d beside the Jedi and their duties； and yet Padme would stand against that army； and so 。。。
And so？
It was all so plicated； but even more important than that； it was all so dangerous。 She thought of her sister then； and their last conversation before Padme had flown back to Coruscant。 She thought of Ryoo and Pooja。
〃You were dreaming about your mother earlier；〃 she remarked； needing to change the subject。 She sat back； putting some distance between her and Anakin； gaining some margin of safety between them。 〃Weren't you？〃 Anakin leaned back and looked away； nodding slowly。 〃I left Tatooine so long ago。 My memory of her is fading。〃 He snapped his intense gaze back over Padme。 〃I don't want to lose that memory。 I don't want to stop seeing her face。〃
She started to say； 〃I know；〃 and started to lift her hand to stroke his cheek； but she held back and let him continue。
〃I've been seeing her in my dreams。 Vivid dreams。 Scary dreams。 I worry about her。〃
〃I'd be disappointed in you if you didn't；〃 Padme answered him； her voice soft and full of sympathy。 〃You didn't leave her in the best of circumstances。〃
Anakin winced； as if those words had hurt him。
〃But it was right that you left；〃 Padme reminded him； taking his arm。 She held his gaze with her own。 〃Your leaving was what your mother wanted for you。 What she needed for you。 The opportunity that Qui…Gon offered you gave her hope。 That's what a parent needs for her child； to know that he； that you； had been given a chance at a better life。〃
〃But the dreams…〃
〃You can't help but feel a little guilty about leaving； I suppose；〃 Padm answered； and Anakin was shaking his head； as if she was missing the point。 But she didn't believe that to be the case； so she continued。 〃It's only natural that you'd want your mother off Tatooine； out here with you； perhaps。 Or on Naboo； or Coruscant； or someplace that you feel is safer； and more beautiful。 Trust me； Anakin；〃 she said softly but intently； and she put her hand on his forearm again。 〃You did the right thing in going。 For yourself； but more importantly； for your mother。〃
Her expression； so full of passion； so full of caring； was not one that Anakin Skywalker could argue against。
The great port city of Theed was in many ways akin to Coruscant； with freighters and shuttles ing down from the skies in lines。 Unlike Coruscant； though； this city on Naboo was soft in appearance； with few towering； imposing skyscrapers of hard metal and shining transparisteel。 The buildings here were of stone and many other materials； with rounded rooflines and delicate colors。 Vines of all sorts were everywhere； crawling up the sides of the buildings； adding vibrancy and scents。 Adding fort。 Anakin and Padme lugged their bags across a familiar square； a place where they had seen battle a decade before against the droids of the Trade Federation。 R2…D2 came behind them； rolling along easily； whistling a happy song； as if he were an extension of the fortable aura of Theed。 Padme kept covertly glancing at Anakin； noting the serenity on his face； the widening grin。
〃If I grew up here； I don't think I'd ever leave；〃 Anakin remarked。
Padme laughed。 〃I doubt that。〃
〃No； really。 When I started my training； I was very homesick and very lonely。 This city and my mom were the only pleasant things I had to think about。〃
Padme's expression turned to one of curiosity and confusion。 Anakin's time here had been spent； mostly； in deadly battle！ Had he so obsessed about her； about Naboo； that even the bad memories paled against his warm feelings？
〃The problem was；〃 Anakin went on； 〃the more I thought about my mom； the worse I felt。 But I would feel better if I thought about Naboo and the palace。〃
He didn't say it outright； but Padme knew that what he really meant was that he felt better when he thought about her； or at least that he would include her in those pleasant thoughts。
〃The way the palace shimmers in the sunlight； the way the air always smells of flowers。〃
〃And the soft sound of the distant waterfalls；〃 Padme added。 She could not deny the sincerity in Anakin's voice and in his words； and she found herself agreeing and embracing that truth of Naboo； despite her resolve to stay away from those feelings。 〃The first time I saw the capital； I was very young。 I'd never seen a waterfall before。 I thought they were so beautiful。 I never thought that one day I'd live in the palace。〃
〃Well； tell me； did you dream of power and politics when you were a little girl？〃
Again Padme had to laugh aloud。 〃No； that was the last thing I thought of。〃 She could feel the wistfulness creeping into her； the memories of those long…ago days before her innocence had been shattered by war； and even more so； by the constant deceptions and conniving of politics。 She could hardly believe that she was opening up to Anakin like this。 〃My dream was to work in the Refugee Relief Movement。 I never thought of running for elected office。 But the more history I studied； the more I realized how much good politicians could do。 So when I was eight； I joined the Apprentice Legislators； which is like making a formal announcement that you're entering public service here on Naboo。 From there； I went on to bee a Senatorial Adviser； and attacked my duties with such a passion that before I knew it； I was elected Queen。〃
Padme looked at Anakin and shrugged； trying not to throw all humility away。 〃Partly because I scored so high on my education certificate；〃 she explained。 〃But for the most part； my ascent was because of my conviction that reform was possible。 The people of Naboo embraced that dream wholeheartedly； so much so that my age was hardly an issue in the campaign。 I wasn't the youngest Queen ever elected； but now that I think back on it；
I'm not sure I was old enough。〃 She paused and locked stares with Anakin。
〃I'm not sure I was ready。〃 〃The people you served thought you did a good job；〃 Anakin reminded her。 〃I heard they tried to amend the constitution so that you could stay in office。〃
〃Popular rule is not democracy； Anakin。 It gives the people what they want； not what they need。 And truthfully； I was relieved when my two terms were up。〃 Padme chuckled as she continued； adding emphasis。 〃So were my parents！ They worried about me during the blockade and couldn't wait for it all to be over。 Actually； I was hoping to have a family by now。 。 。 〃
She turned away a bit； feeling her face flushing。 How could she be so open to him； and so quickly？ He was not a longtime friend； she reminded herself； but the warning sounded hollow in her thoughts。 She looked back at Anakin； and she felt so at ease； so fortable with him； almost as if they had been friends for all their lives。 〃My sister has the most amazing； wonderful kids。〃 Her eyes were sparkling； she knew； but she blinked the emotion away； as Padme had often blinked away her personal desires for the sake of what she perceived to be the greater good。 〃But when the Queen asked me to serve as Senator； I couldn't refuse her；〃 she explained。
〃I agree！〃 Anakin replied。 〃I think the Republic needs you。 I'm glad you chose to serve…I feel things are going to happen in our generation that will change the galaxy in profound ways。〃
〃A Jedi premonition？〃 Padme kidded。
Anakin laughed。 〃A feeling；〃 he explained； or tried to explain； for it was obvious that he wasn't quite sure what he was trying to say。 〃It just seems to me as if it's all grown stale； as if something has to happen…〃
〃I think so； too；〃 Padme put in sincerely。
They had arrived at the great doors of the palace； and paused to take in the beautiful scene。 Unlike most of Coruscant's buildings； which seemed to have been designed with utter efficiency in mind； this structure was more akin to the Jedi Temple； an understanding that aesthetics were important； that form went hand in hand with purpose。
Padme knew her way about the place； obviously； and she was well known by almost all of the people within； and so the two walked along easily to the throne room； where they were announced at once。
Smiling faces greeted them。 Sio Bibble； Padme's dear friend and her trusted