As Padmé

Padmé didn't know what else to do. So she called him. He had come over right away and Padmé found herself once again pacing back and forth across her apartment while Bail sat on the couch.

"It was horrible, Bail. She didn't deserve that. She really was happy and in love with him…" Padmé let her thoughts trail off. She didn't want to compare her situation to Yennaj's anymore. She didn't want to think Anakin capable of the things Davad had done. But she knew how much he felt for her. She knew he would do almost anything for her. To be truthful the intensity of his feelings scared her at times.

She looked to Bail hoping for reassurance. But she was disappointed.

"Padmé, you assured me you were able to handle the emotions and the consequences of your relationship with Anakin. If you don't think you can-"

"Yes!" Padmé interjected passionately. "Yes, I can," she added more calmly. She felt tortured inside. She had thought she could talk about this to Bail. But it was becoming more and more evident that he couldn't, or didn't understand. Padmé decided to forget the topic of herself and Anakin. She would have to figure things out on her own. There was simply no one she could appeal too who would understand.

"She had a young son. And I can't help but feel like what happened was my fault. She dove in front of me and took several blaster shots. I should be dead too," Padmé was almost whispering at this point. Her eyes far away, imagining what it'd be like, dying…

"Padmé," Bail was next to her, his arm on hers.

She started and looked up at him, her large, deep brown eyes searching his. For a moment she envisioned he was her father and she was home on Naboo. She broke the stare before she could make an inappropriate gesture. She looked back out at the city where life was moving on just as if a lovely vibrant young senator had not just been killed.

"It wasn't your fault, it was a tragic event and the Jedi will make this man pay for the life he took. If I know one thing it's that Master Kenobi won't rest until this man is caught. I bet they have him, and he's in the hands of the courts already."

Padmé smiled, appreciative of Bail's efforts. As the two senators stood looking out in the quickly darkening sky-the lights of the endless city slowly becoming brighter-the sound of footsteps could be heard just outside the room.

Padmé turned to the sound and was surprised to see Anakin enter her apartment. He had been walking comfortably into the room but when he saw Bail, Padmé noticed him stiffen and pause slightly in his stride. He took a few more steps than stopped and looked at the two of them.

There was a long moment of uncomfortable silence. Padmé clasped her hands in front of her and felt the sudden urge to laugh out loud.

"Padmé, I am sure things will turn out quite alright. Now I'll say goodnight," Bail gave a small bow to Padmé. "Master Jedi," he acknowledged Anakin as he left the room and the apartment.

Padmé waited for the sound of the lift doors closing before she took the few steps that closed the gap between herself and Anakin. He looked stressed. He looked worried. Padmé reached her hand out, and grasping his flesh left hand, she pulling him to her-wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She buried her face into his neck and felt Anakin reach around her, holding her tightly to him. They stood this way for many minutes. Neither spoke.

Anakin let go first, and Padmé had to resist the temptation to pull him back. She would be happy to live the rest of her life in the arms of this man. Forget the rest of the galaxy and its problems. For one moment she wanted a life with no worries about the Jedi Code, or the Senate rules, or the Clone Wars. Anakin walked past Padmé and fell onto the couch, releasing a huge breath as he did.

"Anakin, what's happened?" Padmé asked softly, sitting next to him.

"Well, we tracked Davad to the Galactic Senate. He was there during the memorial session of Congress, and Obi-Wan and I chased him through the halls of the building. But he disappeared. I've been searching the underground, and surrounding areas of this building with Obi-Wan for many hours. We just got done going through Senator Monvé's possessions, hoping for clues," Anakin leaned forward and placed his head in his hands.

Padmé reached up and began rubbing his back. Suddenly Anakin leaned over into Padmé and she guided his head to her lap. Anakin swung his legs up onto the furniture, and Padmé began twirling her fingers through the curls of Anakin's hair.

"I lied to Obi-Wan," he said suddenly. Padmé paused. She furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean?" she prodded, sensing a tremendous weight that needed lifting from his conscious.

"He asked me about you. About us."

Padmé, a sudden fear arising in her heart, stopped playing with Anakin's hair.

"What did he ask?" she questioned, her voice betraying her fear.

Anakin lifted his head off Padmé's lap, and sat back on the couch.

"He asked what was going on between us, and after I told him I'd never lie to him, I did. I lied. I told him I had great feelings for you, but that you wouldn't return them in the way I wanted. I told him we were close friends."

Padmé watched Anakin, his voice wavering as he spoke.

"Ani, it's alright. You did what I would have done. What I should have done yesterday when Bail told me of his suspicions. We both knew we'd have to live our lives within a lie. It just doesn't seem to be so much of a lie until we are asked about it and made to deny it. It's unfortunate Obi-Wan had to come out and ask you directly."

Anakin stared at his feet. "I didn't know what else to do. He caught me off guard. He had suspicions anyway. And then when I walked in and found Senator Organa here…"

Padmé tried not to get defensive at the accusatory tone Anakin's voice took at the end. She took a deep breath before she spoke.

"I needed to talk to someone, and you were off tracking that murderer. But it's like I said before, Bail will not betray the confidence. He knows this is what I want, and what I choose," Padmé stopped. She was exhausted after this day and this topic of conversation was tiring her even more. It was time to move on.

"Anakin, I've made a decision," she stood suddenly causing Anakin to raise his head to her. Standing before him she immediately found the strength within her that had been mysteriously missing for most of the day. Her voice was clear, strong and decisive.

"I'm going to accompany Yennaj's body to Corellia. I feel I need to tell her family the true circumstances around her death, and I need to let her son know that he was all she thought of while she was here. I need to go."

Anakin looked at her, his expression soft. A smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"What?" Padmé asked, not sure what to make of his reaction. She was expecting he would try to talk her out of it. Convince her that she shouldn't be traveling in this time of war. Her suspicions were naturally aroused.

"You are amazing, and I am so in love with you," Anakin stood and met Padmé in the center of the room. He smoothed her hair back with his hand. Then let his touch linger on her jawline, stroking the soft, smooth skin of her cheek.

Padmé closed her eyes and released her suspicions and her tension. Nothing could calm her like Anakin's touch, and nothing made her feel more like a living, breathing person than being with him. She couldn't even remember her life without him. And when she thought about it, there had been no life without him. If she were to suddenly be confronted with a life without him…she would die of heartbreak, she knew it. Padmé pushed the morbid thoughts away and opening her eyes she looked into the face of the man before her.

"Anakin Skywalker, I love you. And every day I thank the powers of The Force that you were brought back to my life, and that you forced me to acknowledge the truth of my feelings," she smiled, a little embarrassed at her declaration.

Anakin's head came in closer, and Padmé could feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke. "No Force in the entire Galaxy could keep me from loving you."

And after a moment their lips met in a sweet, soft kiss that developed into a passionate union and soon they were spending what would be their last night together for many months to come.