Chapter Seven

'Arrested Development'

A new day had dawned, although it did so without the benefit of preparatory rest. Disturbed by the situation and the events immediately following, Padmé had lay awake the rest of the evening, putting her in a relatively grumpy state of mind.

She refused to allow her aggravation to get the best of her, however. She was going to be civil about this, regardless of how she truly felt. She was a professional! A sworn representative of the Galactic Senate. She could be adult about this!

Apparently having heard her rustling around in the bedroom, Anakin called out to her and timidly began knocking upon her door. Having been dressed for hours, she immediately allowed him in.

"It's a Force thing," the young man explained, walking to the bank of windows to view the rising sun. "When we have those type of experiences in our sleep, they're typically visions; possibilities of future events or warnings of present or future. When I was a boy, I dreamed of becoming a Jedi. And here I am." Anakin turned from the window, revealing a proud grin. "What did he say?"

Padmé smiled warmly as she regarded the sleeping Jedi Master. How much should she tell? "He seemed afraid for me to leave the room; kept saying 'Don't go in there,'" she quoted, deciding at the last second, to omit the rest. Clearly, Obi-Wan had been hallucinating and couldn't possibly mean what he'd said. .

"He was probably warning you to stay away from Dormé," the young man chuckled.

"Speaking of, where is the little vixen?" Padmé teased, deliberately censoring herself. There were many other names which would suit her better this morning. A few came to mind as she adjusted the blankets on Obi-Wan one more time before leaving her bedroom, Anakin following closely behind her.

"Right here," Dormé answered the Senator's question, having already set their best chav set on the dining table, and was currently filling three mugs. She silently added sweetener and cream to two of them, intentionally leaving Anakin's black, which apparently was his preference.

Occasionally, her personal assistant would remind Padmé why she had not only hired her, but why they had become such close friends. Dormé was an exceptional human being, loyal to a fault, sympathetic to the needs of others, and a faithful friend. If she would only learn not to get so carried away! There was no excuse for what she'd done!

She was pleased, however, that a night's rest had apparently changed not only her own attitude, but her attendant's as well. They may actually be able to have a civilized conversation!

"Please, have a seat, Mi'Lady. Anakin, you may sit here," the young woman motioned to the chair between the two women – out of arm's reach, Padmé noticed. Smart move.

Once Dormé had seated herself, she folded her hands on the tabletop and began her recitation.
"I know you're disappointed with me, Senator, but you must believe me when I tell you that I had a very good reason to do what I did. I was only thinking of you, of your happiness. And Master Kenobi's, of course."

The young Jedi sat quite still and silent, his focus entirely on his fingernails. He was obviously uncomfortable, and Padmé felt sorry for him.

She couldn't count the number of times Dormé had used a similar excuse for her occasional irresponsible behavior. When it came to professional matters, her assistant performed her duties perfectly. But when it came to personal affairs , where the young woman's ingenuity and creativity were allowed to run rampant, things would quickly and chaotically get out of hand, and more than once, all hell would break loose! Frankly, Padmé was tired of it. It was time Dormé owned up to the consequences of her supposed selfless acts.

However, instead of directing her chastisement to her female companion, Padmé focused upon the young Jedi seated at her table.

"Anakin, what does your Master do when you err in judgment? Make a decision that compromises not only the safety of yourself, but those around you?"

Without hesitation, the young man answered, as if he had already acquired a vast amount of knowledge on the subject. "Master Kenobi is a very strict disciplinarian, I'm afraid. In the past, I've received a variety of verbal reprimands as well as physical ones."

With his confession, the senator noticed (not without some delighted appreciation of her own) that Dormé's eyes had widened with worried surprise.

Anakin continued: "He usually increases sparring sessions by double. Once, he even made me handwrite and deliver a personal apology to the Arch Duke of Chibell after I'd….no need to go into the details. Let's just say, through my own neglect, I embarrassed my Master, and I had to make up for it."

Padmé slowly shifted her accusatory gaze across the table. Dormé was busily chewing on her bottom lip – a sure sign the young woman was nervous with anticipation concerning the sentence about to be handed down to her.

"First, let me address this situation as a friend," the Senator began, noticing a slight decrease in her aid's apprehension. "Dormé, I know you meant well, and I appreciate your concern for my happiness. It shows a level of care and compassion I value in our friendship. I love you, as much as I love a member of my own family. We've been through a lot together and I hope we will share many more years to come."

When it appeared as if the young woman was about to speak, Padmé silenced her immediately with a raised finger and continued.

"However, as your employer, I can honestly say I would have never, ever thought you could do something as irresponsible and underhanded as deliberately and maliciously causing the illness of another being! It was a thoughtless and inconsiderate thing to do! Not to mention, selfish!"

"Now, wait just a minute," Anakin cut in, immediately bringing himself into a conversation Padmé was trying so hard to keep him out of. As far she knew, Anakin was an innocent bystander.

"You can say what you want – and I don't disagree with most of what you've said…."

From across the table, Padmé heard a loud grunt of disapproval as the young man continued undeterred.

"But you can't sit there and say that Dormé's motivations were selfish! She told me just the other day how worried she was about your state of mind, your health and all. She said you were working too hard and needed someone in your life to…"

"The other day?" Padmé interrupted, silencing the young Jedi, whose face suddenly turned a shade darker. "Anakin, did you know about this?"

"He didn't know anything, Mi'Lady," Dormé quickly answered in his defense. "This was all my idea and my doing."

"I did agree with you though," Anakin confessed directly to Dormé, "and I didn't try to stop you. In a way, I'm just as guilty."

"You don't have to do this," she pleaded with him, while Padmé sat back and observed the couple with heightened interest.

"Yes I do," Anakin shot back.

"Why?"

The young man's face reddened further, even as he sat up taller, obviously strengthening his resolve. "Because I care about you. I lo…love you."

He had awkwardly stuttered the phrase, Padmé noticed, but that made little difference to Dormé. As soon as the declaration had been made, her aid was immediately out of her seat and had thrown herself into the Anakin's lap.

Padmé basically threw up her hands. So much for her interrogation!