Anakin spent the entire trip to Raxus locked in the brig. They kept his hands in binders, but that seemed to be no more than a formality, since he was free to move about in the cell. He had hoped the anxiety nagging at the edge of his mind, about Padme, about meeting Dooku, about Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, even about his lightsaber, would ease now that he was safely on his way, but it didn't. Being forced to stare at the wall for so long gave him little else to think about.

A B1 battle droid escorted Anakin to his meeting with Dooku. He expected someone or something a bit more formidable, a single B1 couldn't even stop a determined civilian, but they must have believed him more than he originally thought. Anakin expected to be lead to some type of dramatic lair, maybe a black castle, but was instead taken to an office in what he suspected was the CIS Senate, not too different from Chancellor Palpatine's.

Dooku sat at a desk made of dark wood, his back to a large window overlooking the city. There were two matching chairs in front of the desk, and blue Separatist banners on the walls. Dooku gestured at one of the chairs as the droid shut the door, "Please, sit. And before we begin, how is your arm?"

Anakin's lip twitched, fighting a scowl, "Good, no thanks to you."

"Excellent," Dooku replied with a slight, dark smirk, "Now, I have been informed that you surrendered yourself and claim to be defecting to my cause?"

"That's pretty much it."

"My agents have been monitoring the channels you offered the General, the Jedi consider you to be missing in action. Clones are still running search and rescue on Felucia, but this does not disprove an elaborate plot."

Anakin crossed his arms, "Are you serious? How much more proof could you possibly need?"

Dooku shot him a look normally reserved for misbehaving children, "What does disprove a plot is my contacts in the Republic. Even the Jedi council believes you to be missing or dead. You have successfully fooled the entire Galaxy."

Anakin felt a wave of relief, followed by the slightest tinge of guilt for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Dooku continued, "My navy has a great deal of ships, and even General Grievous cannot command them all. If you should agree, you would make a very valuable General."

He hadn't expected to be welcomed to the Separatist war effort so easily, but he wasn't opposed to the idea. If fighting alongside Grievous was what it took to be free of the Jedi Order, then so be it.

"I'll do it."

Dooku stood and Anakin followed, "I believe you have someone to meet."

— The previous week—-

Padme had surprisingly little trouble getting to Raxus, with R2 plotting and her flying, she would have to thank Ahsoka for the lessons if she ever got the chance, the trip went off without a hitch. A few days out, she contacted Mina Bonteri, who wasn't surprised in the slightest, to ask if she could come and stay for a while. Mina graciously agreed, and said she would meet her at the spaceport.

Mina was waiting, just as she said, and drew Padme into a tight hug the moment she was off the ramp. They separated, and with her hand on Padme's face, she said, "I'm so happy to see you here, safe and sound. Any trouble on the way?"

"No, nothing. I wasn't even stopped."

Mina's smile warmed, "I'm glad, those battle droids stop people for no reason half the time, but with your little announcement, they were probably ordered aside."

"You've seen my speech?"

"Honey, everyone has seen it, it's been all over the holonet. That, and Naboo's succession. However did you manage that?"

They began walking to Mina's speeder, while Padme said, "It wasn't too difficult, I raised my concerns to the Queen, and it just went from there."

They had to wait a moment for the droids to catch up, Padme told both of them to lock up the ship, although she really only needed R2 for it, but when they did, it was a quick process getting everyone loaded. Just before taking off, Mina turned and said, "Only you could call that easy."

Padme settled in nicely, moving her things into the guest room with Lux's reluctant help, explaining to Mina who she was waiting for, she wished she could have had a holo of Mina's face when she said "Jedi husband', and getting the droids settled in. 3PO fussed, no surprise there, but R2 was unflappable as always, already eager to start exploring. Anakin had joked about it before, but Padme really saw what he mean now, he always said that if one were to average the anxiety levels of those two, they would end up with a normal droid. She didn't worry too much though, they had grown exceptionally close over the years, and surely would be fine as long as they had each other.

On the third day of staying with Mina, they received an unexpected guest. 3PO answered the door, and politely called up the stairs, "Miss Padme, someone is here to see you."

Hoping for Anakin, she called back, "Coming!", rushing down the stairs. Preparing what to say, she arrived at the door, and stopped. The visitor was a courier droid, and definitely not Anakin. It began, "Former-senator Amidala, I am a servant of Count Dooku, and humbly bring a message; he wishes to meet with you, personally, at your earliest possible convenience. May I report a time and date?"

Padme could only hope Dooku had good news. She replied, "I can be ready in ten mintutes."

"I will wait and escort you to my master's office."

She rushed through dressing, hiding her blaster and commlink in the secret, inner pockets of her jacket. She turned on the locator in her comm, linked it to R2, and told Mina where she was going. No one would catch her off guard today.

The escort dorid took her to the CIS senate, which although still a fine building, was nowhere near as grand as the one on Coruscant. She was guided to an oddly simple office, where the Count waited. He warmly greeted, "Miss Amidala, welcome to Raxus Secondus."

Padme politely bowed her head, "Thank you."

"I have seen a recording of your address, I have no doubt it will stir many more to our cause. You truly have a gift."

Growing slightly suspicious, she replied, "Thank you again, I'm flattered."

"Of course, but I assume you would appreciate the point of this meeting. I have taken the liberty of contacting Queen Neetenyahu, and upon finding her in agreement, wish to offer you the role of Senator to Naboo. You are the only sensible choice."

The news blindsided her, "I'm honored, I would appreciate the chance to return to politics."

"Shall I inform Her Majesty you accept?"

"Yes, please."

"It will be done. I will have a droid escort you to your senatorial housing."

She rose quietly, eager to see what they had in store for her. Dooku cut her off, "Before you go, there is someone outside who wishes to see you."

Surprised, Padme nodded in acknowledgement, and hurried out, the guide droid rushing to follow her. She stepped out into the bright afternoon sun, already surveying the area, until she caught sight of exactly who she hoped to see. She shouted his name, and he spun, expression going from surprise to beaming with joy. Anakin met her and drew her into a tight hug, sweeping her off her feet. Padme melted into his strong arms, overjoyed at no longer having to hide. He lifted her higher, out from his body, and brought her back down. She kissed him, deeply and intimately, reveling in the freedom to do so.

—-—-—-—Bonus—

Darth Tyrannus turned on his holocomm and knelt before it. When Sidious answered, he looked up and said, "I have received both Skywalker and Senator Amidala."

"Have they accepted their roles?"

"They have."

"Very good, my apprentice. I have spoken with the Jedi council, and they believe Skywalker to be dead."

"Then this is an excellent opportunity."

"It is. Ensure Skywalker's loyalty, and ensure Amidala does not interfere, and everything will proceed according to plan."

"It will be done, my master."

The comm ended, and Dooku returned to his seat to think. With the most important piece of the puzzle that is the Clone Wars, Dooku realized that, for once, he held the cards. Sidious' grand plan needed Skywalker to succeed, and with Anakin's trust, he could stop it. Better yet, Palpatine would be outmatched. With the Chosen One on his side, Palpatine would be invincible no longer.