Originally written for Draco's Den, Quest for the Ring to Rule Them All, Prompted Pairing: Padme Amidala & Rabastan Lestrange, spell: Riddikulus. Enjoy. xo

Warnings: Pregnancy, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, previous Padme/Anakin

Disclaimer: All canon characters, plots, and situations from the Harry Potter series belong to JK Rowling. I am not profiting from this writing. All canon characters, plots and situations from the Star Wars Universe belong to the Walt Disney Company.

A Late Night Terror

"Are you sure you don't need anything else?" Rabastan asked from the doorway of her bedroom.

"No, Rabastan, I'll be fine," Padme assured him. "And if I need you, I'll call."

"Okay," Rabastan said, glancing around the room quickly. "Goodnight then, Miss Amidala."

"Goodnight, Rabastan," Padme said, watching him exit the room. With a sigh, she sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hand rested on her large baby bump, rubbing it in a soothing motion. As she had gotten further along in her pregnancy, Anakin had become increasingly paranoid about her death. He was convinced that she was going to die in childbirth or that something would happen to her, so he had found a magic wielder to act as her personal guard.

Slipping into bed, she closed her eyes. It had been a long day, and she had a feeling that tomorrow would only bring more chaos. She wondered what Anakin had been doing, and she hoped that he was safe. Despite the fact that they weren't really a couple anymore, they were still friends, and she wanted him to be a part of their baby's life.

Her thoughts went to Rabastan briefly, and she smiled. While he had started out as her guard, the two of them had been dancing around each other for some time. Padme found him to be charming and caring, and she enjoyed his sense of humour. As time passed, she found herself wanting him more and more.

Just another complication right now, she thought to herself before drifting off to sleep.

Groggily, Padme stirred. Blinking her eyes, she got the feeling that someone or something was watching her. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around the room.

She gasped when she saw a figure appear in the shadows of the corner. "Anakin?" she asked softly, recognizing him. "What are you doing in the corner like that? Come over here." She hadn't realized that he was going to pay her a visit, but she was happy to see him.

He moved forward into the light, and that's when she noticed something with Anakin wasn't right. His eyes were red, and there was an aura of darkness surrounding him. He looked like her Anakin, but he wasn't. "Annie?" she whispered, looking at him warily. "What's going on?"

"We have to get rid of that… thing," he said, his voice low.

Chills ran down her spine. "What?"

Pulling out his lightsaber, he took another step closer. "If we kill the baby, it won't kill you," Anakin explained matter-of-factly.

"What? Anakin, what are you talking about?" Padme said. "Put that away," she said, gesturing to his lightsaber. "You're scaring me."

"I won't lose you, Padme; you're mine." He took a few steps towards her, and Padme let out a scream of panic and confusion.

The bedroom door swung open, and Rabastan came running in with his wand raised. "Anakin?" he asked, lowering his wand slightly.

Anakin turned towards Rabastan and sneered. There was a blur of darkness, and suddenly, Anakin was gone, and another strange man was in his place. She didn't know who it was, but Rabastan clearly did as he was struck with a terrified expression.

"Rabastan!" she shouted, trying to startle him out of his shock.

Rabastan startled, shaking his head before he lifted his wand once more. "Riddikkulus!" he shouted, and a blast of light went towards the man.

The man stumbled backwards before suddenly looking at them both, a clown nose on his face. He looked absurd, and while Padme wasn't sure what was going on, but Rabastan had relaxed, so she assumed that the threat was over. Flicking his wand again, Rabastan caused the man to disappear into a vase in the corner of her room. He then banished the vase with another flick of his wand.

"What was that?" Padme asked, trying to catch her breath. "I… I don't understand."

"A boggart," Rabastan explained. "It's a shape-shifting non-being that takes on the form of its observer's worst fear."

Padme swallowed the lump in her throat. That meant that her worst fear was Anakin killing her child… Or turning dark? She shook her head, trying to make sense of it.

"And you've seen this type of creature before?" she inquired.

"Common in my world," he said. "Hence I knew the spell that would cause it to leave. The spell causes the creature to turn into something I would find humorous, so it loses its power since it feeds off terror."

"It was so real," she said, still shaking from the encounter. "It felt like Anakin was really here. Sounded like him too."

Rabastan nodded sympathetically. "They can cause quite the trouble because of just how real they can be."

"How awful," Padme murmured. "I… And it shows everyone something different?"

"Yes, but enough questions," Rabastan said, giving her a look. "It's late, Padme, and you should be sleeping."

"But—" She pursed her lips, having more questions that she wanted to ask about the creature.

"No buts," Rabastan said gently. "Why don't you get some more rest? Too much excitement or stress like this isn't good for the baby," he reminded her.

Padme winced as she made herself comfortable on her bed. "It was just so real," she murmured.

"I know, they're terrible creatures, honestly," Rabastan assured her.

"Who was that… man we saw? When it turned to you?" Padme inquired. The very sight of him had chilled her to the bone, and she could tell that Rabastan was a little shaken up by it.

"Someone dangerous," Rabastan answered. "He's long dead, however. Only his memory lives on to torture me."

"Rabastan," Padme said, frowning, hating the tone that he was currently using. He sounded… sad, pained even.

"Get some rest, Padme," he said, giving her a kind glance.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked softly, looking at Rabastan.

He looked pained at her response. "Padme, I thought we agreed that we wouldn't do this."

Padme looked at him. "Please? I don't want to be alone right now."

Rabastan sighed but closed the door and crossed the room. Slipping off his shoes, he got into the bed next to her.

"Thank you, Rabastan," she whispered, reaching out and taking his hand. She gave it a light squeeze.

Padme closed her eyes and tried to focus on the steady sound of her breathing. Her body was still tense from the encounter with that creature, but she knew she needed to rest. However, try as she might, she just couldn't fall asleep.

But her mind just wouldn't stop. Thoughts continuously ran through her head, each one leaving her more and more uncomfortable. Why did Anakin appear that way to her? Was it because she feared she was losing him? That he was turning into someone dark and unreasonable? His mood swings had been terrible lately, but she had just assumed it was the pressure between the Jedi council, the Chancellor, and her pregnancy. He was pulling away, and his fear of her death was consuming him, but it left her feeling cold and alone. Their relationship was over, it was clear to her, but Anakin was just living a world of delusion. She still worried about him.

Closing her eyes, Padme tried to hold back the tears. Rabastan, as if sensing her mood, pulled her close so her head could rest on his chest. Taking a deep breath, Padme allowed herself to sleep.