Coruscant-Senate building
Padme sighed and sat back in her chair. She had been working on the same report for an hour but was unable to concentrate as her mind kept drifting back to a certain brown haired, blue eyed man she met last night. Anakin Skywalker. A kind, fun and understanding man and yet the Dark lord of the Sith's advisor. It was hard for her brain to wrap around. 'The rebellion could really use him,' she thought. She shook her head and chuckled softly, admonishing herself for thinking about a man she had just met into persuading him to rebel against his boss. 'No, I shouldn't use him like that, he might not even want to join the rebellion. If he got caught, what would the emperor do to him? His most trusted advisor conspiring against him, he would be tortured, he would be-be,' her thoughts were broken as the door to her office opened. Bail Organa walked in with a smile on his face.
"Good morning, Padme," he said and she smiled back.
"Morning, Bail."
"Where were you?" he asked and she frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you said you were going to meet Mon Mothma and I before today's session started. I'm guessing someone got caught up with their work," he teased, pointing towards the mess that was Padme's work. Padme's eyes widened and she looked to the chrono on the wall.
"Oh my god,Bail. I am so sorry, I was trying to finish this report and lost track of time," she explained.
"It's alright, Padme. I just came to make sure your okay and ready to attend the session which begins in five minutes," he said and laughed as Padme scrambled to pick up her datapad. She quickly met him at the door and they walked to the senate chambers.
"About time, mi-ever punctual-lady," Sabe teased as Padme walked towards her senate pod.
"Oh, shut it, Sabe. It's not the first time I been late," Padme retorted as she sat in her seat.
"True but it doesn't happen often," Sabe pointed out as she took her own seat next to Padme.
"Are you okay?" she asked, noticing Padme's distant look. Padme sighed.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Padme asked, exasperated.
"Well, let's see, you were almost late this morning and now you're brooding." Padme smiled at her best friend.
"I'm okay, Sabe. I really am, I was just thinking about last night," Padme said, earnestly and looked to the side to see Rush Clovis staring at her from his pod. She quickly turned away and sighed in annoyance. Sabe caught where her eyes landed.
"Oh no, please don't tell me he was annoying you again," Sabe said.
"Yes, he was but that's not what is distracting me," Padme replied and looked forward as Chancellor Palpatine rose in his pod. Padme looked behind Chancellor Palpatine, directly across the chambers and saw Plageuis enter with a Sith Elite and Anakin. His blue eyes suddenly met her brown ones and he smiled at her. The corners of her mouth twitched upwards and her eyes lit up. Sabe followed Padme's gaze and smiled deviously.
"Oh, I see. Looks like a certain senator has caught the attention of another certain senator," she teased.
"He's not a senator. He is the emperor's new advisor," Padme said and Sabe's eyes widened.
"He's the emperor's advisor! Force, he is hot," Sabe said.
"Sabe!" Padme exclaimed and she smirked.
"Well he is and what's your excuse for staring at him, miss prim and proper?" Sabe said, crossing her arms playfully.
"Okay, I admit he's mildly attractive,"Sabe gave her a look, "Fine! He is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen! Happy?"
"Very," Sabe smirked.
Anakin crossed his arms and leaned against the rail of the pod as he watched Padme converse with her handmaiden.
"Has someone caught your eye, Anakin?" Jayden teased as he noticed Anakin's focused gaze on Padme.
"Save it, Jayden. She's only a tool to me. I have no desire to have her distract my mission," Anakin said.
"Make sure, it stays that way, Anakin. I want all rebels gone for good. As you have found out from last night, Senator Garis and Governor Till are affiliated with the alliance but they are hardly a threat. I need more than just financial transfers from our senate to the rebels. I need proof that the senators from the loyalist committee are directly involved with the rebel's plans," Plageuis explained and Anakin nodded.
"Please welcome, the highly exhorted Emperor Plageuis," Palpatine announced and the chambers erupted in applause and cheers. Plageuis's pod floated to the middle of the chambers.
"Thank you, Chancellor," Plageuis said.
"As most of you have heard, I have adopted a new advisor, one that I believe will make the empire proud. Please welcome my advisor, Anakin Skywalker!"
The chambers once again erupted in cheers as Anakin took the podium.
"Fellow Senators, it is an honour to be here today. I have met a great majority of you only last night and yet I feel I have known you for years. There is no doubt, I will see the hard work and efforts of every single person in this room to build a better future for the galactic empire," he looked directly at Padme, "and I hope to get closer to even more of you."
Padme stood up and applauded just like the rest of the senate, a smile adoring her beautiful face.
Anakin and Jayden walked into Palpatine's office and Plageuis stood up from his seat.
"Well done, my son," Plageuis said.
"What's next, father?" Anakin asked, walking towards the panoramic window.
"I need you to get closer to the loyalist committee. Infiltrate them, what ever means necessary to find out if they are in league with the rebels," Plageuis explained, standing next to Anakin.
"Sidious will aid you in your investigation of the senators," Plageuis placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder, "this is an important step for the empire, Anakin."
"Make an example of those who dare commit treason against the Sith. This is your mission, Anakin, your empire. Do not let us down," Plageuis told Anakin and he nodded, before looking back at Coruscant's skyline.
"I must say, this Anakin Skywalker, was not what I expected," Bail said.
"Trust me, Bail. You have not seen anything yet. He's something else," Padme said dreamily and Bail smiled.
"I haven't seen a smile like that in a long time, Padme. I'm glad you and Skywalker are becoming great friends but are you sure you can trust him so soon?" Bail asked wearily.
"He may be the Sith's advisor but there is something about him. Imagine how difficult it must be for him to constantly be under the watchful eye of the Sith," Padme sympathised and sighed, "I know this is too soon but maybe he is finally what the rebellion needs."
Bail's eyes widened.
"Padme! I trust your judgement but you've just met him. Please, I beg you, give it time," Bail encouraged. Padme glanced downwards.
"You're right. I'm sorry,Bail. It's just I have't felt so connected to anyone before. It's crazy, I know, but I need to know more about him."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It slid open to reveal Anakin standing there with a smile on his face.
"Excuse me, Senators. I hope I'm not interrupting," Anakin said politely. Bail noticed the twinkle in Padme's eyes and glanced back and forth between the two.
"Of course not, Anakin. Padme and I just concluded our meeting," Bail said, winking at Padme before leaving her office.
"Anakin, it's good to see you," Padme said and blushed as Anakin kissed her hand again. She then noticed he was hiding something behind his back.
"What's that?" Padme asked. Anakin smiled before revealing a bouquet of flowers and Padme gasped.
"Oh Anakin, their beautiful," she said as he handed her the bouquet.
"I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality last night. I really wasn't looking forward to the event but I am glad that I came," Anakin said. Padme smiled and smelled the flowers.
"Oh, Anakin, they're beautiful. Thank you," she said.
"Well, I am free for the rest of the day, so would you like to have some lunch?" Anakin asked. Padme immediately frowned.
"I am sorry, Anakin. I would love to but I have a meeting this afternoon with Senator Mothma," she said and Anakin made a mental note of the Chandrilan senator.
"Perhaps we could go somewhere tonight, maybe to the opera house?" Padme asked.
"I would love to, Senator," Anakin whispered and kissed her hand.
"Leave us," Sidious ordered Mas Amedda as Anakin walked into his office. He nodded and walked away.
"My prince, how goes the investigation?"
"Perfectly. Though the senator is more disclosed than I have anticipated," Anakin said and looked outside the panoramic window.
"She is a very interesting character, wouldn't you say?" Sidious asked and Anakin continued to look outside at Coruscant, his eyes glazing over for a moment.
"Yes, she is" Anakin whispered finally and cleared his throat.
"Senator Amidala has a meeting with the Mon Mothma. There's no doubt they're discussing about the rebels. I will get the information I need tonight," Anakin said and walked towards the door.
"And how do you plan to do that?" Sidious called and Anakin looked over his shoulder with a smirk on his face.
"I have a date," he simply said and the door slid closed behind him.
"Padme, this is ridiculous! He is the emperor's advisor, you can't trust him," Mon said as she paced in front of Padme's desk.
"Mon, you don't know him. He's not like the emperor," Padme explained and noticed Mon's frown.
"Padme, what about Rush? You two were so good together. If you really want to be in a relationship, Rush is-"
"Excuse me!" Padme interrupted.
"Rush is selfish, rude and we have nothing in common. In one night, Anakin and I have learned more about each other than Rush and I ever did," Padme said defensively and sighed.
"Forget I even told you about my date. I am going to the opera house with Anakin Skywalker and I am going to enjoy myself," Padme said resolutely and was about to leave when Clovis walked in.
"Hello, Padme," he greeted and Padme merely nodded before storming out of her office.
"What's with her?" Clovis asked.
"She has this fluctuation with Skywalker," Mon said and he groaned.
"Delusional women, she should be with me. You agree with me, don't you Mon? I am sure the Chandrilan treasury would agree," Rush pointed out and Mon smiled.
"Of course, I do," she replied.
Author's note: And chapter 10 has arrived. Thank you for all your support and sorry I took so long to post this chapter. Well, in the next chapter Anakin and Padme have a date. I hope you are all excited and please feel free to comment on anything :)