CHAPTER EIGHT

QUESTIONS

"Anakin, you are back!". Padmé rushed to her husband's arms in relief. "I was so worried about you, what happened, and why do you have blood in your hands?"

"A man was in the garden, an attacker. He was trying to kill us, I could read it from his mind. I was there on time, luckily", he sighed. Padmé was confused.

"An attacker? Who was he?", she asked impatiently.

"Jilk". Padmé froze. She looked at her desk disbelieving what she just heard. She held her children tight and kissed their foreheads. "Do you think Palpatine has something to do with this?", Anakin asked.

"Of course he has, Ani. He's been looking forward to see me destroyed since I disagreed in that army thing years ago. But I never thought he would go this far..."

"We must inform the Jedi about this".

"Yes, we better keep this issue a secret from the senate, they will believe Palpatine instead of me", Padmé said in a serious tone.

"I'll communicate the council inmediatly. Come with me, I don't want to leave the children or you alone". Padmé nodded and followed Anakin to the conference room. Anakin carried Leia and whispered her something in her ear. Leia giggled and gave Anakin a little slap on his jaw. Padmé smiled.

They reached the conference room and Padmé turned on the holo-communicator. She and Anakin waited to the image appear and sat down with the children in their laps. Finally, Obi-Wan appeared.

"Senator Amidala, Anakin. How may I help you?", he greeted.

"Hi Obi-Wan. We have a problem: an attacker came by and tried to harm my family, I killed him and he turned out to be Jilk", Anakin said.

"Jilk? You mean Palpatine's servant?". Obi-Wan was very confused, but not very surprised. Somehow, he expected Palpatine to do something to harm the Skywalkers.

"Yes, it didn't surprised me, let me tell you. We need to do something about it without the senate's knowledge about this incident. What do you suggest, master Kenobi?", Padmé asked.

"M'lady, you've done well reaching us first. I'll speak to the council in the morning".

"Obi-Wan, I think you should come here instead, that way we could all discuss the issue. If master Yoda and Mace could come, that would do it".

"You are right, Anakin. My guess is that we'll be on Naboo by the end of the week". Obi-Wan agreed with Anakin. He also wanted to take a little vacation of his own, and Naboo seemed perfect. What he didn't knew, was that there would be no vacation at all.

"Great. Hey, while we are talking, check out my kids. Aren't they beautiful?", Anakin said proudly.

"Yes, indeed they are. Specially little Leia, if I may add". Obi-Wan smiled. Leia giggled as if she understood what the Jedi before her just said. "Hey Leia, howyou doin'?"

"Don't!!", Anakin said half joking half serious. "You are too old for her, isn't he, honey?"

"Well, age difference has never been an issue in this family. . ." Padmé said looking at her children. Anakin's eyes widened. "I'm just kidding, stinky", she smiled.

"Who's stinky?", Obi-Wan asked smiling, though he already knew the answer. "Oh Anakin, don't tell me you forgot to bring your soap with you again? You are a father, for Force's sake!"

"Ja ja ja, very funny you too. You always pick it on me. . .", Anakin said frustrated.

"Ooooo, poor little Anakin. We always pick it on him, right senator?"

"Right, Obi-Wan". She leaned her head on Anakin's shoulder but he stood up and walked to the door.

"You two are the most inmature people I know!". Padmé and Obi-Wan laughed.

"Well Mater Kenobi, it's settled then: you and part of the council will be here by the end of the week"

"Yes, m'lady. I think you better run after your husband now, he seemed a little annoyed".

"She can't run. Her baggy stomach doesn't let her do such tasks", Anakin shouted from the hall". Obi-Wan tried to hide his laugh, but he couldn't. Padmé looked at him and cut off the communications. Anakin smiled satisfied.

"I can't believe you embarrassed me like that!", she said turning to Anakin.

"I can't believe you just cut off Obi-Wan. Aren't you a senator? You guys are supposed to control yourselves". Padmé didn't have an answer for that.

"Touché", she smiled defeated.