Padme was looking at Anakin through the glass wall. Medical droid took metallic arm, placed it next to Anakin and started treating his wound. Padme saw Anakin's face distorted from pain.
-Don't worry Padme, - she heard Obi-Van's voice and turned to him. – He's gonna be fine. That happens to many Jedies.
-But how come it happened to him? – Padme glanced at Anakin again. – I mean he's so… strong.
-He's not, - Obi-Van sighed. – He is very powerful as a warrior, but he's too emotional.
Padme turned pale. She remembered Obi-Van's look when she rushed to Anakin when she saw his injured arm and hugged him. Why… Why did it happen? She's not just some girl who can do anything she wants. She's a Senator. She should be able to control her feelings! But she gave up. She confessed her love to him and there was no turning back… Or was there?
Padme glanced at Anakin with tears in her eyes.
-I'm tired, - she said to Obi-Van. – Please tell Anakin that I want to talk to him in the morning.
-You'll have a lot of time for that.
-What do you mean?
-The Council ordered Anakin to take you to Naboo. I'm gonna leave to Coruscant now and you'll head to Naboo. You don't mind, do you? – Obi-Van looked at her attentively, but she focused her mind so he could not read it with his Force powers.
-Yes, that's ok. I need to spend some time with my family now. Thank you for everything you did, Obi-Van. I hope to see you soon again.
She glanced at Anakin one last time and went to her cabin.
Meanwhile, Obi-Van entered the medical cabinet.
-How's it going? – he asked the droid.
'It's gonna be fine' was the answer.
-Damn it hurts, - Anakin grumbled.
-You've got a new mission, Anakin.
-What? – Anakin looked at his Master with interest.
-You'll escort Padme to Naboo. We don't know if she's still in danger.
-Where is she now?
-Sleeping. She said she was tired. And that she wanted to talk to you.
-I'll see her first thing in the morning.
-I have to go now, - Obi-Van turned to the door. – The Council prepared something for me too.
-May the Force be with you Master, - Anakin said customary.
Obi-Van looked right into the padawan's eyes.
-May the Force be with you, Anakin.
Padme couldn't sleep. Ani… Anakin… Little boy who turned into a man and crashed the world around her. She remembered his 'I'll marry you someday'. Many times she came back to that memory and couldn't help laughing but that was before. Before he came back into her life.
That day she saw him at her place at Coruscant, the way his "you've grown more beautiful" sounded… For the first days he still seemed to be a little boy… Only in that perfect man's body. But then… In his touch and in his kiss she felt how mature he's grown. How great that could be… To leave herself in his arms not caring of anything or anyone just adore and be adored for the rest of her life…
How will he react when she tells him that it's over? That she was wrong and it was an impulse… That she was scared of dying and wanted to feel loved for the last seconds of her life? What will he do? When she tells him all those lies and loses him forever? There was no answer for that. But that was the only right thing to do for her. For Senator Amidala, former Queen of Naboo.
Anakin had to spend the whole next day at the medical room. He wanted to go and see Padme but the droid just didn't let him get off the bed. And Padme didn't come either. It was so strange considering that there was nobody but clones and droids on the ship now. No one could see them, no one could get in their way…
Anakin smiled. Then years he's been dreaming of an opportunity to see her again, to look at her angelic face, to hear her voice… But even in most daring dreams he couldn't hope her voice to tell him those wonderful things.
My love for you is a puzzle, Annie, for which I have no answers. I can't control it... and now I don't care. I truly, deeply love you.
She loves him… She… the most adorable girl in the Galaxy laid her eyes on him…
But he still worried about her. Where was she? He asked the 3PO to go and see her and couldn't help waiting for him to return.
-Master, - said 3PO coming in. – Lady Padme says she's not feeling very well, she wants to rest in her cabin before we get to Naboo.
-But… - Anakin looked shocked. – Doesn't she want to see me? Did she ask about me?
-Yes, Master, and I told her that you feel much better now.
-That's it! – Anakin exclaimed unplugging the wires connected to his new arm. – I have to go and see her now!
-Excuse me, Master Skywalker, - a clone came in. – We're almost at Naboo now and we need you to land the ship.
-All right, - Anakin grabbed his cloak and then turned to 3PO. – You tell Padme that we're about to land. And that I want to talk her.
-Yes, Master.
As soon as 3PO told her the news, Padme got even more nervous. She'll have to tell him everything now. She looked into a little mirror. Gosh she needed to take a shower and change. She still had that former white (now it was all dirty) costume on. And even though she wanted to tell Anakin that nothing could happen between them, she would still prefer to look much prettier.
'This won't be long' Padme thought. 'Anakin will get mad, then heart-broken and then leave to his Order and I'll stay at home and be able to cry over my broken reality…'
Twenty minutes later 3PO came again and told her it was time to go.
-Master contacted your parents and they're gonna send a speeder for us.
-That's great, 3PO, thank you very much.
Padme sighed. So she won't be able to tell him anything on their way home. Cause considering his way of driving they're gonna get to her parents's house awfully quickly. Padme waited until the last moment to leave her cabin. The ship has already landed and she could see the speeder that her family had sent and… O! There was also her father! Padme smiled happily. Not only she was so glad to see him, but now she didn't need to decide how she should behave next to Anakin while they're alone. She rushed out of the ship and almost fell into her father's arms.
-Padme, - he said holding her. – I'm so glad you're fine! You're so silly! Why do you keep getting into troubles? I mean you're a Senator, not a warrior! Where is that Jedi that was supposed to protect you for Galaxy's sake?
-I am here, - Padme heard Anakin's voice right behind her.
-Anakin has nothing to do with that! – Padme exclaimed. – My friend was in trouble and I had to go to Genosis to save him! Anakin could do nothing but join me.
-But look at you! – Ruwee said. – You've got those terrible wounds on your back!
-So what, dad? Anakin is the one who got really injured! Look! – Padme pointed at Anakin's arm avoiding his eyes.
-I guess we can discuss it all a bit later, - Anakin said in a calm voice. – Padme spent the whole day in bed and I think we'd better take her home where she can continue resting.
Padme tried to guess if there was a sarcasm in his voice but couldn't. His face was also blanc. 'Of course, he's a Jedi…' she thought bitterly.
On their way Padme kept talking to her father asking him millions of questions about Sola, Jobal and little ones. Anakin drove the speeder without even glancing at them. When they arrived, the dinned was served and after that they had to tell everything about what had happened on Genosis. Padme was exhausted of all those questions and was happy to leave for her bedroom. Sola followed her so she just wished Anakin a 'good night', he bowed politely and went to the guest room.
-So! – Sola exclaimed intrigued as they entered Padme's bedroom. – Did he lose his arm protecting you?
-No, Sola! – Padme sighed and sat on her bed. – He had to fight a very powerful man. Count Dooku. He's a Sith.
-That's so terrible, - Sola said. – I mean he's got only one hand to caress you now and believe me…
-Shut up! – Padme interrupted her. – Anakin is a Jedi! He's not supposed to caress anyone! He's not supposed to love a woman or to be with a woman. That's strictly forbidden for any Jedi!
-Really? – Sola finally turned serious. – Well that I have to say that he's not a very good Jedi. It's impossible not to understand how much he cares for you.
-That is the problem, Sola, - Padme looked at her with tears in her eyes. – He's a very good Jedi. He's gonna become one of the strongest in the Galaxy… It's his dream. And I'm not gonna spoil it. So please, stop teasing me.
-I'm sorry, - Sola whispered. She had never seen Padme so upset before. – Do you want me to stay with you now?
-No, - Padme answered. – I'm gonna sleep now.
Sola stood up and left the room. Padme wiped her tears and went to the bathroom. After a shower she put on a blue nightgown, took a brush and walked out on the balcony doing her hair. It was a beautiful night. Padme took a deep breath of fresh air and smiled.
-You look gorgeous, - she heard and the brush fell out of her hand. She turned her head and saw Anakin leaned against the balustrade.
-What are you doing here? – she whispered. – You could be seen!
-I sense everything, Padme. There's nobody else around now.
She couldn't argue with that. She took a deep breath again. It was time to set things right now. It was time to tell Anakin that they can't be together.