Disclaimer still applies.

Admission

Asajj was sitting, exhausted from opening herself to Skywalker, from feeling destiny shift and from seeing it.

"Ventress?"

Standing there were the remaining Council members, Anakin and Windu among them. Anakin looked at her. He seemed to be as much in a fog as her. He did the right thing, but the cost is high so high for him. Anakin, I am sorry.

Despite his exhaustion he walked over, but showed his exhaustion when he fell down beside her with a smack on the floor.

"Skywalker?"

"Masters, I have to tell you something."

"Skywalker, the Senate is in shambles. We have to work to deal with this."

Asajj felt something snap in her then. She wrapped her arms around Anakin and glared at Windu. Anakin leaned against her like a person seeking shelter from a storm.

"He chose correctly and saved the galaxy. He gave up his very life for you. You. Will. Listen."

To her surprise she felt a hand touch her cheek. She looked to see Anakin smile at her but it was the saddest smile she had ever seen.

"Thank you. Not just for now, but for before. Whatever happens," he said. Then he stood back up and faced the masters. She joined him.

"I saw Padme die in a vision giving birth to my child. He offered me a way to save her and I turned it down."

Mace Windu hit his seat with a smack similar to Anakin's backside hitting the floor a moment ago.

"Please. Whatever you do to me- save her."

Windu put his head in his hands. Silence ruled the room. He took in a breath. The force staggered as all the Council members sought strength.

"Very well. I will send someone for her. Go back to your quarters until we call for you."

Anakin looked at the Council members.

"Thank you," he said bowing his head. Then he looked up. "Two things. One: Obi-Wan didn't know so don't blame him. Two: give my council seat to Asajj. She was the one who stopped me."

He fled from the room. Asajj went to join him. Sympathy for him filled her.

"Ventress we will want to speak to you later as well."

Asajj nodded but something kept her. Something bothered her. The Senate is in shambles but not alright anarchy. No one in their right mind would believe the Jedi attacked for nothing than the best reasons. How was Sidious going to make the Senate believe his lies? Even he couldn't brainwash that many people at once. Let alone the whole republic!

"Search Palpatine's office."

"What?"

"He had to justify what he wanted to have happen in his office- dead Jedi and turned Skywalker. To explain he would need proof. I don't know what, but there has to be something!"

Mace looked at her. His eyes bore through her and then he nodded.

"Very well."

Asajj heard holo images come on line and realized other Council members had sensed a disturbance in the force and were calling in. She would not let herself check to see if Obi-Wan was one of them. Anakin is what matters now. Obi-Wan would understand.

"Send someone for Padme. If you don't you're just as corrupt as I ever thought you were."

No one protected her after Ky's death. She would not let Anakin be alone. Padme would live and Anakin would be forgiven if she had any say. She realized what was keeping her on her feet was the force itself. Determination, not desperation. Love, not anger.

"Padme?"

Yes, Obi-Wan was here.

"She is in danger Obi-Wan. Anakin sees her dying."

"Masters we must take her in. She has done a lot for the order."

Windu gave Obi-Wan an inscrutable look. Obi-Wan gave one back, but it had some confusion to it.

"Tell us you must what has happened Master Windu, but right is Ventress. Remember our obligations to individuals we must and a friend Padme has been. Hmmm. Protective of Skywalker you are Ventress. Call Padme I will. Bring her back to the Temple and then tell us- sense important to what has happened you are."

Yoda went off screen for a moment. Asajj kept her eyes on Windu. I am coming back. Obi-Wan will be too shocked to properly defend Anakin and he has to be impartial because he is on the Council. I, thankfully, have no such restriction.

"Waiting for you is Padme. Worried she is. Talk to as well as retrieve her hmm?"

Asajj nodded.

"Fine but at least let Anakin be with her. He has earned that."

"Padme? Anakin?"

Asajj looked at Obi-Wan. Saw that he was vaguely beginning to understand. Somehow she thought the knowledge would come better from her than from Windu.

"He saw her dying in childbirth. Sidious offered him knowledge to prevent it- but Skywalker chose against it."

She didn't have to say who the father of the child was. Obi-Wan looked like he wanted to go somewhere. Asajj wished she was there so she could make sure he didn't do something stupid- like blame himself for everything that had or could have happened. As it was she walked to his hologram.

"Anakin said it was not your fault. Believe it from him if not anyone else."

With that she strode quickly out of the room and for the flight bay. She hopped into a vehicle and went for Padme's apartment. The 500 Republica came quickly and she landed. Waiting for her was a very pregnant Amidala who looked as dazed as Asajj felt, two droids, some handmaidens and a distrusting security man. Asajj hadn't been given the authorization to do this but she was still angry at Windu so she made a change.

"You," pointing to the security man, "bring her here with me. The rest of you get into another vehicle and follow when you can."

Padme drew herself up and the dazed look left her.

"It's alright Typho, everyone- stay here. Yoda said we could trust her. Ms. Ventress I appreciate the offer but I do not want to burden the Jedi."

Asajj looked at her with the force. Padme Amidala was a beacon in the same way Obi-Wan was: she had a deep, abiding love for the light. She was also strong willed and moved with a grace coming from determination. She also was not bearing a child, but children. Anakin must have been so distracted by the darkness he didn't notice.

Padme got in beside Asajj. Her brown eyes met Asajj's frankly.

"Thank you. I don't know how you came to be Anakin's friend but I am grateful."

"I wasn't. Not originally. Obi-Wan is persuasive."

"Can you tell me anything? About what happened?"

"Anakin killed Sidious. Then he told the Council about you two- and your offspring."

"I hope they won't judge him too harshly. I will be recalled, and I don't mind, but it is him I'm worried about."

"I hope so as well."

They spent the rest of the trip in silence. Asajj pulled the speeder in. She knew who, and where, to bring Padme. She threw a shield around Padme so no one would sense the children or their father.

"Asajj? Senator Amidala?"

"Bant, be the compassionate person I know you are."

She took the shield down. Bant stared at Padme. Asajj's grip on Padme tightened. If Bant would not be compassionate Asajj would argue for her to be. The Mon Calamari took in a deep breath.

"If you could please come over here Senator? What is the problem exactly?"

"Anakin had a vision of her dying."

She felt Bant's attitude shift fully to compassion then.

"Then we must make sure that doesn't happen."

The Mon Calamari examined the senator.

"Asajj!"

It was Anakin. She sent back reassurance. Bant finished her examination and looked at Padme and Asajj.

"Whatever Anakin saw it's nothing medical."

Asajj looked Padme. The Senator was calm but Asajj could tell she needed more strength.

"Come on."

"Asajj."

"Bant, you haven't received orders have you? Neither have I. All I know is that Anakin needs her and vice versa."

"Alright."

Asajj brought Padme to Anakin's room. The two looked at each other in shock. Asajj knew she wasn't needed here for the moment, but she didn't know what would come so she decided to get some rest for now.