Return

•2•

Anakin stared at Padmé, shaking. "A...a divorce?"

"Yes." Padmé wiped a tear away from her cheek.

"No. It doesn't have to come to this, Padmé. Remember why we married in the first place? I love you. I still do. I still love you as much as I did when I ached for you in the ten years we didn't see each other."

"If you still love me that much..."

"I do. The only reason I left...why I never came back...I couldn't control myself, Angel, I...Sidious. He was holding me back. I'm here now because he let me go. And you know why? Because I asked to see you."

Padmé considered this and started to cry more than the few tears she had been before. Tears were rolling down here cheeks. "Oh, Ani!" Her breath rattled as she wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have rejected you." She hesitated to touch him, but she didn't have to worry. Anakin wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Daddy." Leia stood at Anakin's feet. Anakin lifted her in his arms. "Daddy!" She laughed.

"Yeah, I'm...I'm your Daddy," Anakin said. Padmé laughed. "Good, Leia!"

Luke pouted down on the floor beneath Padmé. He wanted the same attention his sister was getting. Padmé lifted Luke into her arms. "What's up, Luke?"

"That's Daddy?" Luke asked, pointing at Anakin.

Padmé nodded. "Daddy hasn't been home for a while because...well, he's been very busy." She sniffed and rubbed her eyes, trying to prevent more tears from coming.

"Padmé." Anakin stepped forward and skimmed his thumb over her cheek. "It's okay, I'm home."

She sniffed and burst out crying again, causing the twins' faces to twist into concerned looks. They didn't understand what was going on.

"Anakin! I love you for who you are. Please just don't do the terrible things you have in the past!"

"I won't. I've learned from my mistakes." Anakin set Leia down, and she and Luke ran to their room to play. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. If there is any way I can repay you, any way at all..."

Padmé shook her head. "No. Don't." She looked up to him, gazing into his eyes. "Ani..."

Anakin gazed back at his wife, lowering his lips to hers. They were inches apart before Padmé laughed, a tear falling from her cheek.

"It's like it's our first kiss all over again," she whispered, smiling. Anakin gave a small laugh.

He touched his lips against Padmé's nervously. He was so afraid he would do something wrong.

Padmé wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his body closer to hers. She pressed her lips fully against Anakin's, kissing him. Making up for lost time.

Anakin dipped his head, smiling.

Padmé furrowed her eyebrows. "What is it, Anakin?"

"Nothing. Well, it's just that I forgot about how soft your lips were."

Padmé's skin turned a light shade of pink as a result of Anakin's comment. "Anakin..."

The twins came out of their room, chasing each other. "You'll never catch me!" Luke taunted, but Leia caught up to him and pushed him with the Force. They went crashing down to the floor together, laughing.

Anakin turned to Padmé, looking astonished. "They're Force-sensitive?"

Padmé nodded, smiling. "They take after you in that way."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So, I guess you remember everything," Padmé said, pulling back the sheets on her--well, their bed.

Anakin nodded slowly as he took in his old bedroom. "I remember." He climbed in bed beside Padmé.

"Um, Anakin?"

"Yes?"

"I really, really, really regret wanting a divorce. I'm sorry."

"I understand why you would've wanted it. I hurt you, an I've done so many evil things. You are too good to still want to be married to me."

Padmé shook her head, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "I love you too much."

They both laid beside each other on their backs, looking up at the ceiling.

Anakin cleared his throat and turned over to face his wife. "G-goodnight." He leaned forward to kiss her, and they both hesitated to do so, feeling awkward since it had been out of the routine for three years.

Padmé kissed his lips quickly and turned over, her back facing him. "Goodnight."

Anakin smiled a little as he turned over awkwardly. I hope it's not always going to be this awkward.