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gram。 He was a few years older than I。。。〃
She narrowed her eyes as she finished； teasing Anakin with sudden intensity。 〃Very cute；〃 she said； her voice taking on a purposeful； suggestive tone。 〃Dark curly hair 。 。 。 dreamy eyes。。。〃
〃All right； I get the picture！〃 the Jedi cried； waving his hands in exasperation。 He calmed a moment later； though； and settled back more seriously。 〃Whatever happened to him？〃
〃I went into public service。 He went on to bee an artist。〃
〃Maybe he was the smart one。〃
〃You really don't like politicians； do you？〃 Padme asked； a bit of anger creeping in despite the warm wind and the idyllic setting。
〃I like two or three；〃 Anakin replied。 〃But I'm not really sure about one of them。〃 His smile was perfectly disarming and Padme had to work hard to keep any semblance of a frown against it。
〃I don't think the system works；〃 Anakin finished； matter…of…factly。 〃Really？〃 she replied sarcastically。 〃Well； how would you have it work？〃
Anakin stood up； suddenly intense。 〃We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem； agree what's in the best interests of the people； and then do it；〃 he said； as if it was perfectly simple and logical。
〃Which is exactly what we do；〃 came Padme's unhesitating reply。 Anakin looked at her doubtfully。
〃The trouble is that people don't always agree；〃 she explained。 〃In fact； they hardly ever do。〃
〃Then they should be made to。〃
That statement caught Padme a bit off guard。 Was he so convinced that he had the answers that he 。。。 No； she put that unsettling thought out of her mind。 〃By whom？〃 she asked。 〃Who is going to make them？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； waving his hands again in obvious frustration。
〃Someone。〃
〃You？〃
〃Of course not me！〃
〃But someone。〃
〃Someone wise。〃
〃That sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship；〃 Padme said； winning the debate。 She watched Anakin as a mischievous little grin began to spread across his face。
〃Well；〃 he said calmly； 〃if it works。。。〃
Padme tried to hide her shock。 What was he talking about？ How could he believe that？ She stared at him； and he returned the severe look…but he couldn't hold it； and burst out laughing。
〃You're making fun of me！〃
〃Oh no；〃 Anakin said； backing away and falling to sit on the soft grass； hands out defensively before him。 〃I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator。〃
〃You're so bad！〃 She reached over； picked up a piece of fruit； and threw it at him； and when he caught it； she threw another； and then another。
〃You're always so serious；〃 Anakin scolded； and he began juggling the fruit。
〃I'm so serious？〃 Her incredulity was feigned； because Padme agreed with the assessment to a great extent。 For all her life； she had watched people like Palo go off and follow their hearts； while she had followed the path of duty。 She had known great triumph and great joy； to be sure； but all of it had been wrapped up in the extravagant outfits of Naboo's Queen； and now in the endless responsibilities of a Galactic Senator。 Maybe she just wanted to take off all those trappings； all those clothes； and dive into the sparkling water； for no better reason than to feel its cool fort； for no better reason than to laugh。
She grabbed up another piece of fruit and threw it at Anakin； and he caught it and seamlessly put it up with the others。 Then another； and another； until too many went his way and he lost control； then tried futilely to duck away from the dropping fruit。
Padme had to clutch at her belly； she was laughing so hard。 Caught up in the whirlwind of the moment； Anakin sprang to his feet and ran off to the side； cutting in front of a shaak and frightening it with his sheer jubilance。
The normally passive grazers gave a snort and took up the chase； with Anakin running in circles and then off over the hill。
Padme sat back and considered this moment； this day； and her panion。 What was happening here？ She couldn't dismiss the pangs of guilt that she was out here playing without purpose； while others worked hard to carry on the fight against the Military Creation Act； or while Obi…Wan Kenobi scoured the galaxy in search of those who would see her dead。
She should be out there； somewhere； doing something 。 。 。
Her thoughts fell away in another burst of incredulous laughter as Anakin and the shaak came by once more； this time with the Jedi riding the beast； one hand clenched on a fold of its flesh； the other high and waving behind him for balance。 What made it all the more ridiculous was that Anakin was riding backward； facing the shaak's tail！
〃Anakin！〃 she cried in amazement。 A bit of trepidation crept into her voice as she repeated the call； for the shaak had broken into a full gallop； and Anakin was trying to stand up on its back。 He almost made it； but then the lumbering creature bucked and he flew away； tumbling to the ground。
Padme howled with laughter； clutching her stomach。
But Anakin lay very still。
She stopped and stared at him； suddenly frightened。 She scrambled up； thinking her whole world had just crashed down around her； and rushed to his side。 〃Annie！ Annie！ Are you all right？〃
Gently； Padme turned him over。 He seemed serene and still。 And then his face twisted into a perfectly stupid expression and he burst out laughing。
〃Oh！〃 Padme cried； and she punched out at him。 He caught her hand and pulled her in close； and she willingly crashed onto him； wrestling with fury。
Anakin finally managed to roll her over and pin her； and Padme stopped struggling； suddenly aware of the closeness。 She looked into his eyes and felt the press of his body upon hers。
Anakin blushed and let go； rolling away； but then he stood up and very seriously reached his hand out to her。
All self…consciousness was gone now from Padme。 She looked hard into Anakin's blue eyes； finally and silently admitting the truth。 She took his hand and followed him to the shaak； which was grazing contentedly once more。
Anakin climbed onto its back and pulled Padme up behind him； and they rode off across the meadow； with Padme's arms about his waist； her body pressed up against his； a swirl of emotions and questions spinning about in her mind。
Padme jumped at the sound of the knock on the door。 She knew who it was； and knew she was safe…from everything but her own feelings。 The afternoon at the meadow replayed in her thoughts； particularly the ride on the shaak； when Anakin had taken her back to the lodge。 For the minutes of that ride； Padme had not hidden behind a mask of denial； or behind anything else。 Sitting behind Anakin； her arms about his waist； her head resting on the back of his shoulder； she had felt safe and secure； perfectly content and 。 。 。
She had to take a deep breath to keep her hand from trembling as she reached up for the doorknob。 She pulled the door back； and could see nothing but the tall and lean silhouette； backlit by the setting sun。
Anakin shifted just a bit； blocking the rosy glow enough so that Padm could see his smile。 He started to move in； but she held her ground。 It wasn't a conscious decision； she was simply entranced； for it seemed to her as if the sun was setting behind Anakin's shoulders and not behind the horizon； as if he was big enough to dismiss the day。 Orange flames danced about his silhouette； dulling the distinction between Anakin and eternity。 Padme had to consciously remember to breathe。 She stepped back and Anakin sauntered in； apparently oblivious to the wondrous moment she had just experienced。 He was grinning mischievously； and for some reason she felt embarrassed。 She wondered for a moment if she should have chosen a different outfit； for the evening dress she was wearing was black and off the shoulder； showing quite a bit of flesh。 She wore a black choker； as well； with a line of sheer fabric running down over the front of the dress； barely concealing her cleavage。
She moved to close the door； but paused and looked back over the lake； at the rose…colored tint filtering across the shimmering water。 When she turned back； Anakin was already standing by the table； looking over the bowl of fr