AN: I'm so tired, so anything I have to say I'll say here. Well… I have nothing to say except that I leave you to judge this chapter. I'm too tired to think of anything that I might want to clarify.

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Twelve
Padmé's Betrayal Part II

Padmé waited patiently in Palpatine's office as the senators poured into the senate arena. This was it. It was the beginning of a new era for the galaxy, a time to do away with an old broken way and usher in the new. She and Palpatine had decided to use her popularity to persuade the senate, to make them see the truth. That way there would be little resistance. The Republic was dead and Palpatine suggested that now they ushered in an empire. Padmé agreed, but she doubted the chancellor had completely pure intentions. He had his own agenda. He was power hungry. But that was fine. She just needed him to ensure a smooth transition. Once Anakin was back on her side they would remove him and usher in a new era of peace together, but there was one thing that had to be addressed.

"Padmé?"

Padmé turned to look Mon. She was obviously confused.

"I came as soon as you called," Mon said. "What's going on? I heard about the attack on the Jedi temple. How could-?"

"The Jedi have betrayed us," Padmé said simply. "They sought to use the war to their advantage and take over the remains of the Republic."

Mon gasped. "I don't believe that. The Jedi have done nothing but uphold the values of the Republic. They would never-."

"How would you know?" Padmé asked her. "They're entire order is shrouded in secrecy. They don't even like to let outsiders in their temple."

"But you-."

"It's only through my relationship with Master Skywalker that I was able to really see the Jedi and even then I was unable to recognize them for what they were until Palpatine told me what I was seeing," Padmé added.

"Then we must bring the council to trial for their treachery if it's true, if there's enough evidence pointing to that conclusion," Mon replied.

"The Jedi are too dangerous to be put on trial. Their treachery has already been dealt with," Padmé said and then turned to the window. "Besides, do you really think the senate and the courts would bring them to justice, with all the corruption running rampant?"

"Padmé," Mon said cautiously. "Are you okay? You sound different…"

"The Republic is dead Mon," Padmé said simply. "It no longer upholds the values of freedom and democracy."

"Of course not with Palpatine seizing the power."

"No," Padmé said rounding on her. "It was gone before that. The senate's carelessness in giving away their power only proved it. Thankfully Palpatine was there to receive it or it is likely the Separatists would have won this war."

"You don't really believe that?" Mon asked in disbelief.

"It's right in front of us Mon. I just hope you haven't been too blinded by false principles and propaganda to see it," Padmé said sighing. "Mon, what Palpatine and I are about to do… I'm sure there will be some opposition."

"What are you about to do?"

Padmé didn't answer directly. "I need to know that you'll trust I know what I'm doing and support me through this. I can't have anyone trying to ruin this. The Republic needs to go out quietly if we are to ensure a smooth transition into the Empire."

"An empire?" Mon said in alarm. "Padmé you can't be serious."

"The people don't want to see a whole bunch of senators arguing over how to proceed. They want and need to see a united front from its government behind one leader who will represent their voices and undo the damage this war has caused."

"Padmé I can't stand behind you in this. It's a dictatorship!"

"Does not the senate dictate what the citizens will do?"

"Yes, but they represent all people from different walks of life and bring different perspectives to the-."

"I'm not going to sit here and debate with you Mon. I don't expect you to understand what I'm trying to do, but I do need you to cooperate and not make a big scene out of this," Padmé said firmly.

"No," Mon said just as firm. "I will not sit quietly and let you do this."

Padmé only laughed a little. "I figured as much…"

She turned back to the window. "Arrest her."

"What?" Mon said as clones surrounded her and cuffed her.

"I can't have people like you fighting to keep an old way that doesn't work anymore, that no longer ensures the security and freedom of the galaxy. I'm sorry it has to be this way," Padmé said calmly. "Don't worry. I don't have enough evidence against you to convict you of anything. But I'd rather not take the risk of you disrupting this transition. You'll be released in the morning."

"Padmé," Mon said in disbelief but Padmé ignored her.

"Take her into detention," she said to the troopers.

They marched out the room and Padmé sighed. That was one person, who would no doubt be a thorn, out of the way for the moment. She couldn't say the same for Bail Organa though. No doubt he would have something to say, but she couldn't get hold of him. It was a delicate situation. Bail had been in the senate much longer than she had been and loyal. Padmé would have to deal with Alderaan's senator later. She didn't have the time right them. It was time to bring in her new Empire.

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Anakin followed behind Sabé as they went up the steps on the Jedi temple. She was dressed in the senatorial grab Padmé usually wore and walked like she was attending to important business for the Republic. Anakin had to admit, if he didn't know Padmé so well, he might have been fooled by her. The clones guarding the temple immediately raised their guns to Anakin.

"Stand down," Sabé said to them in the same authoritative tone Padmé probably would have. "He's with me."

"Yes milady," they said and moved to allow the two to pass.

Padmé came forward after Palpatine gestured for her to come forward in the center pod of the senate arena. Palpatine had been presenting evidence all afternoon and the stage was set. Now it was time for her to gather their backing.

"Fellow senators and citizens of the galaxy…"

Yoda and Obi-wan came in behind them a short while later as they inspected the damage. Bodies lay everywhere and next to Anakin, Sabé gasped grasping his arm for support. Anakin didn't mind. He felt like he needed something to grab onto himself.

"We were all fooled by the Jedi, myself included. They hid their true intentions behind noble causes but secretly sought to use this war to take over the Republic and put us under their control, force us under their way," Padmé continued. "I know it's hard to believe, but I witnessed the attack on the chancellor myself."

"Not even the younglings survived," Obi-wan pointed out.

"The clones did all this?" Anakin asked stunned. The Jedi wouldn't have been able to defend themselves.

"No… Not just the clones Anakin. Someone was here supervising and making sure they carried out Palpatine's orders," Obi-wan said quietly.

"Who?" Anakin wondered inspecting a body. "Who could've done this?"

"We were all trapped, frozen in a state of fear that left us unable to act. But thanks to the tireless efforts of myself and the precautions taken by Chancellor Palpatine, the war is now over and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning…"

"I have to know what happened," Anakin said heading to the main control area after he and Obi-wan dismantled the code that told all Jedi to return to the temple.

Obi-wan rushed to stop him.

"Anakin no," he said to him.

"Why?" Anakin said angrily. "Whoever led this attack deserves to be punished."

"I'm not sure you'll agree… Bail told me something. I didn't want you to know yet."

"Unfortunately, it was because of infighting in the senate that led to this crisis and now it is time we learn from the mistakes of the past. Now is the time for us to stand together…"

Padmé waited for the applause of the senate, to die down. Hypocrites… If only some of these same senators knew what they had coming, she thought before continuing.

"Now isn't the time to return to arguing for someone to take advantage of again. Now is the time for us to come together and with your approval stand with one voice, represented by one leader who can lead us into this second chance at a new era of peace, liberty, security, and democracy."

The senate stood to their feet to applause.

"Who was it?" Anakin asked.

"Padmé was here… Bail saw her kill a youngling who was trying to fight and escape the clones."

"No," Anakin said unwilling to believe it though he had already gathered this earlier. He was just in denial. "I don't believe you."

"And so with your approval and the approval of the galaxy, the constitution will be revised and the Republic reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, where this august body will chose and stand behind a sovereign ruler chosen for life to be the voice and enforce the will of the people we represent."

The senate broke into loud applause and Padmé turned to look at Palpatine with a smile, but he didn't return it. Instead he was looking to where Bail Organa had stood in his pod and Mas Amedda called him to the floor.

Padmé frowned. How dare he?

"Anakin I wouldn't make this up," Obi-wan said looking down. "I know this hurts but you can't deny it. Padmé-."

Anakin abruptly cut Obi-wan off, roughly pushing him aside.

"I have to see it," he said.

"Anakin please. You don't want to."

"So you oppose?" Padmé challenged. "When it's apparent the way you still cling on to isn't working, nearly brought this galaxy to shambles and you would propose we continue it when what we need is action and relief now?"

Padmé turned back to the senate.

"Do you want your children to inherit this mess? Or do we change it while we've been given the chance to get it back on track?"

The senate was quiet.

"Don't you see? It's this kind of thinking that has to be eradicated. It's not about what kind of government is in place. What matters is whether or not the government works and it's apparent the Republic and the Senate as it is no longer function. If we leave it be, we're just asking for revolution and a war bigger than the one we've just ended," Padmé declared. "Is that what you want?"

Cries of no and protests rang throughout the arena. Padmé turned back to Bail.

"We will not tolerate rebellion and anarchy in our new government Senator Organa. If that is what you propose, then I suggest you step down from your office now and let someone else take your place," Padmé said coolly as the entire arena erupted in noise and applause for her.

Anakin was speechless as he watched the recording. Obi-wan was right. He didn't want to see this, but now that he saw it, he couldn't tear his eyes away from it. He watched as Padmé led the clones to the council room.

"I think you missed a room," she said as the clones shot the security pad on the door and it slid open to reveal a group of younglings.

The whimpered in fear until one boy said.

"Look! It's Senator Amidala."

They seemed relieved, even as the clones raised their blasters at them.

"Wait," Padmé said simply as she surveyed the room.

Anakin let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't done it…

Padmé suddenly went in the room and pulled a child out the arms of one of the oldest of the younglings.

The child she had looked to be no older than three, Anakin realized, the youngest in the room. He watched as Padmé looked at the little girl with brown hair and brown eyes, similar to how he imagined Leia would look one day.

"It'll be alright little one," Padmé whispered to her. "I'll keep you safe."

Padmé then walked past the clones and out the room.

"Continue with the operation," she said as she left, covering the ears of the child in her arms.

Anakin couldn't watch anymore, but couldn't find it in himself to simply reach over and turn off the holo. He didn't have to. Obi-wan turned off the holo just as the clones raised their blasters and prepared to kill the younglings.

"I'm sorry Anakin," he said to him.

Anakin didn't hear him as he spoke. He couldn't get the image out of his mind. Padmé leading the attack on the temple, leaving a group of children to the mercy of the clones… He clenched his jaw and began to shake, tears forming in his eyes.

"Anakin," Obi-wan said carefully. "I know how you feel about Padmé, but…"

"But what?" Anakin snapped glaring at him.

"We have to do our duty," Obi-wan said sighing.

"A duty to do what?" Anakin asked. "She's not a threat like Sidious. She has no power. What kind of threat could she be?"

"Another power Senator Amidala has," Yoda said. "Dangerous, she could still very well be."

"What power?"

"You underestimate her. Padmé's a very popular and charismatic figure. If she rallies the people behind her, gives them good rationale for it, and makes them think she has their best interest at heart, she can turn the entire galaxy against us," Obi-wan explained. "She wouldn't have to lift a finger to annihilate what's left of the order. In a way, she could be more dangerous than any Sith is to the Jedi."

"And so that warrants us killing her?"

Obi-wan didn't falter under Anakin's fierce glare as he said, "We have to do something. You know she's not going to sit and let us apprehend her if she's rationalized in her mind to do this."

Anakin ignored him, turned on his heel, and started down the hall. He didn't run as he was sure Obi-wan wouldn't follow him. He ignored his former master calling him back. He had to find Padmé and he knew exactly where she would be.

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"Your husband is here," Palpatine said to Padmé as they waited in his holding office.

"What?" Padmé asked surprised as she looked at Palpatine from where she was. She had just been contemplating what approach she would take when she spoke to Anakin, but as always, Anakin wasn't one who liked to be left waiting. Still…

"I told him it was too dangerous for the Jedi," she muttered to herself. "What is he doing here?"

"I fear that it may be too late for him Padmé. The Jedi have no doubt poisoned his mind with lies," Palpatine said to her. "But at least you can find comfort in the fact that your children will know the truth and I will certainly teach it to them."

"No," Padmé said determined. "I can get through to him. He'll understand."

With that Padmé left the room, Palpatine smiling maliciously after her. With two children as strong in the force as their father, he no longer needed Anakin, two children raised into the dark side from infancy…

Padmé made her way up into Palpatine's main office and waited by the desk for Anakin. He would sense her and come right to her. She didn't have to wait long. He turned the corner and into the office. Padmé's heart swelled with love for him as she saw him, temporarily forgetting that until she spoke to him they were on different sides.

"Anakin," she said running into his arms.

"Padmé," he whispered clinging to her as though she weren't real. "Oh Padmé."

"Anakin," Padmé said pulling away from him seeing the conflict and hesitation in his eyes. He looked distraught. "Anakin what's wrong?"

"I… I went to the Jedi temple with Obi-wan and Yoda. They said Bail saw you supervising the attack on the temple."

"Anakin," Padmé said rubbing her hand across his chest. "Anakin the Jedi are trying to drive us apart, turn us against each other."

"I saw a holo," Anakin continued, "of you giving the order to kill younglings."

Padmé looked at him. She wouldn't deny it. But she wished the Anakin had just waited for her to explain, had heard it from her first so she could show him that was the only way. It had killed her to do it, but she couldn't risk those children, already indoctrinated by the Jedi code, ready to turn against the values of freedom and democracy. She looked down.

"Anakin…"

"Tell it was someone else."

Padmé sighed and pulled away from Anakin.

"Anakin, the Jedi were in revolt. They tried to turn against the Republic. They attempted to kill the chancellor," Padmé started to explain.

"Palpatine's the Sith Lord," Anakin said to her. "What did you expect?"

"And the Jedi are supposed to uphold the laws of the Republic. They should have tried to arrest him and put him on trial instead of trying to kill a man who was defenseless without naming his crime," Padmé replied.

"He orchestrated this war to get into power. He had too much power to be tried. You know that."

"And you would have him persecuted for that after all he's done to try and stabilize the galaxy? Besides, it wasn't like that. The Jedi haven't told you the real truth. I know what really happened."

"And how do you know? Because Palpatine told you. He told you the truth and you had the Jedi persecuted for it? Forget the Jedi. Padmé, you let the clones kill younglings," Anakin said angrily. There was no denying it now. Her reluctance to deny his accusations told him enough.

"That's different. The Jedi were going to take over the Republic and destroy the senate. It was only because of Palaptine's quick action and swift retribution that we escaped their oppression," Padmé supplied.

"You can't really believe that," Anakin asked furrowing his eyebrows as he looked at her pensively.

"Look at what they've done to you," Padmé replied deciding to try a new tactic. "They wouldn't let you save your mother, forced us to hide our love… they could have been a threat to our children. But now we don't have to worry about that. Palpatine's willing to teach you Anakin."

"Teach me?"

"You can learn the secret to stopping people from dying."

"He's a Sith Padmé."

"I know," Padmé said softly to him as she closed the distance between them again. "But think of what we can learn from him."

"And then what?"

Padmé smiled. "The constitution is being revised as we speak and a new sovereign leader will be chosen to rule the galaxy for life. I can get the people's approval and we can overthrow Palpatine," Padmé suggested.

"A dictatorship? Padmé…"

"It's what you wanted remember? I was naïve back then to think that the senate would be able to pull through and do what needed to be done. I ignored all the signs and you were right. You said someone wise could lead and enforce the decisions on the galaxy. That can be us Anakin."

Years ago, even months ago, this might have been exactly what Anakin wanted. Hell, it was what he had wanted. The idea of being able to stop people from dying was tempting and he had nothing against a totalitarian government. It might be time for it as the condition of the galaxy as it was needed a strong leader with the final word to help guide it out this crisis, but not like this, not in league with a Sith Lord that had turned his wife into someone else. She had sanctioned the murder of thousands of Jedi in the name of this new order. She sanctioned murder, Anakin thought. This wasn't right. Padmé would save the life of even her worst enemy.

"Padmé what's happened to you?"

Padmé walked up to him and put her hand his face.

"Nothing. Anakin… Don't you see? We can bring peace to the galaxy now. We can liberate all the systems who have suffered under this war. We can help them!"

"What if they don't want it?" Anakin asked. "Are you going to murder them too?"

"Anakin, this government has failed us. It had to be done and certain people had to die. We can even go back to Tatooine and free all the slaves now. There's no one to stop us. You and I… We can rule the galaxy together, raise our children freely…"

Anakin brushed her hand away. "Padmé this isn't you. What's happened to the compassionate person I knew, who cared about others before she cared about what she wanted?"

Padmé's eyes narrowed, even as tears came to her eyes. "Don't you get it! This isn't just for us. I've made things better for everyone. It's still me."

"No it's not!" Anakin yelled, his anger and exasperation getting the best of him. "Palpatine changed you. I don't know who you are."

"Anakin-."

"You aren't my angel," Anakin whispered wondering if his words hurt Padmé as much as they hurt him. He couldn't tell anymore. This new Padmé shielded her emotions from him very well.

"Anakin please. Don't force me-."

"To do what?" Anakin snapped angrily and then forced himself to calm down as he put his hands on either side of her head, running his fingers through her hair. "Padmé… I love you. But you're not yourself. Come with me. Let's run away from here. We'll go somewhere and raise our children, leave all this behind us."

"But we don't have to run anymore," Padmé insisted desperately. He wasn't supposed to fight her. He was supposed to agree with her. Why wasn't he agreeing with her? This was what he wanted. He wanted this.

"But at what cost?" Anakin asked her. "Padmé you're a good person. Don't do this."

Padmé looked down and shook her head. It wasn't working. He didn't believe her. He was turning against her.

"Palpatine was right," she said. "The Jedi have you trapped in their web of lies. Ani…"

"Padmé, it doesn't have to be this way."

"Yes it does. Please. Don't you betray me too," she choked out as her eyes darted everywhere but his face to hold back her tears. "I'm sorry. It's either this or nothing."

Anakin stared at her quite literally stunned at her ultimatum. Was she really…?

"You'd take you're your new empire, you'd side with Palpatine, a Sith Lord, over me?" he asked.

Padmé was quiet for a long time, so long Anakin wondered if she even heard him. But finally she looked up at him indifferently and firm, even as tears slid down her cheek.

"Yes."

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AN: This broke my heart to write. I was trying to keep the same tone as the end of ROTS. I wanted Padmé to still choose an idea over Anakin, just like she did in the movie, but for the wrong side. Anakin sounds like he after an idea but just like the movie, he's trying to save her and she won't let him… At least that's what I was trying to get across. If I didn't, oh well. I tried. I'm tired. So I leave this to you all to judge.

Hope you enjoyed. Review Please! (Goes back to bed.)