Disclaimer: I own nothing as of yet still.

Chapter Seven: An Orphan in the Senate

Summary: *See title.

Padme Amidala sighed as she strode out into the entrance to the senate hallway. That hearing had not gone as hoped. She was already working out the next steps that should be taken if they wanted this bill passed-

Padme did a double-take.

There was a little human boy standing in the middle of the Senate hallway.

Her thoughts caught up with her and she paused. Was he the son of one of the senators? She noted his worn-looking clothes and wondered. Surely not if he was so poorly dressed. Not all senators were wealthy per se, but certainly they were well enough off. It was essential for carrying out their duties in the Senate.

Regardless, the boy looked very lost, glancing uncertainly around him, a distressed, confused expression on his face.

She hesitated. She had a meeting to get to, but she should make sure he was alright at least. She approached him.

"Are you alright dear?" She asked, putting on a gentle smile.

At the sound of her voice he turned and glanced up at her. Her eyes met his and her breath was stolen as she swore she was transported to the past when she had been a young queen on the run, and had met a little slave boy who would come to mean the galaxy to her.

The eyes, the hair… The clothes were reminiscent of that style as well… But this boy was older than Anakin had been then, perhaps eleven or twelve. But she was surprised when the boy had a similar reaction upon seeing her, for he jolted immediately in shock.

He blinked and she frowned a little, drawing back a little, but never completely losing her unthreatening smile.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you."

The boy's mouth opened but no sound came out. He stared at her, then blinked, looking away and scratching the back of his head shyly.

"You didn't frighten me, I just… thought you were someone else for a second."

...That was an odd coincidence. "Oh? Who do I remind you of?"

"...My sister." She distantly thought there was something odd in the way he said the word. "You... look a lot like her."

"Oh? Is she around here? Are you here with your family?" It wasn't that unusual for senators to tour the Senate building with their families. She had the brief image of her and Anakin wandering around the Senate with their own little family, and the thought made a familiar longing well up in her. She glanced around, and saw several people cast puzzled glances their way, but none who might be looking for the boy.

She focused on the boy again when he spoke. "No...I'm not sure where I am." He bit his lip and looked up at her imploringly and Padme felt her heart inexplicably ache at the expression.

Odd. How could a lone child have gotten past the Senate guards?

"This is the second floor of the Senate, dear."

"The- the Senate? Alderaan has a senate?"

She blinked. ...How lost was this child? "Alderaan? Sweetie, you're on Coruscant."

The boy's eyes widened and he began trembling alarmingly.

"Cor-Coruscant? Imperial Center? No! I was on Alderaan! I can't be here! I- I-"

His young voice rang with true terror the likes of which Padme had become familiar with these past months and years and she hurried to calm him. He couldn't be a seperatist's child, could he? That might explain his fear, though not how he had come to be here.

"No one is going to hurt you darling, I promise." She said soothingly. She hesitated a moment, but maternal instinct won out and she rubbed his arms. He stiffened initially, but soon relaxed into her touch.

"No one will hurt you." She said again. On an impulse, she smiled and said. "And if anyone tries, they'll have to get through me."

He glanced up at her, a little disbelievingly.

"Now don't look at me that way. You'd be surprised. I'm quite handy with a blaster." She winked at him.

He giggled and Padme's heart swelled at the sound.

"My name is Padme. We'll find you a way back to Alderaan, love. It just so happens I am good friends with Alderaan's senator. I'm sure we can arrange something."

"...Thank you." He still seemed nervous, but he was marginally calmer.

She put a hand on his shoulder blade and gently guided him through the building. It might be best if she brought him back to her office for the moment.

She thought back on the boy's words. He had called this… Imperial Center? Was that some sort of nickname the Separatists had dubbed Coruscant? Was that how they thought of The Republic? As an empire? It was troubling if that was the case.

Suddenly she felt a tickling at the back of her neck. She reached to rub the spot only to have the tickling move to her nose.

Realization struck and delight rose in her. She turned around and her delight reached a crescendo at the sight of a tall Man with wavy dark blond hair, dazzling blue eyes and dark colored Jedi robes.

She remained composed save for the bright smile lighting her features. And she calmly made her way over to him, the child, whom she had momentarily forgotten, followed, unsure.

"Master Jedi. I see you've returned." She teased.

"I have, Senator." Anakin made a sweeping bow and rose, smiling that soft smile that he reserved for her alone. They stepped into the vacant room he had been standing in the doorway of.

He glanced down and frowned in mild confusion.

She realized he was staring at the boy beside her, who had been quietly observing them, though now his eyes were fixed on Anakin.

"Uh, what's up with the youngling?" He asked quietly, a hand on one side of his mouth.

The boy had lowered his gaze. Thinking he was uncomfortable, she reached out a hand to pull him closer, but paused. His gaze was not on the floor. It was on Anakin's lightsaber.

"Anakin is a Jedi Knight." she explained. She supposed he must be in awe. It wasn't everyone who got to meet a real Jedi in person. ...Or, if he was a seperatist as she theorized, perhaps he was frightened.

"There's no need to be nervous." She said to be sure.

She turned back to Anakin. "Anakin, this is…" She blinked, then berated herself. She'd never found out his name.

"Forgive me dear, I never asked you what your name was."

The boy bit his lip. Glancing with a peculiar expression between her and Anakin. "Luke. I'm Luke." he said at last.

"Luke." She repeated. She... liked that name. In fact, she very much liked that name. She smiled affectionately at him. "That's a lovely name. I think if I ever had a son, I think I might name him that."

She felt more than saw Anakin raise his eyebrows at her.

The boy still stared. She was wondering if she had said or done anything wrong when the boy spoke again. "Are you…?" He was addressing Anakin. He paused and swallowed. "Are you… Anakin Skywalker?" There was an odd note in his voice, almost like... hope?

"Heard of me, huh?" Anakin said cockily. She resisted rolling her eyes. She knew Anakin enjoyed his reknown throughout the Galaxy. Maybe a little too much, she thought wryly.

She flicked her gaze to the boy and her smile fell.

Luke had gone pale. He took a shaky step back.

"Luke?" The name tasted sweet on her tongue. "Luke, it's alright. I promised no one would hurt you, and I meant it."

She stepped toward him, and he didn't back away anymore. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Luke is lost. He says he was on Alderaan and somehow ended up here."

Anakin raised an eyebrow at her, then the boy, seeming to actually take in his appearance for the first time. He was silent for a while, his eyes lingering on his face, as hers had. "Did you board a ship? Maybe it left the planet without you realizing."

The boy shook his head. "No. I was just walking around on Alderaan, I swear."

She and Anakin shared a glance, exchanging words silently. Perhaps the boy was just confused, or frightened, or perhaps just embarrassed. And yet...he didn't seem to be lying….

Anakin gave her a look and a nod that told her he could sense no lie.

"That's the last you remember?" He said it with the smallest hint of weary impatience, imperceptible except perhaps to her. She could tell he wanted to deal with this as soon as was possible, so they could spend some time alone.

The boy nodded. "I got seperated from Ben."

"Ben?"

"My ...guardian. ...I don't have parents." Again, there was an odd note in his voice. "They died."

"You poor dear." Padme murmured.

Then… he started to fade. Padme blinked, and no, she hadn't imagined it, the boy was… just… fading away.

Anakin stiffening beside her told her she wasn't the only one seeing it.

"Luke?" She asked, bewildered. The boy broke his gaze away from them and glanced down at himself, seeming to only just realize himself.

"This… this is what happened before." He breathed. Then he bit his lip and tears sparkled in his eyes. "But why? Why already? I just got here! I just got to meet them! Why?!"

"Who are you?" Anakin said, barely above a whisper. Padme looked to him wildly.

Luke switched his glassy blue gaze between both of theirs. He was almost completely see-through now.

A tear rolled down his cheek and off his face. "My name is Luke Skywalker!"

He was gone.

The single tear hit the floor. The only evidence he had ever been there at all.

Padme was trembling, the boy's parting words echoing throughout every crevice of her mind.

"Luke Skywalker…..... Anakin."

Anakin was frozen. He slowly shook his head.

"Anakin." She said again, her voice getting higher pitched. "You don't think… it couldn't be!"

Anakin's eyes were still riveted to the spot where the boy had been. "I don't know. I just… don't know…"