My thanks to Emerald Green Queen and Sweet Christabel for their reviews. Hope you and everybody else who reads this, enjoys this chapter. As always thoughts, suggestions, comments, and cricisims are always welcomed, as well as appreciated.


"I'm sorry, Mrs. Naberrie, but Lady Kelaria is not receiving visitors for some time."

Sola gritted her teeth as she gazed momentarily at her two daughters, who were both sitting across from her looking bewildered, while holding her com link tightly. Since their arrival on Coruscant — Imperial City, she mentally corrected herself – several days ago, she'd been given the same run around from Sabé's attendants. Before, she had been unwilling to use her influence as Padmé's sister to get her an appointment, but now she was becoming desperate. Sola had been mentally rebuking herself for days at losing Sabé's private com sequence.

"But it is imperative that I speak with her. I am Queen Amidala's sister and I've traveled to Imperial City from Naboo to see her," she said in her native tongue, hoping to make her declaration more convincing.

There was a brief pause from the other end of the comlink. "Lady Naberrie, I do apologize for not making the connection. Lady Kelaria is planning to return to Naboo to attend her friend's funeral."

Sola tensed immediately. "Do you know which friend?"

"I believe her name was Saché…Saché Tra…"

"Tralivn," the Naberrie matriarch finished. "Can you tell me when she is returning?"

Elermaé answered, "I can do something even better. Go to Governmental Complex Pad Three and tell the guards that you are there to see Her Honor. I will com them immediately to clear you."

"Thank you, I truly appreciate this."

"Anything for the sister of our beloved Queen."

Sola sadly smiled as she disengaged her com unit. She then turned to Ryoo and Pooja. "Gather your things," she told them quietly.

A large, silver plated Naboo flyer sat parked in the middle of the landing pad, being prepared for the voyage home. Sabé followed closely behind the procession that ceremoniously loaded Saché's remains onto the ship. The events of the past few days had been foremost on her mind. She still couldn't accept or begin to understand why anyone would want to hurt, let alone kill her friend. Perhaps spending some time at home, away from the pressures of her position could offer her some clarity. The former handmaiden had been so lost in her musings, she failed to noticed a well-dressed Imperial Navy officer standing next to her.

"Merva elumin tetiane, Sabé."

"Thomas!" She nearly yelled as she instantly threw her arms around him and crushed his lips with her own. It had been months since she had last seen her husband of almost seven years and she could care less that everyone on the docking pad was watching them. "I have missed you so much, as well."

"I'm sorry love that I wasn't able to come sooner. Especially after Lord Vader told me about the loss of your friend," Piett said regretfully. "I'm sorry."

All the tension and grief of the past several days finally caught up with the former decoy as streams of tears rushed down her face. "It is alright. Just to have you here, now makes everything alright."

Thomas noticeably stiffened as he continued to hold his wife tightly against his chest. "I only wish I could join you home, but we are due to ship out in a few hours."

"I know," she said sadly. However, a glint of mischief filled her eyes as she looked back up at her husband. "However, we do have this time, so let's not waste it."

Piett grinned as his wife clasped his hand with hers as she anxiously guided him into her ship and into her private quarters. Indeed, they had much to catch up on.

A few hours later, Sabé had a near ear-to-ear grin as she snuggled into the warmth of her husband's embrace. It had been far too long since they had any time to themselves, let alone talked at length in person. After they took care of pressing matters, the couple enjoyed being in each other's presence again. Sabé grinned to herself as she recalled the strange circumstances in which they met.

Thomas had been a young ensign assigned to Lord Vader's command ship. Piett had caught his attention when he took command after the Captain and several bridge officers had been killed in an unprovoked attack from the faction world they were trying to convince to join the Empire while Vader and the remaining officers were fighting their way off the planet. After that mission, the Emperor had ordered Vader and his people to remain on Imperial City until their new ship, the Super Star Destroyer Executor, was completed.

Sabé had been assigned to investigate the loss of the older command ship and Vader had ordered Thomas to act as his liaison to her office. The moment he marched into her office wearing his black uniform with his piercing dark eyes and handsome features, she knew he was the one for her. It took the Coruscanti shipyards six months to finish the remaining construction on the Executor. Sabé and Thomas required less than half that time to fall in love and marry.

She nearly snorted aloud as she contemplated that the Dark Lord of Sith inadvertently played matchmaker. This caused her husband to stir awake. "Something wrong, love?"

"Nothing at all, deseullo (beloved). Just happy to be with you once more."

Thomas smiled briefly, before his face noticeably dropped. "If only we were all together."

Sabé sighed deeply. She knew that their reunion was incomplete. "I miss her too."

"Have you spoken to your parents?"

She nodded. "Mum says that Sienna is fine. She just misses her father."

"And her mother too, I suspect." Thomas interjected.

Sabé lay quiet for several moments before she responded. "Perhaps…"

"You shouldn't keep beating yourself up about our decision. With me gone for sometimes months on end and your frantic schedule, we couldn't be the parents she needed. Plus, I'm happy she's living with your family on Naboo. It is a much better place than Coruscant to grow up."

"I know, but I missed her so much."

Piett smiled sadly before planting a kiss on her forehead. "Well, hopefully soon the Emperor will make you Moff like he promised and you can go home and raise our daughter."

"I hope."

Changing the subject in an effort to distract her, Thomas told her about all the endless days and nights that they had spent patrolling beyond the Outer Rim, near the Unknown Regions searching for factions of the burgeoning Rebel Alliance. He also spoke of how Lord Vader would sometimes disappear for days at a time, leaving Captain Ozzel and himself in command until his return.

Sabé stirred as she turned around to face him. "You mean he would just leave the ship?"

Piett nodded. "He would only call Kendal, Max Veers and myself into his quarters and issue our respective orders without explanation."

"Then again, Vader isn't known as a man of many words."

Thomas smirked. "Well, he certainly says a lot to you. I've always suspected something between you two," he joked.

Sabé rolled her eyes as she playfully slapped her husband's shoulder. "If you call him always speaking in riddles, then I guess he does talk a lot."

"He rarely says anything to anybody on the Executor, except when he's handing out orders. Often times, he just stands silent with his hood over his head at the viewport, looking out at something." Piett's face became solemn as he appeared lost in thought.

"Something the matter?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing. I just sometimes wonder what the heir to the throne contemplates."

"Well, if he's anything like the Queen I once served, " she said softly, "power of such magnitude comes at a heavy personal toll."

Thomas nodded momentarily before answering, "Perhaps you're right. Anyhow, I see him everyday and I do not wish to think about the problems of the mighty Darth Vader. I'd rather learn more about the personal comings and goings of the Grand Inquisitor."

Sabé grinned evilly. "No titles, Commander Piett, or I shall have to resort to drastic measures."

"Such as?"

She sweetly kissed him before she answered. "I could always call you by your first name… Firmus."

Thomas groaned painfully as he reached around to lob a pillow at his wife. "Alright, point taken. Now, where were we?"

Sabé smiled seductively as she drew closer to his face. "I think you were about to tell me how you were going to make up for lost time."

"Ah yes," he said, smiling. "How silly of me to forget something so important."

Several hours later, having donned her burgundy bodysuit and cloak she preferred to wear during traveling, Sabé walked about the hallways of her ship, making sure everything was ready for their departure. She was trying to distract herself from her all too abrupt time with her husband, so she involved herself as much as her people would allow with the ship's preparations. She was about to head into the cockpit to speak with the pilots when Naria raised her on the comlink.

"Yes?"

"I am sorry to disturb you, Milady, but there is a woman and two young girls at the docking bay's entrance who say they have an appointment to see you. Apparently Elermaé cleared them, but I wanted to check with you first before I allowed them near the ship."

Sabé frowned. "I don't remember setting up any meetings. Do you know who they are?"

"The woman's says her name is Sola Naberrie and she is with her two daughters…"

"…Ryoo and Pooja," Sabé interrupted. "Please show them in and offer them every respect. I will come down immediately."

"If I may ask, who are they, Milady?"

"They are Padmé Amidala's family."

There was a brief hesitation before the handmaiden responded. "I understand. I will inform them that you will be coming."

Sabé left her ship quickly and reached the docking bay's entrance within a few minutes. She smiled happily when she saw Sola sitting with two teenaged girls nearby. "My goodness, it has been too long."

Sola, Ryoo and Pooja immediately stood up when they spotted the Grand Inquisitor approaching. Respectfully, they all curtseyed, much to Sabé's dismay. "No, no…none of that, please."

The Naberrie matriarch smiled happily as she reached to give her friend a warm embrace. "Sabé, it has been too long."

"Likewise, my sister. It is good to see you."

Finally releasing one another from their hug, Sabé turned her attention to both girls. "My, you two are almost all grown up. I hope you still remember me." Ryoo and Pooja nodded happily as they crossed over to hug her.

"Of course, Aunt Sabé," Ryoo acknowledged.

"How could we forget you?" Pooja stated.

Sabé smiled sadly as she released them. She turned her attention towards Sola. "I am so sorry that I have not kept in better contact. I'm afraid my duties have been rather laborious of late. But that is no excuse."

Sola shook her head. "We understand. Things have been…difficult of late so it would have been hard to speak."

"What has happened?"

"We lost my mother several days ago," Sola answered sadly.

Sabé stood dismayed. "No...I am so sorry. You have my deepest sympathies. She was a remarkable woman."

Sola nodded. "I humbly thank you."

"I wish you had contacted me sooner," she said with a slight smile, which collapsed as she realized that it was near the time for her departure. "I am on my way back to Naboo…to attend yet another funeral myself."

The elder Naberrie sighed. "I know. I just heard about Saché." Her face contorted slightly before she asked, "However, we too are returning to Naboo, but I wanted to speak with you briefly about something that is troubling me."

"When are you leaving?"

"This evening. I have arranged for us to take a public transport back to Theed."

Sabé shook her head. "Nonsense. I would be honored if you three would join me on my ship. It will be far more luxurious, as long as you don't mind sharing quarters with my handmaidens."

Sola normally would have objected to this overly generous gesture. However, opportunity seemed to be presenting itself as she would have two uninterrupted days to speak with the Grand Inquisitor of the Empire about her personal crusade. Another chance like this might never happen again. "We would be delighted to join you, if it wouldn't be an inconvenience."

"Hardly. You are family and are most welcomed."

Sola and her daughters smiled as they lifted their bags and followed Sabé out to the ship. Several minutes later, the sleek Naboo flyer sailed into the heavy trafficked skies of Coruscant en route for home and all that was to come.

After dinner on board that evening, Ryoo and Pooja joined Sabé in the rec room while their mother recorded a message to send to their father when the ship reached its next jump point. Meanwhile, the normally quiet, introspective Ryoo had been bombarding the Grand Inquisitor, for well over an hour, with questions about the major philosophical differences between the Empire and the Old Republic — essentially, which was better for the people. The former handmaiden simply grinned at the girl's idealism as she recalled once, long ago, sharing that trait.

"Aunt Sabé, do you get to work with many Senators?" Pooja suddenly spoke up.

She smirked briefly before she answered. "As a matter of fact, all the time, Pooja."

"They seem to have a difficult job. Trying to help everyone they represent, but still abide by the Emperor's wises."

Sabé nodded curtly. "Indeed they do. Although things are much different now than they were when your Aunt Padmé served in the Senate."

Ryoo sighed deeply, but Pooja's smile only grew. "It's my dream to follow in her footsteps, one day. Can you tell us about her?"

Sabé grinned at the eagerness of the young girl who looked quite like her aunt did at the same age, but was much taller and her mannerisms were more reflective of her mother. However, while she found Ryoo delightful to talk with, it was her little sister that intrigued her. Pooja, who had some of the Naberrie features, possessed more of the look of her father. However, the spirit of Padmé was evident in the way in which she carried herself, especially in her smile.

"Padmé was one of the smartest people I've ever known. I was always amazed at how she could think herself out of a difficult situation or find answers to problems that were never apparent to everyone else." Sabé paused to observe the two girls hanging on to her every word. "I understand you both are doing quite well in your studies." They both smirked proudly, but they noticed Sabé's face twist into a frown as she added softly, "And she was an even greater friend."

Sola, who had returned from recording her message, smiled sadly as she listened to her sister's closest friend see something of Padmé in her daughters. It made her even more determined than ever.

"Okay, you two. Time for bed. It's late."

"But Mom," they said in unison.

Sabé and Sola shared an amused glance as the latter said, "If we were home it would be late night. Besides, Aunt Sabé needs her rest."

Both Ryoo and Pooja reluctantly rose to their feet and gave their hugs of goodnight to their mother and aunt. Sabé smirked knowingly as Sola sat down across from her. "I bet those two are a handful."

"We've had our moments, but Darred and I have been blessed that they haven't caused us much trouble."

The former decoy smiled. "Well, we still have years to go before we can say that about Sienna."

"How old is she now?"

"She's very precocious for only being four and is getting into everything."

Sola smirked. "I know that all too well."

The two women sat in silence very several moments before Sabé spoke. "You said earlier that you wished to speak about something important."

The older woman nodded as she nervously stood up to pour herself a cup of tea. "I know what I am asking is a lot, but I don't think our family," she paused momentarily before correcting herself, "…I will ever have any peace until I know exactly what happened to Padmé."

Sabé unconsciously placed her cup down, focusing her gaze on her friend's sister. "You know as we all do that Padmé died in childbirth."

Sola exhaled loudly. "Yes that was what we were all told."

"But you don't think so?"

"I do believe it had something to do with her end, but there had to be more. Padmé never told us anything about being involved with someone, let alone having a child with this person. She was always so busy with her duties that the only time I remember even seeing her with a man was because her life was in danger."

Sabé raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Before the Clone Wars broke out, several attempts were made on her life. Palpatine had ordered that she be placed in the protective custody of the Jedi."

The former handmaiden nodded. "Yes, I remember now. We spoke briefly after her ship had been destroyed. I had offered her sanctuary within our embassy, but she insisted that she wouldn't let them scare her off."

"That sounds like Padmé alright," Sola said, shaking her head.

"So you think one of these Jedi was the father?"

"Hardly," the older woman scoffed. "You know how they were. However, I remember the one assigned to Padmé was quite smitten with her and I think she was attracted to him as well. I even teased her of such before they left for Varykino."

Sabé smirked. "Well, if it was anybody other than Padmé was going there with a handsome Jedi, I would probably suspect that something happened."

Sola chuckled before taking another sip from her cup. "True, but they had known each other since the Occupation Crisis."

"It wasn't Obi-Wan Kenobi, was it?" Sabe asked as she curiously raised her right eyebrow.

Padmé's sister shook her head. "No, it was Anakin Skywalker, the boy who destroyed the droid ship during the liberation. Didn't Padmé have something to do with bringing him to the Jedi's attention?"

Sabé smiled as she remembered the wide eyed sandy haired boy. "Yes, he joined us after we escaped our temporary exile on Tatooine where he and his mother were slaves. I never saw him again after he left Naboo with Master Kenobi, but I heard that he became quite famous during the Clone Wars."

Sola nodded. "However, I seriously doubt anything ever happened between them. For not being a Jedi, Padmé acted very much like them, and she would never let anything come in the way of duty"

"That much is for certain," the former decoy retorted in amusement. "Could it have been another Senator?"

Sola slightly smirked. "She mentioned several times spending considerable time with Bail Organa of Alderaan when they both served on the Loyalist Committee. But he's the only one she ever spoke about at any length."

"I know both him and his wife well."

"He's married? Sola asked, which Sabé acknowledged with a silent nod. She thought momentarily before she suggested softly, "Do you think he was the type to have an affair? After all, Padmé was very young and beautiful. "

The Inquisitor shook her head. "I seriously doubt it. For one, Bail and Breha were childhood friends who fell in love and wed much earlier than his father, the King wished." Sabé smirked as she added, "And second, knowing Breha, as I do, she would have hung Bail by his toenails over the castle's walls if she even thought he was ever unfaithful."

The two ladies chuckled as both imagined the esteemed Alderaanian viceroy in that precarious situation. After their amusement dissipated, Sabé's face shifted as she reflected upon Sola's initial request. "What did Queen Apailana tell your parents?"

"Only what we all know. Padmé went into premature labor and was rushed to Polis Massa where both she and the child died."

Sabé grimaced as she tried to think of anything in that sector of space that would have been so important then. "What in Naboo was she doing way out there?"

"I don't know," Padmé's sister replied softly. "But whatever it was, it was urgent enough to have her risk flying when she was almost nine months pregnant."

"Did the Queen tell you who brought her body back home?"

Sola shook her head. "The Queen said that in the interests of security, everything was to be kept secret. And since we knew what was happening on Coruscant with Palpatine and the Jedi, we didn't push the issue further. Now I wonder if that was the right thing to do."

The Grand Inquisitor sat silently as she listened to her friend's sister painfully recounted the little she knew. Indeed, it had always troubled her considerably that Padmé died under such mysterious circumstances. However, there was nothing to suggest that what happened wasn't just a horrible tragedy. "What is it that you are asking me to do?"

Sola straightened herself in her chair, as she tried to find the right words. "You have the power to unseal the Queen's records so we can finally learn what really happened to her."

Sabé shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she considered the impact of the older woman's request. "What you ask…is difficult. Even if I had just reasons, they may not tell you much more."

"But they could," the older woman pointed out. "I just need to know for certain."

Sabé sighed as she flashed a regretful look at her. "I will contemplate your request, but at this moment I will say that I am disinclined to acquiesce. While it would be a relatively minor abuse of power, I honestly don't believe that this knowledge will help bring you peace. But, considering what Padmé meant to all of us, I promise to give it fair consideration."

"That is all I ask, Milady," Sola responded respectfully. "Then I bid you goodnight." She stood and curtseyed slightly before leaving an awestruck former decoy behind.

Sabé trembled slightly when she realized that a wall of duty had now been deliberately placed between them. She regretted telling her friend of her thoughts, but like Padmé, she would not put herself above the law; even if it was for a good cause. But if she was completely honest with herself, she could use some old favors to gain access to those records without rousing any undue attention. However, Sabé knew all too well the dangers of reopening old wounds. Perhaps her warning to Sola was more for herself because despite knowing, it would not bring back all that was lost.

TBC-Thoughts, comments and suggestions are appreciated!