Hi! Sorry about the long time without an update. I've been doing lots of classes on writing and school has started...oh well, its a new adventure once again. Anyway, here's the latest update. LOTS OF ANIDALA. YAY! So enjoy, my dearest little Anidala shippers. I made it long.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars...sorry, I'd be counting my mulah at the Skywalker Ranch if I did...
Aubree: We can still bother Anakin though!
Author: Or stare at him all day...
Aubree: Ookay.. O.o. Just let my mom have him...You can have...some other cute guy...
Padme sighed as she frustrated packed her bags. Were the Jedi out of their minds? How could she leave right before the vote! It was essential for her to be there, she could be there to influence the rest of the Senate. But no, safety just had to get in the way.
The Senator huffed loudly, as Aubree watched. She had packed the night before, but her mother had pushed it off until the following morning. She shook her head, trying to hide her amusement. She knew how her mother wanted to stay, but she was excited. Her father had created so many paintings based on Naboo, and she was thrilled to be able to see it for the first time. She glanced over at the young man at her side, giving him a half-smile.
"She was worse when it came to leaving me here with Jar Jar one day," she remarked, shaking her head. "You can't trust him with anything."
Anakin, who was seated beside her, chuckled as he watched Padme practically zooming back and forth across the room. "Definitely. When I was nine, I had him fix up a bit of my pod…Not smart…He ended up sticking his tongue in the thruster cables and then getting his hand stuck in the engine," he replied with a grin.
Aubree laughed, picturing the clumsy Gun gun doing so. "Typical Jar Jar," she replied with a smile.
The Jedi nodded in agreement, as Padme glared over at him. "I do not like this idea of hiding," she said curtly, narrowing her eyebrows.
Anakin had to refrain from rolling his eyes. This was the twelfth time that she had said that to him in the past hour. "Think about it, Padme. The Council let you have time to pick a substitute and not to mention that you get a…" he paused for a moment, tapping his chin with deep thought. "Think of it as…a vacation!"
Aubree nodded vigorously, bobbing her head up and down like those bobble heads that she had seen in one of Corsucant's gift shops. "Exactly! And I'll get to see where you grew up!" she suggested, seeming to ease Padme's nerves.
Anakin stood up, his gaze out the window. For the first time, Aubree sensed him being tense, exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he seemed…afraid? A Jedi was never afraid. But he seemed so different from most Jedi. He actually was rather kind, friendly, and well, likeable. And something about him said that he liked her mother…a lot. A twinkle in his already bright blue eyes, a little swing in his step, and the way he gazed at her mother all said how much he liked her.
But it was definitely suspect now. He had stood up, his eyes boring into Padme as they spoke.
"Stop staring at me," Padme asked shakily, her tone seeming afraid. Not of what him, exactly. More of herself.
"Why?" he questioned, his eyes almost shining with mirth. It took all of Aubree's strength to not laugh at how cute he looked giving her that smile.
"It makes me uncomfortable," the Senator replied, her gaze shifting back to the carpet as she hastily returned to packing. Aubree shook her head, as she watched Anakin's face shift to a mournful, hopeless expression.
"Yes, Milady," he replied quietly.
Aubree raced out of the spaceport, skipping excitedly. "Anakin, look! What are those? They're beautiful!" she cried, pointing at soaring beasts above. The Jedi Apprentice chuckled, as he dropped the many baggage that Padme had insisted on taking to kneel down beside the girl.
"Those are…I think Padme called them aiwhas," he said hesitantly, trying to recall the name of the graceful beasts. Aubree let out a soft "ooo" at the sight of one diving into the waters of one of the many ponds.
Anakin resumed carrying the luggage, as Padme and Aubree clumb inside one of the small boats meant to take them to the Lake Retreat. He let out a sigh in relief as one of the servants relieved him from the duties. Aubree sat by Anakin, grinning.
"I know you like her," she stated with a smile, "I can tell."
Anakin felt his face turn crimson, as he made sure that Padme was not listening. Lucky for him, she was conversing with one of the servants. Whew…
"I…how?" he asked in a hushed tone. The little girl surprised him once again. She leaned her head closer to him, just speaking loud enough for him to hear.
"Everything. But don't worry, I won't tell," Aubree replied. "I know you're a Jedi, but if you really like her, rules won't matter. Rules didn't matter with my Dad."
Anakin sighed, well aware of the conflicts. He sighed, able to recall how often Obi-Wan lectured him. Jedi followed the mind, not the heart. Maybe it was his time to follow what his heart told him, not what his reasoning said.
He nodded, as the boat drew towards the docks. As soon as the driver had attached the vessel to the wooden planks, Aubree gave him a wink.
"I'm going to go take a look NOW!" she shouted, running quickly inside the house. Padme waved her off, in no surprise of her excitement. Anakin glanced around, finding himself alone with Padme.
He found himself stuttering, her smile melting his heart. She motioned him over to a railway, a fantastic view of the lake gleam before them. The skies were painted with magic, the lights seeming to dance across Padme's skin.
He had to fight every urge in his body, as Padme explained about the place they stood.
"We used to vacation here…We would swim out to the island and then try to guess the names of the birds singing. It'd be so warm in the sand," she said quietly, motioning out to the waters.
Anakin was confused for one moment, then realizing what she was talking about. "I don't like the sand. It's coarse…and it gets everywhere," he made a face in irritation at his old childhood memories, "But not like here…Every thing here is soft…" He was hesitant for one moment, but he lost control of himself. The back of his palm caressed her back, his heart acting, not his mind.
Padme felt shivers go down her spine, never the bad kind. She had not felt this alive before, not even with Palo. She gazed over at him, it being too late for her.
His face was angled towards hers, daring her to draw closer. She just barely did so, Anakin closing in the gap. Their lips brushed together for one moment, Aubree peeking from behind a plant.
The girl silently cheered, as she skipped out of her hiding place. They had just drawn apart, Anakin gazing out at the water. The two had leaned over the sides, and their words exchanged were inaudible.
Aubree watched Padme walk into the house, furrowing her eyebrows. But that puppy dog face on Anakin's face was classic. "Nice move," she complimented, Anakin blushing furiously.
"Not exactly…She doesn't feel the same," he said quietly. He let out a sigh, cramming the edge of his palm into the crown of his head. "What was I thinking? She would never love a Jedi…"
Aubree climbed onto the stone rail, grabbing Anakin by the shoulders. "Listen to me. She. Like. You." She stated slowly. Anakin rolled his eyes, doubt clear on his face.
"No, she doesn't. It's not right for us," he replied quietly. Aubree swatted at his arm, laughing.
"Chocolate isn't right for you but we all eat it anyway!" she said with a grin. He raised his eyebrows, fighting laughter.
"You're referring to my relationship with your mistress as chocolate?" he questioned. Aubree shook her head, as she casually crossed her legs.
"I'm referring to the relationship you have with my mother," she blurted out, as she immediately wrapped her hands around her mouth. She however lost her balance, falling into the sand. Face-planted.
Anakin's jaw dropped, as he leapt over after her. The girl lifted herself up, spitting sand out of her mouth and brushing off her clothing.
"What? Your mother?" he asked, confused. Aubree nodded, deciding not to hide the secret anymore.
"I…yeah, she's my mom," she finished, as Anakin leaned against the brick wall. "How? When?" he questioned, unable to comprehend this. There was no way…
Aubree sighed, prepared to tell the story. "She was thirteen. Probably just before she met you. She was with my dad…and they well…accidently conceived me one night. My dad was going to run away, but my mom…Padme…she refused. She later gave birth to me, and I ended up crash-landing on the planet my dad was on. So I just recently entered her life," she said quietly.
The Jedi stared at her, frowning. "You look like her the most. But then where is your dad?"
Aubree sat down in the sand, throwing a small rock out into the lake. "He's dead," she said softly. "That witch killed him…Alora killed him. He had found me, cared for me and then she murdered him for his money."
Anakin sat beside her, realizing what this girl had been through. Betrayal, death, loss…it was all so much at such a young age.
Aubree sighed, as she gazed up at him. "You don't even know the best part. I had to watch him die!" she cried out, tears flooding from her cheeks. "He died. I had watched him suffer, him struggle for life. And then I lost him. The only person who actually cared about me!"
She wept, grabbing another stone and throwing it angrily at the waters. Anakin grabbed her arm, pulling the girl into his arms.
"Shh…Just relax, Bree," he consoled, rubbing her back sympathetically. The eleven-year-old sobbed into his shoulder, having been hiding her sadness. Anakin felt her clutch onto him, as he rested his head on top of hers.
"It's okay. You know who really cares about you?" he asked softly, as she lifted her head from his shoulder.
"W-Who?" she choked out, sniffling. He smiled, pushing her dark hair out of her eyes.
"Well, your mom certainly does. She loves you more than anything, Aubree. I didn't understand it at first, but now I do. I didn't understand why she had you so close to her all the time, and now I do," he said quietly.
"I guess…"Aubree mumbled, wiping her eyes. She really liked Anakin. If she wanted anyone to be a Dad right now, it had to be him.
"You want to hear what else?" he asked quietly, as he helped her stand up.
"What else do you have to say?" she asked, narrowing her eyebrows. Anakin laughed, as he lifted her up onto his shoulders.
"I think that I'm going to like you a whole lot too," he commented, a wide grin spread across his face. She smiled back, as he marched them back up to the Lake House.
"Come on. Maybe we can convince the Senator to go play with us in the field," Anakin suggested, as Aubree held on around his neck.
"Great minds think alike, my friend. Great minds think alike," she replied, as the two marched into the house.
And there you have it, folks! The update! More coming soon!
5 reviews or no update! I'll try to enforce it better.
-Fall Out Guirl