Chapter 1:

I'm sorry, Padme. I am so sorry.

One moment I was standing on my balcony thinking of Anakin and how I needed to know the truth about what Obi-Wan had said, and the next I open my eyes and have no idea of where I am.

Where am I? I can't see anything but darkness. Only the loud sound of silence can be heard around me.

I take a deep breath and it is as if I have never taken in such wonderful air. A floral scent flows around me. I catch the hint of Rue and Jasmine.

I try to sit up but knock my head on something hard just above me. With my hands, I reach out and feel a small chain slide out of my fingers and onto my chest before touching something cold and hard before me. As I move my hands a bit more, I realize that it doesn't end in front of me but is also on both sides.

What have I gotten myself into?

"Anakin?" I call out but the sound is deadened by the object around me. He must be looking for me. Something inside of me confirms he's near or has been? My mind is clouded. I need to get out of this.

I call out again, "Anakin - help!" Nothing. Not a sound can be heard from the other side of this wall. Or is it a wall? I feel my enclosure once more and realize the dimensions are not much wider than my body. My mind quickly comes to a realization.

Is it a tomb? I can't be in a tomb! I'm alive… why would I be in a tomb?

Breath catching as I take in the thought, I run my hands down my chest to assure my children that everything is okay. My hands come to where they should be and stop. Where my abdomen should be swollen and hard, I feel only soft and empty.

My babies...

As my heart stops, painful tears flow down my cheeks, soaking my hair and pool in and around my ears. Sorrow hits me like waves of bricks attacking my chest and no matter how much I try, all I can do is lie still and hold myself as it happens. Around me, on the other side of this stone box, I can hear glass shattering, but I see nothing but the dark.

Luke. Leia. From the moment their hearts began to beat, I knew there were two. I felt them move and grow every day they were inside of me. Then there came the day when foods began to levitate around me, letting me know we were hungry. I knew they were strong with the force and would grow to be just as skilled as their father. I never told him there were two…and now?

Tears continue to pour from my soul and my heart breaks into even more pieces.

How did this happen? How did I get here? Where is Anakin? Where are my twins?

A second emotion flows through my veins like blades cutting through to my soul, and it frightens me. Anger. How could he allow this to happen? Why would Anakin let me be put in this box or for our children to be without their mother?

No, I can't think this way! I know Ani, he would not have done this. He would do anything for me - for us

In an attempt to calm myself, I take a painful but deep slow breath.

Padme. I hear Anakin's voice.

"Ani!" I say aloud.

Push, Padme. You have to push. His voice sounds distant but calm and certain.

"What do you mean push?" I say pushing at the stone above me. "It's too heavy, I can't," I sob. "Where are you?"

Quiet your mind and feel the stone with more than just your hands. When you are ready, push with both your hands and your mind. Visualize it sliding to your right.

Jedi and their Force! He knows I am no Jedi and yet he's instructing me on how to use the force to get out of this mess. How I wish he were here to do it for me. Where are you, Ani?

Padme. You must do this on your own. His voice is irritated.

I recognize that undertone and press my hands against the stone and take in another breath. This time, I try to picture the stone and feel my hands as they take on its weight. With my mind, I think… I push out at the stone and visualize lifting it.

That's my Angel. Now push it to the right. I hear him instruct.

Closing my eyes, I push with all the strength still in my body and mind. To my amazement, I hear the stone slide over the sidewalls and with what seems like ease. I'm doing it!

When I open my eyes, light peers in through a beautiful stained glass window above me. I am in awe at the magnificence in which they have painted me. My eyes wince at first but soon become adjusted. The hair, the eyes, everything in this stained portrait was perfect.

Sitting up, I am made to feel every inch of my body scream. White flowers fall from my hair and onto the dark blue dress I'm wearing. The fabric is rich and embroidered. The bodice of the dress has extra padding in the region where my babies ought to be but aren't. Whoever put me here wanted me to look pregnant - why?

In my lap, lay the japor snippet Ani had gifted to me before the Battle of Naboo. How long ago that seems now. He was just an innocent boy then and I a young and naive Queen. If only I had foreseen how things would end up with the Senate and the Republic. I could have put an end to the Chancellor's control before it had ever started. Perhaps I could have even ended his creepy friendship with my husband.

I fastened the trinket around my neck and with both hands on the side of the vault, I lifted myself up and crawled out. The whole room was empty except for small vases which lay shattered on the ground with fresh water and flowers scattered among them.

That must be what I heard from the inside.

I test out my balance, taking a few steps, and then head for the door. But where do I go now? If everyone thinks I'm dead, then certainly they won't be waiting around for me. Anakin, I must find Anakin.

Opening the door, I find my tomb heavily guarded and it doesn't take me but a moment to catch the eye of one of the dark-clad men standing watch.

"Hey! You!" he calls after me. "What are you doing in there?"

I wait for him to come to me.

"You can't be in…" He stops and gasps. "Senator Amidala!"

With my finger to my lips, I hush him.

"But you were dead. I saw you! I was there when we sealed the vault." The guard's eyes are wide and his voice frantic.

"It doesn't make any sense to me either. Just help me, please!" I plead before falling into his arms.

"Yes, Milady!" he replies. "My name is Leuven and I'll take care of you. Sol! Caevic! Come here and help!"

Two more men show up at my side and are picking me up before I can say anything more. I heard them bicker back and forth about how it is that I'm alive and I allow it. My strength for the day has been used up and telling them to stop would cause more pain than not. Crying was even too much and so the riverbeds of my tears had finally started to dry. I just wanted to go home.

"Senator, we are taking you to see Queen Jamillia. She will know what to do from there." Leuven explains.

Queen Jamilla. Yes, she will know what to do. Young, but smart. The people were wise to vote her in instead of the other girl. Like me, she puts our people first, but unlike me, she trusts others far too easily and is not as willing to get her hands dirty when necessary. The end of my reign came a little quicker than many wanted due in part to the fact that I would not allow the people to ratify the constitution to keep me for a third term and also because of my involvement with the Jedi and the Clone Wars. I could have potentially served another term but my protection was too hard for the guards to keep up with and I wouldn't be held back when I knew I was more help on the front lines than back in the palace. Transitioning to Senator was a bit more liberating for me. It gave me the freedom to travel and get more hands-on in situations. Anakin jokingly acknowledged our involvement together in the Clone Wars as times of, "aggressive negotiations".

"Captain Leuven, what is the meaning of this?" a familiar voice says coming from the shadows. The voice belongs to Sio Bibble, who approaches me as if coming upon an injured Gualama. His expression is first covered with astonishment and disgust which is then eased into care and kindness.

"Senator Amidala - how is this so?" he asks.

Still, in the arms of the guards, I reach for Sio's hand and hold it tight. "I don't know what has happened or how I got here, but I need your help figuring it out."

"I thought you were dead." He replies. "Captain, bring her into the parlor and let her rest so we can talk."

Leuven set me gently on the couch and then stood back with the others. Sio disappeared into the hall as I assumed he was going to wake the place with his discovery of my living status.

The parlor of the palace is just as beautiful as I remember it, even in the new turquoise and gold color scheme that replaced my choice of navy and silver. Living the life of luxury was definitely a perk of being the Queen, but it never really meant anything to me. I had moved around so much throughout my time as Queen that the palace was merely a place that people thought I lived - one of the biggest deceptions of the job. With my family or Anakin is where I felt most relaxed and at home.

"It is true!" Queen Jamillia sighs as she enters the room followed by Sio. She rushes to my side and takes my hands into hers. "How is this real? You were dead to us all. I presided over your funeral. Everyone was there, including your -"

"Parents," Sio says cutting her off. His expression is concerned. "We need to inform them and Obi-Wan. They will all want to know."

"Obi-Wan, " I repeat the name. "And Anakin, please tell them both. I really want to better understand what happened."

"You don't remember any of it?" A sweet familiar voice asks. My former handmaid and best friend, Dorme strides in and sits on my other side. "Padme," she embraces me.

"Dorme!" I lean into her. Finally, someone who feels like home. Repositioning myself, I begin to take in all around me. The relieved voices of my friends that I'm alive is assuring, but the silence in their speech speaks volumes. What aren't they telling me? Why is everyone dancing around the issues of my supposed death?

Unable to take it any longer, I finally ask, "Will one of you please tell me what happened?"

Dorme asks, "What is it that you last remember?"

My head hurts trying to think back. "I was standing on the balcony of my living quarters in the city after having just spoken to Obi-Wan. I was angry and wanted to find Anakin" I explain. "After that, it gets fuzzy and then nothing, but I was pregnant before that and now I'm not. I need to know what happened to me and what happened to my babies."

My hands cradle my belly as if they are still with me. Tears well up in my eyes though I fight them back. I can't do this here. Not again, not now.

Sio Bibble stands up and moves toward the hall once more. "I'll contact Obi-Wan and let him know of your return. He will want to know and will have more of the answers you seek." He then disappears from my sight.

Queen Jamillia stands up motioning to several servants and guards around the room, "You must be tired. Let's get you a chamber made up and then we'll figure this out tomorrow."

Dorme and Leuven help me up and toward the hall.

I turn to my friend. "Dorme, please…" I beg. "Just tell me."

Her already fragile face gets even softer and I can sense the deep hurt in her. She wants to tell me but knows whatever it is will upset me further. "We'll talk once I get you to your room and cleaned up. I too think that it would be best to have Obi-Wan here."

Why Obi-Wan? Why not Anakin? Anakin, where are you?

Padme. I hear his voice again. Looking around, I don't see him. All in good time, my love.

"Okay, Ani." I say softly.

"What was that?" asks my friend.

I lean on her a bit more, "Nothing. I suppose you're right. I need to get rested and cleaned up. Then we can figure this out."

They both refuse to leave me be, so I allow Dorme and Leuven to help me to my room and then settled in - as if death wasn't enough rest.