A/N- Hello! Here is the next installment. Please review or following. If you have any suggestions for me or comments, please let me know.

-GP

Chapter 35

Location: Senate Rotunda

Month 10 Day 6 Year 28 BBY

It's been two weeks since her attack. Two weeks of healing and waiting on the Senate's committee's decision about their investigation into Rush Clovis' connections to the attack on his own wife. Padme' leans back in her chair and eyes the committee. A few faces she knows- Bail Organa, Mon Monthma- at least two people are on her side. The rest of the committee is unknown to her. There are many faces she knows are friends and colleagues of Rush's but she forgets their names. She has not been in the same room with her husband since he had threatened to kill her. The committee is waiting for him to arrive to declare their outcome of the investigation.

Anakin sits besides her, feeling her anxiety through the force. He reaches for her hand under the table to comfort her. She does not glance in his direction, just eyeing the door waiting for the devil himself to arrive. She squeezes his hand in assurance of his presence is needed. She needs all the support she can right now.

The door slides open with a soft hiss. Her red haired husband enters and his eyes land on hers. Green on Brown. She tries to keep her features neutral. He states, " It is a pleasure to see you my dear."

He throws out the loving nickname as he always had done when in public. She is weary of speaking but finds her voice. " Your cuts are healing I see."

She directs his attention to the healing of those cuts across his entire face. She had done a good job- better than she'd thought. His cheeks had several cuts on them still, and under his eye he had one as well. Most women will still consider bedding him even with these scars.

He smiles and replies, " Yes, considering I slipped and fell on those pieces of glass I'm lucky to have my face still."

Lying Kriffin Asshole.

Anakin! Her mind scolds him through their bond.

Rush turns his gaze to the committee and speaks, " I just want to applaud you for all of your hard work. I have not objected to any of your inquiries and I hope we can put this behind this." His eyes land on Padme's. " I would love to reconcile with my wife as well if she chooses to."

That son of a bitch is denying everything. I should have blasted-

Anakin stop it! I don't need to hear your thoughts of threatening my husband. Please we're not here for you to plan on killing him.

Padme' regally claims to the committee and her husband. " I hope the committee's outcome is justice. I still want a divorce. Our marriage cannot be saved."

His mouth becomes a grimace and he says in anguish. " Wife, I am saddened to hear this. I know the past year has been terrible on you. You pulled away from everyone and everything when our child- passed."

Fucking Bastard she never was your child.

She ignores the complaints coming through their force bond this time. Rush wasn't lying she had pulled away from everyone, and he couldn't understand why she had. He was the victim here as far as the committee can hear. She leans forward and states, " All is true but it didn't mean you had to beat me when I chose to grieve our child."

Hushes and murmurs crush the table. Rush sits down and frowns at her statement. Mon Monthma stands and says tiredly, " We are not here to debate the causes of the failure of your marriage. We are here to give a verdict of the case of whether or not charges should be decided against Senator Clovis on the attempted assassination of his wife."

She turns to the datapad in front of her and claims, " Furthermore, the committee has found no evidence to connect Senator Clovis to the assassination of his own wife. This case is hereby dismissed. Senator Clovis, we apologize for the inconvenience of your time and work."

Anger surges through her. She knows he tried to have her killed! How can they not see that? She eyes her husband and a smirk of victory appears on his features. He stands to his feet and suggests, " Thank you all for your time and effort. We have a few bills to discuss in the Senate meeting rooms. Padme', may I speak to you for a moment?"

Anakin's hold around her hand tightens. It's up to you. I suggest not by yourself- either I go with you or Bail.

Padme' plasters a polite smile on her face and suggests, " Of course if it is about my belongings."

Padme' steps to the side of her seat and waits until the crowd of committee members disperses from the room. Rush eyes Anakin and Bail and mutters, " Gentleman? May I speak to my wife in private?"

Anakin grimaces and mutters, " I don't think that is wise."

Padme' says as calm as she can muster. " Fine- but they are right outside the door."

" P-" Anakin begins, she mutters, " I'll be fine Ani. Just let me speak to my husband alone."

He huffs out a sigh. I'll be right outside, if you need anything.

I will call for you, I promise. It's best if you stay outside.

Bail and Anakin exit the room. Rush stands several feet from her. His hands run across the smooth leather of the chair in front of him. He eyes her, green on brown. He states, " I wanted to speak to you. I have had time to consider all that has happened and I have forgiven you for pushing me away."

She crosses her arms and her eyebrows raise. " You forgive me? For what?"

He points at his face. " For doing this to me. I know how angry you were that night."

She frowns and mutters, " I remember that night quite differently."

He sighs and tries to close the distance between them. He mumbles, " I miss you. I know you haven't been yourself since her death, but I want to fix our marriage. Will you consider coming home?"

Padme tilts her head and snaps out, " Until what? You beat me again? Or when you rape me again? I think not Rush. I want access to my personal belongings- just the items I bought from Naboo. Anything that was bought after we married, you can have or sell. I am going through this divorce."

Rush sighs and murmurs, " I thought you might be willing to fix things between us. I have always loved you."

It was a show. She knew it and so does he. She shakes her head and the words leave her mouth. " I never loved you. I had a tenderness for you at one time, but that went out the window after you took my choices away. You took a part of me and you have to live with that for the rest of your life as will I."

Rush sighs in feign sadness. " Who do you think will approve of our divorce? The Emperor? The courts will not approve of it. You do not have enough evidence for a divorce."

Padme' smiles sweetly, " If I have to go as far as to plead to the Emperor I will. I will be free of you one way or another."

Rush's eyebrows raise at her strength. She has grown strong without him. She is feisty. He leans forward and whispers in her ear, " You will never be free of me. Go ahead and threaten me. I always get what I want. You'll come crawling back."

Padme's laughter fills the room. " I will never come crawling back to you. I will have my way and you will not stop me."

She exits the meeting room, feeling that challenge of times ahead on the rise. Anakin and Bail eye her as she makes her exit. She consoles, I know we lost, but it's not over yet."

Anakin's anger grinds out, " He doesn't deserve to be scott free. He tried to kill you and then acted like a coward by having someone come after you. You won't be free until he's dead and gone."

Padme eyes her best friend and states flatly, " Anakin I am well aware. He will be caught one way or another. But I don't need you going around beating the crap out of him to prove a point or getting court martialed."

Anakin lets out a low growl. " I don't care about that- I just want to make sure you're safe."

She touches his arm and he pulls away. He turns and walks off in a huff. She sighs and eyes Bail. " Thank you for supporting me through all of this."

He nods solemnly. He questions, " What will you do now?"

She shrugs. " I don't know. I can go back to Naboo for a while. Perhaps find a job there."

" Or you can finish your internship within my office and supervision." Bail suggests, reminding her of his offer.

" Bail- I don't know if that's such a good idea with Rush's office being in the same building." She comments.

" But you will be safer in public. He won't try to make a scene at his workplace. I can also have guards stay with you at times you are alone and I think Anakin is determined to keep you safe as well." Bail comments.

He sticks out his hand and asks, " Do you accept my offer? The pay is good, and I can offer connections in the government once you complete your internship."

Padme' smiles at him and murmurs, " You are relentless."

He laughs, replying, " Yes, but you were and are an excellent candidate as an intern. I cannot say no."

Padme' nods and shakes his hand. She may be close to where her husband was but it worked with her plan. She has plans ahead- to take down her husband's reputation and make him pay for trying to kill her- twice. " I accept."

To Be Continued…