A/N- Thank you for reviewing and follows! Please keep in mind this is an Ani/Pad fic even if she's going on a date with Palo.
Chapter 9 - Changes
Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palptaine 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: Imperial Academy
Month 10 Day 5 Year 29 BBY
Sweat beads down his chest as he continues his onslaught of the magnificent form beneath him. His breathing is labored as he turns the crank under her. His fingers churn and coax the bolt tighter as she whines gracefully under his fingertips. He grins from his spot under the speeder with satisfaction. It has taken him most of the week to perfect this beauty as she is. He continues to admire his work until he hears the soft beeps from the nearby comm. station. He slides the hoverboard from under the speeder and sits up, pressing the comm. station via the force. He had gained access to the comm. station a week after his revelations with Admiral Jinn and Obi-wan.
His mind hasn't quite dealt with all the revelations of the past few weeks, starting with he is the spawn of the Emperor. Next, dealing with his mother knowing Admiral Jinn, his hero. His mother had known him- had a short friendship of sorts and never mentioned him once. The question is why didn't she?
Knowing his mother, it probably had more to do with wanting him to have a normal childhood. A childhood knowing your the spawn of the most powerful man in the universe is a bit much to put on someone as young as he had been. Although, he hadn't seen his mother since before he was sold to the Naberries. She might not even be alive. He tried to not dwell on that statement. He imagines someone freed her and married her and she's living a quiet life somewhere- anywhere in peace.
And then there is the fact that he accepted Admiral Jinn's training after hours- to become what he had only heard about- a Jedi. A part of the rebellion which he is still uncertain about at this time. He trusts Obi-wan and Admiral Jinn and their judgment, but how long will he be able to live with this secret over his head? How long will he desire to keep this from the people he loves? And what if he does find someone he wants to spend his life with in the future? Does he lie to that woman for the rest of their lives?
His mind continues to spin as the comm. station beeps again, whining constantly. He slams his fist on the button to open the channel. Who would call him at this time of night?
He had one free night a week. He chose to spend most nights working on this " hunk of junk" as Obi-wan described it. Obi-wan tried at times to get him to come out for a drink or to see if one of the other women cadets wanted to grab a drink after training or classes had ended for the day. It isn't that any of the pretty cadets hadn't caught his eye- it's just he only yearned for one particular person's company- and she is light years away.
The channel opens and a vision of the person on the other line appears. His eyes find the smooth pale skin of a familiar persona. His eyes continue their slow staring gaze up to the fabric of a slight maroon color which clings to the woman's legs and hips. His eyes continue their feasting up her waist until they fall onto the woman wearing the tight-fitting dress. His mouth is dry as he takes in her beauty. Her hair is done in an up-do with the golden hues of highlights Sabe' had offered to put into her hair. Her chestnut curls flop out of the up-do in an almost natural manner, but whatever she tried to do the heat made some of her curls flop out of the up-do.
The desire crawling through him is inundated by the presence of this magnificent creature. She is more breathtaking than even the speeder his hands. She has grown more into her beauty as the years have passed by. Most onlookers would wonder her age, as she did not look her age. She appears older, perhaps 20 most would say, and right now it was damning for even her best friend to stop staring at her.
" Padme'." He breathes out her name, as if it is the last he expected to say.
She smiles at him with those pure red lips and he feels the sharp intake of his breath.
" What? Do I have something on my teeth?" Her sweet red lips turn into a frown as she touches her teeth.
Her voice shakes him from his reverence. He mumbles something incoherent to her ears. Her sweet voice graces his attention again. " Anakin, are you alright?"
Anakin fidgets on his hoverboard and places one of the tools away. He reassures her with the cocky grin he always has slapped across his face. He clears his voice of the tightness and tries to shake off the desire crawling through his body.
What the hell Skywalker? She's your best friend. How in sith hell are you picturing her naked? He swallows, glad she is too far away to hear his thoughts.
" This call is unexpected. I thought we are supposed to talk tomorrow."
She shrugs shyly and suggests, " Well- I need to talk to someone who will calm my nerves."
His smile widens at the feeling of being wanted and needed by her. He felt reassured of their friendship once more. He crosses his arms and casually asks, " And why are you so nervous?
She bites those red lips of hers. Force- when have I not noticed her kissable lips?
She clears her throat and says, " I- uh- well. Remember I told you about my tutor, Palo? He asked me out on a formal date."
He becomes rigid upon hearing those last words. Formal Date. There in between the space between them is the truth he had dreaded to hear from her lips for so long. No longer a young girl, but growing into a young woman. He knows she'll be 18 next year. Yet, in the back of his mind, he remembers her as the thirteen year old girl begging him to race once more. And now? Now she stands before him, looking like a damn goddess.
His voice isn't cold, but the tone is one of utter horror. " Who is chaperoning your date?"
She bites those beautiful sexy lips again and mumbles out. " Father actually said I can go without one. He has gotten to know Palo well."
Anakin's fury attempts to stay contained. Her father approves of this boy which means he is spending quite some time at the house; time he used to have with his best friend. The envy seeps into his core and he tries his best not to crack the wrench in his hands, via the force.
" So, what can I do to help calm your nerves?" Is all he can manage out, without saying what he wants to really say.
She smiles nervously and gestures to her outfit. The very sleek red dress she had chosen to wear. " Do you think this is too much?"
Anakin peers up and down at the tight fitting dress again. His eyes attempt to ignore her womanly figure and chest raising up and down out of nervousness.
Too much? No- you look downright gorgeous.
He twists those conflicting thoughts to the back of his mind and questions, " It depends- where is he taking you?"
She bites her lip and says, " He said something about that Courscantian restaurant near the art gallery."
Anakin follows her train of thoughts and attempts at focusing his own thoughts not on that gorgeous body of hers.
Force has she been working out?
He rubs his hand through his hair out of nerves. He turns his train of thoughts back on her date. Yes, her date. He is taking her to a fancy restaurant and an art gallery. Her outfit should be suitable for those conditions.
" Anakin, are you sure that you're okay?" Padme's voice brings his thoughts back to his reality.
Her beautiful features shine with worry for her friend. He shakes his reverence and mutters, " I think your outfit is suitable for a first date."
She notices the quiet break between their words and is unsure what is going through his head. It sucks being light years away- if he had been a few feet from her, she might be able to sense his thoughts. But today that isn't so.
He begins cleaning his tools as the silence falls between them. He clears his throat and asks changing the subject, " How is everyone?"
Padme' smiles at the comfortableness within their conversation. " Everyone is good. Ryoo has been asking to speak to you, so I'll probably have her be part of our comm. Tomorrow."
He smiles as he sets a tool down on his workbench and says, " Of course, she's my girl. How is Pooja?"
Padme' nods in agreement, her brown eyes reflecting the pride in her eyes. " She is growing. I'm sure she'll fall in love with you, as much as Ryoo has."
His deep laughter rumbles from his throat. The easiness returning to their friendship with little effort- most thoughts gone from before. He sets the rag he had been cleaning his tools with and says, " I think it will be the same for me. How stressed is Dorme?"
The mention of Dorme' makes Padme' shake her head. Dorme' hadn't quite become a bridezilla, but she had become rather vexed when the caterers had dropped out at the last minute. Her wedding is in 32 days and she had had to change the location of the reception, get her dress refitted after losing so much weight to fit into the perfect wedding dress. Padme' had tried to help in any way she could, but when it came to weddings she has no clue. Sola had been the one to take over and help Dorme' in her time of need.
" She is over exerting herself. Sola has been helping her with the plans since things have become eschewed. Everything should be in place before the wedding, at least I hope so." Padme' suggests with hope in her voice.
Anakin nods and adds, " Just a few more weeks. It will be nice to be home."
She nods in thought and eyes the time. " Thank you for the chat. Palo will be here any minute."
Anakin nods, feeling the ache in his chest, hearing her comment about her date. He murmurs, " Have fun P."
His words are a bit of truth and a bit of a lie. He yearns for her to have a good time, and yet yearns for her to not enjoy herself too much. Perhaps this boy is just a short term venture. She has plans of applying for an internship here on Coruscant, and Dorme's future husband had already offered her such a position. Yes, that is all. He doesn't need to worry about some nameless artist back home! His friend will come to her senses and choose her career when it comes time.
She waves with confidence and ends the call. Her soft brown eyes leave his and her vision dissipated with the end of the call. He flops back onto the hoverboard and rubs his hands through his blond curls once more. His conflicted thoughts return, along with the clear ache and envy in his chest. He doesn't understand it. Before she met this guy, Padme had never been an object of sexual appeal in any sort of way. She is his best friend. She is like the little sister he's never had. He treated her as such and being protective over her meant threatening the boys whom she wanted to date. But what has changed?
His mind drifts back to her change in attitude and dress. Since the start of the term at the university, he had noticed she had been acting more girlish. She had started choosing certain shirts that she felt appealed to her body type, and other clothing changes. He had noticed, but hadn't commented on her appearance when they had sent holos back and forth or chatted live.
He didn't like the change. He liked the little tomboyish girl who enjoyed watching podracing with him and swam to the island as they had every summer at Lake Vaykrio, where they had met. He enjoyed the times he had heard her creeping down the halls and into his room because she needed comfort because of her fears of storms and watching holovideos on their beds laughing at the irony of the characters, making fun of the romantic gush nonsense. Love didn't feel like those holovideos. He had seen this with Sola and Darren, and Katrina and Ruwee' relationships. Both couples had their spats over time, the latter pair are completely distant.
I'm just noticing that she's changing. She's just grown up. He sighs rubbing his hands through his unruly blond hair. Or maybe it is the boy. Padme' had met Palo a short few weeks ago. Maybe he is the cause of all the changes in his friend. Either way he isn't keen on her changing, because it means his feelings for her are changing too.
To Be Continued