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One: Regrets

Padme Amidala Skywalker sat in her wicker balcony chair overlooking the lake on Naboo. The sun was setting and the deep reds and golds danced on the silky surface of the water. But Padme paid no attention to the beauty of her surroundings. Her deep brown eyes were filled with tears, which fell like diamonds onto her coiled, chocolate hair. Her hands rested on her stomach. Her swollen stomach that carried a child she wasn't sure she even wanted. She didn't know how she was going to love it after all the misery it had caused her. Her heart was filled with guilt and pain. It reached out desperately to her one true love, Anakin. She sighed and sobbed quietly, Anakin, how could she have done this? A voice interrupted her thoughts. Her handmaiden Sache appeared at the door. " Milady? It's getting cold and supper is ready". Padme sniffed, " I'm not hungry Sache". Sache hovered in the doorway and placed a hand on Padme's shoulder, " Milady, I know you're scared but a child is a blessing, believe me. You will love your child". Padme held Sache's cool hand in her's for a moment, " Oh Sache. It's a girl I think. Anakin thinks it's a girl. He even chose a name, Leia. Isn't it beautiful?" Padme murmured. Padme sighed again, " I'm going to sit here a little longer Sache". As Sache shuffled back into the house Padme sat back with her tan brown hands resting on her mound of a stomach and remembered back on how she had come to this.

Padme sat anxiously in her Coruscant apartment that she shared with her Jedi husband Anakin Skywalker. Of course that was a secret and no one knew but her, Anakin and their best friend Obi-Wan Kenobi whom Padme had confided in. She drummed her fingers on the table as the droid C-3PO bumbled about in the background muttering about Master Ani's return. The front door slid open and Padme's eyes lit up as Obi-Wan entered. She smiled a blinding smile, " You're back! But where's Ani?" Obi-Wan smiled a greeting but his eyes were grim, " Padme I'm afraid Anakin has been assigned to another mission on his own. He won't be home for another few months. He only found out this morning, I'm sorry". Padme's fleshy, pink lower lip quivered, " But he's been gone for months, I, I just . . .". As Padme's tears began to fall Obi-Wan quickly said, " Threepio, Artoo, could you leave me and Senator Amidala alone for a while? We need to talk" C-3PO and R2-D2 left the room to shut down. Obi-Wan smiled grimly, " Droids, they don't understand human emotion." He sat down beside Padme and held her gently, " It's ok Padme just let it out". Padme buried her face in his robes and sobbed " I just miss him so much Obi-Wan. I just want him here, to be able to touch him, kiss him, tell him how much I love him . . ." Obi-Wan breathed in the smell of her hair and sighed. He loved her so much. He always had and always would. It all started years ago when he thought she was a mere teenage handmaiden. Even then her strength and courage had fascinated him. All through her years as Queen and Senator he had watched and admired her. Before he even thought about it he lifted her chin and brought his face towards hers. Their lips met and were bound together for several blissful seconds until Padme broke away. Obi-Wan blushed and squirmed, " I, I'm so sorry Padme", Padme smiled, " It's okay, you just surprised me". Padme didn't know what she was feeling, it wasn't love. She didn't love Obi-Wan but the kiss was interesting. She had only ever kissed one man. Obi-Wan tasted different to Anakin, softer and more gentle. She wanted him then, wanted somebody who loved her. Obi-Wan straightened and was about to get up when she stopped him. She lay her arm on his, " Stay, please stay", "Are you sure?", " Yes". She kissed him hungrily and passionately and gave sighs of pleasure as he planted kisses on her neck and chest. She held him to her closely as if she couldn't bear to let him go. She wanted him badly and when his hands came down to undo her robes she didn't resist. That was when the betrayal began.