Title: A Day Off From Reality
Summary: During a fight, Anakin and Padmé decide to switch places for the day. Naturally, Anakin gets the underhand and learns some valuable lessons about appreciating the people you love.
Characters: Anakin, Padmé, Luke, Leia, handmaidens, Jedi…
Era: Alternate Universe, after ROTS
Disclaimer: I am still not the creator of Star Wars. This fic is based off a short story I read once (the husband and wife traded places for the day).

"Urgh, I hate this food!" Anakin muttered quietly under his breath so his wife wouldn't hear.

Or so he thought.

Pausing midway in spooning some baby food into a whining Luke's mouth, Padmé slammed the spoon down onto the table and placed her hands on her hips. "Anakin Skywalker!" she cried out in a menacing voice that all but made Anakin tremble in his large boots. "How dare you set a bad example for the twins by complaining about the meal… again! You know how busy I am, with the Senate and all- be thankful that I found the time to put food on the table for you!"

Muttering something under his breath, Anakin watched as his sons smeared shurra fruit all over his face.

"See," Padmé said in an annoyed tone, gesturing at both of the twin's faces which were equally dirty.

"Your life isn't half as bad as you make it sound," Anakin said boldly after a moment's silence. By the look on Padmé's wife, he had gone too far but he didn't care anymore. "All you have to do is strut around in fancy clothes, look important, and boss around your handmaidens." At this, his brow furrowed. "Now that I mention it, I think you have too many of those. Have you ever considered downsizing your staff?"

"I am not hearing this!"

"Oh, and I almost forgot," Anakin said bitterly, hitting his head with his hand, "you have to attend boring meetings where all you do is fall asleep…"

"Never mind the fact that I'm helping better the Galaxy…"

"I could easily do your job," Anakin interrupted, more to himself than anyone else, "and do it well."

Padmé let out a short laugh. "You could not! You couldn't stand it for more than a couple of hours, at the very most."

"Angel, I'm a Jedi- I can do whatever it is you do ten times better," he boasted, flinching she threw down her napkin.

"I bet you couldn't, Skywalker- you are only thinking what you want to." She sniffed daintily as if injured by his comment.

"I would if it was possible."

A sudden smile spread over Padmé's face, but Anakin wasn't sure if he liked it. "So, you think you could do my job for me? I tell you what- how about we trade places for… I don't know, a day, maybe. Then, let's see what you think of me and my carreer."

"A week," Anakin insisted hotly.

Meanwhile, the twins all but gaped at their parents. For the first time, Anakin and Padmé had broken their rule about not fighting in front of the children.

Scruncing up her face, Leia began to wail even as Padmé hastened to get the child out of her seat and pull her into her arms. As if on cue, Luke also began to whimper, but Anakin did not notice.

"A week," he repeated.

"A day, and that's final!" Padmé spat. "And I'll even take care of the twins for you, just to make it fair!"

"Hey! I'm their dad- I can take care of them too!" Anakin cried out, jumping to his feet.

Luke continued to scream unnoticed and now resorted to throwing everything within arms reach onto the floor.

Another wicked smile spread across Padmé's face, and she seemed to be reconsidering her proposition. "Well, then…" she said a little more cheerfully, kissing Leia's head before plopping the girl into her father's arms, "you can take care of them then, since you insisted so badly." Not looking back, she strode from the dining room.

"I won't be coming to bail you out if you get in trouble!"

Shaking her head, Padmé found that two of her handmaidens were waiting for her, obviously having heard the loud conversation. "Come, ladies," she said in a hushed tone, "we have work to do."

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Coming Next: How does Anakin survive the next few hours after Padmé leaves?