Dealing with the Sola Issue
The night after Pooja's birth, but before Sola came to visit, Padmé found herself in the clearing again.
"It's been a few years, hasn't it, Hera?" Padmé asked her friend.
The goddess nodded.
"Padmé, what happened? This is the second time you freaked on your sister and ran away," Hera said. "She—and the rest of your family—is suspicious. What are you going to tell them?"
"Sola got what I want," Padmé huffed.
"Huh, but I thought you said you loved Anakin Skywalker," Hera began.
"No, not Darred, the chance to hold her children, her babies," Padmé corrected. "I never got to hold my twins."
"You mean to tell me that you…" Hera began.
Padmé nodded. "Seconds after giving birth to the younger of the two," she replied softly. "Anakin was already gone by then—consumed by Darth Vader. The twins were barely seconds old and they were on their own. And I cannot forgive myself or the Jedi Order for that."
"Oh, Padmé," Hera murmured, hugging the now twenty-year-old woman as she began to cry.
"It's not fair, Hera," Padmé sniffled. "I barely got nine months—actually, I don't think I even got the full nine months—with them and I didn't get to hold them or see their first steps or hear their first word or have anything to do with their first anything. Leia barely remembered me—before I went to the future—she said that I was 'kind, beautiful, but sad.'"
Hera sighed. "Why not explain why you're jealous of Sola to her?" Hera suggested.
Padmé frowned. "She'd never believe me," Padmé replied.
"She is your sister, is she not?" Hera questioned.
Padmé nodded. "She'd believe you if you told her what you could," Hera replied. "You may keep me and as much about the twins as you want a secret as you wish."
Padmé nodded gratefully. She was ready to face her sister whenever Sola finally arrived at the palace.