A/N: Slight disclaimer, I don't know law very well and this is purely based off some google searches and some personal experience, so as the story gets moving on and law gets talked on more, if something looks off just bear with me and point me in the right direction. Thanks for all the support on the story!
Summary: Padme Amidala built bridges with people, especially with her 4th grade students. When new student Ahsoka joins her class, she is ready to start building a bridge to the young girl. Anakin Skywalker doesn't trust easily, especially when his little sister is involved. But he's drawn to the 4th grade teacher and willing to trust Padme with the darker battles his family is facing.
Chapter Six
Big red rimmed eyes stared up at Padmé, tears very clearly falling down her cheeks despite the young girl furiously wiping them away.
"Ahsoka," Padmé said, keeping her voice calm, "What happened?"
Ahsoka sniffled sharply, the question making her think of what she learned this afternoon. Anger, sorrow and all kinds of things swirled inside her and she couldn't find the words to say it. More tears fell, she tried to blink her tears away, to stop crying, but a whimper left her as she scrunched her face. Getting on one knee, Padmé placed her hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, come here," Padmé said softly, pulling Ahsoka into her arms.
The ten year old didn't resist, she wrapped her arms around Padmé's neck and buried her face into her shoulder as she cried. Heartbreaking sobs left the little girl as she clung to Padmé as if she were the only thing keeping her grounded, in some way Padmé guessed that was more than true. Padmé rubbed her back in circular motion, offering whatever reassurances she could that everything would be alright. Several minutes passed before Ahsoka's sobs had turned into hiccups. Once her breathing was under better control, Ahsoka pulled back.
"I, I, I'm sorry," Ahsoka said through hiccups.
Padmé shook her head, she wiped the remaining tears as she said, "You don't need to be sorry. Come on inside, let's sit down and talk about this over some hot chocolate okay?"
Padmé guided the young girl inside and brought her to her kitchen counter seats. Once Ahsoka had climbed onto the chair, Padmé gave her a glass of water to sip on. While Padme knew some of the situation of what Ahsoka's home life was like, she didn't know all. To see her student so distraught put Padme on high alert and she knew she would do everything in her power to ensure that Ahsoka would be alright.
Ahsoka stared at her glass of water. What if that someone decided she couldn't stay with Anakin? That her dad was going to take her away or her grandfather. Anger and fear were the next emotions to reach her as she drank more water. If it did happen, then she'd just keep leaving them and returning to Anakin. She was resourceful and she could always find her way home, so that was what she would have to do. Padmé set down a fresh cup of hot chocolate in front of Ahsoka, glad to see the tears had subsided.
"Thank you," Ahsoka said quietly, she blew on the hot chocolate before taking a small sip.
Padmé offered her a soft smile, "You're welcome. Do you think you can tell me what's going on?"
Ahsoka looked down at her hot chocolate, her tone more angry than sad, "My dad's coming to take me, I don't want to leave my brothers. I won't go, even if they say I have to."
"I'm sure it won't come to that," Padme reassured her, "Do your brothers know you're here?"
Ahsoka's shoulders sagged and her expression turned guilty, "Not exactly…. I ran off without telling them."
"Oh Ahsoka," Padmé said with a soft sigh.
"They said my dad is out there, what if he shows up at the house to try and takes me? It's something he would do, I'm being proactive," Ahsoka protested with a frown.
Padmé shook her head lightly, "Running away isn't the answer and I'm sure your brothers are worried out of their minds right now. I need to call Anakin, to let him know you're here."
"I don't want to leave him," Ahsoka said quietly, eyes downcast.
Padmé put her hand over Ahsoka's as she said, "I haven't known Anakin for long, but I do know how much he loves you. That he will do everything in his power to ensure you are safe and happy. He won't let you go, but running's way isn't the answer."
Ahsoka nodded before taking another sip of her drink.
"How about we put on a movie," Padmé suggested, she pointed over to the cabinet by her TV, "I have plenty over there to choose from. Why don't you go pick one while I call Anakin?"
Ahsoka nodded wordlessly. She slipped off the stool then grabbed her hot chocolate before moving over to the sitting room where the coffee table was, the tv and movies on the side. As she did that, Padmé got out her phone.
8:00
"This is a nightmare," Anakin said shaking his head, "We've checked the park, the school, her martial arts school, driven around the entire town and she's nowhere! What if someone grabbed her? What if he got her? What if-"
"Listing every worst case scenario will not help us find her faster," Obi Wan interrupted with a pointed look.
When they returned from the meeting, Rex and Cody looked positively panicked. They had just finished dinner, Ahsoka had disappeared up to her room and when Rex went to check on her, she was nowhere to be seen. The pair searched the house low and high for her, fear settling in that she had run off. The authorities hadn't been notified yet because if they were then it was sure to bring up a storm in court if a trial was certain. However that was the least of their worries at this moment.
There was still a chance Ahsoka had just run off for a bit to blow off some steam, it was something everyone in the family tended to do, but time was ticking and no sign of her anywhere. Anakin, Obi Wan and Rex each took a car and drove all over town searching while Cody stayed behind in case she came back. No such luck. It had scarcely been an hour since Ahsoka had vanished, but they were all terrified because there was no telling where she had gone, if she had been taken, if she was alright.
"Have our friends said anything," Anakin asked Cody with a strained voice.
Cody shook his head, "They're doing a second sweep around."
Their friends were some officers that Cody and Rex knew, they would do a professional search without drawing any attention to the matter. The perfect way to have more eyes out there for her without bringing it to light.
Anakin brought his hands over his face in what could almost be described as agony. Each of them was in some kind of pain over this. They just needed to find her and bring her home where she was safe. Anger flooded his senses. Malachai should still be in prison, he shouldn't be walking this earth free. They shouldn't have told Ahsoka, she's likely terrified that her father would show up here and take her away. It wasn't like he shied away from saying he would do something as soon as he was free. Anakin remembered that conversation, it hadn't been pleasant. He'd nearly punched the man that day.
"Telling her was a mistake," Anakin said sharply, he lowered his hands.
Cody frowned, "It's not like we could have kept it a secret from her forever Anakin, she had to know eventually."
Anakin glared at him, "No she didn't need to know. She's ten, a ten year old doesn't need to know that her convicted father is now a free man and might take her away from the home she's settled into."
"Whether or not we told her the truth, he's still free," Obi Wan said, his tone cold, "Would you have rather we kept the matter silent and should he show up at the house or her school unannounced? I imagine the shock would be worse."
Anakin's blue eyes held a new kind of fire in them as he spoke, "If he so much as sets foot anywhere near her, I'll destroy him."
Obi Wan struggled not to roll his eyes, "Yes and then Ahsoka will have to deal with another family member in jail. You want to put her through that again?"
Anakin's phone buzzed in his pocket, he pulled it out to see an image of Padmé and her number appearing on the screen. He couldn't talk to her now, not when he didn't have any good news to share. So he rejected the call.
"I'll do whatever it takes to protect her from that madman," Anakin said, his voice darker than normal, "I don't know why you're so content not to."
Obi Wan's expression shifted to anger, "Of course I want to protect her, but we have to do this right. If we make a wrong move, then the courts can remove her."
Anakin scowled, "The courts. They can't seriously think that he would be a better choice. Maul is nothing more than a cruel, manipulative, psychopath."
There was a moment of silence at Anakin's words, he believed them to be true, but for a moment he regretted saying them as he looked to the twins. Nothing would ever change the fact that he was their father, that he was Ahsoka's father. If either Rex or Cody were offended by his words, they didn't show it. Anakin felt his phone buzz again, but he ignored it.
"Which is why we have to do everything in our power to ensure that the courts see you are a better fit for her. He cannot win," Cody said, his tone sincere.
Rex spoke next, "We can worry about the courts later. We need to find her first."
Obi Wan nodded with a heavy breath, "Yes, you're right. He's out now, nothing we can do about that. We need to focus on where else Ahsoka might have gone."
Finding her and bringing her home safely. As Obi Wan and the twins started to bounce ideas off each other, Anakin collapsed on the couch as if gravity was working over time. Guilt wracked his body, shame and fear mixed in as well. If something did happen to Ahsoka, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. No matter how strong she was, or capable, she was still a child. Why didn't his brothers seem to get that? Of course he didn't want to lie to her, but if it meant she got to just be a kid, then he how could keeping the truth away from her be that bad?
He shouldn't have left her after the talk, he should have stayed by her side and to make sure she was alright. Leaving her like that was wrong, they all should have been paying more attention. He can't lose her like this, or at all. Anakin wasn't religious, but he prayed to whatever higher power would hear him that his sister was safe. As he sat there, he racked his brain wondering where else Ahsoka could have gone. All the places they could think of, she wasn't there and it sent more fear through him. She had to be somewhere safe. His phone buzzed again, it was Padmé.
Anakin frowned. He answered the call, "Padmé now isn't a good-"
"She's here," Padmé said quickly, "Ahsoka, she's here at my house."
Anakin felt the fear for her safety leave his body, "Is she alright? Is she hurt?"
Padmé answered, "She's alright, shaken, but not hurt. I don't know how she found my house, but I'm glad she did."
Anakin nodded, "Me too. I'm on my way." When Anakin hung up the phone, he looked at each of his brothers with a happy smile. "Ahsoka's fine. She found her way to Padmé's house. She's safe."
Padmé hung up the phone with a heavy breath, now he knew she was here and would be here shortly to take her home. The school teacher glanced over to the couch where she saw Ahsoka was sitting, leaning back in her seat and staring at the housewives that were still playing. Hot chocolate in hand, Padmé made her way over to the couch to see Ahsoka had pulled a few of the movies that Padmé often brought to class. She saw Nim's Island, Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Mimzy and Harry Potter.
"Nice selection," Padmé said as she took her seat, "Any of them catch your eye more than the others?"
Ahsoka glanced at her and asked, "Was he mad?"
Padmé shook her head, "No. He was really worried about you. I know talking about it is the last thing you want right now, so I won't push you, but just know if you ever needed someone, I'm here."
Ahsoka nodded, she picked up Harry Potter, "Can we watch this one?"
"Of course," Padmé said as she took the case from her.
No sooner had the movie started had Ahsoka fallen asleep beside her on the couch, which Padmé expected. After all, she was overwhelmed by the news and was exhausted from her journey here. Padmé still didn't know how Ahsoka had gotten here or how she knew where she lived. She really hoped the ten year old hadn't walked here, it was more than dangerous for a girl her age to walk alone anywhere. A breath left Padmé, glad that Ahsoka made it here safely.
Knocks on the door made Padmé jump, but she calmed down when she realized it was probably Anakin. With a last glance at a still asleep Ahsoka, Padmé climbed onto her feet to answer the door.
Still dressed in the same outfit she had seen him in earlier, Anakin stepped inside frantically asking, "Where is she?"
"Asleep on the couch," Padmé told him in a lowered voice, she pointed to the side.
Padmé watched as the tension disappeared from Anakin's shoulders when he spotted her. In silence, she remained by the door as she watched him. There were times Padmé had panicked when she lost sight of her nieces when she was watching them, it always filled her with the worst kind of fear and pain. There was honestly no greater terror than losing sight of a child because it was always the worst case scenarios that came to mind first.
Slowly, he walked over into the living room and around the couch to get a better look at Ahsoka, relieved to see her here and safe. For the past hour or so he had been out of his mind with worry and fear about her. His second worst nightmare having come true, but luckily she was fine, she hadn't been in danger. Anakin got on one knee, just watching her sleep for a moment and taking in the sight of her unharmed. A few seconds later, he climbed to his feet and walked over to Padmé with purposeful steps. Before Padmé could say anything, he pulled her into a tight hug.
"Thank you," Anakin whispered in her ear, "Thank you so much."
Padmé returned the hug, "Of course. I'm just happy she found me."
Anakin let go of Padmé, his eyes shined with gratitude, "Me too."
"Here, let's sit down for a minute," Padmé said as she took his gloved hand, "You must be exhausted."
Anakin let out a quiet laugh as she guided him to the kitchen, "Only a little bit."
Anakin took a seat at her counter while Padmé went to the fridge and grabbed him a bottle of water, which he took gratefully. As Padmé took a seat beside him, she studied him, taking in his appearance. Golden hair that was clinging to the sides of his face, it made her think he had run here. His blue eyes looked darker than normal and she spotted dark circles just beginning to form there. Or perhaps they were fading away. Regardless, he looked worn out.
"We told her this afternoon," Anakin said after a few beats of silence, "She didn't take it too well."
Padmé nodded in understanding, "It's not an easy thing for anyone to hear… Anakin, I've never seen Ahsoka so, so distraught before and I know wouldn't run off without something more serious going on. Padmé paused, her eyes found his as she went on. "I want to help. I can't do that with missing pieces of the puzzle."
Anakin's expression was strained, "We could talk about anything else."
"Ani," Padmé said softly, "I'm not asking for every deep hidden secret, but I need something to go off of so I can help her, so I can help you. But you have to tell me something more."
"I know, you're right and you do deserve some answers," Anakin said with a heavy breath, he leaned back slightly, "Ask any question and I'll do my best to answer it."
Padmé nodded, "How did you find out he was released?"
Anakin relaxed at the question, that was an easy one, "Satine. When neither Obi Wan or myself got a call, she was next on the list and went to his office to tell him. The charges being held against him were dropped. The charge was voluntary manslaughter."
Padmé's eyes widened slightly, but fixed her expression a second later, "You did say he had succeeded in killing one person with attempts on others."
"Yeah," Anakin said with a slight unlock of his jaw, "Those were dropped because his trial proved it was self defense instead."
"You don't believe it was," Padmé asked hesitantly.
Voluntary manslaughter occurred when a person was provoked to kill another. This often happens in cases where a parent kills an adult who hurt their child. She remembered that from the law class she did take when she had considered becoming a lawyer. It had almost been her career, but she didn't like the idea of having to defend the guilty. That was something she knew she couldn't avoid forever if she did that career, so she decided to look elsewhere.
Anakin glanced in the direction where Ahsoka was sleeping, "No, I don't. None of us do, Ahsoka included."
Padmé inhaled as she processed the news. Bringing Anakin's attention back to her, she spoke, "Alright so he's out. For however long he's been there, he's been cut off from resources. He'd money, a car, things he hasn't had in a while."
Anakin let out a bitter laugh, "As long as I've known him, he always finds a way and he isn't that short of allies. I'm certain my grandfather will help him."
"What gives you that idea," Padmé questioned.
Anakin shook his head, "A story for another night. He's out now, on his way for her."
"But it still happened," Padmé protested, "This is on his record. There's no way he can get custody rights just like that."
Anakin brought his free hand to his head and his fingers gripped his hair, "He still has some 'rights' because of the circumstances that surrounded the incident."
Soon as the words left his lips, Padmé could see the discomfort on his face. Whatever had happened, she knew it certainly wasn't one he wanted to think about, let alone tell her. Anakin took a breath, to steady himself for what he was going to tell her.
"A few years ago, we were all at the park. We lost sight of Ahsoka, she was so small and fast for a six year old," Anakin said with a wry smile, it quickly faded as he went on, "Me, my stepfather and brothers split up searching for her. It was an agonizing few minutes for all of us until I heard her scream. I followed the sound to the woods, my brothers further behind me… When I made it to the scene in that spot… Ahsoka was on the ground, shaking, screaming and terrified. She wasn't screaming because she had been taken, no. She was screaming because her father, was beating the men to death. Ahsoka had to watch as he pounded the men, even got their blood on her." Anakin's blue eyes held an anger so intense, it caught Padmé off guard. "I'll never forget, he told her that this is what you do to your enemies. As if teaching her some lesson like any other day."
Anakin clenched his jaw in anger at the memory. Of course he understood wanting to attack the ones who dared to lay a finger on his little sister, but the fact was that she shouldn't have witnessed that. To witness he father beat one man to death and go after the others was unacceptable. The horrified look on her face still haunted Anakin to this day, how she had trembled in his arms from the fear of being taken and the sight that her father didn't shield her from.
"Believe me, I would have wanted nothing more than to end each of them myself, but she shouldn't have seen that," Anakin ground it, he took an uneasy breath to steady his nerves.
Padmé let the words wash over, she felt sorrow and anger at the realization that her student had witnessed her father kill one person and attempt to kill others.
"I grabbed her and left him there," Anakin said after steadying himself, "We all left the woods when the officers arrived. They went in, got him and the other men who were still alive. He fully intended to kill them, we all know it. I don't know how they twisted it around to say it was self defense, but that's what it's come to now."
Padmé frowned, "It seems like it would be hard to switch a voluntary manslaughter charge to self defense. They didn't attack him first and he only attacked them because Ahsoka was in danger. He killed them in response to that, it's the very definition of the crime."
Anakin looked at Padmé, there was anger in his eyes and some resentment in his voice, "You would think that, but he's never been one to take things lying down… He's malicious, cruel, a psychopath. I started calling him Maul because of it. And now, this man has gotten himself exonerated of the crime."
"How would that be possible," Padmé questioned, slightly confused.
Anakin shrugged, "Satine's looking into it."
"Is she allowed to do that," Padmé asked next.
"Since she does a lot of work at the law firm we're in and does practice, she can," Anakin informed her.
Padmé nodded, "It definitely helps to have a lawyer around in the family."
All the traces of anger left him as he studied her for a moment. The change caught Padmé by surprise. Anakin studied Padmé, he blue eyes intensely on her as his mind was spinning around.
"I'm sorry to bring this all on you," Anakin admitted, he looked away with a light shake of his head.
Padmé gave his hand a squeeze, "I'm glad you told me. I want to help in any way I can."
"Her father is not a good man. Not the worst man, but not a good one either," Anakin told her, his tone almost earnest, "He's capable of many bad things. That was just the first time he went too far."
"I'm not going anywhere, I promise," Padmé told him sincerely, she was almost surprised by how much she meant those words. She wanted to be here for Anakin, for Ahsoka.
Anakin didn't reply right away. Instead he took in the silence, processing her words to him. The fear of losing people had haunted Anakin for as long as he could remember. Though he didn't remember his dad, he still missed him. He remembered his mom though and losing her was something he still couldn't seem to heal from. The very idea of losing his brothers or sister made him want to cry, scream and rage.
When this whole thing started, when he and Obi Wan were fighting for custody of Ahsoka, he had been afraid to lose her then. Luck had them win then, now he feared their luck wouldn't last. Padmé saying she would be here to help, that she wasn't leaving, he found he wanted to believe those words. He appreciated her words, her wanting to help, not many people would. His mother used to say the biggest problem in the world was that no one helps each other. He'd found that to be true. Padmé wanting to help, wanting to be here, it touched him. It really touched him.
"Thank you," Anakin told her softly as he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "That means more to me than I can properly express."
Padmé's smile was sweet, she glanced at the time, "Well it's getting late-"
"Of course, I don't want to keep you," Anakin said getting to his feet.
Padmé got up as well, standing in front of him so he couldn't leave, "No, no, you aren't keeping me. I only meant that you and Ahsoka must be tired and I have a guest room."
"Are you offering to house us for the night," Anakin asked in slight surprise.
"I understand if you would rather get home," Padmé assured him.
A playful smirk formed on his face as he said, "If you wanted me to spend the night, all you had to do was ask."
Padmé playfully hit his arm, "You're hilarious."
Anakin let out a laugh, "One of my many qualities senator."
"I'll set up the guest room for you both," Padmé told him, her smile warm.
Anakin nodded. He walked back to the living room where Ahsoka was lying on the couch, eyes fluttering in sleep. For a moment he just watched her, the relief he felt at her being unharmed was still there, but he couldn't ignore that he was angry she had run off. Though he was more angry with himself, angry that he hadn't watched out for her and let this happen. As gently as he could, he lifted Ashoka in his arms. She stirred for a moment making him freeze, then settled back down which made him sigh. Anakin walked back to the kitchen and down the hall where Padmé stood in front of the guest room.
He flashed her a grateful smile, "Thank you again."
Padmé returned his smile, "You're welcome. Goodnight Anakin."
"Goodnight Padmé," Anakin whispered in reply.
Padmé offered him a last look before she walked away towards her own room. He stepped inside the guest room, the bed was in the middle of the room the headboard against the far wall with space on either side. The decorate pillows had already been moved to the side and blankets pulled back. Anakin set Ahsoka down on the bed, though she gripped his shirt tightly in her hands, something she had done as a toddler all the time. It brought a smile to his face. With some prying, she let go and he was able to pull the covers up to her chin. It was then she opened her eyes sleepily.
Anakin couldn't fight a smirk, "Now you wake up."
Ahsoka didn't smile back, "Are you mad?"
"No," he answered honestly, "Get some sleep, we'll talk in the morning."
Ahsoka nodded once before closing her eyes, sleep taking her.
Anakin let out a heavy a sigh, what a day.