Author's Note: Hey, again. If you're actually reading this, thanks. This chapter is sort of like a memory.
Padmé remembered the first time her old friend had come to her.
Going by Vader's words, it had been about 10 months before her life had plundered into despair. Vader rarely visited her anymore, the sight of her caused him such grief, he could not stand it.
Doctors regularly checked up on her on his orders, making sure her body was perfectly healthy. A therapist would come in every now and then again to get her to speak, but it never worked.
A hired handmaiden bathed her, clothed her, and fed her. The handmaiden was the only one who would talk to her anymore. Though Padmé never responded, the handmaiden, Lyen, would always acknowledge her. Sometimes Lyen would tell her wondrous stories she had never heard before, or about small, simple things that people normally wouldn't pay mind to. Padmé hung on to her words, anticipating whatever she had to share next. It made her feel something.. a fingernail of joy.
Lyen had just left, and Padmé had sat curled up on the satin bed. She had finally convinced Padmé to use the bed a few months back. Doing so brought a twinkle to Lyen's eyes.
She remembered when a blue haze morphed before her.
She remembered feeling a sense of right, warmth.
She remembered when the blue haze gave her a sad smile, and laid it's hand upon her forehead.
She remembered falling asleep... she remembered emotions.
Rocks floated around her, grass tickled her feet. The air was light and a sun shown above. Padmé stood in a field where the wind blew lightly against her face. It was strangely familiar to her.
She wore the same white gown, but her body felt different. She felt strong, her hair had a brighter color, her skin not so pale.
"Padmé, it's good to see you."
She blinked, not noticing that someone was standing before her. "Obi-Wan." She breathed as his face finally hit her mind. He smiled in return.
With her body frozen in confusion, her lips said, "Where are we?"
"It doesn't matter, only that we are here." He looked around, peace coming off him in waves. "This place is strong with the Force."
"Yes," She too, looked around. "It's familiar."
"Because you have been here before." A new voice intervened.
"Qui-Gon?"
He looked the same as the day he died. Still tall, long hair, and eyes filled with hope. "You visited here, once. The Force brought you here through a dream."
Padmé bit her lip, somewhat surprised to find her lips not crackled. She thought back to all the dreams she had..
"Ah," A deep, unforgiving pain stabbed her gut. She crumbled to the ground, tears already brimming in her eyes. Obi-Wan stepped towards her, lending a hand on her shoulder. It was warm. "The.. Luke and Leia-" The though of them hurt.
"Yes." Qui-Gon answered. "The Force is strong with them. They showed the future, they showed promises."
"You were there, with me."
"I was."
At his short answer, she stood, Obi-Wan took a step away as she scrambled to her feet. "Did you- Did you know about this? What would happen?"
"The future is never for certain.." He hesitated. "Even if I did know the exact events that would happen, there is nothing I could have done to change it. Anakin-"
"Don't." She snapped, hot, white anger , that she didn't even know she had, exploded. "Don't you dare say his name." Obi-Wan bowed his head, feeling only grief.
Sympathy, and pity. Qui-Gon sighed. "Ignoring his name, or his very presence won't fix anything that has happened. His actions are understandable, but it does not mean that they are excusable. He can be forgiven, but the things he has done can never be forgotten. You have not allowed yourself to feel, therefor, your emotions are still fresh and burning. Especially for Anakin. We've brought you here, so you may find peace with everything that has happened. That you may rest."
"Peace.." Padmé mumbled. She almost laughed, but feeling too weak to. "How may I ever find peace?"
"I believe," Obi-Wan chirped, mood picking up. "That our first step should start now. They have been rather impatient waiting for you."
Before Padmé could even ask who, two beings phased before them. Both wearing white, and very young. Padmé could only guess they were in their late teen years. The shorter one had long wavy brown hair with a set of deep brown eyes. Her pink, full lips were pulled into a tooth-bearing smile. The taller one, had messy dark blonde hair and bright blue eyes full of innocence. With an excited smile, he looked down the girl, as if waiting for her move.
Padmé was positive she had never met them before, but they both looked too familiar for her comfort. "I-" Her eyes widened as she was struck with realization. She looked to Obi-Wan, was he seeing this?
Obi-Wan gave her a small nod accompanied with an encouraging smile. She wanted to scream that it was impossible. It seemed so impossible.
But she knew it wasn't, she knew nothing was impossible when it came to the Force.
She was crying and her hands shook. With her trembling hands, she laid a one on each of the faces of her children.
Luke looked so much like his father.. it hurt. And Leia, so much like herself.
"Mother." Luke cried happily, covering her small hand with his larger one. He gave hers a squeeze.
"It took you long enough to come and visit us." Leia snorted with annoyance. But Padmé could see in her eyes unshed tears of happiness.
Her lip quivered and she sobbed loud and pulled her children close to her. She held so tight onto them, and they clung back.
She doesn't remember how long they stayed like that. But she does remember afterwards. For hours, she talked and kissed her children, braiding Leia's hair, even Luke's. Padmé was surrounded by so much love, it had been so long since she felt this way. She nearly cried when Leia braided her hair a certain way in return, telling her mother that it was her own signature little style. They had laughed and Padmé told them memories of when life was good, steering clear of the subject of their father. She even pulled over Obi-Wan. She hadn't seen in him so long, her last sight of him was on Mustafar. She mended the broken bonds between all she had thought she lost.
And she felt.
She was only fairly disappionted when Qui-Gon told her it was time to leave. She had enough joy in her heart to not feel an ache when departing. Besides,Padmé was promised more of times like this. She would be back.
With a kiss on the cheek to all, she went back to the world of white.
She remembered waking up, so much lifted off her shoulders.
She had forgotten all about the cameras watching her in the room.
So when Lyen had come to Padmé in the morning, without a care in the world, she spoke.
"Lyen.." her voice was hoarse, so very rough from months without speaking.
Lyen jumped, eyes widening in shock. Her jaw dropped as Padmé managed a very small smile.
"I..." She coughed, throat dry. "Want to show you... how.. I want my hair braided.."
At least for a minute, she could exit the white and bring a touch of her children to the world where she lay in grief.
Author's Note: Thanks to whoever is reading this. It means a lot. Reviews mean a lot too, I really want to know what you guys think. I would respond to them, but I'm a too nervous too.. So thank you to those who did and those who do.