A/N: Hi all! Sorry it's been a bit, I am on vacation and haven't had much time to write. I have, however, solved my line break problem, with much experimentation and trying to figure out what doc manager will and won't allow.

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Chapter 10

"You wouldn't say that if it had been on your head."

"What? It was an honest mistake."

"You didn't spend the next week trying to wash it out! Sonic showers and copious amounts of oil do not mix!"

I sat back in me seat, a smile on my face as I listened to the family banter.

"Blame him," Owen jerked a thumb towards Anakin. "He's the one who built the droid."

"That was a decade ago," the Jedi protested. "I did not include any oil-dumping programming. Something must have happened since then."

Shmi smiled and shook her head. "Boys, you should know better than to mess with a woman's hair." Beru- who had joined us at the medcenter- gave a firm nod in satisfaction and I grinned.

"She's right. Don't even think about it." The hairstyles I had to put up with as Queen and now as Senator were bad enough.

"I didn't-"

"I wasn't here!"

"But while we're on the subject," Shmi continued, "Anakin, why don't you take Threepio with you when you go? I think he'd much prefer whatever tasks you can come up with for him in the capital."

"I made him to help you, Mom."

"And he's wonderful. But I'm free now, and we can do just fine without him. Whereas I imagine a protocol droid would be much more needed in situations with protocol involved- say, in a senator's office?" She looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"That's very generous of you," I said.

Cliegg waved an arm. "Small repayment. After what you've done for us, and paying the medical bills…"

"Please, I'm glad to help wherever I can."

"Where will you be going when you leave?" Owen asked.

"Back to Coruscant, probably," Anakin replied. "Maybe Naboo. And then Obi-Wan and I will be called on another mission, and Padmé will do her politics thing." Ignoring the possibility of consequences from Anakin teaching me, that is, but he didn't seem to want to worry them any more.

"Obi-Wan?" Shmi questioned.

"My Jedi master, my teacher. He's a wonderful mentor, like a father to me."

"Not Qui-Gon?"

"Ah… no." Anakin bowed his head. "Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon's apprentice. Qui-Gon said he'd take me in, but… he died in the battle of Naboo. So I'm with Obi-Wan. I guess that would make him more of an older brother than a father."

"I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"It was a long time ago," he shrugged. "I looked up to him, but I didn't have much time to know him. Obi-Wan had it worse. Or not. He's great with the no-attachment thing."

"Tell us about some of the missions you've been on," Beru said.

A smile creeped across my face. "What about that one with the planet where your lightsaber was stolen?"

"Padmé…"

"No, tell us," Owen said, leaning forward eagerly. "I'm interested."

"Go on, or I'll tell them," I said.

Anakin groaned but started the tale. I watched him and Shmi as the family laughed and joked together. Anakin truly did need this in his life. And I couldn't possibly say how Shmi was affected by her attack, how she held together when I wasn't around to see, but I was sure that this- spending time with those she loved- was going a long way towards healing her.

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We returned to the homestead to have an early midday meal and to do the late morning chores- this time Owen stayed at the medcenter with Shmi. There were a couple of jobs that Owen normally did that Cliegg was now unable to with his leg, and so Anakin helped out while Cliegg instructed and I watched. It didn't take long, so Anakin fiddled with a few of the vaporators while Beru and I made lunch.

I looked around the kitchen a little helplessly. Breakfast had just been mush and dried fruit, so I hadn't needed to do much. But now…

"Can you cook?" Beru asked.

"A little. My mother taught me when I was young, but I haven't needed to do anything myself in ten years."

"Ten years? You're not that old, when did you become Queen?"

"Fourteen. Naboo rulers are often young, we think that children are more pure in heart."

Beru shook her head, and handed me some sort of vegetable and a knife. "I can see that… but it doesn't seem to leave much room for a childhood, if you have to be trained beforehand."

"No, not much," I agreed.

"Chop it thinly," she instructed, and I got to work. "I can't imagine… I suppose not many on Tatooine could be said to have innocent childhoods either, though. With moisture farmers, like me and Owen, there's the constant threat of Sandpeople, and Anakin and Shmi were slaves…"

"Why moisture farmers? Do the Tuskens attack just because you're so isolated?"

"Partly. They dislike all humans and those who came after they. But I heard that they believe all water is sacred, and belongs to them, so moisture farmers are particularly… offensive."

"I see." I chopped for another minute. "Could they come back here? Now that Shmi was taken from them, could they want revenge?"

Beru sighed. "It's possible. There are hundreds of moisture farms around here, I don't know if they'd remember which she came from. Hopefully you scared them enough that they won't return."

"I hope so," I agreed.

"Life here is full of risk. We'll just have to remain extra careful and vigilant, and make sure no one leaves the house alone or unarmed too close to dark."

It didn't sound like a good way to live… but my own life had nearly as much risk, I realized. Case in point, the assassins I was currently hiding from.

My musings were interrupted by C-3PO, who was walking into the kitchen as quickly as his metallic joints allowed. "Miss Padmé! R2-D2 has an urgent message for Master Anakin!"

"Thanks, Threepio. He's down with the vaporators… I'll take you." I started towards where I had seen the Jedi last, Artoo following close on my heels, but the protocol droid being left a bit behind.

I found him crawling out from under one of the machines, replacing tools in a kit. Artoo whistled and beeped.

"Retransmit? From Obi-Wan? Come on, let's get to the ship." Anakin swept past and took the stairs up and out of the complex, Artoo and I following. We passed C-3PO, who trailed behind, seeming just as confused as I.

Once we boarded the ship, Artoo turned and projected the image of Anakin's master to us.

"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant."

"Hold on, Artoo," Anakin said, while I pushed a few buttons on the ship's control panel to do as he said, then gave the droid a nod.

"I have tracked the bounty hunter, Jango Fett," the message continued, "to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala."

"Surprise, surprise," Anakin muttered.

"The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a- Wait, wait-"

Obi-Wan spun around, igniting his lightsaber as droidekas entered the image, but was overwhelmed and captured as the hologram flickered off.

"No!" Anakin reached towards Artoo, but stopped, realizing there was nothing that could be done.

I sat, contemplating grimly the situation, while the Jedi Council discussed what was to be done. It was concluded that Obi-Wan was still alive.

"We will deal with Count Dooku" one of the Council members- Master Windu?- said, "The most important thing for you, Anakin, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

"Understood, Master," Anakin said. His voice was level, but his eyes looked broken, lost, helpless.

As the hologram vanished, I started pushing buttons, only confirming my suspicions. "They're halfway across the galaxy, they'll never get there in time!"

"But what can we do? We were ordered to stay here!" Anakin said, his voice pained. "And besides… I have to let go."

"Only after all you can do!" I reminded, jabbing a finger at him. I checked the computer again. "Look, Geonosis is less than a parsec away. Tell me that's not the Force begging us to save him."

"Well…" I could see Anakin desperately wanted me to be right. "But I can't disobey orders."

"Then…" I thought fast. "You were told to stay here in order to protect me. Our success rate for rescuing parental figures is currently one hundred percent, so I'm taking a calculated risk to go after him. You'll just have to come along to protect me."

"If I must," Anakin said, finally giving in with a small smile.

"Comm Owen, let your mother know you're leaving. I'll tell the others, and you start up the ship."

I passed a still bewildered Threepio and ran down the ramp.

"Beru!" I ran into the woman coming up the stairs.

"What's wrong?"

"Anakin's Master has been captured- we're going to save him."

"Oh… the one he said was like family?"

"He's having a rough week," I agreed dryly. "Thank you, and tell Cliegg thank you for us, and I'll send the medical bill along with interest as soon as I can."

"Wait." Beru grabbed my arm as I spun to leave. "Message me, when this is over?"

I spared her a warm smile. "I will. Take care, Beru."

"And you."

I ran back up the ramp of the ship and pushed the button to raise it. Anakin put his comlink down, having just finished his call, and went to the cockpit. The ship lifted off the ground, and fifteen minutes later, we were in hyperspace.

This flight was a short one- less than an hour. "Is there anything we should be doing until we get there? We know there will be Trade Federation droids at least."

"Training, right. Fortunately, we have experience with Federation droids. Artoo, man the controls."

Artoo chirped back.

"Droid the controls. Whatever."

"You shouldn't talk back to Master Anakin like that!" Threepio scolded, to which Artoo made a raspberry-like sound.

I followed Anakin into the lounge, where the dirty stretcher Shmi had used had been hastily folded up and put aside. Anakin sent the table and couch to the walls and pulled out the remote ball.

"We're going to do an exercise called One Saber. It's usually for when a pair of Jedi get into a situation and one loses their lightsaber, but we only have one in the first place. The remote will fire at us, and we'll have my saber. We throw it back and forth between us as needed, and use the Force to make sure we don't drop it or lose time."

Anakin ignited the blue blade and activated the remote. "And if you can," he added, knocking aside a few bolts, "try to deflect them directly at the remote. It's on the lowest setting, so they'll just knock it back."

"Got it." Why didn't we train at the lowest setting earlier? Motivation? Not important now. I leaned to the side to dodge a bolt.

"Catch!" Anakin called, throwing his- thankfully deactivated- saber. I caught it with some fumbling and narrowly managed to light it and deflect the next shot.

"Reach for the Force… we have to be sort of connected, in sync," he said. I nodded and threw the saber back. He caught it easily and knocked a bolt back at the remote, missing by a centimeter.

We passed the blade back and forth for a few more minutes before Anakin had me deflect bolts alone, aiming for the remote, while he fiddled with a spare blaster. When he finished, he introduced the downgraded blaster to our One-Saber, now we tossed two weapons back and forth. I had much more practice aiming with a blaster, and so hit the remote more often than not.

"On the bright side, Federation droids are bigger, and so there's more to aim at," Anakin decided. "Now, I'll set the remote to fire- and you have to defend both of us."

"What?"

"In case someone gets injured."

I resisted the urge to retort about how much taller than me he was, and if his head was stung it wasn't my fault, and brought the saber to a ready position. I hoped I wouldn't hit him on accident. I reached for the Force.

The bolt zipped towards him and I knocked it aside somewhat clumsily. The remote moved and shot at me, then him in quick succession. I protected myself, but missed the other bolt.

"Sorry," I hissed, but Anakin didn't flinch.

I continued deflecting from his left, trying to be aware of his body in the Force, so he didn't get hit and I didn't hit him myself. I switched sides after a minute, then Anakin crouched down and I defended him like that, then he lay on the floor, which made for a much longer area to reach for and protect.

"Good," he said eventually, stopping the remote, and I had done alright, but considering we were likely about to get into a battle, I wasn't too pleased. "Now-"

Artoo tootled an interruption, and Anakin cursed. "I'll figure it out. Meditate for now on what you just learned."

"Will that help?"

"It'll help a little with your muscle memory, and every little bit counts at this point." He strode to the cockpit while I settled on a cushion.

Was this one of the tricks that the Jedi wouldn't want him spreading carelessly? Probably. But he was right. We could deal with the repercussions later.

I sank into the Force, reflecting on the exercises we had just done, going over them in my mind.

After a span of time, Anakin's presence brushed against mine, and I returned my attention to our surroundings.

"We've set down in an exhaust vent," he said, rising from the pilot's seat.

"Good," I said, nodding. "But, Anakin… Whatever happens out there, follow my lead. I'm a member of the Senate, maybe we can come to a diplomatic resolution to this mess. I'd like to avoid a war. If we must fight, I'll follow you."

"As sound a plan as any, milady," he acquiesced.

We went down the ramp and ducked through a maintenence door- Geonosians were short, apparently, or perhaps droids usually went through the door.

We entered a hallway, lined with archways framing either rough natural rock or elaborately carved stone walls- it was too dark to tell.

We made it most of the way down the hall before we felt a warning twinge in the Force. A sense of foreboding had loomed, but now it focused-

We spun and I bit back a gasp as I realized that the walls were not carved, but covered in insectoid Geonosians, who had abandoned their shadowed hiding places and flew at us. Anakin ignited his saber and swung it, while I ran to the far end of the hall to get the door, shooting at the Geonosians who attacked me.

I halted the moment I was out the door, seeing the room opened to a vast factory, with smoke and machinery further than the eye could see. I was on a narrow ledge over a ten-foot drop to a conveyor belt laden with squares of glowing yellow-hot metal.

Anakin stopped beside me, and I looked around, trying to figure out where to go. The choice was effectively taken from us when the door closed- blocking off our pursuers, but also blocking off our escape as the ledge was drawn back into the wall, and I fell to the belt, barely missing the metal.

"Padmé!" Anakin cried. He was hanging on to a bar on the door, but seemed to be fine.

"I'm alright," I told him, firing at a Geonosian who had come in through some other entrance, apparently determined to make our already difficult task even harder.

I drew upon the Force as best as I could, dodging Geonosians and robotic arms, wincing as one of the insectoids was smashed onto a glowing hot plate and their dim presence was snuffed out.

The belt drew nearer to a stamping piece of machinery. I evaluated it- I had to time it perfectly- and ran, diving under. I sprung back up, stepping backwards to keep from being moved forward into the next press.

I ducked and dodged, narrowly missing once, and I came out onto a stretch that was clear of machinery. A Geonosian landed and grabbed my wrists, and I tried to tug away or twist the blaster toward them- they slipped and kicked me, falling back onto the belt and pulling the blaster from my grip, while I fell back, landing hard in some sort of giant cup-shaped container- which looked too horribly similar to a crucible. I searched the walls frantically for some handhold substantial enough to climb out with- nothing. It would have nice if Anakin had taught me how to jump with the Force!

I tried as best as I could, calling it to me, willing it to my legs, and I leapt- but my fingers fell centimeters short of the lip. I tried again, getting my fingertips over, but they slipped on the rounded edge, and I scraped my hands as I slid down.

I heard the whirring and clanking as the crucibles in front of mine must have been filled with molten metal. I examined the walls, trying to boost myself up on the tiny lumps of metal that were still stuck-

A great nozzle appeared over me, and I knew my time was up. I pulled the Force to me, begging it to answer my will to live- and I jumped, feeling the power through my legs as I was launched and carried upward. My forearms slapped on the rim of the crucible, and I gritted my teeth as I tried to haul my body over before the deadly metal filled it-

The metal didn't come. The line stopped, and I saw Artoo, faithful, brave Artoo, was plugged into a port. A few tears of relief escaped my eyes, and the crucible dropped to the ground not too far below. I tumbled out, head over heels, getting tangled in my cloak, and my relief disappeared when I got to my feet and found I was surrounded by Geonosians and battle droids.

Not far from me, I saw Anakin was captured, half a lightsaber sizzling and sparking in his hand. We locked eyes long enough for me to see his defeated, remorseful expression, and our hands were cuffed and we were dragged away.

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We found ourselves dumped unceremoniously in cells. At least, I was. I didn't know what they did to Anakin. As soon as I could, I meditated, searching for him. I found him, at the edge of my reach.

Anakin!

Padmé! Where are you? Are you alright?

I'm fine, just in a cell. Are they taking you for questioning?

No, I thought you were being questioned.

Why are you so far, then?

They know I can use the Force. They have me suspended here in cuffs that are blocked from it.

Oh… Can you sense Obi-Wan?

A moment of silence. No. And I don't know how. If he were dead, I would know. But Count Dooku was a Jedi once. He's likely responsible for making sure we can't communicate. You need to hide your Force-presence, so we can keep at least one ace up our sleeve.

But how?

Like how you did before you knew all this. Pretend that you are ordinary. Just a handmaiden. His mental tone sobered. Padmé, I am so sorry. I was a fool. Blinded by attachment again.

There wasn't much we could do in the factory, I replied.

I mean coming here in the first place. I've put you right into the hands of the slime who is trying to kill you.

It was my idea, remember? And maybe we can still come to a diplomatic solution. We haven't met the Separatist leaders yet.

One of them actively wants you dead.

I know. But if we give up hope now, what do we have left?

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I re-entered my cell tired, frustrated, and disgusted. I took a moment to clear my mind before I could reach through the Force to Anakin.

Padmé! What happened? What is going on?

Count Dooku generously offered leniency if Naboo were to join the Separatists. I'm sorry.

You gave in? Padmé, no, you can't join them-

I didn't join them! I interrupted. I refused. And now we're sentenced to execution at dawn along with Obi-Wan.

Oh, good, I heard, and I frowned. Was he relieved?

I assumed you wouldn't give in, when you apologized I thought you had, and I wondered what they had done to you… Because I can think of nothing that would cause Padmé Amidala to sway from her values. Pure as a white rose.

I felt his warmth and love in the Force, and my thoughts drifted to the Naboo rose- likely where his thoughts dwelt as well. And if the rose is spotted with blood?

A testament to her devotion and courage.

I was silent, allowing myself to be comforted in what could be my final hours, supporting Anakin at the same time.

I think they've come to talk to me now, though about what I don't have a clue, Anakin said. Don't try to contact me again tonight. I heard the resignation and determination in his voice, and he cut the connection.

I almost cried out when his presence vanished. Tonight was all we had before the end. I lay down on my cot, but I couldn't sleep. They wouldn't execute Anakin early, would they? No. There was no point.

This was the end. There was little hope the Jedi could make it here on time- and in great enough numbers to conquer the maybe hundreds of thousands of droids that would have been amassed by now. When Naboo had freed itself from the Trade Federation, we had backups, decoys, distractions, pilots in space, people infiltrating the palace, and allies on the battlefield. Now there was nothing- me and Anakin, and if we were lucky, Obi-Wan, and we were already captured.

But now it was just me, alone.

At the end, it seemed rather silly and pointless that I had tried to deny the feelings I knew I had. We all lived on borrowed time, what was the point of trying to deceive ourselves? I could see that now.

I didn't want to be alone. I thought of Anakin- of his playful smirk, of his genuine smile, of his dedication to teaching me all he could, of his love of his family, how accepting he was of its new members, of his drive to be the best he could be, of the joy he found in simple pleasures, his determination and single-mindedness. His eyes, true windows to his soul, clear as the sky, and his hands, so strong and confident when he wielded his saber, so gentle and delicate when he worked with machines or held those he loved, his frank honesty, so refreshing when I worked with those who maintained a veil of civility and deception, his laugh, so joyous and carefree. His touch, so tender and hesitant when he reached for me, his lips, so warm and passionate, his gaze, which followed me with admiration, respect, devotion, and awe, and that he was so conflicted over his feelings, wanting to do what was right and hold true to the Jedi code, but too deeply in love, and he looked to me, trusted me to decide which way he would fall, though both paths held pain. How he trusted me with his being when we healed his mother, and I trusted him in return, and how I was beginning to suspect that we had made the beginnings of a Force-bond, and it was only getting stronger.

I was in love with him. Force, I was in love with him, and it seemed so senseless that I had ever tried to deny it. If we were given the chance to live beyond this, perhaps there was even hope, if we could manage to love without attachment, like Anakin's mother had said.

But now we were alone. I didn't dare reach for him and give away the one advantage we might have left- my Force ability, feeble and undeveloped as it was.

I would talk to Anakin in the morning… let him know how I felt, if I still could…

I tried to relax, clear my mind, without reaching for the Force. It was harder than usual. Perhaps it was a good thing I had gone over a week with confusing time changes and half nights of rest, because I was finally overcome with physical and emotional exhaustion and slept.

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I awoke mostly rested the next morning by the clanging of a Geonosian whacking something hard against the metal bars of my cell, and was then cuffed and dragged through dimly lit halls into a tunnel, where I could see at the end the bright glare of the arena floor. But blocking the light was a sort of chariot, and standing inside, hands chained to the side, was Anakin. My heart leapt and beat excitedly, perhaps aware that this was the last chance it ad to do so. Oh, if only I had realized the truth earlier.

"Don't be afraid," Anakin said, misreading the look on my face as I was made to join him the cart, or perhaps trying to reassure himself.

"I'm not afraid to die." And it was true. I certainly didn't want to die. I wished I could have done more with my life. But what better way to go, fighting for what I knew to be true, my love beside me, as we finally became part of the Force that bound all life together?

"I love you."

Anakin's face was shocked, almost comical. "You love me? I thought we decided that… it would destroy us…" He looked past me, and I would have bet a thousand credits he was thinking of his mother and her words.

"It looks like our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. But I want to be with you, Anakin, whether by some miracle we live through this and we can fight to see love recognized without attachment, or whether this is our last hour. I truly, deeply love you, and I want you to know before we die."

I saw the same ridiculous joy in his eyes that I was sure was in mine, and we leaned forward, our lips finally meeting again, and as we reached too with the Force, it rippled and rang across our bond.

We broke apart as we left the tunnel to the roar of the crowd, and turned to face what remained of the future together.

A/N: Thanks all for reading! Please leave a review, let me know how I'm doing and how I can improve!