Hey guys!

Got quite a big update for you today to make up for the 180 bombshell of the last chapter. Padme is wrestling with the guilt of being such a cold-hearted bitch in her office, as she well should!

Without further ado, here's the latest chapter! It's a bit longer than the last one (you're welcome!) but I think you'll enjoy! Please give me a review. I have big plans for this story and love it when you guys give me any pointers.

Lots of love!

Padme paced back and forth across her bedroom, chewing on her lip as she struggled to quell the tightness in her chest. She felt awful. Truly awful. Usually when she acted out of line, speaking a little too frankly at a Senate meeting or forgetting the art of tact when listening to one of Palpatine's lengthy speeches, it could be remedied in the blink of an eye. A few days of smiling brightly, listening intently and making sure her carefully-built Senator mask didn't slip for even a second and all was right in the world. In fact, she swore that the rare moments when she was less than charming actually worked in her favor. After all, it was good to remind her colleague that she wasn't just some token woman who they kept around as a box-ticking exercise. No. She was Senator Amidala. She was bright, powerful, and most importantly, not here to take shit.

But today was different.

No good would come out of today.

She couldn't believe she had done it! That she had been so cold to one of her oldest and dearest friends! And a soldier of war no less! The barefaced cheek she had to lecture her colleagues about the importance of respecting the enormous toll that war has on the psyche of a soldier only to completely crush Ani the moment he jumped out of his starship. And especially after what had happened between them…

She sighed, nervously fiddling with the perfume bottles on her dresser.

Maybe she should just call him? Tell him she was sorry, she took it all back, she didn't know what she was thinking?

She had no idea why she had been so cutting back then in her office. Usually her and Ani had such a strong rapport that nothing could get in their way. In fact, their closeness was so blindingly obvious that she swore she had clocked knowing glances between the odd colleague who was bold enough to point it out.

She sighed. Maybe that was why she had panicked and jumped straight to the overly-cruel reaction. Maybe deep down she could sense that it would be too obvious, that she would give it away that something had gone on between them. And so what? She had been overtly rude? Yeah, smart one Padme.

Suddenly her commlink cut through her thoughts, ringing sharply and clattering on her desk.

Was it him? Was it all OK?

She grasped the commlink, hoping with all her heart that this was her shot at redemption.

'Hello? Ani?'

'Um … hi? Padme is that you?'

She flushed bright red as the voice of her sister cut through the air. SHIT! Why had she said his name on answering! Check the damned caller ID Padme you idiot!

'S-Sola? I- um- what a pleasant surprise!' she winced, hoping to all the Gods that her sister hadn't clocked her incriminating greeting.

No such luck.

'Did you just call me Ani?' said Sola. Padme could almost hear the glee in her sister's voice. 'Are you expecting a call from lover-boy tonight? Well sorry to disappoint!'

'No! Sola don't be ridiculous!' How the hell was she going to talk herself out of this one?! This may be the greatest diplomatic feat of her career!

Padme gulped, trying to sound breezy. 'I was just waiting for a call from A-Anakin, hence the name-drop. But you know I would always rather talk to you!'

'Yeah. A likely story.' Sola wasn't even trying to hide how little she was buying her sister's tale. 'What was he calling for? Was he going to whisper sweet nothings down the phone to get you off to sleep?'

'Sola! Don't be disgusting! It was just a business call.' She forced an unconvincing giggle. 'You know me- it's never anything juicy!'

'I would be more inclined to believe you if you hadn't just breathlessly picked up the phone and called me by his name Padme!' Sola wasn't letting this one go. 'Sounds like you had some sort of lover's quarrel.'

'Sola! You know Ani and I are just friends' she sighed, 'and honestly, I'm not sure we are even that anymore.'

She couldn't hide things from Sola. Her sister simply knew her too well.

'What happened Pad?' Sola asked, 'Did he say another girls name during sex?'

'Sola! Stop!' Padme couldn't help laughing at how shameless her sister was. She dreaded to think what she would be like if she knew the truth about her and Ani…

'So what then?' Sola probed, 'His famous temper got the better of him again?'

'No, I'm the bad guy here' said Padme, 'he came to my office and… and we just had a little blip, that's all. And now he's not talking to me. Not that I would expect him too after what I said.'

'What did you say?' asked Sola, suspicion dripping from every syllable.

Padme gulped. How was she going to tell this story while skirting around the elephant plonked smack bang in the middle of the room, bright letters scrawled across its side reading 'WE HAD SEX'. Maybe keeping it vague was her way out.

'I-I was pretty rude to him Sola.'

'I'm going to need more than that Padme.'

Padme sighed. Fine. Sola Naberrie, you've driven me to this.

'We-well, he came by my office today. And Sola, I was such a bitch!'

In an act of drama, she flung herself on the bed and buried her head in a pillow, momentarily forgetting that Sola was not around to see this little display.

'What did you say?'

Direct. To the point. She couldn't skirt her way around that one.

She sighed. And spoke.

'I sent him away Sola. He came to see me after war, waiting for me in my office and everything. And I just couldn't do it. I wasn't ready to see him. And he was being so sweet! I sent him away like the cold bitch I am! You should have seen the look on his face, Sola.'

Padme's heart ached, the guilt at reliving the horrible encounter stabbing at her heart.

'Wait, wait, Ani came to see you when he returned from the Outer Rim and you kicked him out your office? What the hell Padme! What were you thinking?!'

'I don't know Sola! I feel awful!' Padme could feel tears brimming up as her sister reinforced her guilt. 'I just wasn't prepared to see him there! In the middle of the day, in my office?' Padme was floundering. 'I mean what would everyone think?'

'Who's everyone?' asked Sola.

'You know! Everyone!' Padme could feel her argument losing its punch. 'Bail Organa… everyone!'

'Since when do you care what Bail Organa thinks?' asked Sola. 'Plus, if you can spend 5 years in some sort of illicit public flirtationship with Anakin, despite his clear attraction to you, I don't think anyone will be surprised to see you hanging out, seeing as you do it all the time. In fact, it's much more suspicious to suddenly be worried what people are thinking if nothing has changed.'

Padme fell silent.

'That is if nothing had changed?'

Padme gulped.

'Padme. Did you sleep with Anakin?'

Damn Sola and her unshakeable perception.

In a voice so quiet it was almost imperceptible to the human ear, Padme spoke. 'Y-yeah.'

'EEEEEKKKK'

Padme winced, holding her commlink away from her ear as her sister's shrieks filled the room.

'Sola stop! It wasn't like that!'

'Wasn't like what?!' Sola exclaimed, 'you have sex with the hottest Jedi in the galaxy and somehow it's no big deal? Come on Padme!'

'Sola it's-'

'Oh my lord you have to tell me everything! When did it happen?! How did he tell you? What did you say? Was it weird? Was it good? Was he... you know … big?'

'SOLA! EW!' Padme was happy her sister wasn't here to see her blushing. 'If you must know, it happened when I visited the frontline. And what do you mean how did he tell me? He didn't tell me anything! It was just two friends, you know, helping each other out!'

'Are you joking.'

'What do you mean?! We just both thought it would be a good idea! It was… casual! It was actually fun!'

Understatement of the century.

'So you're trying to tell me that Anakin Skywalker, the man who has had a hopeless crush you for as long as I've known him, asked you if you wanted to casually fuck? Pfft. No way. I don't believe you' Sola wasn't having any of it. 'Plus, can I just ask why you are so obsessed with how he looks when he's at war? It's not healthy!'

'I'm not obsessed, for God's sake Sola! And more importantly, he didn't ask me, I asked him.' Padme said somewhat smugly, 'After all, you always say how unhealthy it is to suppress my attractions, how I should just go for it and have some fun while I'm young? And plus, he does not have a crush on me!'

'I'll believe that when I see it' said Sola skeptically, 'What the hell were you doing asking someone who clearly likes you to have casual sex?! And more importantly, what was he doing saying yes!'

'I don't know Sola, I'm not an all-seeing psychic!' Padme tried to shove aside her guilt that was mounting in her stomach, 'Maybe he agreed with me that a healthy one-night stand would do us both good?'

'Or maybe he jumped at the chance to actually touch the woman he had fantasized about for his whole life?'

'Sola, I swear' Padme said with genuine humility, 'It was not like that. I wasn't just leading him on. He was fully on board with what it was. And to be honest…'

She trailed off.

'What? You want it again?' Sola said, unsurprised.

'How did you know?' said Padme, a bit flustered at her sister's unrelenting perceptiveness.

'It's a cliché, Padme. Now he's annoyed at you, you're sat at home all sad and horny, and just want to make it right again.' Sola spoke as if from an Old text. 'Trust me, I had the exact same thing with Darred in the early days.'

'Well you're wrong there Sola because I'm not going to try and make it right, however much I want to, nor will I be doing anything… like that with him again' said Padme defiantly.

'…However much you want to?' Sola knew her too well.

'Well yes!' Padme said, adding, 'Plus, I doubt he will want to go near me again after how cruel I was to him today.'

'So did he come to your office for Round 2 then?' asked The Oracle Sola, 'Is that the real 'business' reason you kicked him out?'

Padme was not going to dignify her with a confirmation.

'Thought so' said Sola smugly. 'Bet you are seething at me right now, aren't you Padme?'

Padme decided to be the bigger person for once in the day. 'Not at all my dear sister. Quite the contrary- I'm forever grateful to have someone as wise as you as my moral guide. Is that what you wanted to hear?'

'That will do for now' said Sola, laughing. 'So what's your plan to win back Anakin after you rejected him and booted him out onto the street? What next? Public humiliation? Get him to strip for you then laugh and post it on the internet?'

'Sola! No!' Padme couldn't help laughing. 'I just want to say I'm sorry for panicking and being a cow. And however much I want to, not end up having sex with him again.'

'Oh I don't think you're in any danger of that happening! Not since last time he tried he was brutally rejected!'

'Oh God Sola, don't say that!' Padme wailed, surprised by quite how dramatic she had been tonight. 'He has to forgive me, doesn't he?'

'Well you know Anakin, never one to let his temper get the better of him…'

Padme sank back against her headboard, letting her often-suppressed dramatic surge run rampant. 'So what? We are just over? Not friends ever again?'

'Don't be ridiculous Padme!' said Sola. Her sister may be a fancy Senator, but when it came to men, she was still a child. 'He just needs time to mend his pride. Anakin would never want to actually lose you from his life, however damaging it may be for him to hang around you given all he feels. Especially now…'

'Oh come on Sola, it's not so deep. We have a mutual attraction- that's it!' Padme said unconvincingly, 'Anyone would feel the same being friends with Ani- he's beautiful.'

For the second time that night, she thanked her lucky stars Sola wasn't there to see the blush creeping across her face.

'You keep telling yourself that Padme. But don't say I didn't warn you!'

'Eurgh, Sola you haven't helped me at all!' Padme said dejectedly, 'What should I do!'

'Give him time my sweet', her sister said, 'A few dazzling smiles, a few rubs of his arm, a lingering glance or two and you will have him back as your footstool for all eternity. Just be patient.'

Padme sighed. 'I don't want him as my footstool. I want him as my friend. I want to tell him I was wrong, I am sorry and that it isn't OK to treat people like that.'

'Well I'm sure he knows you think that, or he wouldn't be friends with you' said Sola. 'You can rush things if you want, run to him while he's still hurting and dump your words on him but you will only be making yourself feel better, not him. Trust me. Be patient.'

Padme sighed. She knew her sister was right.

'Fine. You're right. I'll leave it.'

'Why don't you go out and enjoy yourself! Go for a drink, be young, meet someone new instead of obsessing over a man bound by an oath against committed relationships?'

Padme mulled it over. Maybe Sola was right. Maybe she should just go out and forget about it. Or, failing that, have two drinks and text Ani an essay about how she had violated the principles of respect on which their friendship was built.

'You're right Sola. I shall.'

'Wait, Padme, first, I want to know! What was the sex like?'

.

So that is how we find our disgruntled heroine, reluctant handmaiden in tow, lingering by the bar of one of Coruscant's most high-profile new spots and trying, without success, to catch the eye of the 20-year-old bartender.

'Good luck Senator' Dorme laughed as Padme resorted to a little wave in a desperate attempt for his attention, 'I think he is looking for a slightly… shall we say… looser crowd than us.'

Dorme nodded her head towards the blonde figure at the other end of the bar, back turned to the two women as she leant her breasts on the countertop like a market salesman displaying his wares for passing customers. Her body was bound in two tight strips of silver fabric, one on the front and one on the back, the panels linked together with flimsy crisscross strings running in tracks down her sides, pulling the fabric together into some semblance of a dress.

'I mean, she certainly has the body to pull it off' mused Dorme as the blonde in question shook her lavish curls in a flirtatious laugh as the bartender poured her yet another slim line cocktail.

'And I thought we were dressed to impress!' said Padme, fiddling with the belt on her silk flares. 'I was going to pair these with a jumper!'

'Maybe we need to face it Senator- the wild days of our youth are behind us' Dorme said with the air of a wise old professor.

'Speak for yourself Dorme! We are out drinking, or at least attempting to, on a week night! Who knows where this night will take us!' Padme laughed.

'For both our sake I hope it takes us to one place and one place only; a few hours sitting in those quiet alcoves then in bed by midnight.' Dorme was never one to pretend to be anything other than who she was. And Padme loved her for it.

Plus, that idea didn't seem half bad. Especially now she had seen the crowd at this bar.

Inspired by Sola's suggestion for her to get out there and live for God's sake, she had researched which bars in Coruscant had the right mix of cozy alcoves and a semblance of a popular reputation. The top results all boasted 'body shots and a neon dancefloor'; in other words, a flat-out no. But then her eye caught on Goldridge Co. (Number 6 on Coruscant's Hottest Haunts for the over 25s). It wasan old-worldly bar with the feel of a study that was also a go-to spot for Coruscant socialites.

And now she was here, she could see why.

The bar was aesthetically perfect; walls lined with hardwood oak features, deep velvet armchairs and shelves upon shelves adorned with ornate bookcases. There was even a brass ladder propped up for show over by the ceiling-to-floor frosted-glass window. However. It may look like the sort of place you would find Master Kenobi ruminating over ancient doctrines with a stiff whiskey, but the clientele? Couldn't be more different. There was something deeply disturbing about seeing stick-thin women in latex bralets grinding in front of a shelf filled with the ancient works of Dante and Kafka. Plus, on closer inspection, Padme realized that half the 'books' adorning the shelves were just empty boxes with decorative covers.

She was about to moan about how wrong it was to use the aesthetic of academia to sell alcohol, but thought better of it. She didn't need to seem any more old/boring/past it than this place was already making her feel.

'Sir! Sir! Over here Sir!'

Dorme's frantic waving pierced through her ears as her handmaiden managed to catch the eye of the bartender, tearing him reluctantly away from the blonde.

'How can I help you ladies?' he asked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

'We will have two white wine shandies with ice please' said Dorme, raising her eyebrow when he giggled.

'Wine and ice? You two clearly don't come here much.'

'Is that how you speak to two paying customers?' asked Padme indignantly. Jesus, where was this anger coming from? She needed to chill out or she would have chastised every man in Coruscant by the end of the night.

'Apologies Madam' he said, 'By the way, are you that Senator chick? I think I've seen you on the news.'

'Nope! Not me- but I get that all the time don't worry' laughed Padme. She wasn't in the mood to be recognized tonight, especially be a teenager who probably had studied her in Political Theory class.

'Yeah, I didn't think she was as cute as you' he said, winking.

Padme saw Dorme suppress a giggle behind her hand, mouthing 'Cradle Snatcher'.

'Ah stop that you!' Padme cringed at her limp response. Although, if anything, this feeble attempt at rebuttal hopefully proved that she couldn't possibly be a skilled political mind.

Unfortunately, all hope for a peaceful night vanished moments later.

'Senator?! Senator is that you!'

She turned to see the silver drawstring dress blonde from the bar, painted mouth wide with cartoonish surprise and breasts bouncing with excitement.

Of course.

Just the woman she hoped she would never see again.

'Princess Ecosa? Wha-what are you doing here?' she said, slightly flabbergasted.

'Here as in this bar? Or here as in Coruscant?' The Princes said, a wide smirk distorting her painted face.

Here as in anywhere near me, Padme wanted to say. But she bit her lip.

'Either?' she said feebly.

'I'm back to complete your trauma quiz! Surprise!' she tossed her blonde locks back, laughing wildly. 'Kidding of course! That might have been the dullest document I've ever seen!'

Padme's eyes widened in shock. Being endlessly irritating was one thing, but insulting her compassionate and insightful trauma evaluation? That was a step too far. Unfortunately, that was just the start of the bad news.

The Princess continued, checking out her own reflection in one of the mirrors over the bar as she spoke. 'Well to answer your question babe, I'm in this bar because it's only for the social elite, and, well, duh' she gestured to her outfit that was looking rather close to bursting off her body, 'and as for why am I in Coruscant?'

She pouted her big red lips at Padme. 'Wait for it Senator…'

Padme rarely prayed. Her religion was dubious at best. However, sometimes, in rare moments of crisis, with nowhere else to go, she did turn to the Gods. And this was one of these moments.

Please Gods. Please don't say she's moved here.

'I am a new resident of the capital! A Coruscant chic!'

Padme's eyes widened in shock, a gesture that she tried to play off as joyful bewilderment. The Princess grabbed her in a shriek, jumping up and down in a way that made Padme worry about her tiny dress.

'I knew you would be overjoyed Senator! We can be gal pals!'

That last comment pushed Dorme over the edge, a chuckle escaping her professional façade.

'Oh, Princess, this is my dear friend and handmaiden, Dorme' Padme made a lackluster introduction. 'Dorme, this is her royal highness, Princess Ecosa. We, um, were on a mission together a few weeks ago.'

'And became best friends ever since!' the Princess squealed. 'Dorme, you can join our gal squad! I mean', she scanned Dorme's black dress with disdain, 'you might have to dress up a bit more first. This two-piece is to die for Senator!'

She spun Padme around, admiring the silk flairs and matching vest.

'Look Princess' said Padme, distinctly keen to put an end to this interaction, 'it's wonderful to see you, but it looks like our drinks are ready! So I guess we will bid you farewell for now!'

Farewell? Who did she think she was, a medieval bard?

'oooh what are you drinking!' the Princess leaned over, flashing half of the bar. 'Wine and Ice? Um…'

'Well we like it. Goodnight!' Dorme, evidently still annoyed at the scathing dismissal of her chic dress, grabbed Padme's arm and turned them away.

'Well Goodnight girlies! Until next time!' the Princess cried out. 'Barkeep? Fancy pouring me another drink until my date gets here?'

'That woman…' whispered Padme.

'The 6-figure Princess? I couldn't have guessed…'

.

Tucked away in an alcove, surrounded by plastic books and far from the jarring shrieks of the socialites, Padme and Dorme were finally seeing the positives of the bar scene.

'I'm not sure this is what Sola had pictured when she suggested we go out and live a little' laughed Padme, sipping at her iced shandy.

'Well Sola has always been a bit wilder than you, hasn't she Senator?' smiled Dorme.

Padme's jaw fell in mock-shock. 'What do you mean Dorme! You don't know half of the stuff I got up to… or in fact, that I get up to.' She raised a teasing eyebrow. God, this watered-down wine was getting to her head! Why was she physically incapable of keeping her mouth shut today?

'Oh really Senator? Do you have some gossip you haven't been telling me?' asked Dorme, swirling her drink. 'This isn't about the teenage barman is it?'

'Dorme! Of course not!' she exclaimed. 'And sorry, I really shouldn't tell. Or, I'll have to at least get another few of these down me first.'

'Spoil sport!' Dorme giggled.

Thankfully Padme was saved from further questions by the least desirable of intrusions.

'Babe! Babe? Get a photo of me and The Senator for my feed!' Princess Ecosa had stumbled her way into their private alcove, a disgruntled club photographer in tow. She plonked herself on the arm of Padme's chair, draping herself around the Senator and pouting.

'Princess, Princess- please! I am not dressed for photos!' Padme protested. But to no avail. She tried a half-hearted smile as Princess Ecosa writhed around in a series of provocative poses.

Suddenly she sprang up. Padme gasped in relief, vowing never to drink outside her own apartment again.

'Ooh my date is here! Bye ladies!'

Thank God! Padme mouthed at Dorme, settling back into her high-backed chair as the Princess charged off. That woman was a whirlwind of destructive, sexually-charged energy.

Dorme's eyes were wide as her gaze followed the Princess across the bar. Padme burrowed further down into the safety of her armchair, praying that would be the last intrusion of their night. All hopes of being wild had clearly flown straight out the window.

'Wow! That was an ordeal!' she laughed.

Dorme's stare was still fixed firmly forward.

'Thank God her date showed up!' said Padme, 'We might have been stuck with her all evening otherwise! Or worse- somehow ended up on the cover of some 4-credit magazine downing shots! Thank goodness some man was dumb enough to take her out! My ear drums should really write him a Thank You card!' she giggled.

Dorme looked down, clearing her throat to cut Padme off. But it was too late.

'Senator, there's someone I want you to meet!'

Padme spun around, all the blood rushing to her face in shock as she saw The Princess right behind her, giggling and dangling off the arm of one very amused Anakin Skywalker.

'Good evening ladies' said Anakin, a cat-like grin testing the limits of a smile as he struggled to suppress his laughter.

'Senator, you know my date for tonight don't you?' The Princess scanned Anakin with a gaze that can only be described as hungry. 'He's freshly back from war, and ready for action.'

Padme would have been relieved that the scathing personal attack that she had just said behind Princess Ecosa's back had clearly gone in one ear and out the other. That is if she had been with literally any other man.

Padme was lost for words. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, and was suddenly painfully aware how visibly red she must be.

Finally, she mustered up some words.

'Thi-This is your date?' Padme's eyes were wide with shock. 'Ani?'

'You know it babe' she winked, peals of laughter rolling from her big red lips. 'You remember what I said about F Number 10?' she fake-whispered.

Subtle.

Anakin was clearly struggling to retain composure, laughter threatening to overwhelm him at any second.

'Well Padme, I was not expecting to see you here!' he said, his smirk making her stomach drop. 'I thought you were more of a high-class girl than the usual crowd? You know the books are plastic right?'

Padme laughed shakily, still struggling to grasp the situation. 'I had noticed, yes Ani. And I could say the same for you. I thought you were more the drinking-in-a-tent vibe?'

She cringed at her use of the word 'vibe'. Stress must have drained her vocabulary.

'Aah a tent! Where we first met Ani!' cooed The Princess, stroking his arm lustfully.

'It's Anakin. Plus, we didn't meet in a tent, we met on a three-hour ship ride, if you somehow managed to forget.' He shot her a glare, followed by a smirk which dissolved her into a puddle of giggles. God, she was putty in his hands!

'Oh that won't be the only three hour ride we take if you know what I-…'

'So Padme-' Anakin cut his date off mid-sentence. 'I guess you will be heading home soon? It is 10.59. If you make a move now, you can still be in bed by midnight.'

His smirk was warm and playful, no hint of the malice she was expecting. Maybe he had just forgotten the other day in her office? Or worse- this was how he was planning to get over it.

Dorme cut in, evidently keen to get this hideous encounter over with. 'You know us so well Master. One shandy will do us just fine, won't it Senator?'

She got up to leave, Padme following suit.

'See you darls!' Princess Ecosa shrieked, 'Ani, I'll get us a table?'

'Yeah, go ahead Princess' he winked, causing Padme to visibly gasp.

'Her?!' she mouthed at Anakin, who was absolutely loving her reaction.

'What Pad?! She's hot!' he said through a giggle. 'And as for writing me a Thank You card- I prefer credits.'

He smirked over his shoulder as he headed over to join his date. 'You have my details Pad' he said, winking.

Padme gazed, at a complete loss for words. Well, Sola had wanted her to be surprised!

I told you it would be a long one!

Poor Padme! That's what she gets for being such a meanie in her office! Will these two ever grow up and stop playing games? I wouldn't count on it!

Tune in next time for more angst and confusion.

Please leave a review if you loved/hated/got a surprise/any other emotion!

xxxx