A/N: Ok… I'm really sorry about the long wait, but my computer broke and I couldn't get it working. My hard drive was almost gone and I almost lost this story! I know a shock! So I'm really sorry and hope you guys can forgive me: ) So anyways this is a longer chapter to make up for the wait… It might be a little choppy, but I hope you understand, if you don't, tell me! So hope you enjoy and review please! Also thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot to me!
If You Come Softly
Summary: AU, during ROTS. Padme is married to another man under Anakin's wishes. But will her love for Anakin get in the way? And what is Padme's deadly habit? Can Anakin save her?
Here we lay again
On two separate beds
Riding phone lines
To meet a familiar voice
And pictures drawn from memory
We reflect on miscommunication
And misunderstandings
And missing each other too
Much to have had to let go
-The Startling Line 'Best of Me'
Chapter 6
She fell against the bed and let her eyes close, the feeling of happiness flowing through her body. She sighed and turned on her side as she looked out the window at the night sky. Was she crazy? She must be crazy. To let him back into her life was horrible, she shouldn't had done that. It wasn't worth it. Or was it? She had no idea, but for the first time in a long time she didn't mind feeling young again.
He was everything she had always wanted and ever needed. He had betrayed her by letting her go, but was now back into her life. What was going to happen? She wasn't sure. Bail opened the door to the room and looked in.
"Padme, I'm glad you're back."
She sat up. "Bail, I didn't know you were home." Her hand brushed over her lips. She smiled then focused her attention on her husband.
"I got home late; Sabe told me you were out."
"I'm sorry; I would have been here if I had known that you were coming in."
"It's alright Padme."
"I just wanted-"
"I'm awfully tired… May we speak in the morning?" Bail questioned and Padme nodded. He closed the door and walked away. It had always felt strange to Padme that they always slept in different rooms. Maybe he didn't really love her. She felt relieved. But then again, she couldn't just allow Anakin to do whatever he wanted with her. He still had to pay a price.
NABOO – LAKE RETREAT HOUSE – EARLY MORNING
Padme stirred in her bed and woke up. She was going to go to the meeting today, just to see Anakin. She sighed and looked through her closet. All the regular clothes were there. She tired on a couple before choosing a dark blue gown. She pulled her hair up and walked into the kitchen. Bail was sitting at the table and stood up as she entered. She kissed him on the cheek and sat down across from him.
"How was your trip?" Padme questioned and laid the napkin across her lap.
"It was fine, too much false information on Coruscant though."
"I can hardly imagine." She had always planned to live there with Anakin since her job would mainly be there. But when she married Bail, his job was their priory and hers was nothing.
"Soon we should take a couple of years off and think about the future." Bail said and picked up his coffee cup.
"Future?" Padme questioned and pulled a piece of bread off of the main part.
"Yes, you know Padme we can't always work forever. We have to think of starting a family and getting our lives straight." Padme always choked, thank god she didn't.
"A family?"
"You don't want one?"
"Well… I never really thought of one." With you… Padme thought in her mind. She had always thought of a family with Anakin, not with Bail. This was getting confusing.
"We will discuss this later. I have a meeting to get too." He got up and kissed Padme fully on the mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise. She didn't move until he stepped away and was out of the door. She wiped her mouth quickly with her napkin and shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"Sabe!"
"Milady, what is it?" Sabe questioned and walked into the room.
"Could you get me something to drink?" Padme questioned and shook her head. Why was she lying? Why didn't she just tell Sabe that she didn't want to be with Bail anymore?
"Milady… Did you hear?"
"Hear what?" Padme questioned and sipped the orange juice that Sabe had given her. She was curious.
"Anakin has left Naboo!"
CORUSCANT – JEDI QUARTERS - MORNING
He sighed and entered his room. He had just been replaced on Naboo.He hadn't even been able to say good-bye to Padme. He should have never kissed her. He led her on and now she probably hated him too much to ever talk to him again. Oh well, he deserved it. He shook his head and sat down on his bed. He wondered what she was doing right now.
NABOO – LAKE RETREAT HOUSE – THAT SAME MORNING
Padme spit out her juice. Had she heard correctly? Her eyes widened as she looked at Sabe who was smiling. Sabe's smile soon disappeared.
"Aren't you happy milady?"
"Happy?" Padme repeated so she could hear the world. Of course she wasn't happy. She nodded quickly.
"Of course." She lied and looked at Sabe who was grabbing towels to mop up the floor. She was happy? Wasn't she?
NABOO – LAKE RETREAT HOUSE – LATE NIGHT
She stumbled into the room, heavily drunk from all the alcohol that had been served at the party. Bail had suddenly decided to throw a party for something about his work. Padme hadn't been paying much attention to him. Her thoughts were on why Anakin had left without saying good-bye. She should have known, Anakin was a liar and he led her on. She would no longer stand for that. She sighed and looked around the room finally deciding to sit on a stool.
"I should just tell him I've decided to move far far away." She told herself and looked in the mirror. She looked awful; she had started drinking since Anakin had left. It had been about a week since he left. She sighed and pulled her dress over her head. She pulled on her nightgown and smiled.
"I wonder what Anakin is doing." She slurred her words. She sat down in a huff. She looked at her arms, they were scarred again.
"Why does he have to be so stupid?" Padme questioned herself and got up before falling down against the bed. She giggled to herself and curled up in a ball. She was quite tired from the party. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
NABOO – LAKE RETREAT HOUSE – EARLY MORNING
Padme sighed and got up, she felt dizzy from last night. She stood up and quickly ran to her bathroom. She took a quick shower and got dressed. She had to get packing for Coruscant. She thought about Anakin for a second, but knew it was wrong. Her life went on, but it meant nothing without love. She missed him, even though she had promised herself that she wouldn't.
Flashback
"Padme? Where are you?" Anakin's voice traveled through to Lake Retreat house. Padme giggled to herself as she hid from him.
"Padme? Are you there? Stop hiding!"
"Oh come on Ani, you know it's only fair that I get to have fun sometimes." She smiled and got up from her hiding place just as he entered the room. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms.
"But it's scary when I don't know where you are." Anakin concluded and Padme smiled, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips.
"That's what I love about you." Padme said and rested her head on his chest. She sighed and they stayed there for a couple of moments.
"I can't believe it Anakin…"
"Can't believe what?"
"That I'm so happy. I've never been this happy in my life."
Anakin shook his head in disbelief. "You haven't been this happy? Of course you have!"
"No I haven't!" Padme protested and laughed as she slightly closed her eyes. He could hear her breathing… It came slow and steady. He sighed and kissed the top of her head. Everything was perfect… Or so it seemed…
End of Flashback
Padme sighed as she remembered that moment. Everything had been perfect. She quickly packed her bags. She didn't want to meet up with Anakin on Coruscant, but she knew that that was impossible.
NABOO – LAKE RETREAT HOUSE – LATER THAT MORNING
Padme walked through her house, her shoes clicking against the shiny white tiles. She looked around the house; everything was still in perfect place. She looked around the house and imagined it filled with laughter and joy. But now it was just a silent house, where only dreams were destroyed. Sabe walked into the room.
"Milady, you alright?"
"Come on Padme, it's just me… What's wrong?"
"Milady?"
"I love you Padme… So much, nothing will come between us."
Padme felt dizzy, she clutched the wall for support. "I'm alright Sabe." She shook her head to get rid of those memories.
"Then we must go soon, they're waiting for you." Padme nodded and walked outside and into her ship. This was going to be a long visit.
CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – THAT SAME MORNING
"Are you serious? Another job already?" Anakin questioned Obi-Wan and he nodded.
"They think you're ready to handle this."
"Handle what?"
"Now you promise not to get too excited, because I think this is a horrible idea to give this mission to you."
"Oh come on Master, what can be worst then guarding prisons made of scum?" Anakin joked as Obi-Wan remembered the time they had to do that. Obi-Wan grinned and looked at his friend.
"I just don't want you to get excited and think that you have a chance with her. You'll ruin everything."
"Ruin everything?" Anakin knew it had something to do with Padme.
"Everything you've worked for!" Obi-Wan confirmed and Anakin nodded.
"What is it Master? Just tell me."
"You've been assigned to guard Padme." Ugh… Anakin thought. Now I'll have to face the wrath of Padme.
"Fine. I guess I have to do whatever the council wants me too."
"You mean you're not excited?"
"Not really…" Actually, I'm not at all excited. Anakin thought to himself as he thought of their last visit. That had been horrible. He shook his head and left his Master standing in the hallway.
I heard that Anakin! Obi-Wan said.
Well then you know that I'm telling the truth. Anakin said and cut off their mental conversation. He wasn't looking forward to this visit at all.
CORUSCANT – HANGER 61 – LATE AFTERNOON
Padme brushed through her hair and pulled it up as she grabbed her bracelet and got ready to get out of the ship. Just another stupid meeting. She hated all these meetings; she didn't want to be a senator anymore. She walked out of the ship and scanned the crowd waiting for her. She saw Bail talking to the Chancellor and waved to her. She waved back and looked at Sabe who was behind her.
"See something Sabe?"
"No milady, nothing at all."
Padme smiled at her friend and walked to the carpet that lined the long hallway. She looked around and saw all the familiar things. She hadn't been here for a long time.
"Good afternoon Mrs. Organa." Anakin muttered and Padme turned sharply around.
"What are you doing? I'm waiting for my guard."
"Well you've found him."
"You have got to be kidding me!"
End of Chapter 6