Anakin opened the letter and read through.

"Well, I have an invitation for Bradley Simon's probate reading in Las Vegas on November 9, 2020. Did you know he died, that he was ill at all ...and I don't see why I was included in his last will, he couldn't stand me."

"No, I didn't know. We kept in touch sporadically, like Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, but not more. I'll ask Dormé, she is always up todate." Padmé walked into the living area where she left her bag lying on the sofa, pulled out her iPhone and called Dormé.

*Hi girlfriend. I'm here with Anakin right now...*

*Aaand does he still look so good as he used to?*

*Oh Dormé please...no bullshit, you're also on loud...*

*Hello to D.C. * exclaimed Anakin.

*Hi Anakin, nice to hear your voice. Listen Missy, when I was in your apartment, a postman came, had a letter for you, I had to sign it, could be something important, it's from Las Vegas.*

*Please open and read.*

*Dear Miss Naberrie, here I send invitation for Bradley Simon's probate reading in Las Vegas on November 9, 2020. etc. , etc. …Fuck Padmé, I didn't know he died.*

*Anakin just got an invitation like that and I was just about to ask if you knew anything about his death...well, obviously not. Can you send me this letter per regular mail please, here to Anakin's address?*

*Oh, to Anakin's address, will you stay with him, hm Missy, yes? Together to Las Vegas, seize the opportunity and get married? I like all of that.*

*You look far over horizon, Dormé.*

*The main thing is, something is moving. Bye and carry on you two.*

*Thanks in advance, Dormé, and bye.* She hung up.

"Hm? Why both of us, Anakin?"

"I don't know. Do you want to go to Las Vegas?"

"Somehow I have to know why I was included and with what."

"Shall we go together... and how? I don't want to fly and getting infected, it's dangerous, but I could charter a private jet, ooor we rent an camper and drive to Las Vegas."

"Jet chartering is expensive."

"I can afford it, Padme."

"And with the camper... the journey would be too long."

"We have time and it would be interesting."

"I don't know Anakin, we met today for the first time after seven years and now we're supposed to make such a long journey together and...I don't know."

"Do you think we can't get along?"

"I mean...that could happen."

"Padmé, we're two adults and we have us under control."

"I did not mean it like that."

"OK. What can we do now? Shall we make the trip? Are you going back to the hotel or are you staying here?"

"I need a night's sleep on this, thinking about everything we talked about today. Your suggestion came so unexpectedly and I don't know if it would be right, I'm so confused, I…..but OK. , I'll check out tomorrow and I stay with you, I would go crazy alone in the hotel room."

"That sounds good. It's 3:00pm now, we could take a long walk in the Public Garden, or we could go down to Charles River Esplanade, walk to the end, I could accompany you to the hotel, we can have dinner there, we will be starved antill evening. Should we?"

"Yes and after all of it, I would be able to say it was a wonderful day."

"...for me, the best day in last seven years."

"Let's go."

Anakin went to his bedroom and got dressed; jeans, shirt, tweed jacket and his dark blue Budapest shoes. He helped Padmé put on the trench coat, he put on his own too. It was cloudy with no rain but temperatures were starting to drop, so they had to pick a pace to avoid freezing. They walked to Sheraton Hotel via Fairfield St , Boylston St and Dalton St.

"Do you know what?"

"No. What?" He said anxiously, was afraid she changed her mind.

"I don't want to eat here at hotel. I didn't bring a lot of clothes, but I could put on a dress and we can go to Eddie V's Prime Seafood, just around the corner. I have been there before….."

"With whom?"

"Anakin! It's getting nowhere."

"I'm sorry. I'll wait for you in the lobby."

After half an hour she came downstairs in a hot pink colored dress with light fawn accents, light fawn shoes and LV bag.

"WOW Angel, you look perfect."

"Angel?"

"Yes, you have always been an angel for me and it will never change."

She smiled at him. He offered her the crook of his arm, she put her hand on it and they went out to get to the restaurant a hundred yards away.

"Good evening Sir. Did you make a reservation?"

"No, but I'm sure you can find a little table for us in a corner somewhere." ...and slipped a hundred-dollar bill into his pocket.

"I'll check." Waiter scrolled down his tablet. "...ah yeah, one table will be available soon, if you want to wait at the bar, it won't be long."

"Yes, thanks." They went to bar for to wait. "…Oh perfect, let's sit down. What would you like to drink...mmmm, let me guess: Cosmopolitan, right ?"

"Exactly. You didn't forget."

"Forget? I didn't forget a second of my life I spent with you. I was so happy back then...and didn't know it."

I didn't know that loving you was the happiest I've ever been...

..he sang very softly in her ear. She smiled.

"Wonderful song, I've heard it so many times...before, secretly, when I was in therapy, ...and it got me even more excited." Her eyes filled with tears, she tried to blink them away. He noticed it, took her hand and stroked it with his thumb.

"Don't cry Padmé, we're here together, not together, but… together."

She drank two Cosmopolitans and felt tipsy. "Anakin, I think I'm drunk."

"Of two cosmopolitans? Actually no wonder, you're too skinny, you don't have a mass that can absorb alcohol. You'll feel better after we've eaten."

For dinner they chose only delicacies and drank good wine. You'd spend hundreds of dollars on one dinner at a restaurant like that, but Anakin had money.

They told each other what they did during study on Harvard and MIT, talked about friends meetings in New York, travelling, NFL, he told her about the Injury which forced him to end his career and other things that everyone could hear, anything that concerned them both, they left for later when they are alone and that will be tomorrow...probably.

After dinner he accompanied her to the hotel. In the lobby, she put her hands on his chest and looked into his eyes expectantly. With his index finger and thumb he lifted her chin and instead of her mouth he kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Angel, sleep good. I'll pick you up tomorrow at eight and then we'll make a nice breakfast together."

"Thank you for this wonderful evening, Anakin. Good night." She said a little disappointed but understood he didn't want to rush.

On the way home he stopped at DeLuca's Market, which is open until midnight, and bought some groceries he needed for tomorrow's breakfast: Mortadella, Pecorino, Mozzarella, honey tomatoes. Tomorrow, on the way to hotel, he wanted to buy fresh bagels and croissants. Perfect, he knew what she always liked for breakfast.

When he got home, he took off his trench coat and put the groceries in the fridge. In the bedroom he grabbed his pyjama pants and a t-shirt and sat in front of the TV, found ESPN channel for to see how the week 7 was going, how the Jets were playing and especially the Patriots, he was a fan of the local football team now. Oh shit, he thought, they lost to the 49ers 33 : 6 . Jimmy Garoppolo was too good again.

Slightly annoyed, he turned off TV, put his legs up onto the coffee table, leaned back, and threw his head against the pillow. Why fret about the Patriots when Padmé was here today, the love of his life and everything was going well, maybe she'll come tomorrow and maybe she'll stay...he has to go slowly. He decided not to rush, he will let her come to him as far as she dares. Her health wasn't the best, her mental state wasn't stable...and what was with himself? He thought he was miserable, but compared to her, he was fine. This damn Corona has further damaged her condition, even if it is so unstable. He didn't think about himself anymore, he only thought about Padmé and her needs, how he can pull her out of the hole, will she be even worse if she doesn't work, what will she do all day?... and such thoughts whirled in his head. He had his dissertation despite not being able to work at full speed as usual. He will definitely have enough time to be with her, whether it's at home, or going out, or doing things together. Maybe travel? Oh yes, the trip to Las Vegas could be planned tomorrow. Suddenly he had so much on his mind, so much had changed in one day and yet not. But it will come, he had to be patient. He had to convince her of his innocence and bring her back into his life, starting tomorrow.

Padmé lay in her bed at the hotel and couldn't sleep. It was a good day. She had not too much to say to him, only that she wanted to see him before she eventually died and…. he understood all of her past problems and afflictions, of course, he had some of his own. He wasn't mad at her at all, no reproach, nothing...and then he was just as nice...like before, not quite like before, a bit more reticent, but warm. Here and there she could hear out, from what he said, that he was mourning about their time together... maybe he still loved her. What should she do now? To make this journey with him? With a camper?...Rather not. With the private jet? …Better. What awaits her in Las Vegas? …No idea. Should she stay in Boston for a while?...That would be good for her, she told it to Anakin as well. Should she stay with him? The offer came so suddenly. Oh Lord, she thought, if she knew what to do. Could be, he would like to have her around. What can happen?...That she falls in love with him? Nonsense. She should be honest with herself, really honest. She never stopped loving him, no matter how much it hurt what he did to her...if at all. She thought about that if at all more and more lately.

You're tired, you should sleep, she said to herself... and what's on with decision? Will she stay with him, yes or no? No meant never find the way back to each other again, yes means maybe, maybe together again. What was better? Definitely yes.

Best regards from Germany