Anakin stood on the balcony, watching Padme, who was sitting by the lake. 'Gods, she's beautiful.' He thought. She had been avoiding him for weeks, ever since that night. It hadn't been anything bad or anything, just a simple kiss, nothing else.

They had had a discussion about this the night after. She had said that it was a mistake, nothing serious, but her eyes told differently. When she kissed him, her eyes had been filled with joy, want, and love, but now they were filled only with pain. He knew that it was a mistake worth making and the she knew it too. He just had to find a way to make her admit it.

Suddenly, he heard R2 behind him. He held a message from Obi-Won.

"Ok R2 lets see it." The holographic message came up.

"Anakin, we have discovered the location from which the clones are coming. Do not send any transmissions for chance for chance that they will be intercepted and either you or I will be found. I will report as soon as possible, but you WILL stay with the senator. DO NOT follow me. Stay with the senator, Anakin, and protect her." Then the image disappeared.

"We're going after him," came a voice behind him. It was Padme.

"But M'lady, he said not to follow him."

"He also told you to stay with me and protect me, did he not? I'm going, whether you come or not. It's up to you, Ani, but I'm leaving!" And with that, she turned and walked to the hanger.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Padme……….."

"Anakin, this is the right thing to do. Obi-Won could be in trouble. He'll need your help." She got out of the shuttle and walked out of the hanger. Anakin ran after her. They got there just in time. Many senators were trapped in the corner by battle droids and Obi-Won was in a death- match with a cloaked figure. "Go, Ani," Padme whispered. "He needs your help."

Anakin pulled out his light saber and rushed in to help Obi-Won, just as his Master was thrown against the opposite wall. No longer was it just a fight between Obi-Won and the figure, but Anakin was now part of it. After a long battle, the cloaked figure suddenly spotted Padme. He had been waiting for a chance like this for a long time. He turned to the girl, and prepared to strike, but Anakin was faster. He ran in front of her to fend it off, but his light saber missed, and his arm and side were badly burnt and deeply cut. As he fell to his knees, he heard Padme cry out in fear.

Anakin looked up to see the mysterious figure advancing towards Padme again. He leapt up and ran at him, this time fending off the strike. Padme ran to Obi-Won to help get up as the battle raged on. Anakin was concentration so hard on the light sabers that he did not see the figure remove one of his hands from his weapon. The cloaked man used the force the send Anakin across the room and against the wall. Then, he moved toward Padme again.

Weak as he was, Anakin rushed him one more time, and struck true. He watched the figure fall to the floor and his hood come off. The cloaked man was none other than the Chancellor.

Suddenly, all strength left Anakin and he collapsed. Padme rushed to him and knelt down at his side. She spoke in a soft, pleading voice as tears began to fall. "Please Ani, don't leave me. Please. I need you. I…I…I love you."

At the last words, the heads Obi-Won and the now freed senators snapped up. She had said the forbidden.