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Disclaimer: I don't own any Star Wars characters and any OC's that resemble real people are entirely coincidental.

There is an explanation of how my calendar works and a list of helpful translations for my commonly used Star Wars words in 'Flame of Hope - Everyone' if you're curious.

This story takes place after the Onderon arc and before the Younglings arc in 'The Clone Wars' cartoon.

Life Day Revelations

Prologue - Padmè's 'Boy'friend:

D85/32 BBY, Naboo

Padmè Naberrie, only fourteen years old and better known as Queen Amidala of Naboo, groaned in protest as the first rays of sunrise suddenly hit her right in the face, accompanied by the sound of swishing curtains.

She rolled over onto her back, arm thrown over her eyes in protest. "Stars, is it morning already?" she mumbled.

A tinkling laugh answered her as more curtains swished open in her massive and ridiculously ornate bedroom, flooding it with dawning light. "Yes, I'm afraid it is, Milady."

Padmè moved her arm just enough to squint at her best friend and handmaiden, Sabè. "Not fair. I swear I just got to bed three hours ago."

"You did. And you have a meeting with Governor Bibble in an hour and a half."

Padmè sighed pathetically as she literally rolled her tired body off the soft bed big enough to sleep at least six people. (She knew this because all of her handmaidens had crashed with her after a long giggle fest inspired by too much cider and the girls' fascination with the dreamy topic known as the freshly promoted Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi.) "I know. I just wish those Gungan peace parties wouldn't go so long into the night. And that they'd stop asking me to dance. Kriff, I hurt."

Sabè appeared at her side, holding up a comfortable robe for her to slip her arms into. The young Queen mumbled her thanks as the older girl said, "Only one more night of celebrations, then the big parade and formal ceremony tomorrow afternoon. I have faith that you'll survive till then. And… you have three hours of free time this afternoon. I won't tell if you want to take a nap."

Padmè shot her friend a grateful look over her shoulder as she stumbled over to the refresher door. "Thank you, Sabè. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it." The cheeky reply just made it to Padmè's ears before the sliding door closed completely.

Smiling to herself, Padmè went about waking herself up with her normal refresher routine.

When she emerged twenty minutes later, she was squeaky clean, covered only by her soft robe, and her long brown hair was flowing in waves down to her waist. She immediately aimed for the bay window with the spectacular view of a waterfall and the little table within that held a covered tray with her breakfast and a datapad already loaded with the morning news reports from Coruscant. (A queen must keep up with all the latest news and gossip, donchaknow.)

Sitting down, she tucked into her eggs and bacon with gusto, interspersed with liberal sips of chocolate flavoured caf. At the same time, she scrolled through the news.

BRAN PITERS AND ANJIE JOLLY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN?

The famous acting couple were seen holding hands as they left the set of their latest movie project, Malignant Spies. Will they tie the knot for the fifth time?

She snorted. Maybe, but I give it a month before they get divorced again. They've broken up how many times now, if we count the times that didn't include actual marriage? Twelve? Thirteen?

DELVIS SIGHTING ON ALDERAAN CAUSES 12 SPEEDER PILE UP!

Is the singing sensation actually back from the dead or is it just another wannabee?

Wannabee, no question. My parents went to his funeral.

PODRACE ON MALASTARE LEAVES 9 DEAD AND ONLY 1 FINISHER!

Is this sport really worth the thrills? Cast your vote now and see if you're in the majority!

Padmè immediately pushed the 'No' button and growled when she the results popped up. How can ninety-five point six percent of the galaxy think that those flying death traps are something worth watching? I am so glad that Ani isn't flying those awful things anymore. There's no way a little kid should ever have been put in one in the first place. Stupid nerfherders. They could at least make an age limit rule.

Hah. Like that'll ever happen. Kriffing Hutts like their gruesome entertainment too much to give it up.

Shaking off her anger, she delicately shoveled in another bite of perfectly prepared scrambled eggs and smiled almost evilly at the next headline.

IN THE WAKE OF THE NABOO CRISIS, SENATE VOTES TO PLACE MORE RESTRICTIONS AND TAXES ON THE TRADE FEDERATION! VICEROY GUNRAY FUMES!

Sources say the Neimoidian was heard cursing the Republic and that they would pay for their stupidity. Should we be worried?

Yes.

After reading the entire article about the Republic Senate's decision and sending the concise story to a file folder labeled 'Important Political Poodoo', she scrolled on.

New opera house opening on Hosnian Prime to feature Lava Plaguna? Maybe I'll go there for my next holiday. When is my next holiday, anyway? Or right, I don't get holidays. Maybe I can sneak in a show the next time I'm there for a political function; her voice is the best in the galaxy and I've never seen her live.

Sports, civil war on some Outer Rim planet I've never heard of, more sports, somebody I don't know just got hitched to somebody else I don't know. More sports. What's up with all the sports? Ooooo. Queen Breha finally picked a husband from all of her suitors! Good for her. I think I've met Bail Organa, haven't I?

Stars, even more sports. Who cares about spaceball? New hyperspace lane in development in the Mid Rim? That's worth reading at least.

She almost selected the story when the next headline caught her eye.

YOUNGEST PADAWAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE JEDI?

Is Anakin Skywalker, former slave and winner of the deadly Boonta Eve Classic, the youngest Padawan to ever pass the Initiate Trials?

After only residing at the Jedi Temple for a week and a half, the young boy (9 galactic standard years), who was barely allowed into the Order in the first place due to being considered too old to learn their ways, has already been publicly listed as a graduate of the Initiate Trials.

Go, Ani! I knew he'd pass.

We don't claim to know much about the ever mysterious Jedi, but even to this author, this seems practically miraculous. We can only conclude that Skywalker is a phenom with the Force.

Yes. Yes he is.

Or is he?

What?! You doubt my Ani?! How dare you!

Is it possible that the Jedi Council is simply expediting the normal processes to please the new Chancellor, who was heard publicly praising the boy for his staring roll in the Nabooan victory over the Trade Federation?

This author believes so.

Bitch.

It would seem even the monk-like Jedi are capable of kissing up to important rear ends, no matter how unattractive they are.

Okay, that was kind of funny; Sheev does have a rather scrawny arse. His sons have the same unfortunate problem. The girls have most certainly never sighed over a Palpatine arse the way they have over Kenobi's.

What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know.

I might just do that, you trumped up nerf.

One thing we do know for sure is that the Chancellor and the entire High Council of Jedi have just been seen boarding a ship destined for Naboo to attend the Peace Ceremony between the aquatic Gungans and their human neighbors. And accompanying them was one recently Knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi and his new (official) Padawan, Anakin Skywalker.

Yay! Ani's coming back! I knew Master Kenobi would be able to talk his way onto that ship! That man has one of the smoothest tongues I've ever heard. He should go into politics; he could be the next Chancellor if he wanted. The girls will be happy to see him again, too, that's for sure.

What possible reason could the (somewhat older than normal and drop dead handsome) new Knight have for going back to the scene of his Master's death?

Further investigations? Facing his demons? Or perhaps the Knight is breaking tradition and following his heart? He did spend quite a few days in the company of a certain young queen and her pretty, if a bit cookie cutter handmaidens, after all, as their protector.

One can only speculate.

Force knows, this author is.

You can speculate till the nerfs come home, you sleemo. You'll never guess that they're coming back because Ani wants to see me again. It certainly isn't because Kenobi wants to come anywhere near my handmaidens. He seemed kind of scared of them, actually, and avoided them as much as possible. Clearly a dedicated practitioner of the Jedi Code.

Unlike Ani, who ate up any attention he could get.

Stars, that boy is the cutest thing.

He's going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up, I just know it.

Next time on Jedi Watch: We explore the possible reasons why Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't Knighted until the age of 25 when the average age is closer to 20.

That's actually a really good question. Maybe I'll ask him when he gets here so I can scoff at whatever speculations Skeeta Ritz comes up with.

Despite how much she hated the author of the article, Padmè sent it to the recently added 'Ani and Co.' file, where she'd already accumulated a few stories regarding one Anakin Skywalker and his fellow Jedi, whom she had recently become quite fascinated with. (No idea why. Honest.)

Her favourite article so far was the story about his win in the big pod race on Tatooine, because it came with a picture of Ani sitting on Master Jinn's shoulder as they celebrated his victory. The dirt covered boy had been looking down at the man with such devotion and Master Jinn had the most genuine smile of pride she'd ever seen on his usually serious face. She and his mother had been in the picture as well, but you could only see the back of their heads in the bottom corner. She had to fight tears every time she looked at it, because of the lost father/son relationship that had developed right in front of her eyes, but she loved it anyway. If Anakin hadn't seen it already, which she hadn't the heart to ask yet, she was going to send him a copy for his next birthday or Life Day, whichever came first. (She needed to ask him when his birthday was.)

At least he had Master Kenobi to fill the gap in his life that should never have had to be filled. (Twice.) The good news was that Ani had finally accepted Kenobi as a replacement male adult figure, but she could tell from some of the offhand comments he'd made during their daily comm chats that Ani would never let himself think of another man as a father because losing the first one to adopt that roll for him had hurt too much to possibly repeat. She could only hope that Ani and Kenobi could find a different kind of love between them and not get stuck in the 'no attachment' rule she'd read about; brothers would work, especially if they both associated Master Jinn as their father figure.

She was chugging the last of her cooling chococaf and reading the article about the new hyperspace lane when Sabè swept back into the room with Eirtaè and Rabè right on her heels, all done up in flowing grey dresses that transitioned from white at the top to the darkest grey by the bottom hemline with decorative silver belts in the middle. They looked beautiful while still maintaining an air of simplicity that Padmè envied.

"Time to turn you into a Queen, Milady," the head handmaiden said brightly as she opened the doors to the small apartment sized dressing room filled with enough expensive dresses and robes to have alternatively funded the entire population of a small planet for a year. (At least.)

Padmè pushed off the chair with a stifled groan inspired by sore thighs (the Gungans had WAY too much jumping in their native dances) and brought the datapad with her to read while her handmaidens went to work making her look like a Queen.

As Padmè sat down in front of a huge vanity for the long process of applying her makeup and finagling her hair into something insane but beautiful, a comm link in Sabè's pocket chimed. (She kept Padmè's comm in case the Queen wasn't available to talk, which happened a lot.) She pulled it out and checked the frequency before placing it in front of her on the vanity. "It's your boyfriend," the handmaiden couldn't help but tease.

Padmè rolled her eyes. "Please. He's NINE."

The girls giggled at the absurdity of such a suggestion as Padmè answered the still chiming comm link. A small holo of Anakin popped up, sitting cross-legged. Most of his hair had been cut short since she'd talked to him yesterday, with a tiny braid starting near the back of the right side of his head with what was left. I bet there's a tiny ponytail at the back too. He was also wearing a more formal looking Jedi outfit than the simple tunic and slacks he'd worn for their previous calls. Included with the layers of beige tunics and tabard was a fancy new leather belt. And hanging off his belt was a small lightsabre that she knew he had built himself only a few days ago. (He was very proud of it, understandably.)

"Ani! Look at you! You look like a miniature version of Master Kenobi!"

Ani blushed dark enough with pleasure and embarrassment to be visible through the holo. "Thanks, Mey. Considering the Temple of Beige Monotony supplied the new outfit, though, are we surprised?"

The girls giggled.

Anakin smirked.

Stars, he's a clever boy. Padmè shook her head at him fondly, inspiring a hiss from Rabè, who was working on her hair. (Sabè was theoretically picking out a morning dress appropriate for meetings while blatantly eavesdropping.) "Well, I'm sure if you ask nicely you can convince them to let you wear somewhat different colours. Darker one's maybe?"

Anakin tilted his head, thinking. "I've always wanted to wear black, but it's just an insane idea on Tatooine, unless you like frying in the suns, so Mom always vetoed it."

"Well, there you go. Ask for black tunics. Or at least dark brown ones."

"I don't know..."

"You should."

"Fine. I will. But it's your fault if they all think I'm falling to the Dark side already."

"How could they? You're the sweetest boy. Just smile at them with your bright blue eyes and any ridiculous thoughts like that will fly right out of their heads."

Anakin looked at her like she'd hung the stars. "Force, Mey, you always have the answer for everything. I guess that's why you're the Queen?"

The girls snickered behind the hands.

"Something like that. Just out of curiosity, why does it look like you're sitting on the floor?"

Anakin snorted softly. "Because I am. I'm supposed to be meditating while my Master and the High Council entertain the Chancellor, but that got boring about half an hour ago. So I sat here and started thinking about all the modifications I'd like to make to the incredibly slow Temple speeders, which seemed meditative enough to me. And I'm still in the position, so that has to count for something, right? And then I got this urge to call you that I couldn't resist no matter how hard I tried, so I did."

Padmè could only smile indulgently at his spew of speedy words; no other response seemed appropriate. "Well, if it's any consolation, you finally caught me at a good time."

"Really?"

"Really. I'm not in a meeting, or in the shower, or in the middle of getting dressed, or sleeping, or eating. Frankly, Ani, your timing was actually kind of perfect for once. And I even have a good ten minutes left while the girls play with my hair and face before I have to move."

Anakin blinked with wide eyes. "Whoa. I wish I could tell all of the Masters you said that. According to them, I have yet to show up on time for any of our lessons. I can't help it that the Temple is massive and I keep getting distracted by the cool stuff in it and I keep meeting new people who want to talk to me."

"Poor Ani. Things will get better, I'm sure."

"Yeah. I'll be old news eventually."

"Oh. Eirtaè is frowning at me. That means I need to keep my face still now. Why don't you tell me about your Initiate Trials while she finishes my makeup?"

Anakin literally lit up at the suggestion. "Sure!" He squiggled around a bit, crossing his legs the other way. "Well, first I had to recite the Jedi Code from memory, which was easy. And then I had to assemble my lightsabre with nothing but my mind, which was awesome. And I could sense how proud Master Kenobi was of me and how shocked the other Masters were that I could do that already – they thought Master Kenobi was insane when he requested that I take my Initiate Trials after less than a month of training - but he said I was ready, and I really wanted to be able to call myself a proper Padawan and not just a poser with special privileges, so he convinced them. And then…"

Anakin was so amusing and adorable as he talked animatedly about his Jedi accomplishments, Padmè had to keep reminding herself to keep her face still so that Eirtaè would stop growling at her. And the whole time, one thought niggled at the back of her mind:

I don't know how this little boy has wormed his way into my heart, but I don't regret it for one minute. His comm calls are honestly the best part of my day.