*/*/*
The trip to Naboo was uneventful with R2 keeping a close eye on his wards. Once they arrived at the capital for a brief visit with the queen the trio then headed off to Padmé's family home.
They walked through the city weaving their way in and out of the crowds of people passing through the little streets. Anakin wore his Jedi robes again and Padmé glanced sideways at him several times. He looked so different in this environment, so tall and handsome, and confident. At times she'd glimpsed traces of the boy he had been on Tatooine but right now he looked very much a dashing young man.
They turned the corner of a narrow street Padmé stopped, beaming a bright smile. "There's my house!" she said and started forward at a faster pace while Anakin hung back. He watched her rush ahead and admired the view. Padme was dressed in a simple Naboolian style dress but she still looked like an angel to him. "R2 she's so beautiful. How am I supposed to protect her when I can barely think straight around her?"
R2 beeped a reply.
"I know I've got you, buddy. Thanks," he pated R2's head.
Padme looked back over her shoulder to see him lingering with R2 at his side.
"What now? Don't say you're suddenly shy?" she asked
"No," he denied with a shaky voice, "I um..."
Anakin was saved from answering when suddenly there were shouts from two little girls who came running toward Padmé.
"Ryoo! Pooja!" Padmé dropped her bags to crouch down and scoop the girls up in a hug. She was so happy to be home and see her nieces again. When they finally let her go after dozens of kisses they looked shyly over her shoulder to Anakin and R2.
"Go wake up R2 and show him the way," Padmé whispered to the girls and they went screaming and giggling to greet the droid, showering him with hugs and kisses as well. Padmé walked back to grab Anakin by the elbow and pull him along the rest of the way to the door.
The Naberries welcomed Padmé home with enthusiastic hugs as they all stood at the entrance to the house. Padmé could barely make the introductions through all the kisses and crying. "Anakin, these are my parents." Padme presented a very attractive middle age couple who stepped forward to shake his hand. "And this is my sister, Sola," she said just as her sister quickly pulled her away in a fierce hug Anakin was left to bring in their bags and chat with her parents while R2 kept the children occupied.
Padme's mom patted Anakin on the shoulder and went off with her daughters leaving Anakin with Padme's father Ruwee. "Now tell me, son. How serious is this thing? How
much danger is my daughter really in?" he immediately asked.
No one had ever called Anakin 'son' before and Anakin didn't know how to feel about it. He'd have to unpack that emotion later, but he answered Padme's father honestly for now. "There have been two attempts on her life. Chances are there'll be more. My Master is tracking down the assassins. I'm sure he'll find out who they are. This situation, won't last long sir."
"You keep my daughter safe. Ruwee warned him. I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Neither do I," Anakin assured him and they both stepped inside to join the others.
Jobal, Padmé's mother prepared a large feast to welcome her daughter home, and throughout the meal, Sola told Anakin stories about their childhood adventures. Anakin laughed at how embarrassed Padmé became when Sola told him how Padmé was always the leader of their mischief.
"Did you know, Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister's ever brought home?" Sola asked.
Anakin's eyebrows raised in shock. "Oh am I?" he asked.
Padmé rushed in to say, "He's not my boyfriend. Anakin's just a friend. We've known each other for years. He's the little boy who stopped the blockade when I was queen, remember?"
The entire family now had raised eyebrows as they looked at Anakin causing him to blush profusely. He thanked the force when dinner was finally over. Ruwee and Jobal cleared the dishes and R2 had long since been given a corner in which to recharge and reset his circuits. Sola and the girls took their leave as well, the girls were tired and had school tomorrow. So Anakin and Padmé left the dining hall together to retire early. Padmé was physically and emotionally drained and could barely drag herself up the stairs on her way to her bedroom when she noticed Anakin following closely behind her.
"Where are you sleeping?" Padmé asked with a sleepy yawn as she slowly climbed.
"With you," Anakin said as if that should be obvious.
"What?" Padme stopped short on the stairs and turned to face him.
"Your mom already put our bags in your bedroom."
"You are not sleeping with me," Padme denied with an angry shake of her head.
"Padmé, how can I protect you from a guest room?"
"You're the Jedi, you figure it out."
"Padmé be reasonable-"
"Reasonable? I've been nothing but reasonable. I've compromised just about all I can; leaving the senate to Jar-jar, fleeing the capital like a thief, and now you expect me to share my bedroom with... with some boy!" Padme tossed up her hands. "No!"
"You think I'm just 'some boy'?" Anakin asked in disbelief. He stepped on the stair just below Padme's. "First of all M'lady, I'm not just 'some boy,' I'm a man," he said raising to his fullest height to look down at her.
"Even worse," Padme said angrily standing her ground.
"Now listen m'lady I don't like sneaking off and hiding any more than you do. I should be off helping Obi-Wan find that sleemo who tried to kill you. But we both have our duties, mine is to protect you and yours is to stay alive and safe. You want to get back to Coruscant to cast your vote? The quickest way is for us to keep you safe and let Obi-Wan and the other Jedi unravel this plot."
Padme deflated. "You're right Anakin. I'm sorry. It's just that this is my home. I've always felt safe here. This nonsense is intruding on my personal life and endangering my family now."
Anakin stood down as well. "I know Padmé, and I'm sorry it has to be this way. Both of us have to make the best of the situation."
"You're right," she wiped a stray tear from her face and turned to continue up the stairs. They entered Padme's bedroom and Anakin looked around with wide curious eyes.
He walked around the perimeter checking that the windows were secure and looking for any other entry points beside the bedroom door. He checked the adjoining fresher but there were no windows or exits except the one leading back into the bedroom. Finally, he even checked under the bed.
"What are you doing Anakin?"
"Just doing a security sweep."
"You think the assassin is hiding under my bed?" she asked with a smirk.
"You never know, assassins come in all shapes and sizes. We didn't expect them to use those poisonous centipedes before," he shrugged his shoulders as he stood up and dusted off his knees.
Padmé frowned at his actions, "My room is immaculately clean and I expect it to stay that way, got it?"
"Of course, m'lady you won't even know I'm here."
"I already know you're here," Padme said as she walked around gathering items from drawers.
"So, which side of the bed do you prefer?" he asked.
Padme's mouth dropped open momentarily before her face formed into a thunderous frown. She rushed over and shoved Anakin back into a corner bunching his tunic in her hands and squeezing his throat.
"Now you listen to me you little pile of poodoo, you are going to sleep on the floor. And you are going to keep your grubby hands to yourself. If you even think about touching me, I'm going to cut it off," Padme threatened. "And I'm not talking about your hands. Do you understand me?"
Anakin nervously nodded his head while he looked down at Padmé like he'd seen a ghost. He'd never seen this side of her before and he... he kind of liked it actually. Padmé was breathing heavily and her little nose was scrunched up in anger while the smell of her perfumed hair wafted up his nose. Dear Force! Please don't let her notice how his body was reacting to her pressing him up against this wall.
Padmé applied her menacing stare a moment longer and then released him. Anakin slumped against the wall and let out a shaky sigh.
Padmé gathered up her objects, marched into the fresher and the door slid shut behind her. Anakin looked around the room trying to clear his mind. Normally he'd take care of his little physical problem in the fresher, but Padmé was currently occupying it. He paced the floor willing his body to calm down. Finally, he ended up on the floor at the foot of the bed seated in his meditation position. It was as good a spot as any positioned between the windows and the door of the bedroom for maximum observation.
Padmé was still in the fresher so he gathered his Jedi robe, grateful it was so voluminous, and wrapped it around himself before he lay down and closed his eyes.
Sometime later, Anakin heard the fresher door open and Anakin cracked an eye open ever so slightly. Padmé emerged with a plume of steam behind her. She was wearing a form-fitting shimmering nightgown. Her elaborate hairstyle was gone and her rich brown curls were cascading freely down her back and around her shoulders like dark clouds. Anakin quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep as he listened to her move around the room and finally settle into the bed. She extinguished the lights and the room settled down into silence except for the rhythmic breathing of both occupants.
Hours later Anakin awoke, shivering. He'd had another dream about his mother. She was crying, calling out to him for help. She was in pain. Where was she, Anakin wondered. Why after all these years did he dream his mother was in danger?
Padme's face appeared above him, her hair hanging down around her face like a shawl. "Ani, are you okay?"
"Ye-yes," he answered his teeth chattering.
"Oh, my Force! Ani, I forgot how cold you get. And I've had the temp set so low. Why didn't you say something?"
"I... I'm fine."
"Shut up and get in this bed this instant." She pulled the covers back on the other side of the bed and waited for him to obey her orders.
Reluctantly Anakin got up and sat on the side of the bed fully clothed.
"Maybe you could undress first?" Padmé asked.
"What?!"
"Surely you don't intend to get in my bed fully dressed with your shoes on?"
"Oh... yeah... I mean no." Anakin stood slowly as if still half asleep and peeled his robes off first then bent to remove his soft boots. He kept his tunic and trousers on and sat back down stiffly.
"Anakin, relax," Padmé said. "I won't bite."
Anakin laughed nervously as he carefully lay down resting his head on the satin pillow that smelled of Padme's hair. He folded himself into a fetal position on his side and tried to go back to sleep but couldn't help himself, he inhaled deeply. Oh, force! This bed smelled so good.
The mattress was so soft and warm and everything smelled of Padmé, spicy and sweet. Just thinking about the fact that Padmé was in the bed next to him wearing nothing but a thin nightgown made his cock grow hard enough to pound rocks.
Oh please just go to sleep, he willed his body. He tried to breathe deeply to calm himself down but every breath he took just filled his lungs with more of Padme's scent.
The bed shifted beside him. "Anakin, I'm sorry I made you sleep on the floor and threatened you earlier. I'm just so wound up. I'm not myself."
"I... I understand," Anakin said trying to make his voice sound normal when he was feeling anything but.
"I don't know if you can understand. Someone is trying to kill me. The fate of the republic and maybe even the galaxy hangs in the balance and I left the senate with Jar Jar in charge in my place. And now I may have brought danger to my family's home."
"I'm sorry Padmé. I shouldn't have brought you here."
"No, it was my choice to come home. I insisted I knew better than your judgment. But tomorrow we should go somewhere else, somewhere more secure. When I was a queen my family brought a retreat out in the country. I think we should go there. It's isolated, nobody knows we'll be there, and we can see anyone coming with fewer places for someone to hide."
"If you think that's best," Anakin said.
"What do you think Ani? After all, you're in charge of my safety."
"I think if you don't feel safe here then we should go someplace where you will. As you said, this is your home and you know it better than I do. I'll follow your lead m'lady."
"Thank you, Ani!" Padmé leaned over and kissed his cheek causing Anakin to let out a rather undignified squeal of surprise.
"I'm sorry Anakin," she said still leaning over him. "After I promised I couldn't bite," she laughed. "Are you warm enough?"
"Yes," he said burrowing deeper down in the bed. "I'm fine Padmé."
"You don't seem fine huddled up over there barely hanging on. Move over here, there's plenty of room and I promise I won't threaten any of your appendages again."
"I'm fine. We better get some rest. Tomorrow we have another journey to prepare for."
"You're right. Good night Anakin, sweet dreams."
Anakin hardly slept that night being so close to Padmé and her intoxicating scent, and when he did manage to sleep his dreams were anything but sweet. Visions of his mother, Mace Windu, and now Padmé all swirled around in his head causing him to wake up more tired than before he went to bed.
*/*/*/*
Mace Windu hated traveling under normal circumstances but he disliked it even more so now that he was traveling on public transport. Today Mace was on a personal mission and he was miserable. Cramped and teeming with travelers and refugees from every world and all walks of life, the public transport made Mace Windu's skin crawl. He disliked traveling like this, far from the state-of-the-art Jedi ships he was accustomed to but he was not on Jedi business today, at least not officially.
The flight was a long one and it made numerous stops along the journey on out-of-the-way skughole planets before he finally touched down at his destination.
The suns of Tatooine had just risen over the horizon when Mace's transport landed at Mos Eisley spaceport, but now they beat down on his bald head threatening to burn his smooth brown skin. He'd tossed the hood of his heavy Jedi robe from his head hours ago when he departed from the station. The oppressive heat of the midday suns and arid environment proved too stifling for the garment to be used as protection.
As far as clandestine missions went, Mace was sure he stuck out like a sore thumb among the hustle and bustle of the merchants, criminals, and slaves that scurried about the town center. He visited shop stalls, pubs, and even establishments of ill repute asking anyone who would spare a moment to provide information on the whereabouts of his quarry. Time was working against him. He could sense something dark brewing in the force and every dead end was a setback, every moment wasted a failure. He needed to find Watto the Toydarian before something irreversible happened to Shmi Skywalker.
He spent a great deal of his personal credits persuading people to talk. Most tips led to false leads, but eventually, someone mentioned Watto the junk dealer's location in Mos Espa. Mace hired a speeder bike and set off across the rugged landscape in search of Watto and his slave Shmi Skywalker. By the time the triple moons rose he hoped to have the answers he sought and the means to put an end to Anakin's suffering once and for all.
*/*/*/*
Anakin circled the land speeder one last time, checking for any security flaws before setting out with Padme for her country estate. Meanwhile, Padmé said her goodbyes. Her parents were not pleased with them leaving so soon after arriving but they understood the need for secrecy and isolation.
However, Sola's wide grin showed no signs of worry.
She pulled her sister aside and winked at Padmé, her eyes flicking towards Anakin. "I've packed something special for you and your young man to enjoy during your retreat,' she whispered, her voice dripping with mischief."
"What have you done now Sola?" Padmé demanded. She didn't have the energy to tell her sister one more time that Anakin was not hers in any way, shape, or form. She looked over at Anakin as he ambled around the speeder making the final security check with R2.
"Nothing bad," Sola said. "I'm just trying to be a good sister. I'm sure you didn't think to bring everything you'll need. You've never had a boyfriend before."
Padmé's cheeks flushed as she glanced at Anakin. "And I don't have one now. He's just my bodyguard, Sola. Nothing more," she said but her voice wavered lacking conviction. "Anakin is just an old friend."
Sola rolled her eyes. "An old friend in his prime who can't take his eyes off of you?"
Nervous laughter erupted from Padmé's throat and she shook her head. "He's my bodyguard. Of course, he has to keep his eyes on me."
"On your ass?" Sola asked.
Padmé shoved her sister away playfully. "He does not look at my ass!" she denied it almost too loud and then looked around to make sure Anakin and her parents didn't hear.
Sola laughed. "Oh sister, you are so blind. He obviously likes you. And you obviously like him. Go for it sis, you deserve some happiness."
"I am perfectly happy."
"Really? Because the Padmé I know wanted to settle down and have a family of her own, not run around the galaxy fighting trade unions and stopping wars."
"Someone has to do it, Sola."
"Sure, but does that someone have to be you? You've been working since you were practically a baby, Padmé. When do you have time for yourself? When do you get to flirt with handsome young men and make babies for yourself?"
"I'm not ready for that. It's not time yet."
"When will it be time? Wake up Padmé before you end up old and alone. Don't let this one slip through your fingers."
"He's a Jedi, Sola."
"So?"
"So, Jedi don't have families, they're like monks."
"Does he know that? Because I see a man with hunger in his eyes. One who looks at you like he wants to gobble you up."
"No, he doesn't," Padmé denied even though she knew it was true. It was impossible to ignore the way Anakin looked at her.
"Yes, he does. And if I were you I'd give him a bite."
Padmé gasped in shock at her sister's audacity. "No, you wouldn't Sola. You don't even like men."
"I like men well enough," Sola said. "I just don't want to marry one. You on the other hand are obviously into them, well at least one of them." They both looked over at Anakin again who was now talking with R2 and their parents. He towered over them, his height enhanced by the dark robes he wore. His spiky golden hair caught the sunlight creating a halo effect around his head for just a moment. Padmé couldn't help it as her eyes followed Anakin, a warmth spreading through her that she couldn't deny and Sola's words echoed in her ears. "Sola," Padmé groaned frustrated that her sister put these dangerous thoughts in her mind.
"Padmé. Don't question your big sister. Do not come back home a virgin."
"Sola, what makes you think I am a virgin?"
"Aren't you? You've never mentioned anyone before. Your Jedi is the first man you've ever even shown any interest in."
"I am not interested," Padmé said not sure if she was trying to convince herself or Sola. "I'm going now. And you don't worry about my sex life."
"I wouldn't have to worry if you actually had one."
"Goodbye Sola," Padmé hugged her sister fiercely and walked over to their parents to make her goodbyes to them. Sola followed her and and as Padmé hugged her parents she saw Sola pull Anakin aside and whisper something to him.
A moment later Anakin was blushing to the tips of his ears and Sola was laughing as he rushed away from her.
Padmé shook her head but couldn't help smiling. Sola would never change.
"May the force be with you and keep you safe," Padme heard Sola say as she climbed into the speeder next to Anakin and waved a final goodbye to her family before they sped off into the unknown.