I feel like I've gotten to the point where I either A: rush through the story or B: give up and move on... REALLY trying to break that habit lol!

Happy Reading!

Chapter 11

Padme couldn't remember the last time she had been kissed by someone. In the first few years after separating from Palo she'd had a few meaningless flings but even in the the relationships she had been invested in, none of them had been quite so… wonderful. Her eyes drifted shut as their lips moved against one another and she brought her hand to his shoulder, pulling the fabric of his shirt tightly and holding him close to her. Encouraged by her actions, Anakin deepened their kiss, pulling a small moan from her lips that shocked her enough that she slowly pulled back.

Anakin smiled at her not in a lustful way or the smug smile he wore when he was pleased with himself, but one that simply shown with contentment. His thumb traced lightly over her cheek, as if confirming she was real and that what happened wasn't a dream. "I've wanted to do that for a long time," He admitted, his smile widening into a grin.

"Really?"

He nodded, leaning closer to her again and resting his forehead against hers, careful not to make any assumptions and his eyes seeking permission once more. She didn't pull away and he slowly leaned in, kissing her lips lightly again, and again, before kissing her deeply once more. Padme smiled against his lips as she returned his affections, taking his face in her hands before pulling back. They held each other's gaze as they simply sat contently with one another.

His actions had spoken volumes for what he hoped for and she wanted the same— or at least to try. But he hadn't actually said it, or at least not in the blunt confirmation she needed. "So…" She sighed.

"So…" He repeated, his head tilting to the side, his nose rubbing humorously against hers.

"Does this mean that… we're together?" Padme drew her lip between her teeth nervously even though she knew there was no reason for her to be nervous.

Anakin nodded his head, "Yeah… We are… I mean, only if you want to."

She laughed and shook her head. Isn't that what she'd been trying to tell him? "Yes, Anakin," She said, chastely kissing his lips just because she could, "I do."

The smile that graced his face made her heart skip a beat as both of them visibly seemed to relax as they scooted closer to each other. Her head rested against his shoulder as he leaned back on his elbows to watch the rest of the sun set. Dark blue already covered half the sky having missed most of it but there was still one last large stripe of orange that fought to stay. The lights in the gardens had started to slowly turn on and chorus of birds had now been replaced by the calming songs of the grasshoppers.

Padme fought back a yawn when the sun finally disappeared from their sight. She didn't want to leave. Leaving meant that this perfect moment was over. It meant that they only had a few hours left before they would part again. But, reluctantly, they both conceded and decided to return to the hotel. Few words were spoken, but no words were really needed as their hands remained firmly clasped together, revealing in what felt like the honeymoon phase she went through in high school with her first real boyfriend. It was silly, and girlish, and completely ridiculous for two grown adults but it just felt so, so good and freeing that she just gave in to those feelings.

Anakin walked with her down the hall to her room, their pace slow and reluctant. Neither wanted to part knowing that tomorrow they would both go to different parts of the country. They stood outside her door, their hands still joined as Anakin traced his thumb along the back of her fingers. "I'll see you in the morning then?" She asked.

His expression fell as a knit formed in his brow, "I don't think so," He sighed, "My flight got moved up so now I'm on the first flight out of here. I leave even before they start serving breakfast." Her eyes started to fall away from him but were immediately called back as he continued, "But maybe I can take some time off? Come up to Boston and see you?"

Padme stepped closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck "I'd like that," She said, kissing his lips lightly before reluctantly opening her door and bidding him goodnight.

Anakin barely had barely slept the night before. Several times he'd woken up and felt the need to pinch himself because he just couldn't believe the perfect night he'd had with Padme. She wanted to be with him. They're together— he has a girlfriend! There had only been one other time he'd been so giddy with excitement and that had been the first girlfriend he'd ever had in high school. Aayla Secura smartest bad-ass girls he knew at the time and when he first asked her out he had been sure she would turn him down in favor of spending time with her friends on the Lacrosse team. He'd been wrong. And when he asked if they were together, he swore his jaw had fallen and hit the floor before slamming back up and knocking him through the roof. But with Padme it felt like so much more. He was floating among the stars and he could feel himself being pulled into her orbit as if this was exactly where he was meant to be.

The sun hadn't even started to rise by the time he had to check out. Crickets still chirped and the taxi he had called looked thoroughly pissed at having to work this early. His phone vibrated in his pocket as the taxi pulled into the airport drop-off zone.

"Have a nice flight! ;)" Padme had texted.

He smiled, quickly typing out his own reply, "You too Angel," He said with an emoji blowing a kiss, "I'll try and work out some time to come up to Boston when I get home." Try being the optimum word.

"Switch with me."

"No!"

"Switch with me."

"No!"

"Please?"

"Oh, for God's sake, Anakin!" Obi-Wan sighed as he slouched in the booth they were seated at. The bar was moderately filled with light jazz music playing over the speakers. It was one of the older man's favorite bars to visit when he passed through Philadelphia. Anakin could never figure out why, the drinks were cheap and the company was on the shadier side but Obi-Wan never seemed to mind and in fact seemed to actively search for similar places in cities he frequented often. Anakin always thought it was odd that this nearly classical prim and proper guy who talked and walked like he was straight out of Downton Abbey was attracted to the seediest bars. But he tried not to think about it, instead hoping that he could use it to his advantage to get a tiny favor from his friend.

It didn't work.

"Please!" Anakin practically begged, "Padme's on that flight and I really, really want to surprise her!"

"It's a two hour flight."

"Exactly! What even is two hours of work?"

"What exactly is two hours with your girlfriend?" Obi-Wan countered. "You'll talk to her for maybe an hour or two before you board, then it's two hours in a cockpit. Maybe you'll have a quick ten minutes— tops— conversation if you take a bathroom break, but that's it!"

Anakin gave a shrug, "It's still something."

The older man sighed and shook his head, "Look, I understand, truly, I do. If it was the last flight of the day, or there was some significant gap between her next flight, I would do it gladly for you. This just isn't your best idea." Obi-Wan gave him a sympathetic smile and ordered them another round of drinks. "You see her again at the end of the month," He reminded him.

Anakin groaned, "But two weeks feels like such a long time!" He whined, "I'm in agony!"

"And now I'm wondering what she even sees in you," He joked, his brow raised in disbelief at how childish this grown man could be. His phone started to buzz as a call came through. Obi-Wan answered, whispering quietly as he spoke to the person on the other end.

Turning his head away, Anakin tried to give his friend some privacy. He saw the caller ID and knew it was Satine on the other end. The two of them were getting married next year and he couldn't be happier for them. But what made the news bitter sweet was learning that Obi-Wan was leaving the airline. No official date had been chosen yet, but supposedly it would not long after the wedding as it meant a nice company discount for wherever the two lovebirds decided to honeymoon.

"Sorry," Obi-Wan said after ending the call, "Now, what was I saying?" He pursed his lips as he shifted back to their conversation.

"… You were telling me spontaneity livens up a relationship and that you're more than happy to trade shifts with me?" Anakin tried.

He dead-paned, "Seriously? No. Look, just be patient. And who knows, maybe she'll be the one to surprise you."

"She has a kid!" He argued, "If it's between me and him for her time, he's going to win every time. He has to." He would, Anakin was sure of that. He wasn't angry about it either and was something he was completely prepared for. Having been raised by a single mother, he knew better than most the intricacies of that kind of dependance. Luke depend on his mother to be a bread winner, guidance and support, while she in turn depended on him to ground her and give her little peaceful moments of happiness that kept her fighting. If anyone should be doing the surprising, logically, it should be Anakin as she had enough on her plate.

"All relationships are a balancing act," Obi-Wan said with a shrug, "Regardless of her motherly responsibilities, she clearly feels there is a place for you in her life and so that means she'll find time for you outside of work." He didn't like how that sounded but he was sure Obi-Wan was wrong. He didn't understand, he barely even knew her. Despite not switching flights as he had originally wanted, he was determined to surprise her.