Chapter Twenty

"What do you think?"

Anakin looked over to where his wife had emerged from the dressing room and smiled. He had insisted upon taking her to some of the exclusive boutiques that Cloud City was famous for. And while Padmé wasn't terribly fond of shopping, she couldn't help but be excited by the spectacular fashions she found there.

"It looks fantastic," he told her.

"That's what you said about the last one," she teased.

Anakin laughed. "Well you're a remarkably beautiful woman," he replied. "Of course everything looks fantastic on you."

"At least until I get a big round belly," she said, looking at herself in the mirror.

Anakin stood up and walked over to stand behind her. "Especially when you have a big round belly," he told her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.

Padmé looked at him in the mirror and smiled. "I still can't believe we're having twins," she said, running a hand over her unremarkable tummy.

He nodded. "Leia and…." He stopped. "What should we call our son?"

Padmé thought for a moment. "Didn't you have a dream about him?"

"Yes," Anakin replied. "But I don't recall a name."

"Well there is a name I've always liked," she told him. "I always thought that if I ever had a son I would name him Luke."

"Luke," Anakin repeated, liking the sound of it. "Luke Skywalker. I like it."

Padmé smiled. "A little early to worry about names though, isn't it?"

Anakin shrugged. "Maybe," he said. "But I already think of the two of them as little individuals. I'd like to be able to call them something."

"I know what you mean," she said. "Although I have to admit I don't feel pregnant at all."

"You will," he assured her with a smile.

Padmé nodded. "I just hope I don't get sick like Sola did," she told him. "She had terrible morning sickness that lasted for weeks."

"Well if you do, I will wait on you hand and foot," he assured her. "And tend to your every desire."

Padmé laughed. "Is that a promise?" she teased.

"Is there anything else I can show you today, Mrs. Skywalker?" the eager sales clerk asked as she appeared.

"No, but we'll take all the gowns my wife tried on," Anakin replied.

Padmé looked at him in shock. "Ani, no," she said. "I don't need all of them. I have a huge closet full of them back on Coruscant."

"So what's a few more?" he replied. "Let me do this for you, Angel. I want to do this for you."

The clerk smiled; quite charmed by the obvious adoration the handsome young man bore his wife. "How can you refuse such an offer?" she asked Padmé.

Padmé looked at her. "I don't suppose I can," she replied. "Thank you," she added, looking at her husband. "You're spoiling me."

Anakin smiled. "That is my prerogative," he informed her. "Get used to it."

"If you insist," she replied with a smile. Padmé was beginning to understand that Anakin felt compelled to lavish her with gifts as a sign of his affection. Having gone so much of his life with very little, Palpatine had instilled in him the belief that material wealth equated happiness. Palpatine had no understanding of compassion, love or tenderness; the closest thing he ever came to showing his young ward affection was to buy him expensive things or give him a huge allowance to buy whatever he wanted. Anakin had spent the past decade starved of true affection, and Padmé knew that it would be a while before he came to accept that love need not mean buying things to prove it.

"You're very sweet," she told him, giving him a kiss.

Anakin smiled. "So what do you say to some dinner? I'm starving."

"Sounds great," Padme replied. "Maybe I'll wear that little black evening dress I tried on earlier."

"That was my favourite," Anakin replied. "Good choice."

"I'll take the security tags off of it so you can wear it right out of the store," the clerk offered. "I'll be right back."

Anakin and Padmé dined that evening at one of the more sumptuous restaurants in Cloud City. Padmé was careful not to consume any alcohol, for now that she had proof positive that she was in fact pregnant, she did not want to do anything to harm the twins. It was still so hard to believe that she was pregnant, however. The fact that the dress she wore showed off her as yet slender figure off made it even more so.

"You look gorgeous tonight," Anakin told her as they lingered over their meal.

Padmé smiled, looking down at the elegant gown she wore. "It really is a beautiful gown, isn't it?"

"The gown is beautiful," he agreed. "But not compared to you. You could wear anything at all and you would look beautiful. In fact," he added, leaning closer to her, "you look the most beautiful when you're wearing nothing at all."

Padmé smiled, trying not to let the way he was looking at her start her mind wandering back to the way Anakin had woken her up that morning…

"Will there be anything else?"

Padmé's train of thought was derailed by the serving droid which appeared at the table.

"No, that will be all," Anakin replied.

"As you wish, sir," the droid responded and scurried away.

"Are you up to some dancing?" Anakin asked as they left the restaurant a short time later.

"I'd like to go back to the hotel first," she replied. "We can drop off these packages and I can freshen up a bit."

Anakin nodded. "Of course. Let's go."

"You really are spoiling me," Padmé said as she hung up each of the gowns in their suite's enormous walk in closet.
Anakin merely smiled, enjoying his bride's excitement as she admired anew each new gown.

"I'll only be a minute," she told him as she disappeared into the fresher.

"Take your time," Anakin replied as he stood up and walked over to the computer console. It had been a few days since he had checked his messages. Knowing that he had a pretense to hold up where Palpatine was concerned, he decided it would be prudent for him to check to see if the Chancellor had been attempting to contact him.

Sitting down at the computer console, Anakin keyed in his security code and waited. To his dismay, he saw that Palpatine had indeed been trying to contact him, for there were several messages from him. Looking back towards the fresher, reasoning that his wife would be more than the minute she had intended, Anakin decided to scan through the messages. Clearly Palpatine was not pleased that Anakin was not available, for by the final message his tone had become decidedly annoyed.

Anakin punched the access code for the Chancellor's office, using the Force to calm his agitation. Within a few seconds he was face to face with Mas Amedda, Palpatine's personal assistant.

"Oh, it's you," Amedda said, his entire being emitting his dislike for Anakin. "The Chancellor is most displeased with you. Where have you been for the past few days?"

Anakin was angered by the majordomo's condescending attitude and did not try to hide it.

"None of your damn business," Anakin replied in a tone of irritation. "Where is he?"

"The Chancellor?" Amedda asked feigning ignorance.

"Yes, who else?" Anakin snapped.

"I'm afraid he's in a rather important meeting at the moment," Amedda replied. "You see, while you've been off on your….vacation, the Republic has taken another step closer to declaring war upon the separatists."

"What?!" Anakin exclaimed.

"You mean you didn't know?" Amedda replied, relishing the moment immensely.

Anakin leaned forward, his anger rippling through him in great surges. "Listen to me, you egotistical ass kisser," he growled, "Get the Chancellor for me now, or you will regret it," he warned, using the Force to squeeze the larynx of the pompous man. "Do you understand?"

Amedda nodded the hue of his blue skin deepening as he struggled to breathe.

"Good," Anakin replied, releasing him, and enjoying the way he sputtered for air. Amedda hurried away, rubbing gingerly at his throat as he did so.

"Ani who are you talking to?"

Anakin turned to see Padmé standing at the far end of the room. But before he could respond, Palpatine appeared on the screen.

"Well, I'm happy that you finally found the time to respond to my messages," he began peevishly. "What are you doing on Bespin?"

"I'm on my honeymoon," Anakin replied, raising his mental barriers. "Senator Amidala and I were married two days ago."

Palpatine's reaction was a mixture of surprise and outrage.

"Indeed?" he replied at last, his yellow eyes narrowing. "I must have misplaced my invitation, for I can't imagine how I could have been overlooked for such an important event."

"It was very small," Anakin explained. "Family only."

"I see," Palpatine replied, not even trying to hide his displeasure. "And I suppose the man who raised you doesn't count as family?"
It was all Padmé could do to hold herself back from speaking up. It seemed that Anakin, however, was at a loss to know how to respond, so she decided to do so.

"We kept it small and quiet because of my family," Padmé said, walking over to stand beside Anakin. "They were not terribly thrilled about the whole thing, as you can imagine."

Palpatine looked at her, trying to determine the intent behind her words. He sensed she was telling the truth, however, and merely nodded.

"My father-in-law hates me I'm afraid," Anakin spoke up, grateful for Padmé's help. "Believe me, our wedding wasn't exactly a joyous occasion."

Padmé looked at him, knowing he was lying, but hating to hear him say the words nonetheless. Still, they had a ruse to perpetrate, and every word they said was being carefully measured by him. "That's something of an understatement," she stated dryly. Anakin looked up at her and, knowing Palpatine could not see him, winked at her.

"I'm sorry to hear it, Senator," Palpatine replied, watching her carefully.

Padmé sighed dramatically. "I always dreamed of a big, fancy wedding too," she declared. "I guess that will never happen."

Palpatine smiled as plan entered his mind. "Oh don't fret, Milady," he told her. "I have a grand idea. What would you say if I arranged for a magnificent celebration to honor your marriage when you come back to Coruscant? It would give me the occasion to give you my congratulations personally and in public."

Padmé had to call upon all her years of political training in order to reply without revealing her true feelings. "Chancellor, that is so very generous of you!" she exclaimed happily. "What a wonderful idea!"

Palpatine's smile broadened. "Splendid," he replied. "Then leave it to me. Upon your return we shall have a grand celebration."

"You are too kind, my master," Anakin said.

"Think nothing of it, my boy," Palpatine replied congenially. "And when can I expect you to return? Soon I hope. I have need of your help with something of great importance, Anakin."

Anakin nodded, realizing that, as much as he hated to do it, he would have to cut short him and Padmé's honeymoon. "Tomorrow we leave," he said, proud of his wife for her ability to hide her true feelings upon hearing this.

"Excellent," Palpatine replied. "I shall begin the preparations at once. I look forward to seeing you both soon then."

Anakin smiled as the transmission faded out, and then cursed softly. He turned to Padmé.

"I'm sorry, Angel," he said. "I hope you know I had no choice."

Padmé nodded and stopped closer to him. "I know," she replied softly, running her hands into his hair. "We have an image to maintain, Ani. I know how devious he is, how dangerous."

"He is," Anakin agreed. "And he can sense the smallest hint of deception, so we must be very careful. I will teach you how to shield your thoughts from him, though you have done an amazing job doing so up to now."

She smiled. "I'm a politician, Anakin," she reminded him. "It's in my best interest to hide my feelings sometimes."

Anakin laughed. "Yes, so it is," he replied. "Well," he said, standing up, "let's go and have some fun tonight, and not let this unexpected change of plans ruin what's left of our honeymoon."

Padmé smiled as she linked her arm though his. "My feelings exactly," she replied.