Hey Guys,

Huge apology that this took so long to post. School started and I took so many writing classes . . . long story short, I had to write 50,000 words in two weeks and start two other major writing assignments. Anyway, enough excuses, here's an update and I will definitely update more often from here on out.

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Memories and Premonition

Padme paced in her quarters, tears streaming down her face. Her thoughts were consumed by mourning for her husband. Though she had been parted from Anakin so many times during the war, every time he had left for some battle a part of her had always gone with him. She would worry for him every waking hour and would cry herself through sleepless nights, but she had never felt like this. It was as if a part of her had died.

It had been four days since Bail had told her of the attack on the Jedi Temple. Every waking moment, she had watched the newsnets, hoping that she might find some clue as to Anakin's fate. What she saw was never encouraging, and it had been so long since she had seen him. She was beginning to realize that Anakin could not have survived.

Padme sat down near the window and gazed out over the capital city of Alderaan. The landscape was beautiful, reminding her in some ways of her homeworld. Thinking back to her life on Naboo made images of the past swelled up inside her. She could still clearly see Theed and the Nubian Palace in her mind and could recall so many events that had occurred in the past years. The memories of her childhood, her coronation, the invasion, her second term, being made a senator, her marriage and finally her children flashed in her mind.

She remembered the last time she and Anakin has met in the Lake Country. It had been nearly a year before, before she knew she was pregnant, before Anakin had been whisked away to war for those long months, and before all these terrible things had happened. Thinking back to that holiday at the cottage, a memory of a specific morning stuck in her mind.

"Padme?"

She was slightly startled, and she turned to see Anakin standing in the doorway behind her. She had been sitting on the veranda of the cottage, enjoying the cool morning breeze that drifted over the lake. When she had taken her robe and left Anakin, he had been sleeping, well snoring slightly. Now he stood, leaning against the doorpost, his hair tousled from sleep.

She giggled to herself, "Good morning," she said sweetly. She rose, and after straightening her silk nightgown, motion for him to join her on the bench. He joined her, after shrugging his tunic over his head and shoulders.

"It's a little cold this morning," Anakin said, as he sat down.

Padme smiled, "Well, perhaps your robe might keep you warm . . .or at least some boots."

Anakin looked down at his bare feet at the end of his long black pants and he laughed lightly. "I suppose."

He looked back at her, and though there was so much love in his gaze, she immediately recognized something else in his eyes. "What's wrong?"

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked over the lake for a moment. "The Council received my report of Queen Jamilla's petition and Naboo's security. You should be glad to know that you also received a copy of this report, and you have officially sent a message to the Council from your office on Coruscant thanking the Jedi for their help. They were pleased to hear from you."

"Good old Dorme," Padme rested her head on Anakin's shoulder. "If it weren't for her I'd never be able to leave the capital, even for a moment."

Anakin was silent for a long moment. Padme waited silently, she knew Anakin had more to say. After another moment or two, Anakin sighed, "Of course, now that Jamilla and Naboo are safe from the separatists, the Council sees no more reason for me to linger here. The Clone Wars have moved to the outer rim and it seems Obi-Wan and I are to help lead an advance against the enemy."

Padme nodded but said nothing.

"I have to leave in a few hours," Anakin finally said, before falling silent again.

The silence began to eat away at Padme, "How long will you be gone?"

Anakin shook his head, "I don't know."

It was at this moment that an odd premonition seized Padme. It was as if she knew that all her peaceful moments with Anakin had been spent, and the life that stretch before them was filled with trouble and pain.

The sound of Leia's cry brought Padme back from her memories. She moved to her daughter's bed, and lifted the baby. Holding Leia in her arms, Padme felt a sudden sense of peace. How could she despair over the loss of her husband and her son? She still had a beautiful daughter who needed her. Padme smiled, "Oh small one, everything's going to be alright, I promise."

That odd premonition came upon Padme again. She had just promised her daughter something that she could not be certain of. As if to echo this feeling of forewarning, there was a solemn knock at the door of her room. Leia looked up at her mother, and though the child was so young, Padme swore she saw a look of concern in the baby's eyes.

A mother has many duties, and one is to comfort and calm their children. Pushing all those vague fears far from her mind, Padme looked into Leia's eyes, "I promised, Leia. I meant it. You'll see, everything will be alright."

Somehow Leia seemed to understand, at least she seemed to understand her mother was trying to comfort her. She quieted and seemed to relax, but there was still a look of unease in the small child's expression. "Shhh," Padme said, and she walked to the door, rocking Leia slightly back and forth.

Opening the door while holding Leia in one hand, Padme was surprised to see Bail Organa standing in the hall. "Bail, I-"

"There's no time," Bail said, pushing passed Padme and into the room. "Something has happened, and we need to talk."

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There you have it. The next chapter: Anakin makes his decision. It should be posted soon. Thanks for bearing with me, you don't know how much I appreciate it. Please review, and until the next update . . . good luck (especially to those in my research class).

WizardWriter86