RL is so kicking my butt right now, so please be patient. School is diving into the deep pool of blood, sweat, and tears we call exams and it's hard to cram for those, catch up on late work (there's more than enough of that let me tell you..), and somehow manage not to murder any of my family members. It's hard to find alone time on the internet that is not dedicated to schoolwork right now, we just got rid of one of our computers so now we only have one and that is shared between my step-mom, who works at home, and me. It's hard to find the time to update my fic. The next update could be a couple weeks away so, please be patient. Pleeeaase.

I live off of reviews. HINT

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Leia watched her father check his reflection in the mirror for the umpteenth time in just that hour. She could tell by the way his eyes darted back and forth from the clock and door that he was nervous. At seven o clock this disastrous date would begin. Leia had tried setting the clocks back to make him unbelievably late but his stupid wrist watch had made him check them twice. She tried hiding his keys in the ice box but he had a key finder. Everything she tried to do ended up being pointless and Anakin was starting to catch on that these events were not just coincidence.

"How do I look?" Anakin almost made her laugh, it sounded funny coming from a thirty three year old man, like something a teenage girl would ask. Letting him know that she wasn't as depressed as she seemed wouldn't be wise, she decided, so sighing she left him to figure it out.

Anakin pulled up to a fair sized brick house with a long driveway, he checked the address one more time to make sure it was the right house.

7256 Archer Street

Deciding after one more check that he had the right place he pulled into the driveway and took a few calming breaths. Never before had he been so nervous about one date, how bad could it be? Swallowing the lump in his throat he got out of his speeder and rang the bell.

As he waited for someone to answer he took a moment to look around the neighborhood. It was a small subdivision, with white picket fences and perfect lawns, trimmed bushes, and towering oak trees. For some reason he hadn't pinned Padme as the soccer mom type. Finally the door opened, Luke stood smiling with red cheeks as though he had been running.

"Come on in. I'll go get mom," He said, opening the door just wide enough for Anakin to come inside the foyer. Luke ran up the stairs earning a scolding from Padme. She walked down the stairs in a pair of black satin pants and a white blouse. Just as she was about to say something there was a loud crash from upstairs. If it was possible to laugh and groan at the same time Padme did it.

"Excuse me." She walked back up the stairs leaving Anakin standing blankly in the foyer, somewhat uncomfortable. From his place by the door he could only hear fragments of the conversation between mother and son.

"…..lost her?"

"Didn't mean to……accident….sorry."

"……when I get back"

"…mad are you"

"Not mad…..go to bed…decent hour."

Anakin raised an eyebrow wondering who Luke lost…or what he lost.

After Padme came back down she apologized, but didn't say what was going on, then grabbed her jacket.

"Did you always like to skate?" Anakin asked taking a sip of water.

"Off and on. When I was really young I used to watch my mom and sister skate and I always wanted to skate with them but they would tell me I was too young, then she, uh, she passed away and my father became obsessed with one of his daughters going out and becoming some famous ice skater, like mom. Sola had broken her ankle and the doctor said that the way it had been broken it would never be quite as strong as before so his next option was me. He used to get me up at like four o clock in the morning to run drills, and I came to hate it. After I had Luke and moved away from my family I picked it up again and I've been doing it ever since." Padme explained remembering every morning as if she were watching the movie of her life now.

"I don't think anyone should be forced into doing something they don't want to do." Anakin commented, balling up his napkin and tossing it on his plate. Padme knew all to well what being forced into things felt like. Life altering things.

"I agree," She smiled.

After a bit more polite conversation and a small desert the waiter came to deliver the check. After it had been paid Anakin helped Padme back into her jacket and steadied his hand at the small of her back, leading her out of the restaurant.

Anakin had come to love Naboo; everything seemed to be intricately woven together. Everyone was a part of everything and vise versa, unlike Tatooine which seemed like it was just…there. It wasn't like here; everything here was so peaceful and unique.

As they were walking back to the speeder someone called out to Padme, she visibly cringed.

"PADME?" A woman with cherry red hair and skin that looked like it had been stretched as tight as it could possibly be stretched called after the pair. Her hair was long and looked radioactive, or at least Anakin thought so. (Bad Anakin. Shame, shame.)

"Hello Pandora." She said weakly as the woman wrapped her in a crushing hug.

"Oh it's been ages, Palo and I just don't get out anymore. It's such a hassle and the business is thriving! Please tell your father that we thank him for the money to get it started," She laughed. You mean my inheritance? Padme thought. Pandora's eyes almost fell out of her sockets when they landed on Anakin.

"Who is your friend here?" None of your damn business. Padme thought to herself.

"Pandora this is Anakin Skywalker, Anakin this is Pandora Macavetti."

"Luke's step-mother." Pandora added brightly, Padme narrowed her eyes at the woman. Just because she married Palo does not make her Luke's stepmother…okay legally she might be but they haven't even seen Luke since the day he was...well no Palo's never actually seen him. Padme thought bitterly.

"Oh, it's lovely to meet you," She purred.

"Um, it's…it's nice to meet you too." Anakin managed a strained smile as Pandora laid a hand on his upper arm.

"If you ever need anything please, look me up." WHAT! Anakin was dumbfounded. He obviously had no idea what to think about this woman, afraid she'd get the idea that he was actually considering it he put an arm around Padme's waist. Pandora narrowed her eyes at her for a brief moment before releasing Anakin's arm and collecting her cheery disposition.

"Tell Luke his father and Pandy said hello; I'm sure he'll be glad to hear it. Seeing as how you've never even let him see his own father and mother."

"Step-mother," Padme corrected coldly.

"It's all the same," Pandora waved her 'mistake' off.

"Actually it isn't," Padme muttered as she and Anakin turned to leave, the snow crunching beneath their shoes.

The first half of the ride was silent, but while waiting for the snowplow to clear the street Anakin cleared his throat and asked, "How long have Pandora and Palo been married?"

"Thirteen years." Padme answered, avoiding his gaze suddenly finding the cuff of her coat the most interesting thing to direct her attention to.

"Thirteen years? Did he even wait around for Luke to be born to divorce you?" After it was said Anakin wanted to take it back, he felt like he was prying into her life, which he didn't want to do. To his relief Padme didn't seem bothered.

"I have a confession to make; I lied about being married before. When people ask about it it's just easier to tell them that instead of going into details. It's a very, very long story." To her surprise Anakin laughed.

"Wow," Padme looked at him curiously, "I've just never had anyone admit to lying about something." He began to laugh again only this time because Padme had hit his arm in annoyance. She looked frustrated and that frustration only made her look even more adorable in Anakin's eyes then she had been before.

"Well maybe you'll tell me that very, very long story one day." He had finally managed to stop his laughter and become semi-serious again. The corners of Padme's pink lips upturned slightly into a ghost of a smile.

"Maybe I will."