Okay, I'm just gonna give ya'll a song for now...

LISTEN TO NEVER LET ME GO by Florence and The Machine WHILE READING THE CHAPTER. I'm going to put "NLMG" to where you should press play.

Thanks for reading ya'll!

BIG THANKS TO ROSECRYSTALS FOR KEEPING ME ON MY TOES. Without her, I wouldn't have found it in me to sit and write and update. You all owe her a big hug and a thank you. go review her awesome stories!

Alrighty. So the thing is that you know, I really, I have nothing to do. I mean, Anakin's great and all but I can't say we've been partying it up. There's a whole in my heart where work goes, and I miss Obi-Wan. I can't leave the house unless it's with Anakin, and honestly, I'm not sure about how ready he is to go out yet. I'm not sure if I'm ready, either. I mean, attempted murder in response to someone

being rude to Anakin wouldn't really look to great on my record.

And the weather's gotten really nice these past few weeks, too. The birds come by the window and chirp, and it feels like they're taunting me, telling me that they have the sky to fly in and I only get to walk under my roof.

However, there is something that's really pleasing me. Anakin and I have been steadily getting closer. His guarded demeanor seems to be have relaxed a little bit, and he isn't so hesitant to laugh or smile anymore. Three weeks have passed since that brutal thunderstorm, and Anakin hasn't told me anything about that mystery woman. If you weren't there, you wouldn't even know she was real. But all that aside, I feel like we've been, I don't know, bonding, I guess. I mean, we've been spending all day together- he'd spend an hour or two in the garage and I would tend to my flowers, but for the most part, we're either sitting on the couch and talking, or eating and talking. Oh, and of course you know that by talking I mean that I ask him questions and try to weasel out answers.

Well, no that isn't really fair. I mean, he's gotten better at making conversation- he actually makes an effort to engage in it with me. But something usually happens, and he completely retreats and that's the end of that, and it's those moments where dread fills me as I'm reminded that Anakin is still very much a slave.

It's moments like those where I just want to hug him- I just want to gather him up like my mom did to me, and hold him until he realizes how wrong it is to be owned by another person. That's what gets me. How he acts like being a slave is normal for him, as if he ever did anything to deserve it.

Alright so don't judge me but I went on the web and looked for some recipes. I mean, I can't even cook to begin with but it's not like I don't have the time to get better at it. There was this one that sounded really appealing- "lasagna," it was called. It sounded moderate in difficulty, but a picture of it made correctly was enough to make my mouth water. And given Anakin's appetite, I could only imagie the effect it would have on him. And plus, it was from a blue planet called Earth, which was known for its great recipes. In fact, most archeologists from Naboo and Corosaunt all unanimously agree that had its inhabitants not destroyed its Ozone Layer, the planet would now be renound through out the galaxy for over a hundred thousand years of good food.. It's a tragic story, really, I've read so many works on the topic. A classic story of how human greed can truly be enough to destroy a home of over a billion species of life forms.

But yeah, I made the lasagna and burned the tip of my left index finger while putting out of the oven, as a testament to being classic Padme.

I decided to let the pan sit a little bit out so the cheese could firm up a little bit that way it wouldn't slide off the slice on the plate. I put it in the center of the table, and put two plates opposite each other, in our usual seating arrangement. After setting out the knives, forks, napkins, and cups, I hollered for Anakin to come so we can eat as I filled up a pitcher with water.

He appeared at the doorway seconds later, just as I finished setting the pitcher down next to the pan. Our eyes met, and I grinned hugely at him, putting my hands on my hips.

"So I tried a new recipe from Earth," I explained. "I hear it's really good, so let's hope I made it right." I laughed a little.

Anakin's lips quirked but his eyes sparkled, and I felt warm inside.

"Sit sit sit," I said, pulling my own chair out. In a few steps, Anakin was also at the table, and I noticed how he carefully pulled out his chair so it wouldn't make a sound.

He put his hands in his lap and looked at me expectantly. I sat there for a second before I realized what he was waiting for, and suddenly I felt very stupid. "Oh, you want me to- okay," I said dumbly. "Alright, don't wait for me next time though."

Anakin looked down and nodded. I sighed and used the spatula to cut a square. The cheese was pretty stiff, so it didn't spill all over the place, but the rest of it was positively bursting in sauces, and the aroma of meat, tomato and pasta filled the room. I was about to scoop it up and put it in my plate, but then I remembered how it was good to treat your guests first before you.

"Anakin, please bring your plate a little closer," I said.

He looked up, a little startled, but obeyed immediately. Gently, careful not to have the sauces splatter, I slipped the spatula out from under the giant slice of lasagna.

He made move to bring it back, but I said, "hold on," and gave him another piece just as big. I winked at him. "Just because I know you'll want a second."

He breathed out a small smile, and said, "Thank you."

"No problem," I said and served myself.

Once we were both sitting, I said, "Well what are you waiting for? Dig in!"

He looked at me again and thanked me, again.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I said. "Don't mention it." Then I grinned. "After all, you are

my guest."

Anakin's fork paused midway to his mouth. His eyes snapped to mine, because he definitely wasn't expecting that one.

Success.

"Anakin, are you sure you're good- I mean if you need more space-" I don't know why I was getting worried. Anakin seemed perfectly happy with his room, but I also knew that he was trained never to complain about anything whatsoever.

Anakin turned around to face me, his hand stopping to leave the knob of his door halfway turned. His blue eyes looked down. "I'm okay," he said quietly. Then he let out the breath of a humorless chuckle. "I never really had a room before. Or a bed. Or any of what you've given me."

I felt a little bit uncomfortable with what he said. I didn't respond very well to self-deprecation.

"Anakin, it's the least anyone owes you," I said once our eyes met.

He started fidgeting a little bit and bowed his head further and his hands dropped to his sides. "Thank you for giving me everything you've-"

"Please don't thank me again," I said quickly. "It makes me loose faith in people every time you do."

"Why?" he asked softly, as if he was treading on dangerous grounds by daring to ask me a question.

Peering up a him, I took a step closer. And then another step, so that our bodies were almost touching. My hands found his and gently intertwined our fingers when he flinched. "It's 'cause one person shouldn't own another one," I whispered. "I don't approve, personally."

His fingers squeezed mine, and for the briefest second my eyes fell to his lips and I really wanted to kiss him. Our eyes met again and a picture of my lips on his flashed through my mind, and his gaze seemed to smolder with the same thing I was feeling.

Instantly, I let go of our hands and Anakin fell back to the wall, gulping and looking at me. "I'm sorry, ma'am I won't-"

"No, Anakin, don't be sorry! Just stop being sorry, please-" my voice was hoarse and my eyes stung, and I turned around so he wouldn't see me cry. "I shouldn't have gotten so close to you. I mean, you already have someone." My voice cracked at the last word.

After a stretched period of silence, I told the wall, "I'll help you find her."

"She's dead," he said hoarsely. "My sister, she's dead."

I spun around and gasped. "What?"

Anakin looked down at the ground, and his arms wrapped around his chest as if he was holding himself together. "I don't know anymore. Master, I'm so sorry that I don't know, I don't know what to do and how to act and what to say and I'm so sorry." His head hung in defeat. "I'll take whatever you give me."

"I'm not going to hurt you, if that's what you're implying," I said thickly. "That's not my style."

Anakin shuddered. "I'm sorry," he said again.

"It's fine," I decided to say. "Apology accepted and I forgive you."

His grip on himself just tightened and he nodded, seeming ready to collapse at any given second.

I slowly went to him and put an arm around his shoulders, ignoring his flinch. "You wanna go lie down?" I whispered softly.

Anakin looked at me for the longest second and finally shook his head.

"Alright," I said, "Well, let's sit down," I offered.

Anakin seemed to agree with me, because I felt his weight disappear from under me until we were both sitting on the floor against the wall.

I was deliberating whether or not I should ask him about his sister, but then I decided that he

should be the one to initiate that conversation. "Anakin, what just happened?" I finally asked.

I saw him bite his lip from where I sat on his side, and once again I marveled at his profile, and those full lips. I saw a scar leading from his left hairline to his chin, and I think it was the thought of him being hurt that gave me the courage to say what I said next.

I closed my eyes, readying myself to speak the words that could forever change our perception of each other. "Anakin, want to know what just happened? I'll tell you what just happened. I wanted to kiss you. Hell, I wanted to do that for weeks now. But you know what? You're so broken, Anakin, and I feel like one wrong move on my part is going to shatter you."

NLMG His lips parted slightly, and I kept going, stopping to catch my breath. "I don't want to be the one to do that, Anakin. It was stupid of me, and selfish, to think that you'd feel the same way, to want to respond. I won't ever try to act on the thoughts I have, of the two of us kissing, until you tell me you want me to."

I stood up, ready to walk away, but I turned and I told him and his blank, unreadable expression, "Let it be known though, that I don't think of you as a slave. In this house, you're a free man, and as soon as it's possible, you're going free."

I took a step, but then I felt his large, warm palm grip my right wrist, and suddenly my name was spoken in his voice. "Padme," he said. "Please-please-just don't go."

My mouth fell open, and my free hand flew to my lips. "You said my name," I whispered. He was still on the ground, and yet he was almost as tall as I was.

"Come back," he breathed out and Anakin's sparkling, earnest eyes, those beautiful sky blue eyes with diamonds, looked as if they never wanted anything more.

All of a sudden, I didn't know what was happening, but his other hand found mine, and all of my weight rested on his strong arms. He set me next to him, but my body was resting on his.

Our eyes never broke from each other, and brown on blue just caught fire. I felt my stomach heat and I began to tingle. I felt his large, calloused palm place itself on the bare skin of my waist, and my thumb traced the scar by his ear.

"What are we doing?" I asked him, my voice unsteady.

"Sh," he said, and then his other hand was on the side of my face, he bought my waiting lips to his, and my blood began to race as our mouths danced.

I moaned softly as my lips began to push against his and my hands gripped his tangled golden locks, never able to get enough of him. Weeks pent up of wanting him seemed to pour out of me, because Anakin turned so that he wasn't leaning against the wall, but laying down, and I clambered on top of him, sitting on his sculpted stomach as I leaned over, never once breaking the kiss, only for a second to breathe. His fingers dug into my waist, but then his hands went under by my ribs, and he held me as we shifted slightly again so that I could sit on him with a bit more ease.

I nipped at his lip, our noses rubbing against each other, and he let out a soft content moan, and I couldn't believe it was me that was making him this way. But to be honest, he was making me feel something I'd never felt before, either. I felt wanted and I felt beautiful, as Anakin continued to kiss me and his hands were on my body, I felt like I was special. My hand went against his chest, pushing me slightly off of him, so I could catch up on my breathes, and our eyes met, but they really met, for the first time since our lips had found solace in each other, and I couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Did that really just happen or am I dreaming?" I asked breathlessly, sitting upright on his stomach, our fingers intertwined again.

Anakin looked radiant, but he looked uncertain, and I almost felt incredulous because he didn't really look uncertain when his hands were roaming around my bare waist.

"Anakin, tell me you don't regret kissing me," I said. If he did I wouldn't be able to bear it.

But then his eyes twinkled mischievously and I suddenly got a very good feeling. "Can I show you instead?"

I felt heat rush up to my cheeks and as I nodded, I felt a smile spread across my face.

Anakin grinned back and his eyes glittered, and as he pulled me down, I took him in.