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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 fruit and the settings Padme had put out。 She watched him glance up at one of the floating light globes； its glow growing as the sunlight began to diminish outside。 He playfully poked at it； seemingly oblivious that she； or anyone else； was watching him； and his smile nearly reached his ears as the globe bounced away from his touch； elongating the soft sphere of light。
The next few moments of just watching Anakin were quite pleasant for Padme； but the next few after that； when he started looking back at her； his expression alternately playful and intense； proved more than a bit unfortable。
Soon enough； though； the pair had settled in at the table； seated across from each other。 Two of the resort waitresses； Nandi and Teckla； served them their meal； while Anakin began recounting some of the adventures he had known over the last ten years； training and flying with Obi…Wan。
Padme listened attentively； captivated by Anakin's flair for storytelling。 She wanted to do more； though。 She wanted to talk about what had happened out at the meadow； to try to make some sense of it with Anakin； to share with him the solution as they had shared the out…of…bounds emotions and moments。 But she could not begin； and so she just allowed him to ramble on； contenting herself with enjoying his tales。
Dessert was Padme's favorite； yellow…and…cream…colored shuura fruit； juicy and sweet。 She grinned as Nandi put a bowl before her。
〃And when I went to them； we went into。。。〃 Anakin paused； drawing Padme's full attention； a wry smile on his face。 〃Aggressive negotiations；〃 he finished； and then he thanked Teckla as she placed some dessert fruit before him。
〃Aggressive negotiations？ What's that？〃
〃Uh； well； negotiations with a lightsaber；〃 the Padawan said； still grinning wryly。
〃Oh；〃 Padme said with a laugh； and she eagerly went for her dessert； stabbing with her fork。
The shuura moved and her fork hit the plate。 A bit confused； Padme stabbed at it again。
It moved。
She looked up at Anakin； a bit confused and embarrassed； but then she saw that he was fighting hard not to laugh； staring down at his own plate a bit too innocently。
〃You did that！〃
He looked up； his expression wide…eyed。 〃What？〃
Padme scowled； pointing her fork at him and waving it threateningly。 Then； suddenly； she went for the shuura again。
But Anakin was quicker。 The fruit slipped out of the way； and she stabbed the plate。 Then； before she could scowl at him again； the shuura rose into the air to hover before her。
〃That！〃 Padme answered。 〃Now stop it！〃 She couldn't hold her feigned anger； though； and laughed aloud as she finished。 Anakin started laughing； too。 Half looking at him； Padme snapped her hand at the floating fruit。 He waggled his fingers and the fruit looped about her hand。
〃Anakin！〃
〃If Master Obi…Wan was here； he'd be very grumpy；〃 the Padawan admitted。 He pulled back his hand； and the shuura flew across the table to his waiting grasp。 〃But he's not here；〃 he added； cutting the fruit into several slices。 Reaching for the Force； he made one piece float upward and slide toward Padme。 She bit it right out of the air。
Padme laughed and so did Anakin。 They finished their dessert with many fleeting glances； and then； as Teckla and Nandi returned to clean up the plates； the couple retreated to the sitting area； with its fortable chairs and sofa； and a huge warm fire blazing in the hearth。
Nandi and Teckla finished and bade the couple good…bye； and then they were alone； pletely alone； and the tension returned almost immediately。 She wanted him to kiss her； so desperately； and it was precisely that out… of…control sensation that had stopped her cold。 This was not right…she knew that in her head； despite what her heart might be telling her。 They each had bigger responsibilities for the time being； she had to deal with the continuing split of the Republic； and he had to continue his Jedi training。 Anakin settled back into the sofa。 〃From the moment I met you； all those years ago； a day hasn't gone by when I haven't thought of you。〃 His voice was husky； intense； and the sparkle in his eyes bored right through her。 〃And now that I'm with you again； I'm in agony。 The closer I get to you； the worse it gets。 The thought of not being with you makes my stomach turn over； my mouth go dry。 I feel dizzy！ I can't breathe！ I'm haunted by the kiss you never should have given me。 My heart is beating； hoping that kiss will not bee a scar。〃
Padme's hand slowly dropped to her side and she sat listening in amazement at how honestly he was opening up before her； baring his heart though he knew she might tear it asunder with a single word。 She was honored by the thought； and truly touched。 And afraid。
〃You are in my very soul； tormenting me；〃 Anakin went on； not a bit of falseness in his tone。 This was no ploy to garner any physical favors； this was honest and straightforward； refreshingly so to the woman who had spent most of her life being at