Chapter Seventeen

Awkward silence ensued after the hasty departure of Anakin and Padmé. Shmi finally spoke up.

"I know Anakin has made mistakes," she said. "I'm not so blind to see that. But I also know that he has not had a typical or an easy life. What Palpatine did to him would have destroyed anyone. Using him since he was nine years old, teaching him to be his henchman….is it any wonder he became an assassin? But he has changed; I have witnessed his metamorphosis over the past month. And do you know what changed him? His love for Padmé and her love for him. She has been the reason he has turned his life around, the reason he wants to. So before you condemn him for his past, consider where he came from, and where he is now. He is a remarkable young man, a man of destiny. Your daughter loves him, Mr. Naberrie. Like it or not, she loves him and she will be his wife. If you want to lose her, and never know your grandchild, then continue in the path you've embarked upon, for you will surely succeed."

With that, Shmi stood up and left the room.

"Dad, I know that this is all pretty…intense," Sola said at last. "But when have you ever known Padmé to make decisions rashly?"

"I don't blame Padmé for this situation," Ruwee told her. "I blame Skywalker. He has some strange power over her, Sola; he's made her lose her sense of reason, as well as other things," he stated sourly.

"Ruwee Naberrie, you are being absurd," Jobal said with exasperation. "Sola is right. Padmé is far too level headed to be swayed by a handsome face. If she wants to marry this man, then she must truly love him. And if you continue to push, you will succeed in pushing her away forever. Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to lose my child, or my grandchild."

Ruwee was beginning to feel outnumbered. He loved Padmé; the thought of losing her forever was more than he could imagine. Anakin Skywalker was not the man he would have chosen for her; but wasn't that her choice to make? Had he consulted his parents before he decided to marry his own wife? If they had disapproved, would that have stopped him from marrying Jobal?

"No, neither do I," Ruwee said at last.

Jobal sighed with relief, seeing that he was starting to relent. "Then you need to go to her, go to them, before they leave and never come back."

Ruwee nodded, realizing, albeit reluctantly, that he had gone too far. "I will talk to her," he said at last.

"There's no need," Padmé said from the doorway. "We're leaving."

All eyes turned to see her and Anakin standing in the doorway, Shmi just behind them. Anakin held two suitcases in his hand.

"Padmé, please," Jobal said, standing up. "You don't mean it."

"I do mean it, Mom," Padmé said. "If the man I love isn't welcome here, than neither am I. I won't stay here another minute if Anakin isn't wanted here."

Jobal looked over at her husband. "Your father wants to talk to you both about that don't you Ruwee?"

Padmé turned and looked at her father, her expression impassive. "I'm not sure I want to hear anything more he has to say," she commented.

Ruwee felt the sting in her words. "Padmé, let's be reasonable," he said, standing up. "Surely we can all talk about this in a rational manner."

"So now you want to talk rationally?" Padmé challenged. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"Padmé, give him a chance," Jobal pleaded. "For my sake, please."

Padmé looked at her mother, and then at Anakin. He had said nothing, sensing that Padmé had much that she needed to say. "Very well," she said at last. "We will listen to what he has to say. But that doesn't mean we are staying," she hastened to add. "I meant what I said."

"We understand," Jobal said, standing up. She looked over at Sola and her family, who had been all but forgotten in the drama of the moment. "I'm sorry," she said simply.

"Don't worry, Mom," Sola said. "We'll start clearing the dishes while you all talk."

Anakin stood behind Padmé as she took a seat on one of the sofas in the parlor, while Ruwee and Jobal took seat on one of the other sofas. Shmi, realizing that this discussion need not involve her, discreetly left the room to help Sola with the clean up. She had said her piece; now it was up to Anakin and Padmé to say theirs.

"Well?" Padmé said. "I'm listening."

Ruwee looked at his wife, who merely nodded, urging him on; then he looked back at Padmé.

"I don't want this….situation to destroy our relationship," he began. "You know how much you mean to me, Padmé; I would hate it if grew apart."

"So would I," Padmé replied. "But if you force me to choose between you and my husband, then you give me no choice but to walk out of your life forever, Dad. You know me well enough to know that I don't make idle threats."

Ruwee nodded; he certainly did know her well enough. He looked up at Anakin, who stood with his hands on Padmé's shoulders in a gesture of protectiveness, of possessiveness.

"This is not the way I imagined your life to unfold," Ruwee said, looking back at his daughter. "I never dreamed that you would rush into marriage this way."

Padmé's brow creased slightly at this comment. "No, I'm sure you didn't," she replied. "To be honest, neither did I. My life has always been so well planned, painstakingly planned right down to the last detail. But you know what Dad? Sometimes life isn't predictable. I never imagined that I would meet someone who makes me feel like Anakin does. For once in my life, I'm not in total control of things; and you know what? I like it, I like it a lot. Anakin makes me feel alive, Dad; he makes me feel like there's more to me than just duty, and protocol. He has made me realize that there is more to life than work and duty; he has shown me how exciting life can be when you are with the right person. He is the right person for me, Dad. I know he isn't the man you would have chosen for me, but that isn't your choice to make, is it? He is my soul mate, of that I have no doubt. He completes me, and I him. So you will have to learn to accept this, Dad; you will have to accept him. Because if you can't then there is no place for you in my life."

Anakin was moved by Padmé's impassioned words, and gently squeezed her shoulders. She was so strong, so forthright; her love for him and dedication to him astounded him. She was willing to turn her back on her father for him; a greater declaration of her love he couldn't ask for.

Ruwee remained silent for a few moments after Padmé had concluded her oration. He had always known his younger daughter to be level headed and intelligent. Sola had been known to have moments of impulsiveness, but never Padmé. No, she was the trustworthy one, the rational one, the one he could always count on to do the right thing. He had never had any reason to question her judgment, until now. Was it simply the fact that she was in love that bothered him? Anakin Skywalker had clearly changed, but was his past simply too much to reconcile with? If Padmé could see past his indiscretions, surely he could too, couldn't he?

"I want very much to accept this, Padmé," Ruwee said at last. "I want you to be happy, surely you know that."

"Then why can't you just be happy for me?" Padmé asked in exasperation. "This is what I want, Dad! Anakin makes me happy, happier than I ever imagined possible! Isn't that enough for you?"

Ruwee looked back up at Anakin who, to his credit, was staying out of the discussion. "You will take good care of her, will you?"

Anakin nodded. "Padmé means more to me than anyone or anything in the galaxy," he averred. "I would give my life to protect hers."

Ruwee could see that Anakin was sincere. He had no doubt that the young man loved Padmé deeply; but was that enough to excuse his many transgressions, not the least of which was agreeing to kill Padmé?

"Don't leave," Ruwee said at last. "I…was out of line talking the way I did earlier, and I apologize. If this is what you want, Padmé, then I won't stop you. All I want is for you to be happy."

Padmé smiled, knowing that this was the closest thing she was going to get to his blessing. For now, however, that was just fine with her.

"Thank you, Daddy," she said at last. "I am happy, happier than I've ever been."

Ruwee nodded. "I know," he said.

Jobal smiled. "I think it's about time we had a toast to celebrate," she suggested. "Don't you, Ruwee?"

Ruwee looked at his wife. "I suppose so, yes," he agreed begrudgingly. "I'll go see what we've got to drink."

As it turned out, the liquor cabinet was woefully inadequate for the occasion. Darred, however, suggested that they go to the local club to celebrate. Anakin and Padmé liked the idea, but the senior members of the family, including Shmi, gracefully declined. Instead, they agreed to take the girls to Sola and Darred's house to baby-sit. Shmi agreed to go along too, rather than spend the evening alone. Ruwee was uneasy at the thought of Anakin and Padmé being alone in the house for any length of time; but reasoned that if Padmé were indeed pregnant than his fears for her virtue were futile. At any rate, he reasoned he and his wife would be home before they had a chance to get into anything of a physical nature.

And so Anakin and Padmé along with Sola and Darred headed for the night club district in nearby Theed. It had been a long time since Padmé had gone dancing, but was excited by the prospect of having some fun.

"Now Angel, you know you can't have anything alcoholic to drink," Anakin reminded her as they entered the nightclub.

"Why not?" she asked.

"The baby," he told her with a smile. "It's not good for the baby."

Padmé smiled. "Ani, I'm not pregnant," she told him.

Anakin took her hand. "I know you don't believe me," he said, "but indulge me, okay?"

"Very well," she replied. "I don't' really drink anyway, so it's not a big deal for me."

"Good," he said. "But there's nothing wrong with dancing," he assured her with a smile.

Padmé laughed. "Well that's a relief."

The club was rather full and the music was playing at full blast as the four of them found a table. A serving droid soon approached their table.

"A bottle of your best champagne," Darred ordered. "Non alcoholic champagne, that is," he added, mindful of Padmé's condition.

"Darred, that's not necessary," Padmé protested.

"Nonsense", he replied. "Why should we all be drinking when you can't? Besides, someone has to drive home," he explained with a smile.

Padmé smiled, appreciating his sensibilities. She looked over at the dance floor, which was crowded with couples all moving to the energetic music. Padmé had never been terribly interested in the night life; her career had always come first, and it afforded her little time for a social life of any kind. But all that had changed when Anakin reentered her life. She looked over at him, excited to merely be sitting next to him, admiring the handsome, virile features of his face, his strong hands that rested easily on the table top, the golden locks that brushed powerful shoulders….suddenly she wanted to be alone with him, wanted to explore the powerful, sensual beauty of his body, wanted to feel his hands touch every part of her….

Her train of thought ended abruptly when Anakin turned and looked at her. She had projected her thoughts so clearly and so strongly that he had heard them clearly as though they had been spoken aloud. He did not say anything, but merely smiled at her. Padmé could see the look in his eyes, the look that made her knees turn to jelly.

"Dance, Angel?" he said, holding out a hand to her.

"Love to," she replied, putting her hand in his. "If you'll excuse us," she remembered to add, looking back at her sister and brother-in-law as she and Anakin stood up. Sola and Darred merely watched as they left the table, getting the distinct impression that they had missed something.

Once they were on the dance floor, and away from the watchful eyes of Padmé's sister, Anakin pulled her to him.

"Your thoughts were rather interesting just a few moments ago," he told her with a smile.

Padmé laughed. "I'm not very good at hiding them from you, am I?"

"Sometimes," he replied. "Sometimes I can't tell at all what's on your mind. But others," he added, "other times you just have to look at me and I know what's going through your mind."

"Is that so?" she said. "So what am I thinking now?" she asked, looking at him intently.

He examined her face, smiling at the intensity of her stare. It didn't take a Force sensitive to see what she was thinking.

"You're thinking that we need to be alone together," he said, pulling her. "And very soon."

Padmé smiled. "You are good," she told him, running her hands up into his hair. "That's exactly what I'm thinking."

Anakin nodded. "I'm thinking the same thing," he replied. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about earlier," he told her, bringing his mouth to her ear. "That was incredible."

Padmé smiled. "It was rather incredible, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was," he told her, nibbling on her earlobe. "I get excited just thinking about it."

Padmé closed her eyes, the way he was grazing her neck sending heat into every corner of her, the words he was whispering to her only adding to her arousal.

"Ani, we're in public," she chided him.

"So?"

"So we have to be careful," she replied.

"We're not doing anything wrong, Angel," he told her. "Just dancing. Is there something wrong with dancing?"

"No," she replied at once. "So long as that's all it remains. I know that you wouldn't do anything to compromise me or my reputation," she added.

Anakin's hands froze for an instant as he realized that she was right. She was, after all, still a public figure; the media would have a field day if they found out that she had been seen in a compromising position on the dance floor of a night club. Part of him wished that she were not so well known, that both of them could be anonymous, just for tonight, so that they could do what they wanted without fear of public reprisal.

"No, of course not," he said, moving his hands up to her back again. "Even if I want to more than anything right now, I wouldn't do anything to put you in an awkward situation."

"I appreciate that, Ani," she said.

He nodded, and then a wicked thought entered his mind. "No, it would be wrong of me, to slip my hands under your skirt," he whispered in her ear.

"Ani, don't," she said, knowing where he was going.

"I'm not doing anything," he replied innocently.

"No, but…"

"I'm just telling you what I wouldn't do. Is there something wrong with that?" he continued. "Besides, you started it."

"I did?" she asked in shock. "I did no such thing!"

"You were the one with the naughty thoughts," he reminded her. "And I'm pretty sure those were your hands on my butt moments ago."

"Well, yes," she admitted, "but…"

"So why am I the one doing something wrong?" he asked, enjoying her embarrassment. He couldn't help but smile as she struggled to find an answer to his question.

"You are so mean," she finally said, looking up at him with a slight pout.

Anakin smiled. "Am I?"

Padmé nodded doing her best not to return his smile. "Yes, you are," she told him. "Talking to me this way when we're in public where we can't do anything."

"I'm sorry," he told her. "That was thoughtless of me," he added. "I'll be sure to make it up to you later."

Padmé shook her head. "You really are something, you know that?"

Anakin smiled. "That's why you love me," he said, pulling her close again.

The two couples had a pleasant time together, and it wasn't long before Sola and Darred began to see how well suited Anakin and Padmé were. What's more, they could see clearly how much he adored Padmé, and she him. Sola was certain that she had never seen her baby sister so happy, and it warmed her heart to see it. Padmé's family had come to expect that she would probably spend her life married to her career. It was good to know that they had been wrong.

The Naberrie house was quiet and dark when Padmé and Anakin returned to it. Their parents were still at Sola's house babysitting the two granddaughters, and it didn't take Anakin long to realize this.

"Imagine that," Anakin said to Padmé as they entered the empty house. "We are alone."

Padmé smiled. "Imagine that," she replied. "Any ideas how we can pass the time until our parents return home?"

Anakin took her by the hand. "I have a few," he said as he led her to her room.

"Are you going to share them with me?" Padmé asked as he closed the door behind them.

He shook his head as his hands reached behind her and started unfastening her skirt. "No, I'd much rather show you," he replied, pulling her close.