Anakin was stunned. "What did you say?"

There is a Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, who has apparently come back from the Force. The Jedi is apparently a very big threat, as he was called 'The Hero With No Fear,' he spat on the ground, "and, 'The Chosen One.'" He smirked. "Obviously, he wasn't 'The Chosen One,' because he betrayed the Jedi, joined the Sith, and died at the hands of his old master." He sneered. "Not very powerful, if you ask me."

Anakin wanted to Force choke him then and there, but he restrained himself, knowing that he would need Maul to go kill the other allies of the Empire, while he passed on information to the Rebels. "Continue."

"Well, apparently the Jedi learned exactly how powerful of a Sith he could be, and decided not to embarrass himself again, therefore deciding to correct his wrongs by turning back to his old Jedi ways. The assassin came to me, saying that he would kill Anakin Skywalker. Apparently he has a debt to pay with the Jedi. He told me that Senator Padme Amidala is in love with Skywalker, and that he wants her for his own. The deal was that he would kill the Jedi, and that I would help him make the Senator comply with his wishes. If he failed, all the blame would be on him. He must be very desperate." He leered. "However, he is a very good assassin. He will do his job, I assure you."

Anakin caught his breath. Darth Maul had been the one behind the man trying to kill him. Darth Maul had agreed to force Padme to do whatever the man wished. Darth Maul had been behind the one who was trying to take his angel from him. Suddenly, it was very hard to breathe. He was so angry that he was afraid his eyes might be glowing Sith yellow.

He gritted his teeth. "Well, Lord Maul, you seem to be of some use after all. Very good, my apprentice."

Maul's eyes flared yellow in anger, but he gave no response.

"You will be sent to kill some of our rebellious allies shortly. They have decided to try to take the power from our hands," Anakin lied easily. "Stay here for now."

He turned and strode out of the room, the door hissing shut behind him. Angrily, he stormed down the hallways to his chambers, not stopping until he was safely confined behind its doors. Removing his mask, and throwing it on the floor with a crash, Anakin withdrew the hidden comlink from his pocket. He typed in a number quickly, and pressed the main red button. Padme needed to know about this immediately!

There was a bit of static, and then Padme's voice. "Ani? Are you there?"

He sighed in relief. She was safe! "Yes, Padme, I'm here. How are you? Are you okay? I've missed you."

I've missed you too, Anakin. And yes, I'm fine. Luke and Leia are keeping me company, as well as doing a good job protecting me. I'm so proud of them." She sighed happily. "R2 and C3PO are taking care of me as well. I'm doing fine."

"Good."

"Anakin, are you okay? You sound really worried, frustrated... and angry."

"I-I-I'm fine. It's just that I've gotten some news from Maul. Do you remember that man who was trying to kill us, who almost poisoned me twice?"

"Yes." She now sounded worried as well.

"I could sense that he wanted you, through the Force. I was right. Apparently Maul and this skilled assassin has been working together to kill me, and take you captive. The assassin made him a deal: he would kill me, and in return Maul would help him make you... comply with his wishes. The man seems to think that I'm getting in the way, because we love each other, and because I would never let anyone take you from me and force you to do things against your will. Neither of them know that I am Darth Vader, of course. Maul doesn't seem to know that I am gone, but the assassin probably does. He probably thinks that I'm out of the way, and is planning to take you at this very moment."

Padme sounded scared now. "Oh, no," she whispered, her voice shaky.

"You'll be fine, Padme." Anakin sounded as if he was trying to convince himself of this point. "Luke and Leia will protect you. Just... be careful. Please."

"I will. I promise. I'll comm you immediately if anything seems strange or unusual, or if anything happens."

"Good. I love you. Please stay safe. For me."

"Of course. I love you too, Ani."

The hooded man sealed the cream envelope, and laid it in from the Padme's door, along with a dozen long-stemmed, perfect red roses. He smirked and crept away, rushing to his hiding spot to see her reaction.

"I hope you enjoy the roses, my love," he purred. "I went through a lot to get the finest ones on Naboo. Mark my words, once we are together at last, I will get you whatever you like, and kill to get the best. It will be a much better life than the one you have now, my sweet. You will be happily in my arms, and the Jedi will be dead."

Padme rose from the couch, worried, but smiling slightly. The sound of her Anakin's voice was enough to make her happy. When he spoke, she still got that tingling feeling down her spine that she had gotten ever since the day she had first met him. She sighed, hoping beyond words that he would come back soon. Walking quickly over to the balcony doors, she closed and locked them, as Anakin had made her promise to be safe. Then, she went to the counter, and began making soup. The apartment was soon filled with the delicious aroma of chicken noddle soup(sorry, my favorite).

Suddenly, Luke and Leia rushed into the room. The twins were both in their battle gear, Luke with his light saber clipped to his belt, and Leia with a blaster clipped to hers. Luke was carrying a cream envelope, with fancy writing on the front, and Leia was carrying a dozen long-stemmed, beautiful red roses.

"Mom! Luke gasped, out of breath. "We sensed danger outside in the corridor, where the elevator is located, but when we went to go check what was there, we found this."

He and Leia handed Padme the envelope and the bunch of roses. Padme looked bewildered but pleased. "Oh! That's funny. Well, that was nice of whoever left the roses."

She inhaled the sweet scent deeply. "They're beautiful." Picking up the envelope, she turned it around, to see her name in beautiful curvy letters.

"Probably from an admirer," Leia noted.

"I think you're right," Padme said, breaking the seal and sliding an expensive piece of cream paper out of the envelope. Laying it on the counter, she unfolded the letter and read:

"My Dearest Nubian Rose,

Oh, how I have missed you. Your gorgeous features. Your sweet voice. Your intoxicating scent. Your soft lips. You are so beautiful, my love. I remember our first kiss. It is, to this day, the best kiss that I have ever had. I can't wait until I will finally be able to make you mine. You will never even remember the name Anakin Skywalker once I am done with you. I will be the only man you ever think of. You are mine, and it is best that you remember that. I can't believe that you left me, only to fall in love with that Jedi. They are forbidden to love. He betrayed his friends, and you. He joined the Sith, and died at the hands of his old Master. I don't understand how you could still love him. I am much more handsome, and we are meant to be together, Padme. Don't you dare deny it. Forget about your pathetic Jedi. He will soon be dead. You are mine. Now and forever. I am coming for you. Soon."

Padme gasped and dropped the letter, like it had just burned her. She stumbled backwards and gripped the counter, breathing heavily, fear in her eyes.

"Mom?" Leia stepped forward, concern in her eyes. Luke was behind her, mirroring her expression. "Are you okay? What does it say?"

Padme gestured to it. "R-R-Read it. This is what Anakin warned me about!"

Leia knelt to the floor and grabbed the letter, holding it in front of her and Luke. As they read it, their eyes widened. Meanwhile, Padme straightened up, trying her best to pull herself together.

"So this was the man who was trying to poison Dad!" Luke exclaimed. He narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry. We'll take care of him. He won't be able to lay a hand on you, or Dad."

"Thank you. But you need to be careful, Luke. He is a very skilled assassin, and he almost killed your father! Who knows what else he has up his sleeves!" She lifted her arms, and the dropped them helplessly.

Leia gave Padme a hug, worry clear in her eyes. "Oh, Mom. Everything's going to be fine."

Padme squeezed her daughter tightly. "I hope so. Thank you. Sorry that I had such a big reaction to this... letter. But," she paused, "it's just that- I haven't been this scared in a while. Up in the Force, I had nothing really to worry, or be scared about. And I can't," her voice broke, "live without Anakin. The thought of not being able to be with him anymore... I can't breathe. I just got him back. I can't lose him again. And if this assassin succeeds in his mission to kill Anakin, by some miracle, I..." She took a deep breath, and tried again. "I-I can't live without him."

The twins rushed forward and embraced her, so fiercely that they all tumbled backwards onto the couch. Giving a short laugh, they put their arms back around each other. Padme smiled, glad that she had her children there with her.

A few minutes later, she reluctantly pulled back. "I should probably tell Anakin about what just happened. He'll want to know."

Meanwhile, a hooded man in a dark cloak was hidden in the shadows beyond the apartment complex, planning terrible things in order to capture the senator...

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