trust

part twenty-seven

my nightmares caused me to jerk awake, anakin awoke too. clutching me tight to calm me down.

"hey! hey everything is alright baby, you're safe." he whispered, kissing my head as he rocked me gently.

i dreamt of maul again - the torture that he could've put me through, or anyone for that matter. and i dreamt of a life without anakin, and his turn to the dark side. it was petrifying.

"i'm sorry that you saw that." anakin stuttered, wiping my forehead from the sweat.

"i'm alright - i've suffered with them for quite a while." i whispered, my breath slowing as he calmed me down with his touch.

"i see - i have them too. it gets easier."

i nodded, laying back down on his chest. the gradual rise and fall of it easing my anxiety.

"are you able to fall back asleep alright?" he whispered, pulling the covers over our bare skin.

"i think so."

"alright sweetheart, come here."

he gestured for me to get on top of him, i wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder, while he placed his hands on my back, as if he was shielding me from any sort of danger.

he pulled the covers over us again, and kissed my forehead repeatedly.

"you comfy?"

"mhm."

"good - sleep tight baby. i've got you, big day tomorrow huh."

"mhm."

"alright, i love you."

"i love you too." i mumbled, my eyes fluttering shut, until i drifted back into a deep sleep, wrapped in anakin's arms.

i woke up again, not suddenly this time, only because i had a built in alarm which woke me up at the crack of dawn.

i gently slipped down from my position, and walked over to the balcony, wrapped in a blanket i found on the chair.

it was peaceful, but not for long.

"ah aria." a deep voice mumbled from above, jumping down for me to see maul.

"are you a stalker? my god." i asked him, folding my arms while stepping back to retrieve my lightsaber.

"don't bother, i have it right - here." he pulled out my lightsaber, waving it in front of me as if i was a dog thirsty for a bone.

"what do you want from me - you've already captured me once, but you failed. just, just tell me what you want and it'll be over with."

"like i told you last time, bring me kenobi."

"you had the chance to take him - but you took me."

"you are correct."

"so why do you want me so bad huh?"

"you are important to him, are you not?"

"i believe i am."

"well - there's your answer princess."

"don't call me that."

he chuckled, walking towards me smugly.

"it's such a shame - you running away from your friends. your family perhaps."

"it's for the best." i shrugged.

"it's for your benefit, is it not?"

"that's not true - anakin and i made a mutual decision. it's better for everyone if we're gone."