The trip to Naboo was long, well at least because the chancellor wanted to talk my ear off. Yes the chancellor was a good friend of mine, but I wasn't in a talking mood. I did not want this mission because I did not want to be back on Naboo. But when the head of the Senate asks you to do something, you do it. As we got closer and prepared to land I got an incoming call from the team meeting us on Naboo and they confirmed that the Queen would be there to greet the chancellor. Great. As we landed the chancellor got out first to make his greeting to Padme.

"Hello my dear, my goodness it is good to see you where you shine." The chancellor greeted Padme.

"Hello Chancellor, it is good to see you again." She greeted him then turned to me. "Hello General Skywalker, it is nice to see you again."

"Hello your majesty, it is good to see you as well." I responded.

She nodded her head then her and the chancellor started to make their way inside the palace. As it was my job to protect the chancellor I followed but I stayed a few feet behind them. The festivatal wasn't until tomorrow so the Queen threw a banquet in the chancellor's honor, and I guarding him must attend with him. The banquet was small but extremely formal, the chancellor stayed at the queens side almost the entire night.

"I think it is best I retire for the night, I am not as young as I once was." The chancellor said.

"Very well chancellor." The Queen said and gave a small bow. I started to walk away with him but he stopped me.

"Don't worry about me Anakin, stay here and enjoy yourself." He told me placing one of his hands on my shoulder.

"Thank you sir but it is my job to protect you and stay by your side." I explained.

"No need for the rest of night, stay here, have a drink, enjoy your time." He told me before walking away, leaving me alone with the Queen.

"Would you care to walk with me in the garden?" Padme asked me.

"As you wish." I said taking her arm and leading her out to the gardens. Once we were out of earshot from everyone then she continued the conversation.

"Once again I find you without your padawan." She commented.

"Yes, she is on a private mission for the Jedi, she has been for the last few weeks and likely will be for several months." I told her.

"And Ahsoka is okay with that?" She asked, she knew Ahsoka well, she knew how much she loved to be on the battlefield.

"Yes. It was a hard decision but she chose to put her feelings aside and do what was right for the order. I am very proud of her."

"You should be, you're turning her into a great Jedi. And she is shaping you into a great Master."

"Thank you Padme, I appreciate that. How have you been? How is royal life treating you?" I asked her.

"I love it, so much more than I ever could have thought possible. As much as I wanted to be angry with you for leaving me and forcing me to take this job-"

"Padme I-" I interrupted her but she put up her hand to silent me.

"As I was saying, I wanted to be angry with you, but you saw I was unhappy and forced me into a choice I should have made for myself. I have been happier here in the last few months than I had been in the last few years on Coruscant. And I would have stayed there for you, so thank you for making me make this choice, I am happy here." She thanked me.

"I never wanted to hurt you Padme."

"I know you didn't, and I know how much happier you are being faithful to the order." She told me.

"You do?" I asked her.

"I do, I still have friends on Coruscant, they have told me that people that surround you have taken notice of the change in your mood. You are happier."

"Ahh so you've been asking about me then?" I smirked at her.

"Don't flatter yourself Ani." She said lightly pushing me and laughing.

I laughed back and we continued our walk through the gardens. We kept going until we came across a pear tree in the far corner of the garden. She looked up and admired the ripe fruit growing from the tree; I saw her awe at it and I used the force to pick one for her. The smile already on her face spread even more as I did so.

"Thank you Ani, pears are my favorite." She said as she took a bite from it.

"I remember, my first solo mission was to guard you when I was still a padawan, we had them for dinner and you told me how much you loved them."

"It is so sweet that you remember the details." She said and smiled, I smiled back at her, I forgot how much of a good friendship we used to have.

"Your majesty," One of her servants said as he came up to us, he stopped a few feet away and bowed at her before he continued. "I am sorry to interrupt but a few of the guests would like to have a word with you."

"Yes of course, if you would excuse me General Skywalker." She said, I bowed to her and at the same time the com on my wrist went off.

"No worries, your Majesty, perfect timing actually. That is my padawan calling me." I told her.

"Oh Ahsoka, I would love to say hello to her, it has been so long."

"Oh, um, sure." I said as I went to answer, please let her be wearing her cloak.

"Hello Master." She said as she appeared as a small hologram on my wrist, thankfully wearing her cloak to hide her stomach.

"Hey there Snips, before you start the Queen of Naboo is here with me and would like to say hello." I told her and walked closer to Psdme so Ahsoka could see her on the hologram.

"Hello there, Ahsoka, it has been so long since I've last seen you." Padme greeted her, I could tell at first Ahsoka was shocked by this but she hid the shock from her face well.

"Hello your majesty, it is good to see you as well. How is the throne treating you?" Ahsoka asked Padme.

"It is treating me well. Thank you for asking, the last time I saw General Skywalker we were talking about politics and your name came up. If you ever have any questions about politics please do not hesitate to ask me. I have missed you and it would be my honor to help you." Padme offered with a genuine smile.

"Thank you your majesty, I will keep that under consideration. And I have missed you too." Ahsoka said with a smile, I couldn't tell if what she was saying was true or not.

"Now if you both will excuse me, I have a party to host." Padme said before politely excusing herself and walking away from us. I waited a few moments until I was sure she was out of earshot before continuing my conversation with Ahsoka.

"Thanks for the heads up Master." She said, rolling her eyes at me.

"Thanks for calling me while I was still talking to her." I responded. "I am glad you're wearing the cloak though."

"I thought you were supposed to be guarding the chancellor?" She questioned.

"I am, he retired for the night and told me to stay at the banquet and enjoy myself."

"So he tells you to enjoy yourself and you go to spend alone time with your ex?" She asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"No it's not like that. I was-"

"No need to explain Master, I am just calling to update you on the status of my mission." She said, interrupting me, adn using her angry voice. She denies she has one but trust me, she does.

"Alright Snips, go ahead." I said urging her to update me. She told me the status of everything that was going on and of all the progress that was being made. Everything was going according to schedule. As she explained this to me she stayed extremely professional, as if she were informing the council and not me, her fiance.

"Excellent work Ahsoka, keep up the good work." I told her.

"Thank you Master, now if you don't mind I am tired and would like to be off to bed now."

"Ahsoka, wait." I said before she could hang up on me, she stopped and waited for me to continue. "How is the baby?" I asked.

"Baby is fine." She responded and rubbed her stomach under her cloak.

"Don't be mad Ahsoka. It's not like I went out looking for Padme to talk to her."

"I am not mad." She said flatly. I could tell I was getting nowhere with this conversation, it would be best if I just gave her some time to cool off.

"I love you." I told her, as soon as I finished my sentence I could see her face soften.

"I love you too." She responded with a small smile before hanging up on me.