Coruscant-Opera House

"You look spectacular, Padme."

Padme smiled as Anakin approached her. She wore a floor length gown, the delicate blue silk fitting her every curve. Anakin would have been blind to not recognise her beauty but he was adamant to not let it get to him.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Anakin," Padme teased. Anakin chuckled and they walked to their darkened booth, arm in arm.

"I saw the emperor earlier. I didn't know he likes the opera," Padme said wearily as Anakin helped her into her seat.

"He doesn't but he said he humour me every now and then," Anakin replied, taking his own seat.

"You seem very close to him," Padme pointed out. Anakin was shocked by her statement but merely smiled in response.

"Padme, he is closest thing I have to family, despite his unconventional methods of persuasion," Anakin said, truth behind his words. He placed his hands on the arm rests of his seat and Padme frowned as she spotted a scar on his right hand. Padme bit her lip.

"Did he ever... punish you?" Padme asked and Anakin quickly pulled back his sleeve. He saw no point in lying at that point.

"Yes," he replied quietly and looked back to the opera. Padme frowned and gently placed her hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry," she said and Anakin inwardly rolled his eyes at her pity.

"Don't be, it happened a long time ago," he said, smiling at her. She smiled back and faced forward to enjoy the rest of the opera.


Anakin was getting bored, half way through the act. He frowned knowing he was getting nothing out of Padme. He snuck a glance towards her and noticed her smile when the dramatic orchestra toned down to a soft love theme. He smirked and leaned closer to her.

"You know, this act reminds me of a legend I once read about," he whispered. Padme looked at him, her eyes urging him to continue.

"There was once a princess, a vision of pure beauty and grace," Anakin said, his hand slowly inching closer to her lap. "Her father worked hard to find her a suitor but she saw nothing worth loving in their hearts. Every night, she waited for the perfect man to sweep her off her feet," Anakin placed his hand on her knee and she shivered at his touch.

"One day, a prince from the rivalling kingdom was out for a stroll when he saw the beautiful princess, alone and sad. They talked for hours, neither of them knowing each other's real identity."

"What happened next?" Padme asked anxiously and Anakin smiled, rubbing her leg ever so softly.

"They fell in love," he whispered, leaning closer, "they spent passionate nights together and told each other everything."

"Even their identities?" Padme asked.

"Even their identities," Anakin confirmed, looking at her soft, full lips.

"The prince asked her to marry him and she agreed. Despite their best efforts to convince their parents that they belonged with each other, they got married anyway," Anakin continued, his lips inching closer to Padme's, "married in secret."

"They lived a lie," Padme said, staring at his sparkling blue eyes. Anakin smile grew, knowing he was close to getting her.

"Yes but it was a lie worth living, as long as they told each other everything," Anakin emphasized.

"Every single plan, the princess knew, she told her beloved. Anything to end the war between their kingdoms," Anakin whispered, his breath tickling her lips. Padme closed her eyes as he leaned closer and closer. Their lips were about to touch when Anakin's comlink beeped. He inwardly cursed as Padme blushed, quickly pulling away and tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

"I'm sorry, Padme. I have to take this," Anakin said and she nodded. He gave her a small smile and stood up from his chair, leaving their darkened booth. Padme took in a heavy breath, her heart pounding within her chest. She never felt so erotic in her life. She touched her lips and leaned back in her chair, his blue eyes never leaving her mind.

"Anakin, get over here now!" Jayden's said over the comlink.

"Really, Jayden. I was so close to getting her to the breaking point," Anakin grumbled.

"Oh, spare me the details of your date until later. Right now, get over to your father's booth. He's not happy," Jayden warned and Anakin sighed.

"Okay, I'm on my way," Anakin said.


"About time, my son," Plageuis said impatiently as Anakin walked into the booth.

"Father?"

"Lord Sidious tells me you have not completed your mission," Plageuis said.

"I will reveal the rebels for who they are, father. I..you have my word," Anakin said and Plageuis laughed darkly.

"My son, your word is only valid if you succeed and remember the Sith always succeed,"Plageuis explained and Anakin sighed.

"Senator Amidala will share the rebels plans with me, I just need more time," Anakin said.

"Well, time is not of the essence because a Jedi has been spotted. You will continue your mission after the Jedi are dead. Our fleet leaves to Chandrila tomorrow." Anakin frowned.

"Chandrila is key planet in the Core systems. Won't the senate retaliate if we invade it?" Anakin asked.

"That is why I am sending you and Jayden to solve the situation. Chase the Jedi to the forests away from the capital and away from the people. If there are any witnesses, kill them," Plageuis ordered and Anakin nodded, smiling sadistically.


Padme sighed as she sat back in her chair. She smiled as she recalled Anakin's passionate words and how his eyes seemed to shine even in the darkness of their booth. But something was nagging in the back of Padme's mind. How Anakin's eyes seemed to harden when she avoided to speak to him about the rebels at the gala. 'They told each other everything,' Padme remembered, 'every single plan, the princess knew, she told.'

Suddenly she remembered the scar on Anakin's hand, the pain and his dismissive behaviour as he quickly pulled back his sleeve. All assumptions of him being a traitor quickly left her mind. 'No person would willingly serve someone who hurts them. Anakin is strong and I trust him,' she thought.

"Padme."

Padme gasped and jumped out of her seat to see Rush Clovis standing at the door.

"Ever heard of knocking, Rush?" Padme asked, annoyed.

"Sorry, Padme but there is a crucial matter to discuss," Rush replied, closing the door behind him. Padme crossed her arms, signalling him to continue.

"Mon Mothma tells me you wish to recruit Skywalker into the rebellion," Clovis said, "all I ask is why?"

"I don't need to explain this to you! Anakin is the closest person to the emperor and our best lead to ending this war. I know the rebellion can count on him," Padme said defensively and scoffed, "I should have known Mon put you up to this."

"Oh please, you've just met the man!" Padme smirked.

"At least he is far better man than you are," she said and Rush stepped closer to her.

"Don't move another step!"

Rush's eyes widened and spun around to see Anakin leaning against the door with his arms crossed. His steel blue eyes bore into his and Rush watched as Anakin's fingers tapped on a holster strapped to his waist. Anakin cocked his head to the side to look at Padme.

"Are you alright?" Anakin asked and Padme nodded.

"Perfectly, now that you're here," she said softly and walked around Rush, avoiding his gaze.

"You do not threaten me, Skywalker. This is private discussion between me and Senator Amidala," Rush said as Padme stood beside Anakin.

"It is only private as long as Padme says it is," Anakin said and turned to Padme. She simply shook her head and nodded her head to the exit.

"Then this discussion is over," Anakin told Rush and led Padme away.


The ride back to Padme's apartment was silent. Anakin sensed the turmoil in Padme and felt a small twinge in the bottom of his stomach. He didn't know what is was but he couldn't stand it any longer. He quickly landed his speeder on Padme's landing pad. Padme quickly stood up and was about to run into her apartment when Anakin grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. Tears threatened to leave her eyes and her breath came in small gasps. 'Just get this over with and get the information,' Anakin tried to convince himself.

"Will you tell me what's wrong?" Anakin asked softly.

"How much did you hear?" Padme asked, avoiding his question. Anakin sighed.

"I heard enough. I now know that you and Rush Clovis are part of the rebellion," Anakin replied. Padme bit her lip and nodded.

"I wanted you to be a part of it," Padme whispered. Anakin frowned. He knew he could get more information from the rebellion if he joined them but he would wait until his father approved of the idea.

"And is that what's bothering you?" Anakin asked and Padme shook her head.

"No," she sobbed out, tears sliding down her cheeks. Anakin didn't know what compelled him but he raised his hand and gently brushed her tears away.

"I been so focused on helping the rebellion. I have supported Mon from the beginning and she sends Rush to just come in and basically tell me my thoughts are invalid and crude and-" Padme's frustrated cries were cut off as Anakin pressed a finger to her lips. She gasped as Anakin replaced his finger with his full lips. Padme cooed into their soft, slow kiss and ran her fingers through Anakin's hair. Anakin never felt anything so gentle before, her soft lips coaxing his and her fingers combing through his hair with slow, gentle strokes.

"Milady, I am so glad you're home. I was just about to...oh my!" Threepio said as he walked onto the balcony to see his mistress sharing a tender moment with the emperor's advisor.

Padme reluctantly pulled away at the sound of Threepio's voice and looked into Anakin's eyes.

"Thank you, Anakin, for a wonderful evening. I was hoping we could talk more about you and the rebellion," Padme suggested but Anakin cursed under his breath as his comlink went off. He knew it was time for him to prepare for the mission on Chandrila.

"I am sorry, Padme. I would like to talk more about this but I am leaving for a... mission the emperor assigned me," Anakin said. Padme immediately frowned.

"Oh, for how long?"

"Hopefully not long. Maybe for a few days, maybe more," Anakin said and Padme nodded sadly in understanding.

"I'll be back, don't worry. And next time we will go to a place where we can talk and no one will interrupt us," Anakin grumbled, nodding his head towards the golden protocol droid. Padme laughed and kissed him on the cheek and stepped out of his speeder.

"Until then, Anakin."

"Until then, Senator," Anakin said and Padme watched as he flew away into the brightly lit skylines of Coruscant.