Author's Note: Hey everyone! Unfortunately, as soon as I finish with this post, I'm getting ready to head out of town. Thankfully, it's only for a few days so I'll be back early next week. Hopeless4Life - Here's an update for you! I'll be back with more as soon as I can, I promise! Padme's Sister - There is definitely something lurking around the corner, just biding it's time... (Cue evil author's laughter). Thanks for the review! Erik's leadinglady - That is definitely the longest review I've ever received and one of the funniest! I loved it:-) Thanks for the laughs and for taking the time to write it! And I will never forget the light saber threat! Hee! But I promise to never leave you hanging for months at a time, so hopefully you never have to use it! Hellish Red Devil - Aw, I'm glad you liked that line. I think Padme would really be concerned about the pressure Anakin puts on himself. And you liked Obi-wan and Siri's spats before? Then I think you're going to love this one! ;-) Meandmysharpie - Nope, no couch for Anakin! He's on the ball, this time around! If only he would have had some of that foresight in ROTS, huh:-) To all - Thanks for reading! See you next week!

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Falling back on a deeply ingrained habit, Anakin called silently for Obi-wan, just as the scene began to play out.

The room was dark, a carved chair and dying fire the only discernable features. Suddenly, a flickering blue light filled the room, illuminating a kneeling Jarrick.

Disappointment filled Anakin as he realized TX-306's view port did not capture the image of the person on the other end of the transmission.

"Have you completed your assignment?" a voice seethed.

"Yes, Master," he replied calmly. "The royal family is dead, destroyed in the manner you instructed."

"Good. Very good. Can you feel your powers growing?"

Jarrick paused for a moment before answering. "Yes, Milord."

The hologram fell silent for a moment, disapproving. "I sense confusion in you, young Jarrick."

He shook his head emphatically. "No, Master. I have not strayed from the course."

"Your so-called family was a necessary casualty," the harsh voice reminded him. "Do not forget how they mistreated you, sending you away to that pit. You were a young boy, an innocent. They deserved to die."

"Yes, Master," Jarrick responded. His eyes began to glow red, any trace of regret now erased from his mind.

"It is almost time to put my plan into place. Finally, you will have revenge and I will have unlimited power. The Galaxy shall be mine!" The words echoed through the room, the reverberations causing the furniture to wobble.

Anakin sensed Obi-wan standing beside him and drew comfort from his soothing presence. He turned his attention back to the recording.

"It will be done, my lord." Jarrick's words were spoken with reverence and admiration. "And what of the Jedi?"

"They will be dealt with. They will not stand in our way - not even Anakin Skywalker will be able to stop us." An evil chuckle rang through the shadows. "In fact, he will have more of a hand in it than he realizes."

Anakin felt his stomach turn to ice as the image blinked off.

What did that mean? he wondered desperately. How could I possibly play a part in the destruction of the Jedi?

Sensing his tumultuous thoughts, Padme placed a warm hand on his back. He turned, so grateful she was there. This entire situation was getting more worrisome by the day and he wanted to keep her close.

"I'm all right," he assured her. Then, he turned to Obi-wan and Siri, his words infused with confidence, as he repeated, "I'm all right."

Obi-wan stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder supportively. "Anakin, you must tell me everything you saw before we came in."

"Nothing too revealing, Master," he warned. "But I sense there's something familiar about that voice..."

"I better put on some tea," Siri offered knowingly.

It was going to be another late night.

NEXT DAY - MID-AFTERNOON

Padme frowned in concentration as she watched Artoo project the Holo-vid onto the ice. Due to TX-360's continued malfunction, the little astro droid was serving as their choreographer and had taken to explaining the various steps of their routine through holographic technology.

In the meantime, Threepio had returned Siri and Obi-wan to their own rink, muttering something about the "gruesome little droid trying to steal the spotlight." She grinned at the memory, but quickly returned to the task at hand.

"Okay, so we skate side-by-side and then go into a sweeping turn, gliding on one leg," Anakin summarized. "From there, we split up and do the cross over skating thing to gain speed-"

"And that's where the simultaneous toe loops come in," Padme finished.

"Exactly. Piece of cake," Anakin insisted with false bravado.

Artoo beeped to let them know that they should commence training. After checking to make sure her crash pads were in place, Padme faced Anakin and locked her arms with his. Seconds later, they were sailing across the ice and for that moment in time, she forgot all the politics, all the plotting. She was just a wife in love with her husband...

...who was a pretty big klutz, she determined, as Anakin stumbled and took her down with him.

"I'm sorry, Padme," he whispered, looking heartbroken. "I just can't concentrate."

For a long while, she studied him, her expression unreadable. He began to feel even more upset, certain she was aggravated.

Much to his surprise, she began to laugh.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"Your crash pads," she gasped, tears running down her cheeks. "Look!"

He turned sideways and saw that the seam had split along the backside of the unwieldy garment and thousands of tiny foam beads had spilled onto the ice. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and eventually grew into a full fledged grin.

"What a mess!" he cried, chuckling heartily. "Well, look on the bright side - at least I got my figure back."

"You sure know how to keep things interesting, Skywalker," Padme teased.

"You bet I do. I married you, didn't I?" he replied. Easily, he dodged the swat she aimed his way and managed to use her momentum to pull her into his arms. Hugging her close, he whispered his thanks to the Force that she had been brought into his life.

EARLY EVENING - PRACTICE RINK C

"And that just about does it for today, I think," Threepio stated, horrified by the angry looks Obi-wan and Siri were directing towards him.

His choreography programming reminded him that it had not been a good day. Both Jedi were finding the toe loops very difficult and insisted upon practicing them every spare moment. As a result, they were only about 20 percent finished with their routine which - according to his schedule - was very far behind where they should be.

"I shall see the two of you tomorrow," he promised. And then, he zoomed out of there, desperate for the warm safety of the charging chambers.

"Nice going, Kenobi," Siri spat, once the droid was out of range. "Your glowering scared Threepio to death."

"Me?" he replied, shocked. "I'm not the one that threatened to detach his leg and put it... somewhere else."

"That's because you are just too bloody polite to say what you are really thinking! So as a result, the rest of us just have to sit around and make guesses about your true feelings!"

"Is that right?" Obi-wan retorted sarcastically.

"You bet the Force that's right!"

"Well, if you think you know me so well, then tell me what I mean by this!"

Grabbing her by the shoulders, he brought his lips to hers in a searing kiss.