Suddenly, there are shouts from two little girls, Ryoo (age6) and Pooja (age 4). They come running toward Padme. Padme grins before excitingly exclaiming " Ryoo! Pooja!" Padme scoops up Ryoo and Pooja and hugs them. Padme continues to grin, she hasn't seen them for a while and the happiness overtakes her, yet there is still business to be done. With a sudden idea Padme says " Why don't you go wake up Artoo." They haven't seen Artoo and are extremely happy to see the little droid.
They squeal
simultaneously to the droid " Artoo!" As they see the droid,
they hug him. Artoo Whistles and Beeps happy to see them as well.
Padme laughs and Anakin smiles, happy to see the girl he loves in
such peace. Anakin and Padme go on toward the
house. The girls
stay and play with Artoo. Sola, Padme's beautiful older sister,
comes in from the kitchen carrying a big bowl of food. Sola replies
over her shoulder "They're eating over at Jev Narran's later, Mom.
They just had a snack. They'll be
fine." Sola puts the bowl down
on the table, where Anakin, Padme
and Ruwee Naberrie (Padme's
father) are coming into the room. Sola smirks looking over Anakin
before replying to Padme "Padme!" She embraces her sister, love
shown clearly on her face. "You're late. Mom was worried." Padme
frowns before grumbling " We walked." Then she pushes forward
Anakin " Anakin, this is my sister, Sola." Sola winks at Anakin
and grins mischievously at Padme. "Hello, Anakin." Anakin looks
shy before politely replying "Hello." Sola sits, as Jobal
Naberrie (Padme's mother) comes in with a heaped bowl of steaming
food. Padme now steers him towards her mom "...and this is my
mother." Jobal smiles gently and says "You're just in time for
dinner. I hope you're hungry, Anakin." He shyly replies " A
little." as his stomach grumbles defying his answer. Padme smirks
and licks her lips as her gaze rests on Anakin's tight ripped abs,
and despite the cloak and tunic she can still see the outline. She
chuckles before saying "
He's being polite, Mom. We're starving." Ruwee grins after she his daughter's look and says "You came to the right place at the right time." Everyone sits and starts passing food.
Between the meal
Jobal says with relief "Honey, it's so good to see you safe.
We
were so worried." Padme gives Jobal a dirty look. Ruwee
smiles as he watches. He interrupts hoping to prevent a fight in
front of Anakin "Dear…" Jobal shakes her head agreeing "I
know, I know... but I had to say it. Now it's done." Sola leers
happy to change the subject "Well, this is exciting! Do you know,
Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister's ever brought home?"
Anakin grins happy to her the news that no one has touched his Padme.
Padme on the other hand stiffens and rolls her eyes "Sola! He
isn't my boyfriend! He's a Jedi assigned by the Senate to protect
me." Anakin frowns a look of disgust comes on his face. Not her
Boyfriend, maybe not yet but I will be, no ones going to touch Padme
but me! Jobal on the other hand gasps out in shock "A
bodyguard! Oh, Padme! They didn't tell us it was that serious!"
Padme looks around worriedly and attempts to cover her tracks. "It's
not, Mom, I promise. (glances at Jobal) Anyway,
Anakin's a friend.
I've known him for years. Remember that little boy who was with the
Jedi during the blockade crisis? They all nod, of course they
remember him he was a hero in Naboo and they knew him and Padme were
quite smitten. Padme grins looking over Anakin. "He grew up."
Anakin smirks At least she knows I'm grown up Jobal frowns
irritated "Honey, when are you going to settle down? Haven't you
had enough of that life? I certainly have!" But Padme has not had
enough of that life and rushes to defend herself "Mom, I'm not in
any danger." Ruwee on the other hand turns to Anakin "Is she?"
Anakin savors the moment " ...Yes ...I'm afraid she is." Padme quickly replies "But not much."
After lunch Anakin
and Ruwee take a walk in the garden. Ruwee says to Anakin "Sometimes
I wish I'd traveled more... but I must say, I'm happy here." Anakin
nods silently agreeing that Naboo is an excellent place. "Padme
tells me you teach at the university?" Ruwee nods surprised "
Yes, and before that, I was a builder. I
also worked for the
refugee relief movement when I was very young."
While this is going on Padme, her mother, and her sister are having a conversation while clearing the table. As Padme's gaze falls out the window and at Anakin, Sola grins and says "Why haven't you told us about him?" Padme shakes her head stunned " Huh, What's there to talk about? He's just a boy." Sola smirks "A boy? Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Padme blushes and raises her voice "Sola - stop it!" Sola grins, and rushes to meddle some more "It's obvious he has feelings for you. Are you saying, little baby sister, that you haven't noticed?" Padme shakes her head embarrassed " I'm not your baby sister, Sola. Anakin and I are friends... our relationship is strictly professional. She turns to her mom " Mom, would you tell her to stop it?" Sola laughs " Friends huh, would that be like friends with benefits. Cause I mean. Well, maybe you haven't noticed the way he looks at you. I think you're afraid to." Padme scowls, Sola's comment stung "Cut it out." her voice is low and deadly, and recognizing the tone of voice Jobal immediately interjects "Sola's just concerned... we all are." Padme shakes her head, she can't deal with this My feels for Anakin are not like that, when I she him I still see the boy I cuddled to my chest ten years ago But Padme realized that she did have feelings for Anakin, feelings she didn't want to admit to her self. "Oh, Mom, you're impossible. What I'm doing is important." Jobal disagreed "You've done your service, Padme. It's time you had a life of your own. You're missing so much!" Yet Padme only wanted a life with Anakin and that was something she would never have.
Anakin and Ruwee are walking in the garden. Ruwee stops and faces Anakin directly.
Ruwee wants the
truth and he wants it now "Now tell me, son. How serious is this
thing? How much danger is my daughter really in?" Anakin answers
but his mind is still caught around the word son. I hope I will
be someday, Mr. Naberrie. "There have been two attempts on her
life. Chances are there'll be more. My Master is tracking down
the
assassins. I'm sure he'll find out who they are. This
situation, won't last long."
Ruwee bows his head concerned "I don't want anything to happen to her." And I know you don't Anakin. And as Anakin answers it confirms what he already assumed. "I don't either. Mr. Naberrie, and I swear to you I will protect with all I can give."
Later in the Afternoon , they are in Padme's bedroom. Padme throws some things into a bag. Anakin looks around anxiously I'm in Padme's room, nice bed I wonder if I'll have Padme on it. Oh bad thought Anakin, very bad thought, tonight I am gonna take a long, cold, very cold shower. Ugh this is gonna be a long mission Anakin turns his head to look at her " I just want to get there before dark" Not really but I really want to get out of this room, or any room for that matter that has a bed and you in it. Those two things don't mix Padme goes on packing having no idea the conflict going on inside Anakin. Determined not to look at Padme, Anakin looks around the room. He makes conversation trying to appear like he's not avoiding her "You still live at home."
Padme looks at him startled Okay that was very obvious, where'd that come from "I move around so much, I've never had a place of my own. Official residences have no warmth. I feel good here. I feel at home." Anakin nods yet still has no idea how a home feels "I never had a real home. Home was always where my Mom was." Attempting to get his mid off his mom, Anakin picks up a framed hologram. He looks in shock "
Is this you?" The
hologram shows Padme at age seven or eight surrounded
by forty or
fifty little green creatures. She is holding one in her arms. They
are all smiling hugely. Padme frowns but has a slight grin "That
was when I went with the relief group to Shadda-Bi-Boran. Their sun
was imploding, and the planet was dying. I was helping to relocate
the children. See that little one I'm holding? His name was
N'a-kee-tula, which
means sweetheart. He was so full of life. All
those kids were. They were never able to adapt... to live off their
native planet. They all died" Anakin's face saddens and he picks
up another hologram. It shows Padme at age ten or eleven. She is
wearing official robes and standing between two robed legislators.
Her expression is severe. Padme laughs "Oh
My first day as an
Apprentice Legislator. Notice the difference? Padme pulls a face and
Anakin grins. She continues packing. He sets the two holograms down
side by side - the
beaming little girl, and the stern, unsmiling
adolescent.
