2. Love

Rating: PG-13 for implied nookie.
Characters: A/P, Sola.
Time period: From AOTC to ROTS.
Summary: Snippets of A/P's relationship from AOTC to ROTS and the meaning of it in Padmé's life.

"Why did you go into politics?"

Padmé sighed, feigning ignorance but failing miserably as a reluctant smile erupted on her face.

"I already told you…" she replied, flashing him a smile. "You asked me if I always dreamt of power as a little girl."

The young man beside her sighed, looking around them, his blue intense eyes settling on the meadow and breathing in the air of flowers. When these eyes settled on her again, she felt her heart beat louder.

"But you didn't tell me why you went into politics."

She sighed and chuckled slightly at his earnest expression.

"Why do you care?" she asked playfully, feeling the small wind rustle her yellow outfit and feeling so far away from those politics.

Anakin leant closer.

She couldn't breathe.

"Because I'm curious." He shrugged, his gaze boring into hers. As if everything about her truly captivated him.

And somehow the words spilled from her lips.

"I wanted to help people." She said quietly. "I saw all these people suffering on the Holonet once and I suddenly wanted to accompany my father. He was part of a program, helping relocate children at that time…" she elaborated when she felt his confusion. He was hanging on her words, blue eyes focused on her and her only.

She felt warm, let her eyes roam on the grass next to her.

"I saw all these children, around my age, suffering and still holding hope in their hearts. A little bit like you when I met you." She said quietly, catching his eye. He smiled in understanding. Suddenly the years spent apart vanished into thin air. "I felt horrible for my own comfort. For my own luck. When I realized that some people on Naboo were still dying because of the inadequacy of the Queen and her advisors at that time, I felt thisneed, you know," she gestured, "to help. To give my life a sense."

He nodded earnestly and she felt herself drown into his eyes again.

He understood.

"Being a Jedi…" he trailed off. "It's the same feeling." He finished shyly.

She almost reached out a hand to smother his hair in an impulse she couldn't quite explain, and stopped herself, blushing.

There was another silence. She saw his hand come closer to hers.

She was scared to realize she wanted the warmth of it on her skin again.

"It's my turn now." She announced brightly, resting her hand on her lap before he could reach her. Anakin looked slightly disappointed but she did her best to ignore it. "I have to ask you another question."

"Why did you have to go into politics?"

He sounded whiny and she turned around, pulling the sheet tighter around her body, shutting down the Holonet guiltily.

"I'm sorry…" Padmé said in apology as she spotted Anakin's ruffled hair and sleepy face as he sat higher in their bed.

The soothing small wind was rustling the drapes, creating a soothing atmosphere in the darkened room. She came back to the bed, sitting beside him, tangling a hand into his hair. He sighed in longing.

"I've missed you…" he whispered, nuzzling her hand.

His blue eyes opened and a smirk made its way on his face.

"Politics are more important than your husband?" There was a slight hint of annoyance in his voice.

She shook her head, trailing little kisses on his chest. He groaned softly at her assault and swept her into his arms abruptly, pulling her on top of him.

"You're the only thing that matters, Anakin." She whispered very close to his face.

He smiled sadly this time, flesh hand reaching out to caress her face gently. Fingertips trailed on her skin tenderly and she saw herself in his eyes. When he spoke, she had already understood.

"You're beautiful." He whispered in muted reverence.

"And here I thought you married me for my brains…"

He laughed this time.

It was infectious and before she knew it, they were laughing, him on top of her, head tucked under her chin as his cheek pressed against her breast. She pulled the sheets around them and held him tighter.

When his lips delicately traced her skin, she closed her eyes tightly and felt tears escape her eyes at the thought he would be gone soon.

"For once, you stopped working."

Her sister's slightly accusing voice washed over her and she looked away from the garden behind the glass to Sola's brown eyes.

"I don't enjoy working this much, if you want to know the truth."

"Well, maybe you'd stop working that much if you actually had a life."

Padmé bit her lip and looked away from her sister, suddenly afraid of what she could blurt out if she pushed her.

"Maybe…" she trailed off, her deepest musings coming forth. "I think I'll stop politics after the war." She elaborated carefully.

"Really?" her sister sounded sceptical.

She sighed and bit her lip, thinking of her talks with Anakin, about how they would leave everything behind as soon as the war would be over, finally free.

"I'm thinking about it." She replied, a small smile edging on her face. "I think I've given more than a fair share of myself. And I've finally realized you couldn't change things alone."

The sentence had spilled from her lips and she suddenly realized it couldn't be closer to the truth.

"I hope this time, you'll stick to this." Her sister shot back.

But a little smile was now on her face, as if she had understood more than what she was letting on.

Anakin had not even stepped inside he was already pulling her flush against him, kissing the crook of her neck hungrily.

"Ani…" she stammered against his lips as he led them to the bedroom.

His hands were already pulling at the opening of her gown, a grin on his handsome face. She couldn't resist him when he looked at her like that. She undid her hair, watching with contentment as he pulled her against him again, breathing in her heavy tresses deeply.

They undressed quickly, smiles flashed, hands trailing on every piece of skin revealed, her fingers tracing the new scars on his chest. When she stood naked in front of him, his gaze was suddenly humble, hands trembling as they settled on her swollen belly shyly. She rested her hands on his and smiled broadly.

The baby kicked.

He laughed, his eyes fixed on her belly in wonder. Kneeling in front of her, he pressed his cheek against the revealed skin. She sighed contently in the silent room, passing a hand in his hair.

Happiness was here, right now, feeling his strong arms circling her waist, his breaths against her belly, knowing their small miracle was resting just between them.

Her hands grew feverish, burying inside his hair, caressing his face tenderly. His lips pressed against her belly, trailing higher and before she knew it, he was taking her into his arms, bringing her to their bed.

Later, she lay in his arms, his hands resting on her belly as she watched the sunlight disappearing slowly from the bedroom.

"I love you so much, Padmé," he whispered abruptly.

Her heart beat louder and she smiled into the darkness.

"I know," she whispered.

Tangling her fingers with his real ones, she put it on her lips, feeling him pressing her back even closer against his chest.

"Tell me, my love…" she said dreamily, referring to their shared reveries during the war, every time they found each other again. "Tell me what we'll do once the war is over."

He smiled against her neck, his fingers tracing a pattern on her belly.

"It's simple. I'll tell the Council I'm no longer a Jedi." He paused. "I can almost picture their faces…" they chuckled. "You'll go see the Queen and resign as a Senator."

She made a face, turning sideways, a playful smile on her face as she met his blue eyes.

"You leaving the Order is a given but what makes you think I will give up on politics?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking unsure abruptly.

Her lips twitched up in spite of herself.

"You're making fun of me…" he whispered, smiling roguishly this time.

"Yes."

Her serious tone proved to be fatal. Deftly, he rolled her on her back, hovering above her with the premises of payback on his face.

His smirk promised much as she smiled in turn.

When his lips joined hers again, she sighed against his mouth.

"I don't need politics…" she whispered in the crook of his neck.

"You and this baby are all I need."

His smile was enough to lighten the room.

Even when his commlink beeped soundly and he had to pull himself from her later and she watched him pull on his clothes to join the Jedi Temple, his blue eyes shining with love were enough to make her feel even better than she already did. He left silently but she knew he would be back soon, at her side.

Her nightgown clung to her curves as she appraised herself in the mirror and she began to brush her curls, moving in her bedroom with a smile on her face.

Her commlink beeped in the silent night. She hesitated, staring at it resting on the pile of clothes on the floor.

It could be urgent.

It was always urgent. Problems to fix, people to help. Things to change.

But now, somehow, tonight, it didn't feel appealing.

She turned away, thinking that these issues could wait for the next morning.

Now politics couldn't reach her in the small haven she had created for her and her family. She would dedicate her strength for the galaxy the next day.

For now, she only wanted to be Padmé.

She moved away from the bedroom and resumed brushing her hair, the smile coming back to her face.

Anakin wouldn't be long now.