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AN: Here's chapter 4! Thanks for all the amazing feedback! Hope you enjoy this latest installment. Let me know what you think:)

Whispers of the Past

Part 4/?

Anakin stood in the doorway of the large room they had converted into a playroom at Varykino for the children, much like the one they had at their apartment on Coruscant. Padme was sitting on the floor, watching them play. Watching her interact with them was something he would never tire of doing. He could watch them all like this forever. Sometimes, he secretly wished he could freeze time, so their children would stay this size forever. Right now, he and Padme were the center of their little world. He liked it that way and knew his wife did also. But Anakin knew they would grow up and begin their own lives. And he was sure each one of them would grow into wonderful people. But one thing would never change and that was the way he felt about the beautiful woman he was lucky enough to call his wife. He watched her with fascination and awe. He couldn't help it. She simply captivated him in a magical sort of way. Her beautiful, rich chocolate curls fell around her shoulders and her face encompassed a genuine smile, as their little Kimberly climbed into her lap. Her smile made his heart soar. He lived to make her smile like that. Her beautiful smile, which reflected happiness, was like air to him. He would do anything for her, to protect her, to love her, and to make her happy. He would traipse across the galaxy, travel to the far end of the universe if he had to. He would swim oceans and climb tall mountains for her if he had to. He would brave and survive Sith hell itself to protect her if he had to. Fortunately, they were all safe and all she desired from him was to be held in his arms and become lost in his kiss, where they would drink together from the deep, never ending well that represented their powerful love. He hated when she was hurting. He didn't know why people would ever want to hurt such a beautiful, wonderful person. Whether it was his fault or not, he felt responsible that she was hurting again. She looked up at him, sensing his train of thought and tilted her head to the side.

"None of this is your fault. It's not even remotely possible for it to be," she said, as Kimberly went back to playing. Padme stood up and went to her husband, gazing up into his gorgeous sapphire eyes.

"You didn't make my mother lie to me all my life. You didn't make my stepfather abuse me when I was a child," she told him.

"I know, I'm not blaming myself. I just wish there was more I could do to protect you from things like this. I guess there's things that not even the Chosen One can do," he replied.

"But you do protect me. I don't know what I'd do without you, Ani. I'm still trying to make sense of all this and having you there to hold me means absolutely everything," she said.

"I know you're dealing with so much right now...and I'm here when you're ready to let it all out," he whispered to her. She hugged him tightly, clinging to him for dear life.

"Come on babies, it's time for bed my little ones," she called.

"Ah...do we hafta?" Luke whined.

"I'm not tired," Leia insisted.

"Will you read us a story, mommy?" Kimberly asked.

"Yay a story!" Jenna called.

"Mommy...who was that man with Grandma Jobal?" Jayden asked. Jayden's question came as no surprise to Padme. He had been quiet all night and could probably sense the storm of emotions that his mother was dealing with at the moment.

"He's...he's just an old friend of Grandma Jobal's," Padme explained, sufficing with this answer for now.

"Yeah, now let's go hear that story," Anakin suggested, hoping they would accept the explanation. It worked and all five of them rushed out of the room. Anakin put his arm around her waist, as they followed them upstairs for bedtime rituals.

The children were in bed and now Padme stood on the veranda, enjoying the balmy, summer night air.

"Do you remember our first night here together?" she asked softly, as she looked up at her husband. He smiled down at her. He was about a foot taller than she and loved how her head came within perfect height on his chest, where she now rested her head.

"How could I forget? It was one of the most amazing nights of my life," he replied.

"You made me feel so special and beautiful. You always do," she said.

"That's because you are, angel," he assured her.

"You don't trust him, do you?" she asked.

"I don't trust anyone I don't know with your well being or the well being of our children," Anakin replied, taking a deep breath.

"I won't lie to you, angel. He's going to have to earn my trust. And he better not hurt you. That being said, I'm not telling you to shut him out of your life. He deserves a chance to prove himself, being that he didn't even know about you. I'll just be keeping an eye on him. You're an amazing woman. Knowing you could make him want to change his ways," Anakin said.

"I don't know about that," Padme replied. He kissed her lips softly.

"You're amazing. Never think otherwise," he said. She smiled.

"I love you," she said.

"And I love you, more than I can put into words," Anakin replied, as he captured her lips in another passionate kiss

"I'll be upstairs. Come up when you're ready," he said, sensing her need for a few moments alone.

"I won't be long," she promised. They parted after another soft kiss, as she went back to gazing out at the twilight. She stood there for some time, lost in her thoughts, before turning to leave. She jumped in surprise, as Riley Zander stood there...

Sola brushed out her long curls, as she sat at the vanity. She smiled, as her husband dropped a kiss on her head and then bent down, moving his lips along the nape of her neck.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

"Well, a slight better than Padme is, I'm sure. I...I just can't believe it. Mom had an affair. She had enough guts to do that, but not enough to leave that Son of Sith I'm supposed to call a father. She knew Padme was the daughter of another man, yet she let Ruwee do the things he did to her. I...I just don't understand her. Now more than ever, her actions confuse me," Sola said.

"She definitely has much to atone for with Padme. I don't know if she will ever be able to completely forgive Jobal either," Obi-Wan said. Sola set her brush down and stood up.

"Well, she shouldn't...not after the hell mom helped put her through. She let Ruwee abuse Padme, because she was too cowardly to protect her and take the abuse herself. She let Padme endure his punishments, because she herself was punishing her. She punished my little sister, because she reminded her of a lover that had left her! What kind of twisted morals are those? I feel like...I don't even know my mother anymore," Sola said. Obi-Wan wrapped her in his arms.

"I'm afraid we're all feeling that way. Jobal kept this secret from not only Padme, but Riley as well. He seems to be a bit of a shady character, but he had the right to know he had a daughter. With the resources your grandmother Winama had, she could have tracked Riley down," Obi-Wan said.

"Do you think Riley can be trusted? I don't care if he's her real father. I'll not have anyone else hurting my baby sister. She's been through enough. First, Ruwee, then Palo, Governor Danae, Garret Wells, Sate Pestage, and the list goes on," Sola fretted.

"Now, you know that Anakin won't let anyone hurt her. She may have people that want to hurt her out there, but she has more people here that will protect her," Obi-Wan assured her. Sola sighed.

"I know," she replied.

"Come on love, it's been a long day. I think we should retire," Obi-Wan suggested. Sola smiled slyly.

"Only if you promise that sleeping won't be the only thing going on," she replied sultrily. She yelped in surprise, as he swept her into his arms.

"I just said we should retire. I said nothing about sleeping...at least not until I've had my way with you," Obi-Wan replied, with a smirk.

"Bad Jedi," she teased.

"You love my naughty side...and you know it," he replied, as he carried her to bed.

"You have no idea," she replied, as their lips met in a frenzy of passionate locks...

"Hey there sweetness...I didn't mean to startle you," he said uncertainly, as he stared at the grown woman that was the daughter he had never known existed.

"That...that's okay. I...I was just getting ready to go inside," Padme said nervously.

"Well, before you do, I was hoping we could maybe talk for a few minutes," he suggested. She nodded.

"Okay," she replied.

"So...I guess I've got me some grandchildren too, by the looks of it," Riley said. Padme smiled.

"Yes. Luke and Leia are the oldest twins. Then there's Kimberly in the middle. And Jayden and Jenna are the youngest twins," Padme said.

"That husband of yours treat you good?" he asked.

"Of course. He treats me like a Queen. We love each other very much," Padme said, almost defensively. He smirked.

"Didn't mean anything by it, sweetness. Just makin' sure," he replied.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" she asked. He smirked again.

"Used to call your mother that. Seems to fit you a bit better though. I can stop if you want," he said. She shook her head.

"I don't mind," she said, turning her gaze toward the moon.

"Are...are you really a bounty hunter?" she asked. He hid a wince.

"Afraid so. I'm sure that bothers you something terrible, being a Senator and all," Riley answered.

"I just...do you kill people?" she asked.

"I have been known to. I ain't gonna lie to you, baby girl, cause I don't think I could. You look right through people with those pretty eyes of yours. I'm a scoundrel. I'm a smuggler, I steal, usually from scum that deserves it though. I've killed before, some deserved it too. I smoke, I drink, and I sleep around," he said, pausing.

"But I'll tell you one other truth. Your mom...now she had an effect on me, like no woman ever has. She's done some deplorable things, but so have I. I know you don't approve of my lifestyle, but all I ask for is a chance," he said.

"Would...if you knew about me, would you have come back to mom?" she asked. He sighed.

"I'd like to think I would have. I don't know the first thing about being a dad, but I knew what kind of monster that man was that she was married to. Had I known he was raisin' my kid...yeah, I would have come back for ya. I'm a lot of things, sweetness, but I'd never hit a woman or child. Ain't nothing manly about that; it's just cowardly and I ain't no coward. Neither are you, from what I've heard," he said.

"Will...will you be around much?" she asked.

"I'll drop by to visit...that is, if you'll have me," Riley replied.

"It doesn't bother you that Anakin is a Jedi?" she asked. Riley winced.

"Boy sweetness, nothing gets by you. Okay, you caught me. I'm not fond of Jedi...but I sure as hell ain't gonna pick a fight with that husband of yours. I'm good, but I ain't that good," Riley replied.

"Then, maybe you'll have breakfast with us in the morning? Our children are very perceptive and I want to be able to explain to them who you really are, before they figure it out on their own. Because Leia and Jayden already have I think," Padme replied.

"Breakfast sounds great. I'll let you get to bed for now, though," he said.

"Okay. Goodnight...goodnight...dad," she said. It felt and sounded awkward, but she hoped that it would get easier to call him that. And secretly, Riley hoped so as well.

"Good night...Padme," he replied, using her name for the first time.

Jobal exited the fresher, dressed in her long, pale blue nightgown. She jumped in surprise, as she saw Riley out on the balcony, outside her bedroom window. She opened it and he stepped inside, a cocky smirk present on his face, as always.

"What are you doing?" Jobal asked in a scolding manner.

"You and I need to talk, baby. And you know it," Riley replied.

"No, you need to leave. I'm not in the mood to talk," Jobal stated.

"Okay, have it your way. Though I'm sure you'll be interested to know that Padme and I had a nice conversation," he replied. Jobal's attention perked immediately.

"What did you say to her?" Jobal demanded.

"Basically, I asked her to give me a chance and I told her I'd like to get to know her," he said, with a smirk.

"And?" Jobal asked.

"I'm having breakfast with the Skywalker family in the morning. And if you're really, really nice to me, I might just bring you along," Riley replied.

"I'm not so sure Padme would like that much," Jobal answered.

"Don't suppose she will, especially after finding out you let Ruwee do what he did partially because she reminded you of me. Why, Jo? Why did you let it happen?" he asked.

"It's not as if I wanted it to happen, Riley! But Ruwee wouldn't stop and I was afraid! I'm sorry, but I'm human. I was afraid. And Padme was so damned defiant when she was a child. Ruwee forbid her to read and yet, my mother kept sneaking books to her. He forbid her to be everything that she was. Free spirited, independent, brave...but she wouldn't stop. Nothing he did to her ever deterred her. She only seemed to get stronger and then I lost her," Jobal said.

"What do you mean you lost her?" Riley asked.

"Padme ran away to live with her grandmother in Theed when she was ten...right after Ruwee promised her hand in marriage to Palo, the horrible little son of the even more evil Governor. I only raised her until she was ten," Jobal told him.

"And you were going to tell me this, when? Thirty years from now?" Riley barked.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded.

"The truth, dammit. Tell me everything I need to know about our little girl! I have a right to know, I don't care what you think about me! I may be all the things we know that I am, but I want the chance to know her! You had no right to keep her from me!" Riley yelled.

"Keep your voice down! We don't want to wake anyone!" Jobal hissed. Riley composed himself and sat down on the bed.

"You and I were good together, Jo. We can be that way again...but you gotta level with me...about everything," Riley said.

"Good together? You think you're just going to pop in whenever you want? I know you, Riley, and you're terrified of commitment," Jobal replied.

"But you'll take what you can get, because let's face it, Jo, I was a damn sight better than that Son of Sith you were married to for so long," Riley replied. Jobal sat down beside him on the bed.

"My mother, Leia Winama, took Padme in and used her powerful friends in the government to keep her away from us. Padme had much potential and my mother sent her to a proper school. She groomed her into a princess, which she was elected as when she was twelve," Jobal replied.

"A princess?" he asked in disbelief.

"It gets better. Just after my mother died, Padme was elected Queen at fourteen. She served two terms and the people wanted to instate her as Queen for life. But Padme believes in term limits and would not accept. Senator Palpatine offered her a job as a Senatorial aide on Coruscant and she accepted. Ruwee and Palo's father wasted no time in getting Palo a job in Palpatine's cabinet," Jobal said.

"So what happened?" Riley asked.

"She began dating Palo and he was very nice to her at first. That quickly changed, however, when Palpatine was elected Chancellor. He selected Padme as his replacement over Palo and he became violent and controlling with Padme, as was his true nature," Jobal stopped, trying to calm herself.

"Jo...what happened," he pressed her.

"Palo ended up raping her...twice in fact, before Padme had her chief of security issue a restraining order against him. She never told anyone she was the victim of a rape, because she didn't want to become the victim again. Anakin was the first person she ever told, besides Sola. I didn't believe her at first. I didn't want to believe her," Jobal cried. Riley shook his head in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, I know. I was a blind fool. I'm a terrible mother, you don't have to remind me," Jobal said.

"That scum bag that raped her better be dead...or he's about to be," Riley growled.

"He is. Anakin stopped him amidst another attack that occurred after she was married. Luke and Leia were only about a year old. Palo was really killed by the Sith Lord, in order to frame Anakin for it. Thanks to Palpatine's manipulations, Anakin was convicted and sentenced to death. His grandfather broke him out of prison and he, Padme, and the children went on the run for a while. Palpatine was discovered as the Sith Lord not long after that and Anakin destroyed him. I left Ruwee just before Anakin was convicted and I tried very hard to rebuild my relationship with Padme. I had for the most part, but now I fear that she will never forgive me for lying to her about you, especially since she believes that the years of abuse could have been avoided," Jobal replied.

"Would have been avoided, Jo. I may know nothing about being a dad, but I sure as hell wouldn't have ripped the skin off her back with a blasted whip like that husband of yours did. He enjoyed it too. How do you live with that?" Riley asked. Jobal glared at him.

"And how do you live with the blood on your hands. Don't think I don't know about you, bounty hunter. You kill for credits," Jobal spat.

"Yeah, we're both real screwed up. It's a damn wonder that we created the sweet little thing that we did. That's gotta count for somethin', doesn't it, beautiful?" Riley asked. She looked up at him.

"Of course it counts. Padme is a blessing. I was just too stupid to realize it until it was too late," Jobal replied. He cupped her cheek in his hand, brushing away one of her tears with his thumb. She shuddered, but tried to hide the fact that his touch effected her so.

"What...are you doing?" she asked, with a hitched breath.

"Touching you. Did that husband of yours ever do anything right?" he asked, before smirking.

"Wait...don't answer that," he replied, as he cupped her other cheek.

"Nobody's ever touched you like this, except me, have they?" he asked.

"I...I don't know what you...you're talking about," Jobal said, as she leapt off the bed. He stared after her, an almost predatory gaze on his face.

"I made you feel things you didn't even know were remotely possible," Riley said.

"We're not doing this," Jobal replied.

"Doing what? I'm just sitting here, watching you pout," he replied, with a smirk. She turned to him and he stood up, towering above her.

"I think we both know what we want," he said, as he pulled her against him.

"Do you think I'm just going to settle for being your lover? Do you think I'm going to just allow you to drop by and get your thrills whenever you feel like it?" she asked in protest.

"Oh, I'm gonna drop by quite a bit actually. I got a daughter to see now...and then there's her mother, who I just can't keep my hands off," he said, as he ran a hand up her back, causing her to tremble against him. She tried in vain to push him away, but he just pulled her back into a searing kiss.

"You want me. Stop fighting it. We both know that you haven't been touched like this in years...and you crave it, baby. You want this. You remember what we were like together," he said, in a half growl.

"Riley..." she cried, as he kissed her again, passion swirling between them. And finally, Jobal fell limp in surrender, as he swept her up in his arms, carrying her to bed...

In the next chapter, breakfast and spending the day as a family, something the Skywalker's enjoy immensely. But can a scoundrel fit in with a family of Jedi?