Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

AN: Here's part 2! Thanks for all the amazing feedback!

Whispers of the Past

Part 2/?

They arrived in Thee about an hour later and still had about two hours before they were supposed to meet Sabe for lunch.

"Leia and I are going to scout out that new dress shop on Main," Padme said.

"Okay. I think Poojy and I are going to go pick out a new swimsuit for her. The one she was wearing yesterday is getting too small," Sola said.

"Okay. We'll meet you at the café at noon," Padme agreed. Shmi decided to go with Sola in order to give Jobal a little time with Padme. Even though their relationship had drastically improved since Jobal divorced Ruwee, they were not particularly close and Jobal had been working toward a closer relationship with her youngest daughter. Padme had forgiven her for the past, but she was still closer to Shmi than she was to Jobal. She was so very proud of Padme, and Sola too for that matter. Padme was so brave and outspoken; so unlike her. She had been so afraid of Ruwee herself that she had let Padme take his wrath on alone when she was just a girl. She might as well have wielded Ruwee's belt herself, for she was guilty of allowing her daughter to be abused, instead of taking the girls' and going home to her mother, as she should have. Fear had always ruled Jobal and made decisions for her. She was glad that this wasn't true for Padme. She had much to atone for; much more than anyone realized. Padme was her greatest pride and joy, as was Sola, even though she had been a terrible mother. Padme had forgiven her...but Jobal wasn't sure if that would remain true if she knew about her past completely. She had transgressions of her own; or skeletons in her closet that she kept secret from everyone till this day. They were secrets that could make her daughters hate her, she was sure. And so, she had vowed to never let them surface.

"Mom, are you okay?" Padme asked, as they arrived in front of the dress shop.

"I'm fine darling, just lost in thought. Let's go see what pretty dresses we can find," Jobal said, putting on a smile for her granddaughter. They entered the shop, unaware that they were being watched.

Leia twirled in the little yellow sun dress for her mother and grandmother.

"Oh, you look so pretty sweetheart," Padme said.

"Can I wear the dress to lunch, mommy? I really like it," Leia said, as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Sure sweetie. Put your shoes on and we'll go pay for it and the others. We need to be getting to café soon," Padme said, as she went to the counter to pay while Jobal helped Leia with her shoes.

"She's darling. How old is she?" the owner of the shop asked.

"She just turned nine and thank you," Padme replied, with a smile. The woman put the purchased items in a bag and handed it to Padme.

"Thank you again," Padme said, as she took Leia's hand and they exited the shop with Jobal behind them.

"You hungry?" Padme asked her, as they strolled down the sidewalk.

"Uh huh," Leia replied, as she trotted along beside her mother. Jobal smiled at her and happened to look behind her. She was slightly alarmed to see a man walking behind them. He looked very rough and wore an eyepatch. Instinctively, she picked up speed and started walking faster.

"Padme...I think we're being followed," Jobal whispered. Padme carefully glanced back and saw the dangerous looking man there.

"Down this alleyway. It cuts through to the north side. We'll lose him," Padme said, as they turned down it.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Leia asked.

"This is just a shortcut, sweetheart," Padme told her, as she lifted her up without warning.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Leia wondered, as she sensed her mother's anxiousness.

"My blaster is aimed at your little girl's head. I think you may want to stop where you are, Senator," the man said. Padme stopped, fearing that the man was telling the truth.

"Who are you?" Padme asked, as she held Leia closely.

"Mommy, I'm scared," Leia said, as she looked at the man approaching. Padme turned around to face him, taking Leia out of his line of sight.

"Pleased to meet you, Senator. If you come quietly, I promise the little one and your friend won't get hurt," he said, with a cocky smirk.

"I don't know who you are, but we're not going anywhere with you," Padme said, stepping back slightly.

"Riley Zander is the name, not like it will matter to you," he said, as his gaze lingered to Jobal, who was trembling. Expecting the Senator's next move, he grabbed Jobal and pressed his blaster to her temple, as Padme drew her own concealed weapon.

"Drop it beautiful, if you care at all for this one. I ain't kiddin' around," Zander growled. Padme slowly dropped her weapon, as Riley approached with her mother.

"Take the brat," he told Jobal.

"Oh please...don't hurt them," Jobal pleaded, as she took her sniffling granddaughter. She backed against the wall and rocked Leia gently, as the man grabbed Padme and pressed her against the wall.

"Please don't hurt my daughter," Jobal cried. There was a noticeable pause, as Riley processed that piece of information. Padme whimpered, as he tied her hands and ankles tightly with twine.

"I've been told you're quite the feisty one, so I can't take any chances," Zander said, as he stuffed a cloth between her teeth. He hauled the petite woman off her feet and over his shoulder, while pointing his blaster at Jobal.

"All right sweetheart, get movin. And no sudden movements," Riley ordered, urging Jobal ahead of him. They reached a nearby speeder and Riley put Padme into the backseat.

"Keep quiet and stop your struggle. Your mom and kid will be up front with me. Any trouble from you and they'll be the ones to suffer," Riley barked at her. Jobal stared at the man with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

"Get in," he ordered. She did so and held Leia tightly, as he sped off into the air.

Anakin stood at the wheel of the boat, as a bad feeling swept through him. Luke's face reflected his own, as he approached him.

"Dad, I have a funny feeling," Luke said.

"Me too buddy, but I'm sure everything is okay. Why don't you go help Grandpa with your sisters and brother," Anakin said, as Obi-Wan approached.

"I sense it too. Something's off," Obi-Wan said.

"Yeah, something's definitely not right. I'm going to turn us around and head for Theed," Anakin said, as he turned the boat and headed west in the direction of Theed.

"Are you sure they didn't come by here again after they left?" Sola asked the shop owner almost frantically. Padme was now a total of two hours late for lunch and they were all worried sick.

"I'm truly sorry. They left and started down toward the square. That was the last I saw of them," show owner said. Sola sighed.

"Thank you," Sola said, as she exited the shop, where Shmi and Sabe were waiting for her along with Pooja.

"Nothing. It's like they've just disappeared. Padme's never late. Something's wrong, I'm calling Obi-Wan," she said, as she pulled out her comlink and sent a hail to her husband.

"Kenobi," Obi-Wan said, answering his beeping comlink.

"Ben, it's me," Sola's panicked voice came over the device.

"Sola, what's going on?" Obi-Wan asked.

"It's Padme. She was supposed to meet us at noon and she never showed. Leia and mom were with her. We've scoured the city and there's no sign of them anywhere. Something's wrong," Sola fretted.

"We sensed that something was not right. We're already on our way to Theed. Meet us at the Marina," Obi-Wan said.

"Okay. Be careful," she replied.

"You too, love," he said, as he ended the call.

"I knew it," Anakin said, as he pressed the throttle down harder. Obi-Wan put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"We'll find them," Obi-Wan assured him.

"Where are you taking us?" Jobal demanded.

"No place you know," he replied.

"Mommy," Leia sniffed, as she peered in the backseat at her mother. Padme tried in vain to remove the gag, so she could comfort Leia, but it was no use.

"Please, just let us go," Jobal pleaded.

"Sorry, but I've been paid good money to do a job and that job is kidnaping the Senator. And I always do my job and well, might I add," he replied.

"If it's money you want, then we can pay you. Padme is wealthy and her husband's family is also very wealthy. He'll pay you whatever you want if you'll just return us all safely," Jobal tried to bargain.

"Tempting offer. But sorry, not even I'm gutsy enough to cross the De'reux family. They have spies and agents in every crevice of this galaxy. And I like to sleep with both eyes closed, if you know what I mean," he replied.

"The De'reux family? What do they want Padme for?" Jobal exclaimed.

"Don't know. The details were sparse, but it ain't good," he replied.

"Oh please, don't do this, I beg you! I would do anything for my daughter. She's a wife and a mother, please, just let us go. Or let them go. I don't care about myself," Jobal rambled.

"Look, it ain't up to me. Now pipe down," he barked, as he looked at her, their eyes locking.

"Please," she pleaded again. He looked away.

"You'll shut your mouth if you know what's good for you and the kid," he replied, as he drove on. Jobal looked back at Padme and the look in her daughter's eyes broke her heart.

"Well, I hope you are as good as you say, scoundrel, because you'll have to be to make it out of this alive once Anakin gets a hold of you," Jobal spat. He smirked.

"Nice try sweetheart, but De'reux's Naboo estate has enough security to keep even the Chosen One out," he said, as they sped over the vast Nabooan ocean.

Sola breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw the boat pull into the Marina. Sola hugged her husband, as they arrived on the shore.

"Do you have any idea what could have happened?" Anakin asked.

"I'm sorry Anakin, I don't know. It's like they just disappeared," Sola replied.

"We need to check with the flight tower and see if any enemies of Padme's have landed on Naboo recently," Qui-Gon suggested.

"I already did that," Sabe said, as she approached them.

"I also checked with the prison and the warden assures me that all is we there," Sabe said, as she handed a datapad to Anakin.

"Here are the tower's recent flight records. Page ten might interest you," Sabe said. Anakin was always impressed by Sabe. She had been trained by the Royal Guard specifically for the task of protecting his wife when she was Queen. And even though that time had long since passed, Sabe had never relinquished the duties of protecting Padme, whom she, and many others on Naboo considered the greatest, most effective ruler in Naboo's history. Anakin scrolled to page ten and his eyes widened.

"Xalazar De'reux? What's he doing on Naboo?" Anakin asked.

"He has an estate on Naboo in the southern hemisphere. It's on one of the of largest tropical islands, called Calvera, about three hundred miles southwest of Theed. Though he has done nothing wrong by owning an estate on Naboo, I don't trust him farther than I could throw him. It would be a good place to start," Sabe suggested. Anakin nodded.

"Thanks Sabe. Can you get us back to the palace, so we can get a ship? That way, mom, Sola, and the children can stay in the palace where it's safe," Anakin said.

"I already called my driver. He should be here with a transport any minute," Sabe replied. She was right and the transport arrived moments later. They boarded it, before heading for the palace...

Riley parked the speeder and went around to the back. He untied Padme's ankles and pulled the gag from her mouth.

"This way, milady," he said, as he tugged her by the arm, as her hands remained bound. Riley pointed the blaster at Jobal and motioned for her to follow. As they approached the entrance, a man and a woman stood there waiting

"Ah, Senator Skywalker, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Xalazar De'reux and this is my wife Anya," he said.

"What do you want with us?" Padme demanded.

"You'll find out soon enough," he sneered.

"Good work Mr. Zander. You'll receive payment when the task is complete. For now, bring her to the lab and then keep watch over these other two for now," Xalazar said, as he led them inside.

Padme struggled and flailed with her captor, as he dragged her into what looked like a med ward.

"What are you going to do with her?!" Jobal demanded. But she was ignored, as they pulled them into a med room. A gray haired man stood there and turned to them, as they arrived. Padme and Jobal gasped, as Ruwee Naberrie gazed coldly at them.

"What...the HELL are you doing out of prison?" Padme screamed. Ruwee approached her and caught her chin in his hand.

"Hello to you too Padme," he said. She shrugged away in disgust.

"The Imperial Underground has offered me a job and I've accepted," he began, as he started coughing.

"Unfortunately, I have a lung disease and I need a transplant," he said, glaring at her evilly.

"And you're going to give me those healthy lungs of yours, daughter. Consider it my revenge for all the trouble you've caused me," Ruwee growled, as he backhanded her across the face.

"Ruwee, no...you can't!" Jobal screamed.

"Shut up Jobal," he snapped. A healer approached Padme and stuck her with a syringe needle.

"I just need to run a blood test to determine compatibility," the Healer said, as he took the sample and went back to the culture scanner on the table.

"Put her on the table," Xalazar ordered. Riley hauled her onto the table. Ruwee untied her hands, as they laid her down, strapping her wrists and ankles with the table's restraints.

"NO!" Padme screamed.

"Oh Padme, please...you can't do this!" Jobal cried.

"Mommy!" Leia sobbed.

"Mr. Zander, please escort this woman and the child to a room and keep an eye on them until I give you further instructions," Xalazar said. Riley took Jobal by the arm and led her out.

"Riley please, you have to help her," Jobal pleaded.

"Shh..." he told her, as he led her to a small sitting room and closed the door.

"Why? Are you afraid that someone will find out that we aren't strangers?" she asked.

"I ain't the one afraid of that, sweetness. That's all you," he replied. Jobal fumed, as she stared at the man that was the key to all her secrets.

"Grandma...I'm scared. I want mommy," Leia sniffed.

"I know my little one, I know. Everything's going to be all right though, because I know that your Daddy and your Uncle Ben are coming after us. You'll see," Jobal assured her, as she put her down on the sofa.

"Now, rest here and I'm sure we'll be out of here before you know it," Jobal said, as she helped Leia lay down.

"Cute kid," Riley mentioned.

"She's precious. And so are her sisters and brothers. If you don't help us, then you'll be leaving five children motherless!" Jobal hissed quietly, so that Leia could not hear.

"Look, it ain't up to me. Even if I wanted to help her, they'd stop me before I could. I'm good, but I ain't that good," Riley replied. Jobal crossed her arms over her chest.

"Always looking out for number one I see. Not much has changed in the last thirty years, has it," Jobal sniped.

"You're one to talk, sweetness. If you were thinking of anyone but yourself, you'd have left that Son of Sith long before you did. You never had an ounce of courage. Glad to see that your daughter didn't turn out the same," Riley retorted. Jobal drew her hand back to slap him, but he caught her arm. He pulled her close and despite trying not to, she relaxed slightly in his arms.

"Ya know, out of all the women I've been with, and I get around, you're the only one that's ever had any kind of effect on me," he said, his breath brushing against her lips.

Before Jobal could react, his lips were on hers...

Tears pricked Padme's eyes, as she lay strapped to the table, as the Healer did the analysis.

"You're supposed to be a Healer! How can you do this? Healers are supposed to help people, not destroy them!" Padme screamed.

"Even Healers need to make a living, my dear," he replied coldly, as he looked at the readouts of the test results. His frown gave Padme a little hope.

"I'm afraid we have a problem," he said.

"What kind of problem?" Ruwee rasped.

"She's not a match. Her blood type is completely opposite of yours. Your body would reject the transplant," the Healer said.

"What do you mean she's not a match? She's my daughter!" Ruwee roared. The Healer looked at him pointedly.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Of course I'm sure!" Ruwee snapped. The Healer plucked a strand of Padme's hair.

"Then you won't mind providing a DNA sample. A simple test will tell me if there is a way around the incompatibility. With a little altering to the blood work, I may be able to get this to work," the Healer said. Ruwee plucked a piece of hair from his head and handed it to the Healer.

"The DNA test will only take mere minutes, thanks to the excellent equipment provided to me by Mr. De'reux. I have never seen such advanced technology before," the Healer mentioned, as he went about getting the test results. Padme kept struggling, as Ruwee's cold gaze was fixated on her.

Jobal pulled away from his kiss and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Please Riley, please help me get my daughter back," Jobal pleaded.

"You know I'd do it if I could. I'm in a dangerous business sweetness, you know that. I can't be makin' any more enemies than I already have, especially not out of the De'reux family," he said, as he turned away from her. Jobal was beyond desperate and knew something had to be done before they killed Padme.

"Please Riley, she's not going to be a match. And if he finds out why, he'll kill her," Jobal sobbed.

"Why isn't she going to be match?" he asked, with a perplexed look.

"Because she's not Ruwee's daughter. She's...yours," Jobal said. Riley's eyes widened, as he whipped around to look at her.

"What?" he asked.

"I never regretted our time together, but I was so ashamed after you left Naboo. I had committed adultery and if Ruwee ever found out I had cheated on him, he would have probably killed me. Those weeks he was away on that business trip and that I was with you were some of the best in my life," she said, pausing before continuing.

"Ruwee came back shortly after you left and everything went back to normal. Then, a few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant," Jobal said, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I knew the baby was yours, but luckily Ruwee never suspected anything. If he had ever known Padme wasn't his daughter, he would have done even more horrible things to her," Jobal said, looking at him.

"Padme is my daughter?" he asked. Jobal nodded.

"You have to help her, Riley," Jobal pleaded.

"What the hell am I supposed to say to this, Jo?! I ain't no kind of father she'd ever want, nor am I interested in being one!" he snapped.

"But you're not like Ruwee. You may be a scoundrel, but you'd never hurt either of us, I know that. You're not as bad as you make yourself out to be," Jobal said.

"I am a lot of things, I'll give you that. But I ain't no abuser, that's for sure. I gotta ask Jo," he began. She nodded, knowing she wasn't going to like answering.

"Did he abuse her too?" he asked.

"Yes," Jobal squeaked. Riley looked at her in disgust.

"And you did nothing," he spat.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"I'm a lot of things, sweetness, but I ain't no coward. Can't say the same for you," he said disgustedly.

"Then do something! Help her!" Jobal cried. They were interrupted, as Devan came through the door.

"My father wants you to bring the woman and the child back to the med room. There's a little bit of a situation that needs clarification," Devan said. Jobal looked like she was going to faint. They had found out the truth! And now, all her secrets and lies would unravel before her. Ruwee would probably try to kill her. Padme would hate her. And so would everyone else when they found out the truth. Padme was the child of a brief affair she had had almost thirty years ago with the man standing next to her. Those lies and secrets were about to ruin her life. Her thoughts were interrupted, as Riley took her arm.

"Get the kid and let's go. It's time you started tellin' the truth," he glared at her. Jobal picked up her sleeping granddaughter, as they were led back to the med room.

The Healer studied the DNA test results carefully and was most displeased.

"I have bad news, Mr. Naberrie. I am afraid that her tissue is simply incompatible with yours," he said.

"You can't make it work? I thought you said you could," Ruwee growled.

"I would probably have been able to...if she were in fact your daughter. But these DNA tests clearly state...that...she's not," the Healer said. Padme and Ruwee's eyes widened in surprise.

"What?!" Ruwee exclaimed. Padme looked completely dumbfounded, as her mother was led into the room. Ruwee whipped around and glared daggers at her.

"The Healer just told me something rather interesting. He says that Padme is not my daughter. Would you mind explaining that, Jobal!" Ruwee roared. Tears streamed down Jobal's cheeks.

"Mom...what's going on? What are they talking about?" Padme demanded.

"I'm so sorry Padme...I'm so sorry," Jobal sobbed.

"You...you mean it's true?" Padme asked. Jobal nodded sadly.

"Well, well, this certainly makes things quite interesting. Why don't you tell us your story, Mrs. Naberrie," Xalazar ordered.

"Well, we're all listening. Why don't you tell us all about your lies!" Ruwee spat. Padme's head was swimming with confusion, curiosity, and so many other emotions that she felt lightheaded. Jobal looked at her daughter regrettably, while wiping her tears.

"Start talking," Ruwee demanded. Jobal took a deep breath, but was interrupted by Devan, who ran into the room.

"The Jedi are here! They're fighting their way through security!" Devan reported.

"Well, then we should evacuate immediately," Xalazar said, as he motioned for Devan to undo Padme's restraints. But he never expected the blow that came from the petite woman. As soon as her legs were free, she kicked her feet into Devan's face, causing him to howl in pain. She leapt off the med table and snatched the blaster from Zander's belt, as he gawked in surprise. She pointed it menacingly, backing up to make sure she had them all in her line of fire.

"I'm not playing your little game anymore, Mr. De'reux. My mother will tell her story, but certainly never to you," she growled. Padme knew Anakin would arrive any moment and this nightmare would end. But she had a feeling a new one was just beginning...

In the next chapter, Jobal's lies and secrets unravel, as she tells a story that she's never told before...