Padme fidgeted with her tight leather gown. She felt uncomfortable and self-conscious in the sleek black gown. If she had her way the gown wouldn't even be in her wardrobe, but it was custom for royal Nabooan women to wear such outfits to royal functions, and her father had required that she wear it to such a royal occasion this morning.
Regardless, she'd hated all of the lustful eyes on her as she strolled through the ballroom, Anakin luckily by her side. He seemed to have taken his body guard detail very seriously, and kept many a crass young man from getting too close to the Princess. The first one to approach her, obviously drunk, had tried to grab Padme and drag her away. Anakin came in between them thankfully, but the man was lucky that he came away with all of his limbs intact. Despite his fierceness, Padme was grateful for Anakin's presence. Something about him seemed to strike fear into those he was protecting Padme from, but it could have simply been the lightsaber he always kept at his waist.
Once Padme was Queen she would do her best to get rid of such sexualized garments; she would much rather wear something modest and flowing to royal events.
While she discretely pulled at the strapless bodice of her gown, she noticed Anakin watching her intently. He had the strangest look of adoration in his blue eyes. It wasn't unsettling; it was just that no one had ever looked at her that way before. Most men had obvious greed in their eyes, but not Anakin; his gaze was almost protective, as if he would do anything for her and keep her safe until the day he died. His gaze was comforting. Padme had never felt safer in her life than when Anakin came with her to Naboo.
"Forgive me Princess, but I have to tell you the truth." Anakin began. Padme instantly made eye contact with him.
Padme knew that she had to stay the calm and rational one. "Anakin, if you are asking me to forgive you it is best if you not say it at all."
"You are asking me to be rational. That is something I cannot do." He protested, inching towards her. She hoped that he could not hear her heart beat pick up as he grew closer to her. He continued. "Ever since I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you. And being with you now, I am in agony. When I saw that man try and take you, it took all of my strength to leave him standing. The thought of someone hurting you, it drives me senseless. The thought of not being with you, I can't breathe. I've been trying to keep my distance from you Padme; fulfill my Jedi duty and simply protect you, but I realize that I can't do that anymore. I care about you too much. You have stolen my heart, but it is breaking, tormented by the fact that when you are safe again, I will have to leave you, and possibly never see you again. What can I do? I will do anything that you ask." Anakin finished his heart felt monologue with the tears evident in his voice.
Padme was speechless.
He waited a few moments for her to respond, then begged her, "If you are suffering as much as I am, please tell me."
Padme turned her face away from him, trying to conceal the tears that threatened to leak from her eyes. How could she tell him that they could never be together? Ever since he stepped back into her life all that she'd wanted was for her feelings to be reciprocated in Anakin. Ever since they'd met those ten long years ago - while she'd served her people as their Princess and their Senator - all that she'd wanted was to see Anakin again. Even at the tender age of eight something about him had stuck with her, and she'd found herself falling in love with him over those years, not knowing if she would ever see him again. Now that she had, and was with him, she was torn between her heart and her duty.
She knew that her parents would never approve. Since she was of Royal blood, tradition dictated that she marry someone of at least noble blood, if not Royal. Anakin was the exact opposite of Naboo tradition. Not only had he been born a slave, but he was also fatherless. All of the nobility of Naboo would turn their nose up at and staunchly oppose a marriage between their beloved Princess and a slave's illegitimate son whose paternity could not be proven.
Conflicted, and knowing that what she said next might break his heart, and hers with it, Padme opted for a cut and dry response. "We… we can't. It's just not possible."
"Anything is possible Padme, listen to me."
She stopped him there, shooting up off of the couch. "No, you listen! We live in a real world, come back to it!"
At that moment Anakin also stood up, confronting her. "Is it because I'm a Jedi?" He demanded, approaching her. He stopped when she pushed him away gently.
"Regardless of the way we feel about each other Anakin, you're not the problem; I am. "
"Then you do feel something." He pushed, subtly inching her towards the wall. I wish that I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't.
"I don't have a say in the matter. Naboo custom dictates that I marry a Noble."
"But you do have feelings for me?" The Jedi pushed again.
By now Padme could feel the cold stone of the wall against her back. She avoided eye contact with him in her compromised position. He would know how tormented she was if she let her gaze meet his.
Finally, she said, "I won't let you give up your future for me. If my parents or anyone on Naboo found out about us, the consequences would be..."
"So what if there are?" Anakin interrupted her, stepping back and freeing the Princess. She moved back to the couch and he followed, settling next to her. "You mean more to me than anything in the galaxy, Padme. I'm never going to stop fighting for you. Your parents and Naboo would eventually come to understand."
In a final push to get through to him, Padme gave Anakin the full explanation. "Anakin, you don't understand. I wouldn't be able to live with what my parents would do to you. If they found out about us…" She paused, fighting to keep the tears out of her voice and out of her eyes, even though what she was about to say sent shock waves through her. "They would kill you."