V

"Threepio," I begin, sitting on the edge of the veranda's couch.

"Yes, My Lady?" He asks me courteously.

"Tell Captain Typho to prepare my Skiff for immediate takeoff." I instruct, looking at my hands, rather than my protocol droid.

His expressionless face looks at me with a tilt that suggests curiosity.

"Oh, My Lady, I wish to obey you, but I must ask, are you sure it is wise for you to leave the Capitol alone and unguarded?" He asks. I can hear worry in his monotone voice.

"I won't be going alone." I say to him, rising from the couch's edge.

Slowly, I begin taking steady paces towards the stairs leading to my bedroom. I can hear Threepio's brisk, metal footsteps following mine.

"Whatever do you mean, Mistress Padme?" He asks.

"We're going to Mustafar, Threepio." I say, keeping my eyes on the stairs, I grab the excess of my robe and make my way up to my bedroom to get ready to leave.

Midday arrives sooner than anticipated. Dorme was waiting for me when I finally entered the bedroom to get ready.

"Dorme, I have to leave for a while. I just need to wear something that I can travel in for now." I instruct to her.

She gives no objection. I should know better. Dorme was never one to object what I say to her. She was never one to say "Are you sure you want to leave?" or "I don't think it's wise for you to travel right now."

I watch as she moves around the room, combining accessories with bundles of cloths and fabrics. Before I know it, I'm dressed in a beige and tan ensemble that is very moveable, just as I wished. It's a sleeveless top with a leather harness that crosses over my chest, helping to ease my back pain, while also using the cloth to create a shape for the front of me, attempting to hide my pregnancy again. Two sleeves of matching beige fabric run from my wrists to just below my shoulders. Dorme also dresses me in light pants that fit comfortably over my belly, and feel very light, allowing for a wide range of movement. The tall, leather boots she gives me contain cushioned inserts. This will make walking easy and painless.

"Thank you," I say to Dorme.

She nods and looks down. A tear appears in the corner of her eye and I can't imagine why. I'm only leaving for a little while. The last time Dorme shed a tear for my departure was because an assassin forced me into hiding and she was worried for my safety. But the war is over. She should have nothing to worry about. I'll be safe. I'll be back.

"I'll see you in a little while. I won't be gone long." I promise to her.

Threepio and I walk through the bedroom. I give it one last look, making sure everything is in its place, and giving one, final goodbye look to Dorme.

As we move through the sitting room, I cannot help but feel nostalgic about all the time I've spent here. From the meetings with the Senators, to intimate evenings with Anakin, I've spent so much time of my career and my life here within this blue room, on these yellow couches, looking out those massive, glass windows to the outside world.

It was here, at the doorway to the sitting room, where Anakin and I were first reunited. It was here where I saw his grown, mature figure and face for the first time. This reminds me of how desperate I am to see his face again. It reminds me how much I need to see the light in his eyes and the curl of his smile to show me he's not what Obi-Wan says he is.

Standing at the door, waiting for Captain Typho, I feel like this reflection on the apartment is ridiculous. I'll be coming back here with Anakin soon enough, despite the anxiety I have about staying here any longer.

The ride to the docking platform seems to last forever. As soon as I spot the Naboo Skiff on the large platform, I feel the urge to make Captain Typho drive our transport faster. I cannot waste another second. I need to get to Anakin as soon as I can.

"My Lady, let me come with you." He says to me when we land the speeder on the platform.

I make no haste in waiting for him to help me out of the speeder and over to the Skiff. I take off and briskly march across the expanse of platform on my own.

"There is no danger. The fighting is over. And this is personal." I reply to him. I know he has my best interests at heart, but if Anakin knew he came with me—or saw him come out of the ship with me—it would unleash that dangerous dragon within him. He would see it as an attack—that I needed some sort of protection just to talk to him.

"As you wish, My Lady, but I strongly disagree." He adds, trying to keep up with me. Honestly, I can't explain how my legs are able to carry me across the platform as fast as I'm making them.

"I'll be all right, Captain. This is something I must do myself. Besides, Threepio will look after me." I finish, turning to him and nodding goodbye. It's not as sentimental of a goodbye as the one I shared with Dorme, but I suddenly feel the urgency of the situation and cannot waste another moment.

"Oh dear," I hear Threepio say behind me.

I make my way up the ramp and into the interior of the Skiff. Once I sit in the pilot's seat of the cockpit, I take a deep breath.

I'm coming Anakin, I say in my mind, hoping he can hear me.

Suddenly I'm reminded of why I'm actually going to see him. I have nothing to rescue him of but himself. I'm going to Mustafar to find my Anakin. Whether he had a hand in all of this or not, I need to bring back the good in his eyes. I have no time for truths and lies anymore. I just need to save him while I still can.

"Green light. Do you know, I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this flying business?" Threepio adds, preparing the ship for takeoff.

A small part of me regrets that I'll never say goodbye to Obi-Wan. I took off without visiting him or thanking him for all that he's done for me. However, there really was no way of saying goodbye to him. Saying goodbye means that he would know I was leaving for Anakin. He knows me too well not to figure it out. But I do regret that I couldn't give him one last goodbye.

Another small part of me hopes that I'll never need to go back to the Capitol. A part of me hopes that Anakin and I will leave together and go far away and start a new life. This same part of me wants to escape from this hub of corruption—this vile city of horror and heartbreak.

I watch the skyscrapers go by as our ship takes off and rises in the air. Before long, they're nothing but a collection of dots as dusk turns to night and the view of Coruscant from space is once again the familiar sight of twinkling lights making circular webs of cities.