Hello! If I am being honest, I am horrible at writing arguments. They are the most difficult things to write especially since I don't want anyone to end up sounding petty or like they are over reacting. I imagine there will be a few more arguments in the future, so I hope they get better as I do more.

How many more chapters do I have left in this story? I want to say... 5 but it may be 8. I have a few ideas that may or may not make it into this story. After I finish this I am jumping into the prequel story and when that is done then the sequel. I have found in my drafting process I sometimes got the personalities mixed up since Anakin in this story is way more mature than he is in the prequel.

Anyway, Enjoy!

-DFD

Chapter 18

Padme woke early in the morning with a groan. Blinking away sleep she remembers she had been discharged the day before. Smiling she lets her head relax into her own pillow. She was home. The smile quickly fades when she remembers she is still on leave until her leg is strong enough to be on for more than six hours, which will take weeks of therapy and bed rest. Closing her eyes she sighs. What is she suppose to do until then? Breathing in deep she can smell the alluring scent of bacon alerts her to someone cooking. Sitting up she braces her arm on the nightstand to help her stand before slowly taking the cane to help her walk and limped out of the room. She hated the cane. After sitting or laying down for long periods of time it was easy to forget she needed the thing to walk until she stood and felt pain ripple down her leg.

Walking slowly towards the kitchen she can see Anakin's back as he cooks something on the stove. It sizzles and sends a wave of hunger through her system. He turns around with a frying pan and tongs and picks up the toasted English muffins in the pan and places them on the plate he has sitting on the island counter. Putting the pan in the sink he begins to lay down the crispy ham on top of the muffins before looking up to see her making her way over. He smiles at her, "Morning." He said.

"What are you doing?" She asks as she pulls out the chair to sit.

"Making breakfast." He says simply, coming around the counter to help her get comfortable.

Padme looks at what he's been doing and notices that there is fresh food lying on the cutting boards she doesn't remember buying. "Where did all this come from?"

He moves back around the counter and cracks an egg into a teacup, "I woke up early and thought you'd like breakfast," He said, "But you really didn't have a lot besides a couple eggs and cereal. So I went to get some." Using the cup he carefully drops the egg into the pot and repeats the process with another egg.

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to." He said as the eggs cooked. It takes a few minutes before he takes the eggs out of the pot and lays them on top of the ham before taking the hollandaise sauce he had made earlier and coats the eggs with it. Taking chopped chives, he sprinkles it on the sauce before picking the plate up and putting it in front of her. "Eggs Benedict." He said with a smile.

She raises a skeptical brow at him, "You don't cook." She said.

He comes to take the seat next to her and serves himself two of the four eggs he made, "I did say I wanted to though." He said, cutting into the food and taking a bite.

Padme smiled and took a bite as well. It was good- really good. "Where did you-"

"YouTube." He answered.

"Really?"

He nodded, "Yeah, I don't have time to take a cooking class with a bunch of middle aged women who want to be the next Martha Stewart."

Padme laughed and shook her head. She's missed this. The small, silly things he says that make her laugh.

"When do you go in for therapy?" He asks.

"Ten." She answered, "They also have me going to see psych at one." She said.

"I'll give you a ride." He said.

Padme shakes her head, "No, don't you have to be there earlier?" she knows the answer is yes. Yoda is still be pissed at him for resigning so suddenly; there was no way he was just going to let him do as he pleases.

He shrugs, "I'm pretty sure everyone knows I live with you now." He said, "they won't think anything if I come in late since you can't drive yet."

"Dorme was going in late today so she's going to pick me up on her way in, it's really no problem." She said.

"Well call her and tell her there's no need."

She narrows her eyes at him, "I appreciate it, but you shouldn't put work off just for me." She knows he's just trying to be nice but it's not fair to either of them if they do stuff like this for one another. He has to be at work and she can easily get another ride- she already had another ride.

"Padme, why can't I do this one thing for you?" He asks.

"I really don't want to argue about this now."

He scoffs, "It wouldn't be an argument if you'd just let me."

"Anakin," Padme starts. She pauses to take a breath and run a hand through her hair, "Please; Dorme is picking me up nine. You are going to work when you're supposed to and we'll talk about this later." She notices how his shoulders tense and can tell he is upset. But someone needs to draw the line. There has to be some balance between work and their personal life. And as much as she doesn't want to argue about this either, it's better to argue over a small thing like this and establish the precedent now than wait for a bigger conflict to come up.

He nods his head once, "Alright." He says, his voice tense as he shifts his attention back to breakfast.

Padme sighs as they finish eating in silence. It isn't a big deal; he's making something out of nothing. While she is glad he has the sense to drop it for now, she knows there are going to be many more arguments like this until they figure everything out. He will understand why she is doing this quickly so that they can talk about this without arguing as much.

By the time it's seven, Anakin is just finishing getting ready for work. Pulling on his jacket he stops behind the couch Padme is sitting on with her laptop resting on her lap. "You sure you don't need me to drive you?" He asks.

"I'm sure," she says turning her head to him. She gives him a small smile as he leans down to press a quick kiss to her lips. Bringing her hand up, she grips his hair tightly before letting him pull back slightly, "I'll see you when you get home." She says.

[][][][]

Anakin groans as he reads through the chart of one of Mina Bonteri's patients. Apparently the chief felt he needed his cardiothoracic surgeon to remove a bowel obstruction. He was just not having a good day. First Padme, and now he has the crazy girl who decided to eat parasitic worms to lose weight. It was ridiculous and beyond stupid and now he had to fix it. Glancing at his watch he had about an hour before he was due in the OR and Padme should be here by now waiting to go up to her psych eval. He didn't know why she was so against him taking her in today. All he did this morning was refresh the residents on proper packing techniques on trauma patients. It wasn't anything they haven't already done countless times before. So why was she so adamant that he go? What was so wrong with trying to help his girlfriend?

"Anakin." Ben called as he came to stand beside him, "How are things with Padme?" He asked and Anakin sighed, "Not perfect, I take it." Ben said.

"I thought it would at least be a few days before we argued again." He said, "Turns out we don't get a moment of peace now that things are almost normal." Anakin shakes his head; "Anyway," He starts, changing the subject, "Lets not talk about my love life. Lets talk about yours."

Ben raises an eyebrow at him, "Pardon?"

"Satine," He said, as if it was the most obvious answer.

The older man shakes his head, "No, we're not doing this," He said, "Besides, nothing is going on between us."

Anakin smirks, "I heard you're going out for drinks with her tonight."

"And just where did you hear that?" Ben demanded.

"The nurses know everything." He said with a shrug.

Ben shakes his head, "its just drinks between friends." He argued. "It doesn't mean anything."

Anakin can't help but laugh. Ben could be so dense sometimes. Everyone knew Satine liked him. But he seemed to be in constant denial. "Keep telling yourself that." He said, patting Ben on the back before walking away.

He made his way down to the lobby. Perhaps she was in a better mood than she was this morning. He saw her sitting in one of the chairs by the window. Dorme was next to her and the two seemed to be talking about something serious, evident by the serious look on both their faces. He had a feeling it was probably about him and rather than let them make him out to be the bad guy, he figured it was best to try to clear things up. He walked towards them and smiled when her eyes met his. Dorme was quick to whisper a few hushed words to her before leaving the seat and getting to work.

"What was that about?" He asked, coming to stand in front of her.

Padme was about to say 'nothing' but since they had just agreed not to lie to one another, it would have been hypocritical to claim it was nothing when it was anything but. She sighed, "It was about this morning." She said.

Anakin nodded and took the seat Dorme had vacated, "I know you said we'd talk about it when we got home," He started, "But I gotta know what you're thinking."

The way he said it was much calmer than he had been before. She wasn't sure if now was the best time to talk about it, but at least stating what her initial thoughts were now would give them both ample time to process the idea before dropping it on him suddenly. "There are still a lot of things we need to work out," She said, "And I think one of those things is work boundaries." She could see he was a little confused by her words, "I don't want you to make sacrifices at work for me. And I don't want you to ask that of me either."

Anakin raised a brow, "That's what this is about?" He asked, "I just teach an anatomy class in the morning." He said, "It's not like a surgery."

Padme groaned, "That's not the point." She said, "It doesn't matter if it was a surgery or not. I just think we should just figure all this out sooner rather than later."

He understood… sort of. He wanted them to resolve their problems and find out how to move forward. But he didn't think work was an issue. They were in different specializations so running into each other was mostly on breaks or when they are called down to the ER and he didn't think missing the first two hours so he could help her get to where she had to be was a problem. Other couples do it all the time; just because they're doctors shouldn't make a difference. He nods his head, "I know we should figure it out fast;" He started, "but do we have to do it right then and there every time one of those issues comes up?" He asks, "We only just got over one thing. We need more time between these talks than just a night." He didn't want every day to have some kind of serious talk about how this relationship would function. They needed those talks, but they also just needed the casual talks as well; the meaningless and mundane that make even the most stressful and tiring days feel like bliss.

"I know what we're like," She said, "If we put this off we'll never get around to it until it's too late. I don't want that to happen." Padme glances down at her watch. She has about ten minutes before she has to be at psych and with her leg still in a brace and sore from therapy it would take a while to get up there. "I've got to go." She said, taking her cane and using it to help balance herself as she stands. Anakin wordlessly takes her other arm and helps her. "Thanks," She says as she starts to walk slowly towards the elevator.

He would have offered to walk with her. But he could tell she was tense from talking about this. Scratching the back of his neck, he shoves his other hand in his pocket before making his way down to the OR. He knows they'll talk more about this at home.

[][][][]

Padme leaned back into the couch as she waited for Dr. Shaak Ti to clear her psychologically. She had spent the last hour talking to her about the sink hole and how she felt like she could make a difference if she went in to save them knowing the danger she was in, she talked about how the collapse made her feel, and how losing all her patients in that building while she stayed alive made her feel. She didn't feel guilty for surviving. She had read through the charts and most of it came down to the fact that she had not been injured before the collapse and where the debris hit them. She had been lucky. Lucky to have been where she was in the collapse; lucky she had been able to use her hand to make a sound to get help; lucky Anakin had come looking for her; lucky he was a cardiothoracic surgeon and knew she needed an emergency thoracotomy. She was lucky.

"You have a very interesting relationship with Dr. Skywalker." Shaak Ti said after a moment, "Just to clarify: you dated prior to his resignation and broke up just before he left. The accident happens and he drops everything to come back to you." Shaak Ti puts her pen down and folds her hands over her lap, "Forgive me if I overstep, isn't that just a bit… problematic? The relationship didn't work before, so what changed?"

"I thought this meeting was just to confirm I wasn't emotionally scarred by the incident." Padme said, "I don't think my personal relationships have to do with anything."

Shaak Ti smiled, "And I think they do. Since you got back with him, how have things been? Any arguments? Tense moments? Have you been intimate?"

Padme's eyes widen at the last question, "No!" She said quickly, shifting uncomfortably, "We weren't intimate before either." She said, "As for arguments, there have been some. But that's normal. We're resolving our problems."

Shaak Ti nodded and started to write down her notes.

Padme furrowed her brow, "And just what are you writing?" She demanded.

"Nothing you need to worry about." She said.

"My relationship isn't a problem." She argued.

"I never said it was." Shaak Ti said, "I think I would like to speak with the both of you though."

Padme shook her head, "I don't think that's necessary."

"And I think it is." She said, "I think you weren't the only one effected by the sinkhole. And its only right that I make sure everyone is fine." Glancing down at her notepad she writes something else, "If the both of you are free next Wednesday, I'd like to have you and Dr. Skywalker see me at one. If that time works for you."

[][][][]

Padme sat in bed with a bag of chips in her lap and her laptop sitting open in the middle of the bed. She was watching the live stream of the International Neurological Convention. Every year the convention features the lead neuroscientists discussing the latest findings of their research. Most of the work is just beginning the process of getting published, so there was little chance she was going to get the chance to use it in the near future- if ever. But the findings are always interesting; the brain is the most important part of the body. Without it, nothing works; not the liver, not the lungs, not even the heart. Without the brain controlling and organizing the body, there is nothing.

As fascinating as the convention is- with talk of stem cell research repairing damaged optical nerves and new research in the reduction of tumors- she can't pay attention to it. Shaak Ti wants to talk to her and Anakin. And that's not something she wants to do. Anakin doesn't need therapy- he's fine, maybe even better than her since he wasn't in there as long as she was. They were both fine. The only thing going in would do, would tell her that their relationship was… rocky at the moment. Maybe she could tell them helpful things to do to quicken this discovery process; but maybe she would tell them what everyone else seems to be telling her: end it. Sola and Dorme have accepted and supported her choice to take Anakin back; but the two also have reservations about it as well. She can tell neither is confident this will work. They don't say it, but they really don't have to. She can tell.

She hears the front door open and the sound of footsteps in the living room. Anakin's back. When he comes into the bedroom he immediately climbs into his side of the bed, scooting close enough that he can see what she's watching. "Brainy stuff, why am I not surprised." He says as she rolls her eyes at him. "How'd it go?" He asked. Padme sighed and let her head fall back to hit the pillow. She could hear him laugh at her reaction, "That bad?"

"Tell me about your surgery." She said as she rolled onto her side to look at him, "I've been bedridden for weeks, I need a good surgery story."

Anakin groans as he turns to face her, resting his face in his hand, "Sorry to say mine isn't all that good. Bowel obstruction."

Padme furrows her brow, "Really?" Yoda must really be mad at him.

"Yeah, tapeworms. Teenage girl wanted to lose weight."

She shakes her head, "People really don't think about consequences do they?"

"I think they do." He said, "They just don't always think it'll be them." He reaches over and gently touches her arm, caressing it and flashing her a smile, "Now tell me about your day." He said.

Padme sighed. It's now or never. "Shaak Ti wants you to come with me next week." She said.

"Why?"

She shakes her head, "She has her reasons. But the reasons she tells me I don't think they're really the reason she wants to talk to you."

He nods his head, "And when is that exactly?"

"Wednesday, but you don't have to," She said, "I know we're both fine."

"Until we start talking about how we're going to work." He mumbles.

Padme furrows her brow and shifts closer to him, "What does that mean?"

Anakin rolls onto his back and lets out a tired sigh, "You've been out of the hospital for a little over a day and we've already had two arguments." He said, turning his head to look at her a moment, "The first, I get that one. We needed to have that one; but the other... really didn't need to happen. At least not when it did."

Padme reached her hand for his cheek, "You know why though."

"I do, but I don't want to do it everyday. And I know you think we'll just put it off. But we won't. If we both want it to work, we'll get there." Anakin moved his hand to hold the back of her neck gently and gave her a small smile, "I've been patient with you and only moving however much you want me to. Do you think it's possible we can figure this out at my pace? Maybe take things a week at a time so we can both think about what works and what doesn't and what we can live with? I really don't want to fight more than we have to."

Padme moved her hand to cover the wrist of the hand holding her neck and rubbed it with the pad of her thumb. He really didn't ask much of her- just that they don't do this everyday. It was fair and as much as she wants to just get all of it over and done with, she can slow down for his sake. Nodding her head, she watched the smile on his face broaden before he moved his head closer; she closed her eyes and parted her lips, waiting for his to connect to hers. And when they did, she didn't want it to end. Her hand found its way into his hair and tugged it gently; keeping him in place while her other hand moved the bag of chips away. His hand closed her laptop and picked it up and as he moved closer to her placed it on her nightstand.

With the laptop gone, his hand found her waist. He resisted the urge to pull her closer to him; well aware her leg was still too hurt for them to do more. And as much as he wanted to take her right at that moment, he was more than happy to leave things as they are. She was ready. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. And the knowledge that his patience has paid off gives him the strength to hold out just a little longer.

When they finally pull back, they are both panting and smiling broadly at the other. They hadn't expected it to go that far. Both had expected a quick kiss before bed but now they are both sitting there, hot and bothered and yet still relishing the bliss of being in the presence of the other.

Padme touches her forehead to his, her hands cupping his cheeks while his hand is on her waist. She closes her eyes and sighs, "I wish I didn't have this stupid brace." She says.

"So do I." He said, stroking his thumb along the waistband of her pants, "there is so much I want to do with you." He said.

She smiles and presses her lips to his slowly before pulling back. His head cranes to follow hers and she smirks, "Just a few weeks." She says.

"By then maybe we'll have all this worked out too." He said.

"I hope so, Ani." She said, letting her hand drop to allow him to get up from the bed so he can get changed. He was right. They needed more of these moments. All of this was going to take an emotional toll on them and over time it will only make resolving the problems more difficult. But at least they are communicating now. They are telling each other where they stand and it is working. She can only hope this trend continues.