Chapter 5: The Plan


by dreamingofani


A/N: This one's dedicated to Mickey, my number-one middle school friend.


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I wanna always feel like part of this was mine

I wanna fall in love tonight

Here tonight.


-Jimmy Eat World-Praise Chorus


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Padmé woke before the light of dawn could sneak into her room. Pulling herself out of Anakin's embrace, she rose reluctantly from her warm bed. She dressed quickly in a simple lavender dress, and she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. Padmé quickly scribbled a note that she left on her pillow, kissed Anakin's cheek, and stepped out into the darkness of early morning.


She hired a cab, and waited impatiently for it to arrive. She couldn't stop running the plan through her head. They can't see me... No one can find out...


She stepped swiftly into the backseat of the cab, and she silently whispered directions to the driver. Padmé then leaned back into the cushiony soft of the peeling leather seat. Her eyelids grew heavy. Just a little nap... she thought before falling asleep...


She looked around to find herself in a dark, unrecognizable ship. She was lying on the cold metal floor, but she couldn't get up, despite her efforts. She called for help, for Anakin, for anyone, but no one called back. Suddenly, everything around her began to spin into one giant blur. It spun faster and faster with every dizzying second. Finally, when Padmé thought she could take no more, the spinning stopped abruptly. She was in the exact same spot as before, still unable to move. Hundreds, thousands of people around her were engaged in deadly battle, seemingly unaware of her presence. She recognized many of the people as members of the Senate. Most of them were carrying blasters, trying to fend off the enemy, but with little success. She saw Senator after Senator, each dressed in their finest robes, fall to the ground and simply fade out of existence. She looked over to see that the enemy army was composed of droids, droidekas, and— other Senators! She stared at them in shock and disbelief, unable to respond. Green and red blasts fired all around her, and the agonizing cries of the dying Senators reached her ears. She wanted desperately to get up, to help them, to run away...


"Miss? Miss?" came the voice of the driver as he prodded her uncertainly. "We have arrived."


Padmé's eyes snapped open. It took her a minute to register the moment.


"Miss?"


"Ah, yes. Here you are," she said, and dug through her pockets to find some credits to give him. "Thank you."


She stepped out and watched the cab rise and speed out of sight. She stood, staring off into the distance, completely puzzled by the dream she'd just had...


She snapped out of her reverie and began to walk towards an vine-covered old house. Her house. The sun was barely rising, so she knew her parents and her sister were still fast asleep. Good.


She climbed the familiar, cracked stone steps to her front door and she took a key out from her bag. She carefully opened the door, making sure not to let it creak. She silently crept along the hallway, stopping every so often to listen for any sign of movement. Relieved, she reached the door to her chamber. Padmé tiptoed inside and and opened her spacious closet. She flipped through dress after dress, looking.. Finally, she found the garment she was searching for. She smiled and reverently lifted it off of the rack. It was cream white with a flowered trim, and it flowed well to the ground. The Wedding Dress. It had been passed down from mother to daughter, from sister to sister in her family. Her grandmother had worn it, as did her mother, as did Sola. She never thought the day would come, but now it was her turn. She had to have it. She wouldn't get married without it.


She smiled again and held the lovely dress up to herself and looked in the mirror. She sucked in a breath. Wow... She kept turning and spinning, looking at herself from all different angles. She knew she should have left by now, but she couldn't quite pull herself away from her reflection.


"Padmé... Padmé? Is that you?"


Padmé's pleasant thoughts were interrupted as she heard her sister's groggy voice coming from down the hall. She bunched up the dress and quickly shoved it in her trunk, shutting the lid just as Sola walked in.


"Padmé? What are you doing here?" Sola asked as she pulled her little sister in for a hug.


She needed an excuse... and quick!


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Anakin stirred as the light of day crept through a crack in the curtains, bathing him in heavenly light. He rolled over, expecting to find Padmé sleeping soundly beside him, but only her delicate scent remained on the sheets. Rather surprised, and somewhat disappointed, he sat up in bed, and immediately found a sheet of heavy paper folded on her pillow. Anakin, it said in Padmé's neat script. He opened it and read.


Dearest Anakin, Ani, my strong Jedi protector, my shooting star,


As much as it pains me to leave your side for even a second, my love, I have something important to take care of. It's not about politics, I swear, if that's what you're thinking. I'll be back by late morning. I love you forever.


Padmé


Anakin smiled a bit as he folded the paper, tucking it away in his pocket. He climbed out of bed and walked into the fresher, preparing for a big day ahead.


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"I, uh... I forgot something last time I was here. Well now I've got it. Gotta go, bye!" she said hurriedly.


"Oh no, you don't. What's going on Padmé? We've been worried about you...I heard about Geonosis. Are you okay?" she asked with concern. "And why in the name of Naboo did you go there in the first place, Padmé?"


Because I fell desperately in love, Padmé thought.


"Yes, I'm fine Sola. But I'm in a big hurry. Huge Senate meeting. Gotta leave for Coruscant right away. Good to see you, Sola," she said, and ran out of the room before Sola could object. "Oh, and Sola..." she called from down the hall. "Don't tell mom and dad I was here, okay?"


Sola just nodded, and waved goodbye to her baby sister. When she was sure she'd left, Sola went into Padmé's closet, looking... She felt around in the special corner...


The dress was gone.


I knew it! Sola thought, and returned to her bed with a smile.


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"Ani!" Padmé called into the seemingly vacant lake house. "Ani!"


She found him sitting on her bed, meditating again. She tried to leave, but he snapped out of his trance and scooped her up in a hug. Her lips sought out his in a desperate attempt to cover up her problem at the moment. He felt her urgency and could sense her anxiety, despite her attempts at concealing it. Anakin pulled back and looked her in the eyes.


"Padmé, what's wrong?" he asked with concern.


"Nothing," she told him unconvincingly. "Nothing!" she said again.

"Padmé..."


She began to twirl his Padawan braid seductively, catching his gaze in her sultry eyes.


"Padmé, stop..."


She kissed his neck all over, closing her eyes and lingering passionately. She almost had him for a moment as he gradually gave in to her seductions, letting down all his senses. It was a fleeting moment, and Anakin quickly regained control, pulling back and stopping her in mid-kiss.


"Tell me what's wrong. What were you doing this morning, Padmé?"


She hesitated, and he added, "It's okay. You can talk to me."


He pulled her into his arms, and they sat down in one of the plush armchairs in the room. She leaned into him, feeding off of his warmth.


"Well..." she began. "This morning, I woke up really early, and I went to my parents' house."


"Why?"


"Because of the dress." Seeing his confusion, she explained. "There is this very special wedding dress that has been passed down for generations in my family... and now it's my turn." She blushed. "I had to get it, so I left early so no one would see me."


"But?"


"But Sola caught me. I hid the dress and made a lame excuse, but she's not stupid. I think she knows," Padmé said. "I hope I haven't ruined it, Ani."


"No. Never," he said comfortingly and pulled her in closer. "It'll be okay. It's just your sister."


"Really?"


"Really," he said. "And if we are found out, we will face the consequences together."


"Promise?"


"Promise," he confirmed, and leaned down to kiss her.