Author's Note: Just wanted to make sure everyone knew this is an AU.

Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and reveiwing, again, please keep up the constructive reviews! I really appreciate them.

Disclaimer: The Star Wars Universe was created and is owned by George Lucas, this is just my imagination at work, based on the universe he has created. If this story is similar to another, it's pure coincidence.

Note: Thoughts are in italics.

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"They are so adorable!" Jobal cried, looking down at her two new grandchildren. She wanted to hold them in her arms and rock them to sleep, but they were so small, so premature.

"She has your eyes," Ruwee whispered to his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Padmé's eyes. Have you heard from her at all?"

"No, I'm getting worried. I'm going to call her. . .after I'm done watching these two."

"You're tempting yourself, Job. We can't hold them yet; you know that," he reminded her, and she nodded sadly. As much as she hated it, he was right. "I'm going to call Padmé." Ruwee pulled the comlink from his belt, heading towards the empty waiting room they had spent so long in. Taking his seat by the window, he waited for the voice of his daughter to pick up on the other end. He recieved no answer. Walking back towards Jobal, who was now plastered against the glass watching her precious granddaughter and grandson, he became more worried as each moment passed.

"Well?" she asked, turning her attention towards Ruwee. "Did you get to talk to her?"

Shaking his head negatively, he put his arms around her. "I think something is wrong. Something has happened. She would have called by now."

"Well, what can we do?" Jobal asked as they both walked towards the waiting room. "If we can't get her on her comlink, what else can we do?"

"That's the thing. We have to wait until she calls us, or we keep trying."

The couple sat in the room, watching the news on the holoscreen. The news alert said in big letters, "Coruscant Transports Forbidden To Leave Planet". Gasping, Ruwee looked at his wife. "I bet that her transport was one of those."

"Then why isn't she answering?"

"I'm not sure, Honey."

Darred came into the room, his hands in the pockets of his pants. Glancing up at the screen, his eyes widened. "What's going on?"

"The Chancellor stopped all transports from leaving Coruscant. Some big announcment." Jobal answered, her eyes glued to the screen.

"That must be where Padmé is, something to do with the Senate...," Darred reasoned. "I still think she would call."

"Maybe she's too busy and we're just overreacting." Ruwee replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Ah, here's Palpatine now."

- - - -

"My friends," the Chancellor began, seeming his normal self. "We are gathered here today on the dawn of a new era. A new era that will bring peace. An era that will give power to those who are rightly deserving. This new era, my dear friends, is the end of the Republic--"

Before he was able to finish his speech, the Senate was in an uproar. His voice was overshadowed by the senators and other officials talking amongst themselves about this new era.

"And," Palpatine said, his voice booming. "The beginning of a great Empire." Some applauded; some yelled and shouted in disagreement.

"I now relieve all Senators of their duties. This Empire will bring about an end to the turbulent Republic you and I live in today. It will bring what we all have worked so hard to do. Your efforts are appreciated. Come, join us in the Empire. . ."

Her mouth hung open in surprise, disgust, unable to believe such a thing was happening before her very eyes. Padmé Amidala, no longer Senator Padmé Amidala, stood next to Lord Vader and a few other high ranking officers of the Galatic Empire watching Palpatine - who now was to be refered to as Emperor Palpatine - on a large holoscreen in a conference room. The end of the speech she ignored, not wanting to hear what else that disgusting man had to say. He had used her to attain power. That was not something she would tolerate. It's not like I have any power to do anything about it, anymore.

Grabbing her arm, Darth Vader sensed the anger, disgust, and betrayal in her. He took her to another room attached on to the conference room where it was just the two of them once again.

"You are disturbed. Are you not pleased by the announcement? It will bring about peace to the galaxy, everything you have worked so hard for, and now you are relieved of your duties--"

"Pleased? PLEASED? Are you insane? Don't you dare repeat what that disgusting, evil, powerhungry man claims to be able to bring about! This will bring anything but peace! You're just another one of his little puppets!" Her little arms swung at his chest, though not doing anything to him as she only hurt herself against the armor. Grabbing her wrists, he squeezed them tightly as she cringed from the pain. Padmé knew she went too far, but everything around her was going too far.

"You will not talk about the Emperor like that, Padmé," he ordered, pushing her down into a chair as he sat next to her. "I will allow you time to think about your decision to join the Empire. You will have an answer by tonight."

"I don't need time. I refuse to join," she said, calming herself down as she looked straight at him. Standing up, he pulled her back up to her feet, cupping her face in his black gloved hands.

"You will do as I say. You will think about it, and you will give me an answer tonight, over dinner. I suggest you think about what it will mean for you and your family if you do not choose wisely."