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She thought。 。 。
Shmi heard something behind her。 Shuffling footsteps？ Then some mumbling。
Yes； they were always mumbling。
Her thoughts went back to C…3PO； poor 3PO； who still needed his battered wiry arms covered。 Gently； she lifted the covering。 。 。
She heard a sharp sound…or she knew it was a sharp sound； though she heard it only distantly…then felt a brush across her back。
There were no nerves left there to register the bite of the whip any more clearly than that。
Chapter Ten
Anakin Skywalker and Jar Jar Binks stood at the door separating Padme's bedroom from the anteroom where Anakin and Obi…Wan had kept watch the night before。 Looking through the room to the broken window； the pair watched the Coruscant skyline； the endless lines of traffic。
Padme and her handmaiden Dorme rushed about the bedroom； throwing the luggage together； and from her sharp movements； both Anakin and Jar Jar knew that they would do well to keep a fair distance from the upset and angry young Senator。 As the Jedi had requested； Chancellor Palpatine had intervened to bid Padme to return to Naboo。 She was plying； but that did not mean that she was happy about it。
With a profound sigh； Padme stood straight； one hand on her lower back； which ached from all the bending。 She sighed again and moved before the two observers。
〃I'm taking an extended leave of absence；〃 she said to Jar Jar； her voice thick and somber； as if she was hoping to inject some of that gravity into the goofy Gungan。 〃It will be your responsibility to take my place in the Senate。 Representative Binks； I know I can count on you。〃
〃Mesa honored。。。〃 Jar Jar blurted in reply； standing at attention； except that his head was wagging； and his ears were flopping。 One could dress a Gungan up like a dignitary； but such a creature's nature was not so easily changed。
〃What？〃 Padme's voice was stern and showed more than a little exasperation。 She was entrusting something important to Jar Jar； and was obviously not thrilled to hear him acting like his old； goofy self。 Obviously embarrassed； Jar Jar cleared his throat and stood a bit straighter。 〃Mesa honored to be taken on dissa heavy burden。 Mesa accept this with muy 。 。 。 muy humility andda…〃
〃Jar Jar； I don't wish to hold you up；〃 Padme interrupted。 〃I'm sure you have a great deal to do。〃
〃Of course； M'Lady。〃 With a great bow； as if trying to use pretense to cover up the fact that he was blushing like a Darellian fire crab； the Gungan turned and left； flashing a bright smile Anakin's way as he passed。 Anakin's eyes followed the retreating Gungan； but any levity or sense of calm he felt from that last exchange was washed away a moment later； when Padme addressed him in a tone that reminded him that she was not in the best of moods。
〃I do not like this idea of hiding；〃 she said emphatically。
〃Don't worry。 Now that the Council has ordered an investigation； it won't take Master Obi…Wan long to find out who hired that bounty hunter。 We should have done that from the beginning。 It is better to take the offensive against such a threat； to find out the source rather than try to react to the situation。〃 He meant to go on； to claim credit for asking for such an investigation from the very beginning； to let Padme know that he had been right all along and that it had taken the Council long enough to e around to his way of thinking。 He could see； though； that her eyes were already beginning to glaze over； so he quieted and let her speak。
〃And while your Master investigates； I have to hide away。〃
〃That would be most prudent； yes。〃
Padme gave a little sigh of frustration。 〃I haven't worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act not to be here when its fate is decided！〃
〃Sometimes we have to let go of our pride and do what is requested of us；〃 Anakin replied…a rather unconvincing statement； ing from him…and he knew as soon as he spoke the words that he probably shouldn't have phrased things quite like that。
〃Pride！〃 came the roaring response。 〃Annie； you're young； and you don't have a very firm grip on politics。 I suggest you reserve your opinions for some other time。〃
〃Sorry； M'Lady； I was only trying to…〃
〃Annie！ No！〃
〃Please don't call me that。〃
〃What？〃
〃Annie。 Please don't call me 'Annie。' 〃
〃I've always called you that。 It is your name； isn't it？〃
〃My name is Anakin；〃 the young Jedi said calmly； his jaw firm； his eyes strong。 〃When you say Annie； it's like I'm still a little boy。 And I'm not。〃
Padme paused and looked him over； head to toe； nodding as she took the sight of him in pletely。 He could see sincerity on her face as she nodded her agreement； and her tone； too； became one of more respect。 〃I'm sorry； Anakin。 It's impossible to deny you've 。 。 。 that you've grown up。〃
There was something in the way she said that； Anakin sensed； some suggestion； some recognition from Padme that he was indeed a man now； and perhaps a handsome one at that。 That； bined with the little smile she flashed him； had him a bit flushed and put him back up on his heels。 He found an ornament sitting on a shelf to the side； then； and using the Force； picked it up； letting it hover above his fingers； needing the distraction。
Still； he had to clear his throat to cover his embarrassment； for he was afraid that his voice would break apart as he admitted； 〃Master Obi…Wan manages not to see it。 He criticizes my every move； as if I was still a child。 He didn't listen to me when I insisted that we go in search of the source of the assassination…〃
〃Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like；〃 Padm agreed。 〃It's the only way we grow。〃
With a thought； Anakin used the Force to lift the little globe ornament higher into the air； manipulating it all about。 〃Don't get me wrong；〃 he remarked。 〃Obi…Wan is a great mentor； as wise as Master Yoda and as powerful as Master Windu。 I am truly thankful to be his learner。 Only。。。〃
He paused and shook his head； looking for the words。 〃Only； although I'm a Padawan learner； in some ways…in a lot of ways…I'm ahead of him。 I'm ready for the trials。 I know I am！ He knows it； too。 He feels I'm too unpredictable…other Jedi my age have gone through the trials and made it。 I know I started my training late； but he won't let me move on。〃 Padme's expression grew curious； and Anakin could well understand her puzzlement； for he； too； was surprised at how openly he was speaking； critically； of Obi…Wan。 He thought that he should stop right there； and silently berated himself。
But then Padme said； with all sympathy； 〃That must be frustrating。〃
〃It's worse！〃 Anakin cried in response； willingly diving into that warm place。 〃He's overly critical！ He never listens！ He just doesn't understand！ It's not fair！〃
He would have gone on and on； but Padme began to laugh； and that stopped Anakin as surely as a slap across the face。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she said through her giggles。 〃You sounded exactly like that little boy I once knew； when he didn't get his way。〃
〃I'm not whining！ I'm not。〃
Across the room； Dorme； too； began to chuckle。
〃I didn't say it to hurt you；〃 Padme explained。
Anakin took a deep breath； then blew it all out of him； his shoulders visibly relaxing。 〃I know。〃
He seemed so pitiable then； not pitiful； but just like a lost little soul。
Padme couldn't resist。 She walked over to him and lifted her hand to gently stroke his cheek。 〃Anakin。〃
For the first time since they had been reunited； Padme truly looked into the blue eyes of the young Padawan； locked stares with him so that they each could see beneath the surface； so that they each could view the other's heart。 It was a fleeting moment； made so by Padme's mon sense。
She quickly altered the mood with a sincere but lighthearted request。
〃Don't try to grow up too fast。〃
〃I am grown up；〃 Anakin replied。 〃You said it yourself。〃 He finished by making his reply into something suggestive； as he looked deeply into Padme's beautiful brown eyes again； this time even more intensely； more passionately。
〃Please don't look at me like that；〃 she said； turning away。
〃Why n