Chapter 41

Dormé had been in Padmé's employ for years, and had learned to turn a blind eye to much of what went on in her life. So, when she showed up mid-morning in her evening gown, having clearly spent the night elsewhere, she didn't say a word.

"Anakin will be bringing the twins by this morning," Padmé told her after she'd changed clothes. "Do we need anything from the market?"

Dormé nodded. "Yes, I was about to go out actually," she said. "I'll take Threepio with me."

"Thank you," Padmé said. "I'll wait for Anakin."

Dormé smiled, having a pretty good idea of what had gone on the previous night. "I'll be back in an hour or so," she said, and then departed with the trusty droid.

Padmé took a few minutes to check her messages as she waited for Anakin to arrive with the twins. Maybe I should go help him, she mused, as she scrolled through her messages. But the door sounded at this point, so she clicked off of her computer and headed to the door to greet Anakin and their twins.

"Hi," Anakin said, pushing the double stroller into the apartment. "Long time no see."

Padmé smiled. "A long time, yes," she said. "I'll take that," she said, taking the bag from Anakin's shoulder.

Anakin brought the twins into the living room and lifted them out of the stroller. He was feeling melancholy at the thought of not having his precious babies with him for two weeks. But it was the arrangement he and Padmé had made, and there wasn't much to be done about it.

"What are you up to today?" Padmé asked as they sat down together while the twins played in their playpen.

"We're taking a delivery of new ships," Anakin said. "I'm pretty excited about it, actually."

Padmé smiled. "I'm sure you are," she said. "You'll be right in your element."

Anakin nodded. "We're also expecting a few more Jedi to arrive today," he said as he picked up his son who was holding his arms up to him. "We're almost thirty now."

Padmé shook her head. "Thirty, when once there were thousands," she said. "It's unconceivable that Palpatine's plan was so far reaching."

Anakin frowned. "And nobody saw it coming," he said. "I knew him for years, Padmé, and I never imagined he could be so evil. I trusted him, I thought of him as a mentor. Maybe if I hadn't been so trusting this would never have happened."

"Ani, don't blame yourself," she said. "After all, it was you who saw who he truly was before anyone else. If you hadn't…I can't even imagine what a galaxy run by an Emperor Palpatine would have been like."

"It would have been hell," Anakin said. He kissed the top of Luke's head. "I guess the fact that we have any Jedi left at all should be considered a blessing."

Padmé nodded, watching him interact with their son. It was clear how connected they were and it saddened her to think that they would be separated again for another two weeks.

"Ani, what do you think of us sharing the house?" she asked as she picked Leia up.

"Aren't we already doing that?" Anakin asked.

"Well in a manner of speaking, yes," she replied. "But what if we lived there at the same time? All the time? We could be with Luke and Leia every day."

Anakin was surprised by her suggestion, and wondered if she had proposed it given what had transpired the previous night between them. "What about the custody agreement?" he asked.

Padmé was a little disappointed by his question. After the night they'd spent together, it was easy to forget that they were divorced; his question brought that reality back into focus.

"Well, we'd still have joint custody," she said, as she smoothed down Leia's hair. "But we'd be together, we'd have them all the time, instead of two weeks at a time. It's just an idea," she said.

Anakin could see how eager she was for him to agree. But he wasn't sure their relationship was ready for such a big step. "Can I think about it?" he asked finally, looking up at her. "It's kind of a big step, Padmé."

She nodded, swallowing her disappointment. "Of course," she said. "The house will be ready next week," she said. "Is that long enough to think about it?"

"Sure," Anakin said, returning his attention to Luke. "I'd better get going," he said, standing up.

Padmé looked up at him. "Come for dinner tonight," she said.

Anakin set Luke in his playpen. "I will, thanks," he said. "Come here, princess," he said, picking Leia up from her mother's lap. He gave her a hug and a kiss, and then set her in the playpen with Luke. "I'll see you later," he said to Padmé.

"Have fun today," she said with a smile.

Anakin chuckled. "Thanks," he said, and then left.

Padmé sat for a moment watching the twins. She was trying not to read to much into Anakin's reticence, but was having trouble doing so. I just took him off guard, she thought. Once he's had the chance to think about it, he'll see it's for the best. The twins will have both their parents all the time. What could be better?

"I'm back," Dormé announced as she entered the apartment with Threepio in tow. She smiled when she saw the twins. "Look who's back!" she said.

Padmé smiled. "Anakin just left," she said.

Dormé nodded and sat down as Threepio brought the groceries into the kitchen. "Things seem to be going much better with him," she said.

"They are," Padmé said. "We still have a way to go, but I'm encouraged."

Dormé smiled. "That's wonderful," she said. "I'm happy for you Padmé, truly."

Jedi Temple

"Hey, I didn't see you leave last night," Ahsoka said as she joined Anakin in the hangar.

Anakin looked at her with a smirk. "I was …escorted out," he told her.

Ahsoka's eyes widened. "What? By who?"

"Obi-Wan," Anakin told her. "He figured it would be best for me to leave after I punched Palo in the face."

She looked at him for a moment. "Are you being serious? You punched him?"

Anakin nodded as he continued what he was doing.

"What made you do that?" she asked as she assisted him.

"He made me mad, that's why," Anakin replied.

"Well, yeah, I got that," she said. "What did he do?"

Anakin frowned. "He just got under my skin," he said, "can we drop it?"

"Did it have to do with Padmé?" she asked, feeling certain that it did.

"Maybe," he said.

"She was really upset last night," Ahsoka told him. "She told me what happened, how she saw you and Julie."

"We cleared that up," he told her.

"Oh, well that's great," she said. "I hope you told Julie to leave you alone," she said.

"I did," he said. "Pretty sure she got the message."

Ahsoka frowned. "Pretty sure? Come on Anakin, this girl is doing her best to sink her claws into you," she said. "You need to be direct with her. Pretty sure doesn't sound like direct to me."

Anakin sighed. "Can we please drop this, Snips?" he said. "I'm too tired to argue with you."

She observed him for a moment, wondering if she ought to pry. But he'd made it abundantly clear that he didn't want to talk about it, or seemingly anything of a personal nature at the moment. So, she kept her mouth shut, and simply assisted him.

Law office of Dane Mendicino

Palo Jamabie was not a man who forgave easily. He had been humiliated publicly by Anakin Skywalker, a man he'd already decided he disliked. Men like Skywalker always got what they want, he'd decided. Even Padmé had defended him after Skywalker had sucker punched Palo. Deciding to take matters of justice into his own hands, Palo had sought out the best lawyer on Coruscant, and had an appointment to talk to him to see if he had a case against Skywalker.

"Good afternoon," Julie said as Palo entered the office. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I have an appointment with Mr. Mendicino," Palo said.

"Your name?" Julie asked.

"Palo Jamabie," he replied. "It's about a civil case against Anakin Skywalker."

Julie's eyebrows shot up at the mention of his name. "Anakin Skywalker?" she asked.

Palo frowned. "You know this man?"

"I do," Julie said. "He's a good friend."

Palo scoffed. "You ought to get better friends," he said. "Tell Mendicino I'm here," he said.

"Of course," Julie said. She walked into the office of her uncle, who was eating his lunch. "There's a Palo Jamabie here to see you," she said.

"Give me a minute," Dane replied as he ate his lunch. "He's early, for God sakes," he muttered.

Julie smirked. "What's this about, Uncle Dane? He said something about a civil case against Anakin Skywalker?"

"You know as much as me at this point," Dane said. "Besides, you know I can't disclose information from a client, Julie. It's unethical."

"Of course," Julie said. "Should I send him in?"

"Give me five minutes," Dane said.

"Okay," she said, and returned to the outer office where Palo was examining a mass-produced print on the wall with a critical eye. "He'll be another five minutes," she told him and sat down at her desk. She was dying to ask him about Anakin, and what he could have possibly done to prompt a civil law case. But she knew better, and simply kept her questions to herself.

"So how do you know this Skywalker character?" Palo asked, giving Julie the opening she was hoping for.

"I met him when he was here a few months ago," she told him. "And we've become friends."

"He was in legal trouble?" Palo asked hopefully.

Julie shook her head. "No," she said. "It wasn't anything like that."
Now it was Palo's turn to be curious. "What then, if you don't mind me asking?"

Julie smiled. "It's confidential," she said. "Just like I can't ask about your case, you understand."

Palo pressed his lips together in annoyance. "I see," he said.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Dane said, as he walked out of his office. "Mr. Jamabie?"

"Yes, that's me," Palo said.

"Come on in," he said.

Palo did so at once.

"Now, how can I help you?" Dane asked as both men had taken a seat.

"I would like to file a civil case," Palo said. "I was assaulted, and there was nothing done about it by the local authorities."
Dane nodded as he took notes. "I see," he said. "You understand that civil litigation is not my primary…"

"Are you a lawyer or not?" Palo interjected petulantly.

"I am," Dane replied calmly.

"I've been told you're the best," Palo continued. "That's why I'm here."

"I see," Dane said. "So, tell me what happened."

"Well, I was at the Chancellor's gala last night," Palo began. "She and I are dear friends," he went on. "And I was punched in the face by a man I believe has an unscrupulous interest in the Chancellor, someone who is no doubt after her money, and saw me as a rival for her attention."

Dane wrote down what he was told, though doubts had cropped up into his mind. Judging by his initial opinion of Palo, he was sure that any number of people would enjoy popping him one. "And who is this man? The one who assaulted you?"

"Anakin Skywalker is his name," Palo replied. "He's a Jedi, and…"
"Yes, I know who Anakin Skywalker is," Dane interjected. "Few people in the galaxy don't, I'd estimate."

Palo didn't like hearing this. "Well, that's something of an exaggeration, don't you think?" he asked in a condescending tone.

"A general in the Grand Army of the Republic, the greatest warrior in the galaxy, hero of the Republic, the greatest Jedi who ever lived… no, I don't think it is an exaggeration," Dane said, growing annoyed. "You're telling me he assaulted you?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Palo snapped. "An arrogant man, all the …adulation has clearly gone to his head," he added.

Dane sat back in his chair and smiled. "I've met Anakin," he said. "And I found him anything but arrogant. And so far as him wanting Chancellor Amidala's fortune, I'm afraid you're way off on that count, Mr. Jamabie."

"Oh? And how do you know that?" Palo asked.

"Because I happen to know that Anakin Skywalker is one of if not the richest man in the galaxy," he said. "That's how."

Palo's mouth dropped open at this disclosure. "A Jedi? How is that possible?"

"I can't give you details, obviously," Dane said. "All I can say is that he came into a large inheritance recently. A very large inheritance."

Palo said nothing, for this only added to the already healthy jealousy he had for Anakin. "I see," he said. "Well then he should be able to afford paying restitution to me, shouldn't he?" he asked with a smirk.

"He would, if you have a case," Dane said, not convinced that he did. "Were there any witnesses?"

"The ballroom was full of people!" Palo said in frustration. "Of course, there were witnesses!"

"Can you name one?"
"No, but…"

"Why didn't senate security do anything?"

"How the devil should I know?" Palo retorted. "But they didn't. The question is, will you?"

Dane sighed, and tapped his fingers on the arm of the leather wing chair he sat in. "I'm afraid I don't see much of a case here, to be perfectly frank," he said. "If you can't name a witness, and the on-site authorities didn't think it was worth dealing with, then I can't see that there's any merit in me getting involved. I'm sorry."

Palo frowned, annoyed that things were not going his way. "Well, that's just great," he said, standing up. "I see we have a two-tiered justice system here in the Republic," he added haughtily. "Thank you for your time, sir," he concluded, and then left the office.

Julie was quite surprised to see Palo storm out of the office in a huff. She frowned, and then went to talk to her uncle.

"I'm going to take my lunch break now, Uncle Dane," she said.

"Fine, fine," Dane said. "See you later."

"What was his problem?" she asked after a moment's hesitation. "He left in quite a snit."

Dane shook his head. "He wants to sue Anakin Skywalker," he said.

Julie's eyes widened. "What? Why? What for?"

"He claims Anakin punched him at the gala last night," Dane told her as he stood up. "The guy's delusional, clearly," he said.

"I hope he doesn't try to make trouble for Anakin," she said.

"He might try," Dane replied. "But I wouldn't worry about it. Anakin Skywalker knows how to take care of himself."

Julie smiled. "Oh yes, he sure does," she replied. "Still, I wonder if we ought to warn him."

"By all means," Dane said sitting down at his desk. "I have too much work to do, so if you want to contact him, go right ahead."

Julie smiled. "I'll do one better," she said, and then left the office.