Chapter Four
Author's Note: I know it has been a long time since I have posted a chapter. Some of you may have lost interest
by now. I hope that someone is still reading this. Sorry I have not posted in a while. I have just been busy with
other things lately, plus I wasn't sure what I wanted to write in this next chapter. I hope you enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When they arrived at the Senate building, there was already a lot of things going on. Padme had planned on
stopping by her office to check her messages and to possibly get some work done before before her firs meeting, but
she ended up not having enough time because Chancellor Palpatine had called an emergency meeting with her and several
other Senators. Palpatine hardly ever had anything good to tell them when he called meetings like this. Padme wondered
what he had to say that couldn't wait until the daily Senate session. *Another system has probably left the Republic*
Padme thought. That had been a fairly common occurence recently. It seemed like the whole Republic was beginning to
tear to pieces.
Padme walked up to Chancellor Palpatine's office. She was expected so the Chancellor's assistant told her to
go on in. Before going in she turned to Obi-Wan and Anakin who had been following her down the hall.
"It would probably be best if you both stayed out here, it probably will not be a long meeting."
"Sorry milady, but our job is to protect you and it is probably best if we go inot the meeting with you
unless the Chancellor has a problem with us being present," Obi-Wan responded.
"I'll only be in there for a few minutes. Besids, you will be standing right outside the door, if anyting
happens you can be in there right away."
"Well, I suppose it will be alright. I still do not like it, but we do not wish to make you uncomfortable. I
do need to speak with Anakin."
"Fine, I will be back within a few minutes."
Padme and several other senators disappeared into the Chancellor's office leaving Obi-Wan and Anakin the only
two left in the hallway in front of the office.
Obi-Wan spoke first, "Well Anakin I believe this is a perfect time for us to finish the discussion we began at
Padme's apartment this morning."
"Of course, Master, but I don't see you changing my mind about my feelings. I love Padme. I can't make myself not
feel this way. I have loved her ever since the first time I saw her, but seeing her again and talking to her makes my
feelings harder to ignore."
"I do not want you to ignore the way you feel. You just need to find a way to work through your feelings. You know
that the code forbids us from romantic entanglements. Besides, you do not even know if the Senator sees you int he way
you see her. To her you may just be an old friend. Someone that she associates with being like a younger brother. There is
after all a significant age difference between the two of you."
"I think she see me as more than just a child. We had a good conversation last night. I know her feelings for me
must go beyond friendship."
"But you don't know that, not for certain. Besides you cannot even have that kind of relationship with her so you
shouldn't even explore the possiblity of her sharing your feelings. You can be friends with her, but you should leave it
at that."
"What if I can't? If she told me that she loved me I would have to tell her exactly how I feel."
"You need to think about this Anakin. You have wanted to be a Jedi for a long time and have spent a great deal of
time training to just throw it all away. You know the Council would never allow it."
"But I can't just bury my feelings. She means everything to me. If I had to give up becoming a Jedi to be with
her I would do just that.
Just then the door opened and all of the Senators in the room came out. Padme was the last to leave.
Obi-Wan said to Anakin, "Just take some time to think about what I said."
"Yes, Master."
"What were you two talking about?" Padme asked.
Obi-Wan responded, "Nothing to concern yourself with milady. Anakin and I just had some Jedi business to discuss."
"Fine, I have some time before my next meeting so we should just go to my office for awhile."
"Of course milady. That sounds like a good idea." Obi-Wan said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest of the day was fairly routine. Padme was however tired and the end of the day and ver ready to go home.
Nothing had happend all day. There had not been a single attempt on her life. Instead of this making her feel better it
had made Padme more tense. She had no doubt that there would be another attempt She wanted it to be over. There was no
doubt in her mind that with the Jedi protecting her it would not take long to figure out who wanted her dead. They would
probably even figure it out when another attempt was made. At least she hoped so. Sometimes it just seemed like her life
cold not possibly get any harder, but those were the times when things always went wrong.
Finally they had arrived back at Padme's apartment. Not long after they had arrived the Jedi Council had contacted
Obi-Wan. They wanted him to come the the Jedi Temple to report in. Anakin was to stay with Padme while Obi-Wan was gone
just in case something happened.
"Why dont we eat something Anakin?" Padme suggested.
"That sounds like a great idea." Anakin responded. "We will have to get something delivered though because Obi-Wan
gave me strict orders not to leave the apartment for anything."
"That's fine, I will call my favorite restaurant. I know they deliver."
"Anything you order to eat willbe fine. I know you have good taste. Besides, anything would have to be better than
the food aat the Jedi Temple."
Padme responded with a slight chuckle, "I can only imagine."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A while later the food had been delivered and Padme and Anakin had sat down to eat.
"It's nice to eat in for once, usually I eat out. There is always some banquet or dinner party that some Senator is
throwing." Padme said.
"Well, I wish I could say the same, but I'm usually stuck at the Temple during meal times. I usually eat dinner with
Obi-Wan. Believe me when I say that I am happy that for once I get to eat with someone else. Obi-Wan is great, but he isn't
the best conversationalist."
"I think Obi-Wan speaks well."
"Well he is good at speaking with dignitaries and he can handle negotiations very well, but when it comes to carrying
a conversation with someone for more than a few days, he is rather limited. He only has so much that he can say."
"It can't be that bad. He has obviously live a rather interesing life."
"He has lived the life of a Jedi and I have come to realize that it is not as exciting as I used to think it was."
"That's the way things usually are. Looking at a situation from the outside does not tell you everything that is going
on indside."
"I totally can agree with that for certain. Being a Jedi isn't that bad, it's just sometimes it gets a little lonely."
"I can't have that. You should come over her from time to time when you get lonely."
"I would like that."
"Good then, it's settled, you can come visit anytime. I get lonely too sometimes."
"Well, that would be nice, but it would probably be hard for me to get away from the Temple. I'm not allowed to
leave whenever I wish, I have to ask Obi-Wan's permission and he rarely lets me go anywhere unless I have a specific
reason."
"Oh, it couldn't be that bad. Maybe if I asked him to let you visit me he would let you come by every once and a
while."
"Don't count on it. I really don't see him changing his mind about this. He rearely ever changes his mind. I've been
asking him for years to let me go visit my mother and every time he tells me the same thing 'the Council would never approve
of such a trip.' "
"That sounds terrible, never getting to go anywhere you want to go."
"It's fine, I do occasionally find a way to sneak out. I could just sneak out to come see you. Chancellor Palpatine has
even helped me do it before by asking for me to come see him and then letting me leave and do what I want. He says he thinks
the Jedi try to dictate my life too much."
"I don't know Anakin, I don't like that idea. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble. I can't believe that Chancellor
Palpatine would help you decieve the Jedi like that."
"He says that it isn't decietful because they do not treat me with the proper respect. He's tells me that he is just
giving me what I am entitled to."
"Well, I would have to disagree. A lie is a lie."
"Well, I don't see that it's a problem. I never do anything I could be ashamed of doing when I go out on my own. Besides,
I wouldn't mind getting in a little trouble if it meant I would get to see you."
At that statement Padme shifted uncomfortably in her seat. *What exactly are his feelings for me? Am I even ready to deal
with them?* Padme thought to herself.
"Padme? What is it? You're very quiet all of a sudden?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just realized how late it was. I have an early morning tommorrow. I should probably go to bed."
"Okay, I guess I'll just wait for Obi-Wan to get back. I can't believe he's been gone so long."
"Well, okay. Goodnight Anakin."
"See you in the morning," Anakin responded.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's it for now. I am already working on the next chapter, but I don't know when I will be able to finish it and get it
up. Just let me know what you think of it. It's been so long since I wrote the other parts that I am not sure if I should even
try to continue it. It might come out a little disjointed. Any constructive criticism is appreciated.
Author's Note: I know it has been a long time since I have posted a chapter. Some of you may have lost interest
by now. I hope that someone is still reading this. Sorry I have not posted in a while. I have just been busy with
other things lately, plus I wasn't sure what I wanted to write in this next chapter. I hope you enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When they arrived at the Senate building, there was already a lot of things going on. Padme had planned on
stopping by her office to check her messages and to possibly get some work done before before her firs meeting, but
she ended up not having enough time because Chancellor Palpatine had called an emergency meeting with her and several
other Senators. Palpatine hardly ever had anything good to tell them when he called meetings like this. Padme wondered
what he had to say that couldn't wait until the daily Senate session. *Another system has probably left the Republic*
Padme thought. That had been a fairly common occurence recently. It seemed like the whole Republic was beginning to
tear to pieces.
Padme walked up to Chancellor Palpatine's office. She was expected so the Chancellor's assistant told her to
go on in. Before going in she turned to Obi-Wan and Anakin who had been following her down the hall.
"It would probably be best if you both stayed out here, it probably will not be a long meeting."
"Sorry milady, but our job is to protect you and it is probably best if we go inot the meeting with you
unless the Chancellor has a problem with us being present," Obi-Wan responded.
"I'll only be in there for a few minutes. Besids, you will be standing right outside the door, if anyting
happens you can be in there right away."
"Well, I suppose it will be alright. I still do not like it, but we do not wish to make you uncomfortable. I
do need to speak with Anakin."
"Fine, I will be back within a few minutes."
Padme and several other senators disappeared into the Chancellor's office leaving Obi-Wan and Anakin the only
two left in the hallway in front of the office.
Obi-Wan spoke first, "Well Anakin I believe this is a perfect time for us to finish the discussion we began at
Padme's apartment this morning."
"Of course, Master, but I don't see you changing my mind about my feelings. I love Padme. I can't make myself not
feel this way. I have loved her ever since the first time I saw her, but seeing her again and talking to her makes my
feelings harder to ignore."
"I do not want you to ignore the way you feel. You just need to find a way to work through your feelings. You know
that the code forbids us from romantic entanglements. Besides, you do not even know if the Senator sees you int he way
you see her. To her you may just be an old friend. Someone that she associates with being like a younger brother. There is
after all a significant age difference between the two of you."
"I think she see me as more than just a child. We had a good conversation last night. I know her feelings for me
must go beyond friendship."
"But you don't know that, not for certain. Besides you cannot even have that kind of relationship with her so you
shouldn't even explore the possiblity of her sharing your feelings. You can be friends with her, but you should leave it
at that."
"What if I can't? If she told me that she loved me I would have to tell her exactly how I feel."
"You need to think about this Anakin. You have wanted to be a Jedi for a long time and have spent a great deal of
time training to just throw it all away. You know the Council would never allow it."
"But I can't just bury my feelings. She means everything to me. If I had to give up becoming a Jedi to be with
her I would do just that.
Just then the door opened and all of the Senators in the room came out. Padme was the last to leave.
Obi-Wan said to Anakin, "Just take some time to think about what I said."
"Yes, Master."
"What were you two talking about?" Padme asked.
Obi-Wan responded, "Nothing to concern yourself with milady. Anakin and I just had some Jedi business to discuss."
"Fine, I have some time before my next meeting so we should just go to my office for awhile."
"Of course milady. That sounds like a good idea." Obi-Wan said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest of the day was fairly routine. Padme was however tired and the end of the day and ver ready to go home.
Nothing had happend all day. There had not been a single attempt on her life. Instead of this making her feel better it
had made Padme more tense. She had no doubt that there would be another attempt She wanted it to be over. There was no
doubt in her mind that with the Jedi protecting her it would not take long to figure out who wanted her dead. They would
probably even figure it out when another attempt was made. At least she hoped so. Sometimes it just seemed like her life
cold not possibly get any harder, but those were the times when things always went wrong.
Finally they had arrived back at Padme's apartment. Not long after they had arrived the Jedi Council had contacted
Obi-Wan. They wanted him to come the the Jedi Temple to report in. Anakin was to stay with Padme while Obi-Wan was gone
just in case something happened.
"Why dont we eat something Anakin?" Padme suggested.
"That sounds like a great idea." Anakin responded. "We will have to get something delivered though because Obi-Wan
gave me strict orders not to leave the apartment for anything."
"That's fine, I will call my favorite restaurant. I know they deliver."
"Anything you order to eat willbe fine. I know you have good taste. Besides, anything would have to be better than
the food aat the Jedi Temple."
Padme responded with a slight chuckle, "I can only imagine."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A while later the food had been delivered and Padme and Anakin had sat down to eat.
"It's nice to eat in for once, usually I eat out. There is always some banquet or dinner party that some Senator is
throwing." Padme said.
"Well, I wish I could say the same, but I'm usually stuck at the Temple during meal times. I usually eat dinner with
Obi-Wan. Believe me when I say that I am happy that for once I get to eat with someone else. Obi-Wan is great, but he isn't
the best conversationalist."
"I think Obi-Wan speaks well."
"Well he is good at speaking with dignitaries and he can handle negotiations very well, but when it comes to carrying
a conversation with someone for more than a few days, he is rather limited. He only has so much that he can say."
"It can't be that bad. He has obviously live a rather interesing life."
"He has lived the life of a Jedi and I have come to realize that it is not as exciting as I used to think it was."
"That's the way things usually are. Looking at a situation from the outside does not tell you everything that is going
on indside."
"I totally can agree with that for certain. Being a Jedi isn't that bad, it's just sometimes it gets a little lonely."
"I can't have that. You should come over her from time to time when you get lonely."
"I would like that."
"Good then, it's settled, you can come visit anytime. I get lonely too sometimes."
"Well, that would be nice, but it would probably be hard for me to get away from the Temple. I'm not allowed to
leave whenever I wish, I have to ask Obi-Wan's permission and he rarely lets me go anywhere unless I have a specific
reason."
"Oh, it couldn't be that bad. Maybe if I asked him to let you visit me he would let you come by every once and a
while."
"Don't count on it. I really don't see him changing his mind about this. He rearely ever changes his mind. I've been
asking him for years to let me go visit my mother and every time he tells me the same thing 'the Council would never approve
of such a trip.' "
"That sounds terrible, never getting to go anywhere you want to go."
"It's fine, I do occasionally find a way to sneak out. I could just sneak out to come see you. Chancellor Palpatine has
even helped me do it before by asking for me to come see him and then letting me leave and do what I want. He says he thinks
the Jedi try to dictate my life too much."
"I don't know Anakin, I don't like that idea. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble. I can't believe that Chancellor
Palpatine would help you decieve the Jedi like that."
"He says that it isn't decietful because they do not treat me with the proper respect. He's tells me that he is just
giving me what I am entitled to."
"Well, I would have to disagree. A lie is a lie."
"Well, I don't see that it's a problem. I never do anything I could be ashamed of doing when I go out on my own. Besides,
I wouldn't mind getting in a little trouble if it meant I would get to see you."
At that statement Padme shifted uncomfortably in her seat. *What exactly are his feelings for me? Am I even ready to deal
with them?* Padme thought to herself.
"Padme? What is it? You're very quiet all of a sudden?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just realized how late it was. I have an early morning tommorrow. I should probably go to bed."
"Okay, I guess I'll just wait for Obi-Wan to get back. I can't believe he's been gone so long."
"Well, okay. Goodnight Anakin."
"See you in the morning," Anakin responded.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's it for now. I am already working on the next chapter, but I don't know when I will be able to finish it and get it
up. Just let me know what you think of it. It's been so long since I wrote the other parts that I am not sure if I should even
try to continue it. It might come out a little disjointed. Any constructive criticism is appreciated.