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AN: Here's chapter 12! Thanks for the great reviews. You guys are awesome!
Forever Destined
Chapter 12: Accomplished Mission
Anakin and Obi-Wan's star fighters exited hyperspace. Three weeks ago, just a few days after Anakin and Padme had returned from Naboo, the Jedi learned that the Jedi Knight that had been trailing Nute Gunray had been killed. Not long after Gunray's initial capture on Naboo, he and his constituents pulled a clever escape aboard the prison transfer ship. The Jedi were convinced they had help and sent a Jedi to track them down. For three weeks now, Obi-Wan and Anakin had been chasing him from hiding place to hiding place. A couple days ago, Gunray had fled Cato-Neimodia, but not before Obi-Wan had managed to attach a tracking device to the hull of his ship.
"Utapau. What do you bet he has some kind of droid factory here?" Anakin asked.
"Very likely. Utapau is one of the planets that has petitioned to withdraw from the Republic. Come on baby brother, let's capture the blasted scum so we can go home," Obi-Wan said, as they received landing clearance and descended through the planet's atmosphere.
The two Jedi landed at the fueling station and spoke with a native there. He told them that he'd seen a large ship matching their given description fly west of his facility. The man had kindly provided them with ground transportation. Utai people used the native Varactyl creatures to navigate their planet, rather than speeders. In the distance, Anakin spotted steam rising and pointed at it.
"Obi-Wan, I think that might be a good place to start looking for him," Anakin called.
"I think you're right," Obi-Wan called back, as they steered the creatures in the right direction. Obi-Wan and Anakin soon arrived at the underground hideout that they were sure Gunray was hiding at. Carefully, they climbed through the ceiling vents, until they finally came to the control room where Gunray sat with his constituents. Anakin and Obi-Wan glanced at each other with a smirk.
"Are you up for some aggressive negotiations?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Always," Anakin replied. Together, they jumped down, using the Force to soften their landing. Igniting their sabers, they began to cut down the droids. Gunray frantically ran for the exit, but Anakin used the Force to drop the blast door. Gunray and his accomplices were captured swiftly and Obi-Wan contacted the council. A Republic cruiser was sent to Utapau to retrieve the Jedi and their prisoners. They were finally returning to Coruscant.
After another stressful day at the Senate, Padme had Captain Typho take her to Anakin's parent's penthouse. She'd been spending a lot of time with them the last three weeks and had dinner their almost every night. Being separated from Anakin was much harder than she thought it would be, even though she understood perfectly why he was away and was proud of the man he was. In the last few weeks, Padme had begun to grown close to Anakin's family, especially Shmi. Padme found that she could talk to Shmi about anything. And for that matter, she found that she could talk to Qui-Gon and Yan too. She wasn't used to it, even though she could still talk to Sola. She'd never been able to talk to her mother so openly, and definitely had never been able to talk to her father about anything since her thoughts and feelings mattered little to him. And since her mother was too afraid of going against her father, it limited the things they could talk about. But she felt that she could open up to Shmi completely and she had. She talked to her about everything now it seemed like and Shmi listened, gave good advice, and a shoulder to cry on if she needed it. At first when Shmi had told her that it would be okay to call her 'mom', Padme thought she would be uncomfortable doing so. But after trying, it felt natural and right to do so.
"Hi sweetheart, how was your day?" Shmi asked, as Padme walked in.
"Stressful, but okay for the most part. It just seems that all we do is bicker in the Senate anymore," Padme said dejectedly, as she smoothed her burgundy gown and let her hair down from the elaborate twist it was fastened in.
"Yes, Qui-Gon says that the Separatist movement is causing a great deal of strife," Shmi replied.
"I've been hearing whispers of war and even giving the Chancellor emergency powers should the threat become worse. Those things would only make this conflict worse. My colleagues and I are trying to propose a diplomatic solution, but Chancellor Palpatine doesn't seem interested," Padme replied.
"Maybe I'm overreacting or not giving him enough credit, but it just seems that he's changed since he became Chancellor," Padme said.
"Well, you should always trust your instincts sweetheart. It is what Yan and Qui-Gon have always strived to teach Ben and Anakin. And you're first reaction is usually the correct one, because it is based on your own conclusions and not hindered by the opinions of others," Shmi advised. Padme smiled. She would have never received such sound advice from her own parents in a million years. Before they could continue their conversation, Qui-Gon came in with a bright smile.
"Ben and Anakin apprehended Gunray on Utapau," Qui-Gon said.
"They're coming home?" Padme asked.
"They're being given clearance to land as we speak. I thought you both might like to be there to greet them," Qui-Gon replied. Shmi and Padme hugged, before standing up.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go," Shmi said excitedly, as she and Padme followed Qui-Gon out.
At the Senate Rotunda, Jedi and Senators gathered, as the shuttle arrived from the docking bay where they had landed. Anakin and Obi-Wan stepped out. Republic officers and prison guards stood by, as Gunray and his constituents filed out, each in stun cuffs and leg shackles. Chancellor Palpatine approached the two Jedi responsible.
"You have done the Republic a great service by apprehending these criminals," Palpatine said. Anakin and Obi-Wan bowed respectfully.
"Thank you Chancellor," Obi-Wan replied, as Mace and Yoda approached them.
"Done well, you both have. Proud of you, we are," Yoda said.
"Thank you masters," they echoed each other in response. Mace smiled, noticing how distracted Anakin was with his surroundings.
"We will skip the debriefing for today and just have you attend tomorrow afternoon's meeting," Mace said.
"Thank you masters," they answered. Anakin spotted Padme standing in front of his parents and he sprinted to her. He picked her up and spun her around, hugging her tightly.
"I missed you so much," Padme said.
"I missed you too," Anakin replied, as he set her down on her feet and leaned down to press his lips against hers. After exchanging several kisses, Anakin broke their embrace and hugged his parents. Ben hugged them too and noticing their grandfather's absence, they figured he was still on Serenno.
"You boys are probably hungry. You probably haven't had a decent mean since you left," Shmi said.
"Nope, not with Ben doing the cooking," Anakin replied.
"Ha, like you do any better," Obi-Wan retorted.
"Well, let's go home and we'll get you a nice home cooked meal," Shmi said. Both readily agreed and the family left together.
After a nice dinner with Anakin's parents, Anakin and Padme returned to Padme's apartment.
"Alone at last," Anakin said, as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Anakin tangled his fingers in her curls, as he plundered her mouth. Padme palmed her hands down his chest and started tugging at his leather jerkin. He broke the kiss long enough for her to lift it over his head and discard it. Their lips crashed together again, as Padme practically tore his tunic open, so she could smooth her hands possessively over his defined pectorals and etched abs.
Anakin and Padme kissed with furious passion.
"I missed you so much," Padme rasped.
"Gods...I missed you too," Anakin said huskily, as he swept her into his arms. They tumbled to the bed, furiously pulling at each other's clothes.
"I need you!" Padme cried. He swallowed her words in a bruising kiss, as he worked her out of her dress...
After a passionate bout of lovemaking, they lay together in the afterglow.
"You're amazing...star nymph," he said huskily.
"You're the one that's amazing. Did you notice how many girls from the temple were glaring at me when you arrived at the Senate this afternoon?" she asked, with a teasing smile. He drew her lips into a passionate kiss, as one hand tangled in her hair.
"No...all I could see was you. All the others pale in comparison to you. There is no one else for me. They can be jealous all they want, but never fear that I would ever want another . You're in my very soul and I belong to you," he said, as his intense gazed pierced through her. She shivered, as his hands traveled possessively over her body, igniting her desire. Anakin smiled up at her, remembering her aggressiveness earlier. He knew she didn't realize that she had the ability to be incredibly sexy, nor did she have any idea about the wonderful power she had over him.
"I'm yours Padme and it's time that you prove it to yourself. I desire only you and that will never change. I know that when I screamed your name earlier, it thrilled you. Stake your claim on me, angel. Prove that I belong to you," Anakin rasped in a low, sexy voice. His words sparked an aggressive desire to possess him, as she set out to do just that. Her lips crashed against his, as she furiously plundered his mouth, allowing him no control, as their tongues met. Their loved all night, as passion's spell drove their love and desire...
Padme moaned sleepily, as she felt a pair of lips trailing down her neck. She turned in her lover's embrace and kissed his lips.
"Good morning to you too," she said, finally opening her eyes.
"Do you have to be at the Senate soon?" Anakin asked.
"Not until this afternoon. We're only in session for half the day," Padme replied.
"Well, the Chancellor was quite please that Obi-Wan and I managed to apprehend Gunray. I only have a meeting with the Council today," Anakin replied.
"It's probably to brief you and Ben on the Separatist movement," Padme said.
"Probably. Grandfather has been on his home planet where the negotiations are taking place," Anakin replied.
"I've heard your father say that he thinks the Sith are behind the Separatists movement," Padme said.
"Well, I always follow dad's instincts, because he's usually right. Besides, it's just too coincidental. A Sith Lord shows up on Naboo, Cato-Neimodia launches an illegal blockade and now several planets have petitioned to leave the Republic. There's something very dark and elusive about it," Anakin replied.
"The last three weeks felt like a lifetime without you," Padme said.
"I know. It was like that for me too. But I'm here now and something big comes up. Besides, we have to go out and celebrate your life-day since I missed it last week," Anakin replied. Padme smiled playfully.
"Well, we can celebrate just fine right here," Padme replied, as their lips met passionately...
Obi-Wan had just come from a Council meeting. Anakin had run off already to find Padme, leaving him no one to spar with. He decided to go to the gym anyway, hoping to find someone there. Luckily, he found Aayla who was more than willing to spar him. As their sabers clashed together, they talked a bit.
"So, are you going out tonight?" Aayla asked.
"Yes, are you interested in tagging along?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Always," she replied.
"I actually talked Anakin into coming, so he and Padme will be there too," Obi-Wan replied.
"That should be fun. Where is he anyway?" Aayla asked. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"He's off somewhere buying flowers or something for her," he replied.
"Aw...he's so romantic. You should really take some pointers from your baby brother when it comes to wooing a woman," Aayla teased.
"Well, if I ever woo a woman again, which is not likely, maybe I will," Obi-Wan replied.
"Never say never Ben," Aayla replied, as she parried. They extinguished their sabers and Aayla grabbed a towel, dabbing the sweat from her body. She handed him the towel and walked out.
"See you tonight," she called. Obi-Wan watched her hips sway as she left the room.
Anakin arrived home at Padme's apartment. Most of his stuff had been moved from Obi-Wan's place to Padme's and it was home to him now too. Sensing that he was home, Padme came out of the bedroom to greet him. She was greeted by a large bouquet of flowers in her lover's hand.
"Oh Ani, they're beautiful," she said, as she kissed him and then sniffed the fragrant blossoms.
"Ani, these are Nabooan angel blossoms. How did you know I love these?" she asked, as she sniffed the whitish, pink flowers.
"Lucky guess," her replied, as he leaned down and kissed her again.
"After dinner, I kind of told Obi-Wan we would come to the club for a little bit. But if you don't want to, we don't have to," Anakin said.
"No, I'd love to," Padme replied.
"Really?" he asked.
"Well...yeah. I'll admit, I've never really liked those places before. But with you, it might be fun," she replied.
"Well, then let's go get ready for our night out then," Anakin replied. Not much later, Anakin and Padme headed out for a romantic dinner. Anakin had donned civilian clothes, including black pants and a black shirt that fit him snugly through the upper body, defining his chest. Padme was wearing a sleeveless black dress and she took Anakin's breath away when she had first come out of the bedroom. Together, they left their apartment for a night out...