Obi-Wan had told him that it would possibly take a couple days before he had any information that he could relay to him.

That was fine for Anakin. He wasn't expecting a resolution today or even tomorrow. It was unrealistic to expect otherwise, and he knew it.

So he'd landed his Starfighter as quietly as he could back on the balcony of his apartment. He hopped out of the cockpit as soon as the canopy's hatch opened, walking briskly back into the commons room.

Glancing around, everything looked as he had left it. The security team and the handmaidens were none the wiser. He ran a hand through his hair, looking for a view screen he could watch. Since there was nothing else he could do at the moment, perhaps he could find out how different things were here.

He'd gotten as far as turning the vidscreen on, before he was startled by another voice in the room.

Padme was leaning on the doorway to the commons room with a shoulder. She held back a laugh, instead only smiling.

"I didn't mean to scare you," she said, although her tone came off as more mischievous than sincere.

Anakin cleared his throat, almost put off by how she seemed to teleport into the apartment without his noticing.

"Its okay, you just caught me off guard," Anakin quickly replied, finding himself staring at Padme as she approached and sat beside him. Now that he got a good look at her uniform, there were slight differences from his own Jedi tunic.

Briefly, Anakin wondered if he always caught Padme off guard during his random visits. Not being able to sense her approach at all was jarring, and he considered not showing up without warning when he returned to his own reality.

"Checking out the news or something?" Padme had gotten comfortable, resting her calves on Anakin's lap.

He found himself smiling in amusement at her.

"Yeah," he answered. "Just wanted to get an idea of what was going on today."

That was an understatement. All he knew was that history was vaguely similar to his own. And that he and Padme seemed to have switched places in almost every aspect that mattered.

His now Jedi wife made a non descript sound of acknowledgement, somewhere in between a hum and a grunt. "Good news is the war is almost over," she supplied. "Several key systems are already free from the Separatists."

Padme gave him a look as Anakin's eyes seemed to glaze over. She kicked him lightly in the stomach. "You're not even listening," she accused, humor clear in her voice.

"I am," Anakin disagreed lamely.

"Still amazes me how you're a politician that hates talking politics."

That caught his attention in particular. "Maybe I should be a Jedi," he answered cryptically with a hint of humor. She seemed to laugh at the idea.

"You'd be the most reckless Jedi in existence."

Anakin, almost unbidden, joined in the laughter. Belatedly, he realized he'd been unconsciously running his thumb in small circles on her leg.

He stopped as immediately as he'd noticed.

Even though it was Padme, something in the back of his mind told him it wasn't his Padme. Perhaps the thought was ridiculous, but he felt as if he might be being unfaithful. Anakin silently sighed, and his wife seemed to pick up on his changed mood.

"Ani, what's wrong?" She asked, lifting her legs from his lap and scooting closer to him. Anakin again noticed her single gloved hand. He held it in his own hand. The one that should have been mechanical.

"You shouldn't have been hurt this much," Anakin muttered. This wasn't his Padme, he reminded himself.

But it was still Padme. And she'd suffered the same injuries he had.

"It comes with being a Jedi, Ani," Padme smiled, as if it were minor inconveniences. She squeezed Anakin's arm affectionately. "It happens."

Anakin knew Padme was lying. He knew because that was something he'd say. For just a moment, he observed the vertical scar on Padme's right brow. Those injuries weren't just minor inconveniences. Thoughts of Dooku and Ventress flitted through his mind.

Padme was trying to ease his mind, the non force-sensitive Senator Skywalker. Padme didn't know that he understood more than she even realized. Instead of mentioning any of this, he only lightly caressed the area where her arm met machine. "Are you sure you're okay?" He settled on asking.

Padme pulled away with a sigh. "It's fine. I'm fine," she replied shortly. It was clear she wanted to change the subject. Her eyes seemed to soften almost immediately before she looked at him curiously.

"You're usually not back from the Senate so early. You finally took some time off?"

Anakin cursed inwardly. He hoped he wasn't already seeming out of character compared to however his counterpart tended to act. "Took a week off. Figured I could free myself up for a bit," he replied, half-honest. Padme blinked slowly in surprise.

He definitely wouldn't mind spending whatever time he could with Padme, but his intent was to find out whatever he could while Obi-Wan did his research.

He wished he could tell this Padme sitting next to him. But he wasn't sure how to even go about explaining any of this to her. Compared to his counterpart, he might as well have been a different person. He would keep the information to himself for now.

"What brought on the sudden urge to vacation?" Padme asked. She stood up, heading to the kitchen area, where shortly after, he heard the telltale sound of tea being made.

"Ani?" Padme's voice carried from the kitchen.

"Uh," Anakin stuttered, realizing he hadn't answered her question. He leaned back on the furniture, resting his right arm over the back. "I needed some space from all the politicians and debates. Clear my head, you know?"

Padme returned with two cups of tea, handing one of them to him. He thanked her, taking a sip. For just a moment, he paused.

It tasted as flavorful as he remembered.

"Good as always," Anakin complimented, hoping his nervousness wasn't easily sensed through the Force.

"You're nervous," She seemed to observe as soon as he'd had the thought.

Anakin remained silent for a moment, as a thought hit him. Was she..?

He wanted to approach the topic tactfully. He wasn't sure if it was the same here. But everything else seemed to parallel his own reality.

"How has your health been? Everything been okay at the Temple?" Anakin asked, looking pointedly at her stomach. She seemed to catch the hint and confirmed his suspicions.

"No one suspects yet," she answered, resting a hand on her stomach. "But what would we do when it becomes too obvious?"

"You could be expelled from the order..." Anakin said, knowing what would happen back home.

Maybe it was because he knew he was out of place here, but he found it easy to suggest that perhaps Obi-Wan could help. He wasn't expecting her to dismiss the notion as if it were an unthinkable plan.

We don't need his help," She shot his suggestion down, her tone almost sounding as if she couldn't trust Obi-Wan with the revelation. "We'll figure something out."

Anakin nodded, though he didn't fully agree. Honestly, he wouldn't tell Obi-Wan, the one he knew as a comrade, either. He was expected to be a Jedi. And Jedi weren't married with a child on the way.

But something didn't sit well with him about Padme shooting the suggestion down so readily. He groaned inwardly. He was such a hypocrite.

Padme stood back up again, this time putting on her Jedi robes.

"You're heading out?" Anakin asked, masking his disappointment. Padme paused before continuing what she was doing. "Our conversation just made me think of something, is all. I'll be back shortly," she assured.

"I'm going to speak with Master Yoda and the Chancellor," she elaborated, already heading towards the patio. She'd missed the dark look that passed through Anakin's face at the mention of Palpatine.

"Of course," Anakin replied neutrally, his face unreadable.

...

Padme made a beeline for her Naboo Cruiser, slowing down once she was in walking distance. The ramp lowered with a hiss, as excess steam expelled from the pipes. As she boarded the ramp, she thought about Anakin's recent behavior.

R2D2 had turned a corner from within the corridors of her ship. Padme patted its dome affectionately as she passed by, heading for the cockpit.

"Artoo, I want you to stay behind," she instructed, starting up her cruiser. Questioning beeps quickly responded before the ship had the chance to drown it out with its engines.

Padme apparently could understand the droid; she hadn't bothered to look at the data screen next to the steering wheel.

"I know, Artoo," she paused, eyeing the astromech droid. "He's seemed pretty out of it recently. I want you to keep an eye on him for me, okay?"

Artoo made a sound resembling a raspberry. Padme rolled her eyes, but the droid acquiesced to her request. Once Artoo vacated the ship, the boarding ramp raised closed and she steered it in the direction of the city proper.

...

Palpatine studied his data pad with mute interest. His elbows rested on his office desk as he looked over the list twice and then a third time for good measure.

"Odd," he muttered to himself, one name in particular standing out to him the most.

"Senator Skywalker has never before expressed interest in dialoguing with me," he voiced, leaning back in his large swivel chair.

Skywalker. Brash, passionate, sometimes a short temper. If the Force had gifted that Senator with more midichlorians, he would have eventually made a fine Sith Apprentice. But that was neither here nor there.

Anakin never approved of how much trust Padme placed in the good Chancellor. Palpatine was like a father figure to her.

It was a shame that her mother never got to see her grow into the powerful Jedi she had become...

Earlier today, Senator Skywalker requested an audience with him, having talked to his secretary. He remembered the last time he and Anakin had spoken face to face. He'd made it quite clear that he didn't trust him and he didn't want Jedi Amidala associated with him. He could hardly blame him; after all, if Skywalker were to know his endgame, he wouldn't trust himself either.

Still, it was strange that the good Outer Rim Senator suddenly requested to speak with him. He would have to keep a closer eye on him than before...

His meditations were cut short by his intercom.

His secretary's pleasant voice sounded through it, announcing that Jedi Knight Amidala was in the lobby.

Palpatine smiled, amused at the timing.

"Allow her in, please," he replied neutrally. Palpatine schooled his expression, steepling his hands together.

Padme walked in briskly, taking a deep breath as if she had been jogging. She bowed her head respectfully.

"Chancellor," she greeted amicably.

"No need for pleasantries," Palpatine replied warmly, gesturing for her to take a seat in across from him. She complied.

"Now, what brings you here suddenly?" He inquired. Even though she'd rushed in so quickly, she suddenly seemed shy.

"It's about A..." She seemed about to reveal a name before thinking better of it. "The dreams still persist," Padme answered, her voice some strange mix of quiet and calm anger.

Ah, yes, Palpatine thought. The visions. The same visions that warned of her mother's death before it eventually came to pass.

Palpatine secretly envied the young Knight's powerful precognition. The Jedi dismissed her ability as simple visions. The fools.

"Are they," Palpatine paused, as if thinking. "About your mother?"

Padme shook her head, biting her lip. She seemed hesitant to reveal who she was referring to.

Palpatine eyed her carefully.

"Is it about your husband, Anakin?" he asked softly. Padme's eyes shot upwards to him. There was suspicion there, but it was overshadowed by her shock.

"How did you-"

Palpatine still smiled warmly. "I didn't," he lied. "But I do now," he said. Padme relaxed, believing her reaction was what betrayed her. She sighed, almost as if she was relieved to finally confide in someone.

"I have these dreams...of Anakin. He dies...sometime soon."

"Did you go to the Jedi?" Palpatine asked. "Surely they can help with this kind of problem?"

"They told me to let go of what I feared to lose." She replied almost scathingly.

Palpatine smiled inwardly. She already has list most of her trust in the Jedi Council. He decided that he'd said enough today. It was time for him to move on to the next step.

"Padme, perhaps I can help you," the Chancellor suggested, almost looking hesitant to expound any further.

Padme watched him questioningly.

"But, let us wait until tomorrow. I'm sure you have much on your mind right now. You should go be with your husband."

Padme made to stand up before hesitating. "Should I meet you here tomorrow?"

Palpatine hummed in thought. "One of my favorite shows will be playing tomorrow...How about at the Opera House tomorrow evening?"