Author's Note: Just wanted to make sure everyone knew this is an AU.

Disclaimer: The Star Wars Universe was created and is owned by George Lucas, this is just my imagination at work, based on the universe he has created. If this story is similar to another, it's pure coincidence.

Note: Thoughts are in italics.

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"Bye Mom, bye Dad," Padmé smiled as she bid farewell to her parents, as the trip would be short. She would soon be returning home to Naboo with her love, Anakin Skywalker. They would live happily ever after just as she had always dreamt of.

Turning to Anakin, she smiled. Padmé could remember when they rode the very same speeder transport to her home just days earlier, when he began to completely change. He smiled back at her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"So we will go to my apartment first, then to the Palace so you can finish up things there, correct?" He nodded at her in affirmation as she rested her head on his right shoulder.

She began to think about the future they would share, what it would mean for them. Naturally, they would soon be joined by the bonds of marriage - on Naboo, she hoped. Having no responsibilities, the future beyond that was uncertain as there truly was no limit to what they could do. Children, maybe? Though, they would need some way to support themselves. Padmé had been a politician all her life; what could that mean for her career now? Anakin was a skilled pilot; maybe he could pursue something along those lines?

Everything was left up for questioning, nothing planned or restricted. It was wonderful.

As she thought about all the possibilities, Padmé fell sound asleep on the shoulder of her true love.

- - - -

"Padmé, we're here," Anakin whispered as he gently nudged her. "We've got to catch our shuttle." As she woke up, he held her hand as they boarded the shuttle. Sleepy and disoriented with her surroundings, she relied on him to lead her to wherever they needed to be.

"How much longer?" she whispered, her eyes fluttering and blinking to adjust.

"It will still be awhile."

"Oh." As they took a seat on the transport shuttle, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. "What is it?" she asked, now more alert and awake.

"You're beautiful," he complimented her as he ran his finger along her creamy, smooth cheek. Blushing, she avoided eye contact with him. With his other hand, he ran his hands through her soft, spiral, chocolate curls. He looked as if he was drowning in her beauty, spellbound by her enchantment.

"You're making me nervous," she whispered, though giggling all at once.

"You're killing me inside," he grinned, still lost in her.

"I love you, Anakin," she whispered, biting her lip and smiling at him.

"I love you, Padmé."

- - - -

The couple stepped off of the shuttle, the city-planet bustling with activity all around them. The night air was a bit chilly, a light fog in the air. Padmé's deep plum, long sleeve dress was still not warm enough. Anakin could sense her discomfort as he wrapped his robe around her.

"Thank you," she gratefully acknowledged his kindness, holding his hand in hers. "My apartment is not far from here; Captain Typho is sending a small speeder for us."

"Sounds good," Anakin replied as they waited. A dark skinned man landed a small shuttle in front of them, Padmé waving to him.

"Hello Typho," she greeted as they stepped into the speeder. "To my apartment, please."

"Yes, Milady."

"I'm no longer a Senator, remember?"

"Oh, yes. These changes will be hard to adjust to," the Captain noted, nodding.

"They are changes for the better." Anakin stated as-a-matter-of-fact.

"Only from a certain point of view," Padmé retaliated his comment, stunned that he would say such a thing. He was silent the entire trip to the apartment, which gravely worried Padmé.

- - - -

"I can't believe this is goodbye, Dormé," Padmé cried alongside her best friend as they embraced. They looked so much alike, they could have easily been sisters. Anakin had still not said a word since his comment on the speeder, but he still patiently waited for his fiancée to pack up her belongings. It amounted to quite a bit, but they could pack it all up tightly once they reached the Imperial Palace. Padmé still had no idea what he had meant by "business" there, but she hoped it meant is resignation.

"Typho, you have done a great deal for me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

"It will be so different here without you, uh, Miss."

"Call me Padmé, you no longer have to be formal. If you're ever on Naboo, stop by!"

The sadness from having to leave her friends hurt her so much, but the joy of being with Anakin softened the pain. As she walked through her apartment for the last time, memories filled her mind as tears came to her eyes even more.

"Padmé?" Dormé called from the living room.

"Yes?"

"Maybe, since I will be returning to Naboo as well, would you mind if I held a reception for you and Anakin?" Dormé was so kind, so sweet, so pure. Padmé grinned, nodding at her friend as they hugged again.

"That will not be necessary," Anakin ordered, that eerie glare returning to his ice blue eyes.

"But Anak--"

"You heard me. Say goodbye, we must go."

"Bye, I will miss you all!" She called out as he virtually pulled her away. Stunned, her fears and worries were proving true it seemed.

He is still Darth Vader.