Disclaimer: I unfortunatley don't own any of these character nor do I own Star Wars. It belongs to George Lucas and Lucasfilm ltd.

This story takes place between AOTC and ROTS and I am in complete denial that ROTS didn't happen even if it was an awsome episode but I hate that Anakin turned to the darkside but anyway on to the story...

Together and Apart

The planet of Coruscant gleamed with the lights of the massive skyscrapers. The night was clear and winking stars were visible from anywhere on the capital. In the senators' residences: 500 republica, a certain senator prepared for her twenty-fifth birthday ball in the reception area of the grand opera house.

Senator Amidala was in her bedroom putting the final touches on her hair which was slightly tied back with light blue and turquoise ribbons. Her rich brown curls cascaded down her back. She wore a light blue gown that hugged her curves with a turquoise ribbon at her waist to correspond with the ones in her hair.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, she wished her husband could be there and stand by her at the ball, but she knew that he had important jedi duties to attend to. As she finished her thoughts she heard a polite knock at her bedroom door.

"M'lady, the speeder has arrived, are you ready to go?"

The senator recognized this voice and identified that the soft voice belonged to her loyal handmaiden Dormé. As she gathered her things, the senator responded.

"Yes Dormé, I am coming and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Padmé. We have known each other for so long so it is only logical that we re on a first name basis."

Padmé was the senator's unformal first name and only people she has known for a long period of time have called her that.

The door to Padmé's bedroom slid open with a quick woosh to reveal Dormé dressed in a green dress much less extravagant than Padmé's and a gray cloak as were the rest of the handmaidens.

Padmé greeted Dormé with a friendly smile and continued downstairs to the veranda where a black, closed cockpit speeder awaited her entry.

Padmé got herself situated and comfortable in the luxurious speeder in which she awaited arrival to the ball in her honor where there would be holoNET reporters and senators waiting. Her thoughts drifted back to her husband which she missed, Anakin Skywalker.

They had been married a little less than a year and since they had to keep their marriage a secret, she didn't get to wake up next to him every morning. He was constantly called into duty for the Clone Wars which had spread to the far reaches of the galaxy.

Padmé braced herself to be bombarded by hundreds of people waiting to wish her a happy birthday but it wouldn't be happy without her husband there to celebrate with her but she knew it would be this way so she put on her best political mask, but behind it, thoughts of Anakin swirled in her mind as the speeder approached the landing bay of the opera house.

Meanwhile, at the Jedi Temple…

Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi searched frantically for his padwan throughout the Jedi Temple with important news.

Obi-Wan finally found his padwan, Anakin Skywalker meditating in a meditating sanctuary. Once Anakin sensed his master's presence his eyes popped open as he turned to face him. Anakin's cool blue eyes met his master's slightly green ones. As soon as Obi-Wan Realized he had Anakin's attention he began to speak.

"Anakin, the council has assigned us an urgent mission." Obi-Wan stated quickly.

Anakin was slightly disappointed at Obi-Wan's statement. Anakin and Obi-Wan had recently returned from a mission in the Outer Rim and Anakin wanted to use his first free moment to surprise Padmé, but this option had clearly been eliminated based on the current situation.

Anakin ended his thoughts quickly remembering the current presence of his master and restored his mind shields and spoke before Obi-Wan could notice a change in his mood.

"What kind of mission?" Anakin replied suppressing a sigh of disappointment.

Anakin already knew the answer. He knew that he and Obi-Wan were going to be sent to some far off planet to prevent separatist control, but Obi-Wan answer took him by surprise.

"We have been assigned to protect Senator Amidala. A ball is being held in honor of her birthday and the council believes that her security will not be enough to protect her with the amount of guests that will be attending." Obi-Wan explained.

Anakin inwardly jumped with immense amounts glee. He would be able to see his beloved wife and on her birthday especially!

I can't wait to see her face when I surprise her. Anakin thought as he smiled mischievously to himself.

Luckily Obi-Wan didn't notice the change in Anakin's expression and continued.

"We must leave immediately to make it in time." Obi-Wan continued.

With a quick nod Anakin rose from his meditating pose and followed his master to the landing bay of the Jedi Temple.

Anakin cheered to himself because he knew that he would be with his wife soon enough…