Anakin is just walking to his room after his last day at Theed academy. He is sad that he has to leave the school as he has enjoyed his time there immensely and would have liked to stay there longer. But he knows that he has to leave in order for him to move further with his life. He is looking forward to the start of next school year when he will go to the University of Coruscant. This is the university that spoke to him the most out of all the other universities he visited with his father during his junior year. As he thinks about the university has him thinking about the admission process he went through. It all started with the application he sent in and after which he sent in the result of the test he took during the spring break. Once he had that done he went to get his teacher recommendations as the university requested two. A few weeks later those were sent in by his teachers. It took a few days for the school to send an appointment for the required interview. His interview was taken by use of Skype as both he and the university have it. After the interview, it was a nervous wait for he knew that he would have plenty of competition to be accepted but told himself that he has done his best. Near the end of February, he learned that he got accepted as the school to send him an email and a few days later he received his acceptation package. In this package was information about the school including a schedule containing important dates. Among those important dates were the dates for room selection and course selection. Once the courses came online Anakin went to work on making a list of courses he wants to take and for each course, he selected at least one substitute in case he wouldn't be able to get into the course he preferred to take. Luckily he only had to enroll in one of his substitutes courses as he managed to get into all his remaining preference ones. Also, he had to pick his dorm room. During the process, Anakin decided to skip the part where he could select his roommates. He doesn't know anyone who will go to the University of Coruscant so he thought it best to let himself be surprised by who his roommates will be for the coming school year. The last things he did was filling the papers the university wants to have from him. Among those are financial papers to show that he can pay the tutelage and his medical insurance. As he doesn't have a US medical insurance he had to accept the insurance the university offers. They don't allow any student on campus who isn't US insured. The insurance of the home country of foreign students is sufficient enough.

"Anakin!" Ahsoka calls from down the hall.

Anakin looks up surprised that she would use his name as she normally always calls him 'Skyguy'. Looking around he sees a couple of parliamentarians walking down the hallway. From their direction, Anakin believes that they come from a meeting with his father in his office. Their presence would explain why she would call him by his name. It would not be appropriate if she would call him anything other than his name when there are strangers present. Then they have to stick to the formal etiquette they have been taught as their father explained it to them and parliamentarians are strangers to them. Ahsoka has been learning the etiquette ever since she could walk and he has been learning it ever since he came to live with his father. Right now, Anakin doesn't have to think any more about what behavior is appropriate as he instinctively knows it. That is something which Anakin is happy with as it allows him to pay more attention to what happens around him.

"Yes, little sister. What is it?" Anakin says once the siblings have reached each other. He knows that he can call Ahsoka little sister as it is seen as an appropriate way of addressing a little sister so long as there are not too many strangers around.

"Can we play together in the back garden?" Ahsoka asks while giving him a pleading look.

Seeing this look has Anakin struggling to keep his laughter from his sister. He has always found her pleading look hilarious. It stays difficult even after he has learned how to keep his emotions from his face. That is one of the most important lessons he learned from his father during this year.

"Of course, but first let me put my backpack in my room." Anakin tells her once he has his face under control.

"Of course! I will go gather some toys for us to play with in the meantime." Ahsoka answers enthusiastically and then hurries down the hallway to where their outdoor toys are stored.

Anakin has to shake his head at his sister's behavior as he continues to be surprised and amused by her lively behavior. He doesn't say anything about it so as to let her enjoy her youth for as long as she can. He knows that soon enough she will have to act more composed and as is expected of a noble girl her age. It won't be appropriate anymore for her then to behave as she does now. Putting his backpack in his room Anakin makes his way to the back garden where he had agreed to meet his sister.

When he arrives there he can see that Ahsoka has brought toys for numerous games. This makes him smile to himself as it gives him the impression that she doesn't know what game they will be playing. Walking up to where Ahsoka stands, Anakin says

"Well, snips. What game will we be playing?"

"You choose, Skyguy. I don't know what game you would like to play so I brought the toys necessary for a few games."

They have returned to calling each other by their nicknames as now they are in private. Calling each other by their nicknames is something they both prefer to do. Spending a lot of time on etiquette is quite boring in their opinion. Thus every chance they have to escape those tight rules they take the most of it.

Anakin thinks some time about game choices he has before he makes his choice. His choice falls on basketball. He shows his decision to his sister by picking up the basketball that lies on the ground before them among the other toys she brought. This way of telling each other about choices they have made has been agreed on some years ago. In fact, it is one of the ways in which they can tell each other something without having to fear being overheard by people who are not supposed to hear about it. Their father taught them these subtle ways of talking to one another. The family has used them on numerous occasions. At the times he saw Tahl make the subtle movements Anakin was quite confused but now that he knows what the movements mean it has all become clear to him.

"Anakin! Anakin. You should not let your thoughts wander so much. I have been trying to get your attention for the last few minutes now. I wonder what father would say about it." Ahsoka sys with a grin on her face.

This pulls Anakin instantly from his thoughts. Even though he knows that she is teasing him Anakin gives his sister a mean look. Then as he tries to grasp her Anakin says

"Don't you dare snips! You'll regret it!"

Anakin spends some time chasing his sister around the garden before he manages to finally catch her and starts to tickle her. Ahsoka's laughter can be heard around the garden. Once Anakin deems that she has been punished long enough he let her go. For the remainder of the afternoon, they spend playing basketball.

A few weeks later, Anakin is busy getting himself ready for Naboo's Independence Day ball. Not so long ago the annoying barber left. That man behavior is plainly annoying and always is close to getting under his skin. The only thing he is good at is his job and Anakin thinks that that is the only reason why he is still asked. Once Anakin deems himself presentable does he leave the room he is in. As he leaves the room he sees Tahl standing in the hallway. Anakin gets the impression that she is waiting for him so he walks up to her and asks.

"Am I presentable like this, Tahl?"

"Yes, Anakin. You are presentable. Don't worry so much about the press conference you have to hold tonight. I'm sure you will do fine as you always do." Tahl says encouragingly and gives him a smile while putting a supporting hand on his shoulder.

Anakin has to wince at her words. He completely forgot about the press conference. He isn't that surprised about it as he hasn't been looking forward to it. Tonight he will officially accept the position of crown prince as is the tradition for an heir apparent to do once they reach the age of eighteen. Press conferences and paparazzi are the only things he truly hates about being royalty. The other things are always enjoyable to certain degrees.

"Thank you for your confidence, Tahl. I appreciate it. Shall we then go to the room where we agreed to meet father?" Anakin asks and gets a chuckle in return. He smiles at his stepmother and offers his arm to her. He has always liked to make her laugh.

Tahl takes his arm and together they walk to where they had agreed to meet before the beginning of the ball and press conference.

Soon they reach the room and see that Qui-gon is already there talking to his assistant. Anakin knows that he is not to disturb their discussion so he waits in the room and drinks some water to quell his raging nerves. He sees that Tahl walks up to his father and waits for him and his assistant to be done.

Ten minutes later the discussion is finished and then Qui-gon and Tahl talk for a few minutes to each other. Afterward, they join Anakin where he stands.

"Are you ready for it, Anakin?" Qui-gon asks once he stands by his son. He can relate to what his son is going through. He has gone through the exact same thing when he was Anakin's age. Only he didn't have the kind of support that he and Tahl are giving to Anakin. His father expected him to be able to hold the press conference on his own. His father didn't offer him a listening ear and because his mother was deceased then he truly felt that he stood on his own with the press conference. Because of that experience, he knew he would do it different for his heir. He didn't want to have his heir go through it without support. That is the reason why he always offers a listening ear to his son once this moment was approaching.

"I don't know, father. I'm nervous. What if I mess up? I don't want to embarrass our family." Anakin confesses nervously. This will be the first time he has to speak to the press on his own. The other times he always had his father or Tahl do most of the talking.

"I doubt that you will mess up, Anakin. You have a natural charisma around you. That will certainly help you get through it just fine. Besides, you rarely mess up and no matter what you do I doubt that you will embarrass us. Everyone can understand that you're nervous." Qui-gon tells his son in an attempt to reassure him.

"Thank you, father." Anakin answers. He feels relieved that his father is confident in his ability to hold a successful press conference. It is then that remembers something which he desperately wants to know.

"Father, do you think that Padmé will be here?"

Anakin remembered that he has invited her as he was allowed to invite one friend to the ball. He decided to invite Padmé because he hadn't seen her for a long time in person. They have only talked to each other over the internet or the phone. It isn't as satisfying as talking to someone in person. Another point of interest is that they really like each other. They are still unsure if it is love or just a strong friendship that has developed between them. They decided to let time tell them what it is that developed between them.

"Yes, Anakin. I do believe that she is here. Mace told me that he received word that the friend you invited has arrived. Thus I imagine that she is here." Qui-gon answers. He shares a look with Tahl when they see Anakin's relieved expression on the news. This doesn't surprise them at all as Qui-gon confided in Tahl that he believes that Anakin and Padmé are in love with each other. It is just that they haven't acknowledged their feelings just yet but time will have them acknowledge their feelings. Of that Qui-gon is sure.

Just then Qui-gon looks to the door and sees Mace entering the room. This tells him that everything is prepared and the press conference can be started. Looking at Anakin, Qui-gon says.

"Anakin, it is time for you to hold the press conference. Good luck. We will be right beside you."

Anakin nods and swallows to lose the lump that formed in his throat when he heard his father's words. Then he walks to the door and takes a deep breath before entering the ballroom. It is there that everything has been set up for the press conference. As he walks into the room he appears for all eyes to be complete at ease while internally he is as nervous as one can be. The flashes of the cameras slightly blind him and he can also hear some reporters talking into their recorders.

It doesn't take him long to reach the dais that has been set up for this event. Anakin moves to where the microphone is placed on a stand. Tahl and Qui-gon come to stand on his right side a bit removed. With this, they show to support him while also indicating that he will be holding the conference on his own.

Anakin places his hand on the stand and takes a look at the room. He can only see reporters and photographers. Most reporters use a recorder to record everything they see as he has heard some do already when he entered. Some only hold a microphone and are accompanied by a cameraman with his camera. The corresponding microphone he can find on the stand. This tells him that these reporters belong to the major news agencies from Naboo and the surrounding countries. This confirms his suspicion that the major news agencies would do everything they could to be here. Once the room is silent, Anakin says.

"Good evening everyone. As has been announced recently I will inform you about my decision if I will be officially known as the crown prince of Naboo"

Anakin can tell that he has hooked the attention of the reporters tightly. They all hold their recorders in his direction to record his words.

"After some consideration, I have come to the decision that from this day forward I will officially be known as the crown prince of Naboo. I will strive to do everything in my power to serve Naboo and will place her interest before my own. Thank you for your time." Anakin says and waits for a bit. He knows that it is a real possibility that the reporters will be asking him questions. He doesn't have to wait long for they do just that. Fifteen minutes later, the conference is over and Anakin makes his way back to his room to freshen up a bit for the upcoming ball. He knows it is a short press conference but is happy to be done with this.

Thirty minutes later Anakin is attending the ball. He has danced most of the time with Padmé who he saw when he upon entering the ballroom. She is wearing a beautiful purple dress. Anakin thinks of her as one of the most beautiful woman present.

Once Anakin finds the time, he takes her outside into the garden. It is there that they can quietly talk to each other which they just do. Near the end of their conversation, they embrace each other for they feel uncomfortable with kissing each other right now.

Anakin is happy with the turn his life took after his mother's death and is looking forward to the upcoming years.