This one is going to be quite long, as the next ones will be a little
small. I start work next week, and have College for two days next week
also, so that's why. This is dedicated to Rogue_49 and Halcyon03 and thier
fic Against Fate (),
who constantly entertains me with this wonderful story.
---
Padme yawned, trying to think of another paragraph to her campaign speech. Being a working mother on her own was difficult, especially with her running for Chancellor.
But the day had been good, it was wonderful to see her family coming together. The twins had mostly behaved themselves on the way home, and were really too tired to play up most of the night, watching some holovids and then going to bed. She still felt drained from the nights previous, she was very glad of this time to work on one of her speeches. She had a big senatorial meeting for the campaigns tomorrow, and she needed to finish this.
'Beep. Beep. Beep.'
"What on." Padme started, till she noticed it was just her holocorder signalling that someone was calling her. She reached over and activated it, and to her delight, Jobal Naberrie lit up the screen, smiling gently at her daughter.
"Mother! This is unexpected," she commented, smiling.
Her mother smiled playfully, "I can't call my baby girl now?"
"Oh, of course you can!" Padme corrected.
Jobal's smile was replaced with a frown that slightly crinkled her forehead, "Are you alright, dear? You like tired,"
Padme gace a little smile of her own, "You weren't tired when you had to look after Sola and I when we were Luke and Leia's age?"
"Yes." Her mother considered, "But I was not running for Chancellor of the Republic also."
'So that's what this is about,' Padme thought. 'Sola must of told her.' She loved her big sister but sometimes the woman had a mouth the size of a space freighter.
"No, that is not why I called." Her mother stated, matter-of-factly.
'How did she.'
"I'm your mother, Padme Amidala, I gave birth to you!" She straightened slightly. "I should be insulted if I could not read your face like a book!"
Padme just let out a silent laugh at her mother, "I know, Mom, I know." She sobered a little. "And I want to make a difference. I always have. As chancellor, I have a better shot at changing this universe, of fixing the damage the empire caused."
"I know, I know," she said, getting that long suffering look about her, just like the one Dad would get when she'd tell him to get his feet of the table for hundredth time. "And I am proud of you for this. But I worry."
"I have been preparing for being Chancellor for a long time." Padme pointed out.
"Yes," her mother said, "But were you preparing for being a mother and wife also?"
'That's the 60 million credit question,' she thought instead opting to be subtler. "Sola told you I took the twins to see him, then?"
Her mother nodded.
"He was fine with them, he is their father." Padme told her, a touch of defiance in her tone.
"I never implied he would be anything other than a good father, Padme." Jobal commented. "I just worry for you, for all of you, him included. I simply want to ask how he was."
'Force, my mothers got more insight into me than one of Master Yoda's mind probes could bring out!' she thought.
"He's much better." She hesitated, "I'm.thinking of asking if I can have him home."
"You are doing it again," her mother scolded lightly.
"Doing what?"
"Taking on too much! It was the same when you were little, taking part in relief programs, a full day of schooling and extra work. It is happening all over again, sweetheart." Her mother sighed, "It will be difficult enough being a mother, a wife and looking out for the galaxy without looking after someone who is ill."
Padme nodded, "I am used to it,"
"You are also tired," and her mother looked behind her, then whispered, "And getting bags."
Padme let out a giggle, "Hazard of the job,"
"Well not tonight. You are going to go to bed right now." Her mother said, lifting her chin.
"Mom." Padme dragged out the word, "I have to finish this speech."
"Finish it in the morning!"
Padme sighed. Her mother had a point, she could finish it in the morning. It would probably not come out so well in now anyway.
"Alright. Goodnight mom."
---
Padme awoke with a start, looking at the clock. It was just past one am standard, and she had only had about two hours sleep. Regaining her senses slightly, and wondering what had woken her, she could hear crying. 'Luke,' she thought. She made her way to the twins' room, where the little boy was sitting up, crying for his mother. She gathered the infant her arms, and rubbed his teary eyes, sparing a look for his sister, who was sound asleep.
"You have a nightmare, honey? Hmm?" she said, letting the little boy out of her embrace.
He nodded, still drying his eyes, and shivering.
"What about?" She remembered Anakins' nightmares, the horrible premonitions of things to come that no one took heed of. He had always said getting them out into the open felt better, a practice she had decided to repeat on their children.
He shook his head, "I don't know. It was really dark and I couldn't see anything. And I was lying on the ground and it was hard and cold and I was cold and really scared." He snuggled up to his mother. "It was so real, mommy!"
// "It was so real, Padme."//
She shook off the memory, and focussed on her son, "I know, but they aren't and you just need to remember that."
He swallowed loudly, "Can you stay with me?"
Padme nodded, climbing under the sheets with her son, and cuddled up to him. She shivered down her spine and she just couldn't shake that horrible feeling.
---
"How could this have happened?" Obi-Wan explained, nearing panic.
"This isn't a prison, we were not expecting him to leave," stuttered the assistant in the med centre.
"He just got up and left?" Obi-wan commented incredulously.
"It appears so."
"Don't you have twenty four hour monitoring?"
"Well, yes," The humanoid commented. "But not when our watchers are put to sleep with the force!"
"And Anakin did this, I suppose!" he said.
"It points that way."
Obi-Wan fumed. Anakin wouldn't have the strength; he was too tired to go off doing this. But that nagging thought entered his mind:
What if he did?
'No,' Obi-Wan thought, 'There's something not right about this.'
"Calm, you will be, Master Kenobi," Master Yaddles' soft voice rang through the room. Being one of Master Yoda's species, but much younger, Master Yaddle gave out a healing, compassionate and calming presence. She could be found in the med centre often because of this. With the council devided, and Anakins' (not to mention his) current state of mind, Yaddle was a wise choice.
"I am trying master, but even for Anakin, this doesn't ring true."
"Then investigate further, we must."
---
"The senate recognises Senator Amidala from Naboo," Acting Chancellor Bail Organa said with a smile. Although technically, they were opponents, Bail had a deep respect and sisterly love for the Senator. She was a friend, a friend who deserved the position, and he would be happy for her if she achieved it.
'She looks tired,' he thought, making a mental note of approaching her after the session ended.
"Fellow Senators," Amidala began. "I think that we can all agree that what has happened to this Republic has been a terrible and horrible tragedy."
There where mummers of agreement, and she had everyone's attention now.
"But we have never been a Galaxy to live in the past. We have always looked to the future, a bright future! We must make it so, as we are the only ones that can bring order back, to build again."
There was a round of cheers and some clapping.
"We can dry the tears this has cost us, we can being peace to those whose blood, whose friends and families blood, has been spilt all to often. We will rise again, and make this Republic a safer and better place to be. I believe this, I truly do. I have the ability to lead this, as do my opponents." She bobbed her head at Bail, "But it is us who must choose to make this difference. Life is choice, and I know we will make the right one! This is not about vengeance, this is about life, preserving and cherishing it with all we have! We can be strong, again. All we have to do is believe in ourselves, and we will achieve."
---
"Now that was something," Bail said, as he approached her outside her office.
"Bail," she greeted.
"I haven't heard an applause like that in years."
"Actually, it was rather short. I didn't have time to finish it."
"Trouble?"
"Oh, just a little nightmares. Children," she shrugged. "I was going to finish it this morning but I kept getting weird calls. Audio, no visual, and it just seemed to be breathing, nothing else."
"How odd."
"I thought so." Padme frowned. "I'm just glad it didn't wake the twins."
"How are Leia and Luke?"
"Fine," she commented gently. "I took them to see their father yesterday."
"Mmm."
There was a silence for a moment and Padme asked how Sache was.
"She is fine, working with the relief on some of the closer planets to Alderaan."
Padme nodded, "I was so happy to hear you were marrying."
Bail smiled, "Good news travels fast."
"Indeed," Padme yawned, then blushed "Sorry."
"Milady?" Dorme asked as she went into the office.
"Yes,"
"There is a call for you,"
"I'll take it here."
Padme put it on and again she could hear nothing. "Who is this?!" she commented, irritated. The caller hung up and Padme banged the table in frustration.
"Dorme," Bails voice broke in, "Can you place where that call was from?" 'Of course, why didn't I think of that?' Padme thought.
They waited for a moment till Dorme looked up, "It came from inside the Jedi Temple, Milady."
"Thank you Dorme." She reached for her coat, and placed it on. "Order me a taxi, please."
Dorme went back to her outer office, and Bail turned to Padme "Going somewhere?"
"The temple," Padme said, determined. "I'm going to get some answers."
---
Padme yawned, trying to think of another paragraph to her campaign speech. Being a working mother on her own was difficult, especially with her running for Chancellor.
But the day had been good, it was wonderful to see her family coming together. The twins had mostly behaved themselves on the way home, and were really too tired to play up most of the night, watching some holovids and then going to bed. She still felt drained from the nights previous, she was very glad of this time to work on one of her speeches. She had a big senatorial meeting for the campaigns tomorrow, and she needed to finish this.
'Beep. Beep. Beep.'
"What on." Padme started, till she noticed it was just her holocorder signalling that someone was calling her. She reached over and activated it, and to her delight, Jobal Naberrie lit up the screen, smiling gently at her daughter.
"Mother! This is unexpected," she commented, smiling.
Her mother smiled playfully, "I can't call my baby girl now?"
"Oh, of course you can!" Padme corrected.
Jobal's smile was replaced with a frown that slightly crinkled her forehead, "Are you alright, dear? You like tired,"
Padme gace a little smile of her own, "You weren't tired when you had to look after Sola and I when we were Luke and Leia's age?"
"Yes." Her mother considered, "But I was not running for Chancellor of the Republic also."
'So that's what this is about,' Padme thought. 'Sola must of told her.' She loved her big sister but sometimes the woman had a mouth the size of a space freighter.
"No, that is not why I called." Her mother stated, matter-of-factly.
'How did she.'
"I'm your mother, Padme Amidala, I gave birth to you!" She straightened slightly. "I should be insulted if I could not read your face like a book!"
Padme just let out a silent laugh at her mother, "I know, Mom, I know." She sobered a little. "And I want to make a difference. I always have. As chancellor, I have a better shot at changing this universe, of fixing the damage the empire caused."
"I know, I know," she said, getting that long suffering look about her, just like the one Dad would get when she'd tell him to get his feet of the table for hundredth time. "And I am proud of you for this. But I worry."
"I have been preparing for being Chancellor for a long time." Padme pointed out.
"Yes," her mother said, "But were you preparing for being a mother and wife also?"
'That's the 60 million credit question,' she thought instead opting to be subtler. "Sola told you I took the twins to see him, then?"
Her mother nodded.
"He was fine with them, he is their father." Padme told her, a touch of defiance in her tone.
"I never implied he would be anything other than a good father, Padme." Jobal commented. "I just worry for you, for all of you, him included. I simply want to ask how he was."
'Force, my mothers got more insight into me than one of Master Yoda's mind probes could bring out!' she thought.
"He's much better." She hesitated, "I'm.thinking of asking if I can have him home."
"You are doing it again," her mother scolded lightly.
"Doing what?"
"Taking on too much! It was the same when you were little, taking part in relief programs, a full day of schooling and extra work. It is happening all over again, sweetheart." Her mother sighed, "It will be difficult enough being a mother, a wife and looking out for the galaxy without looking after someone who is ill."
Padme nodded, "I am used to it,"
"You are also tired," and her mother looked behind her, then whispered, "And getting bags."
Padme let out a giggle, "Hazard of the job,"
"Well not tonight. You are going to go to bed right now." Her mother said, lifting her chin.
"Mom." Padme dragged out the word, "I have to finish this speech."
"Finish it in the morning!"
Padme sighed. Her mother had a point, she could finish it in the morning. It would probably not come out so well in now anyway.
"Alright. Goodnight mom."
---
Padme awoke with a start, looking at the clock. It was just past one am standard, and she had only had about two hours sleep. Regaining her senses slightly, and wondering what had woken her, she could hear crying. 'Luke,' she thought. She made her way to the twins' room, where the little boy was sitting up, crying for his mother. She gathered the infant her arms, and rubbed his teary eyes, sparing a look for his sister, who was sound asleep.
"You have a nightmare, honey? Hmm?" she said, letting the little boy out of her embrace.
He nodded, still drying his eyes, and shivering.
"What about?" She remembered Anakins' nightmares, the horrible premonitions of things to come that no one took heed of. He had always said getting them out into the open felt better, a practice she had decided to repeat on their children.
He shook his head, "I don't know. It was really dark and I couldn't see anything. And I was lying on the ground and it was hard and cold and I was cold and really scared." He snuggled up to his mother. "It was so real, mommy!"
// "It was so real, Padme."//
She shook off the memory, and focussed on her son, "I know, but they aren't and you just need to remember that."
He swallowed loudly, "Can you stay with me?"
Padme nodded, climbing under the sheets with her son, and cuddled up to him. She shivered down her spine and she just couldn't shake that horrible feeling.
---
"How could this have happened?" Obi-Wan explained, nearing panic.
"This isn't a prison, we were not expecting him to leave," stuttered the assistant in the med centre.
"He just got up and left?" Obi-wan commented incredulously.
"It appears so."
"Don't you have twenty four hour monitoring?"
"Well, yes," The humanoid commented. "But not when our watchers are put to sleep with the force!"
"And Anakin did this, I suppose!" he said.
"It points that way."
Obi-Wan fumed. Anakin wouldn't have the strength; he was too tired to go off doing this. But that nagging thought entered his mind:
What if he did?
'No,' Obi-Wan thought, 'There's something not right about this.'
"Calm, you will be, Master Kenobi," Master Yaddles' soft voice rang through the room. Being one of Master Yoda's species, but much younger, Master Yaddle gave out a healing, compassionate and calming presence. She could be found in the med centre often because of this. With the council devided, and Anakins' (not to mention his) current state of mind, Yaddle was a wise choice.
"I am trying master, but even for Anakin, this doesn't ring true."
"Then investigate further, we must."
---
"The senate recognises Senator Amidala from Naboo," Acting Chancellor Bail Organa said with a smile. Although technically, they were opponents, Bail had a deep respect and sisterly love for the Senator. She was a friend, a friend who deserved the position, and he would be happy for her if she achieved it.
'She looks tired,' he thought, making a mental note of approaching her after the session ended.
"Fellow Senators," Amidala began. "I think that we can all agree that what has happened to this Republic has been a terrible and horrible tragedy."
There where mummers of agreement, and she had everyone's attention now.
"But we have never been a Galaxy to live in the past. We have always looked to the future, a bright future! We must make it so, as we are the only ones that can bring order back, to build again."
There was a round of cheers and some clapping.
"We can dry the tears this has cost us, we can being peace to those whose blood, whose friends and families blood, has been spilt all to often. We will rise again, and make this Republic a safer and better place to be. I believe this, I truly do. I have the ability to lead this, as do my opponents." She bobbed her head at Bail, "But it is us who must choose to make this difference. Life is choice, and I know we will make the right one! This is not about vengeance, this is about life, preserving and cherishing it with all we have! We can be strong, again. All we have to do is believe in ourselves, and we will achieve."
---
"Now that was something," Bail said, as he approached her outside her office.
"Bail," she greeted.
"I haven't heard an applause like that in years."
"Actually, it was rather short. I didn't have time to finish it."
"Trouble?"
"Oh, just a little nightmares. Children," she shrugged. "I was going to finish it this morning but I kept getting weird calls. Audio, no visual, and it just seemed to be breathing, nothing else."
"How odd."
"I thought so." Padme frowned. "I'm just glad it didn't wake the twins."
"How are Leia and Luke?"
"Fine," she commented gently. "I took them to see their father yesterday."
"Mmm."
There was a silence for a moment and Padme asked how Sache was.
"She is fine, working with the relief on some of the closer planets to Alderaan."
Padme nodded, "I was so happy to hear you were marrying."
Bail smiled, "Good news travels fast."
"Indeed," Padme yawned, then blushed "Sorry."
"Milady?" Dorme asked as she went into the office.
"Yes,"
"There is a call for you,"
"I'll take it here."
Padme put it on and again she could hear nothing. "Who is this?!" she commented, irritated. The caller hung up and Padme banged the table in frustration.
"Dorme," Bails voice broke in, "Can you place where that call was from?" 'Of course, why didn't I think of that?' Padme thought.
They waited for a moment till Dorme looked up, "It came from inside the Jedi Temple, Milady."
"Thank you Dorme." She reached for her coat, and placed it on. "Order me a taxi, please."
Dorme went back to her outer office, and Bail turned to Padme "Going somewhere?"
"The temple," Padme said, determined. "I'm going to get some answers."