This chapter turned out a bit shorter than I originally planned for, but it kind of works with what I have coming in the next few chapters so... Until then.

Chapter 5

News of Queen Miraj's arrest had been made public early in the morning. An emergency meeting of the Senate had been called to debate the particulars of the political threat her arrest posed. The Jedi Council also called an emergency meeting in an effort to prepare for whatever backlash the results ruled. Ahsoka sprinted down the halls of the Jedi Temple when she found out, jumping over cleaning droids and spinning past astromech units as she hurried to the hanger. She wondered if Anakin knew what was going on. She wondered if Padme had gone to the meeting or if she'd stayed home with him. If she was home, than at least he was in good hands. But, her not being at the Senate would mean she can't give voice to the side wanting her in prison. But, if she had gone, then Anakin would be alone…

Ahsoka groaned in frustration as she hopped into the cockpit of the nearest speeder and took off at full speed to the senator's apartment. Thinking about it would do no good. Obi-Wan had said all she can do is be there for him. And she would be. She'd seen first hand how that woman had fawned over him, knew how uncomfortable it felt just to watch it. There was no way Anakin couldn't not be upset once he found out she might be going back to Zygerria. Parking the speeder on the roof, she took the lift down to the apartment. The main sitting room was empty when she entered but she could hear dishes coming from the kitchen. Bursting through the door, she saw Anakin and Padme eating breakfast. Padme wore a light robe over her nightgown while Anakin was clad in sleep pants and a loose tunic.

"Ahsoka?" Padme asked, "What is it?"

The togruta Jedi raised a brow, "You don't know?" The Senator's eyes widened as she shook her head, 'no'. And then it dawned on her. "You didn't tell him?"

"Ahsoka, don't." She warned.

"Tell me what?" Anakin asked. Padme turned back to him and folded her hands in her lap. "Tell me what?" He repated.

Padme sighed, "I was going to tell you once we knew what was going to happen," She started, picking her words carefully as she spoke. "Queen Miraj's arrest has been made pubic. The Senate is deciding whether or not her arrest is lawful."

He was silent for several minutes, his eyes dropping to his half finished breakfast, his fingers twisting the fork around, "Oh…" He said, "What… what does that mean?" His voice, which had started out at a normal speaking tone had dropped to almost a whisper.

Padme swallowed as she took another breath, "It means that she might be going back to Zygerria."

"Oh…" He said again, "That's… that's good."

"Good?" Ahsoka raised her voice, confused beyond reason at his reaction. "How is it good that that lady gets to go back? That she gets away with—"

"Ahsoka!" Padme said, in warning again, grabbing the girl's hands and pulling her close as she stood up, her seat screeching as it skits backwards.

"This doesn't bother you?" She asked, "It doesn't bother you that they enslaved him? That she raped him?"

A loud scrape and the clatter of silverware had everyone jolt as Anakin stood from the table, "I-I have to go," He said, as he hastily and almost clumsily moved from around the table and past them to leave the kitchen.

The young Jedi Padawan watched as her master left before turning back to Padme. Her face was scrunched in worry as she watched him leave before she turned back to her and let out a sigh as she stared at her with a mix of sympathy and frustration. Part of Ahsoka felt guilty for upsetting Anakin like she had. But she just couldn't understand. He has never been shy about his emotions— he felt things so deeply and uncontrollably at times that seeing him so detached felt wrong. He should be angry. He should want justice. But he didn't or, maybe he was afraid of it?

Ahsoka jumped as a hand squeezed her shoulder, pulling her from her own thoughts. "That wasn't the best way to handle this, Ahsoka," Padme said, directing her to take the seat Anakin had vacated. "He's… in a difficult place, as I'm sure you can imagine."

"I know," She said, crossing her arms as she leaned forward on the table, "I'm sorry, Padme. I let my emotions get the better of me—"

The Senator cast a kind smile, "It's alright. I understand. I want Anakin to be himself again. I want him to feel and to express those feelings as he should. But he isn't ready."

"But at this rate, by the time he is ready, Miraj will be halfway across the galaxy. We'll never get this chance again. Isn't there something we can do? Anything? If you had gone to that meeting—"

Padme sighed and shook her head, "If I had gone and given my voice, it is only once voice in a thousand."

"But if you had told them—"

"Anakin isn't ready," She said again, "As much as I want Miraj to rot in a Republic prison for the rest of her life, if getting that costs whatever is left of his strength and his trust, it isn't worth it."

Ahsoka slouched back in her seat as she spoke, "Obi-Wan said all we can do is be there for him," She started, "but how are we supposed to do that for him, if he doesn't want us around?"

The Senator dropped her gaze and for the first time since she had met her, she didn't see the strong and refined senator. She saw a woman trying so hard to keep everything together, trying to be strong even in the most impossible of times. "It isn't that he doesn't want us around. He just… he doesn't know how to be around us," Padme said. "Obi-Wan is right. Be there for him. But be patient with him. He might not say how he is feeling, but if you look at him carefully, you can see it." Her head turned around as if she could hear something the Jedi couldn't before she slowly rose from her seat and quietly excused herself.

If she stretched out her senses, she could feel Anakin in the Force. His emotions were all straining as if fighting to break through the surface. She could sense an essence of relief but it was fighting with anger and frustration which were directed inwardly at himself. Ahsoka felt for him. She wished there was something she could do to make everything better, to make it as if none of this happened so she could have her normal, outspoken master again… but that didn't seem like that was likely to happen any time soon if ever at all. With little more she could do here, she decided to return to the Temple and await the final verdict.

"We cannot hold a Queen without any formal charges!"

"Zygerria isn't even a part of the Republic! What right do we have to dictate how their economy is run?"

"Slavery is wrong, but we cannot interfere in the policies of systems outside our domain!"

"Let her go!"

"We can't start another war!"

"Let her go!"

The broadcast of the debate over the Queen's capture was still ongoing as he watched the debate. It wasn't much of a debate as many just wanted to get her out of Republic space. The uncertainty of how the Zygerrians were preparing to get their ruler back, had many worried it might lead to a second war that they could not afford. Some consideration was made for the reports submitted by the Jedi and some of the commanding officers who had seen the condition of the slaves, but the Republic does not have the power to prosecute worlds outside their control. Anakin's fists bunched in his pants as he sat and watched. It looked like the Queen would be going home and that was a good thing. She would be out of his hair forever. That's what he wanted. He wanted to be free from her influence. Free to put the whole thing behind him and move on… but no one else around him seemed to want the same thing. They wanted to see her tried and put in prison and their frustration with him was evident. Maybe he should say something… that way they wouldn't be upset with him. No. He couldn't do that… if they knew, they'd never look at him the same. They already saw him as something that needed to be fixed. If they knew, they would think he was irreparable.

"Ani?" He stayed rooted where he was watching the broadcast as Padme slowly entered the room and took the seat next to him. "Are you sure you want to watch this?" She asked.

"Why aren't you there?" He asked, "You never miss a vote."

Her hand came to rest on his back as she drew little circles, as if her mere touch would release whatever tension was in his shoulders.

"I've asked Jar Jar to vote on my behalf," She said. "I already told him which way I would vote."

Anakin swallowed as he watched as votes started to be cast. "They're going to send her back," He said.

"That's good," She said, forcing a smile.

"You're only saying that because I said that. You don't agree. No one agrees, apparently."

Padme shifted closer to his side, looping her arm through his and giving his bicep a supportive squeeze, "We just want what's best for you," She said.

Anakin scoffed, "What's best for me? Or what's best for you? Or the Republic?" He sighed as he pulled away from her and stood up before he started to pace the length of the room slowly. The broadcast in the background was reading out the results as they came through. Unsurprisingly, the majority favored letting the Queen go back to Zygerria.

His wife wasn't even watching the votes, her eyes were focused only on him, her worry for him clear in her eyes as she watched him as if he were a wild animal who could charge at any moment. "I want what's best for you," She said. "I know we've always put duty above everything, even us… but this time, I want what is best for you." Once more, she closed the distance between them, taking his arm in her hand and stroking it slowly as she stepped into his arms. "It's your choice if you want to pursue charges or not. I just don't want you to regret whatever choice you make." His lip trembled as he closed his eyes and felt her hand on his cheek, her warm fingers tracing his jaw slowly, "I love you, Anakin."

The final tally of the vote had the required majority to release the Queen. Immediately after the final vote was announced, the speaker started discussion about the formal apology to Zygerria and the Queen over her unlawful arrest. He felt Padme give his arm a tight squeeze as she pressed her head to his chest. Even without her saying anything, he knew the result was not what she wanted. On some level, she had meant what she said, but he knew it wasn't the whole truth. It was better this way. It was better for her not to know. Better for somethings to just be forgotten.