Author's Notes: This is just something I'm trying out. It is basically one cohesive story and NOT a series of one shots; but each chapter will draw inspiration from a classic romantic movie. For starters, the most epic and iconic of all: Titanic.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of suicide and depression.

"Smile!"

Queen Amidala heard behind her, her sister's words making sense yet still feeling ridiculous.

I can't! She inwardly cried, the thought burning her mind yet she did as she was commanded.

The Queen took a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, accommodated her lavish dress; and stretching her feet, hidden under the heavy material, she managed to fake a smile for the great crowd.

"Her Majesty, Queen Amidala of the Naboo!" a male voice cried, letting everyone know it was the time to welcome her.

The image of that huge, faceless crowd suddenly on their knees for her made her stomach turn.

They were counting on her.

She was now, at seventeen years old, the ruler of her world.

Gulping, she prayed no one could see under her imperial countenance, reading her true feelings: Fear. Fear. Fear.

What had she gotten herself into?

Never mind that… I can do this. She believed her thoughts until she saw Senator Palpatine coming her way, nearing her till he was a few inches from her, both at the center of the tall stage, above the great crowd in Theed's Palace.

"Your Majesty," he smiled and bowed with supreme reverence; then he put on her head the heavy crown, embedded with Naboo's rarest pearls and diamonds; the rainbow halo reminiscing of the green fields and clear-blue waterfalls.

The ceremony went on, Amidala looked confident and strong above everyone. She could now breathe somewhat easier, no one suspected her doubts and uncertainty…

Queen Amidala sat on her throne, her handmaidens by her sides. Politicians and royalty dancing and conversing around the hall. No one spoke to her.

Why would they? She was the Queen now. Important and intimidating. Strong and fearless. Above all, lonely…

She wished someone would speak to her. Smile at her, genuinely—not just for being the Queen, but because they might care about her. Where was Sola? And her parents? She couldn't see them. Were they gone already?

At that moment, she would've given anything for a friendly word; a truthful smile. Not another bow. Not another look of admiration. Not another 'Your Majesty'. She was already tired of her new appellation. Would anyone ever call her Padmé again?

She sighed, unwillingly but relieved because no one noticed it—except…

Someone did.

Her previous difficulty to breathe returned. The loud thumping under her breast was so loud she was sure people could hear it even under the loud music. She looked upon the stranger and realized, he had been watching her for a long time.

What do you care? She wondered. Remember who you are! Padmé Naberrie—Queen Amidala!

"Who is that?" She asked Sabé, the handmaiden by her right.

The handmaiden took a few moments. "I don't know, Your Majesty. Probably some prince visiting from another planet."

"No," Padmé shook her head. "If he were royalty he would've been introduced to me. Why won't he stop looking at me?"

"Do you want me to kick him out?"

"No," Padmé returned his gaze again, thinking he would look down, embarrassed; but he continued to fix his piercing eyes on her, even more attentively.

A pair of blue eyes locked with those sweet brown ones of the Queen, for a few moments. Padmé felt a strange emotion within her, one she had never experienced before. For a short second, she forgot who she was, and where she was. It seemed like the coronation, Naboo, the entire galaxy had faded into nothingness, and only the blue eyes of that stranger existed…

Then something—better yet, someone, came between them.

A man, looking a few years older than the blue-eyed stranger, appeared next to him. He seemed to be saying something—it looked like he was scolding, but even as he did, the blue eyes never left Padmé's form.

Suddenly uncomfortable and guilty—she didn't understand why—she stood up and fled from the scene.

Padmé had hoped her feelings the night of her coronation were just a thing of the moment. The nerves of entering a new stage in her life and a position of power.

Lamentably, she realized they were her true state.

Day after day she struggled.

Struggled to be taken seriously, to make others see things the way she did.

She had strong leadership and mandate, yet very often, her age and sex seemed to be factors that hurt her reign.

It was a lonely life, too.

Time passed and she barely got to see her family.

She was so busy. When she had any free time —which happened rarely—, the only company she held were her handmaidens or other politicians. People that she knew had come into her life simply because she was Queen Amidala. It was a strange thought. A realistic but depressing one. No one would ever care about Padmé anymore.

That young girl was destined to forever live under the powerful shadow of Queen Amidala.

Unless she did something to stop it.

It was about five standard months after her coronation.

Queen Amidala was having a business dinner with Naboo's most important people. A cruise, wide and fancy, navigated the waters that graced the back of Theed's Palace. From her window, Amidala could see her home, the beautiful, classic Palace in which she ruled.

Senator Palpatine sat by her side, his sharp and smart comments every now and then hurting and offending her, though she hardly could blame or hate him for them; she mostly agreed with him.

They were discussing the welcoming of Viceroy Nute Gunray of the colonial world of Neimoidia. Amidala was nervous about that meeting, she had an awful gut feeling she couldn't trust that Neimoidian scum—something about the way he behaved during her coronation made her be aware of it.

"My dear Queen," Palpatine said, his kind aged face upon Amidala. "I believe the last thing we want is to appear hostile to guests from other worlds."

Everyone on the table agreed with him.

"I just meant," the Queen stammered. "I want to be careful around him. I'll be civil of course… if he is, as well."

The group of men sighed. Padmé felt injured.

"Really," she tried again. "I want you all to trust my better judgment… let me handle him."

She felt suddenly like a little girl playing queen. Why were they questioning her?

"You must be aware of your doings," Palpatine spoke again. "Relations with other planets are important, I hope you understand, Your Highness."

"We don't want to appear racist either," another man said, catching Padmé off-balance.

"What?" She snapped. "What's that supposed to mean?"

There was silence.

"I don't trust Viceroy Gunray—but it's not because he's not a human!" she was so mad the red of her face almost showed even under all that white makeup. "The very thought of it!" she cried, her dark eyes filled with fire.

What opinion did her co-workers have of her? Was it so low to make such assumption? Clearly…

She stood up, a fake haughty gesture in her every move. "Like I said before," she announced. "You must all leave the situation to me. I am the Queen of Naboo. I will make the right decision. I hope you do trust in me!"

"Ah, Your Majesty. Dear oh dear Amidala," the man that had made her so angry said. "Maybe there lies the problem. Never had a Queen relied or cared so much whether her subordinates trust her! And how can we, when you doubt yourself?"

"Now wait a minute!" Palpatine intervened. Padmé could tell he was about to defend her, but she didn't know what he could say to clean her name. The man's insults were too true to deny them. Not wanting to hear anything else, she ran from the dining room.

They're right. Padmé's thoughts burned inside her. Of course they're right!

What did I get myself into? Oh what am I going to do?!

There were tears on her eyes, swiftly flooding her pretty face. She ran and passed hallway after hallway, a strange feeling gathering on her throat, making her feel smothered. She now cursed the fact that she was floating on water. There was no place to run. If someone caught her like that… oh she would die!

What would people say if they could see the Queen of Naboo, her face stained with makeup, her eyes red from tears, her self broken because a few comments…

They didn't deserve her, the Nabooians, they deserved someone better. Someone older, more mature and assured. Should she resign? Could she? They would never allow that. What choice did she have?

I wish I was dead, she grimly thought. Everyone would be better without me…

Is that so? She no longer ran, her steps were quiet and slow now.

Everyone would be better without me…

She found her way outside, founding herself alone on the deck of the ship now.

This was her life. A life of being lonely. Of absolute solitude… Even while being accompanied. She didn't feel any less abandoned before while she was in the company of those politicians.

Everyone would be better without me…

She hated them. Her life was ruined because of them. Life? What life? I have no life... So why not end it?

Her tears had cleaned her face free from makeup, yet she looked just as white under the pale moonlight. She reached the edge, her cold, trembling hands touching the durasteel metal of the rail. She climbed. Turned around. Stared at the magnificent blackness of the night sky. Then the endless depth of sea. One more step and…

"Don't do it," she heard behind her. The sudden warm voice in the middle of the cold night feeling like a fire being ignited inside her.

She had never heard that voice before, it was masculine, it was calm and caring, yet it masked something. What?

"Leave me alone," was all she could say, never turning to see him.

"I will," he said. "But only after you get down. Come on, get back here—"

"Step back!" Padmé screamed, her voice much like herself shaking. "I mean it. Do not come any closer."

She could hear his steps as he retreated. "All right," he said, softly. "Please be calm."

"Just go," Padmé exclaimed. "I will do this either way. Leave!"

"You won't," the male voice said.

"What?" Padmé almost turned to see him. "What'd you mean?"

"You are not going to jump," he said simply.

There was something of… Could that be arrogance in his voice? Ugh!

"I am doing this," she said, almost confidently. "I will do this! If you just go—"

"If you had any intention of jumping you would've done it already," she could hear his steps again, this time nearing her.

Another man assuming he knew her thoughts better than her… Oh she wanted to take him down with her! Now she was only angry, and not at herself, but at that meddling stranger. Who was he?

"You're distracting me," Padmé said, realizing she was losing track of her actions. "Just mind your own business and leave me alone."

"But this is my business," he said. "Now that I know what you're planning, I'm involved. And I can't leave until you've made up your mind—"

"I've already made up my mind!" Padmé screamed.

The stranger sighed. "Fine," he sounded disappointed. "Then I guess so have I."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to have to jump after you."

"Are you mad?" Padmé shook her head, stunned. "You would die!"

"I realize that, especially since I can't swim."

"Uh?"

"This is actually the first time I've seen so much water. I'm from Tatooine. It's a desert planet, you see, there are no oceans—"

"I know what a desert planet is!" she snapped. "I'm aware of Tatooine's dry environment."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "It's just… you seem like a nice girl. The kind of person that wouldn't even know that sand hole exists… but never mind. Now you know, if you kill yourself, you're killing me, too."

Padmé's brain was twisting inside her head. Was she actually having that conversation? Was she imagining that man? There was only one way of knowing… She had to turn around and see him.

She moved one leg, then the other, but there was so much breeze the metal was slippery, she screamed loudly as she almost fell but then… a strong hand grabbed her own. It was him. He had moved so fast. And he was holding her now.

"Don't worry," he said after she finished screaming. "I'm not going to let you down."

She took long breaths and held onto his grip, tightening even as he did.

"I knew you'd make the right decision," he smiled at her even as he gasped for air, his face a few inches from her own. "I knew you would take pity of me Miss… this is the part where you say your name," he smiled again, this time more broadly, showing beautiful perfect white teeth.

She couldn't help her muteness. He had completely taken her breath away…

She had never seen a man more beautiful and also… The eyes! His blue eyes! Was he the same stranger from the day of her coronation?

It was possible but—he asked for her name?

So he didn't try to help her because she was Queen Amidala? The realization caused the widest of smiles to plaster across her pretty face.

He had helped her. Padmé. Not out of reverence or duty. Simply because… She didn't know, but whatever the reason she would accept gladly because he had not been forced to do this. He wanted to.

"My name is Anakin Starkiller," he said after a long time passed and she didn't say anything, too happy in her own thoughts to respond.

"I am… Padmé Naberrie," she said slowly, knowing she had to be truthful. "Amidala."

"That's a lot of names," he gave a small chuckle. "Couldn't I just call you Padmé?"

Oh her smile! It now hurt yet she couldn't help it.

"Yes, Mr. Starkiller."

"Call me Anakin."

"Anakin," she softly said.

"Padmé," his manly voice was warmer than ever.

Again, a pair of blue eyes locked with the sweet brown ones of Padmé…

"Get away from her!" a sudden voice cried from behind them.

The suddenness of the cry startled Padmé. She jerked slightly to the point she almost fell from the ship again. Anakin didn't allow that and pulling her back, they both fell backwards on the deck, the Queen roughly on top of the Stranger.

Her security team broke into the scene immediately; her handmaidens picked her up from the floor and took her away. Captain Typho pulled out his blaster and pointed at Anakin.

"Stop!" Padmé screamed. "Don't shoot!"

There was a momentary stupor, then shouting—

"My lady!"

"He attacked you!"

"Oh Queen Amidala, always merciful to the point of absurdity—"

"Enough!" Senator Palpatine exclaimed. "Let us hear the Queen's reasons."

"The Queen?" Anakin lowly questioned. Padmé stared at him and shook her head, begging for his silence.

"Thank you, Senator," Amidala said, catching her breath. "It—it was an accident. This boy was merely trying to help me."

"Your Majesty," Captain Typho said. "I saw as he almost threw you on the water!"

"No, Captain. You saw how he prevented that from happening," she breathed in and out to calm her nerves. "I was just… watching the night sky. The stars and the moons of our beautiful Naboo. I must've leaned in too far because I almost fell. Mr. Starkiller here saved me!"

"Indeed," Senator Palpatine said. "Then he should be rewarded, not facing the end of your weapon, Captain."

Everyone lowered their weapons.

"Well done tonight," Palpatine patted Anakin's shoulder; the young man merely nodded. "The people of Naboo thank you, Mr. Starkiller." His smile was as sweet and charming as ever, yet the young man didn't return it with a similar one, he just nodded again, his gaze on the floor.

Padmé was taken away by her handmaidens, her head turned to the side, trying to meet Anakin's eyes again, but he was now staring only at the horizon.

She hoped to speak to him again as they disembarked, but as everyone exited the ship, there was no sight of him. He had vanished.

When she was inside Theed's Palace again, tucked in bed, safe and warm, she couldn't help the new sadness that attacked her, thinking of how she'd never have a chance to thank the man that saved her life.

And if she would've known she was to see him the next day, she would've fallen asleep with the biggest smile across her face, instead of that bitter grin that welcomed nightmares in the depths of the night.

If you want to see a moment from a particular movie with Anakin and Padmé in this story, don't hesitate to ask!