I was in the middle of a great dream, when I felt arms wrap around my waist. Anakin pulling me closer to him.
" Mmm." Anakin moaned in the back of my neck.
" Hey, sleepy head." I said rolling over and wrapping my arms around Anakin as I smiled up at him.
" Hey, Angel." He said kissing me very lightly.
" Mmm, you are so comfy." I said as I kissed him back.
" Ok, you two. You know, one of us is still trying to sleep here. Padme, if you are going with Shmi and Beru in getting the mushrooms, then you better start getting up and getting ready." Obi-Wan said, sitting up on his right elbow and looking over to me and Anakin.
" Damn it, Master. You are no fun at all." Anakin said ,as he looked over to Obi-Wan from over my body, as he too was sitting up on his right elbow.
" He is right, Anakin. I better get up and get ready. Love you." I said kissing Anakin, before rolling over and getting up from the bed.
I went over to the chair that was across the room and started looking through the bag that I sitting there. Looking though the bag and pulling out the clothes and taking the small bag that I had my toiletries in before walking out the door. Walking down the short hallway I found the refresher and walking into the small room. Closing and locking the door behind me I put my stuff down on the counter and hanging up my clothes before getting undress. Once I was undressed, I went over to the shower, turned on the water and made sure that the water was warm, before grabbing my soap and shampoo. Once I had my things, I stepped into the shower. I turned my back to the water and let the water hit my back and letting the water cascade down my shoulders and back.
" Oh baby, that water feels so good. Can I join you?" Anakin asked in my head.
" No, you can not join me. Now, please get out of my head?" I asked him and began hoping that he would listen to me and leave me alone today."
" Ok. Well, I'm going back to sleep now, since I'm not wanted." Anakin said as he started to fall back to sleep.
I love Anakin with all my heart, but there are times I just want to be alone, so that way I can breath, and just have time for myself. What I wanted to do is have some girl time with Beru and Shmi. I really like them and it's really great to have them around, because I have someone to talk to about things that I couldn't talk to Obi-Wan about, mostly because he wouldn't understand. I finished with my shower, got out of the shower stall and grabbed the towel that I had hung up next to the stall. I began drying myself off before getting dressed. Once I was dressed, I stepped out of the refresher and was about to walk down the hallway, when I saw Beru come out of the room that she and Owen share together.
" Morning, Padme." she said as I stopped in front of the door to my room.
" Morning, Beru. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." I said putting my hand on the door knob.
" Ok. I'll be out in a few minutes and we will get some Caf going, before heading out." Beru said, before going into the refresher.
I nodded and went into the bedroom, only to hear the sound of Obi-Wan snoring very loudly. I just shook my head, went over to my bag and put my clothes into it, before going over to the nightstand and picking up my light saber. Once I had the saber in my hand, I clipped it on my belt and looked at both Anakin and Obi-Wan, before heading out of the room and making my way to the kitchen.
" Morning, Padme. I hope you like some toast to hold us over until we have breakfast later in the morning." Shmi asked me as I came into the kitchen.
" Oh, morning. Sure, that sounds great to me. So, we are going to eat without the guys this morning?" I asked going over to the Caf machine and making a pot of Caf for us to drink for the long morning that is head of us.
" Yes, we are going to eat without them this morning. They are still sleeping in, but only for just a little while. I think Cliegg is going to be heading over his sister's place today and Owen has class. That would leave Obi-Wan and Anakin here all by themselves." Shmi said, as she put the bread into the toaster.
" Well, I'm not sure what they are going to be doing later this morning, when we get back, but if I do know Obi-Wan, he will have him and Anakin working on their fighting techniques. He is very strict about practicing their saber fights too." I said as Beru came into the room.
" Morning, Beru. Here you both go. Sit down and eat the toast, before we head out in about five minutes." Shmi said, as she put the two plates down on the table.
" Morning. I talked to my mother and she really wants me to spend some time with her and my sister. I was thinking about spending a few days with them, and my mom's birthday is in two days and I want to be there for her." Beru said, as she sat down at the table.
" That's right, I almost forgot about her birthday. Sure, that sounds like a wonderful idea, that you want to spend a few days with her. I know that it would mean a lot to her to be there. Tell her happy birthday for me, and maybe we can get together next week for lunch." Shmi said ,coming to the table and sat down.
" I'm glad that we are still seeing each other.Sure, I will tell her that you want to get together with her for lunch next week. I know that she would really like that too. It's so hard for her to make friends, all because of my father." Beru said as she put some jam on her toast.
" That's great the two of you are still being very close. So, what time do you want to go over there?" Shmi asked, as she put butter on her toast.
" I was thinking maybe after lunch, that way I can spend a little time with Owen, before he has to go to class this afternoon. I do need to study some before leaving to head over to my mom's." Beru said, as took a bite of her toast.
" Ok, that's sounds good. What about you, Padme? What are your plans for today after breakfast?" Shmi asked me, as she looked at me.
" Well, I'm thinking that I'll just have some quiet time, and work on some meditation skills that Grand Master Yoda has been teaching me." I said, taking a bite of my toast.
" So, you are taught by the Grand Master himself? Wow, that's an honor, if you ask me. Well, for me, I think that I'm going to do a little bit of my devotions and then do a little bit of gardening." Shmi said, as started eating her toast.
" Yeah, I think it's great honor too. He is very helpful when you need help in things, but after meditating for a while, then I'll see what Obi-Wan wants me to do in my learning." I said, as I realized that I haven't done any light saber exercises, the whole time we have been here or even on Corellia.
" That sounds like a busy day for all of us. Well, we better get going, before it gets hot outside." Shmi said, as she finished up her toast.
" Ok, that sounds great to me." Beru and I said getting up from the table.
We went into the kitchen and put our plates into the washer, before grabbing the baskets that Shmi and put on the counters. Walking into the entry way, I looked out the door and saw that in front of the door was the family's speeder.
" This will get us to the outer sections of the farm a little bit faster, but we still have to walk to the where the mushrooms are growing at on the vaporizers." Shmi said, as we came all the way out of the entry way and going over to the speeder.
" Ok. Well, I guess it's time to turn on my Jedi senses." I said, as I tuned in my senses and at the moment I didn't feel anything, but the family.
Getting into the speeder, both Beru and Shmi sat in the front, while I took my seat in the back, so that way, I can keep my senses open to anything that is moving in the desert. Shmi drove us to the Southside of the farm and to the first set of moister vaporizers.
" Well, here we are ladies. Padme, do you feel any presence of anything around here?" Shmi asked, as she stopped the speeder.
" Yes, I do feel a small Trimble in the Force, but at the moment, I can tell it's way too far away to really tell exactly what it is." I said, getting out of the speeder.
" Ok, just keep and eye out for the Raiders that are roaming around the Dune Sea. Ok. Here you go, here is your basket." Shmi said, with a smile on her face, as she handed me a basket.
" I will." was all I said, taking the basket and then following the two ladies towards the first set of moister vaporizers.
We were at the last vaporizers, when Shmi said that we were done here and that we need to head to the next set of vaporizers. We got back to the speeder and Shmi took our baskets and poured the mushrooms that we had collected into the bigger basket that she had in the trunk of the speeder.
" Ok. Where are we going to now?" I asked, still feeling the tremble in the Force, but this time it seems to be getting a little bit closer to us, but it was still far away.
" We are going to be heading for the North side now and get all the mushrooms from there, before heading back to the house." Shmi said, as she started up the speeder, after everyone got back into the speeder.
" Um... wasn't that where Cliegg and Obi-Wan saw those tracks yesterday?" Beru asked.
" Yes, but they really didn't know for sure, if they were even tracks that the Raiders made or if a small heard of Banthas made them. They were a couple days old too." Shmi said, as we got closer to the North side of the farm.
" Well, we do need to be very careful, because there are some Sand People that are camped close by." I said, as I felt a small group of Sand People that were close by.
"Ok. Can you tell what they are doing at the moment?" Shmi asked, as she stopped the speeder.
" Yes. I can sense them and they are just waking up and getting ready for their breakfast, before they start packing up their camp and heading out into the desert." I said, as we got out of the speeder. Like before, but only this time, I followed the two ladies a little bit slower and I kept my mind focused on that small group of Sand People.
" Come on, slow poke." Beru said with a laugh.
" Ok, I'm coming. Those Sand People are starting to pack up their camp, and they will be moving out very soon." I said, picking up my stride and coming up to Beru.
" Ok. We better hurry up then and get the mushrooms picked. We have four more vaporizers than we did at the South side." Shmi said, as we came up to the first vaporizers.
Ten minutes later, we were heading over to the second set of vaporizers that was only fifty yards away from the first one.
" They are on the move and I think we need to get back to the speeder and head back to the house." I said, as I felt the small group come a little bit closer.
" Ok. Come on, we can get the others later." Shmi said, as she picked up her basket and we started heading back to the speeder.
We were only half way to the speeder, when the attack happened, and so suddenly that I didn't have time to react to it. I heard Beru scream and then Shmi, but before I could get to them, I was grabbed from behind and was held very close to the smelly beast that held me in it's arms. I tried to break away, but the only thing I got, was a very hard slap across my face from the Raider, who seems to be the leader of the small group. I saw two more Raiders grab both Shmi and Beru and they were being dragged towards the Banthas that were standing not to far from the broken fence.
" Beru! Shmi! Let me go you filthy bastard." I yelled out ,as I tried to get out of the Raider's grip.
The leader of the Raiders turned towards me again, looked straight at me, before lifting up his Gaffi Stick and hitting me in the stomach with it. That was his mistake. I fell down to my knees, which caused the Raider that was holding to let go of me, and that's when I was able to reach my light saber. Getting up to my feet, I active the saber and before the Raider that was behind me knew what was happening ,I turned quickly and cut off the left arm of the Raider. He fell down to the ground moaning and holding the stump of what was left of his arm. Then, the first one came up behind me and he was swinging his Gaffi Stick, but before I could turn around to block him, he thrust the Stick at me. This time I felt a sharp pain run through me body, as the bottom part of the stick cut me through the skin. Crying out in pain, I turned on the Raider and began fighting him. I could tell that I wasn't in any shape to really be fighting him, do to the fact that I could feel blood pouring out of the wound in my side.
" Anakin, Help Me, Please. I need Your Help! " I called out to Anakin, as I felt my strength weakening, as the blood ran down my side and down my leg.
My last swing that I managed to hit him with, actually knocked the stick out of the Raider's hand. When he realized there was nothing he could do and was basically defenseless, he turned and ran away, leaving the rest of his men to die at my hands. I managed to catch up with the other two Raiders that had both Beru and Shmi. I came up behind the one that was holding Shmi, and trying to carry her to his Bantha, but she was giving him a huge fight too. I swung my saber at the Raider and he never knew what hit him. I severed his head clean off his shoulders, and when this happened, Shmi dropped to the ground and rolled away from the Raider's dead body.
" Oh my, Padme. You're bleeding, sweetheart." Shmi cried out, coming over to me, when she saw the blood that was pooling around my feet and soaking into the desert sand.
" I'm ok. Get to the speeder, while I'll get Beru." I said, as I started for the last Raider, who already had Beru on his Bantha. He was about to mount it, but before I could get close to him, he turned around and brought up his Gaffi Stick. He managed to knock my saber out of my hands and it went under the Bantha. Of course, the stupid beast some how managed to bury the saber under the sand. Using the Force, I grabbed the dead Raider's Gaffi Stick and began fighting with the last Raider.
" Mom!" I heard Anakin yell out, as he came up to his mother, who was picking up the mushrooms that was dropped on the ground and putting them back into the basket.
" Anakin, how did you know to come here?" Shmi asked, as she picked up the last mushroom.
" Padme called out to me. Where is she, Mom? She needs me." Anakin said, as he began looking around the area.
" She is over by the fence. Anakin, she is badly hurt." Shmi said, as Obi-Wan came over to her and took the basket from her.
" Obi-Wan, can you help my mom into the speeder?I am going to help Padme." Anakin said, as he let go of his Mom and headed towards me.
The Raider just kept his onslaught on me, because he knew that I was getting weaker and weaker with each hit. Then, I felt Anakin's presence and because of that, the Raider too sensed something was up. He stopped just long enough for me to reach out for my saber, and activate it, as Anakin came up to us. I turned and cut right through the middle of the Raider, and both halves of him fell down to the ground.
" Padme!" Anakin screamed out and ran up to me, just as I collapsed to the ground.
" Anakin?" I said, as the blackness took over me.
" Anakin?" Obi-Wan said, as he came up behind Anakin, who was leaning down beside me, and putting his hand on his shoulder.
" She is still alive, but very weak and bleeding badly here. Um... Master, can you get Beru, while I carry Padme to the speeder?" Anakin said, as he wiped the tears away before picking me up.
" Ok. Take her to the speeder and I'll get Beru off the Bantha." Obi-Wan said ,as he also noticed that my face was starting to bruise up some, from when the first Raider hit me across the face.
" Oh my, Anakin. Is she?" Shmi asked, as she watched Anakin carry me up to her and gently laid me in the back of the speeder.
" She is alive, but we do need to get her fixed up very fast or she will bleed to death." Anakin said, as he got into the speeder and gently moved my head into his lap, just as Obi-Wan and Beru came up to the speeder.
" Oh, my. Is she ok?" Beru asked, as she saw me laying in the back seat with my head on Anakin's lap.
" She will be fine, if we get her to the ship and hook her up to the bacta." Obi-Wan said, as he looked down at me and could tell that I had went into a healing meditation. By the time we get to the ship, I will be a little bit healed.
" Ok, Obi-Wan take the speeder bike back to the house. I am going to ride with the girls." Anakin said, as Shmi and Beru got into the speeder.
" Ok, I'll see you guys back at the house then." Obi-Wan said, as he walked over to the speeder bike and got on.
Shmi turned on the speeder and we sped off across the open desert, before coming up to the house.
" Shmi, Beru! Where is Padme?" Cliegg asked, as he and Owen came out of the house.
" She is in the back with Anakin and she is hurt. Anakin is going to take her to your ship. She has lost a lot of blood, but if it was for her, we would be either taken to the camp and held captive or they would have killed us right there. Who knows what they would have done to us, if they got us to their camp." Shmi said, as she got out of the speeder and came up to Cliegg, who took her into his arms and held her. Beru did the same thing, as she got out of the speeder and headed over to Owen, who pulled her into his arms and held her as she started to cry.
" Thank the gods that she was with you both. I hope that she will be ok." Cliegg said, as Obi-Wan helped Anakin get me out of the speeder.
" She will be ok. She has started her healing meditation, so that means she will be in the bacta for a couple of hours." Obi-Wan said, as he and Anakin took me towards the ship.
The small family just nodded, before heading into the house. Obi-Wan unlocked the hatch way door. The ramp came down and before the ramp hit the ground, Anakin was walking up it, and carrying me straight for the medical bay of the ship. He gently laid me down on the bed, as Obi-Wan grabbed the medical kit and began going through it. He found the bacta patch that he was going to put on the cut, before putting me into the bacta tank that we had aboard the ship.
" Hello?" Shmi called out as she came aboard the ship.
" We are in here, Mom." Anakin called out.
Shmi walked into the room, came over to the bed and lifted up the bloody shirt and saw that it had stopped bleeding and the cut was still wide open.
" Ok. You two get out, so that way, I can change her into another shirt, after cleaning the wound some and sewing it up, before it get infected." Shmi said, as she started pushing both Obi-Wan and Anakin out of the room.
Once the door of the medical bay was closed, Shmi sat me up, pulled my shirt off of me and then took a damp cloth and began cleaning the wound, before putting on the clean shirt.
" It's ok, Padme. You need to lay back down and just relax." Shmi said, as she put her hand on my shoulder and slightly held me down.
" I'm so sorry. I failed Cliegg and Anakin." I said opening my eyes, tears welling up in my eyes.
" Now, why should you be sorry? No, you didn't fail anybody. If it wasn't for you, Beru and I would be either held captive or worse yet, killed by those monsters." Shmi said, as she started sewing up the wound.
" Still, I should have been more alert and sensed them. Instead, I was focusing on the other group that was moving further into the desert." I said, as the tears began to flow harder.
" Well, it's over now, and the best thing for you to do, is get some rest." Shmi said, as she finished sewing up the wound.
"I should have been more alert." I said, as tears were coming faster and rolling down my very sore face.
" It's ok, sweetie." Shmi said, as she took me into her arms and held me as I cried even harder.
" Hey, Mom. What's going on? I can feel that Padme is very upset." Anakin said, as he came into the room and saw me in his mother's arms.
" She is ok, but at the moment, she is blaming herself for what happened to us this morning. Padme, Anakin is here. I'm going to leave you with him. I have to go and fix breakfast ok? Anakin, um... how did you and Obi-Wan know that something was wrong this morning?" Shmi asked, as Obi-Wan came into the room.
" Anakin woke up from a very deep sleep and he screamed out Padme's name. He said that she was in trouble and that we need to get up and get dressed. Padme was hurt and needed him." Obi-Wan said, as he looked over to Anakin and saw that he had me in his arms and was holding me.
" Wow, they must have a very strong connection with each other. That would mean that they are destined to be together, and nothing will break that bond that they have. You know, that if they are separated, I do believe that it would kill them." Shmi said, as she looked over to me and Anakin and saw that we had our heads together and were talking in very low tones.
" I do understand. I even have to agree with you in that.They should never be separated, but it's not up to me, what will happen to them. It's the council's decision on what to do with them." Obi-Wan said, as he smiled as watched Anakin kiss my nose.
" They do make a very cute couple." Shmi said, as she watched her son, and saw how much he loves me.
" Yes, they do." Obi-Wan smile.
" Well, I better get going and get breakfast started. See you guys soon." Shmi said, before heading out of the room and off the ship.
" Anakin, we need to put the patches on her wound, so that way, she wont get an infection." Obi-Wan said, as he came up to us.
" Lay back down, so I can put the bacta patches on your wound. If you feel better later, maybe we can go somewhere together." Anakin said, as he let go and helped me lay back down on the bed.
" Ok. Padme, this is going to sting, just a little bit, but it should help you heal faster." Obi-Wan said, as he opened up the bacta patches.
" Ok. I'm ready for it, Master." I said, as Anakin took my hand and held it as Obi-Wan placed the patch onto the wound.
" Oww!" I cried out, as I felt the patch going on to the wound.
" I'm so sorry, Padme." Obi-Wan said, giving me a sympathy look.
" It's ok, Master. I do know that you are just trying to help me, and thank you, Obi-Wan." I said, as he pulled down the shirt that I had on, which Shmi helped me put on, while she was cleaning up the wound and getting all the blood off my side. My pants still had blood all over it, and I could feel some blood in my shoe.
" You are welcome, Padme. Now, you just lay here and try to get some sleep and I'll come by and get you, when breakfast is ready." Obi-Wan said, as he walked to the door.
" Ok, but I would like to be inside the house and go to bed in there... Um... where is my saber?" I said, as I started looking up at Anakin in somewhat of a panic.
" Ok, I think we can do that for you. As for you saber, it's on the nightstand in the bedroom. I went there to get you some pants to put on, before you come back inside the house." Obi-Wan said,coming back over to the medical bed and putting patting the end of the bed where he put the pants.
I just nodded to him and I motioned for him and Anakin to leave me, so that way, I could put on my clean pants. They both nodded and left the room. I unbuttoned my pants and slowly lowered my pants, taking off my shoes and sure enough, there was blood inside my shoe. I poured the blood onto the floor of the medical bay and slowly leaned forward, grabbed my pants and slowly pulled them up my legs and over my hips. Thank goodness, Obi-Wan grabbed a pair of pants that I didn't have to do anything, but just pull them up.
" Can we come back in?" Anakin aske,d as he stuck his head into the room.
" Yes, but you might want to active the medical droid, so it can clean up the mess that's on the floor." I said, giving him a weak smile.
" Ok, let me do that. Come on in, Obi-Wan." Anakin said, as he went over to the door that was on the other side of the room. He opened it up and actived the medical droid, and told him that there was a lot of blood on the floor and it needed to be cleaned up. Anakin came back to me, and with Obi-Wan's help,, they both got me off the table and held onto me, as we walked off the ship and walked back to the house.
" Padme, are you ok, sweetheart?" Cliegg asked, as I came into the room.
" I'm doing ok. I am hurting a little bit, but I'm going to lay down and rest some, before breakfast." I said, as I gave Cliegg a weak smile and I also felt my legs start going weak on me.
" Ok. You get into the bed and get all the rest that you need before breakfast." Cliegg said, as he gave me a smile, before Anakin and Obi-Wan helped me to the bedroom.
I laid down on the bed and Anakin took off my shoes, before covering me up.
" Get some sleep and if you need anything, just call me, ok? Love you." Anakin said, as he leaned down and gave me a kiss.
" Ok. I will and I love you too." I said, as I kissed him again before closing my eyes.
" Come on, Anakin. We need to let her sleep some, and don't worry. She has already started to heal, and she should be able to move around by lunch time. No sparring with her, just yet though." Obi-Wan said, as he came over to us and took Anakin's arm and led him out of the bedroom.
" You know, she feels guilty, because she feels like failed both you and Cliegg." Shmi said, as Anakin and Obi-Wan came back into the living room and sat down on the couch.
" She really shouldn't feel that way, because she did save you and Beru. She is a hero in my eyes." Cliegg said, as he patted his wife's leg.
" Well, that still doesn't make her feel any better. Why she feels bad is because she didn't sense the four Raiders, because she was sensing another small group of Sand People. They were camping not too far away." Shmi said, as she got up from her seat that was next to her husband.
" I wonder why she couldn't sense them? Unless, they masked their presence with the ones she was sensing?" Anakin said, as he sat there and began to ponder on that thought.
" That could be. Well, I better see how Beru is doing in the kitchen." Shmi said, as she left the room and went into the kitchen.
" Anakin, can you go and get Padme and let her know that breakfast is ready? Also, see if she wants to eat with us or have breakfast in bed?" Shmi said, as she put the food down on the table, thirty minutes later.
" I will eat with you guys." I said coming into the dining room.
" Padme, you really should have waited for someone to help you get up and come to the table." Shmi said, as she rushed over to me and put her arm around me. She led me over to the table, where everyone was already sitting at.
" I'm feeling a lot better, but the only thing is,there are still some soreness. If I don't do anything physical, then I'll be fine." I said, as I sat down at the table.
" So, what are you guys going to be doing today, while Cliegg is at his sister's place?" Owen asked, as he buttered his toast.
" Well, I'm going to see my mother and sister for a few days. My Mom's birthday is in a couple of days, so I want to be with her when she celebrates it, My father isn't home. She told me that he left on some kind of business trip and will be gone for two weeks." Beru said, as she sat down in her seat next to Owen.
" Well, I'm hoping to head over to Mos Espa, so I can pick up a few parts for the Twilight. If you like, Beru, we can take you to your family's homestead." Anakin said, as he took a bite of his omelet.
" Thank you, Anakin. I would like that very much. Owen, what are you doing today?" Beru asked, as she took a sip of her Caf.
" I have a class today, and then a study group. You have a great time with your Mom and sister. Tell her happy birthday for me and maybe we can take her out for dinner later next week." Owen said, as he took some more bites from his omelet.
" Anakin, do you think we can go and see my aunt and uncle, on our way back from Mos Espa? They live between Mos Eisley and Mos Espa." I said, as I took a bite of my omelet.
" Sure, that's fine with me. Only on one condition, when we get back, you will have to lay down and rest before dinner." Anakin said, as he gave me a smile.
" Yes, master. Um... oh my..." I said, as it just hit me that early this morning I had killed two, maybe three people.
" Padme, what's wrong, sweetie?" Shmi asked, as she saw the terror in my eyes.
" I...um...I need to get out of here...sorry!" was all I said, as I got up from the table and ran out of the house.
Once outside, I looked around me, and all I could see was nothing but sand. Then, I saw my ship, so I ran to it, opened up the hatch door and walked up the ramp, after it came down on the ground. Once inside the ship, I lifted the ramp, shut and locked the door, before heading to my sleeping quarters.I walked into the room and closed and locked the door. Climbing into the bed, I carefully laid down and turned over on my right side, because I don't want to tear out the stitches and my side was hurting a little bit. I pulled my pillow closer around my head and I began to cry.
Padme?" I heard Anakin call out, as he came onto the ship and stood in the middle of the lounge.
I just laid there and even cried harder, as I heard Anakin come to the door. He tapped on it first, before trying to open the door.
" Padme, can I come in, please? I know there is something wrong. Please, Angel let me in?" Anakin begged me for me to open the door.
Using the Force, I unlocked and opened the door, all without turning around to face the door.
" I really hate to say this, but I really want to be left alone, Anakin." I said, before reburying my face back into my pillow and start crying again.
" I really do understand. I'm here mostly for my Mom. She is very worried about you, Padme, and so am I. Padme, please don't close me out. I just want to help you is all, baby" Anakin said, as he came over to the bed and looked down at me, before sitting down on the bed.
" Hold me, please, Anakin." was all I said, as I looked at him and tears began to flow again.
I moved over and Anakin laid down, wrapped his arms around me and held me very carefully, as I cried myself to sleep.
" Anakin, Padme!" Obi-Wan called out, as he came aboard the ship and looked around for his two Padawans.
" I'm in here." Anakin quietly called out in a very low voice.
" Um... what's going on?" Obi-Wan asked as he stared at us from the doorway.
" She is very upset and she has cried herself asleep." Anakin said, as he let go of me and sat up ,as Obi-Wan came right into the room and stood at the end of the bed.
" Oh. Can you tell what has gotten her so upset? Everyone in the house is worried about her." Obi-Wan said, as he looked down at me.
" Sorry, master. I can't tell what's wrong with her, because she is blocking me. When I do get inside, she just pushes me out." Anakin said, as I started to stir, but I woke up screaming.
" Padme, it's ok. You're safe on the ship." Obi-Wan said, as he dropped down on his knees, so that way, he could take a hold of my hands in his.
" Master? Anakin...I'm so sorry for this...It's just... Well... Um... I never killed a being before. These Raiders were the very first creatures that I have killed." I said, as I looked at both Obi-Wan and Anakin, who had moved to sit at the edge of the bed.
" I see. Well, Padme don't feel so bad, because you had to do what you had to do. If you didn't kill them, they would have taken you captive, or worse, they could have killed you. Besides, you were only defending yourself and even protecting Shmi and Beru." Obi-Wan said, as he looked up at me.
" I know Master, but I still do find it very hard to accept that I killed someone." I said, as I felt Anakin wrap his arms around me again. He had gotten up and came up behind me and sat down behind me, so that way, he was leaning against the head board.
" Believe it or not, I know how you feel. I too felt the same way, when I killed my first person. Believe it or not, to this day, I still feel the same way." Anakin said, as he looked over to Obi-Wan and also telling him one of his secrets too.
" Really? I didn't know that, Anakin. You know what the both of you are not the only ones. I at first, would like to come to a peaceful solution to any kind of problems, rather than to fight it out and it ends up that there is a killing." Obi-Wan said.
" Really? Well, I want to thank you both, because you guys really have made me feel a little better about what happened today. I will try to think that it's either me or the person, when it comes to a life and death situation." I said sitting up and wiping the tears way from my eyes.
" You are very welcome. If you are feeling better now, are you ready to head out to Mos Espa? I really need to get going and get those parts for the Twilight." Anakin said, as he got up from the bed.
" Oh, yeah. Just give me a minute to wash my face, then we can get going. Obi-Wan, what are you going to do today?" I asked, getting up from the bed.
" I think I'm gong to hang around here and do some meditation. There is also a council meeting that I'm going to sitting in, in about a hour. So, you two go and have some fun. Anakin, please stay out of trouble, and Padme, if you feel like you need to rest, let Anakin know. Anakin, if she says that she is tired, then you guys start heading home. We don't need you getting an infection or pulling out the stitches that Shmi put in you, Padme." Obi-Wan said, as he looked at both me and Anakin.
" Yes, Master!" Anakin and I said together.
" Very funny. I really don't like it when you two start saying the same thing at the same time. I really do find it very creepy." Obi-Wan said with a laugh, as we walked out of the room and off the ship. When we came into the house, I went over to the kitchen sink and washed my face, before I headed into the living room.
" Padme, are you ok?" Cliegg asked, as I came in and stood next to Anakin.
" Yes, sir. I'm fine now. Thank you." I said looking around the room and at the small family that was sitting around room.
" That's so good to hear. Anakin, the speeder is all ready for you and you both have a safe and fun day." Cliegg said, as he handed Anakin the keys to the speeder.
" Thanks and you too have a safe and great day too, sir." Anakin said as he took the keys, just as Beru came back into the living room, with a small traveling bag. Anakin went over to her and took the bag from her, then we head out of the house and to the speeder.
" Take care and see you in a few days. I love you." Owen said, as he came over to Beru and held her in his arms.
" I will and I'll see you in a few days. I love you too, Owen." Beru said as she stood on her tip toes and gave Owen a tender kiss.
They separated and then Beru climbed into the front seat of the speeder, while I got into the back. Before we could take off, Cliegg went over to the speeder bike, got on it and zoomed by us and out the gate. We waved bye to Obi-Wan, Shmi and Owen, before Anakin hit the gas and we headed out of the protected area of the homestead and headed across the hot sandy desert.
Twenty minutes later, we pasted Cliegg's sister's place. He and his sister were standing in the yard, watching the two children playing. They waved at us, as we went on by the homestead. It was five minutes later, wheb we came up to a gate that was the entrance way to Beru's family's homestead. Beru got out of the speeder and pushed in a code. The gates opened up and Anakin drove right through the gate. Beru got back into the speeder and Anakin drove the speeder right up to the entrance of the homestead.
" Beru, welcome home! Who are our friends?" Beru's mother asked, as she came out the door for the homestead.
" Mom, hey. This is Paddy and Shmi's son, Anakin Skywalker." Beru said, getting out of the speeder and coming up to her mother, who gave her a hug.
" Oh, wow. So, you are Anakin, that Shmi is always talking about. It's so nice to meet you too, Paddy. Um... aren't you Luna's niece?" Beru's mother asked, as Anakin got out of the speeder, grabbed Beru's bag for her and put it down on the ground next to her and her mother.
" Yes, ma'am. I'm that Anakin that my mother has told you all about." Anakin said, as a teenage girl came out of the house, but she hid mostly behind her mother and sister.
" Yes, ma'am. I'm Luna's niece, and am hoping to see her and my uncle today." I said, as Beru hugged the younger girl.
" Ok. They heard that you were here on Tatooine and was wondering if you were going to see them. Oh, I saw your aunt in town yesterday." Beru's mother said.
" Oh, then, I guess my cousin told them that I was here. I saw him when we first got here a couple of days ago." I said.
" Well, I hate to say this, but we really do need to get going. It was very nice to meet you." Anakin said, as he looked at Beru and nodded to her.
" It was very nice to finally getting to meet you both." Beru's mother said to us, before she and the younger girl went back inside the house.
" Well, this a good bye for us. We have to leave really early tomorrow morning for a meeting that we have tomorrow afternoon. It was great meeting you, and I hope we will see you and Owen again soon." I said, getting into the front seat of the speeder.
"It was great to finally get to meet you both. I know this visit really means a lot to your mother, Anakin. Padme, thank you for saving me this morning. You really are great person and a true hero to me." Beru said,as tears began to well up in her eyes.
" You are so very welcome, Beru. All I want to do is to be your friend, because I really don't feel much like a hero." I said, as I felt tears coming to my eyes again.
" Ok. Bye, guys. May the Force Be With You both." Beru said, before turning around, taking her bag and heading inside the house after her mother and sister.
We left the homestead, making sure that the gate was shut and locked and the fence was turned on, before we headed towards Mos Espa. Anakin drove us across the hot desert. It was only an hour and half later, when we were pulling up in front of Watto's Junk Shop.
" Ani, you comea backa?" Watto said, as we walked into the shop.
" No, am not coming back. I'm here because I'm buying some parts for a ship. Here is the list of the parts that I need." Anakin said, as he handed Watto the list of parts that he needs for the Twilight.
" Mmm, you are in lucka. I do have these partsa in stock, buta it willa takea a while fora me to getta them togethera." Watto said, as he looked at the list that Anakin gave him.
" That's fine. We are going out for lunch, so will an hour and half give you enough time to get the parts together?" Anakin asked, as the bell rang and a very young guy came into the shop.
" Yeaha that willa givea me enough a timea" Watto said, as he frowned at the person who just came into the shop.
" Ok. Then, we will be ... Are you ok, Watto?" Anakin whispered to his old ex-owner.
" Umm ... yeaha, but that is onea of thosea dead beats I tolda you abouta." Watto said, as he looked past Anakin and watched the guy pick up a transmitter part. He was looking at it, but was also looking around the shop too, like he was casing the place.
" I see. I can tell you ..." Anakin started to say.
" Umm ... excuse me. You need to either buy that part or put it down, where you found it and leave this place. If I ever catch you in here again, you will rot in prison. Do I make myself clear?" I said coming up to the guy.
" Mind your business or else." the guy said, as he turned and looked at me.
" Yes, I do mind. It is my business, when you are stealing from a friend of mine. You will put that part down and leave this shop and never come back." I said, as I used my Jedi mind trick on the guy.
The guy, blinking a couple of times, before putting the part down and also pulling out a couple of other small parts out of a pocket and putting them down on the table. He turned way from it and started walking towards the door and mumbling about never coming back to the shop.
" Thanka you, Miss Padme. You area a greata person." Watto said, as he flew over to me and was about to hug me, but I backed away from him.
" Your welcome. If you are ready, Anakin, its lunch time and I would like to get something to eat." I said, giving Watto a smile.
"Becausea of whata you just dida for me, the parts for youra ship is ona the housea." Watto said, with a huge smile on his face.
" Thanks, Watto. You're not so bad after all. We'll be back in an hour to pick up the parts. Ready for lunch, Angel?" Anakin asked me, as he came over and put his arm around me.
We said bye to Watto, headed out the door and back into the desert heat and the bright suns light. Going over to the speeder, Anakin helped me into the front seat, before going over to his side of the speeder and getting into the driver's side. He drove us down the street, ziging and zagging through the early afternoon traffic of Mos Espa. He came to a stop right in front of the out door cafes.
" Well, here we are." Anakin said, shutting off the engine and getting out ,before coming over to me and helping me out of the speeder.
We walked up to the menu that was placed outside the cafe. We started looking at it, to see if this is a place that we really wanted to eat at.
" Didn't you say that your Aunt and Uncle live between here and Mos Eisley?" Anakin asked, as he saw what he wanted to eat.
" Yeah, and believe it or not, we passed their place." I said still trying to figure out what I wanted to eat.
" Ok. I thought I saw a building off in the distance. My only question for you now is, how are you feeling?" Anakin asked, as he put his arm around me again, before we turned away from the sign and went to find a table under the tent.
" Ye,s that was their place that you saw. It's their docking bay for the family's ship. To answer your question, I'm ok at the moment. There is a little bit of pain, but I can bear it." I said, grimacing some as I found a table and Anakin pulled out a chair for me.
" Well, then, we after we get the parts at Watto's, we will stop at your Aunt and Uncle's for a short visit, ok?" Anakin said, as he went to the chair beside me that was facing the street and sat down.
" Ok, that sounds really great." I said, as Anakin picked up the lunch menu that was laying on the table.
" So, what do you want to have? Am thinking about having the Bantha burger." Anakin said, as the waitress came out of the building and came over to the table.
" Good afternoon. What can I get you both to drink? If you are ready to order, I can take that too" the waitress said, as she looked at Anakin and it looked like that she was about to drool over him.
" Yes, am ready to order. I'll have the Bantha burger and tea to drink, please." Anakin said, as he felt the presence of his old best friend coming near us.
" Ok, the Bantha burger plate and tea. For you, miss?" the waitress asked, as she turned her attention to me.
" I'll have to same thing, please." I said and the waitress gave me a smile, before heading inside the building with our orders.
" You know, I wonder what everybody is doing back at the Temple?" Anakin said, as he sat back in his seat.
" I sometimes wonder the same thing, but I do know there are two Padawans that want to get into your pants so very bad." I said, as I sat there and watched the traffic on the street go flying by us.
" Oh really? Who are they, so that way, I can stay away from them. Now, they will never get that chance, as well as all the other girls at the Temple. There is only one girl that has that honor." Anakin said, as he leaned over to me and began kissing my neck.
" Well, thanks for that honor, my wonderful lover. The two are Alyxandra and Klawdia and yes, they are both really total bitches too." I said, turning my head and he began kissing me.
, " Anakin Skywalker what such a surprise to see you here in Mos Espa. Your friend too." Melee said, as she, Wald and Kitster showed up and sat down at the table with us.
" Um... hey guys. We are here on business. At the moment, we are waiting for some parts for my ship that I'm working on." Anakin said, as the waitress came back to our table with our food and drinks.
" Wow, you have a ship? You know, there are times I wish I could get off this sand box." Seek said, as he looked over at my plate.
" Well, yeah, we both have ships. At the moment, my ship is over at the Lars' homestead. Um ... please don't touch my food." I said, giving Seek a very dirty look.
" So, you have been there visiting your Mom?" Amee asked.
" Yes, we have been staying there with them for a couple of days. It's really cool to know that I now have a step-brother. I find him very cool to be around." Anakin said, as he took a sip of his tea.
The waitress left with everybody else's food and drink orders. "
Oh, just great. Here comes Rolla." Melee said, in a very snotty tone.
" Um ... do you have a problem with him?" I said, with a slight nasty tone in my voice.
" I just don't like him. He thinks he is so great, all because his family is rich." Melee said, as she made a dirty look, as Rolla came over to our table.
" Hey, guys. Paddy, it's so great to see you again." Rolla said, as he came over to me and leaned down to give me a hug.
" Oww! Rolla, careful. I have some stitches in my side." I said, as I cried out in pain.
" Oh Paddy, am so very sorry that I hurt you. What happened?" Rolla said, as he stepped back from me.
" I got into a fight with a Tuskin Raider." I said and I saw everybody's eyes widen, when I mention the Tuskin Raider.
" Don't you mean four of them, sweetheart?" Anakin said, as he leaned over and kissed me again.
" Oh, my gods! You fought with four of them? So, what happened?" Amee asked, as the waitress brought out everybody's food and drinks
" Well, I was attacked by three of them. One really didn't fight me, because I didn't give him a chance too. In the end of the fight, three of them died and one escaped, and the one that got away had stabbed me in my left side with his Gaffi Stick. I also saved Anakin's mother and Beru from the Raiders too. Anyway, it was Shmi, who stitched me up pretty good and thank goodnes, for Bacta patches too." I said, as I looked up at my cousin, because I now know that he would tell my Aunt, who in turn, will tell my Grandmother and Father, who in turn will tell my mother.
" Oh, man. I'm so sorry, if I hit your wound. I hope that I didn't open it up, when I hugged you" Rolla said in total fear that he did something wrong.
" No, you didn't do anything, so don't worry. I've been hurting for a little while, but am ok." I said, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze.
" Thank goodness for that. I do need to be going, because I came here to pick up a few things, before heading out to see my grand parents for a couple of weeks. I'll talk to you later." Rolla said, as he kissed my cheek, before leaving the cafe area and headed across the street to a bazaar, that sells all kinds of stuff from clothes all the way to food.
" Thank goodness, he is now gone." Melee said, as she had a nasty look on her face.
" You know, if I wasn't hurting at the moment, I would get up from my chair and knock your ass right across the street." I said, as I balled up my hand into a fist.
" Um ... Paddy, you must remember our rule about anger." Anakin said,as he took a hold of it and gave it a gentle squeeze.
" No, this time I will not control my tempter. I'm not going to have low class whore talk bad about my family. You are very lucky that Anakin is holding me back from knocking your sorry jealous ass right out of that chair." I said, pulling my hand out of Anakin's hold.
" Anakin, you're not going to let her talk to me like that, are you?" Melee said, with a pout on her face.
" No ,I'm not going to do anything about it. I remember all the names that you and Seek used to call me. So, how does it feel to be getting your own medicine served right back at you?" Anakin said, as he gave her a smile, as he finished the rest of his lunch.
" So, how does if feel? Am done here. Lets go Anakin. I'm starting to hurt really bad and I just want to lay down." I said twinging in pain.
" Ok. Then, let's go." Anakin said, getting up and then standing next to me. He helped me up and we went inside the building to pay for our check, before going to the speeder and getting into it. We started heading back to Watto's Junk Shop to pick up our order.
" Watto, we're back." Anakin called out, as he walked back into the shop.
" Gooda. Here are youra parts thata you needa." Watto said, as he motioned at the huge box that was filled with parts for the Twilight.
" Thanks you ... Um ... Watto? There are double of things in the box. I only needed one of each part." Anakin said, as he looked inside the box and saw that Watto had double the order.
" Yesa, I knowa and youa nevera know when youa needa spar parts." Watto said, as Wald came into the shop.
" Thank you. Well, I better get this stuff in the speeder." Anakin said, as one of the droids came over and picked up the box and started for the door.
Anakin followed the droid out and got into the speeder, as the droid put the parts into the back seat of the speeder. Anakin waved bye to Watto and Wald, who where standing outside the door of the shop. Anakin drove us out of Mos Espa and headed over to where he saw the entrance way to my family's homestead here on Tatooine. I punched in the code for the gate and the fence. Once Anakin went through, I closed and reactivated the fence, before getting back into the speeder. Anakin drove us up to the entrance of the main house that belongs to my Aunt and Uncle.
" Padme, it's so great to see you." my Aunt said, as she and my Uncle came out of the house.
" Hey, Aunt Lhia .It's great to see you too... Careful ... I have stitches right there." I said, as she gave me a hug.
" Oh, my. I'm sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I? What happened?" Lhia asked as she stood back and looked over to my shoulder and saw Anakin standing behind me.,
" I got into a fight with a Tuskin Raider, and somewhat lost. The other three Raiders didn't, they died. Oh, Aunt Lhia, Uncle Phrederick, this is Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, this is my Aunt Lhia and Uncle Phrederick." I said, as I introduced him to the adults.
" Anakin, its great to finally meet you. Your mother is a good friend of mine and she has told me so much of you. Please, come inside. Would you guys like something to drink?" my aunt said, as her and my uncle led us inside the house.
" It's nice to meet you guys too. Yes, please, that sounds great." Anakin said, as we went into the living room and sat down.
My aunt went into the kitchen and poured the drinks, before coming back into the living room.
" We can only stay for a little bit, because I'm hurting a little bit. I do need to go and lay down. Rodryk said that you guys need to pack, because you are going to Corellia to see Grandma and Grandpa." I said, as taking a sip of my drink.
" Ok. Yeah, Mom and Dad's anniversary is coming up and we want to be there. We are already done. We are going to be leaving when Rodryk comes back from town." my aunt said, as she noticed that I was a looking tired and started to look very pale.
" That's right. We saw him, when we were in town about twenty minutes ago." I said, feeling just a little dizzy.
" Um... I think we better get going now, Padme... Sorry to be leaving ,when we just got here, but you are not looking so good." Anakin said, as he noticed and even felt that was getting weaker and weaker by the minute.
" He is right. You should start heading back to the Lars and get to bed." my aunt said.
" Ok, but Ani... You're going to have..." was all I could say.
" Come on baby, I got you." Anakin said, getting up and picking me up. He carried me out to the speeder and put me in the speeder very carefully.
" Sorry, it was short, but it was nice to meet you, Anakin. Please take care of my sweet niece." my aunt said, as she watched Anakin get into the speeder.
" Thank you and it was nice to meet the both of you. I hope that you guys have a safe trip to Corellia." Anakin said, before hitting the gas and we flew off and headed back home.
Twenty minutes later, we were pulling into the garage. Once Anakin had shut off the engine, he got out, came over to me and gently picked me up from out of the speeder. He put me down on my feet and helped me walk into the house.
" Anakin and Padme, it's so great to have you back home. Clean up, because dinner is ready." Shmi said, as we came into the house.
We went over to the kitchen sink and cleaned up, before going into the dinning room and seeing everyone but Beru, sitting down at the table.
" Well, guys. I'm off to bed, so I'll see you really early in the morning." I said an hour later, as we sat around in the living room, and I got up from the couch.
" Ok. Goodnight, Padme. Oh, wait. Let me change the patch and also make sure that there isn't any infection." Shmi said, as she too got up from her chair.
I went into the room and sat down on the bed, while Shmi came into the room with the medical bag. She pulled my shirt up and pulled the patch off. Then, looked at the stitches and everything seemed to be healing nicely.Once she left the room, I went over my bag, pulled out my night clothes and got undressed, before climbing into bed and falling sound asleep. Only to be awoke, when Anakin and Obi-Wan came to bed. Once they got into the beds, and fell sound asleep, I heard Obi-Wan start to snore. I knew that I had to fall back to sleep, but before I could, Anakin put his arms around me and pulled me close to him. I began to feel safe very safe in his arms. Closing my eyes, I finally feel back to sleep, laying there in my lover's arms.