A/N- So I'm a few days late on my normal publishing date. To one of my lovely reviewers, keep in mind Anakin is pushing her away because he knows being with her is putting her life at risk and she's not quite ready for another relationship for quickly. Please R&R if you like this chapter.

-GP

Chapter 34

Location: Imperial Center

Month 9 Day 31 Year 28 BBY

The wind brushes past her cheeks. The cool air is mild compared to Naboo's fall winds. She keeps her head low as she walks back to her cousin's home. She had been walking since past midnight . She hadn't made it back to her cousin's home in two hours and should have been there by now. But her mind is still reeling from her revelations from a few hours ago.

He's in love with you. Her mind reels over and over again. How had she missed the signs? Inexperience? Perhaps her blindness at the time. She had thought he'd moved on from their fling so long ago. He never shows any sort of romantic interest now, but she'd felt his emotions as he witnessed that memory. He hadn't wanted her to know. Why did he not speak to her about this long ago?

At one time that young naïve' 17 year old would have jumped at the idea of waiting for her first lover. Her first love and best friend. Now? At 18 years old and with more experience than most in her young adult life, she wished she hadn't dug into the dark corners of his mind. Their friendship is in the stages of building back to what they had lost. And now with the truth out in the open? It scared her. It scared her to think he felt the same back then as he did now. Would he eventually want more than their friendship again?

The likelihood of that was nix to none. He knew how she felt about ever having a romantic relationship again. Her bad luck showed her what life shouldn't be and she wanted to pick her feet back up and her dreams that she left behind the moment she'd found out about her pregnancy.

She had a chance of completing her internship. Bail has asked her to start as soon as she's able. She didn't need a romantic complication with this prospect on the horizon. Perhaps that is why he had kept this to himself for so long. He wants her to live out her dreams without anyone stopping her.

" I can't be the man for you. Being a soldier won't be easy and I cannot ask you to give up your dreams for me. We'd both be lying to ourselves if we went down this path."

His words from long ago sneak up from the back of her mind. He had been right then to not tell her. His career left few opportunities to be involved with someone early in his career. He had a semester before graduating. He didn't need anybody to tie him down. Perhaps leaving this conversation is best to drop. He hadn't wanted to speak of it then and not now.

Padme stops her movements as she feels as if she's being watched. Her eyes catch a glimpse of a masked figure- or rather a figure that is dressed in a face covering. The face covering is maroon in color. She turns her gaze back to her path. How long had that life form been following her? She keeps walking- her senses heightened. Could Rush have someone watching her? Following her? She usually traveled with someone at all times. Her family had suggested the idea after her protests. She hadn't even thought of that after leaving the apartment. She tries to keep her calm and eyes the shadow behind her-many meters, but they were watching.

She eyes the corner up ahead. There is an alley where she can hide. She calmly walks towards the alley to her left. Adrenaline pumps in her veins as she eyes the alley. Not many places to hide, so she keeps walking down the dark alley. She hears the clicking of her boots and the busy streets behind her. She keeps her head down and faces her path ahead. She feels a tingle within the force. She turns around and observes her surroundings- just durasteel walls of buildings of those who lived here. Small creatures crawling in the trash left over from the residents of the building. She is about to turn around when she feels the blaster on the back of her shoulder. She gulps with her heart thumping loudly.

" Move," The modified voice through the mask suggests.

She puts her hands up in the air and begins to move towards the middle of the alley. She keeps her eyes out for anything she can use to throw at her attacker. " What do you want? Take my credits- there aren't many but you can have them and leave."

The sick crackle coming from the modified voice makes her stomach churn. " I don't want your credits. Though it's a pity such a beauty as yourself will die at my hand."

Padme' remembers the dagger on her belt. He had insisted on her carrying some kind of weapon to have in case of this situation. Her hand swiftly reaches down to her belt and she presses the dagger into the predator's leg. The modified voice shrills in pain. She pulls the blade again from the wound and ducks as she feels a warning in the force.

Be one with the force. Anakin's words ring in her head as the blast blot misses her shoulder. She feels the predator's low growl as he again tries to fire at her. She feels the bolt this time- it wounds her leg and she yelps in pain. She falls to the ground as her leg gives out with a second bolt to the leg. She clutches the dagger and turns herself, facing her opponent. The maroon face covering hides the face of her attacker, though she can see what appears to be a changeling as the eyes and eyebrows change in the dark shadows of the alley.

She grunts as the attacker comments, " I like a challenge. I thought you'd be such a weak thing to kill.

She drags herself using her ass and arms to get to the back of the alley wall. She mutters, keeping her eyes on the attacker. " I expected more from you."

The cackling laughter shoots through her ears. " Pity, I wanted a bit more of a chase from you."

Her assassin sets her blaster to the highest level she can. Padme's eyes widen in fear. No-you can't die here. This isn't how it's supposed to happen. Padme's attacker is closer now, as if enjoying this little chase. He grips Padme's hair and rips her away from the wall. She winces as her body twists and lands on the hard ground, she can feel scraping of her face against the concrete. The attack murmurs in her ear, " I like fighters, where's the challenge? Fight back."

Padme' closes her eyes, dreading the awaiting death that would soon come. She breathes in accepting her fate. Then she feels everything. She can sense the heartbeat of her attacker, she can feel her pulse. She's close enough to kill. And her hand reaches for the dagger, and sensing her opponent's strong pulse, she growls and dives the blade through the air and into her attacker's neck. She hears the screaming through the modulator. The blaster falls from her grip. Padme' stabs again in the spot next to her first wound. The wounded animal hollows in agony. The grip on her hair loosens. She hears the gushing and gurgling of her attacker. She turns and watches the blood rushing from her maroon face mask. It soaks her leather jacket and pants.

Padme's hand trembles and the dagger clatters to the ground. Her eyes grow wide as she hears the last breath of her attacker.

I killed her…. The maker.

Her hands shake as she notices the blood on her hands.

I killed her…

Location: 500 Republica, Clovis' residence

Month 9 Day 32 Year 28 BBY

His hands threw the holodisks across the room. They break against the nearby wall. He seethes out, " How hard is it to kill one silly woman?"

His eyes peer at the holo playing. The form of Count Dooku stands unmoving with no fear of his little temper tantrum. He points accusingly, " I told you I'd push through the legislation to allow the moon of Jedha to be excavated! You have not held up the end of our bargain."

Count Dooku shrugs uncaringly. " You asked for someone to assassinate your wife. It is not my responsibility to be sure she's dead. My contact did not know she would fight back. You will have to just deal with her in court and finalize your divorce."

Rush screams in rage and suggests, " Now the Senate has begun an investigation on me. If they find any evidence against me I'll rot in prison."

Dooku sighs with annoyance. The more he asked of the Senator, the more he expected back. His selfish greed would be his downfall. Dook surmises, " You do not have to worry about the evidence against you. The Senate will dismiss the case, even with her testimony. They will not find any connections to you and you'll be free to continue with pushing this bill through your little committee."

Rush points his finger at him and he snaps, " I will not pass it, until I'm cleared by the investigation committee. So I suggest you keep your deal, Count."

Dooku's hand reaches through the holo. He closes his fist and Rush feels the pain in his chest. He gasps for air and crumbles so easily to the ground. Weak and pathetic fool! Dooku declares, " May I give you the reminder that your life belongs in my hands, as well as the Emperor's. He is not as forgiving as I am."

The hold on his heart is released. He gasps for air, shaking in rage. He eyes the Sith and retorts, " Yes, I know. Just get rid of the evidence."

Dooku nods in his acceptance of their new bargain. It is little concern of him if the girl had lived or died, but he is a useful chip, the Senator relied on with blackmail. The Senator had enough dirt on him to be imprisoned for life. He had become careless as of late due to his failing marriage out in the open. Dooku despised men like him- beating women and children just to keep their own greed. He may not be a Jedi, but life is useful to a certain extent. Most lives can be used for some purpose in the galaxy for the better and for the worse.

" I will contact you soon to discuss the passing of the bill. Is that clear?" Dooku instructions.

Rush nods and mutters, " Fine, just live up to your part of the bargain this time."

To Be Continued.