Ch. 9

"Elsé, Zeke, it's time for bed," Padme called, yawning tiredly as she searched for her youngest children in their now huge seeming house. She had no idea why she was tired; this day had been the most low-key in the Skywalker household for years. With everyone gone, her normally packed schedule had actually given her some time to relax today, even to be bored. However, she had been working a lot lately- even though she was no longer actively a part of politics, she still did a lot of work unofficially for the current chancellor and many senators. She had been one of the most celebrated politicians of all time, and so the current administrations often sought her out for help and advice. In fact, she had a lot of work to do tonight- the chancellor had just sent her several data pads of information to look over about the upcoming elections. Of course, she didn't actually have to do any of this, but she found it impossible to sit back and not be involved, she was so absorbed in politics, and quite a workaholic. Where was Anakin to do something ridiculous to make her laugh and calm her down when she needed him? And where were Zeke and Elsé, she couldn't find them anywhere.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of light sabers nearby, a sign that Zeke and Elsé were sparring in the house, breaking a strict rule of the family.

Angrily, Padme rounded the corner and found that her speculation was correct.

"Zeke! Elsé! No sparring in the house!" She yelled angrily, putting her hands on her hips as she rounded the corner.

"But mommy we need to practice!" Elsé complained, as she and Zeke pouted.

"That's what we have balconies for," Padme reminded them. "Or what about while you're at the temple?"

"We have to practice at home! And daddy's not here to take us somewhere to practice," Zeke informed his mother defensively.

"Well like I said, why not on one of the balconies?" Padme asked, though she didn't really care at the moment.

"Did we at least look good?" Elsé asked hopefully, looking sweetly up at her mother.

"Yes, but you need to be more relaxed, both of you. Instead of worrying about where your opponent will strike you, relax and let the Force tell you," Padme explained. After years of living with seven Jedi, she found herself randomly able to give advice to her children. She would notice things she wasn't even aware she knew, and comment on them.

"How do you know, mommy?" Zeke asked, looking at her curiously.

"Because I've lived with your father for twenty years," Padme explained, shaking her head in amusement. "And all the rest of you. Now, it's time for bed."

"All right," they sighed, turning to walk towards their bedrooms.

"I love you both," Padme said lovingly, pulling them back to kiss them.

"I love you too mommy!" Zeke said loudly, smiling as his mother kissed his cheek.

"Me too! Me too!" Elsé cried, not wanting to be outdone by her brother. "Me the most!"

"No, not you the most," Zeke argued, pushing her.

"Hey!" Elsé pouted, pushing Zeke back. Suddenly, the two stared at one another angrily, not making a sound. Padme was soon able to realize, because she had lived with seven Jedi for so long, that they were in some kind of Force battle, trying to push one another over.

"Stop it!" Padme yelled, trying to pull them apart unsuccessfully. It was moments like these that she noticed two things: one, how sad it was that her six year old could probably defend herself better than she could, and two, that their family was not at all normal. "Stop, no Force manipulating, I'm not even sure you're allowed to be doing that."

"You don't know," Zeke reminded her, still staring at Elsé.

Sighing, Padme nodded, knowing he was right. She didn't know what they were allowed to and weren't allowed to do outside of the temple, and it was at times like these where she really needed Anakin to discipline them. "Well it's not very respectful of you to manipulate me like that," she said, hoping they would feel guilty enough about it, especially since this had started as a battle over who loved her more, to stop.

"Sorry mommy," Zeke said finally, breaking his concentrated stare at Elsé.

Stumbling backwards and shaking her head, Elsé echoed him. "Sorry, we didn't mean to."

"Ok, why don't you each give me your light sabers and go to bed, without touching one another this time," Padme instructed, not wanting them to start another pushing match. Then she realized how stupid that last instruction was, because they could just Force push each other without actually touching. Oh, this family was so difficult. "And no Force touching either."

"You don't touch people with it," Zeke said, rolling his eyes as Elsé giggled.

"Ok, whatever," Padme sighed, almost laughing despite herself. "No Force anything. Just go to bed, because you have to wake up early tomorrow."

"Ok goodnight mom," Zeke said, as he and Elsé handed their light sabers to Padme and started to walk off to bed. "And I love you most!" He yelled just as Elsé had walked out of the room, causing her to come running and tackle him. As the wrestled their way down the hallway, Padme laughed and just decided they would work it out for themselves. As soon as she saw them stand up and start to actually walk to bed, she turned to go to her and Anakin's bedroom and begin to tackle some of the work she had to do before her meetings tomorrow with the Chancellor and his administration.

Padme picked up one of the data pads and began to study it distractedly. However, she soon found she was in no mood to focus at all. Laughing at herself, she realized that back when she was Queen this is the kind of time she would have had one of her handmaidens read it for her, and tell her what it said. She really was too spoiled back then, she mused. Oh well, that's what she had been told to do. She wouldn't ever tell Leia that though- it wouldn't be a good example to set. Instead, she would focus on her years as Senator and Chancellor, when she had worked extremely hard to bring peace to the Republic.

Smiling, she thought fondly, about Leia and the children, and Anakin and Obi Wan, and how much she missed them. They had only been gone for a day, she thought stupidly, but dinner had seemed very lonely with just her and the two young children. It had been so long since so many members of the family had been gone at one time, and, though she felt silly being worrying, she couldn't help but have a nagging feeling in the back of her head like always got when someone she loved was far away from her, in any amount of danger, however small. She knew herself of twenty years ago would probably laugh at the current situation, for she knew that compared to waiting months for Anakin's return from the battlefield, especially during the months she was pregnant, this situation was easy. They were on a mission and would be back safely…she hoped.

There was always risk- they were, after all, warriors. As much as the Council (especially Mace) tried to claim they were simple 'keeprs of the peace,' they faced battles constantly, whether during wars or just crime on Coruscant. She knew they truly were keepers of the peace, but they fought, and so she felt as if they were warriors. Every child she had sent to the temple she couldn't help but feel a tiny amount of regret, sending small children to be trained for battles and dangerous situations. And yet, she knew they were all happy, and that they would be so restless without that life that they would be miserable. Plus, she couldn't deny Anakin the extreme pride he had in teaching and training his children, of having them look up to him and want to be like him…and she enjoyed this, too. She loved to see how they watched their father when he was fighting, or flying. And she knew the shared experiences of Jedi training bonded them to one another as well- one of her favorite things about her children was how close they all were to each other, how they all looked out for one another, and truly appreciated the family. The whole family loved adventure, living on the edge, and she did realize that this trait was inherited not just from Anakin, but from her as well. As she watched her children grow up, she began to understand why her parents had always questioned her career in politics- she now knew the fear they had felt every time they saw her in the news and tabloids, especially when there had been assassination attempts on her.

Also, now that Leia had chosen to pursue politics, Padme also could understand that pride in having a child follow in her footsteps, seeking her help and advice, and looking up to her. She couldn't ever ask Anakin to give that up. Secretly, of course, she hoped that maybe one more of her children might decide to leave the order and pursue politics, she loved so much to help Leia and to share what she had learned throughout her many years of being a politician. She knew the boys were all so much like Anakin there was no chance they would leave the order, but maybe little Elsé, so quiet and reserved, would become an incredible, cunning politician instead of a warrior…although, she mused, Elsé sometimes seemed to share more of Anakin's fierce spirit than anyone, as demonstrated by what she had just witnessed… But, what she realized from all of this thinking was that she knew she could never have given this life up any more than Anakin could have…part of what had brought them together was their desire to be putting themselves at risk to help others.

Still, she couldn't help but wonder about the Jedi lifestyle for her children, as she always had. At least politics was slightly removed from the actual battle scene…well, as long as you weren't being assassinated or kidnapped, which, she mused, did seem to happen to her quite a lot. But having a husband in battle was one thing- scary yes, she had certainly spent hours crying and worrying about him. But she couldn't deny that there was something romantic about having a handsome young Jedi as a husband, worrying about him and greeting him lovingly every time he returned. She admired him so much, and he made her feel so safe when he was near her. But having her children in battle was different, of course she was proud of them, more than anything in the world she was proud of them, but she was beside herself with worry just seeing them sparring or practicing even with each other or with Anakin and Obi Wan. Even that little bout she had just witnessed between Zeke and Elsé had made her slightly nervous. And she had had a taste of what it might be like to see them in a real war, even lose them, when Luke and Leia were kidnapped when they were four. Something about that experience had awoken her and Anakin to the reality of their situation, and they had discussed, after that, giving it all up to go and live a quiet life with their family. But both had known it would never work. They were far too passionate about their work, and that experience had only ignited a fire in both of them to save the galaxy from people like Sidious and those who had helped him.

It was at times like these that she missed being a politician. However, with all the work she did she was essentially as involved as she ever had been, just now it was unofficial and she didn't have to wear the ridiculously uncomfortable clothes. Although, she thought amusedly, she did miss those clothes sometimes, she always felt quite glamorous and important in them…Anyway, she was still often sought out for advice, and she still gave speeches and talks all the time on a plethora of subjects. Plus, now was Leia's turn, and Padme knew she would have to step back so as to neither overshadow nor turn too much attention to her daughter. Of course, the data in front of her was a good example of the fact that she was still highly involved in the political scene…she would have to remember to try to step back more, for Leia's sake.

She sighed, turning her attention to the data pad…as she read it, she couldn't help but have a sliver of pride in thinking that business side of things didn't seem to be running nearly as smoothly as they had when she was Chancellor…but she quickly pushed this to the back of her mind and started focusing her attention on studying these issues. Suddenly, she became aware of an incessant beeping that she hadn't even realized had been bothering her, but she suddenly couldn't stand to hear any more. Looking up confusedly to try to locate the origin of the noise, she noticed it was her holo-monitor blinking to tell her she had an incoming contact…could it be Anakin and the children? Happily, she pushed the button to accept, and sure enough the face of her loving husband appeared on the screen.

"How are you?" Anakin asked, smiling sweetly at her.

"Fine, bored," Padme answered, sighing and rubbing her forehead tiredly. "I'm glad you called."

"I love those," Anakin said, nodding his head towards her, and she looked at him very confused for a second until she realized he was talking about her reading glasses she had had to start wearing.

"I hate them," She retorted, taking them off quickly. "I'm so old."

"You're perfect," Anakin argued, laughing at how Padme, still absolutely beautiful in his eyes and he knew in the eyes of others, was always complaining about feeling old.

"No, you're going to find some new, young woman and leave me for her," Padme sighed, pretending to be actually worried about it. She loved that she could be so sure of his love that they could joke about things like this.

"Mm hmm," he muttered. "Working hard, as always, I see," Anakin commented lovingly, completely disregarding Padme's comment to show her how ridiculous it was, even though he knew she knew that. He wished desperately he could sweep her into his arms right then.

"Not really," Padme mused, smiling at him and leaning her head on her hand. She loved how their conversations were now so casual, about every day matters…that his calls from abroad were no longer rushed, secret meetings in which they would declare their undying love for one another over and over again. Now, this was simply understood, and it felt even better to be able to talk to her husband familiarly, to be reminded of how well they now knew one another, to joke lightly with one another. She loved the fact that she knew the mysterious, powerful, famous, heroic, medichlorian-created Anakin Skywalker better than anyone in the galaxy, and that she could have silly, trivial conversations with him when others might be excited just to say one word to him. It was this familiarity, this understood love and devotion, that they both appreciated so much in their life now, having lived (and enjoyed) the very opposite life before. Now they could be relaxed and enjoy each other at their leisure, and it was wonderful. "I was actually just thinking about you and the children."

"Of course you were," Anakin teased, loving the fact that he could talk to Padme whenever he wanted, that the most beautiful, sought after, successful politician of all time was his wife, and that he still loved her just as much as the first day he had met her. "And of course I was thinking of you, or why would I have called."

"Probably because you wanted me to do something for you," Padme joked, smiling at him.

"The only thing I can think of for you to do for me is something we'd have to be a lot closer to one another to do," Anakin said seductively.

"Dad!" Came a loud voice from behind him. "I'm…right….here!" Bail announced angrily as he came into view.

"Hi Bail," Padme smiled as her son, now much bigger than her and still growing, stared back at her, his hands crossed in front of him. Padme couldn't believe that she had grown up children now…Bail and Taryn and even the youngest kids were hard enough to believe, but the twins…she still saw Luke as the tiny little boy who stared up at her with bright blue eyes, full of innocence. Now, he was this handsome, strong, powerful Jedi, much like his father…and she could hardly believe when he looked back at her now, with that serious, knowing stare, or when she saw him in action as a Jedi, that he was her same little son. She was so proud of him, and Leia too who was now a beautiful, successful woman and whom Padme knew had men practically killing one another over her. To think of her babies in this way was difficult, and yet it made her very proud. It seemed that even in their crazy, dysfunctional lifestyle, she and Anakin had somehow raised wonderful children…with the help of Obi Wan and Sabe, to a fairly large extent…

Ok, this nostalgia needed to end…as did the dispute between her husband and son, who she had half-noticed arguing hotly about something and who were now staring at each other intently, both of their hands twitching next to their light sabers. "Ok, before you kill each other, I'll venture the question of how is the trip going?"

"Fine," Bail said grumpily, turning away from his father.

"It's ok, Padme," came Obi Wan's voice from somewhere she couldn't see. "I won't let them maul each other too badly. It's just you've spoiled the men of your house too much, it seems they can't deal with sharing a room for even one night."
"Hi Obi Wan," Padme smiled fondly, really happy that they had called. It really cheered her up to hear from them all, especially now that the younger children were in bed and the house felt empty. "They shouldn't be, we share our house with eight people, they should be used to sharing."

"Padme I get lost inside your house every time I'm there," Obi Wan teased them. "It's hardly a tight squeeze for the eight of you. I'm still not convinced the first floor 'fresher and hallway even connect to the rest of the house, it seems a kind of black hole I get trapped in every time, until someone comes and finds me, rolling their eyes and grumbling the whole time of course."

"Well I promise to take you on a detailed tour when you get back," Padme laughed, enjoying very much Obi Wan's dry sense of humor. She and Obi Wan had a very interesting relationship- they both were very fond of joking sarcastically with one another, something that had developed after they had become very close discussing Anakin in some of his most difficult times. They were better friends than she thought Anakin or Sabe seemed to realize- they had been the ones to deal with each other professionally while Anakin was still a Padawan, and then had naturally formed a close bond as Anakin's wife and best friend and mentor. She always really missed Obi Wan, too, when they were all gone.

"As long as its not the same kind of tour you gave me of the Senate building, I'm on board," Obi Wan smiled at her exaggeratedly.

"That was a very interesting tour of the Senate building, I'm sorry you're not refined enough to enjoy that sort of thing," She teased him.

"Ok, now that you're done flirting with my wife," Anakin interjected jokingly, "I'd just like to say, Luke, Leia and Taryn say hello too, they're downstairs."

"And what are they doing downstairs?" Padme asked pointedly, staring at her husband and making him flinch.

"Um, just, exploring and stuff," Anakin mumbled, looking down.

"You're going to have to teach me that one of these days," Obi Wan joked. "How to make Anakin Skywalker flinch and submit to you."
"Is it safe?" Padme asked Anakin, not responding to Obi Wan's comment but shooting him a smile. "Anakin, why are you so lenient with them…"

"Luke and Leia are-"

"Yes, I understand that they are adults, but our sixteen-year-old is not," Padme shot at him, raising her eyebrow. She wasn't really angry, she understood the kids would want to have at least as much fun as could be had on a boring public passage to Tatooine, but Anakin was known to be the more easily manipulated parent.

"Luke and Leia will take care of her, don't worry," Anakin assured her, looking away again.

"He tried to tell them no," Obi Wan contributed. "He really did, they were quite persuasive."

"Not to mention you," Anakin nudged him. "Aiding and abetting, that's what that is."

Padme smiled, loving this simple banter between them all. She hoped they would be home soon. "Zeke and Elsé were explicit in telling me to say hi to daddy and the others," she smiled. "So hi."

"Give them kisses for me," Anakin smiled. "By the way…Luke has asked to take Zeke as his Padawan. I was hesitant at first, but I think it's a good idea."

"Luke?" Padme asked. "What about you?"

"Bail will never be ready, not even Taryn will be, to pass the trials in time- Zeke needs to be taken now," Anakin informed her. "And Luke is the only one other than Obi Wan or I who…well…understands the Skywalker thing."

"Right," Padme mused. "That…tell me again, why did I get involved with that?"

"Because I'm irresistible," Anakin smiled sickeningly sweetly.

"Sure," Padme sighed, smiling back despite herself. "Well, I'm not the Jedi expert, so I trust you and Obi Wan's decision, of course. I just hope Luke understands what he's getting into. From what I understand, its somewhat like having a child, isn't it?"

"I told him that, but he still wanted to do it," Anakin shrugged, admiring his sons determination, but, like Padme, still questioning if he really was ready for this.

"I just feel like they're a little young to have the responsibility of a child, then again they're older than you were when were married," Padme mused pensively.

"Everyone keeps saying that! Stop reminding me of that! That still doesn't make it an ok idea in my mind for Leia to suddenly declare she's married, or… or pregnant," Anakin exclaimed worriedly.

"Force," Padme looked at him with sudden concern, not wanting to think about her daughter like that any more than Anakin did, though, Leia did share a lot with Padme and they had become quite close as Leia grew up. "I'd prefer not to think about that."

But Anakin didn't even respond, he was so busy worrying and looking around himself, perplexed.

"I think you're going to have to counsel him pretty soon on the fact that Leia might in fact find someone she wants to marry in the near future," Obi Wan advised, and Padme nodded.

"I will," Padme agreed. "Not that I would at all like to think about that either, but I do understand her a little better. Luke as well, but…well none of us are too worried he'll want to settle down any time soon."
Obi Wan laughed. "No, as his former Master, and thus the most familiar with his Force signature, I can tell you that Luke has one of the most restless minds I've ever seen…although, the most restless ever was the one who wanted to get married at nineteen," Obi Wan pointed at Anakin.

"Hm," was all Padme said, also worried at the prospect of Luke and Leia being so grown up. She herself had been the one that thought Anakin was too young, at first, to get married- she had felt like she was corrupting him, ruining his life, in a way. And yet, of course she would understand if Luke and Leia did find someone, because it was the deep love and connection she shared with Anakin that she couldn't ignore, that eventually told her it was the right decision to be with him, even if it did mean a responsible, respected, refined Senator of the Republic was illegally marrying and completely corrupting a young, innocent though very passionate Jedi Knight. And so if any kind of situation arose with Luke and Leia, she doubted it could be as crazy as her own…and yet, even if it was, she would understand if true love was behind it.

Suddenly, Luke and Taryn walked into the room, both slightly tipsy but not enough for it to be very obvious- although, Padme could tell right away, but she didn't say anything to Anakin because she knew he would freak out. Instead, she and Obi Wan shared an amused glance, and Anakin seemed not to notice.

"Where's Leia?" He asked, suddenly worried.

"She's with this guy," Luke said hesitantly, as he and Taryn shared a look. The irony of the situation immediately struck everyone in the room, except Bail who was busy playing games on his portable holo-screen.

"What?" Anakin suddenly exclaimed quite loudly, after about a minute of silence.

"They're just talking don't worry… at least, they were when we left them…It's a really long story," Luke began, now eyeing Taryn mischievously and turning provocatively towards his parents and Master. "So, do you guys remember at all, this thing that's just, you know, somewhat important from our past, just this little thing- do you have anything, just anything all that you might wish to share with us about Han Solo?"