Chapter Seven: What To Do?

Ruwee Naberrie begins his stay in the Naberrie-Skywalker home, making the apartment tense. Meanwhile, the Senate prepares for a recess while Ahsoka continues to excel at her studies...

"You're an idiot."

"Amazing - should I ring the holos, tell him the Crown Prince of Alderaan insulted a Jedi?"

Bail rolled his eyes, well aware that the Jedi master was snorting into his tea that was probably laced with whiskey. It wasn't even 8am. "Amazing that no one has killed you with that mouth."

"Well they have tried." Obi-Wan grinned, setting his tea down. "My friendship appears to be magic and save me every time."

"Your friendship." Bail scoffed, glancing around the banquet hall and watching various senators and aides wander in. He leaned back in his seat. "Three more weeks and recess begins."

"Just in time for your anniversary right?"

Bail nodded, listening to Obi-Wan stand - the man was acting as a bodyguard for the meeting today - and glanced toward the doors when it opened and -

"That's Ruwee Naberrie."

"Hmm?" Obi-Wan spun on his heel, eyebrows raised when he spotted Ruwee Naberrie walking behind Senator Amidala. Weird, how over a month later the senator still looked horrible. She was pale, tired, not speaking as quickly, spending more time in the Nubian Embassy than the Senate floor.

But Ruwee Naberrie…

"Can he even be in here?" Obi-Wan asked, taking the cloak that had been draped over his chair and shrugging it on.

"Technically he's an advisor to the crown - a leftover from her reign as queen." Bail managed a smile when the pair approached them, standing and stretching out a hand. "Long time no see Ser."

"Your Highness - you look well...considering your circumstances. My apologies."

Padmé grimaced, stepping over to Obi-Wan and giving him a quick embrace before sitting. Just for a moment her face was twisted in pain before it smoothed.

The smile faltered from Bail's face, though he recovered quickly and removed his hand from the older man's. "Thank you - I'll give my wife your regards."

"Daddy," Padmé muttered, laying down her papers beside Bail's. Was it Obi-Wan's imagination, or was she wearing wrists braces beneath her sleeves? "Please."

"What?"

"Have you met Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Bail offered, glancing around the room and realizing the meeting would begin soon. Thank goddesses.

"I've met your padawan. He's certainly a character."

Obi-Wan nearly glanced at Padmé, but he could imagine the look on her face. "Well that's an understatement Ser - now if you excuse me, I'll take my post."

"I do believe she would benefit from a second lightsaber - she's good."

"She'll get cocky."

Snorting, Aayla reached over and ruffled his hair. He batted her hand away, though still looked amused. Settling her arms back on the banister, she continued to watch Ahsoka Tano and Caleb Dume train under the watchful eye of Mace Windu. Though Aayla and Anakin had come to the dojo with the intent to train before they went to dinner, watching this was far more amusing.

"She's around Obi-Wan and you often enough - she'll be cocky regardless."

Anakin shook his head, watching Mace halt the scrimmage below and help Caleb adjust his stance. He remembered being that young, being an obnoxious to Mace when the elder tried to correct his form. Oh, to go back and be a little less of a dick.

Mace muttered something, which was intelligible to their ears but made Caleb laugh.

"Think Mace will Caleb as a padawan?" Aayla asked, waving back at Ahsoka when she caught them watching.

"I don't know - from what I hear, Mace was pretty adamant that Depa was his last one." He gave her a sidelong glance. "Why? You want to train Caleb?"

"He's not a bad kid," Aayla muttered with a shrug. "Though I did want Ahsoka."

A hissing sound distracted them momentarily - Mace had ignited his lightsaber. It was him against Caleb and Ahsoka. The purple lightsaber gave his eyes a feral gleam, which matched his small grin while they circled him.

"Blame Obi-Wan for that one." Anakin winced while Caleb tried to charge Mace, only to be shoved to the floor by a Force push.

Ahsoka was slower, using the momentary distraction to attempt a disarmament. Mace sidestepped and blocked, causing the blades to screech together.

They watched the scrimmage, grimacing in sympathy when Mace knocked Caleb down - and Caleb stayed down, surrendering. They'd been there. They knew what it was like, the point in your training where Mace Windu made it known he could still kick your ass.

"What the -" Anakin leaned forward, watching his padawan slide into Soresu form. He frowned, knowing she aborred that form. It was -

Mace saw an opening, and smirked.

Ahsoka let him come, keeping herself open -

Then she rolled beneath him, coming to his side and pointing her lightsaber at his neck.

There was silence, save for the trio's heavy breathing.

The sound of metal crunching and made Anakin glance at his hands, realizing his bionic hand had been grasping the bar too tightly. He released it quickly, meeting Aayla's stunned gaze.

"Motherfucker," Mace muttered, staring at Ahsoka in shock.

Ahsoka grinned sheepishly and stepped back, disengaging her lightsaber. "Sorry - I got carried away and -"

"Skywalker!" Mace barked while he disengaged his lightsaber, glancing upwards at the viewing balcony. "Where the fuck did she learn humility?"

Anakin managed a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Good question - Obi-Wan?"

Mace snorted, glancing over to Caleb, who was standing gingerly. "You good kid?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Well you're home early," Ruwee murmured while he heard footsteps come from around the landing. He raised his eyebrows, not anticipating the glare his daughter - laying down on the couch, a bucket on the floor - was shooting at him in his peripheral vision.

Anakin Skywalker was shrugging out of his robe, looking undisturbed while he bent down and draped it over Padmé. "My padawan needed help with her homework - it's only 10pm."

"Padmé you're okay with that?"

"Daddy," Padmé muttered, rubbing at her brow. "Enough."

Anakin - now beside her - knelt and touched her forehead gently. "Need anything?"

"You're blocking the path to the bucket."

He chuckled, shifting and settling his back against the edge of the couch.

Ruwee tried to focus on the telenovela playing quietly - something about two lovers who couldn't be together, who knew, it was filled in Shili - but…

He kept glancing at Padmé, a little... something. He didn't know what. It was just... uncomfortable, watching Padmé - obviously in pain, in horrendous pain - quietly talk to her husband while smoothing his hair.

Two days. That's how long he had been in the apartment, watching this strange little world of domesticity and politics and disability. The Padmé that snorted and giggled, the Padmé that sometimes threw up after eating a grape, the Padmé that was picked up and swung around by her much taller husband.

Husband. Anakin fucking Skywalker. Anakin Lucas Skywalker, actually, who looked at her like she was the entire Galaxy - well, when he was even home. He kept odd hours, always commuting between the Temple, the Senate -

Padmé was a military wife, and her husband was a general in a galactic war.

"...and honestly, I - Ruwee?"

Ruwee blinked, forcing his gaze to his son-in-law. "What?"

He'd barely had a conversation with the younger man.

Anakin had taken out his gloves - oh, the bionic arm was creepy - lounging casually against the couch, one hand reaching upwards to grasp Padmé's on his shoulder. "Have you ever seen this show? It's amazing."

"It's horrible," Padmé mumbled sleepily. "Don't watch it."

"You told me you liked it!"

Padmé smirked, though she said nothing.

"I... don't mind it. It's a little dry in spots."

"Happens if something is on it's ninth season but -"

The sound of Padmé vomiting made the conversation screech to a halt. Ruwee realized - with horrible clarity - that he had never even taken care of his daughter when she was sick. It was always servants and Sola.

Anakin didn't seem to perturbed - concerned, but calm. He scraped back her hair, muttering something to her, rubbing her arm while she finished. "Bed?"

"No no I'm -"

"Padmé."

Padmé grimaced, looking close to tears before nodding. She carefully made to stand - and promptly buckled.

"Padmé!" Ruwee exclaimed, lurching out of his seat - and glancing over in surprise when Anakin had already grasped her wrist and was gently supporting her hip, looking somehow concerned and bored...how the hell was that even possible?

Padmé grimaced, pinching her nose and breathing deeply before straightening.

"Did you check your blood pressure?"

"Nearly beat my last record."

"Eat something salty," Anakin muttered, tracing her wrist.

Padmé wrinkled her nose, then rolled her eyes almost affectionately at the pointed look he gave her. "I'll have Dormé bring a sports drink - I'll probably vomit again if I eat anything."

Anakin chuckled, patting her back - well, her buttocks - watching her walk away and eventually be joined by Teckla upon rounding the corner. He leaned back in the couch, lowering the volume of the holo and -

"What the hell was that?" Ruwee demanded, watching in surprise while his son-in-law jumped.

"Padmé went to bed? I -"

He lurched to his feet, effectively towering over the man. "She nearly fainted! After vomiting!"

"...and?"

Ruwee stared at the younger man, not understanding how he could be so - so -

"Shouldn't she be at a hospital?"

"...for nearly fainting?"

"No for marrying you - yes for nearly fainting! Padmé is sick -"

"Thanks to your genes!" Anakin snapped, pushing away the remote and standing. He was nearly a head taller than Ruwee. "You didn't even tell her about autoimmune diseases that she carried -"

"Like anyone on Naboo is crippled - only scum like -"

"Like me?" Anakin whispered, his voice a growl. The air in the room was electric, tingling around them. He narrowed his eyes, fists clenching.

Ruwee looked him up and down, then scoffed. "Maybe - you were a slave."

"Excuse me for having a common disease." Anakin stepped forward, leaning down and almost getting in Ruwee's face...almost. "What does Padmé have again?"

"You poisoned her."

"You have her half your DNA." Anakin shook his head, and turned on his heel.

"What the hell will you do when you're back on the battlefield?" Ruwee demanded to his back. "Your little unit can't possibly survive a deployment - it's not possible. She needs -"

"You do realize she'll live to a normal age?" Anakin spun back around, looking at his father-in-law from across the room. The lights were dim, though the lights from Coruscant were drifting through, masking Ruwee's face. "It's not a death sentence -"

"Isn't it?" Ruwee shouted, looking close to tears. "I've researched it - it's progressive and...and - she would have been better dead."

Anakin opened his mouth, then closed it and walked out of the living room. He went in a daze, feeling terribly sick. The door to his bedroom opened, and stepped through it mechanically.

"That bad?" Padmé muttered from the bed while he shrugged his clothes off.

"Don't wanna talk about it." Anakin - now only in sleep pants - crawled into bed and leaned over to kiss her. She rolled onto her back before he could, a glint in her eyes. Raising his eyebrows, he gave a hesitant grin. "Now? You're feeling -"

Padmé reached upwards, tugging his lips to hers. She gave a hum, dragging her fingernails down his neck and sighing when he settled over her. " 'm feeling better."

Anakin moved her to her neck, balancing on the flat of his arms, feeling her legs move against his. It'd been weeks since they'd had sex - too much newness, too much fear.

But while he made his way down, listening to her moan - he realized the desire probably stemmed from her annoyance with her father.

Fine. Whatever. He nosed against her covered breasts, grinning at her gasp.

"Ani - Ani."

Author's note: well hello there :)

I do love this story so much. It's allows me to write out how exactly how people - yes, even family - view us disabled folk. Some do it in disgust, some in morbid curiosity, and some don't even know what to think.

People also turn us into unsexualized people and *sniff* that's annoying

Okay, rant over

Enjoy!

ii Digestive Reader ii

(Oh and before anyone asks - salt helps stabalize low or fluctuating blood pressure. I should know - two of my conditions are blood pressure related :D)