Thank goodness Anakin never accepted the invitation, or this little vacation would be proceeding quite differently. Padmé had welcomed the regular break from Senate meetings, the list of committees she was now seated on having grown immensely in the past few months, and it had been easy to disguise her visit to the resort planet as one for pure rest and relaxation after a stressful political season. Only Cordé knew the truth, her one confidant in her entire entourage, and the person who helped her keep these rendezvous from being noticed by the wrong people.

"Somehow, I can't quite bring myself to care," she returns softly, turning to face the man beside her with a contented sigh. She hasn't felt this relaxed and at peace in weeks, everything warm and soft -- just like his beard. Lifting a hand, she trails her fingers along those auburn whiskers that tickled her skin in the best way. "Do you?"