AN INNOCENT PLAN

It was morning. Padme had just woken up. She was very happy because in two days was her birthday and everyone would surely give her presents. But she was also very excited about Anakin's arrival (Obi-Wan and he would be coming to Naboo on a Jedi mission). However she was really concerned about what would happen when they would meet again.

Last time Anakin had been on Naboo he had confessed his love to her but she had rejected him and made him promise that he would forget about her so that they could still be friends. Now she regretted having told him such thing, and hoped that he hadn't listened to her, because a little after his departure she realized that she, also, had fallen for him (head over heels).

A knock on her door warned her that her handmaidens had come to prepare her for the day. Sabe: Good morning my queen. How did you sleep? Padme: Very well and I also saw a great dream. Rabe: Oh, really? And what was it about? Padme flashed. Padme: Um, I can't really remember. Her handmaidens looked at each other meaningfully. Sache: It wouldn't have anything to do with these Jedi coming, would it, now, my lady? Padme blushed a bright red colour that she tried to hide, but also noticed that Sabe had too. She found it strange, but dismissed the thought when her com link rang and announced the Jedi's arrival.

All of them run to the platform and were just on time to see the ramp of the ship go down. Two hooded figures were descending the one taller than the other. The two figures approached them and the short one (Obi-Wan) greeted her. Obi: Nice to see you my lady. It's been quite a while. Padme: It has, indeed master Kenobi. How have you been? Obi: Very well, Your Highness. You do remember my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, don't you my lady? He said gesturing to the taller figure. Padme: Of course I do (you stupid-Wan, she thought to herself). How are you Ani? Anakin: I'm very well my lady, but it's Anakin. He said, kissing her hand. Padme blushed under her make-up. Padme: Um, well my handmaidens will show you where you'll be sleeping and you're invited to accompany me for dinner. Obi: We'll be there, my lady. Now if you'll excuse us. He and Anakin followed Sabe and Rabe to their quarters.

Padme remained to the platform a little longer thinking about Anakin. Anakin who, in the past two years had grown even more handsome and taller, if possible. She smiled to herself but her smile faded somewhat when she thought back to his cold reply and comment about his nickname. "But he did kiss my hand", she thought, trying not to worry about it.

In the meanwhile, Sabe was showing Anakin his room. Sabe: So, this is it. The fresher is on your left and there is a big wardrobe on your right. Anakin: Thanks, Sabe. So, how have you all been? Sabe: You mean how Padme has been. Anakin: What is that supposed to mean? Sabe: I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, lover-boy. She said in her usual teasing tone. Anakin: Okay, then. And I suppose that you, too, know what "Obi-Wan has been just fine" means, don't you? Sabe blushed madly. Sabe: Okay, I've got the point, but you'd better shut up about it or I'll tell your beloved Padme. Anakin: She's not "my beloved Padme", she's just my friend queen Amidala and she'll always be just that. Replied Anakin rather sadly. That caught Sabe's attention. Sabe: But I thought that you fancied her. Anakin: I love her but she doesn't feel the same. And she never will. Sabe: Says who??? Anakin: Says her. Sabe: What are you talking about? Anakin: Well, two years ago when I told her how I felt, she rejected me and made me promise to forget her. Sabe: And have you? Anakin: Of course not. But she doesn't need to know that. It would only ruin our friendship. So please don't mention anything to her. Sabe: (smiling) Are you so certain that she doesn't feel the same? Because that's not what I've heard. Anakin: (alarmed) What do you mean???what have you heard??? Sabe: Well, wake up you idiot. She is head over heels for you. Anakin: I think you're mistaken. Sabe: No, I'm not. For the past two years she hasn't been doing anything else but talking about you,wondering when would you come to visit her again. Anakin: How is this possible after hurting me so much with her rejection? Sabe: Well, I don't know. Maybe.Maybe she hadn't known that she loved you back then. Maybe it only dawned her after you had left. (thinking about it over again) Actually,I think that that's just it. She hadn't known then ,but now she knows and that's what she had been worrying about all along. Anakin: (excited) You mean that? Sabe: Duh, you're her knight. Anakin: Her knight? And what I'm waiting here for. Quick. Where's my horse? (moving to the door) Sabe: Wait, don't do anything rush, yet. We have to think about this carefully. Anakin: Huh? Sabe: (thoughtfully) Well after mentioning the way she hurt your feelings last time, I was thinking that maybe you shouldn't tell her that you still love her but instead let her believe that you have totally forgotten her. Anakin: And why would I do that? Sabe: (not paying attention to him) Maybe you could make her jealous by flirting with someone else. Anakin: Good idea. But who? Sabe: Me you stupid kid. Anakin: YOU???????? Sabe: Well, you do want to help me with Obi-Wan, don't you? She said smiling. Anakin, FINALLY, understanding her plan grinned and started planning how exactly was he going to make Padme jealous (Thankfully Sabe already had a plan of her own, one that could actually work).

D I N N E R T I M E

Padme was in her room trying to decide what to wear to impress Anakin. FINALLY, and after three hours of searching in her closet, she found a nice semi-formal white gown, her handmaidens would all wear similar gowns. Then she heard a knock on her door. Sabe came in her room, smiling. She started dressing up for the dinner. Padme approached her and started asking her questions like " Did Anakin like the view from his room?", " Did he ask anything about me?" and stuff like that. Sabe gave her a few short answers and Padme couldn't help but notice the smile on her handmaiden's face while she looked herself on the mirror. Padme wondered why, since she had never done that before and briefly asked her self whether that had something to do with the Jedi coming to dinner with them.

The Jedi arrived shortly after them in the big dinning hall and took their places, Obi-Wan to her right and Anakin to her left. Sabe sat next to Anakin. During the dinner Sabe and Anakin were engaged into a ver friendly conversation. Padme notice that and Obi-Wan did too. None of them was pleased about it, though. Padme once tried to break into the conversation but unfortunately she accidentally pushed the waiter who in turn dropped the wine all over her. Anakin and Sabe only stopped for a moment just to laugh with the incident and then started talking again, paying no attention to her. Padme went upstairs to change, feeling humiliated, miserable and sad from Anakin's reaction to her bad luck. "Two years ago he wouldn't have laughed but instead help me and comfort me. Does that mean that he kept his promise. Doesn't he love me any more? Oh, no. This is all my fault, what have I done." What she didn't know was that it was Anakin who had Force- thrown the wine all over her and then laughed according to Sabe's plan.