A/N: I've hit the jackpot in terms of inspiration for this story at the moment, so hopefully I can keep it up and pump out a few more chapters before it disappears (tricky little thing that it is).

Also, Dorme is my spirit animal xD

Hope you enjoy! xx

When it came time for Padme to fly back home to Minnesota, she awoke bright and early to begin packing. The past few days had been hectic, as she'd had to complete and submit several assignments early, because they were due when she would be away. Still, it had been worth the extra pressure, because now she could spend five blissful days back home stress-free. Padme was excited to go back home. She missed her mother and looked forward to catching up with her, as they hadn't seen each other since Christmas. And, of course, she thrilled at the idea of spending five days with Anakin, without having to worry about her studies, or his studies, or have their classes get in the way.

Of course, Padme was also excited about the wedding. It would be her and Anakin's first formal event together as a couple, and she had bought a new dress...well, a whole new outfit really, including shoes, purse, and jewellery, specifically for the occasion. The last formal event they'd attended together was Shmi and Cliegg's wedding back in July, but they hadn't been together back then. This was a big moment for them both. Almost as if they were solidifying their relationship; stamping their couple status and declaring it to the world.

She hummed happily to herself as she packed her suitcase full of the necessary essentials. She carefully folded everything – pyjamas, underwear, day clothes, her wedding outfit, and her makeup and toiletry items. Smirking to herself, she also included her red lingerie set that Anakin had loved, as well as several other new lingerie items he had yet to see. She giggled to herself when she held up a sheer, body hugging babydoll in a deep plum colour that was sure to spark Anakin's desire. Dorme had been especially proud of her when she'd come home with her new purchases, and when she'd decided to send Anakin a sneak preview of just one of her new pieces, he'd expressed his enthusiasm rather exuberantly. She also made sure she packed her winter woollies as well, just to be safe, because even though it was slowly getting warmer, back in Minnesota, it would still be cold at this time of year.

Dorme was driving her to the airport in her car, seeing as she didn't have classes today, which Padme was thankful for, because it meant she wouldn't need to catch a cab. After what had happened to Anakin when he'd last caught a cab to the airport, she was a little anxious about riding in one - understandably so. Her flight was due to leave just after noon, which meant she'd arrive sometime in the mid-afternoon, and her mother was to pick her up from the airport. Anakin's flight was due in much earlier than hers, but Padme didn't mind. She'd told him that he should spend the day with his family, and she'd see him later on this evening, wanting to spend her day with her mother and catch up on lost time.

As she packed her bag, she suddenly remembered that her phone charger was out in the kitchen, and she went out to retrieve it, only to find there was a half-naked man in her kitchen. Padme froze in shock for a moment before she realized it was Tyler. He was standing at the sink, getting himself a glass of water, in only a pair of black briefs with his very muscular back facing her. She quickly averted her eyes, feeling her cheeks flush hotly with embarrassment, and coughed uncomfortably, letting him know that she was awake.

With a jolt, he turned around, his bright hazel eyes widening in shock, and he almost choked on his water, hastily swallowing it. Running a hand through his close shaven, fuzzy black hair, he let out a tiny bubble of awkward laughter. "H-hey, Padme…" he greeted her, clearly as embarrassed by the situation as she was.

Keeping her eyes trained on the ground, because she just couldn't look at him while he was practically naked, she swallowed thickly. "Ty… t-this is a… surprise."

"Well…um...yeah...see, Dorme and I went out last night, and – well, it was late when we got back, so it was just easier to…y'know…so, I – we…" He stammered, and Padme physically cringed. She knew that he and Dorme were sleeping together already, which Padme was totally fine with. Since Padme had introduced them, they'd been dating hot and heavy for the past month, and Dorme had often stayed over at his place during that time. But, this was the first time he'd stayed at their apartment, and the surprise of it all caught Padme off guard.

She hadn't been prepared to wake up and walk out into her kitchen this morning to see Tyler in just his briefs. After all, Anakin always took care to wear at least a pair of shorts in the common areas of the apartment when he stayed over to avoid just such a mishap. And, Padme was still only in her pyjamas – a pair of black and white striped fluffy socks, her grey, knee length yoga leggings and one of Anakin's black V-neck t-shirts that he'd left (she'd stolen) the last time he'd visited. Her hair was a mess, she hadn't had a shower yet, and she still had sleep crusted in the corners of her eyes. It was not a sight she wanted her best friend's almost-boyfriend to see.

Groaning, she rubbed her eyes and shook her head. "It's alright, Ty...you don't have to explain it to me. I get it. I just…I wasn't expecting to see you in my kitchen this early in the morning, that's all," she muttered grumpily. Though, she couldn't exactly complain. She supposed it was just karma paying her back for all the times she and Anakin had kept Dorme awake with their own loud, late night…antics.

"S-sorry," he quickly apologized. "I was just thirsty, and I – I'll just go back to…" He broke off, all flustered and awkward, and flashed her a weak smile. Padme could faintly hear Dorme calling to him in a sultry voice through the door; "Come back to bed, Baby," and squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head to rid it of the horrific images that had suddenly formed in her mind. Tyler blanched in embarrassment and muttered another quick apology under his breath before hurrying past her back to Dorme's room and shutting the door behind him.

With a shake of her head, Padme decided to check her phone, which was sitting on the kitchen counter near the stove and immediately brightened when she saw a message from Anakin that read: See you soon babe :). It was their thing, to say 'see you soon'. Almost a replacement for the words 'I love you', and they'd used it since they'd first gotten together, just before Padme had gone back to Harvard for the start of this semester. Padme cherished those little messages more than anything – and she'd saved quite a few of them over the past few months. They were simple and spoke of how hard their relationship was, and yet how much he truly loved her.

Echoing his sentiment, she sent back a reply: See you soon baby :) have a safe flight. She then took her charger back into her room and packed it in her suitcase along with her laptop. It was a little excessive, taking such an enormous bag with her for only five days, but Padme was nothing if not organized. She took pride in being prepared for anything, even if it meant she had to pay extra for baggage on her flight, because it gave her comfort. Anakin would make fun of her for it, she knew, but she didn't care. They were complete opposites in that sense – he preferring to go with the flow and be spontaneous, whereas Padme liked structure, but it was also why they worked so well together.

By the time Padme had finally showered, finished packing, gotten dressed, and returned to the kitchen for breakfast and coffee, Dorme and Tyler were both up and awake. Padme was pleased to see that he was now fully clothed in a black singlet and grey sweatpants that had elastic around the ankles, but she was also surprised to see him actually making breakfast.

And, Padme had to admit, as she took an appreciative whiff of the air, he apparently could cook really well, too. Looking at her roommate, Padme was amused to see Dorme, however, looking barely awake, still clad in her lacy boy short panties and long sleeved blue t-shirt that she'd obviously slept in. She looked up at her from where she was sitting at the counter, long bare legs drawn up to her chin, nursing her coffee almost reverently between her palms. "Mornin'."

Padme grinned at her, shaking her head at how weary her roommate looked. "Good morning. You look tired. Have a late night?" She didn't miss the secretive look Dorme and Tyler shared with each other and instantly regretted her choice of question as her roommate smirked, "Something like that." Was that what it was like for Dorme when Anakin was around? If so, Padme groaned, gaining a whole new perspective.

"You want some breakfast? Ty's cooking…what is it again, Babe?" Dorme asked over her shoulder.

"Corn and zucchini fritters with poached eggs, spinach and avocado salsa," he announced proudly, twisting his head to give Padme a bright, smug smile.

Padme stared at him with wide eyes. He was making what? "Wow. That sounds…healthy."

Groaning, Dorme gave Padme a grimace. "I know," she complained. "I had no idea that when he said he'd cook breakfast, he meant this. I was expecting pancakes or bacon and eggs, y'know? Something actually nice." Dorme shot Padme an unimpressed frown, making her chuckle.

Behind her, Tyler just clicked his tongue. "Those are full of sugar and fat, Babe. This is much better for you. Trust me."

Dorme rolled her eyes and smirked. "This is what happens when you date an athlete," she explained dramatically in a mock-serious tone. "They're so friggin' health conscious! He freaked out this morning when he couldn't have his protein shake or whatever the hell it is, because he stayed here. Didn't ya, Babe?" Dorme rolled her head toward Tyler and arched both of her eyebrows at him.

Tyler turned around and began serving out breakfast, a scowl on his face. "Watch your mouth, missy, or you can simply get nothing, and Padme and I will just have breakfast together." He gave her a pointed look.

Grinning, Dorme batted her eyes at him. "Aw, you wouldn't do that to me would you, Baby?" she simpered, flashing him her best puppy dog eyes look that made Padme smirk, and Tyler practically melted.

Still, he covered it well and met her gaze with a frown. "I don't know if you really deserve this," he teased, withholding her plate from her. Dorme pouted and made grabby hands. "But, since I'm such a nice guy, I'll let you off with a warning...this time," he shot a knowing wink at Padme. When he placed it in front of her, Dorme beamed and leaned across the counter to kiss his cheek gently.

"Thank you, Baby."

The interaction between the two of them made Padme smile. She was so happy that things were working out with them, seeing as she was the one who had brought them together. Dorme deserved someone who genuinely cared about her, after all the confusion and carelessness she'd been subjected to over the years. The whole time they'd been friends, Dorme had never had an actual boyfriend. She'd dated before, and then there was Trey, but she'd never been in a real relationship. It filled Padme with a deep sense of pride to know that she might finally get that chance with Tyler, and she couldn't have been happier for her best friend.

The three of them sat down at the dining table and began to eat breakfast and even though Padme had never eaten anything like it before, she couldn't deny that it was delicious. When they were done, Dorme announced that she was going to have a shower, leaving Tyler and Padme to clean up the dishes. Initially, there was a little awkwardness between the two of them, given what had happened earlier in the morning, but Padme soon recovered and decided to break the silence.

"You two seem happy," she remarked casually, as she dried off the frying pan with a tea towel.

He looked up and gave her what was probably one of the sweetest, most adorable smiles Padme had ever seen on his face. "Y-yeah! We – we are! Well, I am, at least…Dorme's just so…" he broke off with a dopey expression on his face. "She's incredible! I've never met any girl like her before."

Hearing him talk so fondly about her best friend made Padme flush with happiness, and she had to stop herself from throwing her arms around Tyler in a massive hug. It was about time someone else thought her roommate was as amazing as Padme thought she was. "Yeah, she's one of a kind, that one."

Tyler chuckled and continued washing up, with Padme drying everything and putting it all back in the cupboards. "Padme…" he said softly, almost unsurely, and she turned around to face him. There was an unusual expression on his face, as though he was nervous, and she was a little concerned for him. "I think I'm in love with her."

"Oh, Ty…"

"Don't say anything though, okay?" he pleaded frantically. "It's too early to tell her that, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't feel the same way yet. But…yeah…" he muttered, adorably sheepish, and all Padme could do was beam widely at him.

"I won't say a word. Promise."

Dorme reappeared moments later, showered, dressed and looking a whole lot more awake than she was earlier. She caught the looks Padme and Tyler kept throwing at each other and raised her eyebrows suspiciously, but when she asked them what was wrong, they both just shrugged their shoulders nonchalantly.

Then, to soothe her worries, Tyler approached her, hand on her waist, and pecked her softly on her lips. "I'm gonna get going, Babe. Got some stuff to do today, but I'll see you tonight, yeah?"

Dorme nodded with a bright smile and squeezed his hand. "Yeah."

Bidding Padme a good trip home, he then headed back to Dorme's room to change quickly and grab his stuff before heading out the door, shooting Dorme a wink before it closed behind him. Padme chuckled at the dopey look on Dorme's face and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and double check that she'd brought everything she needed for her trip home. Grabbing her woollen pea coat, her scarf and cream beanie, plus her purse, she then left the apartment and dragged her enormous suitcase out to the rickety old elevator, taking it down to the basement of their apartment building, where Dorme's car was parked.

It was an old VW Bug, a pale blue colour that was in need of a new paint job and the air conditioning didn't work, but Dorme couldn't be bothered getting it fixed, or even getting a new car. When Anakin had been visiting last, he'd offered to fix it for her for free the next time he visited and had two working arms again, which Padme had thought was a very sweet and generous offer. He was a genius with machines, particularly cars, from all of his work with Obi-wan when he was a teenager. But, until then, Dorme just had to put up with a faulty vehicle. It was alright now, because it was still a bit nippy, but once summer arrived, a car without air conditioning would be absolutely awful.

As they drove to the airport, Padme decided to pick her best friend's brain about her budding relationship. She couldn't help it – she was solely invested in the whole thing, and she was curious by nature. "So, how are things with you and Ty?"

She didn't miss the flush that immediately decorated Dorme's cheeks at her question or the shy smile that pulled at her lips. "They're… good," she supplied, eyes firmly fixed on the road.

"Just good?" Padme arched an eyebrow. "C'mon. You've gotta give me more than that!"

Rolling her eyes, Dorme smirked impishly. "Well, if you really want to know, it's the best sex I've ever had in my life."

Padme blanched, squeezing her eyes shut again for the second time that morning at her best friend's candour. "Oh my god! Too much information there! Tyler's my friend, too, remember?"

Laughing, Dorme just shook her head. "You asked! Seriously, though, it's… nice. He actually plans things for us to do. And, he cares about me. I mean, how often do you get a guy who can fuck you six ways to Sunday and then make you breakfast in the morning?"

Padme smiled and reached over to give her friend's hand a squeeze in support. "I'm glad you're happy. It's about time a guy actually appreciated you."

"When did you realize you were in love with Anakin?"

The question took Padme by surprise. She wasn't exactly sure when she'd fallen in love with Anakin, because she'd denied her feelings for weeks and weeks over that summer before they'd officially gotten together. "I don't really know," she confessed honestly. "It just...happened. He grew on me slowly, and then, I suppose, it just sort of clicked. Why?"

Dorme shook her head. "Dunno. Just wanted to know. I mean, you left last summer without any intention of finding a boyfriend, and when you returned, you were suddenly madly in love."

Smiling at the memory of that fateful summer, the summer that had changed everything, Padme merely shrugged. "It just happened." Then, on a second thought, she added, "Do you love Tyler?"

Her friend paused and chewed on her bottom lip in thought. "Maybe? I don't know. We haven't really known each that long. I mean, we're just seeing where it goes, y'know? But I...I like him. A lot. A whole lot."

They shared a knowing smile, and oh how Padme dearly wanted to tell her what Tyler had confessed in the kitchen earlier that morning. But, she'd promised him she'd keep it a secret, so she held her tongue, no matter that it was eating her up inside. Was it really so bad that she just wanted Dorme and Tyler to fall in love and get married and have adorable babies? She certainly didn't think so. There was also the prospect of the four of them going out and doing things together; her and Anakin, Dorme and Tyler, two couples that were also good friends, and that certainly excited her. She and Dorme were best friends, she and Tyler got on pretty well, and she just knew that Tyler and Anakin would be two peas in a pod...they were so similar it was almost scary.

"I'm sorry about what happened this morning. Ty told me…" Dorme apologized sincerely.

Laughing good-naturedly, Padme just shook her head. "It's not a problem. He's welcome to stay over any time. It was just a…shock, that's all. I wasn't expecting to see him...and in such a state of dishabille." She said with a smirk.

Dorme nodded. "I was going to tell you, but it was a last minute thing, and by the time we got home, you were already asleep, and I didn't want to wake you…"

Padme brushed her off with a casual wave of her hand. "Dorme, it's totally fine. Honestly. And, if he wants to stay over while I'm gone, that's absolutely okay. Go for it."

The wide smile her friend gave her in response to her offer made Padme grin. She remembered what it was like to be in that stage of a relationship; where everything was new and exciting and light. Of course, she and Anakin were still in that stage sometimes, the distance and time apart saw to that, but things were more comfortable now between them. Less exciting and more...natural. Dorme often joked that it was like they were a married couple already, the way they acted around each other, and whilst Padme scoffed at the idea, she couldn't help but think about it.

Marriage was something she saw way into the future. Something that would happen when they'd both graduated and settled down, both gotten careers and had established lives for themselves. Perhaps it was because she was going to be attending a wedding, but her mind had suddenly been occupied by these thoughts. They weren't ready, Padme knew that. They hadn't even been together for a year yet, and even when she did graduate, Anakin would still be at school. Nonetheless, it was nice to think about; waking up every morning next to Anakin and going to bed beside him every night, building a home and a life together, having children and raising a family. And, of course, the thought of taking Anakin's name, of showing the world that she was his and he was hers, thrilled her to no end.

Anakin and Padme Skywalker.

It sounded nice, right, and any time Padme thought about it, her insides would quiver excitedly. Though it was a long way off, Padme couldn't wait to marry Anakin. She just knew it was her future.

When they arrived at the airport, Dorme wished her a safe flight and told her to 'stop stressing about study and just enjoy this break with your man, okay,' to which Padme rolled her eyes, but laughed anyway. She thanked her friend for driving her, and then lugged her suitcase inside the airport and went to check in. Luckily, she'd arrived early, and decided to go and grab a coffee from one of those little over-priced airport cafés, sat down at a little table and decided to text Anakin again. Hi Baby. Checked in. Flight on time. See you soon. :)

As she settled down and pulled out her copy of Anna Karenina from her carry-on luggage to amuse herself while she waited to board, her phone buzzed. Checking it, she smiled. It was from Anakin: Great! Got a surprise for you! Love you Babe. ;)

Her flight was still running on time, and the time passed quickly, and before she knew it, she was landing in Minneapolis and disembarking. Jobal was waiting for her by the baggage carousel, and Padme beamed when she noticed her, hurrying towards her. The two engaged in a fierce embrace, the world stilling around them. It had been too long since Padme had last seen her mother, and even though they called each other once a week, it was nothing compared to face-to-face communication.

As they pulled away, Padme noticed the tears swimming in her mother's eyes and smiled. She had always been the emotional one in the family – a vast contrast to her father's prickly, and sometimes cold, personality. As Padme glanced over her mother, she noticed how different she looked. Her brown hair was cut in a stylish bob, and she was dressed rather fashionably in a pair of dark jeans and a cream, woollen coat. But, it was her demeanour which was the most different. There was this air of joy and happiness about her that Padme hadn't seen in a very long time. She radiated light. The last time she'd seen Jobal this happy was when she was a little girl, and the sight made her grin with pride. Obviously, her parents' rekindled relationship was having dramatic effects on both parties.

The skin around her eyes crinkled as her mother placed her hands on Padme's shoulders, squeezing them softly. They were of a similar height and build with each other, but the way Jobal was looking at her made Padme feel like she was fourteen again. "It's so good to see you again, Darling," Jobal told her affectionately.

"You too, Mom."

"How have you been?" Her mother asked as they retrieved Padme's suitcase and walked together out to where the car was parked.

"Stressed," Padme laughed, dryly, a deep sigh slipping past her lips. The past month had really taken its toll on her wellbeing; both mentally and physically, and she was more than grateful for the break. Of course, it wouldn't be long enough, and once she returned to Harvard, her immense workload would pick right back up again. The light at the end of the tunnel – her graduation – was only a couple more months away, and Padme was determined to keep herself together until that moment.

Jobal echoed her thoughts, "It's not long now, Darling. You'll be graduated soon!"

The thought brought a smile to Padme's lips. "I know!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it."

They reached the car, and Jobal helped Padme lug her suitcase into the boot – because it was rather heavy – and then the two of them drove off back home, paying the parking fee as they went. "What are you going to do with all of your spare time?" Jobal teased with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes, Padme groaned. "Find a job, I suppose. Or, maybe I'll just take a year off and travel or something. I've always wanted to do that!"

"And, how does Anakin fit into all of this?" her mother asked, twisting her head to give her a pointed look.

Padme sighed, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. It was a dilemma that she thought about constantly. How did Anakin fit into her life plan? He was a major part of her life, and she loved him more than anything. But, he was still at school, and would be for the next few years. What was she supposed to do while she waited for him to graduate? The simple solution would be to just move to Chicago and find a job there somewhere. She was a Harvard graduate; it shouldn't be too hard. But, Padme was ambitious. Maybe it made her selfish, but she didn't want to limit herself or her career aspirations just because she was waiting around for Anakin to finish his degree. There were things she wanted to do with her life; things she wanted to see, to accomplish, and Anakin would be a barrier to most of those things.

Then, of course, there was the issue of their relationship. Padme had dreamed of travelling and exploring the world for years, before Anakin had even come back into her life, and she worried that, if she decided to do that, he wouldn't cope. The long distance was torture enough for him now; his behaviour towards Clovis had proved that much.

He needed her. Desperately.

What would happen to him if she wasn't there to ground him, to support him? Padme hoped that his therapy would help him, that he would be fine, that their relationship would survive, but a small part of her was concerned that it would ruin him. He was far too dependent on her, much more so than she was of him.

Moving to Chicago would be the best thing to do for Anakin, but would it be the best thing for her? She hated long distance as much as he did, and missed him terribly when they were apart, but Padme wasn't the type of girl to put her life on hold just for a man. Even if that man was the love of her life. She wanted a career; she wanted to be able to look after and take care of herself, to be successful. All her life she had lived under the protective umbrella of her father's name and money. Padme wanted to come into her own success, make her own name. In many ways, her mother was right. She was her father's daughter.

But then, of course, she wanted to be with Anakin, too. She wanted to eventually marry him one day, to raise a family with him, to build a life with him. Seeking a career could jeopardize that future. Groaning, Padme put her head in her hands, despairingly. Why was everything so complicated? Her relationship with Anakin had put a huge rift in her perfect plan, and as sweet a rift as it was (the sweetest Padme had ever had), it made her future unknown.

And the unknown was Padme's biggest, most terrible, fear.

"I'm not sure, yet," Padme answered truthfully. "We've got to talk about things. About the future."

"I know you'll work things out, Padme. But, I would like some more grandkids. I'm not getting any younger, you know."

Padme guffawed at her mother's not-so-subtle hint, her face flushing hotly. "Mom! We're not even married yet. I mean, we've not even really talked about marriage."

Jobal just chuckled, a cheeky smirk on her face. "I know, Dear, I was just teasing you."

Deciding to give her a taste of her own medicine, Padme grinning wickedly and crossed her arms. "How are you and Dad?"

It was Jobal's turn to blush, and she coughed in embarrassment. "We're… fine."

The sight made Padme laugh, pleased with her payback. If she got her ambition from her father, she definitely got her curiosity from her mother. They were both as bad as each other in that aspect. "Have you seen each other since Christmas?"

"No," Jobal replied instantly. "We keep in touch via email, and the occasional phone call, you know. But…" she broke off, suddenly looking twenty years younger than her age. "We are planning to go away together in a few weekend's time. It's – was – our anniversary…when we were married…"

Padme had to physically stop herself from giggling at the thought, because it was one of the sweetest things she'd ever heard. The upcoming wedding was obviously affecting her brain, because she suddenly had a vision of her and Sola walking their mother down the aisle in that cute little church where Shmi and Cliegg had gotten married, and her parents' exchanging vows and…she bit her tongue before she got carried away.

Instead, she just reached over to give Jobal's hand a supportive squeeze. "That's wonderful, Mom. I'm glad you're happy."

Jobal smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, Darling."

The trip home was quicker than Padme had expected. As they drove past Anakin's house, she saw his garage open and smiled. He was home. Dragging her suitcase upstairs to her bedroom, she began to unpack her things, until she heard the familiar sound of Anakin working outside.

Curiously, she peered out of her window, reminiscent of that first time she'd come back home in the summer last year, to see him tinkering with his robot project; C3P0. The sight surprised her a little, because she'd almost forgotten how truly talented he was, and how he'd built and designed a humanoid robot before he'd even gotten to college. She admired him for a moment, watching appreciatively as he raked his oil-covered hands through his slightly longer hair and rolled up the sleeves of his long-sleeved t-shirt, exposing his well-defined arms. God, he was so beautiful to watch; she could have done it for hours.

It was then she realized with a jolt that Anakin was using both of his arms. Both. His cast was gone! And, from the way he was crouched and bent over, it made Padme realize his ribs must have healed too! A tremor of lustful anticipation fluttered through her at the knowledge, and suddenly, all she wanted to do was throw herself at him and feel his hands – both of them – all over her body, touching her in ways he hadn't for so, so long.

A secretive smirk on her face, she hurried downstairs, determined to get exactly what she wanted.

She wasn't the only one in for a surprise.