Snow Lepord – you're about to find out if your guess in the last review was right…

Julie Horwitz – I hope to clear all of those details up very soon.

qtrhrs78 – thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope I don't disappoint with this one. I'm not sure if this story is going to work out the way I envisioned it, but hopefully it will.

Bethie522 – this story is only going to be 7 chapters – one for each day. It moves along at a fast pace. I'm only hoping it doesn't seem too rushed, I'm purposely writing it in a quicker fashion than I usually do…

DarthGladiator45 – yes, indeed there is…

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

SEVEN DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS

Day V – Revelations

Once again, Senator Padme Amidala found herself sitting in silence while her Jedi cellmate quietly sat in meditation. It had become a routine of sorts. Neither of them had spoken to each other much in the two days that he had been awake. Padme didn't mind the distance that fell between them most of the time, but she also found it to be rather uncomfortable at other times. From what she could tell by the lighting system in the cell – assuming that the overhead lights shut off at night and turned back on in the day – they had been locked together as prisoners of the Empire for three days now and they had still not exchanged names. The standoffish man had told her of his past as a Jedi and his service during the Clone Wars, but nothing more.

Observing the stranger before her, Padme wondering just what kind of person he really was. Was he a good Jedi? What was his rank? How did he survive the Jedi purges? What was he doing back on Coruscant?

These were all questions that she planned to figure out…and she intended to ask them just as soon as he had drifted out of his ensuing meditation.

Padme grew anxious as another hour slipped by and her companion remained sitting with his eyes closed. She had expected him to have finished his meditation long ago and was beginning to get impatient. She mused that the Jedi was probably staying where he was in an attempt to avoid interaction with her, but thought that she was probably being ridiculous. Nonetheless, she was getting tired of waiting and hastily cleared her throat, pulling the Jedi from his state of concentration. He peered up at her with a puzzled expression.

"Aah, there you are," Padme said, sounding somewhat pleased with herself.

The man quirked a brow, genuinely curious. "Where else would I be, milady?"

"It has dawned on me that we have spent two days confined to this room together," she continued without acknowledging his remark. "Three if you count the day you arrived, but you slept through most of that…which leads me to my next point. I know just as little about you now as I did then, Master Jedi. Perhaps we could get to know each other better, seeing as how we may be imprisoned here for quite some time."

"Very well, Senator," he bluntly replied with a faint grin. "First of all, I am not yet a Master – I am only a Knight. Is there anything else you would care to know?"

Padme ignored his impatient tone and pressed on. "As a matter of fact, there is."

She was still hesitant to divulge her identity to the Jedi, but felt that she would have to be honest if she were to expect him to be forthcoming. And after all, who could be trusted more than a Jedi? "I am Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo. What is your name?"

The man slightly shifted from his place on the floor across the small room, seemingly debating whether or not he should answer the question.

Finally, after a brief moment of contemplation, he reluctantly obliged. "Anakin."

"Anakin?" Padme couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. Surely she couldn't be sharing a cell with… "Not…not Anakin Skywalker?"

Frowning, the Jedi responded with an affirmative nod.

"Thank the stars you are alive!" she gasped, staring at him in disbelief. "What of General Kenobi? Do you know if he escaped the clones when they turned?"

"He survived," the Jedi solemnly answered.

The former politician didn't say another word, struggling to digest the shocking information. From the grand stories and accomplishments of the famous Jedi Knight Skywalker, she never would have guessed he would be so…young. His reputation was one of a warrior who had experienced a lifetimes worth of battles and wartime. The man before her looked to be around her age – hardly old enough to have been through so much. Although, she herself had been put through her share of hardships during the course of her short life. Starting with her term as Queen of Naboo, all the way up to the most recent events, she had seen a lot of suffering and pain. The thought that 'The Hero With No Fear' could be so young had just never crossed her mind.

"How…how did you get here?" she spoke up again. "Why have you been spared?"

"It's a long story," the esteemed protector of the Republic stated. "They have their reasons for wanting to keep me alive. And what about you, Senator?"

"They must have their reasons for wanting to keep me alive as well," Padme replied, deciding to let his lack of detail slide for the time being. "Though, I have no idea what they might be."

"I suppose they could have any number of reasons for wanting to keep a past Senator around."

"I suppose you are right," the former politician agreed. "Only time will tell…"

The thick tension that had been hanging in the air slowly began to dissipate. For the past hour, Padme had finally coaxed the man that she now knew to be none other than Anakin Skywalker into speaking with her. With the conversation about their true identities soon turning to idle chatter about nothing in particular, the wariness that rested between the pair of prisoners eventually lifted. She had actually managed to evoke a chuckle from the normally stone-faced Jedi after revealing a past incident in her youth that had been extremely embarrassing. She preferred to keep such stories to herself, but told them anyway. She would do whatever she could to keep the conversation moving and avoid their previous discomfort from returning.

"…I was volunteering in the Refuge Relief Movement back then," she continued to reminisce; holding the Jedi's full attention as he intently listened. "We helped to resolve the Shadda-Bi-Boran exodus. Then, when I was eight, I joined the Apprentice Legislature. I became an official legislator by the time I was eleven and…"

Not quite sure if she should reveal the fact that she had later been elected Queen of Naboo, Padme trailed off and glanced over at her companion.

"I'm sorry, I have been talking too much," she softly laughed when she noticed his expectant gaze. "Please, tell me about yourself."

Looking somewhat disappointed, Skywalker sighed and nervously scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know that there's much to tell, Senator."

"Oh, I'm sure you have much more interesting stories to tell than I," Padme prodded.

"I wouldn't be so sure," he teased with a smirk. "I was raised in the Temple ever since I was a boy and that is where I acquired my Jedi training. Master Obi-Wan taught me everything I know."

Noticing the sorrowful look that appeared on the Knights face, Padme offered him a sympathetic smile and lowered her eyes to the floor in front of her. "I'm sorry about everything that has happened. There is no excuse for – "

She stopped in mid-sentence when the constantly humming energy field that covered the door to their cell suddenly flickered and vanished, leaving the cramped room eerily quiet.

"Looks like another delivery," Anakin bitterly commented.

They both jumped up to their feet when the sound of the door being unlatched from the outside rang through their cell and echoed off the walls.

The Jedi cautiously glared at the door. "Maybe not."

Padme's eyes widened when the door flew open and a battle droid moved inside with a blaster rifle in hand, two droidekas firmly waiting behind it. Deflector shields activated, the two menacing destroyer droids stood at the ready while their counterpart approached the prisoners. Skywalker quickly created a barrier between the petite Senator and the droid.

"Come with us, Jedi," it demanded.

Without delay, the Knight swiftly stepped past the arrogant droid – who instantly followed hot on his heels – and made his way out of the tiny room. Padme watched in astonishment as the door slammed shut behind their retreating forms, leaving her alone once again…

Huddling into the corner of the room, Padme looked up at the lights in the ceiling that had recently gone out and tightly wrapped Anakin Skywalker's heavy cloak around her chilled body. Left behind upon the Jedi's abrupt departure, the robes provided her with the warmth she desperately needed, allowing her to get as comfortable as one could possibly get in the unpleasant surroundings of a prison cell. She was thankful that it had been left behind, but scowled at herself for harboring such thoughts…to think of her own comfort while Skywalker had been taken away to Force knows where would be despicable. She inwardly cursed at herself for thinking so selfishly.

Pushing the thoughts from her churning mind, Padme couldn't help but wonder why the Knight had been taken and not her…or more importantly, where exactly the droids had taken him.