Thank you all so much for your patience, life has been insane lately but now that school is out for the summer, I intend to post updates much more frequently

Thank you all so much for your patience, life has been insane lately but now that school is out for the summer, I intend to post updates much more frequently. And so now, without further ado…chapter seven!!

Chapter Seven

Anakin led Padmé into the back room of the shop with extreme excitement, as he always did when he showed someone his work. Anakin led Padmé to the far corner of the room, where she could see something covered with a sheet. Anakin removed the sheet, and revealed a protocol droid. Anakin switched him on.

"Hello, my name is C-3PO, human-cyborg relations, how may I serve you?

"Wow," said Padmé, "he's perfect! How old were you when you made him?"

"I started when I was eight and finished when I was nearly ten. He's the best thing I've ever made, even better than my pod."

"You truly do have a talent," said Padmé, impressed. "I know that I could certainly never create something as complex as him."

"He's a great companion when I get lonely. The only thing is, if I ever…move I don't know if I'll be able to bring him with me."

"What would cause you to have to move?"

"Well…" Anakin couldn't tell her the main reason, so he gave her another one. "I don't want to work in a junk shop for the rest of my life. It's always been my dream to get off this dust ball and travel the galaxy. One of my favorite things to do as a child was listening to the stories of the travelers. Heck, I still like to do that," Anakin said with a smile. Padmé smiled back and Anakin's heart skipped a beat. Anakin sat down on the countertop and Padmé took a seat next to him.

"So are you from Naboo?" Anakin asked, "That's where your ship is from."

"Yes, I was born and raised on Naboo. It's so beautiful there; I'll bet that you would love it there."

"I would love anywhere that's not here."

Padmé smiled again.

"You should come visit me sometime; I would show you all of my favorite spots, the gardens, the waterfalls, we would have so much fun."

Anakin smiled,

"I would like that."

A silence fell between the two.

"So how long have you been racing?" Padmé asked.

"Since I was seven or eight. I'm the only human who can do it.'

"Wow, you were that young?"

"Yeah, my talent was discovered early and they didn't want to waste any time making money."

"You must have quite a gift then," said Padmé impressed.

Anakin shrugged, "I suppose so," he said modestly.

"I wish you the best of luck in the race. And I want you to know that I really appreciate you doing this for us. I honestly don't know what we would've done had we not met you."

"It's really no problem, I seem to remember my mother telling me that the galaxy would be a much better place if people would just stop and help each other out. So I always try and do everything I can for others."

Padmé reached over and touched his hand; which caused Anakin's stomach to flutter.

"You're so generous and kind, the galaxy needs more people like you."

"Thank… thank you," said Anakin at a loss for words.

"Does your mother live nearby?" asked Padmé, removing her hand from his, much to Anakin's disappointment. "I would love to meet her."

"Umm... no, she doesn't live around here… you see, I had to leave home so that I could find a job." Anakin felt bad for lying to Padmé, but he knew that he could not tell her the truth.

"Oh," said Padmé, "Do you see her often?"

"Not as much as I'd like to," said Anakin honestly.

"Padmé," said Obi-Wan appearing suddenly, "I'm sorry, but we really should get going, I have to contact the council." Padmé nodded and then turned back to Anakin.

"Best of luck in the race, we'll be there rooting for you."

"You can count on us to be there," said Obi-Wan.

"Thank you, I won't let you down."

"We know you won't," said Padmé.

"We'll see you later," said Obi-Wan.

"Goodbye," said Padmé.

Anakin wanted to give her a hug, but was unsure of how she would react, so he bid his new friends goodbye, and even long after they were gone, Anakin had only one thing on his mind…Padmé.

xxx

Obi-Wan and Padmé made their way out of the shop and out to where Obi-Wan had parked Anakin's swoop bike.

"Padmé, there is something that I must tell you."

"What is it?" Padmé asked, puzzled.

"I told Anakin that after our ship is repaired, that he could come back to Coruscant with us." Padmé gasped, delighted.

"Really? Oh, Obi-Wan that's fantastic, I was going to suggest that to you actually. He's such a great person; he deserves so much more than living on this dust ball."

"Indeed he does. Anakin is extremely force sensitive. I intend to ask the council for permission to train him."

"Do you think that they would allow it considering his age?"

"Under normal circumstances no. But with this war raging onward, many Jedi have already been lost, and fewer younglings than ever before are being admitted into the creachling. The order is becoming desperate for more Jedi and with Anakin's potential; he may have a very good chance of gaining admittance to the order. Even if they do not admit him, someone with as much power as Anakin needs training to learn to control their power." Obi-Wan said as he sat down on the swoop bike. Padmé took her seat behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Padmé, have you informed Anakin of your occupation yet?" Obi-Wan asked out of curiosity.

"No, I'm just afraid that he'll treat me differently, he's been such a good friend and I don't want that to go away when he knows I'm a Senator."

"How ironic," thought Obi-Wan.

"I know that it sounds silly, but that's how it's been with every other man I've ever met."

"Padmé, somehow I do not think that Anakin is like any other man you have ever met."

"Nor do I."

"I'm so glad you want to help him Obi-Wan."

"It's the least we can do, after all he's doing for us."

"That's for sure," said Padmé as Obi-Wan started up the swoop bike and drove off into the streets of Mos Espa.