"What are the rules again?" Anakin asked as he laid his towel next to Padmé's. But not too close.

"We swim to the island, run across the sand, and whoever gets to the grass field first wins", she explained, stepping out of her sandals. "Clear?"

Anakin nodded and removed his shirt, leaving him only in knee high pants. He raised his arms and twisted a little to get ready for the swim, stretching his muscles.

Padmé felt herself blushing when she saw his toned physique. He was tall and lean, his chest and stomach defined but not bulky. His oblique peeking just above the waistband of his shorts was all she could take before she turned away. He was definitely not a boy.

"And no Jedi tricks", she added. Anakin grinned and she couldn't help but smile back.

"No Jedi tricks", he confirmed. He jumped a few times to pump himself up. "Ready?"

Padmé removed her robe and let it pool at her feet, revealing her swimsuit to him. Anakin looked away casually and for that she was grateful, otherwise he would've seen the knowing grin on her face. She knew she affected him, and the fact that he was so shy about it made the whole situation kind of sweet.

They turned to face the water and adopted a start position.

"One…." She said.

"Two…"

"Three!"

They raced into the water, Anakin's long legs giving him advantage. He was built like a swimmer and was pretty decent at it, but Padmé obviously had more experience. They were tied for the first portion of the swim but towards the end Padmé took the lead. Anakin noticed and stroked harder but was no match for the Naboo native.

He was reaching the shore when he lifted his head and saw Padmé running into the beach, the grass field not far ahead. It looked like she was the clear winner of this competition.

Padmé ran with energy she didn't know she had, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She couldn't believe she had defeated a Jedi. She looked over her shoulder to see how far behind Anakin was and was stunned to see his limp form on the shore.

"Anakin!" she yelped, and made her way towards him. "Anakin, are you okay?" she asked desperately as she knelt next to him. Anakin bounced to his feet and ran away from her. "HEY!" Padmé cried, running after him.

Anakin was laughing so hard he found it hard to focus, so it wasn't difficult for Padmé to catch up with him and tackle him. She straddled his stomach and her fists attacked his chest while his roars of laughter filled her ears.

"You little cheater! I can't believe you!"

"You said no Jedi tricks, you didn't say anything about regular cheating", he defended himself. His fingers dug into her waist and tickled her. Padmé squirmed and laughed heartily.

"No, please! Stop, please!" she begged, falling on her back to the sand. Anakin rolled over her and continued tickling her, making her laugh until she cried. Her hands pushed at him to no avail until finally she pulled his Padawan braid.

"Ouch!" Anakin yelped.

"Are you gonna stop tickling me?" she warned.

"Yes, I swear!"

She let go of him and they looked at each other, both catching their breath. Padmé curled her finger around his braid and her eyes roamed his face, focusing on his full lips. Following her instincts, she pulled him down and kissed him. Anakin was too stunned to do anything at first but eventually he responded. Her arms circled his neck, pulling him even closer until his chest was pressing into hers. Her tongue attempted to part his lips and he pulled back as if burned. He sat up and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, I can't… do that", he managed to say. Padmé leaned on her elbows and gave him a puzzled look. Surely he was attracted to her, too? But all it took to scare him was an innocent kiss. She decided not to pursue the issue with him, though. He looked traumatized enough.

"Maybe we should go back to the house. Come to think of it, this was a bad idea", she muttered.

Padmé stood and brushed the sand off her body. Anakin looked away once again, and she realized that he was very serious about the strange ways of the Jedi. He wouldn't even indulge in sneaking a peak of her body. She walked back to the shore, Anakin following her close behind. He couldn't resist teasing her.

"It was your idea…"

"I know that", came the annoyed reply.

Anakin tried to hold back a smile. Padmé set one foot on the water and froze when she saw the water retreating. This was a lake, not an ocean. The water retreated even more, creating a large, suspended wave.

"What the…?" came out of her lips. She turned to look at Anakin and noticed his hands were in front of him. He was using the Force to manipulate the water. He walked into the shore and stood right in front of the wave. "Anakin!" she laughed. "Get out of there, you'll get hurt."

Anakin stepped into the wall of water and Padmé gasped. She had served two terms as a queen and had traveled to many worlds, but she had never seen something like this. It was the first time that she witnessed just how immensely powerful Anakin was. And right now he was just playing with the Force. She couldn't even imagine what it could be like when he was using it for something serious. People like Anakin ended up in historic records.

Anakin stepped out of the wall of water, oblivious to Padmé's train of thought.

"Come on, it's safe", he assured. Padmé hesitated, but moved closer to him. She put one arm in the water and laughed.

"This is unbelievable…" She turned to look at Anakin and caught his evil grin. Uh-oh. "No… Anakin, I swear, if you –"

She was cut off when the wave washed over both of them, making them tumble under the water. When Padmé could touch ground again she sat up, her long hair all over her face. She gasped loudly and waved her arms frantically until a hand held her upper arm.

"Wasn't that fun?" came the question. Padmé pushed her hair away from her face and pounced on him, pushing him under water.

"I'm going to kill you!" she threatened, but she couldn't disguise the amusement in her voice.

Anakin lay on his back, soaking the sunrays. He couldn't remember the last time he had done nothing. Part of him felt guilty for indulging into laziness, but he had to admit that he needed a break. His Jedi training left no room for such leisure. He turned his head and opened his eyes, just barely.

Padmé lay on her stomach, her face buried in her arms. He brushed her mind to see if she was awake. She lifted her head a little bit, a confused expression on her face.

"What was that?" she asked.

"I was trying to see if you were awake," he explained. Padmé leaned on her elbows.

"That's a little invasive, don't you think?" she asked, but the smile on her face let him know she wasn't mad.

"Sorry, milady", he smiled. Padmé laughed softly and drew random patterns on the sand. She was still very impressed and quite intrigued with his display of power earlier. Shaping such a large mass of water couldn't be easy, even for a Jedi.

"Exactly how powerful are you with the Force?" she asked carefully. Anakin pondered on her question for a moment, not knowing how to answer it.

"I don't know."

"Are you more powerful than other Padawans your age?" she turned to him, the sun making her squint. Anakin nodded. "Are you more powerful than Master Kenobi?" she pressed. She got her answer when he looked away. "Is that a bad thing, to have a Padawan be more powerful than his master?"

"I don't know", he repeated, starting to feel uncomfortable.

"I remember hearing Qui Gon and Obi Wan discussing you in my ship. Something in your blood made you very special. Was that true?" she insisted.

"Yes."

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" she asked.

"No, I… I don't like to discuss this, that's all," he said awkwardly, rolling to his stomach. Padmé studied him for a moment. As if being a Jedi wasn't hard enough, Anakin had to deal with the enormous pressure his peers had put on his shoulders.

"You must feel very lonely, being so unique", she said softly. Anakin met her eyes briefly, then swirled the sand in the air in a small spiral before her fascinated gaze.

"Sometimes", he admitted, then sighed. "There are times when I want to push myself further, but they hold me back. It's frustrating." He let the sand fall and scratched his chin. "I remember when I first got to the temple to start my training… the other kids didn't know what to make of me. I was too old to be trained, yet I had a better grasp of the Force. I didn't have any friends. And to be frank, Obi Wan seemed a little irritated with me," he added with a smile.

"That must've been hard for you", she empathized. Anakin simply nodded.

"At first. Our relationship changes a lot. Sometimes he feels more like a brother or a father, then he's my boss…"

Padmé was fascinated with his life. Anakin's only real and conventional relationship was the one he had with his mother as a little boy. She couldn't imagine growing up knowing one of her parents was still a slave and having to deal with the frustration of not being able to do anything about it. Having to answer to a master. A different master. Even after putting things in perspective, being a Jedi didn't seem that different from being a slave.

She began to wonder if Anakin had ever done anything for himself. His life was all about following orders, travelling from planet to planet and without a place to call a home. She knew Jedi lived in the temple, but she was sure it lacked any sense of warmth. She wondered if he had any real friends. It was a pity that someone as charming didn't have someone he could confide in.

Had he ever truly enjoyed himself?

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Very", he said with a smile.

"What's your favorite food?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled.

"The kitchen is fully stocked, we can have pretty much anything we want. So what's it gonna be?"

Anakin smiled widely, almost looking boyish. Padmé laughed and stood up.

"Come on."

Dinner was everything Anakin could've imagined. He was so used to eating whatever he was served that the opportunity of having a choice of what to eat was almost as delightful as the meal itself. Vegetables, hot dishes, different cuts of meat, and juicy fruits for dessert grazed the dining room table. Delicious smells invaded his senses and made his mouth water. Padmé encouraged him to sample everything and he obliged willingly.

Every now and then he eyed Padmé across the table. She told him anecdotes of mishaps that had happened during official senate functions, making them both laugh. She was really doing her best to make sure he was enjoying himself. He was finding it harder to control his feelings for her. Childhood fascination was turning into something more. She was so smart and determined, loyal beyond words to her home planet and loved by her people. She was just as beautiful on the outside. The kiss she had given him earlier had sent his blood rushing through his veins and the desire in her eyes proved to him that he wasn't the only one with conflicting emotions.

She had kissed him, after all.

After saying goodnight, he retired to his room, trying to push thoughts of her out of his mind. He needed to focus on his mission. They were here to hide, not to indulge into their need for each other. He needed to be professional, he repeated to himself as he tossed and turned in his bed. What if he and Padmé got involved? Then what? What if he was asked to protect another attractive female? Would the same thing happen?

No, he told himself. He had to be firm. Do as he was asked, then move on.

When sleep didn't find him, he pushed the covers away and left his room, the marble floor cool under his bare feet. He found a small sitting room with a burning fire and noticed Padmé sitting on the floor in front of it, her back to the center table.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned. Padmé looked over her shoulder and he noticed she was holding a steaming cup.

"No. Just couldn't sleep," she answered softly. "Come sit," she offered. Anakin smiled politely and made his way to her. He sat down on the floor and leaned his elbows on his knees, trying to appear casual. In truth, he was a pack of nerves. Being so close to her when she was wearing nothing but a nightgown and a robe was playing with fire.

"What is it about fire that you can stare at it for hours?" he said softly.

"I don't know. The same happens with the stars. And the ocean. And a lake. And waterfalls. And any other large body of water, really", she added with a soft laugh. Anakin smiled and allowed one of his long legs to slide down the carpet. Padmé caught the muscles stretching and forced herself to look away. She was grateful for his robe covering his chest, otherwise she'd be unable to stop staring.

"I still feel cold in space, you know", he said with a smile, recounting that time so long ago when they were alone together in her ship. He was a free boy and she was a queen in disguise. Now she was a senator in hiding and he was her protector.

"I still have that Japor snippet you gave me", she informed him. Anakin was surprised to hear this.

"No, you don't…" he said dubiously. Padmé laughed and sipped her cup.

"I left it in Coruscant. It's in my vanity."

Anakin was speechless. He had never expected her to keep the little memento of their time together. She was more sentimental than he gave her credit for.

"What's keeping you up?" he asked, changing the subject. Padmé looked into her cup and sighed softly.

"I can't stop thinking about Cordé", she spoke. "She wasn't just a decoy, she was my friend", she explained.

Anakin considered this for a moment. With her hectic schedule, Padmé didn't have much time to socialize, so naturally she would grow close with the people in her staff. He remembered how sad Dormé had been when the two women parted ways in Coruscant, and how Padmé had tried to reassure her.

"I feel so guilty", she admitted softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I can understand that", he said. "But Cordé knew what her job was. She knew it was risky, and she believed in you so much that she was willing to…" he trailed off, deciding not to finish the sentence. He had already made his point.

"Still, I can't…" she choked on a sob and brought her hand to her mouth. Without really thinking about it, Anakin put his arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her. Padmé gripped his robe and allowed herself a moment of pure emotion, her tears soaking him.

"It's okay", he soothed, bringing his other hand to her hair. The scent of her curls reached his nostrils and he inhaled deeply. She smelled like spring.

Padmé pulled away and Anakin wiped the tears with the sleeve of his robe, making her laugh.

"Why are you up, anyway?" she asked, her voice cracking a little. Anakin looked away and fumbled with his robe.

"I was feeling a little restless", he finally answered.

"Restless? Why?"

He met her eyes for a quick second and shrugged.

"I was just wondering how Master Kenobi is doing with the investigation", he lied. He wasn't about to tell her that he couldn't sleep because of her. Something told him she already suspected as much.

"Oh", was her reaction. She pulled her legs up and hugged her knees. "Maybe you should contact him?"

"He'll be worried. He'll think I want the mission to be over soon", he answered with a smile.

"Well, do you?" Padmé asked, not looking at him. Anakin wasn't sure what they were talking about.

"I want you to be safe", he answered.

She half-smiled, the fire casting a soft glow on her face. They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment both at a loss of words. Anakin lowered his head, trying to distract himself from her inviting beauty. Padmé cupped his cheek and he met her eyes again, his pulse racing. He knew she was going to make a move and his prediction became true when she leaned in and kissed him. He was going to pull back when her other hand held the back of his head, preventing him from moving. She tilted to the right and coaxed his lips open to touch his tongue with hers.

Anakin succumbed to her kiss and held her face, letting himself go. Just for a moment, he told himself. Padmé deepened the kiss and let her hands slide down his toned chest, his skin warm under her palms. He flinched and ducked his head, her lips still seeking his. It was taking all of his self control not to give into his feelings for her.

"Padmé…"

"No one has to know", she whispered into his ear, her finger tracing a line down his chest and moving lower to his stomach. Anakin swallowed hard.

"I can't. We can't do this. You're a senator and – and I'm a Jedi. There – there are rules…" he stammered.

"I'm still a woman and you're still a man", she said, her finger grazing the sensitive skin below his navel. Anakin grabbed her wrist and moved away from her.

"We should get some sleep", he blurted out, standing to his feet. Padmé was stunned and almost offended. How could he refuse her like this? Anakin held out his hand and sighed. "Take you to your room?" he offered.

Padmé nodded and they quietly made their way to her bedroom. They didn't say a word as they walked down the hallway. Neither would openly acknowledge what was going on. It wasn't necessary.

Padmé stopped at her door and turned to him, eyes looking up to his.

"Goodnight, Anakin", she whispered.

"Goodnight, Padmé", he replied. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Anakin nuzzled into her for the briefest of seconds and stepped back, letting go of her hand. It took him every ounce of Force-enhanced will to walk away from her.

And perhaps he should've stayed with her that night. She was right; no one would have to know. A night in her arms might have prevented the gruesome nightmares that assaulted him.