Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Also, thank you to for the favorites and followers.

As always, thank you to my beta, The Kinetic Violinist! I know this was a very long chapter.

Again, very long chapter. Probably one of the longest chapters I've ever done.

Now, time for Darred and Sola, and even a surprise or two.

Chapter Four

Is Love Enough?

The following afternoon

Sola Naberrie was already home. Her head She lifted her startled head up as the front door SLAMMED shut.

Her husband rounded the corner and stalked into the kitchen.

"How was your day?" Sola asked from the kitchenette table. Her right elbow was on the table and her hand was against her sad face.

While Sola supposed her vision had become a little impaired, her husband looked awful. Sola could not remember the last time she saw Darred in such a state.

Darred smiled, but not in a happy way. More sarcastically. "How was my day?" He released a small chuckle. "Oh, how was my day?" The sarcastic tone still in place.

Sola did not like it when he spoke in that cynical tone.

"Well, instead of going about my usual routine," Making new architecture designs. On holo paper and in holo dimensions. Drawings. Chatting with clients on communications." Instead of those comms asking me about work. Designs. About my actual job!" He balled his hands into fists. "Instead they're asking me questions. If they could do an interview. What I know about your sister and her boy toy." After the third comm he simply stopped answering any communications. Finally, Darred grabbed his cloak went for a walk that led him back home. In the end, he did not see any point in going back to work.

"How in the name of Shiraya and all the karkin' Nubian goddesses am I supposed to concentrate at work? To pay our bills? Put food in our children's mouths?"

Sola didn't understand why he was so mad. Did he not see all the questions coming last night?

"So, that's why you were in such a hurry to get the girls into bed." Darred rolled his eyes up. "Next time, could you warn a guy before he goes to work or even before bed to turn on the HoloNet?" Not to mention his sister-in-law could have done them the curtsey of warning them about all this months- perhaps years ago!

"You didn't..." Sola eyes widened, flabbergasted he did not know... until this morning. Until all those comms and messages...oh Shiraya! Sola's head fell into her hands.

Darred nodded, not happy his wife didn't give him a warning. "Well, that I suppose explains a lot. Like how you practically threw your folks out last night." He had wanted to ask her what was going on last night, but never got the chance. Darred was too tired when he returned home. He figured he'd ask later.

"I did no such thing," Sola insisted. Disbelief in her tone. "I simply didn't want them to hear it from their granddaughters' mouths." Nor did she want to be caught in the middle of it. And she certainly hadn't wanted them to hear it like...that either. "And as Grandmamma says, when something bad happens there's no point in wishing it had not happened or being angry about it. The only option is to minimize the damage." Or try to. Sola wasn't certain how successful she had been. Especially that she knows when her poor husband was ambushed like that. At least, well, hopefully, she had prepared her two darling daughters. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew." She had assumed the whole planet- including her own husband had seen last night.

Darred touched her shoulder. "No, no, it's fine." He sighed. "As you said there's no point in being angry about it. It's... done and in the past." Darred shook his head. He propped himself up on the table. Looking down at her, he asked, "So, how was your day?"

Sola knew this wasn't going to help his mood. "Not entirely different. Worse actually," She added.

Darred suddenly realized Sola was drinking wine... in the middle of the day? Darred looked down his wrist chrono. At thirteen hundred standard hours? They, and friends or family, normally didn't enjoy wine until after dinner in the evenings.

"What's wrong?" Darred asked casually as he got off the counter. He leaned against the countertop to study his wife carefully. Had the paparazzi bothered her today as well?

Sola finished the glass and said, "I was fired."

"Uh...what?" Darred blinked several times. That he had not expected.

Sola began pouring her second or was it her third glass? "Apparently the school council really hates the Jedi."

Darred remembered Sola said the school staff did not like the Jedi. Like many beings, they did not trust them and blamed them for the war. They were baby snatchers and killed innocent beings, even their own kind. And many other things they said and obviously believed, but still... were they serious?

And besides, the Jedi- this Jedi in particular had a hand in saving Naboo thirteen standard earlier.

Darred took the wine bottle and went over to the sink."And they fired you just because your sister may be- well, okay is having an affair with one." Darred was still wrapping his brain around that.

For the past three years, Sola had shared her suspicions with him time and time again about how she believed Padmé and Anakin Skywalker were having an affair.

"Did you notice how Padmé spoke of the Jedi this evening? I think her...loyalty to the Jedi runs deeper than them simply saving our homeworld..."

But he had never really noticed or known what to think about the whole thing. Plus his sister-in-law being involved with a Jedi- someone she wasn't supposed to be involved with at all- seemed pretty out of character for her. But anyway.

"A very famous and respected one," Darred pointed out. Or so he thought. Didn't every being know and some practically worshiped the ground Knight Skywalker walked on.

Sola shrugged. "They haven't got the Hero with No Fear fever, not a fan of my sister, or some fusion of the two." Probably all the above. "They don't want to have any of the teeniest, tiniest hints of scandal at their well respected, snobby school." While it wasn't common knowledge on all of Naboo, but throughout Theed it was pretty well known Padmé Amidala was born Padmé Naberrie.

Darred was beginning to wish he had not poured the rest of the wine down the sink. Not only would he not be able to get as much work done anytime soon, but now they had lost roughly half of their income. "Kriffing sleemos!" He cursed.

Sola glared at him. She told how she felt about such words. What if he said them around Ryoo or Pooja?

Darred knew she did not like when he cursed. A bad influence on the girls. He blamed his time on his Outer Rim refugee movement, "And I'm sorry." About the cursing. And going on about himself earlier.

"It's fine." Sola closed her eyes as she leaned her hand against her head.

"What do we do now?" Darred sighed. How to deal with this. His sister-in-law and her foolishness. How it was invading their lives. And they didn't even know anything about it. Okay, not entirely. Again, Sola had been sharing her suspensions with him for the last few years.

"I don't know." Sola took a deep breathe. "Protect the girls from all this as best we can." Sola wasn't certain how that would work with them going to school and other children were bound to make remarks. And ask questions. Again, Sola hoped she had at least prepared them and had at least done something right today.

"We could take out of school for a while," Darred suggested.

"The thought crossed my mind." Plus Sola knew she would have time on her hands to home school them. Sola doubted she would find work anytime soon. "But as Grandmamma said last night. We can't keep them at home forever. Besides it's almost time for break."

"Well, not forever," Darred said. After all, education was very important thing to have. "Just until this whole thing blows over."

Sola locked her eyes with his."And if it doesn't?" If it didn't go away any time soon. Possibly never.

"You actually think it may not." Darred understood what she meant, but he still wasn't certain if it was the right course. Yes, he knew things would be… difficult to the least with the media. But he hadn't really pondered on it much. Until now.

"The future is…" Unpredictable. Unimaginable. "Difficult to see," Sola finally said.

"Okay, we'll just... Well..." Darred couldn't seem to find his words.

"Take it one day at a time," Sola finished.

Darred smiled. A moment later he said, "Agreed."

"Maybe we could get away." The summer holiday was approaching. "Maybe we could stay at the Lake Country for a while." Maybe longer... distance could help put things in perspective.

"You know I don't work that well from home. I love Ryoo and Pooja, but they're very distracting." Darred smiled slyly at Sola.

"Well, you could join us later."

Perhaps, it was a possibility. Though... "Hm, will Pig or whatever his name is be recording us the entire time?" Darred grumbled. Some media Hutt had released a bunch of footage of Padmé and Skywalker. That was how everyone knew about them. More importantly, the footage of a Jedi starfighter landing at the family's lake home was taken some several months ago.

Sola rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Father is having that looked into. Mom said he personally asked the Queen to have those taken down immediately." As far as the whole Naberrie clan was concerned, those cams violated the Nubian privacy laws. They would know more in a few days. Perhaps even sooner.

"And," Darred cautiously asked. "How are they handling... all of this?" Darred knew one thing for sure, and that was that he would hate to be Anakin Skywalker right now. He could not imagine what his in-laws' reaction might have been if he had gotten Sola pregnant before they were married. Not that he blamed them? Since Darred, too, was now a father.

"Well, we never really talked about it," Sola began. "Like me, I think Grandmamma and Mom always knew. My father on the other hand... Is struggling, but from what Mom said, but he's handling it better than I expected." She had expected him to be angry.

"Struggling?" Darred found that word rather peculiar. "Why? It's not as if we didn't all know." It's not like it was anything recent.

"I think the point is we didn't know, at least not officially," said Sola. "That's what Father finds hard, he can't avoid the subject any longer because it's lying there in the open now." Maybe he did not show it publicly, but he did in private.

That didn't make any sense to Darred. "It's been lying there for months." Three years really. "But it's practically been out in the open ever since your sister informed them of the pregnancy." Now it was official. He shook his head. This was all getting so complicated. "Come on." He took her by her hand. She needed to sleep off the wine. They reached the master chamber and its warm bed. "Try to get some sleep." Darred wondered as he laid his head down on one of the pillows. "Think it will last?" He looked over to his wife.

His wife already had her eyes closed. "What?" Sola asked with a small yawn.

"Your sister and... Anakin?" Yes, that was his name. Darred was so used to hearing his Hero with No Fear title or evening his last name, Skywalker. Knight Skywalker and so forth.

"I don't know." Sola suspected- was certain that- they both loved each other very much. But was love enough? Could they survive the approaching storm? It was hard to say. Of course, she supposed the past three years of secrecy had been a trial of its own. Still- "To be honest, I'm not sure how happy Anakin will be being married to a Naberrie." Particularly a politician. Padmé once mentioned how he did not like politicians, and yet he was potentially marrying into a family of them. The most famous one on the planet. Sola wasn't certain how this would all work.

Darred gave her a puzzled look. "Why couldn't he? I am," He pointed out. Darred hoped his sister-in-law and Anakin would do the same in their situation. He certainly wouldn't mind having more men in the family. His father was dead. He had no siblings or any close cousins who lived nearby. He also thought Anakin could be a very...interesting addition to the family. Plus, secretly Darred hoped to have more men in the family. That was one of the reasons he was hoping for a little nephew. Of course, he loved his wife, daughters, mother, and even his mother-in-law, but longed to have more men around in his family. His father passed away a few years ago. Most of his cousins and other relatives did not live nearby. Darred got along okay with father-in-law now, but he wouldn't say they super close. And work and family kept him from hanging out with any friends. So Darred certainly wouldn't mind if Anakin stayed in the picture.

While Sola thought about arguing that she and her sister were not the same. Sola wasn't the famous political figure, but she couldn't help but smile at the last two words of his reply. Sola opened her eyes to look at her husband. "Have you?" She rose up her head rose up off her pillow. "Have you been happy?" Sola knew things weren't always easy for him. For example, not every man would have been okay with taking their wife's last name instead of the traditional other way around.

While Sola had nothing against the name Janren or her in-laws, with whom she got along with just fine, Still the name Naberrie still held power and respect the name held among the citizens of Theed. Which was why Sola suggested they keep the name, not just her, but him too. Nor was it unheard of for men to their wives names, especially if the family held titles or power like the Naberries.

"I admit I struggled at times." Colleagues and few of his relatives, including his own parents, said he was less of a man for taking his wife's name. They even went as far to say that their marriage wouldn't last. Even took wagers. It had been a sore subject when they were first engaged. In fact, they had nearly ended the engagement over it. Eventually, Darred decided a name was just a name. It didn't make him any more or less a man. In time, he learned to shrug it off. When he did feel that way, he would pour those feelings into his work. And now look at him. He was one of the top artists in the Chommell System. Even the Queen of Alderaan praised his work a few years ago.

Darred was happy, and so...they would have to accept that. "I am..." He kissed the top of her right hand. "Truly happy." He kissed her wedding ring. "And I am..." Darred kissed the palm of her hand again. "Hopelessly, deeply in love." Darred hoped it would be the same way for Padmé and Anakin.

Sola's right hand pulled him close.

As their lips met, the front door of the house burst open. "We're home. No homework!" They sounded happy and joyful. Amazing, they would be wide awake now and at bedtime, but would not get out of bed in the mornings.

"Mom!" Ryoo called for.

"Daddy!" Pooja yelled. She hadn't seen him since last night. "Can we go to Jev's?"

"Please!" Ryoo asked.

"Never mind." A tired Darred mumbled as he pulled the covers over their heads.

Sola turned. "At least someone around here had a good day."

Coruscant

A few days later

The doors of the turbolift opened. Two figures made their way into the garage of Five Hundred Republica.

"You're sure about this?" He asked quietly over her shoulder. They discreetly made their way to the rendezvous, where the droids Artoo and Threepio were preparing the everything.

From the hover chair he was pushing his wife in, she assured her husband again. It's assured her husband. Again. "Dormé and Captain Typho are still at our apartment." So beings weren't likely to notice they were gone. For now. The only concern they currently had and were about to face was in fact her husband's latest "brilliant" idea. Why had she let him talk her into this?

Veré had called it "our apartment". Not "her apartment". It made Set grin.

"Please present your identifications," one of the security droids asked. At least four more security droids equipped with blasters were mere meters away.

The hooded hand of the man presented the "identities" of Set and Veré Naberrie.

"Identities check out." The droid then opened the small security door. "You may proceed." The droid went on to say, "Thank you and have a pleasant day."

Veré sighed in relief. She hadn't been too keen on the idea of using fake identifications, something which she had no idea how her husband had gotten a hold of or made. She wasn't certain she wanted to know. Not only was Veré nervous because it was illegal, but they could be publicly arrested for such a scandal. They were already in the middle of one of the biggest in Republic history.

But Set had insisted. Using their true identities, the security droids could summon unwanted attention. For all they knew they worked for one of the HoloNet media companies.

Much to her annoyance, he began to move slower. He needed to pick up the pace. If they did not move faster, someone such as the HoloNet may notice and catch up with them.

"Now," Set asked. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Veré did her best remain calm. She sighed, she had to let it out. Let it go. It was not good for her or the babies. "For the fifteenth time today, I am fine, my love," Veré said through her teeth. She was doing her best not to lose her patience.

He sighed. He just wanted to make sure she was alright. She wasn't supposed to be on her feet for very long. But her plan required- demanded- that they travel by foot part of the way. The only way Set would go was if she used a hover chair and his use of the fake identities. Set argued that wouldn't technically be lying. After all they had used these identities before. Over three years ago. On their wedding day.

"Ana- Set," Veré said. She almost slipped up. For someone who was an amazing and rather speedy pilot, they were going the speed of a Nubian tortoise! Actually, if they were in a podrace, the tortoise would almost certainly win. "Could we pick up the pace?" At this rate, by the time they got there the twins would born. And they weren't due for a few more weeks!

"Angel," Set said. He lowered his voice. They were trying to avoid any unwanted attention. Then again a cloaked figure pushing another cloaked figure was a sight one didn't see every day. "The healer said for you to be careful." And to stay off her feet, hence the hover chair.

Apparently her husband had forgotten she was pregnant, not dead. She didn't care what his past dreams had prophesied.

"Angel." She could relax- then again, it was probably her hormones. "We're here."

From the permecrete floor below, they could make out the dark silhouettes of their faithful droids up above in the tinted cockpit. The engines were then started.

The couple boarded the ship. Set had finally picked up the pace, much to Veré's relief. And even better she was able to get out of that hover chair. Yes, she still had to sit, but in a pilot's chair. Not in that horrible thing. She never wanted to see that thing again. As soon as the twins were born, she would burn that contraption.

"Ready?" asked the hooded man. He then finally took off his hood, revealing the dark golden hair and face of Anakin Skywalker.

She too pulled down her hood. Revealing the gentle face of Padmé Amidala.

As if ready Padmé would ever truly be ready, she was half tempted to set the coordinates in the opposite direction of the Galaxy. After all, it might be safer than going home. If every HoloNet crew and holographer could not find her in the capital, Naboo was where would go to look for them.

It was well known that she traveled in a Nubian skiff instead of the rented Alderaan starship they were traveling home in. No one should notice. At least not for a few days. Of course, given the current situation, the most they should hope for would was a few hours.

Padmé took a deep breathe, "Let's go home."

Trivia: Jev Nerran is mentioned in Attack of the Clones novel. He is a neighbor of Sola and Darred.

The last part with Set and Veré, aka Anakin and Padmé is a recent addition. Anyone remember which one of my stories Anakin and Padmé used the aliases Set and Veré? If not or you don't know, read The Scroll II.

Next chapter: Ryoo Thule and don't worry Anakin and Padmé are coming home soon.

Also, look for the next chapter of Personal in a few weeks. I know it's been awhile, but I've been working on it again.

Review please. Let me know what you think.