A/n-Thank you for all the feedback and new followers. I'm doing okay. The procedure was quick and I'm recovering well. This is one of my favorite chapters of the rewritten parts of the story. Please review or follow! -GP

Chapter 16

Location: Theed, Naboo

Fete Day 2 Year 29 BBY

The family gathers around the dinner table laughing joyously as Anakin retells his tales of life at the Imperial Academy. His friend Obi-wan chimes in as needed when the young man embellishes his parts of his story. Padme' eyes the pair of young men. Anakin's new friend seems polite and milder in personality compared to their wild friend. He seems to help bring balance to Anakin's wild actions, someone Anakin needs to hold back his temper. Images of the time Anakin had choked Palo filled her mind. She tries to shake away those thoughts. That was a long time ago- a time that she wishes to forget.

" Where is that fiance' of yours?" Anakin changes the conversation directed at him to her.

Padme' snaps out of her awful thoughts and smiles politely. " He has business to attend to on Scipio before the nuptials."

Anakin's blue hues hide something behind them as he commented, " Business? It's the week of Fete. His job is very important to him it seems. He'll find a hard time balancing marriage and work then."

Ruwee pats Anakin's shoulder and replies, " Anakin there is no such thing as balancing family and work. Besides his business on Scipio has to do with the nuptials. He had to gain approval from the government council for their marriage license."

Anakin nods in acceptance of this answer and returns to his food in silence. Why was he asking so many questions? Perchance he was just curious of her new fiance'. He isn't acquainted with him as well as the rest of her family. That's all it was- it had to be.

" So Obi-wan what specialty have you chosen?" Comes the sweet voice of her older sister, Sabe'.

Padme' turns her direction on her sister's question. Her deep golden eyes pass a look to her in knowing, as if she had known that Anakin's probing questions were his over-protectiveness of his friend. Her eyes turn back on the young man in front of her.

Obi-wan's gray gaze is firmly set on her sister. Padme' smiles watching his focus on her sister. There is a determination in his eyes that are humble and kind. He replies, " I will be joining the branch of training the recruits on Courscant next fall. I enjoy mentoring the new arrivals and teaching is a passion I have for others."

Sabe' smiles at his response and his peaceful ideals as a soldier. She comments, " A noble ambition indeed."

" And what of your career aspirations Miss Sabe?" His intense gray eyes focus on the young woman in front of him. Sabe's smile grows with his focus on her. Most of the family members around them watch the conversation with high interest. She answers quietly, " I will be accompanying Padme' to Coruscant after her wedding. She needs a handmaiden in her service so I wish to be near family, so she has someone from Naboo with her."

Obi-wan takes this response with joy. He likes talking to this young lady. Her polite manner and kind words speak to his own philosophy of life. Padme' tries to keep the curl of a smile forming from the corner of her lips. She turns her head and eyes her father. Her father smiles back at her seeing the attraction between the pair. They'd all have to watch this play out with great amusement.

Ruwee' sips the wine from his glass and rubs his full stomach. He suggests, " Well Katrina and I have some decorations to attend to the ballroom. Katrina?" He eyes his wife and she nods as they leave the table.

Sola sighs and eyes her chrome watch. She seems anxious at being away from her family. Padme' comments to her, " What time is Darren supposed to call?"

She turns to her sister and murmurs, " About an hour ago- I hope Ryoo isn't giving him hell. She is such a picky eater."

Her eyes shine with her motherly worries. Sola is a wonderful mother to her daughter. She never spent too much time away from her, but had insisted for the first two days to help Padme' prepare for the wedding and get the estate ready for the arrivals of their guests. The wedding wouldn't be a large one, Padme had insisted that close family and friends of the bride and groom should be present. She never liked the idea of a large family wedding and never dreamed of such. That was Dorme's dream.

Dorme' would be arriving with her new husband, fresh from their honeymoon in a day's time. Padme' had been a bridesmaid in her cousin's large wedding. The wedding had been held in Alderaan at the palace. There had been three hundred people in attendance- way too large for Padme's liking. Although her life of hosting gathers would happen over some time. She doesn't want to dwell too much on her future yet. She has to be able to marry the Senator first. She isn't having reservations but she doesn't know how she will feel on her actual wedding day.

Her eyes fall onto the pair as Obi-wan asks, " Miss Sabe' what will you work on this evening? Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

Sabe' smiles and suggests, " I have to work on the gift baskets for the guests, but I'd love some company."

Obi-wan stands up and rounds the corner of the table and pulls out her seat for her. She stands and takes his offered hand. Padme suggests, " I will work on the-" Sola cuts her sister off and commands, " No you won't! As one of your maid of honors, I am telling you to go relax. You don't need any worries, we have it covered. Anakin, do you think you could entertain her for awhile?"

Great, not exactly what I wanted to do. Padme' had made it through dinner and their reunion with ease because they hadn't spent any time alone. And Padme' doesn't know what to say if they are alone- or what he will say.

Anakin answers gazing back up at Sola, " Of course I can keep her company. Padme' Do you want to join me on a walk in the gardens?

His gaze flickers onto hers. She smiles politely and wants to avoid them being alone but it would look a bit suspicious to Sola if she doesn't want to be alone with her best friend. No one except Katrina knows of their fling. She answers, " Sure we can catch up. It has been many months since we've chatted."

Anakin accepts her answer and Sola leaves them to head for the gardens.

Her breath comes out in little puffs into the cold night air. She is wrapped in her thick cloak which is lined with fur. Her black gloves cover her hands to protect them from the harsh chill of the winter night. Her eyes leer up into the clear night sky. She can make out a few constellations she had learned about as a child from her father. Her father loved the astronomy of the galaxy. Tonight they draw her in as the silence crunches over them.

She isn't sure how to begin their conversation. The last time they had spoken alone had been goodbyes and they hadn't known if they'd see each other as soon. It seems like a lifetime ago of their innocence- the days of innocence and childhood had all but faded from her mind. Their steps are slow through the soft crunching snow under their feet. It had just fallen two nights prior- just in time for the Winter Festivals. Padme's voice comes out softly, " Do you remember the time we came out here in the middle of the night to have a snowball fight?"

She allows her mind to reminisce that first winter here at the estate. She had missed those countryside winters and missed her friends. Anakin had woken her up in the middle of the night to the fallen snow and had taken her out in the middle of the snowfall and they'd had the fight of the decade. Snowballs had flown and hit many of the windows near the entrance to the kitchen. They had woken the rest of the family with their laughter and somehow the battle had more members. That had been the best Winter Fete- the first of many.

Anakin chuckles as his breath comes out in large puffs into the night air. " Yes, I remember how poor of a shot you were."

She glances over at her friend and laughs along with him. Their eyes meet: brown hues and blue hues. The connection they've shared for so long stronger than ever. She smiles back and continues on with their memory, " Yes, but thanks to a certain someone by the end of the night I was winning if I remember correctly."

Anakin chuckles again and replies, " Yes something I regretted each snowfall after that. You've always been a quick study."

She eyes the house behind them. They are far out of reach of others to hear their polite words or too busy with their duties at the moment. Her eyes roam over her friend's changing form. His hair is shorter in style with more of a spiky feature than waves. His gray ensign uniform makes him look even more handsome in the moonlight. She can tell his non existent abs had become abs with his training at the academy. He isn't such a young boy anymore- no a young man staring right back at her with the same focus.

His gaze flickers over her just as she roams over him. Her hair is down, straightened for once. Her hair is longer than he remembers. Her figure was more womanly in the time they have been apart- or was it just that he didn't remember her body being this womanly? Though he did notice her larger chest size- it was noticeable but he didn't know it was possible for a woman's breasts to grow over time. He knew as much about woman's anatomy as much as the next man- none other than how to pleasure a woman in bed.

She seems happy with her life. That puts him a bit on edge. She seems comfortable in marrying this complete stranger. Or was he a stranger to her? Perhaps they had grown close over the past three months away. She is glowing more than she ever has within the force. Her force signature is different now-brighter in hue. He didn't quite understand why she felt different and his force abilities only could sense so far.

The words leave his mouth before he can stop them. " Are you happy?"

Padme's gaze stays in place as she answers sincerely, " Yes." It wasn't a lie. She is happy about her future with her child. She may not have everything she wants, but her child is safe and can have a good life.

He nods accepting this answer. She asks back, " Are you happy?"

He nods and shrugs, " Yes- I guess so. I have what I've always wanted." That part isn't a lie. He has his health, the future of a career- but not the woman he loves.

She accepts his answer and determines to continue their stroll through the dead garden. The bright green holly bushes are bright within the moonlight. The red berries glint as if taunting someone to taste one, which no one will do. His stride stays behind her as he watches her continue ahead of him. She doesn't notice that he hasn't joined her further on their journey through the dead gardens.

" Why are you marrying him?" His voice murmurs against the cold night.

There it is. The dropping of a lightsaber in their polite and non serious conversation. She bites her lips and stops frozen in place. She turns her eyes to meet her best friend's protective ones.

He doesn't keep the space between them while he waits for her answer. She replies simply, " What kind of question is that?"

Anakin frowns and they are a mere foot apart. He suggests, " I want to know why you're marrying a man you hardly know."

Her huff echoes through the garden. She murmurs simply, " I know Rush well now. You haven't been around."

He runs his hand through his short spiked hair. His tone warns of his rising anger as he demands, " That isn't fair. You could have written. I was giving you space."

Her annoyance is there. Yes she had desired space at the time they had parted, but so many times she had wanted to write him- to tell him of everything that had happened in her life. She retorts, " Yes, but that doesn't mean you couldn't have tried to contact me. I would have responded."

His eyes flash with hurt and he snaps out, " So it should be left up to me now? Is this friendship one sided?"

She scoffs at his hurtful expression. He has no idea how her life has altered to their choices. She responds, " What friendship? We haven't been friends for months."

He presses his lips into a thin line and snaps, " I have never given up on our friendship, P. I told you that before I left."

She swallows and tries to change the topic of their conversation. " I don't want to argue with you. You're only back for a few days."

She tries to break their stare but he shakes his head and demands, " No I don't, but I want to understand why your jumping into a marriage when-"

" Did you think I'm still trying to get over you?" She abruptly says curtly.

His eyes flicker back down to his feet as she continues, " I've moved on. I'm happy. Why can't you be happy for me? Look what this did to us! I want my friendship back with the boy I knew."

His gaze flickers back up to her and he states, " You've never lost my friendship, but I'm worried about you. This isn't like you."

She scoffs off a cackle and snaps, " This is me now and if you want my friendship then you'll respect my wishes and just be happy for me!"

His gaze narrows at her response. Was she being blackmailed into marrying him? Something isn't right- she's hiding something and he knows it. This isn't like her to jump in bed with a man and marry him after knowing him for three months. His best friend isn't the kind of woman who does these things.

" Why? What does he have on you? Did he force you into this engagement?" He demands, questions flying from his mouth.

She bites her lips trying to keep the truth from slipping from her mouth. She spits out, " No! He is kind and caring and I-"

He points an accusing finger at her and interrupts her reply, " Don't say you love him."

She throws her hands up in the arm and shouts, " How hard is it for you to believe that I might have fallen in love with him?"

His eyes peer into her soul and he tries to sense if she's lying or not. Please- don't be true. He skims the edge of her mind as far as she'll allow him in. He can sense her fondness for Rush, a sense of kinship from him- but nothing of the sort of deep feelings he's trying to find. He's about to drop the subject for another time when he feels it- that little shove from the force. He can sense how bright her force signature is now. It is a golden hue, brighter than before. Why is it so bright? She isn't force sensitive, but he can feel the pull of the force. Her signature reads more like a person with force abilities. He searches more trying to pull the answer for her change-

Then he feels it. The twinge of the being's force signature. It's bright within the force, buried but brilliant against hers. That's why she's brighter than before she's-

The words roll off his lips, " How far along are you?"

Her eyes peer into his and her breathing freezes just like the icicles that hang from the lonely bare trees surrounding them.

" How far along are you?" He repeats his question, more urgent this time.

She swallows, unable to answer. She tries to find the words but they won't roll off her lips. Her eyes are large and watch him in surprise. How did he know?

You feel different in the force. Comes the reply through their bond.

Her mouth is dry as she tries to answer him. " I didn't know you could sense it through the force."

Her voice trembles with fear of him knowing the truth. She never wanted him to find out this way.

Anakin turns from her gaze then. His eyes follow the path up to the house. He rubs his hands through his hair. So that's why she has chosen to marry so quickly. She is not only getting a husband but a fucking whole family in the next few months. He knows the culture of Nabooians and knows if her family knew they'd want her to marry quickly.

He turns his eyes back on her and asks, " Do they know?"

She shakes her head. " We're waiting to tell them until after I'm far enough along to start showing."

She still hasn't answered his first question. The question he wants to know. The child has a strong force signature but he doesn't want to assume that the Senator doesn't have a blood relative who is not force sensitive. It is possible to pass the gene along without being force sensitive.

He repeats his earlier question, " How far along are you?"

She tries to hold back onto those tears. She doesn't need to cry- damn hormones. Pregnancy had seriously messed with her emotions, there are times she cries for no reason. It makes her feel weak and not strong. Her response is snappy, " Why does it matter? I'm marrying Rush."

Anakin stares down hard as he snaps back, " It does matter to me! If there's a chance-" He stops himself from saying out loud his thoughts.

Those damn tears fill her eyes as her voice trembles weakly, " I'm three months along."

His gaze softens into the oceanic blue that she loves. The air frosty between them as the truth stares them both down. He reaches for her then. He pulls her into his arms in a crushing hug.

She breaks then. The distance closed between then. Her sagging arms wrap around his waist and the crushing stress of holding onto her secret for so long is out. He kisses the top of her head in assurance of him not leaving her there. She doesn't sob as she had the night he had left, but allows those silent tears to fall.

" P- I'm sorry you've been dealing with this alone." He murmurs against her head. She smells of that shurra fruit he loves. The smell is overwhelming for him as he's only dreamed of being this close to her for months. He remembers the scent as if he won't get another chance again to hold her like this.

She pulls away then and looks up at him murmuring, " It's okay I choose to go through with this."

He wipes those glistening tears from her eyes and states firmly, " You're not alone now. I'm not going anywhere."

Her eyes widened in response. She replies bitterly, " How can you be there? You have to go back to the academy and I-"

He cups her cheeks and whispers, " I won't go back. We'll figure things out-"

She backs away from him, hearing him giving up his dreams. She shakes her head and expresses firmly, " No! You aren't going to give up your career for me! No!"

He grabs her hand in reassurance. " P- I'm not having you do this on your own-"

She holds up her hand and states firmly, " I won't be doing this alone. I have Rush."

His hand drops at the mention of the man not present at the moment. His mouth frowns a grimace as he growls out, " I don't want someone else raising my child."

Padme' looks don't change. She understands that he wants to be there to raise their child together. But it isn't possible. If her family discovers the truth- they'll cast her out and Anakin will lose any chance of his prospects as a soldier. She retorts, " So what's your plan? Tell everyone the truth? I'll be ruined and so will you. How can we raise a child in that environment? No family? Are you willing to lose everything dear to us for an unsafe life? Would you do that to our child?"

Frustrated, he lets off a growl to the frosty night. He runs his hands through his hair. He needs a drink. His thoughts race through him, anyway they can do this without exposing their affair-to allow their child to live in a safe world. But he knows she's right. He cannot provide a means to be in their child's life as its father. He doesn't want her to be ruined- but it isn't right.

" It isn't fair-" He growls out in complaint.

" Life isn't fair, but I want you to be a part of my life and the baby's life," She states clearly in all seriousness.

He sighs and rubs his hands through his hair out of habit. He doesn't want to watch her marry someone she doesn't love all for the sake of their child. But knows right now he can't offer her anymore than his friendship. But can he handle just offering her his friendship? She doesn't know he loves her-loves the child he hasn't met yet. He whispers, " Could you watch another woman raise your child?"

Padme' hears the tightness in his voice. Did he really mean to not be a part of their child's life? Did he not know how she still needs his friendship? " Ani- please don't do this, " She whispers out a plea.

He takes her hand and murmurs, " P- I don't know if I can watch him raise our child as his own. I'm not strong enough."

Tears sting her eyes and she murmurs, " I need you in my life Ani- Please don't do this."

He cups her cheek and wipes the tear from her face. " P- I-"

He stops himself from confessing his love for her. She is in no condition to handle the truth and what would it help in their situation? How could he walk away from the woman he loved and his unborn child? But she was going on with her life without him anyway. He wouldn't be around that much anyway- could it hurt to be part of their lives from a distance?

She takes his silence as his answer. She backs away from his hands and states, " Fine- if you can't handle it- after the wedding we'll stay away. I understand now." Her voice sounds strong, but her knees are weak. All she wants for him to do is agree to be part of their lives- that's all she wants!

He replies, " I didn't say I have an answer! This is a lot to take in. I need time to think this through."

This stops her walking away from him. She bobs her head in agreement. " I'm sorry for the bombardment of information and demands. It took me weeks to accept this pregnancy. Can we at least try to enjoy the time we have through the holidays?"

He nods in agreement and pulls her into a tight hug. He hugs her tight, remembering her scent and warmth. " I missed you," He murmurs against her forehead.

She whispers back, " I missed you too Ani. I'm cold, can we go back indoors?"

His chuckle comes and he agrees but adds, " If you'll join me in a game of pazaak."

She pulls away from him and confesses, " Yes, I hadn't had a decent pazaak partner in a long time. It's about time I can kick your ass."

His laughter is loud as they walk back to the main house arm in arm. They know their closeness is temporary. They both don't know the future of their friendship, but for tonight things are quiet and like before- before all the madness of those months ago…..

To Be Continued.