"Hey Ahsoka, how's teaching going?" I asked Ashoka from the privacy of my room on a secure channel that we use.
"I see why you originally didn't want a Padawan Master." She said rubbing her temples. "I don't know how many different ways I can say the same thing so these kids can understand what I am trying to teach."
"You'll learn patience soon enough. Just wait until you have your own Padawan to teach." I told her.
"Haha we shall see."
"So how are you feeling?" I asked her, she knew I was asking about the baby.
"I feel fine. But last night I got nauseous. Morning sickness but all night." She told me rubbing her flat belly.
"Make sure you only do that in privacy." I told her gesturing to her rubbing her stomach.
"I know."
"So. Padme is here."
"Padme Amidala? Queen of Naboo?"
"Yes."
"For what?" She asked.
"To oversee a bill. She's staying for as long as it takes to get that bill past she told me. She also invited Obi-Wan and I to her place tonight for dinner."
"Are you going to go?" She asked me. I couldn't read her face if she was mad or anything.
"Only if you're okay with it."
"Why wouldn't I be okay with it?" She asked crossing her arms.
"Last time I saw her you asked if you had anything to worry about. Which you don't. I just want to make sure you're okay with it. If you're not it's no big deal and I won't go."
"Anakin I trust you." She said laughing. "Just don't let our secret slip out." She said and placed her hand back in her stomach.
"Never. I miss you."
"I miss you too."
"When you're done teaching your class I'll pick you up then the two of us are heading to Tatooine."
"To talk to your brother?" She asked.
"No for Jedi business. But while we are there we can talk to him." I told her.
"Okay. I have to go Anakin." She said abruptly.
"You have a class to teach?"
"Yes but I feel nauseous again and I don't want you to see me throw up. Goodbye. I love you." She said and ended the chat before I could say I loved her back.
I chuckled and shook my head. Sometimes I forgot how young Ahsoka was. But to me she was perfect, in every single way. I made my way out of my room and headed out to find Obi-Wan, after searching the temple and coming up empty handed I asked around to find out he was at the Senate guarding Padme while she supervised a debate. When I found them at the Senate Obi-Wan saw me and politely left his conversation to come over and talk to me.
"Turns out I am free tonight to join the both of you for dinner." I informed him.
"Of course you are. What else would you be doing?"
"I need you to stop trying to push Padme and I to fix our friendship." I told him.
"Anakin, what happened between the two of you?"
"Nothing you want to know Master." I told him. He opened his mouth to say something else but Padme walked over to us with the new Senator of Naboo so he stayed silent.
"How is the debate going?" I asked the Queen.
"Not well. It seems like everyone wants this war to continue. Every effort we try to put in to stop it seems to backfire on us." She answered looking sad.
"One day this war will end. One day soon hopefully." The new Senator said.
"So General Skywalker, will you be joining us for dinner tonight?" Queen Amidala asked me.
"Yes I will. Thank you for inviting us." I told her. She smiled at me.
"Now if you don't mind I had a long flight here. I would like to go back to my apartment to retire. I shall see you both tonight." She said,
"As it is my job to guard you on your stay here I will accompany you to your apartment." Obi-Wan said to her then turned to me, "Don't be late Anakin." He warned me. I waited until his back was to me before I stuck my tongue out at him.
I spent the rest of the afternoon just walking around the temple making small talk with other Jedi friends if mine. It felt weird not having anything to do and not having Ahsoka with me. There was a chance that the council would send me out on a mission but because I have one waiting for me as soon as Ahsoka is finished with her class it isn't likely that they'll send me out on a mission. As it got closer to the time I needed to leave for dinner with Obi-Wan and Padme, I found myself dreading wanting to go. But I made a promise so I definitely am going to go. When I got to her old apartment, which is where she was staying , I got hit with a wave of memories from all the nights we spent here as a married couple. I walked in and almost everywhere I looked I could see where we had close conversations, where we made love, where we talked about our forever future. It was hard seeing it all. Being reminded of the life I once had, it felt like all of that had happened a lifetime ago.
"Anakin? Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked me.
"Yeah I'm fine." I said, I didn't even believe what I said there was no way Obi-Wan did either.
"I'm so glad you are both here." Padme said join entering, she wasn't wearing her Queen makeup like she was every time I had seen her this trip, she was wearing a formal dress that made her body look good and her hair loosely down. She looked really good.
"Thank you for inviting us. It has been so long since we've all been together." Obi-Wan said.
"If you'll follow me dinner is ready." She said and gestured us to the dining room table. The last time I sat at this table we were trying our hardest to make our marriage work.
"So, did you ever find out who was responsible for the attack on your life?" Obi-Wan asked. Little did he know she wasn't attacked, she had a miscarriage. Of our baby. That was just a cover story.
"No. Unfortunately we did not." She lied. "But since then nothing has happened and the public still does not know about it. Thankfully."
"That is good to hear." I commented. "How have you been? Since the attack?"
"At first it was hard to get past. But I had a job to do. So I powered through it." She answered.
"Well I am glad you're okay now." I told her. For a moment our eyes locked but I looked away. I wanted to make sure she was okay but that is it. Nothing more.
"How is it being Queen of Naboo again? How are your people liking it?" Obi-Wan asked as we began to eat.
"I think it was harder for me at first. I doubted myself, I want sure if I would make a great queen but my people believe in me. It was different but I enjoy it. My people always come first to me." She answered.
"I hear you're doing a fantastic job, and that your people love you." Obi-Wan told her.
"That is always good to hear." She said smiling.
"If you will excuse me." Obi-Wan said getting up and making his way to the restroom.
"Do you remember the last time we were here?" She asked.
"I do." I answered without looking at her.
"It feels like forever ago."
"Eight months is a long time. I feel like a different person."
"So do I." She said as she moved her hand so it was on top of mine. "I miss you Anakin. I miss what we had. I still love you." She whispered.
"Padme…" I started but fell silent when we heard Obi-Wan return from the restroom, she removed her hand from mine.
"So Anakin," Obi-Wan started, "How is Ahsoka's teaching going?" He asked, but I knew he was really asking about the Duchess of Mandalore.
"If you miss your girlfriend so Much Obi-Wan, don't drag my Padawan into it." I told him smirking.
"What?! No! I don't-" He started but I cut him off laughing.
"You need to learn to take a joke Master, Ahsoka is doing fine, she is just getting irritated by teaching. These kids apparently don't take intrusion well."
"So they are mini you's then."
"Hey!" I defended myself but both Padme and Obi-Wan started laughing.
"I am glad to hear she is doing well. You seem pretty bored around the temple without her."
"I am just waiting for her to return then we have a mission. Why doesn't the council just send me out on a mission while we wait for her to finish teaching her class?"
"Because you are supposed to teach her Anakin, you can't teach her if she isn't at your side for missions."
"Is Ahsoka enjoying herself there?" Padme asked.
"I believe she is, although I think she misses the battlefield."
"She needs to learn to be able to teach if she is ever going to have a padawan of her own."
"I don't think she ever will." I told him.
"I never thought you would either, but look at you two. You two are extremely close!"
If only he knew.
"If ever Ahsoka needs to learn about politics you may send her my way and I would be happy to teach her." Padme offered. "It has been so long since I have seen her and I miss her."
"Thank you Padme, I will keep that under consideration." I told her with a smile. "Thank you for your hospitality but i think I should be on my way." I said standing up.
"I will walk you out." Padme said standing up as well and coming over to my side. She didn't give me a chance to say no.
She walked me to the door and waited until we were out of hearing distance from Obi-Wan.
"Anakin I still love you. I know now that I am Queen keeping our relationship secret will be even harder but I think we can do it. I think we can make it work! I love you Anakin." She said and put her hands on my face.
"Padme, don't do this. You deserve so much better."
"I don't care, Anakin. I want you. Tell me you want me too. Tell me you still love me."
"I can't."
"Don't you still love me?" She desperately asked.
"Of course I still love you Padme, I will always love you." I told her then grabbed her hands from my face and put them at her sides, "I just am not in love with you anymore. My feelings have changed."
"W-what?"
"I will always be grateful for everything you have done for me and I will always remember our past together and remember all of our happy memories but that is what they are now; memories, a thing of the past. I am sorry."
Really?" She asked sadly. "You're over us?"
"I am. My path is with the Jedi's. You should move on too. It is best for you. You need to be loved in a way I cannot, you deserve a family. You deserve someone that can hold your hand in public and that can claim to be the father of your children. Please Padme, I want you to be happy. I know one day you will be happier with someone else than you ever were with me." I told her, like I am with Ahsoka.
"Anakin…"
"Goodbye Padme." I said then left.
