Chapter 10: What Padmé Overheard

The Next Day

During the next day, Anakin got to spend some quality time with his son. As soon as he was able to pry the baby out of Sola's doting arms, he rushed back to the Temple for he was late for a briefing.

Not caring that the others would view Luke as an unwelcome distraction in the briefing room, Anakin went on in and quietly took a seat in the back next to Knight Vos. The Jedi gave him a slight nod before turning his attention back to Obi-Wan who was talking at the center of the room.

"Our intelligence is still searching for any trace of General Grevious and the missing Separatist leaders, but we still need to be prepared for when the time comes," Obi-Wan said loudly, scanning the room with a puzzled look in his eyes. When he saw Anakin sitting in the back row, his shoulders slumped in a relieved way and a wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips upon seeing the squirming Luke.

Indeed, Luke was anxious to get away from his father's grip. At first, he had just wiggled, but moments later, he was wrenching his body around so forcefully that Anakin struggled to keep his grip on the baby.

Next to him, Quinlan Vos watched the proceedings with an amused look on his face.

"Dada!" Luke screamed on the top of his lungs.

The room went dead silent.

"Um…" Obi-Wan said uncertainly, having forgotten what he was talking about. His bemused eyes found Anakin's panicked ones. "It seems that our new esteemed Jedi Master is having a hard time making his padawan behave."

Despite themselves, the gathered clone troopers and Jedi laughed, but Anakin was too relieved to care.

"May the Force be with you all," Obi-Wan said solemnly as he flipped off the projector. Murmurs and a little laughter filled the room as everyone turned to leave.

Standing up and holding the wailing Luke in his arms, Anakin carefully made his way down to where Obi-Wan stood waiting for him.

"I'm sorry," Anakin heartily apologized, setting Luke down on the floor, "I have no idea what got into him like that."

Still not happy, Luke continued to whine and forcefully grabbed at Anakin's boots.

"Maybe he's sensing something we're not," Obi-Wan suggested doubtfully, looking down at the perturbed Luke.

"I hope not," Anakin sighed, distractedly running his hands through his hair, rather embarrassed by the way Luke continued to howl.

"Maybe he misses his 'mama'," Obi-Wan said quietly, giving Anakin a hard look.

"What?" Anakin started, trying his best to not gape at the older man.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan replied gently, "do not deny the feelings you have tried so hard to hide but have been unable too. I am not quite as oblivious as you might think."

Sighing, Anakin slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"You are quite the lucky man- you are the only man she would take time for to start a life with," Obi-Wan congratulated, patting Anakin on the back as they sat down. "And you also need to be congratulated about your other little one- will she be raised in the Temple also?"

"No," Anakin sighed wearily, slumping over as he studied his hands. "I promised her that she would be able to raise the baby on Naboo- you have no idea what it's doing to her to not be able to see Luke as much as she needs."

Obi-Wan gave him a sympathetic look. "And are there going to be more…um, little Skywalkers running about?" By the look on his face, Anakin could tell that his former master had mixed feelings about potentially training another Anakin.
"I don't know…"

"I have a message for you, Master Skywalker!" a padawan exclaimed as he barged into the meeting room, making the three occupants start. Even Luke, who was moaning in a muffled way because his hands were in his mouth, stared up at the newcomer.

"Oh dear," Anakin sighed as he took the datapad. "What will it be next? Tea with some Senators…"

"Dinner parties with Senator Am…"

"Or an opera with the Chancellor," Anakin groaned, dropping the pad into his lap, burying his face in his hands.

"Cheer up- at least it's free," Obi-Wan said positively.

"Dada!"

All Anakin knew was that a certain cranky padawan was going to be staying in the crèche for a nice, long nap.
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That Evening, Coruscant Opera House

Because he had felt reluctant about leaving Luke alone with the already stressed Crèche Master, Anakin had arrived late and consequently had to run up the stairs to the Chancellor's box. Many of the ladies he passed gave him approving glances and the waiting paparazzi readied their equipment, but he was gone before they could even open their mouths.

Pausing only to catch his breath for going inside, Anakin nervously ran his gloved hand through his hair before opening the door.

Much to his surprise, he found that the Chancellor was not alone. With him were Sly Moore and Mas Ameda, but this was of no surprise to him.

Padmé and Palo were there. She was sitting next to Palpatine with Palo on her right, and their heads were once more bent together as they whispered to each other.

Jealousy welled up in Anakin, but he managed to wipe any traces of it from his face before he walked down the small steps to the Chancellor's side, relieved that the opera hadn't started yet. "I'm sorry I am late- I had a few important things to tend to."

"Ah, Anakin! I am glad you came!" Palpatine said warmly. Turning his head to his aids, he said in a more commanding tone, "Leave us." He watched the two beings leave the box before gesturing for Anakin to sit down next to him.

By then, Padmé and Palo were watching Anakin with surprised looks on their faces.

Dully, Anakin noted the beautiful dress she was wearing before returning his attention back to his host.

"I hope you don't mind that I invited along a couple of friends," Palpatine apologized, lightly gesturing to the other two. "With the war being almost over, I am feeling increasingly guilty about having neglected my friends. Speaking of wars," he said in a quieter tone, "I am surprised that the Jedi have kept you here on Corusant so long- shouldn't you be out fighting to end this disaster?"

Anakin shook his head. "I am needed here."

"Of course- you have your padawan to look over," he said knowingly, a small smile forming on his lips. "Surely the Jedi have given you some business to work on during your stay on this planet."

Reluctantly, Anakin nodded his head, refusing to look at Palpatine.

"Might I inquire as to what your mission is, or are you bound to keep it a secret?" Palpatine asked with a small laugh. "I know how secretive your Order can be."

"We're not secretive- we're cautious about to whom we share our inner workings," Anakin replied, fuming slightly.

"I'm sorry- I did not mean to speak badly about your Order," Palpatine hastily apologized. He studied Anakin's face for a moment. "They asked you to do something you did not feel was right," he deduced.

"Actually… no," Anakin replied tersely. "I have no problems with doing what they implied."

"You are here to spy on me."

"No," Anakin said quietly, giving his friend a hard look, "I am making sure nothing happens to you."

"I see…" Palpatine said. "I am once again pleased by your dedication but… the most disturbing news has reached my ears."

Without him having said anything, Anakin very well knew what the Chancellor was about to say.

"I have heard that you have taken the side of the noble delegation that believes I should step down."

"Not exactly… we just want peace to return to the Galaxy," Anakin said patiently, splaying his hands. "I… we all want it," he said a little sadly. "I want to go back to the time when there were no troubles…"

"Bad dreams?"

"Yes," Anakin replied slowly.

"I remember how you used to have some rather disturbing dreams, or premonitions as you call them," Palpatine said grimly. "After you experience one, you always have this… haunted look on his face."

"Mostly, they are about death, but this time… it was different."

"Do you mind telling me what it was about?" Palpatine asked in his traditional fatherly tone.

"I… I'm slipping," Anakin admitted.

"We all do, from time to time," Palpatine sympathized, giving him a sad smile. "Have I ever told you about the story of Darth Plaguies the Foolish as I call him."

Anakin shook his head no.

"Well… I'm actually not that surprised," Palpatine said, dropping his voice even lower. "They don't teach those sort of things at the Temple do they? What happened was essentially this- back when there were Sith, one of the Dark Lords claimed that he had the power to stop death."

"Is this a true story?" Anakin asked a little doubtfully.

"Yes- don't let your teachings confuse you," Palpatine chided. "It took him many years to discover this secret, but once he did, he taught it to his apprentice." A slightly rueful look came across his face. "What was ironic was this- for his apparent ability to stop death, he was neither able to save his own nor foresaw the night when his apprentice came to him in his sleep."

"I'm not sure if I understand," Anakin said slowly.

"Anakin, sometimes people become so intent on seeing to it that the future not come true that they sacrifice everything that lies before them," Palpatine explained. "How do you know that your attempts to keep this premonition from happening aren't causing it to become true?"

"I don't think anyone can ever be certain."

Because he was sitting on the other side of Palpatine far away from his wife, Anakin had not seem the horrified look that had spread across Padmé's face as she overheard what her former mentor and her husband were conversing about. He also did not notice the way that her hands gripped the armrests of her seat until her knuckles became white.

"I am not feeling so well," she moaned, her stomach flying to her stomach.

The three men jumped and turned towards her.

"Padmé, what is it?" Palo asked worriedly, his frantic eyes trying to read her face.

"I need to get out of here," she gasped, already moving up the stairs despite the other's protestations.

"I am sorry, but we have to leave," Palo called over his shoulder as he followed her out of the box.

Acting on instinct, Anakin tried to follow them but was held down by Palpatine's firm hand. "Let them go," he said cautiously, "I would not upset that young man there if I were you."

Ten minutes later, Anakin found out that there had been an assassination attempt on Padmé's life and that she had been escorted to Corusant's MedWard.
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Spoiler for the next chapter: A Familiar Face

Unfortunately for Anakin's temper, Palo chose that moment to step into the room. Seemingly unharmed though quite depressed, he hadn't noticed the visitors yet for he was busy buttoning the cuffs of his shirt.

That is, until Anakin, with a primal roar, shoved the man against the wall with such a force that made the room seem to shake and Palo's eyes roll.

"You filthy son of a Sith!" Anakin screamed, continuing to slam the man against the wall, his hands clutching at the front of Palo's shirt.

"Let go of me!" Palo yelled, struggling to get away from the angry Jedi.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called out, trying to pull Anakin away. "Please stop it- you're scaring her."