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ooked back up。
〃What are you afraid of； Sis？〃 Sola asked sincerely。 〃Are you afraid of Anakin's feelings and the responsibilities that he cannot dismiss？ Or are you afraid of your own feelings？〃
She lifted Padme's chin； so that they were looking at each other directly； their faces only a breath apart。 〃I don't know how you feel；〃 she admitted again。 〃But I suspect that it's something new to you。 Something scary； but something wonderful。〃
Padme said nothing； but she knew that disagreement would not be honest。
〃They're a lot to digest； all at once；〃 Padme said to Anakin later on； when the two were alone in her room。 She had barely unpacked her things； and was now throwing clothes into her bag once more。 Different clothes this time； though。 Less formal than the outfits she had to wear as a representative of Naboo。
〃Your mother is a fine cook；〃 Anakin replied； drawing a curious stare from Padme； until she realized that he was joking and had understood her point perfectly well。
〃You're lucky to have such a wonderful family；〃 Anakin said more seriously； and then； with a teasing grin； he added； 〃Maybe you should give your sister some of your clothes。〃
Padme smirked right back at him； but then looked about at the mess and couldn't really disagree。 〃Don't worry；〃 she assured him。 〃This won't take long。〃
〃I just want to get there before dark。 Wherever there is； I mean。〃 Anakin continued to scan the room； surprised at the number of closets； all of them full。 〃You still live at home；〃 he said； shaking his head。 〃I didn't expect that。〃
〃I move around so much；〃 Padme replied。 〃I've never had the time to even begin to find a place of my own； and I'm not sure I want to。 Official residences have no warmth。 Not like here。 I feel good here。 I feel at home。〃
The simple beauty of her statement gave Anakin pause。 〃I've never had a real home；〃 he said； speaking more to himself than to Padme。 〃Home was always where my mom was。〃 He looked up at her then； and took fort in her sympathetic smile。
Padme went back to her packing。 〃The Lake Country is beautiful；〃 she started to explain； but she stopped when she glanced back at Anakin； to see him holding a holograph and grinning。
〃Is this you？〃 he asked； pointing to the young girl； seven or eight at the most； in the holo； surrounded by dozens of little green smiling creatures； and holding one in her arms。
Padme laughed； and seemed embarrassed。 〃That was when I went with a relief group to Shadda…Bi…Boran。 Their sun was imploding and the planet was dying。 I was helping to relocate the children。〃 She walked over to stand beside Anakin and placed one hand on his shoulder； pointing to the holograph with the other。 〃See that little one I'm holding？ His name was N'a…kee…tula； which means 'sweetheart。' He was so full of life…all those kids were。〃
〃Were？〃
〃They were never able to adapt；〃 she explained somberly。 〃They were never able to live off their native planet。〃
Anakin winced； then quickly picked up another holograph； this one showing Padme a couple of years later； wearing official robes and standing between two older and similarly robed Legislators。 He looked back at the first holo； then to this one； noting that Padme's expression seemed much more severe here。 〃My first day as an Apprentice Legislator；〃 Padme explained。
Then； as if she was reading his mind； she added； 〃See the difference？〃 Anakin studied the holograph a moment longer； then looked up and laughed； seeing Padme wearing that same long and stern expression。 She laughed as well； then squeezed his shoulder and went back to her packing。
Anakin put the holographs down side by side and looked at them for a long； long time。 Two sides of the woman he loved。
Chapter Fifteen
The water speeder zoomed above the lake； the downthrusters churning only a slight； almost indistinguishable； wake。 Every so often； a wave clipped in； and a fine spray broke over the bow。 Anakin and Padme reveled in the cool water and the wind； eyes half closed； Padme's rich brown hair flying out behind her。
Beside them at the wheel； Paddy Accu gave a laugh at every spray； his graying hair spreading out widely。 〃Always better over the water！〃 he shouted in his gruff voice； against the wind and the noise of the speeder。
〃Are you liking it？〃
Padme turned a sincere smile upon him； and the grizzled man leaned in close and backed off the accelerator。 〃She's even more fun if I put her down；〃 he explained。 〃You think you'll like that； Senator？〃
Both Padme and Anakin looked at him curiously； neither quite understanding。 〃We were going out to the island；〃 Anakin remarked； a note of concern in his voice。
〃Oh； I'll get you there！〃 Paddy Accu said with a wheezing laugh。 He pushed forward a lever…and the speeder dropped into the water。
〃Paddy？ 〃Padme asked。
The man laughed all the harder。 〃Don't tell me you've forgotten！〃 he roared； kicking in the accelerator。 The speeder jetted off across the water； no longer smooth in flight； but bouncing across the rippling surface。
〃Oh； yes！〃 Padme said to him。 〃I do remember！〃
After a moment of initial shock； looking from Padme to Paddy； wondering if the man was up to some dark deception； Anakin caught on； and was also swept away by the bouncing ride。
The spray was nearly continuous； thrown up by the prow and washing over them。
〃It's wonderful！〃 Padme exclaimed。
Anakin couldn't disagree。 〃We spend so much time in control；〃 he replied。 His mind went back to his younger days； on Tatooine； Podracing along wild courses； skirting disaster。 This was somewhat like that； especially when Paddy； in no apparent hurry to reach the island dock； flipped the speeder up and down from one edge to the other； zigzagging his way。 It amazed Anakin how this little adjustment； dropping into the water instead of smoothly skimming above it； had changed the perspective of this journey。 It was true； he knew； that technology had tamed the galaxy； and while that seemed a good thing in terms of efficiency and fort； he had to believe that something； too； had been lost： the excitement of living on the edge of disaster。 Or the simple tactile feeling of a ride like this； bouncing across the waves； feeling the wind and the cold spray。
At one point； Paddy put the speeder so far up on edge that both Anakin and Padme thought they would tip over。 Anakin almost reached into the Force to secure the craft； but stopped himself in order to enjoy the thrill。 They didn't tip。 Paddy was an expert driver who knew how to take his speeder to the very limits without crashing over。 It was some time later that he slowed the craft and allowed it to drift in against the island dock。
Padme grabbed the older man's hand and leaned in to kiss his cheek。 〃Thank you！〃
Anakin was surprised that he could see Paddy's blush through the man's ruddy skin。 〃It was 。 。 。 fun；〃 he admitted。
〃If it isn't； then what's the point？〃 the gruff…looking man replied with a great belly laugh。
While Paddy secured the speeder； Anakin hopped onto the dock。 He reached back to take Padme's hand； helping her stay balanced while she debarked with her su