My story is almost done. The last two chapters are here. I hope you enjoyed reading it as I have writing it. I am working on a sequel to the story and will put that up when I get more accomplished with it. Thanks again for reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or the characters.

Chapter Six

Padmé wakes up to a knock at the door. It is one of Rush's servants informing her that breakfast is ready and Rush is expecting her. Her head feels better but she has a knot in her stomach. Today is the day and it seems no matter how many negotiation talks she enters, they never get any easier. She lets the servant know she will be down shortly. She absentmindedly starts to play with Anakin's necklace. It immediately calms her nerves as she gets out of bed to prepare for today.

She meets Rush at the table as he is looking over their notes on the datapad again. He looks up to see her take a seat next to him.

"How's your head?" He asks while grabbing her hand to kiss it.

"Better than last night." She replies while retracting her hand and grabbing her datapad and a muffin. "I am nervous about the negotiations, but I feel we have a strong case before us." She says to him.

"We need to leave shortly. The meeting is at the Governor's office and I would like to get there early to set up." He says to her.

"Of course, I am ready when you are." She says as she gathers her things to take with her. He gathers his things and escorts her to his speeder.

They arrive at the Governor's office and are lead to one of the conference rooms. They start to set up their items. Padmé at one point stops and rubs the necklace again. Rush notices and walks over to her.

"Good, you brought your good luck charm. Can I give you one of my good luck charms?" He asks.

"Okay?" She asks hesitantly.

He leans in to her and kisses her on the lips. "Hopefully that will bring us some luck as well." He says pulling away from her.

"Rush…" She starts to say but is interrupted by the Governor's aid escorting the Separatist Senators in.

Anakin finally touches down in Scipio late in the afternoon. Now that he is here, he needs a plan to start to find his wife. He figures the best place to start would be Senator Clovis' office on Scipio. He asks one of the workers at the Space Port and they give him the address. He rents a speeder and heads towards the office which is an hour away.

It is late afternoon and the negotiations are over. Padmé is euphoric as the Separatist Senators agree to leave Scipio and the banks out of the war. Of course her brilliant speech and convincing evidence didn't help the Separatists cause any. She is smiling as she is heading back with Rush to his place. Long gone is the memory of the kiss he gave her earlier. However, in Rush's mind, it is all he can think about.

"Padmé, you were amazing back there!" Rush exclaims. "We must celebrate this victory. I will have my servants prepare one of the finest meals on Scipio. We dine tonight and perhaps tomorrow we go skiing in the mountains before we head back to Coruscant." He says while grabbing her hand and holding it.

She looks back at him and smiles. The stress of the week is finally coming off of her. Perhaps she should enjoy some down time before she heads back to work. "That all sounds wonderful." She says back smiling to him.

Anakin makes it to Senator Clovis' office and is met by one of his assistants locking up.

"Excuse me, could I get your help?" He asks with a little persuasion with the force.

"Of course, how can I help you?" She responds instantly drawn to him.

"I was looking for Senator Clovis. I see he is not here. Do you know where I can reach him?" Anakin asks flashing his brilliant blue eyes at her.

"Yes, he and Senator Amidala just left the Governor's office a little while ago and were heading to his home in the mountains." She says caving in to him.

"Can I get the address? It is really important I meet with him." Anakin asks smiling.

"Of course, let me go get it for you." She unlocks the office door and heads inside. She comes back out a moment later with the address in her hand. "Here you go." She says handing him the paper.

"Thank you so much." He says as he smiles at her and walks to his speeder.

Padmé and Rush are seated at the table finishing up dinner.

"You were right. That was the best meal." Padmé says to Rush.

"I am glad you liked it. We certainly have reason to celebrate." Rush says getting up from the table and heading over to Padmé to help her from the table. He offers his arm to her which she accepts as he leads her to the sitting room where the fire is going. Already at the table by the couch sit a couple of wine glasses. He sits down at the couch and she follows his lead. He picks up one of the wine glasses and hands it to her. He picks up the other glass and turns to her.

"To success and to keeping the Muun people safe." Rush says holding out his glass.

"Agreed." She says and they both take a drink.

Padmé finishes her glass, puts it down and sits back on the couch. She is content for once. She accomplished the task she set out to achieve. She looks to the fire and smiles. Rush sets down his glass and looks to Padmé.

"I truly can't thank you enough for all of your help." He says to her as he puts his arm around her shoulders. "You are such a remarkable woman." He says to her as he leans in and kisses her on the lips.

She kisses back, but it is because her mind is elsewhere. As she was gazing at the fire she was remembering a night on Naboo with Anakin. As the kissing intensifies she comes to her senses and realizes who it is she is actually kissing and why this doesn't feel right. She pulls away from Rush.

"No, this is wrong. I can't do this." She says to him with a shocked expression on her face.

"It's okay Padmé." He says to her as he rubs her back. "We can do this. We make such a great team. I was a little hesitant as well because of our past but we can learn from our mistakes and come out on the other side stronger. Just give me a chance." He says as he reaches for her again and starts to kiss her again.

This time she is trying to fight him but he maneuvers around her punches and grabs her wrists in his hands. He starts to kiss down her neck.

"Rush, please! I am begging you let me go!" She cries.

"Trust me Padmé." He says to her as he starts to reach under her clothing. "Once you give in to the desire, you will realize that I am right about us."

He starts to kiss her and run his hand all up and down her body as his other hand has her two hands pinned above her head. She tries to kick him but his body weight is holding her legs down. She keeps yelling for him to stop.

"Please, Rush Stop! Stop! No!" She is crying and screaming at him. Then all of a sudden he is off of her and is against the wall on the far side of the room.

Anakin puts his arm down from using the force to push Rush off of Padmé. He walks over to her and crouches down by her. "Are you okay?" He asks with worry in his voice.

"Anakin!" She exclaims as she wraps her arms around him. "I am now that you are here." She says with relief.

Rush stands up looking at Anakin. He has no idea that Anakin just force pushed him off. He believes he was actually thrown against the wall. "How in the world did you get in here and what are you doing here?!" He says with anger in his voice.

Anakin stands up and faces Rush. "It is none of your concern. What you should be worried about is what I am going to do to you." Anakin snarls back.

"Why should you care about our situation? She is of no concern of yours!" He lividly says.

"You don't get to treat any woman that way. If she says no, then you stop. But now it is time for you to learn your lesson the hard way." Anakin yells angrily.

Anakin then lunges towards Rush with his fist connecting with Rush's jaw and knocking him to the floor. Anakin follows Rush and is sitting on top of him. He goes to hit him again but Rush dodges the punch. Rush goes to hit Anakin, however Anakin blocks the punch with his mechanical hand causing Rush to scream in pain. Anakin starts to punch Rush again so Rush puts his arms up to deflect the assault. Anakin is able to get around the block and connects with Rush's torso. When Rush goes to defend his torso Anakin hits him in the eye causing Rush's head to roll to the side. Rush finally is able to grab Anakin by the clothes, lifts up with his legs for leverage and then throws Anakin over his head.

Rush scrambles to get up. While Anakin is getting up, Rush is able to cross the distance between them and hits Anakin in the back of the head causing Anakin to stumble forward. Rush then kicks him in the back in the kidneys. Anakin falls to the floor and rolls to the side since his tolerance for pain is pretty high and he wants to face his opponent. Rush, not anticipating Anakin's roll, goes to hit Anakin but his fist connects with the floor. Anakin does a kick up and faces Rush as he stands up from hitting the floor. Anakin has had enough. Anakin then uses the force to grab Rush and chokes him before he throws him across the room and into the wall hard. Rush stands up slowly. He realizes for the first time that he is dealing with a Jedi.

"Jedi are not to be on Scipio. You realize you are on dangerous ground. I could report you to the Jedi Council." Rush says trying to disarm Anakin, knowing he truly can't win a fight against a Jedi.

"And you Senator are a snake!" Anakin seethes. "You have no ground to stand on as well or I and Senator Amidala will let all of the Senate and Scipio know the kind of man you are. It will ruin your reputation and career." Anakin says back.

As Anakin is talking, Rush is moving slowly to the table in the corner of the room. Anakin turns to talk to Padmé, and while his back is to Rush, he pulls out a blaster from the drawer and fires at Anakin.

"Anakin! Look out!" Padmé shouts.

Anakin turns around with lightning speed, grabs his lightsaber and deflects the blasts back at Rush which hits him in the shoulder.

"Ahhh!" Rush yells holding his arm as he falls to the floor.

Anakin walks over to Rush and kicks the blaster away. "If I ever see you near Senator Amidala again, I guarantee you will wish you were dead." He says to Rush crouching over him.

By this time all of the house servants are standing in the adjacent room waiting for when they can get to their master. Anakin stands up and sees the audience. He turns off his lightsaber and looks to Padmé.

"Senator Amidala, I can escort you back to Coruscant." He says walking over to her holding his hand out to her.

"Thank you. I would be most grateful." Padmé whispers as she grabs her husband's hand and he leads her to his speeder.

The servants then go to Rush and call for a medical droid. Rush watches the two leave with anger and pain in his eyes.

Padmé gets into the speeder and starts to cry as they head away from the mountains. Anakin puts his arm around her and draws her close to him.

She is an emotional wreck. She can't believe what almost happened. She realizes that it was a mistake to even trust Rush. She thought she was reading his intentions clearly but she kept second guessing herself. Plus her longing for Anakin didn't help her vulnerable emotional state and she knew it. She is very thankful that her husband found her.

Anakin is so angry he is having a hard time keeping focused on getting back to the ship. How any guy can treat any woman like that makes him sick to his stomach. Then it isn't even any woman, it is his wife! Since he knows he can't always be around to protect her, he wants to find a way to help her defend herself from this ever happening again. Right now he realizes he needs to be strong for her.

They remain silent the whole trip back to the ship with Padmé crying in Anakin's shoulder.

They reach the ship and Anakin carries Padmé inside. He can tell that she is suffering from shock and needs to get some rest. He lays her down on one of the bunks and starts to turn away from her to head to the cockpit when she grabs his hand.

"Ani, thank you for saving me. I am so sorry." She says as she looks into her husband's eyes.

"Hey, it isn't your fault. Don't ever think that." Anakin says with concern in his eyes. "He is a monster. Just promise me to stay away from him." Anakin says stroking Padmé's cheek.

"I promise." She says to him.

Anakin kisses her forehead. "Get some rest. You have been through a lot. It will do you some good. I am going to get us out of here." He says as he kisses her forehead again and walks to the cockpit. He sets a course for Naboo. After getting out of Scipio and putting the ship into hyperdrive, he walks back to Padmé and sees she is having a hard time calming down. She looks to him and grabs his hand.

"Ani, can you stay with me, please?" She pleads.

"Of course, Angel. I am not going anywhere." He says as he slides next to her in the bunk and wraps his arms around her. He feels her finally relax and fall asleep.