Disclaimer : I don't own Star Wars
AN: Here's chapter 17! Enjoy and please let me know what you think:)
Forever Destined
Chapter 17: Love Never Ending
Padme brushed her curls out, as she sat before the vanity. She was dressed in an elegant royal blue dress, which was the one of she had chosen for tonight from the selection of many his grandmother's handmaidens had brought her. Anakin stood off to the side, dressed and ready, watching her with a small smile. Padme fastened a couple barrettes in her hair and then stood up from the vanity. She smiled at him, as he took her in his arms. His lips descended upon hers in a passionate array of sensual, deep kisses.
"Mmm...if I wasn't so hungry, I'd say we could skip dinner and go straight to bed," Anakin said.
"Me too, but I'm starving and I want to get to know your grandmother better. Besides, they'll be plenty of time for love later tonight," she replied sultrily. Anakin smiled and captured her already swollen lips with his own.
"I love you," he told her in a husky whisper, as his lips released hers. Her brown eyes sparkled, as she gazed into his own sapphire gems.
"I love you too, more than anything," she replied. She looped her arm inside his, as they left their quarters and walked to the dining hall.
Anakin and Padme ate hungrily and as they began to slow, they conversed with Anakin's grandmother.
"So, how did you two meet?" Elana asked. Padme smiled.
"My friend dragged me to this club one night a few months ago. I stepped outside to get some air. I was attacked by a rapist and his gang. But before they could hurt me, Anakin saved me," Padme answered.
"I've been in love with her since the moment I saw her," Anakin replied and Padme smiled warmly at him.
"We finally admitted our love to each other the night Ani was Knighted," Padme said.
"Well Padme, I think you're very good for our Ani and I am very glad to welcome you to the family," Elana said. Tears pricked at Padme's eyes, as Anakin wrapped his arm around her waist.
"You've all welcomed me into your family and your kindness still astounds me. I must apologize for the way my family treated Anakin, for they were not as receptive," Padme said.
"Angel, you have nothing to be sorry for. You're not responsible for the actions of your parents. If you hadn't gone against them, they'd have you trapped and married to someone who doesn't love you or deserve you and someone that you don't love as well," Anakin told her.
"He's right Padme. My husband explained to me all about your village's traditions. I must say that it takes a strong, courageous woman to go against her family and village, even when they're wrong. You belong with Anakin and you cannot hold yourself responsible for their ignorance. Perhaps someday, they will come around," Elana assured her.
"I hope so. Thank you," Padme replied, as she dabbed her eyes.
"Well, since I will be returning with everyone to Coruscant for a while, I have a few things I need to take care of. We can talk later Padme," Elana said.
"Thank you, I'd like that very much," Padme replied. Elana smiled.
"Anakin, why don't you take Padme out into the gardens. They're beautiful this time of night when the fountains are lit," Elana suggested.
"Okay grandma," Anakin replied, as he and Padme headed out to the gardens to spend some time alone together.
Padme and Anakin walked into the lovely gardens, hand in hand.
"Your grandmother was right. It is beautiful out here," Padme said, as they sat down on the edge of one of the large, lighted fountains. The sound of the water falling into the pool below reminded her of the waterfall back home and their secret place behind it. He pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
"What are you thinking about?" Anakin asked. She smiled slyly.
"Like you don't know, my handsome Jedi," she replied, as she began running her fingers through his hair, knowing that he loved it when she did that. He chuckled.
"Maybe I do, but I think I just want to hear your lovely voice say it," he replied. She blushed and turned her head to his. Her back was against his chest and his arms were wrapped protectively around her mid section. They stared into each other's eyes for the longest moment, before she finally spoke.
"I was thinking about how much I love you and how lucky we were to make it out of that ordeal alive," Padme said.
"Well, as Obi-Wan would say, there's no such thing as luck," Anakin replied, as he kissed her neck softly. She felt goose bumps form on her skin, as his lips moved along her neck and right shoulder.
"Then what do you call it, my handsome Jedi?" she asked playfully.
"Well, the Force had a lot to do with it. But most of all, it was our love that saw us through, just like it will get us through anything else," Anakin replied.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too, angel," he replied.
"There's something I want to show you. Come on," Anakin said, as they slipped their shoes off and trekked through the cool grass in their bare feet. Anakin led her to the edge of the garden. The palace itself sat on a hill and at the edge, there was a beautiful view of the stars. Below were lush, green valleys.
"Oh, this is beautiful Anakin," she said, as they gazed up at the stars.
"I thought you might like this, but its beauty pales in comparison to you," he replied. She blushed again and snuggled close to him.
"It reminds me of home," she replied. He kissed her cheek, as they gazed up at the stars together. Neither noticed the twinkling star directly above them that was winking at them...
Anakin and Padme laughed and talked quietly, as they walked to their room. They had spent nearly the last two hours laying under the stars in the garden. They entered their room and dropped their shoes by the door. Padme went to the dresser and found nightgowns in the drawer. She selected a white one made of shimmer silk and headed for the fresher. Anakin tossed his tunic and belt onto a chair, followed by his pants. He slipped on a pair of sleep pants. He turned, as he heard her come out of the fresher. He was stunned to speechlessness, as she sauntered toward him in the short and very revealing negligee. Around her neck, resting just above her bosom was the japor snippet had given her, handing on the silver chain she'd put it on.
"Are you an angel?" he asked. She blushed under his hot gaze, as he closed the distance between them. Her heart pounded, as he gazed down at her, his eyes traveling over her body. Padme's eyes drifted shut, as he captured her lips in a searing kiss. His lips moved passionately over hers and without breaking the kiss, he lifted her into his strong arms. Padme hummed, as his smooth, skilled tongue slid along her own. He gently laid her down on the bed. She pulled him down with her, spreading her legs so he could rest between them. Anakin laid over her, his lips crashing against hers again and again, passionately and deeply. She welcomed his protective weight over her, as she kissed him back with just as much passion. Padme ran her hands possessively over his gorgeous, muscled chest and abs. His lips left fire in their wake, as he kissed down her neck. Anakin raised his hand and slowly, the light in the room dimmed, as their passion consumed them...
Much later, they lay cuddled together, thoroughly wrapped in each other's arms and bathing in the afterglow. Padme laid atop his sweat slicked chest, still catching her breath, as a satisfied smile graced her lips.
"And just when I thought sex with you couldn't get any better, you go and amaze me again, sexy Jedi," she said, as she cuddled against him.
"Well, what can I say? I just can't get enough of you, angel," he replied, as he nuzzled her neck. She giggled, as he blew on the moist skin on her neck. Padme pressed her lips to his softly again, losing herself in his intoxicating masculine scent.
"Goodnight my handsome Jedi," she said sleepily.
"Goodnight my beautiful angel," he replied, equally as sleepy. Thoroughly entwined in each other's arms, they slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Anakin and Padme waited patiently on the landing pad with Elana early the next morning. Padme suppressed a yawn, as she cuddled close to Anakin's side.
"Tired?" he asked playfully.
"It's your fault," she replied playfully. He chuckled.
"You weren't complaining last night. In fact, you couldn't get enough of me, star nymph," he whispered to her, as he blew in her ear. She gasped in surprise.
"You're terrible," she scolded, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"What am I going to do with you?" she asked.
"Love me forever," he replied. She smiled softly.
"That can definitely be arranged," she replied, as he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, moving them over hers passionately. Elana smiled at the young couple, as they waited for the rest of their family to arrive. The three of them stood back, as the ship landed and the ramp dropped. After the engines shut off, Shmi came hurrying down the ramp. She ran to Anakin and threw her arms around him.
"Oh, I've been so worried," Shmi said, as she hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.
"I'm fine mom," Anakin assured her. Shmi broke the hug and moved to Padme.
"I'm so glad you're both all right," Shmi said, as she hugged Padme tightly. Qui-Gon was next and he enveloped his son in a big hug. Dooku smiled, as his wife greeted him with a kiss. Together, they watched the rest greet Anakin and Padme. Obi-Wan hugged Anakin tightly.
"I'm okay Ben," Anakin assured him.
"We'd really thought we'd lost you both," Obi-Wan said.
"But we're here and we're fine," Anakin assured him.
"Anakin, you must forgive me," Obi-Wan said.
"Forgive you for what?" he asked.
"I knew from the beginning that you'd found the real thing with Padme. I could see it in your eyes and hers too. I suppose I just wasn't ready to let you go," Obi-Wan said.
"You have nothing to apologize for Obi-Wan," Padme insisted.
"Padme's right," Anakin replied, with a smile.
"Though I would have loved to have been there when you gave Siri hell. I still don't understand why she told Wells that I was her brother," Anakin said.
"I gave it to her good. And she claims she did it, thinking she was protecting you," Obi-Wan said. Obi-Wan chuckled.
"Protecting him? Well, her judgement was quiet skewed on that one. I have a few choice words for Knight Tachi when we get back," Padme said firmly.
"Well, the only thing I'm looking forward to more than that little confrontation is the interrogation with Wells. Thanks to you baby brother, we may finally bring this crime ring down for good," Obi-Wan said.
"Well, I'm sure everyone's hungry, so let's retire to the dining hall for breakfast," Elana announced. They all readily agreed and followed her inside.
Darth Maul gazed down evilly at the dead Jedi at his feet. He took out his comlink and contacted his master.
"Is it done, Lord Maul?" the scratchy voice of Darth Sidious asked.
"Yes my master. Sifo Dias is dead and the Clone army has been commissioned under his name," Maul reported.
"Excellent. Now, do what we discussed and make his death appear to be an accident," Sidious ordered.
"Yes master," Maul replied.
"Then, you will return to Kamino and keep me informed of the progress on a weekly basis. I want results twice as soon as we originally discussed," Sidious said.
"As you wish, my master," Maul replied, as the comlink went silent. Maul lifted the dead body and went about carrying out his master's orders...
Later that afternoon, Shmi and Elana took Padme into the market to spend some time with her, as Elana wished to get to know her better. This left Anakin with the perfect opportunity for his own trip to the Galactic marketplace.
"Tell me why you've dragged me here again?" Obi-Wan asked, as they walked through the crowded villa of the Serenno Galactic marketplace.
"I told you. I'm buying a ring for Padme," Anakin replied.
"You know that's just a Nabooan tradition," Obi-Wan mentioned.
"I know, but it's something that Padme wants, even if she said it wasn't necessary. Besides, a ring represents love never ending and I think that fits Padme and I very well," Anakin replied, as they arrived at the jewelry merchant's shop. The kindly old shop owner looked up, as he heard customers enter his shop.
"Hello boys, can I help you?" the old man asked.
"Yes sir, I'm looking for an engagement ring. My grandfather told me that your shop was the place to come," Anakin replied.
"Ah yes, you must be the Count's grandson. He told me you'd be coming. So, you're looking for a ring for a special lady?" he asked with a kind smile.
"Yes sir," Anakin replied, smiling back.
"The giving of a ring to one's chosen bride is an ancient tradition that dates back thousands of years. Not many notable cultures still practice such tradition. Your special lady must be from Naboo," the old man said. Anakin grinned.
"Yes sir, she is and she's the most beautiful woman in the galaxy," Anakin replied.
"Well, then she deserves a beautiful ring to compliment that beauty. Let's look though my selection and let me know when something catches your eye," the man said, as he set out the first case on the counter. He proceeded to set out three more cases. Anakin began looking carefully through them.
"They're all beautiful," Obi-Wan said.
"They are, but I'll know the perfect one when I see it," Anakin replied. The old man chuckled, as Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at his baby brother.
"Young love is a wonderful thing," the man said.
"Yes, I just wish I had better experiences with love," Obi-Wan replied.
"You shouldn't give up. You're still young and I guarantee that the right woman is out there for you," the old man said. Obi-Wan was silent, wondering if the right woman really was still out there or if he was just destined to be alone. As Anakin looked through the selection, he finally found one that caught his interest.
"What can you tell me about his one," Anakin said, as he pointed to it.
"Ah, that is an excellent choice indeed. I only show this case to serious buyers. That one is the rarest of all the gems I have. It is a Syrian blue diamond, one of the very last. This particular cut is what's known as an angel's teardrop and you will no long find any gem like it in the galaxy," the old man said.
"An angel's ring for an angel. It's perfect, I'll take it," Anakin said. The man smiled.
"An excellent choice my boy. This girl must be something special," the man said, as he took it in the back to put it in a case.
"She is," Anakin answered. Anakin paid for the ring and he and Obi-Wan left the little shop.
"Leave it to you to buy the most expensive ring in the shop. That old man can probably retire now," Obi-Wan teased him.
"It's not like any of us can't afford it. Besides, it's absolutely perfect for her," Anakin replied, as they headed back to the palace.
Padme, Shmi, and Elana sat at a quiet café in the village square. Shmi and Elana had brought her to the galactic marketplace and now they were enjoying a cool drink and a sweet snack.
"So I took a moment to read over some of the bills you've proposed. Your ideals and goals are impressive Padme. If only the Senate had more people like you," Elana said. "That's kind of you to say. I just feel like I'm not doing much good. Chancellor Palpatine seems much too concerned with other matters to see my requests through. He certainly has changed since he became Chancellor," Padme said.
"Your reservations about the Chancellor are well placed. Neither Yan nor Qui-Gon trust him. Ben doesn't either, so both you and Anakin should be wary of him," Elana advised Padme nodded in agreement.
"Now, enough about that. Let's talk about more pleasant things," Elana suggested. Shmi and Padme smiled, as their conversation shifted to family. Not much later, the three women headed back to the palace...