The darkness of the day had begun to fall over Coruscant as Anakin stood a step or two behind the Chancellor's chair, hands clasped politely behind his back and rolled his uncomfortable shoulders as subtly as he could. Politics was never his favourite subject, and yet here he was… Trapped in a secretive debate. At the very least, on the other side of Palpatine's debate, was Padme, though he knew his misguided accusations had yet to be truly forgiven by her. Anakin was content to wait a lifetime for her forgiveness – it was the very least of what he deserved. One small mercy of it, he supposed, was that his mind was clear and free of suspicion, and knowing that, the Jedi let himself delve into her Force signature. All Anakin wanted was to go home and fall asleep in their bed with Padme and Luke in his arms… He hoped this meeting wouldn't last an eternity so they could do just that. He hadn't realised just badly he'd missed his son even while on the same planet until tonight, now he wanted to make the most of every moment they had together.
Their meal had been wonderful – beyond wonderful… Something they'd done far too infrequently throughout their marriage and especially since Luke was born. Sitting down for quiet, intimate dinners had just never been a priority for them – always a war to fight, always a Senate to address… Always too little time together to not spend it in the bedchamber… But tonight it felt like they were a real family, just like any other, settling down to eat together and that sensation was everything Anakin had wanted since his marriage began. For it to feel real, not hidden or rushed to fit into too short moments of availability. One glance from the corner of his eye at the chrono told Anakin that by now, Elle would be bathing Luke and putting him to bed in he and Padme's place… And suddenly, he felt a small misery at not being there himself.
Focus! He had to focus!
He stole a glance at the small band of Senators who'd gathered here this evening and his eyes narrowed as their feelings painted the air of the grand chamber. Only Padme kept her eyes on the Chancellor. She was comfortable with him, unafraid. Even Organa looked away when he could. Anakin also sensed that he and the others wondered what none of them would dare ask… Why was Anakin here? Why did the Chancellor need a Jedi by his side for what was supposed to be a private meeting? But, from the swirling emotions from each of them, even Padme herself, Anakin guessed they'd already realised the answer for themselves. He was both protection and a show of power. The Chancellor's power, not the Republic's. Suddenly, he found it difficult not to glare at the older man from where he stood… What had happened earlier with Padme had been his fault as much as Anakin's. His lies could have made him lose her. He'd judged her by the words of liars - her who was a thousand times better than any of them. He knew part of him would never forgive Palpatine for it.
Disregarding such thoughts, Anakin focused slightly harder on his wife and sensed a small… Distress within her… Concerning him – concerning his presence here. Him being here meant her fellow conspirators no longer understood where the Jedi stood in this battle of wills… Anakin understood that without sensing it from her. Plainly, Padme didn't want him here. He'd have scoffed, if it wouldn't have been unprofessional, because right now, Padme was Amidala, not Skywalker. She was not Anakin's wife, she was a Senator. That was the difference between them, he supposed. Anakin was always her husband, but increasingly, she was not his wife. He tried not to let that hurt.
Beside Padme, was Bail Organa, dressed as finely as he always was with his plush navy cape and matching blue and silver ensemble. He stroked his beard in a way that reminded Anakin, of Obi-wan. And the reminder did hurt. He owed the man an apology – many of them. But for tonight, especially… By her other side, was Fang Zar, so underdressed that he stood out almost ridiculously among the other richly dressed Senators. He was a clever mind that much Anakin knew. One of the sharpest in the Senate, from what Padme had told him, and Obi-wan agreed. Nee Alavar and Male-Dee he knew nothing of. So his gaze returned to his beloved. They were a small group. Almost pitifully so. But Anakin knew there were more of them – together they made two thousand. But where were the other big players? Mothma? Where was she hiding tonight?
He cast the other woman from his mind to focus on Padme again. She was glowing in her burgundy robes, and they wrapped around her perfectly to disguise the evidence of the baby… To his eyes, at least. To confirm his earlier thoughts, she wore her politician's face again, further proving that she was not his Padme right now, but Senator Amidala. And Senator Amidala spoke the most out of all her colleagues. As if that had been the plan all along. He had a sickening suspicion that this may have been her idea from the start. He wanted to take her shoulders into his hands and shake her until she saw sense!
"We're here today, Chancellor, not with demands or threats of forming an opposition. It's important you understand that. But we have the signatures of two thousand Senators and that cannot be ignored. The governors you have hired cannot interfere with the Senate's business. And we request that you once more begin peace talks with the Separatists. Without Count Dooku to lead them, they're at their weakest point. It's time to end the fighting and resume diplomacy." Padme spoke well, but when did she ever not? Despite everything, part of Anakin lit up with pride at her talents, but that part was buried too deep to reach his face. The majority of him wished to groan and sink into the nearest chair.
Palpatine was quiet for several moments, weighing her words carefully before replying. When at last he spoke, only two words fell from his thin lips. "Is it?" He sounded cold even to Anakin's ears, and his eyebrows rose. Usually, the Chancellor was far more… Diplomatic while dealing with people. His emotions did not cloud his judgement. Something was wrong. He was not alone in his thoughts it seemed, as Padme and Organa's eyebrows, too shot upwards on their faces.
"Surely you understand what we're saying, Chancellor… The Governors are part of a system that mirrors military control so closely that they're practically one and the same!" Organa spoke, saving Padme the effort and Anakin tensed. He was beginning to feel that this meeting would not end peacefully as hoped… Nor with either party particularly happy with the results. Which meant this battle of whispers would go on and on and there'd never be peace. He couldn't imagine anything worse. Despite all that, when Anakin's eyes flicked to the Chancellor he felt nothing. His control was impressive.
"I understand your reservations, Senators. However, I have placed these beings into the positions I have in order to make our systems safer throughout the course of our war effort. To see the governors as anything more than that is quite frankly, paranoia."
Padme's face fell into an expression Anakin knew well. Too well, part of him groaned. She was far from happy. Furious, even. ""If we are to work toward peace talks, then surely the clone production, military arms productions and governors should be shut down – not encouraged." She argued, thinning her own lips, and it was strange to see that face directed not at Anakin for once… Not that he'd inspired her rage too often throughout their marriage, but there had definitely been some moments over the course…
The Chancellor was not fazed, however. "We must be prepared for all outcomes, Senator. It's nothing to worry about."
The Senators exchanged long glances amongst themselves, and Nee Alavar nodded once, prompting Padme's response. She turned back to the Chancellor calmly, any sign of anger gone from her beautiful face, and Anakin almost laughed. She was good at hiding her feelings… "Well then, we can assume that the constitution shall be left as it is from now on? With no more sudden amendments."
Anakin felt a sudden spike of anger within Palpatine, so intensely that he looked down at the man with as a confused frown came across his face. Of everything the Senators had said, this was understandable – it was fair, even. Not even Anakin would begrudge that one request. And yet it lit a fury in the elder man like he'd never seen from him before. It was smothered as quickly as it appeared, but Anakin sensed it nonetheless. And it worried him, greatly.
"You will forgive me, Senators, if I don't rush to agree. I am the elected leader of this Republic and the state of events we have found ourselves in grants me the powers to make such amendments. The people have placed their trust behind me throughout this war, and my ideals. You, however… Well, your credibility of late has come into question, Senator Amidala." Everyone's jaws fell slack at the Chancellor's comment, Anakin's especially. What was he thinking? How dare he speak to her that way?!
"Excuse me?" Padme cried and Anakin didn't have to look at her to know she was looking to him, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from the man he'd called his friend for almost his entire life. This was wrong, she was innocent of those accusations and even if she were not – a shudder raced through Anakin at the thought – this was not the place for it to be spoken of. This was he and Padme's business, no one else's. Not Organa's, not the other Senators'! He knew Palpatine still believed those foul rumours, but to bring them up now was so… Spiteful… And unlike him. Distantly, he heard Bail rush to Padme's defence in the way he himself should have been able to – but shock and the need for secrecy kept Anakin silent.
Palpatine reached into a drawer deep within his grand desk as everyone watched, some in horror, some in shock, as he produced a holodisk and calmly placed it onto the table. Anakin didn't know where to look, the disk? Padme? The Chancellor? Every inch of him was alive and thrumming with rage at Palpatine for this. This was wrong – he'd never wish to humiliate his Angel like this! The more primal part of the Jedi suddenly wished to make use of the hard durasteel of his cybernetic arm to defend his mate's honour… But alas, this was a civilised time.
"What I am about to show you is a security recording from 500 Republica. General Skywalker, do you see the date it was recorded? Where were you then?" Beneath his sleeves, Anakin's fists shook violently, but he did as the Chancellor commanded, and after sparing a glance at Padme, looked down. He recognised the date immediately; it was nine months ago, just after he'd left Padme and Luke behind to fight in the Outer-Rim.
Frowning, he cleared his throat attempting to keep his emotions out of it, for Padme's sake. "I – I was in the Outer-Rim… Why?"
"Did General Kenobi return to Coruscant at all around this time?" Palpatine pushed, but Anakin's glare only deepened. Why was he doing this? Nothing happened! He was a fool for believing the lies of people who wanted nothing more than to ruin Padme's good name.
"Yes." He admitted. "Obi-wan returned for about a week before coming to aid me in the fight. But, Chancellor, I don't understand what –"
"Well, now we know that," Palpatine interrupted, "We can view the recording."
Anakin looked toward Padme just in time to meet her eyes; he sensed her confusion and nervousness… But she had no reason to be nervous. The accusations were lies, they meant nothing. There was nothing the Chancellor could possibly use against her… Was there? Confusion swarmed the other Senators too, and the room was utterly silent. No one wished to speak, and no one could tear their eyes away from the disk as one of Palpatine's wrinkled fingers pressed down upon the small black button to let it begin.
Force help them.
Immediately, the blue-hued holo of Padme's veranda burst out of the device and Anakin squinted. There was nothing to see, only the furniture. But that didn't ease the tension that was slowly beginning to creep through his bones and sink dread into his body just like before. After a moment, Padme appeared onto the screen, the hem of her silky sky-blue gown swaying at her feet as she stepped out toward the edge. She looked just like he remembered her when he'd left, flat-bellied and as radiant as ever… Not showing the baby they'd created together just a day before… But the fond nostalgia the holo brought to Anakin was quickly shattered. Obi-wan's speeder pulled up to the edge and the Jedi gracefully stepped out… And into Padme's arms. His heart began to pound in his chest, and though he wanted to look at her, he couldn't look away from the holo.
Anakin stepped closer to get a better look, just as the pair pulled apart to smile at one another and exchange a few words. And then something happened to tear his Galaxy to pieces. Obi-wan, his friend, his brother, the man who'd raised him into adulthood leant down and took Padme's lips with his own, just as she pushed her body up, onto her tiptoes to meet him, circling her slim arms around his neck.
He stumbled backwards, almost tripping over Palpatine's chair, unable to stomach watching another moment of it. She kissed him… They kissed! But that meant – his friend and his wife! It meant they… Anakin felt sick, he felt like he was about to heave his dinner up and onto the richly carpeted flooring. His knees buckled, and he almost fell onto them, but somehow, the Jedi managed to remain standing. Tears burned at his eyes all over again – everything Palpatine said was true… He'd seen it was his own eyes now! She – she'd been with another man – with Kenobi!
Gasps erupted around the room but Anakin paid them no heed, his eyes fell upon Padme, who was white-faced where she sat. He'd never seen her look so pale without the use of cosmetics… "That – that's not…" She muttered quietly, "That's not real! Where did you get that?" Her eyes came to Anakin just as the rush of betrayal flooded his mind and it was all he could do not to roar with rage before everyone in the room. She and Kenobi betrayed him together… They'd been together… And she lied about it! She lied to his face! She said she loved him but – but how could she?! "That's not what happened!" Her voice rose whether with anger or hysteria, Anakin wasn't sure. "He – Obi-wan came to see me for a short while for lunch… We're friends – just friends… He – he kissed my cheek, that's all. This has been doctored!" Her voice cracked painfully as she looked at Anakin, "It's not real…"
"Holos, you'll find, Senator, do not lie. But people do. Quite often I've found." Palpatine leant back in his chair with a sigh. "You do yourself no favours by continuing the farce. Take his moment to admit the truth and then, we can all move onward and find solutions to our problems together…"
Suddenly, Anakin could stand to hear no more of this. He was either going to throw up or wreck something and he could do neither before all these people. Without another word, he stormed through the Chancellor's office and toward the exit. Voices whispered as he did so, but he ignored them. Against his will, a tear fell from his eye onto his cheek and the very moment the doors shut behind him, his cybernetic hand drove itself into the nearest wall. Redrobes who lined the corridor watched him curiously, but the Jedi didn't care. He wanted to scream, he wanted to stab something with his lightsaber… He wanted to die.
Bail watched as the woman he held in extremely high standing ran as quickly as she could out of the room after the Jedi who'd walked out just a moment earlier with fury in his eyes. He believed her when she claimed the footage was false, after all, Palpatine gained from discrediting her. Bail knew her. And he suspected many things. And none of them were that she was with General Kenobi. He only had to look at Padme's blue eyed boy to know just who she was with…
Too furious with the Chancellor to resume the meeting, Bail promptly stood and excused himself. Perhaps he could find Padme and offer some council, or even a comforting shoulder. This stunt by Palpatine was wholly uncalled for, and if it were him who'd been accused and shamed before his beloved Breha, Bail wouldn't know what to do with himself. What he did know was, if the situation was indeed that way, Padme would stand proudly by his side as he would hers. Now was the time to be her friend, to offer his support and help as best he could… Maybe doing so may even ease the shock felt by the clearly hurt other party. But even Bail knew this was a large stretch.
When he exited the Chancellor's office, the Senator of Alderaan found the pair just a few meters away, by the looming window which touched both floor and ceiling at once and though it was rude, he could not steal his eyes away from them. They exchanged harsh, angry whispers he could not hear from where he stood and the Knight pointed furiously at Padme as her head shook frantically and her lip trembled. Bail's heart ached for them both. He wanted to move toward them but found that he could not. This was a… Personal matter. One where his interference would not be appreciated. While he did not understand the words being said, he could see clearly, their effect. Even from where he stood, he saw the tears on his friend's face and grimaced. She reached for his arm, but Skywalker retracted it as if her very touch burned him. Whatever the situation, whatever the truth of the matter, Bail's heart broke for her.
Suddenly, General Skywalker turned on his heel and marched off down the corridor and past Bail faster than Padme's legs could keep up with. "Anakin!" She cried after him, regardless of who might hear, but the Jedi did not turn back and Bail near winced at the clear desperation he heard her voice. "Anakin, stop!" But he didn't stop. Nor did he look back.
A/N: Oh Palpatine you are the WORST! Making fake footage of Padme and Obi-wan... It's genius but I hate him anyway. Please review and let me know what you think!