disclaimer: I do not own Star wars, or any of the related characters. The Star Wars series is created by George Lucas and owned by Disney. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Star Wars story belong to DISNEY.
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CHAPTER 3

It was 9:30 pm and she was still not finished packing for the trip, it took her longer because she took the opportunity to start packing some of the clothes she used less into boxes, at least she was starting to accept the fact that her move to Canada was real. Satine and Sabe arrived at her apartment earlier, from there they would take a cab to the airport. The flight was at 12:30 am, so they needed to leave soon in order to get there in time, they were going to meet Anakin and the rest at the airport. Padme was telling her friends about the fact that she was almost not invited to the trip. "I just find his reason very stupid" she said as she folded a dress into her suitcase.

"It makes perfect sense for me" Satine said while pouring some of Padmé's face wash into a small recipient "he obviously still has a crush on you" sabe agreed with her nodding her head, she was lying in Padme's bed reading the newest issue of Vogue. "Obviously" said Sabe "he wants to be a guy and if you are around, he can't full act like one, he still wants you to have a good impression of him"

Padme thought that was ridiculous, sure she was aware that Anakin had had a crush on her when he first started working at the firm but that was so long ago, they were friends now, nothing more. She rolled her eyes at her friend's statement as she put the pre-selected pair of shoes into bags. "That's not it" "I just think it's weird for him because we work together"

"Sure" Sabe said as she licked her finger to turn page to her magazine "continue to be in denial, that's what you do best lately" Padme knew she was referring to her current situation which Satine was not aware of, she grabbed her pillow and threw right at Sabe.

"Yeah, as much as you would like to deny it, it's obvious you like him too" said Satine, thinking that's what Sabe was referring to with her sarcastic comment. Padme could do nothing but roll her eyes, she closed her suitcase. "I don't, he's just a friend and you better not do any comments like this in front of him, the last thing I want is to make him uncomfortable" she said sternly, they took their things downstairs and waited for their cab.

Padmé could not deny that she found Anakin attractive, after all she wasn't blind, he was objectively good looking. When he first started working at the firm she had just broken up with Palo (the doctor) and had started dating her rebound, what a mistake that was, Clovis, a co-worker, their relationship was very short and somewhat secretive, she didn't want anyone in the office to know, they dated only for 2 months before she broke things up, she wasn't ready for anything serious since she had just broken up with Palo; besides Clovis was possessive, jealous and had a temper so she decided to better end things as friends but he didn't take it very well, he gave her the cold shoulder at work and would at times be rude to her, very unprofessional. From that point she decided to never date anyone from work so when Anakin started as an intern, she knew he had a crush on her, he wasn't really trying to hide it.
She was aware of the effect she had on him, he was shy (which was unusual for him) when she was around and would struggle to string coherent sentences together, she didn't think much of it since she was dating clovis besides Anakin never tried anything and before she knew it, they had become really good friends. She didn't think he liked her now, he had dated a few girls, nothing too serious but he was living his best single life. He was a 25-year-old single handsome man with a high earning salary, it was a mystery to her why he didn't date more, he could if he wanted to and maybe he did, and she wasn't aware. Who knows? Unlike Anakin, after clovis she decided to focus on herself, stopped dating and try to get used to being alone again, it didn't take her long as she was used to being on her own and after almost a year she started dating again but no one really had caught her attention. She had very high standards and she could afford to have them, she was young, beautiful, smart, funny with a great career (at least until now) she was not going to settle for anything less.

Her thoughts were interrupted as they arrived to the airport where Ashoka and the rest were already waiting for them, she introduced Satine and Sabe to Anakin, Obi wan and Lux, they all went through the security check up and sat in the waiting room. Padme noticed that Satine and Obi wan were getting along pretty well, they were both doctors, so they had that in common, nerds, she thought to herself, she looked at Sabe who was sitting in front of her and right next to Satine, she was looking right back at Padme with a mischievous look, oh so we are both thinking the same thing. Padmé was sitting next to Ashoka "I'm going to the restroom" she said as she stood up, "Me too" said Sabe. They both made their way to the bathroom.

"What are they talking about?" she asked Sabe

"Just doctor's stuff" "but she is being extra giggly, isn't she?"

"Definitely" everyone was a bit tired since it was midnight so one except Obi wan and Satine had been chatting, everyone was on their phones or reading waiting for the plane to arrive, they were practically the only ones talking. "She is usually not this talkative, at least not with someone new"

"Especially not with men" added Sabe "He is kind of cute, isn't' he? Like he totally has that doctor appearance but in a good way"

"Yes, he is good looking, he is also a really nice" they stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes talking about how good of a match Satine and Obi-wan would make, then they went to get something to get a snack before the plane arrived. "So, when are you telling her?" sabe asked

Padmé knew what she was referring to. "I think she deserves to know; she is one of your best friends" added sabe, padmé sighed and answered"I will tell everyone, including Satine on Monday" Sabe was about to talk but before she could Padmé continued "I know what you are going to say but I can't tell her now, if I do she will get sad and then I will get sad and the trip will be ruined, I want all of us to have as much fun as possible and this weekend I want to pretend as if my life is still the same, can you do that for me, please?" Sabe sighed and nodded "Fine, I will not talk about this anymore and will pretend nothing is happening but promise me you will tell her on Monday" Padme nodded in agreement "also I would like to add that I do not agree the way you are handling things" Sabe added quickly before closing the topic for good and grabbing the snacks they bought for Ashoka and Satine, Padme just rolled her eyes and mumbled "I know" and headed back to the waiting room.

The flight was 6 hours, thankfully shewas wearing something cozy for the flight, they arrived at the Las Vegas airport around 6:30 am and took a cab to the hotel, arriving at the Plaza Hotel Casino around 8 am. They couldn't check in until 11 am so they stored their luggage in the lobby and decided to go get breakfast. The first day was planned to settle in and to visit different places in Las Vegas, once they were let in their rooms they prepared for the rest of the day, they visited Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, it was gorgeous, Padmé and Satine especially loved it, then they visited Fremont Streetland and lastly the Neon Museum, they wanted to make the most of the day since they were only going to be there for a few days, they arrived back at the hotel around 9:30 pm. Throughout the whole day Sabe, Padmé and Ashoka noticed how well Satine and Obi-wan were getting along, they giggled and made sly comments to each other about it being extra careful so that neither Satine or Obi-wan would notice, anakin and lux seemed to be oblivious of the whole ordeal.

Everyone except for Pamdé went down to the casino, she decided to stay and take a quick nap, and around 10:30 she started to get dressed up, she knew that they would probably all be drunk by now but her nap was worth it, she decided to wear a red long sleeve crop top that had a bit of cleavage and a long skirt of the same color, leaving her toned stomach uncovered, her hair loose but combed, she applied her make-up and put on accessories and a pair of black heeled sandals, she looked really good and very on theme for a night out in Las Vegas and who knows, maybe she would find some crazy American who would marry her and give her a green card so she had to look good. Once she got to the bar where they were at, she started drinking quickly to catch up with the rest that were already drunk as she had suspected. After a few drinks she was feeling a bit dizzy, they played games in the casino and were having so much fun, at some point they all drifted apart to different places within the casino, anakin and Padmé stayed together playing in the slot machines.

"So, if either one of us hits the jackpot we will split the money right" said Padmé, she was feeling a bit dizzy, and the lights of the slot machine were not helping.

"Depends"

"On what?"

"If you hit it then yes but if I hit it I'm keeping all the money" he said laughing, padmé laughed too and hit him in the arm jokingly, she looked around the casino trying to spot a someone from the group, either Sabe, Obi-wan, Lux or Satine but she couldn't find them anywhere, she stood up to try to get a better view and then she saw a tall somewhat handsome man with dark hair playing poker, by his side a tall girl with wavy long and shiny hair, she was wearing a beautiful gold dress and accentuated her ample bosom, oh fuck, she thought to herself "oh fuck" she then said at loud, she bent down so that she wouldn't be seen by who appeared to be her ex and his new wife. "what's going on?" Anakin asked confused "We need to get out of here" she said almost whispering, not like they could hear her, they were not that close, but she was not taking any chances.

"What, Why?" "We just started with the slot machines"
"My ex is right there and so is his wife" "I don't want them to see me" Anakin turned around to look for her ex but couldn't really tell because he had never actually met him "Where is he?"

"He is playing poker, wearing a blue suit, tall with dark hair" she responded "well that could be anyone at that table" he said

She rolled her eyes "He is the one that has a busty blonde wrapped around his arm" and with that Anakin was able to spot him, it was hard not to notice the beautiful well-endowed blonde that he was with; he looked old, or at least older than both of them, he had a serious look on his face and was drinking scotch. "Oh yeah, I see him now" Padme rolled her eyes at him knowing he only recognized him because of Bella (the Russian model) he couldn't blame him though, she was very conventionally attractive pretty much everyone's type. "How are we getting out of here without passing through there?" he asked Padme, she realized that they had to go through the poker table in order to get to the elevator, great, even though the casino was big they were in a spot where they would have to at least go around the poker table to get out.

"Maybe I can hide in here until they leave?" she was known kneeling down, her arm resting on Anakin's knee for support, the proximity of Padme's hand on his legs was making him a bit nervous, there wasn't anything sexual about it but still he was drunk and her being this close to his lower body made him think things he shouldn't. "Yeah I don't think that's going to work... wait, I think they are leaving" "oh never mind, just his wife, she is the one leaving"

"Make sure she is actually leaving " she said, Anakin made sure she was going towards the elevator "she is going towards the elevator, maybe he will follow shortly"

"I highly doubt it" she muttered "ok, we should probably go now before she comes back, I'm sure he is too focused on the game to actually see me" She stood up grabbed Anakin's hand, and walked towards the elevator, her staring straight ahead to avoid looking at him, as they passed the poker table she knew they had made it but she still continued to walk as fast as possible to get to the exit.

As they were waiting for the elevator, she heard someone shout her name "Padme" she could still recognize that voice, it was Palo's, she dropped Anakin's hand and squinted her eyes in disgust, she turned around with a fake smile on her face. "Palo, oh my God, what... what are you doing here?" "Are you staying in this hotel?"

"No, I'm just here vising some friends that are staying here" She nodded to his statement and said "This is Anakin, we are actually staying here with some friends, so we are in a bit of a rush" Palo extended his hand towards Anakin, and they shook hands and greeted each other.

"I understand, before you leave, can I have a word with you? Alone?" she was shocked, what could he possibly have to say to her, nothing she wanted to hear that's for sure, besides she was still a bit drunk. "I don't think that's a good idea Palo" she said calmly "Please Padme" he replied, urgh fine, she nodded and asked Anakin to stay behind and wait for her.

"What do you want?"

"I guess, I just... I don't know what to say" she exhaled trying to contain her anger, why was he wasting her time "I guess I've missed you Padme, I've thought about you lately and now you are here, it's feels like destiny if that makes sense"

"It doesn't make sense, what do you mean you've missed me, you are married!" she exclaimed, he seemed surprised that she knew this bit of information "You know?" he asked in disbelief "Of course I know, it wasn't like a secretive wedding, it even appeared on the newspapers in the weddings section" "Besides I saw you with her just now"

"You saw me?" "Why didn't you say hello"

"Why would I?" "I have nothing to say to you, you cheated on me with your current wife and then begged me to go back to you, asked me to marry you and when I refused you married the girl you cheated on me with" the tone of her voice began to escalate, enough for Anakin to listen to their conversation even though he was a few feet away.

"Padme, I know and I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you, I wanted to marry you but when you declined, I was heartbroken, I thought I could never love again"

"Clearly you were able to find love just 6 months later"

"Still doesn't mean I don't regret screwing things up with us" she stayed silent for a while and then replied "Well that is all in the past and you have a beautiful wife now, so there's really nothing more left to say"

"Please forgive me"

"Palo, I have forgiven you already, a long time ago, I just don't care anymore" she came closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder "But if it brings you some peace to hear the words out of my mouth then: Yes, Palo I forgive you" he looked her in the eyes, she just smiled with a bit of sorrow, if she was being honest she felt sorry for him, he didn't look happy. "I've gotta go, bye Palo" she said as she left him standing there, she went back to Anakin an took the elevator to their floor.

On the elevator ride she felt overwhelmed with a new wave of emotions, Anakin had said nothing, and she felt her eyes starting to water, as soon as he noticed he hugged her and tried to comfort her. "Hey, it's ok, he is an asshole, he had no right to tell you anything" They stopped embracing each other because the elevator doors opened, and as soon as they stepped out she leaned against the wall and she left the tears to fall down her face, to her luck the hall was alone, everyone was either in their room or downstairs. "It's not that" "I'm not crying because of him" it was true, it wasn't palo but the combination of everything, as much as she wanted to avoid it the truth was she was getting deported and had she only married Palo she wouldn't be in this predicament, seeing him with his wife, that could've been her, that could've been her life but instead she has to leave everything she loves behind because she is getting kicked out of the country.

"Then what is it? Tell me what is going on Padme" he was in front of her with a worried look on his face, she embraced him again this time tighter, and started crying uncontrollably on his chest, he caressed her hair letting her cry it all out. Once she was done, she told him everything, she told him about her deportation and the reason why she was getting deported, the fact that she felt like she was starting all over again and felt like a complete failure, like everything that made her "her" was being taken away, that there was no real solution besides marriage and that seeing Palo with his wife only reminder her how that could've been her, not because she wanted to be with him but because she wouldn't be going through what she is going through now.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he asked still shocked of what he just heard, he couldn't believe this was happening, he could not think of a more exemplary citizen than Padme the whole situation just seemed unfair.

"I hadn't told anyone, not even Satine, just Sabe and now you" "And I wasn't even supposed to tell you, I was planning on telling everyone on Monday"

"But why haven't you told anyone, this is huge!"

"I know... I'm trying to postpone it as much as possible, I know it sounds stupid, but I thought that maybe I could find a solution before Monday, but I've been slowly accepting that this is happening"

"When do you have to leave?"

"I'm signing my resignation on Monday, it will be my last week working at the firm" " I must leave by Wednesday in two weeks' time"

"What? So soon?"

"Anakin I'm getting deported; they gave me two week and a half" "That's generous, some people only get 3 days"

"I can't believe this is happening, I wish you had told me sooner"

"That wouldn't have changed nothing" "Please promise you won't tell anyone about this"

"Of course, I just, is there really nothing you can do?"

"Unless I get engaged to someone who's willing to marry me within the next 90 days, then there's nothing I can do" she sighed "Listen, I'm sorry I ruined your night with this whole drama, I know you wanted to get super wasted, not console me while I cried"

"You didn't ruin my night, I had a great time, beside we still have the rest of the night to get wasted and tomorrow"

"You should probably go find the others for that, I'm really not in the mood right now, I just want to go to sleep" Anakin nodded "I promise tomorrow I'll be more fun and get super wasted with you" with that they said goodbye and she went to her room while he went back stairs to find the others. When she got into her room, she noticed she was the first one to arrive, she took a quick shower and then went to bed.