A ring of children surrounded Anakin. It was dark, with flickerings of light, a three-dimensional hologram of several systems in orbit over their heads. But not even the cute, angelic little faces of his toddler-aged padawans were enough to stop him from thinking of Padme.
Their night of passion played over and over again in his mind. How surreal it was, to think of his "boss" that way.
The Jedi reported to the Senate. And Padme was a powerful Senator with direct connections to the Temple. In fact, she was there... a few rooms away, in a meeting with Yoda and several members of the council. How odd it was to walk by her...to pretend that they were little more than polite acquaintances. To nodd, and feign distraction when all he wanted to do was kiss her.
Suddenly acutely aware that the children were watching, some even prying into his thoughts, Anakin pointed to Geonosis. "And there, is where the evil bad guys trapped the heroes."
"Did they kill the queen?" came the soft voice of one of the padawan learners. It was a little girl with long red pigtails...
"Oh no, the heroes were confident that the Force was with them. Just before the evil droid army opened fire, the other Jedi arrived to save the day."
"Did the queen give the heroes a reward?"
"Well...she wasn't a queen anymore. But a senator. And the only reward to be had, was that she was safe, and the mission was a success."
Anakin pointed to an area on the hologram. "Can anyone tell me where this is?"
"Naboo," a little blue alien padawan answered.
"That's where the senator lived... happily ever after."
Nanomagi, a five-year old padawan raised his hand. Anakin pointed, signaling to the child to ask his question.
"Did the hero go with her?"
"Excuse me?" Anakin replied, his face suddenly red.
"Did the hero go with her?"
"Well...the heroes are Jedi. So, they went back to the temple. But the senator went to Naboo and lived happily ever after them."
Suddenly, the children laughed. For the life of him, Anakin couldn't figure out why the children found the end of the story so funny, but found himself smiling.
With a wave of his hand, the hologram was off and the lights were on. "That's enough for the afternoon. Please, have lunch, we'll resume when the Xatne and Crothro 30 degrees east."
In unison, the children replied:
"Yes, Master Skywalker."
A servant droid entered the training room almost on cue to escort the children to the eating area. Obi-Wan Kenobi stood in the doorway, watching with his arms folded across his chest.
"That was quite a story," the master said. "And quite an ending," he added somewhat bitterly. .
Anakin turned and regarded the master, his senses probing. He looked at him with unassuming crystal clear blue eyes. Obi-Wan couldn't help but think how innocent those eyes used to be.
"Is something wrong, Master?"
But now those eyes have seen more action than he did. And he didn't mean out on the battlefield...
"Come along, Anakin. The Council would like to have a word with you."
The tone of Obi-Wan's voice was ominious. Anakin shuddered. He wondered if somehow, the Council had found out about him and Padme.
"Did I do something wrong?" Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder. "The Council will decide."
Anakin entered the Council meeting room, his hand folded before him, head declined. Padme Amidala was there, chewing her bottom lip, watching as the investigation unfolded. Seeing her made the hair on his neck rise.
The Council members sat in a circle, chairs cusping their broken battle weary bodies, their faces stern... Yoda banged his gimer stick onto the floor.
"Young Skywalker... disturbing news received I have."
Anakin could barely bring himself to look at the Master, for he feared his eyes would give everything away.
Mace Windu, eager to move the proceeding ahead, spoke next. It often took Yoda several moments to compose his words - he was ever conscious of choosing them wisely.
"The Council received a report regarding an incident which took place at Senator Amidala's apartment. Why was the council not apprised of this event?"
"I'm sorry, Master...?"
"Anakin..." Obi-Wan interceded. The Council would like you to recount the events that took place at Senator Amidala's apartment last night.
Obi-Wan watched him intently. He hoped Anakin would do the right thing. Tell the truth. Tell the truth about his affair with Padme, there was still time to undo their mistake. At least, that which could be undone.
"There was incident involving Senator Sien last night. I understand you were responsible for saving Senator Amidala from several inappropriate advances."
Anakin swallowed. "Yes, uh... Master... I arrived at Senator Amidala's apartment. Senator Sien there. He behaved in a manner unbefitting a gentleman and so I came to her aid."
"The Chancellor has submitted a report -- Senator Cobra Sien has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. Your cooperation..." Mace drawled... "would be greatly appreciated."
"Have I done something wrong?" Anakin asked.
"No. You did everything right. Your job, as a Jedi, is to protect the Republic. We serve the senate. Although, corruption and poor behavior from those we are here to serve, will not be tolerated. We will submit our findings to the Chancellor, and he will determine Senator Sien's fate. Thank you, Anakin."
Anakin bowed, grateful the matter had not been explored any further. He turned on his heels, catching a disappointed look from Obi Wan and a gleam in Padme's eye.
Suddenly, Master Windu spoke again:
"One more question... how did you know that Senator Amidala was in trouble?"
Anakin paused in his stride, turned, and regarded the hardened Jedi... "I sensed it, Master."
"Again, thank you, Young Skywalker." Then looking around, he spoke to the room: "Meeting adjourned."
Anakin swept into the hall, dark brown robe whirling about him. He caught Padme's signal to meet him in the garden near the capital -- their secret meeting place -- far away from the prying eyes of the Jedi Masters. He was eager to see her, eager to touch her, relieved their love would remain a secret... for now.
He hurried to the landing dock and climbed into a waiting starfighter. The trip to the capital was short, close to where he and Padme lived at 500 Republica. But to meet there in broad daylight was too risky. There were shades, trees, and wooded areas and gazebos to hide under at the garden. It was Padme's favorite place. The flowers and green grass to her, was like a little piece of Naboo.
He made it to the garden first and paced the grounds, back and forth until the ground that remained in his wake was a patch of dirt. After waiting there for a while, he looked to the sky. The planets had aligned, it was almost time to go back to the temple. Suddenly a figure moved near the bushes, fruit dropped from the branches.
"Anakin!" Padme called in a hushed voice.
Anakin raced toward her, wrapped his arms around her waist, then swept her off of her feet. He spun her around, planting kisses on her face. But Padme was unresponsive. He lowered her to the ground, looking into her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Anakin," she whispered, her body quivering... "I... I can't do this. I can't live this lie."
She was in full panic attack mode. Tears welled at the corner of her eyes.
"What happened?" he asked in a flat voice.
Padme gulped, looked toward the ground. "I'm a senator Anakin..." a tear fell from her eye... "I should have known better... I can't do this to you. I'm ruining your life."
"What about yours?"
"I don't care about mine! Anakin, you've only just begun."
"I don't care," he answered. He grabbed Padme by the shoulders. "Why are you saying this? What changed?"
"The Council."
"They know?"
"Of course not!" she gasped.
"Then why are you doing this to me?"
"When I was spoke to the council... the way they looked at me." She pushed her hands into her temple... "The way they tried to read my thoughts --- I couldn't handle it," she cried.
More tears fell.
"They know nothing," Anakin said in a harsh voice. "You're a senator. You've been in situations like this before."
"I don't want to ruin your life!"
"These are just excuses."
He let Padme go so suddenly that she snapped back. She looked around, to see if anyone was watching. But Anakin was already near her again, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry, Padme. I just... I don't like when you talk that way."
"I have no one but myself to blame. I was weak."
She met his eyes, tears spilling from her own.
"This has to end."
"What if I don't want it to end?" he replied.
"Anakin!" she wailed. "It's hard enough...just-" her voice trailed. Anakin brought his face to hers and kissed her. Padme pulled away. "Anakin...it's over."
He met her eyes, a hardened look in his own:
"You might be a senator and I a Jedi... but I am your husband. At home you do as I command. Not the other way around."
He turned, pulled a branch from a nearby tree and fleeced the leaves from one of its stems, then fell into his thoughts. Padme gave him a blank stare.
There was something different about him now. He was no longer the doe eyed boy with a crush... but a man with a swagger about him. Newfound confidence, that her love had given him.
After a few moments he turned and looked at her. "I know why you're saying this. You're feelings betray you. You're afraid. I can sense it."
He laid a hand on her arm, then placed the other on the small of her back. "I love you Padme. I don't want to lose you. Everything I have ever done, I did to win your heart. I cannot lose you now." There was a look of desperation in his eyes, and suddenly, her heart melted. She was afraid. Afraid of what might happen to them, should their secret become known. But, she couldn't let a thing like fear take the man she loved away from her, and her from him.
If she were anything like Anakin, she would be braver, willing to accept the consequences for their actions. Their love was more than that. They were more than their careers and bigger than the obstacles laid before their paths.
Padme laid her head on his chest. "Oh, Anakin, I'm so sorry! You were right. I was afraid."
He sighed. Suddenly relieved. "Then let us be together," he answered. He brought his face forward, and kissed her on the lips.