A/N: Thanks to Irhinoceri for reviewing! Not my best chapter, but I hate to keep you guys waiting. Just a heads up that this chapter is rated M for sexuality.

Chapter 28

Love Will Get Us Through

Was it real? It didn't make sense, so no it wasn't. He was just in Padmé's apartment after one of the most difficult assignments of his career. It didn't make sense that he was on Naboo so he figured he was having a dream. But he decided he didn't care. He would pretend that it was real.

The warmth of the afternoon sun was soothing on his skin. He didn't feel tired anymore. He felt renewed.

There were some people off in the distance and he walked through the grasses of the meadow until he reached them.

He knew all of them. Padmé, Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ahsoka. They were all laughing.

Ahsoka turned around and looked at him, smiling widely. Her blue eyes caught the sun, sparkling and full of joy.

"Anakin!" She exclaimed. She motioned for him to join them.

They all turned their faces to look at him, smiling and welcoming. They all looked so peaceful and happy.

Only for a moment. Only for a fleeting moment. Anakin was suddenly standing very far away from them. He was a footstep away from them and then suddenly it was as if he hadn't walked over at all. He tried to reach them again, but with every step he took forward he seemed to get farther away, going backwards.

The grasses yellowed, drying out underneath his boots. It was cold suddenly. A crisp breeze started to pick up and they all seemed to move further away, obscure shadows in the distance. The sky filled with clouds and then it began to snow, a storm that covered the fields in white rapidly. Anakin couldn't see in front of him anymore. The snow seemed to fall almost vertically in the harsh wind and everything was gray.

His eyes opened and he was back home again. His and Padmé's bedroom was dark and he figured it must be just after midnight. There was stirring beside him and he felt Padmé's hand on his shoulder.

"What's bothering you, Ani?"

"Nothing. It was just a dream."

She turned the bedroom lights on and locked eyes with him. "Do you want to talk?"

"There's nothing to talk about. I just dreamed we were all on Naboo. Obi-Wan, Siri, all of us."

"Maybe one day we will be." She replied, trying to set his spirit at ease.

He looked away from her. "Maybe." He said unconvincingly. He didn't really believe it.

She ran her fingers through his curls comfortingly.

He turned his face to look at her again. She had a glow from sleep, her cheeks rosy and her lips swollen.

He ran his thumb across her cheek. "You're always so good to me."

She smiled. "It's what you do for the people you love."

"I don't deserve it, though. I'm such a pain."

She grinned. "You are a bit of a handful. But I don't mind."

She pressed her palm to his chest and felt the steady beat of his heart. He covered her hand with his and didn't speak, gazing into her sleepy brown eyes. She pressed a gentle kiss against his lips. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her back, parting his lips over hers. She echoed, their lips moving across each other. She climbed onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt him sigh against her mouth. He buried his hands in her hair and kissed her more insistently. She began to undo the fastening on the back of her nightgown. His hands pushed hers away and he untied the ribbons. He pushed the straps down her shoulders and kissed her shoulder. Her nightgown was pooled around her waist. He feathered kisses along her collarbone, over her heart. She lied down slowly, sprawling her arms out on the mattress so he could enjoy her bare torso fully.

She felt the weight of his body on hers. He kissed her breasts reverently, then feathered kisses down her belly. She felt him press his mouth against her hipbone softly. She moaned quietly, digging her fingers into his hair, her back arching. His soft hair brushed along her inner thigh as he lifted his head to look at her. He kissed her neck and brushed his lips over her ear, his breath hot. She raised her legs so her pelvis cradled his hips more snugly.

"Oh Padmé." He whispered.

She stroked his back, feeling the scars that marked his skin.

He rocked his hips into her and she sighed, closing her eyes and pressing her head into the pillow as she felt him move inside her slowly. She bit her lip and smiled. She'd missed his touch.

He moved inside her more desperately, moaning. The ache built and built until the sensation washed over and she cried out.

His breath was uneven and she could tell he was on the brink. She felt him buck against her and groan into her hair as he spilled into her, warm.

When his breathing settled he spoke. "Thank you."

"Anything to make you happy."

He kissed her forehead and rolled off her onto his back. She draped her arm over him and laid her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair.

"Do you want to get Owen, Beru, and Cliegg tomorrow morning?"

"Mhm. I'll arrange a place for them. They'll be moved in my tomorrow night."

"Thank you."

"No problem, Ani."

"I love you, Padmé."

She smiled. "I love you too."

Beru was playing with the hem of her skirt in a chamber at The Jedi temple. Cliegg and Owen were still asleep. She heard a knock at the door.

"It's Anakin," came a voice from outside.

She was on her feet immediately, relieved to see someone she knew. She opened the door. When she saw Padmé standing on the other side of the threshold her face lit up.

She hugged her tightly. "Padmé! Oh how I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too, Beru."

"We're here to bring you to Padmé's place. Well not exactly. She rented an apartment for you in the same building as us." Anakin said.

Beru smiled. "Thank you, Padmé."

"Anything for family." Padmé replied.

Beru was touched by the statement.

"You are so kind, Padmé."

Beru went and woke up Cliegg and Owen.

"Come on, Padmé's found a place for us to stay."

Owen rubbed his eyes sleepily. He straightened his rumpled clothing and stood up.

"That's not necessary. You don't have to_

"Oh no, I insist. As I was telling Beru, we're practically family. I'm obligated to help you."

"Alright, I guess. But we're not going to be accepting handouts from now on. We'll find work and pull our own weight." Owen said pridefully.

"I'm not doing this because I pity you or think of you as helpless. I just want to help you. It means a lot to Anakin and I to be able to do that."

"Shmi would have wanted it." Anakin said softly.

Owen was silent for a moment, remembering his beloved stepmother. The woman was a saint. Not many people had been as kind to him as she had. He nodded wordlessly.

"You're right. She'd want us to help each other."

Owen helped Cliegg to his feet and they followed Anakin and Padmé out into the hallway.

They didn't know it, but Shmi was there. She'd been there for quite some time, watching her sons and their loved ones. It wasn't in the best of circumstances, but she was happy to see them all together. One big, whole family getting through hardships together. She may have not been there physically. But she was always with them. During the disappointments and the happiness. She was always there.

Always.