Galactic Senate
Padmé sat by herself immersed in the datapad in her hand. She usually had lunch on her desk, but after yet another security breach in the office of one of the senators it was decided to take out the old security system and install a new one, this time with audio as well as images. She heavily disliked such an invasion into her privacy, but there was nothing she could do about it. So instead of having her meal on her desk while droids worked around her, she decided to go downstairs and try the cafeteria for once.
"Am I disturbing you?" an accented voice asked. Padmé looked up and to her surprise found Master Kenobi with a tray of food. Her mind started racing. Anakin was home.
"Of course not," she smiled politely. Obi Wan returned the gesture and took the seat across from her. "I never thought I'd see you here," she commented.
"Well, for one the food is much better than the one they serve at the Temple. And as soon as the droids notice the Jedi robes they make sure to serve a little extra," he said, making her smile.
"I'm glad to see you're safe, Master Kenobi," she said earnestly.
"Thank you, Senator."
"You can call me Padmé," she offered kindly.
"As long as you call me Obi Wan," he said. Padmé smiled. "Yes, it's good to be home. Poor Anakin must be dreaming about food like this," he said as he brought a spoonful of his meal into his mouth. A wave of disappointment washed over Padmé. Anakin wasn't home, then.
"Is he still out there?" she asked casually. Obi Wan nodded, a concerned look on his face. Padmé noticed. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes. I'm a little worried about him, frankly. I think he's stressed," he confessed.
"Why? Aside from the obvious," she pressed gently, hoping she was hiding her emotions from the Jedi.
"I don't know. Maybe the press has put too much pressure on his shoulders. Every time he comes back they make a bigger fuss about him. He's no longer my apprentice, I know, but I can't help but worry about him," the Jedi admitted.
Padmé looked down at her food. She knew exactly what Obi Wan was talking about. Anakin still didn't know how to deal with all the praise he was receiving. At times he seemed to welcome it and others he recoiled away from it, the pressure too much on his young shoulders. He needed to focus on the war and not on what strangers thought about him.
"Padmé, I… I know you two are close," Obi Wan said, choosing his words carefully. Padmé's stomach sank in dread but she disguised her surprise effortlessly.
"He's been great to me in the past," she smiled gently.
"If you noticed anything strange with him you'd tell me, right?" Obi Wan asked.
"Of course I would," she assured, pausing for a moment when a plan began to form in her mind. "Though I have to be honest, with you. I haven't seen him much in the past year," she lied. There were two purposes to that lie. One, to diminish any suspicions Obi Wan had about the true nature of their relationship. And the second…
"That's odd," Obi Wan mused out loud. "I know he cares about you, I would've assumed he made sure to see you when he was in Coruscant," he said.
"I don't think I've seen him more than twice since he escorted me back to Naboo," she shrugged, continuing to eat her meal. She was silently praying for Kenobi to follow his thoughts to her desired conclusion.
"Then perhaps he's more stressed than I initially thought," he continued, a bit stunned. "Maybe it's a good idea to give him some time to unwind."
"I don't know, Obi Wan. Are you sure you can spare him?" she asked, playing her role perfectly.
"I'm sure the council will agree with me. He's been on excellent behavior the last year or so, minus a few incidents that I believe are stress-related anyway," Obi Wan continued. This intrigued Padmé.
"Incidents?"
"I'm afraid that's classified information, but don't worry. Nothing too serious," Obi Wan assured. "I'll make sure he gets a few days off next time he's here." Padmé's face betrayed no emotions, but deep inside she was ecstatic.
"That's very thoughtful of you," she observed.
500 Republica
Anakin moved stealthily into the apartment avoiding the security cameras. He knew exactly when to move and where. He'd done this countless times before, mostly when he was leaving 500 Republica, but he'd never done it the other way around. This was the first time he would surprise Padmé in her sleep, and he couldn't wait to see her reaction.
He smiled.
She was sleeping in the middle of the bed, cuddling against the pillow that he used when he spent the night with her. She looked so peaceful he almost felt guilty about waking her.
He quietly removed his boots and clothes and dropped them on a chair before getting under the covers, his smile widening as he moved closer to her. He allowed himself a moment to admire her beautiful face, barely visible in the darkness that cloaked her room. Unable to wait any longer, he leaned closer and gently kissed her lips. She shifted in her sleep and his hands came up to hold her face.
"Wake up, milady," he whispered against her lips.
"Ani?" she asked, still half asleep. Anakin removed the pillow between them and moved over her, his weight gently pressing her into the mattress. Her lips started to respond to his and her hands came up to his golden mane. It was longer than the last time, she noted to herself. He pulled back and she smiled up at him. "Hmm, Anakin…" she sighed sleepily.
"Let me feel you," he said, reaching for the hem of her nightgown. Padmé raised her arms and he pulled the soft garment off of her, her hands pulling him down again. They both sighed when their bodies brushed against each other's. He groaned softly and kissed her shoulder, her hands moving up and down his back.
"When did you get here?" she asked in between kisses to his hair.
"A few hours ago," he replied, his hands sliding under her arms to hold her shoulders. "I missed you," he whispered into her ear. Padmé closed her eyes and squeezed him to her, savoring the moment. He tried to pull back but she groaned a complaint. "Come on, I have to tell you something," he laughed softly.
"You can tell me like this," she countered, nuzzling his face.
"I've been given ten days of leave…" he announced, waiting for her reaction. Padmé pushed him away, surprised, and saw the huge grin he was giving her.
"Ten days?" she asked in disbelief. "Oh my goodness, that's incredible!" she squealed, lifting her head to kiss his lips. Then his face. And every other spot she could reach. Anakin laughed and ran his hands up and down her sides.
"I take it you approve, milady," he quipped.
"I think I do, Master Jedi," she replied cheekily. "I'll clear my schedule so we can go to Naboo. We can have the lake house all to ourselves," she said excitedly.
"That sounds perfect," he smiled.
"Ten days, really?" she asked again. Anakin looked down at her and framed her face. When was the last time he had seen her this happy?
"Ten days," he whispered. Her smile of disbelief turned into an almost childish grin and in that moment all he could do was kiss her face. "Ten days of you and me, no missions, no senate…" he mumbled between kisses. "Ten days of me doing this to you whenever I want…"
"Ten days of my cooking," she chipped in.
"Ten days of your glorious cooking," he corrected, making her laugh. "Ten days of you walking around naked for my viewing pleasure…"
"I think that can be arranged," she said lightly. Anakin chuckled and Padmé held his face, her eyes scanning his handsome features. "How did this happen?"
"Obi Wan talked to the council. He thought I was stressed and asked them to give me a little break," he informed. Padmé burst out laughing. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just Obi Wan asked me if I had noticed anything strange about you and I told him that I hadn't seen much of you."
"I don't understand," he frowned.
"My guess is he thought it would take a lot of turmoil for you to stay away from me, seeing I'm so charming and irresistible," she said, running the back of her hand down his face.
"I see, so this is all your fault," Anakin smiled.
"Yes. I'm terribly sorry," she quipped. Anakin attacked her neck with kisses, making her giggle. "I'm terribly sorry that my lie contributed to your ten day leave," she squealed. Her husband moved his lips up to her face where they met hers. Her mouth easily opened under his and soon the laughter stopped to be replaced by passion.
Padmé's Ship
Padmé couldn't stop smiling. Even though she wasn't a big fan of space traveling she couldn't wipe the grin off her face. She was minutes away from landing on Naboo, where she and Anakin would spend ten magnificent days together doing whatever they wanted. Being husband and wife in the very place where they got to know each other. Now they were headed there for what could only be described as a much-delayed honeymoon, where the biggest decision they would face would be whether to get out of bed or not.
She turned to look at her husband, looking absolutely dashing in the civilian clothes she'd acquired for him. They couldn't risk anyone recognizing him, and his Jedi robes were too much of a giveaway already. His hair was styled differently and a fake beard completely disguised him. She'd made sure to get him dark clothes, knowing he preferred them that way. It only added to his appeal. He almost looked… dangerous.
"Just a few minutes now," she broke the silence. Anakin smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat. How could he still do that to her after being married for over a year?
"I can't wait," he said. Padmé smiled back and reached over the control panel to hold his hand. Anakin rubbed her palm with his thumb, examining her delicate digits carefully. "So, when did you talk to Obi Wan?" he asked suddenly.
"A couple of weeks ago. He was in the senate building," she replied. Anakin nodded, deep in thought. "Is something wrong?" she inquired. He met her eyes and shook his head softly. Apparently he didn't want to discuss the matter further. She decided to change the subject. "The lake house is ready. No one will bother us."
"Good," he smiled, bringing her hand to his mouth and giving it a playful bite. Padmé laughed and pulled her hand back.
"Stop it, I have to land the ship," she chided, her voice laced with humor. Anakin nodded and leaned back on his chair, letting her take over.
Once in the spaceport they pulled their hoods over their heads and stepped down the ship's platform.
"Just so you know, as soon as we get to the lake house I will pounce on you," Anakin said casually. Padmé gave him a seductive look.
"Why the warning?" she asked.
"I like to see you squirm with anticipation," he whispered into her ear. A shiver ran down her spine at his words. Damn him.
"Keep the beard," she whispered with a wink, loving that his face turned completely red at her suggestion.
Varykino
Anakin stretched his arms over his head, a yawn splitting his face. He turned to look out the window at the beautiful view of the sun setting behind the mountains that surrounded the lake. It reminded him of his wedding to Padmé. He smiled at the memory and folded his arms under his head, his eyes studying the intricate painting on the ceiling. He'd never really taken his time to look at it. The last time he'd laid on this bed was his wedding night and appreciating the gorgeous ceiling art wasn't among his list of priorities. Now he noticed it depicted the Naboo landscapes he'd grown to love almost as much as Padmé. But he would have nine more days to appreciate it. Now he wanted to focus on his wife, who was entering the room with a bowl of fruit.
"All right, maybe your stomach will shut up now," she said as she crawled onto the bed, sitting next to her husband. His flesh hand landed on her thigh.
"I love that you walked into the kitchen naked," he grinned. Padmé raised her brows and fed him a piece of fruit. He hummed in appreciation, the sweet nectar melting on his taste buds.
"It's definitely a first," she replied, popping a berry into her mouth. Still chewing, she spoke. "Hmm. I was thinking we could go to the island this week. We could take the boat, have a picnic…" she trailed off, reaching for another berry.
"Sounds good," he said, swallowing his third piece of fruit. Padmé wondered how he managed to eat so quickly. Probably because he was always in such a hurry, she reasoned. Suddenly he took the bowl from her hands and set it on the nightstand. Padmé smiled when he coaxed her to sit on his stomach, one leg on each side. "So…"
"So…?" she echoed, her hands running down his chest.
"Did Obi Wan go to the senate to talk to you specifically or was it just a coincidence?" he asked all in one breath. Padmé's face fell.
"Are you seriously asking me this while we're both naked?" she asked, a bit annoyed. When his expression didn't change, dread engulfed her. "You think he knows about us?" she worried.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," he admitted, worry crossing his features. Padmé noticed how conflicted he seemed at a time when he should be nothing but relaxed.
"If he suspected he wouldn't have given you ten days to yourself," she tried to reason. His face unmoving, she went for a different tactic. "How about… Ten days of not talking about Obi Wan," she offered, transforming their earlier game into a set of rules. Anakin gave her a half smile.
"Deal," he whispered. Padmé leaned down and kissed him.
The next morning, Padmé carefully watched her husband's every move during breakfast in the terrace. Usually after a long absence he would regale her with battle stories that often made her heart stop, but somehow he would give them a humorous twist, reminding her that he could turn anything into something that would make her laugh.
There was none of that now. She realized with dread that maybe the war had taken its toll on him. It was in little details aside from his self-imposed silence. It was in the way he held her, as if he feared she would disappear. His kisses were more demanding, and it wasn't because of their time apart. They'd been on Naboo for three days now and he still loved her as if he hadn't seen her in months, burrowing into her arms every chance he got and with an urgency reserved for when they hadn't touched each other in ages.
His nights were restless even with her by his side and his early training sessions were fierce, his determination surpassing simple discipline. She was amazed that he had any stamina left after the passionate nights they had spent together.
Where was all that energy coming from?
Something was happening to him and she wanted to help him, but it was obvious he wouldn't simply supply the information by himself.
"Let's go to the island today," she said suddenly. Anakin gave her a soft smile and reached for her hand. Padmé smiled back and allowed him to pull her to his lap. "We can bring some food… lay out in the sun…"
"That sounds good," he mumbled, closing his arms around her and giving her chin a frisky nip. She giggled in that girly way he loved and he tightened his embrace, wanting to absorb the light she exuded. He needed it more than anything.
Padmé tensed when the innocent embrace began to evolve into something more and she held on to the back of his head to stop him. "I'm starting to think you're not that impressed with my conversational skills," she said dryly. Anakin smiled sheepishly and gave her a quick peck before she could refuse him.
"What were your old boyfriends like?" he asked, a childish glint in his eyes. Padmé was extremely confused. It was the first time Anakin inquired about her love life with such a positive attitude. She searched his face for any signs of jealousy but found none.
"Why are you asking me that?" she asked, genuinely puzzled. He shrugged.
"I don't know. Husbands know about that stuff, right?" he pressed, hoping she took the bait. She eyed him carefully, still skeptical. "I want to know more things about you. I can't be mad at the fact that I wasn't around all your life."
"Besides, you were too young for me. You still are, I think," she pointed with a smile.
"You know, in a few decades I'll be teasing you about your age," he shot back, unable to let the opportunity pass. She smacked his shoulder playfully, but he was expecting that. "Come on, tell me about your five-thousand boyfriends and countless marriage proposals," he insisted, making sure she knew he wasn't going to start a jealousy scene. He honestly wanted to know more about his wife and he finally felt secure enough in their relationship to know about that part of her past.
"Okay… First there was Palo, before I was queen", she started, testing the waters. Her husband had her complete attention. "After that… I didn't really see anyone until my terms were over," she shrugged.
"Aaah, so this is where the good part begins", he smiled. She laughed.
"I don't know if I would call it that. It's hard to meet people who don't want to use you when you're in politics. You start to get used to it. You begin to expect that from people, so I adopted the same attitude in a way. It's odd when you realize the only reason you're seeing someone is so you won't be alone," Padmé admitted earnestly.
Anakin couldn't believe how bad he felt at the fact that his wife hadn't had better boyfriends before him. Part of him was elated for being the one who finally gave her happiness, but at the same time he was saddened by how cold the best years of her youth were.
"I'm sure it wasn't all like that. You must've had some fun," he said, hoping he was right. But not too right.
"Sure, but those times were few and far between. More and more each time," she sighed, running her hand through Anakin's hair.
"Were you ever serious with anyone?"
"Almost. I think so," she reconsidered with a smile. "He worked with Bail. I really liked him, but he just wanted attention to begin his own career."
"I'm very good with the lightsaber," Anakin reminded, making her laugh.
"Believe me, Bail took care of him. I think the poor guy is still trying to find a job," she joked.
"You trust Bail. He's been good to you," he observed. He'd always felt guilty about being away from Padmé all the time, but he was relieved to know that she had such a loyal ally in Bail, something of a big brother figure to take care of her while her husband was away.
"Yes. His wife and I used to be very close before the war. Bail insisted she moved back to Alderaan when things started to get worse," she informed in a soft voice.
He hated that Padmé was so lonely. He knew she was perfectly capable of being alone and extremely independent. Her job fulfilled her as much as being a Jedi fulfilled him, but that didn't mean she couldn't use some company in her daily life.
He didn't plan to tell her that the reason Obi Wan was so concerned about him was his recklessness in the battlefield. The press had dubbed him The Hero With No Fear, but he thought The Jedi With No Patience was a better name for him. He couldn't stand how long the war was stretching out. At times it got so bad that he would disregard orders and follow his own instincts, trying to get things done quickly so he could finish the mission and come back to his wife. It was how he'd gotten the scar on his eye and the scratches on his back.
It was a good thing he was so skilled, otherwise he knew he'd be dead by now. There was no doubt in his mind about it.
Padmé rubbed the back of his head and his eyes immediately closed, relaxing at her touch. She always seemed to know when he needed to be comforted. Why couldn't life always be like this?
He felt her lips pressing into his eyebrow, right over his scar, and lifted his chin so he could look into her eyes.
"I'll go to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Could you check the boat? I think it has a leak" she asked, his ears perking up at the idea of the little project. When he nodded, she gave him a quick kiss and left his lap. Anakin stood to his feet and stretched his arms over his head, then made his way to the dock.
That afternoon, Anakin exhaled dreamily, soaking in the sun's warm rays. It was an absolutely perfect day, and the fact that he got to spend it with Padmé made it even more treasurable.
He looked at his wife, who lay snuggling up to him on the large blanket they shared. They had enjoyed a delicious picnic and then went for a swim, where she climbed to his back and they played in the water without a care in the world. Now they lay together, letting the sun dry them and dozing in and out of sleep, basking in each other's presence.
Padmé turned her face to him and smiled lovingly. He could feel her happiness through the Force, which surrounded them in that heavenly island.
It was everywhere: in the trees, in the breeze, in the grass, in the lake, in each other. It almost felt like the energy of life itself was focused on the patch of grass they lay on. He felt at peace.
Anakin moved closer to her and nuzzled her face, his hand rubbing her toned stomach lovingly. His eyes closed when she tilted her head and caught his lips in a soft kiss. There was no hurry, no desperation, no uncontrollable hunger. They finally had what had always been so elusive to them. Time.
Padmé sighed when his lips moved along her jaw with a renewed sense of wonder that reminded her of the first time they made love. It was almost as if he was discovering her body all over again, even though by now he probably knew it better than her.
He wasn't desperate to consume her like before. His soft kisses continued down her neck and shoulder, following the path his palm was creating down her arm. When he reached her hand he held it against his metallic one, the contrast between live skin and steel looking as natural as real limbs to them. He kissed each of her fingers and then her palm with reverence, his eyes closing when she cupped his cheek.
He wanted to take in every detail of her. Every curve, every inch of her soft skin, every rich strand of hair. He opened himself up to the Force and let her love for him wash over him, nearly startling him in its intensity. He allowed her to pull him over her and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. He sighed as her fingertips lightly traced his spine, her full lips pressing soft kisses to his shoulder. His arms snaked under her and squeezed, pressing their chests together, almost sharing a heartbeat. He used the Force to convey his feelings for her, flooding her with his love until she sighed with the sweetness of it all.
Padmé shuddered, feeling her senses attuning to everything surrounding her with an intensity that was completely foreign to her. It was almost unreal, and she knew that her acute perception had something to do with Anakin. He was doing something to her. She wasn't sure what it was but she assumed it had something to do with the Force. There wasn't any other explanation. Her arms closed around him reflexively, reveling in his willingness to share the most mysterious part of him with her.
Another surge of energy enveloped her, clasping her and releasing her and she gasped, her eyes opening. Anakin looked at her, fearing he had done something to harm her, but all doubts dissipated when her hands pulled him in for a deep kiss. He cradled her face in his hands, getting lost in the taste of her, his lips moving over hers in perfect sync. Padmé sighed into his mouth, her hands holding his strong shoulders firmly to keep him close to her. A simple touch felt like a tidal wave, a stroke of his tongue could take her breath away.
Anakin's lips moved down her body, his mouth parting on her neck and brushing it with a softness that brought shivers down her spine. His teeth grazed her collarbone and she looked down at him as he pulled her swimsuit down her body with reverence. His warm flesh hand fondled her breast while his nose lightly brushed her other nipple in a quiet salute. He met her eyes and traced the pink flesh with the tip of his tongue, making her moan. When his mouth closed over it and suckled her breath caught in her throat, her eyes unable to let go of his intense blue stare.
Her hands cradled his head and he felt his heart stop when she sweetly trailed her hands through his hair, the caress so sweet it pulled at his heartstrings. He moved to her other breast by placing moist kisses between them, his hands running up and down the soft skin of her thighs. He wanted to absorb everything. He wanted to freeze this moment in time where there was nothing but their love and the overwhelming energy of the Force enhancing every sweet sensation.
Padmé gently pulled him up to kiss her again and slowly rolled on top of him. She sat up and looked down at him, her heart skipping a beat with what she saw. The naughty smile she was used to seeing wasn't there. Instead he looked calm, secure, a solemn look in his eyes. Her finger traced the scar next to his eye and he turned to kiss her palm. With another sigh she leaned down and kissed him, her mouth slowly becoming more demanding over his. She pushed her hair to the side and kissed his throat, then his shoulder, then down over the spot where his heart beat steadily for her and her alone. Possessed by her vast passion for him, she licked between his hard pectoral muscles and obliged when he pulled her up for another kiss.
Anakin pushed her swimsuit down her legs and she quickly kicked it off, repositioning herself on top of him. Their lips barely separated as they made quick work of his swimming trunks. She pushed them down his legs with her feet and took his arousal in her hands, slowly stroking it up and down. His eyes closed and she kissed him, her teeth gently biting his bottom lip and soothing it with her tongue. She positioned the tip of him inside of her and lowered herself onto him, a low groan rising in her throat.
She trembled on top of him and had to brace herself on her hands to keep herself from collapsing. They had made love many times before but it had never felt so intense. Their love had turned into energy and it flowed through them mindlessly, binding them on a new level. She moved over him, her forehead touching his as their eyes said what their voices couldn't. Her hips moved in tiny, slow circles, testing the feel of him inside of her despite her body ordering her to move faster. Anakin cupped her rear and slowly guided her back and forth on his length, his own hips moving with her creating a perfect rhythm. He rolled her under him and cradled her head as his pelvis moved in measured strokes, testing the fit until he pushed all the way in.
Padmé opened her mouth to cry out but no sound left her. She was overwhelmed by the love between them, the way their bodies communicated and became one. She saw flashes of light above them and tightened her arms around her husband, pulling him down for a kiss. The caress followed the movements of their lower bodies and soon they were sharing one breath.
Anakin tilted her hips to receive all of him and moved faster, needing to feel her shatter in his arms. Short and quick thrusts saw Padmé's head snap back as she tried to take in air in loud gasps, her nails scratching down Anakin's back, holding on for dear life. She felt as if she was going to lift off the ground, her body tensing in anticipation. Anakin held her hands above her head and laced his fingers with hers, catching her eyes. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist and they reached a climax together, spasms taking over their bodies as energy seemed to explode from where they were joined. Padmé cried out when she felt his essence shooting into her womb, tears rolling down her cheeks at the intensity of it all.
Anakin wiped her tears away with his thumbs and kissed her face as she tried to recover, a million questions flooding her mind. But she didn't ask them. She felt it would ruin what had just happened. It had been absolutely wonderful. She'd never felt so close to Anakin or had come so near to understanding what it was like to feel the Force.
She smiled up at him and traced his lips with her thumb.
Varykino
Padmé shivered in her sleep, the cool night air sweeping in through the window. As suddenly as it entered the room it stopped. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed the large window was now closed.
"Thank you," she whispered into the darkness. Anakin spooned her closer to him and nuzzled on her back.
"Sure," he mumbled. Padmé took his metallic hand in her flesh ones and traced the silver digits one by one. She smiled inwardly when she felt her husband shifting behind her, obviously affected by her gentle touch.
"Is everything all right, Anakin?" she asked softly. It was a question she had repeated several times over their days together, but he still hadn't provided a believable answer. She hoped that after such a good day he would be more prone to open up. She was right.
"No," he finally admitted. Padmé sighed and turned in his arms to look at him. Anakin looked at her face, memorizing once again the features that were already burned into his mind, and ran a silver finger down her cheek. "I miss you, Padmé."
"And I miss you," she immediately replied, pushing his hair out of his face.
"Sometimes I wonder..." he started, then paused to tuck her head under his chin, "what would happen if I left the Jedi." He felt her stiffening and hurried to continue. "I know what you're gonna say, and I agree. I don't just help people because they order me to do it, I help them because I want to. It gives me purpose."
"I know, love," she whispered against his chest.
"The Force is strong in me and if it weren't for my Jedi training I wouldn't know how to use it. But now that I know how to handle it... I could still help people in my own way," he implied.
Padmé was immediately uneasy at his suggestion, her mind flooding with images of Count Dooku. He was a former Jedi, and while there were worlds of difference between her husband and the Count, she knew belonging to the Jedi provided some much needed balance. Anakin was incredibly powerful, she had been witness to his unmatched abilities several times in the past. It wasn't only noticeable when he was in battle, it was in everything he did. He had a special energy about him, and without the proper guidance it would be very easy for him to encounter missteps. It had happened on Tatooine. It was safe to assume it had happened during the war, especially after Obi Wan had provided that Anakin had been involved in some 'incidents'. Classified incidents. It could happen again.
"I think you belong with the Jedi," she said gently.
"I belong with you," he replied. Padmé looked up at him. "I know we have duties, but in my heart you're always first. I would always choose you," he said fervently.
"I would, too," she echoed, reaching up to kiss him. "Is this why you've been so worried?" she whispered.
"Worried?" he questioned.
"I know you," she replied softly. Anakin exhaled in defeat and brushed her long hair with his fingers.
"I just can't shake this feeling that… our time apart will grow exponentially longer," he finally confessed.
Her mind started racing with thoughts of her alone night after night while he was away fighting. It made her stomach sink, but she remembered why she put herself through that kind of pain.
"We're together now," she said very quietly to him, her lips moving closer to his ear as she readied to pour her heart out to him as openly as he'd done so many times to her, "and I don't care how long we have to wait for it. Just the hope of you coming home is enough to make me happy. I don't need to see you to love you. You're always in my heart". Her arms closed around his neck. "I will never give you up."
It was the first time Anakin felt like crying since his mother died, but the reason was entirely different. The last time he cried because he had never felt more alone. Now, he had never felt more loved.
"You make me so happy," he managed to whisper, his voice heavy with emotion. He knew he was being overly-sensitive and that if anyone saw him he would be laughed at, but he didn't care. It was how he felt. Padmé smiled, touched, and pressed her lips to his.