Drabble #15

[matril]

Well, I've made it to the halfway point, so I'll celebrate by indulging in some P/A mush. :P

Breathing
-----
He loved to make her smile without thinking about it. Padmé had spent so much of her life - too much, Anakin felt sometimes - training herself to control every expression and gesture, to subdue the very tone of her voice into neutral, passionless speech. But he could break through all the training in a second and watch her face transform into unrestrained happiness, as natural as breathing.

Tonight, on a brief leave from the War, Anakin intended to bring that startled smile to her face as often as he could manage it. The memory of it, he hoped, would be enough to sustain him when he had to leave.

He looked up as she came into the bedroom, dressed in a sleek nightgown. Over a year of marriage, and he could still scarcely believe she was his. He watched her with a sort of stunned expression.

"What is it?" Padmé asked, teasingly.

He laughed. "You leave me breathless."

There was the smile. Anakin grinned broadly as she climbed into the bed and lay on her stomach, her head propped up on her hands. "It's not my fault if you forget to breathe," she laughed.

Anakin leaned forward and kissed her, long and deep. When they finally pulled apart, he took an unsteady breath. "It's no use," he said in pretend resignation. "When I'm with you, I just don't have time for silly things like breathing." Her smile reappeared, brighter than ever. He stroked her soft, perfect arm. "I've missed you."

Padmé nodded, sitting up to come and rest her head on his chest. "Coruscant is a lonely place without you." Something dark crossed her face. "I never knew how much I could miss someone, or worry about someone, before I had you." She must have felt him stiffen beneath her, because she drew back and looked him in the eyes. "No. I don't regret it, Anakin. Never."

He took a deep breath and nodded. Winning Padmé's love had been so uncertain; it was all too easy to imagine he might lose it just as suddenly. But that blaze in her eyes was unmistakable. She meant every word.

"I'll never regret it either," he whispered. "We miss each other, we worry more, than we ever would without each other. But it's worth it. For just one night like this, it's worth it."

He brought her back to him, and they didn't pull apart for a long time.
-----

Sheesh, even in a mush-fest I had to insert a little angst. Ah well.

Comments

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

Aww, lovely vig (far as the angst, that just always seems to come into P/A story naturally on its own ;)). I needed that after reading some stuff I found not so lovely. ;)

I feel like I've neglected my favorite couple fic-wise lately; I really need to crank something out. :)

[matril.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the angst is pretty much inherent in their relationship...alas, that's partly why I'm so fascinated by them...

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

*Claps.* I love it!

[matril.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Love your icon - it's so rare that Anakin looks as genuinely happy as that.

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

So true (and he's so pretty when he does, heh) - that's yet another thing I love about their relationship, that the rare times you see either of them at their most openly happy are moments when they're together.