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When Padmé pulled up through Anakin’s driveway, she was actually speechless at the sight of his house. He lived out in the edge of town, the most questionable part of town. She hadn’t been expecting much, and his home wasn’t large by any means, but she’d never seen a home more decorated for Christmas than his was.
Glowing candy canes lined his driveway and along the pathway to his house. The roof of his house was covered in snow. He had a blow-up, light-up snowman beside his chimney. White lights lined the edge of his roof, and from those lights hung snowflakes and icicles. His windows were lined with lights and had glowing gingerbread stuck on the windowsills. Along the foundation of the house were colorful gumdrops. And then in the center of the front lawn were graceful deer made of white lights matching the other lights.
Her parents never decorated their home for Christmas when she visited. They never had when she was growing up either. They claimed it was a waste of time. They always hated the holidays. Despite their abundance of wealth, they weren’t exactly the most giving during the Christmas season. This year they took a cruise for the holiday, leaving Padmé alone. Her sister was with her husband’s family as usual. Padmé refused to go out of fear of being a third wheel.
She hadn’t been seeing Anakin for long. Only a month. So, she didn’t expect to see him over Christmas. But after she finished telling him how she had nowhere to go, he invited her to spend Christmas with him. He also had no one to celebrate the holidays with. She should have known that because he once mentioned his mother died several years ago. And he didn’t know his father.
It was a little before lunchtime when Padmé arrived at his home. Anakin insisted that she didn’t bring anything and that he would take care of everything when it came to food and beverages. All she brought were his gifts, six in total. When she went to the mall the other day, she found so many things for him that she had no choice but to buy them all.
Padmé got out of her car and shut the door behind her. She pulled her tan coat tighter about her body when she met the freezing air. The snow was light and fluffy. A perfect white Christmas. Padmé stacked the gifts in her arms and began the precipitous journey up to his front door. She rang the bell with her elbow.
Within the second, the door swung open, as if he’d been waiting by the door for her. Anakin was dressed in a burgundy long sleeve shirt and black jeans. She spotted his bright green Christmas tree socks even through the small tower of gifts in her arms.
An explosive smile broke over his face. “You’re here early! I’m so glad you decided to come.”
“I told you I would.”
She followed him inside.
“You can put those under the tree!” He said. “Are those all for me?” He seemed surprised.
“Who else would they be for, silly?” She said as she arranged the presents under the tree. The green fir was magnificent with ivory lights and ruby beads and golden ornaments. There was little space for her presents. The tree skirt was covered in presents already. Maybe some of them were decorations. Or maybe he had a lot of friends.
“I told you not to get me anything,” he said. “I have everything I could want right here.” He gestured toward her.
Padmé rolled her eyes. “I had to get you something. You’re so thoughtful. Every single day. You always call. You always answer. You’re always there when I need something fixed in my house or my car.” She was tearing up just thinking of how wonderful of a guy he really was.
“That’s what boyfriends are supposed to do. Now… are you going to kiss me or what.” Anakin teased holding mistletoe over her head.
“Where did you get that?”
“My pocket, of course.”
“Oh, of course. Everyone carries mistletoe around in their pockets.”
He pulled her against him. “Just shut up and kiss me.”
So, she did. His lips were soft and sweet. He smelled of oakwood and cloves. The way he loved her gave her summertime butterflies in the depth of winter. And when they finally parted, he laced their hands together. Anakin’s skin glowed gold in the light of the fireplace, and his smile twinkled.
Somehow, she knew that this would be the first of many Christmases with him. One month in and she already knew he was the only one for her.