It took her a long time to see it. Padmé had just been so happy.

Things have been good. The war was over, the Sith vanquished, the Chancellor was deposed by Anakin and Mace Windu, the Republic rebuilding, the Jedi still alive (where had that thought come from?). She'd been able to give birth on Naboo, everything following her birth plan perfectly, except for the welcome surprise of not one but two babies—twins, a boy and a girl, she and Anakin were both right. She and Anakin had both retired to a quiet, happy life on Naboo, peacefully residing in Theed. Everything is as she dreamed.

But something is wrong.

Her parents and her sister came to visit, Darred bringing the girls a few hours later. She thought things were fine, normal, as they chatted about pleasant ordinary things, Padmé asking for advice on the babies, Sola telling how Pooja and Ryoo were doing in school, normal things.

But then she spied a tear tracking down her sister's face.

She blinks; the tear vanishes.

She sees a look of rage on her mother as she stares at Anakin, and she is about to ask why, her family had always liked him, and then her mother accidentally cuts herself with the kitchen knife and has to go leave, her father going to help her out.

Then there was that visit from Ahsoka—well. Enough of that.

Her life is wonderful. The babies are angels. She's a mother, she gets to be a wife in public, not keep her husband a secret, but embrace him without caring what anyone thinks. She's able to visit her parents and her sister and Darred and her nieces as much as she wants. She doesn't have to worry about politics, which are always so messy (she loves politics and fighting for the people). She's been able to call Queen Apailana and help her on little issues like ribbon cutting ceremonies. She and Anakin live in the house with the lake view and perfect nursery for the twins she dreamed of. Her daily life is bliss.

So why does she keep waking up from nightmares?

Why are they always variations on the same theme?

(burning sulfur, ashes, smoke, lava)

(I love you... Liar!)

(you're breaking my heart...)

(Galactic Empire... thunderous applause...)

(the Jedi temple is burning... seeing the sight from her apartment, she breaks into tears)

(her throat, crushing pressure, she can't breathe... why can't she breathe!)

When she wakes startled from the nightmares, Anakin is usually there to comfort her, and he is always so kind, patient, gently reassuring her it was just dreams, and this was their life, their home, that she feels so guilty for how the first few seconds before she places things, she always feels a spark of fear upon waking to see Anakin's face looming over her.

(But why would she ever be afraid of her husband?)

Something is wrong.

It takes a while for Padmé to finally place her finger on it, but finally she sees.

There are no other babies in all of Theed.

Luke and Leia are the only ones.

There are in fact, no other children under five at all: no toddlers, no preschoolers. The local nursery looks cheerful but is empty.

And then Padmé realizes something else: ever since the war ended, she has never once left Theed. Let alone go offworld.

Whenever she suggests, Anakin always deflects and she ends up forgetting. Until now.

The smell of ash and bubbling lava always haunts her dreams now. (so does the feeling of breathlessness, like drowning but above shore—why can't she breathe?)

Something is wrong.

Poor Padmé doesn't yet know the truth, but she's starting to get closer...

The source credit for the cover image is insta gram (added space so censors don't remove it), after the com, it's (slash) p (slash) CKWgGp5AfzW