Without A Clue
Chapter 6: "Time is Not on Our Side"
It is shortly after the end of AotC. The Clone Wars have begun, and the galaxy is in turmoil. Padmè and Anakin are finding it very hard to keep their love a secret. The Trade Federation still wants Padmè dead, but have begun making more personal attacks on her loved ones, killing her mother, father, sister and brother-in-law.
(AN: I am so sorry for the extremely long wait! My computer crashed on Christmas day, and took the last update I had with it. Between then and the time I got my new computer it was brought to my attention that the ending of Chapter 5 somehow did not get up when the chapter was uploaded, I am sorry for that. The inner-perfectionist was killing me because of that. I finally got a new comp and it is up and running. Took me awhile to get around to writing this, but I am including the conclusion of Chapter 5 in Chapter 6. I promise the next update will be sooner.) ________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION CHAPTER 5 + Chapter 6:
After Padmè put Pooja to sleep she returned to the living room, where Anakin and Obi Wan sat.
"Did she finally fall asleep?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She and I just had some things to straighten out," Padmè said shooting Anakin a piercing look.
Anakin stared into Padmè's eyes, taken aback by her look, which showed she was obviously mad at him.
"If you two don't mind I am going to go to the Palace for a few hours, there is some information I need before we head back to Coruscant," Obi Wan said.
Padmè was surprised by the statement, she hadn't even thought of going back to Coruscant. "What would become of the girls?" she thought.
"That isn't a problem Obi Wan," Anakin said.
"Okay, I will be back by nightfall."
"Wait before you go, when are we going back to Coruscant?" Padmè asked.
"As soon as possible. Whoever is behind the assassinations knows we are here, and will most likely strike again, Naboo is no longer a safe haven for you Senator, we need to get you back to Coruscant until further arrangements can be made," Obi Wan said.
"But what about the girls, they have no one to stay with, I am their legal guardian now," Padmè asked.
"That I do not know Milady," Obi Wan answered.
Padmè nodded and replied, "We can return to Coruscant when you feel it best."
Obi Wan nodded and headed out the door.
As soon as Padmè knew Obi Wan was gone she turned to Anakin, "You told Pooja!" She screamed.
"Told Pooja what?" Anakin teased.
"Anakin Skywalker don't joke with me, you know exactly what I mean!" Padmè shouted back.
"Padmè settle down, you don't want to wake the girls," Anakin said shocked. He had never seen her this mad.
"Anakin, answer me, why did you tell Pooja we were married?" Padmè asked, her tone returning to normal.
"Pooja asked if I loved you. She said that the last time we were on Naboo her parents told her that you loved me. When I told her that I did love you she asked if we were ever going to get married. I was going to tell her that Jedi's could not marry, but when I looked in her eyes I couldn't do it, I couldn't lie."
"Anakin why didn't you just lie, tell her that you didn't love me."
"I could never do that, I love you too much to deny it. And besides Pooja would have hated me if she thought that you loved me and I didn't."
"What if she decides to talk to Obi Wan? We can't tell her it is a secret, she would lose trust in us."
"We could deny it if she ever told Obi Wan. Say it was a figment of her imagination," Anakin added.
"You better hope we never have too, I would hate to say she is a fool, when in reality, you're even a bigger fool for telling her!" Padmè joked, shoving Anakin back farther onto the couch he was perched on, taking a seat next to him."
"I know, I know," Anakin smiled, leaning forward to give Padmè a kiss.
Padmè leaned forward falling softly on top of Anakin, continuing to kiss him.
"It's Okay Ryoo, they are married!" Pooja announced as she skipped into the living room, taking a seat in a chair, followed by Ryoo who sleepily walked in and sat on another chair.
Padmè sat up quickly, straightening her skirts, she turned to give Anakin the evil eye.
"Time is never on my side," Anakin grumbled under his breath.
"What was that," Padmè demanded.
"Nothing."
"That's what I thought," Padmè smiled turning to the girls.
"Aunt Padmè is it true, are you married to Anakin?" Ryoo asked.
Padmè briefly thought of denying the marriage, but now understood what Anakin had said earlier, she couldn't. "Yes Ryoo, Anakin and I are married."
"Why don't you have a ring?" Ryoo asked.
"I do, but I keep it on Coruscant, it is too pretty to wear with my everyday clothes," Padmè lied.
Anakin felt bad that he could not get Padmè a ring, for one thing she wouldn't be able to wear it, but he would also not be able to buy it, he had no money, being a Jedi.
"Why does Obi Wan say that Anakin is your security, why doesn't he just say he is your husband?" Ryoo asked.
Padmè's eyes grew wide, she had no answer.
Anakin looked at her, he could tell she was at a loss for words so he jumped in, "Because I am also making sure your aunt stays safe, so in a way I am both her security and her husband. Obi Wan is just being silly when he says that I am her security."
Padmè looked at him and mouthed a "Thank You."
"Guess what Ryoo, Anakin is our Uncle Ani now!" Pooja exclaimed excitingly.
"Yeah I know that Pooja," Ryoo said rolling her eyes at her younger sister.
"Ryoo be nice!" Padmè scolded.
"Hey Ryoo, you got to see the flowers me and Uncle Ani picked for Aunt Padmè when we went to the garden today!" Pooja said, obviously not bothered by the earlier comment.
The two girls ran off into the kitchen where Padmè had put the flowers to display.
Anakin smiled as he watched them go into the kitchen.
Padmè turned to Anakin, "We should make dinner before Obi Wan comes back, the girls are probably hungry."
Anakin nodded and helped Padmè up, she followed him into the kitchen.
"Hey girls, what would you two like for supper?" Padmè asked.
Ryoo ran to the pantry and took out a box, proudly holding it up for everyone to see.
"Yeah, Yeah!" Pooja exclaimed.
Padmè giggled, "Macaroni?" (I know, I know, no Macaroni in SW, but I was running out of creative juice)
"It's our favorite!" Ryoo said.
"I agree," Anakin said smiling at Padmè.
Padmè just crossed her arms and let out a dramatic, "Hmmph."
"Macaroni it is!" Anakin exclaimed as he proceeded to get the necessary cooking utensils.
"So do you girls know how to make this macaroni?" Padmè asked with a grin.
"Yeah, we are experts!" Pooja said.
"Okay Macaroni Experts, what do you do first?" Anakin asked.
"Boil the water," Ryoo said.
"Check," Anakin said as he placed the pot of water on the stove. "Ryoo, would you like a special job?"
"Yeah!" Ryoo replied.
"But I want a special job!" Pooja pouted.
"Pooja, I have a special job for you too," Padmè said.
"What?!" Pooja said excitedly.
"You can help me with the salad, Okay?" Padmè said
"Yes," Pooja said, happily climbing up on a stool to help Padmè toss a salad.
"Ryoo, your special job is to watch the water and tell me when it boils, alright?" Anakin asked.
"Yeah, that is easy."
"Good, I am going to set the table," Anakin said smiling at the girl.
Anakin went to work setting four identical place settings on the dinner table in the next room.
Anakin entered the kitchen again to get more silverware, "How is that special job going Ryoo?"
"Good, it is almost ready to boil," Ryoo replied.
"Good work, I knew you were the right person for the job," Anakin said with a smile.
Anakin finished setting the table and walked over to the large display case on the far wall of the dining room. It was filled with pictures of Padmè and Sola as children and young adults.
Anakin couldn't help but notice Sola's radiant smile, she seemed like such a happy person. Sola's bright eyes resembled both of her daughter's sparkling brown orbs. But Anakin knew that the familiarness of the girl's eyes was not because they resembled their mothers, but the eyes he knew better than anything in the universe, Padmès.
Anakin skimmed over each photo, his eyes falling on one from Sola and Darred's wedding. It reminded him of his own wedding, and beautiful bride. Anakin wished they could display a photo from the union, but both Padmè and himself knew it wasn't possible.
He turned sadly, and headed toward the door leading to the kitchen.
Just as Anakin entered he heard his name, "Uncle Ani!" Anakin looked over towards the stove where Ryoo stood pointing to the pot about to boil over.
Anakin knew he would never make it in time to prevent a mess, so without thinking he used to force to levitate the pot above it's burner. The frothy water settled back down and Anakin continued to levitate it as he walked towards the stove.
Once he reached his destination he turned the heat down and placed the pot back on the burner.
"Whew, that was a close one!" Ryoo exclaimed, "How did you make the pot float?"
Anakin smiled, replying, "Magic!"
Suddenly the salad bowl on the counter near Pooja began to levitate as well.
"Is this magic too?" Padmè said, crossing her arms as she looked at Anakin impatiently.
"Why yes," he said playfully.
"Wow!" Pooja exclaimed. "Can you teach us to do that too?"
"Do what?" Anakin said with a giggle, as he made the bowl float around the room.
"Break the rules?" Obi Wan said, as he entered the kitchen.
Anakin whipped around, dropping the salad bowl on the floor, startled by his master's sudden appearance.
"Anakin how many times will I have to tell you before you will learn, levitation is not something to be taken lightly."
"But Master..," Anakin said before Obi Wan cut him off, "Anakin step outside, we need to talk."
"Yes Master."
"Ohhh.looks like Anakin is in trouble with Obi Wan! What did he do wrong?" Ryoo asked.
"Well Obi Wan isn't the only one Ani is in trouble with," Padmè replied as she tended to the dropped salad.
"You're mad at him too?" Ryoo asked.
"Well not really, but look at the mess he made!" Padmè chided. "Why is Obi Wan mad?" Pooja asked as she helped Padmè pick up the mess.
"Obi Wan is mad because Anakin was not supposed to make those things float, it is a Jedi rule," Padmè explained.
"Oh, I thought it was neat though," Ryoo said.
"I know, but they have a lot of unfair rules, Anakin has to follow them."
"Like what rules," Pooja asked as she finished cleaning up.
Padmè knew exactly what rule she had been referring to but couldn't tell the girls the truth. "Oh rules like they can't own things."
"He can't own anything?" Pooja exclaimed.
"No Anakin can't buy anything. The only thing he has is a small apartment in the temple, his Jedi Robes and lightsaber."
"Wow, no toys or anything? I guess I will never be a Jedi," Ryoo said.
Padmè thought to herself, "I wish Anakin never would have either."
********************
"Anakin, you know better than to show off like that!" Obi Wan scolded.
"The pot was going to boil over!" Anakin snapped.
"So you make a salad bowl float around a room?" Obi Wan asked.
"No, the girls wanted to see me do it again, what was I going to say? Obi Wan really, what is the reasoning behind not being able to levitate objects unless all necessary."
Obi Wan thought of what the two girls reaction would have been to Anakin levitating a pot of water. The sight made him smile, he didn't think he could have told them no either.
"Okay, I see what you mean, just don't make it a habit, understood?" Obi Wan said.
"Yes. Master, have you found any information about the murders?" Anakin asked.
"Just small leads, nothing substantial. It was obviously planned, the houses were untouched, and nothing was stolen. The ammunition used was very standard however, could have been anyone. However, a neighbor of Sola and Darred said they saw a mysterious speeder traveling around the block several times around the time of the murders. They said it did not seem like any Nubian ship they had ever saw."
"Did you ask them to identify it?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, they identified it as a older ship from Tatooine in fact," Obi Wan replied.
"Probably a bounty hunter from Mos Eisley or something." Anakin said.
"Based on the information I have gathered, it seems as though it is most likely the Trade Federation again."
Anakin nodded, "If there is a bounty hunter involved we should get Padmè back to Coruscant as soon as possible."
"I agree, do you think she would be ready to leave in the morning?" Obi Wan asked.
"Yes, I will inform her that we depart in the morning," Anakin said, heading back into the kitchen
(This is probably not as well composed as the other chapters. We have finals coming up and I didn't have a lot of time to revise this. I hope it wasn't too hard to follow. Please understand that I have a VERY busy life right now. I am on the Saddy Hawkins committee with 3 other girls and have to put together a dance (including getting DJ, decorations, crown orders, organize court selection, and advertise within a week, plus I have to figure out what me and my date are going to do before the dance) I am also busy planning Winter Wonderland with student council and a ski trip for ski club. Plus I have finals to study for. Expect the next chapter in 1-2 weeks, sorry for this delay)
It is shortly after the end of AotC. The Clone Wars have begun, and the galaxy is in turmoil. Padmè and Anakin are finding it very hard to keep their love a secret. The Trade Federation still wants Padmè dead, but have begun making more personal attacks on her loved ones, killing her mother, father, sister and brother-in-law.
(AN: I am so sorry for the extremely long wait! My computer crashed on Christmas day, and took the last update I had with it. Between then and the time I got my new computer it was brought to my attention that the ending of Chapter 5 somehow did not get up when the chapter was uploaded, I am sorry for that. The inner-perfectionist was killing me because of that. I finally got a new comp and it is up and running. Took me awhile to get around to writing this, but I am including the conclusion of Chapter 5 in Chapter 6. I promise the next update will be sooner.) ________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION CHAPTER 5 + Chapter 6:
After Padmè put Pooja to sleep she returned to the living room, where Anakin and Obi Wan sat.
"Did she finally fall asleep?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She and I just had some things to straighten out," Padmè said shooting Anakin a piercing look.
Anakin stared into Padmè's eyes, taken aback by her look, which showed she was obviously mad at him.
"If you two don't mind I am going to go to the Palace for a few hours, there is some information I need before we head back to Coruscant," Obi Wan said.
Padmè was surprised by the statement, she hadn't even thought of going back to Coruscant. "What would become of the girls?" she thought.
"That isn't a problem Obi Wan," Anakin said.
"Okay, I will be back by nightfall."
"Wait before you go, when are we going back to Coruscant?" Padmè asked.
"As soon as possible. Whoever is behind the assassinations knows we are here, and will most likely strike again, Naboo is no longer a safe haven for you Senator, we need to get you back to Coruscant until further arrangements can be made," Obi Wan said.
"But what about the girls, they have no one to stay with, I am their legal guardian now," Padmè asked.
"That I do not know Milady," Obi Wan answered.
Padmè nodded and replied, "We can return to Coruscant when you feel it best."
Obi Wan nodded and headed out the door.
As soon as Padmè knew Obi Wan was gone she turned to Anakin, "You told Pooja!" She screamed.
"Told Pooja what?" Anakin teased.
"Anakin Skywalker don't joke with me, you know exactly what I mean!" Padmè shouted back.
"Padmè settle down, you don't want to wake the girls," Anakin said shocked. He had never seen her this mad.
"Anakin, answer me, why did you tell Pooja we were married?" Padmè asked, her tone returning to normal.
"Pooja asked if I loved you. She said that the last time we were on Naboo her parents told her that you loved me. When I told her that I did love you she asked if we were ever going to get married. I was going to tell her that Jedi's could not marry, but when I looked in her eyes I couldn't do it, I couldn't lie."
"Anakin why didn't you just lie, tell her that you didn't love me."
"I could never do that, I love you too much to deny it. And besides Pooja would have hated me if she thought that you loved me and I didn't."
"What if she decides to talk to Obi Wan? We can't tell her it is a secret, she would lose trust in us."
"We could deny it if she ever told Obi Wan. Say it was a figment of her imagination," Anakin added.
"You better hope we never have too, I would hate to say she is a fool, when in reality, you're even a bigger fool for telling her!" Padmè joked, shoving Anakin back farther onto the couch he was perched on, taking a seat next to him."
"I know, I know," Anakin smiled, leaning forward to give Padmè a kiss.
Padmè leaned forward falling softly on top of Anakin, continuing to kiss him.
"It's Okay Ryoo, they are married!" Pooja announced as she skipped into the living room, taking a seat in a chair, followed by Ryoo who sleepily walked in and sat on another chair.
Padmè sat up quickly, straightening her skirts, she turned to give Anakin the evil eye.
"Time is never on my side," Anakin grumbled under his breath.
"What was that," Padmè demanded.
"Nothing."
"That's what I thought," Padmè smiled turning to the girls.
"Aunt Padmè is it true, are you married to Anakin?" Ryoo asked.
Padmè briefly thought of denying the marriage, but now understood what Anakin had said earlier, she couldn't. "Yes Ryoo, Anakin and I are married."
"Why don't you have a ring?" Ryoo asked.
"I do, but I keep it on Coruscant, it is too pretty to wear with my everyday clothes," Padmè lied.
Anakin felt bad that he could not get Padmè a ring, for one thing she wouldn't be able to wear it, but he would also not be able to buy it, he had no money, being a Jedi.
"Why does Obi Wan say that Anakin is your security, why doesn't he just say he is your husband?" Ryoo asked.
Padmè's eyes grew wide, she had no answer.
Anakin looked at her, he could tell she was at a loss for words so he jumped in, "Because I am also making sure your aunt stays safe, so in a way I am both her security and her husband. Obi Wan is just being silly when he says that I am her security."
Padmè looked at him and mouthed a "Thank You."
"Guess what Ryoo, Anakin is our Uncle Ani now!" Pooja exclaimed excitingly.
"Yeah I know that Pooja," Ryoo said rolling her eyes at her younger sister.
"Ryoo be nice!" Padmè scolded.
"Hey Ryoo, you got to see the flowers me and Uncle Ani picked for Aunt Padmè when we went to the garden today!" Pooja said, obviously not bothered by the earlier comment.
The two girls ran off into the kitchen where Padmè had put the flowers to display.
Anakin smiled as he watched them go into the kitchen.
Padmè turned to Anakin, "We should make dinner before Obi Wan comes back, the girls are probably hungry."
Anakin nodded and helped Padmè up, she followed him into the kitchen.
"Hey girls, what would you two like for supper?" Padmè asked.
Ryoo ran to the pantry and took out a box, proudly holding it up for everyone to see.
"Yeah, Yeah!" Pooja exclaimed.
Padmè giggled, "Macaroni?" (I know, I know, no Macaroni in SW, but I was running out of creative juice)
"It's our favorite!" Ryoo said.
"I agree," Anakin said smiling at Padmè.
Padmè just crossed her arms and let out a dramatic, "Hmmph."
"Macaroni it is!" Anakin exclaimed as he proceeded to get the necessary cooking utensils.
"So do you girls know how to make this macaroni?" Padmè asked with a grin.
"Yeah, we are experts!" Pooja said.
"Okay Macaroni Experts, what do you do first?" Anakin asked.
"Boil the water," Ryoo said.
"Check," Anakin said as he placed the pot of water on the stove. "Ryoo, would you like a special job?"
"Yeah!" Ryoo replied.
"But I want a special job!" Pooja pouted.
"Pooja, I have a special job for you too," Padmè said.
"What?!" Pooja said excitedly.
"You can help me with the salad, Okay?" Padmè said
"Yes," Pooja said, happily climbing up on a stool to help Padmè toss a salad.
"Ryoo, your special job is to watch the water and tell me when it boils, alright?" Anakin asked.
"Yeah, that is easy."
"Good, I am going to set the table," Anakin said smiling at the girl.
Anakin went to work setting four identical place settings on the dinner table in the next room.
Anakin entered the kitchen again to get more silverware, "How is that special job going Ryoo?"
"Good, it is almost ready to boil," Ryoo replied.
"Good work, I knew you were the right person for the job," Anakin said with a smile.
Anakin finished setting the table and walked over to the large display case on the far wall of the dining room. It was filled with pictures of Padmè and Sola as children and young adults.
Anakin couldn't help but notice Sola's radiant smile, she seemed like such a happy person. Sola's bright eyes resembled both of her daughter's sparkling brown orbs. But Anakin knew that the familiarness of the girl's eyes was not because they resembled their mothers, but the eyes he knew better than anything in the universe, Padmès.
Anakin skimmed over each photo, his eyes falling on one from Sola and Darred's wedding. It reminded him of his own wedding, and beautiful bride. Anakin wished they could display a photo from the union, but both Padmè and himself knew it wasn't possible.
He turned sadly, and headed toward the door leading to the kitchen.
Just as Anakin entered he heard his name, "Uncle Ani!" Anakin looked over towards the stove where Ryoo stood pointing to the pot about to boil over.
Anakin knew he would never make it in time to prevent a mess, so without thinking he used to force to levitate the pot above it's burner. The frothy water settled back down and Anakin continued to levitate it as he walked towards the stove.
Once he reached his destination he turned the heat down and placed the pot back on the burner.
"Whew, that was a close one!" Ryoo exclaimed, "How did you make the pot float?"
Anakin smiled, replying, "Magic!"
Suddenly the salad bowl on the counter near Pooja began to levitate as well.
"Is this magic too?" Padmè said, crossing her arms as she looked at Anakin impatiently.
"Why yes," he said playfully.
"Wow!" Pooja exclaimed. "Can you teach us to do that too?"
"Do what?" Anakin said with a giggle, as he made the bowl float around the room.
"Break the rules?" Obi Wan said, as he entered the kitchen.
Anakin whipped around, dropping the salad bowl on the floor, startled by his master's sudden appearance.
"Anakin how many times will I have to tell you before you will learn, levitation is not something to be taken lightly."
"But Master..," Anakin said before Obi Wan cut him off, "Anakin step outside, we need to talk."
"Yes Master."
"Ohhh.looks like Anakin is in trouble with Obi Wan! What did he do wrong?" Ryoo asked.
"Well Obi Wan isn't the only one Ani is in trouble with," Padmè replied as she tended to the dropped salad.
"You're mad at him too?" Ryoo asked.
"Well not really, but look at the mess he made!" Padmè chided. "Why is Obi Wan mad?" Pooja asked as she helped Padmè pick up the mess.
"Obi Wan is mad because Anakin was not supposed to make those things float, it is a Jedi rule," Padmè explained.
"Oh, I thought it was neat though," Ryoo said.
"I know, but they have a lot of unfair rules, Anakin has to follow them."
"Like what rules," Pooja asked as she finished cleaning up.
Padmè knew exactly what rule she had been referring to but couldn't tell the girls the truth. "Oh rules like they can't own things."
"He can't own anything?" Pooja exclaimed.
"No Anakin can't buy anything. The only thing he has is a small apartment in the temple, his Jedi Robes and lightsaber."
"Wow, no toys or anything? I guess I will never be a Jedi," Ryoo said.
Padmè thought to herself, "I wish Anakin never would have either."
********************
"Anakin, you know better than to show off like that!" Obi Wan scolded.
"The pot was going to boil over!" Anakin snapped.
"So you make a salad bowl float around a room?" Obi Wan asked.
"No, the girls wanted to see me do it again, what was I going to say? Obi Wan really, what is the reasoning behind not being able to levitate objects unless all necessary."
Obi Wan thought of what the two girls reaction would have been to Anakin levitating a pot of water. The sight made him smile, he didn't think he could have told them no either.
"Okay, I see what you mean, just don't make it a habit, understood?" Obi Wan said.
"Yes. Master, have you found any information about the murders?" Anakin asked.
"Just small leads, nothing substantial. It was obviously planned, the houses were untouched, and nothing was stolen. The ammunition used was very standard however, could have been anyone. However, a neighbor of Sola and Darred said they saw a mysterious speeder traveling around the block several times around the time of the murders. They said it did not seem like any Nubian ship they had ever saw."
"Did you ask them to identify it?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, they identified it as a older ship from Tatooine in fact," Obi Wan replied.
"Probably a bounty hunter from Mos Eisley or something." Anakin said.
"Based on the information I have gathered, it seems as though it is most likely the Trade Federation again."
Anakin nodded, "If there is a bounty hunter involved we should get Padmè back to Coruscant as soon as possible."
"I agree, do you think she would be ready to leave in the morning?" Obi Wan asked.
"Yes, I will inform her that we depart in the morning," Anakin said, heading back into the kitchen
(This is probably not as well composed as the other chapters. We have finals coming up and I didn't have a lot of time to revise this. I hope it wasn't too hard to follow. Please understand that I have a VERY busy life right now. I am on the Saddy Hawkins committee with 3 other girls and have to put together a dance (including getting DJ, decorations, crown orders, organize court selection, and advertise within a week, plus I have to figure out what me and my date are going to do before the dance) I am also busy planning Winter Wonderland with student council and a ski trip for ski club. Plus I have finals to study for. Expect the next chapter in 1-2 weeks, sorry for this delay)