You sat comfortably on the couch, a book in hand as you absently flipped through the pages, your mind more on the quiet rhythm of the room than on the words in front of you.

Anakin sat beside you, his boots resting on the coffee table with his own holopad in his hands, the light from the screen illuminating his face.

Your legs were draped over his, feet swinging slightly, a subconscious sign of your anticipation, that you were waiting for something more—waiting for her to come back. You weren’t anxious this time, not like before.

You didn’t need to pace, didn’t feel that ache in your chest. Instead, you just enjoyed the stillness of the moment, sharing it with Anakin.

His presence had become as familiar as the air you breathed, a grounding force that made everything else feel like background noise.

You glanced up occasionally to see Anakin, his brow furrowed in concentration as he read through the data on his holopad, but there was an undercurrent of attention in him.

His eyes would flick to you every now and then, a silent acknowledgment that you were there.

And then, finally, the doors slid open with a soft hiss. A rush of air swept through the room, and there she was. She stepped in with elegance.

Her coat slipping off her shoulders with a graceful movement, the soft curls of her hair bouncing slightly with her movements.

The moment she entered, the space seemed to shift, filling with her presence. Her eyes instantly found you, and then Anakin, a warm smile spreading across her face as she moved toward you.

Anakin shifted, his eyes locking with hers, a small smile of his own forming as he greeted her with his usual ease. “Home at last, huh?”

“It’s good to be home” Padmé smiled as she spoke up softly, her eyes lingering on him then landing on you, her presence grounded you both in that familiar, comforting way.

The anticipation that had bubbled up earlier dissolved, replaced by the quiet peace of her return.