They were trying to recover from the travel, the abundance of food, and the sleep loss during the whole Friday. Until Padmé decided it wasn't required, they still had plans to decorate the apartment.
"Ani, we will only come to New York occasionally, it would be waste of money. Money clip, do you remember? The furniture in this place is neither cheap nor poor, but we can buy only a sideboard, new curtains, a few new blankets, a few pillows, and perhaps two or three paintings."
"As you suggest, Angel."
"No, it isn't what I say, it belongs to us, not to me. Ani, we do it for our own benefit.
"Good. Next week, something will be purchased. Speaking of purchases, your favorite color, light blue, was chosen by my mother for the bed."
"White linen, however, is what we need and this one has suffered anyway."
The keyword was that. Then...
"The invitation cards must be purchased tomorrow."
"Everything is completed and written, all that is left is to hand over."
"You think about everything and you do everything for me, you are..."
"...grown up." He heard her whispering him.
"Where is my twenty years old girlfriend?"
"Do you like me now or when I was twenty?"
The smile left his face as he said, "I loved you then and I love you now...if there had been nothing in between."
"Let's concentrate on this right now, Ani."
"Yes, but it hurts my heart every time I remember the time I spent without you."
"I am aware, but we are together and happy now, so we are enjoying every moment. We'll be married in a month, maybe have a baby next year, you'll do your Dr., land a great career, and it can't get any better than that. Keep your optimism."
"You're right. Okay. We take shower, get dressed, and head my parents' house where my mother has cooked us a delicious meal. We call a taxi."
When a taxi stopped in front of 390 Wadsworth Avenue, it was already dark even though it wasn't that late. They walked to the entrance after Anakin gave the driver his money.
"Don't have a key anymore?"
"When I purchased the Boston apartment, I returned the key. I was sure I would not return."
"I no longer have the key card from my parents' apartment, although I did get it. I set the card down on the table and slapped on the outside of the door. I'll need to call as well."
"We have our keys and our apartments, so that's okay."
"Your apartments."
"All right, you give me half the purchase price when we get married, and you'll be listed as a co-owner... if you want to."
"Deal."
They moved quickly toward the door. Shmi got excited to see them and saw the ring on Padmé's finger right away.
"I see you have an announcement to make."
"Yes, Mama, Padmé agreed to be my wife when I asked her."
Shmi gave them each a hug. "I'm happier than I've been in a very long time." She was in tears.
"Don't cry, Mama, be glad for us."
"These are happy tears, yes."
Shmi has cooked a variety of delectable foods, including Anakin's favorite beef stew. There was plenty of chocolate available. She committed to emailing Padmé the stew recipe.
They discussed their Aspen holiday, and Padmé immediately shared a few well chosen images over MMS. She gave the Anakin a card after taking it out of her pocket.
"The official invitation to our wedding on February 14th . I'm hoping you shows up in February a few days sooner."
"Then on Thursday, but we have to be back on Monday morning since we always have our weekly meeting on Monday afternoon. We wish to provide for your needs, wants, or both."
"We have everything except perhaps a painting."
"Good idea, contemporary, particular artists?"
"Andy Warhol." And then they all laughed.
The evening spent with his parents was carefree, and enjoyable. Padmé reasoned that that ought to be the case with her parents, but it won't be, and she braced herself for the inevitable discomfort.
They boarded the taxi about midnight and drove to 158 E 93rd St. She rested her head in Anakin's neck bend as he had his arm over her shoulder.
"Please drive along Brodway and remain in front of the 2984 ." said Anakin.
They stepped out of the car before Columbia University's entrance and Anakin instructed the driver to wait.
They approached the gate made of forged iron and grabbed the bars with their hands. "Padmé, I've loved you since the first day."
"I wanted you too, and I hoped you would come to me. What followed, we don't want to think about right now. Here started and ended the most wonderful moment of our life." Tears were streaming from their eyes. They made turn and got back into the car.
"Unforgettable memories?" Driver enquired.
"Yes, we did study here and had the most wonderful experience of our life."
"You seem to be living the best time of your life right now,"
"You are a good observer." Anakin remarked before kissing his future wife.
They went to bed together because it was now far past midnight and they were both exhausted.
"Can we go a night without having sex?"
"Let's try, and I'll help you with the morning problem." She felt like he was slowly getting tough on her.
"Angel, I think I might have a midnight-problem." he giggle in her ear.
"Let me check."
They had been apart for too long for it to be possible to go the entire night without losing in one. They would always say, I love you, just before they fall asleep.
There might be several shocks on Saturday. Padmé had adjusted to the negative and was already nervous at breakfast.
"Padmé, there is no reason for your nervousness. Even your parents are unable to separate us, no one can."
"Of course not, I'm simply unwilling to let it go. Although we had a disagreement, they are my parents, and I don't want us to break up in the dispute."
"We won't be as Padmé. I'll hold back, perhaps a few simple words will be spoken, but there won't be any yelling or other actions that could harm us afterwards."
"The only thing I can tell them is that we're getting married."
"Let it be on us, you're a striking lawyer, and I can already speak clearly to convey my intentions. We keep together."
They just had a little portion of the Italian salad Padmé made for lunch before getting ready to see her parents.
As always, they wanted to present themselves properly and with assurance. Anakin wore a black wool coat, a dark grey suit, a light grey shirt without a tie, and black Oxfords. Padmé selected a purple dress, black swing coat, black Louboutin bag, and black boots. Her hair was styled in a straightforward chignon, and her makeup was outstanding. She had just gotten the diamond earring set since she didn't want any other jewelry to overshadow her stunning engagement ring.
They chose to walk because the distance was just 0.5 miles and the temperature was only 40°F degrees.
She and Anakin had not been at 1036 Park Avenue for a sizable amount of time. Oh very great, a concierge.. "Good evening Martin, not seen for a long time."
"Indeed, good evening Miss Naberrie. Sir, good evening. I was informed that you would arrive and I would go with you.
"Into the Battle, Torero ," Padme sung the Arie in silence.
"What time do we attend the opera? Do you have any suggestions?"
Martin then shrugged.
"When we get home, I'll check it out."
They exited the top floor and found themselves in front of the penthouse apartment's big door. Padmé was pressing the bell.
Jobal, and Ruwe were already waiting in the living room and Sola in the large entry area. When Padmé initially arrived, her sister grabbed her and squeezed her into her arms. She turned back and left Anakin step out.
After that, Sola yelled. "Anakin!" and gave him a firm embrace.
"Anakin?" Jobal asked while glancing at her husband.
"What in the hell..." Rushing out of the living room, Ruwee noticed Anakin and was unsure of what to do.
"Why are you here ? I told you...
"Good evening. I well recall your words, Mr. Naberrie, but I sincerely hope you won't leave your daughter a widow even before she's married."
Ruwee remained still for a while as he considered what Anakin just said.
When Padmé entered, she embraced Anakin's waist and greeted their parents "Good evening, Daddy, good evening Mom." Padmé's shoulder was wrapped by Anakin's arm as he kissed their beds. Padmé then said, "You know Anakin...he's my future husband."
…..and silence.
"After all that he has done to you? Really Padmé?" asked Ruwee.
"Anakin did nothing to me. Since November, we have also had evidence of exactly what I've been grumbling about in recent years that could have been so. Here's a copy of the disc, you can play it later...if you want, but it doesn't matter."
Come on, we don't need to stand here and talk about why we didn't sit on the sofa. Everyone moved in the direction that Jobal's hand indicated.
As soon as they were all seated, Padmé began to explain what had happened, with the exception of Corona. Anakin kept Padmé in his arms, never let his hold to slip.
Despite maintaining a strict silence throughout, Ruwee had to concede, "I don't know how this could go so wrong."
"Daddy, I suppose you acted like a lawyer by arguing my side rather than considering the opposing viewpoint."
"And instead of acting like a thorough lawyer, you drew quick judgments."
Anakin listened to what the two were saying until Jobal stepped in.
" Enough! We are not in court here. This is about our daughter, Ruwee. Yes, everything went wrong, but we didn't mean to keep the truth from you, Padmé, since we didn't know it either. We should have acted differently, but we cannot change anything. Can you forgive us?"
"I want to have a good relationship with my parents, I will forgive you, but I can't forget it, especially the discussion after I left the office."
"Yes, that was inappropriate... it's just that, you still lived here at the time, we thought of you, unconsciously, as our little girl...and then we wanted to see you married. Padmé, we made a lot of mistakes."
"Well, Mom, but after a lot of pain and suffering, Anakin and I are back together and happy."
"We've wronged you too, can you forgive us anything, Anakin?"
"Yes, as per Padmé's will."
Sola saw her sister from her seat across from her and was pleased with the outcome. "Ask Padmé what I've told her all the time," she said to Anakin, "and I could never really believe it was your fault."
"I have always had at least one supporter here." Anakin was joking.
"That's how it's and now Darred comes with the girls, I didn't want them to participate in the conversation."
It was already ringing at the door and Sola stood up to let them in. Padmé also went with her.
"Aunt Padmé."
"You have grown so much."
"Why don't you come around more often?"
"I had a lot of work to do."
Padmé greeted Darred and they went into the living area. Anakin stood up and stretched out his hand to greet Darred. "A long time ago, Anakin. Never let so much time pass."
"I promise."
When Ryoo and Pooja saw Anakin, they ran to embrace him. "Uncle Anakin, you've grown so big."
"Not as much as you two." He bowed and kissed their heads. They were no longer little children, Ryoo was thirteen, teenager and Pooja eleven.
"Where have you been all the time?"
"I was in Boston and studied.
"You have already studied."
"Yes, but I continued to study in Boston."
"Have you met aunt Padmé there?"
"Ah... no."
"Enough for you two. You want to know too much." Sola took care of her daughters.
"Oh, we want to know something about it, tell Anakin." Jobal was curious. Anakin told everything about his life since he and Padmé broke up, everything.
"That's really much and not so amazing...and how did you find each other?"
"Ah...I didn't say I had a coronavirus a year ago and was on the intensive care for three weeks and then I still felt bad and I had to go on vacation, I'm still not working."
"How did you do that, Padmé? How could you hide this from us?" Jobal began to cry.
"I didn't want your compassion. I was miserable, I thought I was going to die and before I died I wanted to see Anakin again and then the situation came up with the evidence after Bradley died, but I forgave him long before all this."
"You will not die, Aunt Padmé. My mom said you're going to get married."
"Yes, Pooja, I'm going to marry Uncle Anakin soon. "Would you be my flower girl?"
"Ryoo and I, yes."
Padmé took the invitations out of her pocket and gave them to her mother and Sola. "This is official, everything else will be discussed."
Maria came into the room. "The table is set. I'm so glad to see you, Miss Padmé."
They sat at the table, now all together again, it felt good...almost like before. After midnight, they got up to go home.
"We have an apartment 158 E 93rd St Corner Lexington Ave, but we don't walk, we take a taxi. New York is New York... at night." said Anakin.
.
Best regards from Germany