Here come's Chapter 14 :D! Sorry if this one took an entire week. But lo and behold, it's finally here :D! WHEW! Really, thank you so much for all the reviews :D! They're definitely the reason why this fanfic is still going strong :D! Love you all :D!

By the way, before you continue, I present to you, the song "Strange and Beautiful" from Aqualung. It kinda suits one of the scenes from this chapter, and actually, the fanfic in general…

Strange and Beautiful

Aqualung

I've been watching your world from afar,
I've been trying to be where you are,
And I've been secretly falling apart,
I see,

To me you're strange and you're beautiful.
You'd be so perfect with me, but you just can't see,
you turn every head, but you don't see me.

Chorus
I'll put a spell on you,
you fall asleep
I'll put a spell on you,
and when i wake you, I'll be the first thing you see.
and you'll realise that you love me.

Chapter 14: The Celebration

Padme met her reflection when she stood before her dresser's life size mirror. She held a soft, silky white dress over her body as she looked at her mirror image. The dress was pure and simple, yet incredibly elegant and mesmerizing.

It was a flowing sleeveless gown…Bare above the chest, with a quarter of an inch silken strap on either side of the top to be tied behind the wearer's neck to hold it up in place. Padme's eyes wandered over the dress as she pressed it against the front of her body, trying to imagine how it would look like on her petite physique.

The dress itself had never been worn. Tonight was, in fact, her first time to take it out of her closet. She had acquired it some months ago, a gift from one of the merchant families in Naboo. And what a beautiful dress it was.

She really wished she could have shown Anakin the dress, but the galaxy had been in chaos for years now, and there was no time to play dress-up. She also couldn't find the perfect opportunity to wear it. To wear such a dress in a Senate meeting, or any ordinary meeting for that matter, would not do it justice. The dress was far too pure and far too beautiful and delicate for such a rash thing as a Senatorial meeting.

But tonight, tonight she would wear it.

Padme carefully turned the dress around to see what the back portion looked like, and a soft smile curved up her lips. On the back of the dress were two embroidered patterns that looked like small angel wings. One would barely see the embroideries because the threads used to embroider them were colored white like the dress, but nonetheless, it brought a smile on her face. She ran her fingers over them, tracing the patterns.

She then remembered the time, many, many years ago, when a little boy the age of eleven had called her his angel. Yes, tonight, she would truly be an angel of embroidered wings. She giggled…an angel of embroidered wings…no…Anakin's angel…His angel.

Her shoulders rose and lowered as she took a deep breath and exhaled. If only Anakin could see her tonight. But alas, even if Anakin were here, she doubted that they could openly meet and interact in public eyes.

x x x x x x

The sun set and the moon rose to illuminate the darkened starlit sky. Well-known people of different races and origins could be seen entering the tall gates of the grandiose mansion of the Sah'c family, located in the wealthiest city of Section H-46.

The guests were composed of aristocratic families, political figures, businessmen, media tycoons, and famous artists, all from all over the galaxy. It was a party exclusive for those, and only those, who had been invited. No more, no less. The Sah'cs preferred to associate themselves with people who could be of help to them in the future.

After waiting for the other guests to step out of their vehicles, Padme's personal armored Nubian speeder drove before the entrance of the mansion. An usher dressed in a dark red elegant suit immediately walked to the door so as to assist the newly-arrived guest.

The door to the back seat opened, and Padme, dressed in her white angelic dress, carefully stepped out. Her long, fitting dress flowed down her slim frame, its bottom brushing against the concrete floor. Her bare shoulders were accentuated by the dress' design, and her hair was held up in a flattering bun-like hairdo. Her face, unlike when she was the queen of Naboo, was void of any lavish make-up.

And as if she were in a dream, everyone's eyes, whether it be the guests entering the mansion or the ushers assisting the guests or the guards stationed by the entrance --- almost everyone standing by the lobby had their eyes on her.

She could see them glancing at her, as she made her way up the stairs and to the huge doorway that served as the entrance to the mansion. Most of them even tried to hide the fact that they, too, were looking at her.

Funny, really, that she had never attracted this kind of attention during scheduled meetings and public events. Was is it because something was different with her tonight? Was it the dress? Was it the hair? Did they really find her beautiful? Nevertheless, a meek, nearly invisible smile spread across her glossy lips. She couldn't help but feel slightly flattered by the people's unspoken compliments.

The stares and glances continued as she walked gracefully through the door, and as expected, the people who first welcomed her inside the mansion were also taken aback by her elegant and untainted beauty, especially the men.

But they were the least of her concerns as she stepped inside. Instead, her eyes were filled with awe at the sight of the living party in front of her. The celebration was as extravagant, rich and as elegant as the Sah'cs claimed themselves to be. From the looks of it, it had to be the most expensive and well-planned Sah'c Celebration ever.

From where Padme was standing, she could see everything. The portion of the hall by the main doors, where she was standing right now, was elevated by a tall flight of stairs. That was why whenever newly-arrived guests came in, everyone could see them. So she just stood there, taking in the entire view of the party.

The main hall of the mansion was huge…Huge enough to accommodate each and every one of their guests, and still leave enough room for chairs and tables and musicians and statues and dancing and mingling.

Silk cloths and laces of the most expensive kind draped the windows and tables of the hall. A huge, crystal chandelier composed of more than a thousand pieces of glass and illuminating gems hung over the center of the room. Lights of different shapes and sizes could also be seen accompanying the chandelier in the decorated ceiling. The floors on the other hand, were made of marble and had intricate designs on them.

At the far western side of the hall was a grand stage lined with white lights, and beside it were the musicians, all of them playing classical instruments and classical music to fill the air with auditory pleasure, and to accompany those who were in the mood to dance.

On the farthest side of the hall, across the dance floor, were two flights of stairs, leading up to the inner hallways and rooms of the mansion. Between the bottom of those stairs was a beautiful fountain, and in front of it was a long table filled with foods and delicacies that came from different planets and cities, each one prepared to satisfy the taste buds of the Sah'cs myriad of guests.

The guests' attires, too, matched the theme of the party. Everyone was in their most formal, glamorous attire. Truth be told, Padme's dress was probably the simplest in the room, and yet she was one who seemed to attract the most attention.

Her eyes surveyed over the people in the party. Where could Bail and Mothma be? She doubted that they weren't there yet. Those two were always early, and she was already an hour late from their agreed upon time of seven o' clock. Perhaps Bail and Mothma had found a table on the far side of the hall near the buffet.

Unknown to Padme, a distant pair of cerulean eyes was observing her in return.

The Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was standing near the fountain and was conversing with the head Sah'c when Padme walked into the main doorway. And when he felt her presence in the hall, he couldn't help but turn his head and silently look at her.

"Chancellor Palpatine?" Asked Sentius Sah'c when he noticed the Chancellor's sudden distraction.

But Palpatine didn't answer him. He was far too entranced and far too hypnotized by the svelte, angelic figure that walked into the room. He felt as if time itself had stopped while he stared at her from afar. She was angelic. She was striking. She was perfect. She was truly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Ever.

For him, Padme lit up the dull, pretentious party like a lost morning star. She was worth going to the celebration for. And she looked even more beautiful as she stood there, on top of the flight of stairs by the main doorway, like a princess waiting for her prince to welcome her and pull her into slow, seductive waltz.

By gods, she truly was perfect. Her dress also accentuated her beauty even more. The dress was revealing, to say the least, and quite unlike the dresses she had worn before in public. It exposed her smooth, bare shoulders and emphasized her tight, petite figure. The dress was pure white, like her soul, and clung to her form like soft silk. He couldn't help but wonder why she had chosen such an attire tonight.

Either way, like a moth drawn to an ebbing flame, Palpatine took two steps away from Sentius Sah'c and towards the direction where Padme was waiting. His light blue eyes were still focused on her elevated form. Oh how he was used to watching her from afar…always out of his reach, never his to keep, or to touch.

Once again, he found himself under her spell.

"Chancellor, Palpatine? Is there anything you need?" Asked Sah'c, still wondering what it was that had the Chancellor's attention.

Palpatine looked at Sah'c and smirked. / "Oh I do have something that I need, something that I want…But I doubt that you can give it to me, my friend." / He thought to himself. But instead, he said. "I'm fine, my good man. I just --- thought I saw someone I knew."

Padme's eyes widened with delight when she saw Bail and Mothma making their way through the crowd to meet her on the foot of the stairs.

"Bail! Mothma!" She smiled as she waved at them. She daintily pulled the bottom of her skirt up and carefully ran down the stairs.

"Padme! You look wonderful!" Mothma said gleefully.

Padme smiled coyly, almost blushing. "Thank you," She replied.

"That dress…" Mothma continued as she looked at her from head to toe. "I've never seen you wear it before. Did you just purchase it?"

"Oh, this?" Padme twirled around and laughed. "It's been in my closet for months, a gift from a family from Naboo. Do you like it?"

Mothma smiled and nodded her head enthusiastically. "It looks beautiful on you, Padme. Really. In fact, I'm quite surprised you've never worn it before."

"Well, I just couldn't find the right occasion." Padme replied, smiling.

Bail suddenly interrupted the two young women's tete-a-tete. "Sorry to interrupt your fashion talk, my dear ladies, but Padme, we seriously thought you weren't going to make it." He said, holding up his glass of Alderaan's finest wine. "If I remember correctly, we agreed to meet at seven, and it's almost ten. You're --- a little late." He said, raising a brow, though the playful tone in his voice showed that he was merely teasing her.

Mothma smirked and rolled her eyes. Then she leaned forward towards Padme and Bail so that whatever she was going to say was going to be heard by their ears and their ears alone. "Bah, ignore Bail. He was quite worried that the Chancellor would have already left by the time you arrived here." She whispered. "You know Palpatine…He rarely stays in public events late enough to actually see them end."

Padme's eyes widened. She had almost forgotten about their plan to befriend their way into the chancellor's good side.

Mothma immediately noticed the dumbfounded look on Padme's face. "You're still up to it, aren't you?" She asked, hoping for a positive answer.

"You have to, Padme." Said Bail. "You're the only one who can convince him to change his mind. He trusts you. He's more open with you than any of us."

Padme immediately composed herself. And she looked certain this time. "I know, Bail." Then she looked at Mothma and smiled firmly. "And don't worry, Mothma. I'm still up to it. Let's just hope that the Palpatine I once knew is still there, because if he is, then the galaxy may still have a chance. We may still have a chance."

Mothma and Bail looked at each other, and then they looked at Padme.

She knew what that look meant. It meant go for it. Padme then breathed in, stood up straight, and slowly exhaled. She looked as if she were ready to march into battle.

"Where is he?" She asked confidently. She couldn't wait to speak with the Chancellor. The sooner she spoke with him, the sooner they would resolve this issue.

"The last time we saw him, he was speaking with Sentius Sah'c by the fountain, across the dance floor, near the two long flights of stairs over there." Mothma turned her head to look at it. It was on the farthest side of the grand hall.

They could barely see where Palpatine was, with the distance of the area, and the hundreds of people mingling and dancing in the hall.

"Oh yes, I know where that is. I saw it when I came inside." Padme replied.

"Do you want us to accompany you to him?" Bail asked, feeling rather protective of her. Ever since the Chancellor's sudden change of heart, he never felt comfortable in his presence. Something just felt wrong with Palpatine.

Padme smiled, a sweet comforting smile. "Bail, I'm going to be all right. I'm a big girl now, okay?" She said in the most assuring tone she could muster. "After all, if he sees me with the two of you, he might smell foul play."

She looked at them both. "Everything's going to be fine. I promise. And I'll do the best that I can. I put him up there, and I'm going pull him down to our level no matter what it takes. I'll make him listen. I will."

"We know, Padme." Mothma said. "We know you can do it."

Padme smiled and nodded her head. Then she took one step away from them, and gave them a courteous bow. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone to attend to."

She turned around, and walked away to where Palpatine was.

x x x x x x