Saga A New Path to Follow (A/P, Padmé in the medical profession - full length fic) Completed Oct 17/06!

What an intense scene in the court room! Helkor got busted! But he knows about the relationship...damn that recording device! Looks like it's not quite over yet...

She turned, flipping the switch for her comm. unit and accepted the call. Anakin wouldn't be calling to cancel on her, would he? The face that resolved itself in the image was the last one she expected to see. "Chancellor!"

Uh oh, he's baaaack....


Ah, the dinner...

He was dressed in black pants, a hair shy of being indecently tight
Woah!

While he hadn't cooked -
He didn't cook??

Anakin chuckled. "The Masters found out I had offered to take you out for a celebratory dinner. As a Thank You, they made reservations and are covering the tab."
How generous of them

Wonderful, wonderful updates!

 

Awww what a wonderful romantic evening for both Anakin and Padme.. it almost makes me wish that Anakin wouldn't have told her about the press people who were at the restaurant. I hope things continue to be ok.. but I'm sure her little lunch with the Chancellor will through a loop into the mix.
Great job as always and I'm awaiting the next installment anxiously.

 

beatiful.
loved it.

 

THINGS WERE JUST STARTING TO LOOK UP FOR THEM AND THEN PALPY HAD TO SHOW UP!

 

my hunch?

well now i have two...and i'm not so sure anymore...

first i thought that the code Padme had used just changed automatically after a certain amount of hours...and now i think it had something to do with Palpatine and Helkor working together...

you have me curious no doubt.

loved the update, and thank god Helkor is finished...hopefully.

 

He reached down and placed his lightsaber on the table. "Padmé, meet my dancing partner." His eyes sparkled with mischief and dark humor. "The footwork on the dance floor is very similar to that of my training routines. It didn't take much to change it to suit leading a partner."



I LOVE Anakin!

I'm very glad that Helkor is now thankfully (and hopefully) gone forever. *sigh* But then Palpsy just had to show up... lovely.

Wonderful chapters!

 

leia_naberrie - *chuckle* One bad guy for another. But I?m not revealing Palpy?s hand just yet

Oh, and Lebo? was upset because he knew he?d lost. Yes, he has personal experience with Helkor's version of the Hippocratic oath, but at the same time, he?s a little... er... well, he doesn?t like to lose. Who does?

wondered how she could be so naive??

About what? The reporters? Or something even worse?

Both But I explain this next chapter. Mostly she just can?t believe that she was blind enough to think they weren?t being watched. That?s all.

Star_Angel ? The question is actually is it over for the moment, or will this all come back to haunt her at a future date? Lol, yes, Helkor was working for the Chancellor. It was a part of his over all plan ? but I?m not revealing that now ? that?s for another time

probably to get Anakin, and knowing Padmé?s influence on him (the movies), they would want her out of the picture. ? And you?d be right about that. Distracting Anakin from looking for Grievous and making him focus elsewhere could end up being disastrous for the Jedi. The Chancellor knows it hence the plot around Padmé. But then ? that?s only a part of his plan and all I?m going to reveal.

Glad you enjoyed it!

VaderLVR64 ? lol! You liked Anakin?s description, eh? *grin* And yes, things will only get more intense in the next chapter *evil grin*

naadi - *grin* thanks!

JediMasterRev ? The intensity is about to change gears ? glad you?re enjoying it!

star_writer24 - *chuckle* yes, the council is footing the bill - surprise, surprise, they do something nice occasionally

VA_Parky - *laughs* with the story completed and sitting on my hard drive, I update more frequently to get it all posted I?m thrilled you?ve been enjoying it to celebrate Helkor?s comeuppance lol!

*blush* Such flattery about my mush sequences *sighs* My ego?s too big for its own good And rocky road ahead? *evil grin* perhaps, perhaps...

Queen-of-Naboo - *chuckle* Excited? That?s the nicest thing an author can hear about their story. Thanks for reading! I?m glad you?re enjoying it!

randomangel22 ? lol! You liked Anakin?s description did you?

DragonLotus ? Yup, Helkor got busted ? but the recording device doesn?t come into play again ? at least, not in this story... *innocent smile*

And no, Anakin didn?t cook lol, he had an offer he couldn?t refuse (read that as: He was given orders) and will have to cook next time

FitJedi ? Glad you enjoyed it! I debated having Anakin keep the story about the press to himself, but it leads into the next post ? so I promise it had a meaning

Tatooine_Ghost ? Thank you!

Handmaiden_Azul ? One down, one to go. Things are interesting from here...

anakin_luver - *laughs* Palpatine and Helkor were working together, I?ll admit to that much. But Padmé?s changes to Mace?s mixture are changed daily so that the mix adjusts to his needs ? so having it timed wouldn?t help anything.

Idrelle_Miocovani - *grin* thanks. I couldn?t resist having something in there about his lightsaber being his partner




Thanks for reading everyone ? we?re almost finished!

Posts to follow

 

Chapter 26

Anakin escorted her home without incident and without signs of pursuit. The story that he was taking her to dinner courtesy of the Jedi Council had been accepted once they had found out why.

Padmé invited Anakin in for a few moments when they arrived back at her place. His hesitation was obvious, but he did follow her in and for that she was grateful. They needed to talk. As magical as the night had been, they needed to make some tough decisions about their future together.

He settled on the couch as she started a pot of caf in the kitchenette. She let him wait for the two minutes it took the caf to heat and then pours it into two mugs, bringing them into the main room. Anakin made to get up as she placed the mug in front of him. "No reason for ceremony, Anakin."

He settled back, taking his mug in one hand but not sipping the contents. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight, Padmé?"

She nodded, sitting beside him. "Very much. Thank you for a lovely evening."

"My pleasure." He brought her free hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. "I still owe you one more."

She left her hand in his, enjoying his touch. "I'll hold you to that, you know."

"I hope so. You look beautiful this evening, have I mentioning that yet?"

"A dozen times Anakin."

"Well, it bears repeating." He grinned. "I promise the next dinner will be more private than tonight too. No holo reporters, no audience. Just you and me and our meal."

She arched her eyebrows. "I'm not that naive Anakin."

His smile was unabashed. "Good. Then you won't be surprised when I say the meal won't only be food."

"You're incorrigible." She squeezed his fingers. "I really did have a lot of fun tonight."

"Until I mentioned those damn reporters." He sighed. "I'm sorry, but I felt you should know why we couldn't indulge. I was expecting them; just not that many."

"They follow you a lot?"

"The Hero with no Fear?" The dryness in his tone indicated he didn't really approve or appreciate the title. "Of course. I'm the Jedi PR stunt of the war; I make them look good."

She laughed softly. "It could be worse and you could actually enjoy the attention."

"Only when I deserve it. You're the real Hero, you know. Without you, I wouldn't be around, Master Windu would have died, we'd have lost ten times as many Jedi and the order would be in chaos."

She blushed. "You're just saying that."

"Never." He slid closer, his eyes sparkling with an emotion she couldn't read. "You really are a Hero Padmé. The younglings tell stories about this brave, beautiful Doctor who rushed in, at great danger to herself, to save the 'Hero with no Fear' and 'the Negotiator'."

"Negotiator?" She paused. "Obi-Wan?"

Anakin chuckled. "Hard to believe, isn't it? He's actually not bad at it; far more patient than I'll ever be."

"I think you're teasing me again."

His grin was unrepentant. "Maybe a little, but only because I wanted to see you smile."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Jedi."

He placed a hand over his head. "And she wounds me! Is there a Doctor in the house, I think she just broke my heart!"

She laughed, pushing him back on the couch. "You'll live, you rat."

He grinned, catching himself with one outstretched hand. "Maybe, but only with lots of tender loving care."

"Hmm." She knew her own eyes were glittering with amusement but couldn't help it; he really was too cute. "That's a prescription I think I can fill."

Anakin's embrace was tender as she slid next to him, his hand warm and electric against the bare flesh of her back. His eyes closed partially, darkening once more as he regarded her. Slowly, with little pressure, he pulled her forward, meeting her halfway.

Their lips met softly, and she sighed, feeling the restraint in his kiss. He was holding himself back, carefully controlled. He leaned into her, but kept the kiss light as he brought his other arm around her, one hand sliding under her knees. With a smooth movement she was in his lap, her

 

Epilogue

Padmé?s dinner the following evening with Palpatine was a casually-formal affair in which Anakin had somehow managed to be present. While she and the Chancellor discussed her future plans in medicine as well as the outcome of the trial, neither Anakin nor Padmé spoke of their personal plans. Secret was just that. Not even the Chancellor would be allowed to know. It wasn?t that they didn?t trust him; it was that they couldn?t afford to let anyone know.

The Chancellor was a delight to have dinner with and over the course of the next few months; it became a habit for both her and Anakin to dine with him. They didn?t discuss politics, but the new policies emerging from the Medical Syndicate after her trial and the breaks that had eventually won her freedom.

Between it all, Padmé and Anakin arranged a discreet Justice through the father of a patient of hers. He was sworn to secrecy, and glad of it, for he stated no one would have believed him anyway. He asked for only one thing in return for performing the ceremony in lieu of payment.

Anakin's autograph.

Anakin obliged, and they were married in her apartment with no witnesses. It was a small ceremony, an exchange of vows and the signing of official, sealed documents that were password protected and encrypted to prevent anyone gaining access.

Padmé kept one copy, placing it with her confidential files. Anakin kept the other, the datarod eventually going with him to every place he was sent over the next five years searched for the droid general who had escaped their grasp on Coruscant.

Padmé was assigned permanently by the tribunal to the Jedi Temple as the Chief Medical Officer. She spent the better part of her next year doing rehabilitation with Master Windu. As an older patient he required a more restrained re-introduction to using his limbs. Stubborn, he over strained himself many times and Padmé sent him back to the bacta tanks almost monthly to recover from whatever injury he'd inflicted by trying too hard. For a Master, he had little patience.

Eventually, through Padmé's stubbornness and Master Windu's determination, they got him back on his feet and he resumed his duties just after the one year anniversary of his injury. Master Windu, thanks to her expert care, was now one of Padmé's staunchest supporters and he assisted in pitching several controversial treatments - successfully - to the Jedi Council and Medical Tribunals. Treatments that advanced and enhanced her care of the Jedi who were critically wounded over the next several years.

It was never discovered how Helkor had obtained the data recorder that had been implanted in Anakin's neck or who had changed the mixture of Mace's bacta. Padmé went to see Helkor once, discreetly, to see if he would speak to her, but the Twi'lek simply wanted to know how she enjoyed being the Jedi's whore. She brushed off the comment, simply smiled that secret smile and asked how he enjoyed being the prison's equivalent.

Their discussion hadn't ended well and she'd left without any useful information.

Anakin and Padmé's marriage was a carefully maintained secret, disguised as a close friendship. It wasn't difficult for them to make time together, and in certain instances, despite Obi-Wan's vocal objections, they were even paired in the later years on missions together, with Anakin as her escort.

It was after one of these missions, with Anakin having just been dispatched with Obi-Wan to chase down a rumored sighting of General Grievous, when Padmé first suspected, and then confirmed, that she was carrying Anakin's child...


But that, my friends, is another tale for another day.

Fin


Author's Note: *gasp, I went and finished it. Whoops!

Thanks for reading everyone, this was a real blast to write and I can't believe it's over! I've an idea for a short story sequel (as you can probably tell lol!) but we'll see if my muse takes to it or not. Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Jade_Max

 

The Chancellor was a delight to have dinner with and over the course of the next few months; it became a habit for both her and Anakin to dine with him.

One word: "Uh-oh."



He asked for only one thing in return for performing the ceremony in lieu of payment.

Anakin's autograph.




Padmé went to see Helkor once, discreetly, to see if he would speak to her, but the Twi'lek simply wanted to know how she enjoyed being the Jedi's whore. She brushed off the comment, simply smiled that secret smile and asked how he enjoyed being the prison's equivalent.


OUCH!



And it's over.

Yes, I definitely enjoyed reading this. Thank you so much for writing and sharing and most importantly, finishing. I'm torn between the temptation of a sequel and holding you to your promise to write "The Little Ones Are Worth Saving" (he he... I'm an elephant when it comes to good stories. I never forget! )

But until then:

Roses for the author:

 

*sets out a variety of treats for Jade_Max's muse*

Come on, you know you're tempted by that plot bunny. It's just a wee short story... Pretty, pretty, pretty please? With a cherry on top?

WOW!! What a lovely conclusion to an absolutely WONDERFUL tale! I enjoyed every single chapter so much, I can't even tell you. The romance, the angst, the mystery - it was all perfectly balanced around a plot that was so original it hooked me from the very first line!

Very, very well done! And on the off-chance that my bribes did work, could I ask to be on your PM list for the sequel? You know I will be there with bells on!! I may even do a cartwheel.... seriously!

Great job! Thank you (x's 100000000000000) for such an enjoyable story! Your talent is off the charts!

*happy sigh*

 

What a wonderful ending to a lovely story!


"Until I mentioned those damn reporters." He sighed. "I'm sorry, but I felt you should know why we couldn't indulge. I was expecting them; just not that many."

"They follow you a lot?"

"The Hero with no Fear?" The dryness in his tone indicated he didn't really approve or appreciate the title. "Of course. I'm the Jedi PR stunt of the war; I make them look good."

She laughed softly. "It could be worse and you could actually enjoy the attention."

"Only when I deserve it. You're the real Hero, you know. Without you, I wouldn't be around, Master Windu would have died, we'd have lost ten times as many Jedi and the order would be in chaos."

She blushed. "You're just saying that."

"Never." He slid closer, his eyes sparkling with an emotion she couldn't read. "You really are a Hero Padmé. The younglings tell stories about this brave, beautiful Doctor who rushed in, at great danger to herself, to save the 'Hero with no Fear' and 'the Negotiator'."

 

Awww this wonderful fic is over.. so well written and full of surprises around every bend. Great job, and please pm me if you write the next half of that story.

 

Ack! Its over?
That was so great.
Pretty pretty please, write the next part.
And Pm me when you do.
Wonderful job Jade_Max!!!

 

They got married, I loved it , well, I loved this whole thing and it was a fantastic ending .

For a Master, he had little patience.

Well, yeah .

And she was pregnant in the end .

Oh, not to sound greedy but I want to read more.

Well, anyway, thanks for the pm.

 

AAwww I can't believe it's over!
This was such a wonderufl story! It had awsome plot points and didn't drag on for too long with angsty stuff. This was definately one of my favorite fan fictions.
Great job! and I'll look forward to your sequel if that happens.

~Tally

 

Ahh this was a beautiful ending to such a beautiful story !!!

I must say this was one of my fav stories and I would look forward to reading it but I'm sad that its over .

Great job and I hope that you'll write a sequel because I know everyone would love to read it!!

 

I cant wait for the sequel!!!
AHM

 

AWWWW such a beautiful ending.i want a sequel pwetty pleasee???????

 

Awesome ending, Jade_Max. It definitely begs for a sequel, so hopefully, you'll write one eventually.

 

loved it.
Perfect.
if there is a sequal could you please add me to you pm list?

 

Oh, this is wonderful! *sighs* I enjoyed reading it immensely! I have just one word to say, though..... SEQUEL!!!!!!!!!

 

That's the end??

Oh, you absolutely MUST do a sequel!

Between it all, Padmé and Anakin arranged a discreet Justice through the father of a patient of hers. He was sworn to secrecy, and glad of it, for he stated no one would have believed him anyway. He asked for only one thing in return for performing the ceremony in lieu of payment.

Anakin's autograph.



The Chancellor was a delight to have dinner with and over the course of the next few months; it became a habit for both her and Anakin to dine with him.

This doesn't sound good....

And the mystery of the recording device and Mace's bacta mixture remains unsolved....

Anyway, thanks for writing and sharing such a wonderful story, one that I always look forward to whenever it's updated. Again, SEQUEL!! Oh, and do please PM me when it's up.

 

*Applauds*

That was such a sweet story. I hope you do a sequel.