Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here.
AN: Thanks everyone for the great reviews! Here's chapter 10! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
A Matter of Trust
Chapter 10: Return to Naboo
Bail Organa trailed behind, as Mon Mothma showed their other constituents out.
"Is there something else you'd like to discuss Bail?" she asked.
"Yes, I believe you were very unfair to Padme," Bail replied.
"She has greatly inconvenienced us. We are already a minority in the Senate. We need all the supporters we can get if we are to ever get Palpatine to give up his emergency powers," Mon Mothma said.
"You heard Palpatine. As long as the Separatist leaders are still at large, he will remain in power. And it seems that this elusive Sith Lord has found someone to replace Grevious, as he or she has kept the separatists safe from the Jedi," Bail replied.
"I just think she's foolish for letting some relationship ruin her career," Mon Mothma replied.
"Padme has been serving her planet and the Republic since she was still a girl. She deserves to settle down and be happy if that's what she really wants. And if she chooses to balance a career and a family, then I see no problem with it," Bail replied.
"Her duty to the Republic would have to come first. There's no room for matter of the heart in this legislation," Mon Mothma replied.
"Maybe that is what is wrong with our broken Republic. Many under estimate the power that love has over a person," Bail said.
"I could never and would never let love change my priorities," Mon Mothma argued. Bail chuckled.
"Padme told me that once too. It was not long after she first came to the Senate. But in my experience, love can be a complicated thing, yet it has a surprising simplicity at the same time. Padme told me how she and Anakin fought their feelings for each other. How they both knew that they were forbidden to be together. But that's the funny thing about love. It doesn't know that he is a Jedi and that she is a senator. Nor does it care in the least. Love can be crazy, irrational, and impossible at times. But it is also boundless and knows no discrimination, nor differentiation between classes or types of people," Bail said.
"You and I see love a different way. True love does not exist for me. Nor do I believe it exists for anyone," Mon Mothma replied. Bail stood to leave.
"Then I do hope that love proves you wrong someday, I truly do. Good day Senator Mothma," Bail said, as he left her apartment.
Barriss Offee sighed deeply, as she shut off the holo-projector. Master Windu had just informed her of her padawan's current assignment. Personally, she thought it was a horrible error in judgement on the council's part, yet none of them knew of Zara's infatuation with Anakin. She wished she was there to help guide her padawan right now, but she knew that she had to trust that Zara would remember her teachings and let the Force guide her.
Personally, she didn't see the need for Zara to be there and was sure that Anakin had been insulted by the blatant insinuation that he could not take care of his wife. The dark side had been increasingly oppressive, as of late. And she knew that meant that the dark Lord was at work.
She and Master Unduli were not as close to finding the Separatists leaders as they would like to be. All their leads had gone cold and whenever they felt they were getting close, the Separatists leaders were moved again, almost like phantoms. They were leaving no trails and always seemed to be one or two steps ahead of the Jedi. Master Secura and Master Fisto had been charged with finding all the droid factories they could and shutting them down. So far, they had shut down the ones on Utapau, Mustafar, and a few other sparse outer rim planets. But the war still raged and they lost more and more Jedi everyday...
Anakin smiled, after checking the trajectory course. They were about 3 ½ hours into their flight and he would be ready to bring them out of hyperspace in about 20 minutes. He smiled, as he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck from behind.
"Hi angel," he said. She kissed him on the cheek.
"Hi," she replied. Anakin smiled and pulled her into his lap.
"How long till we're home?" she asked.
"Artoo should be bringing us out of hyperspace in about 20 minutes," Anakin replied. She cuddled close to him, as he caressed her round stomach.
"I can't wait till we're home, by the lake," she said.
"Me either," Anakin replied, as he let his eyes trace over her beautiful face. She smiled brightly at him and blushed faintly. He still held the ability to make her blush and always made her feel so beautiful. She remembered back to the time when he first looked at her like he was now. His gaze was so intense and loving. At first, it had scared her. And mostly because of the things it had made her feel. That first time, she had wanted to melt under that gaze, and that scared her, because he was a Jedi padawan and she was a Senator. Love between them was impossible. She remembered how she had rebuked him that day...
Please don't look at me like that," she had requested.
"Why not?" he had asked frankly.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable," she had retorted.
Indeed, it had made her uncomfortable, but in an exciting, beautiful way. Now, she loved when he looked at her that way. And she loved gazing back into those beautiful sapphire eyes. She leaned in and met his lips in a passionate, searing kiss.
"I love you Ani," she said, as they broke the kiss.
"I love you too Padme," he replied. Artoo interrupted them with a warning beep.
"Looks like Artoo is ready to bring us out of hyperspace, so we'll have to continue this later my love," Anakin said. Padme smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Absolutely," he replied. She stood up and strapped into the co-pilot seat. Anakin flipped a switch, which would notify those in back that it was time to buckle in.
"Take us home baby," Padme said.
"Anything for you angel," he replied, as they waited for landing clearance.
Anakin brought the ship in and landed it in the palace hanger. After a brief meeting with Queen Apiliana, their entourage boarded one of Padme's larger speeders and headed for the lake country. Unfortunately, the holonet had heard about Padme's return to Naboo and they were currently being followed by several speeders full of cameras and reporters.
"Oh no, I don't want them to find the lake country," Padme said. Anakin reached over and tightened her strap.
"Everybody, hold on tight to something," Anakin ordered.
"Ani, what are you doing?" Padme asked. He smirked and smiled dangerously, a look that Padme knew well.
"We're going to lose them," Anakin replied, as he floored it. He expertly wove and rounded off their current path, taking several different paths. After a few minutes, there was no one following them. Anakin brought them back to the main path and continued on, not bothering to slow much.
"Are you crazy! You could have got us killed!" Zara yelled.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing," Anakin replied. Dorme and Typho looked equally disturbed, but it hadn't seemed to bother Padme.
"Everything's a pod race to Anakin. But he's right, he knows what he's doing," she replied.
"Thank you angel," he smiled.
"And if you ever fly like that with the twins in the speeder, you'll be sleeping alone for a week," she warned. He winced and then smiled again. Padme couldn't help but to smile back at him warmly.
"No wonder Obi-Wan hates flying with you," Padme retorted.
"He doesn't hate flying with me, he just hates flying in general," Anakin replied. She laughed.
"Uh huh," she replied. He smiled back at her before beginning to slow, seeing that they were coming up on the lake. From their, they would be taking the water speeder to the lake house at Varykino.
The water speeder took them to the dock at the lake house. To Padme's pleasant surprise, Sola was waiting for them.
"Sola!" Padme cried happily, as she flung her arms around her sister's neck, giving her a big hug.
"It's so good to see you." Sola said, as she stepped back so she could look at her little sister.
"Oh Padme, you look wonderful. You're glowing," Sola said.
"Thank you Sola. Anakin says the same thing, but I think you're both just being nice. I don't feel very beautiful like this," Padme said.
"Well, you are," Anakin said, as he set some of their bags down.
"Hello Anakin, it's good to see you again," Sola said, as she hugged him.
"It's good to see you too Sola," Anakin replied.
"Where are mom, dad, and the girls?" Padme asked.
"Mom, dad, Darred and the girls are coming up tomorrow. They sent me ahead, so we can have a little sister time, if you don't mind Anakin," Sola said.
"Of course not. After I get our things taken in, I have to contact Obi-Wan anyway," Anakin replied.
"Oh Sola, you remember Captain Typho and Dorme of corse," Padme said. They all nodded in agreement.
"This is padawan Zara Caelan. The Jedi council has sent her for extra security," Padme said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Zara," Sola said, though a questioning glance at Padme said that she wanted to know what was going on.
"Likewise," Zara replied stiffly.
"Padawan Caelan, if you and Dorme will follow me, we can begin working on the security routine for the senator," Typho said. The two women nodded and followed.
"Well, I think I'll borrow you wife for a bit Anakin. We have a lot to catch up on," Sola said. Padme rolled her eyes.
"You mean you have a lot to grill me on," Padme replied. Anakin chuckled and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"I'll see you both later," he said, as he and Threepio started carrying their bags to the house. Artoo rolled along with them, carrying on with the usual banter between him and Threepio.
"Let's go to the kitchen for a glass of Shurra juice and you can tell me everything," Sola said. Padme giggled and followed her older sister.
"So what's with that girl? Why is she here?" Sola asked.
"Well Chancellor Palpatine and the council thought the extra security is needed. It was a major insult to Ani. I'm perfectly safe with my husband," Padme said.
"Why would the Jedi be so concerned? I thought they expelled Anakin," Sola said. Padme paused for a second.
"They did, but some of the council members...want to take the twins from us since they are strong in the Force," Padme said. Sola gasped.
"Oh Padme, no," Sola cried.
"Don't worry Sola, Anakin won't let that happen. If we have to hide from the Republic, we will. I feel like the Republic has become the very evil we've been fighting against," Padme admitted sadly. Sola put a hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe it's time you and Anakin left that life," Sola said.
"Maybe. Don't get me wrong, not all of the council members feel the same. Ani and I know we can trust Obi-Wan and master Yoda," Padme said.
"Would they really come here for the twins?" Sola asked.
"Anakin told me that it is mandatory that children with midichlorian counts of 1200 or more be handed over to the Jedi. If master Yoda and Obi-Wan are out voted on the council and the twins have high enough midichlorian counts...then yes," Padme said.
"Oh Padme, I'm so sorry," Sola said.
"Don't worry Sola, Anakin would never let anything happen to any of us," Padme said.
"Yes, tell me all about your handsome Jedi husband," Sola said slyly. Padme smiled shyly and her cheeks turned rosy.
"Oh little sister, are you blushing? He really must be something wonderful. And I'm so happy for you," Sola smiled.
"He is. And thank you Sola. I'm just sorry that we had to hide it from you and everyone else," Padme said.
"It's okay, I know why you did. But I would have loved to see the wedding," Sola said. Padme smiled.
"Artoo, come in here," Padme called. Artoo chirped, happily responding to his mistress.
"Artoo, play recording 432," Padme said. Artoo blooped and emitted a recording of their wedding day on the balcony of the lake country.
"Oh Padme, you looked beautiful. Anakin looked so young and handsome. And what a romantic setting," Sola gushed.
"Thanks. I always wanted to get married at sunset. That was the happiest day of my life," Padme said.
"Thank you for showing me," Sola said.
"You're welcome Sola," Padme replied.
Later that evening...
Padme and Anakin sat curled up together later that evening in front of the fireplace. Sola and the everyone else had already gone to bed. Anakin smiled, thinking about the first time they had been in front of this fireplace. He had poured out his heart and soul to her. She had shot him down, and told him that a love between them wasn't possible. But her eyes and her body language had told a different story. He knew that she loved him too, even if she refused to admit it. He grinned wickedly, as he thought of her attire that night. Just thinking about her in that dress still drove him crazy. He rolled the small case around in his pocket with his fingers. He had been saving this little gift for their anniversary in three months, but he realized this was the perfect time to give it to her.
"Angel, there's something I want to give you," Anakin said, as he pulled the small case out of his pocket. She lifted her head from his chest and turned to look at him.
"What is it Ani?" she asked.
"Well, I know it's the Naboo custom to give a ring to the woman when the man asks her to marry him,"
"Oh Ani, you know I don't care about that. You're all I've ever wanted or needed," she said. He looked down shyly.
"I know and I still wonder sometimes what I did to deserve you. But let me finish my story angel," he said. She smiled warmly.
"Okay," she replied.
"About three months ago, Obi-Wan and I busted some smugglers in the outer rim. They were smuggling jewelry from the core planets to the outer rim," Anakin paused and took the ring out of the case. It was a generously cut sapphire stone set in a silver-gold band.
"When I saw this, all I could think of was how beautiful it would look on your finger," Anakin said, as slipped it on her finger. Padme's mouth was ajar and tears glistened in her brown eyes.
"Oh Anakin! This is a Nubian sapphire. They are really rare," Padme said. Anakin smiled.
"I know, I asked one of the smugglers about it after we detained them. I think he was a little curious as to why a Jedi would want to know, but he wasn't about to question one. He said that this particular cut was called an angel's teardrop. I was even more certain then that it was made for you," he replied. By now, tears were streaming down her face.
"Oh Ani, it's beautiful. Thank you so much," Padme said, as she flung her arms around his neck. She pulled him into a kiss, moving her lips passionately over his in a zealous rate. She giggled, as they tumbled back down on the couch together. Anakin was too lost in Padme to sense the pair of eyes watching them from the darkness. The padawan's face contorted with anger and jealously...
Zara stood on the balcony overlooking the lake. She found it impossible to sleep. Dreams of Anakin were plaguing her. She remembered when he first came to the temple and how she had been one of the only younglings to not shun him or that wasn't afraid of him. They had formed a friendship and she had watched with some amount of awe as Anakin excelled in his training. He had natural abilities and the Force flowed so strongly in him.
They grew together from children into young adults. She had first noticed just how attractive he was during her early teen years and a small crush had formed. She knew that there was nothing she could ever do about it, but thing were a lot different now. Anakin had thrown all his training away for a beautiful, yet Force blind woman. Padme Amidala was responsible for taking Anakin away from her and the order. She wanted Anakin. She could make him happy better than Amidala could! And with code possibly changing, she and Anakin could have been together. She recalled the whispers and images from her dreams. The Force was speaking to her, she was sure of it.
Amidala lay dead on the cold ground and Anakin knelt over her crying and broken. Then the voice whispered to her.
"He's yours now...take him. You killed Amidala, the only obstacle keeping him from you. He's yours now...show him that he belongs to you...
The dark powers she welded made her feel so powerful. She knew these thoughts were not the way of the Jedi, but she found herself no longer caring...
The dark emotions continued to swirl inside her, growing in power and strength. The voice inside her head was becoming relentless in its urging for her to kill the senator. She hated Padme Amidala and she wanted her dead...
in Anakin and Padme's bedroom...
A dark tremor ripped through the Force and alerted his senses. He shot up out of bed, gasping for breath. The dark tremor was evil and menacing. And he sensed that it was directed toward Padme. But as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone. Unfortunately, he had not been the only one to feel the dark sensation. Inside Padme's womb, there were two large thumps and the sack of amniotic fluid broke...
Padme cried out next to Anakin, as she woke up with pain in her abdomen.
"Padme, are you okay?" Anakin asked.
"Oh Ani, it's time. My water broke!" she said frantically...