CHAPTER THREE.

Phoenix stood in the bedroom of her Senate living quarter, staring at the selection of heels she had brought with her. After a nap, she had put the blue dress on and was debating what would look the best and most regal. She heard the door to the quarters open and close which meant Jax had returned just when he said he would. 

A smile spread across her face as she placed one of the choices of heels down and opened the bedroom door to see him walking across the way. He had a small victorious smile on his face and she knew that must have been a good thing. He must have made a good deal and she could feel the pride blooming across her chest.

But before she could congratulate him, she was brought to a halt. Her eyes trailed up and down his body. He was wearing a dashing blue tuxedo with a white shirt and black and red tie. He looked handsome. But even with that belief, the thought niggled in the back of her head. She knew nothing about love and attraction. The only person she'd ever truly loved was a boy. A Padawan with a charming smile and cheeky words. A smile spread across his face when he took her in with the dress on.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as he walked over to her. She stepped back and allowed him through the door. Once he was through, he closed the door behind them both and turned to her. He took her hands, intertwining their fingers as he waited for her response.

Phoenix was still a little stunned but she eventually got her wits about her again, "I just didn't expect you to look so handsome," She admitted with a soft chuckle as she moved her hands to rest on his jacket, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles. It probably was not the right way to express what she was thinking, but it was all her jumbled brain could get out. Her eyes met his, and his smile widened.

"Are you ready, love?" He asked as he allowed her to move away. He stayed where he was, comfortable and content as he leant against the door. Phoenix nodded. She grabbed the matching heels from the floor, making the hasty decision now that he was back. Nobody was really going to see her heels, so why did it matter? In reality, It didn't. She was simply being a perfectonist.

So once she slipped on her heels and collected her clutch and shawl, she followed after him back into the living space. He wrapped the shawl around her shoulders before they walked out together. The pair walked through the Senate building, the perfect couple. The perfect display of a successful Senator and business-man. Phoenix felt the eyes on them as they walked through to the hovercar that waited.

She had to admit, she loved the attention. Most of the time she just felt like one person in the crowd that really didn't hold much significance no matter how much she tried to change the world. But in brief moments like this as they went to meet the hover car in the front of the building, she felt significant. A feeling that gave her just that extra boost of confidence. It meant she could get lost in the fantasy that she really was in love with Jax and her conflict was no longer there. She had found the man that she wanted to be with and she was content. That was the fantasy she had quickly found herself in.

The pair reached the front of the building and Phoenix was practically blinded by the bright lights of Coruscant. They were shielded by the hover car though. Jax made sure that her dress didn't get caught as they sat down. The two smiled at each other as he intertwined his fingers with hers. The time they spent together felt wonderful as they were led away from the Senate living quarters and were instead heading towards the richer area of Coruscant. Away from politics and towards the affluence and wealth that seemed to be in abundance.

Phoenix stared out the window the whole ride, sitting in the comfortable silence. Jax's hand held hers as he watched her, admiring her features and the way the setting-sun lit up her face and made her look like an angel. Phoenix let her eyes wander along the buildings. The architecture was nearly as extravagant as the outfits the rich wore and even though she didn't like the amount of money that they wasted on the buildings, she had to admit that they were gorgeous.

The hover car began to slow and came to a halt outside a restaurant in one of the wealthier districts. The sun had now set and the street lamps left the street glowing a soft yellow. Something that didn't look good on pictures but looked wonderful in person. Making everyone seem just that little bit more angelic.

Phoenix and Jax left the hover car once they had paid the driver. The smile spread across Phoenix's face as she admired the building in front of her. It was grand and towered above her. Foliage hung down from the window planters and a soft glow coming from the door along with a gust of warm air when the attendant opened it. It was inviting and warm and it pulled Phoenix in.

Considering she had been a Senator for the past two years and had spent quite a lot of her time on Coruscant, she had never been close to this neighbourhood. It was not really her scene and Padme had shown her a wonderful fast-food place that she was sure she would prefer over any fancy restaurant. But the luxury of it made her feel rich and like some sort of celebrity even if she was only a Senator. A senator who worked hard to get to the position she was. Not a Senator who bought their way to that position.

"Follow me, Mr Lara," An attendant said. Pulling Phoenix's attention from the perfectly decorated room. The walls were white with golden details of flowers and vines. Jax pulled Phoenix along, reminding her not to gape too much. Phoenix chuckled at his teasing and nudged him. He smiled back, his lips quirking with a mischievous glint in his eyes before they were led through the grand main room.

 The restaurant abuzz with people from just about every species, race and planet. They were all wearing elaborate (and ridiculous) clothes while they wined and dined. In the polite fashion that all upper class individuals thought made them look the best but Phoenix thought it made them look silly. She knew she had to adapt it if she wanted to be respected in the world she now lived in though which is why she kept much of those thoughts to herself.

As they walked through the main room, they came to a large spiralling gold staircase. It hugged the balconies that were the upper floors closely due to the large chandelier that was hanging in the middle. The chandelier shining in the soft light of the restaurant, the light reflected and refracted which only added to the dazzling effects of the restaurant. Phoenix admired it in awe as they walked up the stairs. The attendant guided them to their table which was on the third floor and close to a large window. Giving them a perfect view of the city around. A table she knew Jax had chose for Phoenix specifically.

Jax pulled Phoenix's chair out for her and she sat down, pulling herself in. Jax sitting on his own side as they were passed menus that Phoenix thought looked far too expensive for her to be touching. She was a Senator but it still felt wrong touching something so pretty and pristine. Opening the menu, she looked over it. Neglecting to look at the amount of credits the dishes cost in case she fainted. Jax was watching her over his menu and half expected her to say something but to his surprise, she was silent and surveyed. Simply looking before deciding to make any sort of comment on the grandeur of the restaurant he had brought her to.

"I'll be paying for dinner so don't worry about how much it costs," Jax said after a moment of the two sitting in silence and surveying the menu. Phoenix looked at him and gently shook her head, closing the menu and placing it down so she could look at him properly. Her head tilted slightly as she pursed her lips. Though she understood that she was the woman and he always believed he had to pay, she didn't want that. Not for this restaurant or any for that matter.

"I can't ask you to do that. This is... expensive," Phoenix said, feeling like her choice of words were not the most accurate considering the situation at hand. This wasn't just expensive, this was ridiculously expensive. Why was it even this expensive? It felt ridiculous but she wasn't really going to complain. If she was going to get something exquisite then how could she?

"I'm aware, love, but I invited you out so now I'm going to pay for it. I'm going to be your husband come the spring after all," Jax reminded her and she relented, nodding her head and allowing him the satisfaction just this once. Phoenix had already decided on what she was going to order and was instead just watching Jax. His freckled features showing his concentration as he debated in his head what dish to have.

"It's strange to think that it's only in the spring now," Phoenix muttered. The feeling of anxiety promptly began to churn in her stomach. She should have been happy about the marriage but she wasn't. It was so close now winter on Mith was fast approaching it's end. Only a few months until spring returned once again. The wedding had been arranged but just the thought of it made her anxious. Was it nerves or was she not ready? Why was she so unsure about marrying him, she wanted this. She had accepted this engagement. The ring on her finger proved it and yet, she was never truly sure.

"I'm glad it is. It'll be lovely to spend the rest of my life with you," Jax smiled. The smile was dashing and charming and made the anxieties that Phoenix felt melt away for a brief fleeting moment. He would be a good husband. She didn't understand why she was so worried about it. They loved each other, it would all turn out fine in the end. That's what Phoenix told herself because she knew she had to.

"I can't wait to either. We can finally get that house in the countryside," Phoenix smiled. Remembering when they had gone to see it together. It was far out away from the metropolis of Mith's capital city. It was away in the middle of fields that were only inhabited by the natural wildlife. Owned by farmers who kept animals in the fields and planted wildflowers to keep the natural ecosystem.

It would be a beautiful home where they could settle down or just go for some time away from the city life as a Senator. Phoenix already knew which room she was going to take for painting and what she would paint. The ideas planned out in her head but when she saw his smile fall just a little, her heart sank. She already knew how their life would pan out but he seemed almost disappointed by the prospect. But before Phoenix could say anything, the waitress came over and spoke to them. She took their order and gave Jax a slightly flirtatious smile which Jax thankfully did not return.

Phoenix was not usually a jealous woman and she wasn't even sure of her feelings so she didn't know why she would be bothered. So, she just tried to put it to one side as they began to talk again. The topics thankfully swayed from their marriage and instead turned to her duties in the Senate among other things. Phoenix was happy and  glad to have some time away from her hectic life. To just sit and talk and be. The day had been spent going from place to place and arguing, just talking felt better. It felt different. She felt listened to.

"I have something I'd like to give you," Jax said just as the waitress walked off with the order of their deserts. Phoenix was confused and she looked at him, tilting her head to the side as she cocked an eyebrow. He smiled softly and procured a box from beneath the table. Her eyebrows only furrowed more. 

He then passed the box over to her and she hesitantly took it. Her heart thumped against her ribcage as she looked into his eyes, looking for some sort of clue. There was nothing so she just looked down at the box. Placing it on the table before she pulled on the ribbon. It fell lose and then she gently took the lid off it.

The removal revealed a beautiful necklace. Simple but elegant and gorgeous. It was a simple gold chain with a phoenix silhouette attached. It was gorgeous, clearly hand-crafted and she just couldn't stop smiling as her thumb ran along the phoenix. Nobody had ever given her something this thoughtful, well maybe her father but nevertheless. The phoenix was made of crystal, red, orange and yellow crystal melting into each other to create a gorgeous fire effect. Phoenix adored it.

"Thank you, Jax. I love it, it's so beautiful," Phoenix said, smiling wider as she admired it. Taking it out of the case she looked at him, beaming and he was smiling right back at her. He then stood up and walked over to her. Unsure what to expect, she watched and he held a hand out for the necklace.

"Let me put it on for you, love," He said as he picked it up from her hold. He then put it on, Gently pushing the hair to one side so he could clip it on. Once he had, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple before he moved back to his seat. His smile widened as he saw it on her, "You look beautiful." There was a grin on his face, adoration in his eyes. Phoenix couldn't help but grin back. She adjusted her hair back into place before they went back to talking. Jax asked about her father and how he is doing and the conversation continued like normal.

The dinner ended with their desert before they paid and were led out by one of the attendants. Jax had done his best to hide the cost of the bill but Phoenix had snook a look and it was a lot of credits. She would never understand how he was so willing to splash them around but he was born into money so really he knew nothing different.

The incredibly expensive wine they got also seemed to have done it's job and as they walked out, she was giggling and being supported by Jax. A little tipsy even though she knew she still had things to do with the Senate before she slept. They were not gonna happen now but Phoenix didn't care. Too happy to even think about the Senate duties in the morning.

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NOTE; chapter three down! so this chapter is definitely more about establishment of phoenix and jax's relationship. this fic has quite a bit of time spent on trying to build up phoenix independent of the romance with obi-wan since it's just important for stories generally. so yeah, obi-wan doesn't come in for a good few chapters but he will be here soon! and i hope y'all stick around for that!