Okay, so this pile of sugary mush and candy is for Froovygirl. Beware of sweet levels, ladies and gentlemen, be sure to brush your teeth after this one.

"Are you ready angel?" Anakin asked from above her. Padme Amidala, A Senator of Naboo in the Galactic Senate for the Republic, looked up at her future husband, broken out of her reverie.

His voice itself seemed to float around in her head as a dream. Smooth, gentle, loving, warm. All she had ever wanted the man of her life's voice to sound.

Anakin was grinning at her like a little boy despite the fact that he was twenty-four years old, eyes twinkling with joyous abandon. He was as excited as she had yet to see him. He hadn't even seemed this excited when she had agreed to marry him.

Padme had to smile back, even if it was slightly forced. Her stomach was clenched in knots. Butterflies of apprehension tickled behind the knots, and an acute sense of nausea was working its way up her throat. Headache pounded behind her temple, raging to be let free. Padme wished she could oblige it.

Padme could not remember a time when she had been so nervous. Speaking in front of the entire Senate was easier than what she was about to do. If only Bail could see me now, she thought cynically, thinking of her old friend.

Bail had agreed that he would wait for her to arrive at the Senate Building, after she was done with her 'business'.

He had been chuckling as he had said 'business'. As if meeting your future in laws was anything but nerve wracking all out torture of any kind. Bail had probably known how cruel the joke was when he made it.

He was already married. But he wasn't going to wed a Jedi. Anakin's smile faltered suddenly; and Padme had the distinct idea that he could feel her tension.

He knew her better than anyone did; despite the short time they had known each other. And then the force might have had a bit to do with it, Padme was sure.

"What's wrong?" he asked, brow crinkling in that cute way it did when he was concerned. "Nothing, nothing at all….Just….Have you contacted the Temple yet?" she inquired.

Anakin nodded, glancing thoughtfully at the aisles around them, where all of Padme's attendants and guards sat, waiting for the ship to land. Typho was sitting directly behind Padme, his eyes still on Anakin, watchful, calculating, smoldering.

Padme knew that her old friend did not trust Anakin, and besides that had already implicitly explained to Padme just how much of a bad idea he believed marriage would be between them.

Padme had ignored him with great pleasure. She knew Anakin as well as he knew her, which mean that she knew his soul inside and out. It had only been several weeks since they had met, Anakin tasked by the council to protect her after an assassination attempt on her life.

The outcome of the mission had been that while Anakin's former master and partner, Obi-wan Kenobi, found evidence of a traitor in their midst, she and Anakin had stopped a war between the Republic and growing Separatist rebellion. Through the dire circumstances this had induced, Padme had learned to trust Anakin with not only her life, but her heart.

Without a word, aware that Typho's eyes were on them, Anakin jerked his head to the back, indicating that perhaps it would be wise of them to move this unfinished conversation where other ears could not hear.

Padme nodded and allowed him to help her out of her seat like the gentleman he was striving to be.

Padme had already told him that she loved him just the way he was. "I'm marrying the former queen of Naboo," had been his firm answer. "And a Senator for the Galactic Republic. You're loved everywhere, Padme. If I don't seem good enough for you, not only will the council object, but I might get assassinated by one of your old supporters," he had replied.

Padme claimed this as a ridiculous fantasy, but all the same, Anakin was determined to be as courtly and politically intriguing as possible. She stood, allowing him to take the lead into the small back room. Typho glared but said nothing as the door closed behind them.

The small room to the back that served as a small makeshift kitchen was empty. The cooks and servants had already cleaned up before the ship had even ever left Naboo. Even if they had not, the kitchen more than likely would have been emptied anyway, being as how they would be landing shortly.

"Now," Anakin took both of her hands into his. Padme stared into his eyes, mesmerized. How could so many different combinations of blue rest in two iris's? How could he capture all of her attention, distract all of her focus with one look?

How could this one man look into her soul with all the fervor of someone who had known her the entire length of her life and never missed a second of who she was? Sometimes she swore he was magic.

"I've contacted The Temple, and more importantly, my master. They will be expecting us. I've made Obi-wan promise me that everything will be ready. What's wrong?" he inquired. Padme shifted from one foot to the other nervously.

"What did Obi-wan say when he found out we were getting married?" Padme asked softly. She had met the wise Jedi Master a few weeks before, for only a few days, albeit, when he had jumped out of a five hundred story window to chase the probe that had tried to assassinate her in her sleep.

Padme had correctly deduced then that Anakin's old mentor was either a mad man or a very brave warrior. Anakin cocked a brow at her fidgeting. "If you hadn't noticed, Padme, Obi-wan doesn't say much. He says even less when he is undecided. I don't think he knows what to think yet. He doesn't really know you," he pointed out quizzically. Then, as something seemed to dawn on him, his eyes melted into understanding and a bit of amusement.

"Ah, I see. You're scared, aren't you? You're scared to meet them," he half chuckled. Padme was tempted to hit him for his laughter on her expense. "Well, you know Ani," she looked down, scuffing her toe on the hard metal ground.

"They are your family. Weren't you nervous when you met my parents?" She asked. Anakin nodded. "Stark terrified. I could swear your father was going to murder me on sight," he correctly deduced.

"It crossed his mind," Padme promised. "But in the end…Stars, they really liked you Ani. Even my father and sisters. I think they like you more than me," she smiled a bit at the memory of how quickly Anakin and her father had gotten along.

"I just…I want to make the same impression on your family, you know? I want them to like me," she blurted.

"By the way, do you think they'll like this dress?" she asked, twisting slightly to point out her shimmering bright deep purple dress that snaked around her elegantly. Her hair was braided into a tight braid, even though Sabe had suggested that she let a few strands fall loose in the fray.

"I think you look as stunning as usual," Anakin declared. "But the others won't notice, or care much either. Don't expect compliments from anyone but Kellor, he's better at stuff like that," he told her matter of factly. Padme shook her head anxiously. "I just hope they like me," she repeated helplessly.

Anakin kissed her forehead. "Angel, you'll be fine. They won't bite, I promise. They'll love you," he guaranteed, sounding so blasted sure of himself. Padme only huffed, irritated by his lack of sympathy for her plight.

"Hey," Anakin said again, trying to sound optimistic "Let's look at it this way, the sooner we get married, the sooner I get rights to, well," he cleared his throat, eyes skimming her form up and down suggestively.

For some reason, he still took her breath away when he did that. "Assort my authority as your husband," he said, trying to sound gruff. Padme giggled and leaned against him, hands lightly resting on a chest she knew was muscular beneath.

"Is that so?" she asked huskily. Anakin cleared his throat a second time, though Padme was not sure whether it was to sound manly or because his manliness had been aroused. "Yes. But not until after the wedding. We don't want to push it too much. I have a stickler of tradition for a master," he reminded her.

At the reminder of who she was up against, Padme groaned and sank against the wall. "I am dead," she thought aloud.

The Jedi Temple was as glorious inside as it was without. "This is where you all live?" Padme squeaked, turning in a full circle to take it in.

Padme gawked at the majestic white walls rising above her, so elevated she was dizzy just looking at them. The ceilings, high above, had carvings shaped into the globular surface.

Gentle birds and angels winged their way past her from above, sparkling and innocent. It was a masterpiece of art.

The marble steps she was on shined and glowed, the banister swirled beneath her hands, a perfect fit. A rainbow of vibrant color spreading under her feet each step she took.

The place smelled faintly of spring flowers, and the air was crisp and cool, almost as if it were the air of early morning always. A sense of peace and tranquility ruled the atmosphere.

She felt warm, safe and at peace here, it felt like home.

"Well," Anakin chuckled as he stepped next to her, eyes sweeping the view with practiced appreciation. "We have to get inside first angel. This is only the front entrance. The inside is better," he assured her.

Padme stared at him as if he had gone mad. Not even as a queen on Naboo had she seen such beauty. The rest of the galaxy, in truth, had no idea what the inside of the temple looked like.

It was as elusive and unimaginable as the Jedi who ruled dominion over it. It seemed on the outside that this colossal fortress towered even over the Senate Building, though mathematically The Temple was smaller. Padme had thought that the Senate Building was nice, a place fit for royalty, but this place was fit for gods.

"You mean it can get better? I've never seen something so beautiful in my life! Even the palaces on Naboo can't compare to this!" She cried. Anakin shushed her, eyes twinkling with satisfaction.

"Yes, but it is rather quiet here. We Jedi aren't the loudest people, you know. There's a lot of healing that's done here," he informed her. "Healing?" Confused, Padme turned to him with brows wrinkled. He looked down at her affectionately, as if he thought even her confusion was heavenly.

"Yes. Missions are sometimes…Rough, angel. We see a lot of death as Jedi. A lot of despair, a lot of cruelty…" For a moment, a shadow passed over his eyes, sadness lingering with bridled fury. Padme gulped, realizing that there was still much about the Jedi that she did not know.

"And well, sometimes missions last a long time. After how long we've been together," here he grinned. The mission that had introduced them had lasted a couple weeks. Between Naboo, and Tatooine, finding Anakin's mother, the fight on Geonosis, Anakin killing Dooku, and then the return trip back to Naboo…

All it had taken was a few weeks for her to fall in love with him.

"You can see that for yourself. The Temple is the only place in the Universe we can sleep without fear of attack, where we can let out guard down and just…Be people. Not a lot of talking gets done, and when I first got here that irked the living kriff out of me. I thought everyone was cold, and unwelcoming. But it takes time, experience… Eventually, I saw what seems so apparent now. The splendor beneath the silence," he said, and he said it with chin tilted up. Padme had to grin, proud of her husband.

"Spoken like a senator's husband," she chuckled, shaking her head. Anakin smiled at her in response and grabbed her hand. "Come on; let's get you inside, where the real beauty is. The others are waiting," he said excitedly. Padme groaned at her perpetually boyish husband.

"Great," she moaned.

"Master!" the joyous shout came from down the white, sterilized hall. Padme jumped at the loud noise, and Anakin's hand snapped to his saber, positioning himself instinctively in front of her.

Padme and Anakin had been walking through The Temple, which seemed to have no end to either its size or limit to its lively exquisiteness, for ten minutes. Anakin had already showed her most of his favorite haunts, the dojo, the Garden of Fountains, the Hall of Mirrors, the Lover's Balconies…

And along the way they had come across a few couples, or lone Jedi in the halls. Anakin certainly had not been kidding when he had told her talking was not the main occupation in this place.

The passerby's had merely nodded a greeting to them as they walked past, or flashed a quick smile, eyes settling curiously on Padme before they moved on quietly.

To the average observer, this Temple would be empty of inhabitants for all the noise she could hear. And the halls were bare. There was not a youngling or council member in sight. It was eerie, and hollow.

If Anakin had not been speaking to her of wedding plans she was sure she would have been able to hear her own breathing. Padme twirled to the side to see a young Togruta girl running towards them from the right, where Anakin had told her was just one of The Temple's many gardens.

The young girl appeared to be no older then seventeen, with three Lekku, patterned blue and white on each side of her face and down her back. She was lovely in an exotic way, was Padme's first thought.

One saber hung at each hip, one smaller than the other, and though the clothes the youngster wore was a bit more revealing than Padme would have imagined acceptable for a Jedi, the compassion and fierce intelligence in the girl's large cobalt eyes spoke of no ill-will. The Togruta was gasping for breath, as if she had run a long way and very fast to get to them.

Even without ever having met her before, Padme knew from the hundreds of times Anakin had spoken of her, that this girl was his Padawan learner. "Snips!" Anakin cried, just as happily, once he saw it was her.

Ahsoka came to an abrupt halt before him, panting slightly, and executed a neat, calm bow of respect. Anakin chuckled softly and held out his arms in time to get tackled in an excited hug.

"Oof! Force blast, Ahsoka!" he gasped as she threw her arms around his neck fiercely. Padme giggled softly as she watched Ahsoka let go (she was almost as tall as he was) and step back, large azure eyes assessing him sternly.

"There you are! Obi-wan said you stopped a war?" she demanded without preamble. Anakin rubbed his throat as if he had nearly been strangled. "Yeah," he agreed, hoarsely. He received a firm punch in his arm with a very strong fist. "Ow!" her husband then complained, rubbing his sure to be bruised arm.

"Without me?" Ahsoka screeched, indignantly. She looked very unhappy with him. Padme decided Ahsoka was not the most elder respecting young woman she had ever met, but then again, Padme had not been at her age either.

"Hey, you were needed here, remember? Besides, I didn't mean to go and stop a war when I left. It just sort of happened. Anyway, we do have a guest," he pointed out to her, glaring. She was in no way threatened by his gaze. Padme suddenly found herself in the possession of very critical and contemplative eyes.

"You must be Anakin's apprentice," she said, wary under such scrutiny. "Anakin talks about you all the time," she said. Ahsoka's eyes softened after her initial irritation with Anakin wore off.

"That's good to know," she sent him a suspicious glance. Then, shaking her head at him when he gave her an impish smirk, she stepped forward to take Padme's hand.

"My name is Ahsoka Tano. Force, Sky-Guy, Obi-wan said you were getting married, but not that you were bringing home a real woman. We all thought you'd come home with a tree. Qui-gon and me had money on it," she said.

Padme grinned and leaned in conspiratorially. "He did pay me a handsome bribe to fill in for the tree. I thought it was just a Jedi thing," she whispered loudly.

"Hey!" Anakin said as Ahsoka chuckled. "Don't you two start plotting against me already!" he protested firmly, despite the sparkle in his eye. "Too late," Ahsoka quipped. She gave Padme a bright grin.

"Welcome to The Temple, Padme. We're glad to have you," she said, gently. Padme exhaled in relief. At least one person liked her. "Thank you," she dipped her head, shyly. "It's very beautiful here," she said, glancing around at the ornate statues. "Only the best for us Jedi," Ahsoka snickered.

She turned to Anakin. "Anyway, master, the others are back at Qui-gon's, waiting for you to arrive. Xanatos spent all last night coming up with every embarrassing story he can make up to scare Padme off," she informed him, matter of factly.

"Ah," Anakin nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I thought he would. Not to worry, Padme isn't easily scared off, even by Xanatos's horrifying countenance. Thanks for warning me ahead of time though, Padawan," he said. "Any time," Ahsoka replied merrily.

"Xanatos," Padme wracked her memory for the name. She was sure Anakin had mentioned it before. "He was Qui-gon's…First apprentice," she hesitated. "Wasn't he?" She asked, glancing between Anakin and Ahsoka.

"Second," Anakin corrected with a gentle smile. "Kennor was Qui-gon's first. Xanatos was his second, Obi-wan his third. Qui-gon was injured by a Sith in the Battle of The Al'Har system soon after he and Obi-wan found me on Tatooine. The healers thought he was going to die from his wounds, so when he was taking what was thought to be his last breaths he made Obi-wan promise to train me," he explained.

Padme nodded, feeling less anxious now that she knew a bit more about the people she was going to meet. "After all these weeks together, you'd think we would have gotten to all this before," she told him.

He gave a careless half shrug. "That's true. We talked about everything else, it seems, but the Jedi," he suddenly smiled, sardonically. "Maybe that's for the best. We are not something you can easily explain. Take Yoda for example…" He began, only to be quickly shushed by Ahsoka.

"Don't scare her away already, master! You're never gonna get any better than her," she told him, with conviction. Padme found herself blushing when Anakin turned to her with a tender look in his eye.

"No," he agreed softly, kissing Padme's cheek. "There is no better than her," he said. Padme blushed a deeper shade of red.

Ahsoka cocked a white brow in amusement. "Well said," she merely responded. "Well, come on. No use in keeping the lions pawing for food," she said, waving her hand forward. Anakin nodded, and Padme was surprised when Ahsoka waited for him to pass before walking, about a foot behind him on his right side.

Padme had seen other Padawan's do this, but Ahsoka had seemed so…Wild at first sight. The fact that she was following tradition surprised Padme all the more. At length, the three of them finally came to a sun lit hallway, where windows adorned the right side of the wall. To the left, several doors indicated the apartments within. Padme could smell the alluring tingle of tea behind the door.

"Well," Anakin glanced over his shoulder as they approached. "Are you ready?" he asked her. Padme took in a deep breath and steeled herself for impact. "Yes," she determined, without much feeling. "This is where the fun begins," Ahsoka muttered from behind them.

Before Anakin could type in the code by the door, though, it swiveled open. Anakin grinned happily and sauntered in, Padme on his heels. The inside of the apartment was modest.

To their right was a small kitchen and bar. Further than that another door to another room, she was sure. To their left another door. In the living area there was a small couch that could lean back to become a bed, and behind that a small area where she could see several meditation pillows set around a table, where the smell of tea wafted over.

Straight ahead, a glass door let in the sunshine from outside, and a small deck held pots of flowers and plants. Sitting at the bar were two men. Across from them, a third man, older than the other two and with a mane of long, silver-decked hair sat in a hover chair regally.

Obi-wan looked up from where he was sitting on the couch when the door opened, eyes skimming lightly over his data pad. He smiled. "Hey, Skywalker!" One of the men at the bar crowed.

"You're back, welcome home, hero!" he said enthusiastically as he stood. Anakin laughed as he was pulled into a tight hug. "It's good to see you, 'natos," he replied sincerely, smiling into the older man's eyes.

A long scar adorned the right eye of the man. A bundle of slick raven black hair made his honey colored skin stand out. He turned to Padme and gave her a welcoming smile. She relaxed, partially, correctly deducing that this was Xanatos DuCrion.

The other man grinned from his seat and stood with more poise but no less welcome. His face was passive. He clapped Anakin on the shoulder. "Welcome back, little brother," he said; his chestnut/emerald eyes were filled with compassion and serene understanding. He glanced at Padme curiously, and he gave a single nod of greeting. Padme returned the gesture.

"Thanks, Kennor. It's good to be back," he said, clapping his brother on the back just as companionably. "How're the kids and Sentara? Where are they?" he asked. Suddenly, the otherwise passive face brightened into pure joy and pride.

"Sentara is still at the hospital. She got called in late," he turned to Padme. "My wife is a doctor at the Medical center of Courascant," he explained bluntly.

Padme's eyebrows shot up. That was a prestigious position. Not just any doctor got to work in Courascant's official hospital. "I can't wait to meet her," she gasped, not at all sarcastic.

"Dray and Kina-Bae are in the Archives with the others, studying for mid-exams tomorrow," he chuckled softly. "There are many things I miss about childhood, but mid-exams are not one of them," he admitted.

"I second that notion," Padme found herself saying, with a shiver. "Good for you guys," Ahsoka mumbled. Anakin turned to her an put on the expression Padme had come to recognize as his ready-to- sermon facade. "Did you study for mid-exams?" He demanded. Ahsoka gave him a hurt look.

"Of course, master. And I didn't even need the Archives. I was wise and just listened to Obi-wan's lecture," she informed him haughtily. Anakin chuckled as he glanced at Obi-wan, who looked suitably stricken. "The Archives can't compare," Xanatos agreed amiably.

Suddenly, the man in a hover chair came from behind the bar. Padme glanced over, and inhaled sharply when she noticed that both of his legs had been cut off at the knees. Padme wondered why he hadn't gotten prosthetics.

Nevertheless, his eyes held all of the wisdom and gentle humor of a man who had seen many challenges, and gotten through them all with his honor intact. He sat erect and proud in his chair, lightsaber still at his side.

There was an air of gentle authority around him. Padme instantly dubbed him as the matriarch. "Anakin," his voice was deep, the gentle howl of wind through the trees. Anakin turned to him with pure hero-worship in his eyes, and bowed. "Master Qui-gon," he greeted.

"I'm glad to see the force delivered you safely," Qui-gon's eyes sparkled with teasing. "And it seems you've brought home a young lady to add to our family. Finally. I've been waiting for one of you to make me some grandchildren," he observed, with a kind, mischievous smile at Padme that tickled her until she had to grin back. Anakin flushed a deep scarlet, straightening. "Ahsoka says you thought I was bringing home a tree," he accused, gruffly.

"Well, of course," Qui-gon agreed, blinking confusedly. "The first true love I ever brought home was a tree. A Rodian pine willow, in a pot," he sighed luxuriously, resting his elbow on the armrest beside him as he remembered fondly.

"Master Dooku never finished getting some amusement from the memory," he stated with a chuckle. Anakin scowled, eyes darkening.

Qui-gon noted the change acutely. His face shut down into an expressionless mask. "Anakin, was I told right? Was my master really…?" The older man trailed off, staring into Anakin's eyes seriously. Padme inhaled sharply, looking to Anakin. Dooku had been Qui-gon's….?

Anakin's eyes flashed down for a second, sadly. Then, he looked up, nodded and bowed again. "I'm truly sorry, Qui-gon. He was dark. He refused to surrender. I had no choice," he reported softly.

The atmosphere lost its cheer for a moment in anguish. Qui-gon swallowed visibly, and for a moment Padme saw that his eyes were moist, but he quickly blinked it away. "I see," he ground out.

"Well," Xanatos continued, sounding relatively more jovial. The atmosphere lightened once more. "We've lost one thing to gain another. Welcome aboard, Senator," he said to Padme.

She smiled shyly. "Glad to be aboard," she responded. "Master," Anakin stretched out a hand to the man still sitting on the couch, silent thus far. Padme turned to find that Obi-wan was studying her silently. She had forgotten he was even there.

Obi-wan's gaze flicked from her to Anakin, and he smiled gently as he stood elegantly. He walked up and clasped Anakin's arm in a warrior's grip. "Its about time you noticed me," he teased.

"I noticed you, but you were so caught up in that data pad of yours. What're you studying now? Another technique you falsely believe will beat me in the dojo?" Anakin quipped back.

Padme stood back, watching the two lock eyes with curiosity. Even weeks before when she had first seen them together, she had been able to sense the deep bond between the two, just by the way they stood, shoulder to shoulder. If Anakin had looked at Qui-gon with hero-worship, and the others with joyful affection, he stared at Obi-wan as if the other man were the force itself.

Padme remembered Anakin's anguished, angry words when she had first tried to convince him to go after Obi-wan. "He's like my father!" his eyes had sparkled with tears as he quickly turned away.

At Anakin's comment, the Jedi Master chuckled warmly. "Arrogance is not the Jedi Way, my old apprentice. And no, I'm studying ways to take care of that new appendage you have there. Let me see your arm," he commanded.

Anakin easily snatched off the black leather glove that hid his mechanical arm and held it out for Obi-wan to examine, calmly, with utmost trust.

The others gasped in horror that resonated around the room. "Master!" Ahsoka cried, eyes filling with worry. She rushed forward to take the arm, eyes scanning it with horror.

The others crowded around as well, urgently inspecting Anakin for more injuries. Padme understood their worry. She had felt the same when she had first discovered Anakin's missing hand.

Anakin cringed back at the sudden horde around his arm. He was still embarrassed about it, she knew. She was just about to usher the others back when Obi-wan spread a sweeping hand, keeping a perimeter around his friend without even looking up from his ministrations.

"Stars above; don't flock him, you all," Obi-wan mildly remonstrated. "What happened?" Ahsoka gasped. "Are you okay?" Kennor then asked. "Obi-wan, why didn't you tell us?" Qui-gon added. "What bastard did that?" Was Xanatos's furious summed up assessment of their questions.

Anakin and Obi-wan exchanged an expressionless glance of decision. "Dooku," Anakin finally replied without emotion. Qui-gon's face fell. The others gawked in disbelief. "I…" Ahsoka gasped.

"I can't believe Master Dooku would ever…" She lamped her mouth shut suddenly, eyes smoldering as she looked down at Anakin's arm. "Believe me, I didn't want to believe it either," Anakin sighed.

There was a thick silence. Padme realized she had arrived in a time of loss. Anakin's injury seemed to hit home just how far Dooku had fallen. "You did him a mercy," Xanatos finally decided, shaking his head.

"If he was dark…Death was more merciful. All the same, Obi-wan…" he turned to the younger sternly. "What?" Obi-wan replied, eyes hidden behind his long bangs, with a nod at whatever he was tweaking.

Anakin cringed, but didn't move his hand. "I honestly didn't know how to tell you all. Besides, I was out cold for the duration of the battle," he told them. Anakin rolled his eyes pointedly.

"You were the one who threw me the saber before Dooku could impale me, you modest Gundark," he scolded. Obi-wan smiled. "And directly after that, I passed out. Though, the council has already agreed that we aren't going to mention that in our report to the Chancellor," he stated, with a wink at Padme.

"What? Why not?" Anakin demanded. "It's not heroic," Ahsoka piped in knowingly. "And overall not very dramatic either. The public wants swords screeching and death at doors, Anakin, not realism," Obi-wan reminded him. "That's true, Ani," Padme agreed, helpfully.

"Then what is my part going to be in this dramatic escapade? How does the public think I lose my arm?" her husband demanded. "You tripped over a pipe," Obi-wan explained. Xanatos and Ahsoka burst into raucous laughter that made Padme jump. Anakin spluttered unintelligibly. Qui-gon chuckled.

Obi-wan ignored them all. "What? No fair! That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! What about you? What do you do?" Anakin protested. "I am the valiant hero of the story. I resolve the conflict and save your bleeding, clumsy behind," Obi-wan said without the slightest hint of a smirk. Padme laughed as Anakin gawked at Obi-wan with wide eyes.

"You're serious," he stated disbelievingly. "I'm afraid so, my friend," Obi-wan nodded. "You passed out!" Anakin defended. "Yes, but again Anakin, the public doesn't care about what really happened. It's much more interesting this way," the older man assuaged.

"Can't I help you save the day?" Anakin whined. Obi-wan shook his head. "No," he responded apologetically, to the amusement of the others. "It would be too many people to remember. By the way, for the sake of all the feminists out there, we're changing your name to Ani Pinkflowersprinkle," he told him.

"Oh, I am not marrying someone named Pinkflowersprinkle," Padme blurted as the others doubled over with laughter. "I am not going to be called Pinkflowersprinkle!" Anakin shouted forcefully.

"Purpleponysprinkle?" Obi-wan suggested, glancing up. His eyes were twinkling with teasing. His lips quirked at the corners. "Obi-wan!" Anakin hissed, at the realization of the joke on him, shoving his friend away roughly. Obi-wan backed away, laughing. Padme snorted.

She had not known the normally serious and stoic man could crack a joke! She realized that her nervousness had evaporated into the air.

She was at home here as if she had been living in this room with these people all her life. She wondered if Obi-wan had done this on purpose to put her at ease.

"That's it, master, get over here," Anakin growled, advancing threateningly at his friend with fingers wiggling. "No," Obi-wan dodged the attack, breathless with laughter. "No, Anakin. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Don't," he pleaded.

"You're going over the deck," Anakin decided, not halting in his advancement.

"Murder…is not…The…Jedi Way," Obi-wan gasped out as a last defense, before Anakin efficiently swopped him over his shoulder and started towards the deck. "An-Anakin," Obi-wan protested through his laughter, pounding Anakin's back weakly.

Padme swiped away a tear as Anakin headed out on the deck and dumped Obi-wan over the edge unceremoniously. She might have been terrified and disgruntled if she had not witnessed Obi-wan jump out of a five hundred story window a few weeks earlier. "There," Anakin said with cheer as he swiped his hands off as if he were done with a rather onerous task.

He walked back in, closing the door behind him firmly. "Now that he's out of the way, blasted man, everyone, I'd like you to meet my future wife, Padme Amidala," he introduced her at long last.

"Well, it's certainly an honor to finally get introduced. I'm sure you know all of us by now," Xanatos retorted. Padme nodded.

"Yes," She squinted at the door suspiciously. "Shouldn't we lock the door, just in case he comes back up that way?" She asked. The others looked at the door for a moment, wonderingly, then broke into wide smiles of enthusiasm.

"Yep, I like her,"

"She's a Jedi alright,"

"When are two getting married?"

"It's about time Ani brought a good woman home,"

Padme smiled, blushing under the good-natured praise. Anakin beamed with pride. "Who wants tea?" Qui-gon inquired, boomingly. "I like tea," Padme offered. Qui-gon stared at her incredulously.

"You like tea?" he gasped, as if she were a miracle of the force itself. "She's Qui-gon's new favorite," Kennor chuckled. "She replaced Obi-wan in two point five seconds. I think that's a record," Ahsoka observed neutrally

"I don't think Qui-gon's going to give your wife back, Ani," Xanatos told her husband knowingly as Qui-gon grabbed her hand and dragged her into the kitchen to teach her all about tea. Padme followed willingly. She saw Anakin grinning proudly at her back as she left, and heard his bright voice reply: "I told her you guys would like her," she smiled.

I guess so, she thought.