Chapter 6
Episode III - 3 Years Later (Mara's Age: 6, nearly 7)
by obi's girl
Chapter 6, Post 1
iHer eyes filled with distant pain. "I was his hand." She hid her face from him as she spoke. "That's how his inner court knew me: as the Emperor's Hand. I served him all over the galaxy, doing jobs the Imperial Fleet and storm troopers couldn't handle. That was my one great talent, you see - I could hear his call from anywhere in the Empire. ... I exposed traitors for him, brought down his enemies ... I had prestige, and power, and respect. ... And you took it all away from me. If only for that, you deserve to die."
She was somebody -- someone important, and her life was destroyed, and she blamed him for taking it all from her.
"I'm sorry -- I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
"Of course you don't, but I know you did it," she said, smiling sarcastically.
The man frowned. He didn't know this woman was and didn't understand her hatred towards him, or what he was accused of. "What did I do? What are you talking about?"
The woman's face softened and she looked down, her red hair covering her green eyes. He was her whole life...all she really knew...had known…/i
Obi-Wan Kenobi gasped, pulling out of the vision. It was the same vision he'd been having for the past two weeks. The same scene had been replayed so many times in his memory but every time it was close to the climax, he would wake up in a panicked state. He didn't know why. Obi-Wan wanted to know what the vision meant, he desperately wanted to know who the woman was and the identity of the man, but something prevented him from seeing that far.
It was night as raindrops beat silently against the window. He scanned the room for anything out of place but nothing seemed different. Once he was satisfied that the apartment was safe, Ben reached out with the Force and stretched his senses to his daughter's room. Mara was asleep, clutching a stuffed animal, and didn't seem to be alarmed by the vision. Obi-Wan sighed and turned to his right. Sabé was still asleep, hugging an extra pillow and hogging most of the blankets at the same time. His wife and child were safe and his Jedi senses told him they were safe, but the vision…
There was something familiar about the woman and the man, too. The man was tall, short brown hair, blue eyes and he carried a lightsabre. He sensed that the Force was strong with him and the woman. The man, Ben realized, could have been a Sith, since he didn't know of a Jedi to wear dark clothes like that. But he didn't seem dangerous or a threat, and the woman...he wasn't able to visually see her features, but somehow he felt connected to her.
"Ben?" Sabé questioned, "Why are you awake?"
Obi-Wan shrugged, still disoriented. "It happened again. I had the same vision."
Sabé propped up her elbow and rested her chin on her hand. She had heard about this vision before. The first time she didn't comment about it but then it happened again, and Sabé began to wonder. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ben sighed and anxiously stood up from the bed, grabbing a nearby robe. "I think I need to meditate."
Sabé removed her hand from her chin and looked at Mara's room. Every vision they had both had over the years were somehow connected to Mara. Sadly, they still didn't understand how the visions and how Qui-Gon's warnings about the balance of the Force were connected. The Jedi Council didn't understand either. "It was about Mara, wasn't it?" Obi-Wan reluctantly nodded as Sabé sighed. "And you still don't know who this woman is?"
"No, I still don't know. I can never see her in my visions. I see her but not her features, and the man—I don't know if I should be wary of him."
Sabé fidgeted. "Is she prettier than me?"
Obi-Wan went back to the bed and crawled to his wife and kissed her. "Sabé, no one can compare to your beauty. You are my only love. There isn't anyone else. You and Mara, you're my whole life."
She leaned in, kissed him again and turned around and rested her head on the crook of his neck. "Do you have to meditate now?"
"I don't want to suddenly disappear..." he trailed off and looked down at his shoulder. Sabé's breathing had become soft and she found his shoulder was a nice substitute for a pillow. Obi-Wan smiled and kissed her forehead, gently resting again on the bed.
"Had the same vision, did you?" Master Yoda asked as Mace walked beside him, and Obi-Wan followed. There was so much they didn't know about what the Force was trying to tell them, and Qui-Gon's, Obi-Wan's former Master, puzzling hints hadn't been helpful either.
"But it is clear this vision you are having is a premonition of things to come." Mace added.
Obi-Wan hands' folded beneath his robe as he spoke. "Yes Master, but Sabé and I don't understand how it relates to the future or the Force. We know nothing about this redheaded woman or the man. Our only guess is that this vision is somehow related to Mara, but we don't know how or why."
"Perhaps the red-headed woman is Mara, and the man..." Mace stopped himself, "he could be anyone, but it sounds to me, Obi-Wan, that he isn't a serious threat."
"Where is Mara now?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "She's at school with Master Plo Koon ...Master, so many things have happened over the last couple years - Master Qui-Gon's appearance, Sabé's vision about the man in black, the Sith, and now this vision. Everything is confusing and neither of us can understand the connection."
"I'm afraid nothing makes sense anymore, my friend. And by the time we do fit the pieces together, it maybe too late," Mace said. "Have you been able to contact Anakin?"
Ben grunted, "He's a Knight now. I barely see him anymore or have a chance to talk to him. He's been very elusive," he paused and looked directly at Mace. "Is something wrong?"
Yoda floated ahead of them. "Feel something is not quite, we do."
"I know less about Anakin's whereabouts or his life, Master. If I do see him, I will talk to him." Obi-Wan said, bowed and walked back down the hallway as Mace and Yoda exchanged knowing looks.
"Oh," Sabé said, opening the door slightly, and then widened the gap, embracing the former handmaiden. "Rabé, what are you doing here?"
The woman smiled, looking around the room as Sabé led her inside. "Where is she? I want to see her."
Sabé looked confused, and then smiled, "Mara? She's with Master Koon in another tutoring session but she'll be back shortly," she said. "How are you doing? How are the girls? What are they doing now?" The girls being Sabé's adopted sisters...The last time she saw Saché, Eirtaé, Yané and Rabé, they were eating dinner together, their last night as handmaidens for the Queen. Padmé joined them later, and they laughed and talked, and joked with each other. Even through the most serious situations, they managed to still be girls, giggling and laughing. Sabé missed them so much, and it warmed her heart Rabé came by to see her.
"Lia and Eileen are going to school now, they're doing wonderfully in Basic, and Lia said to me the other day, 'Mama, when I grow up, I want to be a handmaiden and defend the Queen like you did.' I wasn't sure how to reply to that. I was half terrified and half-thrilled but I know it's her dream," Rabé said and then frowned when she noticed her friend had been daydreaming. "Sabé, what is it?"
"Oh nothing," she whispered and then looked at her seriously, "...Actually, Rabé, you heard about the Chancellor's emergency powers?"
"I did hear, and with this war going on, it's going to be a long time until the galaxy knows peace again."
Sabé grunted and stood up from the couch. "I don't know if we will ever know peace again, Rabé. Mara is very gifted...very powerful in the Force, and knowing there's a Sith Lord out there, it scares me. I keep wondering when he'll finally show his face. At least then I can stop looking over my shoulder all the time."
"Have you talked to Obi-Wan about this?"
"I have, countless times, but he says for now, there's nothing that can be done. And there isn't anything to be done. All we can do is be careful and wait."
Rabé hmm'd. "I don't like that, but I understand why you can't start pointing fingers ...unless you already have?"
"I have my suspicions, but Ben says I should keep those suspicions to myself, for my sake and for Mara's."
"So you and Obi-Wan are finally married. I always knew you would be the one to end up with him; all of the other girls only liked him for his Padawan braid and sexy accent."
Sabé blushed. "Oh, I remember that braid, and his accent is still sexy," she paused, "But the love I have for Ben is more emotional than physical." Rabé's mouth dropped and Sabé rolled her eyes. "All right, maybe 5 physical," and she smiled. "But he's wonderful with Mara, and I couldn't be happier to be a mother and have a family. Duty always came first for me until Obi-Wan. It's silly, but..." she paused and ran into her room, and then came out again, carrying her journal. She flipped some pages and stopped on their poem. "I wrote this not too long after Obi-Wan left Naboo."
Rabé took the book and began to read the poem. Her eyes softened and she looked at Sabé. "I didn't know you were a poet, sister."
"You have to a good writer if you're politician, Rabé, but I love writing. It's very relaxing, and Ben is very inspirational." She smiled and winked at her.
Rabé laughed and glanced at the chrono. "How long until Mara gets back? I can't stay here too long. I have an appointment in the Senate building."
Sabé frowned. "Senate building? What business do you have there?"
"I'm going to meet with Senator Organa and his colleagues. He's starting an underground movement for those opposed to the war. It's a very small operation right now. He doesn't trust the Chancellor, and honestly, I don't either. If Organa is planning what I think he is planning, it will be very big."
"What is he planning?" Sabé asked, confused why he didn't tell her about such plans.
"A rebellion."
tbc
Chapter 6, Post 2
6-year-old Mara Kenobi stared at the object before her. She had seen her father's lightsabre and had watched Anakin practice with his sometimes, but other than that, she wasn't particularly familiar with the weapon.
Plo Koon gestured again to the weapon but Mara only stared at it, and then removed her gaze from it to his face. "A lightsabre is the weapon of a Jedi. It is secondary weapon next to the Force, but very necessary."
"Master, I'm only six years old ...I'm too young ...I can't possibly..?"
"Most younglings your age are already learning how to use a lightsaber." he interrupted, and picked up the weapon, gesturing to Mara to stand up as he ignited its purple blade.
Mara jumped slightly shocked by its power. Plo waved it around a couple times and then deactivated it, handing it over to his young student. "Take it, Mara. It's yours."
She shied away but her Master persisted. "What if I move the wrong way or..?"
"That is why this is only a practice lightsabre. You are still too young to build one of your own."
She looked timidly at the weapon, and then reached out, taking it. Mara's hands slithered around the handle, and then her thumb found the 'on' switch and she surprised herself as she flicked it 'on' and the lightsabre came to life. Mara looked again to her Master as he removed his lightsabre and ignited it as well. "The first things you must learn are the different seven forms of combat."
Mara looked curiously at her Master as he moved fluidly from the first stance to the second, then to the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and then the seventh form. To the untrained eye, it looked as if he were fighting in only two stances, but Mara could tell that with each stance, his moves became more aggressive. Still, to her, it was too much for a 6-year-old to learn. But more than anything, Mara wanted to be a Jedi like her father. iIt was her destiny./i
Bail Organa glanced nervously at the wall chrono for the sixth time as he waited with the Chandrilian senator. Three years ago, when the Clone Wars started, he and Padmé had been strongly against the use of Clones to defend the Republic. At the time, it seemed the Chancellor was behind them too, and then after the battle of Geonosis, things changed. He didn't stop Clone troopers from fighting and didn't do anything to stop the upcoming war. Until that point, Bail had remained quiet about the wars, but days were darker now, and he and other senators were worried about what Palpatine would do after the wars ended. Would he release the powers he had been given, or would he keep them?
He didn't trust the Chancellor anymore and there were others that didn't trust him anymore either. They all agreed he needed to be stopped if he was to declare himself Emperor, and it would only take a handful of Senators to stop him.
"Senator Organa?" the woman beside him asked, "when is this Representative from Naboo supposed to arrive? We have been here for more than an hour."
"She will be here shortly, Senator," he assured her and then smiled once the doors opened and hooded woman entered. She nodded to Bail, looked to the other senator and then lowered her head. "Welcome, Rabé Devian." Bail turned to the Senator beside him. "This is Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila."
"Senator," Rabé greeted. "Where's Senator Amidala? Isn't she attending this meeting?"
"No. She is on leave on Naboo. She hasn't been feeling well lately." Bail said casually.
"Oh," Rabé mused, and then sat down. "No one on Naboo has ever supported the idea of war or the use of Clones, but Queen Jamilla has been silent up until now about the Chancellor. She feels the same way you do about him. She feels if the Chancellor were forced to make a decision between keeping his powers and stepping down from his office, he would stay."
"Our belief, m' lady, is that the Chancellor would do much more than keep his sovereignty. We believe he will declare himself Emperor, if not challenged. He already has much support in the Senate if he were to do so. Not many would speak against him." Mon Mothma stated.
Rabé sighed. "What do you propose?"
Padmé Amidala sighed, watching the sunset from her balcony, and then her hand wandered down to her stomach. How long had it been since she had talked to Anakin? Months? Since her leave from the Senate, four weeks ago, the last time she was able to talk with her husband was before she left Coruscant. No one inside the Senate knew the reason for her sudden departure, but Senators were guaranteed two months leave, and she greatly needed that leave.
"M' lady," Dormé asked, "Anakin Skywalker is on channel 2."
Padmé smiled, thanked Dormé, and then walked to the nearest com counsel. She stopped fidgeting before Anakin appeared on screen. His dark eyes seemed distressed but his face lighted up once he saw his wife. "Anakin, I missed you. It's been too long."
"I missed you, Padmé...How are you...our child?"
"I have two months leave from the Senate. That should give me enough time for my body to adjust." She paused. "I wish you were here with me."
Anakin smiled. "I wish I were there too. But even though I'm a knight, the Council is still keeping a close eye on me. I know there are some of them that still think I shouldn't have been knighted so quickly, especially Obi-Wan."
Padmé shrugged. "He's your teacher and friend, Anakin. He only wanted what he thought was best for you."
"I guess," he whispered, and then smiled goofily. "Do you know yet?"
"Know what?"
"Do you know if it'll be a boy or girl?"
Padmé smiled playfully. "Anakin Skywalker, this is my first time being a mother...you know I want to be surprised. We will know once 'it' is born."
Anakin groaned. "Can I at least...?"
"No!" Padmé cried, "you may not take a look."
"All right. We'll do it your way," he conceded and looked briefly at the bottom of the holo screen. There was another incoming call. "Padmé, I have to go. Someone else is calling me ...I love you, angel."
Padmé smiled. "I love you, Ani." and she switched off as Anakin answered the other call.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, greeting his former Padawan. "How are you?"
"Well, Mast – Obi-Wan."
He grinned, laughing to himself. "You're still not used to it, are you?"
Anakin shrugged. "It's different, I feel independent – I don't have to rely or listen to your lectures anymore, so that is a definite positive," he laughed. "Why are you calling?"
"Anakin, despite not being Master and Padawan anymore, I'm still your friend and I do worry about you – and so does the Council."
Anakin moaned, "They have no reason to be worried, Obi-Wan. I'm perfectly fine on my own – they didn't make a mistake."
"They only worry because you have been very elusive, and they haven't been able to contact you as much as they would like," Obi-Wan said and leaned on the holo. "What's going on, Anakin?"
He shrugged again. "Nothing is going on. I deserve my privacy, Master. They should know that and should stop worrying about me like I'm a child. There's no need for this extended leash anymore."
Obi-Wan sighed. "I only hope, Anakin, you know what you are doing…May the Force be with you, young Knight."
Anakin bowed his head, muttered goodbye and switched off the holo. He shook his head again, confused and shocked the Council would ask his former Master to check up on him. i/I'm not a child. /i
"…but they see you as a child, my young apprentice."
He turned slightly to the dark figure, "Why are you here? He could have seen you."
The shadow walked further into the light, grinning slightly, "My presence has been masked from the Jedi for years – he would have not have sensed me."
Anakin turned to him, crossing his arms. "How can you be sure?"
"…because…Obi-Wan Kenobi is an aging old man…he has too many priorities to the Jedi, his wife and his child." He said and smiled menacingly again, "How is young Mara?"
"I don't know. I don't see her as often anymore."
He stepped further, sizing up Anakin. "Make it a point, my young apprentice, to visit the Jedi Temple and see how she is doing. She is very special and her gifts will not be overlooked. I have seen her future and she will be a very powerful Jedi."
"Yes, Master."
tbc
Chapter 6, Post 3
"Thank you for your time, Rabé."
Rabé smiled. She had never been particularly fond of politics, but like her sisters, she felt a strong kinship to the future of the Republic. Still, for the better half of the meeting, instead of listening to Senator Organa and his colleague talk about the rebellion, she wandered about Padmé. She was unaware she had taken leave from the Senate for two months, or that she was back on Naboo. What shocked her most of all was why she didn't call her or the girls about her return?
She smiled goodbye to the Senators and left, and as she walked, she had an epiphany. i/Is Padmé pregnant? No, she couldn't be pregnant because she isn't married. And if she were married, why hide it///i
"Saché," she called, "Sach –" Rabé stopped herself as she noticed an extra pair of clothes scattered on the floor. It wasn't strange to see the apartment busy. When she arrived, Saché had tried to clean the place up and make it presentable, but her night habits were hard to break and Rabé had become used to coming into a messy apartment. But that didn't mean it never crossed her mind to take off a day and clean it all up.
"Saché, where are you?"
She heard voices whispering in the backroom. Whisper, giggles, laughs, whispering again. And then quiet as Saché left the room wearing a robe, greeting her. "Oh Rabé, I didn't expect you back so soon."
"Ah-ha," she said and then they both went over to the couch. "Padmé's never contacted you, has she?"
Saché shrugged, a little confused about the sudden curiosity in the former Queen. "No, what's going on?"
"I have this hunch… I could be wrong since neither of us has seen or talked to her in a long time, but I think Padmé's pregnant."
Saché's eyes widened, staring at Rabé. "Pregnant? She can't be pregnant because she's not attached to anyone, and if she were, she would have told one of us."
"True, but what if her new attachment was someone forbidden?"
"I don't know…Jedi, maybe." Saché mused.
"It isn't completely impossible," Rabé mumbled, "Sabé married Obi-Wan."
Saché sighed, "Yes, she did, but that doesn't mean Padmé is secretly married. When did she leave the Senate?"
Rabé shrugged. "Senator Organa said a couple weeks ago – which I assume is an extended hiatus for two months since that is how long Senators are allowed vacation sick leave. Two months, which means if she's already pregnant, it'll be more than enough time for her to give birth, and then return to the Senate."
"Okay, if you're right about this, Rabé, I promise to keep this place clean during your stay here since I know you have been dying to clean it up yourself," she said and they both went over to the com unit and waited as the com connected to the lake retreat. "Padmé, I hope we're not bothering you, but Rabé and I need to ask you something."
Padmé shrugged. "Of course, what is it?"
Saché looked to Rabé again before turning back to the screen. "Are you pregnant?"
Padmé's expression dropped, she began to fidget and stopped abruptly as she calmly looked back at them. "How did you know?"
Rabé laughed to herself, mumbling, "I wander where the cleaning closet is?"
"Anakin," Sabé said, shocked to see the young Knight. Mara looked up from her food and looked at the door and smiled as she part of Anakin's form in the doorway. "What are you doing here? Was Obi-Wan able to get in touch with you?" she asked as he passed her and walked inside the apartment.
Mara jumped down from her chair and ran to Anakin as he hugged her lovingly. "Anakin, you won't believe it, Master Plo Koon gave me a practice lightsaber! I have to learn the first four fighting styles. I don't think I can do it...but Daddy said he'd practice with me and give me tips."
"That's wonderful," Anakin mused, letting her down as he looked at Sabé. "It's been a very long time since I had visited with the both of you…"
"Don't worry about it, Ani," she said and looked at Mara. "Mara, you need to finish your food and then read those holopads Master Koon gave you."
The 6-year-old moaned and then quietly returned to the table as Anakin and Sabé walked over to the couch and sat down. "So, what's going on? You never call Obi-Wan or I, and rarely talked to the Jedi Council or even visit with us..."
"Oh," Anakin moaned and smiled, "don't do that, Sabé. You sound like my mom!"
Sabé smiled, blushing, "In a way Anakin, I helped raised you. We're all concerned about you, especially Obi-Wan." She looked at Mara and sighed. "I mean, it's nice that you visit us now but what about the months in between? The months we don't see or hear from you? What are we supposed to think? What is Obi-Wan supposed to think?"
Anakin shrugged. "I'm entitled to have my privacy. I'm a Knight now."
"Yes, and we're very proud of you, but that doesn't mean you don't have to answer to him, or cut off all ties to him or us."
"I haven't cut ties to him or you and Mara," he said and stood up again, looking at Mara as she finished her dinner and turned back to Sabé. "She's studying how to use a lightsaber now?"
Sabé looked to her daughter's room and sighed. "She needs to learn at some point. She's already very gifted and focused. Mara understands her powers a lot better now than she did three years ago. Practicing with a lightsaber is the next step," she said and then hesitated, "...but in some ways, I feel her knowing all of these things is a mistake."
Anakin turned to her slightly. "A mistake? Why?"
"...I know there are people that wish to abuse her powers." she looked straight at Anakin as she continued. "Don't be mistaken, Anakin. Mara is my daughter, my blood, and I will protect her if any harm comes to her. I'd die for her and I know Obi-Wan would fight for her too."
He smiled. "I don't expect any less from you, Sabé, or him." Anakin looked at Mara's room again and stood up, fixing his robes as he did. "If Obi-Wan stops by, tell him I came and talked to you..."
"Wait a minute," Sabé cried, "That's it? You just come by for a brief visit and then you're leaving again?"
"I have things to do," he whispered. "Tell him or don't tell him, Sabé. It's your decision." Anakin looked at Mara's room and then exited the apartment. Sabé frowned and looked at Mara's room, and then to the door. She didn't know why, but she felt a cold shiver run down her back.
"I don't know where to begin..." Padmé started. "It happened after the first battle on Geonosis. Anakin accompanied me back to Naboo and while we were there, we married. It was a secret wedding, my parents and sister didn't even know about it. And then..." she gestured to her growing stomach, "...this happened. I'd never thought about settling down or a family, but Anakin, I realized the days we were together, I wanted it all. I wanted him and this life, even if it had to be secret."
Saché sniffled as Rabé handed her a handkerchief and she blew her nose. "That is sooo beautiful, Padmé! A secret marriage to the man you love and you're carrying his children too. Just like those old holo movies we used to watch late nights."
Rabé moaned and rolled her eyes. Of the original five, Saché loved and adored those classic romances. Yané and Eirtaé were partial to them but they never captured Rabé's tastes. "So, what's going to happen once you have them?" Rabé asked. Saché looked curiously at her, sniffling a little.
Padmé shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it."
"Do you think you can be a Senator and a mother, and wife all at the same time?"
"I don't know," Padmé muttered, "I mean, Sabé's, she 's..."
Rabé waved her hand, stopping her. "Sabé's a different story, Padmé. She actually has the Council's approval; they know about Mara and love her. But this...you realize once it becomes public you're pregnant and who the father is, Anakin could be potentially expelled from the Jedi Order? Padmé, he only recently became a Jedi Knight..."
"All right," Padmé interrupted, "I see your point. But we've been very careful. I mean, we've been married for three years…"
"Three years?" Saché cried, "that's amazing. I thought you two were only married recently, like in the past nine months."
Padmé nodded. "No. I only became pregnant recently, but Anakin and I have been married for a long time."
Saché sighed, sniffling again. "That is so beautiful and romantic. A secret three year marriage and you're pregnant with his children, and no one knows about..."
"..except us now," Rabé added, "Padmé, this is dangerous. You have to step down from the Senate now while you're still on leave."
"I can't," she said. "I'm needed there. The Chancellor's term is almost up, once he gives his speech that he'll leave office, I'll give mine the next day."
"Don't you think that won't look a little bit suspicious?" Rabé asked. "No, you need to step down now. You can't wait for him to step down once his term is finished, not when there's the small possibility he won't."
Padmé frowned. "What do you mean he won't step down? His term is finished in three weeks. He made a promise three years ago he'd step down once the wars have stopped, and now the Banking Clan and the other Separatists have withdrawn their armies from the occupied worlds."
"I don't trust him, Padmé. No one on Naboo trusts him. Palpatine has far too much power and there are those that believe he won't give up his power because of it." Rabé sighed and leaned closer. "You need to step down now, if not for yourself, then for your children and Anakin."
Padmé waved her hand, her frustration mounting. As much as she hated to admit it, Rabé was right. "All right, I'll draft a message to the Chancellor while I'm on leave here."
"Believe me, Padmé, I'm only trying to protect you from the fallout this will create. It's all we've ever done for you."
Padmé whispered goodbye, smiled to Saché and Rabé and switched off. Saché huffed, her sniffling stopped and from the vibe Rabé was sensing from her, she wasn't particularly happy with her. "You didn't have to say those things to her." Saché said simply, wiping her nose again and then walked behind Rabé and sat down on the couch.
"I was being realistic, 'Ché. Padmé married Anakin and now she's pregnant with his children. Once the media gets a hold of that, it'll destroy them, her career, his. Padmé's career is everything to her, it always has been."
"But it's been many years since she'd been a Queen. She isn't fourteen years old anymore, Rabé. She's an adult and adults make mistakes." Saché countered.
"Yes, but it's better now for her to step back and leave before trouble starts brewing."
Saché smiled sarcastically, leaning forward on the couch. "The problem with you, Rabé, is that you're a mother and have to be a mother to everyone, when it isn't even necessary."
Rabé raised an eyebrow, crossing her arm. "I'm sorry I'm like that. But I was always the realistic one and I know I'm right about this," she declared. "I don't know why I'm arguing with you about this. A woman, who at the age of 27, is still single and parties night after night, coming home with a different man each time..."
Saché stood up abruptly, throwing down a pillow she had been holding. "Now you've crossed the line, sister. I am perfectly happy with my life, Rabé, and you have no right to judge me. Padmé can do whatever she wants, and I can do the same thing," she paused and raised her eyebrow. "Step down, Rabé."
"You and Padmé, both of you lead foolish lives and make foolish decisions because you think there's no harm in it. Believe me, some day, there will be consequences."
"If there are, there are," Saché whispered. "You saw her? You saw how happy she was. She loves Anakin and she loves her unborn children, those are things she had avoided her whole life and now she has them. You can't ask her to give up another passion she loves so much because of what will happen."
Rabé threw up her arms and moaned. "Children, you don't understand! If Yané were here, she'd understand what I'm saying." Saché huffed and stalked away. "Hey, where you are going? This discussion isn't finished."
Saché turned back to her as she head towards the door. "As far as I'm concerned, this debate is finished!"
tbc