She hesitates at the top of the stairs for far longer than what's strictly necessary. Once she's down there, there's no turning back. Stepping off the final stair confirms her attendance tonight more than any button clicked on the Facebook invitation ever could. It's only after counting to one hundred and several deep breaths that she's able to work up the courage and begin the decent.

Still unused to being here again, her curious eyes scan every inch of the hallway available to her sight… The house is so much smaller than she remembers it… Since moving to college and then Washington immediately after, chances to return to her childhood home have been rare at best. Most holidays during college were spent interning or studying, and now whenever possible it's her family who visit her. Now more than ever since she got her hands on her beautiful new apartment. But somehow, being back here after so long away is odd. Nothing has changed and yet everything has. Old high school friends have settled down, married and had a few babies while she's been working on her career. Most of the women she went to school here with opted for the full time mommy route.

Not Padme.

High school reunions are horrible enough – she'd heard enough horror stories to make her skip out on the five year reunion – but knowing tonight, after all these years she's going to have to come face to face with him again makes it so much worse. She'd much rather climb into her car and drive without stopping until she's safely back in Washington and the memory of him is just that. A memory.

They haven't spoken since the end of the summer after high school graduation… Not even once. She thought it might be easier that way, a clean break, no temptations or late night sobbing phone calls filled with promises neither could ever keep. It was for the best, that's what she told herself, and him. August came and they went their separate ways. Now ten years later, she can't avoid this reunion and it's terrifying.

Once upon a time, Padme Naberrie loved Anakin Skywalker. She loved him deeply and passionately and he loved her too. As kids they'd been inseparable, more so as they grew up together. Their close friendship had always toed the line between something much, much more and eventually at sixteen, they'd taken the plunge one night, drunk on the scotch she'd stolen from her parents' cupboard. One sloppy kiss she truthfully only half remembers was the start of it all.

And his slurred love confession, she cannot forget that.

As is the fate of all high school sweethearts the dreaded discussion of "the future" came in senior year when they couldn't ignore it any longer. They discussed everything from going to college together to running away together – the latter being Anakin's suggestion of course. In the end he'd been fully committed to the idea of attending any college that meant they could be together. It was a sweet dream, but naive. She wanted politics and he wanted engineering and few colleges supported both. The ones that did meant a lower quality of education for one of them and though Anakin was ready to sacrifice his dreams for her, she couldn't let him. It wouldn't be fair. He deserved as much of a chance at education and a career as she did. How could she ever let him settle for less than he deserved just for her?

He cried, she cried, but the end came just the same. Their goodbye was tense and painful and she watched, fighting more tears, as he drove down the street, turning the corner and vanishing from her life entirely. She'd somehow managed to wait until getting home to cry. And oh she wept until her shoulders shook and her pillow was soaked as her mother and sister swore there'd be other loves and better times.

Looking back now, she supposes they were right, to an extent.

There had been other loves, other boyfriends… A string of suitable men studying to become great men. Some worked well with her, others did not. Some couldn't keep it in their pants while others were too committed too fast. She'd almost settled down with her last boyfriend, Rush, but something about the entire relationship just seemed wrong from the beginning. He loved Padme Amidala, the politician, the elegant woman, not Padme Naberrie who cried over a pint of ice-cream in her pyjamas and UGG boots while watching "Titanic" for the thousandth time. He loved who she could be, one half of her, not all of her and she refused to settle for that.

One last sigh and she calls goodnight to her parents as she steps out the door.

Much like her home, the hallways of Coruscant high feel much smaller than her memories painted them to be. How did hundreds of students fit in here? How had she leaned against those lockers time and time again without a care in the world and not realised just how rusted and aged they were? Were they always like this? Had the years been unkind to the school since her departure?

Whatever the answer, it's surprisingly nice to be here again. This school holds so many memories, good and bad… Being here again brings many of them rushing back… Her friends, Anakin, prom... She feels like her old high school self again for a brief moment as her old locker comes into sight and she can't resist stopping for a peak. Running her fingertips along the cold metal, a bittersweet smile tugs at her lips as she touches the knob and for old times sake enters her old combination. She still remembers it as if all her time here was merely days ago, not a decade.

It doesn't work and she has to try not feel disappointed.

After that she continues down the hallway with no interruptions and finds the small table set up covered in tags with names she vaguely recognises yet cannot imagine faces to match them. Behind the table, former prom Queen Aayla Secura sits, legs crossed with her too short dress rising high on her thighs. Some things never change. The woman pays her no mind and merely instructs her to find her tag and head inside. She finds it easily enough, and begins the act of pinning it to her dress when she's all but tackled into a strong embrace, making her stumble in her heels, almost falling flat onto her face.

"Padme!" The familiar voice is the only thing keeping her from getting angry… There is only one person that voice could belong to, someone she missed terribly those first months in college. Her high school best friend, the once keeper of all her secrets.

"Sabe!" Upon recognising her assailant, her arms return the hug eagerly, name tag slipping through her fingers and forgotten entirely as it hits the floor. Facebook has not done her former friend justice! She's stunning! Nobody would ever believe she'd had three children! Pulling back, the women take a moment to eye one another with ridiculous smiles. Getting over the loss of her friend was almost as bad as… Well, getting over Anakin. "How are you?!"

"Good, good! The kids are great! We're actually adding a new conservatory so…" As terribly rude as it is, she tunes the woman out entirely as what she's been both anticipating and dreading since being invited to the event months ago happens at last. Over the woman's shoulder Padme spies the very person she's worried about seeing tonight, who she'd almost hadn't come to avoid. He's here… He's actually here, just a few meters away and approaching quickly.

Anakin.

He looks wonderful – more than wonderful, he looks fantastic! The handsome young boy she'd known has matured into a tall, muscled man… His hair is longer too; previously cropped locks have grown into wavy curls reaching the end of his neck. It's slightly darker now, but a perfect complement to his tanned skin. The sight of him steals the breath from her lungs and dries her mouth. He seems to have avoided all forms of social media over the years – she's looked – so she's completely unprepared for all the changes. He's so much more attractive now than he was before, perhaps because she too, has grown up. Whatever it is… His appearance alone has rendered her speechless.

The moment his gaze flicks up to meet hers, she smiles without thinking. Whether the action is borne of nervousness or excitement or the rush of familiarity she feels, it doesn't matter. His tongue darts out to wet his lips and she looks away, back to sweet Sabe and mutters a quick, "excuse me" before sidestepping her completely. Is it impolite? Yes… But right now decorum is the furthest thing from her mind.

Anakin however, stills where he is as she advances toward him, secretly thankful her assistant, Dorme, talked her into the tight black, knee length dress she's wearing… Especially as his eyes take their time roaming every inch of her. It's nice to know that despite everything, she still has some physical appeal to him… When she reaches him, the difference in his height finally registers in her mind along with everything else. He was always taller than her, but now he towers over her, even with the few added inches from her heels.

He really has grown up.

Being a good speaker is part of her job description and giving speeches has become second nature to her but forcing a simple hello past her lips feels impossible right now. Suddenly she's the frozen one, stuck gawking at him like an idiot who has forgotten her words. Fortunately, Anakin suffers from no such issues, saving them both from an increasingly awkward silence. "Padme…"

In response his name flies from her mouth in a familiar whisper, "Anakin." She hasn't spoken his name out loud on such a long time… It almost doesn't feel real to do it now when he's right here. "You – you've grown." There have been few times in her life where cursing has felt appropriate – few, but they happened – and now is certainly one of them. You've grown?! Who says things like that? She doesn't say things like that! She is a highly educated woman and that is the best her scrambling mind offers her?

"So have you…" He smirks, that casually smug Skywalker smirk. She hasn't seen anyone smirk like that in ten years. Nobody else could ever pull it off, it's entirely his thing. "Grown more beautiful, I mean." Despite the fact she is a grown woman in the later years of her twenties, who deals with flattery every day of her life at work, his words send heat flushing through her cheeks. Oh God… She isn't prepared for this, not at all!

"Thank you…" She mumbles, glancing away toward a small crowd of people arriving together and for a moment, she's glad of the distraction. Seeing him again and talking to him is strange. She wasn't sure how tonight would go and truthfully she still isn't… But as her eyes wander back to his, catching him watching her, she doesn't feel like a grown woman anymore.

"Listen…" He begins quietly, sending dread sinking into her stomach. Oh no… This is it. He's about to tell her he brought a date – a girlfriend or wife out parking the car. As tonight crept closer and closer on her calendar, this scenario is something she'd tried to prepare herself for. She's been with other men, some for relationships, some for companionship and some… Well, some just for the sex. Of course he's been with other women. Just look at him! There's no way he hasn't been snapped up by some kind of supermodel or beauty Queen. It's alright, she's prepared. When he tells her, she'll smile her politician's smile and wish him well. It's going to be okay. "Do you wanna get out of here? We could… Talk?"

Oh.

She hadn't prepared for that.

He wants to talk? While unexpected, the idea isn't unwelcome so she finds herself nodding and agreeing, then they're walking back through the hallway again just as they did so many times through the years and for a second, it's like nothing's changed. He may not be her boyfriend anymore, but he's still Anakin. And he's always been easy to talk to. They walk straight out of the school and past the car park as he explains his job – or business really. After college he opened up a mechanics place and when that grew successful, another one. It's exactly what he always wanted, and she can't lie and say she isn't proud of him.

She tells him all about her work and as always he frightens her with his political ideals though just like before, they laugh it off. It is a good thing he was never truly interested in politics. God help the world if he had been. He tells her she'd make a good President and means it though she laughs. He's the same Anakin she remembers and he makes her feel like the same old Padme again. It's nice… Really nice.

By their second lap around the block, she's getting a little cold… While her dress is stunning, it wasn't made for warmth and she shivers as a cold breeze rushes past them. When he notices her rubbing her arms slightly, he immediately begins shrugging off his jacket though she holds up her hands to stop him. "Oh, no. It's alright, Anakin honestly. You don't have to do that."

"You're cold, here, just take it." Before there's any time to protest, he drops the jacket onto her shoulders and she has to admit it, she feels much warmer immediately. And it smells like him… That doesn't hurt either… As they make their way back toward the school the tricky subject of relationships sneaks up on them. It always would, she's not naive enough to believe they could avoid it, but part of her wants to. The idea of knowing he's with someone else rather than merely assuming isn't a pleasant one, especially after how well everything has gone. She'd much rather leave things on a lighter note and pretend she isn't curious at all.

Alas, it's not to be. "Well, I was seeing someone up until a month ago." He was? Oh… But that means he isn't seeing this woman whoever she is right now… "But it turned out she was... Well," he winces, and she raises an eyebrow. What exactly was wrong with her? A usually supressed, immature part of herself is dying to know, she wants to hear every flaw and negative trait she had. "She was crazy."

"Crazy?!" She laughs, pulling his coat tighter around her shoulders for the warmth. That's all, it's just the warmth she needs.

"Yeah… I'm pretty sure she killed my neighbour's cat…" One hand flies to her mouth for a moment, stifling more laughter. He can't be serious right now! There's just no way anyone would really go as far as that… Right? Then again, if anyone could attract that level of crazy, it's Anakin.

"No she didn't!"

"I'm telling you! I broke up with her and a few days later the cat was missing!" He's ridiculous… Shaking her head, her gaze lands on the cracked pathing stones ahead as they walk, falling into a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Since he's been honest with her – to an extent, the cat just ran away and he knows it – she supposes it's her turn now. Never once did she imagine talking to Anakin of all people about Rush… Or Palo… Or even Bail. No, she'll stick to Rush.

"I was in a relationship too." Her confession comes quieter than his with far less humour. "About a year ago actually, but he… Well, he really only wanted my work persona. Not the real me." She finishes with a shrug and keeps her eyes straight ahead. She's long over Rush, but it's just odd talking about him with Anakin. It's not a situation she envisioned happening tonight.

"Well, I've never met work Padme," Anakin starts after a moment, drawing her gaze back to him, "but I already know I like regular Padme better." They enter the parking lot again, slowing their pace as they approach the first car nearest the exit. She can't believe he'd say something like that… He's dared to flirt with her more than once tonight and been fun especially when she played along but this… It's not flirting. She knows his flirting. This is genuine.

Genuine isn't something she comes by very often these days.

"Anakin…" He's always been wonderful at sweet words while she's barely able to sting a coherent complement together if she means it. Ask her about the economy and she'll talk for days but expressing her feelings is another thing altogether. It's just much more… Difficult. Especially when, after tonight they're going to return to their very separate lives and probably never see each other again. How can she open up to him while knowing that?

Unlike her, Anakin has no hesitation and reaches up to cup her cheek in his hand. The familiarity of the gesture is near overwhelming… It's absurd. She hasn't felt his touch in years and now they're here, outside their old high school he gives it freely. He's always been generous with such physical expressions, even when they were kids and it was merely hugging. But it's been so long and she isn't ready to open herself up to all that hurt again. "I haven't stopped thinking about you once in ten years Padme."

It takes all her focus not to gasp as the calloused pad of his thumb stokes her cheekbone softly. He's a romantic at heart; she's always said so… But his passion doesn't make him a liar. When Anakin says something, he means it. But all this time? He's been thinking about her all this time? She'd be the liar if she said she hadn't thought about him too but – but how can he… What is she supposed to say?

"Anakin, I…" Her words die in her throat and no others follow them. She wants to speak, to say something – anything – but what? Can she tell him that he's haunted her mind since he left? That the memory of him alone destroyed her relationship with Bail because she could never stop comparing them? That deep down, even though they were just teenagers, she loved him just as much as she loves him now?

Because she does. She always has, for as long as she can remember, it's always been Anakin.

"What? Tell me…" He breathes as his hand slides around to hold her neck instead, angling her face so their eyes meet and the intensity of his gaze locks her in. It makes her shudder the way it always did when she caught him looking like that, like she's all that matters.

There is no stopping the words after that, she doesn't bother to try. Locking away the truth in her heart all this time has been tiring, so, so tiring and she wants to set it free at last. This may be her only chance. Even if she'll regret it come morning, or it breaks her heart when they leave each other again, at least she'll have this moment to remember. "I love you." The words ease out of her lips as easily as breathing, "I always have..."

He echoes the words quietly, just barely audible over the thump of the music coming from the gymnasium but she hears them and she plans to remember his voice whispering them for the rest of her life. It may be all she has. His hand slips up, into her straightened hair, using the leverage to tug her head back and then his lips are on hers again for the first time in a decade. Oh, she's missed this… Missed the taste of him, the feel of him against her, the sensation of being utterly swept away by him. She's missed it all. He swallows her sigh and slips his free arm around her waist, holding her closer as her own arms snake around his neck.

It doesn't feel like ten years have passed between them anymore. Right now, they're not the former high school sweethearts, the exes, they're just Anakin and Padme, two people head over heels for each with a chance to rekindle what once was and nothing else matters.

Anyone could come out here and stumble upon them… No doubt they'd imagine they're just a pair of old lovers, drunk on the cheap wine provided, giving into an intoxicated kiss. Perhaps they'd be right… She is drunk, but not on any alcohol. She's intoxicated by him, drunk on his kiss and he commands her every thought as their tongues become reacquainted with one another.

She feels like a giggling schoolgirl all over again as her back collides with the car behind her. His car, she thinks. It's not the first time he's pushed her up against a car though she hopes this time pans out better than the last. They don't need his alarm going off and alerting people to their presence. The memory of her dad walking into the garage to catch them hastily fixing their clothes still haunts her to this very day. She doesn't want to relive it with everyone inside the school right now.

His lips busy themselves working magic against her neck, breathing fire on her skin while his trembling fingers attempt to unlock the doors. He presses the button overzealously, only managing to relock the vehicle at first and she hears his curse as he tries again. This time, he accomplishes it, and the silent flash of lights seems far, far too bright in the near pitch black parking lot for a moment. He doesn't open the doors right away, instead pocketing the keys again and freeing his hands to slide along the subtle curves of her hips, sending sparks of arousal shooting through her body.

She'd lost her virginity to him all those years ago, in her small twin bed when her parents were away for the night and at the same time took his own. It was awkward and fumbling and not all that pleasant for her… He enjoyed himself very much though if memory serves. But after more attempts, some ending prematurely when he lost control of himself, they learned. They learned what felt good, what pleased each other and themselves until it became so good between them. As his hands dip lower, hoisting the hem of her dress up to her thighs, she momentarily wonders if he's learned anything new since their parting… She knows she has. Palo may have been a cheating bastard, but he taught her some wonderful things.

"I want you," he groans into her ear, leaning forward so the hard bulge beneath his dark jeans presses against her stomach. "I want you here, now… In the car… Just like before." The suggestion and memory of their last fun in a car sends wave after wave of liquid heat pooling below her waist Oh God… They shouldn't. That – doing that would be crazy! They're adults now, they know better than romping in the back seat of his car in such a public place. And she's a politician! She has a reputation to uphold, if anyone ever found out… She'd be a laughing stock! And yet… She wants it too. They've waited ten years for this moment; she doesn't want to wait any longer, not even to find somewhere more private.

"Ani…" His old nickname falls from her lips freely, and the sound of it tears an agonised moan from him as he pushes her dress higher, exposing her black lace panties to the cold air. "Please…" She has no idea what she's asking from him, but she hopes he finds a way to give it to her anyway. How has he has gotten her so worked up with such little effort? She can hardly think straight! His thumb rubs against her clit suddenly, making her gasp and arch into him, desperate for more. Nobody ever affected her like he did… She's had some great times with others but no one truly compared to Anakin.

"You're so wet…" He whispers against her cheek, pushing the thin lace of her underwear aside to brush two fingers along where she aches for him. "You want me, don't you? You're this worked up just for me." He always was possessive, a quality she never liked, but right now that doesn't matter, not when he's touching her like this… He can be as possessive as he wants so long as he doesn't stop what he's doing.

"Yes Ani…" It feels so good. More, she needs more…

"Say it. Tell me you want me." The whispered demand makes her shudder and arch further into his too gentle touch. Isn't the physical proof enough? Why does she have to say it too? "Say it." He repeats more forcefully when she merely whimpers and withdraws his hand. No! No, he can't do that… She needs him so badly…

"I want you! Please Ani… Please… I want you to-" Her next words are swallowed by his desperate kiss, forgotten as he plunders her mouth mercilessly. It's exactly what she needs though his hand doesn't get back to touching her. What is he doing? He can't just stop like that, it's not fair! Instead of touching her, he busies his hands instead with tearing her soaked panties clean off her legs, ruining them and dropping them to the concrete. She – she'll get them later. They don't matter right now.

Wanting a little control for herself, she lifts two hands to push at his chest, making him stumble back slightly and the slight inspires a smirk of her own. "Get in the car." She orders haughtily and he raises an eyebrow at the command… He said he wanted her like this, didn't he?

He does as he's told with a husky chuckle, climbing into the backseat and through the window she watches him pull the keys out of his pocket dropping them to the floor. Climbing in after him is slightly more difficult than she remembered it being, they are taller than they used to be, she supposes… Especially him. But she manages, straddling his lap as he drags the door shut behind her. She hadn't realised just how much she missed him – and this – over the years. She's wetter than she's ever been and all they've done is kiss with a little touching! Has he missed her too? He said he still loves her, but did he miss her? It's different.

Grinding her hips down against the hardness between his legs draws an aroused hiss from Anakin's lips, so she does it again, circling this time and his hands fly to her waist to help her repeat the action. Once she has him good and ready, her hips still, making him pant, and whispers, "have you missed me?"

His eyebrows knit together in a confused frown and she waits patiently for her question to settle into his lust fogged mind. "What? Of course I did." Rough hands wander beneath the bunched up remnants of her dress, caressing the smooth skin of her stomach and moving higher until his palms fill with her breasts, making her head tip back. He remembers just what to do, tweaking and pinching her nipples in just the right ways to make her quiver with want.

"I missed you too…" She confesses and suddenly, she can't wait any longer. She needs him! Her head ducks down so her lips hover over his mouth, watching the way his own lips part for her just slightly, as if he doesn't even know he's doing it and she can't resist flicking her tongue out to drag across his lower lip. Her hands get to work almost frantically on undoing his belt, fumbling slightly in the cramped space but she's undeterred, desperate and shameless about getting what she wants tonight. How far she's come from being the trembling teenager who'd blush at his touch.

Anakin notices the difference too, moaning as she palms him through his pants, hips bucking up to meet her hand. "What- When did you get so bold?" The belt gives up its fight at last and she yanks it free from its looped traps with a quiet hiss, tossing it over her shoulder to the passenger seat. Once she deals with the button and zipper, he's left only in the cotton confinements of his boxers, the hardness she inspired is tented, begging for her attention and she gives it, gently running her fingertips over him with a smirk.

"I've done a lot of learning since over the years." He lifts his hips again to help her pull the jeans and boxers down, freeing his cock to her curious gaze. Not much has changed but he almost seems… Bigger… Is that possible? Maybe it's just been too long since she saw him so intimately. It doesn't matter. What does matter is the pleasured groan he gives when her hand grips the base, pumping gently. She's always enjoyed giving pleasure and watching the faces of her lovers as she does so – especially Anakin… His expressions are always so beautiful.

"Never again," he grunts, pushing up into her touch. What is he talking about now? She raises a curious eyebrow at the statement as her fingers reach his swollen tip and twist slightly, making him twitch. "No one else but me from now on." He snarls it viciously… It's another one of those unkeepable promises they give one another. What else could it be? She lives in Washington! And he doesn't! He has two businesses elsewhere to run and long distance rarely works, especially when not on a temporary basis.

She doesn't answer, not wanting to ruin this with cold reality so she and guides his tip to her soaked folds instead, teasing them both by rubbing him along her slickness. It feels nice – really nice making it easy to forget about tomorrow and what's going to happen and to think instead on what's happening right now. To live in the moment. It's not difficult, especially when the head of him grazes her clit so agonisingly slowly. No, there's no room for real life inside the car right now, not until this – whatever this is – is over.

"Padme… Fuck…" He jerks up once more, brushing her clit again and making her whimper his name quietly, both hands flying grip the back of the seat by either side of his head as she grinds down against him, moaning as they side against one another. It's so dirty and arousing all at once. "Do you – ah! Do you have any condoms?" The question stills her hips against him because no… She doesn't have anything… After ending it with Rush, she'd kind of fallen off of taking her pill every day. There was no need to; she had no desire to fall into bed with anyone. But now…

"No. Do you?" His hands stroke her waist, easing her back down against him as he moves again, rubbing against her so deliciously; she's helpless against it, unable to resist beginning the dance all over again. From the look on his face alone, she knows the answer. She sees him swallowing, perhaps searching for some restraint, and grips the seat harder.

"I didn't exactly come here tonight expecting this…Just…" His hands tighten around her waist, "please, can we… Just this once…" He pulls her down against him and mouths at the skin of her throat, nipping her and licking the sharp sting he leaves in his wake. "I want you so bad. I need you Padme… Please…" She knows what he's asking her and they shouldn't. It would be the stupidest thing they could ever do, but as he rocks against her again, all coherent thought flees her mind leaving her mind susceptible to her body's will. There are so many risks and yet she trusts him. She loves him… And he loves her, that counts for something right? He's not lying when he tells her badly he wants her, she can feel how hard he is against her, throbbing with need for her. She wants him too.

It's stupid and irresponsible, but she attacks his mouth with her own, licking her way past his lips and with the help of his hands anchoring her hips, she sinks down onto him. They both moan as he's fully sheathed inside her and she slides one hand into his curls, fisting and tugging his head back to drag her lips across his jaw. They move together heatedly, falling into a quick, furious rhythm. She rides him hard, rising and falling on his cock over and over while his hands play with her breasts. As she descends, he thrusts up to meet her, hitting that perfect sweet spot every time, dragging her closer and closer to bliss. He feels so good… So big and pleasurable inside her. She'd forgotten how just great it could be between them, though without a condom, they're treated to a few extra sensations she's never experienced before.

It's so good… It feels amazing… He captures her lips and ravages her mouth passionately as they move faster, whispering love words between kisses. The wet slap of their bodies colliding is the dirtiest sound she's ever heard yet it only spurs her own in their sensual rhythm, bouncing on him, throwing her head back as the pleasure grows and grows, coiling tightly in her stomach. "Oh Anakin… Yes! Oh God…"

"Fuck… Padme, you're so – so tight." His hands release her breasts and instead slip around to squeeze the swell of her ass, kneading the flesh there and pulling her down onto him harder. "So fucking tight… Ugh. You feel so good…" His words spike her arousal to new heights, hearing his pleasure, hearing how good she makes him feel is enough – more than enough to snap the tension rising within her, to open the dam and let the pleasure crash over her.

And crash, it does.

"Oh my God… Oh Ani! Don't stop – yes!" She comes around all around him, inner walls fluttering furiously as her hips work to bring him over with her. He's not far behind; the near constant throbbing within her is a testament to that. It's difficult not to simply slump over him as her climax rushes through her body, but she manages somehow, determined to make it as good for him as it is for her. "Come for me." She whispers against his lips, feeling him tense beneath her, "please Ani… Let go… Come inside me, let me feel you… Please…" Each breathy plea pulls a pleasured grunt from him as his thighs shake and he holds her tighter still.

Finally he bursts, crying out as his pleasure hits at last and she works him slowly, letting him ride out every moment of his climax. He fills her with a series of violent ejaculations and a shaky thrust or two until the storm calms and there is peace as she collapses against him. They pant together, chests heaving and hearts racing. She's exhausted… Every inch of her sated and sleepy as she rests her forehead against his collarbone and sighs against his skin.

"That…" He pants, "that was one hell of a reunion." It's so silly and ridiculously true that she laughs breathlessly, pressing her cheek to his sweaty chest. What they just did was beyond stupid… It's the biggest risk she's ever taken. The only risk she's ever taken in this context. But she can't say she regrets it, not even slightly.

"I can't wait until the twentieth reunion to do it again." This time it's his turn to chuckle, leaning his head back against the headrest with an audible thump. After a few moments he recovers enough to gently lift her up to ease himself free of her with a content sigh. She can feel him – the remnants of him left inside her – on her thighs and tries not to wince. It's an odd sensation… And slightly sticky.

"If you think I'm letting you get away for another twenty years…" Still in no mood to dash the fantasy, she merely hums quietly. But he doesn't take this and tips her chin up to meet his determined gaze. "I mean it Padme. Even if I have to sell the business or figure out a way to open up in Washington, I'm not going to lose you again." The oath is so sincere, she actually finds herself believing him… It's not just a pretence, or sweet promise to make parting easier… He wants this.

He wants her. All of her in ways no one else ever has.

"Well all the mechanics I've been to there are awful. We could use someone with your… Talents." He rewards her with the brightest, most captivating smile she's ever seen and maybe just maybe she lets herself think, this time it could work.

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