Chapter 21
Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palpatine searches for a way to live long past his dying body through cloning technology and his attempts at descendants. One of his " experiments' ' escapes and comes to live a slave's life on Naboo. He will meet and forever his destiny changed by the fateful meeting with none other than one young Naberrie girl…
Location: Bayou Restaurant, Imperial Center
Month 4 Day 5 28 BBY
Anakin's fingertips drum against the wooden table. He sighs again, noting the time. 2100. She's not coming- great.
He takes the whiskey brought out and he downs it. He waves his fingers to the droid waiter, ordering one more. He'd stay five more minutes and then leave. He eyes the darkness outside. He's been here since 1930- as they had set a time after their call last night. It had been quick planning, but Anakin had taken his father's advice and chosen based on what kind of food she had suggested.
He had thought at first she was running late- but after waiting an hour- the worry had set in. He worried something had happened on the skyline on the way here. Then after waiting another thirty minutes, hurt and rejection settled into his belly. He should have known he'd pushed her too far by asking her out on a date. Why hadn't he kept his damn big mouth shut? Afterall how were they to manage this possible relationship when they hadn't seen each other in an entire week?
He runs his hands through his hair and eyes his com. link again. 21:05. He pulls out some credits and places them on the table. He stands up and begins to exit when he stops by the door. An angel stands outside the door watching him. Her brown hair is pulled back and she's wearing a light pink sundress, which must be new as he's never seen it on her. Her expression is one of apology as he exits to meet her.
" Anakin I'm so sorry-" She begins.
He puts his hand up to stop her. He doesn't need to hear her excuses. She stood him up- well rather is extremely late.
He states flatly, clearly hurt in his voice, " I don't want you to apologize. I waited for you and now I'm leaving."
She grabs his arm and manages to say, " Please I know you're hurt but I really have a good explanation as to why I'm late."
He lifts an eyebrow and sighs tiredly, " Fine, why are you late?"
She bites her lip. " I was studying most of the day and lost track of time."
He shrugs and mutters, " Okay, lame excuse."
She hears the hurt and rejection in his voice. She doesn't want him to think she's rejecting him. Far from it.
"I got behind and then Sabe' decided it would be a great idea to go shopping for her date tonight and of course I found this to wear."
He rubs his hands in his hair, and sighs tiredly, " P, why didn't you just call me? I could have come and picked you both up."
She shrugs and says, " I wanted to surprise you tonight. I was already nervous to begin with."
He smiles sadly and takes her hand saying, " If you didn't want to do this- you should have told me."
She squeezes his hand, speaking the truth. " I wanted to go out on this date. I was just nervous."
He accepts her answer and murmurs, " Okay, but I just gave up our table. Where do you suggest we eat dinner?"
She smiles knowingly and says, " C'mon I know a place."
She takes his hand in his and drags him to her speeder. He sits in the passenger side and allows her to drive him to wherever she wants to take him.
Location: Sabe's Residence, Imperial Center
They enter the doorway of Sabe's apartment. He claims, " You can't cook well at all. I swear if I have to eat burnt sha-t steak again-"
He stops his ramblings when he notices the table in the living area. Lit with candles, tablecloth and glamorous flowered plates. He notices the Nabooian wine in the middle of the table and eyes the dinner before them. Some sort of fish, rice and vegetables.
She smiles at him and murmurs, " I didn't want our first date to be generic. I wanted it to be special, so I was late on purpose."
He eyes the dinner and questions, " That doesn't look burnt, so who cooked it?"
She laughs and states, "Actually- I cooked everything. It took me an hour for our meal and dessert."
He smiles back at her and pulls her seat out of her. She smiles at his chivalry and he pours her some of the red wine. " Thank you sir." She thanks him.
He sits across from her and pours himself some wine. He begins, " So how was your day of studying?"
She rolls her eyes at his casual talk. " I believe I passed my Economics exam. I studied for my negotiations of war as well."
She sighs tiredly. He nods and notices her tired gaze. She seems overworked for her first week as an intern. She murmurs, " I think I'm taking on a bit too much."
He grasps her hand from across the table and reassures her. " It's your first week on the job. You'll find balance in week two."
She nods and suggests, " Yes, perhaps I will and then it will be time to return home."
He doesn't want to think of her leaving yet. She still has a few weeks before the end of her interim trial. He'd rather speak of something else.
" Has Sabe' discussed any plans on telling everyone of her engagement?" Anakin asks, changing the subject.
Padme' shrugs , taking a bite of fish. She chews in thought. She swallows. " She's already told Dorme' and Bail. I think it is a matter of how she will tell Father, Sola and Katrina. Katrina will be happy for her, but Obi-wan didn't exactly ask permission for her hand from our father."
Anakin chews on the fish. It isn't half bad, considering his best friend has never been able to cook. The vegetables are cooked and not burnt at all. He admits, " True, however, I think he'll approve of Obi-wan. He and Sabe make an excellent couple."
Padme' smiles and admits, " Yes they do. He makes her laugh and I've never seen her this happy in a relationship."
She cuts up her piece of fish and eats a piece. The fish is a bit spicy, but sweet with the sauce she had made with it.
Anakin chews his piece of fish and swallows. " They are cute together, although I swear to god- I never want to hear those noises again."
Padme coughs on her wine and holds her stomach as she bursts into laughter. She knows Sabe' is pretty private when it comes to hers and Obi-wan's details of their sex lives.
She pats her chest and mutters, " I'm sorry you're dealing with that."
He takes her hand, squeezing it flirting, " You know we can give them a bit of payback."
Padme' notices the darkening of his blue eyes to a navy hue. Those eyes were his lustful gaze, thinking of the things they could do in his bed- or hers.
She bites her lip and chuckles, " Perhaps we can. Though if they get married it will only be a matter of time before you're kicked to the curb."
Anakin shakes his head. " Obi-wan says he'd talk to the landlord so I can take on the lease. He said he'd move in here when Sabs is ready to take the plunge."
Padme's eyes widened. Would he move in after she left back for Naboo? Katrina wouldn't approve of them living together prior to their nuptials. Maybe she'd better talk to her sister about their plans and perhaps setting a date.
Anakin shrugs, " Who knows with those two? I did not expect him to propose to her the other night. Perhaps they'll wait until the summer holiday to tell everyone back on Naboo. I'm sure Katrina will be out with her wedding planner before the end of the conversation."
Padme' snickers at this vision. Katrina has been known to become overzealous at events for their family, especially weddings. She had been the main planner when it came to Dorme's wedding, insisting on only the best for her niece. Anakin joins in on the laughter as well.
She notices the bags under her friend's eyes. He looks as tired as she feels. She comments, " You know, Sabe' is spending the night at Obi-wan's tonight. You can go back there, but I doubt you'll get enough sleep. You're welcome to stay the night."
He rubs his eyes and yawns. He is tired. He's exhausted and a place to sleep in peace and quiet would be wonderful. His eyes darken to that navy color again as he murmurs, " If I stay the night, you know I won't sleep. I'll be too distracted."
She chuckles, murmuring back, " It's our first date, you can sleep on the couch then."
His eyebrow raises and he flirts darkly, " Is that a challenge? Because if it is. I'll take the challenge."
She bites into her vegetables to keep herself straight. If she didn't he'd have her in a messy pool within those eyes of his. Dammit, he knows how to undo me.
You already had me undone with that little pink dress.
She can feel her heart pound under his darkened gaze. He stands up from the table and takes her hand in his. She does as he has, standing up under his commanding gaze.
He pulls her to him, murmuring huskily, " You have no idea how much I want you."
She bites her lip and murmurs, " I do-"
He kisses her neck gently and whispers, " If you want to finish dinner we can, or skip right to dessert."
She smiles softly and murmurs, " I thought we were taking things slow."
He chuckles and kisses her lips more of a peck and says, " We are. I'll be a gentleman if you want me to."
She laughs and wraps her arms around him. She kisses him hungrily and murmurs, " I'd rather you not be a gentleman tonight. Take me to bed, Inquisitor."
He smiles darkly at her response and guides her to her room. Neither of them cared if their dinner grew cold. They just wanted to spend the time in each other's arms after a week apart.
To Be Continued…