Disclaimer: see chapter one

Hey guys, sorry that it took so long, but I was sick for some time and my Beta hasn't send me the chapter back. So, you know. Besides, she had a bit of an accident, so don't sue me. Anyway, yet another chapter and I hope you like it.

Thanks JediKnight!!!

Have fun.

Chapter 6: Suspicious and family

The hold was crowded with emigrants and their belongings, on one side Artoo was coming to the head of a food line holding two bowls, in one of his little claw arms, he grabbed a chunk of something that looked like bread. Artoo slipped a tube into a tub of mush and sucked up a large quantity. A server, who was a droid himself, saw him.

"Hey! No droids!"

Artoo took one last suck and headed away from the food line. Then what are you? A pile of junk? thought Artoo. The little droid moved past other groups of people eating or sleeping and came to Anakin and Padmé's table where the young Padawan was sound asleep, the young Jedi seemed to be having a nightmare, He was very restless.

"No, no, Mom, no…" He muttered in his sleep. He was sweating, Padmé took pity on him, she leaned over, resting her hand on his arm. He woke up with a start, and then realized where he was. Padmé simply looked at him. He stared back, somewhat confused.

"What?"

"You seemed to be having a nightmare." She told him, concerned. Anakin looked at her a little more closely, trying to see if he had revealed any of his secrets. She handed him a bowl of mush and bread, Inside he was a bit ashamed.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yeah."

Padmé took the food from Artoo and set it on the make-shift table. Anakin rose and took a seat as she placed a bowl in front of him.

"Thanks."

"We went to light speed a while ago." She explained to him. He looked into her eyes.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Naboo again, I've thought about it every day since I left. It's by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen." He said while eating. Padmé was a little unnerved by his intense stare.

"It may not be as you remember it. Time changes a persons perception."

"Sometimes it does… Sometimes it's for the better." Anakin said.

"It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi… not being able to visit the places you like… or do the things you like…" She said. She knew this already from Hadrian, but she wanted to hear it from another Jedi as well, to confirm it.

"Or be with the people I love." Anakin said suddenly. Padmé looked up by hearing this. Her heart speeded. She came to a realization that maybe Anakin loved her. She felt it. That's why he kept staring at her. Padmé concealed her feelings and went on with questioning him.

"Are you allowed to love? I thought it was forbidden for a Jedi." She knew that Hadrian was taking a great risk, just being with her. He could be expelled from the Order. But Hadrian was very careful. But what if? What if Anakin find out about us and tells the Council about Hadrian's disloyalty to the Order?

"Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life, so you might say we're encouraged to love." Anakin explained. Padmé smiled. This wasn't the boy anymore she knew ten years ago.

"You have changed so much." She said out loud.

"You haven't changed a bit. You're exactly the way I remember you in my dreams. I doubt if Naboo has changed much either."

Padmé blushed. "It hasn't…" There was an awkward moment. Padmé didn't like it very much. So, she continued, changing the subject. "You were dreaming about your mother earlier, weren't you?"

Anakin looked worried. He didn't like that people pried into his sleep. But he could hardly blame her for it. She just heard it. "Yes… I left Tatooine so long ago; my memory of her is fading. I don't want to lose it; recently I've been seeing her in my dreams… vivid dreams… scary dreams. I worry about her." Anakin's eyes glassed over by unshed tears. Padmé gave him a sympathetic look.

Obi-Wan and Hadrian walked through the main hallway to the training area of the Temple. They came out onto the veranda and stopped, watching twenty or so four-year olds doing training exercises, supervised by Yoda. They wore helmets over their eyes and tried to strike the little training droids with their miniature lightsabers. The droids danced in front of them. Hadrian looked amused, seeing little children training to become a Jedi. He was only glad he didn't need to do these workouts. He heard his Master talking to them, giving advise.

"Don't think… feel. Be one with the Force. Help you, it will." He saw his Padawan and Obi-Wan standing near the door. "Younglings – enough! Visitors we have. Welcome them." The children turned off their lightsaber and they looked up.

"Welcome, Master Obi-Wan and Hadrian."

The Jedi in question smiled at them. Then Obi-Wan turned to the petit Master. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Master."

"What help to you, can I be?"

Obi-Wan stepped forward, followed by Hadrian. "We're looking for a planet described to me by an old friend. I trust him. But the system doesn't show up on the archive maps." He explained.

"Lost a planet, my Padawan and Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing… How embarrassing. Liam, the shades." A boy turned around and used the Force to lower the shades. The room went slowly dark. "An interesting puzzle. Gather, younglings, around the map reader. Clear your mind and find their wayward planet, we will."

The reader was a small shaft with a hollow opening at the top. The children gather around it. Obi-Wan took out a little glass ball and placed it into the bowl. The window shades close completely, the reader lighted up and projected the star map hologram into the room. The children laughed. Some of them reached up to try and touch the nebulae and stars. Obi-Wan and Hadrian walked into the display.

Hadrian showed he place on the hologram. "This is where it ought to be… but isn't."

"But gravity is pulling all the stars in this area inward to this spot." Obi-Wan explained. "There should be a star here… but there isn't."

Yoda looked up in thoughts. "Most interesting. Gravity's silhouette remains, but the star and all its planets have disappeared. How can this be? Now, younglings, in your mind, what is the first thing you see?" The green alien looked around. "An answer? A thought? Anyone?"

There was a brief pause. Then a child put his hand up. Yoda nodded. "Master? Because someone erased it from the archive memory."

Then all the children cheered. "That's right! Yes! That's what happened! Someone erased it!"

An other child spoke up. "If the planet blew up, the gravity would go away."

Obi-Wan stared, Hadrian and Yoda chuckled in delight. Yoda looked up at the Jedi Master.

"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. The Padawan is right. Go to the center of the Gravity's pull, and find you planet you will."

"I told you so." Hadrian replied.

"And right you are, Hadrian, but I wasn't sure." Obi-Wan answered back. Yoda, Obi-Wan and Hadrian moved away from the children. With a hand movement, Obi-Wan caused the star map to disappear. He used the Force to call the glass ball back to his hand as the trio walked into an adjourning room.

"Master Yoda, who could have erased information from the archives? That's impossible, isn't it?"

Yoda frowned. "Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is. Only a Jedi could have erased those files." Yoda looked at his Padawan. "Know you do?" Obi-Wan glanced at his friend in bewilderment. Hadrian slowly nodded. They waited for an answer.

"It's… Dooku."

Obi-Wan looked stunned. "Impossible. He's"

Hadrian cut him off. "It is him, Obi-Wan! He joined the Separatists and erased something from the archive that we aren't suppose to find. The answer lies on Kamino. Just… start to accept it."

"Maybe you are right, but I can't accept this so easily." The Jedi remarked. Hadrian fumed and crossed his arms. Yoda looked pensive.

"Who and why, harder to answer. Meditate on this, I will. May the Force be with you." He replied. The two Jedi bowed and left the hall.

The Starfreighter landed in the giant port city of Theed. Padmé, Anakin and Artoo were among the emigrants streaming from the Starfreighter and into the vast docking area. They exited onto the main plaza.

The speeder bus pulled up and stopped near the Naboo Palace. The trio got out. The great courtyard stretched before them, and they saw the rose-colored domes of the palace on the far side. Artoo whistled. They picked up their gear and started to cross the courtyard. Artoo trundled behind them.

"If I grew up here, I don't think I'd ever leave." Anakin said while looking around.

Padmé laughed. "I doubt that."

Anakin looked at her. "No, really. When I started my training, I was very homesick and very lonely. This city and my Mom were the only pleasant things I had to think about... The problem was, the more I thought about my Mom, the worse I felt. But I would feel better if I thought about the palace - the way it shimmers in the sunlight - the way the air always smells
of flowers..."

Padmé took over. "…and the soft sound of the distant waterfalls. The first time I saw the Capital, I was very young... I'd never seen a waterfall before. I thought they were so
beautiful... I never dreamed one day I'd live in the palace." She looked onward, thinking back on those days.

"Well, tell me, did you dream of power and politics when you were little girl?" He asked.

Padmé looked at him and laughed. "No!" She said. "That was the last thing I thought of, but the more history I studied, the more I realized how much good politicians could do. After school, I became a Senatorial advisor with such a passion that, before I knew it, I was elected Queen. For the most part it was because of my conviction that reform was possible. I wasn't the youngest Queen ever elected, but now that I think back on it, I'm not sure I was old enough. I'm not sure I was ready."

"The people you served thought you did a good job. I heard they tried to amend the Constitution so you could stay in office." Anakin said.

She looked a bit down while answering. "Popular rule is not democracy, Ani. It gives the
people what they want, not what they need, and truthfully, I was relieved when my two terms were up. So were my parents. They worried about me during the blockade and couldn't wait for it all to be over. Actually, I was hoping to have a family by now..." She thought about her son. But she was careful not to do a slip up. "So when the Queen asked me to serve as Senator, I couldn't refuse her." And she was happy about her position.

"I agree! I think the Republic needs you... I'm glad you chose to serve. I feel things are going to happen in our generation that will change the galaxy in profound ways."

Padmé smiled, He didn't suspect anything. "I think so too." The reason why she took this position was to remain neutral about her maternal situation. A very small group of people knew about her and Hadrian, But that was it. They walked toward the palace. Artoo continued to follow after them.

After a very important session with queen Jamillia and a tense conversation about security measurements with Anakin, Padmé was finally going home. It was afternoon and the sun was warm against her skin. People were passing through the little street, old men were sunning themselves, women were gossiping and children were playing. Anakin who was dressed in his Jedi cloak followed Padmé onto a side street. Artoo rolled after them in his cheering mood. Padmé wore a beautiful simple dress. She stopped, beaming. She hasn't seen her home in a long time. She has the right to be happy.

"There's my house!" She told Anakin. Padmé started forward; Anakin lingered back.

She turned around. "What? Don't say you're shy!" She smiled. He had the same reaction when Hadrian first came to her home. He blushed more then her little girl and she kept teasing him about it.

Anakin was a bit untruthfully. "No, but I…" Suddenly there were shouts from two little girls. They were running toward Padmé who held her arms open for them to join.

"Ryoo!! Pooja!!" she beamed. Padmé scooped them up and hugged them. Then she turned to them with a smile on her face. "Go wake up Artoo."

"Artoo!!!" They shouted in unison, as they saw the droid, they hugged him. Artoo whistled and beeped. Padmé laughed. Then the duo went into the house. The girls stayed and played with the droid.

Padmé introduced Anakin to her family. They accepted him into their family with ease. But he hadn't seen them all. In the next room, Sola, Padmé's older sister came in from the kitchen carrying a big bowl of food. She said something over her shoulder toward the kitchen.

"They're eating over at Jev Narran's later, Mom. They just had a snack. They'll be fine." Sola put the bowl down on the table, where Anakin, Padmé and Ruwee, her father, were coming into the room. Sola was delighted.

"Padmé!!" She ran toward her, hugging. "You're late. Mom was worried."

"We walked. Anakin, this is my sister, Sola." She told to her friend.

"Hello, Anakin."

"Hello." He replied politely. Sola sat, as an elderly woman came in with a bowl of steaming food.

"… and this is my mother." Padmé said.

"You're just in time for dinner." She said. "I hope you're hungry, Anakin."

Anakin smiled. "A little."

Padmé shook her head. "He's being polite, Mom. We're starving."

Ruwee grinned. "You came to the right place at the right time." Everyone sat down and started passing food. Jobal looked at Padmé.

"Honey, it's so good to see you safe. We were so worried." Padmé gave her a dirty look. Her father smiled as he watched.

"Dear…"

Jobal looked at her husband. "I know, I know… but I had to say it. Now it's done." She looked relieved. Padmé smiled at her mother, understanding that she needed to do it.

Sola looked mischievous at Padmé. She saw this and gritted her teeth. Her sister smiled. "Well, this is exciting! Do you know, Anakin, you're the second boyfriend my dear sister ever brought home?" Padmé could kick her on the shins under the table. Padmé rolled her eyes.

"Sola!" She shouted. "He isn't my boyfriend! He's a Jedi assigned by the Senate to protect me."

Her mother looked up in shock. "A bodyguard?! Oh, Padmé! They didn't tell us it was that serious!"

Padmé glanced at her mother. "It's not, Mom, I promise. Anyway, Anakin's a friend. I've known him for years. Remember that little boy who was with the Jedi during the blockade crisis?" They nodded.

"The little one besides Hadrian?" Sola asked. Padmé nodded.

"He grew up."

Anakin grinned. Her mother smiled, but it faded away. "Honey, when are you going to settle down? Haven't you had enough of that life. I certainly have! And you have to think about your… euh nephew Nathaniel." Padmé almost panicked. But Anakin was oblivious to it.

"Mom, I'm not in any danger. And I will talk with Nate soon as possible. Where is the little devil anyway?" She asked.

"He's staying over with some friends." Her mother replied. "He really misses you."

Ruwee turned to Anakin. "Is she in any danger?"

"… Yes… I'm afraid she is."

Padmé added quickly. "But not much."

After dinner, Ruwee invited Anakin for a walk in the garden. Anakin took the invitation with a smile. Padmé helped her mother and sister cleaning the table. They saw the Jedi through the window speaking with her father. She sighed.

"Why haven't you told us about him?" Sola asked. Padmé looked up.

"What's there to talk about? He's just a boy. Besides I was to busy with Hadrian."

"A boy?" Sola came closer. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

Padmé nodded. "I know. But what can I do? Nobody knows about my marriage with Hadrian."

Sola nodded. "It's obvious he has feeling for you. Sooner or later you have to tell the boy about your situation before it's getting out of hand."

"Sola, please! I know. I'm working on it. Hadrian said just the same thing. Besides, Anakin and I are just friends… our relationship is strictly professional." She turned to her mother. "How's my son doing anyway?"

"The little demon is eating the hair off my head. He is just like his father." Jobal said smiling. "But we are very concerned about you, Padmé. You've done your service, Honey. It's time you had a life of your own. You're missing so much."

Padmé looked impassive. "I know…But what I'm doing is important."

"Being there for your son is important too, Padmé. I understand that Hadrian can't do this without being kicked out of the Order, but you can. Please… think about it." Her mother said. After helping around in the kitchen, Padmé went to her room. She took a suitcase and placed it on the bed, and threw some things into it. Anakin lingered in the door way after having completed his walk with her father.

"Don't worry, this won't take long."

"I just want to get there before dark." Anakin told her. Padmé went on packing. The young Jedi looked around the room.

"You still live at home." He asked. Padmé looked up from her packing. What should she say? Mostly she lived on the Lake country with her son because it was bigger there, and when Hadrian came to visit, they had plenty of room.

"I move around so much, I've never had a place of my own." It was true. Being a Senator makes you travel a lot. "Official residences have no warmth. I feel at home here."

Anakin looked somber. "I never had a real home. Home was always where my Mom was." He picked up a framed hologram. "Is this you?"

The hologram showed Padmé at age seven or eight surrounded by forty or fifty little green creatures. She was holding one in her arms. They were all smiling hugely. She nodded.

"That was when I went with the relief group to Shadda-Bi-Boran. Their sun was imploding, and the planet was dying. I was helping to relocate the children. See that little one I'm holding? His name was N'a-kee-tula, which means sweetheart. He was so full of life, all those kids were. They were never able to adapt... to live off their native planet." She told him sadly.

Anakin picked up another hologram. It showed Padmé at age ten or eleven. She was wearing official robes and standing between two robed legislators. Her expression was severe. She smiled, looking at it.

"My first day as an Apprentice Legislator, notice the difference?" she pulled a face. Anakin grinned. He sat the two holograms down side by side – the beaming little girl and the stern, unsmiling adolescent. Then he noticed another hologram, hidden by some stuffed animals. He picked it up. It showed herself, embracing a small child. He was beaming and the little infant was pointing at something.

"Who's this?" He asked. Padmé stopped and looked at him. Then he saw him holding a cherished frame of her and Nathaniel, her son. Hadrian was the one who took the hologram. Nate kept pointing at his father who was making funny faces. She gulped.

"That's Nathaniel, my nephew." She lied. Anakin kept looking, then sat in down between the two other holograms. Padmé went back to packing, trying to cloud her emotions so that Anakin couldn't pick up anything. Then they set off toward their destination.

Well, wasn't that very exciting? Let me know what you think.

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Cheerio

Jessie