Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Four

The navicomputer on Anakin's ship alerts him that they are entering Coruscant's space. He takes the ship out of hyperdrive and starts the sequence to enter Coruscant's atmosphere. He contemplates trying to reach Padmé again but decides against it. He figures it might be more fun to surprise her and if he has as long as leave as he is hoping, he knows she can wrap up any business she may have in a day or two so they can get away. The ship lands in the late morning. His troops disembark the ship and head to the hanger. They too have their own debriefing to attend to before they get their leave as well.

Anakin heads to one of the speeders and makes his way to the Jedi Temple. He contemplates making a stop at the Senate apartments on his way there but decides against it, knowing the Council is expecting him. As he passes the Senate apartments, he reaches out with the force and can feel Padmé's force signature so he knows she is there. Just a few more hours and they can be together at long last. He just hopes Mace isn't as long winded like last time.

Padmé is all packed and ready to go. She wraps up last minute items with her handmaiden. Clovis enters her apartment and walks over to her and kisses her hand.

"Are you ready to go?" He asks as he grabs her luggage.

"As ready as I am going to be." She answers.

"It should only take a day to get to Scipio. I set up the meeting three days from today. That will give them time to arrive and for us to prepare." Rush says as he hands her luggage to his servant. "Well let's go save Scipio." He says as he holds his arm out for her to take to escort her to their transport.

They arrive to their ship and get settled for takeoff. Padmé looks out the window and thinks she sees a billboard say something about the Hero with No Fear Has Returned Victorious, but it changes so fast that it could be she misreads it. She hopes so, because she would hate to be leaving now when Anakin is just returning.

Anakin finishes his debriefing with the Jedi Council. They grant him a two week leave and it may be extended as long as nothing new develops with the war. Two weeks was not as much as he wanted but he wasn't going to pass it up as well. He was just leaving the Temple when Obi-Wan calls to him.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan yells.

"Yes Master." Anakin says while turning around to face Obi-Wan.

"The Chancellor has asked for you to meet in his office. He said he had some clone intelligence to share with you and he wanted you to report to him on your last mission." Obi-Wan says.

"I will head over there now, and then when I am done relaying the intelligence can I start my leave?" Anakin asks with frustration in his voice. Palpatine is a mentor and friend to him but he is the last person he wants to see. Plus it is odd that he doesn't just contact the Council and relay the information to them. It is possible he is doing this to check on him like he always did when he returns. And when the Chancellor requests your presence, you try not to disappoint him.

"Yes. You may start your leave in the morning after you meet with the Chancellor." Obi-Wan replies and walks away.

Anakin gets in his speeder and heads to the Senate building. This may work to his advantage. He may get to see Padmé and then at least let her know he is back. He walks into the Senate building and reaches out with the force for her signature. He doesn't feel it but it could mean she is already gone for the day and will catch her tonight at her apartment. After all, that is where he felt her presence earlier.

He heads to the Chancellor's office. His assistant lets him in right away.

"Anakin, good to see you my boy!" Palpatine exclaims as he puts his hands on Anakin's shoulders.

"It is good to be back on Coruscant and friendly ground." Anakin replies.

"Come, tell me about your latest mission." Palpatine beckons to Anakin to sit in a chair next to him.

By the time Anakin finished his talk with Palpatine and delivered the clone intelligence to the Jedi Council, it was late. He decided to head to Padmé's apartment anyway since he knew the code to get in. It wasn't the surprise he wanted but it would still be better than nothing. Besides, she had probably seen the reports that he was back anyway since it was his job to be the poster boy for this war. It wasn't his choice but he did what he was told. He enters her apartment and realizes right away she isn't there. He walks into her bedroom and sees that a good portion of her belongings are gone. He is confused as to where she could be so late. He rememberd she was assigned to the negotiations of Scipio but did that mean she had gone there? He knew he felt her presence earlier on in the day so if she did leave it was just today. He didn't know for sure and he knew he wasn't going to get any answers tonight. Frustrated he heads for his speeder and back to the Temple to sleep in his room there.

Padmé fell asleep on the way to Scipio and was dreaming of the lake house on Naboo. Her back rub she is experiencing feels so good and it feels very real to her. She starts to wake up and realize that the back rub is real. She looks up and sees Rush sitting in the bunk smiling at her.

"Sorry to wake you." He says looking to her. "I wanted to let you know that we will be landing in a few minutes." He quits rubbing her back and grabs her hands to help her sit up. As he does, he kisses the back of both her hands this time.

Padmé withdraws her hands. "Thank you Rush for getting me up. What time is it?"

"It is late afternoon. We have two days before our meeting. I have arranged for us to stay at my place in the mountains. It is secluded so we should have privacy to continue our work." He says taking his seat for the landing.

Padmé sits in the chair next to him. "We should also meet with the leaders of Scipio while we are here. That is one of the reasons we came here." She says to him.

"Of course, I will make the arrangements for tomorrow. Tonight let's adjust to our travels and relax. We have a lot coming up and will need our strength. My house attendants already have a meal waiting for us when we arrive." Rush says to her.

Padmé is lost in thought. Relaxing sounds good. Especially with how stressed she has been lately but she also wants to finish this trip and get back home. She realizes she needs a vacation even if it is without Anakin. When she is done with this trip she is planning on heading to Naboo to visit her family. However, the meetings that are coming up don't start until tomorrow so she might as well enjoy a peaceful night.

Padmé looks to Rush. "A night to relax sounds perfect."

Anakin heads over to Padmé's apartment first thing in the morning. No one is there, including her staff. Since he isn't getting anywhere here he decides to head to the Senate building. Maybe one of her aids will know where she is. He walks into the Senate building and Senator Organa spots him.

"Master Skywalker!" Bail greets. "I want to congratulate you on a job well done. I know you had a hard battle on your hands. I am thankful you came back victorious and in good health." Bail says to him as they walk down the corridor.

"Thank you Senator. I appreciate your well wishes." Anakin says to him. "I have a question for you. I need to speak with Senator Amidala but cannot locate her. Do you happen to know where she is?" Anakin asks hopefully.

"I know Senator Amidala and Senator Clovis have been working a lot together lately on the Separatist takeover of Scipio. She may be with him in his office if she is not in hers." Bail says.

"Thank you for the help." Anakin says as he turns down the hall to her office. Senator Clovis. Anakin ponders. Looks like I am going to check up on this senator;he thinks as he reaches Padmé's office.

Padmé's assistant looks up from her desk as Anakin walks in.

"Master Skywalker, how may I help you?" She asks.

"I am here to speak with Senator Amidala, do you know when she will be available?" He says to her smiling.

"I am sorry sir. She is gone on a mission for the Republic. She won't be back for a few days. If she checks in, I can let her know you were here to see her." Her assistant says to him.

"Thank you that would be great." He says as he leaves. Gone for a few days, his frustration is growing by the minute. The person he needs to see is the Chancellor since he will know where she was sent. He heads to Palpatine's office next. Anakin reaches Palpatine's office and his assistant looks up.

"How can I help you Master Skywalker?" He asks.

"I need to speak with the Chancellor is he in?" Anakin asks.

"I am sorry. He is busy until later tonight. You can come back then. I will add you to the schedule." He says to Anakin.

"Alright, I will be back then." Anakin says. He figures since he has to wait, he might as well do some research. He heads to the library to do some research on this Senator Clovis.

Padmé and Rush reach his house in the mountains. His servants show her to her room so she can freshen up before dinner. She sits down on the bed and sighs. She is exhausted. Not physically but mentally. The stress of her life is starting to catch up to her. She knows she has to keep a strong appearance but on the inside she is starting to cave. She gets off the bed and heads to the dining room for dinner, stopping at the door to compose herself.

"Padmé, you look amazing." Rush says as he grabs her hand and kisses it and walks her to her chair. "The mountain air suits you well." He says as he pushes her chair into the table.

"Thank you Rush, you are too kind." She says back to him. "I will just be glad to finish this mission and hopefully succeed. The place I feel most refreshed is Naboo and I am hoping to head there soon." She tells him as she takes a bite of her food.

"I have heard of how splendid Naboo is. Perhaps I can visit it soon myself. Of course, if you would be my tour guide I could learn more than others." Rush says as he sips his wine.

"Maybe someday I can show you around, however, that will have to be awhile. I plan on visiting my family when I head back there and can use some time to myself." She states.

"Of course, I know you need some time to yourself. I am surprised you aren't tired of me yet." He says looking down at his food.

"Actually Rush I am grateful for the company. It is nice to work on a dilemma with someone who is a friend." She says back to him.

"Me too." He says while looking into her eyes.

She breaks his gaze and continues to eat.

"I have my servants starting a fire in the fireplace in the sitting room. When we are done here, we can head in there to relax." Rush says to her trying to sound indifferent but failing.

Padmé picks up on the hope in his voice. "Actually Rush, I think I will retire to my room for the night. We have a lot coming up in the next couple of days and I want to stay focused on what's ahead."

"Of course." He says dejectedly.

"Thank you again for the hospitality." She says as she stands up to leave.

He stands up and walks over to her. He gives her a hug and whispers in her ear. "Goodnight Padmé. Sweet dreams." He then kisses her on the cheek and walks into the sitting room.

She walks into her room and collapses on the bed. "What am I doing here?" She asks herself. His arms around her felt so strong. When he whispered in her ear it sent chills down her spine. Her head was spinning with emotion. She was trying hard not to give in and she resolved herself to try harder for her marriage. She finally cried herself to sleep.

Anakin finishes his research on Senator Clovis. Not much stood out about him other than he entered the senate the same time Padmé did. It had shown the two of them together quite a bit in her early years as a senator and then they weren't seen together as much anymore. He gets up from his station in the library and heads to Palpatine's office. When he gets there he is lead straight into his office.

"Anakin! What are you doing here? I thought you would have taken your leave far from here by now?" Palapatine says as he greets Anakin.

"I was hoping to as well." Anakin replies. "But I need to speak with Senator Amidala before I leave and I haven't found her, do you know where she is? Her office said she was on a mission for you."

Palpatine could feel the frustration and anxiety coming off of Anakin. He was smiling on the inside. He turns to look at Anakin with a somber look on his face.

"She is on a mission for me with Senator Clovis. I am sure you know about the Separatists trying to take over Scipio and the banks." Palpatine remarks.

"Yes, I had heard reports of this while I was away." Anakin replies.

"Senator Clovis and Amidala are on Scipio now. They have an important meeting with some of the Separatist Senators to resolve this issue for the day after tomorrow. With Senator Amidala's brilliant negotiating skills I am sure they will have this issue resolved and be back in a few days." Palpatine says with concern.

"Did they take a Jedi escort?" Anakin asks.

"No. Scipio is neutral territory. If I had sent a Jedi escort with them that would have given the wrong impression to the Separatists. I guarantee they will be quite safe. It is Senator Clovis' home planet. I am sure he can take care of the two of them if trouble were to arise." Palpatine replies. "Anakin, please take your leave and get some much needed rest. I am sure whatever needs to be communicated to Senator Amidala can wait until she returns." Palpatine says as he escorts Anakin out of his office.

"Thank you Chancellor for your kindness." Anakin says as he bows to leave.

Palpatine shuts the door to his office and smiles. He can feel Anakin's anger and frustration. He knows that it will help him to be a fine apprentice.

Anakin leaves the Senate building angry. He was really hoping she would be here. His leave time is dwindling by the day. He is torn on if he should stay here or go to her. He didn't want to endanger her mission either by showing up when he shouldn't. He decides to head back to the temple to meditate and clear his mind. Plus it was late and he needed to rest to focus on where the force was leading him.