------------------------------

Part One

“I’m sorry, Amidala.”

Amidala shook her head as she laid out the supplies Anakin had brought from
the wrecked ship.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Ani. No one’s to blame. The only thing
that matters now is survival.”

Anakin reached over and took her hand. Amidala looked up into his blue
eyes.

“No, you’re wrong. I am to blame, Amidala. I should have listened to Master
Obi-Wan. He told me my ship wasn’t ready. I should have obeyed him and taken
the other one.”

Amidala squeezed his hand back.

“But you didn’t, Ani, and what’s done is done. It can‘t be undone.” Then she
smiled softly. “I would think that would have been one of the first lessons
you learned at the Jedi Temple. And if you didn’t, I shall have to speak to
Knight Kenobi about your training.”

Anakin looked deep into Amidala’s eyes and saw the flash of humor in their
dark loveliness. He sighed. He still couldn’t get over how beautiful she
was. Ten years had passed since he had last seen her at the celebration on
Naboo following their victory over the Trade Federation. Ten long years.
And, although he had changed, having grown from a nine-year old ex-slave
into a nineteen year old Jedi padawan and apprentice to the Jedi Knight
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Amidala had not changed much at all. She was still his
beautiful angel.

He slowly drew his hand away. They had seen each other for the first time
just recently when he and Master Obi-Wan had returned to Coruscant after a
particularly long time away from the capital world of the Republic. Amidala
had been visiting Coruscant and, at first, when Obi-Wan and Anakin ran into
her at a reception held by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, she had not even
recognized him. Then, when she had, her dark eyes had sparkled and she had
looked up at him and asked, her dimples flashing, how the weather was up
there.

Anakin had stammered something back, painfully aware Master Obi-Wan was
watching him with a small smile on his face. Obi-Wan had excused himself
and left the two alone. They had then spent the rest of the evening
together, catching up on everything which had happened to them in the years
since they’d last seen each other. They even managed to spend some time
together during Amidala’s short stay on Coruscant and all the time he had
been in her presence, Anakin had been in heaven.

Then, when Amidala told Anakin she was returning to Naboo, he asked her if
she would do him the honor of allowing him to take her home in his own
private starcraft. Amidala had been surprised to learn he owned one for, as
far as she knew, the Jedi usually traveled on Republic cruisers, hitched
rides on transports or used the ships owned by the Temple. Anakin had
explained that when he had free time from his duties and responsibilities he
usually spent it at the main starport on Coruscant. There he would hang out
with the mechanics and star jockeys and talk about ships. One day he came
across an old two-seat junker of a starfighter which had been sitting,
rusting away, in a dark corner of the main hangar. He’d gotten permission
from Master Obi-Wan to use his Jedi allowance to purchase it. He had then
spent months repairing and fixing it up. Once finished, it was the sweetest
little starcraft any nineteen year old could have wanted.

And, just as he’d done ten years ago on Tatooine, when he had shown the girl
he had only know as Padme his pod racer, he had proudly shown Amidala the
starcraft which he had named _Anakin‘s Angel_. Master Obi-Wan had
grudgingly given Anakin permission to take Amidala back to Naboo, but he had
ordered Anakin to take one of the Jedi-owned starcraft, but Anakin had
ignored his master and taken _Anakin‘s Angel_ instead. He had been so proud
of his little ship he had wanted Amidala to be as equally proud of him.

However, three hours into their flight something had gone horribly wrong and
the ship had crash landed on this desolate, ice-shrouded planet.
Fortunately neither was hurt in the crash, but the ship was a wreck. Anakin
wasn’t even sure he had been able to get off a distress signal before the
comm unit went down. They had found shelter in a cave not far from the
crash, but there was only enough food and fuel for a few days. The planet
appeared to be completely devoid of both animal life and vegetation.

Anakin helped Amidala finish laying out their supplies. He looked at the
meagerness of what they had to survive on and sighed heavily. Then he
looked over at Amidala. She was watching him, her dark eyes thoughtful and
full of compassion. She knew, as well as he, that if help did not come soon
they would most likely die. He took another deep breath.

Amidala reached over and squeezed his hand again.

--------------------

Later, as night fell, Anakin laid out the one enviro-bag which had been on
board the ship. He had insisted Amidala sleep in it. He would sleep in his
parka. It was terribly cold in the cave and was going to get colder, even
with the little fire he had been able to build, but he was not going to let
her know that. He was a Jedi after all and the Force was with him.
Unfortunately, he thought wryly, even the Force was not going to be much
help at keeping him warm in subzero temperatures.

He had also insisted Amidala eat some of their rations. When she saw he was
not joining her and commented on it, he had told her that as a Jedi Knight
in training he had been taught many survival techniques by Master Obi-Wan
and going without food for days was one of them. Amidala’s eyebrow had
quirked up at that, but she’d said nothing. She had eaten only a little of
the rations, however, assuring Anakin she was quite full and did not need
anymore. Then Anakin’s eyebrow had risen but, before he could say anything,
she had given him an imperious look and he had shut his mouth.

Anakin watched as Amidala slipped into the enviro-bag. It was designed to
keep a person warm even at temperatures far below freezing. Anakin had a
feeling it was going to get much colder than that in the cave tonight. He
zipped his parka up to his neck. At least he had remembered to make sure
_Anakin’s Angel_ had been stocked with some survival gear, he thought
grimly. If they survived this, Master Obi-Wan was sure to give him a proper
scolding, but nothing Obi-Wan could say could equal the pain Anakin felt at
having put his beloved Amidala in such danger. And she was his beloved, for
he now knew he loved her and had loved her since the first time he’d beheld
her as she had walked into the darkness of Watto’s shop all those years ago.
And even during his long years of training under Master Obi-Wan, that
beautiful dark-eyed, dark-haired girl had never left his thoughts. And now
she was here, a full-grown woman, and he was alone with her, but because of
his rash behavior there was a good chance she was going to die.

No, Anakin thought, firmly. She wasn’t going to die. They were going to get
out of this. He was determined to find a way.

------------------------

As Amidala situated herself inside the enviro-bag she watched the emotions
flickering across Anakin’s face. Their little fire burned between them,
casting shifting shadows across the angles of his cheeks and jaw. She
sighed. She still couldn’t get over how handsome he was. The little boy
she had known ten years ago with the large expressive blue eyes and angelic
face had grown into an extremely attractive young man.

Amidala smiled when she recalled how she hadn’t even recognized him when she
had saw him standing next to the now bearded and long-haired Obi-Wan Kenobi
at Chancellor Palpatine‘s reception. She had gone over to Obi-Wan to greet
him, noting the very tall blonde young man who had been standing quietly at
his side, but it hadn’t occurred to her this could be Anakin. Then, when
Obi-Wan had asked her if she remembered Anakin, Amidala, upon looking up
into his face, had wondered how she could not have known. It was her Ani.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Obi-Wan had excused himself and she and
Anakin had spent the rest of that evening talking and talking.

As the air about her grew chiller, Amidala shuddered. She knew there was a
very good chance she and Anakin were going to die on this Mother-forsaken
planet. But she didn’t blame him for Amidala had learned a long-time ago,
when she had had to watch as the Trade Federation took possession of her
planet and killed and abused her people, that the universe was often a cold
and unforgiving place.

However, as she gazed over at Anakin, she also knew it could be a warm and
wonderful place if such wonders as her beloved Anakin were in it. And he
was her beloved for she now knew she loved him. Yes, at first, she had only
looked upon him as a sweet and charming little boy when she met him on
Tatooine and, over the years, when she thought of him that was the image she
had carried in her mind: nine-year old Anakin in his padawan outfit standing
next to Obi-Wan at the celebration following their victory over the Trade
Federation, Obi-Wan’s padawan braid woven through his newly-cropped hair.
She had remembered that cute little half smile he had given her, his eyes
shining with excitement and she had smiled back at him.

But, now, instead of a boy, a young man sat across from her, a very handsome
and striking young man who was tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes so blue
they pierced Amidala to her soul.

She gazed over at him, watched as a frown creased his forehead. He was
worried. Worried they were going to die and that it was his fault. And
there was a very good chance they would die. But something in Amidala’s
heart told her that her destiny was not to die on this cold, harsh ice
planet. Anakin Skywalker was her destiny and something greater lay ahead
for both of them. But she did not share that with him. She knew he had to
work out his despair concerning their situation on his own.

Feeling her eyes on him, Anakin glanced over at her. Amidala smiled at him.
He slowly smiled back.

“Good night, Ani,” she said softly. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”

Anakin nodded. “I know. Good night, Amidala.”

Part Two

“Amidala, wake up. Wake up.”

Amidala shuddered awake. Anakin was shaking her. She looked around. The
fire was out, but the cave seemed to be filled with a soft, bluish light.

“What’s wrong, Ani,” she asked sleepily.

“There’s something you’ve got to see.”

Amidala sat up. She scooted out of the enviro-bag and put on her parka.
Then she looked up at Anakin. His eyes were shining and he was smiling
widely.

“What is it, Ani?”

“You’ll see. Come on.”

He took her hand and led her to the entrance of the cave.

Once they reached the entrance, Amidala gasped. The dark blue sky was filled
with hundreds upon hundreds of brightly burning stars. They lay like jewels
against the sky; blue-white sapphires, turquoises, and diamonds, They
glittered upon the reflection of the ice ponds and the jagged stalactites
hanging from the roof of the cave. As Amidala gazed upon the panoply of
light, she imagined she could hear a symphony of celestial music shimmering
through the air. She slipped under Anakin’s arm. He drew her close.

“Oh, Ani, it’s beautiful,” Amidala whispered, her breath frosting in the
air. “So beautiful.”

“It is,” he said softly. “But nowhere near as beautiful as you.”

Amidala turned and looked up into eyes and saw all the stars of heaven
reflected in them. She smiled, then turned back to the dazzling array of
stars, drinking it all in with her eyes. Then she turned back and looked up
at Anakin’s shadowed profile.

“I don’t care if I die tonight, Ani,” she said. “Nothing can surpass this
night. Nothing. And I don‘t regret anything that‘s happened. Not anything.”

Anakin looked down at her and gripped her arms.

“You’re not going to die, Amidala,” he said firmly. “No one is going to die.
We’re going to get out of this. I’ll find a way. I promise.”

Amidala nodded. Anakin reached up and squeezed her shoulders. Then, turning
her gently, he took her hand and led her back into the cave.

Once back at their campsite, Anakin sat down, Amidala next to him. She
snuggled her face against the shoulder of his parka. She could feel him
shaking his head.

“I wasn’t thinking,” he muttered. “Master Obi-Wan is always saying, ‘Anakin,
think before you act’. Now, because I woke you up, you probably won’t be
able to get back to sleep.”

Amidala took his arm and squeezed it. Anakin looked down at her.

“It’s all right, Ani. That was the most beautiful gift anyone has ever
given me. I glad you woke me up to share it with me.”

Anakin nodded. Then, as he gazed down at her, Amidala lifted her head and
kissed his lips. They were cold and slightly chapped, but she continued to
press her lips harder against his. Anakin hesitated for a moment, then
quickly drew her into his arms. Amidala was taken aback by the heat of his
response. She gasped a little as he deepened the kiss, his lips growing
warmer under hers. They kissed for a long moment, then Amidala drew back.

Anakin’s eyes were bright as he looked down at her.

“Amidala...”

Amidala lifted her hand and touched his mouth with her fingers.

“You don’t have to say anymore, Ani. There’s a good chance we won’t survive
this. I want you too and I don’t want to die not having known love.”

Anakin’s eyes widened. “You mean...you haven’t...you’ve never...?”

Amidala shook her head. “No, never. There’s been no one I wanted. I’ve
always felt as if I’ve been waiting for someone. Someone special. Now I
know who that someone is.”

Anakin swallowed. “Amidala, I do want you. I want you so much, but I don’t
want you to think I would ever take advantage of you. I want to marry you
before I...before we...”

“I’m touched, Ani, really, that you would be so considerate, but what if
this is our last night alive? It is a possibility? Isn’t it?

Anakin slowly nodded. “I sent out a distress call before we crashed, but
we’re so far off the regular star lanes, the chances anyone will pick it up
before....before it’s too late are slim.”

“Then what will be, will be. I want to be with you, Anakin. I want to
touch you and feel you. Don’t let me die not having known that.”

Anakin reached down and stroked Amidala’s cheek. He leaned over her and
kissed her tenderly. Then, silently, the two rose and went over to the
enviro-bag. It was expandable so both could fit into it easily. They
quickly removed their clothing, then slipped inside it.

Amidala snuggled against Anakin, wrapping her arms about his waist. For
awhile the two just held each other as they warmed each other up, although
both were terribly conscious of their naked bodies slipping against each
other.

Then Anakin stirred. “What’s this?”

He reached up between Amidala’s breasts and she noted that he was so intent
on discovering what she was wearing around her neck, he didn’t seem to
notice how she shuddered at his touch.

“It’s the japor snippet you gave me. Remember, when we were on our way to
Coruscant?”

Anakin picked up the small wooden pedant.

“You kept this all those years?” he asked in awe.

“Yes.”

“But, why? Why would you keep it? It’s not even valuable.”

“It’s valuable to me,” Amidala said simply.

Suddenly, Anakin buried his face in her neck.

“Padme, my beautiful Padme,” he whispered fiercely, calling her by the name
he had first known her by. “I won’t let you die. We’re going to get out of
this. I promise you, I promise.”

“I know, Ani, I know we will,” Amidala said softly. She kissed his cheek.
He nodded against her shoulder. Then he lifted his head and looked deeply
into her eyes. She felt him stirring against her. Then, slowly, they moved
against each other; the softness, the hardness, the warmth, the fear, all of
it feeding their desire.

Then Anakin stopped moving. He looked deep into Amidala‘s eyes.

“I love you, Amidala,” he said softly. “I’ve always loved you. I’ve loved
you since the first day I saw you when you walked into Watto’s shop with
Master Qui-Gon and Jar-Jar.”

Amidala smiled. “I remember. You asked me if I were an angel.”

Anakin blushed. “It must have sounded silly to you, but I truly thought you
were an angel. I’d never seen anything as beautiful as you.”

“You also said you were going to marry me,” Amidala said, her smile
widening.

Anakin eyes suddenly grew serious.

“I am going to marry you. We’re going to get out of this and I’m going to
marry you.”

“Anakin---”

Anakin touched her mouth with his fingers and, as he did, Amidala suddenly
noted there was something harder about him; not just his body, but in his
eyes. She could see little flares of heat within them as if some great and
powerful energy were locked away inside him. She shivered. Then, just as
suddenly, he smiled at her, and the little boy with the tousled hair she had
first met on Tatooine shone through his eyes.

“Love me, Ani,” Amidala whispered. “Love me.”

Anakin leaned down and claimed her lips. He sucked on her lower one, gently
biting it.

“Oh, yes, my sweet Anakin,” Amidala sighed.

Amidala wrapped her arms tight about Anakin’s neck as he kissed her. Then he
pulled his mouth away from her and kissed her chin, then her neck. He
pressed his lips to the softness of her shoulder and bit softly. Amidala
shivered as he gently sucked, drawing the warmth and softness of her skin
into his mouth.

“You taste so good,” he whispered.

“Yes, oh, yes,” Amidala sighed as she put her hand to the back of his neck
and pulled gently on his padawan lock. She arched her back, pressing her
body against his.

Anakin then moved his mouth to her ear, gently sucking and biting on the
lobe. Amidala hissed, her hands moving up and down his back, reveling in
the feel of his smooth muscled skin. As she squirmed beneath him, Anakin
used the tip of his tongue to trace the edge of her ear, before darting it
inside and swirling it around.

Then he moved his mouth down her neck and over to her shoulder. As he did so
he massaged her breasts, his fingers teasing the nipples erect. Amidala
whimpered when he slowly lowered his mouth to one of them and, as he flicked
his tongue across it, the blood pounded in her head. He then licked her
again, more fully and slowly this time. Amidala moaned as the peak quickly
firmed beneath his tongue. She lifted her back so more of her breast could
move into his mouth.

“Oh, that feels so good, Ani. More, love, more.”

Using his thumb and finger Anakin slowly rubbed and pulled at the swollen
nipple on her other breast as his mouth continued to lazily suckle the
other. Fire surged through Amidala’s veins. She whimpered and tossed her
head back and forth.

Feeling her excitement, Anakin sucked her breast even deeper into his mouth,
the tiny stone of her nipple rubbing against the roof of it. Then he moved
his mouth slowly to her other breast, his tongue lapping over the painfully
erect nipple.

Amidala squirmed beneath him. Anakin then slid one hand between her legs
and ran his fingers lightly over the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. As
he did this, he continued to suck at her breast, his arm about her shoulder,
his hand leisurely rubbing over the slick wet heat of her.

Amidala shivered as Anakin’s fingers tangled through the curly hair of her
mound, the pads of his fingers slowly stroking the sensitive skin. He gently
teased open the soft folds, his fingers slipping steadily into her and, as
he did so, he moaned softly. Amidala gasped as his fingers began to move
slow and deep within her. Her hips surged against his hand.

Anakin synchronized the suckling of her breast with the thrusting of his
fingers. Soon the pulsing of Amidala’s hips and her moans of pleasure
matched the rhythm of Anakin’s hand inside her and his tongue on her nipple.

Then Amidala felt Anakin’s fingers probing along her inner walls. A warm,
deep, lush feeling begin to spread through her as he continued his
exploration inside her.

By the Mother, she thought, where he did learn to do this? She moaned and
arched her back, her hands gripping the hard sinews of his arms.

As Anakin continued to stroke her with his fingers, Amidala suddenly wanted
to feel him inside her. She grabbed his hand and stopped its movement.

Anakin lifted his head from her breast and looked at her.

“I want you inside me, Ani,” she said softly.

Anakin’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“But---”

“Or were you lying about wanting to marry me?” she asked with an impish
glint in her eyes.

“No, I wasn’t. I just thought...”

“Stop thinking, Padawan,” Amidala said, her voice roughened in an attempt to
imitate Obi-Wan’s voice. “Just do.”

Anakin laughed softly. He drew his hand away from her mound and softly held
her hips. He slowly moved on top of her.

“I don’t want to hurt you, love. I know it hurts for some women when it’s
their first time and I would rather die than hurt you.”

“There will be some pain, Ani, but don’t worry. It will only be a little
pain.”

“Are you sure?”

Amidala laughed softly. “Yes, love. You won’t damage me

Anakin nodded. He kissed Amidala and slowly lifted her hips; then, gently
and tenderly, he entered her and, as their bodies fused, Amidala felt a
brief moment of pain. She tensed.

“Amidala!”

“It’s all right, Ani,” she sighed. “Deeper now, love. Move deeper.”

Anakin sunk himself into her. He moaned against her ear.

“Yes,” Amidala said, her breath quickening. “Oh, yes, deeper, deeper.”

Anakin did as she instructed. Amidala sucked in a lungful of air, her back
arching. Then she gasped as Anakin began stroking in and out of her. And,
with each stroke, she felt his shaft growing thicker and longer within her.
She ran her hands over his back as he buried himself deeper inside her.

Amidala lifted her hips and thrust against him at the same time he plunged
into her. Anakin cried out, his breath rough in his throat as he felt her
inner muscles contracting hungrily about his shaft.

He reached down and cupped his hands under her rear, forcing her to rise
higher as he went deeper and deeper. Amidala shifted within the enviro-bag
and raised her legs, clasping them around his waist. She clutched her arms
tightly about his neck as he gripped her hips and thrust harder into her.
She ground her head against the enviro-bag as she strove to match him as he
plunged harder and faster and deeper inside her. She lifted her hips higher
and Anakin moaned, his lips tight against the hard, fast pulse in her
throat.

Then he turned his head and kissed her, pushing his tongue into her mouth,
tangling it with hers, tasting her hunger and her need. He thrust faster
into her and Amidala rose to meet him, their hips rolling against each
other, the soft wet slaps of their bodies and their shuddering cries of
passion the only sounds in their world. They moved with each other and for
each other.

Anakin groaned, a low, tortured sound as he increased the rhythm of his
thrusting. And, as the tempo of their bodies’ movements grew faster,
Amidala’s breath caught in her throat for she could feel something sweet and
hot and wonderful building inside her.

They moved even faster against each other and soon Anakin was pounding into
Amidala with a fierce throbbing beat. She cried out and gripped his arms
even tighter. Soon, lost within the heat and the pulsation of their
lovemaking, the two were moving together in perfect rhythm, their bodies
warm and sweet against the other.

“Force! Force, I’m going to come!” Anakin shouted. “Gods! Gods!”

“Yes, Ani, yes! Come for me, love. Come for me!”

Then Anakin gave a great cry as he climaxed with soul-shattering intensity
inside Amidala, groaning in blissful agony as he jetted hotly into her. Then
Amidala, her voice crying out his name, shuddered as she also came. She
moaned, her body pulsing wildly around his throbbing shaft.

“Ani, Ani, oh, my beautiful, beautiful Ani,” Amidala whimpered over and
over, her body writhing beneath him, tears streaming from her eyes.

“My angel, my angel,” Anakin whispered. He held her tight as she thrashed
underneath him, his heart swelling with pride that it was he who had given
her such pleasure.

Once her body had quieted, Anakin showered soft little kisses all over her
tear-stained face and across her sweating shoulders, reveling in the taste
of her. Amidala slipped her arms about his neck, drowning in the feel of
his hard hot body against her.

And afterwards, as they held each other and listened to the wind howling
outside the cave, their bodies heavy and warm and sweet with love, they both
realized they would most likely die there on that harsh, desolate planet.
However, both could also think of no place they’d rather be, then together,
in each other’s arms.

Part Three

Amidala awoke. She gazed sleepily around, then she realized with a pounding
heart that she was alone. She sat up and looked quickly about her. Sunlight
was streaming into the cave from the entrance and Anakin was gone.

She got up and quickly put on her clothes. She was just about to pull on
her parka and go look for Anakin when she heard movement from the entrance
of the cave. Anakin walked in, his face covered by goggles and a scarf.

Amidala watched as he removed his gloves, goggles and scarf. She ran over
and took his hands in hers. Despite the gloves he’d been wearing, they were
freezing. She rubbed them briskly, then sat him down near the enviro-bag.

Quickly she used a bit of their fuel to make a fire. Then she pulled him
closer to it. He was shivering, his blue-tinged lips trembling.

“Ani, you’re nearly frozen! Where have you been?”

“I went back to the s-s-s-ship,” he said, shivering.

“Why? I thought you got all of our supplies out of it yesterday?”

“I d-d-d-did. B-b-b-but I wanted to s-s-see if I could fix the c-c-c-c-comm
unit.”

“Did you?”

Anakin shook his head. “Not s-s-s-sure. I t-t-t-think it’s working, but
don’t know if I was able to get a s-s-s-signal out.”

Amidala kept rubbing his hands.

“You shouldn’t have risked it, Ani. You’re almost frostbitten.”

“I had to t-t-t-try,” he said softly.

Amidala kissed his cheek. He was starting to warm up although his skin was
still very cold to the touch.

“And I’m very proud of you for doing so, love.”

Anakin tried to smile at her, but his lips were still trembling. Amidala
slid next to him and wrapped herself about him as she tried to warm him up.

-----------------------

Later that evening, as night began to fall again, Anakin Skywalker knew that
with the morning’s light there wasn’t much chance they were going to make
it. There was hardly any fuel left for their fire and their rations were
nearly depleted.

He looked over at Amidala who was asleep in the enviro-bag. He knew the
harsh conditions of the planet were taking their toll on her. She was strong
of spirit, but her body was nowhere near as resilient as his. Tears burned
his eyes. What a mess he’d gotten them into! And he was supposed to be the
Chosen One. That’s what Master Qui-Gon had called him. He was supposed to be
so powerful and so strong with the Force and yet he couldn’t even save the
life of the woman he loved with all his heart and soul.

He had worked on that comm unit in his wrecked ship until he’d thought his
fingers were going to freeze and fall off. Desperately he had labored to fix
it and then, finally, he had repaired it enough to squeeze off one brief
blip of a distress signal. But, as far as he knew, it was probably akin to
someone whispering in a large auditorium filled with shouting people. No one
had probably heard it.

Anakin sighed as he pulled the hood of his parka over his head. He then
scooted next to Amidala. He didn’t want to wake her, so he laid down and
slipped his arms gently about her. She stirred slightly, but didn’t wake.
He drew her close to him and watched her breathe softly, her breath warm on
his face, her long dark lashes like wings against her pale cheeks.

I love you, I love you, I love you, Anakin whispered over and over in his
mind as sleep slowly overtook him.

---------------------------------

“Wake up,” a heavy voice growled at Anakin through the mists of his slumber.

Anakin sat up, instantly awake, his hand reaching instinctively for his
lightsaber, but a strong hand gripped him before he could pull it from his
belt.

Looking up, heart stuttering, Anakin saw a goggled, hooded figure in a
Jedi-issue parka leaning over him.

“Are you all right, Padawan?” the figure asked.

Anakin recognized Obi-Wan’s voice. Relief flooded through him.

“Yes, Master!” he cried. “Thank the Force!”

Anakin immediately turned to Amidala.

“Amidala, wake up. Wake up,” he cried happily as he shook her shoulder.

Amidala opened her eyes. They grew wide as she watched Obi-Wan take off his
goggles and lower the hood of his parka.

“Knight Kenobi,” she said softly.

“Thank the Force you’re both alive,” he said smiling at her.

“You found us,” she said a little groggily.

Obi-Wan nodded. “A merchant ship picked up a faint echo of a distress
signal. They weren’t able to respond but, having recognized it as a Jedi
signature, forwarded it on to the Temple. We immediately sent out a rescue
ship.”

Amidala sat up. Anakin helped her to her feet as he rose next to her.

Obi-Wan looked around at their makeshift camp. “And it looks like we got
here just in time.”

“Yes, Master,” Anakin said ruefully.

Obi-Wan’s blue-gray eyes looked sharply up at Anakin. And, for the first
time, Anakin noted not only the dark shadows under his master’s eyes, but
the tiny flecks of gray in his beard.

“Well, let’s get you both to the transport before you freeze,” Obi-Wan said.

“Yes, Master,” Anakin said. He turned and hurriedly picked up their
supplies. Obi-Wan had put his hood back up. He had given the goggles to
Amidala to wear and was already leading her out of the cave. Anakin quickly
followed them.

-----------------

Later, after having been checked by a healer and filled up with some warm
food, Amidala and Anakin sat together in the transport ship’s small galley.
Amidala was sipping hot chala, her dark eyes gazing into his.

“Aren’t you going to have some?” she asked him. “It’s very good.”

“I don’t like chala,” Anakin said, wrinkling up his nose. “It tastes like
diluted engine oil.”

Amidala smiled and shrugged slightly.

“I suppose it’s an acquired taste. I, however, can’t start my day without a
cup of hot chala.”

Anakin nodded, smiled slightly, then reached over and took Amidala’s hand.
He glanced over at the door to the galley, then leaned his head next to
hers.

“I just wanted you to know that the night before meant everything to me,” he
whispered.

“And to me too, Ani,” Amidala said softly, “but, why are we whispering?”

Anakin’s eyes widened. “Uh, well, because, I’m already in enough trouble
with my Master for having tried to take you home in my ship. If he knew
what you and I did while we were on that planet he‘d....he‘d....” Anakin
paused, then blushed fiercely.

“He’d what?” Amidala prompted him, smiling.

Anakin shrugged. “Actually, I don’t know what he’d do,” he admitted
morosely.

Amidala squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry, Ani. I won’t tell you if you
don’t.”

Anakin looked at her in horror. “I would never tell my Master about....about
_that_.”

Amidala laughed softly. “Of course you wouldn‘t, Ani.” Then she dimpled
prettily at him. “However, I hope that _that_ won’t be the last time. for
us”

“It won’t,” he said smiling, his blue eyes flaming. Then his eyes sobered.

“What’s wrong?” Amidala asked.

“I was just thinking about Master Obi-Wan.”

“What about him?”

“Well, I know he’s angry with me, and rightly so, but when he woke me up in
the cave and took off his goggles and I saw his eyes...,” Anakin paused, his
throat working as he looked down at the galley table.

“What, Ani?”

He sighed and looked up at her, his eyes bright.

“He looked at me as if....as if he were afraid of losing me.”

Amidala took his hand.

“Why wouldn’t he feel that way? You’re his padawan.”

Anakin shook his head sadly.

“You don’t understand,” he went on, his voice filled with sorrow. “All these
years I’ve always felt that he blamed me for Master’s Qui-Gon’s death.”

Amidala squeezed his arm. “Oh, Ani, I’m sure that’s not true! You had
nothing to do with that and Knight Kenobi knows that. The Sith killed Master
Jinn.”

“I know, but....but, I’ve always felt as if my being his apprentice has been
nothing but a burden to him. Master Qui-Gon made him promise to train me so
it wasn‘t as if it was his choice. Really.”

“But now?” Amidala said softly.

Anakin looked up and smiled. “But now, I think I might have been wrong.”

Amidala kissed him quickly on the cheek. Her touch reminded Anakin of their
lovemaking. His cheeks burned.

He leaned closer, his blue eyes caressing her.

“I love you, Amidala.”

Amidala smiled. “And I love you,” she said softly.

Anakin then slowly moved his mouth to hers. Just as their lips were about to
touch, a small sound from the galley entrance made them both jump.

Obi-Wan stood in the doorway, a slight frown on his face. Anakin and
Amidala moved quickly away from each other, Amidala nearly knocking her cup
of chala over as she did so.

Obi-Wan’s gaze shifted between the two of them for a long moment. Then he
bowed slightly to Amidala.

“Excuse me, Amidala, but I must speak to Anakin alone.”

Amidala stood and inclined her head.

“Of course, Knight Kenboi.”

She turned and flashed Anakin a quick smile, her dark eyes warm. Anakin
almost smiled back, then he saw his master was frowning even harder at him.
He merely nodded at Amidala, then watched as she walked out of the galley,
her slender body moving gracefully past Obi-Wan.

Anakin turned back to Obi-Wan and steeled himself for the inevitable
scolding. And, as Obi-Wan, quietly but firmly, began to chew him out for
not only having endangered his own life, but Amidala’s as well, Anakin
listened quietly, his cheeks burning with shame, but inside he was soaring
as he sang his beloved’s name over and over in his heart.

-----------------------

Amidala made her way down the corridors of the Republic transport which was
taking her back to Naboo. She could hear Obi-Wan’s voice as he began to
lecture Anakin. She smiled softly. She could imagine the look on her poor
Ani’s face. She hoped Knight Kenobi wouldn’t be too hard on him. After all,
if Anakin hadn’t risked nearly freezing to death to repair the comm unit and
send out that one last desperate distress signal, both she and Anakin would
most likely be dead now.

She took a deep breath as she entered her quarters. Then she sat on her
bunk, her hands resting lightly on her knees. She smiled, her body growing
warmer and warmer as she thought of Anakin. With a deep sigh, she fell back
onto the bunk and closed her eyes, remembering over and over that magical
jeweled night when they had been one.

“He _is_ my destiny,” she whispered, her fingers lightly trailing across her
lips as she recalled the touch of his mouth on hers. “My destiny.”

The End

Thanks for reading!

May the Force be With You!

Moonscribe
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