will be a lot of chapters from Padme's point of view in the future. There are just some things in a woman's life that, from a guy's point of view, are the craziest thing! So expect some of those too!

Once again, thank you for your patience, and things are going to get better!

{trinity6diversia}

Chapter Eight

When Padmé awoke, the first thing she noticed was Anakin's absence. She reached over and felt for him on the other side of the bed, but the blankets were cold. Opening her eyes, she squinted in the bright daylight. It took her a few moments to adjust, and when she did, she noticed that Anakin's cloak was resting over the chair, but his clothes were nowhere to be found. She made a mental note to find him some new clothes when the situation allowed. The Order provided well, but even the better quality Jedi tunics were not suitable for a newly married man on his honeymoon.

Padmé yawned, then stretched, then yawned again, and as she did so, she turned towards the other side of the room, and the massive windows overlooking the mountains. The sunlight streamed through, almost blinding, but refreshing all the same. Anakin must have opened the door, because a chilly breeze came through, filling the room with the lovely scent of evergreen and roses. Padmé took a deep breath, smiling as she closed her eyes.

The door opened then, and Anakin came through, carrying a tray piled high with a delectable fare, including hot cakes soaked with butter, and tea. For himself, there was a massive mug of caf, just the way he liked it.

"Good morning!" he said when he saw Padmé. She sat up against the pillows as he lay the tray in the middle of the bed. "Just like I promised. The best food I could wrestle from the kitchen staff."

"I hope you didn't terrify them," smiled Padmé as she reached for a biscuit.

"Who, me?" He shrugged with a grin. "Only a little."

Anakin sat down at the end of the bed, facing Padmé, so they could enjoy their breakfast in a suitable fashion. They barely spoke the entire time, Padmé enjoying the view of the mountains and Anakin reading up on the latest pod-racing scores from Tatooine. He barely remembered his time living there, but the thrill of the races was most certainly still in him.

"Anakin?"

"Mmm?" He didn't look up from the holopad.

"Did you have any nicknames when you were younger?"

"Why do you ask?" Still absorbed in the news articles.

"Well, if there were anything you'd rather me call you…"

"My mother called me Annie, but… I can't say I'd go for that now."

"I don't think I could ever call you that."

"Then don't. And we'll both be happy." He looked up then, and shot her a quick smile with a twinkle in his eyes.

Silence reigned again as Padmé looked out the windows and sipped her tea. The meal had been nice and filling, and the fresh breeze through the door made her remember her days living on Naboo. It made her hopeful, too. Hopeful that maybe her future would not be passed on Coruscant under the watchful eye of the paparazzi and the Senate. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that she had to get away from there.

"What do they have planned for us today?" she asked finally, breaking the silence as Anakin set down his holopad. She did not look at him.

"Interviews with the Galactic Intercessor this morning," he answered. "You have an hour. I can send one of Breha's handmaids to help you get ready. Then we have the Underworld Tribune right after that, and break for lunch. They've requested 'viewing' time after that. At least no more interviews."

"Well, we can be thankful for that," smiled Padmé. "And yes, have one of Breha's handmaids come and see me."

"As you wish, My Lady," smiled Anakin in return, then lifted the empty tray of food and set it on a side table where a maid would come to remove it. He grabbed his cloak and slipped into it, then roughly combed through his hair with his fingers. Padmé pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed, coming around to join him.

"I've got to meet with Bail this morning, so I'll meet you before the interview, in the private lobby." Padmé reached up to straighten his tunic while he spoke.

"Maybe ask Bail if he has something else you can wear," suggested Padmé then. "You look too much like a Jedi. Quite dreary and depressing."

"Dress to match," teased Anakin, then quickly leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I'm kidding. I'll ask him."

And then he was gone.

As soon as Anakin was gone, Padmé sank down on the end of the bed, her eyes wandering back to the open windows and the mountains beyond. Without knowing what she was doing, she found herself thinking back to all the years she had known Anakin, all the way back to when they first met. That day was so vivid in her mind.

Master Qui Gon had asked her to keep an eye on Anakin. Under the guise of a handmaiden at the time, she couldn't refuse. Nor did she want to. Keeping a nine year old out of trouble was easier than listening to diplomats. That was before the war; before her world became a whirlwind of politics and press reviews. Back when it was simpler.

Padmé had never wanted to be Queen. When she was twelve, her high study scores had gotten her a place on the honor roll, and from there, she made it to the regional testing. She made it through every round of elimination, breezing through them with ease and grace. It did not come as a surprise when she made it to the top and was granted an audience with the Queen of Naboo. There were two dozen finalists, boys and girls alike, but the Queen loved Padmé the most, and so asked if she would become the Princess of Theed and take on the training to become Queen.

Padmé never knew why she agreed. Perhaps because it was an exciting adventure, and for a twelve year old girl with a simple way of life, that seemed like an interesting option. Or perhaps because she knew she had a lot to offer. Ask anyone, and they would have told you that young Padmé Naberrie was serious for her age, and would one day do great things with her life.

For over a year, Padmé studied under the tutelage of the Queen, and just shy of her fourteenth birthday, the Queen officially passed the crown to her. The coronation took place after Padmé turned fourteen, and from then on, she was known as Padmé Amidala, officially taking the last name of the royal line. For many years she served as such, through war and peace, but mostly war.

When Padmé was twenty-two, ten years after completing the regional testing and eight years after becoming Queen, she officially passed her crown on to another. She had served her two terms, and was done with commanding armies from a throne room. She wanted to command from the front lines, and when her newly appointed Queen asked her to become a Senator to voice Naboo's concerns on the Senate, Padmé had agreed.

Padmé met Anakin again two years later, when she was twenty-four and he was nineteen. Chancellor Palpatine was intent on making a Clone Army for the Republic, and both Padmé and the Jedi Council were hesitant over such a move. War started, and the next four years, up until this moment, had passed with battle after battle, argument after argument, stress on top of stress. Anakin had served on the front lines of the war, and Padmé had served on the front lines of the political side of things. And now here they were, husband and wife, and war still raged.

It's almost as if they purposefully wanted to get us out of the war, thought Padmé to herself, and that troubled her more than she cared to say.

Anakin had always been a gentleman, albeit rather arrogant and self-centered in his younger days. He had stolen her ship back when she was Queen. That memory made her smile. She almost wished those days had never left. That they were both as young and innocent as they had been before.

She thought back to him now, and how long they had known each other. Fourteen years officially, but only four years on a personal level. You can't fight a war together without learning a little about each other as a result. And the past eight months of that had been a courtship, of sorts. A forced courtship, but intimate all the same.

Eight months ago, Chancellor Palpatine had informed Padmé that she was to marry Anakin Skywalker. A few days later, after returning from a mission, Anakin had been informed of that same thing, by the Council. They had met that very day. Anakin's exact words, if she remembered correctly, were: "Well, let's get it over with." That was back when he was worn out and battle sore. So they had met, begrudgingly, all the years they had been friends suddenly turned bitter.

Anakin had left soon after to clear up business with his troops. He was nothing if not thorough, and there was no way he was going to leave his troops in ill-form. It took him three of those eight months to transfer duties over to his next in line. During that time, he would sneak holograms to Padmé over the secure military-grade lines, and by doing this, they were able to clear up any harsh feelings between the two. They came to the realization, together, that they were not angry at each other, but at the Council and Senate for doing this. It was a good thing the lines were secure, too, for no one ever found the messages.

And then Anakin was back on Coruscant, and for the next five months, he and Padmé engaged in a much-televised courtship, resulting in a public engagement announcement after just two months, which sparked a flurry of pregnancy rumors. They insisted this was not the case, and Padmé even wore a tighter wedding dress to throw speculation of "hidden bumps". Still, the rumors circled, and Padmé knew the Council and Senate would be very much pleased to find them true.

Padmé knew how much the stress of this mission was getting to her. It was a lifestyle, one she was to accept or there would be consequences. It was like becoming Queen. Everyone else wanted it, but not her. She was too young to know any different though. And becoming a Senator. That had been her own decision, but she blamed it on a bought of independence that happens when you're about that age. But now, an adult, and you would think she'd have her own say. Apparently not. It was infuriating.

Anakin, however, had handled the entire situation rather well for being a man known for his stubbornness, arrogance and impatience.

What is it about this man? The question puzzled Padmé. There was something. She could feel it. Was it the way he looked at her? The way he treated her? The way he made her feel like an angel? What was it?

He… he loves me, thought Padmé suddenly, and the realization was so strong that she couldn't quite grasp it. She dared not voice her own feelings, but where her mind said nothing, her heart made up for it. She couldn't deny the fact that she was falling in love with him. That she always had, and every moment she spent with him only made it stronger. Every little thing he did that made her feel beautiful was one more reason why she loved him.

It helped, too, that they were both feeling like an old married couple. They argued like one, and if they would bring themselves to, Padmé was sure they would make up like one, too. She laughed softly at the idea, then suddenly stopped, stiffening as a strange consciousness brushed against her own. She knew it was Anakin without thinking.

A picture put itself in her mind, and Padmé cringed at the sight. An image of their children, boys and girls alike, miniature Anakin's, if not in physical appearance, at least in everything else. It was a sight, that was for sure. As if one Anakin wasn't enough to handle. Maybe he was…

I'm mellowing, she heard him say in her mind, answering her question for her. Hurry and get ready, we don't want to be late. Then the consciousness left and she was alone with her thoughts once more. She laughed at their absurd form of communication.

And then Padmé realized that the handmaid was there, and was waiting for her. And their day had begun.