It wasn't until their forth date that Bail finally kissed her, slow and sweet, gentle as possible, as if worried she'd shatter beneath something a little more forceful. Perhaps the request could have been seen as awkward, stammered as it had been; but Padme had merely found it – and him – adorable. She'd witnessed what he was capable of in the political field, weaving together masterful speeches to bring even the most unwilling colleagues over to their side. He was an incredibly articulate and intelligent man, so when he stuttered nervously over his desire to kiss her, she'd been charmed.

Everything about being with Bail was warm and safe, he made her feel wanted, loved even. He adored her; everyone saw it, especially her. And he made her happy, that's what was important between them, they settled into a comfortableness together Padme hadn't ever felt with anyone else. He was so kind to her, welcomed her into her job with open arms long before anything romantic sparked, and after it did, he never used the fact to undermine her, though at times their opinions differed greatly. With him, it was as if her life had come together, the pretty ribbon in place and ready to be tied.

It was a perfect match, that's what her mom said. They worked in the same field, thus understood the time and effort such careers required which meant cancelled plans had never led to fights or resentment between them, they enjoyed much of the same music, movies and culture – he'd even surprised her with a trip to Italy for her twenty-fifth birthday – and he could be terribly romantic at times.

By the time Padme turned twenty-eight, she and Bail had found a beautiful house with a pretty white picket fence not a long drive from work, big enough for them and the future children they wanted, with a pool outback for their families to come over and enjoy. It was just… Perfect, like something from a dream.

But Padme didn't let herself dream anymore. Dreams didn't come true.

Even years after she'd left town, after she'd dated other men and achieved her degree, she caught herself every now and then, comparing things to how they'd been when she'd known Anakin Skywalker. Everything was certainly different now – Padme was different now. She was a woman grown, a politician now, not the teenager she was back then. The girl from before was gone, her heartbreak eventually replaced by a tender love from Bail. And though deep down, she knew it was wrong, she still compared him from time to time to the boy who'd stolen her heart and never offered his own in return.

Bail wasn't Anakin; they were two very different people. And of course that was a good thing, a healthy thing… The romantic in her had always assumed she'd settle for someone similar to him, in an attempt to recapture that swept away sensation he always inspired in her heart.

She and Anakin had used to talk for hours about the changes they'd make to the world one day, what good they'd bring and the bad they'd weed out… She'd go over to his house and he'd pounce on her with new ideas and then less exciting diplomatic solutions when she informed him they couldn't just blow up those who wouldn't agree with their polices.

Bail simply kissed her cheek and asked her how her day had been when she got home.

That was the better way, the adult way.

She didn't live in a dream world anymore, she thrived in reality and that was best.

For all the comparisons she made, Padme did love Bail… Perhaps not in the heart bursting out of her chest in desperation for his touch kind of way, but their love was a more refined kind. A quieter love, more realistic. It was real, and it was mutual. That was what mattered.

But when she was honest with herself, truly honest, she missed Anakin's passion, the heat behind his kiss… Nobody had torn her clothes off and thrown her onto the nearest surface the way he had. He'd been good at making her feel wanted, needed even, in the moment but it always passed when it was over. When the desire was sated, what had there been afterward? Nothing. Only her dreams.

And there lay one of the largest contrasts between them, she couldn't live her whole life from dream to dream, not the way Anakin had. Padme needed something tangible, she craved reality. All those years ago, she'd wanted him to ask her to stay, hoped and prayed that he would – she would have stayed, had he asked – but now she was glad he didn't. This was how her life was supposed to be, she just hadn't seen it then.

It was all that which drove her to say yes when Bail had sunk down to one knee before all their family and friends and asked her to be his wife. Because it was the right choice, the best choice and it was what she wanted… To be Bail's wife was what she wanted.

Yet, that same night when her husband to be, her fiancé had made love to her, she moaned his name and hated herself when she thought of Anakin instead…

They planned a small wedding, private and imitate, because neither liked the attention large ceremonies brought. The guest list was narrowed down to just family and close friends and that was all they needed. Their special day wouldn't be filled with people they barely knew, or colleagues they didn't like, only those who loved them, who they wanted to share their love with… A modest day suited them better.

It was strange how quickly time passed, almost before she knew it, she was being laced into her dress, surrounded by the few friends she'd chosen as bridesmaids as they did their best to ease her nerves and make the day fun. Bail's proposal only felt like weeks ago, not months… She'd thought time would slow down somehow in the run up to the big day, but if anything, the hands of the clock only ticked faster, rushing through the days until wedding came along.

She'd imagined this day countless times as a little girl, designed her dress on thousands of pieces of paper, placed pillowcases on her head in place of veils… Back then, lost in a haze of girlish love, Padme had always imagined the groom who waited for her would be Anakin. It had felt right then, when she'd been young enough to believe maybe, one day, he might love her too.

It was a silly dream.

Since she left for college they'd barely spoken… Their conversations fizzled and became forced and awkward until they just stopped altogether. Did she stop calling him? Or had he stopped answering? She couldn't remember which was true anymore. Did it really matter? She came close to calling him again a year or two ago, after her mom had called to let her know his mother, sweet Shmi, had been run over and died just a few days after. But at the last moment the nerves had gotten the better of her and though she swore she'd try again a little later, the call never happened.

It should have, she could see that now. Not calling him was a regret she didn't like to think about. Anakin adored his mother; she was all he'd had… To know he lost her so needlessly tore Padme's heart in two. But she'd known, even then, that if she'd heard him broken and alone, she'd have abandoned everything to go to him. That couldn't happen. So she left him to grieve and told herself others would rally around him in her place, though she couldn't name a single person in town beside her family who'd been close to the Skywalkers, but she lied to herself anyway and tried not to think of him that night.

Perhaps he wouldn't even have wanted to hear from her anyway. People change. Anakin probably changed too.

Her mom wept when she saw her, while her father attempted to not do the same. It was a sweet moment, embracing her parents on her wedding day… One Padme wished she could enjoy more. But even the smallest glimpse of herself dressed as a bride awoke something terribly bittersweet in her chest. It just wasn't how she imaged the day at all… But it was what it had to be, what it was supposed to be.

As her arm slid into the crook of her father's elbow, a beautiful bouquet of lilies in her free hand, her heart beat too fast, not excited but nervous because despite everything, some traitorous part of her mind had thought, had imagined, he'd come… That he'd appear around some corner and profess his undying love and offer his hand to run for their lives together and she would have taken it.

It was for the best that he hadn't come. Dreams like that never worked out so well in reality… It would have hurt Bail and destroyed everything they worked toward together, it would have been irresponsible and selfish and… And she would have been happy to run away with Anakin by her side.

She loved Bail. Not in the same ways, but love was love and it was a good kind of love. The normal, real love. Passion always faded in the end anyway; they'd just start off without it. She didn't need it.

That was what she told herself as she walked up the aisle to the elegant tune of harps, as she listened to Bail's lovely vows and as she became Padme Organa and kissed her new husband. This was the right choice, the only choice. Dreams weren't real and it was long past time she let them go because no dream had the power change reality, no matter how badly her mind may have wished they could.

Outside the pretty church, near the back of the parking lot, where no one could see him, Anakin stood, numbed by the sight before him… He'd driven for hours, probably breaking a hundred road laws, desperate to stop the wedding before it was too late. When he'd run into Padme's mom and she told him the news, he'd battled himself, day and night, because she'd haunted every single dream he had since she left and he wasn't sure how much more he could take.

He'd pledged to live without her, because she didn't love him, because she deserved better… But the idea of his Padme, his angel, married to someone else tore him apart. It repulsed him to his core. Stripped him of his fear – and maybe even his decency – and he'd climbed into his car without a plan, without any true thought about his actions and drove without stopping. He had to do something, had to tell her how he felt even if he was years too late. If she rejected him, at least she'd know how much he'd loved her.

Padme had always had a joke, about his complete inability to be anywhere on time when they were kids… She always had to tell him to come an hour before she actually wanted him somewhere if she hoped to have him there at the right time. It had been funny then, and undeniably true. But Anakin's world froze and shattered around him as the bell in the little steeple chimed, and the small clock built into the tower showed 5:00 PM as he leapt out of the car and left engine still running in his haste. He'd thought it was earlier than it was, that there was still more time, but the little wooden doors to the building were flung open and he was forced to endure the sight of the bride and groom smiling in each other's arms as petals and confetti showered their bodies, thrown by cheering spectators but all he could see was Padme's smile. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, she practically glowed like the angel she was against the white of her dress. She was happy with this guy, her husband, he could see it. She was happy without him just like she'd always been.

He too was late this time – for the first time – truly too late.

She wasn't his angel anymore.