Padme awoke with Anakin's arm draped over her stomach, right on time. She turned her gaze over to the clock, 5:00 am. Last night, everything seemed perfect, it was just herself, and Anakin.

That's how things should always be, no war, no politics, no Pau..oh my god'.

Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop, as she realized that this morning was not a pleasant one. Padme grasped the sheets around her, pulling them closer to her chest. It was only than that she noticed Anakin was out of bed, pulling the last of his Jedi robes on. He leaned over to her gently, and brushed his lips across her cheek.

"Good Morning Senator Amidala, you might want to think about dressing yourself, as we are leaving within the hour,"

Anakin stated simply, and lovingly.

Padme nodded, fear hidden behind her brown eyes. She removed herself from their bed, taking the sheets still wrapped around her body across the room, slowly dropping them only to slip into a navy blue gown, covering her up to her neck.

"Anakin, help me?"

She lifted her long, curly brown locks, wanting Anakin to zip the back of her dress. Anakin could feel her holding her breath as he ran his slender fingers along the zipper on her dress. Slowly but carefully, he brought the zipper to the top, and rested his hands on her shoulders, and allowed himself to take a deep breath. He felt Padme tremble under his touch, and gently brought his lips to the back of her neck. Padme softly closed her eye lids, and basked in his tenderness.

"Tell me…." Anakin whispered softly against her neck.

"Ani, Anakin, I'm…I'm afraid".

Anakin turned her to face him, and gave her a soft , and assuring smile.

"Everything, and I truly mean everything will be fine, Padme".

Anakin walked a few paces out of their bedroom, and picked up Padme's belongings, and gave them to the droid waiting and willing to bring their things down to the loading bay. As Padme was about to step through the door, and out of the world Anakin & herself had so willingly drowned themselves in, Anakin grasped her hand, and pulled her to him. He slowly brought his hand to her cheek, and slanted his mouth across hers, letting her tongue play with his. Their passionate kiss was filled with fear, hope, and above everything else, love. Pulling back softly, he gazed into her eyes and made her a silent promise that his mission above everything and anything else, was to protect her. Without another word, they left the apartment.

Master Obi-wan Kenobi, and Master Yoda waited by the ship Anakin & Padme would be boarding in only a matter of minutes, with Master Paulo Hans. The three of the highly respected political figures discussed the mission of negotiation, and that the Jedi and the Senator were to be back on Coruscant by the end of the week.

"I have all worthy intentions with Senator Amidala, and I insist that our discussions will be at best beneficial to the Republic".

Paulo stated.

"Aahh… arrived the Senator and the Master Jedi have," Master Yoda commented.

Anakin walked briskly beside Padme, drawing his attention to the cloaked, tall, and sturdy figure of Paulo. Anakin reached out into the force, and felt Padme's urge to grasp his hand, but he couldn't allow her to even glance at him with unusual tendancy. Through the force, he reached out to her, and could feel a fear worse than he had earlier inside of her. He felt her pain, and her want to run as far away from him as she possibly could.

"Anakin, this is Paulo Hans, leader of the Separatist Act on Mustafar".

Anakin looked at him as if he were an insult, hiding behind politics and cloaks. That was what he was, wasn't it?

"A pleasure to meet you Master Skywalker, and this lovely lady must be Senator Amidala, my, my, you are quite the sight m'lady",

Paulo's words to Padme were like poison; she nodded her head, and immediately started making her way into the command ship. Paulo, clearly getting the hint that he had been dismissed, turned to Anakin.

"Anakin, I do believe your presence on this mission will be next to invisible, as the negotiations between the Senator and I are private, you are only her protection from separatist threat, not from her negotiation partner".

"As invisible as your presence on Coruscant was last week".

Paulo shook his head.

"I don't believe I was in Coruscant last week Master Skywalker"

Anakin mustered all of the strength he had to hide his anger, and ended up with a slight smirk on his face.

"Of course you weren't".

Anakin wanted to scar him with his light saber as he spoke those words, and a deep scar it would have been if Master Obi-Wan hadn't placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder. Anakin nodded to Paulo, and watched as he began to embark on the command ship after Padme. Obi-Wan pulled Anakin close, and whispered;

"Watch her, don't let him out of your sight, do you hear me?"

Anakin nodded, a look of sheer deception crossing his face.

"I won't let him, Master".

Obi-wan nodded, and watched Anakin turn his back to follow Paulo onto the cruiser. The door to the ship closed slowly, and Master Yoda watched the ship roar to life, and lift into the sky that would soon be the home to the adventure the three were about to embark on.