&* – of darkness ]

   His presence overwhelms her every time she’s near him. His smell, his voice, his touch.  His very company intoxicating to her senses often times clouding her judgement of the world. The time she spent away from him aided to lessen that swayed judgement. Made it more clear to fulfill her duties properly. Yet it didn’t change the fact she absolutely fell apart without him at times. And the time she spent with him, was certainly cherished every moment.

  As he pulled slightly from her she let gaze fall upon her swollen belly as a smile tugged at her lips. Avoiding his comments a moment she turned to sweetness and thoughts of tiny feet running through the hall, “ How lively this one has been today. Without fathers touch. Moving more and more with each passing moment, “ how ready she was. For little one to be brought into the light of the life. Yet her mind wandered to darker places the past few days. Places she didn’t quite like them too. She had become severely confused and all entirely lost.

  Anakin had left her to her own thoughts for far to long these days. She almost held it against him but at the end of the day all she wanted was to be in his arms once again. Laying her head upon his chest she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

           “  Forgive me Ani,  “ finally addressing his comment she felt he deserved an answer after all, “ you never did much like the council. The Senate. Politics. But you must trust that I know what I am doing. An I will do what is best for everyone.  “

                     a sigh leaves him, arms wrapping tightly to his wife. he knew
                     it was childish of him, though to be plagued with a constant
                     FEAR and WORRY had surely gotten to him. he wanted to tell
                     her that even the best politicians make mistakes, no matter
                     how EXPERIENCED they may be. distance had caused him
                     to forget many things, to become too attuned to the JEDI’S will
                     instead of his own. wasn’t this the very reason he wanted to
                     ESCAPE? to fall away, to RUN away. a weary head rests upon
                     padme’s own, the compact space between comforting.  

                                       “ it’s not that i distrust YOU of course.
                                         it’s them i can’t put faith in. they’re the
                                         worst of politicians, ones who use
                                         SEDUCTION to get their way. i just feel
                                         with our current SITUATION, it is best to
                                         be cautious. you can never KNOW for sure
                                         what may happen in the coming days. i can
                                         FEEL it, padme. i can FEEL the darkness.
                                         it’s so close… so close it feels as if it’s touching me. “ 

                     anakin finds himself encompassing her closer, as if his STRENGTH
                     would keep her from feeling it as well. it was his DUTY to keep her
                     safe. to keep his little ones safe. he would do what it takes, even if it meant
                                  —– betraying the JEDI.