Chapter 41 - Burning to the Ground

Anakin plants a sweet kiss on my hair before leaving the flat. His smile is crooked and endearing, and he looks much better. C-3PO watches him leave from the kitchen, silently observing us. Of the few that know about Anakin and I, 3PO and R2 are the best at keeping it secret. I think the gold-plated droid approves of our relationship, but I can't speak for the small blue astromech.

I squeeze the thin, patchy shawl Anakin bought for me between my fingers, and rest it against the small wooden totem I wear around my neck. He's left me many forget-me-nots that I've pressed in a large book, and the deep blue color of his oceanic eyes is littered about the flat in the form of vases, paintings, and trinkets. It's like I'm living inside of him, watching the Galaxy through his eyes.

With a sigh, I retreat to my couch, and lean into the soft purple fabric. 3PO brings me a glass of nectar, tutting when I tip the glass too far and spill on my dress.

"Really, M'Lady, you must control yourself," Dormé says, bringing me a fresh night gown.

Miré brings me a fresh towel, and cleans the sticky juice from my face and skin. "Don't blame the senator," she scolds, "blame the Jedi who knocked her up."

"Excuse me?"

Miré's face flushes, and she drops to her knees in regret, apologies rocketing from her lips like blaster fire from a machine gun.

"That kind of attitude is inappropriate for a young lady serving a senator," I tell her, and she nods her head.

"I'm so sorry, senator, I didn't mean-"

"For it to come out?" I shake my head. "Well, it certainly is your opinion! I cannot afford to have another traitorous aide in my own house. Pack your things, and go."

Her eyes fill with tears, and she nods. As she turns to go, she reminds me of Teckla, a young woman I trusted with my life who tried to kill me. It would seem that the most faithful of the senatorial handmaid group was Cordé.

Shaking my head, I watch her go. She knows she cannot redeem herself, and doesn't look back, instead leaving without a word.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Dormé whispers under her breath.

"So do I," I agree. "This isn't the end of our misfortune today."

oOo

Dormé leaves around 0500 hours, and I'm left alone in my flat with only C-3PO and captain Typho watching the doors. It's oddly quiet, like the calm before a storm. I wait silently in my living room, a cup of taye in my hands that I haven't touched since 3PO gave it to me. I can't stop staring at the Jedi temple, like I expect it to suddenly disappear and don't want to lose sight of it. Anakin is there, and I can't keep my mind off of him.

"M'Lady," 3PO suddenly asks, coming in to take my cup. "You haven't touched your taye."

I shake my head. "No, I'm not thirsty," I say, handing him the still full but cold cup of liquid.

"You seem distracted, miss Padmé. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Nothing," I say, my eyes still fixed on the building across from mine.

I get up, pacing across the room now, still staring. I can't look away. I feel strangely calm as I watch the building, as if the temple is filling me with a peacefulness I didn't have before. As the sun begins to set, I stop, staring out into the city, my eyes searching the temple for familiar shapes.

Something is different this time, like someone is looking back. Perhaps we're both looking out towards one another, our eyes meeting in the great expanse of the city. I can almost feel his eyes peering into mine. At the same time there is fear, undoubtedly knocking at the door to my heart. I am afraid. Afraid of losing him, of losing out baby, of what will happen when this war ends.

"I've brought you some more Taye, m'lady," 3PO says as he enters the living room to join me. I don't want any taye, but I can't deny it, since that would take away any purpose C-3PO believes he has. I take the cup and smile.

"Could you do me a favour, 3PO," I ask.

"Of course, M'Lady."

"Monitor the security for the chancellor's office and the Jedi temple for me," I tell him. He nods, gratefully jumping at the chance of something to do.

He leaves, as I watch the sun sink behind the horizon, plunging the planet into darkness.

Tonight will be a long night.

oOo

My eyes grow heavy as I watch in darkness. 3PO watches me with wary eyes, all too afraid of what may come. I am tired. I am scared, I am terrified of losing him. Something is so terribly wrong tonight, I can't trust that he will come back. As I scan the temple, three figures catch my eyes.

Two small white figures struggle with the smaller brown one, pushing the brown figure back against the temple wall. A terrorist, attacking the temple then, attempting to destroy it. The clones lift their blasters and fire, killing the smaller figure. I let out a sigh of relief, before I notice the smoke rising from the temple doors.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Sirens blare, and emergency vehicles flash by in a whirlwind of panic, rushing towards the temple. My heart pounds out of my chest, and I can hardly breathe, as the smoke from the temple rises higher in the air. 3PO had been watching over my shoulder, but is gone now, checking on security again.

The temple is burning. Anakin may be inside. Shit, shit!

3PO bustles into the room, and I watch him enter, my arms folded over my belly. I'm trembling, my head is spinning and pounding as my eyes threaten to spill over with tears.

"The Chancellor's office indicated Master Anakin returned to the Jedi temple," 3PO says, despair somehow programmed into his voice. "Don't worry," he soothes, "I - I'm sure he'll be all right."

I nod, thanking him, but it's too late, and the hot tears spill over my cheeks. My breath hitches in my throat and I begin to sob, my shoulders heaving with each breath. The world spins about me, and I can't find my footing. It's swirling out of control and I cannot see the light.

Could he be dead?

oOo

I don't sleep that night, choosing instead to watch the temple burn from my balcony. My eyes are tired and red from crying, but I cannot tear them away, hoping to see his ship bringing him home to me. 3PO watches for him as well, anxiously checking each ship that passes us by.

"He's coming," the gold-played droid finally calls out, jubilation causing him to turn to look at me. Hope rises in my stomach and I jump to my feet. Slowly, a small ship lands gingerly on the small landing platform connected to my balcony, and a certain dark-haired man jumps out of the cockpit. I rush over to him, ignoring my doctor's orders about my physical exertion, and wrap him in a desperate and tight hug. My fingers dig into the fabric of his shirt, and I can't bring myself to let him go.

"Are you all right," I ask. "I heard there was an attack on the Jedi temple. You could see the smoke from here."

"I'm fine," he says, brushing me off. "I'm fine. I came to see if you and the baby are safe."

I nod. "What's happening," I ask, following him as he makes his way across the balcony.

He shakes his head. "The Jedi have tried to overthrow the Republic."

What? That's impossible. The Jedi wouldn't do that.

"I can't believe that," I stammer, my head reeling now.

"I saw Master Windu attempt to assassinate the chancellor myself," he says, turning to look back at me.

My heart sinks deep into the ground, and I feel as though I may throw up. "Oh Anakin," I sigh, "what are you gonna do?"

He shakes his head and turns away. "I will not betray the republic," he says. "My loyalties lie with the chancellor and with the senate and with you."

"What about Obi Wan?"

"I don't know," he almost whimpers. His hands shake nervously, and brings his eyes up to meet mine. "Many Jedi have been killed. We can only hope that he's remained loyal to the chancellor."

"Anakin, I'm afraid," I confess.

He moves gracefully towards me and wraps me in his arms, tightly. I breathe in his familiar scent and my trembling body seems to stop shaking.

"Have faith, my love," he coos. "Everything will soon be set right. The chancellor has given me a very important mission."

I look up at him, and he takes a deep breath. "The separatists have gathered on the Mustafar system. I'm going there to end this war. Wait for me until I return."

I nod, and he brushes a lock of hair back behind my ear. "Things will be different, I promise," he says.

He leans over me, his lips brushing mine, before locking me in their loving embrace.

"Please wait for me," he asks as he pulls away. I watch him go, jumping into his cockpit and taking off now.

"Oh my Lady," C-3PO sighs, "Is there anything I might do?"

I shake my head. "No, thank you 3PO."

"Oh," he says, "I- I feel so helpless."

I nod, understanding him completely. If only I could do something. What rotten luck that I had gotten pregnant just in time for this to happen.

I can only trust in Anakin to set things right.

Author's note:

Hello! Just checking in to let you know that we are nearing the end! There are only 3 chapters to be released after this one, and I'm very excited to finally be done writing for you all. I hope you've enjoyed this story throughout its life, but the end is coming. After the last chapter is released, I will be focusing on my own original story. If you'd like, I'll release the first chapter as a free preview after the last chapter of Amidala is released. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for your loyalty to my story.

Sincerely,

Kitty Greene