Padme' stares up at the image displayed on the holoprojector. The image burns into her eyes, and her very soul. The image is of the Hero Without Fear, smiling back at her through the screen. She says, " Volume up."

The screen's sound fills her ears, speaking of the traitor to the Republic. The Chancellor has been murdered. The words are displayed over the head of the screen, where the newscaster retells the same story over again. Her former lover is a traitor to the Republic. He murdered the Chancellor, not that anyone was complaining! Palpatine had many enemies among the Senate, it just so happened that Anakin found him first.

Anakin must have discovered Paplatine's true intentions for the future to come. Her body shivers at the memories of her former hellish life. She remembers the slaughter and agony of entire worlds, and now this will never come to be, because of her beloved. He sacrificed his life to save the Republic and their future- her's and their son's.

She sighs with the burden off of her chest. Her mission had become complete. She came back to save him, and the Republic and had done so and won. Her son would not have to fight for his life in the future to come. He would be a member of society that is well respected and have a normal childhood, for the most part. And it all was because of his father's sacrifice. But what of the consequences?

Reality is ever turning in the universe, and alterations have been created and birthed a new day for the Republic. However, her beloved would never see this day come. In the eyes of the Jedi Order, Anakin had caused damage not only to the galaxy, but had forced them to sentence him to death. There was no trial to speak of, the galaxy demanded that Palpatine's murderer be put to death. The Jedi had passed a sentence on him last night, in the wee hours of the morning. The newscaster spins this story and Padme' listens quietly, as he drones on about the predicament of Anakin Skywalker's death. He had been found guilty and had been decapitated by Master Mace Windu. There had been no trial because the Senate did not want to intervene in Jedi affairs and the Jedi have quietly taken control of the government until a Chancellor can be elected in the upcoming term, which would not be held for another two months.

In the quiet of Padme's inner soul, she knows things will alter. Something is not right. Why would the Jedi overtake the Senate because of the death of a Chancellor? Normal procedure proposes the Chancellor's assistant is placed in the position until the elections are held. Yet, what does this mean? Are the Jedi taking control because of the war? Do they have some ulterior motive?

Padme' shakes off these thoughts for a brevity that is needed. She must contemplate the now. Her knees shake as she collapses onto the couch, which holds her from falling into the floor. She must be able to grieve for her loss. Her husband has died, and will not be coming back. Her other half is gone and she has died with him. She can feel it, something is gone. She had woken up in the dead of night, feeling the ache of something gone wrong. She had gone and climbed in bed with her son and clung to him all night long. The reasoning for her insomnia did not come until her neighbor had told her of the news and to watch the holonet.

Her heart aches and beats still, but she is truly dead without him. He brought her life, and joy whenever he was around. That childish grin of his, brought warmth to her heart, and mind when needed. She would never see that grin upon his face, or feel her heart leap at his figure coming into her apartment at the dead of night…

Her sobs echo down the hallway. Luke is sitting in his chair eating his snack for the noon hour. He hears his mother's cries of despondency through the thin walls of their home. He leaps from his seat and scrambles to his mother's side. He finds her hunched over with her head in her hands, and her body racking with sobs of grief. He tugs on her pant leg and whispers, " Momma, whys you crying?"

Her sobs hush for a moment and she gazes up into his bright blue eyes. They shine with uncertainty and wonder. She fakes a smile for him and whispers, " Oh-"

Those are all the words she can get out of her mouth. The air slips away from her and she does not want to lie to him. Yet she cannot utter the truth. He is too young to understand death. He does not understand the concept or meaning of missing someone, other than her. She cups his face into her hands, notice the spillage of sweet nectar on his chin. She smiles at this and whispers, " You were saving some of that for later, weren't you?"

Luke's smile appears, much like his father's smile. His smile makes her heart leap, in a way that makes her believe and realize that a part of Anakin is still here. His is the spitting image of his father, including the personality… His eyes hold the last living part of Anakin.

Her lips tremble and her smile fades. She chokes back the tears for a moment, contemplating the knowledge that Luke will never know his father. She would never know what it would be like share a moment of their day together, to awaken and find them working on a new droid or speeder bike.

In the end Anakin died not knowing of his son…..

She cannot hold it back any longer and a long strangled cry echoes between her lips. Luke's smile fades and he says soothing her, " Mommy, its okay."

Padme' sobs harder upon hearing his words. She grabs her son and pulls him tight into her awaiting arms. He dips his head into her shoulder blade and allows his mother to wet his clean hair, that she had made him wash the night before. But he would allow his mother to wet it so she would feel better. He has no idea of the world around him. It is just he and his mother. That is all he needs, but when she is angry or upset he is there for her.

Padme' clutches onto her son and rocks him back and forth. Back and forth. Neither one of them are sure who the rocking is for. Is it for her? Is it or him to know that they will be all right?

Presently it does not matter to either of them. Padme' cries into her boy's hair and cries for her dead lover, for the family she could have had and for her son, who will never know of his father. He would never know of his great heroic efforts in the eyes of being proud to be his son.

Padme' pulls away from her son and shudders. Something is amiss. The Jedi have temporary control over the Senate and the entire Republic, something they have never held in the history of the Jedi Order. What would be the outcome of this? Were there hidden agendas behind the tactics of the Order? Padme' shrugs and Luke asks, " Whats it?"

She rubs her hands through his blond hair and sighs, " It's nothing sweetie, nothing you need to ever worry about."

Luke sighs and goes back to his little world.

Padme' sighs and tucks his head underneath her chin. She knows she has lied to her son and herself. Something is on the horizon, and amiss and destruction. She can feel it. Something has not changed in this reality. Darkness has come over the Republic, but in different ways and everyone would soon find out. This thought sends an artic chill down her back.

To Be Continued.


- Day after the former Empire DayTimeline