"Padme?" She turned from the mirror to see her father standing in the doorway, shifting from foot to foot nervously. At the sight of her, his eyes widened and he stood still, stunned.

She gave a watery smile and turned to look at herself in the mirror at the sight he saw. Tilda had originally found the dress within the giant stack that Darra and Sentara had brought before Padme for inspection. It was relatively simple. Or, Tilda had called it simple.

The first thought that had popped into Padme's head was that it was as ornate and delicately arced as the professional artisanship of the ceiling in the Council Chambers. It was just as white as well. The grey band of ribbon that tied around her waist had the Jedi emblem stitched in with tiny beads on its hem.

The rest flowed around her as if the whirlpool of love and life she had felt that day before the council had been turned into white fabric and now wrapped itself around her, comfortable and elegant. It clung to her form protectively; a smooth outline of natural curves and curls.

The transparent sleeves and neckline made her skin sparkle, covered by a thin coating of frost. A white headband was tied into her hair, and her head veil hid her face behind its curtain of pureness.

Her hair; pulled behind her head and let loose to curl on the back of her neck, glittered with glittering diamonds.

She smiled, wondering just who this person staring back at her was and when they had done this to her. She remembered a white body suit that she had used to fight bugs on Geonosis; she did not remember this person.

"Hey, dad," she said softly. "Ugh…" his wide eyes widened further, as if her voice too was different. "You…Padme…You look beautiful," he whispered. Padme smiled. "Is everything ready?" she wondered. "Everyone is waiting for the bride," her father agreed, offering her his arm. Padme inhaled a deep breath.

Strangely, Tilda and Sentara had warned her of feeling nervous, but she wasn't nervous. She was excited, relieved, ready.

She wanted to marry Anakin Skywalker; there was nothing to be anxious about in that. She felt as if she were moving forward from one type of independence to a new version of freedom. It was enlightening.

The air flowed into her lungs, taking with it that relaxing light, and then out, exhaling all signs of uneasiness. Padme's hand went to the tiny angel hanging at her neck and she gently stroked the fragile wings.

She had already named her gift. Here we go, Siri.

She turned and grabbed her father's arm, patting it comfortingly. He was shaking. "It's okay, dad. I'm glad you could be here," she whispered, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He smiled back and gently pulled her veil over her face. "Me, too," he husked out, leading her out.

The halls seemed like they were all the more golden, the white walls shined with healthy brightness. The silence enveloped her like an old friend. Padme remembered Anakin first bringing her through here.

How hollow and desolate then it had been, she had been so frightened in the beginning of the new place and the new people, how desperate she had been for their approval. That night passed by in her head, images cherished and voices valued.

"My name is Ahsoka Tano. Force, Sky-Guy, Obi-wan said you were getting married, but not that you were bringing home a real woman. We all thought you'd come home with a tree. Qui-gon and me had money on it."

"Now that he's out of the way, blasted man, everyone, I'd like you to meet my future wife, Padme Amidala."

"And it seems you've brought home a young lady to add to our family. Finally. I've been waiting for one of you to make me some grandchildren,"

"It's about time Ani brought a good woman home."

"It would be too many people to remember. By the way, for the sake of all the feminists out there, we're changing your name to Ani Pinkflowersprinkle."

"Are you ready?" They finally came upon the staircase; down below was her friends, new family and husband waiting for her. I'm ready, Padme smiled.

She was ready, indeed, not only to inherit a new future with Anakin, but a new home within The Temple. A place of healing. And a new life with the Jedi as not only a senator but a person.

She could hardly wait to begin, actually.

Carefully, she maneuvered her feet down the stairs, sending a silent thank you to Sentara for clearing the stairs of all rocks so that her slippered feet would not get pierced by any of the debris that had been on the stairs the last time she had been here.

"If you three are quite finished, I'd like to know the name of my new sister-in-law,"

"And now…Now, I still don't have everything I've wanted for myself…But I have everything I need, and I'm fine with that."

"…I realized I didn't know a lot about the Jedi beside what everyone else knows. Anakin was the first one I ever really spoke too,"

"I'm Tilda. And that horrible wreckage of husband over there is Mace. Once he gets used to you, he'll start smiling every two hours or so,"

"If I leave, I may miss my family being in my life…But if I'm not with you, then my life has no meaning. All I want now is you. Everything else is second. I have no doubts. Do you understand?"

Padme grinned at Kina-Bae at the bottom of the stairs. The young girl was wearing a charming dress colored the same dark blue as a lightsaber. In her arms was basket of the same beautiful flowers growing inside of the room.

She waved merrily at Padme, eagerly bouncing on her feet in order to begin her flower girl duties. Padme could not have felt more happy to see the joy on her face if it had been her own.

Not even the pleasure and bliss she had felt from the light could compare with the happiness that made Padme feel as if she were walking on air. Kina looked anxiously out at the crowd then back up at them, the question in her eyes.

Padme nodded gently, giving assent and Kina-Bae keenly started out into the brilliant golden light of sunset that filtered in through the windows above.

The music began playing in a steady, calm and sweet sounding melody that matched her footsteps. She could have sworn she had heard it in the music of life.

Padme stepped into the light, and heard the unified inhaled breath of astonishment from the assembly, sitting to the left in the newly cut green grass, which sparkled in the light with multi-colored rays of gold and orange. It was beautiful.

But Padme's eyes only partially roamed over the landscape, as wonderfully exquisite as she had first seen it only more tailored.

The people sitting to the right and left were colored orange, her mother's tears leaked from her eyes in small golden droplets. Padme ignored the media sitting and standing in discreet corners flashing picture after picture and filming her.

This was her moment.

Her eyes went to Anakin, standing on the platform staring at her as if he had never seen her before. She had to grin. He was not wearing anything new: Jedi owned all of one outfit and he had seen no reason to change.

But to her he was everything attractive in the galaxy. Wanting to tell her father that he didn't have to go all that slow as they were walking down the aisle, she kept her eyes on Anakin, unable to tear them away.

He met her gaze, never backing down boldly, fierce and passionate as always. She could swear there was a wetness in his eyes too. Good, she wasn't alone. The small crystalline angel on her collarbone sent shafts of jade /golden light to the ceiling and walls.

Anakin's diamond danced in delight. Obi-wan noticed the decoration at her throat and smiled. Almost there, Siri. Her father relinquished her arm, tears running down his face and took his seat next to her mother and sisters, all glowing with pride.

She gave a small nod to Ahsoka, Tilda, Darra and Sentara standing to the bridesmaid's side, grinning from ear to ear.

Padme stepped up to face Anakin, who immediately grabbed her veil and pulled it back. A small tap on the ground alerted them to the Yoda, standing at their knees, where he had most leverage to keep their attention on him and not their after-reception plans.

Padme grabbed Anakin's hands, and was surprised to feel metal beneath his sleeve. He had taken his glove off. Not many people would be able to see his metal appendage past his long, heavy sleeves, but still, he had come before her uncovered, unhidden.

Padme knew how much courage it had taken him to do so. He was embarrassed by it still. But not enough to hide it from her. She squeezed the hand. As long as his soul was true, she could care less about his body.

She could not help but feeling greater excitement build within her. She had been waiting her entire life for this moment. Yoda cleared his throat self-importantly. The music faded to a close, its soft sound still bounding off the walls.

"We are…"

Yoda never got to finish even the end of the second word, for just at that moment, Anakin inhaled sharply, his eyes widening. The sound of glass shattering rung throughout the room, along with several screams of panic. The roof fell in on them, tiny shards of glass digging into up thrown palms.

She saw a blur of green dodge out of the way. Padme gasped as Anakin pushed her behind him protectively. True sunlight filtered in, momentarily blinding. Standing in the spot where Yoda had been a moment before was famous bounty Hunter Cad Bane.

He brandished two blasters in his hands fancily, and regarded the assembly contemptuously. "Hello, boys and girls," he called out, hoarse voice buzzing unpleasantly in all present ears.

Padme gawked at this new premonition standing in front of her on her wedding day.

"BANE!" That was Xanatos roaring from the best man's side. "I KNOW you did not just ruin my little brother's WEDDING!" he shouted irately. Padme seconded that notion absently. Anakin's face turned such a deep shade of red that Padme worried he would never get back to his original hue.

"AHSOKA!" His scream was even more dangerous than Xanatos's had been. "I want his head ON A PIKE!" he ordered, swiveling around to his apprentice with eyes ablaze with rage.

Ahsoka cocked a brow at Bane and screwed her lips with minor irritation. "You got it, master," she answered mildly, and suddenly two sabers were in her hands, growling dangerously. Bane smirked.

"I don't think so," and suddenly several other people landed inside of the room, eliciting more screams from those present. Blasters were thenceforth taken out and aimed at All of Padme's guests. She watched these proceedings with a quiet sort of peace. Somehow, she had a feeling this was going to happen often for the rest of her life.

Might as well start today.

"Sorry, folks," Aurra Sing cackled, doing some clever work with her long fingers to suddenly hold three blasters in her hands, aimed at Padme's head.

"But party's over," for a moment, surrounded by bounty hunters intent on murder and pillage, everyone stayed perfectly silent, shocked. Suddenly, Tilda, standing beside Sentara behind Padme, let out a small laugh and turned to the seats. "Hey Jedi!" She bellowed as a command.

"EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!"

Suddenly, the room erupted in a symphony of lightsabers exploding into action, and blasters being pulled from their secret holders underneath Senator's shirts.

Qui-gon's hover chair suddenly grew three extra heads above his own. Padme saw CT-47's aiming at the enemies.

Qui-gon looked very calm. The music started up again as if the pianist had known this was bound to happen, a sudden explosive dun, dun, dun, dun, dun beginning to shriek its way into the battle.

Anakin pushed her away as suddenly he took his own saber out, deflecting bolts. Padme snorted. "I had a feeling I was going to need this today," she mumbled, snatching her small hand blaster from where she had hidden it strapped against her thigh. Never hurt to be prepared.

With an accomplished flick of her hand, Padme ripped the bottom half of her dress off (she had practiced this many times already) showing her skin from knee down to give herself more flexibility in moving around and jumped to touch her back with Anakin's. He glanced over his shoulder, and the look of crestfallen disappointment on his face tore at her heart.

"I'm sorry, Padme," he yelled over all the noise of Jedi fighting bounty hunters while their non-force sensitive spouses helped clear the area of newscasters and family. "I wanted this day to be special for you," he said.

She heard the wavering of tears in his voice and smiled. She grabbed his hand and spun him around to face her.

"You know, Anakin, I think I like it better this way," she whispered happily, looking into his eyes to let him know she meant it. "Like what? Like all the hells had broken loose?" Anakin spat with disgust. Padme laughed. "No," she contradicted. "Like all the family had broken loose," she corrected.

Anakin's eyes lit up and he pulled her against him. "I love you," he said softly. "I love you too," Padme wrapped her arms around his neck. "Alright then!" Obi-wan called, clashing blades with Cad Bane behind them.

"I now pronounce you man and wife, kiss your bride Anakin, and then come help us! We're getting over run!" he ordered hurriedly, ducking beneath a whipping blast.

Anakin crushed her lips into his and they shared their first kiss as man and wife.

"Okay," Padme breathed when they broke apart. She turned around to see a few feet away Masters Yoda and Yaddle were spinning on their heads like twin tops in the middle of the room, emerald lightsabers spinning around them like the exotic wings of birds, deflecting all bolts fired at the back towards their owners.

"Go Yoda! Go Yaddle! Go Yoda! Go Yaddle!" Kina-Bae and Dray chanted along with media crew who seemed to be having the time of their lives as they watched from the sidelines.

Padme smiled. "Let's go aggressively negotiate with these bounty hunters," she suggested. Anakin nodded. "Right behind you, Padme."

And everyone lived happily ever after.

THE END


I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about posting this. One: because I have done easily in about three days what I have been trying to do for almost a year and a half in my Jedi legends series: create a peaceful lifestyle for the Jedi. And Two: because I am not very good at writing a completely lighthearted story, (you see I had to have some angst in there. Oh, and I had to destroy Padme's wedding) Though, I am glad to see the attention it got from my fellow fan fic writers. Happy Friday!

~Queen Yoda