Chapter 9

“ Wow, just the way I remember Naboo: very green and blue.” Padme saw the lush forest and then the wide oceans and lakes.

“ Yeah, I miss it too. Now, I can see why the late Senator had ponds with waterfalls put in his office.” Anakin laughed at the excitement coming from Padme’s voice.

“ Really? I will have to stop by one day, just to see the two fountains. You know, in the Temple, we have a room that we call a Room of Thousand Fountains. I go there a lot, it is one of my favorite places that I go to relax and to get away from Obi-Wan.” Padme laughed, mostly at the last part.

“ I would love to see that too. I hear it is very hard to get into the Temple, if you are not a Jedi.” Anakin said, as the transport landed.

“ All you can do is, say that you are visiting a member of the Jedi. We do get civilians that come to the Temple to work. Of course, Senators are very welcome to come to the Temple.” Padme got her and Anakin’s bags.

“ Really? I guess you have to make an appointment.” Anakin got up from the bench that they were sitting on.

“ Yeah, you would have to make an appointment. Of course, there is the high security that you have to go through.” Padme carried the two bags over to where Anakin was standing.

“ Sounds like the Senate Building. Here, let me take my bag.” Anakin grabbed his bag and they began to follow the other passengers off the transport.

As they got off the transport, Anakin headed over to the air shuttle that was loading up to take people to other places on Naboo.

“ I thought you lived in the city” Padme followed Anakin to the shuttle.

“ No, I moved out of the city after I left office. I have a very quiet place by a lake.” Anakin got into the air shuttle and the driver took their bags and put them into the trunk, as three more people got into the shuttle.

Once the driver was done with the bags, he drove everyone to the places they needed to go. The first stop was at the docks.

“ Thank you. Ok, our last transport that we need to get to my place.” Anakin got out of the shuttle and waited for the driver to get their bags. “ Ok, I can’t wait to get to the house, so that way, I can relax some. I will have to do a security check, before I let you into the house.” Padme grabbed her bag, as Anakin took his bag.

“ Ok, I will wait with Paddy then. We are taking a private watercraft.” Anakin was walking towards a dock that had different kinds of watercrafts moored.

“ Wow, I would love to live on a boat like this, to be rocked asleep every night.” Padme walked passed a couple of house boats.

“ I would like to be rocked to sleep by the waves. The funny things is, I almost bought a houseboat, but when I saw how small the rooms were, that was when I thought better of it. I do get a little bit claustrophobic. Hey, Paddy.” Anakin called out to an elderly gentleman, who was waiting by a private watercraft.

“ Morning, Anakin. Welcome, home. Well hello, there. You must be Padme. Here, let me take that for you.” Paddy came over to the couple, giving Anakin a welcoming hug, before shaking Padme’s hand. Then, he took the bags from the couple.

“ Thank you. It is nice to meet you too, Paddy.” Padme handed the man her bag, as he got on board the boat and put the bags in the rear of the craft.

Anakin got into the craft and held out his hand to help Padme climb into the water craft. As their hands touched, there was a shock and sparks ran through their bodies. Anakin looked up at Padme and he realized that they are meant to be together. Padme saw in Anakin’s eyes, what she had been feeling, for the past ten years.

“ Um . . . thank you.” Padme gave Anakin a shy smile, as she got into the craft.

“ You are welcome.” Anakin smiled back and then let go of her hand, as Paddy went to the wheel of the craft and started it up.

Anakin and Padme sat down and Paddy closed up the craft and they left the docks and headed out towards the lake country. An hour later, the craft slowed down and Paddy cut off the engines. They drifted to the dock. Padme got out of the craft first. Closing her eyes and focusing her senses in the Force, she began scanning everything, making sure there was no dangers.

“ Ok, everything is clear out here.” Padme looked over to Anakin and nodded for him that it was safe for them to head for the house.

Anakin led them up to the small pathway that led up to the house.

“ Wow, this place is beautiful.” Padme was in awe, when she saw the house.

“ Please, come on in and I’ll show you to your rooms. Oh, there is only us here, and the two servant droids.” Anakin said, as they entered the house.

They walked into the living area and Padme did a scan of the house with the Force. She didn’t sense any presence of living begins inside the house.

“ Well, I’m going to lay down for a bit before lunch, so I’ll see you later.” Anakin said, as they stopped in front of the two rooms.

“ Ok, I believe am going to the balcony and meditate.” Padme nodded, before Anakin went into his room.

Padme opened the door and walked into the room. She was shocked at how beautiful the room looked. Walking further into the room, she saw the seating area, with a light blue floral pattern couch and two chairs. Then, walking to the double doors, opening them up and saw a huge four post bed, also with a light blue floral pattern on it. There were two light wood nightstands and a huge wardrobe. Going to the wardrobe and opening it up, she began to unpacking her clothes. Once she finished unpacking, she went to the double doors, moved the curtains back and saw a large balcony. Stepping outside, she was greeted by a beautiful scene of a crystal blue waters of the lake, and off in the distance, she could hear a waterfall. Closing her eyes, she began to relax and became one with the Force.

Three hours later, Padme got this feeling that she wasn’t alone.

“ Oh sorry, to interrupt you. I knocked but you didn’t answer. I saw that the bedroom was empty and that’s when I realized the doors to the balcony was open.” Anakin came out on the balcony and came up behind Padme.

“ It is ok. Sorry, I was in deep meditation. I take it, it is time for lunch.” Padme opened her eyes and then turning around to face Anakin.

“ Yes, it is time for lunch.” Anakin gave Padme a smile, before he laughed.

Padme also laughed and then they headed back inside the house. Anakin gave her a small tour, as they headed to the dining room. Twenty minutes later, they walked into the living room. As Padme looked around the room, she saw the halo-grams of family members littering the fireplace mantle.

“ I take it, that is your family?” Padme asked, walking over to the mantle.

“ Yes, the first one on the end, is my mother and step-father Shmi Skywalker and Cliegg Lars.” he said, looking at the pictures on the left hand side of the mantel.

“ And who is this?” Padme pointed to another man and girl.

“ That is my step-brother Owen and his girlfriend Beru. The next picture is of Amidala, her husband and their two children.” Anakin pointed out the last of the single pictures, then there was a group of the whole family.

“ Wow, the only family members I have, is my parents and my sister, whom you have met.” Padme said, coming over to the couch and sitting down, as the serving droid came into the room with the tea.

“ Yes, and how are they doing or do you know?” Anakin asked, as the droid poured his tea and put down in front of him.

“ Last I heard, they were doing good. My oldest niece was starting a junior high school, but of course, that was about two years ago. The message was directed to Obi-Wan, who gave it to me and I sent them a message back.” Padme said, as the droid began pouring her tea.

“ I take it, you cannot have any kind of communication with your family.” Anakin asked.

“ We are not allowed to have any attachments to family.” Padme took a sip of her tea.

“ Man, that sucks. Um . . . what about love, can you love someone?” Anakin picked up his tea cup and took a sip of his tea.

“ We are against attachment to anyone, but that really has not stopped any of us. I guess you can say, we are, in some ways, encouraged to love.” Padme looked at Anakin and she could read the emotions in his eyes.

“ I see. Well, I think it is wrong that you guys cannot feel love towards other people.” Anakin said.

“ That may be true, but like I said before, it really has not stopped some Jedi from falling in love with other people.” Padme took another sip of her drink.

“ Really?” Anakin sounded a little happy to hear that.

“ Why do you ask?” Padme asked.

“ Um . . . because I want you to know that I have never gotten over you. Now, that am with you again, I realized that my feelings are stronger than ever. Padme, I love you.” Anakin looked Padme straight in the eyes.

“ Really? I too feel the same way and I love you too.” Padme gave Anakin a huge smile.

They talked for hours, until dinner. When dinner was over, they decided to have a relationship. Four hours later, Padme woke up in a puddle of sweat. Sitting up, she looked around, until she realized it was a nightmare. It was about her parents being in trouble. Anakin came into her room, after hearing her screaming. He climbed into bed and pulled her into his arms and held her, as she fell back to sleep.