*********************************************
Ti had been ten when the rumors had begun. Whispered suggestions and disgusted murmurs that Qui-Gon Jinn was defying the Council.
These were nothing new. Master Jinn was infamous for his tendency to follow his instincts rather than the direction of the Council. He might have been sitting on the Council himself had he not been so stubborn.
These rumors, however, were different in one respect. Some of them claimed he had brought a nine-year-old back from his mission. A boy with incredible, but untrained powers.
It was then that the "Chosen One" was first spoken of outside of the history classes. They all knew the prophesy, knew that someday there would be a balance created by a "son of suns."
It was mentioned in disbelief and then in grudging respect as the possibility took hold. Master Jinn had died, but his last words were of the boy. Surely, there was something crucial about him.
She had just been taken as Master Adren Schilian's apprentice and had not yet mastered the art of respectful silence.
Therefore, when she first looked down upon the tow-headed boy who was desperately trying to look serious and meditative, with his weak chin and wide, baby-blue eyes, her first words had been, "If this is the Chosen One, balance may not be worth the effort."
The boy had broken the horrified silence by laughing easily, a lopsided grin coming over his features.
"I want to be your friend," he said simply. "Will you let me, please?"
They'd been best friends ever since.
They'd been through everything--trials, tribulations, first crushes, first heartbreaks, failed missions, victories, defeats, and, more often than they liked, disappointing their Masters.
Once upon a time, she'd hoped the friendship would develop into something more. She'd told him as much and a look of genuine, profound sorrow had come into those eyes.
"I'm sorry, Ti," he'd said quietly. "I can't."
"Am I that horrible," she joked, but her voice trembled slightly.
He shook his head firmly. "No. You are all I could hope for as a friend. I love you more than a sister. It's not you..."
It's me, she finished bitterly for him.
"It's her."
It was then that she first saw a holo of the child Queen, the girl with laughing eyes and the smile of an angel.
She had been jealous for a few heartbeats, but then realized that, no matter their friendship, she made Anakin happy.
Ti would never begrudge him any happiness. Not now or ever.
Four weeks later, the Senate session had started and Ti had met Anakin's angel for the first time.
Despite her misgivings, their common ground quickly developed into a lasting friendship.
Now, two years later, she no longer wished Anakin to love her, but that Padme would finally realized that she loved him as well.
We must be patient, Master Schilian had once said. The Force hurries nothing, whether we wish it or not.
She could be patient, certainly, but it was wearing thin very quickly.
Anakin could hold out for his angel forever, but the other two women weren't quite as steadfast.
********************************************* *********************************************
"Do you think I should show up at the Senate session tomorrow looking like this?"
Anakin brushed a green-streaked lock of hair from her face and grinned easily. "You could claim it as a cultural emblem. No one seems to object to the other paint you slap on liberally."
Padme laughed. "I'd look ridiculous."
He shrugged, then bent in to kiss her paint-smudged cheek. "You'd look beautiful, as you always do."
She flushed a fierce shade of red. "I wasn't aware that the Jedi Temple doubled as a charm school."
"It doesn't," he countered lightly, "but I've eavesdropped on enough of Obi- Wan's conversations to know the basics."
Her jaw dropped open a few millimeters. "Why, Anakin Skywalker," she chided, "that is positively undignified."
Anakin's mouth quirked. "You're just angry that you didn't think of it first."
The color in her cheeks rose until she reminded him of a itabeet. "You know me too well."
Abruptly, the color subsided and her smile broadened. "For that little incident, you owe me a favor."
Anakin adopted a stricken look for her sake, though they both knew he would gladly coldshirt through a supernova if she needed it.
"Oh, no," he moaned. "What is it now?"
"It's nothing you can't handle, or even enjoy to some degree," she assured him. "Senatorial reception."
His expression darkened. "I thought you said I could enjoy it."
She planted a hand on his chest, shoving him affectionately. "I never said it would be easy."
"Jedi shouldn't date," he countered.
Her easy smile spread into an adorably mischievous grin. "Sabe invited Obi- Wan, so you two will be attending together as emissaries of the Order. The fact that you will be escorting us for the remainder of the evening has no bearing on that."
"All right," he said with a feigned air of mourning. "As my duty to the Naboo sovereignty and its citizens..."
She stopped his mouth with a kiss, brief and playful.
Startled, Anakin drew back. "Isn't that my line," he teased.
Padme lowered her eyes, clearly embarrassed. "I would say royal prerogative, but that no longer applies." Her eyes raised to meet his. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head firmly. "There's nothing to apologize for. If it's all right with you, I'd like to try it again."
She glanced skyward, her eyes half-closed, and smiled accomodatingly. "I've always wanted to have my first kiss in the snow."
He arched an eyebrow. "Shall I take that as a yes?"
She nodded solemnly, then puckered her lips, her eyes closing. Anakin barely contained his laughter as he bent down to return her original gesture.
All coherent thoughts fled from his mind, leaving only the feel of her lips against his, the faintly citrus taste of them, the warmth of her hands, encircling his neck, the feel of her slender waist between his arms.
He could have gotten lost in those sensations forever, but the need for air and a quiet clearing of the throat curtailed the moment.
Obi-Wan stood in the doorway to the Temple atrium, his arms folded, his gaze stern. Padme looked vaguely mortified, but Anakin knew better.
"I knew we should have left you with a chaperone," Obi-Wan teased. "Tizar hasn't seemed to be much good in that respect."
"Master," Anakin replied. "I thought you disapproved of eavesdropping."
"Inside," Obi-Wan ordered. "Good night, Padme."
Anakin bent forward to kiss her lightly once more, then squeezed her fingertips. "I'll contact you about the details?"
She grinned. "I'll be waiting."
********************************************* *********************************************"The Council wishes to see us," Obi-Wan continued, "so I suggest you get your astronomical libido under control for the time being."
Anakin flushed. "I think you're overreacting," he protested.
Obi-Wan turned and arched an eyebrow at his elatedly flustered apprentice. "Am I? You're lucky Master Yoda wasn't the one who found you or you'd not be able to walk for the next five years."
"She kissed me." He stopped and a grin spread across his face like a plague. "She kissed me."
"And then you kissed her," Obi-Wan countered darkly. "Don't insult my intelligence, Padawan. You wanted this to happen."
Anakin shrugged. "Only for the last ten years."
"That's what I was afraid of." His Master sighed wearily. "She's a distraction, Anakin. And the last thing you need right now is a distraction."
"The last thing," Anakin burst out. "If I don't have a distraction, I may very well go mad."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said patiently.
"No!"
A panel of transparisteel shattered behind them, concurrent to his outburst. Obi-Wan stared, slack-jawed at his apprentice. Unflagged, Anakin plunged on.
"I may be a Jedi, Master, but I'm also a human. Over the last ten years, I've changed so much that I can barely recognize the idealistic slave-boy who raced his way off of Tatooine."
"The way of the Jedi is meant to reshape us, to change our priorities."
"It should not change who we are," Anakin protested. "Padme is the one person who keeps me grounded."
He came to a halt, breathing hard. Calming himself, he met Obi-Wan's gaze.
"I'm sorry for my impertinence, Master," he said quietly, "but please, don't make me give her up."
Obi-Wan held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed wearily. "I won't forbid this..."
Anakin let out his breath in an explosive sigh. "Thank you, Master!"
"But the Council very well might," he continued. "You know how...confident they are in your sense of control."
Anakin's mood darkened considerably. "All too well," he mumbled.
They reached the Council chambers and were immediately ushered in. Crossing to the speakers' circle, they bowed in unison.
"An unusual assignment we have for you," Yoda stated. "Skywalker, know Senator Naberrie you do?"
Anakin couldn't miss Obi-Wan's telepathic elbow to the ribs. "Yes, Master. Quite well."
"Then know you that a strong advocate of the anti-cloning legislation she is," he responded.
The matter had come up, frequently and vehemently.
"Yes."
"Many enemies she has made as a result."
"There has been a threat to her life," Master Windu continued. "We are not sure from whom, but her security chief feels, and we are not sure that he is inaccurate, that there will be an assassination attempt."
Anakin's mouth quirked. "Unless the assassin is discovered first."
"Yes," Windu affirmed. "And that is where you two come in."
"Her protection you will be for the time being. Discover the assassin you must before act he can."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said.
"Quarters you will be given at the Naboo Consulate," he continued. "By her side always you must be."
//I have a bad feeling about this.//
Stifling a laugh at his Master's heartfelt, exasperated sentiment, Anakin nodded. "We will do our best to comply, Masters."
*********************************************
"Padme?"
Hearing Anakin's voice, Padme let out a heartfelt noise of exasperation and shoved the datapad and cards from her lap. She was surrounded by petitions, reports, records, books.
She had three days before she had to present her formal objection to the Mandalore Resolution before the Senate and she was swamped in technicalities.
"I'm back here somewhere," she called, getting to her feet, "though if you can find me, it will be a certifiable miracle."
A stack of datacards was removed from the desk, revealing Anakin. "Sache said you had a lot of work to do, but this is ridiculous. You've completely barricaded yourself into your office."
"Office, nothing," Padme countered wryly. "I can't get past my desk. I fall asleep back here."
"I can't imagine that's good for you," he observed.
"I can't afford the time it takes to travel to my quarters," she murmured with a yawn.
A look of alarm crossed his face. "Padme, your quarters are three floors up."
"Exactly. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get there?" She rubbed her eyes, then forced them open. "I fell asleep in the turbolift the last time I tried."
He reached across and took her hand, then guided her around the desk. "As your bodyguard, I command you to sleep. If you're dead on your feet, assassination attempts won't matter."
Her eyes widened in shock and delight. "You're the ones assigned?"
He nodded grimly. "The Council knew that if I weren't, I'd beg my way into it anyway."
Padme laughed easily and launched herself into his embrace. "I thought I'd not see you for another four days."
"I guess I'm just lucky, then," he responded mildly.
Suddenly, his mood darkened so significantly that even a Force-blind like Padme could discern it. "Why didn't you tell me about the threat?"
Her smile shrank into oblivion. "I didn't want to worry you."
He gripped her shoulders tightly, his intense eyes locked on her face. "I worry about you anyway. Having to find out this way doesn't help matters much."
"I know," she said, chagrined, "but Panaka thought it best."
Pressing a hand to his chest, she tilted her chin. "Please, don't be angry."
He sighed and drew her back into a tight embrace. "I'm not," he assured her.
*********************************************
Ti had been ten when the rumors had begun. Whispered suggestions and disgusted murmurs that Qui-Gon Jinn was defying the Council.
These were nothing new. Master Jinn was infamous for his tendency to follow his instincts rather than the direction of the Council. He might have been sitting on the Council himself had he not been so stubborn.
These rumors, however, were different in one respect. Some of them claimed he had brought a nine-year-old back from his mission. A boy with incredible, but untrained powers.
It was then that the "Chosen One" was first spoken of outside of the history classes. They all knew the prophesy, knew that someday there would be a balance created by a "son of suns."
It was mentioned in disbelief and then in grudging respect as the possibility took hold. Master Jinn had died, but his last words were of the boy. Surely, there was something crucial about him.
She had just been taken as Master Adren Schilian's apprentice and had not yet mastered the art of respectful silence.
Therefore, when she first looked down upon the tow-headed boy who was desperately trying to look serious and meditative, with his weak chin and wide, baby-blue eyes, her first words had been, "If this is the Chosen One, balance may not be worth the effort."
The boy had broken the horrified silence by laughing easily, a lopsided grin coming over his features.
"I want to be your friend," he said simply. "Will you let me, please?"
They'd been best friends ever since.
They'd been through everything--trials, tribulations, first crushes, first heartbreaks, failed missions, victories, defeats, and, more often than they liked, disappointing their Masters.
Once upon a time, she'd hoped the friendship would develop into something more. She'd told him as much and a look of genuine, profound sorrow had come into those eyes.
"I'm sorry, Ti," he'd said quietly. "I can't."
"Am I that horrible," she joked, but her voice trembled slightly.
He shook his head firmly. "No. You are all I could hope for as a friend. I love you more than a sister. It's not you..."
It's me, she finished bitterly for him.
"It's her."
It was then that she first saw a holo of the child Queen, the girl with laughing eyes and the smile of an angel.
She had been jealous for a few heartbeats, but then realized that, no matter their friendship, she made Anakin happy.
Ti would never begrudge him any happiness. Not now or ever.
Four weeks later, the Senate session had started and Ti had met Anakin's angel for the first time.
Despite her misgivings, their common ground quickly developed into a lasting friendship.
Now, two years later, she no longer wished Anakin to love her, but that Padme would finally realized that she loved him as well.
We must be patient, Master Schilian had once said. The Force hurries nothing, whether we wish it or not.
She could be patient, certainly, but it was wearing thin very quickly.
Anakin could hold out for his angel forever, but the other two women weren't quite as steadfast.
********************************************* *********************************************
"Do you think I should show up at the Senate session tomorrow looking like this?"
Anakin brushed a green-streaked lock of hair from her face and grinned easily. "You could claim it as a cultural emblem. No one seems to object to the other paint you slap on liberally."
Padme laughed. "I'd look ridiculous."
He shrugged, then bent in to kiss her paint-smudged cheek. "You'd look beautiful, as you always do."
She flushed a fierce shade of red. "I wasn't aware that the Jedi Temple doubled as a charm school."
"It doesn't," he countered lightly, "but I've eavesdropped on enough of Obi- Wan's conversations to know the basics."
Her jaw dropped open a few millimeters. "Why, Anakin Skywalker," she chided, "that is positively undignified."
Anakin's mouth quirked. "You're just angry that you didn't think of it first."
The color in her cheeks rose until she reminded him of a itabeet. "You know me too well."
Abruptly, the color subsided and her smile broadened. "For that little incident, you owe me a favor."
Anakin adopted a stricken look for her sake, though they both knew he would gladly coldshirt through a supernova if she needed it.
"Oh, no," he moaned. "What is it now?"
"It's nothing you can't handle, or even enjoy to some degree," she assured him. "Senatorial reception."
His expression darkened. "I thought you said I could enjoy it."
She planted a hand on his chest, shoving him affectionately. "I never said it would be easy."
"Jedi shouldn't date," he countered.
Her easy smile spread into an adorably mischievous grin. "Sabe invited Obi- Wan, so you two will be attending together as emissaries of the Order. The fact that you will be escorting us for the remainder of the evening has no bearing on that."
"All right," he said with a feigned air of mourning. "As my duty to the Naboo sovereignty and its citizens..."
She stopped his mouth with a kiss, brief and playful.
Startled, Anakin drew back. "Isn't that my line," he teased.
Padme lowered her eyes, clearly embarrassed. "I would say royal prerogative, but that no longer applies." Her eyes raised to meet his. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head firmly. "There's nothing to apologize for. If it's all right with you, I'd like to try it again."
She glanced skyward, her eyes half-closed, and smiled accomodatingly. "I've always wanted to have my first kiss in the snow."
He arched an eyebrow. "Shall I take that as a yes?"
She nodded solemnly, then puckered her lips, her eyes closing. Anakin barely contained his laughter as he bent down to return her original gesture.
All coherent thoughts fled from his mind, leaving only the feel of her lips against his, the faintly citrus taste of them, the warmth of her hands, encircling his neck, the feel of her slender waist between his arms.
He could have gotten lost in those sensations forever, but the need for air and a quiet clearing of the throat curtailed the moment.
Obi-Wan stood in the doorway to the Temple atrium, his arms folded, his gaze stern. Padme looked vaguely mortified, but Anakin knew better.
"I knew we should have left you with a chaperone," Obi-Wan teased. "Tizar hasn't seemed to be much good in that respect."
"Master," Anakin replied. "I thought you disapproved of eavesdropping."
"Inside," Obi-Wan ordered. "Good night, Padme."
Anakin bent forward to kiss her lightly once more, then squeezed her fingertips. "I'll contact you about the details?"
She grinned. "I'll be waiting."
********************************************* *********************************************"The Council wishes to see us," Obi-Wan continued, "so I suggest you get your astronomical libido under control for the time being."
Anakin flushed. "I think you're overreacting," he protested.
Obi-Wan turned and arched an eyebrow at his elatedly flustered apprentice. "Am I? You're lucky Master Yoda wasn't the one who found you or you'd not be able to walk for the next five years."
"She kissed me." He stopped and a grin spread across his face like a plague. "She kissed me."
"And then you kissed her," Obi-Wan countered darkly. "Don't insult my intelligence, Padawan. You wanted this to happen."
Anakin shrugged. "Only for the last ten years."
"That's what I was afraid of." His Master sighed wearily. "She's a distraction, Anakin. And the last thing you need right now is a distraction."
"The last thing," Anakin burst out. "If I don't have a distraction, I may very well go mad."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said patiently.
"No!"
A panel of transparisteel shattered behind them, concurrent to his outburst. Obi-Wan stared, slack-jawed at his apprentice. Unflagged, Anakin plunged on.
"I may be a Jedi, Master, but I'm also a human. Over the last ten years, I've changed so much that I can barely recognize the idealistic slave-boy who raced his way off of Tatooine."
"The way of the Jedi is meant to reshape us, to change our priorities."
"It should not change who we are," Anakin protested. "Padme is the one person who keeps me grounded."
He came to a halt, breathing hard. Calming himself, he met Obi-Wan's gaze.
"I'm sorry for my impertinence, Master," he said quietly, "but please, don't make me give her up."
Obi-Wan held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed wearily. "I won't forbid this..."
Anakin let out his breath in an explosive sigh. "Thank you, Master!"
"But the Council very well might," he continued. "You know how...confident they are in your sense of control."
Anakin's mood darkened considerably. "All too well," he mumbled.
They reached the Council chambers and were immediately ushered in. Crossing to the speakers' circle, they bowed in unison.
"An unusual assignment we have for you," Yoda stated. "Skywalker, know Senator Naberrie you do?"
Anakin couldn't miss Obi-Wan's telepathic elbow to the ribs. "Yes, Master. Quite well."
"Then know you that a strong advocate of the anti-cloning legislation she is," he responded.
The matter had come up, frequently and vehemently.
"Yes."
"Many enemies she has made as a result."
"There has been a threat to her life," Master Windu continued. "We are not sure from whom, but her security chief feels, and we are not sure that he is inaccurate, that there will be an assassination attempt."
Anakin's mouth quirked. "Unless the assassin is discovered first."
"Yes," Windu affirmed. "And that is where you two come in."
"Her protection you will be for the time being. Discover the assassin you must before act he can."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said.
"Quarters you will be given at the Naboo Consulate," he continued. "By her side always you must be."
//I have a bad feeling about this.//
Stifling a laugh at his Master's heartfelt, exasperated sentiment, Anakin nodded. "We will do our best to comply, Masters."
*********************************************
"Padme?"
Hearing Anakin's voice, Padme let out a heartfelt noise of exasperation and shoved the datapad and cards from her lap. She was surrounded by petitions, reports, records, books.
She had three days before she had to present her formal objection to the Mandalore Resolution before the Senate and she was swamped in technicalities.
"I'm back here somewhere," she called, getting to her feet, "though if you can find me, it will be a certifiable miracle."
A stack of datacards was removed from the desk, revealing Anakin. "Sache said you had a lot of work to do, but this is ridiculous. You've completely barricaded yourself into your office."
"Office, nothing," Padme countered wryly. "I can't get past my desk. I fall asleep back here."
"I can't imagine that's good for you," he observed.
"I can't afford the time it takes to travel to my quarters," she murmured with a yawn.
A look of alarm crossed his face. "Padme, your quarters are three floors up."
"Exactly. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get there?" She rubbed her eyes, then forced them open. "I fell asleep in the turbolift the last time I tried."
He reached across and took her hand, then guided her around the desk. "As your bodyguard, I command you to sleep. If you're dead on your feet, assassination attempts won't matter."
Her eyes widened in shock and delight. "You're the ones assigned?"
He nodded grimly. "The Council knew that if I weren't, I'd beg my way into it anyway."
Padme laughed easily and launched herself into his embrace. "I thought I'd not see you for another four days."
"I guess I'm just lucky, then," he responded mildly.
Suddenly, his mood darkened so significantly that even a Force-blind like Padme could discern it. "Why didn't you tell me about the threat?"
Her smile shrank into oblivion. "I didn't want to worry you."
He gripped her shoulders tightly, his intense eyes locked on her face. "I worry about you anyway. Having to find out this way doesn't help matters much."
"I know," she said, chagrined, "but Panaka thought it best."
Pressing a hand to his chest, she tilted her chin. "Please, don't be angry."
He sighed and drew her back into a tight embrace. "I'm not," he assured her.
*********************************************
