It's not the first time he's had this thought, but looking at Padmé, laughing on the balcony of her apartment, Nubian silk dress gleaming in the Coruscant moonlight, Anakin finds himself thinking she deserves better than me.

He feels dizzy as he remembers Tatooine, remembers fear choking back his words while one of Gardulla's men twisted his wrist, remembers the smell of burnt flesh in the air as he left the Tusken village with a heavy weight in his arms.

But when she frowns, puts down her glass and asks him what's wrong, all he says is "I'm so lucky to have you"—and her gentle smile lights up the night.