me passed before Anakin tuned back in； cued by the sudden seriousness in Jobal's voice as she said to Padme； 〃Honey； it's so good to see you safe。 We were so worried。〃
Anakin looked up just in time to see the intense； disapproving glare that Padme answered with。 Ruwee； obviously trying to dispel the tension before it could really begin； put his hand on Jobal's arm and quietly said； 〃Dear。。。〃
〃I know； I know！〃 said the suddenly animated Jobal。 〃But I had to say it。 Now it's done。〃
Sola cleared her throat。 〃Well； this is exciting；〃 she said； and everyone looked at her。 〃Do you know； Anakin； you're the first boyfriend my sister ever brought home？〃
〃Sola！〃 Padme exclaimed。 She rolled her eyes。 〃He isn't my boyfriend！ He's a Jedi assigned by the Senate to protect me。〃
〃A bodyguard？〃 Jobal asked with great concern。 〃Oh； Padme； they didn't tell us it was that serious！〃
Padme's sigh was intermixed with a groan。 〃It's not； Mom；〃 she said。 〃I promise。 Anyway； Anakin's a friend。 I've known him for years。 Remember that little boy who was with the Jedi during the blockade crisis？〃
A couple of 〃ahs〃 of recognition came back in response； along with nodding heads。 Then Padme smiled at Anakin and said； with just enough weight to make him recognize that her previous claims about his place here weren't entirely true； 〃He's grown up。〃
Anakin glanced at Sola and saw that she was staring at him； scrutinizing him。 He shifted unfortably in his seat。
〃Honey； when are you going to settle down？〃 Jobal went on。 〃Haven't you had enough of that life？ I certainly have！〃
〃Mom； I'm not in any danger；〃 Padme insisted； taking Anakin's hand in her own。
〃Is she？〃 Ruwee asked Anakin。
The Padawan stared hard at Padme's father； recognizing the honest concern。 This man； who obviously loved his daughter so much； deserved to know the truth。 〃Yes； I'm afraid she is。〃
Even as the words left his mouth； Anakin felt Padme's grip tighten。 〃But not much；〃 she added quickly； and she turned to Anakin； smiling； but in a you'll…pay…for…that…later kind of way。 〃Anakin；〃 she said quietly； her teeth gritted； locked into that threatening smile。
〃The Senate thought it prudent to give her some time away； and under the protection of the Jedi；〃 he said； his tone casual； showing no reflections of the pain he was feeling as Padme's fingernails dug into his hand。 〃My Master； Obi…Wan； is even now seeing to the matter。 All should be well soon enough。〃
His breath came easier as Padme loosened her grip； and Ruwee； and even Jobal； seemed to relax。 Anakin knew that he had done well； but he was surprised to see that Sola was still staring at him； still smiling as if she knew a secret。
He gave her a quizzical look； but she only smiled all the wider。
〃Sometimes I wish I'd traveled more；〃 Ruwee admitted to Anakin as the two walked in the garden after dinner。 〃But I must say； I'm happy here。〃
〃Padme tells me you teach at the university。〃
〃Yes； and before that I was a builder；〃 Ruwee answered with a nod。 〃I also worked for the Refugee Relief Movement； when I was very young。〃 Anakin looked at him curiously； not really surprised。 〃You seem quite interested in public service；〃 he remarked。
〃Naboo is generous；〃 Ruwee explained。 〃The planet itself； I mean。 We have all that we want； all that we could want。 Food is plentiful； the climate is fortable； the surroundings are…〃
〃Beautiful；〃 Anakin put in。
〃Quite so；〃 said Ruwee。 〃We are a very fortunate people； and we know it。 That good fortune should not be taken for granted； and so we try to share and try to help。 It is our way of saying that we wele the friendship of those less fortunate； that we do not think ourselves entitled to that which we have； but rather； that we feel blessed beyond what we deserve。 And so we share； and so we work； and in doing so； we bee something larger than ourselves； and more fulfilled than one can bee from idly enjoying good fortune！〃 Anakin considered Ruwee's words for a few moments。 〃It is the same with the Jedi； I suppose；〃 he said。 〃We have been given great gifts； and we train hard to make the most of those。 And then we use our given powers to try to help the galaxy； to try to make everything a little bit better。〃
〃And to make the things we love a little bit safer？〃
Anakin looked at him； catching the meaning； and he smiled and nodded。 He saw respect in Ruwee's eyes； and gratitude； and he was glad for both。 He could not deny the way Padme looked at her family； the love that seemed to flow from her whenever any of them entered the room； and he knew that if Ruwee or Jobal or Sola didn't like him； his relationship with Padme would be hurt。
He was glad； then； that he had e to this place； not only as Padme's panion； but also as her protector。
Back in the house； Padme； Sola； and Jobal were working together to clear the dishes and the remaining food。 Padme noted the tension in her mother's movements； and she knew that these latest events…the assassination attempts； the fights in the Senate over an issue that could well lead to war…were weighing heavily on her。
She looked to Sola； too； to see if she might find some clue as to how to help alleviate the tension； but all she found there was an obvious curiosity that set her off her balance more than had her mother's concerned expression。
〃Why haven't you told us about him？〃 Sola asked with a sly grin。
〃What's there to talk about？〃 Padme replied as casually as she could。 〃He's just a boy。〃
〃A boy？〃 Sola repeated with a laugh。 〃Have you seen the way he looks at you？〃
〃Sola！ Stop it！〃
〃It's obvious he has feelings for you；〃 Sola went on。 〃Are you saying； little baby sister； that you haven't noticed？〃
〃I'm not your baby sister； Sola；〃 Padme said flatly； her tone turning to true consternation。 〃Anakin and I are friends。 Our relationship is strictly professional。〃
Sola grinned again。
〃Mom； would you tell her to stop it？〃 Padme burst out in embarrassed frustration。
Now Sola began laughing out loud。 〃Well； maybe you haven't noticed the way he looks at you。 I think you're afraid to。〃
〃Cut it out！〃
Jobal stepped between the two and gave Sola a stern look。 Then she turned back to Padme。 〃Sola's just concerned； dear；〃 she said。 But her words sounded to Padme like condescension； as if her mother was still trying to protect a helpless little girl。
〃Oh； Mom； you're impossible；〃 she said with a sigh of surrender。 〃What I'm doing is important。〃
〃You've done your service； Padme；〃 Jobal answered。 〃It's time you had a life of your own。 You're missing so much！〃
Padme tilted her head back and closed her eyes； trying to accept the words in the spirit with which they were offered。 For a moment； she regretted ing back here； to see the same old sights and hear the same old advice。 For just a moment； though。 Truthfully； when she considered it all； Padm had to admit she was glad to have people who loved her and cared about her so much。
She offered her mother an appeasing smile； and Jobal nodded and gently tapped Padme's arm。 She turned to Sola next； and saw her sister still grinning。 What did Sola see？
〃Now tell me； son； how serious is this thing？〃 Ruwee asked bluntly as the two neared the door that would take them back into the house。 〃How much danger is my daughter really in？〃
Anakin didn't hesitate； realizing； as he had at dinner； that Padme's father deserved nothing but honesty from him。 〃There have been two attempts on her life。 Chances are； there'll be more。 But I wasn't lying to you and wasn't trying to minimize anything。 My Master is tracking down the assassins。 I'm sure he'll find out who they are and take care of them。 This situation won't last long。〃
〃I don't want anything to happen to her；〃 Ruwee said； with the gravity of a parent concerned over a beloved child。
〃I don't either；〃 Anakin assured him； with almost equal weight。
Padme stared at her older sister until； at last； Sola broke down and asked；
〃What？〃
The two of them were alone together； while Jobal and Ruwee entertained Anakin out in the sitting room。
〃Why do you keep saying such things about me and Anakin？〃