Thanks for the reviews! Keep the feedback coming in - I want to know what I did well and what I could improve on.
This chapter's a little boring but I needed to explain some things.
As Padme walked to the ship, she felt groggy. It was like the Emperor's words were stuck in her mind, tempting her to believe him. She was almost ready to accept everything that he had said – the Jedi were the traitors.
But as she lay down alone in her quarters, she shook her head in defiance. She would not believe him. Her Anakin was still out there. Padme assumed he was on the run. The new Emperor released a list of all the Jedi they have caught.
Padme searched through the list anxiously, looking for Anakin's name. She found Obi-Wan on the list, making her sad above everything else. Obi-Wan had cared for her, kept their marriage a secret, protected the baby. As she thought about her child or children, she held her hand in front of her stomach. She would give birth to them and raise them. That is what her Ani would have wanted. That's what Obi-Wan would have wanted
Padme was unusually quiet on the journey back to Naboo. Her mind was full of thoughts. The moment she arrived she would have to take up her role as the senator. She would no longer be able to hide her pregnancy – she was almost due. She knew she could trust her handmaidens and Queen Réillata, but how could she tell them she was married to a Jedi traitor?
When Padme arrived, she greeted the Queen and walked with the handmaidens, giving a smile and a nod to Sabé who had served her well during her reign. Padme was lucky to still be in her heavily layered senator robes, or she would have been surely discovered by now.
After Padme delivered her report, with many of the Naboo council shifting uneasily at the sound of an Empire and the idea of the Jedi being traitors, she retired to her chambers. Once the three moons rose into the sky, she heard someone enter her room. Padme pointed her blaster directly at the newcomer's chest, but relaxed when she saw Sabé's face.
"My goodness, don't go scaring me like that!" Padme whispered, shuffling over on the bed to make space for her.
"I wanted to see you," Sabé smiled. "I missed you a lot."
Padme gave a quiet chuckle.
"I have something I want to tell you. I don't know how the Queen will take this," Padme muttered. "I'm pregnant, Sabé."
Her former handmaiden's eye's widened.
"And my husband…as far as I know, he's not dead but he's a Jedi knight."
"But the Jedi aren't supposed to marry," Sabé said, staring incredulously at Padme.
"He never followed the rules," Padme said, a slight, sad smile on her face. "But what am I supposed to do? I can't tell anyone or he could die!" she sobbed, unable to hold it in any longer.
"I will talk to the Queen. She sympathises with the Jedi," Sabé said, patting Padme's back. "What is his name?"
"Anakin. Anakin Skywalker," Padme choked.
Sabé stared at her. "My, how you have grown. THE Anakin?" Padme nodded.
"Very well. Meet me tomorrow morning and we will go to the Queen."
Padme hugged Sabé. "Thank you. How could I ever repay you?"
"Stop the emperor," she smiled, letting out a short laugh. "Oh and let me take care of your child as well." Sabé winked and left the room.
The next morning, Padme was nervous as she dressed. She looked at herself in the mirror. Despite the slight heat, she wore her heavy winter robes to disguise her pregnancy. Sabé met her outside the door and together they walked to the Queen's quarters.
"Padme," the Queen nodded.
"Your majesty," Padme said, giving a low bow.
The Queen dismissed the handmaidens, leaving the three of them in the room alone.
"Sabé has informed me of your…situation," she said.
Padme gave a sidelong look to her former handmaiden.
"Do not worry. I shall protect your secret. The Naboo Council does not favour the new decision in the senate." Queen Réillata gave a secretive wink. "The hospital has been informed and you shall go there with my blessing when you are ready."
Padme breathed out a sigh of relief. That was one less thing to worry about.
"I suggest you take Sabé with you," the Queen said.
Padme looked up in surprise. The handmaidens almost never left the Queen's side.
"Then I will be with her, my lady," Sabé said.
They both bowed and left the room, some of Padme's worries disappearing from her mind. Her children were safe. But where was Anakin?
