I walked down the hallway of my large ship, Stormtroopers following behind me. One rushed on the opposite side of me and seemed to nearly trip.
"Empress Amidala," the stormtrooper called out, "we have word that your son is on his way."
"Excellent. Bring him to me when he arrives."
It had been a few days since I had seen Jus. I adopted the boy when he was four-years-old. While fourteen years had passed since then, much remained the same. He stays with me for five days out of the week and with his grandfather for the other two. I always made sure to have at least two rooms in whatever ship I was piloting, just in case he might show up. I went to my room aboard the ship and waited there until a Stormtrooper ran into the room to announce his arrival. I saw him and flashed a quick smile. Jus was clad in a dark blue velvet dress and had his long dark brown hair done in an upside-down dual fan shape with a bun in the back.
"There's my beautiful senator," I said. "Did you enjoy the weekend with your grandpa?"
"I did, mother," he said with a rushed tone.
"Is there a problem?"
He looked away from me as though trying to muster up the courage to spit it out.
"I was told that Anakin saw you," I said.
"He did," Justin replied. "I told him that you sent your well-wishes."
"Good boy. So why do you seem upset?"
He placed his hand to his chest.
"Are you having a problem with your heart? I can get a medical droid to you in an instant."
"I'm healthy, mother. I just wish...I didn't have to wear this."
"But you're a senator and my key diplomat. You have to maintain a certain etiquette."
"You know what I mean. You had me grow my hair out for months just so it could be about as long as yours and then had me practicing putting it into a bun for weeks. You even had me lose a few pounds so I could fit into your old clothes. I don't understand why you can't let me just dress how I want, especially when I didn't do anything wrong. Why am I being punished?"
"You're not."
"Yes I am. I'm the only guy walking around with girl clothes."
I slapped him and he looked at me with shock.
"The reason I wanted you to wear my clothes is very simple," I said with a stern tone. "Today was another anniversary of when I met Anakin again after ten years of being apart. I was wearing that outfit when we spoke in front of his master Obi-Wan. I wanted him to be reminded of that day by seeing the person I love the most in that attire."
Justin kneeled before me.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I shouldn't have hit you," I replied. "The Dark Side makes me more prone to showing my anger. It's just that you've been my only child ever since I gave birth and they took them away while I was unconscious. That's why I've had you become a senator, live on Naboo, and wear my stuff. You're the closest thing I have to the daughter I lost because you are the child I've gained. I love you."
"I love you too, mom."
We hugged and I went to a shelf, removing two lightsabers from it. I handed one to Jus and we ignited them together, the blades of red illuminating the room. We then held hands and smiled.