Ok, so August was a little/a lot busy for me... This post was originally supposed to be the final post with Anakin's thoughts first and Padmé's following as the ending. Since I only have Anakin's part written I'm going ahead and post it because it's been so long in between chapters! It's short but that's why, sorry : / Enjoy!

"Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Anakin Skywalker

Varykino House

Upstairs Grand Suite

The Force gently nudges my senses. The flame of one of the last remaining candles sputters out in quiet of the late night hour. I watch the smoke wisp and curl away followed by a trail of wax that dribbles into a poetic little puddle below it. One-by-one, I've watched the other candles go out in the same way. Earlier, I promised myself to get some sleep as soon as the last candle fades. Now there's only one left on the sideboard table next to your side of our bed. The back lighting creates a soft glow behind your soundly sleeping frame; a halo for my angel. It might be cliché if it weren't true.

Besides your ethereal illumination, the room is dark. Not pitch-black dark but instead a deep indigo, moonlit dark. I note the sweet smelling breeze that sways the curtains in and out of the windowpanes in a chaotic anti-rhythm. Our shared sheets only just a while ago heated by newlyweded passion, are now cool to the touch.

Our first time together was not perfect. No, better than perfect, it was real. Loving you was give and take, push and pull, ebb and flow...a partnership in shared pleasure; superior to any dream or fantasy. In a sense, this night is the culmination of 10 years of far-a-way wishes and hopes.

"I've thought of her every day since we parted all those years ago."

It was true. Besides seeing you flash across the HoloNet in a news blurb now and again, beautiful even in the electronic-blue light of a display screen, I only had memories of our short time together to treasure. Brief moments hobbled together in a kind of cherished security blanket, easily pulled out for comfort in times of trial, insecurity, or loneliness. Precious moments from childhood that became more and more like my own made-up mythos as the years went on.

Padmé, just a few weeks ago you were more memory to me than reality. And now my own reality feels more like fantasy...but better. Honestly, I am afraid to miss a minute, even a second. I'm afraid to close my eyes, to fall back asleep. What if I wake up and you're gone? What if I am transported to a different version of reality, a version where your brown eyes have hardened into steely ones? Or worse, one where we've never met?

Loving you makes me feel whole. I feel more human than I can ever remember; it's ironic, as I am now less human with the loss of my arm. Nevertheless, with you I feel as if I am the best version of Anakin. More like the child from Tatooine and less like the killer that I became upon my return. Your nurturing spirit is a temper to the flame within me and you refuse to define me by it.

I watch your bare back rise and fall. I want to caress your skin, but you are so lovely while you sleep and so I dare not wake you. You need rest, you need this time to recover. Even in this faint candlelight I can see the drag lines from where that monster clawed you. Bacta could only heal so much. Four faint scars will be there forever. I cringe at the thought of that creature having marred your perfection.

Yet, I'm so lucky to even see these scars! I'm in awe of our comfort with each other, our closeness is invaluable. We are now closer than close-it is oneness. I feel the fabric of our Force-signatures knitted together in a new blanket. A tangible, alive one with two hearts beating in sync as one…I can sense the pulses of our life-energy vibrating together and it is the most beautiful feeling to me in this whole galaxy. I imagine a future where I can cling to you-anywhere, anytime, and on any planet that the Jedi Council sends me to fight this war on.

It's too good to be true.

And then a little voice inside me retorts…Or to true to be good? Would Obi-Wan sense this truth, the reality of our union, within me upon my return? Just as I can sense the difference within me, could he, my brother in arms, sense it as well? Only time will tell. And my current time with you, Padmé, is short. Too short to worry.

No, I will not be worried. I will be resolute.

Nothing will come between us.