Warmth.

That was the first thing you felt as you stirred awake. Your e/c eyes fluttered open and you were met with the white ceiling of an infirmary. You felt something squeeze your right hand.

"____!" Anakin exclaimed softly as he gave your hand another squeeze with his left one. A medical droid was attaching a Mechno-arm to his right arm.

"Ani." you whispered as you removed your hand from his to cup his cheek. He leaned into your palm as he placed his free hand on top of yours. He turned and gently kissed your hand before leaning back into it.

You smiled at his affection before removing your hand. You used both hands to try to sit up from your lying position.

"Easy now." Anakin said as you fully sat up. "They said you have a mild concussion from the battle today."

"Where are we? Did we capture Dooku?" you asked as you recalled the fight and you knew Dooku must have encountered Master Yoda.

"We are back in the medical wing of the Jedi Temple." Anakin informed you. You all were back on Coruscant. "Dooku managed to escape." he added grimly.

"Mmm." you hummed as you watched the droid finish attaching the Mechno-arm and Anakin wiggled his fingers. Pleased with how Anakin could easily move the hand and fingers, the droid gathered its tools and left the room, leaving it just you and Anakin. You lifted your hand to brush the loose hair around your face when your fingers brushed against something on your face. Anakin felt your confusion and handed you a small mirror the droid had left.

You lifted the mirror up and observed the black bandage that was on your face, covering where Dooku had cut you. You gingerly touched it as Anakin explained that it would heal in a couple of days, but you will have a scar from it.

"I'll definitely look tougher with a scar." you joked as you set the mirror down. Anakin laughed lightly at your joke.

"But are you okay?" you asked as you took his mechno-hand into yours. A serious atmosphere took over.

"I am now that you are awake and okay." Anakin assured you lovingly. When your uneasiness and fear didn't fade away, Anakin sent a comforting feeling to you through the Force. "Why are you feeling so unsure and fearful?"

"Ani, you lost your forearm. And I wasn't there in time to prevent that. It feels unfair that all I walk away with is a simple scar..." you trailed off as you looked for the words you wanted to say.

"I am alive and well. This-" Anakin said as he grasped your hand with his Mechno one, "is nothing. It no longer hurts and feels a part of me. And it seems you forgot that you were the one that needed protection, they were after you in the first place. I see it as a win that you only walked away with a scar."

Anakin gave you a soft, reassuring smile. You looked away and down at your hand in his.

"I was so scared that I lost you." you admitted to him. "When I felt your pain and agony, I felt my heart stop. I rushed to you as fast as I could. And when I saw Dooku toss you across the room and you missing your arm, I felt nothing but anger at Dooku for hurting you. I completely lost it and attacked in a blind rage."

You closed your eyes as tears formed from reliving the awful fear you had. You felt a tear escape when Anakin placed his hands on your cheeks and forced you to look up at him.

"My beautiful, beautiful _____." Anakin uttered so quietly as he wiped that tear away. His eyes were filled with love and affection as he gently smiled at you. "Don't be so hard on yourself. What matters is that we survived and we are back in each other's arms. I will not be taken away from you that easily."

"Oh, Ani." you whispered as you smiled at him. He knew exactly what to say to make you feel better.

"I love you, ____ Amidala. I will be by your side until my dying breath." Anakin declared as he leaned towards you.

"And I love you, Anakin Skywalker." you replied before his lips met yours. You wrapped your arms around his neck as Anakin pulled you closer to him.

"Marry me." Anakin whispered to you when you both pulled away.

"Huh?" you asked, caught off guard by the question.

"Will you marry me?" Anakin asked again. "I was ordered to escort you back to Naboo once you wake up. It'll be just the two of us and no one has to know. And it can be at the lake house where we stayed. It'll perfect and our secret-"

"Yes." you breathed out. "I will marry you."

Anakin and you smiled widely at each other before he pulled you in for another kiss.

~

"Do you believe what Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate? It doesn't feel right." Obi-Wan said to Windu as they looked out the window of the Jedi Council chamber. The sun was setting and giving everything an orange-red hue.

"Joined the Dark Side, Dooku has." Yoda spoke up from his seating position in one of the chairs. "Mmm. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."

"Nevertheless, I feel we should keep a closer eye on the Senate." Windu replied.

"I agree." Yoda answered.

"Your apprentice will be a tremendous help with that." Obi-Wan added, referring to you and your position.

"____ is a smart girl. I'm sure she will report something wrong the second she senses it." Windu commented.

"Powerful she will become. Along with Skywalker, powerful duo they will be." said Yoda as he thought back to the Jedi Prophecies.

"Where is your apprentice?" Windu asked Obi-Wan.

"They didn't inform you? He is on his way to Naboo, escorting Jedi Senator Amidala home." Obi-Wan explained to Windu. There was a brief silence before Obi spoke again.

"I have to admit, without the clones, it would have not been a victory."

"Victory? Victory, you say?" Yoda exclaimed, causing the two Jedi Masters to look at him. "Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen. Begun, this Clone War has!"

You smoothed out the front of your white dress as you looked in the mirror. You had remembered your mother had stored her wedding dress in the lake house storage and you decided you wanted to wear it for your wedding. You adjusted your necklace, making sure it was in the center of your chest. You smiled lovingly at the necklace you never take off. Your hair was left down and in its natural state. You realized it would be the first time Anakin ever saw you with your hair down and left untouched. Your Padawan braid fell to the front of your shoulder as you leaned forward and gently touched your bandaged face, touching up the very light makeup you had done.

"____?" a voice said behind you. Startled by the voice that didn't belong to your lover, you turned around quickly.

Your eyes met those of your sister's.

Panic filled you as you stared at Padmé. She was still dressed in her Senator outfit and held a basket filled with various items as walked into the room, closer to you. She looked over you, bewildered at the sight in front of her. You said nothing as you worked through your mind for any possible explanation and excuse to give her. This was the last thing you expected. The handmaidens had assured you and Anakin it would just be the two of you at the lake house before you dismissed them for the night.

So why was Padmé here?

"What are you doing? Why are you in a wedding dress?" she questioned. Her eyes never left your shocked ones.

"Padmé?" you gasped quietly. You couldn't muster anything else to say.

"What are you wearing?" Padmé continued to question.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were on Coruscant, handling Senator duties." you questioned back.

"I wanted to check on my baby sister, especially after she got injured in battle and is on medical leave for a few days. I was very worried about you. And I thought...Why are you in a wedding dress?" Padmé repeated.

"I-" you started to say as you searched for an answer to give her. You felt that pull in the Force you knew all too well.

"____, are you okay?" Anakin asked as he hurried into the room and towards you. He had felt your panic and shock and rushed to your aid, worried something had happened to you. He didn't notice Padmé as he stopped a few steps in front of you.

Anakin looked at you in awe, taking in the sight of you in a beautiful, elegant wedding dress. He smiled warmly when he saw that you had left your hair down. It was the first time he has ever seen you with your hair untouched and down. The way the veil flowed down with your hair perfectly. How the necklace he gave you all those years ago, now a symbol of your love for him, stood out against the white of the dress.

You took his breath away.

"You are so beautiful, my star." Anakin finally managed to say as he took the last few steps to you and placed a loving hand on your cheek. He smiled so affectionately at you.

"Ani." you whispered to him as you shifted your gaze at Padmé, who wordlessly witnessed everything. Anakin followed your eyes and looked at Padmé, shocked. Anakin removed his hand from your cheek and stood next to you as you both looked at her. You grasped his hand in yours, anxiously waiting for your sister's reaction. Padmé's eyes flickered to yours and Anakin's hands before back to yours.

She slowly walked over to you and carefully touched your veil, before a teary smile came across her face. "He's right, you are so beautiful." she said in a soft voice.

~

With your arm linked with your sister's, Padmé walked out onto the balcony and towards Anakin and a Naboo holy man. Threepio and Artoo stood off to the side, happily watching the ceremony. The lake glistened with the setting sun in the background of the very balcony you had discovered your love for Anakin with the first kiss you two shared. The roses were in full bloom, just past their prime, and moved into the wind from the slightest breeze. Filling the air with their beauty and fragrance.

You and Anakin briefly explained everything that had happened and how you both were going to get married in secret. Padmé offered nothing but love and support for your decision and promised secrecy of this, even to the rest of your family. She was so happy that you and Anakin and even happier when you asked her to give you away to Anakin.

She tried to keep back her happy tears as she grabbed Anakin's hand and placed it on one of yours. You reached out to her with your free hand and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you." you whispered to her as she nodded before releasing you and walking over to the two droids. You and Anakin let go of your hands and stood in front of the holy man, facing each other.

You and Anakin couldn't take your eyes off of each other as the holy man gave his blessing on the wedding and you and Anakin. You thought about all the events that led up to this moment. A small pit of doubt formed within as that night by the fireplace crossed your mind. Where Anakin agreed that this would destroy you both.

But not being with Anakin was a far worse fate that would just destroy you both as well.

You looked into Anakin's eyes and felt all the worry and doubts fade away. This was want you both wanted more than anything. Anakin's eyes filled with concern and his own doubts formed from feeling yours. You smiled brightly at him, melting away those doubts right away. You and Anakin exchanged your vows and the holy man blessed you both again before announcing Anakin as your husband and you as his wife.

The holy man walked away as you and Anakin held each other's hands. The cool metal of his Machno-hand sent shivers down your spine. You both said the same thing to each other at the same time through the Force Connection.

We will write our own fate. We will be together no matter what comes our way.

Anakin leaned down and you both closed your eyes. His soft lips met yours as he kissed you passionately.

You and Anakin pulled away from each other and looked towards the sunset. His right hand was still in yours as you leaned your head against his shoulder. Your hair swayed slightly from the breeze as Threepio, Artoo, and Padmé happily watched the newlyweds. You felt Anakin kiss the top of your head. It was so peaceful and everything felt right.

It was right.

You snuggled closer to Anakin as the sun faded and the stars began to shine brightly upon you and your husband.

All that mattered in this moment was you and Anakin.

And it was a perfect moment indeed.