Hello everyone, it's been so long. Between the chaos at work, my upcoming trip, and the fact that my inspiration shifted from one story to another, it's been an adjustment. It took me a while to get back in the groove of this story since it's been so long. This chapter won't be as exciting as the last chapter but I can promise the next one will be. Meanwhile in this chapter Anakin ponders on who the traitor could be while also finding out about other potential threats to Padme and their family, we learn more about Sache and her history (since I know my eliminating her from the suspect list made her sort of a wild card, and I wanted to show her backstory like everybody else), the outcome between Vatie and the traitor, and we see Great-Aunt Padme Lydonia going to the Lake Country and pondering about her duties to the Queen and her relationship with Sheev. I hope everybody enjoys.

Chapter 15

Anakin watched in silence as it poured down rain outside and even witnessed a couple flashes of lightning.

Ferus had gone to find a quiet place to meditate after looking through the files with Anakin.

Elle and Motee were in different parts of the house, making sure all the windows were covered, and also keeping an eye out in case Divo or any Stormtroopers returned.

Anakin meanwhile, had been told to stay in the parlor and rest so his injuries could heal better. Of course, Anakin was never one to hold still even when he was injured. His ribs ached from the cold as did his head. He could feel the injury in his left arm from the other day, and the cut on his back from two days ago hurt, but the pain was tolerable thanks to the painkillers Padme had made him take before she left to seek out Line.

Padme.

He hoped that she was alright and safe. He couldn't be one hundred percent sure yet that Sabe wasn't the traitor he sought without proof. Until then he had to trust that Padme would be able to handle herself without him. As for everybody else he would have to keep a sharp eye on them. The files on Typho and the handmaidens had revealed some personal information he hadn't been aware of before. Maybe a part of him should feel guilty for the breach of privacy, but with Anakin's family on the line he couldn't bring himself to feel any shame whatsoever. Of course, not everybody's personal lives and secrets were written in data files. The information he had though was enough to figure out who has motive. He would have to wait and see if Vatie had found any new information before he started pulling people aside and interrogate them.

He sighed, putting the datapad down.

Where were Padme and Sabe?

Where was everybody else in fact?

It was nearing the end of the afternoon which meant most people would be leaving their day jobs and heading home.

The rain had begun to pour even more heavily, making it difficult to see outside. Anakin could feel his anxiety grow. They had a diary to find along with a traitor, and they had to stop Malorum where he was at before he discovered more information and gave it to Palpatine. On top of that they were running out of time here on Naboo. If Karrde left without them, how would they be able to escape with the Empire watching the planet so closely?

Anakin sensed somebody coming to the parlor, and turned his head to see Elle come in, carrying a cup of tea.

"You should be laying down, General Skywalker," the young girl gently scolded him as she handed him the cup.

Anakin received it and blew at the steam. He wasn't much of a tea drinker, but he was thirsty and the tea might soothe the headache he felt coming.

"I've always had a hard time sitting and resting," Anakin told her, sipping his drink. "And you can call me Anakin. The war's over and any surviving Jedi are outlaws."

Elle looked at him, startled. "Oh, but there is. You've fought in countless battles in service to the Republic. Even if it's now an Empire you've earned the title you fought as."

Anakin was touched, but changed the topic to the weather outside before it made him uncomfortable. "I don't think I've ever been here this time of the month. Does it always rain this much?"

"Usually. I am surprised by the lack of rain we've had though. By this time of year many villages are flooded up to their knees," Elle answered him.

Anakin was surprised by this. Naboo was so beautiful and tranquil, he would have never thought of it having such natural disasters.

Elle carefully looked through the blinds covering the window in front of them. "You can just make out the Yelnina home across the street," she commented.

Anakin followed her gaze, and sure enough was able to see the more modern day home right across from the Lasara Home. Through the rain, Anakin was able to make out the artistic features of Naboo nobility displaying its family's wealth and power. He was also able to recognize the name Yelnina, and what Jar Jar had told him the other day.

"As in Senator Tesse Yelnina?"

Elle nodded. "The very same. However, there hasn't been an official public announcement yet."

That piqued Anakin's interest. "What can you tell me about her?"

Elle explained to him. "After the Empire's formation and Padme's disappearance, Representative Binks had to take up the duties that had belonged to Padme. He allowed me and Motee to continue on his staff and help him. However, prejudices against non-human species have been growing since the formation, and somebody, we believe in the Senate, petitioned to have Representative Binks removed from office instead of allowing him to take full representation of the Chommell Sector."

"Removed? For what?!" Anakin was outraged on behalf of his Gungan friend. According to what Padme had told him, in the last months of the Clone Wars, Jar Jar's diplomatic skills had gotten better thanks to the mentorship of Padme, Bail, and many other Senators. To lose everything he had worked and built had to be devastating for Jar Jar despite what he had told Anakin the other day.

"I personally believe that Palpatine realizes that he can't control Binks and wants to replace him with someone he could," Elle offered.

"And Tesse Yelnina is that person?"

"Possibly. When I first became Padme's handmaiden the other handmaidens told me which people to look on as her allies and possible enemies. The Yelninas were among her list of enemies. From what I've heard, the Yelninas came into power after the Celestine bombing when Tapalo became King of the Naboo. He made their eldest daughter Princess of Theed and the rest important officials throughout Naboo. They remained a high and powerful family on Naboo until the end of Veruna's reign when Padme's election threatened to cost them everything. Senator Tesse's father, Aros Yelnina had four daughters at the time, the eldest old enough to go and serve as a handmaiden. From my understanding, it was Aros' plan to have his daughter spy on Padme while she was in service. Panaka had suspected this and made her the lowest ranking handmaiden with less access. However, I've heard that she genuinely wanted to serve Padme and was disowned by her father when she refused to spy for him. She was killed during the occupation when we resisted the Trade Federation. Padme and all the other handmaidens had grieved for her. She had proven her loyalty but at the cost of her own life."

When Elle finished, Anakin was silent.

Born a slave and growing up on one of the harshest and most brutal planets in the galaxy, Anakin had been no stranger to death when he had found himself in the Blockade Crisis not even ten years old. He remembered the devastation he felt at the loss of Qui-gon and Obi-wan's grief. He remembered Padme trying to hide her pain and sadness behind a brave mask so she could lead her people through this at fourteen years old. He remembered seeing soldiers, guards, and pilots crying when they discovered a friend or loved one hadn't survived. The Blockade invasion may have lasted from several days to a few weeks, but the casualties had been high enough.

"What about the Yelnina family? Didn't they grieve for her as well?" he asked.

"I don't know. Sabe once told me that at the time of the Blockade, Aros Yelnina had been in the process of removing her name from the family records. When she died, Padme and all her handmaidens at the time created a memorial for her in the Handmaiden Cemetery so that her name would always be on public record," Elle explained.

Anakin's fists clenched, the gears in his prosthetic moaning in protest as his anger towards Aros Yelnina grew. He couldn't believe that someone would carry such callous spite towards their own child even after their death. Anakin didn't even want to imagine what he would do if he lost Luke or Leia. The whole galaxy would burn.

Elle continued. "Tesse I believe was five years younger than More. Her two younger sisters are both married now to high ranking families. She's not as bad as her father, and has been offering me and Motee positions as her handmaidens when she's sworn in."

"And have you both accepted?" Anakin asked, keeping a tight lid on his emotions.

To his relief, Elle shook her head. "Not yet. The offer was made a couple of days before Madame Thule's death. Motee asked her to let us think about it before we give her our answer."

This presented another possible problem. Could Tesse be using Motee and Elle to get her information and pass it on to Malorum? With her home right across from the Lasara Home she could spy on them easily. But they had been taking precautions, hadn't they? This whole cat and mouse game frustrated Anakin. Who was the traitor, and why were they toying with them like this?

Anakin opened his mouth to ask more about Tesse Yelnina when Motee entered the room. He closed it and noticed Motee slip a commlink into her pocket. Suspicion grew in him. She was sister to a Queen who had been forced to resign because of her Separatist connections, and yet she herself had been accepted as handmaiden to Naboo's senator in the Republic Senate. Anakin could remember when he first met her. Padme had been preparing to go on a diplomatic mission, and he had come to say goodbye and wish her luck. Motee had walked in on them in a passionate embrace. Anakin had sensed her amusement and maybe a bit of annoyance for his indiscretion and possibly risking her mistress's reputation. She was a bit of a stickler for rules, but so was Obi-wan and Anakin knew how to make sticks in the mud have fun. He liked to think they had become friends, yet out of all the others she was one of his lead suspects. The Separatists had been the enemy during the war, but with the Republic now an Empire, Anakin wasn't sure what to make of them.

He tried to sense Motee's feelings and thoughts. He sensed anxiety and fear under her mask. For what? Or who? He tried digging further, but Motee was not weak minded and any further prods would draw her attention.

Apparently, Elle too could sense her friend's true thoughts as well. "Are you alright?"

Motee smiled, but Anakin could tell it was forced. "I'm fine. I just got off the comm with my cousin Hastre."

"How's Cortin?" Elle asked.

"He's fine. Cortin is my godson," Motee told Anakin.

He nodded and she continued. "Hastre told me that Stormtroopers have been searching their street and people's homes. Apparently somebody told them about suspicious Jedi activity in their area."

"Is there?" Anakin asked.

"No! Not that I'm aware of. Ever since Queen Apailana voiced her disapproval of the Jedi purges, Naboo has been under the Empire's scrutiny. The death of Madame Thule intensified it. Rewards have been offered to anyone with information on Jedi or rebels. I heard on some star systems, conditions are so bad people turn their neighbors in for a week's worth of rations."

Anakin could feel his stomach coil at this information. His thoughts turned to his children and step-brother and sister-in-law watching them. Tattoine was a dust ball in the outer rim that nobody cared about. The Empire hadn't come to their planet yet, but when they did, would their neighbors find Anakin and Padme's sudden appearance six months ago suspicious? Would they turn Owen and Beru, who had lived there for years, in if they saw Luke or Leia use the Force? How would Owen and Beru explain their absence to their curious neighbors?

Anakin's thoughts were broken when through the torrents of the storm outside, he heard a loud scream.

000{{*}}000

Sache Aeyinson pulled her cloak closer around her body as she hurried out of the palace and through the rain along with many other people who were hurrying home. She could feel her hands and head beginning to ache from the cold as she splashed through the current beginning to grow in the streets from the rain. Already, she could feel her gown becoming soaked through, making it difficult to move in as she hurried on to the transport that would drop her off near Eirtae's neighborhood. She was glad Yane had commed her earlier to tell her she would be stopping by their apartment to pick up a change of clothes for them. She hoped her friend would grab her meds too while she was at it. If not, well… Sache was no stranger to pain.

She had been born Sashah Adova to the most abusive parents in Theed. Her father had been a hotheaded drunk, and her mother had been a failing actress with an addiction to deathsticks and spice. She could remember all those times her father would hit her every time he thought she was in his way or making too much noise, and her mother who would take hours to days to remember that she had a daughter who needed to eat before she made something edible to eat. She could remember the day her father kicked her so hard, she fell down their apartment building stairs, broke her arm in two places and fractured her collarbone. At the hospital, the doctors and nurses noticed the handprint bruises on her and realized how malnourished she was.

At six years old she was taken into the city's custody and placed under the care of her mother's former employers, the Aeyinsons whom she would call her mama and papa. The Aeyinsons ran an acting workshop and had two children of their own who had already grown up and moved out by the time Sashah came into their care. Her life had been good and happy. Papa would play music and sing to her, and Mama taught her how to groom herself and how to hide her emotions, and present different ones to other people. It turned out she was much better at acting than her biological mother.

When she turned twelve she was discovered by Panaka who had been looking for candidates to serve as handmaidens to the future Queen Amidala. Recognizing that this was a chance at a fresh start for her, Sashah's foster parents had encouraged her to accept Panaka's offer. She had accepted it, and had her name legally changed from Sashah Adova to Sache Aeyinson, taking on her foster parents' last name as well as her foster mother's first name. She had excelled in hand combat training and blaster training, learning to channel years of anger towards her birth parents into it. It turned out she could control her temper better than her biological father could.

She and her foster parents had been proud and excited when she had been made Fourth Handmaiden under Queen Amidala. She was the second youngest handmaiden and had become good friends with the actual youngest, Yane thanks to their training together. She got along well with the other primary handmaidens. Rabe was so kind and understanding, and knew how to comfort you. Eirtae was like a bratty older sister at first, but eventually mellowed down and taught Sache and Yane about court etiquette. Sabe, Sache had idolized because she wasn't afraid to talk back at Panaka, and she always seemed to take control of a bad situation and get them through it. As for Amidala, Sache was there when she left the council chambers, and helped remove the paint and finery, and just see Padme, an ordinary girl who loved to talk with them as equals, gossip and laugh like the teenagers they were. Before she knew it, Sache had five friends she would gladly call her sisters.

Then the Blockade happened. When the Jedi had rescued them from their droid guards, Padme had ordered both her and Yane to stay behind and organize a resistance against the Trade Federation. Sache Aeyinson, not even thirteen yet, and she found herself smuggling grenades, blasters, and all sorts of weapons to the Resistance. She never, even when Panaka trained her to protect the Queen at all cost, imagined that she would become a killer, and yet every time she and the Resistance would ambush droid patrols she would feel pride every time she threw a grenade and fired a blaster at the droids who dared to invade her planet, and hold her people hostage.

Sache became a courier for the Resistance, and she and Yane developed a way to deliver coded messages. Yane, although more tomboy thanks to her father's influence, had a mother who had been a weaver. Talla Carinda had insisted on her daughter in learning some of her skills, and those skills had come in handy when Yane used them to weave codes and messages into cut up fabric Sache would carry. One day, Sache hadn't been quick enough to dodge a droid patrol and had been caught; thankfully she had hidden the fabric away before the droids would have found it. She was taken in for interrogation and for hours a day for several days the droids would torture to get information out of her. During that time Sache had truly believed she was going to die as the interrogation droids cut her, burned her, broke her bones, and smashed her hands in an attempt to get her to talk. To this day even Sache was impressed by the sheer will and loyalty she had that kept her silent even under all the torture. She couldn't think of that time without getting the shakes. The Nemodians had used emotional torture on her as well, telling her that her Queen had abandoned her and the names of all the people who had died. That's how she found out about her fellow handmaiden More Yelnina's death. Still Sache had kept her silence and protected the Resistance.

Then Amidala had returned and freed them from the Trade Federation. Because of her injuries in the line of duty, Sache had received two Red Lotus medals, and she had also received the Polana Award for Bravery, the highest honor a fighter of Naboo could receive. She had been taken off duty temporarily until her injuries healed. For three months she was forced to take pain medicine and go through physical therapy for her hands. She also learned that she suffered from PTSD as well, the situation worsened when the news of her foster parents' deaths reached her. If it hadn't been for Padme and her sister handmaidens, especially Yane, Sache would have lost herself in her medications and turned out exactly like her biological parents. With her friends' help, Sache learned to push on and returned to active duty.

When Padme's terms ended, Sache had a desire to continue serving Naboo. She ran and won a seat in the Planetary Legislative Assembly by an overwhelming amount of votes. She had honestly been surprised when Padme told her that the people knew all about her service during the Blockade and her years of service as handmaiden, and admired her for her courage, strength, and diligence. The former queen and handmaidens celebrated at the Carindas' home who had come to see Sache as a second daughter along with Yane. It had been the happiest Sache had been since the Blockade.

She and Yane moved into an apartment together, the latter going to med school while Sache served Naboo in her newly elected seat. She helped the Naboo through several crises: when the war started, Jamillia's forced resignation, Separatist attacks, Neeyutnee's assassination, the election of Apailana, and recently the transition of the Republic into an Empire. These last five years had been a trial for Sache, and now with Governor Bibble, her friend and mentor talking about retirement, eyes were on Sache to become the next governor of Naboo. It was almost overwhelming to Sache, and now with the death of Madame Thule, and the reappearance of her former mistress and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, it was all Sache could do to keep it together.

There was already suspicion going around in the palace. Sache could feel Panaka's eyes on her as she attended council meetings, waiting for her to reveal something. Then there was the Emperor and his entourage Mas Amedda and Sly Moore. The Umbarian woman made Sache uneasy enough without the overwhelming presence of the Emperor. She was so mysterious and in the holovideos of the Senate, Sache rarely ever heard her speak. She was like a shadow watching and waiting.

Sache shivered, pulling her cloak even more tightly around her. She was glad when the transport dropped her off at the end of the street where the Lasara Home was. If anyone saw her and thought it suspicious, she would tell them she wished to speak to Eirtae on a political issue since they were old friends who worked in the palace together.

Her hands ached, and Sache tried rubbing and moving them to help. The sooner she got out of this weather, changed out of her soaked work clothes and into some nice warm ones the better.

She was almost to the Lasara Home when a glance towards the alley next to the home made her stop. The gate door leading to the gardens of the Lasara Home was open. With everyone staying in Eirtae's home they agreed that it would look suspicious if they all came out the front door, so most of them had been taking the back way out through the gardens. They made sure the door was latched so as to not draw attention. Curious. Sache decided to come in through the back way as well and latch it. Although careless, someone must not have latched it well.

She could remember the one time she met all of Eirtae's family for the first time. Her father had been kind to her friends, but her mother… Sache's stomach twisted in anger as she thought about the rude and snobby woman who looked down on all of them with contempt. Padme for upstaging her daughter by winning the election, Rabe for her disloyalty to her high rank, and Sabe, Yane, and Sache for being "peasants" who dared to enter her home. Seriously, not even on Eirtae's worst days when she first started as handmaiden had she been as hateful and scornful as her mother. It had opened Sache's eyes to Eirtae, knowing all too well having a parent who looked down on you like you were a disappointment.

Her brothers however had been alright. Sache could remember meeting them here in this garden. Edvard, the older one, had been extremely quiet, only speaking a handful of words. Eirtae said he had been that way ever since the death of their oldest brother Ergei whom he had been close to. Endre however… Sache could feel herself warm up everytime she thought of him. He was Eirtae's little brother, the same age as Sache with wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smile that made her heart stop. She never told anyone except Yane that the main reason she visited Eirtae under the pretense of work was so she could see him. She didn't know how to tell her friend that she had a major crush on her brother she was closest with for fear of how it would affect their friendship, and Eirtae's already estranged relationship with her mother.

So caught up was she in her thoughts of Endre Lasara that she missed the tree root in the path and tripped. She fell down with a splash in a mud puddle. Now she was fully soaked and muddy with sore hands and bruised knees, and now shivering from the cold.

She turned her body over to glare at the tree root only to discover her mistake.

It wasn't a tree root but a booted leg.

Alarms went off in Sache's head as she hurriedly picked herself up. What…? Who…?

She couldn't think.

The leg led to a body mostly hidden in the shrubs. Sache was numb as she recognized the light blue cloak. She reached out and turned the person facing down, up.

Staring back at her was the dull and dead expression of Vatie Bibble.

Sache couldn't breathe. She was shaking as she stumbled back. All of a sudden she was twelve again and under the captive of the droids who tortured her.

When she finally managed to breathe in some air, her exhale came out as a scream.

000{{*}}000

65 BBY

The Lake Country was beautiful.

It was different from the mountains of Claines, but gave off a feeling of calm and serenity to it. It gave Padme a much better understanding as to why so many of Naboo's higher classmen flocked to this place. If she lived in a place like this she didn't think she would ever want to leave.

Varykino itself was beautiful. A prize of the Lake Country and the envy of all its noble neighbors, Varykino was like a small palace.

Once owned by one of Naboo's most beloved poets Omar Berneko until his mysterious kidnapping, he had left the estate in his will to his good friend Ami Naberrie, Luke's ancestor and it had stayed in the family ever since.

Luke chuckled, and Padme realized she had been staring at the lake house in awe. She snapped out of her wanderings and assisted Luke, Winama, and Ryoo with unloading their luggage out of the gondola speeder while Ruwee and Jobal ran about to explore the magnificent home. They were assisted by two servants who helped to carry the luggage inside.

As they went inside Padme couldn't help but comment. "I can't believe you leave this place to live in the capital."

Luke chuckled as they walked in. "It's a wonderful place to escape and hide out in, but eventually one must return to the real world."

When they were inside however there was chaos.

Luke had agreed to host the Queen and her guards during her retreat this summer, but the Naberrie entourage had underestimated all the changes they had expected.

Servants were scurrying about to make the palace ready for the Queen's arrival, and the security guards were scouring the place, doing safety checks. Padme could see Winama pulling a servant aside and asking where the Queen would want her private quarters to be, Ryoo trying to balance the boxes of fabric she had brought to work on, and Ruwee and Jobal being chased by servants for stealing sweets from the kitchen already. Padme suddenly remembered that her father and Mammy would be coming in a few days, and was worried as to how her father would react to all this chaos.

When she turned to Luke, he smiled sheepishly. "Your room will be in the first tower on the third floor, last door on the left looking out on the lakes. I'll let you get settled, but then we'll have to be back down here in a couple of hours to welcome the Queen. Excuse me."

He took off towards the guard in charge while Padme looked at all her suitcases and sighed.

000{{*}}000

It felt so good to be out of mourning clothes, Padme thought. It didn't mean that she stopped missing her mother and Jon, but it felt nice to be wearing something else besides black or lavender.

Jobal was excited to be wearing color as well, but Ryoo, according to custom, would have to wear black a little longer.

Padme had worn a simple but lovely white dress when she had welcomed the Queen and her entourage with the Naberries to Varykino.

Celestine had brought her five handmaidens, Captain Blantyre, and about a dozen guards for security. By the Queen's usual standards that wasn't a lot, but staying with them would also be Princess Blantyre and Governor Tapalo and his wife as political advisors.

Padme had been worried that there wouldn't be enough room to host all of them, but Varykino was much bigger than she had realized and was able to accommodate everyone.

Dinner with the Queen had been much better tonight and less tense than the last one Padme had attended all those months ago. Celestine seemed more at ease, Toun Tapalo seemed more allied with her than his own brother Bon, and even Princess Blantyre seemed more relaxed and happy since Padme first spoke with her weeks ago. Ruwee and Jobal were excited as well to be around royalty, but had behaved well as they were told, and didn't ask too many impertinent questions. Ryoo had been in awe as Celestine talked to her about fashion and maybe ordering a dress or two off of her and Winama. Padme had been happy for her sister, and had been equally as excited to see Gregor, Pooja, Line, and Shon as well.

After dinner, Pooja had taken Padme aside to talk to her about her assignment. The Queen was hosting a bolo-ball tournament between the families of the Lake Country in a couple of days. By then all the courtiers would have arrived and settled, and would be eager at the chance to earn favor from the Queen. It would be the perfect time for Padme to listen and observe among the crowd.

Now, dressed in her nightgown and ready for bed, Padme found herself looking out her bedroom window.

The moon was out tonight and it shined on the waters of the Lake Country.

Padme's eyes however were on the majestic country house across the lake from Varykino. Luke had told her the name of it, Convergence the home of the Palpatines. Her thoughts wandered to Sheev.

Since starting her new position as aide to Secretary Bowen, they barely had time to see each other, just sneaking letters and notes to each other, and maybe stealing a kiss or two whenever Padme was on break before she was missed. However, lately Padme had been wondering who they were trying to fool. Their relationship was pretty much an open secret at the Royal Palace. Before, people could dismiss their meetings as two classmates discussing their class assignments, but ever since Padme's graduation, with her and Sheev still seeing each other, people were beginning to suspect there was something more going on between them. Winama and Ryoo's clients loved to gossip while in their shop, and despite her sister and friend's attempts to shield her from them, Padme knew about the rumors.

People thought that a poor farm girl working in the palace hoped to find herself a rich lover who would elevate her above her station, maybe even marry her. Nothing could have been further from the truth about Padme. She knew what members of the noble class thought about the lower classes. She had been listening to those rumors ever since she first started as an intern.

It was the rumors about Sheev that bothered Padme. Many believed that Sheev was just searching for a source of amusement just to annoy his father. It stung but Sheev's reassurance that he didn't give a kriff what people thought, most especially his father had helped. Padme knew that Sheev cared about her. One day when they had been meeting in the palace gardens, they had run into a page who had been in their class. The guy had sneered and asked Sheev if Padme was a handful in bed. The look of rage on Sheev's face had nearly frightened Padme, and she knew without a doubt that he would have pummeled their former classmate if she hadn't intervened and pulled him away before he lunged at him. So yes, Padme knew that on some level Sheev cared about her enough to defend her honor.

Their relationship had been developing ever since their kiss at the New Year Ball, but could it be called love? Padme wasn't sure. They've never said the words. Her heart would skip a beat everytime he'd meet her gaze, she would feel herself getting excited everytime she would receive a note from him, and she swore she was shocked everytime they kissed, but was that love? And did Sheev feel the same way? Was their relationship a fleeting teenage romance, or did it have the potential to become something more? She didn't know.

She wanted to talk to Sheev and find out, but how? In the Lake Country they would be out in the open, and people would wonder if they disappeared. She also didn't know how Sheev's father would react. Cosinga Palpatine was known for his hot-headed temper, and Padme had heard rumors in court that he threatened to disinherit his son. Padme did not want Sheev for his money, but for the way he made her feel free and happy since the Plague. However, despite Sheev's claims on the contrary, Padme knew a small part of him deep inside craved for love and approval from his sire. She also knew that Cosinga Palpatine would want his eldest son and heir to marry a girl from a noble house with wealth and connections, not a farm girl whose family was barely managing and depended on the kindness of others.

Padme knew that with all these obstacles, even if she and Sheev wanted to be together always, the odds were against them. Yet Padme couldn't keep herself from being drawn to Sheev like a moth to a flame. She was afraid of the burn, but craved the heat.

She was in grave danger.

She finally turned away from Convergence and went to bed.

She was resolved. She had to end this now between her and Sheev before they went too deep. She both hoped and dreaded seeing at the bolo-ball tournament. She would have to avoid him and focus on the Queen's task. Then she would pull him aside where they couldn't be seen and tell him.

As she got under her covers, she sent a prayer to Shiraya to give her strength, courage, and wisdom to do what must be done.

For Sheev's sake and her own.

It took a long time for her to fall asleep.

000{{*}}000

So what do you guys think? Not as exciting as the last chapters seem to be, but I promise the next chapter will have much more excitement in it with a little bit of drama. It's good to be back in Star Wars again.

I'm going to be leaving for a trip to Vermont on Monday and be gone for almost a week. I'm also going to be swamped with work between now and then, and instead of using what precious time I have to pack my suitcase I'm finishing up typing this chapter before I publish and hurry to get stuff done.

Thank you all for being so patient in this long wait.