Chapter 46

Padmé's apartment

It was nearly dawn when Anakin returned to his own apartment to shower and get his day started. He had an appointment to talk to Dane Mendicino about the case, and was eager to get this dealt with as soon as possible. The sooner that sleemo is put away, the better, he reflected as he showered. Palo Jamabie had already interfered in Anakin and Padmé's life enough. And now I have Julie to deal with. Anakin frowned as he got dressed, thinking back to the bizarre conversation he'd had with Julie earlier. She had clearly been inebriated; but does that mean what she said isn't true? He was aware that she had a crush on him, but Anakin had attributed it to simple hero worship. It wasn't the first time, after all; Anakin was well known in the Republic, and the handsome young Jedi had garnered the admiration of many women (much to the dismay of his wife).

Julie was not at her desk when Anakin arrived at the law office of Dane Mendicino. He hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do, but then decided to show himself into Dane's office.

Dane looked up from his desk to see Anakin at the door.

"Sorry to come in unannounced," Anakin said, "but your receptionist isn't here."

Dane frowned. "She isn't?" he said, looking at the time. "She's late. Again." He sighed. "Come on in, Anakin. Have a seat."

Anakin came in and sat down. "She's late often, is she?" he asked.

"Unfortunately," Dane said. "I did my sister a favour by hiring her, and some days I regret it deeply. It's never a good idea to mix business with family."

Anakin nodded. "I think you should know that she called me last night. It was really late, around 1 I think," he said.

Dane's frown deepened. "She did, eh?"

"Yeah," Anakin said. "I was sound asleep too. Two babies in the house, you know how valuable sleep is," he said.

"I remember," Dane said. "I'm sorry she troubled you. Did she say why she was calling you so late?"

"Well, I had the impression that she was …inebriated," Anakin said. "And she was rather…forward let's just say. Telling me she wanted me, that kind of thing."

Dane shook his head. "I don't know what to say," he said. "I know she likes to party, but I can't tell her what to do. But this is going too far."

"It is," Anakin said. "I haven't given her any indication that I'm interested in her, Dane," he said. "But she seems to have developed this attachment that is getting out of hand."

Dane nodded. "Yes, it is," he agreed. "I will speak to her when, or maybe I should say if, she comes in."

"I'd appreciate it," Anakin said. "Now, about Jamabie's trial," he said. "What's going on?"

"It won't be a trial, per se," Dane replied. "He essentially confessed in his media retraction, so there is no need for a trial. There will be a sentencing. You and the Chancellor may be asked to give testimony."

Anakin frowned. "I really don't want Padmé involved, if at all possible," he said. "This has been really hard on her, and I'd like to spare her any more involvement with that scumbag."

Dane smiled, Anakin's love for Padmé clear as day. "I think I can make that happen," he said.

"When will this take place, this sentencing?" Anakin asked.

"Given the fact that the victim was the Chancellor herself, it will be soon," Dane said. "I should have a date by the end of today."

"Fantastic," Anakin said. "Let me know as soon as you do, please."

"I will," Dane said. "And about that other business, I'm really sorry."
Anakin stood up. "Not your fault, my friend," he said.

Dane stood up and shook Anakin's hand. "I'll be in touch."

Jedi Temple

Caleb Dume looked up at the vast entrance, hardly able to believe he was here. After witnessing the death of his master, Depa Billaba, Caleb thought he'd never set foot in the hallowed halls of the temple again. All seemed lost, until a small group of Jedi, led by Anakin Skywalker, had put an end to Sideous's rule and found a way to end the purge. Thousands of Jedi had been killed, including Caleb's beloved master; but now there was hope. The Order was slowly coming back to life.

"Can I help you?"

Dume turned at the sound of a deep voice and saw none other than Anakin Skywalker walking up the stairs towards him. For a moment he was too awe struck to speak, but then he found his voice.

"M-m-master Skywalker, it is an honour to meet you, sir," Caleb said with a slight bow to Anakin. "I'm Caleb Dume, padawan learner."

Anakin's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Who was your master, Caleb?" he asked.

"Master Depa Billaba," Caleb replied. "She died in the Purge, and saved me in the process," he said, casting his eyes downward.

Anakin nodded "I'm sorry," he said. "We have lost so many of our brothers and sisters," he said. "But we have more returning home every day," he said.

Caleb smiled. "I'm so happy to hear it," he said. "It's so good to be home."

Anakin smiled, and put an arm around the young man's shoulders. "Come in," he said. "And welcome home."

"Master Skywalker, I have something that Master Billapa entrusted me with," Caleb said.

"What is it?" Anakin asked as they walked into the temple.

"A holocron," Caleb said.

Anakin stopped and looked at him. "You have a holocron?" he asked.

Caleb nodded, and opened the haversack he carried to show Anakin. "Here it is," Caleb said, and held out the object to Anakin.

Anakin took it from his hands, and looked at it reverently. "We thought they were all lost," he said, staring at the holocron. "After the Purge, Palpatine had his troops plunder the temple." He looked up at Caleb. "This is incredible," he said with a smile. "Let's bring it to show the rest of the council."

Caleb looked around the hallowed halls of the temple with a lump in his throat as memories of his master, of friends jumped to his mind. So many had perished that night, were there any left at all, he wondered.

"Master Yoda, may I present Padawan Learner Caleb Dume," Anakin said as he brought Caleb into the Council chamber.

Yoda smiled at the young man. "Good to see you, it is," he said, remembering Caleb at once.

Caleb smiled. "Thank you, Master Yoda," he said. "It's good to be back."

"Caleb will need a new master," Anakin told Yoda. "He lost his during the Purge."

Yoda nodded. "Assign you a new master we will," Yoda said.

"Caleb has brought us a great gift," Anakin said, showing Yoda the holocron.

Yoda's eyes widened. "How came you by this?" he asked as Anakin handed it to him.

"My master gave it to me," Caleb said. "She wanted it to be safe."

"There are none left besides this one," Anakin said.

Yoda nodded as he examined the device. "All destroyed by Palpatine."

Caleb was silent as he considered how far reaching Palpatine's plan had been. "Will you be able to find more force sensitives with it?" he asked.

"If there are any out there, we will find them," Yoda said. "A gret help you have been," he told Caleb with a smile.

Caleb smiled. "I live to serve, Master Yoda," he said.

"Let me show you where you can stay," Anakin said, "we've been working pretty hard to restore the temple these past few months."

"That's great," Caleb said. "I didn't really know what to expect when I returned."

"Palpatine did his best to destroy the place," Anakin said bitterly. "But his stain has been removed. The Sith are no more, and will never rise again."

Caleb looked up at Anakin, hero worship in his eyes. "Thanks to you, Master Skywalker," he said.

Anakin smiled. "I didn't act alone," he said. "I had plenty of help."

Caleb nodded, Anakin's humility doing nothing to dampen his hero worship. I hope Master Skywalker becomes my new master; he thought as they walked towards the barracks.

"Who have we here?" Obi-Wan said as he approached Anakin and Caleb.

"Master Kenobi, this is Caleb Dume, padawan learner," Anakin said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Kenobi," Caleb said, trying his best to act older than his fourteen years.

"And you, Padawan Dume," Obi-Wan said. "Welcome home, young man."

Law office of Dane Mendicino

It was almost noon when Julie finally made it to work. She had a blistering headache, and had almost told her uncle she couldn't get to work. But this wasn't the first time that she had been late, and didn't want to push her luck.

She sat down at her office, and opened her computer to get caught up on the office correspondence. Behind her she heard the door to her uncle's office open.

"Julie, come in here please."

Shit, Julie thought. She stood up and turned around, giving her uncle a smile. He ddn't return the smile, and just returned to his office. Julie followed him and sat down.

"You're late," Dane said. "Very late."

"I'm sorry," Julie said. "I wasn't feeling well, and wasn't even sure I'd make it in."

Dane nodded. "You were out partying last night, weren't you?"

Julie frowned. "No! I would never do that when I have to work the next day," she said.

"Don't lie to me, Julie," Dane said. "I know for a fact that you were stoned, or drunk last night."

Julie didn't know what to say. "I…I don't know what you're talking about," she answered at last.

"Anakin Skywalker was here," he continued. "He told me about your call."

Julie froze. I really did that? I didn't dream it?

"My …my call?" she asked. "What do you mean?"

"Don't try to insult my intelligence," Dane snapped. "You called him in the middle of night, waking him up to tell him that you wanted him. Are you going to deny it?"

Julie said nothing, her mind racing for a way out of her predicament. But she'd already dug herself into a deep hole, and getting out would not be easy.

"I…I guess I did call him," she said, casting her eyes downward. "I wanted to tell him how I feel about him."
"And the fact that he's never shown you the smallest hint of interest doesn't matter?" he asked.

"He has shown interest!" Julie protested. "I know how has feelings for me!"

Dane sighed. "Julie, he's been kind to you, but that's it. You're deluding yourself if you think there's more to it than that."

Julie looked up at her uncle. "You don't know that," she said. "You…"

"I know this," he interjected. "Show up late again, and you're fired," he said. "I've been more than patient with you, Julie, but enough is enough. Are we clear?"

Julie nodded despondently.

"Good," he said. "Now get back to work," he said, and returned to his desk.

Julie stood up and left the office, trembling with emotion. She sat down at her desk and dropped her face in her hands and cried.

Padmé's apartment

Luke laughed as his father blew raspberries on his belly. Anakin was laughing himself, the sound of his baby boy's laughter filling his heart. He looked into Luke's face, smiling at his boy. "Had enough?" he asked. Luke simply laughed in response, reaching up to grab his father's nose. "He's got my nose! He's got my nose!"

Padmé laughed as she picked up Leia from the change table. "Daddy is so silly, isn't he Leia?" she asked her daughter. Leia smiled.

"Okay, come on buddy," Anakin said as he finished dressing Luke and picked him up. "Time for bed."

After reading stories to their twins, Anakin and Padmé put them in their cribs.

"You're such a fun dad," Padmé said as they sat down together in the living room.

Anakin smiled. "Thanks," he said. "I love playing with them."

"I have a feeling I'm going to be the authority figure when they're older," she said.

"You think so?" Anakin said. "Nah, I'll help," he said. "I can be tough when I need to be. Just ask Ahsoka some time."

Padmé smiled. "We'll see," she said.

"You never believe me," he said in a tone of mock indignation.

"I'm sorry," she said, moving closer to him. "Can I do something to make it up to you?"

"Maybe," Anakin said with a grin. "But before you do, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Julie," he said. "That's what."

Padmé frowned. "Seriously? Right now?"

"Believe me, I would much rather be doing…other things," he said. "But I want to get this off my chest."

"Okay, Ani," she said. "Go ahead."

"Do you remember when my commlink went off last night?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "You told me it was her."

Anakin nodded. "She was stoned, Padmé," he said. "And was really forward, really..."

"Excuse me?"

"She told me she was in love with me, and that she wanted me," he said. "Now, she was stoned, or drunk, not sure which so it may have been…"

"Don't tell me that's why she said it," Padmé interjected. "She feels that way, and has felt that way for a long time. You've just been reluctant to acknowledge it."

Anakin nodded. "I guess I have," he said. "I figured it was just harmless hero worship, nothing more."

"There's nothing harmless about it," Padmé said. "I hope you're going to set her straight."

"I am," he said. "I told her uncle about it, and I had a feeling he was going to have a talk with her too," he said.

"Good," she said. "This has gone far enough."

Anakin nodded. "I know," he said, reaching out and running a finger down her face. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," she said. "You can't help it if you're sexy and desirable."

Anakin smiled. "Am I?"

She nodded. "Oh yes," she said, moving closer to him. "Very sexy, very desirable," she said.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said, and pulled her onto his lap.