A Normal Day:

Padme stood on the veranda. The suns were setting and the sky was purple with striking hues of gold lighting the horizon. But Padme's eyes were locked a starfighter. Her husband's starfighter... which was flying toward her from a spire atop the Jedi Temple...

The ship circled 500 Republica, then came around and landed safely on the docking bay. The hatch opened, and Anakin climbed out. The wind assailed Padme's dress as she raced toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He squeezed, his hug lifting her from her feet.

He set Padme down, and she grabbed him by the ears and kissed his cheeks. Anakin smiled, then slipped out of his cloak.

"How was physical therapy today?" she asked.

"I didn't go."

Padme gave him a weary look. "Anakin...you missed another appointment? They'll begin to suspect us."

"You worry too much," he said with a smile.

"Someone has to," Padme replied.

Anakin followed her to the dining room, where dinner sat on the table. He slid the black glove he wore from his mechanical hand, sat, then laid it across his lap. Padme sat at the other end, a plate of vegetables before her, and proceeded to eat.

"Have you spoken to Obi-Wan?"

"Yes."

"Is he well?"

Anakin frowned then looked at his plate. "I suppose."

"And the chancellor? Is he well?"

"Anakin..."

"What? You can ask about Obi-Wan but I can't ask about the Chancellor?"

"The Chancellor is the last person on Coruscant that I wish to talk about much less think about when I'm with you."

"Now you know how I feel."

"I thought you loved Obi Wan."

"He's like a father to me. Well, more like a brother, now."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Anakin replied in a flat voice. He didn't mind talking about Obi Wan. He just didn't like talking about him with her.

"He stopped by today. He said he was looking for you."

"Looking for me? Here?" Anakin's eyebrows were raised quite high, Padme could tell she had taken him by surprise.

"We shared a cup of tea. He was kind enough to run an errand for me."

And now, Anakin was done eating. He rose from the table and walked to the bedroom. Padme took a sip of water, and another bite of food. When she was done, she followed him to the room, and found him sitting in the dark, sulking.

"Anakin? Is something wrong?

Padme leaned against the doorway, her hand against the panel.

"What kind of errands did you have for Obi Wan to do?"

When was the last time Obi Wan ran an errand? A long time ago, he might have called his Padawan to do it for him. But Anakin sensed, Obi Wan was trying to keep him and Padme apart.

She gave him a strange look.

"Well... he delivered a message to the chancellor... and took the chancellor's reply to Master Yoda... Have I upset you?"

Anakin looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting hers.

"You didn't ask me."

"Of course, not. Sometimes, I think you want them to catch us," Padme chided. "I suspect, the council is waiting to see us together again. Why draw more attention to ourselves than necessary?"

Anakin smiled. "You suspect? Or sense? You should have been a Jedi."

Padme walked across the room and sat on the bed beside him. "I married a Jedi. That's good enough for me."

She smiled. Anakin pushed her back against the bed then climbed over her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replied.

"Why do you love me?" she asked.

"Who couldn't love you?" This, was becoming a pressing worry for him anyway.

Anakin's hand met her underarm and Padme laughed.

"Please don't tickle me Anakin, I'm much too old for that."

"Too old for this?" he asked, kissing her neck.

"Not old enough," she countered.

He pressed the weight of his body against her. "Has the shock worn off now? Do I have permission to make love to my wife?" he unbuttoned her dress.

Padme smiled and caressed his cheek with her hand. "The shock will never wear off, I can't believe I married you Ani."

He held her gaze. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It's a beautiful thing," she laughed. "When the war is over, I hope you retire so that we might celebrate our love openly."

"I don't care one or another. My love is here whether the world knows or not. "

"What if we were to have children?"

"Who wants children?" Anakin laughed. "I want you to myself."

"I want lots of little Ani's running around the house. I think you will make a wonderful father."

"Do you really?" he asked. Anakin seemed rather surprised.

"Of course."

"The Jedi may try to steal them," he replied in a serious tone.

"They might. If they can find us," Padme smiled. "We'll move into a villa on Rea and live by the ocean..." she said. "No one will find us. No one will know where we are..."

He rubbed a hand across her belly, and sensed...knew, his child would someday be nestled there. Just as he knew he would marry her someday.

"Now?" he asked.

"When the time is right, my love."

Anakin's face adopted a desirous look as he gazed upon her. His hand traveled up her leg to settle on her inner thigh. Suddenly, he leaned forth and kissed her belly, then let his mouth trail to her neck.

Padme opened his shirt and let her hand slide down his chest to his muscular abdomen. Her hand rested at the top of his pants. Anakin threw the covers back then peeled out of his shirt. They escaped beneath the covers, tossing their clothes to the side of the bed.