Thank you for the favorites, follows, and reviews.

Sorry it took so long to update, but it's a nice lengthy chapter with Anakin and Padmé at the gala. Which took a little time. Also I've been busy with real life, but don't worry, I don't plan on abandoning my stories.

Anakin spends time with a few of his fans. While Padmé catches up with some of her former classmates and friends. Anakin gets mad at Padmé, but will they make up?


Chapter Seven

Gala

Naboo

Theed

After dropping Luke, Leia, and R2-D2 off for the night at Sola and Darred's home, Anakin peeled hesitate Padmé away from the twins and back into the private shuttle they rented for the night.

The original plan was to let Jobal and Ruwee watch Luke and Leia for the night, but both Darred and Sola insisted. Padmé suspected it was a way for Sola to convince Darred to have another baby. While Darred was seemingly used this opportunity to convince her to not have another baby.

Anakin turned to his wife. "So who do you think will win that...discussion?" He was wearing a black and grey tunic. Anakin had thought about wearing his traditional Jedi robes, but if he were to leave the Order, then he probably shouldn't. It would give the public the wrong idea.

Yes, Anakin was wearing his lightsaber, but that was in case there was any trouble. Anakin wasn't expecting nor sensed any trouble, but he hadn't forgotten what happened the last time they attended a Naboo celebration, the Festival of Light. Count Dooku and a group of bounty hunters tried to launch a kidnapping plot, which thankfully failed. Regardless, Anakin was taking no chances.

"I'm not sure," Padmé shook her head. Regardless, it should be interesting. She was wearing a new, white gown. Padmé also couldn't help but notice how reminiscent Anakin's black and grey tunic was to his black Jedi robes.

"They'll be fine," Anakin reassured her. He wrapped an arm around her. "I programmed Artoo to warn us and Captain Typho if something happens." He squeezed her fingers. "But nothing is going to happen."

Padmé shook her head at the irony. Normally Anakin was the one who worried while she was the one who reassured him. Now it seemed they had reversed roles.

Anakin smiled back. A moment later he said, "I've been thinking," Anakin began. He didn't like the silence. "Now that we are no longer a secret, perhaps we could wear, well buy wedding rings." They once thought of buying rings when they married, but they didn't see the point. The could never wear them, except in private. Also what if they forgot to take them off?

"Rings?" Padmé paused. She hadn't really thought about it. "Well..." She was to say more when flashing lights began cover the inside of the shuttle. Despite the blackened windows, flashing lights from holograph cameras began to fill the inside of the shuttle. As well noise and beings shouting and chanting.

Padmé undid her safety belt, "Rain check."

They had arrived.

"Well, this is it."

The couple kissed one more time.

As the kiss ended, the shuttle door opened from the outside.


As the Senator and her newly revealed husband just arrived at the party. Their first official public appearance together as husband and wife. Excluding that whole Kiss of the Millennium- as some called it, which revealed them and of course when Amidala announced the marriage.

The crowd roared with excitement, whistles, and cheers.

"WOO HOO!"

"ANAKIN!

"PADMÉ!"

"SENATOR!"

"WE LOVE YOU!"

"I LOVE YOU, ANAKIN!"

"CONGRATULATIONS!"

"YOU'RE SO HOT!"

"YOU'RE AMAZING!"

From the balcony two stories above, a crowd of beings watched the site from above.

One Gungan began, "So...our Queen married a Jedi," He said in a bitter tone.

The shadowed woman closed her eyes and shook her head. "It is nothing but an insult to the Royal House of Naboo," she whispered. She never understood the fascination with this No Fear Hero. He was a Jedi, and Jedi were nothing but sorcerous thieves and murderers. They stole infants and killed beings- sometimes their very own in cold blood. In some ways, in many ways the Jedi were the very cause of the dreadful war.

"It was an insult for her to have ever been Queen." The man with spiked hair who was standing next to her added in her ear. The Naberrie family before the time of Amidala were nothing but common mountain folk. But in reality, they had literally bred their daughter to become Queen. Instilling her with such values and virtues. Entering her in the top Theed schools and soon the Legislature Program. Her work in the Refugee Movement. Her speeches. Palpatine and his cronies backing her against Veruna. It was all the perfect formula for a legendary politician.

Ruwee Naberrie wanted to make her everything he could never be. He had done some politics, and tried running for a few offices, but he never had much luck. Some beings had it, some did not. Now he was successful as the Refugee Relief President, but still never held the positions he desired.

The woman nodded in agreement with her companion.

"He was a slave boy somewhere on a desert planet prior to joining to the Order," The spiked haired man whispered. Somewhere in the Tatoo system he heard.

"He still is a slave." To the Jedi Order. To their "Force" as they called it. They renounced their possessions. He had nothing.

He owned nothing. Not an estate or even a house. No land. No jewels. Not even a speeder.

He was nothing.


Later...

Anakin didn't know how much more he could stand. How he wished Darred or even Obi-Wan were here.

He felt like he was going to drown in the crowd of beings and fans. Their flimsy to firm handshakes. Then there were the never ending questions. Followed by Anakin telling the same old stories over and over again.

"Did you really crash land a Separatist cruiser?" Several beigns asked. Mostly humans ranging in age, but also a few Gungans.

"Yes," He had already answered that question fifteen times. Surely they had seen the footage on the HoloNet.

Then some asked the most ridiculous questions.

A young human woman around eighteen or nineteen stopped him, "So is the Negotiator's, that is Obi-Wan Kenobi's beard real?"

"Uh, what?" Anakin raised a brow in disbelief. Had he heard that correctly?

The young woman shrugged, "My friend thinks it's real. I always thought it looked phony."

"Um, real," Anakin said. Not sure what else to say.

"Really? Hm, well, I suppose a being learns something new everyday." Then she smiled flirtatiously. "I also wonder what you might look without Jedi robes." She began wrapping her arms around him. "I must say I'm very, very impressed."

Alarmed, "Uh," Anakin broke fear of the woman's grasp. "Um, excuse me." Women had been throwing themselves at him since the start of the war. When he started to become more and more famous. Not to mention his Hero with No Fear title. Anakin had never paid too much attention to these beings. He had excused them for their...misguided actions. But now they knew he was a married man, yet they were still hitting on him? Anakin did not understand. Well, he did, he was more...upset at this revelation. That his so-called fans did not care about his marital status. That they were just selfish and did not care or realize that his marriage was important to him.

And that this also meant some of Padmé's "fans" might do the same with her.

Anakin then began searching around the ballroom.

Again, Anakin didn't know if he could stand anymore.

Finally, Anakin found his wife. She was excusing herself from a group of beings, mostly women that she went to school if he recalled correctly. Kiki? Lolo? Anakin couldn't remember, he just remembered they had weird names and that he didn't care to meet any of them. Especially after that woman he just met. More importantly, he saw Padmé was making her towards one of the exits.

She couldn't leave him now.

Anakin rushed towards. Bumping to several beings. Excusing himself and ignoring anything they said or asked. Not caring if it was rude or what they thought.

"You cannot leave me alone with these beings," Anakin almost pleaded.

Padmé almost laughed. "The paparazzi and all of Palpatine's cronies are after us and you're worried about the social elite?"

Anakin looked around, "Compared to this, the paparazzi and the cronies don't scare." Anakin could cut down the cronies with his lightsaber and arrest them. While he was still not crazy about the paparazzi, however, so far Jedi Mind Tricks worked wonders on them.

Now Padmé knew Anakin had never been fond of his title, Hero with No Fear. Still, she couldn't help but find it ironic. "Follow me," She whispered.

"Always," Anakin whispered back.


A few moments later...

Padmé and Anakin squeezed out of the tiny elevator.

"It was used by the workers during construction," Padmé explained. "Now only the servants or beings like myself use it." When she didn't feel like using the public entrance.

Anakin brushed himself off as they made their way down the hall. "And they couldn't make it bigger?" Not that he minded being so close to her, but it was still uncomfortable.

Padmé went on to say something about a shortage of funds, but Anakin wasn't listening.

He was reading something.

The name on her door read, Senator Padmé Amidala.

Anakin frowned.

Amidala.

Not Skywalker.

Or even Amidala-Skywalker.

Though Anakin would have preferred it to be just Skywalker.

Anakin followed Padmé in and sat down on the edge of her desk. He had been inside her home and Senate Building office a thousand times, but never inside this office. He looked around. It was mostly like her home and Senate offices back on Coruscant. Same setup. Similar painting and artwork. Even the paperwork was in the same spot, but in the end, he liked this one better. Mostly because of the view. Instead of a jungle of duracrete and buildings, there was a moonlight view of the lake. He could only imagine how much better it looked during the day.

"I often sneak up here during these events." Growing tired of the crowd or even the string of suitors.

Anakin looked around, "To do what?" Other than the view, Anakin didn't see anything exciting or interesting in here.

Padmé shrugged. "Work mostly." Nothing that exciting.

"How exciting," Anakin joked.

Padmé glared at him. A moment later she handed him an holo envelope. "Here," The security codes to her office and the Palace. Though Padmé hoped he never needed to use them for anything serious.

"Alright," Anakin said. These would come in handy for events like these or even emergencies.

After studying the plans for a moment Anakin slid them back in the envelope. "Can I ask you something?" He thought it seemed only fair, since she did the same last night.

"Of course," Padmé smiled from her desk.

Anakin crossed his arms, "Why aren't you going to take my name?" She clearly wasn't, her name was still on the front door.

Padmé knew what he thinking. "It doesn't mean I love you any less, but my name is my own." She liked her name. It represents who she was. It was the name she built her career on. It had been her name for the last thirteen and half years.

The prefix, Ami was the name of her ancestor, Ami Naberrie. She was among the first refugees to have landed on the strange Mid Rim world that became known as Naboo. She also explored the land and created the first maps of the planet. The suffix, Dala was to honor the goddess, who was said to have created Naboo, the great lakes, and life itself.

"Secondly, marriage is about two beings who share a life together, not what their names are or are not."

Anakin gave a nod in agreement.

Three, paperwork. "Do you remember everything I had to go through to get it changed the first time?" Padmé told that story to him a few years ago. Shortly before her coronation, when she first decided to change her last name, she had to go to court, twice. Then there had been a mix up with the paperwork so she had to go back to court twice again.

She only imagine how much more of a hassle it might be now that she was far more famous.

Instead of spending all that time in court, then reading, and finally signing all that paperwork she could be spending that valuable time with Anakin, Luke, and Leia.

"I may change my surname when I retire, but for now and while I remain in public service, I prefer it to stay Amidala." Padmé touched his face. "Do you understand?" She had no idea how Anakin would react to her decision.

"I understand," Anakin said, but not really. "But I wanted, I always thought you would..."

"I know," Padmé smiled soothingly. "Unfortunately, life doesn't always turn out the way we planned." She certainly never expected to be secretly married to a Jedi. "Sometimes that is a good thing." She studied him. "Are we okay?" Asking the same question he asked last night.

Anakin shrugged. "Fine," He sounded unhappy.

Padmé supposed she would still stick with part of her plan. "I'll make it up to you later." She placed her soft lips against his scarred right cheek.

"Do we really need to wait?" After all they were alone. No one would notice if they were gone for a little while longer.

As her husband tried to kiss her, Padmé protested. "Anakin, you can't be serious."

"Hm," Anakin began leaving a trail of kisses down the back of her neck. "I am."

Padmé felt her willpower slipping. "Not now," She pulled away. "This really isn't a good idea." What if they were caught? What if there was a recording device hidden somewhere in her office? Their marriage was already the center of gossip. She didn't want the most intimate part of their relationship to be the latest topic of gossip.

"Nor was marrying me," Anakin pointed out. "Look how that's turned out?"

Padmé couldn't but smile and agree to a point. "That doesn't mean having sex in my office is a good idea."

Anakin scowled as he got up from the desk.

He should have known.

Typical Padmé. She never thought any of his ideas were "good" ideas.

"Well, none of my ideas are good, according to you." Anakin gritted his teeth.

Padmé was taken aback, "Anakin." Now he was trying to pick a fight?

Anakin didn't stop, "You never like any of my ideas," He exclaimed. "Never!" Anakin saw she was getting ready to protest, "Name one."

Three years ago, by the fireplace of Varykino. After he had just poured his heart out to her, she made it clear they would not and should not be together.

Padmé turned on him, her own frustrations bubbling over. "I can't!" She sat back and struggled to collect herself. "We can't," she said as calmly as she could. "It's just not possible."

"Anything's possible," Anakin replied, leaning forward. "Padmé, please listen-"

"You listen," Padmé scolded. Somehow, hearing her own denial brought some strength to her-much-needed strength. "We live in a real world. Come back to it, Anakin. You're studying to become a Jedi Knight. I'm a Senator. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, they will take us to a place we cannot go ... regardless of the way we feel about each other."

Then after they got married, Anakin brought up the possibility of leaving everything behind or at least going public with their marriage.

"No," Padmé would say every single time.

Since going public with their relationship was out of the question, Anakin tried to bring up the possibility of telling her family. He felt that might makes things easier on her. But also him and of course, their marriage. Maybe now was finally the time.

One of her many responses included, "Now is not the time."

Finally Padmé managed to say, "Anakin," Padmé did her best to speak as calmly as possible.

"What?" Anakin nearly shouted.

Padmé did her best to remain calm. "Are you mad at me because I won't have sex with you right now?" Padmé sighed. "Or is this about my surname?" Padmé sensed she already knew the answer, but she still wanted him to answer her question.

Anakin paused. Thinking about it, of course he was upset about both. Well...he was really more upset at her about the latter, but mostly annoyed at the first. "Both," He finally said.

Why did she always have to think she was right about everything?

Padmé was about to say something when Anakin spun around. Cloak whirling, "I'll be outside." He could use some fresh air.


A few hours later...

As the party began to come to a close, Padmé continued searching for her husband but kept getting stopped by beings. Congratulating her on marriage and her new offspring. Wondering where her husband was.

Padmé was now speaking with Governor Bibble who was asking her about the party. "Did you and Knight Skywalker have a nice time?" He knew there had been a lot of paparazzi droids outside.

"I," Padmé began. They had better. Then she thought back to the fights they've had over the years. They had worse. "We had a lovely time," She said through her smile.

Padmé was about to ask him if he had seen her husband when her friend, Nandi came up behind her. "Would you excuse us, please?"

Padmé was puzzled, but agreed. "Excuse me, Governor Bibble."

"Of course," Governor Bibble nodded and walked over to another group of beings.

Nandi at Padmé smirked with a knowing look, "Do you know where your Jedi husband is?"

Padmé swallowed. What now? Oh, how she had a bad feeling about this night.


The sun was setting as three women were looking down from a balcony of the Palace onto the open doors of the Palace Hanger.

Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and hero of the Clone Wars was working on a classic Naboo yellow starfighter. The same model Anakin flew during the Battle of Naboo over thirteen years ago.

The group of three grew into five when Nandi and Padmé, the wife of Anakin Skywalker joined them.

"So this is what you've been doing all these years." Why she was barely home anymore and spent so much time on Coruscant.

Not that any of them blamed her.

On the left, the woman with blonde hair, Lola was the first to speak. "Way to go," She reached over and held her hand up in a high five.

Padmé hesitantly high five'd her back. She hadn't high five'd a being since...since she graduated from school.

In the middle, the young woman with dark hair, Kiki winked at Padmé. "Clever girl." It was like they were younglings again. Passing holo notes in class.

Padmé smiled. She shrugged, the again she supposed it had been awhile since she had been around her former classmates and decided to play along. "Yes, he's been using the Force to feed me shuura and letting me play with his lightsaber." Padmé then took another sip of wine.

Everyone looked at Padmé, gawking at her dirty joke. Who knew she had a sense of humor. She had always been so serious. Even they were little. She was the first one to get her homework done and the last one to leave the classroom.

"I knew it," Bobbé said.

Kiki raised a brow, "So he's not a real monk, is he?" Isn't that what Jedi were? They meditated all day and lead clones into battle. Also Jedi weren't really supposed to be married. "I mean we all know how brave he is." Anyone could see that on the HoloNet. "But what's he really like?"

Padmé paused for a moment, "Anakin is...he's not a perfect man." Despite whatever the HoloNet said. "He is prideful, and moody, and quick to anger."

Judging by Padmé's smile, Nandi, Lola, Kiki, and Bobbé could sense these faults only made Padmé love him more.

"Anakin has this capacity for joy and a cleansing laughter." Well, he did before the war. She briefly thought back to their picnic on Naboo before Geonosis. Not so much now, but she still saw bits and pieces of that side of him. She even saw it earlier in her office.

"He has an extraordinary generosity of spirit." Anakin would do anything for her and their family.

Anakin was even taking time to fix the wing on the starfighter below. Though that was probably because he wanted something to tinker with and he was mad at her.

And unlike the many potential suitors she met over the years, he never had any interest her power or wealth. Also, he was respectful of her beliefs of the gods and goddesses of Naboo, such as Shiraya. He was also supportive of her wish to pass along such beliefs and heritage to Luke and Leia when they were older.

"Anakin has this passionate energy. This devotion not only to me, but also in the service of every living being." He had saved countless lives over the years. He wanted to everyone.

Which was maybe his greatest fault because he could not. She hoped he was finally understanding or beginning to understand this.

"Anakin is a wild creature, a vine tiger." He tried, but Padmé understood he would never be entirely tame. Something the Jedi needed to understand.

"He is smart. Well, not in a doctor, lawyer sort of way. He is a tactical genius in battle." Padmé could only imagine how much faster the Battle of Naboo would have ended, had Anakin been older and his current tactical genius.

He was not as wise as Masters Yoda or Windu. Perhaps someday.

"But also, he has something else." Padmé said. She didn't know how to say this. "He has a..."

"Sensual intelligence," Bobbé answered.

Padmé nodded.

"Wow..." Lola breathed. Oh, how she wished she was still single.

"Oh, my Shiraya," Nandi said.

"You're so lucky," Kiki looked over to Padmé. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but for once, I'm actually jealous of you."

Padmé looked over to Kiki, "Jealous?" For once? Padmé always thought they were jealous of her. Actually deep down, the feeling was mutual. That was one of the reasons she barely stayed in touch with them. That and she had been incredibly busy.

"Yes, well, maybe in some ways I always was." Kiki admitted.

Padmé smiled at the irony, "I used to be s a little jealous of each of you."

"Really? Why?" Lola asked.

Padmé felt a little embarrassed. It seemed so petty and silly. "Well, this was a few years ago." She shrugged. "You were each married, with children, and...happy."

"Seriously?" Lola couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Not that I don't love my kids more than life, but I wouldn't mind being single again once in awhile." And on Coruscant of all places. "Though at the end of the day, I wouldn't want to be Queen or Senator and have all your responsibilities." She looked back down to Anakin. "Well, maybe one or two of them."

"Same here," Nandi looked down hungrily at Anakin.

Padmé eyes widened. Surprised and growing more concerned all at the same time. Not that she thought her friends would try anything. Well...maybe Nandi. After all, she did have an affair with her sister's husband. Though she didn't seem to have tried anything with Anakin the past several weeks.

Had she?

Padmé hadn't noticed anything. Then again, she hadn't noticed how much her husband tinkered around the estate either.

And Padmé knew that her husband had flirted with the Dark Side of the Force from time to time.

Padmé didn't think Anakin would ever flirt with the Dark Side of Marriage, so to speak.

Bu she was not- would not take any chances.

Yes, those weddings rings sounded like an excellent idea. Yes, she would get Anakin a ring. A very large ring. One that he wouldn't lose, but also make it easy for his many fans to see.


Anakin stalked out of the hanger.

He sensed her earlier.

Her and the rest of her "friends".

He saw them. Standing up there. Looking at him. Laughing at him.

Anakin scowled.

It was unbelievable!

He found his way back inside the party...whatever was left of it.

And they were still serving drinks.

Good.

He could use a drink.

"Blossom wine, please," Anakin said as he sat down at the bar.

Anakin took a sip and made a face. He had forgotten how sour...then it was sweet.

Anakin felt someone approach.

She must have finally excused herself from her "friends" and followed him.

But it wasn't Padmé. It was a man.

He took the stool next to Anakin.

"Your Senator Amidala's husband," Said the man. He had long spiked hair and wore a very nice tunic.

Anakin turned to him, "Yes." He then turned to the bartender who took away his drink, "Thank you."

"We were all so surprised to learn she was married."

Anakin gave a small nod, "I'm sure." He didn't know where this was going, but he sensed he wasn't here to offer his congratulations.

"Especially me, and after all that time we've spent together over the years," He said. "Excuse me."

"What?" Anakin could not believe what he just heard.

"Excuse me," He said.

Before Anakin could do or say anything more, he felt someone else approach, though this time it really was Padmé.

"Hey," Padmé said.

Anakin said nothing.

Padmé had seen Spike talking to Anakin. She knew "You must let me explain, and not let others will take advantage of this...of us."

"Explain what?" Anakin quietly snapped as he turned to face her.

Padmé reached out to him. Touching his shoulder. "You must not believe everything you hear or see." Nothing was as it seemed. "I think we've all learned that from Palpatine."

Anakin remained silent. Why must she bring up that man's name?

"Sorry," Padmé knew he didn't want to talk about Palpatine. "Look I don't know what Spike was telling you-"

Spike?

"That's his name?"

Padmé almost almost laughed. "His nickname." His real name was...Padmé felt almost embarrassed, but she honestly couldn't remember, but he was of House Greyson.

Anakin might have laughed or even joked how unoriginal it was, but he didn't care about that. "He said you two have spent a lot of quality time together."

"Briefly," Padmé answered. "Spike is jealous. He wanted to marry me." He proposed on three separate occasions. Once even after she was already secretly married to Anakin. "He thought we would make a beautiful couple. Create beautiful younglings. Combine our houses together. Live happily ever after off my credits." Thinking about it almost made her angry about it.

"So," Anakin could sense a little bitterness. "He's a gold digger."

Padmé nodded. "Oh, yes," And her sister wondered why she never dated or brought any boys home. Because most of the men she met were only interested in what she could offer them. In terms of power, wealth, or both. They were never attracted to her or really cared for her. Again, except her credits, fame, and power. That was one of the reasons why she fell in love with Anakin. He never cared for any of those things.

Padmé gave him a comforting smile. "Look, there may always be beings who made such remarks." Jabs. Whispers. Whatever else. "They are jealous and envious of both of us. That I chose you and you chose me."

Both of us?

Anakin raised a brow, "And why's that?" In a quiet, cautious tone.

Padmé reached for him, "Because after the Hero with No Fear, you are nothing to them and everything to me." She hadn't looked so deeply into his eyes in a long time. Perhaps never that deeply. "And you and I are just going to have to find a way to deal with them."

And because of that Anakin knew she meant every word. He didn't even need his Jedi senses to tell him that.

Anakin smiled fondly at her. All was forgive. He looked over in the ball room. At the bare dancing floor. It suddenly hit that they hadn't danced together yet. He bowed playfully, "May I have this dance?" He extended his hand.

Padmé placed hers in his, "You may."

Padmé "Milo," She recognized the man as a former classmate. "Would you mind doing an encore?"

The young man smiled, "It would be an honor milady," He sat his instrument down, "And Knight Skywalker." He bowed again.

"A real honor," One of the band members added.

The band raced back to their chairs and got out their instruments and sheet music.

Padmé and Anakin looked around. It seemed strange. Though the couple had danced before, not many, but a few times. But they were usually alone. It was private and often very intimate.

The theme starts off with a slow. As did their dancing.

Padmé put her left hand in Anakin's right hand. He tightly wrapped his left hand around her waist.

The emotional part performed by the violas and the trumpets.

Anakin and Padmé couldn't help but almost be nervous. It seemed like the first time all over again.

Anakin decided to bring up a new topic. To take a way any nerves, "What about you and your friends? What were you talking about?" He didn't know, but he didn't like. Yes, it sounded petty, but he...he just didn't like it.

Padmé smiled reassuringly, "They were asking about you."

Anakin was surprised. "Me?" What about him? Didn't they watch the HoloNet? What more was there to know.

"Yes, you," Padmé grinned. She put a soft hand against his chest, "And don't worry, I only told them the good things." She paused. "Which in hindsight was not such a good idea, because now they find you even more...attractive."

"Really?" Anakin grinned slyly. Was this jealousy he was sensing?

"Hm," Padmé wore a serious look. "Those wedding bands sound like an excellent idea." They would start looking first thing tomorrow.

Again, Anakin said," Really? Since when?" Yes, this must be jealousy.

Padmé hoped they were not about to start fighting again. "I never said they were a bad idea. In fact, I didn't even get a chance to tell you what I thought."

Politicians... Anakin thought. He didn't see any point in arguing. He knew better than to argue with a politician. "So you do like the idea?" Anakin said eagerly. His hand sliding further down her backside.

Padmé smiled back at him. "Hm, a way of reminding your numerous fans that you're already taken." As well as Anakin.

Anakin wasn't sure if he liked when she put it that way. "Padmé, I would never, I..."

"I know." Padmé held him closer. "I know you wouldn't. Just...think of it as a reminder of the vow we made to one another."

Anakin smiled, vow. He couldn't argue when she put it like that. In fact, he really liked it.

Anakin could then sense Padmé becoming more and more uncomfortable.

Padmé could each almost feel each and every eye in the ballroom watching them. "They're all watching us now." Which made seem even more awkward.

Anakin gave a kind of shrug. "So?" The eyes of the entire Galaxy were now on them, what did this matter? How was this any different?

The music played on and on. The awkwardness of being watched faded away. Holding one another closer and closer. As they danced around and around on the ancient but magnificent, glimmering floor. Twirling. Gracefully. Intimately.

As the music began to fade, Anakin finished, "I love you."

"I love you too."


What do you think? Emotions seem fine? Anakin isn't too much of jerk? Same with Padmé? Does her conversation with her friends seem realistic?

For such a beautiful place, Naboo has such snobs. LOL Really, it can be like that anywhere.

Trivia: The flashback is from the Attack of the Clones novelization.

Next chapter: Anakin continues to learn that life does not turn out the way one expects.

** Also I'm going to spread the word, there is an upcoming Star Wars documentary from Ministry of Cinema. It will be called The Prequels Strike Back, and yes they will be focused on the Prequels, but in order for it to happen, they need our help. Now they do have have enough to do a whole feature film, but the more, the better quality of the film. If you can't donate, then spread the word. I don't know about the rest of you, but I get tired seeing the Prequels torn apart, not to mention we PT fans as well. I think it's long time to change that. Now I'd link put a link here, but I'm not sure if that's allowed, just Google "The Prequels Strike Back".

Review please.