The Annual Senatorial Ball was always something that he looked forward to, but tonight he felt the slow and painful tickle on butterflies in his stomach that made him quiver with anticipation. The reason for his fear he knew was very obvious. Tonight he would be seated next to the intoxicatingly beautiful senator Padme Amidala, whom he had been admiring from a far for years.

He frequently admired her beauty at the senatorial meetings that the Chancellor held each and every week regarding the Clone War. He always seemed to catch himself wondering how a woman so beautiful could possibly show no interest in having any type of romantic relationship.

Oh yes, he had met her up close once before, about three years ago. Their chance meeting happened as he was leaving the conference room from a meeting with Senator Organa. She was strolling down the long narrow hallway at a very fast pace, he didn't seem to see her coming at him and accidentally bumped shoulders with her.

He wheeled around on his heels to apologize and was absolutely taken at the woman who stood before him. She wore a long champagne red gown that flattered her petite figure and draped to the ground. She wore her chocolate brown hair in a large bun that sat on the back of her head with a cascade of loose curls pouring down her neck.

"I am so sorry." he chocked trying to regain his breath.

"Oh goodness," she stifled "You have nothing to be sorry about; I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going I really am sorry."

"I do believe that I have seen you in the Senatorial Hall." He said trying to make conversation.

"Ah yes, I am Padme Amidala, The Nabooian Senator."

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you up close, you really are quite beautiful." He stated with a tone of admiration.

"I'm flattered." Padme said just over a whisper as a blush crept onto her cheeks. "That's so sweet, I also know that I have seen you around too, what is your name?" she questioned.

"Oh, me," he declared, almost forgetting the question because he couldn't help but stare her striking figure down from her head down to her feet. "um…I am Senator Kaja of Endor." He stated.

"Oh, well nice to have met you, I do hope that I see you again some time soon." Padme flatly affirmed as she began scurrying down the hallway again.

"Oh, well I hope I see you again too!" Kaja shouted down the hall to Padme's vanishing figure, as the other senators in the hallway stared at him.

He didn't understand. Had he said something wrong? She didn't seem to be upset, but in an awful big hurry. He thought that they were actually hitting it off ok when she just scampered away from him. He was so taken by her that he began thinking of ways that he could try and see her again, he didn't want to just sit around and wait for her to accidentally bump into him again. She was intoxicating, and made him long for more than just a conversation with her. Everything about her was perfect. She was the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen.

As he lay in bed that night he thought about her striking features. Her extensive, chocolate brown flow of curly hair. Her radiant brown eyes. Her lusciously supple, thin body. Her scent could not escape him. She smelled of deep, rich lavender, and as he thought about it the scent haunted him.

How could he be in love with a woman that he had only met once, that he didn't even know? All he knew was her name, and that she was haunting him. Her gorgeous body and her brilliant mind were too much for anyone to handle, too much for any man to deserve he thought, perhaps she was an angel.

"SIR…SIR…SIR!" with that he snapped back to reality. "Oh sorry," he apologized to his R-5 droid. "I was just um…thinking."

"Well," the droid stated, "You're going to be late if you keep thinking for so long, the Ball is in an hour."

"How do you think this looks?" she desperately questioned.

"Miss Padme it looks lovely." C-3PO assured. "I do believe that is the forth dress you have tried on."

"I know, but I just want to look my best since this is such an important event." Padme whined.

"Well to tell you the truth I think that you look lovely in everything." C-3PO said.

"I'm touched 3PO" Padme replied. "You know what you're right I think I'll just wear this one."

Padme looked beautiful. The dress that she just put on was a coral gown that draped down to her feet. The bodice was a low cut V-neck that tied behind her neck, leaving her entire back as well as her shoulders exposed, adding to her elegance with her sun-kissed skin.

"3PO can you help me do my hair?" she questioned.

"Why of course madam." He complied happily, "But don't you want to wear any jewelry."

"Oh yes, I almost forgot." She said as she walked from her closet into the bedroom that she shared with Anakin. She quickly walked to the other end of the room and opened up her jewelry box. Inside the first thing that caught her eye was her beloved japor snippet that her Anakin had given to her when she was only 14 years old. She loved the simple piece of jewelry more than any expensive item in the whole world. It was a piece of her love that she often held when he was gone. It was a poor substitute for her Ani. All she really wanted was to be near him, have the real thing in flesh and blood next to her. "I think I'll wear this." She said to 3PO, as she proudly held it up.

"Ah, I remember when master Anakin gave that to you." He declared.

"Me too." She whispered. "Oh 3PO I miss him so much." She stifled as she fell onto their bed. The thought of Anakin made her smile but it also made her want to cry. He had been gone for almost two months on a mission in the Outer Rim. She was constantly worried about him and longed for him to return. It had seemed like a lifetime since she had last seen him. Every day seemed like a new eternity to her, and she guessed that for him it was the same.

"Don't cry Miss Padme." 3PO said trying to comfort her. "You'll smudge the makeup I worked so hard to produce. Now you wouldn't want your pretty face looking all grubby now would you?"

"No." she sniffled through sobs."

"Now come here so that I may do your hair. We only have 20 minutes!" C-3PO pried.

"Ok." She agreed as she sauntered into the bathroom." When she entered the bathroom she quietly sat herself in a stool that faced her large mirror, as C-3PO tried to figure out what to do with her mountain of curly hair. "Now sit still." He coaxed.

About 15 minutes later he was finished with her hair, which she now wore elegantly in multiple long braids that started at the top of her head and ended halfway down her neck, leaving the rest of her silky hair to flow from the braids. And finally her hair was topped off with a diamond incrusted headband with a large coral stone to match her dress draping from the band and resting lightly on the top of her forehead.

"Wow 3PO you always outdo yourself." She said with a tone of admiration and happiness. "It's beautiful."

"Well, I'm glad you like it, but you really should be going now or else you're going to be late." He said.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving." She laughed as he pushed her out the door. "And really it looks spectacular thank you for helping me."

Senator Kaja now sat at the table position that he had been assigned, as he admired his surroundings. The Ball was held in a large ballroom with golden walls, marble floors, and multiple diamond chandeliers hanging from the painted ceiling. He was seated next to Senator Organa of Alderaan as well as the senators of Bogden, Carida, Corellia, Coruscant, and Dagobah.

As he sat there he began thinking of the lovely Padme who had yet to arrive. He was so anxious to see her and strike up a conversation with her. This was the perfect place to start a romance, he could woe her in a breathtaking surrounding and use his charm to sweep her off her feet. It would be like a fairy tale he thought. Two senators who have met once before by chance just happen to be seated next to one another at the Senatorial Ball, strike up a conversation and fall immediately in love. It would be perfect.

"So, Senator Kaja" said Senator Organa snapping him back into reality. "What do you think about the progression of the Clone War?"

"Um…" he spoke up caught off guard "I think that after the immediate termination of General Grievous that the universe as well as the Republic will be in good shape and might even be able to end the war."

"Ah, Senator Organa," Senator Dobbe of Carida spoke up "I love politics but I am quite sure that we should forget about them and have a good time."

"I guess you're right." He replied.

Just as he had finished his statement Padme had just arrived at the table and sat down in her seat in between Senator Organa and Senator Kaja.

"Senator Amidala" the elderly woman senator of Corellia spoke up "You look gorgeous."

"Why tank you." Padme replied graciously, being the very model of poise and sophistication.

She had just stopped him dead in his tracks; he couldn't believe that this woman is real. She was amazing. "Wow you look lovely." He commented unconsciously.

"Thank you." She replied.

The conversation seemed to swirl around the exquisite senator as she received compliments and questions. He couldn't help himself. He did a full scan of her shapely body. She was driving him mad, with so much skin exposed he couldn't help but focus on that area of her body, wonder how her skin would feel, and he blushed.

A few moments later, Chancellor Palpatine appeared and announced that the Ball was officially beginning as he thanked all the senators for their hard work and determination. As he spoke Padme caught herself feeling like it wasn't right for him to be thanking the senators because they basically did nothing these days but listen to Palpatine. He had taken emergency powers and now he made all the decisions, there was barely any voting anymore. The ones that he should really be thanking were the Jedi. They were out there risking their lives while the senators sat safely at home. Her Anakin was out there risking his life along with her trusted friend Obi-Wan and Mace Windu.

After he finished his speech the party continued. All of the senators continued to speak, many of them asking Padme questions and telling her how beautiful she was. HE could see why though, many of the senators were older, and it wasn't very often that a striking young woman was in any type of office or politics.

"So senator forgive me for asking such a bold question," Senator Kaja began, "but how old are you."

"Oh, that's not bold at all, I'm 26." She replied "Well, almost 27."

This was perfect, she was 26 and he was only 31 this could be perfect, he thought as he ran his hand through his short chestnut brown hair. Now all he needed to do was drag her away from all these other pesky senators so he could speak to her.

"Oh goodness," declared Senator Fillia of Dagobah. "What an interesting necklace you're wearing."

"Why thank you." She said proudly as she clutched the japor snippet.

"Where did you get that my dear, if you don't mind me asking?" Senator Fillia said.

"Oh not at all." Padme assured. "This was a gift to me from an old friend. It was given to me when I was only 14. My friend made it for me." She declared trying to keep Anakin a secret so that no one would suspect anything, even though she wanted to blurt out his name with passion and tell everyone that they were married and that he, her husband gave that to her.

"Oh, that's lovely, but I was wondering if you would like to dance Padme." blurted Senator Kaja.

"Sure, I guess so." She replied.

With that he took her by the hand and led her out to the extravagant dance floor. Everything was going as planned. "So, Senator Amidala, do you remember me? We met about a year ago, I ran into you in the hallway."

"Ah, yes" she replied sounding like she was happy to have remembered.

"So I hear that your real name is Padme," he exclaimed, "That's a beautiful name.

"Thank you." She replied "So what's your first name?'

"Oh…my first name is Rikan." He answered.

"That's a nice name, I like that." She giggled.

"Thank you, so are you originally form Naboo?" he asked, sounding quite curious.

"Um, yes I am." She said. "Born and raised there. I love it; it's so peaceful and serene there." As she spoke of her home planet she thought about Anakin and how much he loved it there as well. They often went there together, they had there first kiss there, and they had gotten married there.

"Well, Padme, what are you hoping to do with your life after the war." He asked hoping she would say something like get married, and settle down, hopefully have a few children.

"Hum, well…" she said, knowing the true answer. This was move back to Naboo and live with her Anakin, have some kids and just stay there. Raise a family. "Probably stay in politics and move back to Naboo." She finished.

"Oh, so no thoughts of starting a relationship or a family?" he questioned. "Don't you want to meet someone, fall in love, and get married." He urged.

"Well yes." She said unconsciously, thinking of Anakin. But she had already met the perfect man, fallen in love, and gotten married. Was this Rikan flirting with her she thought finally, getting the picture. Oh no, this couldn't be happening. She couldn't just blow him off or he might suspect something, but she couldn't show false interest in him either, that would be lying to him, herself, and Anakin. Oh god, this was bad.

"So you think about that too, Padme?" he asked seductively, as he pulled her body closer to his moving his hands up her back, causing her to squirm uncomfortably.

"Um…" she stifled as she tried to pull away a bit. "I don't…" she was hushed by a "Shhhh…" coming from Rikan's parted lips. "Now, you don't have to worry Padme, everyone is scared when love comes into the picture, or when you meet someone special." He assured.

She knew perfectly well what he was talking about, because that is exactly what happened with Anakin, but the fear she felt now was more like being locked in a cage that she couldn't get out of. "Please" she pleaded just over a whisper.

"I know you might feel that you're not ready yet, but I know that you must be lonely." He lulled. "Lonely….lonely…lonely." the word echoed in her head, she was lonely and she knew it. Her time apart from her beloved Ani was tearing her apart, but she definitely didn't need a substitute lover to make herself feel better, all she needed was the real thing.

"Did I mention that I think you look stunning tonight." He said suggestively. "Just like an angel." Oh god, was everything that came out of his mouth going to make her mind swirl around Anakin? The memories now were flooding her mind."

"Are you an ANGEL?" the small blond haired boy questioned.

"No." she giggled overjoyed with flattery. Perhaps this little slave boy had never seen a beautiful girl before. As she looked into his deep blue eyes she saw sadness, and she couldn't blame him, he was only 9 years old, and he did slave work. How cruel she thought, being born into slavery. Yet he was being so nice to her. She had never been called an angel before, and even though she was dressed up as a handmaiden he thought her lovely. He seemed to be enthralled with her, and it made her feel good.