In her dream she was back on Naboo by the lake. Anakin held her close while two children whose faces she couldn't quite see played in the water, laughing happily. It was a perfect moment, and Padme only wished it could last forever.

Unfortunately, the moment was interrupted all too soon by the sound of her alarm. Padme groaned. She used to be something of a morning person, rarely even needing the alarm to wake her. Now though, Padme felt like she was in a constant flux between either not being able to sleep enough no matter how many hours she slept or not being able to sleep at all.

She wished she could return to her dream for just another moment, but unfortunately, reality waited for none. A reality where she was exhausted and alone. Working herself ragged to try and accomplish something for a republic she was half convinced couldn't even function anymore. Alone while her husband risked his life fighting a war for that same republic. A war she wasn't even fully convinced was worthwhile. And just hoping against hope that it would all work out soon and that then they could actually be a family and she wouldn't have to do this alone.

A couple light kicks reminded Padme that she wasn't in fact alone, and for the first time since her alarm had so rudely awakened her, Padme smiled. "Good morning Luke. Good morning Leia."

Right then, Anakin called. Padme smiled as she answered. "You know," she said. "I think Luke and Leia know somehow when you're going to call. They always start moving."

Anakin grinned. "That's great! They're learning to use the force already!"

Padme's eyes widened. "I was kidding. Is that actually possible?" she wondered.

Anakin shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe. My mom said that when I was a baby I used to always start screaming before Gardulla showed up in the slave quarters, and that's how everyone would know to make themselves scarce. But then again, maybe I just knew by the stench."

Huh. Padme hadn't really considered that she might have infants that could use the force. Somehow, she had just assumed that was something that would come at some vague later point in time. That didn't really make sense though now that she thought about it. Could a baby summon items with the force? Or leap out of their crib? That could be a child proofing nightmare. Nonetheless, Padme felt a certain pride in her unborn children that was only marred by an equally strong fear.

Luke and Leia were special and different. There was no denying that. And others would realize it too. For the first time, Padme really considered Anakin's vision of clones chasing her. She had dismissed his notion that the Jedi might try and steal their children, but what if Luke and Leia were in danger?

Anakin must have seen the worry written on her face. "It's all going to be okay, Padme," he said with a smile. "In fact, everything is great. We just captured Grievous. The war is over. I'm on my way home."

Padme gaped for a moment. That was exactly the news she had been hoping to hear for months, and yet, it seemed somehow too good to be true. "Really?" she whispered. "It's over?"

"It's over," Anakin repeated. "The droid army has been shut down, and we have Grievous. He's agreed to surrender seeing as he's got no leg to stand on. Literally," Anakin added, the last word with a mischievous grin. "I will be home very soon, my angel. For good this time."

Padme felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes, but they were tears of happiness. She watched as a hand that wasn't actually there reached up as if to dry away her tears and knew that soon they wouldn't have to pretend anymore. Her heart glowed with the knowledge that the happy moment from her dreams was not so far out of reach after all.

Anakin had to go soon after that ("to get the report in before Rex does it for me" he had explained), and Padme also needed to go get ready for the day ahead. With a new pep in her step, Padme made a quick breakfast, showered, and even managed to dress herself (in one of her simpler senate gowns, but it still counted). By the time Teckla arrived, the handmaiden was surprised to find Padme already dressed and halfway through applying her makeup.

The day continued in an unusually positive and productive fashion that Padme recognized was likely more due to her own improved outlook than outside circumstances. She spent most of the morning working with Bail on a proposal for how to integrate the clones into the republic as citizens rather than soldiers, a topic that Padme recognized had just gained a new urgency.

Through it all, Padme was waiting for the news of the war's end to break. She knew it would be all anyone could talk about once it became common knowledge. Any minute now, Padme was sure.

By lunch, Padme was growing somewhat impatient. She checked the GAR database. Sure enough, Anakin had submitted a mission report almost three hours ago, but the chancellor's office had yet to authorize its release to the senate and press.

That was strange and unsettling. Something gave Padme a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Was this some sort of power play? Was Palpatine delaying the inevitability of giving up his emergency powers? Surely not. Padme might not agree with the Chancellor on all fronts, but surely he wouldn't do that. Probably it was just some procedural mishap. She would go talk to him and clear it up.

"Senator Amidala, what can I do for you?" the Chancellor said when she arrived at his office, the usual friendly smile on his face.

"Chancellor Palpatine," Padme said, returning the smile. "I was simply wondering why you have yet to release Anakin's mission report from earlier this morning."

"Ah, so you've heard the good news," the Chancellor said pleasantly. "I assure you, the delay is due only to an abundance of caution. I simply want to make sure we have Grievous here in custody and a signed surrender before breaking the news. There have been too many mistakes made in the past after all."

Padme frowned. "The droid army has been deactivated. How much more official does it need to be? There is no more threat. People need to know. Governing power needs to be returned to the Senate."

"And they will know," Chancellor Palpatine assured her. "One day will not make a difference, and I assure you that as soon as Grievous arrives and we get an official surrender, the public will know, and I will give up all emergency powers."

Padme nodded, and turned to leave, not really feeling at all reassured. She had no idea why, but somehow she had the most distinct feeling that the Chancellor was lying.

AN:

My head canon is that Palpatine has to work pretty hard in order to be able to lie to or generally hide his presence from a force user, but he can let his guard down a bit when he isn't around force users. He kind of overlooks Padme since she is not herself force sensitive and only has some moderate ability to sense the force since she is pregnant with Luke and Leia. Unfortunately, Padme doesn't understand what is going on enough to know that she should really say something about these weird feelings she keeps having.