Precipice by shadowsong26
Homecoming: Chapter 2
There was an art to going unrecognized.
Having a decoy helped, of course. At least half of what Padmẻ had gotten away with over the years, she'd only managed because she'd had an airtight alibi with dozens of witnesses. But being in two places at once only got her so far.
It had been easier when she'd had the shell of makeup she'd worn as Queen to hide behind. But harder didn't mean impossible, and makeup was still her friend.
For her re-entry into Theed, two weeks after her official arrival, some judicious use of paint and an easily removeable hair dye added a good ten years to her age. Having Luke with her provided additional camouflage, as did a volunteer field nurse uniform she'd acquired with Bail's help.
Even if someone suspected that the Senator Amidala who had returned to Naboo in haste following the tragic loss of a pregnancy no one officially knew about, no one would look twice at a weary, near-forty nurse carrying a small infant.
Clearing customs had worried her at first-the spaceport staff would look at her more closely, and she wasn't entirely sure her hastily-assembled fake papers would pass muster. But Luke had chosen an exactly perfect moment to wake up hungry, and the harried official who drew the short straw just wanted the screaming infant as far away from him as possible, as fast as he could manage.
"Thank you, sweet boy," she whispered, once they were clear and she'd found a suitably secluded place to feed and soothe him. "Never thought I'd say that but thank you for crying."
From the spaceport, Padmẻ knew exactly where she was going. It was a risk, going to a neighborhood this close to the palace, but she didn't have much choice. She had to go here first, and make sure Luke was settled and safe, before she could do anything else.
"Five thirty-nine, five forty-one, five forty-there." She shifted Luke a little. "Here we are, sweet boy. Ready to meet one of your aunties?"
He blinked up at her and made a confused sort of gurgle.
"Well, at least you're not talking back yet." She tapped on the door; in a specific pattern she'd long had memorized but hadn't actually used in years.
It opened right away.
"Oh, thank the Force." Sabẻ's voice, warm and familiar, underscored by the distinctive sound of a blaster uncocking, was as welcome as the hug that quickly followed. Unlike Padmẻ's, her Theed accent was natural. When constructing the layers of persona for Amidala, all the little details that would turn a slightly self-righteous, idealistic, reckless teenager into a Queen, Padmẻ had spent hours locked away with her friend, learning how to mimic the accent almost exactly.
"Come in, before someone sees you," she added. Without waiting for an answer, her hand closed on Padmẻ 's wrist and she pulled her through.
"I've missed you, too," Padmẻ said.
"We've been worried," Sabẻ said, clearing a space on the couch for Padmẻ to sit before pouring shuura juice for the two of them. "I don't think anyone outside the inner circle has figured Motee out, but...well, we don't like not knowing where you are."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I was…" She hesitated, not sure how much she should risk saying. She trusted Sabẻ implicitly, but-well, walls had ears. Especially nowadays.
"It's all right," she assured her. "You're home safe now, that's what matters." She returned to the sitting room and pushed a half-disassembled rifle aside to make room for the glasses and a plate of cookies.
Padmẻ wasn't quite willing to let go of Luke to take her cup. She was pretty sure Sabẻ would forgive her rudeness on that count. "I didn't have a way to send a message. I came here first. I thought about Varykino, but I need...there's a few things I need to take care of before Motee and I switch back."
"I see," she said, with a significant look at Luke.
"Yeah," she said, holding him close and considering how to explain.
On the other hand, maybe she wouldn't really need to. Sabẻ hadn't worked directly for Padmẻ, in years, but the two of them could still read each other almost more easily than they could read themselves. She had to know what Padmẻ was thinking. Despite a growth spurt at sixteen that left her towering almost twelve centimeters over Padmẻ, Sabẻ had technically remained as a handmaiden for Padmẻ 's entire tenure as Queen. She just didn't really work as a decoy anymore, transitioning into a close advisor, sounding board, confidante, and more traditional bodyguard.
After Padmẻ 's term was up, Sabẻ had decided to continue working for the palace rather than following her to the Senate-primarily in an advisory capacity, training Padmẻ 's successors' handmaidens; but also working in intelligence. Of all the people Padmẻ knew and trusted, Sabẻ was the one she knew could help her pull off this deception.
And, sure enough, "I'm guessing you've already handled the raw records?" Sabẻ asked.
"The medical records, the text, the data-yes," Padmẻ said, relaxing a little when she didn't have to explain. Of course, her official miscarriage had already been announced, and Sabẻ was smart enough to fill in the blanks when she showed up with an infant who was very much alive. Still, it was a relief. After all, the fewer times she had to go over this, the less risk someone might overhear, or she might slip up in the wrong context and put her family in danger. "But I'm concerned that might not be enough."
"You want me to help you fake a body."
She nodded.
Sabẻ leaned back, tapping the edge of her glass thoughtfully. "Yes, I can manage that."
"The body will be a little girl," Padmẻ said. "I have a sample for you to use, for genetic purposes." Coming from Leia-a further layer of secrecy.
Her eyebrows shot up. "So... twins, then?"
"Yes. You can't tell anyone, Sabẻ. You're one of about ten people who know." Which was a lot more than she wanted, but they couldn't exactly hide from the doctors at Polis Massa. And, once they'd decided to trust them at all, it was too late to hold back. At least they didn't actually know who she and Anakin were. She thought. She hoped.
"Of course," Sabẻ said. "And I won't ask where your daughter is. Safer for all of us that way, I would think."
Padmẻ nodded. "I know where she is, that's enough." Well, she didn't know exactly, not for sure. She and Anakin had deliberately avoided confirming where he would go with Leia once he was cleared to leave the medcenter. Like Sabẻ said, that was safer.
True, she knew where Leia was now. Anakin would have to stay at Polis Massa for a while, recovering. But she knew he wouldn't keep his head down for longer than he absolutely had to. She gave her husband about two to three months, maximum, before he was healed enough to get restless. It all depended how persuasive Obi-Wan was. When he inevitably got moving again, she did have a couple ideas, where he might go to ground. Somewhere safe, someone safe, where he could leave their daughter for a few days while he ran missions.
But she hadn't asked, and he hadn't offered. She trusted him to keep her daughter safe and tried not to think about them too much.
"So, after you've made all of this public…" Sabẻ said. "What do you intend to do with him?"
"Adopt him, eventually." Padmẻ was pretty sure this scheme fell into the category of 'just crazy enough to work.'
"Clever," Sabẻ said, with a small, pointed smile. "So, you need papers forged marking him out as a war orphan?"
"Exactly," she said. "Everything has to look completely above-board, completely legal. His false identity has to be airtight."
"It will be," she assured her. "When do you plan on doing this?"
Her heart ached at the thought, and she held Luke a little closer. "I don't...I don't know. As soon as I can, but...I don't want...it has to look natural, right?"
Sabẻ touched her hand briefly. "Of course. But...you know, different people have different responses to grief."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Honestly, you could probably pull it off right after your mourning period is over," she said. "You loved your daughter, you wanted your daughter, and every morning you woke up without her was unbearable. So, you turned to an old friend for help in finding a suitable child. A little boy, so you could distinguish them, so you wouldn't project and accidently hurt the child you have, but the hole in your heart would still be filled."
That was…
Padmẻ almost burst into tears with relief. She'd thought she would have to wait a year, to avoid suspicion. But Sabẻ was right. She could sell that story, even to Palpatine. She wouldn't even have to lie about the hole in her heart-Anakin and Leia were alive, but so far away, and she had no way of knowing when she'd see them again.
"Thank you," she said, with feeling. "Thank you."
Sabẻ smiled. "It's why I'm here, Padmẻ. To provide an outside perspective."
She squeezed her hand. "I know. I was too close to this one, I was...how long do you need?"
"Two weeks, give or take." Sabẻ paused. "You should bring Sola in on this part as well. Whether or not you tell her everything."
True. Trust Sabẻ to think of those details-Sola's first husband had been a litigator; she still had contacts in the field. Everyone Padmẻ knew had worked for her office, not for her. Plus, she'd need someone with the right expertise, to ensure minimal complications with Luke's adoption.
On the other hand, …
Padmẻ winced a little. "How mad at me are they? Sola and my parents."
"I wouldn't say mad," Sabẻ said carefully. "But they're...not very happy, that you hid the pregnancy from them. Or that you refused to come home or let them visit you at Varykino."
She bowed her head. "I'll make it up to them. Somehow." She knew the story she'd tell, of course. The one she'd always planned on telling, only now it was simpler and sadder. The baby's father had to know first, of course, and now…
It had gotten so easy, over the years, to lie to her parents. She made herself think about it, feel guilt every time she did it anyway. It was necessary, and it wouldn't stop her, but she needed that. It kept her human, no matter how deadly the politics around her got.
"I'm sure you will," Sabẻ said. "Just...be prepared, when you do see them." Luke shifted in Padmẻ 's arms, yawning, and both women smiled. "I think this little treasure might help. Especially with...with the story you're telling."
"Yeah," Padmẻ said, then hesitated. "Do you-do you think it'd be safe, to keep him with me at Varykino until everything's straightened out? Or…"
Sabẻ thought for a long moment. "It would probably be safer to establish his identity somewhere besides on paper. I'm sorry, Padmẻ."
She blinked back stubborn tears. "Right. Of course. I know that." She'd just hoped, with everything else-
It's only for a couple weeks, she reminded herself. Just until Sabẻ can get the paperwork together. And she'll make sure no one else dares to try and adopt him in the meantime.
"Why don't you stay here tonight?" Sabẻ said, picking up on her distress. "We can work out the details tomorrow."
Padmẻ nodded. "Thank you," she said again. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Sabẻ set her glass down and folded her hands carefully, bowing from the waist in an abbreviated full-court Presentation obeisance, and murmured the oath she'd sworn over a decade ago, when Padmẻ had first become queen. "It is my honor and privilege to serve."
The ritual helped. Padmẻ felt her spine straightening. "It is our duty and fortune to receive your service."
Just like that, Padmẻ 's arm of the movement she and Bail and the Jedi had started began to take shape. She would fight the way she always had, with words and secrets and painted faces; with Sabẻ and her other handmaidens at her side, watching her back, protecting her.
And protecting Luke.
Right now, nothing else mattered. Tomorrow, over breakfast, she and Sabẻ would make larger plans.
Tonight, though, despite receiving Sabẻ's renewed oath, she was just a woman in her friend's house, securing her son's future.
She smiled, and relaxed. "So, would you like to properly meet Luke now?"
Sabẻ didn't smile often, but when she did-like now-it put the stars to shame. "I would love to meet your son."