My apologies if this comes off as a bit sappy. But I never entirely liked the romance in Episode II, and I think I can do a bit better. So here it goes. This will also provide nice set up, because obviously with the Rule 63 in play, the plot is going to go through some considerable changes. Please read and review and let me know what you think.

Chapter 2

A Week After the First Battle of Geonosis.

He cradled her in his arms as they journeyed back to Naboo. Coruscant had long since faded into the stars. Her metallic arm glistened. It was a poor substitute for the real thing. But then again, she was lucky to be alive. She stirred from her sleep. Looking into the senator's eyes, she smiled.

"Good morning."

"Morning," she replied. She yawned for a bit. "How long was I out for?"

"A couple of hours…you crashed as soon as we hit lightspeed."

"I'm guessing, Obi-Wan didn't like the idea of me accompanying you back home?" Anakin chuckled a bit.

"On the contrary, he was the one who suggested it." He paused for a moment, as she looked away from him. "You have to give him some credit some time. You're like a sister to him, he cares much for you."

"He said that?"

"Yes, before we left…while you were in surgery...in the bacta ward"

Five days earlier, Jedi Temple in Coruscant – Medical Wing

The waiting was agonizing both for Senator Skywalker and for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Master Kenobi," said Anakin as Obi-Wan nodded his head as they looked at Padmé Naberrie's form swimming in the bacta.

"How is she?"

"The medical droids said she'll be fine…but the arm…" Kenobi patted the senator on his back.

"She fought valiantly against Dooku. They will knight her soon of that you can be sure...we're going to need all the generals we can get in this war." They looked away uncomfortably. "You care much for her."

"I do."

"I've never seen her so focused before in battle. Something changed in her for the better." Anakin Skywalker barely concealed a smile.

"She's very special to me," he added. "And has been since the whole business with the Trade Federation on Naboo when I was king…"

"That seems so long ago. It was a more innocent time than now." Kenobi paused. "You'll be heading home soon, I assume?"

"Only when she's better…she's been my bodyguard for the last few months…"

"…Which is why she'll be accompanying you back when you go home…I insist. It's least the Jedi Council can do to secure you safety Senator."

"I appreciate that." Kenobi waited before he brought up the subject that was most on his mind.

"I don't know what happened between the two of you. And, quite frankly, I don't need to know. But tell me this, why were you on a Tatooine?" Anakin squirmed in his seat uncomfortably.

"We we're looking for Shmi…she found her…but it was too late to do anything." Kenobi clenched his fists and closed his eyes. The pain was evident in his visage.

"She was having dreams…and I brushed them off. How could I be so foolish?" Anakin wondered whether he should share what else had happened that night at the Tusken Raiders' camp.

"There was something else…something you should know."

"What?"

"Her mother died…and she told me that she wiped out the Tusken Raider camp. All of them were killed by her in a rage." Kenobi's eyes widened.

"Had she told anyone else of this?"

"Not that I know of…why?"

"I think that should stay between the two of you and me." He shook his head, pressing his right hand up to his temple as he was consumed in thought. "I want her to be happy. She's the sister I never had." He turned to face Anakin, "Watch over her for me too."

The Present.

"Obi-Wan is a good man." Anakin said as he strokes Padmé's hands in his.

"He is." She looks outside at the stars passing them by. "What are we going to do about…us?" He turned to face her.

"I meant what I said in the arena."

"This is going to be difficult Anakin." He put one of his hands in the pocket of his senatorial jacket.

"That's why I think we need to do something radical." Her eyes narrowed.

"Oh really senator," she teased him. "What did you have in mind?" He pulled out a yellowish-blue ring out of his pocket. She backed away slightly as he gently put it on the flesh hand, slowly caressing her ring finger as he did so.

"I'd like you to be my wife…" There were tears sliding down her as she spoke.

"I'm going to war…we're going to be thousands of light-years apart…"

"I don't care," he leaned in. "I love you with all my heart…I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She nodded her head.

"Very well then, my king…" she caressed his face giving him a smile.

"Stop it! I haven't been a king since the Federation…" she silenced him with a kiss.

"I would be happy to be your queen of the Twin Suns." He grew serious and clutched the japor snippet he wore around his neck.

"How long will you have leave for?"

"A week. Anything longer than that, and they will begin to suspect."

"I'm pretty sure Obi-Wan knows about us…what possible difference could it make?"

"I have no choice. They want to send me and Obi-Wan to the Outer Rim Territories right away…some troubles are brewing in Hutt Space."

"Tatooine?"

"We're not sure yet."

"I guess this means we're going to have to wait on our honeymoon after all?" She punched him jokingly in the arm.

"Let's not think about that now. We have each other," she answered him as they kissed again.