A/N: I do not own Anakin, Padmé or other characters, all rights reserved by Lucasfilm.
I write the stories just for fun and for free.
Why so much Sex ?…well, we didn't get enough from George Lukas ;-)
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Chapter 19
When she woke up in the morning, it was already seven o'clock. She took a quick shower, put on a light make-up and put her hair up. When it came to dressing, she chose casual: jeans, apricot cashmere pullover and a white blouse underneath. She picked up her black Louboutin shoulder bag, black Tod's loafers and Burberry trench coat.
The suitcase was packed, she ran downstairs and checked out. She left her Audi Q5 to pick up later. Anakin was already waiting for her. Wishing her good morning, he took her suitcase and they went to his car which was parked in front of the hotel. He put the suitcase in the trunk, opened the door for her, went to the other side and took the driver's seat, started the engine and drove off.
"You still have your old Mustang? Such a rich man like you has at least one Ferrari."
"I don't need Ferrari. I love this Mustang, it has so much wonderful memories attached to it."
"Sandy?"
He hesitated. "Yes... that's when I touched you for the first time."
She said nothing at first, and then: "And I tuched you."
It sounded like she was saying that because she had to, he didn't want to keep pushing. "I've already bought fresh bagels and croissants, you like to eat it with your cappuccino."
"You didn't forget anything."
"How could I?" he sang like evening befor..."
I didn't know that loving you was the happiest I've ever been...
"Stop it Anakin, or I'll start crying."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't know how happy I was back then. You only realize when it's lost."
"That's right, aaand we're already arrived. I'll take your suitcase and you take the bag with pastries."
Once in the apartment, she went into the kitchen with the pastries and Anakin took her suitcase into the bedroom.
She covered for two and looked for everything in the fridge what could be eaten for breakfast and wanted to put it on a large platter.
"Anakin, what do you drink for breakfast, cappuccino?"
"Yes, and I see I'm not needed here." He laughed.
"That's not true, I've always needed you for everything."
"For everything?"
"Anakin, don't get ambiguous."
"Sorry."
She smiled and shook her head. "I need a big platter, the one up there."
"Platter and all you need, Angel."
"Anakin!"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"You push."
"Only verbally….more like a joke."
"Give me more time please, I've just arrived, I don't know what I want, I don't know what I need, I don't know what I feel... I'm not myself, I've been a total mess since Corona, I…..."
She started crying like she did so often lately, she didn't know why. Corona late effetcs. He turned her around and hugged her tightly, her head under his chin. He smelled so familiar, Souvage and butterflies in her stomach.
"Shhh Angel, don't cry, I'm here, always here." He kissed her hair.
After one long minute she took a step away from him, wiped away the tears, washed her hands and began to put the mortadella, mozzarella and pecorino on the platter.
They ate the Italian delicacies, she put once a piece of mozzarella with honey tomatoes in his mouth. Anakin relished this familiarity.
"Well Padmé, how can we reach Las Vegas, flying or camper?"
"Flying."
"And why not camper? It would be a nice trip…."
"We could be unlucky with the weather at this time of year."
"OK. , the decision is: we fly. I'll find the flight after breakfast. Have we anything to do today ….besides lying on the couch?"
"Oh yes, I have to go shopping, I need some clothes, I didn't take enough."
"I will come with you."
"You want to walk through the boutiques with me and carry shopping bags?" She couldn't imagine him with shopping bags walking and started laughing.
"Oh yes, ‚I'll buy the nicest things at Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Tod's for you...I see you have the same loafers I have. We can run in partner look?"
"It's out of the question, I have money, Anakin….and loafers, yes."
"OK. we will see. You can still unpack before we go, I'll make some space in the closet."
Everything was tidy in his bedroom, the bed was made. She stopped by the bedside table and looked at her own photo.
"Why do you have my photo standing here?"
"I told you once, your face should be the last I see before I fall asleep and the first when I wake up in the morning... until the end of my life. I keep my word."
"Oh Anakin, what has become of us?" She put her arms around his waist and he put his around her shoulders, but said nothing. They stood there for a while.
"Fine, enough hugging." He kissed her hair. " We have to go now. I pay for your clothes and you pay for dinner. Deal?"
"Deal... you mean Newbury St ?"
"Exactly, and we'll start right away with Chanel."
The shops lined up one after another; Chanel, Armani, Loro Piana, Valentino, Max Mara and in every of those shops she bought a little something. She took Anakin's advice, he ogled her, commented, they laughed and they rejoiced together. She laughed more in those two days with him than she had laughed in the past seven years.
There were more and more bags with name of brands on, so everyone could see where they lost their money. With hands full of bags, they took a little break at Jonquils Cafe and Bakery, eating cake and drinking floral tea.
"We go home now….."
"Home?"
"Yes, it's your home too, so long you're in Boston. I'll book our flight to Las Vegas first, we'll change and go out to eat. Have you idea where…or we can order something?"
"We can walk to Toscano, not so far from Beacon St , as I can remember."
At home, Anakin opened his MacBook and began searching. At Call A Jet he found a Super LightJet and booked it, just for the two of them, for November 8th, 2020 to Las Vegas and back on November 10th. Around sixty-seven thousand dollars. It wasn't much for him, knowing that he spent almost as much at Gucci, Prada and Chanel that day, but he would have spent even more, would have given everything only to see a happy smile on her face.
"All done, we have the flight and now we take shower, change and go."
There were many hungry guests at Toscano, despite Corona and restrictions. Both Anakin and Padmé liked Italian food, so they ordered a set meal and ended up so full they thought they were going to burst.
"Usually I don't eat that much in the evening."
"You mean if you still aim for certain physical activities." She smirked.
"Who's pushing now?"
"Sorry." It was half serious, but knowing that she wanted to provoke him, she wanted to know if he still wanted her.
"...and speaking of those activities, I'm not aiming for any tonight, not that I wouldn't have wished for, I'm just afraid it would only complicate our unsettled situation."
"You're right, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry." After a while…" Well, I have kind of...kind of feel like our trip to Las Vegas might help clarify what happened seven years ago. What do you think?"
"Honestly, Anakin, I have no idea."
"OK. , this little walk home will help with digestion, then we'll have a nightcap and go to bed."
"Together?"
"Pushing?"
"That's fun."
At home they sat on the couch, each with a glass of Old Fashioned in the hand.
"I work three to four hours or longer every day on my dissertation, here and there I have to connect online, have meeting, sometimes have to go to Cleveland or D.C. . I have to be present at MIT three times a week, when I have colloquia, seminars, workshops etc, you know. How do you plan to keep yourself occupied until we leave for Las Vegas?"
"I took a leave of absence, it's almost no job and I'm in Washington D.C. with my job not so satisfied. I'll have to reposition myself, maybe even look for something here in Boston. I don't go back to New York. I will look through the ads and... cook."
"Do you want to stay in Boston for my sake?"
"I like Boston, it's all so familiar here...and it feels so good to be with you, but I don't want to impose myself."
"No, no, you are welcome. It's so nice to have you around and if I may say so, when we were still together, we spent our time at university, with friends in some clubs or in bed. This is like… a life… and it feels good."
"Thank you Anakin. I can think of something I could work on. You are involved in this foundation...what's it called again?"
"Order."
"Order, right. I could also take care of the suicidal youth, I have something of experience."
His smile vanished, just because of that experience. "And if that doesn't do you any good, you stir everything up again."
"Do they occasionally need legal advice?"
"Yes, and you could do that... only that's all for free."
"I don't need money, Anakin, you pay for everything here anyway, so I have next to no expenses."
"You would do that?"
"Yes, why not?"
"Fine, I'll talk to Master Yoda."
"Master?"
"Yes, we call him Master, he is something like high priest..." he laughed "...actually he is the chairman...and Mace Windu is the deputy."
Anakin explained to her how he came to support the foundation, what he had done there over the years and what he plans to do next. It was getting late, they wanted to go to sleep.
"Are you sure you can sleep on the couch?"
"Yes. I'll just put another clean sheet on the bed and I'll give you another pillow."
"No, it is OK. like it is...uh, if ... no other woman slept here ..."
"There was no other woman in this bed, you are the first and only one would be ever..."
"…but alone."
"Who is ambiguous now?" He smiled, left her the bed and walked out as she began to undress, but left the door slightly open.
Anakin lay down on the couch, more or less comfortably. He covered up and stared at the ceiling, thinking. Padmé, the love of his life, lay in his bed...alone. She wanted him, obviously, at the moment...but he didn't want to and shouldn't rush, he didn't know if it was just the joy of seeing him again, or if she had never stopped loving him, just as he didn't stop loving her. He didn't want to rush into a romance with her, only to see later that it wasn't going to work out. He wouldn't survive seeing her go again. The past was too painful to let it repeat.
Padmé was tired but couldn't sleep, firstly she had eaten too much and secondly... Anakin. She was lying in his bed, the smell of him on the pillow was driving her crazy...did she want that...kinda? The nose and memory are linked, so she couldn't help but remember the days and nights together, she felt desire. Still, she didn't want to rush into a relationship with an uncertain outcome, because that wouldn't be just any relationship. Past and future against each other. Anakin had made some suggestions, but was reticent.
"Padmé..." he knocked on the door "...are you asleep yet?"
"Come in."
He knelt beside the bed side she was lying on, like a prayerer before the altar. "I just want to say good night and... sweet dreams, Angel."
"I will have, good night, Ani." She called him Ani, that must mean something.
"Padme I..."
She put her index finger to his mouth. "Good night."
Anakin got up, kissed her head and left.
She didn't know how to interpret that.
.
.
Best regards from Germany