DISCLAIMER: Our little pal George here owns all of this, so don't sue.

CHAPTER ONE

REVELATIONS

Maybe it was time to let go her feelings for Anakin, just be herself and let time do the rest. Anakin was sitting next to her in the top of a hill, just a few feet away from the river, watching the beautiful Naboo landscape. The sun seemed to be part of the lake, the waterfalls shaking the water, as if the contact with the falling water tickled. The mountains were reflected like a clear mirror in the shaking lake. It was just perfect. And so romantic. . . 'No', she thought to herself, 'that just CAN'T happen'. She just looked to the front and observed Anakin from the corner of her eye. He was so calmed, as if he had been waiting his whole life to have that view in front of his beautiful blue eyes. Suddenly, he asked Padmé a question, but she didn't hear it.

"Padmé, hello?", he asked again.

"What? Oh, sorry Ani". Anakin rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry, ANAKIN", she said giggling. "You were saying. . . ?".

"I asked you if you wanted to go back to Theed, it's getting a little chilly out here", he said her with a look of concern in his eyes.

"Don't worry about that" she pulled a blanket out of the picnic basket "I'm always prepared for anything". He smiled and turn his face to the lake. Padmé wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and before crossing her arms to close it, she looked at him.

"Would you like to join me, Anakin?".

"No, I'm alright, thanks anyway". Padmé couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her gaze turned from a gentle one to a proud one. She was so upset, but what upset her the most, was she didn't know why. Suddenly it hit her: she was really looking forward, the whole afternoon, to be held by Anakin. She was sure she didn't love him in a romantic way, that was a fact. Wasn't it?

She was thinking about this when Anakin turned his head and took a good look at her. She was so beautiful and looked so cute with that blanket around her shoulders. For a second, Anakin regretted not to accept her invitation to share the blanket a few moments ago, but then he thought that it was for the best. After two months of being with her, he realized that he loved her so much, that it would just don't work between them. The feeling of needing her was painful already. He didn't want to make her feel the same way about him. They were lost in their thoughts when a furious wind blew around them. Anakin covered himself with his poncho (he wasn't wearing his Jedi robes) and took a look at the sky.

"Looks like a storm is coming. We better get back". He stood up and reached down for Padmé's hand, but she didn't give to him. She was smiling as the wind blew gently through her hair. She opened her eyes and looked at Anakin and then at his hand. She nodded her head, rejecting his hand.

"What is it?", he asked confused.

"I don't want to leave, Anakin", she said very softly.

"Why?", he asked again.

"I just don't", she said as she took her hand out of the blanket and grabbed his. He looked at her and sat down, with a look of 'if I don't have any other choice. . .' in his face. He was a little away from her, but they were still holding hands. She pulled him to her and put her other hand on top of his, locking it, then rested her head on his shoulder. Anakin breathed ten times faster than usual, but reached the force to stay calmed, and he did.

Minutes passed like this, with them holding hands and secretly smiling, but never looking at each other's eyes. After a while, Padmé raised her head and gave Anakin a soft kiss in his chin. Anakin stood still, but Padmé kissed him again, this time on his lips.

"What was that?", he asked without looking at her.

"A kiss, what else?", Padmé answered with a smile.

"I know that was a kiss, I meant what was that for", he said turning his eyes to hers.

"I just felt like I wanted to kiss you, that's all", explained the senator, with a relaxed tone.

"Well, I always feel like I want to do things, but I don't go and just do them". Anakin seemed a little annoyed. Padmé looked at him for a while and asked.

"Ani, what do you feel like doing right now, in this moment?". Anakin turned his head and looked into her eyes.

"I wish I could turn back time and just think of you as a friend or as a sister. But it's too late. The way I really feel about you, is. . . just look at you", he said with a smile, "you are so perfect in every way".

"Anakin, I'm not perfect", she said blushing.

"Yes you are, for me, you are the most perfect creature that has ever existed. You are smart, funny, strong, brave, giving, loyal, passionate. . . You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, from the inside and the out side". He placed his hand on her face, holding it as if it would fell. "And I love you enough to know we can't be together. I love you so much, that I can't bare to be without you for a minute. Imagine how it would be if we were together, I would only get to see you every four or six months, and that's only if we are lucky. I can't be away from you, Padmé, you are the only thing I really like about myself. The only thing I'm proud about in my life, is knowing you". Padmé looked away to hide her tears, but Anakin had already seen them. He wiped away the tears with his hand and put her arm around her.

"And I hate myself for making you cry", he added with a sad tone in his voice. Padmé couldn't take it anymore. She just held on to Anakin and cried in his chest, pressing him against her.

"I hate you for not wanting to be with me, for not allow yourself to love me. I love you too, more than anything. When you are around me, it's just the two of us, it's our world. I want to be with you, and love you back". She raised her head and kissed him too fast for Anakin to react. He kissed her back and held her so that she wouldn't turn away. But that wasn't necessary, she held him and that kiss continued as if their lives depended on it. They finally broke apart and stayed in each others arms crying out what they felt.

"What can we do, Ani? We can't be apart from each other but we can't be with each other either. You can't leave Courasant every time you want to, and I can't leave the senate, and if I do, I would live here in Naboo anyway. We can't be together, the Jedi code forbbids it. You can't love me, you are not allowed to".

"Well I guess it's too late for that". They laughed about what he said, but then kept quiet.

"We must get back before they send for us, Anakin".

"Let's go. We'll figure things out in Theed". And they left.

In her room, Padmé was brushing her hair in front of the mirror, thinking about Anakin. She loved him so much, more than anyone. She wished that the Jedi's headquarters were in Naboo, that the code allowed Jedis to love. But that was too much to ask.

"I'll leave the order", a voice said. Padmé turned around and saw Anakin taking his lightsaber off his belt and throwing it to a couch.

"I'll leave the order for you and for me. For us". Padmé looked at him.

"Ani", she said while she ran to meet him and put her arms around his neck. She kissed him and held him tight. "We should talk about this, Anakin. Close the door". Anakin looked at her and closed the door. She sat on the couch and grabbed his lightsaber and then looked at it. "You can't do that, that's your life, your childhood dream".

"But I'm not a child anymore, am I?. I'm grown up now, and you are my life and my biggest dream, Padmé. I don't have to be a Jedi, I could work here, maybe be your pilot" they smiled "that way we could be together, always". Padmé looked down, not sure if his feelings about leaving the order were all true. "I rather be with you, Padmé". He could really read her mind, and that drove her crazy. "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to shield your mind". He did it again! She laughed, and he smiled because she wasn't so sad anymore.

"Thank you, Anakin. But how long will you think the same about leaving the order?". He took her hand and looked into her eyes.

"I'll always be glad that we had that talk in the meadow today, it let me know that you love me. Being a Jedi means giving your life to the service of others, and I choose to give my life to you, to make you happy". With that, she couldn't do anything but kiss him. The kiss was becoming more deep and Anakin reached the back of her dress. She pulled him back a bit nervous.

"Not yet Anakin. Not yet". Padmé looked at him and his gaze softened hers.

"Ok", he said smiling and hugging her. "I'll leave to Courasant tomorrow to tell the council about us. I will be an ordinary guy, starting from tomorrow". Padmé smiled and cuddled in his arms. They stayed like that until dark.