trust

part forty-one

night time had fallen quickly, aria was still spread across her lounge in hopes that anakin would return and apologise for what happened earlier. but all was silent, yet she didn't find the peace in the silence. it was unsettling. she grabbed her sheets of paper and stuffed them beside her stacks of books, hiding them slightly in between. after fixing her hair, and dusting off her chalk covered gown, she slipped out from the study. hoping her eyes would meet anakin's.

the hallway to the main area was quiet, yet the lights were on. "anakin?" she called out, peering around the door frames to no avail. she slipped on her shoes and pushed the sliding doors open to find him outside. and there he was.

"hey, are you coming to bed?" she asked him in a gentle tone, noticing he was meditating. he opened his eyes to see her standing with her arms folded. he nodded gently, lifting his head to look upon her caring gaze. a sigh of relief released from his lips, he smiled in reaction to seeing her, and it made both of their hearts swell. "i've been called to tattooine - tomorrow in fact." he consoled to her.

the events of earlier seemed to have disappeared in his mind, he almost switched on her lightsaber ahead of her, and then his eyes turned red, and now he's talking about going to tattooine?

"oh - and what's that for?" aria wondered, trailing her hand over his shoulder in attempt to fix his robe. he tilted his head slightly, as if to say thank you.

"my step father needs me to supervise his nephew. his nephew by blood." anakin beamed, lifting his body from the grass. but she was confused by his statement, "neil has a nephew?"

"apparently so."

"and why has he asked you when owen and beru are living there?"

"should i take offence to that?" he laughed, brushing past her as he made his way back into the living quarters, slouching down on the black couches that aria had added to her choice of furnishings.

"no of course not!" she followed along, sitting beside him as curiosity got the better of her. "i take it they're out of town?"

"exactly that actually. he has a business trip, and his nephew is staying with them for a few weeks while his parents are working on kashyyyk."

aria nodded her head and pouted her lips in thought, the thought of seeing anakin around children made her heart flutter. and she couldn't miss out on that chance. "what?" he smiled, watching her face light up.

"am i invited?" she beamed, brushing her hair to the side to try and convince him with her puppy dog eyes. "i wasn't planning on anything, so it'd be perfect for me. plus, i love children."

"and i wasn't planning on forcing you to stay home. so i don't see why not, it'll be nice for us." his hand rose to her cheek as he pulled her in for a kiss. her heart swelled again, imagining him as a father. anakin's heart swelled too, seeing aria as a mother figure to somebody in his family made him feel like the happiest man alive. and he wasn't missing that for a second.

after a long day - aria felt herself beginning to fall into sleep mode, snuggling her head into anakin's neck to get comfortable. he followed by tucking her under the couch blankets, removing her of her unclean clothes, and replacing them with silk pajamas. her favourite. she smiled wide, grabbing anakin's shoulders as she fell asleep, the slow rise and fall of his chest easing her away. these moments really mattered to anakin, he enjoyed seeing her at peace, and wanted it to last forever. "goodnight sweet girl."

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BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

the alarm sounded as soon as light shone through their gleaming windows, anakin responded with several groans and shifts. but excitement got the better of aria, forcing her from her position in anakin's arms to the walk in wardrobe that she so desperately adored. "wakey wakey!"

"five more minutes..." he begged, his croaky voice making him sound similar to maul. she didn't mind too much, knowing she ended that cruel creature's life many months ago brought her peace.

"we've got to leave soon i'm sure!" she responded positively, skipping back into the living room to see anakin laying half naked. the dark sheet falling off of his torso. she bit her lip in response, but gradually took her eyes from him.

"we haven't got a schedule aria." he whispered, rubbing his eyes aggressively as he woke up further. snapping out of his groggy tone. she laughed in response, making her way out into the kitchen to start up some form of breakfast. she wasn't a fantastic cook, but she sure knew how to cook eggs.

anakin stepped into the ensuite, turning on the steaming shower. she heard him do so, and thought away to herself, considering joining him. "care to join me?" he smirked, after listening to her loud thoughts. the noise of the water hitting the tiles couldn't muffle her mind.

"i'm making breakfast!" she laughed, cracking open a few eggs into the pan that she'd never used before. he walked in to see her trying her best, but he wanted her by his side in the shower, and he wasn't going to stop that from being a possibility. "no, you aren't. you're showering with me. breakfast can wait."

he pulled her waist softly towards him, she fought him but eventually resisted. he flicked off the oven through the force, before stripping her of her silk. "this will never get old." he bit his lip, admiring her full body from the door. he felt his heart grow fonder, and she raised her middle finger in response. pulling him in and wetting his hair.

she rinsed the suds through his locks, reaching every possible part of his head to give him the best treatment. he loved having her hands all over him, it felt comforting, and it only made him want her more.

"can you wash my back for me?" she asked him politely, passing him the sponge before he nodded. brushing it gently over her soft skin, he glided it effortlessly, kissing her neck as he did.

"all done." he whispered into her ear, turning her to face his dripping body. she began to stutter, intimidated by his gorgeous looks, opposed to hers.

"are you kidding? you're the most beautiful woman this galaxy has seen." he grinned, brushing her cheeks with his fingers covered in soap. "i love you okay?"

"i love you too.." her voice lowered as she came closer to his face, inches from him, before pulling away and detaching herself from his wet skin. she laughed sarcastically, rushing out of the shower as she grabbed a towel, breaking the intimate moment that soon fell short.

"you've gotta be kidding." he mumbled, laying his head back on the wall in reaction to the missed opportunity that had been in front of him. aria flashed him a scolding look from the door way, which turned into a smile, she winked bravely before leaving his site. "ha ha. hilarious." he added, switching off the shower.