Chapter Text
The stay on Naboo didn’t last much longer. A few days after her disagreement with Anakin, the Jedi Council confirmed that it was safe for Padmé to return. Padmé Amidala wished she hadn’t spent the last few days on her homeworld angry with Anakin, but she couldn’t help it. How did he expect her to react when he gave an answer like that?
Jokes on me, I suppose. She thought, sighing internally. What did you expect with a question like that?
Padmé hated being mad at anyone, especially her husband. If she was angry when he left for a mission, he may never come back, and she’d but stuck sitting on the uncomfortable spike that always lodges itself in her chest when she's been in an argument with someone she cares about. Padmé's gotten plenty mad at her Jedi husband in the past, but she does her best to talk out the problem when it arises, so no bad feelings linger when Anakin leaves for battle.
However, she couldn’t forgive him for this so soon. Everytime Padmé brought it up, Anakin refused to see reason. The suffocating feeling Padmé felt when she kissed him was back, but this time it wasn’t as nice as she remembered.
“Padmé?” He asked tentatively. She could feel his eyes on her back as she looked for her hair brush in her drawer. Padmé guessed that he was standing a few feet away, which is not super far, but certainly much farther than Anakin usually stands from her when they’re alone.
“What is it Anakin?” She winced as she failed to keep the irritation out of her voice. He was leaving the day after next, and she should be focusing on mending the growing rift between them.
“I love you. So much. You know that right?” Anakin looked genuinely worried. She sighed and shook her head a little, smiling to herself. She turned to face him, hoping to find closure in their conversation.
“I know. I love you too.” Padmé stepped close to him. “Being mad at you doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving you. I just-”
“I know.” She smiled, for the first time in what felt like days. Anakin understood her, and that was the best love she could ever ask for.
“I’ll see you in the morning, love. Good night, Ani.” Anakin smiled at her use of his nickname. She hadn’t used it in a few days.
“I love you.”
She ruffled his hair as they got into bed. “I love you, too.” Padmé was still mad, and she knew that Anakin was well aware. But for once, if he left during a fight, she knew that the spike in her stomach wouldn’t be as large. She closed her eyes, and when she made sure he couldn’t see, she smiled.
When Padmé woke up, she didn’t open her eyes yet. The sun was shining softly on her face through the curtains. She felt well rested, but cold. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know what it meant, and when she finally did, her heart sank through the bed and onto the floor.
Anakin was gone.
She stretched, and walked to the kitchen to get tea to help soothe the scratchy sore feeling in her throat that arises whenever she wanted to cry. When she got back into bed, the hot mug scalding her hands, she realized there was a note on the bedside table. She smiled, set down the tea, and picked up the note with trembling hands.
Angel,
I’m sorry I had to leave so soon. There was an emergency early this morning and I was sent away immediately.
If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be home soon. I know we didn’t leave things the way you wanted, and I’m sorry. I thought we had more time. I’ll comm you as much as possible, and with Ahsoka in on our secret, it may be easier to get away now.
One day, Angel dear, we won’t have to hide. We’ll have a normal life yet.
I’ll see you soon, and maybe when she gets back, you can take Ahsoka to Dex’s. I know she’s been dying to spend some time with you. She would love to antagonize you without me there, and I’m sure you’ll answer some questions that I wouldn't even dignify with a response.
As always, my love, I miss you. I wish I didn’t always have to leave you, but how else would this war end? I’ve made you a thousand promises, but if you’re going to believe one, believe this:
I love you.
Yours, Always and Forever,
Anakin.
A part of Padmé Amidala wanted to be furious. “How else would this war end?” He was doing that on purpose- bringing their fight into the note where she couldn’t fight back. The rest of Padmé just smiled. Her husband really was selfish, and not for the first time, Padmé Skywalker was glad.