Treasured (Book 2)

Reunite

Just as Padmé turned around to walk in the kitchen, Anakin walked in through the balcony, suitcase and all.

"I'm home!" he called, dropping his suitcase, and Luke and Leia ran into his arms.

"Daddy!" Leia squealed, throwing her arms around him.

"Hey, guys! How are you?"

"Good, I guess. But way better now, because you're here!" Leia replied, and Luke nodded his head, smiling in agreement.

Anakin smiled, and spotted Padmé standing seldom watching them near the kitchen.

He ran to her, hugging her tight and spinning her around. Padmé smiled and laughed, kissing him. "I love you."

"I love you too!" Anakin said, touching his nose to hers. He kissed her. "Man, I missed you so much."

"Me, too. You're all I could think about all day," Padmé said, smiling.

"I can't believe I finally have you in my arms again. I love you so much."

"I love you more," she used Anakin's usual reply when she said it to him.

He laughed and placed his hand behind her head, drawing her lips to his. When he let go, he turned his head around to Luke and Leia and asked, "Hey, we haven't gone out in a while. What do you say to dinner at Bonnie's?" Bonnie's was a fancy restaurant that was Padmé's favorite place to eat. They were mostly in Coruscant.

"Yeah!" Luke said.

"Yes!" Leia said.

Anakin turned back around to face Padmé. She looked at him.

"I couldn't turn it down," she said, smiling.

"Sounds good. Ahsoka should be here any minute now. Do you want to see if she can come?"

"Of course!" Padmé said. Luke and Leia went back to playing. "Anakin, I was going to ask you something."

"Yeah?" They stood close, facing each other. Anakin looked deep into his wife's beautiful eyes.

"I was just thinking. Would you ever...like to have any more kids?"

Anakin's eyes widened. "What? Please don't tell me we are."

Padmé laughed. "No! I was just wondering."

He shrugged. "I don't know. It would be a weird time if we did. You know, the kids would be six years apart from each other."

"Yeah."

"Padmé, most of why I don't want to again is because I don't want you to go through all of that again. I never want you to go through all of that strain again."

"But, Anakin-"

"I know, sometimes you think I worry too much. I'm just looking out for you," he said simply.

Ahsoka parked her starfighter on the balcony and walked in. "Hey!"

Luke and Leia piped up. "Hi!"

Anakin lowered his hands from Padmé's shoulders. "Hey, do you have time to go out to dinner with us?"

"Of course. I just have to set my suitcase down in my room. I'll be right back." She walked into her room.

Anakin looked back at Padmé, and she smiled. "What?"

"Nothing," he said, and then thought of something she said to him all of the time. "You."

Padmé smiled even more at this and looked down at the floor modestly.

Ahsoka walked back out of her bedroom and joined them once again.
"Ready to go?"

"Can we go with Ahsoka?" Leia asked.

"Yeah!" Luke agreed, tuning in on begging his parents.

Padmé shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She gave Anakin a look out of the corner of her eye, and they started walking out to the balcony. Anakin leaned into her.

"What?" he asked.

"What? I'm not doing anything. Maybe it's just...you." She smiled.

Anakin rolled his eyes and walked up the ramp of his ship. "Coming?"

Padmé stood at the end of the ramp. "Maybe." She laughed and walked up, closing it behind her.

"What is up with you today?" Anakin asked as he started the engine.

"Nothing is wrong with me. What do you mean?"

"You're just...acting different."

"Acting different."

"Yes. Wait a second," he said turning around in his chair. "You're just mad at me for leaving and not taking you."

"No-"

"Yes."

"No..."

"Oh, come on. I've known you for more years than we could count. And don't forget that I can use the Force. I know what's going on. Don't pretend that I'm wrong. Why are you mad at me for that?"

"Anakin, I'm not mad at you. I've just been lonely."

"The kids were there."

"I know. I mean...it's just weird without you in the house. I look over to the other side of the bed at night and it's empty. The other side of the dinner table is empty. Your starfighter isn't parked outside."

"I know," Anakin said sincerely. "Let's just go to dinner and have a good time. I'm home now, so there's nothing to worry about. I didn't take you to Naboo for a reason, Padmé. I wanted you to be safe. Who would've taken care of the twins?"

Padmé nodded, and Anakin eased the handles forward, heading off to the restaurant. He just hoped that Padmé wouldn't be upset the whole time they were there.