One Act in A Tragedy

Part 3

Author: Ruby-Flame Jedi Queen

Rating: PG

Feedback: Of course!  Let me know what you thought!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four more years passed since my supposed "mental breakdown", and there were still times I'd get a bit paranoid.  Actually, I hated the silence almost as much; I knew whatever Sith had attacked me was probably still out there, waiting for the Jedi.  But trouble was brewing in the galaxy; entire populations of people were questioning the Republic and planets were speaking of seceding from the alliance, so the Jedi were needed more than ever.  As Senator, many people were looking to me for answers I did not yet have.  As Supreme Chancellor Palpatine never failed to say in times of my distress, "You are going to have to FIND some answers, Senator Amidala."  Palpatine"s position was enlarging his head, as if it wasn't already large enough.  I can remember that time and my hatred for the man clear as day.  That is not surprising, since I hate him now still for stealing my husband away to the Dark Side.  Why had nobody known about his force-abilities then?  How could he have fooled the Jedi so well?  I hate what-if's and whys.  If none of this had happened then I would have no need for them, I would have lived the life I envisioned at my young age:  me as the perfect wife with many children and Ani at my side.  Funny how things turn out in the end, eh?  Children's books sometimes end "happily ever after."  Ah, Ani, I wish that were us!  Anyhow, let me continue with the story as my memory has not yet dimmed, and in this way I can keep my ancient optimism alive in some way...

Senator Padme Amidala placed her hands on the tall glass window overlooking Coruscant, and turned her exhausted eyes towards the ship approaching the docking bay.  She needed to be healthy and strong now, more than ever, with the current events taking place, but all the traveling and conferences and negotiations were taking their toll on her.  She hadn't slept at all the last night since Corde's memory had haunted her.  This was exactly what Amidala was trying to AVOID!  Living through one war was bad enough; she desperately DID NOT want to live through another one, although it was beginning to seem more and more likely as arguing ensued from negotiations, and recklessness welled up in many representatives.  SOMETHING was going to happen, but Amidala hoped it would be anything other than the latter.  She would fight for peace with every ounce of strength she had.

Reluctantly Amidala pulled away from the window.  She was supposed to meet the ship at the docking bay and would already be late.  As she stepped out of the suite she was calling "home" for the moment, she once again felt a little awkward walking to the ship alone.  Amidala had taken the handmaidens a little too much for granted when she had been queen.  She had never imagined what it would be like going back to living without them, but now she knew and missed them very much.

Her automatic steps finally brought her to the docking bay.  Amidala halted as two robed figures stepped out of the ship.  They paused a moment (Amidala guessed they were talking to each other) and then began to make their way towards her.  "Hello, Obi-Wan Kenobi."  Amidala shifted her eyes to the second figure and tried to hide the fact that they nearly popped out of her head.  "Ani?  Anakin Skywalker?  My goodness, you've grown!"  Amidala declared in shock and used all her self-discipline not to drop her jaw.  Anakin looked just as he had in her last nightmare--as handsome, as tall, as sexy...

Anakin smirked.  "Hello M'Lady.  You look gorgeous--."

Obi-Wan threw him a stern glance and turned quickly back to Amidala.  "Sorry about my young padawan, M'Lady,"  Obi-Wan stated, emphasizing "young."  "It's nice of you to come visit, although it is not without tragedy.  I am very sorry about your friend.  We must find your attacker quickly before anyone else gets hurt."

Amidala's eyes teared up and she brought up a shaky hand to quickly wiped them.  "Yes.  I'm hoping that is one favor you can do for me."

Amidala realized that she had kept her mental state much more intact this time than the last time, and even though she was devastated at the loss of her friend, she had not yet been diagnosed as "mentally ill" again.  Yet.

"Of course.  We are just awaiting the council's orders," Anakin assured her, adding a hint of sarcasm at the word "council".  But Amidala wasn't listening as Obi-Wan began to lecture Anakin about respect towards Jedi masters.  She was trying to silence the pounding of her entire body at the shocking and very welcoming sight of Anakin.  "Senator?"  Anakin asked her, with an amused grin on his face.  Cheviot.  Could he tell the battle she was fighting within?  He must not!

Amidala struggled to regain her composure and finally managed, "Yes, Anakin?"

"Did you hear me?" Anakin asked.

Amidala suddenly let out a laugh, thinking, "Under all that he's still the same old Ani."

"Sorry Anakin.  Yes, yes, and I appreciate that.  This has been quite a hard time for me...and with the vote coming up I am very worried at the thought of a war."  Anakin nodded understandingly, but then confidently smiled a half-smile as Amidala subconsiously began to stare at him.  Amidala blushed a little and turned her head quickly.  She realized she was finding herself in the same sort of situation Ani had been in before; a very awkward situation.  And she didn't like it.  She decided to change the subject.  "Well, gentlemen, we aren't going to stand here on the docking bay forever, are we?  I'll walk with you to your rooms."

Obi-Wan smiled genuinely and nodded.  "We are rather tired from our trip, as we have also just returned from a rather interesting mission on Ansion."

Anakin rolled his eyes and then grinned.  "Interesting is not quite the word."

Amidala laughed and placed a hand on both of their shoulders.  "I'd like to hear all about it."

Obi-Wan chuckled in return and replied, "I'm sure Anakin will take care of that, but keep in mind you'll be hearing *his* version of it."

Anakin pretended to be deeply offended.  "Master!?"

Obi-Wan gave him an innocent look.  "What?"

Anakin turned in Amidala's direction as said in a loud whisper, "My version is probably more realistic that Obi-Wan's; he's just jealous."

Amidala laughed.  She was glad that Anakin was keeping busy by teasing with his master because the pounding continued and Amidala was sure it would have been in the sound range by now if Anakin had given her the extra attention.

As their walk continued, Amidala sobered.  She could not be battling with silly emotions right now.  The vote loomed over her like a shadow.  Anakin and Obi-Wan seemed to sense her change of mood.  Anakin gave her a questioning glance and she sighed.  "I am worried about the vote.  I do not want another war.  The last one caused enough grief.  And it was a smaller battle.  Or so I am told.  If this thing comes to war, it would involve many regions and planets!  It could even result in a galactic war!"  Amidala rubbed her temples anxiously.  "I'm not entirely sure what I must do; I only know I must try to convince the Senate to keep this a peaceful negotiation, whatever the cost."

At this both Jedi were brought back to the seriousness of the matters going on.  Anakin remembered how Obi-Wan had stressed the importance of politics on Ansion.  This is what he had meant.  If this failed, then it would create a chain of events that could and most likely would result in war.  Amidala looked towards Obi-Wan, who was deep in thought.  When he finally met her glance, he replied, "Senator Amidala, many people consider your judgment to be wise.  If you ask for peace, then I'm sure many will side with you."

Amidala was not so sure.  "Many people from my planet, yes.  But there are even more people who do not know me and will consider my opinion weak," she sighed.  "But if they have not experienced a war first-hand, many of the skeptics will see it as the only answer.  I'm sure they would feel differently had they experienced the strife and pain of war."

Obi-Wan nodded.  "I trust your judgment, Amidala.  Just do all that you can.  No one can ask for anything more than that."

Amidala remained silent for the rest of the stroll; she had a lot to think over.

They passed some lengthy hallways and corridors, but finally Obi-Wan and Anakin halted at two adjacent doors.  "This is where we're stationed," Obi-Wan addressed Amidala.  She gave him a brief glance and nodded, anxiety still shrouding her face.

"We'll stop by after the vote is held.  Of course, we *will* be there.  Don't worry, M'Lady.  If anyone can make a strong argument, it's you.  You'll do a wonderful job,"  Anakin encouraged.

A slow smile finally intruded upon the anxiety in Amidala's face, and she raised her gaze to meet Obi-Wan's equally amused expression.

"What?" Anakin asked a bit annoyed.  What did they find so amusing?

Amidala gave Anakin a broad grin.  "Thanks, Anakin.  I needed that."

Anakin suddenly found he was no longer annoyed, just puzzled.  Amidala's smile could melt away any negative emotions in a heartbeat.

Amidala bid them farewell, and snuck another grin as she heard Obi-Wan explaining to Anakin, "That was just a bit amusing coming from your mouth, Anakin.  You're telling Amidala she can make a strong argument when you have little idea what you are talking about."  She heard part of Anakin's reply, "What?!  Master, I am not *that* ignorant when it comes to politics!  I can tell when someone makes a strong--" and then she was out of hearing range.  Amidala felt much better and her thoughts turned aside from the vote for a while.  Unfortunately, they started to focus back on Anakin, and how much he had changed.  "Mmmmm...," she thought.  "I wonder if he's ever kissed a girl?"  And then she suddenly shook off the thought.  What was she thinking?!  Anakin was five years younger than her!  FIVE YEARS!  Amidala shook her head violently and actually *tried* to return her thoughts to the vote.  But she couldn't help but wonder...

----------

Amidala raised her eyes toward the massive Senate Building and gulped.  She would never let anyone know she was nervous, but she felt as if the peace of the entire system rested on her shoulders, even though she was not the only one fighting for peace.  Still, it was not a happy feeling.

Amidala stepped into her pod in time to hear Orn Free Taa saying, "The Republic needs more security now, before it comes to war!"

Palpatine commented, "Must I remind the Senator from Malastare that negotiations are continuing with the separatists.  Peace is our objective here...  not war."

Amidala, along with Captain Typho, Jar Jar, and Dorme, advanced her pod into the center of the extensive arena.  Her stomach was at this point in the middle of the butterfly feeling, but Amidala took a deep breath and reminded herself she had plenty of experience doing this.  That didn't comfort her too much, but she had to do this.  "My noble colleagues," she addressed them, "I concur with the Supreme Chancellor.  At all costs, we do not want war!"  Amidala was surprised the Senate's response to her statement was silence.  But it only lasted for a moment as a sudden outburst of cheering ensued.

Palpatine seemed to have an astonished look on his face, and he spoke over the applause, "It is with great surprise and joy that the chair recognizes the Senator from Naboo, Padme Amidala."

There was no time for doubt.  Amidala began, "Less than an hour ago, an assassination attempt was made against my life.  One of my body guards and six others were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered.  I was the target but, more importantly, I believe this security measure before you was the target.  I have led the opposition against building an army...  but there is someone in this body who will stop at nothing to assure its passage..."

Many of the Senators booed and yelled at Amidala.  But she held her head high and continued, "I warn you, if you vote to create this army, war will follow.  I have experienced the misery of war first-hand; I do not wish to do it again.

The Senate was still split in two, with some yelling heartily in agreement with Amidala, and others yelling their disagreements.

Amidala targeted her next statement at those who did not seem to see the peaceful side, "Wake up, Senators...  you must wake up!  If you offer the separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return!  Many will lose their lives.  All will lose their freedom.  This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic."  Amidala wasn't sure if she had heard any snickers, but the atmosphere around those who wanted a war seemed to indicate they wanted to add one here.  She tried not to let anger get a hold of her and continued, "I pray you do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision.  Vote down this security measure,which is nothing less than a declaration of war!  Does anyone here want that?  I cannot believe they do."

At this, there was an undercurrent of booing...  and groaning.  Amidala gritted her teeth and noticed that Senator Orn Free Taa was moving his pod towards her.

He spoke, "My motion to defer the vote must be dealt with first.  That is the rule of law."

Now the frustration Amidala felt began to show on her face.  She glanced over at Palpatine as if asking for his help.  He gave her a sympathetic look and addressed the Senate.  "Due to the lateness of the hour and the seriousness of this motion, we will take up these matters tomorrow.  Until then, the Senate stands adjourned."

Amidala was still angry, but that emotion was set aside as a wave of fatigue swept over her.  The Senate's response had not only left her aggravated, but she was also a bit shaken and more worn out than she had expected.  For these reasons, she was relieved the Senate was adjourned early, but in a sense she wished matters had gone more smoothly so that the vote would have been completed today.  Amidala reminded herself that more time could work to her advantage, though, and on this thought she, Captain Typho, Jar Jar, and Dorme stepped onto their ship and left the towering building.

----------

Obi-Wan and Anakin invited Amidala to come dine with them.  She agreed to meet them in half an hour, and spent that time pacing in her chamber.  She let all her negative emotions spill out then, especially how much she missed Corde.  She was just beginning to know her better before, but it seemed she had been more fond of her than she had realized.  Without her former handmaidens, Corde and Dorme were the closest female companions she had.  Corde's death had torn a piece of her heart away.  She was caught in a web of guilt since it was supposed to be HER death and not Corde's.  Amidala felt like a small child still in the shock of her first pet's death.  She had never expected something like this to happen...wasn't it something that happened to other people?  Unknown people, the ones with no names and faces?

Amidala sighed and wiped her hands against her face.  She was a mess.  How could she join Anakin and Obi-Wan like this?  Despite her feelings of guilt and sorrow, Amidala felt her heart jump at the thought of Anakin.  What should she wear?  Amidala stood up and went to regard her reflection in the full-length mirror.  She sighed and glanced at the time.  She should get going.  With no time to change, she just worked on making her face look normal.  It was red from crying; she didn't want to be seen (as her mother had once said jokingly) as weak and leaky.  Maybe she could talk to Ani later...but for the dinner she wanted to be able to talk without sobbing or having signs of having done so.  She splashed some cold water on her face and dried it with a towel.  She blinked at herself and finally decided she had done well enough.  If she had any nervous feelings about being around Anakin, she pushed them aside and remembered how trivial such matters were at such a troubling time.  She needed to be serious right now.  That meant regarding Ani as nothing more than a friend.  Amidala then picked apart that thought and reminded herself that was all he was.

Her stomach replied with a growl.  "Yes, think about how hungry you are.  Do not think about Anakin.  Do not think about Anakin.  Do not think about Anakin..."

After a few minutes of trying to focus her thoughts, Amidala finally arrived at Obi-Wan's room.  She pushed the buzzer.  Anakin answered the door.  "Do not think about Anakin."  "Hello, M"Lady."  Anakin greeted her in that tantalizing voice of his.  Amidala felt a chill run down her spine.  "Why must he have *that* voice," Amidala thought to herself and tried hard not to turn into a pile of jell-o on the floor.  "Good evening, Anakin."  Amidala replied casually, hoping she was not coming off too cold, and at the same time hoping he would not misinterpret any of her actions as in any way flirtatious.  A sly smile crept up her face, and she almost slapped it off her face herself.  She thought about Corde and brushed other thoughts away.  "Looks aren't everything, he's five years younger.  Looks aren't everything, he's five years younger..."  but it wasn't *only* his looks that had her thinking about him now!  After all, he was still that sweet little boy she had met on Tatooine -- only he wasn't a boy anymore, he wasn't on Tatooine, he was still sweet, but he had an intriguing edge to him, and he was so GOOD LOOKING!  He had those intense eyes, that voice...  "Okay.  We seem to be back to the looks..."

Obi-Wan stepped out of the kitchen and smiled warmly at Amidala.  "Good evening, Senator.  We are glad you are joining us for dinner."  Amidala nodded and caught Anakin looking at her with a sparkle in his eyes.  Oh, yeah.  He was glad.

"Thank you very much, Obi-Wan Kenobi."  Amidala thanked him.  Then she smiled and told him, but locked eye contact with Anakin as she said it, "I'm glad to join you as well."

Anakin stepped up closer to Amidala and squinted while looking at her face.  Then he asked the obvious--or at least Amidala was hoping it was not obvious--, "Have you been crying?"

Obi-Wan gave him a reprimanding glance and turned back to Amidala, who felt a bit embarrassed right then.  Instead of apologizing for his padawan again, he changed the subject.  "Dinner is ready.  We should eat while it is still warm."

"Yes, I can't wait."  Amidala replied, glad that she never had to answer the question.

Anakin bit back laughter and Amidala picked up on it.  "What?  What is it?"  Anakin shook his head, still amused, and told her, "If I were you, I would wait."

"Why?  Obi-Wan is a good cook, right?"  Amidala was walking towards the kitchen as she said this, and Obi-Wan apparently heard.

"Of course I am.  What sort of nonsense has my padawan been telling you now?"  Amidala smiled and gave Anakin an innocent look as she replied, "Oh, only the usual."  Anakin laughed and gave her a playful shove.  Amidala felt a tingle left behind where he had touched her.  She grinned as well, but searched his face for any sign that he had felt something.  She could read his face like an open book this time, despite the amount of time since they had last seen each other.  Yes, he had.

"Dinner," Obi-Wan reminded them.

Despite what Anakin had said, dinner was surprisingly good, considering the fact that Amidala couldn't imagine a Jedi having time to practice that sort of thing.  She voiced that thought and Anakin laughed and said, "Oh yes, in the evenings when I would get back from my lessons with Master Obi-Wan, he would go straight to the kitchen to whip us something up.  He even gave me a few cooking lessons.  Of course, I won't mention the times when he almost brought the kitchen down in flames..."

Amidala gave Obi-Wan an incredulous look.  "Time-s?  As in, more than one?"

Obi-Wan gave Anakin a "you"ll pay for that" look and moved his hand around in attempt to brush the thought aside as nothing while saying, "As in maybe twice.  We all make our mistakes..."

Anakin and Amidala shared a smile but did not pursue the matter.  Instead, even though Amidala did not really want to bring a depressing subject, but felt that she needed to talk about it, Amidala said, "So, do you think Palpatine will manage to hold off the vote?"

Obi-Wan took some time to think and finally answered, his face grim, "To be quite honest with you, M"Lady, I don't think Palpatine can keep this up much longer.  It seems much more of the senate has sided for the construction of an army than we anticipated."

Amidala pursed her lips and responded, "No, I anticipated it.  Only -- I cannot accept it.  I will continue to pursue the option of peace.  No matter how grim the odds."

Obi-Wan nodded, and Anakin had a kind of grin on his face.  He admired her determination, Amidala noted.  Obi-Wan didn't scold him for it, so the rest of the evening they turned to more pleasant conversation.  Tomorrow would come quickly enough, and what they said about it now wouldn't change what would take place.  Besides, Amidala needed a break from the whirlwind.  The rest of the meal was peaceful and agreeable, which was a wonderfully needed respite for her.

After the meal Anakin excused himself, and Amidala wondered why he had needed to leave.  She was somewhat disappointed because she still wanted to talk to Anakin alone.  It seemed she would not get the chance tonight.

Obi-Wan and Amidala talked for a while until finally Amidala felt fatigue crawl under her skin.

"Well, Obi-Wan, sleep is calling me.  I only hope my thoughts won't disturb me tonight; I haven't had a good night's sleep for several days."

"Good night, Senator Amidala.  I hope to see you well rested tomorrow."

Amidala nodded a thank you and walked wearily back to her chamber.

Her last thought before going to sleep was, "I wonder what Anakin was doing?"

----------

The next day Amidala woke to the blatant sound of her buzzer.  She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes.  Her mind immediately asked, "What time it is?"  but Amidala ignored that and stuck her head out of the door.

"Yes?"

Dorme was on the other side of the door.  Amidala smiled and let her in; Dorme was the closest thing she had to a "handmaiden", and she was a good friend.

"Good morning, M"Lady," she said hastily and added just as quickly, "You're going to be late!  You are needed at the Executive Quarters shortly!"

Amidala glanced at her chronometer, and gasped.  "Hold everyone up for as long as you can!  I need to shower and dress first!"

Dorme nodded and walked briskly out the door.  Amidala set the sonic shower and jumped in, shaking her head and thinking, "What a great start to my morning."

----------

Less than an hour later, Senator Padme Amidala entered the Executive Quarters Building flanked by Dorme, Captain Typhoo, Jar Jar, and Senators Amedda, Bail Organa, Ryyder, and Orn Fre Taa.

Amidala was greeted by Yoda who tapped her lightly with his cane and commented, "With you the force is strong, young Senator.  To see you alive brings warm feelings to my heart."

Amidala brightened a bit and tried not to smile too much.  That was probably the nicest thing Yoda had ever said to her, and seemed very unusual coming from him.  "Thank you, Master Yoda."  Then she got to the point, "Do you have any idea who was behind the attack?"

It was Master Windu who spoke up, "Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice miners, on the moons of Naboo."

Amidala shook her head; that wasn't at all what she thought.  "I don't wish to disagree but I think that Count Dooku was behind it."  She felt strange contradicting a Jedi, but then again she was not just going to let her opinion get squashed.  There was a stir of surprise from many in the room.

Mace Windu squinted his eyes and regarded Amidala curiously as if to find out where she had gotten that idea from.  He countered, "You know, M'Lady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi.  He wouldn't assassinate anyone, it is not in his character."

His opinion was seconded by another council member, Ki-Adi-Mundi, "He is a political idealist, not a murderer!"  The idea did not seem plausible to any of the council members, except perhaps Yoda, who gave a vague answer, but Amidala interpreted it to be somewhat agreeing with her notion, "In dark times nothing is what it appears to be, but the fact remains Senator, in grave danger you are."

The council members nodded agreement, for his answer summed up what they ultimately thought as well, but Palpatine, who appeared to be intrigued but somewhat anxious, stood up and walked to the window where he looked out upon the vast city.  He spoke, "Count Dooku has always avoided any kind of conflict.  It appears he has no desire to start a war.  Why would he kill you?  To what end?"

Amidala could sense there was something deeper than met the ear to this question, although she could not figure out what it could possibly be.  She answered carefully, however, "I don't know, but everything in my being tells me he was behind it..."

After several moments, Palpatine asked the Jedi if Amidala could be put under their protection.  Amidala was still weary, though.  She never had any direct proof or cause to be suspicious of the Chancellor, but sometimes he seemed a bit ... overconfident, and other times he was too preoccupied.  But he had proved himself to be a great leader, so Amidala tried to ignore the funny feeling.  There was no reason she should doubt his judgment, especially not because of a nagging "feeling" that opposed Palpatine's actions.  Everything he was doing seemed to be for the best of the republic, and yet ...

Padme snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Bail Organa ask, "Do you think that is a wise use of manpower during these stressful times?"  For a second Amidala couldn't remember what they were talking about, but then she remembered -- her being placed under the protection of the Jedi.  She opened her mouth and began to say, "Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe the ..."

Palpatine, as if reading her mind, interrupted her to say,"... situation is that serious.  No, but I do, Senator."

Amidala could feel aggravation creeping under her veins, and her feeling began to get the best of her.  What if he was hiding some ulterior motive to placing her under the Jedi's protection?  She didn't want to be made an obvious target by being flanked with guards!  She didn't think before she spoke and let that comment out, "Chancellor, please!  I don't want any more guards!"

Palpatine gave her a knowing glance, "I realize all too well that additional security might be disruptive for you, but perhaps someone you are familiar with ...  an old friend like ...  Master Kenobi...

Amidala didn't listen to Mace Windu's response.  She was seething inside.  So she knew Obi-Wan and didn't mind that -- what she minded was how everything was going along as if according to some plan Palpatine had already set up; warning alarms were going off in her head.  She attempted to fight back and added, "This is not necessary, Chancellor."

"Do it for me, M'Lady, please.  I will rest easier.  We had a big scare today.  The thought of losing you is unbearable."

Bah!  Amidala didn't think he was *really* concerned with her safety but then she looked around the room and saw the Jedi's faces seemed to agree with him.  None of the Jedi could sense anything wrong with him.  Maybe she was just being a judgmental politician.  After all, if the Jedi respected his opinion, then now was not the best time to make a scene.  Amidala sighed when she saw she had no choice as the Jedi began to stand up to leave.

Mace Windu addressed her, "I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, M'Lady."

Amidala nodded offhandedly.  She was still thinking about Palpatine.  She was almost a little startled when she heard Yoda whisper into her ear, "Too little about yourself you worry, Senator, and too much about politics.  Be mindful of your danger, Padme.  Accept our help."

Amidala heard those words ringing in her mind as she left the room, and suddenly she remembered that being under the protection of Obi-Wan meant that his padawan would surely be *protecting* her too.  Amidala bit her lip.  She did not want to get into anything she might later regret ...

She and Dorme stepped into the ship, and while Captain Typhoo was too busy at the helm to listen, Amidala turned towards Dorme and confided, "Dorme, I don't know what I'm going to do!  Here I am trying to prevent a war and not doing too good of a job, and my thoughts are being distracted by something else.  I'm going to be under Obi-Wan and ANAKIN's protection now, and Anakin has feelings for me that I cannot possibly deal with right now!  I don't know what I am to do!"  Dorme turned towards Amidala and looked her straight in the eye, seriously.  "Do you have feelings for him, too?"

Amidala shook her head.  "No.  He is a good friend, but nothing more.  He is a lot younger than me, Dorme, and when I met him he was just a boy!"  Dorme nodded and turned her head to look away for a second, hiding a smile.  She turned back to Amidala and kept her serious glance as she replied, "Just let him know you're not interested.  That's all."

Amidala nodded, but did not want to get into further details.  She could not do that to Anakin, and besides, she had never said she was not interested ... it's just ... she wasn't interested at the moment.  She spent the trip back to the Senate building in silence except when Captain Typhoo told her, "M"Lady, I think we three ought to have a little conversation when we arrive back at the Senate building.  Changes are about to take place, there is no denying it.  Whether they are for the better or worse we can only speculate as of now, but the one thing we know for sure is that you're in danger.  And we are here to help you.  So we need to know what you want our part to be in this."

Amidala replied, "Of course."  The ship reached the docking bay and as they got out she added, "Meet me in my apartment in ten minutes.  We can talk there."

And in ten minutes the three had gathered around the table and Amidala nodded at Captain Typhoo to begin.

"Well, M"Lady, the Chancellor was wise to put you under the protection of the Jedi, but nonetheless, you are still in danger."

Dorme nodded and spoke up, "I think we are needed more than ever now, and request that Captain Typhoo and I keep watch every so often around the building.  I know the Jedi have senses that can tell them if an intruder is coming, but they will be watching your apartment closely and it is possible that they be taken off guard by a lurking intruder.  The least we can do is add and an extra pair of eyes."

Amidala was touched that they were so loyal to give up some of their free time to watch out for her, but at the same time she felt guilty for being in such an important position that people had to do this FOR HER.  "I appreciate the offer, but maybe--"

Captain Typhoo cut her off.  "This would be in the best interest of the Republic, of course.  We need as many people as possible who can help prevent this war.  We cannot afford to lose you."  Amidala was surprised by how perceptive the Captain was.  She had not wanted to be singled out and "doted" upon, and Captain Typhoo knew how to anticipate her feelings and ease her mind.  "Alright.  But only in the interest of peace."

Dorme smiled and Captain Typhoo was about to say something when Jar Jar entered the room with the two Jedi walking behind him.

"Lookie...  lookie...  Oops!...  Oh, dear, I'm afraid I've forgotten myself again."

Amidala once again thought how amusing it was to see Jar Jar trying so persistently to act properly in his new position.  That thought, though, was interrupted by the irritating sensation of being watched.  Amidala turned towards Anakin, and sure enough, he darted his eyes away quickly when he saw she was aware of his stare.

"It's a great pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," Obi-Wan greeted.  Amidala wondered if he could feel the tension that was beginning to build in the room.

Amidala remembered that she wasn't technically supposed to have spent so much time with her Jedi "protectors" and she replied, "I'm so glad our paths have crossed again...  but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."

Obi-Wan must have felt the tension, for he gave her a lopsided smile and said, "I'm sure the Jedi Council have their reasons."

Jar Jar didn't know about her seeing Anakin a few days before, so she kept up the charade, " Ani??  My goodness you've grown."  She thought back to the time when she first said these words.

They looked at each other for a long moment.  It was obvious Anakin had been doing some thinking about her, because this he had a more smooth reply already prepared,

"So have you...  grown more beautiful, I mean...  and much shorter...  for a Senator, I mean."

Obi-Wan yet again gave a look of disapproval at his apprentice.  But this time there was some humor in his face, and both Anakin and Amidala could see that he thought this reply was much more planned and practiced than the last.  Amidala laughed and shook her head.

"I"ll show him what I"ve got up my sleeve," Amidala thought, cunningly, and she answered, "Oh Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."

Anakin decided to take an interest in his feet, and he blushed a little bit, which brought a smile to Captain Typhoo and Obi-Wan Kenobi's face.

But Obi-Wan was not a cold-hearted instructor, and he gave his padawan a break by changing the subject, "Our presence will be invisible, M"Lady."

Amidala nodded and the memory of her hovering over Corde returned to her.  She felt another pang of guilt at the thought and lowered her head in respect of the memory, saying nothing about to Obi-Wan's comment.  It was Captain Typho who spoke in her place.

"I am very grateful you are here, Master Kenobi.  The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

Amidala looked up, now offended that he was just talking about her like that, "I don't need more security, I need answers.  I want to know who is trying to kill me."

"We're here to protect you Senator, not to start an investigation," said Obi-Wan, frowning.

Anakin could sense Amidala's frustration, and added quickly, "We will find out who is trying to kill you Padme, I promise you."  Too quickly.  He hadn't thought that sentence over and saw Obi-Wan giving him a dirty look again.  He had only been trying to come to her rescue!

Amidala listened to them bicker and realized, as Anakin made his argument ( "Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer?  Protection is a job for local security...  not Jedi.  It's overkill, Master.  Investigation is implied in our mandate.") that he was very concerned for her.  Everyone seemed to be concerned , though, and they all thought they knew what to do about it.  The very real danger that she was in finally hit her like lightning, and she felt almost--scared.  If nobody was sure what to do about it, then she was not completely safe at all.  She once again saw Corde's limp form in her mind's eye and shuddered.  She did not want that to be her.  Amidala was very disturbed at that thought and decided to excuse herself into her apartment.  "Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed.  Now if you will excuse me, I will retire."  Dorme!  must have picked up on her unease, because she stood up as well and walked right after her.  Amidala let Dorme close the door behind her while she found a nice spot on the edge of the bed to sit, with her head resting on her hands.  Amidala could hear the faint tones of voices outside continue to discuss, but more than that she could feel a cold chill wrap itself around her spine and embed itself into it.  A cold flowed through the Senator, from her head down to her toes.  She shivered and fell into Dorme's warm embrace like a terrified child would fall into its mothers arms during a thunderstorm.

Dorme instantly felt her friend's lack of warmth, and realized it could only be one thing: fear.

"Nothing will happen to you while we're here," Dorme promised.

Amidala looked up at her with wide eyes.  "Nothing was supposed to happen to Corde either."

Both of them found themselves holding back tears once again.  The emotional roller coaster they were on was taking its toll, Dorme noticed as she noticed bags starting to appear under Amidala's eyes.  Corde had been such a good friend.  There was nothing Dorme could say to ease their loss, so she admitted out loud, "Life's not always fair."

Amidala didn't really need to hear the most happy things right now because she knew no one could really guarantee her safety.  But just having someone else in the room with her eased her fear, and Amidala turned to Dorme and tried to relax.  Instead she felt completely drained and laid back on the bed.  Dorme lightly patted Amidala's head affectionately, and sat down beside her.  Even though there was still the light of waning day drifting through the window; Amidala didn't even have time to realize she had fallen asleep.

Amidala found herself in suspension overlooking a jumble of shadows and lights raging and fighting and blaring across her eyes.  There were roars of anger and of satisfaction and Amidala could hear nothing but those until her ears adjusted enough to hear pieces of a buried conversation...

"Masking...future, this disturbance...Force..."  Amidala tried harder to pick out more pieces of the conversation, "prophecy...coming true, Dark Side is growing..."  "What in the world?"  Amidala wondered and tried to figure out where she was.  But she didn't appear to be in a any certain place at all, she just WAS--, "...apprentice will...bring balance to the Force?"  Amidala's brain spun and she felt dizzy from not being able to distinguish up from down, left from right.  She once again tried to hear the conversation, "..he chooses...follow his destiny."

Destiny.

And then there was no sound but the sound of heavy footsteps coming nearer and nearer to where Amidala was suspended.  She tried to find some way to escape, but found she could not see through the dark haze that started to surround her...

Amidala shook herself awake from another one of those disturbing dreams.  Her heart was pounding and beads of sweat were coating her forehead.  She looked around the room for Dorme, but saw nothing in the room.  In fact, it was getting a little hard to see in the room because the sun had set a while ago, and now the sky was a navy blue that showed the night was beginning to ripen.

A sliver of light appeared in the room and Amidala realized it came from the entrance door opening little by little.  A terror suddenly gripped the Senator, and she pulled her covers over her head.  What is this was the assassin?  The stream of light grew larger and larger, Amidala observed from where she peeked out from behind the blankets.  A figure tentatively stepped in and turned directly towards Amidala.  Amidala tried to control her breathing and hoped it was not really as loud as it seemed to her.  She was trying desperately to look asleep.  In pure fright, she closed her eyes and gripped tightly onto her covers.

"Padme?"  The figure whispered from only a few feet over her and Amidala gasped and let out a small yell of surprise.

"I--I just wanted to see if you were awake."  Amidala's terror finally ebbed and she was able to think logically.  With this, Amidala realized that was Anakin's voice and she sat up angrily in her bed.  The room was still somewhat dark with only the outside light coming in, but Amidala sat up in her bed and was able to make out his features.

Her fear was replaced by rage.  "ANAKIN," she hissed, "YOU JUST ABOUT SCARED ME TO DEATH!  Don't do that again!"  Her heart was finally calming down and she took a few more deep breaths to try to relax herself.

Anakin looked embarrassed and muttered an apology.  He wheeled around and began walking towards the door, when suddenly he stopped and slowly turned back towards Amidala.

"Padme?"  He asked timidly and Amidala felt bad for having blown up on him.

"Yes, Anakin?"

Anakin hesitated, then asked her, "I have an idea on how we can find the assassin.  I need to get your consent first and..."  he smiled sheepishly, "...is it all right if I turned the lights on?"

Amidala couldn't hold back a smile herself, "Of course."

The lights came on so abruptly that Amidala once again pulled the blankets over her head; this time to shield her eyes.  She pulled the covers back slowly so that her eyes could adjust, and finally was able to push them back.

"Alright.  I want to hear this idea of yours."  Anakin came and knelt by her bed, where he told her about his plan to use her as bait.  Of course, he did not phrase it that way, but Amidala understood the implication.  She was about to flat out refuse the idea because of the overwhelming fear she had for her life when she once again remembered Corde's vacant face and realized she would do whatever it took to find the person who had done that to her.

She gave Anakin a determined look and said, "Let's give it a try."

---

Amidala lay quietly on her bed and tried to sleep, but she could not sleep with the thought of some killer lurking around her apartment.  So she wondered what it was like for those people who had to live like this constantly; alert and afraid.

Amidala heard noise in the adjacent room, and focused all her energy on listening to what Obi-Wan and Anakin were talking about.  Finally she was able to hear Obi-Wan saying, "Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs.  No assassin will try that way.  Any activity up here?"

*Men?* Amidala really owed Captain Typhoo for all this.

"Quiet as a tomb."  Anakin responded, "I don't like just waiting here for something to

happen to her."

Amidala gulped at felt the hair on her skin tingle when he said that.

"What's going on?"  Obi-Wan asked.  Amidala looked around the room tentatively.  Was something happening?  She listened and after a little while of silence heard Anakin say, "She covered that camera.  I don't think she liked me watching her."

Amidala relaxed and rolled her eyes.  That's right.  She didn't need him staring at her for a few hours at a time.  If there was one thing she hated, it was being watched constantly.  Besides, they didn't need to know she was awake.

"What is she thinking?"  Obi-Wan asked in exasperation.

"She programmed Artoo to warn us if there's an intruder."

Amidala almost giggled.  Her fear and the fun of listening in on their conversation were making her giddy.  They had no idea she was listening to her every word.

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about.  There are many other ways to kill a Senator."  Amidala's eyes widened at this and she pulled the covers close to her.  She didn't want to hear this anymore.  Maker, help me.

"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin.  Don't we, Master?"

"You're using her as bait?!"  Obi-Wan exclaimed.  Obviously Anakin hadn't bothered to clear his idea with his master.  Amidala wondered how he would get out of this one.  "I wonder if I"ll get to kiss him before I die..."  Amidala thought giddily, but then she dismissed both subjects of that thought.  She did *not* want to kiss Ani, and she definitely DID NOT want to die.

"It was her idea...  No harm will come to her.  I can sense everything going on in that room.  Trust me."

That liar!  Now he was making HER sound like the crazy one!

"It's too risky...  and your senses aren't that attuned, young apprentice."  Yes.  Anakin did have an ego sometimes.  Good thing Obi-Wan was there to keep his head out of the clouds...

"And yours are?"  Amidala rolled her eyes, trying to make light of her situation.  There he goes again, he's going to get another lecture, doesn't he realize?

But Obi-Wan surprised her when all he said in reply was, "Possibly."

Amidala would have laughed had she not been more scared than she had ever been in her life.

"If I had to live in fear every moment I wouldn't want to live," Amidala thought and then added, "the same would go for living every moment in pain.  At least I'm fine.  In a manner of speaking."

Everything was quite, until a faint sound came at window.  Amidala didn't dare look up.  She knew she hadn't imagined the sound when R2D2 came on, and his lights flashed around the room.

Amidala's mind went into the state of terror again.  "You are sleeping.  Sleeping Sleeping Sleeping Sleeping..."  She sucked in a breath and waited.

Nothing happened.

Finally, finally Artoo shut down again.

Amidala breathed.  False alarm.

Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.  She focused her energy on listening intently again.

"I don't sleep well, anymore."  It was Anakin's voice.  The Jedi didn't seem to be alarmed either.  The conversation continued.

"Because of your mother?"  Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now.  I haven't seen her since I was little," Anakin answered.  Amidala was surprised that Ani hadn't seen his mother since he first left to become a Jedi.  Didn't the council have a heart?

"Dreams pass in time," was Obi-Wan's reply.  Amidala began to zone out a little.  Even though she was very afraid, she was also very tired.  Her eyelids started to close on her and her breathing became more regular...

"I'd rather dream of Padme.  Just being around her again is...intoxicating."

Amidala's eyes jerked open.  She remembered the throb of her entire body when she had first seen him.  The passion she had felt in that previous dream--and he thought she was intoxicating?  Amidala rubbed her hands against her face.  Oh no, I can't deny what he thinks now that I"ve heard it out loud from him...

"Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you.  You've made a commitment to the Jedi order...  a commitment not easily broken...  and don't forget she's a politician.  They're not to be trusted."

"Not to be TRUSTED?  Hmph.  I had a lot of respect for Obi-Wan before this, I can't believe he'd say such a thing.  Why does Anakin even admit his feelings to Obi-Wan in the first place?  Why doesn't he just tell me?  Obi-Wan doesn't need to know about how we feel--I mean he feels about me!  Dear Maker, what's coming over me?  I don't have time to fall in love; I can't--this is Ani, a dear friend-- five years my junior and--Oh, I'm so confused!"

"She's not like the others in the Senate, Master."

"You better believe it," Amidala thought since she was still somewhat angry at Obi-Wan.  After their nice talk the other day after dinner she could hardly believe he would think of her as untrustworthy.

"It's been my experience that Senators are only focused on pleasing those who fund their campaigns...  and they are more than willing to forget the niceties of democracy to get those funds."

Amidala bit her lip and was fuming inside.  How dare he?  He knew her better than that!

"Not another lecture, Master.  Not on the economics of politics....  It's too early in the morning...  and besides, you're generalizing.  The Chancellor doesn't appear to be corrupt!"  Anakin argued

Morning?  Was it that late?  Had she really spent so much time staring at the ceiling and thinking and listening to Anakin and Obi-Wan talk?

"Palpatine's a politician, I've observed that he is very clever at following the passions and prejudices of the Senators."  Obi-Wan quipped.

Amidala's eyes narrowed.  Yes.  She had noticed that too.  He was almost--too nice about helping everyone to achieve what they desired.  Amidala wondered what it was that HE truly desired.

"I think he is a good man.  My instincts are very positive about..."

Suddenly there was a long silence.  With nothing to keep her mind focused on, Amidala began to fall asleep...

...Only to jerk awake as Obi-Wan and Anakin burst into her room.  Amidala saw a blob before her and focused her vision in time to see two disgusting multi-legged insects hissing at her.  Suddenly a picture of Corde's face flashed before her, beckoning Amidala to join her....

Amidala's face was contorted into one of horror when suddenly Anakin jumped in front of her and faster than her eyes could keep up with, he chopped the insects in half with his lightsaber.

Amidala began shaking all over.  She heard the distant crash of glass from her side but didn't really take notice to it as now everything seemed to register slowly.  Time itself seemed to freeze and Amidala was frozen in side of it.  Everything became an icy blue; cold, uncaring, detached.  She couldn't believe how close she had once again come to death and the thought of those disgusting creatures crawling around while she was listening unaware to a conversation...the blue began to spin again, and time melted back to normal once more.

The first thing Amidala saw as her mind began to make connections again was Obi-Wan being carried off by a droid outside her window.  It took a little while, but Amidala finally connected the sound of breaking glass to Obi-Wan jumping out the window.  Anakin stood by her, watching his master as well, and then he turned towards her as if in slow motion.

Amidala suddenly felt self-conscious underneath his gaze, and she pulled her night dress around her shoulders and shivered.  One, to try and shake of the memories of her near death experience, and two, to try and escape his glance.

Suddenly, everything started happening in a rush.  Anakin shouted, "Stay here!"  at Amidala, and Captain Typhoo, Dorme, and two other guards entered her room as Anakin sprinted out full speed.

"Are you all right, M"Lady?"  Dorme asked, concern clear on her pale face.

"Just a little shaken, Dorme."

Captain Typhoo shook his head.  "Of all the things we were looking for--we should have expected the assassin to use something small, an insect at that!"

Amidala looked behind her at the remains of the creatures and shuddered.  "Captain Typhoo, can you have those removed?"

"Yes, M"Lady."  Captain Typhoo motioned to the guards and they cleaned the area up.  Then he dismissed them, and they left.  Amidala looked around her room nervously, for she still was afraid someone would jump out and grab her-- which brought the memory of the first assassination attempt that had been made on her to mind.  But it hadn't exactly been an assassination attempt.  She still didn't think the Sith, or whatever it was, that captured her had meant to kill her.  He only tried to when the Jedi burst in--or so she had been informed afterwards.  That time, things hadn't been as frightening, though, because she had been unconscious the whole time.  So she had no memory.  Now the memory of Corde and the other guards" deaths were always haunting her.  Not to mention *her* close brush with death.  Oh yes, this time she was terrified.

"I was so scared for a while there, Amidala.  When we heard the Jedi rush in and the clamor, all that was passing through my mind was the chance that they might be too late.  It was horrible," Dorme admitted.

Amidala nodded, slowly.  She could still not believe how close she had been to dying.  But she could not dwell on it forever.  Now, Anakin and Obi-Wan were chasing the assassin and once they caught him, things would go on.  Life went on, thankfully.  If it weren't for Anakin, her life may not have...

"Yes, this whole ordeal has caused us all to fear.  Hopefully the Jedi will return safely and victorious, and this chapter in our lives will be over.  Somehow I fear that this is not the case.  There is more to today's events than meets the eye, I'm afraid.  But all we can do is wait and see."

Captain Typhoo nodded agreement.  "Something fishy is going on, for sure.  I can feel it in the air.  Perceptive words, M"Lady.  But for once, let us hope you are wrong."

They all nodded in turn.  A large yawn coming from Amidala brought their thoughts back to the moment.

"You are tired, M"Lady.  Let us stay here and watch over you," Dorme suggested.

"Thank you kindly, but I don't really think--"

But neither Dorme or Captain Typhoo found out what she really thought.  For it was then she fell asleep.

---

BUZZ.  BUZZ.

Amidala blinked her eyes open slowly as light poured into them.  What day is it?  Where am I?  Amidala wondered, but as she came out of her grogginess, the events of the night before rushed back to her.  She wished she could have waken up without recalling them.

BUZZ.

That was what had awake her.  She thought the buzzing had been part of her dream, one about a small bee stinging a large animal which made such a racket that it woke up many much larger animals that proceeded to kill the bee...

"Come in!"  she called from underneath the protective covers.  From the lack of people in her room, Dorme and Captain Typhoo had left sometime after she fell asleep.

Anakin stepped into her room and came and sat by the edge of her bed again, as he had before.

"Good morning, M"Lady.  You might want to consider getting up one of these days."

Amidala yawned in reply.  Then she remembered how he had gone after the assassin.  "Did you and Obi-Wan catch the assassin?"

Anakin gave her an apologetic look.  "Well, we caught the person he had hired to kill you.  It turns out your assassin is a bounty hunter.  He killed the person he had hired before she could tell us his name."

Amidala gritted her teeth.  Anakin looked down.  "I'm not mad at you Ani.  I'm just upset that this ordeal isn't yet over.  I had a feeling it wouldn't be."

Anakin looked up.  "No.  It isn't.  I have some news for you, Padme."

Amidala frowned and got a sinking feeling in the bottom of her stomach.  "What kind of news?"

"It depends on how you take it."  Anakin replied.  "You"ll probably hear this again from someone other than me, but the council, along with Captain Typhoo, Dorme, and Master Obi-Wan have suggested that the best thing for you to do, while there is still a threat to you out there, is to go into hiding."

Amidala opened her mouth to protest, "How dare they make this decision without me!"  but then realized this would make her sound like a whiny child.  So she said instead, "I can't go into hiding while I am needed here!  The vote-"

Captain Typhoo walked in the door at that moment and finished, "-Will go on without you.  Your life is in danger here.  Your safety comes first, M"Lady, you know this as well as I."

Amidala looked flabbergasted.  "Who will take my place?  I haven't spent all this time working for peace to let it slip through my fingers!"

Captain Typhoo gave her a stern glance.  "Senator Padme Amidala, would you like it to slip through your *lifeless* fingers?  Besides, there are others who would be happy to vouch for peace in your place if it means protecting you.  This is serious, Amidala.  You can no longer deny that."

Amidala looked pleadingly towards Anakin, as if the way out lied through him, but he shook his head and seemed to try and coax her to agree with his eyes.

Amidala wanted to stomp her feet and pout, but she just sighed and resigned instead.  "Alright Captain Typhoo, I suppose you have a legitimate reason to do this.  I don't like it, but I will go along with it since I seem to be outnumbered."

"Good.  Then we will fly to Theed this evening.  Have everything packed by then and be clothed as a peasant."  Captain Typhoo had a hint of a smile on his face.

"We're going to Naboo!  Well, at least that's one bit of good news.  Guess I'd better get packing.  Don't get to smug, Captain, I'd be a little more apologetic if I were you."

"Yes, M"Lady."  Was that sarcasm she detected?  She let it slide and Captain Typhoo did a little bow and stepped out.  Only Anakin remained, but it looked like he had something on his mind.  "Anakin?"  Amidala prompted.

"I was wondering if you would meet me in my apartment for lunch.  I"ve got a little--surprise cooked up."

"For me?"  Amidala smiled.  "Well then, I guess it would be pointless to refuse.  I"ll be over in about an hour, how's that?"

"Perfect.  Although the food might not be quite ready yet."  Anakin replied a smile also coating his face.

"Well, I"ll try to guess what the surprise is in the meantime.  Now if you don't mind, I'd better start getting ready--"

"I don't mind," Anakin said and grinned coyly.

Amidala blushed, "What I meant was, why don't you go get the food started.  I'm already hungry."

Anakin shrugged, "As you wish, M"Lady," And locked eye contact with her.  She could get lost in those eyes.  They were so blue, so sensitive, and they seemed to be able to see right through her; they had such a depth to them that seemed to draw her in...  Amidala broke eye contact.  "See you soon," she mumbled and Anakin left.

How could she have been so stupid?  First, to agree to go into hiding, and second, to go eat lunch with Anakin.  Just the two of them!  Thank goddess she wouldn't have to deal with him in Theed...she just didn't know if she could hold back from him any longer.

---

Amidala showed up at Anakin's apartment after exactly an hour had passed.  She now was more angry than ever about going into hiding, but tried to look happy anyway.  What a task.

"Come in, Padme.  I just fixed something simple; I hope you don't mind."  Amidala shook her head and walked in behind him.  She didn't speak because she didn't want to blow up.  "I"ve been working on something for you out of the kitchen--" They entered the living room and Amidala gasped.  There, in the center, was a lustrous metal fountain.  The pillar started as a cylinder and flared out near the bottom, and the top was a sphere with a hole in the middle.  A little basin surrounded the sphere, and the water that ran out from the middle collected in there.  It ran down the metal in tiny streams that made the surface look even more smooth and perfect.  Above the open center, held up by three wires connected to the sphere was a representation of the planet Naboo.

Amidala just looked at it in awe and couldn't seem to come up with any words to thank him.  Finally, her mind floating in bliss she managed, "Thank you so much, Ani.  This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!  But what did I ever do to deserve it?"

Anakin beamed and answered, "All you did was be kind to a slave boy so many years ago.  I missed so many of your birthdays and special occasions that I felt it was only right to make you something special."

Tears welled up in Amidala's eyes.  She forgot about all her angry feelings, and just watched the water pour down.

"How are we ever going to get this to Naboo?"  Amidala finally asked.

"We won't be able to take it this time, but somehow I"ll find a way to get it to you.  I just wanted you to see it before we left.  It's what I was working on that day when my Master had you over for dinner.  I didn't want to be rude by leaving, but I had to have this done!"

"Thank you so so much Anakin!"  Amidala finally squealed and pulled him a tight hug.  She let go quickly as it quickly became awkward.  She looked away and wondered how to break the awkward moment.

"So," both of them started in unison.

Amidala laughed to try and break the tension.  "You first," she told Anakin.

"Dinner should be ready now if you'd like to--"

"Yes, let's eat!  But, don't forget, we're eating LUNCH."  Amidala finished.  Anakin muttered an apology and she followed him into the dining room.  The table was set nicely, but to her relief, there were no candles or anything like that decorating it.  "Good," she thought, "he isn't pushing anything on me."

They didn't drink any wine, which also relieved some of Amidala's stress.  Amidala almost laughed at herself.  "Pull yourself together Am!  You're just having lunch with an old friend."

After eating a few bites of satisfying food, Amidala burst out, "I should really be the one to do all this for you, Anakin.  After all, you did save my life last night.  If you hadn't been there to chop those creatures up I-"

"-let's not consider those what if's.  But if that was a thank you-"

"-it was-"

"-then you're welcome."

Amidala felt silly at that moment, so she she returned her attention to her food.  She lifted her fork up to her mouth and saw Anakin looking at her again.  Instead of looking away this time though, she met his gaze and squinted her eyes.  The staring contest began.  Anakin narrowed his eyes in return, and Amidala raised her right brow and gave a slight grin in a challenging manner.  Anakin kept his eyes steady looking right at her.  Amidala rolled her eyes, but still did not show signs of fatigue.  For a straight minute the two stared at each other with intent faces, not moving a muscle.  Amidala's eyes began to burn.  Anakin seemed to notice her battle with them and smiled evilly.  Amidala gritted her teeth but could not stop that necessary soothing *blink*.

"Not fair!"  she exclaimed, "You must have used the force to keep yourself from blinking so long!"

Anakin kept smiling.  "I still haven't blinked."

Amidala told him, "You know you want to!  Oh, I can see your eyes burning from here!"

"No," Anakin replied, grinning madly now.

"YES!  You can't lie Anakin!  I can see right through you!"  Amidala pounded the table.

Anakin crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair in an easy-going way.  He kept his eyes wide open.

Amidala's voice became a whine now and she pushed back her chair as she suddenly stood up.  "Blink!  Blink!"

Anakin did not relent.

Amidala sighed, and slid back into her chair.  "All right, all right, you"ve made your point; you win."

Anakin cheered and Amidala rolled her eyes.  "I still think you were using the force to keep your eyes open that long."

"That is to remain unknown," Anakin replied in a vague manner.

Amidala took another bite of her food and waited until she had swallowed it to say incredulously, "You mean you did use the force?!  Cheater!"  Amidala got out of her seat and shoved him playfully.

Anakin stood up and held up his hands in an innocent manner.  "I did not say that!"

"But you meant for me to infer it!"  Amidala retorted and shoved him again.

"I meant nothing but what I said," Anakin answered, laughing now.  Amidala returned to her seat and picked up her fork.  "Hmph.  Remind me never to have another staring contest with you.  Cheater."

The rest of the meal was rather uneventful, other than Amidala's occasion accusation of, "Cheater!"" in between conversations.

Afterwards, Amidala stood up and thanked Anakin.  "That was a lovely meal, and the fountain you gave me was gorgeous, but I must begin packing.  Thank you, Anakin."

"I would do anything for you," he replied, and his gaze intensified.  Amidala figured it was a good time to leave.

Once she had returned to her room she sat on her bed for a moment and looked down at the dark blankets that had covered her the night before.  She said her adieus to her near death bed, and looked about the room, silently aware that this was the last time she would see any of it for a while.  Finally she sighed and began packing her things, starting with her clothes first.  She turned on a bit of the local music and called on Dorme.  Together they managed to finished the clothes, Amidala's accessories and anything else of Amidala's that her apartment held.

They had passed a good two hours, mostly cleaning and talking since the packing was easy to finish, when Amidala had a strange thought.  She didn't know why it popped into her head because it wasn't her brilliant idea, but there it was, "ask Jar Jar Binks to fill in for you."  After some more consideration, it didn't seem that horrible of an idea after all.  After all, Jar Jar had done great service to the Senate, and this was his chance to prove himself.  He could pull it off, Amidala truly believed he could.

"Dorme, will you use the holocom and try to contact Jar Jar Binks?  I would like to speak with him in my apartment as soon as possible, if he is available."

"Yes M'Lady," Dorme replied dutifully and went to carry out Amidala's request immediately.

Not more than fifteen minutes later there came a buzz at the door and Amidala, from behind her suitcase walked to the living room and opened the door.

"Good afternoon Senator Binks, I--oh, hello Anakin!"  Amidala greeted as Anakin stepped in behind Jar Jar.

"Come in, Jar Jar, I really need to talk to you," Amidala rephrased on a less formal note.

"Hello Senator Amidala, I came here as soon as yousa friend called," Jar Jar said.

"Thank you, Senator Binks.  Now, I'm not sure if you are aware yet, but I am leaving Coruscant today."

"I have been told, M"Lady," Jar Jar answered, and looked to her for an explanation.

"What I am asking of you, Senator Binks, is to fill in for me while I am gone.  Temporarily take over my duties.  Are you willing?"

"Oh yes!  I assure you, M"Lady, I would do a bomb-bad--ah, wonderful job."  Jar Jar puffed out his chest a little, and Amidala smiled broadly.

"Well then, Representative Binks.  I know I can count on you."

"Yousa betchen mesa bottums!"  Jar Jar replied.

"What?!"  Amidala exclaimed, surprised at his change in speech.

Jar Jar coughed as if to cover up his mistake, and recovered, "Oh, pardone-ay, Senator.  I mean, I am honored to accept this heavy burden.  I take on this responsibility with deep humility tinged with an overwhelming pride.  It is not every day that I am called upon to..."

Amidala laughed inwardly at his growing pride at her request, and decided to give him a little something to calm him down.  She kissed him on the cheek and gave him a big hug.  Jar Jar was a good friend, and he always had good intentions.  At that moment she felt absolutely certain that Jar Jar Binks would be victorious at his task.  She gave him a wink as she saw him blushing and told him, "You're a good friend, Jar Jar.  I

don't wish to hold you up.  I'm sure you have a great deal to do."

Jar Jar seemed to try and recompose himself, "Of course, M'lady."

As soon as Jar Jar left, Amidala turned towards Anakin.  If there was ANY last hope in avoiding the hiding, Anakin would know about it.

Suddenly, other worries flashed through her mind.  What if going into hiding was exactly what the assassin was hoping she'd do?  And if she walked into a trap, would she even be able to walk out of it--alive?  But staying her couldn't do any good towards that situation either--could it?  Frustration gushed out quickly, and there was only one person here to talk about it with.  "I do not like this idea of hiding."  No, she didn't.  What was the alternative though?  Amidala contemplated.  There had to be something other than hiding away from the world!  That rotten assassin...

"Don't worry.  Now that the Council has ordered an investigation, it won't take Master Obi-Wan long to find that bounty hunter."

"It better not" Amidala thought, but she argued instead, "I haven't worked for a year to defeat the "Military Creation Act" not to be here when its fate is decided."  It wasn't out of selfish motives that Amidala said that either.  She truly did not want the galaxy to suffer through something so horrible.  Not now, not ever.

Anakin sighed, and his eyes rolled upwards as he seemed to remember an event of the past.  After a moment he looked back towards Amidala and said, "Sometimes we have to let go of our pride and do what is requested of us."

"Pride?!"  Amidala thought, or rather exclaimed, although she had meant it to be a thought.  How could he even understand what he felt?  He hadn't been the one with a million people's lives on his shoulders during a war.  How dare he even try to give her advice when he knew not what he said?  "Ani, you're young, and do not really have an understanding of politics.  I suggest you reserve your opinions for some other time."

Anakin seemed to have sensed her outrage.  "Sorry, M'lady.  I was only trying to..."

Amidala didn't need this.  She was fuming, but she had to remain civil after all.  "Ani!  No!"

Anakin was busy fighting an inward battle; Amidala could tell by his frowning and then biting his lip.  Finally he told her, Please don't call me that."

Amidala drew a blank.  What had she called him?  She voiced her question, "What?"

"Ani..."  He said hesitantly.

Amidala was suddenly whisked away to a time ten years ago on a hot world with a view of never ending sand...

"Are you an angel?"  It was a young boy, with powerfully blue eyes and a cute button nose.  He was just another stranger to her, but something about him seemed to catch her eye.  What was it she was seeing in this boy?  Amidala stared, baffled, into those rich eyes.  It was what she perceived behind them that caught her.  There was a hard-driven determination resounding in them, a yearning for the world beyond the barbaric planet.

Sand.  Amidala's thoughts turned to sand.  So tiny, and yet so large.  Filling in every crevice, blowing about the wind like a sad tossed up leaf being raced along a lonely path.  The sand was silent.  It was waiting, breathing.  Resounding in the deep rythm of fate that binded them all...

"I'm going to marry you someday..."  Her little Ani had said.  And she had tossed her hair and laughed at a young boy's fantasy; a young boy named Ani...

"I've always called you that," Amidala mumbled, slowly returning to the present where the mounds of sand slipped away to show her inside her large apartment, "it is your name, isn't it?"

"It's Anakin.  When you say Ani it's like I'm still a little boy...  and I'm not."

The sand mounds returned, but in one swift motion they were picked up by a gush of air.  The little boy that stood, with the blue eyes and cute face, was caught in the sandstorm...and disappeared.  All that was left was Anakin in his place.  Anakin the man.  Her Ani was gone.  The boy was gone.  He grew up.  She should have let herself believe before--her heart began to pump blood madly through her body, with the force of a howling storm...

Why did she think of him like this?  Why couldn't the boy return?  He was tearing her apart right now, her heart was crying and felt like her life was being carried away with the sand, "I'm sorry, Anakin," she admitted quietly, as if in a trance, "It's impossible to deny you've...  " she looked Anakin over from his head to his feet and returned to his eyes,"...that you've grown up."

Padme smiled at Anakin.  Kiss me now, you fool!  Her mind cried, but no matter how her body ached she could not let her defense down.  For now, a smile from the handsome young man would suffice...

Anakin fidgeted a bit.  Amidala almost raised an eyebrow smugly as she realized that, for the first time SHE was making HIM uncomfortable.  Anakin's unease must have suddenly opened the door for bad feelings, because he looked up sharply and addressed Amidala, "Master Obi-Wan manages not to see it..."

Amidala had never thought about his relationship with his Master.  Their playful teasing had given her the belief that everything between them was fine, but Amidala realized what Anakin was telling her now was something important.  She had to help him solve this problem.  "Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like.  It's the only way we grow," she told him.

Anakin gave her a piercing glance as if trying to read her intentions and added, "Don't get me wrong...  Obi-Wan is a great mentor.  As wise as Master Yoda and as powerful as Master Windu.  I am truly thankful to be his apprentice.  Only...  although I'm a Padawan learner, in some ways...  a lot of ways...  I'm ahead of him."

That arrogance again.  She nearly smirked but then remembered how frustrated he was.  Maybe he wasn't exaggerating.  It *did* only seem like he was stating fact, but still...

Anakin continued, "I'm ready for the trials.  I know I am!  He knows it too.  He believes I'm too unpredictable...  Other Jedi my age have gone through the trials and made it...I know I started my training late...  but he won't let me move on."

Amidala resisted the urge to close her eyes as she remembered what her so-called friend, Dayaan, had told her long ago.  "Padme, don't take this the wrong way, but you?!  Be a queen?!  Impossible.  You're just not good enough.  Or old enough.  You're not ready.  She grimaced and pushed the memory away.  She knew that feeling first hand as well.  Frustration.  She looked back at Anakin.  "That must be frustrating."

Amidala had not intended that to anger him even more, although the moment after she said it she realized why it would have.

He went off on a sort of rampage, "It's worse...  he's overly critical.  He never listens!  He just doesn't understand!  It's not fair!"

Ah, not fair.  How she had heard those words from a boy a while ago.  Her vision of sand reappeared, and she almost leaped for joy.  Instead she shook her head and laughed.  No.  It appeared she had been mistaken, Ani was still there after all.  No matter what, her Ani would always be there.  "I'm sorry," she began explained to the puzzled Jedi, "You sounded exactly like that little boy I once knew, when he didn't get his way."

"I'm not whining!  I'm not," Anakin said, but Amidala wasn't easily fooled.  She made a wise decision to keep her mouth shut, but she smiled at him instead.  A picture is worth a thousand words, they say.

From behind them Dorme laughed.  Amidala wasn't as close of a friend to Dorme as she had been with Sabe, but she knew that this time Dorme understood what was going on in Amidala's head.  Partially, anyway.  Not even Sabe knew the whole story, although she might have suspected.  But maybe there was no story to tell.  After all, she couldn't possibly be falling for a Jedi five years younger than her.  One she had know as a boy.

"I didn't say it to hurt you," Amidala recovered, since she had only been sympathetic when she had told him that it must be frustrating to be underestimated.

Anakin's shoulders fell a little, but he acknowledged, "I know..."

Suddenly Amidala found herself at a loss for words.  She stepped closer to Anakin and and said, "Anakin..."

He looked into her eyes.  This time it wasn't a staring contest and she felt shivers run through her body at the powerful depth of the blue.  But she bit her lip to keep from falling into him and continued, "Don't try to grow up too fast."

Anakin's eyes looked somewhat offended.  "I am grown up.  You said it yourself," he replied.

His eyes would not let her go.  He looked at her with such a passion, such a longing, such yearning that Amidala could hardly tear herself away.  He face flushed and it took all her power not to take off running, running away from her emotions that threatened to engulf her...  "Please don't look at me like that," she begged.

"Why not?"  Anakin breathed, as hypnotized as she was.  Yet she still found something almost...mocking in his tone of voice.

Amidala felt embarrassed but voiced her reasoning anyway, "Because I can see what you're thinking."

Anakin broke the moment with a coy smile and a laugh.  "Ahh...  so, you have Jedi powers too?"

Amidala almost hit him.  Sometimes he would go from being that innocent boy to a very arrogant young man.  He was playing with her emotions.  Tossing them around like a toy, and he knew it.  Amidala turned away and continued to pack her last suitcase.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable," she quipped.  Suddenly Amidala felt as if she were being stared at.  She remembered Dorme's presence and wished for the first time, though she did feel guilty after thinking it, that Dorme would leave.  Instantly decided to shut her brain up.  If it was possible.  "Stop thinking silly thoughts," she told herself.

"Sorry, M'lady," Anakin replied.  Amidala decided the cold shoulder was best for now.  She didn't really have that great of a reason to do that to Anakin, but she needed a break from thinking.  That was the only way.  Anakin slowly backed away, and eventually left.  Once he was gone she looked towards Dorme.

"I see what's going on here," Dorme pronounced and Amidala's stomach turned.  She blanched.  For some reason she hadn't wanted Dorme to know.

"What do you mean?"  Amidala replied as nonchalantly as she could.

"Anakin is completely head over heels over you."

Good.  So she was a *little* slow to catch on.  Amidala breathed a sigh of relief.  But Dorme hadn't finished speaking, "And you're beginning to fall for him too."

Amidala opened her mouth to protest, because she was sick of people's false assumptions, "False?  In what world?", but Dorme changed the subject and didn't give her a chance to object.  "Let's go, M"Lady.  The longer we wait, the more danger you're in."

So Amidala walked out of her apartment stunned and in silence.

---

Amidala still hadn't spoken as she stepped off of the transport bus.  The spaceport was as busy as ever, and Amidala found herself doing a lot of people watching.  There were people of all races and species.  Some she recognized, but others, like a pale green skinned, six armed, long antennae, insect-looking foreigner she didn't.  The port made her feel like a bunch of giant paint cans had been opened and poured out everywhere.  The colors ranged from black to white and every color in between--from all over.  It was almost thrilling if it hadn't been for a tight dreading feeling in her stomach.

Amidala looked down at her own clothes, if you could call them that.  She certainly didn't add much color to the mix.  Amidala almost didn't noticed as Anakin stepped up beside her, almost.  Nowadays she always seemed to notice Anakin.  Even when she tried not to; it became frustration to try and block him out since it always was in vain.  She turned his way and gave him a small smile to acknowledge his presence.  She really felt bad for treating him badly, and decided she had had enough of the cold shoulder.  She needed to face facts-- eventually, and for now she would face the fact that Anakin was here.  He was going with her to Naboo.  Anakin began walking forwards and Amidala turned her focus in the direction he was headed.  There, Captain Typhoo and the gang were waiting for them; Dorme was wearing a mix between an excited and worried look on her face.  Amidala nearly laughed.  Dorme was supposed!  ly dressed like *her*, the senator.  Amidala picked the disguise apart in her mind and secretly thought Sabe did a *much* better imitation.  "No offense, Dorme", she found herself saying quietly.

"Be safe, M'lady," Captain Typhoo told her and she approached him to collect her luggage.

Amidala didn't see why they were so worried about her.  She was the one worried; they were the ones in danger now.  Amidala said a silent prayer for their safety before replying, "Thank you, Captain.  Take good care of Dorme...  the threat's on you two now."

"He'll be safe with me," Dorme joked.

Amidala laughed, and gave Dorme a fierce hug.  Tears bit at her eyes.  How she would miss her.  Dorme had come to be a real friend, and Amidala would be deeply pained if she lost her.  She gave her a good long look, and everything they needed to say passed through their eyes.  "I"ll keep in touch," Amidala whispered into her ear as an afterthought, and Dorme started to weep.  Amidala couldn't take much before she too would find herself in tears.  "You'll be fine," she muttered, but it was more of something she was trying to reassure herself with.  Dorme was in danger.  Once again, another handmaiden in danger because of her.  She thought of Dorme and bit her lip hard although there was nothing she could have done to prevent that except not have run for Senator in the first place.  Amidala thought back to how happy she had been when it was decided she was mentally stable enough to be a Sen!  ator.  The moment seemed bittersweet now.

Dorme gave her a sad look.  "It's not me, M'Lady.  I worry about you.  What if they realize I'm not you?"

Amidala turned and looked toward Anakin.  "Then my Jedi protector will have to prove how grown up he is."

Dorme and Amidala shared a smile as they both thought back to the scene in Amidala's apartment.  Her secret was safe with Dorme; she didn't mind the fact that she knew now.  In fact she was glad Dorme had known her well enough to realize the truth.  Although she would never *tell* that to Dorme.  Amidala saw Anakin frown as Obi-Wan pulled him aside.  She tried listening to what he said, but couldn't hear the words well enough.  She didn't need to butt into their business anyway.  Finally Obi-Wan turned back toward Amidala and assured her he would be back with answers in no time.  Amidala thanked him while Anakin looked around impatiently.  When she had finished, he said, "Time to go."

Padme looked at him seriously and replied, "I know."  She sighed and mixed emotions rushed in.  She was going back to her home world with her people, and yet she would miss Coruscant and all her new friends.  Tears began to nestle in her eyes, and she pulled Dorme into a tight embrace.  "Good luck, Dorme," she thought in her mind as she let go.  She hoped Dorme could once again pick up on her thought.

Anakin picked up the luggage and motioned for Amidala to follow him.  Almost reluctantly, she let go of Dorme and tried to flash her a hopeful smile.  But the future was unclear, and both could see the other thinking that in the falter of their smiles.  Good times would be far and few, but they would she each other again.  The strength returned in their faces, and then Amidala could see her no more.  She turned her head toward the Starfreighter that would transport her back to that all-to familiar palace where she held so many memories, and walked in step with Ani and Artoo, without looking back.

---

Amidala glanced around nervously.  So this was what it was like to be an emigrant.  Although she hadn't always lived the most luxurious life herself, Amidala felt strange and outcast in this group of people.  They were all crammed together into a small space where not much privacy was available.  Amidala was thankful that the trip would be short; she felt, when it came down to it, like a caged animal.  Amidala turned her head toward the most familiar person in the room.  Anakin was busy cleaning off Artoo, as Artoo had insisted that he could not live being so filthy.  Amidala just thought it was some sort of excuse for Artoo to examine the room carefully without being noticed.  He probably had something up his sleeve.  He was currently beeping in Anakin's direction.  It sounded reprimanding and she wondered what Anakin was doing *wrong*.

Amidala shifted on the blanket she had brought and was seated on.  She was very uncomfortable.  Not only because of the way she was seated.  She also felt akward at being alone with Anakin.  She didn't know what to say, so she resorted to silence.  She silently thanked Artoo for keeping him busy.  Too keep herself busy, though, she went back to people watching.

A large dark purple species next to her was picking up little pieces of (lint?) off of the floor.  Picking them up, and throwing them away.  Into a strange looking bag.  Amidala frowned and looked around some more.  In the far corner of the freighter, a human woman dressed in almost all the colors you could imagine waved her hands around in an exaggerated tantrum.  She was accumulating quite a few stares, especially since she was yelling at nothing.  But suddenly out of the nothing appeared a tall skinny almost white in hue alien.  An species that could become invisible?  Amidala furrowed her brow and shook her head.  Not possible.  But what if it was?  Could her assassin be in this very room?  Shudders suddenly went up Amidala's spine.  She walked over to where Anakin was seated.

"Hi," she greeted, and took a seat next to him.

"Padme!  How nice of you to join us."  Anakin didn't turn around too say this as he rubbed hard on a black spot on Artoo's plating.

"Finished," he told Artoo and Artoo let out a short series of beeps.

"You're welcome!"  Anakin called after the droid as he took off somewhere.

Amidala laughed.  "He never can stay in one place more than five minutes can he?"

"Ah, but he's a good little droid.  He's got all our backs."  Anakin winked.

Amidala smiled, "That's true.  He knows when to prove himself."  She still had the chills.  She had a sudden urge to snuggle up to Anakin to keep her warm.  It took all her will-power not to.  It would be too embarrassing.  She took to rubbing her goosebumped arms instead.  Her head swung from side to side as if she was utterly confused in her surrounding.  But no, she was a little too paranoid.  Or maybe not.

"Are you cold?"  Anakin asked her with a concerned expression.

"No, I'm fine," Amidala replied and realized that was a stupid argument seeing as she was still rubbing her arms.

"Here, let me warm you up," Anakin offered, and he took one of her arms and started rubbing his hand over it.  Oooh, he was touching her!  Amidala felt silly thinking that but she loved the feel of his touch.  Then he did the same with her other arm.  "Don't stop keep going!  I'm still cold!"  "Is that any better?"

"A little," Amidala admitted while wondering if the assassin could be watching her at that very moment.  She should have said yes so Anakin would have continued to warm her.  She needed to be distracted from her paranoia.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Anakin replied and tried to take his eyes off her by people watching too.

"Can Jedi become invisible?"  Amidala blurted out, her thoughts leading her to different conclusions every minute.

Anakin looked confused.  Amidala couldn't blame him considering she just completely and illogically changed the subject from heat (oh, and there was heat) to Jedi.

"Excuse me?"

"Jedi.  Can they make themselves invisible," Amidala said it as if it was the kind of question she'd ask any day.  Anakin knew better, but he decided to play along.  Amidala wondered if he had any idea why she was really asking the question.

"Well, not exactly.  They can use the force to cloak themselves, to make their presence invisible, but it's really more of a mind trick really.  Because they are still visible, they are just "hidden" from people's view.  It's kind of hard to explain."

Amidala nodded and fell silent for a few moments, gathering her thoughts.

"So if a Jedi can cloak themselves, wouldn't a sith be able to as well?"

Anakin cocked his head and frowned.  "I don't know, to tell you the truth.  I think so," he answered.

"Do you think...?"  Amidala started but trailed off.  No, it was better not to share her speculations with him.  She clamped her mouth shut.

"Think what?"  Anakin asked.

"Nothing," Amidala replied, and felt bad afterward as Anakin stood up and started to walk away.

"Wait!"  She called out and took off after him.

"What?"  Anakin asked over his shoulder.

"You're supposed to stay here and protect me!"  Amidala was starting to panic.  This was the moment the sith was waiting for, with Anakin out of the way he would uncloak himself and stab his lightsaber right through her...

"With all due respect, M"Lady, I think you will be fine on your own for a few minutes."

"NO!  I mean, you never know what can happen," Amidala recovered, and gave Anakin a broad fake smile as he turned around to face her.

He looked at her, with a trace of frustration on his face.  He gazed into her eyes for a few seconds and tried to read her face, and finally his frustration melted away to understanding.  He took her hand gently and assured her, "It's all right, Am.  You're safe here.  I won't let anything happen to you.  I promise.  Why don't you go find Artoo?  I'm going to walk around for a few.  I"ll be right back."

Amidala looked into his eyes and found nothing there but sincerity.  So she trusted him.  "all right.  But be quick," Anakin nodded and let go of her hand while walking away.  Amidala rubbed her arms nervously and set off to find Artoo.

---

Later that day Amidala sat in the dining room (in other words the same room with table and candles set out) and watched, amused as Artoo managed to take some food her and Anakin.  She laughed quietly as they heard the server yell, "Hey!  No droids!"

Amidala watched as the little droid rolled past the server as waved around his grabbing claw indignantly, but was distracted by noise coming from where Ani lay asleep.  Amidala looked down at him and noticed he was curled up in a ball with sweat drenching his forehead, which was creased at the moment.

"No, no, Mom, no..."  Anakin muttered and kicked one of his legs out.  Amidala leaned down and wiped some of the sweat of his forehead in a gentle !  attempt to pull him out of his nightmare.  She remembered what he had told Obi-Wan the night of the attempt about having nightmares about his mother.  Then she remembered their conversation from so long ago...

"You miss your mother, don't you?"...

"Space is cold..."

"Ani!"  Amidala shook him gently in another attempt to wake him.  "Anakin!"

Anakin woke up abruptly and blinked a few times as he tried to remember where he was.  Finally, something seemed to click, but he still looked a little confused.

"What?"  He asked her.

"You seemed to be having a nightmare," Amidala told him softly, as if it were some sort of secret.  Well it was, in a way.  Amidala saw his eyes darting across her face as if trying to find out if he revealed anything.  "No, Ani," she thought, "this nightmare was about your mother.  You didn't say anything about me, which is too bad..."

Artoo nudged aside her thoughts as he beeped a reminder that dinner was served.  "Here," Amidala gave Anakin his bowl of...  soup?  stew?  mush?  bantha poo?  and his slice of disgustingly hard bread, "Are you hungry?"  It was almost a joke, how anyone could be hungry for such things, but Amidala's own stomach growled right then and convinced her she was.

"Thank you," Anakin replied, no humor (or sarcasm) in his tone.

Amidala did not want to eat in akward silence again, so she decided she would try to make ANYTHING into a conversation, "We went into lightspeed a while ago."

Anakin looked into Amidala's eyes with that same intensity she had told him made her uncomfortable.  Amidala squirmed in her seat as if trying to escape his gaze.

"I look forward to seeing Naboo again.  I've thought about it every day since I left.  It's by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen..."

This was making Amidala very uncomfortable.  "It's not fair!"  said her mind, "He's doing this on purpose!"

"You were just a little boy then.  It may not be as you remember it; time changes your perception," Amidala replied.  "Take that!"

"I think time has given me much more mature feelings to enhance my perception."

"Oh no you don't!"  Amidala told herself but she couldn't stop herself from feeling flattered and blushing a little.  all right.  If he wanted to play this game that way, "It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi...  not being able to visit the places you like...  or do the things you like..."

"Or be with the people I love," Anakin replied and Amidala picked up on the implication.

"Are you allowed to love?"  she retorted.  "I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi!"  the whole thing was almost making her laugh aloud.  She felt like a school girl with a crush again...

Anakin chose his words carefully, "Attachment is forbidden.  Possession is forbidden.  Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life, so you might say we're encouraged to love."

Something finally gave way in Amidala that really, truly, allowed her to see that Anakin really DID love her.  Not a crush.  Not an obsession.  He felt for her with such a passion, "You have changed so much," she told him and her voice almost caught.  Her Ani was being blown away in that sandstorm again...

"You haven't changed a bit.  You're exactly the way I remember you in my dreams.  I doubt if Naboo has changed much either," Anakin replied.

"It hasn't..."  Amidala breathed, almost melting when he mentioned her being in his dreams.

"I can't wait to breathe the sweet breeze that comes off the rolling hills.  Whenever I try to visualize the Force, those hills are what I see."

Anakin continued to stare at Amidala as he said that, and Amidala wondered if he was once again using Naboo as a metaphor for herself.

"I love Naboo."

Suddenly Amidala felt bare, naked, and she could no longer stand the intensity of that moment.  She looked away and changed the subject, "You dreaming about you mother earlier, weren't you?"

Anakin nodded, "Yes...  I left Tatooine so long ago, my memory of her is fading.  I don't want to lose it.  Recently I've been seeing her in my dreams...  vivid dreams...  scary dreams.  I worry about her."

Padme looked at Anakin sympathetically and took another bite of the bantha mush.  Ugh.  She realized she hadn't seen her mother in a long time and suddenly had an idea.  They were going to Naboo after all, weren't they?  Amidala tried not to smile because it wasn't so easy for Anakin.  He hadn't seen his mother in more than 10 years.  That was really hurting him.  Amidala didn't know to say, so they ate in silence.  It wasn't really that akward, since other people's conversation filled in the holes, but it wasn't a happy moment either.

Amidala finished her meal and looked at Ani as he ate his last bit of brown bread.

"Not quite the greatest food, is it?"  he said after swallowing the bread down.

"Not really," Amidala replied and grinned.  "But it's kind of a fun experience if you think about it.  Here we are, two local "peasants" taking a trip to Naboo...

At the subject of Naboo their conversation stopped again.  Artoo began directing some chirps toward Anakin, and Anakin replied something about that he was grateful about him bringing it, but Amidala didn't quite catch it as the weight of the food suddenly made her feel a little drowsy.  But she hadn't slept well in a while, so it was understandable.  Amidala stood up and stretched and then plopped herself down on the blanket spread out beside them.

"I'm going to go to sleep now Anakin, so watch out for danger for me," Amidala told him, and Amidala grinned at her attempt to lighten the stupidity of her paranoia earlier that day."

"I will M"Lady.  Good night."

The last thing Amidala thought this time before falling asleep was, "Maybe I"ll finally get a good night's rest..."

---

"Padme!  Wake up!"

Amidala awoke to Anakin's voice still feeling tired and groggy.  Her head was pounding something terrible, but Amidala pried her eyes open at the excitement in his voice.

"Are we there yet?"  she asked tiredly.

"We're about to land.  Hurry up and get your stuff.  Oh, and eat something while you're at it; your breath smells horrible!"

Amidala blew air into her hand and coughed when she caught the smell of it.  "Sorry!"

Amidala didn't know she was capable of getting ready so fast, especially with a headache.  She grabbed her bags, went and got breakfast, (which looked like a half eaten piece of bread) and washed her face and fixed her hair a bit.

Amidala came back to find Anakin staring out of a side window.  Amidala walked over and joined him as Theed came up closer and closer to the ship.

"I'm home!"  Amidala's mind shouted jubilantly.

Everybody seemed to be in a frenzy as they streamed out into the vast docking area.  "Good riddance!' Amidala told the Starfrieghter silently, and looked with joy upon her home planet.

---

The Naboo Palace stood breathtakingly large before them.  Amidala smiled as she recognized the rose colored dome of the palace, the high surrounding trees, the shimmering water fountain, but she also frowned as she noticed the many changes since her last visit.  Suddenly a wisp of jealousy crept into her head as she remembered the joy of being so respected and important, but it faded quickly as Amidala reminded herself the price that had cost.  In the end, she had been glad to get that burden off her shoulders.  But she couldn't help but miss some of it.

Behind her and Anakin, Artoo whistled in awe.  Amidala grinned as they started to cross the courtyard.  The palace still held her in as much wonder as anyone else.  The droid had not seen the palace before though.

"If I grew up here, I don't think I'd ever leave," Ani said in a low voice.

Amidala laughed, as Ani could never seem to stay in one place at one time, and replied, "I doubt that."

Anakin's eyes grew wide and his face regained some of that young boyish look for a moment.  "No, really.  When I started my training, I was very homesick and very lonely.  This city and my Mom were the only pleasant things I had to think about...  The problem

was, the more I thought about my Mom, the worse I felt.  But I would feel better if I thought about the palace - the way it shimmers in the sunlight - the way the air always smells of flowers..."

Amidala got caught up in the memories as well, "...and the soft sound of the distant waterfalls.  The first time I saw the Capital, I was very young...  I'd never seen a waterfall before.  I though they were so beautiful...  I never dreamed one day I'd live in the palace."

"It's gorgeous!  Princesses and kings and queens must live there!  Do you think Princess Adda herself lives in there!  Wow!  If she did, and maybe I met her I would be the luckiest person alive.  Princesses have it easy.  They just take hot bubble baths and walk around in acres of gardens all day long.  Then, at night, they lie on a wondrous canopy bed and gaze above them through glass ceilings at the stars!  I wish I was a princess, or even a queen!"

"Somehow, sweetie, I don't think it's as wonderful as you make it sound.  Queens are very busy all day you know."

"You wouldn't know, would you mama?"

Amidala suddenly remembered a conversation she had had with her mother a very long time ago, maybe when she was four years old.  It just popped in her mind like a long lost cousin and played again before her.

"-- you dream of power and politics when you were a little girl?"  Anakin was saying

Amidala laughed.  No, she was too busy thinking about how queens had it easy.  She sure found out the hard way how wrong she had been.  Being a queen had been the most heavy burden.  There were some wonderful parts, true, but the war overshadowed most of those.  Some days she still felt that horrible guilt.  Maybe she hadn't done that good of a job.  "No!  That was the last thing I thought of.  My dreams were...  a child's dreams.  I never thought of running for elected office.  But the more history I studied, the more I realized how much good politicians could do.  So when I was eight, I joined the "Apprentice Legislators", then later on became a Senatorial advisor, with such a passion that, before I knew it, I was elected Queen.  Partly because I scored so high on my education certificate, but for the most part it was my conviction that reform was possible.  I wasn't the youngest Queen ever elected, but now that I think back !  on it, I'm not sure I was old enough.  I'm not sure I was ready."

Anakin looked at her and sincerely answered, "The people you served thought you did a good job.  I heard they tried to amend the Constitution so you could stay in office."

Had it been galactic news?  Amidala didn't think it had been such broadcasted event.  But from the way Anakin flushed a little, Amidala realized that he had probably been keeping close tabs on what she was doing.

"Popular rule is not democracy, Ani.  It gives the people what they want, not what they need.  And, truthfully, I was relieved when my two terms were up.  So were my parents.  They worried about me during the blockade and couldn't wait for it all to be

over.  Actually, I was hoping to have a family by now...  My sisters have the most amazing, wonderful kids...  but when the Queen asked me to serve as Senator, I couldn't refuse her."

Amidala felt kind of funny talking to Ani about her desire for a family, but tried to shrug off the feeling.  She was happy when Ani did not bring up that subject again.

"I agree!  I think the Republic needs you...  I'm glad you chose to serve.  I feel things are going to happen in our generation that will change the galaxy in profound ways."

Amidala remembered her nightmares and her unease towards Palpatine.  Dreams sometimes were just dreams, but reoccurring nightmares--well, they must have some meaning.  "I think so too."

"I wonder what Artoo thinks--it's so s anytime, and responded in turn, "A little."  Anakin had met Amidala's mother on the day before he had left for Coruscant to begin his training as a Jedi ten years ago.  Amidala, her mother, and he had passed the afternoon together.  Time had certainly passed since then, though.

Amidala shook her head and admonished, "He's just being polite, Mom.  We're starving."

Ruwee Nabberie, Amidala's father, grinned and said, "You came to the right place at the right time.  Sit down, son."

So the lot of them sat down and began passing out the food.  Amidala felt kind of bad for Anakin, having to be in strange household meeting strange people, but she figured if he was capable of being a Jedi then he could at least put his social skills to practice.  "And hey, if anything ever comes out of "us" he will already have met my parents."  Amidala laughed at her thoughts.  What "us"?  There was nothing between them...  "Just keep telling yourself that...

"Honey, it's so good to see you safe.  We were so worried."  Amidala's mother told her.

Amidala gave her mother a dirty look.  Did she have to go through the whole "worry thing" again?  She looked towards her father who gave her an amused grin as if he had known her mother would repeat his exact words.  But at Amidala's pleading look he turned towards his wife and started, "Dear..."

Amidala's mother gave him that wide-eyed challenging "I had something to say and so I was darn well going to say it" look but told him, "I know, I know...  but I had to say it.  Now it's done."

Sola decided to change the subject, "Well, this is exciting!  Do you know, Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister's ever brought home?"

"Leave it to Sola," Amidala thought, "I knew I should have gagged her while I still had the chance."  Instead of voicing this, Amidala rolled her eyes and protested, "Sola!!  He isn't my boyfriend!  He's a Jedi assigned by the Senate to protect me."

"A bodyguard?!  Oh, Padme!  They didn't tell us it was that serious!"  Sola had an evil look in her eye, and Amidala personally vowed to get her revenge later on.  She turned towards her mom who seemed to demand an explanation and so explained, "It's not, Mom, I promise.  Anyway, Anakin's a friend.  I've known him for years.  Remember that little boy who was with the Jedi during the blockade crisis?"

Of course Jobal had more memories of him than that, but she used an angle her whole family could relate to, and it was clear they all did by the silent response of nods.

She continued, "He grew up."

Amidala's mom had to put in her motherly opinion of course, "Honey, when are you going to settle down?  Haven't you had enough of that life?  I certainly have!"

As if she hadn't heard that a million times.  "Mom, I'm not in any danger."

Amidala's father, being a dad, had to find out directly from Anakin, "Is she?"

Amidala gave Anakin a threatening look but Amidala ignored it and told him the truth, "...Yes...  I'm afraid she is."

"But not much," Amidala added quickly, and gave her parents a large convincing smile.

Ruwee raised his eyebrows and looked at Amidala unconvinced.

Amidala sighed.  "Maybe I am in...some danger."

Amidala's mother sighed loudly and slapped her lap with her hands.  "I knew she should never have gotten involved in politics, this is all because she decided to run for that position; you never should have placed the idea in her head, Ru--"

Amidala cut off her mother and father whose jaw was dropped at the accusation, "Mother, father, you don't seem to understand.  I ran for Senate because I had a mission.  After what I went through ten years ago, you think I want to let that happen to anyone else?  I am trying to negotiate for peace!  I think there is no worthier cause to be in danger for!"

That shut both of her parents up.

"I think I am old enough to make decisions for myself, and I hope you trust me to make them wisely.  I did not ask for this to happen to me, and I hate it as much as you do because it cost me the life of a friend," tears stirred in Amidala's eyes and she paused here to take a needed break, "but I have made my decision and I WILL see it through to the end."

Her father shared a glance with her mother and then cleared his throat and apologized, "Your mother really should not have brought that up.  We really are proud of you, Padme, we're just worried is all.  But enough, let's not ruin this time we have together this evening.  Would you like to know how we"ve been doing here at home?"

Amidala nodded, ready for a change in discussion.

It was Sola, of course, who began excitedly recounting how she was faring with the kids, but even though Amidala was interested she couldn't stop pondering if she really HAD made the right decision.

---

Once dinner was over, the women began to clear the table while Amidala's father announced that he was going for a walk outside.  He "invited" Anakin to accompany him, but Amidala knew one of her father's "demands" when she heard it.  Once the two were well out of ear-shot Sola turned around and addressed Amidala, " Why haven't you told us about him?"

The moment she had been dreading.  But she couldn't avoid the subject forever...  "What's there to talk about?  He's just a boy."  Just play it simple and shrug the subject off...

"A boy?  Have you seen the way he looks at you?"  Sola exclaimed.

"Sola - stop it!"  Amidala said, not wanting to go into that area.

"It's obvious he has feelings for you.  Are you saying, little baby sister, that you haven't noticed?"

Now she was get aggravated.  "I'm not your baby sister, Sola.  Anakin and I are friends...  our relationship is strictly professional."  She turned to her mother and asked, "Mom, would you tell her to stop it?"

Sola laughed and added, "Well, maybe you haven't noticed the way he looks at you.  I think you're afraid to."

Sola knew her better than she knew herself, but she would never admit it.  "Cut it out."

"Sola's just concerned...  we all are."  Amidala's mother put in.  Arg.  She was once again going into that subject; had she really been excited to be here?  She should have known it would be one interrogation after the next, and one DO NOT ENTER zone after the other.

"Oh, Mom, you're impossible.  What I'm doing is important."

Her mother sighed and said, "You've done your service, Padme.  It's time you had a life of your own.  You're missing so much!"

Amidala didn't respond, and she heard Sola suppress a laugh.  "I win," Sola whispered as she passed by her little sister and out of the kitchen to go find her daughters.

Amidala scowled and set all the dishes she had collected into the sink.

"Padme, honey, your sister is not completely lying either.  You must see that Anakin has feelings for you."

Amidala clenched her fists but calmly told her mother, "He's always had feelings for me.  I just...figured that eventually they would go away."  Amidala turned on the water and picked up a large plate to start cleaning first.

"But..."  her mother prompted her to continue.

"But they didn't!  They just got stronger!  Frankly, I don't know what to do!"

Her mother turned off the water and turned Amidala to face her directly, "Well tell me, do you have feelings for him too?"

Amidala could not meet her mother's prying eyes, and she turned away.  "I don't know."

"I think you do."  Her mother said, and it was the last phrase that hung in the air between them.

---

"So, did my dad ask you a lot of questions about me?"  Amidala asked Anakin as soon as he returned from his little "walk" with her father.

"Well, kind of."  Anakin answered trying to get her to drop the subject.

But even though she heard his reluctance to answer she sighed and persisted, "Why can't he accept the decisions I make and the consequences that arise because of them?  Doesn't he think it is hard enough on me already?  I'm doing the best I can."

Anakin gave her a sad longing look that made the blue of his eyes shine even more, "He's just worried about you, Padme.  We all are."

Amidala's heart nearly melted.  His voice was so sooting when it was soft.  It drew her to him and before she could help herself she enveloped him in a big hug.

"Thank you Ani," she whispered into his ear, "I could not have asked for a better bodyguard."

Then she laughed and let go of him before the moment could become awkward.  Her skin still tingled with excitement that had prompted her to do such an outrageous motion.

"If only a hug qualifies as outrageous, then you need to loosen up a bit, Am."  she thought to herself.  Ah, she needed to stop having conversations with herself.  She sat herself down on her families" generations-old hand-carved rocking chair and tried to think of anything that might start a decent conversation.

"Padme!"  Sola stepped into the room and addressed her sister.

"Whew!  That is what I call impeccable timing," Amidala thought.  "Yes, Sola?"

"Dad wants to talk to you," she gave Amidala a little smirk, and Amidala saw mischievous face of the rambunctious child Sola had once been in her mind's eye.  Sola looked past Amidala at Anakin and added, "Anakin, I wouldn't be a good host if I didn't keep you company while your...protegee...  over here steps out; why don't you just come with me?"

Amidala looked back at Anakin to hear his answer, and he looked like he had "just swallowed a pile of Hutt-poo" (bringing back her childhood memories of Sola brought back the thought of that expression she and her friends had often used so long ago).

Amidala grinned at his expression and mouthed at him at an angle where Sola couldn't see her, "Have fun!"

Then she stood up off the chair and walked out to where her sister was.  She gave her sister a stern warning glance before going to seek out her father.

"Don't worry "bout me "lil sis, I"ll take good care of Anakin here!"  she called off after her laughing all the while.

---

Amidala felt bad leaving Anakin with her sister but what could she do?

"Dad?"  she cleared her throat and asked timidly so as not to disturb him if he did not want to be disturbed.  Her father sat in a lounge chair in her parent's room reading a thick book.

"Oh, hi honey.  Come sit," he patted the bed that lay beside the chair.

"This is about what Anakin told you, right?"  Amidala got right to the point.

"Partially.  But not quite.  Padme, honey, what is your relationship with this Anakin?  And are you completely sure you can trust him?"

"Dad!  He has been a friend of mine for ten years now, and he is a Jedi.  Of course I can trust him!"

"Hmmm.  Well," Amidala's father frowned and got lost in his thoughts.

"Well, Padme, your mother and I have talked and I just wanted to say that we're sorry for bringing up such matters on your visit, but you do realize we are just looking out for your benefit, right?"  Amidala's dad did not wait for an answer, he continued, "It's hard for us to see our daughter all grown and off on her own.  But you are one of the toughest people I know, and one of the wisest, so it's time WE realized that you know how to make decisions for yourself.  We only pray for your safety.  We would never want anything to happen to you."

Amidala waited to see if her father had really finished speaking.  "Thanks dad," she said and hugged him when it became apparent he was done.  "I completely understand.  So, if you don't mind, I should probably go back to where Sola is torturing Anakin--"

"Go ahead!"  her father laughed and responded and Amidala walked out of the room.  The conversation Sola had had with Anakin could have its repercussions...

---

"Padme!"  Sola once again cried as Amidala came back into sight.  "Anakin and I had a lovely time--" ("THAT much was OBVIOUS by the wide-eyed terrified look on Anakin's face) "--but now it's time for me to talk to you!  Heh heh, Anakin make yourself comfortable for a few-- hey!  Come back here sis, you can't run from me!"  Sola grabbed Amidala by the wrist as she was trying to sneak away and pulled her into the guest room, making sure Anakin hadn't followed before closing the door shut.

"Maymay I"ve been so WORRIED!  But I guess there's nothing to worry about now that you have a Jedi knight to protect you huh?"  she winked and nudged Amidala's side.

"First of all LowLa, don't call me Maymay.  Second of all, Anakin is a Jedi LEARNER not KNIGHT..."

Sola snickered and mumbled, "YOU would know..."

"..And third of all, what did you say to him!"

"Aw, does little Maymay weally want to know?  Maybe she to wittle or to scawed to hear about it.  Is wittle Maymay gonna cwy?"

""Little Maymay" is about to hurt you.  Tell me what you said!"  Amidala demanded.

"All right, all right.  I just asked him if you were all right, how long he's known you for, what he thought about you, things like that."

Sola could see the battle not to ask going on on her sister's face and was loving it.  In the end, though, curiosity won and she asked, "What did he say he thought about me?"

"He said you were the most beautiful, strong-willed person he had ever know and considered it a privilege to be at your service."

"He told you that word for word?"

"Well, you know, that was the basic concept."

"Aaah.  And we know how very basic the word "basic" can be."  Amidala said in a sarcastic tone.

"No really!  It was something really close to that!  So, Pad-eh-me," Sola started, emphasizing the syllables of her name, "Let me ask YOU this, what do you think of him?"

Amidala felt like a small school child and didn't like the feeling.  "He's a wonderful friend, okay?  Sola, you don't need to be prying into my business all the time do you?"

"I'm you sister!  You can tell me anything!"

"If I want to."

"I honestly won't tell Anakin anything you say to me!  Cross my heart!"

"Bet you told him the same thing!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did--okay.  I"ll tell you what I think."

"Yay!"  Sola jumped onto the bed and sat cross-legged right across from Amidala and smiled excitedly.  "So...?"

"Okay.  Well, I really like him.  And he's really good-looking (Sola added her hearty agreement here) I don't know though, Sola.  He's so much younger than me and--"

"So?  Age is just a number!"

"--and I'm so busy trying to work for peace and he's so busy training to be a Jedi..."

"Okay, you see, that's what I don't understand.  You work SO hard to keep peace in the entire galaxy, but you can't even find it within yourself?"

Amidala opened her mouth to make a remark, but she realized she nothing to say to that.

"That's all I had to say for now.  Come Amidala, let's not keep Anakin waiting by his lonesome."

Amidala nodded, her sister's words still ringing in her ears and follow mechanically as they walked back to the living room.

"Still alive!"  Anakin exclaimed as they walked back into the room.

"Were you just sitting there the whole time?"  Sola asked him, noticing that no books or anything had been moved since he sat down.

"Well, sitting and dozing.  It wasn't all that bad."

Amidala apologized, but Anakin wouldn't have it.  "No, it's all right Padme.  Actually your sister is pretty nice.  Your whole family is very nice to have invited me...but uh," Anakin nodded toward the window where the sun was getting low in the sky.

"Oh!  You're right!  I don't want to stay to late although I hate to leave you all so soon."

Amidala's parents, who were just passing through the living room and had picked up on the last part of her phrase spoke up, "Well, before you leave we"ve got some goodies to take back with you, you know, a little taste of home away from home, so why don't you come and get the loaded up."

"I'm coming!"

--

Padme had collected all her goodies and was putting them all into a bag.  "Don't worry, this won't take long."  she added for Anakin's sake.

"I just want to get there before dark."  Anakin told her.

Amidala continued packing and Anakin looked around the room.

"You still live at home," he remarked.

Amidala smiled and replied, "I move around so much, I've never had a place of my own.  Official residences have no warmth.  I feel good here.  I feel at home."

"I never had a real home.  Home was always where my Mom was."

Amidala was quite at a loss for words as she heard the break in Anakin's voice as he said this.  She couldn't imagine a life without her mother.

Amidala instead just watched Anakin as he leaned over to pick up the framed hologram that sat on her tall wooden counter top.

"Is this you?"  He asked her a smile touching the corner of his mouth.

Padme sighed as she looked closer to see that it was the hologram taken of her at age seven or eight where she was surrounded by the people of Shadda-Bi-Boran.  Amidala had a big grin splitting her face, which was mirrored by the little green Borans around her.

"That was when I went with the Relief Group to Shadda-Bi-Boran.  Their sun was planet was dying.  I was helping to relocate the children.  See that little one I'm holding?  His name was N'a-kee-tula, which means

sweetheart.  He was so full of life, all those kids were.  I did everything I could to save him,but he died...  they all did.  They were never able to adapt...  to live off their native planet."

Amidala remembered how hard she had cried the day her mother had broken the news to her.  Amidala stood up next to Anakin as he picked up another hologram.  This one was the complete opposite of the last; Padme was ten or eleven and wearing official robes with a serious expression on her face.

"My first day as an Apprentice Legislator.  Notice the difference?"

Amidala tried to imitate the stern expression, causing Anakin to grin.

"I didn't have much of a childhood," Amidala admitted.  She felt a sort of sadness as she placed her last "goodie" in her bag.

"Neither did I," Anakin added in reply.

---

The goodbye's were hard, as goodbye's always are, but Amidala managed to bite back the tears.  She didn't want to cry in front of her parents, or Anakin.  The ride back to the palace was mostly quite, neither her or Anakin felt much like talking.  They only exchanged a few words, "Your family was nice, Amidala.  You were right about them making assumptions.  But you can't really blame them."

"You can blame Sola."

They shared a short laugh but didn't speak again until after they reached the palace.  Captain Panaka was waiting for them there.

"M"Lady.  Anakin.  Welcome back.  How is the family faring?"

"Just fine, Captain, just fine."

"Very good.  Amidala, I wanted to ask you, how would like staying at the palace a few more days?  After all, it is a lot of moving around for one person, and you can at least have some days to rest, or catch up with old friends."

The three began walking with Artoo once again trailing along behind them, beeping excitedly about all the attention the children had showered over him.

Amidala considered Panaka's request.  She still hadn't talked to any of her former handmaidens (and she had SO much to tell Sabe.) But then again, she didn't want to doddle; the palace was not the safest place.  "Think back to your training, Am.  What did they say is an alternative to accepting or rejecting an idea?  Compromise."

"I would like to stay one more day.  But no more.  As long as you don't object, Anakin."

Anakin shook his head and so Amidala added, "I will stay tomorrow , as long as I can leave first thing the next day."

"Fair enough.  Hey, the queen never quite told me where it is that your leaving to.  So, where IS it your going?"

Amidala smiled mysteriously.  "I don't think I should tell you that."

"Why not?"

"It's a secret."  Amidala answered, and Panaka frowned.  "No really!  I won't want to add the extra burden on you of knowing my location, should the assassin ever find you and try to pry the information out.

Captain Panaka made a face of understanding and then quickly cleared his throat.  " Ahem.  Uh--Well, I"ll be seeing you around then.  Duty calls."

Amidala smiled as he left.  "He's quite a character."

Artoo emitted a short questioning beep.

"She's talking about Captain Panaka, Artoo, not you."  Anakin assured the droid.

Artoo answered back in a sassy "I knew that" tone.  "He's quite a character too..."  Amidala thought, "but I better not tell him that."

---

Amidala was relieved when the day was over and she could have a moment to rest and enjoy being home.  She let down her hair and peeled off the somewhat fancy robes she had worn to her parent's house like a grasshopper quickly sheds its worn out skin.  "Ah, now I can breathe," Amidala thought to herself while she watched herself twist her hair around her finger in the mirror.  A beautiful view of Naboo lay behind her, and Amidala silently thanked Jamillia for the well-chosen suite.  The sight of herself beside her home world comforted Amidala after having gone through one emotion to the next the past few days.  It was a nice feeling; comfort, after experiencing remorse, guilt, frustration, anger, and fear.  When she looked back at the cheerful view of Theed, it was almost impossible for those feeling not to melt away.  The sight was gorgeous, the people were happy, all was right in the world...

A knock on her door yanked Amidala back to the non-glittered present and she sighed as her visions of happiness dissipated to leave room for a sliver of guilt to creep in.  The sudden noise of the knock transported Amidala's thoughts to the accident on the Naboo Cruiser, and the sudden blast of the explosion.  She shook her head painfully and felt her throat tighten up as tears threatened.  Amidala didn't trust herself to speak so she stood up and pulled the door open.

Queen Jamillia stood at the door, and apparently she too was reveling in her time off.  She was dressed in her simplest robe, and her dark hair was down like a cloak around her shoulders.  She wore a smile on her face, but when she noted Amidala's depressed appearance she instantly crinkled her face into worry.  Jamillia placed one hand around Amidala's shoulder walked with her to her bed, where they sat down.  Jamillia didn't speak, she just kept her arm locked firmly around Amidala as the former queen burst into tears.

"I'm overjoyed that you are alive, Amidala.  But I understand your pain.  I am so sorry.  Corde was a dear friend of mine as well."

Amidala looked up at Jamillia and brushed away her tears, leaving only a dry trail of her pain on the outside.  "You're right," she said, and sniffled.  "If you can keep your composure then I can too.  Today was such an overwhelming day, though, visiting my parents and having to explain myself over and over again.  It didn't quite help the pain very much, and now it's all flooding back almost as strongly as it did the moment it happened."

"It must have been hard.  But you did get to see your family at least.  And you get to see this familiar sight!  Try to think about how nice it is to be here.  Although I know it's hard to keep your mind off of such a tragedy."  she gave Amidala a sympathetic glance, then turned to the window.

Amidala followed her glance to the window , and the two sat admiring the view a while a silence.  Amidala lost herself in the past and remembered herself as a child again, staring out of her own window at home, mesmerized by the view, while great beads of rain flowed from the sky.  She had placed her hands against the window and looked upwards as far as she could see, and beamed at the rain.  The past faded slowly away to the present where Amidala found herself copying her childhood motions.  Amidala almost laughed when she saw Jamillia giving her a bemused and questioning look.  Instead she shrugged and let a smile find its way to her face.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome.  Anytime you need a friend to talk to..."

"No."  Amidala shook her head.  "Thank you for the nice view."

Jamillia grinned and gave Amidala's shoulder a small squeeze.  "You're we!  lcome."

---

Amidala didn't move from her position on her bed and watched contentedly as the sun set over the city of Theed.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"  a deep voice came from behind her, and Amidala was completely taken off guard.

"Ahhhh....ni!"  Amidala spun around to face him.  "Don't.  Do.  That.  To.  Me.  Ever again.  This is the second time!"  Amidala emphasized every word, and Anakin became mesmerized by the movement of her lips.

"Are you listening?"

"Yes," Anakin said, and Amidala felt the glow of the sunset reach in and warm her.

But she was angry and didn't want his voice do this to her.  But the way he had said that "yes"...

"Don't ever scare me like that!  I'm already just a little bit paranoid with an assassin still lurking out there somewhere.  I don't need to have a joke give me a heart attack!"

Anakin looked hurt.  "I wasn't trying to surprise you, didn't you hear me knock?"

Amidala gave him a quizzical glance.  "No.  And I THINK I would have heard you knock if you had."

"But I did!"

"So why did you come in?"  Anakin had no answer to that one and Amidala smiled smugly at his lack of words.  But then again, she would have been very embarrassed if he had come in while she had been changing.  A tingle crept down Amidala's back.  "Stop it!"  she told her back, and slapped it.

"Those horrid mud-flies," she explained when Anakin gave her a questioning look.

"But anyhow," Amidala began, partially to change the subject, partially to finish her thought, "Wait for an answer the next time you knock."

Anakin nodded.  "Sorry about that.  And," he pointed towards her back.  "Are-uh- these mud-flies common?"  he added a sly smile.

Amidala pretended to yawn and stretched out her arms.  She got a firm grip on one of her pillows and pulled it up and across Ani's head.  It was a clean blow and Amidala laughed.  "Guess those Jedi reflexes aren't all they're cooked up to--" but at that moment a pillow came flying across Amidala's face.

"En guard!"  Anakin shouted.

"Al right.  But you asked for it..."  Amidala answered.

Soon pillows were flying all across the room and fits of laughter ensued.  It was at this moment Amidala heard a knock and a high-pitched yelp.  The pillows all fell flat and Amidala's eyes widened as she spotted the person whom a pillow had flown into.  "Sabe?"

The lady curtsied and smiled warmly at the senator.  "Hello Senator Amidala!"

"SABE!!!"  Amidala shrieked and Anakin covered his ears and grimaced.  She ran into Sabe's open arms so excitedly that the two of them toppled over.

Sabe grinned and stood up to brush herself off.  "Careful Amidala, I'm not as young as I once was."

"Oh, you're not even in your thirties yet Sabe; come now."

"A-hem!"  Anakin, who had been forgotten, finally called attention to himself.

Sabe gave him a vacant look, then squinted and turned to Amidala.  She gave Amidala an incredulous look and Amidala nodded.

"Ani--Anakin?"

Anakin rolled his eyes.  "I get that ALL the time."

"Wow!"  was all Sabe said and she added in a soft whisper to Amidala, "You"ve got yourself *quite* a catch!"

Amidala blushed and replied (also in a whisper), "He's a FRIEND, Sabe, that's all."

"Then why are you whispering?"  she asked and smirked.

"So, Anakin, how have you been?  What has happened in the last ten years?"  Sabe inquired.

"Well, my training has been...slow for me, but I have learned a lot.  Obi-Wan has been a great mentor yet there is still something lacking."

"So you want a higher-paced kind of thing."

"Exactly."

"And I'm sure you get tired of Obi-Wan every once in a while, that's understandable."

"Yes."  Anakin suddenly became quite, so Sabe changed the subject.

"What is it you are doing here?"

"Actually," Anakin piped up and grinned proudly (Sabe winked at Amidala because of how quickly she could still get his moods to change) "this is my first solo mission.  I'm here to protect Amidala."

"Ah.  So are you good *protector*?"  Sabe asked mischievously and smiled coyly at the senator.  Amidala gave her a playful punch and a mock-resentful expression.

"I think I am."  Anakin answered seriously and gave Amidala that burning look again.

Amidala looked away, pretending to glance casually at the view.  "Yes, you are."  she finally replied.

Then she turned back around to Anakin and asked, "Do you think Sabe and I could talk, just the two of us?"

"Of course," Anakin said, and gave Amidala the best smile he could muster.  Then he stood up and walked a bit dejectedly out of the room.

"Amiiii!"  Sabe groaned once he left and slapped her forehead.  "That wasn't very nice.  You're missing out on a great chance there."

"What was I supposed to say?"  Amidala asked.

"I don't know, you just-- Am, you can obviously tell he's completely in love with you."

Amidala winced.  "I know.  I"ve been trying to convince myself it's still a crush, but..."

"Well you can't leave him hanging forever.  And you can't lie to me either Amidala.  You like him don't you?"

"Yes, but it's hard to when he's always giving me those...looks that make me uncomfortable."

"Ah.  And why do you think you are uncomfortable?"

"Because I'm normal and if someone you knew was constantly giving YOU those looks wouldn't you be uncomfortable?"

"If I didn't know him, yes.  But you know Ani.  So the reason YOU are uncomfortable is because you can't help but want to return those glances.  Or..."

"Sabe!!!"

"But I'm right aren't I?  You must...  think about him.  Consider him as a possibility..."

"He's a Jedi; I'm a senator.  Jedi aren't allowed to love, I don't think...  and besides, we wouldn't have time, it wouldn't work out--"

"--So you want to start a relationship, but you don't think you can."

"Sabe, that is not what I'm saying!"  Amidala shouted.  Sabe raised her eyebrow in an unbelieving glance.  "Oh, who am I kidding!  Yes.  I guess.  No.  Sabe, he's five years my junior for crying out loud!  I can't feel like this!  I'm not supposed to, not about the boy I met on Tatooine when he was nine years old!"

"He isn't nine anymore, in case you haven't noticed."

Amidala sighed.  "I"ve noticed."

"And so what if he's five years younger?  Age has no relevance, and maybe now five years may seem like a lot, but later it won't matter.  And if you both feel a certain way about each other--"

"--That's the problem, I said I "like" him.  And you said he "loves" me.  Frankly, he scares me off sometimes."  Amidala admitted.

"That's the real problem isn't it?"  Sabe confronted her.  "You're SCARED.  Scared to start something you won't be able to control so easily as you can control most everything else.  Scared to feel something about Anakin, scared that you won't be able to shut the feelings off once they grow..."

Amidala didn't answer.

"And every time you spend time with Anakin, that's exactly what happens, isn't it?"

Amidala still didn't answer and felt tears of frustration and shame well up.

Sabe wrapped her arm around her and held her.  "Being scared is nothing to be ashamed of.  Everyone who has any sense is afraid at first.  But give him a chance, Amidala.  That's all I ask.  Give him a chance."

Amidala nodded and Sabe handed her a tissue.  "Now you're going to start by inviting him to luck tomorrow."

"What?!"

"You heard."

Amidala began to bob her mouth and was about to start protesting, but when she looked at Sabe's pleading look she finally gave in.  "All right."

She only hoped this time it wouldn't be as awkward.

"Good.  But for now you and I have A LOT we need to catch up on..."

***

Amidala felt somewhat refreshed after her talk with Sabe.  She had finally gotten everything out, after their talk about Anakin they also talked about Sabe's life and Corde, and the Military Creation Act, and all the things they had been doing since they had last seen each other.

Amidala looked out of her window and saw that it was now pitch black outside.  She had completely forgotten the time!  It was probably close to midnight by now.  She slipped into her nightgown and fell back on her bed with a happy sigh.  She had just placed her head against the pillow when she suddenly thought of something she should have taken care of a while ago.  Reluctantly she pulled herself off her bed and sighed.  She had to apologize for sending Anakin off so abruptly and acting...coldly towards him.  Amidala yawned and stretched her arms.  She tiptoed over to her mirror and gazed in at herself.  Oh well.  She'd leave the nightgown on.

Amidala walked quietly down the hallway so as not to disturb the deep silence that surrounded the palace.  Amidala brushed her hands against her nightgown nervously and and knocked at Anakin's door.

"Anakin," Amidala whispered loudly.

The door opened slowly and Anakin, who looked like he'd had trouble sleeping let her in.

"I'm sorry if I woke you up," she began, but Anakin held a finger to his lips to silence her, and led her to his window.

"Listen."  Amidala cocked her head to hear better and as the silence in the building once again settled down she heard it: the soft, slow pitter patter of rain beginning to fall.

Amidala was amazed.  It was raining!  She pulled her head away from the window and smiled excitedly at Anakin.

"It's raining."  Anakin asked.

"Yes."  Amidala breathed and Anakin stared fixated out of the window.

Amidala turned towards him, and grabbed a hold of his hand.  "Come on!"

She giggled as she once had as a child and ran with Anakin through the hallways, not caring if the silence was disturbed.  Something better was taking its place.

Amidala burst out of the palace doorways and just grinned at the questioning guards.

Anakin followed her, also grinning at her excitement.

"Keep following," she told him, just to make sure he was behind her, and led him to the outdoor gardens.  The feeling of raindrops dripping down her face and hair was wonderful.

The two sat down and Anakin finally spoke, "It's beautiful."

"Yes it is.  You haven't seen rain very much, have you?"  Anakin shook his head.

"Rain is my favorite pastime.  I still love it now.  I would always stare for hours at it from my window, or go splashing in the puddles it created as a child."

"Sounds great.  After living on such a dry planet all my life just the sight of rain is amazing!"

"Yes."  Amidala said, and then let the sound of the rain fill her ears.  But there was another sound embedded in the "drip-drop" of the rain and Amidala asked Anakin, "Can you hear that?"

The wind suddenly became a gust and blew back Amidala's hair.  She stood up and held out her arms, as she had as a child.  A soft melody resonated in the dripping of the rain and Amidala swayed back and forth to it.  Finally, as the wind continued, Anakin heard it.  "Wow."  Amidala began to spin.  Wildly, around and around as she felt herself become part of the wind.  The world spun the rain dropped all around her...  this was the happy, perfect city of Theed.  The rain-song grew louder and Amidala stopped spinning.  She felt Anakin's eyes on her again.  But this time she didn't tell him to stop.  She looked at him, straight in the eye, for a long time as the rain soaked into her skin.

"May I have this dance?"  Anakin finally asked her, and she closed her eyes to pick out the song once more.  She heard it faintly and then smiled.  Her eyes reopened.

"Of course."

Anakin walked slowly towards her and carefully placed his hands around her waist.  Amidala felt her heart soar even more at his touch and silently thanked Sabe.  Why should she be scared?  Amidala placed her hands on Anakin's shoulders and after exchanging an awkward glance with him she smiled and let her head fall upon his chest.  She felt very secure like this, in his embrace in the song of the rain.  It was now pouring and they were both soaked, but neither one cared.  They couldn't be cold now.  Amidala closed her eyes and remembered thinking "this is where I'm content".

---

Since she had ended up going to bed so late, Amidala didn't awake until late the next morning, and felt disappointed for doing so.  She had only one day left here in Theed, and so much to do with it!  She decided to invite Anakin for a brunch instead, since it was about lunchtime already.  There lunch went well, they never ran out of conversation even though their conversation had been a strange one.  They had talked about last night and what other weather phenomenom they would want to be caught up in.  Then Amidala had asked Anakin what he was planning to do for the day.

"Well, I think I"ll go do a little sight seeing, nowhere far of course.  If you want to come with me, you can."

But Amidala declined, she wanted to stay around the palace and try to spend time with any other handmaidens that were still here.  Anakin and Amidala decided she would be safe as long as she didn't leave the palace, and they both planned to meet by the docking bay at eight o" clock the next morning.

Amidala took off with a light feeling in her stomach, and silently thanked Sabe again, as their little discussion had left her feeling so much better about everything.

It was only after wandering around a few corridors that Amidala realized that she was going to the handmaiden's old suites.  They could very well have changed by now, and she thought it had been silly of her not to think of that before.  "Well, I have excuses.  I"ve had other things on my mind."

She turned around to go ask the queen herself when she suddenly heard a bustle of commotion behind her.  Before she could even turn around she was suddenly surrounded by a group of people--the handmaidens!

Around her stood Rabe, Sache, Eirtae, Sabe, and a few new faces.

"Your Highness!  We"ve missed you so--"

"Amidala!  I can't believe it's--"

"--thought we were imagining things--"

"Pleased to meet you, they"ve told me so much about--"

"Ami!  How are you do--"

They were all trying to speak at once, but Amidala could not pick out more than a few phrases.  It didn't matter though, every single face, including hers were lit up in smiles.

"Please!  I'm VERY excited to see all of you again--but one at a time!"

Bad suggestion.  They all spoke up again at once and started arguing over who would start first.

"Quiet!"  Amidala shouted suddenly, which stopped any arguments dead in their tracks.

"Since all of you can't decide, just listen.  To me."

She went around and hugged all her old friends tightly and shook hands with the new ones.

"Nice to meet you, Amidala.  You are very popular among your handmaidens.  I am Marae."

"And I, Chantae."

"Hello!  Hello!  Nice to meet you too!"

Amidala invited all the handmaidens into her chamber and they all sat down in a circle to catch up everything that had happened over the past four years.

Something felt like it was missing though.  As Amidala gazed over all the happy faces of her loyal friends she suddenly realized it wasn't something; it was someONE.

"Where is Yane?"  she asked, concerned.  They weren't completely complete without her.

"She retired from this service last year.  Her mother became very ill, and every since she left we"ve been out of contact.  No one has heard a word from her," Rabe spoke up.

"Oh, that's horrible.  I sure hope everything turned out all right.  Although it is strange that she hasn't sent a message to any of you.  It isn't like her to be late about such things," Amidala commented.

"Well, she was rather shy," Sache put in.

"A little like you?"  Eirtae teased.

"Yes, actually."  Sache spit back.

Amidala frowned.  "No, she might have been more on the quiet side, but she was always so kind to us all--it really isn't like her at all."

"Well, all we can do now is hope for the best," Chantae piped in.

"Yes, that's true," Sabe agreed, but it was obvious she was worried too.

"I'm not trying to bring the mood down, sorry.  Just concerned about a friend.  It's been too long!  How are the lot of you doing?"

After they established they would go around the circle in a counter-clockwise direction, everyone became absorbed by all the stories everyone had to tell.

Amidala was shocked to find out that Rabe was engaged to the palace guard they had swooned over such a long time ago, and that Eirtae was actually thinking about going into politics and even running for Senate some day.

"Well, if there is any way I can talk you out of that, Eirtae..."  Amidala teased.

"Time flies when you're having fun," they say, and whoever "they" were who said it, they were completely right.  Soon the evening was upon them and the brilliant display of the setting sun was going on right outside the window.

"I'd better get some dinner going," Amidala began, and was cut off by several voices saying in unison, "I"ll help!"

"All right then!  Dinner will be ready faster that way," Amidala replied, and they all headed towards the kitchen.

"By the way, I hear you and Anakin could be the next item," Rabe said to Amidala as she cut up some vegetables.

Amidala turned her head around to glare at Sabe.  Sabe just looked towards the ceiling and shrugged, trying to play off as innocent.

"Well, I see Sabe has been leaking out information.  But I really don't think-"

"What she means is, it will be a little while longer.  Right Am?"  Sabe smiled sweetly.

"Right."  Amidala replied through gritted teeth.  Rabe started laughing and the other handmaidens joined in at her funny expression.  Amidala couldn't stay mad long since they brought her to a mirror to see for herself.  Then she just cracked up herself and returned to fixing dinner.  Ah, it was good to laugh again.  Amidala looked out of the window contently as the voices of her handmaidens kept a pleasant tone of chatter going on in the background and wondered what Anakin was doing at that very moment.

---

Long into the night Amidala exchanged stories with her friends, and Jamilila joined them, but soon not even all of her will-power could keep her awake.  Amidala's eyes began grow heavy, and she interrupted all the conversation with a huge yawn.  Amidala's friends were not blind, and were feeling pretty tired themselves.

"So.  Where will you be heading off to now?"  They asked tentatively; not wanting to break their moment of friendship but also now feeling the day looming ahead of them ready to snatch Amidala away.

"I don't know.  But I will find a way to keep in contact with all of you," Amidala replied and they all bundled into a big group hug.  "Goodbyes are always hard, so I will make this short.  Eirtae, good luck becoming a politician if you are sure it is what you want, Sabe, keep the group together for me, all right?  And good luck with Bail.  Sache, I hope you find that special somebody and they better deserve YOU, Rabe, be nice to the guard, and get him to lighten up a bit," they laughed and Amidala winked, "and Chantae and Marae, you both are very nice people and it was great meeting you.  I wish you all the best.  Lastly, Jamilia, you are a wonderful queen.  Make your people proud."

"Our people," she responded.

Then the rest of the responses commenced.

"Good night!"

"Thank you!"

"We love you, Senator Amidala!"

And with as much racket as they had made greeting Amidala they finished off the day.  When they had all left, Amidala felt a sudden emptiness in the still quiet of the chamber.  But she did not have enough time to dwell on it, for she was already in bed and falling fast asleep...

Destiny.

Amidala was perched atop a high cliff staring down at the black emptiness of space that lay before her.  What was she trying to see?  She strained her eyes but only saw the polka-dotted white space before her and the hanging cliff below her.  It was like she was weightless and all-powerful, just floating in her own happy space.  But the cold laughter began to build-- at first it was just an echo in the distance, but then it grew and grew until the very cliff she sat upon began to shake.

"Ah!"  Amidala screamed as she lost her footing and found herself holding on to the cliff by the edge.  Her hand slipped further and further down and panic began to take over her entire being.

She was going to fall, she knew it, and she felt it happen as if in slow motion around her.

Falling was not all that bad in the end, and Amidala was sure she would continue to fall forever.  She looked up and held her hands out, su!  ddenly her mind becoming clearer than before, and called out for Anakin to save her.  But he was watching her, his eyes were around her painted across the universe, and he watched her fall and become another small shape, another insignificant piece to the gigantic puzzle.  Amidala felt tears slide down her face and the laughter intensify as it saw them, and so she closed her eyes, and waited for the fall to end...

Amidala woke up to the annoying buzz of her alarm clock feeling just as tired as she had felt the night before.  She reached out groggily to turn it off and without realizing how close she had been to the edge, fell off the bed.  The split-second feeling of the fall reminded her of the latest of the strange dreams she just had, and she began wondering if Anakin had had the same dream too.  The dreams had to mean something, but what they signified still baffled Amidala.  Were they warnings?  Visions?  Her doubts about their relationship manifested into dreams?  And just the fact that both of them had dreamt the same dreams was very strange indeed.  Maybe the dreams and the assassin were somehow connected.  Maybe.

Amidala's head pounded as she picked herself up off the floor and stumbled over to the sonic shower.  It was too earlier in the morning and she hadn't exactly gotten the best night's sleep.  Not only because of the dream...  just the anticipation for what lay ahead of her today had disrupted her sleep.

She adjusted the setting for the shower, stripped off her nightgown, and stepped in, letting the ensuing water warm her body.  The warm feeling of the water slowly completely woke her up, but there was always a fear in the back of her mind because of the kidnapping that had taken place so many years back.  She never felt completely safe anymore any suite she stayed in because of that and the other traumatizing incidents.

Amidala got out of the shower got dressed in a rush as she usually did because of that fear to be caught unaware.  She glanced over at the chronometer to make sure she wasn't running late, and was relieve to see she still had half an hour.  She carefully applied a light layer of makeup, ate an energy bar for breakfast (despite the nagging of the handmaidens the evening before to try and get her to come eat breakfast with them since she did not have enough time to do so and would have to go through the goodbyes all over again), and grabbed her bags.  She was just about to walk out the door when she realized she had forgotten to clean out the last things.  She had one drawer left with jewelry and a makeup bag in it, so she carefully placed those into her wallet, went over to her bed and pulled the covers back neatly (since they would be replaced with fresh ones for the next visitor) and ran one last inspection.

She glanced back at the chronometer.  She still had time.  With an impish grin Amidala came up with a perfect idea of what to do with the time, and she ran back into her room with her bags to change.  Amidala picked one of her favorite dresses, and smiled slyly as she thought of what Anakin would think about it.  She tried it on and glanced at herself in the mirror.  Very nice, if she must say so herself.  She didn't know where this weird urge to attract his attention came from, but Amidala was reveling in it.  He wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off of her.  Finally, she was convinced everything was done, and she was ready, so she picked up her bags and gave the suite one last look before walking out of the door.  As she did though, she decided she wanted to save the dress for later.  So she pulled one of her longer light overcoats and wrapped it around her.  It would save the dress for the r!  ight moment.

Amidala was torn between feelings as she watched the beautiful familiar palace hallways pass her by with sorrow, but also contained anxiety and excitement in the pit of her stomach at the new experience that lay ahead of her; a new hideout.  And hopefully an enjoyable one.  Then there was the still the slight bit of anger and resentment she held at being taken away when she wanted to help the most, and the fear that still lingered while there was still a possibility of threat.  All these feelings were whirling around inside her as she headed towards the docking bay, while inside her head she said her silent, "until next time's".

"G"Morning M"Lady," Captain Panaka and Anakin greeted her.

"Good morning," she replied.  Or at least, I hope our morning will be a good one.  I suppose it depends on how we end up liking out little hide away."

"The council assured the queen that you will be safe there, and safety is their primary goal," Captain Panaka responded.

"Great.  So it"ll be the safest place in the world, but the most awful place ever.  Oh well.  What's a girl to do?"

As if reading her thoughts, Captain Panaka responded, "They also told the queen it would meet your comfort needs."  He winked.  "Well, c'mon, there's no time to waste!"

"Thank you.  And thank Queen Jamilia for us," Anakin thanked him.

"You betcha.  Take good care of her," Captain Panaka warned Anakin as he escorted her into the ship.

"That's what I'm here for," he responded, and although Amidala desperately wanted to be mad at him for that, a little smile crept up the side of her mouth.

"Bye!"  Amidala screamed as the engines turned on and the noise took over the entire docking bay.  Captain Panaka waved at them as the ship took off.

Amidala didn't want them to, but tears built up around her eyes.  Slowly, and in absolute silence except for the steady hum of the engine, the landscape of Theed grew

smaller beneath them until it wasn't recognizable at all.

---

Amidala hadn't realized that she had fallen asleep until she opened her eyes to see Anakin shaking her awake.  Despite her little nap, Amidala still felt exhaustion gnawing on the back of her mind, but with a stronger force, more likely excitement, she pushed it aside.  She was in a new place, and she was here with Anakin.  That, if nothing else, was something to be excited about.

"Of course, I'm only excited because we"ll get to know each other better here as friends.  The cons outweigh the pros, so friends we will remain!"  Amidala convinced herself.

"Are we there yet?"

Anakin smiled and helped her gently to her feet.  "Do you feel the ship moving?"

Amidala brushed herself off and looked around.  "No."

"So we're either dead or here," Anakin stated.

"How is it?"  Amidala asked anxiously, hoping to read excitement in his face.

"I have refrained myself from finding out so far.  I wanted to share the moment with you.  M"Lady," Anakin bowed and gestured for her to walk towards the exiting ramp.

Amidala bit her lip nervously as she walked down and suddenly grabbed Anakin's hand out of nervousness.

Finally the outside world entered her field of vision, but before she could take a good look, the sun was in her eyes and she had to shield them with her arm.

From beside her she felt Anakin take in a deep breath and hold it.

"Is it that bad?"  Amidala cringed.

"See for yourself," Anakin breathed, and Amidala peeked an eye out.

Before her lay one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen.  Mountains stood like sleeping giants all around them enhanced by meadows and forests and miles of greenery.  Around them a huge lake surrounded the untouched mountains, and try as she might Amidala could not at all see any sign of its end.

Amidala's face suddenly grew even more excited and she turned her head grinning from ear to ear towards Anakin.  "This is the Naboo lake retreat!  I used to come here as I child!  That is where we are staying, isn't it?  I wouldn't expect this from the Jedi normally but--"

"--but this time they had me to persuade them.  You don't think with me being "in charge" of you right now I'd let the council settle for anything less?"

Amidala gave a cheer that echoed on the mountain sides.  "Thank you so much, Ani.  We ended up in the BEST part of Lake County possible.  You're the best!"  Amidala exclaimed and gave Anakin a big hug.  Anakin suddenly let go and cocked his head head to the side, squinted his eyes and frowning.

"What are you do--" Amidala began.

"Shhh."  Anakin cut her off and stayed in the position for another few seconds.  "Do you hear that?"

Amidala strained her ears but could hear nothing.  She shook her head.

"Listen now," Anakin told her, and Amidala tried it again.  Finally she could here a faint hum echoing along the mountainsides.

"I hear it," she whispered.

"It sounds like--" Anakin began, but this time Amidala cut him off.

"A water speeder.  Over there.  Look!"  Amidala pointed to a spot along the lake where you could make out the tiny outline of a water speeder.

"That must be the retreat caretaker."

Amidala didn't say anything, but her mind suddenly turned on its "paranoia" mode again.  "What if he is the one?"  Amidala wondered and tried to read his face as it came clearer and clearer into view.  He had a relaxed expression, but Amidala didn't let it lull her into a false sense of security.  Sure, she was safer here than anywhere else if the assassin didn't know where to find her.  But what if he was one step ahead of her?

Amidala suddenly felt a strange reassuring feeling in her mind, and she looked over at Anakin who nodded.  He had sensed her worry and sent her some reassurance.  Amidala didn't know whether to feel grateful or offended that he would do such a thing, but she decided to be grateful since it wasn't too intruding a gesture considering they had once spoken telepathically before.

The caretaker finally reached the landing platform and pulled the water speeder up by it.  He stepped onto the landing platform and extended his hand to Amidala displaying a toothy smile while doing so.

"Welcome.  My name is Paddy Accu, the caretaker of the Naboo Lake Retreat.  I assure you, if you two are looking for a relaxing scene-filled getaway then you"ve found the place."

"Thank you Mr.  Accu."  Amidala replied and shook his hand.  "My name is Veronica and this is my..."  Amidala looked at Anakin and wondered why she hadn't thought of a status for Anakin before, "boyfriend Nik."

"Well, welcome both of you!  Do you have any luggage to take with you?"  Paddy Accu asked, pointing out the fact that they were both empty-handed.

"Yes, a couple bags actually-- come Am-Veronica, uh-- Mr.  Accu, we"ll be right back ..."

"I"ll wait for you right here."  Paddy Accu replied and smiled his toothy grin.

As soon as they stepped inside the ship and made sure the hatch shut behind them the conversation started.

"I don't like him."

"He's okay.  You're really jumping to conclusions again, Amidala.  The Jedi would not have brought you here if we could not trust him.  Of course, the "names" you made up for us were a good precaution-- but Nik?  Veronica?"

"Well, Veronica was my grandmother's name, and Nik is the last three letters of your name backwards."

"Oh.  I see.  And you managed to come up with the last three letters of my name backwards *that* fast?"  Anakin challenged.

"Well..."  Amidala blushed when she couldn't come up with a believable excuse.  She didn't want Anakin to know she though about him, but she expected it was too late from the slight smile that tinted the corner of his mouth.

"I"ll just go and get my bags..."  Amidala took it into her own hands to save herself, and ran back into the room she had been in.  She picked up the bags and hurried back over to the exit hatch where Anakin was already waiting.

"Did you even move?"  She asked in a scolding tone.

Anakin grinned.  "There ARE advantages to being a Jedi, you know."

"Jedi padawan," she retorted.

"Oh, ex-cuuuuse me M"Lady," Anakin teased back.

He opened the hatch.  "After you."

Amidala stepped on his foot (lightly, of course) as she walked out and laughed as she heard his overly dramatic exclamation of pain.  Amidala grinned and removed her over-coat as she stepped out as well, and placed it back in her bags.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Anakin watch her with an excited smile as he saw the dress she wore underneath it.  Amidala smiled to herself and walked towards the strange caretaker.

Paddy Accu was still standing in the same spot waiting for them (which creeped out Amidala even more), and he was still smiling that toothy smile.  "Well, let's get going then!"  he exclaimed as they all piled into the water speeder.

"Yes, let's!"  Amidala said excitedly.  Paddy Accu still made her uneasy in the speeder, though, so she decided it was best to keep her mouth shut, and it was actually easy since she had the scenery to keep her distracted.  Memories flooded back from past visits.  She even remembered Jamilia being there with her on one of the trips.  Jamilia had been an opinionated child, but back then her opinions had been easily swayed in many directions by her friends.  Things had changed since then.  Jamilia had never really been a good "friend", but they had talked every once in a while.  One conversation Amidala remembered very vividly.  It was the first day it rained at the retreat and Amidala had ran to the back door and gazed out longingly at the rain.  Even though they had been instructed not to go out, Amidala just could not resist.  She had been about to step out when Jamilia came up from behind and tappe!  d her on the shoulder.  "Don't go out there.  You"ll get sick!  Besides, it's not allowed."

Amidala had given her a squinty-eyed look as a reply and started to open the door.

"Padme!  My friends will tell on you if you leave!"

"Let them tell.  Sometimes you have to do what you know feels right in your whole body, Jamilia.  Not what your friends or other people tell you to do."

Jamilia had cocked her head and looked at Amidala as though trying to figure out if she was right.  Finally nodded and smiled.  "I like the rain too."

So they had both run out and danced in circles with their arms spread out and face to the sky, letting the rain pour over their face and down their dresses.  They both had to do chores as a punishment afterward, but after that they had a new respect for each other.

Amidala was brought back into reality at the site of the lodge.  It looked funny sitting their in the middle of the lake, almost as if it didn't belong, but it was still a welcome site for her, and it seemed to be one for Anakin as well.  Finally, the water speeder came to a stop beside the lodge, and the caretaker slowly stepped out of the speeder and came around the other side to help the two out.

Leisure.  Amidala remembered how leisurely paced everything around here had been, and she took a deep refreshing breath of the clean air.  Ah, she was going to love it here.  Anakin and Amidala stepped up the stairs, but had to stop at the balustrade that overlooked the gardens, the lake, and the surrounding mountains.  What a gorgeous place this was.  Amidala never really took time to notice it before, but now that she wasn't such a young child she could truly appreciate the beauty.  Amidala suddenly felt Anakin's eyes on her again but turned around towards him to start a conversation instead of ignoring him this time.  "When I was in Level Three, we used to come here for school retreat.  See that island?  We used to swim there every day.  I love the water."

Amidala could almost taste it once again, cool and pure.

"I do too.  I guess it comes from growing up on a desert planet."  Amidala felt the butterflies stir in her stomach as Anakin continued to look at her, even though now he was aware that she knew it.

" ...We used to lie on the sand and let the sun dry us...  and try to guess the names of the birds singing."  Amidala tried to divert his attention back into the story she told, but he was still fixated on her.

"I don't like sand.  It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere.  Not like here.  Here everything is soft...  and smooth..."  Anakin touched her arm and Amidala shivered at the touch.  It sent a warm feeling through her that clenched her stomach tight.  Amidala was still nervous, but she wasn't afraid of the look anymore.

"There was a very old man who lived on this island.  He made glass out of sand - and vases and necklaces out of the glass.  They were magical."  Amidala realized she was starting to play his game.  She smiled and wondered if he could tell.

Anakin looked into her eyes with those powerfully blue eyes and replied, "Everything here is magical."

Amidala continued to play oblivious and chose her words carefully.  His eyes were so much like the water, so deep..."You could look into the glass and see the water.  The way it ripples and moves.  It looked so real...but it wasn't."

Anakin continued to hold her eyes with his as he continued, "Sometimes, when you believe something to be real, it becomes real.  Real enough, anyway..."

Did he know?  Was she giving herself away?  Maybe her subtle hints were working, but anyway the dress should have been enough to cover for them even if he hadn't understood.  She continued to fall deeper into his eyes, deeper and deeper, that she barely felt him touch her chin, and she wanted to touch him but her hand wouldn't move.  Her whole body was suddenly lead.  Yet she continued to speak as if she was perfectly fine, "I used to think if you looked too deeply into glass, you would lose yourself."  She was.  She was losing herself in his eyes...  she was losing herself in these feelings...

"I think it's true..."  he whispered, and slowly he leaned in and she felt his beautifully sculpted lips meet hers.  Her whole body delighted in the warmth and thrill of the electricity that passed through her, but suddenly that warning voice inside of her welled up and screamed, "Look what you are doing.  No.  No!  NO!"  Amidala suddenly realized that she had been kissing Anakin, and although she had wanted it she had decided it against it too many times; it was foolish of her to lead him on like that...  and she quickly pulled away.

"I shouldn't have done that," she said, her mind suddenly mush and her mind racing around like a panicked animal.

"I'm sorry.  When I'm around you, my mind is no longer my own," Anakin apologized.

"You're telling me," she thought.  Excuses.  She had excuses, "It's the situation...  the stress..."

He looked at her with that passion-filled gaze.

"...the view."

And it was then that Amidala knew, she knew at that moment by the warmth that had encased her body, that she had gotten herself into something more powerful and complicated then she could ever imagine...

---

I was a fool.  It was utter lunacy.  If I had never led him on, if I had never worn that dress and returned that kiss then maybe...  no.  Things would have happened this way no matter what, I'm afraid.  But that doesn't keep me from mourning the steps that led to the decision that little did I know then would destroy me and my beloved husband.  Oh, my love for Anakin will never fade, never die.  But my hatred for myself, for giving in to my feelings will continue to grow, because somehow I feel that I helped to create a monster, or at least, I never did anything to stop it...

Go to Act 4