Rise and Fall
–
I always said that I was gonna make it. Now it's plain for everyone to see
But this game I'm in don't take no prisoners, just casualties
I know that everything is gonna change, even the friends I knew before, they go
But this dream is the life I've been searching for
Started believing that I was the greatest – my life was never gonna be the same
'Cause with the power came a different status. That's when things change
Now I'm too concerned with all the things I own. I'm beginning to lose my integrity
–
Padme woke up to find the coldness of his metal hand around her contrasting with the warmth from the blanket. She must've fallen into the deepest slumber after they made love because she couldn't for the life of her remember him placing a blanket over them. She already missed the oblivion, the bliss of last night as she looked over at him. The morning after is when the body's fire is put out by the mind's flood of thoughts. She didn't even know what to call him – Anakin? Vader? She knew she saw Anakin last night but who was he now? Will the same face show up when he wakes up. Will he remember the promise his body made to hers – one last time – would he finally let her go?
It was all so much easier last night when she was led by desire, familiarity, and comfort, and could remain oblivious to the consequences – they seemed like a world away.
She got up, pulling down her creased nightgown that had ridden up around her waist.
His eyes flickered open, watching her. Her curly hair still wild and tousled as she tried to tame it behind her ears.
"Where you going?" His groggy voice called for her softly. "Come here."
"I want to get back before they wake up." Padme muttered, barely looking at him.
"They'll be fine." He reassured with his arms outstretched for her. She ignored the invitation, her eyes roaming about the floor, looking for shoes or slippers – only to remember she wasn't wearing any when she came in here.
"Stay." He sat up on the reclined chair that still laid flat. She wondered how they managed to fall asleep on it last night. Looking at it now, it didn't look large enough for two people.
Taking her hand he pulled her towards him.
She stood in between his legs reluctantly. Unable to look into those deep blue eyes that said so much.
"Padme, last night was..."
"Yeah..." She agreed. Her discreet, wispy tone matched his. They didn't have an adjective to describe what they both felt so viscerally, they'd need at least a dozen to start. Tumultuous, beautiful, heightened, crazy, passionate, dysfunctional, sweet, tainted, loving, painful... to name a few.
"Look I know what I said... but," His strong arms encircled her slender waist, his neck didn't have to crane far back to meet her at eye level – even though he was sitting and she was standing. "I want my wife back." His inclination to remain tightly woven to her sparked – reborn, the closer he got to her, physically, spiritually.
She glanced down at the floor as he held onto her. So much for the rationale behind his request last night: just this once... she thought, realizing they were both foolish in their desires. Both wanting their cake and eating it too.
"It was a nice night." She reasoned diffidently, demurely, shrugging her shoulders. "Let's just. . .leave it at that."
She watched his expression change before her eyes. A sudden storm over his features, rancorous stares, exhibiting such acrimony, instability in a sea of confusion.
