〃I haven't seen you this nervous since we fell into that nest of gundarks。〃
〃You fell into that nightmare； Master； and I rescued you。 Remember？〃
Obi…Wan's little distraction seemed to have the desired effect； and the pair shared a much…needed laugh。 ing out of it； though； Anakin remained obviously on edge。
〃You're sweating；〃 Obi…Wan noted。 〃Take a deep breath。 Relax。〃
〃I haven't seen her in ten years。〃
〃Anakin； relax；〃 Obi…Wan reiterated。 〃She's not the Queen anymore。〃 The lift door slid open and Obi…Wan started away； while Anakin； behind him； muttered under his breath； 〃That's not why I'm nervous。〃
As the pair stepped into the corridor； a door across the way slid open and a well…dressed Gungan； wearing fine red and black robes； stepped into the corridor opposite them。 The three regarded each other for just a moment； and then the Gungan diplomat； losing all sense of reserve and propriety； began hopping around like a child。
〃Obi！ Obi！ Obi！〃 Jar Jar Binks cried； tongue and ears flapping。 〃Mesa so smilen to see'en yousa！ Wahoooo！〃
Obi…Wan smiled politely； though his glance at Anakin did show that he was a bit embarrassed； and he patted his hands gently in the air； trying to calm the excitable fellow。 〃It's good to see you； too； Jar Jar。〃
Jar Jar continued to hop about for just a moment； then suddenly； and with obvious great effort； calmed down。 〃And this； mesa guessen； issen yousa apprentice；〃 he went on； and the Gungan seemed to have much more control of himself。 For a moment； at least； until he took a good look at the young Padawan； and all pretense melted away。 〃Noooooooo！〃 he shrieked； clapping his hands together。 〃Annie？ Noooooooo！ Little bitty Annie？ 〃 Jar Jar grabbed the Padawan and pulled him forcefully to arm's length； studying him head to toe。 〃Noooooooo！ Yousa so biggen！ Yiyiyiyi！ Annie！ Mesa no believen！〃
Now it was Anakin's turn to wear the embarrassed smile。 Politely； he offered no resistance as the overexcited Gungan slammed him into a crushing hug； childish hops shaking him violently。
〃Hi； Jar Jar；〃 Anakin managed to say； and Jar Jar just continued on； hopping and crying out his name； and issuing a series of strange yiyi sounds。 It seemed as if it would go on forever； but then Obi…Wan gently but firmly grabbed Jar Jar by the arm。 〃We have e to speak with Senator Amidala。 Could you show us to her？〃
Jar Jar stopped bouncing and looked at Obi…Wan intently； his duck…billed face taking on a more serious expression。 〃Shesa expecting yousa。 Annie！ Mesa no believen！〃 His head bobbed a bit more； then he grabbed Anakin by the hand and pulled him along。
The apartment inside was tastefully decorated； with cushiony chairs and a divan set in a circular pattern in the center； and a few； well…placed artworks set about the walls。 Dorme and Typho were in the room； standing beside the divan； the captain wearing his typical military garb； blue uniform under a brown leather tunic； with black leather gloves and a stiff cap； its brim and band of black leather。 Beside him stood Dorme in one of the elegant； yet understated dresses typical of Padme's handmaidens。
Anakin； though； didn't see either of them。 He focused on the third person in the room； Padme； and on her alone； and if he had ever held any moments of doubt that she was as beautiful as he remembered her； they were washed away； then and there。 His eyes roamed the Senator's small and shapely frame in her black and deep purple robes； taking in every detail。 He saw her thick brown hair； drawn up high and far at the back of her head in a basketlike accessory； and wanted to lose himself in it。 He saw her eyes and wanted to stare into them for eternity。 He saw her lips； and wanted to。。。
Anakin closed his eyes for just a moment and inhaled deeply； and he could smell her again； the scent that had been burned into him as Padme's。 It took every ounce of willpower he could muster to walk in slowly and respectfully behind Obi…Wan； and not merely rush in and crush Padme in a hug 。 。 。 and yet； paradoxically； it took every bit of his willpower to move his legs； which were suddenly seeming so very weak； and take that first step into the room； that first step toward her。
〃Mesa here。 Lookie！ Lookie！〃 screeched Jar Jar； hardly the announcement Obi… Wan would have preferred； but one that he knew he had to expect from the emotionally volatile Gungan。 〃Desa Jedi arriven。〃
〃It's a pleasure to see you again； M'Lady；〃 Obi…Wan said； moving to stand before the beautiful young Senator。
Standing behind his Master； Anakin continued to stare at the woman； to note her every move。 She did glance at him once； though very briefly； and he detected no recognition in her eyes。
Padme took Obi…Wan's hand in her own。 〃It has been far too long； Master Kenobi。 I'm so glad our paths have crossed again。 But I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary。〃
〃I am sure that the members of the Jedi Council have their reasons；〃 Obi… Wan replied。
Padme wore a resigned； accepting expression at that answer； but a look of curiosity replaced it as she glanced again behind the Jedi Knight； to the young Padawan standing patiently。 She took a step to the side； so that she was directly in front of Anakin。
〃Annie？〃 she asked； her expression purely incredulous。 Her smile and the flash in her eyes showed that she needed no answer。
For just a flicker； Anakin felt her spirit leap。
〃Annie；〃 Padme said again。 〃Can it be？ My goodness how you've grown！〃 She looked down and then followed the line of his lean body； tilting her head back to emphasize his height； and he realized that he now towered over her。 That did little to bolster Anakin's confidence； though； so lost was he in the beauty of Padme。 Her smile widened； a clear sign that she was glad to see him； but he missed it； or the implications of it； at least。 〃So have you；〃 he answered awkwardly； as if he had to force each word from his mouth。 〃Grown more beautiful； I mean。〃 He cleared his throat and stood taller。 〃And much shorter；〃 he teased； trying unsuccessfully to sound in control。 〃For a Senator； I mean。〃
Anakin noted Obi…Wan's disapproving scowl； but Padme laughed any tension away and shook her head。
〃Oh； Annie； you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine；〃 she said； and if she had taken the lightsaber from his belt and sliced his legs out from under him； she would not have shortened Anakin Skywalker any more。 He looked down； his embarrassment only heightened by the looks he knew that both Obi…Wan and Captain Typho were throwing his way。
〃Our presence will be invisible； M'Lady；〃 he heard Obi…Wan assure Padme。
〃I'm very grateful that you're here； Master Kenobi；〃 Captain Typho put in。
〃The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit。〃
〃I don't need any more security；〃 Padme said； addressing Typho initially； but turning to regard Obi…Wan as she continued。 〃I need answers。 I want to know who is trying to kill me。 I believe that there might lie an issue of the utmost importance to the Senate。 There is something more here。。。〃 She stopped as a frown crossed Obi…Wan Kenobi's face。
〃We're here to protect you； Senator； not to start an investigation；〃 he said in calm and deliberate tones； but even as he finished； Anakin contradicted him。
〃We will find out who's trying to kill you； Padme；〃 the Padawan insisted。
〃I promise you。〃
As soon as he finished； Anakin recognized his error； one that clearly showed on the scowl that Obi…Wan flashed his way。 He had been fashioning a response to Padme in his thoughts； and had hardly even registered his Master's explanation before he had blurted out the obviously errant words。 Now he could only bite his lip and lower his gaze。
〃We are not going to exceed our mandate； my young Padawan learner！〃 Obi…Wan said sharply； and Anakin was stung to be so dressed down publicly… especially in front of this particular audience。
〃I meant； in the interest of protecting her； Master； of course。〃 His justification sounded inane even to Anakin。
〃We are not going through this exercise again； Anakin；〃 Obi…Wan continued。
〃You will pay attention to my lead。〃
Anakin could hardly