Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It all belongs to George.

AN: Here's chapter 9! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy!

Forever Destined

Chapter 9: Confrontations

Padme crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Palo.

"You have a lot of nerve coming here. I was completely serious when I told you I never wanted to see you again," Padme said in a measured tone.

"Padme, I still love you. Don't you think we should give our relationship another chance? Your father and my father have been talking lately and we all believe that it is time for us both to settle down together," Palo said.

"I don't love you Palo and you don't really love me. You love my wealth and my position in society, but you don't love me. You used me in hopes of getting the position as Naboo's Senator and when I got it instead, you were furious with me," Padme said.

"I was angry Padme. I didn't mean those things I said," Palo pleaded.

"Yes you did. You're just putting on an act for my family as you always do. You were mean and verbally abusive. I would never take you back...especially since I'm in love with Anakin," Padme told them, as she looked up at Anakin, who remained at her side. He smiled gently at her, before she turned back to face her father.

"Why must you defy everything I do for you?" Ruwee yelled.

"Because you try to run my life! You can't choose who I fall in love with and you can't undermine my decision to continue as Naboo's Senator. You only want me to marry Palo, because Palo's father is your best friend and the two of you wish to merge your farms. You want to sacrifice my happiness for some business venture!" Padme yelled back. Jobal tried to calm her daughter down, but Padme wouldn't have it.

"No mother, you know what I'm saying is true. You just don't have the backbone to stand up to daddy!" Padme yelled.

"You listen here, young lady, your father is only trying to provide a safe, happy life for you. But you choose to live that dangerous life on the capital world," Jobal scolded.

"I will not let you and daddy force me into what would be a loveless, abusive marriage. I love Anakin and he loves me," Padme replied.

"You may be the Senator of Naboo, but you are still my daughter and I'll not have you embarrassing this family anymore by running around with some Jedi," Ruwee spat.

"I'm so glad that my feelings take a backseat to your pride daddy," Padme shot back. Ruwee gritted his teeth and turned his attention to Anakin.

"Tell me Anakin, can I count on you to support and provide for my daughter?" Ruwee asked. Padme was about to retort, but Anakin squeezed her arm reassuringly.

"Of course sir. Jedi Knights are compensated fairly well and the Temple provides living arrangements for those Knights and their families who need them to. My family, however, is very well off. My trust fund that my grandfather has set aside for me would set Padme and I for life, even if she wasn't a Senator," Anakin said. Sola looked impressed.

"Just who is your grandfather?" she asked.

"He is Count Yan Dooku of Sereno and a Jedi Master on the high Council," Anakin replied respectfully.

"Count Dooku certainly has his hands in a lot of business. He's always on the Holonet, supposedly helping all these people. His political views, like my daughter's, are usually at odds with the Chancellor. How convenient," Ruwee challenged.

"Sir, my grandfather my be eccentric, but he does help a lot of people in need. While Padme and my family do share many political views, they have nothing to do with why I am with your daughter. I love her, more than my own life. And I will spend the rest of my life taking care of her and making her happy," Anakin confessed. Padme had tears in her eyes. Anakin didn't really have to tell her father anything, but he chose to stand up to him and fight for their love. Padme looked over at her sister, who had approval shining in her eyes. Her mother did as well, but she knew that her mother would never defy her father.

"So, you plan to be with this Jedi, knowing very well that he could go on some mission to Force knows where and be killed. You are setting yourself up for heartbreak," Ruwee tried to reason with her.

"You don't know that something like that is going to happen. But I would rather spend a short time being loved by Anakin, than to spend the rest of my life in a loveless marriage, with a selfish, controlling man," Padme replied, glaring at Palo.

"I do not know what Palo has done to warrant such hostility," Ruwee scolded. Sola decided that she had stayed silent long enough.

"Oh please daddy, Palo treated Padme like dirt when they were together. He doesn't love her and he and his father are both after her wealth and prestige. Why do you allow them to do this?" Sola asked.

"This is not your concern Sola," Ruwee replied.

"It doesn't matter, Sola is right. I will never take Palo back, so this conversation is over," Padme said, as she stormed out of the room, pulling Anakin along with her. He gladly wrapped his arm around her waist, as they returned to the balcony over looking the lake. Padme hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. You shouldn't have to deal with that," Padme apologized.

"Hey, I'm glad I was there with you. Anything that involves you, involves me now too. I won't let them treat you like this. Palo is lucky I held my temper. He better not step near you if he knows what's good for him," Anakin said. Padme smiled and kissed him softly. Slowly, he deepened the kiss, slanting his head over her lips. Both were so lost in the kiss, they didn't hear the Sola's subtle interruption when she cleared her throat. She smiled at the young couple and politely tried again. They broke the kiss and Padme blushed, having been caught in a very passionate situation by her sister.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could borrow my little sister for a bit and catch up?" Sola asked. Anakin smiled and nodded.

"Of course. I think I'll go out to that garage and rummage around. You mentioned there was a lot of junk parts and stuff out there," Anakin said.

"There is. Have fun," she replied, kissing his cheek, before he left. Sola smiled and hugged her baby sister.

"I'm sorry about all this Padme," Sola apologized, as they sat down at the table.

"It's okay Sola, it's not your fault," Padme replied.

"So, tell me everything about your Jedi lover," Sola said.

"He's amazing Sola," Padme said in a dreamy voice. Sola squealed in excitement.

"You've got it bad baby sister. But who could blame you, the way he looks," Sola gushed. Padme giggled and proceeded to tell Sola all about meeting Anakin and falling in love with him.

"I'm so happy for you baby sister," Sola told her.

"Thanks Sola. I just can't believe daddy actually wants me to marry Palo. Why can't he see Palo for who he really is? When I was with him, he made me feel horrible about myself. I was never pretty enough or he would put me down for trying to further my career. It's so different with Anakin. He insists that I'm the most beautiful woman he's ever seen and he loves me for who I am," Padme said.

"Well, then you need to follow your heart and be with a man that can give you everything you need. It's not much of a contest really. You have Palo that treats you like dirt and Anakin that treats you like a Queen. You have Palo, who is moderately handsome with the personality of stump and Anakin who is about as handsome and sexy as they get, with a wonderful personality. You have Palo, who would be a safe, yet unsatisfying choice and Anakin who keeps you unhinged and makes you feel alive. Boring jerk or sweet, sexy Jedi? I think that's pretty much a no brainer. After all, I think it was you that said Palo was awful in bed and that Anakin was...what word did you use? Oh yes, magnificent in bed," Sola said, with a cheesy grin. Padme giggled and blushed.

"Thanks Sola, I can always count on you. If Anakin asks, tell him I took a walk and I'm at my secret place. He'll know what that means," Padme said, as she strolled off, becoming lost in her thoughts...


Ruwee and Palo found themselves in the garage where Anakin was working on an old junked out speeder.

Anakin dug around in the wires of the engine.

"What are you doing? That speeder can't be fixed," Palo said. Anakin shot him a smirk.

"Yes it can. There were enough spare parts to build a new alternator in here. Now, I'm just rewiring it and it should run. It needs cleaned up, but it should work as good as new," Anakin replied.

"So, you're some kind of mechanic too? Jedi boy can do it all," Palo taunted. Anakin ignored his jab. For one thing, Palo really wasn't worth his energy and if he wasn't throwing his comments toward Padme, then he wasn't going to bother with him. Though part of him was just waiting for the jerk to make some condescending remark about Padme and if he did, he wouldn't know what hit him.

"I've always been good at fixing things," Anakin said, as he replaced the front panel and wiped the grease off his hands.

"It should turn over. Give it a shot if you want," Anakin said, as he tossed his greasy rag at Palo and left, well aware of the glare Palo was shooting at him. Anakin's smirk widened, as he heard the speeder turn over smoothly a few minutes later. Anakin went into the house and found Sola on the balcony.

"Sola, do you know where Padme went?" he asked. Sola smiled.

"She took a walk to some "secret place". She said you'd know what that means," Sola said. Anakin smiled and nodded, before going down through the house heading toward the massive waterfalls in the distance.


Anakin found her in the cave behind the waterfall. She sat cuddled up on her blanket and looked to be deep in thought. He caught her attention though and she smiled at him.

"Hi," she said. Anakin smiled back, before sitting down next to her.

"Hi," he replied. Padme cuddled against him, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Better now that you're here," she replied.

"I love you," he said, kissing her hair.

"I love you too," she replied, noticing his sudden frown.

"What troubles you?" she asked.

"I just hate the fact that I might come between you and your family," Anakin replied.

"You aren't Anakin. My father has always been like this. He was angry with me when I was elected princess of Theed and even angrier when I became Queen. He was hoping that Palpatine would choose Palo for the Senatorial position, just so it would somehow force me to come home. I love my father, but he won't be happy until he is controlling my life. I love you Anakin and I'd be miserable without you. Please believe me when I say that you're all that I'll ever need. Nothing will come between us," she spoke passionately.

"I love you too. And you're right, nothing will come between us. Our love is boundless and everlasting. It cannot be controlled or suppressed, nor can it be destroyed by others," he told her.

"I fulfilled my dream by becoming a Senator, but another reason I'm glad that I did, is I would have probably never met you otherwise," Padme told him.

"Maybe, but I think we would have met anyway," Anakin replied.

"You do?" she asked.

"Of course, it was the will of the Force. If you weren't Senator, something would have brought me to Naboo and we would have met. Granted, it would probably be a lot more difficult. You'd probably be stuck in some loveless marriage and we would enter into some illicit 'affair'," he said dramatically. She giggled.

"Oooh, an affair, how terrible of us. Tell me, handsome Jedi, what would we do in our secret meetings?" she asked.

"I would probably take you in my arms and make love to you for hours and hours until neither of us could move any longer," he responded. His words sent shivers down her spine.

"Care to roleplay?" she asked, with a devilish grin.

"I thought you would never ask, milady," he replied, kissing her softly.

"Don't call me that," she replied.

"Yes...angel," he responded, with a smirk. She lifted her head to capture his lips in her own. The kiss slowly grew in intensity and their hands began to roam each other's bodies. Padme threw her head back, as she surrendered herself in his arms. As he kissed down her neck, a look of absolute pleasure and heated desire was etched on her beautiful face. As he sucked at her pulse point, she mewled in pleasure, as he marked her as his. Anakin stopped kissing her long enough to let her lift the leather jerkin over his head and discard it. Anakin's lips tackled hers again, his tongue sliding against her own. He reached around and slid the zipper of her dress down. Grabbing the hem, he pulled the dress up and over her head. He resumed kissing her, as he gently laid her back on the blanket. Her heart pounded in anticipation, as their passion took them over and they became lost in each other...


Much later, the two lovers lay entwined with each other, bathing in the afterglow of their passionate lovemaking.

"You're amazing," Padme said, as she kissed him deeply.

"So are you," he replied, before kissing her again. After what seemed like forever, they quickly dressed and headed back through the meadow for the house. They had to clean up for a dinner that her father was insisting that they have together. While neither of them wanted to, they decided they would make a last ditch effort to try and mend things between them...


Obi-Wan patted his full stomach.

"That was wonderful mom," Obi-Wan said.

"Ben is right, it was delicious sweetheart," Qui-Gon told her.

"Thank you. I'm just glad to have you all home. And it will be even better when Anakin gets home and brings his girl with him," Shmi replied, as she began clearing the plates. But Qui-Gon stopped her.

"Threepio can take care of these darling, that's why Ani built him for you after all. Why don't you go get ready, because I am taking you out to see the opera. You've been cooped up here for days worrying about us and I think we could both use a night out together," Qui-Gon said. Shmi's eyes sparkled with love.

"Oh that sounds wonderful, my love," she replied, as she left to get ready.

"Well, you have fun dad. I know I will," Obi-Wan said, as he hopped into his speeder and headed off for the clubs. Dooku chuckled, as he watched him go.

"That boy," Qui-Gon chided.

"Oh, come now son. Ben will settle down...eventually," Dooku assured him.

"You sound so positive and I assure you that Obi-Wan has revealed no intention of finding a nice girl and settling down," Qui-Gon replied.

"Patience my son, Obi-Wan is already finding his current life situation unsatisfying. He's just not ready to admit it to himself, but seeing Siri again and seeing Anakin so happy has had more effect on him than he would like to admit," Dooku said.

"Surely he's not considering taking Siri back?" Qui-Gon replied.

"No, no, I think they might be truly over. A lot of damage was done there. But before he can truly move on, he will probably test the waters with her again," Dooku replied.

"And if she betrays him again, he'll be crushed all over again. I'm not going to let her ruin his life again," Qui-Gon said.

"The best thing we can do is stay out of it. Ben was young back then and he won't be so easily taken in by her again. On a more positive note, he and Aayla seem rather close lately," Dooku mentioned with a smile, before he retired to his room. Qui-Gon shook his head. If his father knew something, then he wasn't divulging any information. Shmi slowly stepped down the stairs in a conservative, yet flattering black dress.

"You look beautiful, my darling," Qui-Gon said, as he kissed her hand. Qui-Gon slipped on his best black Jedi robe and offered his arm to his wife, leading her to the speeder.