Author's Note: I haven't see many Anidala fics that explore this kind of relationship issues. I mean not on this side. It's almost always Anakin being jealous so I wanted to write a fic of Padmé being the one who gets really jealous.

Rating: T for now, possible M.

Themes: Relationships. Love. Distrust. Jealousy. Desire.

Flirting With A Jedi

Chapter 1: Called From The War

"Distance is just a test to see how far love can travel."

Anakin Skywalker paced around his apartment in Coruscant with a deep frown on his face. He roamed and explored every corner of the place, his heart sinking lower and lower with every passing moment. At last, he had to give up and accept it: she wasn't home.

He couldn't help but to groan exasperated. What were the chances... How unlucky could he be? Have the blessing of being back in Coruscant after so long and not finding her there?

Not to mention the insanity he comitted by ignoring the Council's orders of going straight to the Temple. I mean it was a great risk he was taking venturing into her apartment in the middle of the day. He could easily be spotted, word could reach the Jedi Council; but he couldn't even begin to pretend the risk of him being there was what was bothering him.

It was her lack of presence that had injured him like a lightsaber to the chest.

He sat for a long time, praying that at some point he'd hear the door open to find her there. She would smile brightly upon seeing him and he could ignore his previous anger to run to her and wrap her in his arms…!

But such meeting never happened. His anger rising, ignoring his comlink which kept ringing, Anakin called C-3PO:

"Yes, Master Anakin?" the droid inquired politely.

"Threepio," Anakin struggled to keep his voice in check. "Do you happen to know where Padmé has gone? Is she at the Senate?"

"Oh I don't think so," the droid answered. "She would have taken me if that were the case."

"Where could she be then?" Anakin wondered out loud.

"Well, Senator Amidala has been going out a lot lately."

"Has she?" Anakin neared his droid. "Where to? With who?"

"Oh I am not sure. She never details what she does when she's gone. But if she's engaged in such way I would advise to just come back tomorrow. When she's gone like this she doesn't return till very late at night."

Anakin sat on a chair, not liking the droid's words in the slightest. "I see," he breathed, the devil of jealousy threatening to possess him.

"Um, sir," Threepio said. "Aren't you going to answer that?"

Anakin pulled his comlink from his pocket. Might as well… He really didn't want to hear Obi-Wan's nagging right now, he didn't think he could take it without some insolent back talk accidently slipping through, so he just went to the Jedi temple in silence, still angry at the lousy day, cursing the fact that she had to be out on the day he came back.

You could almost feel depressed just by watching Anakin's walk, his step without spring as he entered the Jedi temple and directed to meet with the masters.

"Sorry I'm late," was the first thing he said to them.

He thought at least Mace Windu would reprimand him for his tardiness, and he was sure Obi-Wan would mention something about ignoring his calls, but no one made any comment until Yoda arrived. It was then just the three Masters, and Anakin.

"What's this about?" Anakin inquired.

He saw Mace and Obi-Wan, as if watching them from a distance, as if they were two strangers, not processing a single word they said. He heard not their voices, but in his head, Padmé's sweet and loving tones. His eyes were open and normal, yet he saw nothing of this chamber in the temple, but the two of them at home. Their true home, in Naboo. The image was so sweet, so addictive… Who could blame him for getting lost in such reverie? The playful images of his loved one consumed him… Till he saw Mace's stern face, asking him a question.

"Pardon me, Master?" he blurted out awkwardly.

Mace almost rolled his eyes. "Do you agree with us, Anakin?" he asked.

"Um," the young knight was suddenly very mad with himself, wishing he had been paying more attention. "Well, I…"

"Anakin, do you accept the mission or not?" Obi-Wan anxiously cut in.

Why wouldn't he? "Yes, I do." He said mechanically.

He was very surprised when the three masters held back sighs and looked troubled. What the hell had he agreed to do?

"Anakin, the Council is very worried about this move from the Chancellor," Obi-Wan said.

Uh. So it involved Palpatine?

"Why?" Anakin asked.

"Skywalker, he's the most important man in the galaxy. There have already been a number of attempts on his life during this conflict. He should be in the Capital not traveling around and putting his life in danger."

"He wants to leave the capital?" Anakin couldn't hide his surprise. "Is he for real? He shouldn't!"

He could now see the trouble, but how did it involve him?

"Exactly, and for him to just ask us for a knight to protect him, well, we don't like it!" Obi-Wan said.

The Jedi Council was not as supportive of Palpatine as they used to, Anakin knew though he didn't understand it. Granted, the man had been in power for longer than was even legal; but it had been necessary, and the galaxy itself had demanded it.

"The nerve," Windu went on. "Asking us to take a Jedi from the fighting to go to a party!"

Now Anakin understood their anger more.

"I don't care if the queen of Naboo just had a baby and the whole planet is celebrating! He simply cannot…"

Anakin's brain wandered off again at the mention of that planet so dear to his heart. So the Chancellor wanted to go to Naboo and take Anakin with him? To be sure, his mouth twisted into a smile before he could stop himself, he uttered the words before thinking of whether he should say them or not: "We have to support the Chancellor. His security should be a top priority."

The masters turned almost open-mouthed to see him. Anakin was beginning to wonder why Yoda was there without saying a word.

"Skywalker you were right before. After this short retreat, you must immediately go back into the battlefield. If anything, you should try to convince him of how ridiculous it is for him to go to Naboo now."

Anakin stopped for a moment. How could he possibly convince the most powerful man in the galaxy to do the opposite of what he intended?

"I can try," he said.

"Refuse the mission, Skywalker?" Yoda questioned, Anakin wasn't sure of what the tone meant.

Anakin nodded and Yoda said he may go tell the Chancellor so, then.

When he was gone, the three masters could discuss the rumored chosen one more freely…

Anakin waited outside Palpatine's office with more ease than he had felt all day. The guards let him into the room after being announced. He was ready to be professional about the whole thing, yet all words died on his lips when he saw who was in the office. Palpatine wasn't alone.

"Ah, hello Anakin!" Palpatine greeted. "Please do sit down."

Anakin walked to them, he shook Palpatine's hand, the old man reaching over from behind his desk. And then the person seated there.

"General Skywalker," Senator Amidala smiled pleasantly. "We've been expecting you."

Anakin held her hand for some moments, then let go of it with tremendous effort. "I didn't expect to see you here, my lady."

"No? Where else would I be but in the Senate Building?" she gave a faint laugh. "So will we be seeing you during the Festival?"

"Uh?" Anakin was lost in the scene, his eyes staring dreamily at his wife.

"Have you accepted, Anakin?" Palpatine asked.

Anakin glanced from either politician for a while, then, without caring for the consequences, answered: "Yes."

Padmé managed to snuck a mischievous grin. Palpatine went on and on about how they would proceed, seemingly unaware of the constant looks that passed secretely between husband and wife. Later Anakin felt a pang of worry in the pit of his stomach, just thinking about what the Jedi would say, but he was willing to pay the price, any word of disappointment and reprimend. The reward was so worth it:

A three day festival in Theed with Padmé!

He thought it would be a time to relish on their love, careful as he knew they'd have to be. He truly believed the trip would be good for their relationship; aren't men unaware?

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