A/N- Thank you for last chapters reviews. Please R&R as always! This is a chapter I thought was needed after I wrote out the revisions the last few months. Enjoy!

Chapter 26

Location: Naberrie Residence, Naboo

Month 7 Day 30 Year 28 BBY

Padme' breathes in the fresh air of the morning as she strolls through the gardens. Her short dress brushes against her legs, it's pale pink color shimmers against her skin. The soft sounds of birds echo in the distance. She hears the sounds of cooing and another child yelping in the morning air. She turns around the bend on the edge of the gardens and settles her gaze on her cousin Dorme' with her son Ruwee'. The boy is a mere few weeks old and settled into his bassinet on the blanket which his mother had set him on. Padme' eyes Sola as well blowing bubbles with her four year old daughter. Ryoo's brown curls bob around her back as she giggles and pops the bubbles her mother has blown towards her.

Padme' has to suck back in the missing part of her and the ache of not carrying her own child in her arms. Her daughter would be a few months old, probably rolling over by now. She should be here playing with her cousins. But it's my fault that she's not here. I couldn't carry my child to term.

The loss sticks to her like glue. She aches to have a babe in her own arms, but the loss for her is too fresh. She needs to give it time and have a plan in place for herself. She has given up her shots and the odd sensations of the force as Anakin had talked about had begun to take hold.

At times, she is able to feel someone she's close to nearby. It is an odd sensation, and she knows who it is most of the time. She can also sense when her dreadful husband is nearby or on his way to their bedroom. He never comes to her anymore. He had permanently moved into the extra spare bedroom and she didn't seem to mind. After their- spat a few weeks ago Padme' tries to avoid speaking to him at all costs. It had been his idea to come on a refreshing vacation back to her home.

Today he is gone from the residence- probably making his rounds to the brothels in Theed as well tonight. She knows what her husband is and knowingly has stayed with him for now. He has only laid hands on her twice now after a spat about spending money on their trip, he had slapped her twice and she had tried to slap him back. She wasn't going down without some sort of fight. He had shoved her towards the table and kicked her in the side. She had gone down pretty quickly and woken up to Sabe' asking what the hell had happened to her. She had lied and told her that she had been cleaning the dishes in the corner cabinet and had sidestepped. Sabe had believed the terrible lie, at least in Padme's mind she thinks.

She places herself on the edge of the blanket and watches Dorme' rub her little son's fuzzy head. She smiles to herself and turns to Padme'. " I'm glad you decided to come. We haven't had much time with each other since-" Dorme' stops short of mentioning her daughter's loss.

" It's all right Dorme'. I'm trying my best to move on. My daughter will always be a part of me. I'm happy you and little Ruwuee' are healthy and happy. I'm sorry I didn't make it to the baby's christening."

Dorme' touches her cousin's bare shoulder and states, " It's no problem Padme'. It has to be hard for you to just be here and I understand why you couldn't come."

Sola eyes her youngest sister. She knows the loss of an unborn child. She had had one miscarriage prior to having Ryoo. Padme' had seen her child born and that Sola had never experienced, but she suggests, " It will always be a hole in your heart until you decide if you want to have another child. Then you're too busy to think about it as much. It's very healing. I know Ryoo has been my salvation."

Padme' turns his gaze on her sister. Sola's cheeks are red from the morning heat. Her hair is in a simple updo and her brown eyes watch her with sympathy. Sola watches her daughter giggle as the bubbles blow into her face and she yelps out, " Mama! No bubbles in my face!"

Padme' genuinely smiles in her niece's direction. Ryoo is full of life and reminds Padme' that not everything in the galaxy has come down to banatha fodder. Her family continued to grow and become strong over the time she had lost with them. They will continue to grow whether or not she continued to try and hold her marriage together.

A marriage that I never should have agreed too. She muses to herself looking past her niece and little cousin. She had become so different in the past year. This time last year she'd been dealing with her broken heart that her best friend had left behind. So much had changed in that time- she had become hardened in the time she'd been so broken over a boy who still had her friendship and never would lose it. She knows that now- their friendship had endured the boundaries that it could extend. They had crossed the line of becoming lovers, and had been to hell and back by losing their child. But he still is there for her. It mattered not that she hadn't waited for him- or had continued to stay angry at him. Their friendship and bond could withstand anything- unlike her marriage to Rush.

Her mind dwells on her failings of being a wife. Rush desires a wife who will follow behind him, and warm his bed. He wants a prize doll to sit and look pretty to his admirers and that is all. Not a woman who speaks her mind or yearns to become a Senator herself. Did she even want to work in politics anymore? She isn't even sure about that. Her dreams had changed when she had decided that her baby was more important than anyone or anything she ever wanted. And now - a hole is left in her aching heart. She can't think past today because she takes one day at a time. If she looks too far ahead than she'll want to bury herself as she's done for months on end. She had to live a semi-normal life, as far as anyone on the outside could tell. Her family knew her better than anyone else-especially her sisters. They would know if she's unhappy.

" Padme', are things well between you and Rush?" Sola questions honestly through her silence.

Padme' blinks back the fog of her thoughts and turns her eyes back on her sister. Her sister's brown eyes watch her wearily. She cannot tell Sola that Rush has beat her or raped her. Sola could never hear that because she'd help everyone in line to kill her husband. Sola has her child to think about, not her sister's dramatic choice in husbands. Besides she'd be embarrassed if her father knew of her troubles- he didn't need that on his reputation. His reputation would be at stake if she tried to leave Rush now.

" Things are difficult to say right now- we're both busy with our own things. Rush finally was reprieved a vacation time after from the Senate. This is the first break we've had away from Imperial Center." She explains without lying about their status.

Dorme' eyes her cousin and states, " And he chooses to spend time in Theed today? Padme' that isn't a good sign."

Padme' bites her lip and tries to reassure her cousin. " Rush is dealing with the loss of our daughter in his own way. He has thrown himself in his work the last few months."

Sola nods and eyes in the distance the figure of another one of their family members. She smiles as Ryoo shrills as she sees her Uncle Anakin walking through the gardens with his duffel bag on his shoulder. " Ani!" She says happily.

She stands up and runs towards her best buddy. His laughter fills the air and he puts his duffel bag down as she reaches his arms. He lifts her in the air and complains, " Geeze Ryoo! You need to stop growing so much! Soon you'll be as tall as your mother."

She giggles in his arms and smiles just for him. " No silly. I want to be as tall as you!"

He chuckles and puts her down and she takes his hand as they make their way back to the three women sitting on the blanket watching them. Padme' smiles feeling the presence of her best friend through their bond. She didn't understand the feelings other than the feeling of a golden light wrapped around her in a warm embrace. It's as if most of her life this is what their bond has felt like- with a haze and without the hazy drugs she's been on- now she can see clearly or rather is beginning to see clearly and sense the world around her.

Anakin greets Sola with a kiss on the cheek and Dorme' as well. He peeks over to check out the youngest member of their family. Young Ruwee's gray hazy eyes stare up at the newest arrival of their party. Anakin smiles at him and takes his large finger and Ruwee' grips it tightly.

" You're a strong boy for someone so young." He comments.

Padme' watches her best friend holding onto the babe's finger and she feels the ache in her chest once more while watching them together. He would have made such a good father.

It is her fault that their daughter isn't here and she'd be paying for it for the rest of their lives. She knows this- and swore someday she'd tell him the truth. Someday is not now. So she plasters a smile on her face and greets him, " I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow."

He lets go of Ruwee's finger and murmurs, " I was able to catch an earlier ship after work."

" How is work going? I heard you started training with the Inquisitors." Dorme' inquires, frowning, clearly not satisfied with his choice of specialty.

Anakin draws his eyes back to Dorme' and mutters, " I didn't have much of a choice. Inquisitor Maul personally asked for me to be positioned within the Inquisitor ranks."

Padme' hadn't spoken to Anakin in a few weeks. She had known he had been requested by Maul but hearing the tone in his voice made it sound like he hadn't wanted it either. He had never really considered the Inquisitor ranks before this summer. If he stayed within this position it meant he'd be permanently stationed on Coruscant and not transferred anywhere else. He'd stay close to her as long as she stayed married to Rush. If she chose to leave him at any point, she'd end up back living here on Naboo with the rest of her family and without her best friend nearby….

Sola comments, " It is an honor for my little brother to be considered for this office. Though I'd love to see a woman on your arm the next time you visit home."

Dorme' smiles upon hearing Sola's sisterly comment. " I have plenty of single friends on Coruscant who love a man in uniform."

Anakin shifts uncomfortably from one foot to another, trying to avoid his best friend's gaze. He coughs and changes the subject. " I think I remember I need to help Ruwee up at the main house with that coupling on his speeder."

Sola chides, " Anakin, you are such as tease. A girlfriend would do you some good, perhaps unwind that tight string you've earned at the Academy. How long are you staying? I know a few single friends who could use a nice night out of the town."

Padme glances up at her best friend who's turning redder by the minute, trying to escape the two women he considered older sisters and their plotting of his love life. She chuckles upon seeing his red face and comments, " Aren't you staying for the week too? Sola isn't Winter Moss in town for her summer retreat? I'm sure Anakin remembers how fond she is of him."

Anakin's gaze turns on her then. He's shocked by her urging and teasing right along with them. He swallows at the mention of Winter Moss- a woman he desires to forget. She'd been the women unbeknownst to two of the women with him that popped his cherry at 15. Winter is Sola's age and had a huge crush on the young man and was an artist. She traveled to most beautiful planets to paint their landscapes. Her paintings hung in the grand halls of the palace here on Theed and the local museums near her hometown in the mountains. Winter had met Sola at 12 and been good friends since. Winter chose to remain single so she could travel and paint. She'd be a perfect fling for Anakin to reconnect with.

He stammers out surrounded and out of options. " I really don't have time to see her. I am so busy with studying and spending my time with all of you."

Dorme' adds, " Anakin, she's only here for the summer. She's not looking to settle down yet. I've spoken to her recently and she remembers you quite fondly as a younger boy. Sola, why don't you invite her to dine with us tomorrow? Perhaps add that Anakin is in town."

Anakin gulps and sends Padme' a brief look of desperate help. Sorry Ani, but I have to agree with them. You seem to need to relax. Just what the doc ordered.

You're just as bad as them. I just don't have time for a woman right now.

A rough cough has them all turning to see Ruwee, Bail and Rush. Rush eyes his wife who is smiling ear to ear. He lifts his eyebrow suspiciously. She hardly smiles anymore, especially not for him. His eyes fall on the young man standing between all three women and he greets him. " It is good to see you Ensign Skywalker, always a pleasure."

Anakin nods in acceptance of Rush's presence. Bail shakes his friend's hand and Ruwee steps forward and greets Anakin as he has for many years- as his son. Ruwee' pulls away.

" I'm sorry you were left out here with all the women to tease you."

Anakin laughs and comments, " Nothing I'm not used to. They have always plotted against me. Always trying to hook me up with one of their friends."

Bail asks, " We were going to help Ruwee' with the roasting of the celebratory summer duck. Do you want to join us or would you like to stay and listen to the plotting of our wives?"

Anakin glances between the group of men and the women he considers to be his family. He shrugs and says, " Sorry Sola but your plotting of my future marriage to Winter Moss will have to wait."

Sola rolls her eyes and watches the men turn towards the main house. Padme watches them leave using the side entrance to the main house. She closes her eyes and enjoys the feeling of the sun on her face. Dorme' sighs and murmurs, " It's too bad he's not over her. He's such a good and kind man. He needs to find someone available."

Padme keeps her eyes closed trying to ignore the conversation forming between her cousin and elder sister. Sola agrees, " I think if they could have had a chance to even try a relationship, even father would have approved eventually."

Padme' peeks her eyes open and observes the two women in front of her. " Who are you speaking of? Please tell me you're not talking about Winter and Anakin's quiet little fling when he was 15."

Dorme' and Sola both share a quiet look between the two of them. The expression that passes between them is somewhere between the lines of sympathy and knowing. It's as if they share this secret that even Padme' doesn't know about her best friend. She inquires, " Who are you speaking of? Anakin isn't exactly known for his long-term relationships."

Dorme' rubs her hand in assurance and begins, " We're speaking of the two of you."

Sola takes her other hand and suggests, " He's clearly not over you, though it's been over since last summer."

Padme's mouth parts slightly and she's frozen in time. How had they known? She and Anakin had kept the secret to themselves and for all she knew the only person aware of their relationship had been Katrina. Padme' stammers out, " How- how long have you known?"

Dorme' rolls her eyes. " You two were never subtle about it last summer. C'mon, I saw Anakin sneaking into your room or leaving your room in the wee hours of the morning. It was pretty obvious you two were romantically involved. Though after you began spending time with Rush that's when we figured whatever had happened between the two of you had ended."

Padme' looks down at her hands and whispers, " Does father know?"

Sola shakes her head and murmurs, " No, though I think if things hadn't ended between the two of you he would have approved. Clearly Anakin's not over you."

Padme' sighs and says, " I doubt father would have approved what we were up to last summer. He loves Anakin like a son, but he'd have wanted to kill him if he had known the truth."

Dorme' comments, " It was the happiest I've ever seen you. Both of you. You're not that happy with Rush, P. We all know it."

Padme' stares down at her hands and says, " I chose my husband. I chose my path. Divorce is not on the table."

Sola squeezes her hand. " We want you to be happy- as happy as you were with Anakin. What happened?"

Padme' peers up at her sister and explains, " Katrina discovered our relationship and threatened to tell father. Anakin broke things off so that our reputations could stay intact. Looking back it was the best thing for both of us. We both had paths to take alone, and we've got each other's backs, no matter what happened between the two of us."

Dorme' questions quietly, " Was he the father of your daughter? Or Rush?"

Sola adds, " Sabe' told us how Anakin stayed with you the entire time you were in the hospital without leaving your side. She said she'd tried calling Rush first and he hadn't answered, but you kept asking for Anakin."

Padme' bites her lip and whispers, " This cannot ever be told to anyone, understand? Yes, he was her father…"

Sola rubs her shoulder and whispers, " Padme', I'm sorry you were doing this alone. If we had just assumed the truth… perhaps things would be different."

Padme smiles sadly and murmurs, " How would it be different?"

Sola squeezes her hand and explains, " Perhaps you and Anakin would still be together if we had been able to support you telling Katrina and Father the truth and you wouldn't have married so quickly to a man you clearly are not in love with."

Padme' looks down ashamed. " I cannot dwell on what could have been. I chose to marry Rush, besides what Anakin and I had wasn't anything more than lustful teenage hormones. He's my best friend and I wouldn't cross that line ever again."

Dorme' lifts her eyebrow and murmurs, " I wouldn't say never unless you're willing to assume that nothing will change."

Padme lifts her eyebrows in confusion. Were they suggesting to her to divorce and end her marriage? It would be a scandal for her husband and her own reputation- not thinking also about her father's reputation here on Naboo. Divorce was hardly granted on Naboo unless unusual circumstances surrounded the couple's relationship- much like the sort of relationship that she has with Rush now.

She shakes her head and sputters out, " Divorcing Rush is not an option. I may not love him, but I have chosen him as my husband and I must keep my promise. His career nor mine could handle a scandal such as a public divorce. I don't want this brought up again, are we clear?"

Sola sighs and states, " Padme' we're not suggesting anything. We just want you to be happy with someone you love and be able to have everything you want."

Padme's smile is small and she whispers, " My dreams have just changed dear sister. Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. Life has dealt me these cards and I'm making the best I can with what I have."

Dorme' agrees, " You are and losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to any parent. But someday Pad, you might change your mind and want more of a life outside of the one you have now. You just might, so don't assume you'll always want this life for the rest of your life. People change."

Padme' gulps hearing those words. People change. Her mouth opens to speak of her troubles, but she closes them noticing the sympathetic looks coming from both of her favorite people in the entire world. She nods simply and says no more.

To Be Continued.