cry
"but no matter what you'll never see me cry,"- rihanna
"I love you."
Nearly falling back into the lake, she glanced over at Anakin, to make sure he was real. Smiling, Padme clasping his hand, pulling herself out of the mud.
The first time she had heard someone say that to her, someone other than her parents and sister, she had fainted, awaking only by smelling salts and a slap to the head. Palo had said that to her, a girl of eleven, while they had stood on the bridge, Sola watching them as they threw pebbles into the river below with childish delight. That night, she had blushed when Sola had told her parents over dinner.
But that had been a crush, puppy love. But this was real. She knew it, he loved her, and she him. However whirlwind and secret their romance was, she knew it in her heart, and felt it in her soul.
He hugged her to him, arm around her shoulders as they watched the sun set over the lake, the small island they had swam to in the morning now filled with shadows, none of the glistening white sand visible. Anakin rested his head on top hers, smelling the rose behind her ears. She laughed childishly, as swiftly; a bird flew over their heads, squawking loudly in the night.
She turned in his arm, placing softy kisses on his cheeks. Softly, landing one on his awaiting lips, she squealed as he pulled her closer to him, their lips meeting.
This was love. This was theirs, and it would remain that way forever, hopefully. This was the man she would marry, and who would be the father of their children. Anakin Skywalker would be the man she met at their home every night, and the man she woke up next to every morning. Even if it was secret, and they couldn't show their love in public, she would cherish every moment, every stealed glance, every kiss.
This was theirs.
But it never remained that way. Stupidly, he spread their love to the world as if it was possible, and they argued because of that. Their child, slowly growing in her stomach, should have been they only proof of their love, but now it wasn't. Everyone knew, and everyone hated. They weren't left with a moment of peace, and they shouted because of that.
That's the way it could, and should have been.
But she died, "I love you" on her lips.
But it was forever.