Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm. I mean no infringement and make no profit.

A/N: Thanks again to Alicia, the Best Beta Ever. Now, the Verandah of Forbidden Love makes its debut in...

Chapter Two: Coruscant I

When Padmé stepped off the Cruiser on Coruscant, she was immediately swept into the welcoming embrace of her handmaiden, Dormé. The landing platform, well-lit in the early evening darkness, was crowded mainly with Jedi, so Padmé, Artoo, and Threepio were easy for the Naboo security personnel to find.

"M'lady! Thank goodness!" Dormé sounded as if she was about to cry. As the handmaiden's arms tightened around her, against the carefully bandaged wounds on her back, Padmé couldn't stop herself from cringing, and Dormé pulled back abruptly. Her eyes went wide in alarm. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Dormé appeared highly skeptical. Padmé gave a weak smile and shifted her gaze to a clearly displeased Captain Typho.

"I'm not going to ask why you were off Naboo," he said. "I'm not even going to ask what you were thinking. All that matters is that you're safe now." He sounded as though he didn't quite believe it.

"Good," Padmé responded. "That should save time. I want to know where that clone army came from and how it was authorized so quickly."

Dormé and Typho exchanged glances.

"You don't know?" the handmaiden asked. Her tone sent a sudden chill down Padmé's spine.

"We'll talk on the way back to the apartment," Typho stated firmly, leading the two ladies and the droids to their waiting transport.

As she was guided away, Padmé looked back for Anakin, but she couldn't find him.

Once safely on board the transport and moving away from the platform, Dormé began to faithfully recount all that had happened in Padmé and Anakin's absence from Coruscant. The Senator found herself shaking her head in disbelief.

"Jar Jar moved to give the Chancellor emergency powers? In my name?"

"Yes, m'lady. It was the only way--"

"Without even consulting me?"

"There wasn't much time. Besides," she added softly, "how would he have known where to reach you?"

Padmé opened her mouth to respond to this, but couldn't think of a thing to say. Dormé was right. She had made the decision to accompany Anakin to Tatooine spontaneously, from a personal desire to stay with him, and in doing so she had effectively abandoned her Senatorial duties. A profound exhaustion swept over her again, and she longed to simply lie down on her bed and rest until someone else-- anyone else-- had sorted out this terrible mess.

Looking back, she could remember very little of the night after that. They entered the Senate Apartment building through a side entrance to avoid the reporters crowded around the front. Dormé helped her bathe and dress in a nightgown, not even uttering a word at the sight of the wounds on her back and the bruises all over her body. After that, the young Senator gratefully sank onto her bed and was asleep within an instant.

It was late the next morning when Dormé awoke her.

"I'm sorry, m'lady, but Chancellor Palpatine has requested a meeting with you. I've already sent a message to your parents, and Captain Typho contacted Queen Jamillia, but they both want to speak with you when you have a chance. Oh, and does that rusty protocol droid belong to you, m'lady? We had to shut him off-- he kept yammering on about the battle."

Padmé groaned and blinked at the bright light streaming into her room. If it wasn't for the sudden pain that hit her the moment she moved, she could almost believe that the past week had been nothing more than a dream. Even Anakin. She found strange comfort in touching the bandages, feeling assured that the memory of Anakin's lips on hers was very, very real.

Stiffly, she arose and dressed in formal Senate attire. The ornate gown felt strange somehow, so different from what she'd worn over the past few days. She'd changed in those days, she realized suddenly. Not just her life, but her very being. She hadn't even thought about it until now, when everything around her was familiar, and something in her was different. I've been free, she thought. I've been happy. I've been falling in love. Then, I never knew. Twenty-four years old and I never knew what it was like.

She wanted to be with Anakin then, so much that it hurt. But she couldn't let herself think of Anakin now. She'd been thrown back into the stream of her old life and its current was moving fast. If she didn't keep up, she'd drown. So, lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, she entered the Supreme Chancellor's office.

"Senator Amidala," Palpatine greeted her as she took a seat. "Allow me the pleasure of welcoming you back to Coruscant."

"Thank you, Chancellor." There was a pause. If he was expecting any congratulations from Padmé on his new powers or use of them, he was to be disappointed. Sensing this, he continued.

"You must have been through a terrible ordeal."

"No concern need be wasted on me, Chancellor. It's the Jedi we should be thinking of now."

"Yes. Their losses, I regret, were catastrophic," Palpatine agreed. "You, nevertheless, do warrant my concern at this time. Tell me, Senator Amidala, how precisely did you come to fall into Geonosian hands?"

The edge in his voice alerted Padmé that, rather than personal concern, the motivation behind this inquiry was purely political. She would have to be careful.

"I was with Padawan Skywalker when he received Master Kenobi's transmission to the Jedi Council."

"Indeed? And you decided that a rescue attempt would be appropriate?" The edge was more pointed now. "Tell me, Senator, how am I to explain to the Republic the presence of the leading voice speaking against military force in the Separatist crisis in the first battle of that conflict? How am I to explain the sudden appearance of a member of the Loyalist Committee on the Separatist world of Geonosis? The implications that could be drawn from this are as endless as they are potentially damaging."

"I thought that diplomatic intervention might be useful in resolving the issue without violence. Surely you cannot believe otherwise. It was clear that the Jedi would require several hours to reach Geonosis. We were less than a parsec away."

"Oh? I was not aware that Naboo was so near to Geonosis." A slip. An obvious one. Focus, Padmé.

"We were on Tatooine." She met his eyes defiantly. Just when, she wondered, did this become a contest of wills? And why had it become so? There was no reason for the Chancellor to doubt her, much less show malice. It didn't make sense, and she hadn't expected it.

"Tatooine?" he repeated. "It was my understanding that you were to remain on Naboo."

"Anakin's mother was dying." Padmé instantly regretted that; it was too personal. As she spoke, though, she thought she saw Palpatine's eyes flash.

"Really?" the Chancellor seemed not to notice that her statement hadn't answered his question. "How unfortunate," he said quietly, preoccupied. "How very upsetting for him."

"Chancellor," Padmé cut in, "please realize that Anakin had nothing to do with my decision to help Master Kenobi. He accompanied me only as my bodyguard."

"I am aware that he took his responsibility to you very seriously. It is fortunate that he was with you."

"He saved my life," she admitted in a voice softer than she had intended. "I hold him in the very highest regard. Have no doubt of that." More forcefully, she added, "He should not be held accountable for--"

"Any errors in judgment," Palpatine supplied sharply, "which you may have made?"

"Complications which arose," she said firmly. "We were unjustly accused of espionage and convicted without a trial."

The Chancellor raised his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "What more can be expected from a planet which does not respect the laws of the Republic?"

Padmé said nothing. Abruptly the Chancellor smiled and stood.

"Very well, Senator. I understand that your motivation in this matter was purely diplomatic, and I will inform the Senate and the media accordingly. It was not I, you understand, who doubted you in this respect. It may be best, however, to subdue the fact that you were involved in the fighting, as I understand to be the case. No, you were wrongly held by the Geonosians for espionage while on a diplomatic visit and then subsequently freed by Republic forces. You understand, it is much simpler that way. With all you've been through, the last thing you need is to be accused of starting this war." He eyed her condescendingly. "And do try to be less reckless, dear child, in the future. The Republic needs you now, as do I."

There was little to say after that, and Padmé did not trust herself to maintain civility in any case. The interview was quickly over, and the Naboo Senator departed Palpatine's office. She was still fuming when she reached her apartment. Dear child? And manipulating the truth to suit his purposes! He would, of course, hear none of her protests, using fear for her welfare as his defense. No, she would have to go along with it. She would have to pick her battles with the Chancellor carefully from now on, and this was one she knew she could not win.

Then, too, his words were echoing in her head: the last thing you need is to be accused of starting this war. Who would accuse her of such a thing? And... a little voice inside her head nagged her, would they be right?

Suddenly she noticed Threepio, deactivated in the corner, and her thoughts strayed back to Anakin again. He most likely had his prosthetic arm fitted by now and soon, very soon, she would see him again. He would take her back to Naboo. She switched the droid on, and he instantly sprang to life.

"Oh! Miss Padmé! I'm so sorry." He pointed over Padmé's shoulder to Dormé. "That insolent woman shut me down!"

Dormé rolled her eyes and glowered at the droid, who seemed to be glaring back. Glancing from one to the other, Padmé giggled, and Dormé finally broke into a smile and shook her head.

"Well! I never!" Threepio exclaimed, as a buzzer sounded at the door. Captain Typho answered it.

"M'lady," he announced," Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan is here to see you."

Her frustration quelled somewhat, but still present, Padmé turned to greet one of her strongest allies in the Senate, and one of her only colleagues who could truly be called a friend.

"Hello, Bail."

"Senator Amidala." He bowed to her formally, and she returned the gesture.

"M'lady," Dormé whispered, "may I leave you?"

"Yes, of course." The Senator nodded, and Dormé followed Captain Typho from the room.

When they were gone, Padmé turned back to Bail and smiled. "It's certainly good to see a friendly face."

"Likewise, in these trying times." A pause ensued. Padmé became aware that Bail was looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite read.

"Are you all right, Padmé?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes. I'm fine. Perfectly fine," she reassured him. Her weak smile faded. "Others... weren't so fortunate."

Bail shook his head sadly. "I can't even imagine..." he trailed off, looking at her again.

"I'm fine," she repeated. From the back of the room, she heard Artoo beep incredulously and Threepio tell him to be quiet. "Won't you sit down?"

He followed her to the couches in the center of the room and seated himself across from her. "I came to see you this morning, but your handmaiden said you were still sleeping."

"That was kind of you. Dormé didn't tell me." Padmé glanced in the direction her handmaiden had gone. "We're all a little distracted here today."

"Not just here." He sighed. "I can't believe it's come this far. Come to war."

"Neither can I," she answered quietly.

"When I heard you were on Geonosis..." He paused. "What exactly were you doing there?"

She sat back with a groan. "Trying to negotiate."

"But by then it was too late for negotiation," Bail put in, shaking his head.

"I certainly wish someone had informed me," she spat out angrily, without even thinking. Quickly, she corrected herself. "I'm sorry. That was... uncalled for, and childish."

But Bail only laughed. "You are an oddity, Padmé Amidala. No need to apologize. It's not childish to still care about the unity of the Republic. Force knows there are few enough who do." He grew suddenly serious. "Padmé, the Loyalist Committee is meeting tomorrow with the Chancellor to reassess the situation, now that..." He shrugged helplessly.

"What time?" Padmé asked.

"What I'm trying to tell you is that you needn't come. Considering what you've been through, I'm sure everyone would understand."

"Don't be ridiculous," she replied sharply. "I'm not going to sit out the most vital meeting to date of a committee I've helped lead for a year."

"All I'm saying is that you might want to take some time before jumping back in. Get some rest."

"I am rested, Bail, and I am perfectly capable--"

"I never said you weren't," he interrupted sincerely. "I only thought I'd suggest it because I... consider you a friend, Padmé."

She took a calming breath and managed a smile. "I know, Bail. And you know I feel likewise. But no, thank you. I'm fine. And I need to prove to the committee that I'm fine and that I intend to remain active in our work."

"All right, then." Bail stood. "I must be going. I'd offer to pick up some of your paperwork, but I have a feeling you might pull a blaster on me."

"It's possible," Padmé admitted lightly. "Thank you, Bail. I'll see you tomorrow at...?"

"I'll send you the time once I know."

"Very well, then."

She escorted him to the apartment door, which opened to reveal Representative Jar Jar Binks, hand poised over the buzzer. Padmé eyed him with some surprise.

Bail nodded politely. "Representative Binks."

"Hello, Senator Organa," Jar Jar replied. "Mesa comin' to see--" His face lit up as he turned to Padmé. "Senator Padmé! Mesa so smilin' to seein' yousa okeday!" He threw himself at the Naboo Senator and wrapped her in a tight hug, causing her to yelp in pain.

"Jar Jar!"

He pulled back sheepishly. "Mesa sorry. Mesa sorry."

She looked over his shoulder to see a new expression of concern etched clearly on Bail Organa's face.

"It's all right," she assured them both. "Bail, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." He bowed and exited, leaving Padmé to deal with the one being in the galaxy she perhaps least wanted to see today. It wasn't that she didn't like Jar Jar. Indeed, she'd always had a special affection for the Gungan. But even she had to admit that Jar Jar Binks was not suited for politics-- in fact, she might be among the first to admit it. In the time they'd worked together, she had often been cheered by his enthusiasm and optimism, but his clumsiness, impatience, and lack of protocol wore on her, becoming particularly irritating when she had serious work to do-- which was often, these days. What in the farthest reaches of the galaxy had persuaded him that he could decide to propose a motion altering the very nature of the Republic without her input?

"Mui mui big things been happenin' while yousa been away, m'lady!" he said. "All kindsa trouble, den mesa talkin' in front of da Senate, and pow! Wesa got an army!"

"I know, Jar Jar." He didn't seem even to notice the very definite tone she was using.

"You sayin' yousa count on mesa, and mesa doin' it!"

"Can you tell me exactly how it happened, Jar Jar?"

And so he did, concluding with, "Things lookin' bery bombad, and wesa thinkin' we need an army, or else da whole Republic gettin' squashed. Deysa wishin' you were there to talk to da Senate, and so mesa thinkin' mesa do it. Den da Chancellor gettin' emergency powers." He finally became aware of her expression. "Mesa doin' da right thing, right Senator?"

She didn't know what to say. She had wanted to yell at Jar Jar, wanted to scream at him until the guards were called. She had wanted to call him an incompetent idiot and blame him for everything. But now...

Without that army, everyone in the Geonosian arena would have died. Anakin. Everyone. Without the Chancellor's executive order, there would have been no army. Without Jar Jar's motion, the Chancellor wouldn't have had the power to give that order.

But surely that power wasn't right, that army wasn't right? Surely a few more lives lost in that arena wouldn't have mattered, even if one was hers. She had been prepared to die. But Anakin... And all of the rest of the Republic, the innocent people, what sort of terror would be unleashed on them now if they didn't have that army to defend them?

If Jar Jar hadn't been speaking for her, that motion wouldn't have passed. If she hadn't campaigned so vocally against the Military Creation Act, no one would have followed it. No, she hadn't reversed her position, but had she been there, had she known the circumstances, the consequences... would she have? Would she have acted any differently than Jar Jar? She didn't know. But she did know, now, that despite her absence, even through her absence, she had done this. Her actions, including her trip to Geonosis, had led up to that moment in the Senate. She had started this war.

"I... I don't know, Jar Jar," she answered at last. "But I know you did the best you could. That's all I could have asked of you, it's all any of us can do."

The Gungan grinned. "Yousa doin' okeday, eh Padmé? And da Jedi... Obi and little Ani... desa okeday, too?"

"Yes. They were both wounded, but... I'm sure you'll hear about it. I'm... just tired."

"Oh. Mesa be goin', then."

"I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow morning."

"Right. Right. Bye-bye, Senator."

"Thank you, Jar Jar."

Padmé gratefully closed the door behind him. She would have piles of paperwork to catch up on, and she'd need to contact Queen Jamillia and her family. Her mother must be having a fit over not having heard from her by now. She decided it would be wise first to ask Dormé how much had already been reported earlier or via the holonet.

Padmé walked into Dormé's quarters and stopped abruptly in the doorway, her eyes going wide. There, in the middle of the room, stood Dormé, wrapped in the arms of Captain Typho, his hand in her hair, her lips on his. Becoming aware of the Senator's presence, they broke apart abruptly. Dormé's hand flew to her mouth and she blushed deeply, while Captain Typho looked like a nerf caught in the headlights of an approaching speeder. If Padmé had not been so completely dumbfounded, she might have laughed. As it was, she could only manage to open and shut her mouth wordlessly several times before simply turning around and walking back out again.


Anakin did not remember being taken off the ship on Coruscant. He did not remember returning to the Jedi Temple. When he awoke, though, he was there, and it was light. Morning.

Something felt strange. He looked down. It was his arm-- it was metal. They'd attached the prosthetic while he slept. He lifted his new appendage to examine it more closely. It shone conspicuously golden in the light. Already he could discern its basic workings-- which wires and rods controlled what. And he knew that somewhere below its base, just below his elbow, it connected to his nerves and muscles. An extension of himself.

Yet it was so... well... mechanical. So distinctly not alive. This arm could not feel the Force. He had never known what it was like not to sense the Force all through his body before this. Even as a small slave boy on Tatooine, he'd felt it, though he hadn't realized what it was. Indeed, he had never truly noticed its presence until now, when he knew what its absence felt like. Was this how most people went through their lives? It was like being blind! Yes. Half of one arm was mechanical and blind.

Yet even the blind, he knew, learned how to read and write and play music. They developed the skills they had, learned to see without sight. He would do the same. He would work harder than he ever had, practice often, and become better than he had been before. Then, one day, he would kill Dooku.

Tentatively, he tested his new hand's movement. The fingers flexed, one by one, at his silent command. Together, they opened and closed. It wasn't much; it still felt strange. But it would do.

One of the older Temple healers walked in. Anakin couldn't quite remember her name.

"Welcome home, Padawan Skywalker," she greeted him.

"Good morning," Anakin returned.

"Afternoon, actually. Your prosthetic, as you can see, was attached this morning, but we thought it best not to wake you."

Anakin sat forward, surprised. "What have I missed?" he asked. "What's happened? Where have the Separatists gone? Has anyone found Dooku? Where is Master Obi-Wan and how is--" he fumbled his words, and started again. "Has Senator Amidala returned to Naboo?" Of course, he knew she hadn't. He wanted to hear any news, though, anything involving Padmé.

"Calm down, young man. Alert is one thing, over-excited is another." Her voice was clipped and professional. "You haven't missed much. The clone army is gathering here on Coruscant. Unfortunately, the Separatist forces have scattered, and no one knows where they will convene. It seems, for a time, that all we can do is wait for them to attack again, unless we get word of their massing somewhere. There has been no sign of Count Dooku. Your Master is resting, and unless it is quite necessary, I would not recommend disturbing him. And no, from what I've heard, Senator Amidala remains here. It seems her wounds were not serious, and I heard Master Yoda mention that she fought well. The Force was with her, he said. Is that all?"

As she spoke, she had been examining his prosthetic, testing its reflex and range of motion.

"Master Yoda was here?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, earlier. How are you feeling, padawan, other than inquisitive?"

"Sore," he answered. "And hungry. My arm hurts, but less than before."

"The pain will subside over the next few days. Food will be brought to you shortly. You should be able to sleep in your own quarters tonight, if you'd like."

Anakin thought he would like that very much. It seemed that a lifetime had passed since he's last spent a night in the Temple.

As the padawan ate, the healer explained most succinctly all that had transpired in the Senate, and how Palpatine had come to have the power to create an army.

Good for Jar Jar, Anakin found himself thinking. I knew he had it in him, to stand up when he was most needed.

After the healer left, Anakin found himself alone and bored. He tried several times to meditate, but he always ended up thinking of Padmé. He'd dreamed about her last night, he realized, though he could not now remember the details of the dream. All he could remember was that she had been there, looking into his eyes with love. He tried to imagine what she was doing at that moment, but there his imagination came up short. He knew very little about what Senators did with their days. They couldn't possibly be in committee meetings all the time, could they?

It was in the middle of this reflection that the healer came back in, looking rather flustered.

"Padawan Skywalker," she said, "Chancellor Palpatine is here to see you!"

Anakin's eyes widened in surprise. "He's come here? To see me?" The healer nodded. "Like this?" His eyes turned nervously to his new arm.

"Of course, if you're not feeling up to it, I can tell him to go away..."

"No! No, that won't be necessary. I'd be happy to see the Chancellor." Anakin was dumbfounded. He had always felt that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had a certain fatherly fondness for him, but he'd never come to the Temple and sought him out before. It was incredible-- that the ruler of the galaxy should have such an interest in him. Yet the evidence that he did was overwhelming, especially now as he regally seated himself beside Anakin's bed.

"Congratulations on your appointment, Chancellor," the padawan was quick to state.

"Thank you, young man. Well, well, Anakin, you have proved yourself to be quite a hero."

"I have, sir?" he asked, confused. He had taken the person he was meant to be protecting into a dangerous situation, an action that in less complicated circumstances would easily have gotten him expelled. He had then failed to stop Dooku and had lost his arm in the process. None of these things, in his opinion, qualified him for hero status.

"Indeed, you have, my young friend. You fought valiantly. There are not many who possess the courage to take on a seasoned Jedi of Count Dooku's skill."

"Thank you, sir." Anakin's eyes stayed fixed on his metal arm.

"Oh," Palpatine noticed the direction of his gaze. "Of course, I realize the loss of your arm must be extremely trying for you-- to be less than whole. The use of your hand will never be the same again, I don't doubt. A terrible loss." Anakin could not meet his gaze, ashamed. "But I have no doubt that you will recover fully. After all, Anakin, I need the very best to lead my army."

The young Jedi looked up with a small, gratified smile. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Oh..." Palpatine seemed suddenly to remember something. "I am given to understand that I should offer you my condolences. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother."

Anakin's eyes fell again. The Chancellor's kind words only flooded him with a renewed pain and grief. "Thank you," he responded quietly.

"The Jedi should not have kept you from her for so long." Anakin nodded wordlessly. "May I ask... how did it happen?"

"She was taken by a tribe of Tusken Raiders," he replied flatly.

"Oh, dear. It must have been dreadful. I cannot begin to imagine what you've been through." Anakin only nodded again. "And yet you continued with your mission to protect Senator Amidala, and came through on Geonosis."

"It helped," Anakin confessed, "having Padmé-- Senator Amidala there with me."

The padawan thought he saw a glimmer of understanding in the Chancellor's eyes. "I am glad of that," he said. "If I recall correctly, as a young boy you were quite taken with her."

Anakin found himself smiling again, shyly, at the chance to talk about Padmé. "Yes, sir, I was. I was very glad to spend time with her again. I've never... I've never known anyone like her."

"And, of course," Palpatine added dryly, "She has grown into quite a beautiful young lady."

Anakin barely stopped himself from agreeing wholeheartedly. "We're friends now." His mind strayed to their parting kiss. "Very good friends." He was very glad that the Chancellor did not have Jedi abilities-- his thoughts would have betrayed him instantly. "It's funny-- we've spent only a few days together in ten years, but it feels like we've never been apart." Anakin became aware of a very strange look on Palpatine's face. He could almost believe that he really had read his mind. But no-- that wasn't possible. And besides, the look had vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Maybe he was only imagining it.

"Yes, Senator Amidala is certainly unique and often... surprising," Palpatine said.

"I shouldn't have put her in danger," Anakin admitted, half to himself. "We shouldn't have gone to Geonosis."

"Nonsense. Your Master's life was in obvious peril. Not even Master Yoda could rightly blame you for coming to his aid. You are a brave young man-- indeed, without you, Master Kenobi would likely have perished. As I see it, you had very little choice but to go to Geonosis. I think your decision was the right one."

"Thank you, sir."

"No need for that. Rest assured, I understand perfectly." Palpatine smiled. "If anything, this battle proves what I have said before-- you are already a great Jedi. The Order cannot now fail to recognize it." Anakin felt his face redden. "And to reward you," the Chancellor continued, "perhaps there is something I can do. Perhaps you would like to.. escort Senator Amidala on her return to Naboo."

"Thank you," Anakin answered, somewhat surprised, "but my Master has already given me permission to do that, and the Senator has given her assent."

"Ah." Now it was Palpatine's turn to appear surprised. Not displeased, certainly, just surprised. "I see. Well, that is good news. I'm sure you will enjoy your time together. I don't like to say so, Anakin, but it pains me to see such a bright young woman swept up in her duties and not taking the time to experience a normal life." Anakin nodded his agreement, though he would not lend vocal support to any critical words about Padmé. "I hope that her contact with you allows her to enjoy herself, and be happy. In short," here the Chancellor allowed a slight chuckle, "that you will have a positive influence on our Senator Amidala."

Anakin smiled. "I'll try, Your Honor. Sir..." the young padawan looked suddenly uncomfortable.

"Yes, Anakin?"

"Well... while it's not necessary for you to intervene in my escorting the Senator home, there is something..."

"You have only to name it, my young friend," Palpatine said kindly.

"Would you... That is, I'd like to see her before we go. To make travel plans. As soon as possible. And my Master is wounded, so I don't want to disturb him about..."

"Say no more," the Chancellor interrupted. "It just so happens that I have a meeting with the Loyalist Committee tomorrow, and if I know Amidala, she will be sure to attend. I shall insist on your presence, young Skywalker."

Anakin nodded his gratitude. "Thank you, Chancellor."

Palpatine got up to leave, but paused and turned back. "Oh, and should you find it necessary, the Senate Apartment buildings are always open to Jedi." Without another word, the Supreme Chancellor glided from the room.


Padmé sat in the main room of her apartment, slowly making her way through the enormous stack of datapads and holodisks which had piled up in her absence. It seemed there were endless messages to answer, reports to analyze, and information to organize. First she'd contacted her family, assuring them of her safety as convincingly and concisely as possible.

"But Padmé, when are you coming home?"

She sighed at her mother's concerned expression. "Soon."

"Padmé..."

"I have to go, Mom."

Then a transmission to Queen Jamillia and the Royal Council. Sio Bibble was, as usual, irate about the whole situation, but the Queen was solemn and focused. Padmé did not doubt her capability to calm and prepare the people of Naboo in the face of the coming war.

"But when can we expect to have you back with us, Senator?"

"I don't... Soon. I don't know."

Then she had attacked her work, being interrupted only once, by Dormé. The handmaiden approached hesitantly.

"I sorted out all of the messages from the media and responded with 'no comment,' pending a report from the Chancellor's office."

"Thank you, Dormé." A few seconds later, Padmé looked up to see her still there, fidgeting nervously.

"M'lady... I was kissing Captain Typho."

"Yes, I noticed."

"I'm so sorry!" she burst forth in a sudden deluge of words. "We never meant for it to happen, it just did, while we were here alone, and then when we heard what happened to you--" she broke off and drew a breath. "We agreed not to go on with it, we decided it would be too dangerous, for you, if we were to get distracted by... But then... oh, I'm so sorry!"

"Dormé." Padmé reached out for her friend's hand. "It's all right."

"No, it isn't. It's unprofessional, and hazardous, and... and wrong."

"No." Padmé searched Dormé's face and smiled. "You like him." The handmaiden nodded, blushing. "I understand." More than you know, she added mentally. "We can't choose who we fall in love with... even if we'd like to. It just happens, it takes over, regardless of timing or place or rules..." She stopped herself. "I trust you. Both of you. I feel completely safe in your hands, no matter what."

Dormé broke into a radiant smile. "Typho was too embarrassed to come out and look you in the face. It was actually very funny."

"Well, that would be an undesirable quality in a security guard. Why don't you go sort him out?"

The two shared a sisterly hug and Dormé went, beaming, from the room.

And then Padmé buried herself in data and files because it was horrible to feel jealous of Dormé's present happiness, and it was silly to cry because of her own loneliness and longing. In short, it was pointless to become wrapped up in thoughts of Anakin when there was so much to do. So much.

She did not mark the passage of time as she worked, aside from a vague awareness of growing frustration and exhaustion as the hours dragged past. She only realized how long she'd been at it when it suddenly occurred to her that she was nodding off, and she sat up sharply to find that the sun had already nearly set.

As she rose and stretched a tone indicated the presence of someone at the door. Threepio went to answer it. When Padmé looked up again there was a figure standing patiently in the center of the room, his face lit by the rapidly sinking sun.

"Anakin," she breathed. Almost before she realized she was moving, her feet had carried her to within two steps of the Jedi padawan, and there she stopped, suddenly nervous, unsure of how to proceed. In every free moment, though they had been few and far between, she'd had to stop herself from fantasizing that he'd walk through the door, and now here he was. It had been nearly two days since they'd last been together. It seemed so much longer. Neither of them knew what to say, how to begin.

"I came to see you," Anakin stated the obvious. "To see that... you're all right." His left hand slowly reached out, touched her right. Gently, it traveled up her arm, finally resting on her cheek as her fingers caught it and held it tight. He whispered, "You're all right." It' sounded like, You're beautiful.

She brought his hand down and wrapped it in both of hers. "Are you?" She could hear her voice trembling. "Should you be here? Ani, how did you get in?"

That mischievous little half-smile. "I'm well enough that they told me to return to my quarters for the night. I just took the long way."

"A scenic detour." Padmé smiled.

"Exactly." Gradually, they were drawing closer and closer together. "As to how I got in..." he shrugged, "a Jedi can get in just about anywhere." Padmé shook her head, but the smile didn't leave her face.

"Come with me." Still holding his hand in hers, she pulled him out onto the apartment's verandah, explaining, "We won't be disturbed out here." The open, airy verandah seemed filled with deep golden light. As Anakin surveyed the glowing city, Padmé's eyes, for the first time since his arrival, traveled down. "Your arm?"

With some reluctance, he removed his hand from her grasp to raise his right sleeve, and the light played off the polished metal of his new prosthetic.

For a moment she could not keep her face from contorting in a sort of shock, like a bolt of pain to the heart. She composed herself immediately, but she knew Anakin had seen the look. He withdrew the hand, refusing to meet her eyes.

Timidly, she reached out and touched the gleaming metal fingers. "Does it hurt?"

"Not much." He glanced up. "But I've been given a lot of medication."

"Can you feel with it?"

"A little." She took the golden hand between her two living ones. His finger joints bent around them. Padmé smiled up at him, and he leaned down and kissed her.

"I've been granted permission to escort you home, m'lady. I can leave as soon as you give the word."

The verandah was falling into shadow now, the sun's light starting to fade and be replaced by the city lights of a Coruscant night. She turned away from him. There was a moment of confused silence, then she felt Anakin touch her arm.

"When do we leave?" he asked. What should she say? What did she want to say? Or need to say? Her time with Anakin had been a dream, a beautiful dream, but now she had been thrown back into reality. So now would she have to wake up Anakin, too?

"Padmé?" he asked quietly.

"I... can't. I'm sorry. I can't."

"What do you mean?"

She turned back to him. "Ani, I can't go back to Naboo now."

"When, then?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I didn't realize... there's so much to do, I can't just leave."

Anakin quickly bridged the distance she'd put between them. "That's exactly why you should leave. And I want to go with you." She shook her head. "Padmé, you are a great leader, a great Senator. You serve your people every day. When was the last time you ever did anything for yourself?"

"Now you sound like my mother."

"Then maybe your mother's right. Can you answer my question?"

"Last week," she answered, raising her voice. "That time I spent in the Lake Country with you-- that was for myself. I was ready to throw away both of our futures, all for myself. Then a war started."

"Do you think that every time you turn your back a war is going to break out?" he asked. "Padmé, you couldn't have prevented this."

"I know that," she told him, although deep down she wasn't sure. "But now I have a responsibility. And you have a responsibility."

"I don't care. I love you."

"No, you don't." Her voice was soft, but cold.

"I know what I feel."

"No! You love like a child, Ani! You don't even know what love is!" The words hung in the air for a tense instant before Anakin responded.

"And you do?"

Padmé's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"You've never allowed yourself to feel anything for anyone because you're afraid--"

"Don't you dare!" she shouted. "You don't even know me!"

Anakin stared at her in disbelief. "Oh, I don't?"

"No." Padmé took a breath, purposely lowering her voice. "Just because I'm a childhood acquaintance doesn't mean--"

"I know you entered public service when you were eight," he interrupted. "I know your first kiss was from a boy named Palo when you were twelve. I know you love water and you used to spend holidays at Varykino. I know you think you were too young to run a planet when you did and that you feel like you missed a lot of things because of it. I know you love Naboo and your family, and you would do anything to protect either of them. I know you're crazy about your nieces and want a family of your own. I know you've dedicated your whole life to serving others and you think of everyone else before yourself. You care passionately about the Republic. But I know you're getting tired. What you secretly want is to escape from that life. You want a chance to be yourself. You want some excitement. You're a warrior who above all desires peace. I know that you throw yourself into your work to hide from things in life that make you scared or uncomfortable. I know you're afraid to let your guard down and allow yourself to love. I know that you're a hellion when you're angry. I know that you play with your hands and smooth your dress when you get nervous. I know all of this, and I know that I've loved you since I was nine years old and I will always love you. And I know that you love me, too."

Padmé shook her head slowly, blinking back tears. She fought to keep her composure under Anakin's pleading gaze. "It won't work. You know that. It just won't. Anakin..." Her voice broke. "I can't go back to Naboo now." He opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him. "Don't, Anakin. Please, just go."

The padawan drew a shaking breath and nodded. "Fine, m'lady."

He turned and went, leaving her alone in the emptiness of the dark verandah.