FORGIVABLE SINNERS
By Laura-chan
Summary: What if Anakin never had dreams of Padmé dying? Would he have fallen in the Sith's grasp? In this AU of RoS Anakin and Padmé, while trying to end the war, struggle to keep secret their relationship, even with their two children, Luke and Leia.
Time: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. AU
Rating: R or M
Pairing: Anakin/Padmé, my favorite.
Warnings: This story is rated R/M for a reason; in future chapters there will be strong scenes.
Also, don't mind too much my mistakes, please - I'm Italian and English is not my first language.
AN: Sorry for the lateness of this chapter, but lately I've felt without energy: I have a cold and my stomach is upset (even if I don't why), most of my friends are away and I'm bored and lonely.
Usually, I write a chapter in 2-3 days: this took 5 days. It was difficult to write, especially the last part because I didn't know how to write the scene I had in mind: I was without inspiration.
Well, now it's written so… enjoy!
CHAPTER 11
A week passed in tranquillity and joy: no murder attempts, no news from Coruscant disturbed the peace of Naberrie's household.
Even Captain Typho had slightly lessened the security, somehow feeling that the danger had passed. But Anakin wasn't that sure, and even if he was elated to enjoy a week with his family, his senses were always alert, using the Force to locate any possible threat to his new-found happiness.
Through he never found anything unusual in his long walks around the house, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was going to happen… and it wouldn't be a good thing.
But Anakin never mentioned his fears to Padmé, knowing she had been already quite stressed by the first attempt to her life and the twins' birth.
Instead, around the Naberrie's he kept on a joyous, and not unreal, façade.
He was not really surprised that both his son and daughter had a strong Force-signature: after all, they were destined to have it, their father being the Chosen One and the Jedi with the highest midichlorians count ever known.
Padmé was actually a bit worried about it and kept wondering if the Jedi Order was going to take away her children. Anakin tried to reassure her that if she didn't want they wouldn't take Luke or Leia, but she always waved him off, knowing full-well that Jedi could be very persuasive if they needed to: and she felt she was going to lose her children, and not only her husband, to them.
But apart from these things, they were spending their time in love and passion: Padmé found out how much Anakin had really missed her and wondered if he wanted to put her pregnant again; more often than she would have liked, she had to stop his advances from being more than that… even in front of her parents.
But at night, alone in her bedroom, she couldn't deny him to take pleasure from her body and to give her pleasure in return: it was a thirst she herself wasn't able to satiate. After months of being without him, and three years of a seemingly never-ending, destructive war where her husband would often - if not always - risk his life, the young woman discovered that she couldn't get enough of him. And this was according well with Anakin's own hunger.
Every night their love-making got more intense, as somehow a strange feeling spurred them, letting them know that their time together was brief and precious, like a rare gem hidden in a treasure. Anakin would kiss her eyelids, and then, moving lower, suckle her tender nipples like a new-born baby, reminding her of Leia or Luke.
After playing with her breasts (he found them fascinating, now that they were swollen with milk), he would caress her stomach and tights, admiring their softness. Then, he would enter her, and every time Padmé felt like she was finally complete: they were two halves of the same soul, and nobody could divide them.
And as the Jedi moved inside her with passionate desperation, she would use his back as a scratching post, leaving red marks and claiming him as hers, just as he claimed her as his.
But before falling in Morpheus' arms, she would wonder what really was happening on Coruscant, so far from their safe haven, their love nest.
Obi-wan Kenobi frowned as he listened to the umpteenth report: it was always the same, no traces have been found of Sidious in the Senate building… and this was most worrisome.
"There's must be something!" he exclaimed, gesturing agitated.
"Our only clues of Sidious being on Coruscant are the communications intercepted from the Chancellor's studio, and the conversation Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker heard at Grievous' base on Yavin four." Luminara Unduli said grimly.
"And important clues they are." Mace Windu reminded her, his fingers entwined, as he sat in his chair with his elbows on his tights. "The real problem is who has sent those communications. And there is only one person who could have done it without difficulties."
"Are we really sure the Chancellor could be Sidious?" asked Ki-Adi-Mundi, tiredly.
"I'm just stating a fact." Mace answered calmly, knowing fully the impact his words had on most members of the Council.
"Well, Palpatine has been on duty far more than requested from his mandate, but he was against the war and had always given the Jedi his full support." Aayla Secura tried to reason.
"Until now." Kit Fisto said darkly.
A heavy silence fell on the Council, unanswered questions troubling every Jedi in the Chamber.
"The future clouded is, by the Dark Side." A venerable voice spoke, all heads turning to watch Yoda. "Impossible is, to see it clearly." He seemed tired and one hundred years older than he really was. "In a deep crisis we are."
"If Palpatine is really the Dark Lord of the Sith, " urged Ki-Adi-Mundi, "…then we all have been fooled for more than ten years!"
"That possibility, we already know there is." Yoda bent his head sadly. "We've already discussed it, a week ago."
Obi-wan just sat there, his hand caressing his beard - as he always did when he was deep in thought - his azure eyes unfocused.
"What are we going to do?" he asked Mace Windu as they walked together in one of the long and lit up passages of the Temple: the Council has retired in a depressed mood, but Obi-wan wasn't going to let depression get to him. He wanted to find out who really was the Sith Lord.
Windu shook his bald head, "I don't really know: we need proof to arrest Sidious… the Chancellor."
"You really believe Palpatine is a Sith."
"I don't trust him." The korun Master said harshly. "I feel the Dark Side all over him."
"He could be possessed." Reasoned Kenobi, and Windu laughed a hollow laugh.
"He could be: but I don't think so." He turned around, looking as Jedi of all species and ages walked around, young padawans laughing happily, old masters wearing worried expressions on their faces.
Mace sighed and shook his head. "Obi-wan, you know why the Council entrusted Anakin with the protection of Senator Amidala, don't you?"
"I guessed."
"Anakin's friendship with the Chancellor is worrisome and dangerous." Windu turned to look at him. "This is why he was assigned to that mission."
"You wanted to keep him away from Palpatine."
"I'd rather have him in Senator Amidala's company than Palpatine's." Mace admitted. "I admire Padmé Amidala, she's a great woman and one of the still honest politicians in the Senate: and she always supported the democracy and the Order. And even if we're still not sure about Skywalker's relationship with her, it's less dangerous than having him under the Chancellor's influence."
Obi-wan nodded, totally agreeing with him: he knew that Anakin considered Palpatine a friend and a mentor and had always ignored Obi-wan's attempts to make him see that the man he trusted so much was probably one of the most corrupted politicians of the Republic. Kenobi wasn't even completely surprised that Palpatine was somewhat, somehow, associated to Darth Sidious.
"But for now, we can't do anything: as I said before, we need proof that we currently don't have." Obi-wan heard the tiredness and the stress in Mace's voice.
"And when the time will come, I hope that Skywalker will show us if he's really the Chosen One."
"What!"
"You heard me, Anakin."
The young Jedi watched his wife as she had suddenly transformed in a Gundark.
"You must be kidding, Padmé! You can't possibly be thinking to go back to…"
"…to Coruscant?" she interrupted him, "Oh yes, Anakin: I've been gone far too long, and I heard some disturbing news from Bail Organa. I want to take back my place in the Senate and see what's really going on."
"Padmé, you can't travel with two one-week-old babies! And there's no way you're going to leave them here if you, and I, are going to leave to Coruscant. And, which disturbing news are you talking about?"
Her eyes flashed and she turned from the window in her room to fix him with a glare; Anakin took a step back and cursed mentally: his wife could be scarier than Grievous.
"News about the fact that your friend Palpatine has refused to give up his special emergency powers; or that he's also refusing to give up his authority over the Jedi Order and the Senate. He's been Chancellor for more than ten years: it's time for new elections."
"And with that?"
He understood from Padmé's disbelieving expression that it was a wrong question.
"With that? Anakin, this is not democracy! This is the beginning of a tiranny! You should know: you're a Jedi, and the Order had always have been independent before Palpatine felt the need to have it under his control."
"I trust him." Anakin said defensively, but not very convinced. "And you did too, thirteen years ago."
"I was young and a fool, and you're a fool too if you can't see the danger lurking under Palpatine's façade." Padmé sighed, a hand raiding to cover her eyes. "He's a danger for the Republic."
He frowned. "I think you're exaggerating: maybe he just has his reasons. But if it'll make you feel better, then we'll go back to Coruscant and I will talk with him. Happy?"
A slow, content smile spread over her face, as she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "Really? You would do it for me?"
He grinned back. "I'd anything for you, Padmé: you should know that."
He was rewarded with a passionate kiss.
"But we'll have to take Luke and Leia with us." Anakin said when they broke off. "I was serious when I said there's no way I'm going to leave my children unprotected and far away from me."
"I agree with you." Padmé nodded, then grimaced. "I only need to tell my parents… they won't be happy."
"I think they're used to it, with a daughter like you." He said dryly, earning a punch on the chest.
"What did that mean!"
"Nothing!" he tried to look innocent, but just earned another punch as he laughed.
"Back to Coruscant, uh?"
"What can I do? I tried to convince her, but you know how Padmé is…stubborn to the core."
"She reminds me of someone I know." Obi-wan chuckled before his friend's hologram.
"Should I be offended, Master?" Anakin asked with a grin.
"Anakin, I've told you millions of times that I'm not your Master anymore: you're a Jedi Master yourself, and a great one. And about getting offended… trust your instincts." Obi-wan teased.
"You'll always be my Master, Obi-wan."
They laughed, then Anakin turned sober, as he tried to put into words what he wanted to ask.
"Ma-- Obi-wan, it's true what the rumours say? That the Chancellor has refused to give up his special powers and his authority over the Council?"
The older man sighed. "Yeah, it's true."
"Padmé thinks it's dangerous."
"And Padmé's completely right." From his ex-padawan's tone, Obi-wan understood that Anakin didn't completely agree with his wife's point of view. "This is what a dictator, or a tyrant, does: not a Chancellor of a democratic Republic." He struggled with his conscience, then sighed again. "And it is even more worrisome that traces of Sidious had been found in his studio."
Anakin froze. "What do you mean?"
"Listen, Anakin, I wasn't supposed to tell you: but now that you're coming back to Coruscant, you need to know. Our spies intercepted some communications from the Chancellor's studio to Grievous' base on Yavin four. There's a possibility that Palpatine is under the influence of the Lord of the Sith." He conveniently 'forgot' to mention that Palpatine was suspected to be Sidious himself.
The younger man looked alarmed "This is serious! Did you told the Chancellor this?"
Obi-wan snorted impatiently, "Anakin, use your head! We are not completely sure yet, and even if we were, should we alert the Sith Lord that we know about him? It isn't very wise."
"You're right." The other conceded, "But if Palpatine is in danger…"
"Sidious won't harm him: the Chancellor is too important."
Anakin shook his head. "When I'll be back to Coruscant I'll talk with him… Let's see if I find something."
The older Jedi sighed and closed the communication as he began to meditate: Obi-wan believed that Master Windu wasn't going to be very happy.
"Padmé… I really think you should stay on Naboo." Jobal said, tears threatening to fall.
"I know, Mom… But it's my duty as a Senator to be in the Senate when everything I've always fought for is crumbling." Padmé hugged her parents and her sister, who had insisted in accompany her to the spaceport; currently, they were inside a little room near the hangar where waited the ships escorting the Senator to Coruscant.
Outside, Anakin was talking with Typho.
"I'll be in one of the starfighters: we have decided there will be four escorting the Senator." Said the head of the security.
Anakin nodded. "I will be with Senator Amidala on the ship. But I hope all this security measures won't be necessary."
Padmé, Dormé, Earteé and Moteé were all wearing the same dark orange dresses, and the Naberrie's hugged the handmaidens for good measure, thanking them for serving their mistress so well.
As he watched his wife exiting with her handmaidens, Anakin closed his eyes, connecting with the Force, feeling It surrounding him, lending him strength: he expanded his senses, searching for any possible threats, a whisper into his mind alerting him of what was going to happen.
He moved even before opening his eyes, sprinting towards the group of women walking towards him: with a gesture of his open palm, he Force-pushed the handmaidens out of the way, before taking Padmé in his arms and jumping away.
And as he did do, a shout escaped his mouth. "Down!"
A second after, a bomb exploded just where Padmé Amidala and her handmaidens had been moments before.
Without pausing to look at his wife - he could see through the Force that she was okay - Anakin turned his head towards the strong presence he could feel, noting a dark shadow running away from the hangar.
"Stay here!" he yelled as he stood up, starting the chase: he wasn't going to let this man escape.
The young Jedi could see the man running far before him in one of the passages that connected the hangars with the main hall of the spaceport: he used to Force to run even faster and he recognised the fact that his enemy was a Corellian bounty-hunter, and a good one as well.
Anakin knew he had to stop the bounty hunter before he entered the hall, for the simple fact that it could be easier to lose him in the crowd.
Still running, he stretched out his metal hand and used the Force: the Jedi succeeded and the hunter tripped. Dizzy and confused, the man realised he had fallen and began getting up, only to find a blue lightsaber grazing his neck, and a boot-covered foot on his back.
"Now that we're in the right positions…" the young Jedi began to say, still not believing how easy it had been to stop the hunter. "…Why don't you tell me why were you trying to kill Senator Amidala?"
"I'm payed to!" the bounty hunter sneered. A kick on his face made his nose bleed.
"Well, wasn't that clever." Said Anakin sarcastically. "Who hired you?"
"I don't know, and if I knew I wouldn't tell you."
The young Jedi raised an eyebrow, then decided to ask another question.
"Are there more bounty hunters?"
The other man snickered, "And you think I'm going to tell you?"
Anakin was becoming more and more annoyed: his wife was in danger and he wanted to know why and who was trying to kill her. He used the Force, trying to read the bounty hunter's mind, but the man had strong barriers placed and Anakin wasn't able to overcome them; he decided to bring the bounty hunter before the Council: they will know what to do with him.
After binding the man's hands and upper legs, leaving him barely able to walk, Anakin dragged him back to the hangar where Typho and his men took hold of the bounty hunter, imprisoning him on one of the starfighter.
As he watched Padmé - holding Luke and Leia - and her handmaidens hurriedly entering the ship, Anakin felt the adrenaline from the chase leaving, only to be replaced by fear: deepest fear.
If he had been only a moment later… Padmé would be dead; his wife, his love, his companion… dead. And with her, their children.
The Jedi pushed back the tears threatening to spill from his eyes, a great anguish filling him: was he really strong enough to protect his family?
(to be continued)
Review Responses
You're all very cute and nice! I still can't believe how many of you like my story!
Fanfiction(dot)net
2008ccampbell, Cataracta, LaPapillon, Bittersweetbloodbaby, meandmysharpie, Eilianu, Riderazzo (sorry if it was a boring), MeyaRose, Coral Candy, Snow Lepord (everything WILL work out in the end.), Eriks leadinglady, FelsGoddess, Emily, Vatel (you're so nice!), Warior, TC, Mei fa-chan, Anakin's Girl 4eva, Ring-E.W., Katie, Celtic Cross, ItSyOuRDeStInY.
Vivilp182: Padmé's family appears in AotC, but the scenes had been cut and you can find them in the special contents of the dvd. Then, we find them in RotS at Padmé's funeral.
Medb: I appreciated the information about the trilogy set, thank you! And you have every right to ask if you don't understand something :D I'm happy to answer your questions and/or doubts.
And yes, Zak is going to make things really interesting, trust me.
Adultfanfiction(dot)net
Jeannie (my wonderful, loyal reviewer!), wes, riam, Ashley, Lauren.
Kei-kun: Hey, I should thank you for that really good idea! I appreciated it. Sidious is a man full of resources, trust me :smile: and Anakin's friendship with the Chancellor is going to be a focal point of this central chapters.
Lonnie: you have a valid point; but I can excuse myself saying that I've never knew (personally) a pregnant woman, so I don't know how they behave. I have only some common knowledge about pregnancy, but nothing very precise (hey, I'm almost 18… I'm not exactly thinking about children, or even marriage, right now). But I remember that a friend of mine told me that her sister didn't felt very sore after the labour: I don't know, maybe it depends on women :shrugs:. Also, another point is that Padmé and Anakin never spent too much time together, and he had been away from her for a couple of months: I think they missed each other. Really, it was a valid point that made me think; but I'm not going to change the story right now.