Chapter Twenty-three
It was very late when Anakin and Padmé were finally able to leave the gala celebration, both of them tense and exhausted from the ordeal. They flew home in silence, neither of them in the mood for talking as they contemplated the events of the past twenty-four hours.
Anakin turned and glanced at his wife as he directed the speeder to their new home. As relieved as she was that the night was over, he could sense how tense she still was. He reached over and took her hand, startling her out of her reverie.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Padmé nodded. "Just tired, that's all," she replied.
"You were amazing tonight," he told her with a smile. "I half believed your performance myself."
Padmé smiled at his praise. "Well, I know what's at stake, Ani. I'm not about to let that monster win."
"He won't win, Angel," he assured her, pressing her hand to his lips. "I promise you that."
"I saw you talking to Obi-Wan Kenobi," she commented. "I can't imagine what the two of you had to say to one another."
Anakin's jaw tightened ever so slightly at the mention of Kenobi. "Not much," he replied simply. "Though the two of you seemed to have plenty to say to one another."
Padmé watched him, noting the subtle change in his demeanor. "You're jealous," she declared. "Aren't you?"
Anakin frowned. "No, of course I'm not," he lied.
Padmé smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You're not a very good liar, my love," she told him. "Actually our conversation may help us in our cause."
"How?" he asked.
"Well, I suppose my performance even fooled the Jedi," she told him. "Obi-Wan was concerned about my well being, and said that if I ever needed help I could come to the Jedi Council."
"How magnanimous of him," Anakin remarked.
"Now Ani, don't be like that," she said. "Think of it; this gives us an opening, a reason to go to the Jedi. Only it won't be just me, it will be both of us. I think we ought to see them as soon as possible. You know yourself it's only a matter of time before Palpatine finds out about the babies."
Anakin considered her words. The conversations he'd had with the Jedi had been far more cordial than he had anticipated; were they in fact open minded enough to listen to what he had to say? Having the Jedi as his allies was not something he had ever imagined happening; yet, if he were to bring down Palpatine, he would undoubtedly need their help.
"Very well," he replied at last. "We'll think of a way to make this work."
Padmé nodded, and then smiled. "You're very cute when you're jealous, by the way," she told him.
Anakin looked at her, not able to prevent a smile. "I'm not jealous," he insisted.
Padmé merely laughed.
The household droids had kept the house well lit for Anakin and Padmé upon their return. Neither of them was thrilled with the idea of living in such a house, and wondered if they would ever feel at home there.
"Is there anything I can get either of you?" a protocol droid asked as Anakin and Padmé entered the enormous foyer.
"No, thank you," Padmé replied. "You may close down for the night."
"Thank you Lady Vader," the droid replied and shuffled away.
"I hate being called that," Padmé said as they walked up the stairs.
"I'm sure," Anakin replied. "No doubt Palpatine programmed all the droids to call us by the Sith name he gave me."
"No doubt," Padmé muttered. "Every opportunity to infuriate me."
Anakin smiled. "He does have that talent. Come on, Angel; let's forget about him for tonight, okay?"
"I will try," she said as they entered the enormous bed chamber. Padmé proceeded to the dressing table and sat down. "I miss Dormé," she sighed.
"I know," Anakin said, standing behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I'll help you if you wish."
Padmé looked up at him in the mirror with a smile. "You'll be my hand maiden?" she asked.
Anakin nodded as he began pulling pins from her hair. "I always wondered how you kept all this hair in such unusual arrangements."
Padmé smiled. "It isn't easy, let me tell you."
"No, I'm sure," he replied, continuing to pull pins from her hair. "I always figured you had some sort of force field hidden in your head dress."
Padmé laughed at this. "Ani, you're too funny," she told him as she helped him with the pins.
"Now what's next?" he asked as they removed the last of the pins.
Padmé handed him her hairbrush. "One hundred strokes," she told him.
Anakin took the brush. "One hundred?"
Padmé nodded.
"As you wish, milady," he said, commencing on the task at hand. He smoothed out her long hair with his hand as he used the other to brush its long tresses. Padmé closed her eyes, finding it relaxing having someone brush her hair.
"You are very good at this," she said as he neared the end of the hundred strokes. "Have you done this before?"
Anakin looked at her reflection in the mirror, wondering what she was really asking. "Have I brushed a woman's hair before?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "I know you've had lovers in the past."
"True," he replied. "But I don't recall brushing their hair."
"I see," she responded, looking away.
Anakin smiled. "Now who's jealous," he commented.
She brought her eyes back to his. "Well at least I have reason to be," she replied.
"Oh? How do you figure that?"
Padmé frowned. "You've been with other women, Anakin," she replied.
"So? I'm married to you."
"That doesn't mean the thought of you with other women doesn't bother me."
"Why should it? It's you I chose, not them."
"I know that, but…"
"Listen to me," he said, turning her around to face him. "What I had in the past was meaningless, physical gratification. Those women meant nothing to me. I know that sounds callous, but it's true. I love you, Padmé; when we are together, it's more than just sex; it's more than just a union of our bodies; it's a union of our souls. I've never had that with any woman, just you. Do you see the difference?"
She nodded, his words touching her heart. "You never cease to amaze me," she told him, taking his face in her hands.
"No?"
She shook her head. "I am so proud of you, Ani," she told him, stroking his face gently. "You've come so far from the man who came to my home two months ago. I knew you were in there somewhere."
Anakin traced one finger down the side of her face. "That man was lost until you came back into my life," he told her, bringing his face closer to hers. He captured her mouth in a tender kiss. "Thank you," he said.
"What for?"
"For believing in me," he told her. "For not giving up on me even when I had. Your faith in me means more than I can express."
Padmé smiled. "Of course I have faith in you, Anakin," she replied. "I love you."
Anakin pulled her to her feet and drew her close. "I love you too, Angel," he said. "Now is there anything else I can do for you, milady?" he asked with a smile.
Padmé laughed. "Well, you could help me get undressed," she told him with a smile.
Anakin raised his eyebrows. "Was that part of Dormé's job?" he teased.
Padmé gave him a smack on the shoulder. "Smart guy!" she replied with a laugh.
Anakin laughed. "Sorry, I'm bad, I know," he said, reaching behind her and slowly unzipping her dress.
"Yes, you are," she agreed. "I don't know how I put up with you sometimes."
"Neither do I," he replied, pulling the straps down off of her shoulders. He brought his mouth to one shoulder and planted a trail of kisses along it.
"Can I be of any further assistance, milady?" he asked as his lips grazed along her neck.
Padmé closed her eyes, losing herself in the sensations he was creating within her. "Well," she said finally, "you could lose some of the clothes."
"You think so, do you?" he asked, nibbling on her earlobe next.
"Most definitely," she told him, opening her eyes. "In fact, let me help you," she suggested.
"By all means," he said, removing his hands from her body.
Padmé stepped closer and began removing his tunic. Anakin watched her, growing excited by her determination and eagerness. Finally she pushed the tunic from him and ran her hands up over his broad chest. "You are so sexy," she told him looking up at him with a smile.
Anakin smiled. "I'm glad you think so," he remarked as he captured her in his embrace once again.
Padmé woke up early the next morning feeling queasy. She got out of bed carefully so as not to awaken Anakin and hurried to the adjoining fresher where she promptly vomited. Morning sickness, she realized, surprised by its early onset. She splashed cold water on her face and then took a cold drink before stepping into the shower. She had been away from her office for many weeks, and was anxious to check in. No doubt the capital was buzzing with gossip about her; she wanted to get back into things before too many wild rumors started.
Anakin woke up just in time to see his wife about to open the door to their bedroom.
"Where are you going?" he called.
She turned around, startled by the sudden sound of his voice. "I'm just going to the office to check in," she told him, walking back to the bed. "I won't be long."
Anakin reached over and took her hand. "Sure you can't put that off for say…an hour or so?" he asked with a smile.
Padmé laughed as she sat on the side of the bed. "You are insatiable," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "And while that is a most tempting offer, I really must decline. Jar Jar is expecting me, and if I don't show up he'll work himself up into a frenzy. You know what he's like."
Anakin nodded. "Yes, I remember."
"Why don't you meet me there later on?" she suggested. "We could have lunch together before coming home."
"Sounds good," he said, stretching languidly. "I may just sleep a little longer. You wore me out last night," he told her with a grin.
Padmé laughed. "Well it was well worth it," she said, kissing him again. "I'll see you later."
Anakin nodded as she stood up and left him. Hearing her descend down the stairs, he rolled over and promptly went back to sleep.
Padmé liked her freedom, thrived on independence; so the fact that a droid was waiting to take her wherever she wanted to go really annoyed her; the fact that this droid had been provided and programmed by Palpatine even more so.
The Coruscant cityscape had not changed in her weeks away from the capital; things looked just as they had before she'd left. Yet she herself had changed in a myriad of ways since that day what seemed like eons ago. Never in a thousand years would she have imagined herself to be married to Anakin Skywalker and carrying his twins upon returning to the senate. And yet, here she was.
"Senator Amidala!" Jar Jar squealed upon seeing her enter the suite of offices she held. "Meesa so happy to seein you!!"
"Hello Jar Jar," Padmé replied with a smile. "It's good to see you too."
"Dey say you isa married now, Milady," he continued, following her like a paper trained pup. "To Anakin Skywalker!"
"That's right, Jar Jar," Padmé replied. "We were married a week or so back. You remember him, don't you?"
Jar Jar nodded. "Little Ani not so little any more," he commented.
Padmé merely smiled in response. "I'm not here for long," she told him. "Just to check my messages."
"Okey dokey, Senator," Jar Jar replied as the door closed behind her. He returned to his own desk, where he was attempting to look official when she had entered the room.
Padmé spent the next two hours poring over messages that she had received over the passed two months, messages that Jar Jar had felt too personal to handle. Many of them needed to be answered immediately she soon realized, hoping that she would be finished with them before Anakin arrived. She had to force herself to focus on her work, her mind drifting every so often to his face, to the previous night, to the way he looked as he languished in their bed earlier that morning. How easy it would have been to stay home with him! But Padmé had a strong sense of duty, and knew that her office needed her sooner rather than later.
Jar Jar had just managed to get through a pile of correspondence that Padmé had delegated to him when the doors to the suite opened again. He looked up and nearly jumped out of his seat for the second time.
"Obi!!" the over-excited gungan exclaimed, scrambling out of his chair. "Meesa so happy to seein you!!"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Hello Jar Jar," he replied. "Long time no see. I was wondering if you might be able to tell me when you expect to see Senator Amidala. Has she given you any indication when she might be in?"
"She's in right now," Jar Jar replied, pointing to her office.
Kenobi was surprised but pleased to hear it. "May I be permitted to speak with her?"
"Isa go askin her," Jar Jar replied, lumbering over to Padmé's door. He entered without knocking, something which drove Padmé straight up the wall.
"Exsqueeze me, Senator," Jar Jar said as Padmé looked up from her computer.
"What is it, Jar Jar?"
"Master Obi here to seein you, Milady," he replied.
Padmé was surprised, and stood up. "Show him in," she replied.
Jar Jar left her and soon after Obi-Wan entered the room.
"Good morning, Senator," Obi-Wan began with a bow. "Forgive me for coming here unannounced and uninvited."
"Don't be silly, Obi-Wan," she replied. "You know you are always welcome. Sit down, please."
Obi-Wan sat down as Padmé joined him. "What brings you by?" she asked.
Kenobi studied her closely, trying to read her thoughts; but Padmé was very good at hiding them, something her husband had taught her well.
"I'm just concerned about you, that's all," he replied at last. "You were rather edgy last night when we spoke."
"Was I?" she asked evasively.
"Padmé, don't talk circles around me," he replied. "I sense that there is much more to this marriage of yours than meets the eye. Won't you please tell me what the devil is going on?"
"It's none of your business what is going on, Kenobi."
Padmé looked up to see Anakin standing in the doorway. She stood up. "Ani, I didn't expect you so soon."
"Obviously not," he replied, looking at her. "Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on here??"
Obi-Wan stood up to face Anakin, sensing the young man's great anger. "That's what I would like to know, Anakin. What is going on?"