AN: I am alive! Hahah sorry this took so long, in short. NYCC - J.K Rowling [The Queen] - Midterms - Hurricane Sandy - Life.
Hope anyone else who was hit by Sandy is doing okay! I'm in NYC and things are still a little crazy, but we're New Yorkers we're used to a little crazy! haha
So yeah,
I promise I will try not to ever let it be that long again, I'm already working on the next two/three chapters. I'm a weird writer who gets ideas for later chapters in the middle of other chapters. Anyone else do that?
Oh and can we all just take a moment to ijdkdsjfdjsf because Lucas sold LucasFilms to Disney and they are planning at Star Wars VII for 2015. UMMMM.
Thank you again to everyone who was left me so many kind messages, and a HUGE thank you to ellisaed, my beta.
But anyway here it is! I hope everyone enjoys and please review as usual.
So pick your friends, forget the rest
You can't live life being second best
The critics talk of stubbornness
But you're just passionate, you're just passionate
So if I'm wrong again, I apologize
You can take a guess, I'll check out my eyes
It's a common thing, to be out of line
But it's getting old, by the fifteenth time
Two Door Cinema Club- You're Not Stubborn
The plan was in place, and Anakin stood outside the Chancellor's chamber doors in the Senate building. He, as usual, was the bait.
The doors to the chamber opened and Anakin took a deep breath, walking in. The Chancellor's chamber was a wide and open spaced with red walls. Anakin found Dorme bound, gagged and beaten in the far right corner; she wasn't moving, but Anakin sensed she was still alive. Trying his best to subdue his anger, he approached the Chancellor who was seated at her ornate black and silver desk on the far side.
"Vader." The Chancellor said as Anakin knelt before him. "I knew you would come for her, but tell me: where are the children?"
Anakin lifted his head, "I don't know. The handmaiden fled with them. It appears my wife has been less than loyal. Release her to me and I will be sure to punish her."
Palpatine laughed and sent Force lighting down upon Anakin. He screamed out in pain as the electric bolts caused his body to spasm and shock.
"I'm not a fool Anakin! Do not lie to me! I don't know what happened on Mustafar but you are no longer the apprentice I command! I am the most powerful being in the universe, did you think you'd get over on me?"
Anakin regained control of his body and rolled over to see Palpatine had taken on his true Sidious nature.
"I will tear her limb from limb - where are the children?"
"Why do you want my children?" Anakin asked through gritted teeth.
"We will raise them in the way of the Sith! I sense great strength in them. And oh how delighted I was to see that there were two of them. A boy and a girl, yes?" Sidious smiled, "Both very useful. The boy I'm sure will be a great Sith Lord, and the girl . . . well, once she's old enough we'll put her to good use." Sidious cackled.
Anakin had enough. He felt the anger rising in him. No one would speak of his children in that way. He drew his saber and Force jumped at the Sith Lord.
"Foolish of you." Sidious laughed and drew his own saber, meeting Anakin's attack. "You could have been the greatest Sith that ever lived - after me, of course!"
"Never!" Anakin yelled, pushing onward with his attack. Using the Force he opened the chamber doors which revealed Jedi Masters Yoda, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"You think that you can out number me?" Sidious cast a round of Force Lighting at the newly arrived Jedi Masters, who ran out of the way, narrowly missing the attack.
"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you're under arrest, Chancellor." Mace Windu said, drawing his own saber and joining Anakin in the attack.
A few B1 battle droids appeared at the door with B2 Super Droids. The B1's were the standard Battle Droids the Masters were used to fighting, with their curved heads and predictable attacks. Obi-Wan could imagine them saying "Roger, roger" to each other right there. The B2 Super Droids were the ones that would actually be a little bit of a fight. The B2's unlike the B1's were much bigger and had a thicker layer of armor, and internal laser guns. Easy enough for a light saber to slice through, but they were quicker and more efficient, giving a little bit more trouble for the Jedi's. Obi-Wan and Yoda drew their sabers as the droids started to fire. They returned the droids lasers on themselves, effectively taking them out.
"Your droids are useless against us Sidious!" Obi-Wan yelled as a B2 fired at him.
The struggle continued for a few more minutes, each side gaining and losing the upper hand. Once Obi-Wan and Yoda had taken out the droids, Obi-Wan Force closed the door.
"Out numbered you are. Give up you must." Yoda said, putting his saber back on his belt.
"I will never give up!" Sidious cackled, using the Force to send a couch at Yoda, who in return used the Force to push it away.
Sidious knew he could not keep up a fight against them. He was out numbered for saber to saber combat, so instead he stepped back and unleashed a round of Force Lightning on Anakin. Anakin dropped to the floor as his body convulsed.
"Noooo!" Obi-Wan screamed as he rushed towards his former Padawan. Sidious Force pushed Obi-Wan back and continued his assault on Anakin. Anakin's body convulsed even more as he screamed in pain from the attack. Once Sidious was satisfied that the Jedi were distracted, he ran to the back of his chamber where his emergency escape pod was located. Using the Force, he threw objects from around the room at the Jedi moving towards Anakin. He cackled and sent another round of lightning on the young man's body. "You are weak and unworthy of being my Apprentice. You'll never get me Jedi scum. You're all too weak!" He closed the door and lifted off.
"NO!" Obi-Wan slammed his hand against the window as Sidious's escape pod set into hyper space and left the system. Obi-Wan ran to Anakin and dropped down next to him, feeling his pulse. It was weak but still there. "We need to get him to a Medi-Unit."
"We'll take him to his home and have him cared for there." Mace Windu answered looking at Master Yoda, "We don't want to raise too much attention about this. It's bad enough the media will be all over him and the Senator once they find out about their marriage and the children. We'll take him to his home and the hand maiden to a Medi-Unit. We'll be able to make up a cover story for her."
Obi-Wan nodded his head in agreement, never looking away from Anakin. He was so young, and Obi-Wan always forgot that Anakin was young. He always acted and put on a front of being a man twice his age. But there he was then, sprawled out on the red carpet in the Chancellor's Chambers in a coma, looking just like the little boy from Tatoonie that Obi-Wan had met all those years ago. He was no longer that nine year old boy, no, he was a Jedi Master, he was married and had two children, and yet he still had so much pressure on him to be the 'hero' that he acted before he thought. Obi-Wan could see the change taking place in his former Padawan, he was slowly opening up more to the Force and maturing into a the man Obi-Wan always hoped he would become. He had trained his Padawan well, and now Obi-Wan needed to get him home and well so he could train his children the same way. Obi-Wan winced a little bit thinking about having to take Anakin home to Padme.
Obi-Wan lifted Anakin up off the floor and carried him out of the Chambers. He was not looking forward to Padmè's reaction to this, but he would be there if she needed him.
Padmé sat on the couch in their open living room wearing a light blue night gown and her silk robe over it. She couldn't sleep even if she tried, and between her own worries and the twins crying she wouldn't last a second. Luke and Leia were nuzzled into their mothers arms, no longer wailing but noticeably upset. Padmé was worried; the twins were most likely feeling something through the Force and it was very clearly upsetting them. Sabé sat next to Padmé quietly, not wanting to leave her Mistress alone.
Padmé saw the ship land on their port and handed Luke and Leia to Sabé as she stood and ran to the veranda. The hatch opened and she had to grab onto the pole to keep herself from falling. There stood Obi-Wan, Yoda and Master Windu, the first having the motionless form of her husband over his shoulder.
"No!" she cried, as the three Jedi Masters made their way to her. Sensing their mother's emotions Luke and Leia began to scream. Sabé bounced them up and down soothingly with no effect, and the hand maiden left the room the twins cries being heard from down the hall. Padmé couldn't move, she felt like stone, the babies cries were miles away and everything else was still. Obi-Wan walked past her and into the living room, placing Anakin down on the sofa. She turned to follow him, snapping out of her trance when Master Windu placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Senator Amidala." The Master could feel the young girls distress for her husband. "He'll survive."
Padmè reached into her robe, pulling out her inhaler; she couldn't take all of this at once. It wasn't fair. She stared at Obi-Wan as he adjusted Anakin on the couch, "What happened?" She questioned as Obi-Wan rejoined them.
"I am so sorry Padmé. He was hit with so much Force-lightning." Obi-Wan opened his arms and Padmé embraced him crying on his shoulder. He rubbed small soothing circles on the Senator's back.
"This is one of the reasons why we don't allow attachment." Mace watched the Jedi Master comforting the Senator. "Being a Jedi is dangerous, we-"
"I don't need you to tell me the dangers!" Padmé snapped as she pulled herself from Obi-Wan and went inside to her husband. She knelt down next to his still form.
"Oh Ani." She moved his bangs from his face and grabbed his hand in both of hers pressing her lips to it. "Please my love. Please wake up. Luke and Leia need you. I need you. This isn't how it's supposed to end."
This had to be a dream, a sick joke. She laid her head on his chest and sobbed. Through their connection she felt him fading, his presence was like a whisper lingering.
"Please." she pleaded, "Please wake up. I just got you back, I can't lose you again." She reached into her night gown and pulled out her inhaler again, she couldn't breath and although it helped she knew that her problem wasn't the reason.
Obi-Wan looked from the scene in front of him to the two Masters standing next to him. Master Windu was shaking his head and Master Yoda seemed to be lost in a deep thought.
"More understanding, compassionate, you must be Master Windu." Yoda finally spoke.
"Master, this is a perfect example of why it is forbidden." Mace replied.
"If change we plan, then change we must." Yoda said, looking up at the two Masters next to him. "Survive Skywalker will."
"Are you positive Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan asked.
Yoda nodded his head. Before anyone could do anything else the Masters attention was brought back to the two in front of them. Padmé had climbed on top on Anakin and was currently laying on him, tucked under his arm and holding his mechanical hand with her eyes closed. Obi-Wan had never seen this side of Padmé, not even when he told her of Anakin's turn to the Dark Side. Padmé had always been such a strong woman, and deserved this moment of need, of weakness.
Yoda cleared his throat, "Our leave we will take now."
Obi-Wan stepped forward and placed his hand on Padmè's shoulder. "It will be okay Padmè. I promise."
Padmè nodded her head and snuggled closer into Anakin's body.
He took one last look back at those whom he would consider his two best friends, his family, and followed the two Masters out to their speeder.
Anakin stirred a bit, his head pounding and a pressure on his chest. He slowly opened his eyes, but quickly closed them again; even with the dim lighting in the room it had only made the nausea he was feeling worse. He felt the pressure on his chest shift and realized it was a person.
"Oh, Anakin!" He heard his wife shriek. He felt her tear streaked face in the crook of his neck.
"I'm here my love." He brought his aching arm up to her hair and massaged her head soothingly.
"Don't you dare ever do that to me again, you understand?" She cried holding his head in her hands.
"I won't, Angel. I'm so sorry." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Everything's going to be okay."
"How are you feeling?" Padme sniffled laying her head back down on his chest.
"Sore." He felt her shift and begin to get up, "No, stay. I'd hurt more without you."
Padme smiled and kissed his chest, "I have never been so scared my love."
"Not even whe-"
"No, not even then because I knew you were physically safe and I could help you mentally." Padme felt Anakin take a deep breath.
"I didn't kill him, he's still out there."
"Don't worry about that now my love. He knows better than to show himself right now."
Anakin nodded, "I suppose your right. But when that day comes, I promise I won't fail you or the children again."
(Eight Months Later)
Padmé sat in one of the chairs of the Jedi Council chambers listening to the present Jedi argue over the amendments to the Code. She wore a dark purple strapless gown with gold embroidery and lace, the Naboo symbol on the belt. Her husbands Jedi robes were hung over her shoulders, for it was chilly in the chamber room, heat not being a luxury the Temple had. (I'm not sure if the Temple having heat is entirely true or not, but some people might be bothered by this if it isn't. I'd just say it was a chilly day.) She sighed as she continued to listen to them go back and forth; they'd been arguing the same topics for eight months now and had barely made any progress. She was supposed to be there to help delegate and write up the amendments but all she'd done so far was prevent fights and stare out the windows, thinking about the twins whom were home with Sabé. She had once suggested they take a vote but that quickly turned into an argument because some insisted that the Councils decisions needed to be unanimous, while others were arguing for change.
"Look." A frustrated Anakin sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I think we need to raise the age a youngling can become a Padawan. We are handing children these weapons and expecting them to fight. Expecting them to understand."
"I agree with Anakin, we aren't doing them any favors by putting so much on them so young." Aayla Secura agreed. The newly appointed Rutian Twi'lek Jedi Master was one of the Masters who was with Anakin for a complete change.
"The longer we wait, the harder they are to train. The more rebellious they are." said Kit Fisto glaring at Anakin. Kit Fisto was a Jedi Master that Anakin had always respected, he was a Nautolan with pale green skin and long head tails. He had fought along side the Jedi in many battles, including Geonosis. So it shocked Anakin when the Master stood against him with such a passion.
"That's not true! We just ne-"
"Raise the Padawan age! Allow Jedi to have families! What next Master Skywalker? This isn't the Senate!" Kit Fisto glared at Padmé. "The Jedi Code is sacred. You defied every rule and now we need to change because the Chosen One says so?"
"You leave my wife out of this!"
"Master Fisto, perhaps you should consider what you are saying." Aayla Secura said standing from her chair.
"No, Aayla do not get in this. You brought her into this the second you laid in her bed, made those children and brought her into this Chamber!"
"I'm warning you-"
"What are you going to do about it, Lord Vader?"
Several Masters gasped as Padmé jumped up and grabbed Anakin before he could lunge at Kit Fisto. Anakin fought against her grip, but gave up when she shoved him back further. "Ani, don't listen to him. He's not worth it."
"Yeah Ani, listen to your wife." Kit Fisto sneered.
Padmé turned and walked over to where Kit Fisto was standing, "And you!" she said wagging her finger at him, "You're very lucky we're in a room full of people I respect or I'd really let you know how I feel. But let me tell you that you're treading in deep water and if he loses control of his emotions. Then, I won't be able to stop him. And I probably wouldn't even try. So if I were you, I'd take a seat and think of a different approach to this."
Padmé stepped back into the center of the room. "That goes for all of you! Eight months of this nonsense and you've gotten no where. You're focusing too much on the old Code. Jedi all those years ago sat down and did just what you're doing, and that Code worked for them. But it no longer works for you, and who knows in the future if what you set works for them. I will tell you that it needs to change, and not for selfish reasons, because yes I have a family with a Jedi Master, but so could all of you. Love is not the path to the Dark Side - fear and resentment are. Trust me, I've witnessed it. Now, Jedi Masters, if one of you would be so kind as to move my chair to the Center here, I will read off my holopad what we have so far."
- Later that night Anakin sat on the floor of his living room, the sun having been set long ago and the sky starless. The Jedi Master was seated on a thick blanket, his son Luke seated in front of him. Between them were toy star fighters, one Anakin held up with the Force, levitating it around his son.
"Pew! Pew! Pew!" He imitated the fighters lasers. Luke laughed and reached up, trying to grab the levitating toy.
"Ani! Ani!" Padmé came excitedly running from the other room, Leia in her arms and Artoo in tow. Padmè was already dressed in a light silk lilac night gown with a fancy design and Naboo symbol embroidered along the waist; Leia wearing the same in her tinier size.
"What is it Angel?" Anakin asked, putting the fighter down which Luke grabbed and stuck into his mouth. Anakin laughed, "Always right into the mouth. No no Luke." He pulled the toy out of his sons mouth.
"Oh Ani, watch!" Padmé said excitedly as she bent down a few feet from Anakin. She placed Leia down on her feet. "Make sure you're getting this Artoo!"
The little droid whirled and turned on his recorder. "Okay Leia, honey, go to Daddy!"
Leia wobbled a second, beginning to make her way the few steps into Anakin's out stretched arms. She was clapping her hands and giggling "Da da da." Her favorite word, as she went.
Anakin scooped her up and kissed her forehead. "I am so proud of you Little Angel. Such a big girl!"
Leia giggled and smacked her lips together which Anakin and Padmè had determined was their way of giving them kisses. Luke screamed happily from his spot on the floor, not wanting to be ignored. Padmè laughed and leaned down by her son.
"Are you playing with Daddy?" She asked and kissed the top of his head. Luke screamed again and grabbed at Padmè's long hair that was down in curls. "No no my little love. That does boo boo to Mommy."
Luke raised his hands above his head opening and closing them, repeating "Ma ma ma." which was his favorite word. Padmè smiled and picked Luke up off the floor. She set him down on his feet as he held onto her hands and toddled forward. Laughing, Padmè slowly released his grip on her, but the second he lost her grip he fell right onto his diapered bottom.
"Good try little guy!" Anakin exclaimed as his son smiled at him and laughed. "Pretty soon you'll be walking too!"
Leia yawned in Anakin's arms and put her head down on his shoulder bringing her thumb to her mouth.
"Looks like someone is tired from all the excitement of today." Anakin laughed standing up to bring Leia to her room.
"You too, little man." Padmè picked Luke up and followed her husband to the twins room. She grabbed a bottle from the bottle warmer and placed it in Luke's mouth, he grabbed on and immediately started drinking. Padmè placed him in his crib and smiled as his eyes slowly started to droop, she leaned down and kissed both of his cheeks. "Sweet dreams my little love."
Anakin reached into Leia's crib and removed her thumb from her mouth bringing her blanket up and tucking her in. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Good night, little Angel."
Padmè grabbed the baby monitor from the shelf and followed Anakin out of the twins room and across the hall to their bedroom. Once they reached their bedroom Anakin began to strip out of his Jedi garb as Padmè laid on the bed smiling.
"Enjoying the show?" Anakin said as he pulled his jerkin off.
"Always." Padmè said, sitting him and motioning for him to come to her. He did as she asked and moved towards her on the bed. She unbuttoned his under shirt and slid it off his shoulders. She loved Anakin's body, and she knew every scar-marked inch of skin on it. She rubbed her hands down his chest and across his abdomen. He smiled leaning down and catching her lips as her hands reached the waist band of his pants. She stood up pushing him down onto the bed, their height difference frustrated her sometimes. She started at his neck and kissed a trail down his chest and abdomen sinking to her knees in front of him.
There was a knock at their bedroom door and Anakin groaned, laying back on the bed. Padmè stood up, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "Come in."
Dorme appeared in the now open door way. She bowed her head visibly upset, "Master and Mistress Skywalker, I don't mean to bother you so late into the night."
"It's not a problem Dorme. Is something wrong?" Padmè asked, rising to her hand maiden and embracing her gently.
"I just received a message from my Father, and it appears my Mother is ill. And I was wondering if I may take a transport to Naboo for a few weeks to be with them. I know it's a lot to ask on such short notice-"
"Don't even continue that Dorme. You will go be with your family, it is where you are needed the most. Go on and pack a bag, I'll have Captain Typhoo take you to Naboo tomorrow on my cruiser. I wish your family the best Dorme; you have always been so loyal to me." Padmè answered rubbing the girls shoulders.
"Thank you Mistress Skywalker." Dorme couldn't help but let out a few tears, "You have always been so kind to us. I'm sorry to have interrupted your night. I will go pack now. Thank you." She bowed again and left the room.
"I swear Padmè, if it weren't for the twins I'd think we had no sex life at all." Anakin had moved her arm to rest over his face, but he felt the weight shift on the bed as Padmè sat back down.
"Oh hush up you." She laughed, swatting him, "You visited me at my office yesterday for what I was later told by my secretary you scheduled as 'aggressive negotiations'."
They both laughed and Anakin sat up smiling at his wife. He leaned forward and kissed her, "Is tomorrow a Senate day or a Jedi day?"
Padmè sighed, "Senate." She loved her job, but ever since the 'disappearance' of Chancellor Palpatine, things in the Senate had been hectic. Everyone was trying to pass whatever laws they could, while others were trying to claw at the other systems.
"I'll miss seeing you day dream in the Council Chambers. Now you know how I felt as a Youngling there." He laughed as she stood and pulled the covers back on her side of the bed and got in. He mimicked the motion laying down next to her. She snuggled into him as he wrapped his arm around her, she grasped his gloved hand in hers and sighed. She moved a little bit to get better access and undid the glove pulling it off.
"I hate when you wear the glove in bed." She commented, admiring the mechanical hand.
"It doesn't freak you out?" He said kissing her temple.
She shook her head, "Not at all love. I held this hand on our wedding day. It's a part of who you are and I love it."
Anakin shook his head, "Only you my Angel. Only you."
Padmé had been listening to the Senators go back and forth on their various issues for four hours now. The silver head piece shewore was starting to feel heavy, and with the twins still not sleeping through the night, she didn't get much sleep. The headache she had wasn't helping either. She smoothed out her brown robes and leaned forward, resting her head on her hand as she watched two Senators from adjoining Systems argue about a small piece of space and who had the rights to it.
Temporary Chancellor Bail Organa was trying to reason with both of them, but there was no middle point - it was one way or the other. The way the Senate had always been.
As they finished up Chancellor Organa reopened the Senate floor. Senator Doman Beruss of the Illodia System moved his pod to the center of the room. Senator Beruss was a male human, whom Padmè had never gotten along with. Whenever Padmè tried to make an advance or change in the Senate he was always one of the first to object.
"Senators, I think it's time we discussed these wars that are currently going on. We can sit here and pretend that they aren't still happening, but they very much are. Ever since the 'disappearance' of Chancellor Palpatine the fighting has only gotten worse."
That caught Padmé's attention. She sat up straight, turning the dial on her speaker up to hear him better. "And I firmly believe we need to remove the Jedi, not only from the war, but from any business with this Republic."
Padmé wasn't going to stand for this. She stood up directing her pod to the Center of the room. "You can't be serious?!" she exclaimed.
"Senator Skywalker. Thank you for joining is." Senator Beruss sneered, "But your relationship with the Jedi has blinded you to the truth. The Jedi are using this war for themselves, they only wish to gain power over the Republic."
"That's not true! The Jedi have been protecting this Republic since day one. Nothing they have done is for selfish reasons; that's not the way of the Jedi."
"Neither is getting married and having babies! But clearly that's going on." Beruss smirked as several other Senators loudly agreed with him.
"Leave my family out of this." She knew this was him attacking her again. She was getting fed up with him, and even more fedup with the Senators who were going along with him. They couldn't be serious about this! She closed her eyes and relaxed a bit as she felt Anakin's comforting vibes through their Force connection.
They were finally making progress revising the Code. Anakin was pleased that for once everyone was working together; Padmé had left a lasting effect on them. It was now reaching mid day and the sun was set high in the sky, there was still a slight chill in the air.
"Let's have break, shall we?" Shaak-Ti suggested standing and stretching her red arms above her head.
Anakin suddenly felt a slight disturbance in his connection with Padmé. She was upset. He sighed, sending comforting vibes through the Force, thinking to himself, The Senate must be arguing about something. He flipped on the Holonet link on his chair and switched to the Senate signal. The first image was of some Senator that Anakin did not know, but then it flicked to Padmé in her pod raised in the Center of the Senate.
"The Jedi have been nothing but good to us."
That got the attention of everyone in the Council Chamber.
"They have served the Republic in ways many of us would never have the guts to. They have never asked for any kind of repayment nor suggested any type of treason. You must see that!"
"You are blinded, Senator Skywalker." The other Senator smirked. Anakin didn't like this guy already and he had no clue what he was suggesting.
"I am no-"
"You are married and have children with a Master on the Jedi Council. How can you say you're not? You have too much of a relationship with the Jedi to see what they are doing, what they have done. They started this war, your husband is one of the reasons we are in this." Some of the other Senators clapped and agreed with Senator Beruss.
Anakin surveyed the Jedi Chamber, and saw that several of the Masters were shaking their heads.
"Little faith the Senate has in us, hmm?" Yoda questioned rubbing his chin.
"Not all of the Senate." Obi-Wan corrected the elder.
"How dare you! You all used him as a poster boy for this war. 'Hero With No Fear' - do you think he asked for that? No, he didn't! My husband would have rather been at home than fighting your war. I would like to see you risk your life like that. Do not blame this war on the Jedi. The former Chancellor Palpatine started all of this, he wanted complete control, not them. They have protected all of you, and you get to sit here today because of them."
Anakin smiled, and looked around the Chamber to see the other Masters nodding along.
"Always a burst of fire your att-wife is." Plo Koon remarked from beside Anakin reaching over to pat him on the back.
"If I recall, your husband was close with the former Chancellor. Very close." Senator Beruss smirked.
A still silence fell over both the Jedi Council and the Senate.
"He was fooled by Palpatine just as we all were." Padmè sent him a glare, daring him to continue. She then turned to the rest of the Senate. "My fellow Senators, you must see reason. Going through with this will destroy the Republic. The Jedi are keepers of the peace, they are our friends, our army superiors. The Clones answer to them."
"Interesting you bring that up, Senator Skywalker. It's as if the Jedi created that Clone Army for themselves." Beruss stated and a loud chatter broke out across the Senate.
"How could they think that?" Obi-Wan was astonished by the way the Senator was twisting everything against them. He had to hand it to Padmè though, she had a lot of courage standing up to them.
Anakin could feel her distress and sent her more comforting vibes. He watched as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. He smiled, knowing she knew he was there for her.
Padmè huffed as she made her way into the Jedi Council Chambers. The doors opened as she approached them and Anakin was waiting on the other side. He pulled her into an embrace and she sighed feeling instantly relaxed, resting her head on his chest. She could feel the comforting vibes from all around the vast chamber and clapping from the Jedi Masters.
"You did amazing." He said kissing the top of her head.
"It's true Padmè. We truly appreciate the way you stood us for us in the Senate." Obi-Wan said from his seat in the chamber.
Padmè raised her head from Anakin's chest and smiled at the Jedi Council who were all looking on at her, "I only spoke the truth. Senator Beruss is a supporter of Palpatine's, I wouldn't be surprised if he knew what was going on the entire time. I know that the Jedi seek no selfish gain from this ridiculous and unnecessary war."
"Regardless, that took a lot of courage. You are very brave Senator Skywalker." Aayla Secura stood and made her way over to the Senator, "I am glad that I can call you a friend." She embraced the Senator who was shocked at first but relaxed into the hug.
Padmè looked up at Anakin with a surprised face, who returned the look with a raised eyebrow and a smile. Padmè pulled away from the Master holding her at the elbows, "Thank you Master Secura. But please, call me Padmè."
"And you may call me Aayla." Aayla smiled and turned to the rest of the Council and laughed, "How can anyone think this is the path to the Dark Side?"
"Come Senator Skywalker, the Code we must finish." Yoda motioned to the seat beside him.
Padmè moved across the Chamber and sat next to the eldest Jedi Master taking the data pad from him and reviewing what they had thus far. "Very good, I like the Padawan age adjustment, sixteen is a good age. I think we need to expand a bit more on the 'attachment' issue." She continued to scroll down the data pad. "I'm glad to see you ended up agreeing with me about the Knights and the Padawan's needing representation in the Council." She peered up at Anakin who smiled and winked at her, "Well, let's finish up this Code then. I'm sure we'd all like nothing more than to get this done." Padmè smiled and started to write and re-write the Code.
Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Feel free to leave a review with what you thought/thinks going to happen!
May the Force be with you,
Padme xx