To Love a Jedi

Chapter 5: What Is There That I Can't See?

Author's Note: A series of events made it impossible for me to update until now. Anyway, you might recognize the AotC scene as a deleted one. I liked it, so I brought it back from the cutting room! (BTW, the part from the present IS a story too, not just some random scenes. You'll see what I mean in a couple of chapters.)


I hurry along to the meeting room once again. Bail Organa has just told me that he has some important information for me. Information regarding family. That's all he dared tell me in public. That's just like him, leaving the important details for later.

But what could it be about? Family? Is it about Anakin? Luke? Leia? Does Anakin know about them? Are they in danger?

When I finally reach the meeting room, I take no time to make formal greetings. My imagination has has given me too many frightening scenarios. "What is it?" I ask.

Bail swallows, mentally preparing himself for the news. "Milady. We have information on…your family."

I am still confused. "M-my family? Who do you mean? Anakin, Luke, Leia?"

He shakes his head. "Not that family. I mean your family…on Naboo."

My family on Naboo…Does he mean my parents and Sola, and her kids? Are they alive and safe? I haven't heard from them in years, four years to be exact. Right after Ani…changed. I had to contact them. I had to tell them everything. I knew I might not get another chance. The minute Leia and I were settled in the Alderaan palace, I sent them a hologram.

"Mom? Dad? Sola?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from being tense.

"Padmé!" My mother said, sounding more worried than ever. "What happened? I tried to contact you at the capitol, but with that war—"

"Mom," I cut her off "I'm not on Coruscant. I'm on Alderaan."

"Alderaan?" She asked. "What—"

I cut her off again. "Get Dad and Sola in here. There's…there's something I need to tell you all."

Once everyone was gathered, I began. I was nervous, finally telling the truth I had been hiding for three years. "Do you remember…Anakin when I brought him to meet you?"

"Anakin?" Sola asked. "You mean that dashing jedi?"

"Yes." I replied. "You see…well…" I felt a tear cling to my eye.

"Padmé, what is it? Tell us, please." Mom begged. She must have noticed that I was on the verge of crying.

I wiped the tear away. "Anakin and I…we…we got married. In secret. Three years ago."

I watched the surprise on their faces. The silence was deafening. Finally my father said, "Why in secret?"

"Jedi aren't allowed to marry." I told him. They aren't allowed to love, either. I reminded myself.

"Why didn't you invite us?" Sola asked. "We wouldn't have told."

"I know. It's just…there was a problem."

"What?" Mom said, doing very poorly at trying to hide her concern.

I felt another tear come. "There was the war and…and now…" The tear came down my cheek. I felt my voice waver. "He's gone."

"Gone?" My father said in a whisper. "He's dead?"

I was fully crying by then. "No. Not dead. He just…changed. Well, not like normal change. He was good to me, he never hurt me. He still loved me but…I did this to him!"

I could hear my Mom's comforting voice. It was almost like she was close to me. I knew that she would have liked nothing better than to pull me into a hug like she did when I was little. "Padmé, whatever it is, we don't blame you for it. But we have to ask you, what happened?"

I looked into my mother's eyes. They only showed concern for me. "Jedi cannot love." I replied. "It makes them do crazy things. And he did do crazy things. For me. Because he believed me dead…He..he…" I had to pause, but then I continued. "He is Darth Vader."

Their looks of terror were more than I could bear. Silent tears came down my cheeks. "I'm sorry." I cried.

"No, Padmé, it was not your fault." Sola told me.

"I'm glad you told us." My father said.

"I shouldn't have told you, but I had to. Anakin might come looking for me. And he knows about you. You're in danger now."

"We won't tell him." Sola replied bravely.

"You have to get out." I told them. "You have to leave. He may not know I'm alive, but if word does reach him, he'll try to find me."

"Don't worry." Mom said. "We'll get out. And…Padmé, we love you. We will always love you."

I nodded. "I love you too, that's why I had to tell you." My finger strayed over the off button, but I thought of something. "And…Mom?" She looked back at me. "I gave a small smile. "You're a grandmother. Again." Then I turned it off. That's the last I ever heard or saw of them.

"Milady?" Bail's voice shook me out of my memory.

"Yes?" I ask.

"We found them. Your parents, your sister, your nieces, all of them." His face looks grave…

Found?"A-all of them?" I need to know everything. "Where? What system?"

"They were found in a small village in Naboo."

I rush to the door. "I have to go to them! I haven't seen them in years—"

He grabs my arm, stopping me from leaving. "Padmé," He uses my name. "They're dead."

Dead? "W-what do you mean? But…they can't be…"

He places his hand on my shoulder. "It was Vader."

"What?"

He looks down. "I'm sorry. According from information, we received, it was five months ago. They were on a wanted list. Stormtroopers found them in the village they were hiding. He came in, and questioned them. And your mother made the mistake of telling him how you still love him."

Mother…she…accidentally told him…?

"He was quite surprised. When he asked of your whereabouts. They would not tell. It wasn't until your sister Sola called him Anakin and asked him why he went this way if he loved you so much. Then…the stormtroopers fired."

I can't believe it…Ani…he met them before. How could he kill his in-laws? Ani, don't you remember them? You liked them, and they liked you. And they saw how it was between us…


After we had landed at Naboo and met with the queen, I knew I had to see my parents. It had been so long since we last saw another, and I also wanted to introduce them to Anakin.

"Why do you want to show me your parents?" He asked, as we set out from the palace.

"Well," I replied. "I already met your mother, so it's only fair. Plus, you have to follow me around anyway, and I wanted to visit them." That statement was only half true. I was like a child, wanting to show my parents a new friend or a pet. But Anakin was hardly a new friend or a pet.

We walked for a little bit in Theed, until we finally reached it. "We're here." I said, turning back to Anakin. "This is my house."

Immediately from inside came my two nieces, Ryoo and Pooja. As I bent down to hug them, Anakin smiled. I guess he was thinking how good I was with children. After me, they ran to R2. While he amused them, I went inside.

The first person I saw was Sola. I ran up and hugged her. "Padmé!" She said, "We were so worried!"

It was then I remembered to introduce Anakin to her. "Anakin, this is my sister Sola."

"Hello." He looked a bit uncomfortable.

While Sola returned the greeting, Mom walked in. "This is my mother." I told him.

"Hello." She said cheerfully. "You made it just in time for dinner. I hope you're hungry, Anakin."

"A little." He replied as we sat down.

"He's being polite, Mom. We're starving."

Dad sat down at the table also. "Well, you've come to the right place at the right time."

"Honey, it's so good to see you safe." Mom replied. "We were so worried."

"Dear…" My father warned her.

"I know, I know. But I had to say it, now it's done."

I noticed my Dad looking at Anakin. Like he was…looking him over. Giving him the "father look" like he used to do to Sola's boyfriends. Anakin smiled, and that seemed to make him happy.

Sola decided to tell me why Dad was acting so funny. "Do you know Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister's ever brought home?" She gave me a small wink.

"He's not my boyfriend!" I retorted. I couldn't help but glance at Anakin through the corner of my eye. He looked…disappointed. I couldn't figure out why. "Anakin's a friend. We've known each other for years." Sola rolled her eyes, still not believing me. I had to let her know that there was nothing between us. "He's a jedi assigned by the senate to protect me."

My mother was alarmed. "A body guard? Oh, Padmé, they didn't tell us it was that serious!"

I didn't want her to worry. "It's not, I promise. I'm not in any danger, Mom."

My father didn't believe it. "Is she?"

"Yes." Anakin said. "I'm afraid she is."

I gave Anakin a glare. I don't have the force, but I am sure he knew I was trying to tell him that I wasn't too happy about that comment. Then we resumed our dinner, silently eating, with the occasional nervous stare from my mother, Sola winking at me, and my father making glances in my and Anakin's direction. I should have known something was up.

I found out what it was after dinner, when I was helping Mom and Sola wash up. "Why haven't you told us about him?" Sola asked.

"What's there to talk about?" I asked. "He's just a boy."

"A boy?" She sounded surprised. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"Sola, stop it!" I demanded. I didn't want to hear any more of this talk.

She shrugged. "It's obvious he has feelings for you."

Obvious? I thought. Now there's a laugh. I looked down in the garden to where Anakin and Dad were talking. I looked back at Sola. She smiled. I rolled my eyes. "Anakin and I are friends. Our relationship is strictly professional."

"Whatever you say." She said. "But I think you're in denial. You don't realize those feelings are there. Maybe you're afraid to notice."

"Sola, there is nothing there. Nothing!" I stormed out of the kitchen. But I heard Sola say to Mom. "Sooner or later, she'll have to admit it to herself."

"I agree." Mom replied.

The rest of the one night visit was a night mare. When Anakin got back from the garden, I asked. "What did Dad talk to you about?"

Anakin shrugged. "He asked me if I would take care of you."

"Oh." I replied, having a feeling I knew what Dad had meant.

When Dad came back in, he told me. "I like this boy. He's good for you."

"He's not my boyfriend!" I snapped.

Sola hissed, "Denial!"

I gave her such a look of hate, I am sure it cannot be topped.

Finally, the next morning, we were going to leave. Sola had to get in one last comment. She would always make fun of my love life, but never like this. As we were walking out the door, she whispered to me, "Tell us when the wedding is!"

I don't think I ever walked away from that house faster.

I hated having to endure those comments, because I thought they were making fun of me for having a boy as a friend. That wasn't true. They were family; they knew what they were seeing. I just had to open my eyes and realize that what they saw there was true. I had to realize what was happening.

And I soon did.


Author's Note: Yes, kiss next chap! I can hardly wait!