Part 2
Author's Note: Enjoy the second and final part of this fic! :D
PS. In case you're wondering, the Force swapped Anakin and Padme, because Anakin is more equipped to handle the stress of Padme's job plus the pregnancy without being overwhelmed the way she was, which, in part, led to her death. :)
~ Amina Gila
The next morning, Anakin stops by at Senator Organa's office the first chance he has. "Senator Amidala?" he asks, though he doesn't look particularly surprised to see him there. "I have been considering what you were saying about the Chancellor."
"I came here about that," he replies, "I... looked into it more, and I have information you should look at."
He looks distinctly curious, as Anakin sets the datapad with the information down in front of him.
Bail picks it up, expression growing increasingly alarmed as he goes through it. "Where did you get this kind of information?"
"The firewalls surrounding the data aren't what they're cracked up to be," he replies, evenly.
Bail looks almost amused for a moment before his troubled expression returns. "I assume you had someone else help you with this." He knows Anakin's... not talking like Padme does, Anakin can tell. Not that there's anything he can do about that. He doesn't talk like other natural Basic speakers. He knows that.
"I did have help," is the most he offers.
Senator Organa studies him for a long moment, before nodding. "I won't ask anymore. But we need to take action. Present this information in our meeting late this afternoon."
Which he'll do, but they have to do more than that. This goes far deeper than he ever imagined, and he still doesn't understand why. "We need to confront the Chancellor directly and ask for answers," Anakin says.
"I agree," Senator Organa muses. That's the only way they can get answers. And he... wants to believe Palpatine has some reason for doing this that isn't his own gain.
**w**
The one thing Padme can be grateful of is that her mission to spy on Palpatine means she has an excuse to be at the Senate instead of the Temple. Though, from the stray glances Palpatine keeps giving her, she's certain he thinks something's wrong.
He asks her to come over to an Opera House of all things to meet him, but she supposes it only sounds so bizarre because she's the one going there. Not Anakin, and she still doesn't fully know what his and Palpatine's relationship is like. Except that Palpatine seems a little surprised sometimes whenever she objects to what he's saying.
"You requested me?" she asks, stepping into the room awkwardly. It's not like she hasn't met with him privately before, but there was always more distance than when Palpatine thinks she's Anakin. And beyond that, she can't even say why being around him now makes her uncomfortable sometimes, it just... is. That's probably what she gets for trying to fill in as him. That's the only reason it's this strange, right?
"Yes," Palpatine agrees, "I have good news. Our Clone Intelligence Units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He is hiding in the Utapau system."
"That's good," Padme agrees, "The war should be over after that." Or so they can hope. But somehow, expecting things to just go back to normal feels almost too easy.
Palpatine nods along, asking her to sit and telling his aides to leave. "Anakin," he goes on, after a moment, "You know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."
What?
Does he suspect that the Council is investigating him? What they asked her to do is illegal, yes, but that doesn't mean they're planning to outright overthrow him, right? "What plot?" she asks, carefully.
"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They're planning to betray me."
She shakes her head. "I can't believe they would do that."
"Search your feelings," he urges, "You know, don't you?"
The feeling she actually has is that there might be something to what Palpatine is saying, but she can't believe that. It's – "They're trying to protect the Republic. They can make mistakes, just like everyone, but I believe that, in this, their intentions are sincere," she argues, firmly. Though, would playing along with this make him more likely to reveal something? He obviously is doing things he shouldn't be – Padme's still angry over what she saw in those documents Anakin found.
"Or so they tell you," he says, "They have gained much power throughout the war, and remember that all who gain power are afraid to lose it. Even the Jedi."
And like you, Padme doesn't say, because Palpatine unquestionably is, and he'd be trying to convince Anakin of the same if she wasn't here. She doesn't believe the Jedi would ever fall as low as he's claiming. When she was younger, she always used to find them a bit strange, but she's grown to respect them a lot now, and she can't just – "They may have gained more power throughout the war, but that still falls under the Senate's jurisdiction. They've used it only to help. I can't say the same about many others."
Palpatine is studying her now, though if he noticed the slightest hint, he doesn't show it openly. "Or so you've been trained to believe. You've seen the mistakes they make, Anakin. I know you cannot be this blind to it."
"I know what I've seen," she replies, firmly, "And they would never do anything like what you're saying."
She's almost certain that she sees a hint of... something in his gaze. Maybe, he is getting suspicious, though she doesn't know how she ought to be acting differently to copy Anakin. He's always been more respectful of authority than maybe she's being right now, but this is something she's certain they'd both be firm on.
"I only ask that you look closer," Palpatine replies, finally, "There is more to this than you're willing to see. Don't let what they've taught you blind you."
**w**
The Council meeting early the next morning is about as uncomfortable as all the other ones she attends. She gives them the news about Grievous and is more than grateful when they decide to send Obi-Wan instead of her.
The moment the meeting is over, Padme's already out the door. She needs to go back to the Senate, and –
"Anakin!"
So much for that.
She can't well pretend Obi-Wan isn't calling her. It's probably not anything serious, anyway. "Yes?" she asks reluctantly, looking back.
Obi-Wan catches up to her a few paces later, though she keeps walking down the hall, careful to act casual.
"Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asks, frowning at her.
She blinks in surprise. "Yes. Why?"
"You've been distracted and scarcely at the Temple since coming back to Coruscant."
"I'm focusing on the mission," she defends. Is she being that obvious?
"You didn't seem that enthusiastic about it when I gave it to you," he replies, studying her assessingly. Whatever he's seeing, he's probably analyzing how Anakin ought to be reacting – something he does know far better than she does. She has no doubt about that.
"It's still illegal, but I'm doing what I have to. For the Republic. I should be getting back to the Senate."
"It's still early for that."
"I'd rather be there on time."
"Really," Obi-Wan repeats, dubiously, "How many times do you run in last minute? I find it difficult to believe that suddenly changed."
Okay, she knows Anakin rather tends to run everywhere he's going, from how many times he shows up at her apartment like he sped all the way there. "This is important."
"And that briefing you missed wasn't?"
"It was a mistake, and I don't want to repeat it again with this mission." Padme picks up the pace, heading away down the hall, but she can practically feel Obi-Wan's gaze on her. He doesn't believe a word; she can sense that, as loudly as she can so many things now, and she doesn't know what he does think, but she has the sinking feeling it might be dangerously close to... to finding out about their marriage.
**w**
Anakin's reading through their draft to the Chancellor, requesting him to return his powers, when he suddenly hears someone knocking on the door and Threepio answering. It's... Obi-Wan?
It's jarring to not feel their bond pulsing brightly. He can hardly feel him at all, and it's enough to drive him out of his mind. He can't shield his thoughts very well either, so he'll have to just be careful what he thinks, even if it's unlikely Obi-Wan will be prodding at him in the Force. But why would he even be here? It's not like Obi-Wan regularly visits Padme.
"Obi-Wan?" he asks, carefully mindful of his emotions and how he addresses Obi-Wan, when his former master steps into the room. He hasn't seen him since the body swap, and he still feels so unbearably wrong in this skin, but somehow being around someone he's close with makes it worse.
"Has Anakin been here?" Obi-Wan inquires, and he can feel him nudging him discreetly with the Force. If Anakin wasn't so used to the Force, he might not have noticed.
He keeps his expression carefully neutral. This is what Padme wants, after all, even if he still doesn't think it's necessary. At least something good is coming of it, because Padme wouldn't have found this information on her own. And Anakin would never have known he needed to look, never thought he had a reason to. The betrayal still stings. "A few times. Is there a problem?"
"He's been distracted and unfocused the last few days," Obi-Wan replies, "And he has been... avoiding me. I was wondering if he said anything to you."
It's no surprise Obi-Wan figured out something was wrong. Anakin would be more surprised if he didn't. "I know he's been busy," Anakin supplies, which is true, but it still feels like he's directly lying to him, and he doesn't really want to do that. Their marriage is going to come out, and it's too late to stop it.
"I know you don't know much about the Force, Senator, but this is... something more serious than he's letting on. His Force presence does not feel right. If you know something is wrong, I need to know. I know you two are close, and I... am concerned this may be affecting his focus."
So he... suspects? Anakin isn't really surprised, even if he's not ready to hear whatever his former master has to say about that.
He hesitates a long moment before deflating. There's no point going in circles. Obi-Wan won't leave until he has answers. He's stubborn like that, and besides, if he's actually worrying about Anakin, he doesn't want to make that continue needlessly. "There is more, Obi-Wan, but I don't believe you will believe me."
His eyes narrow. "What?"
"I am Anakin. We... may have swapped bodies?"
Obi-Wan just stares at him, and Anakin can feel him nudging at him in the Force. "That is hardly amusing –"
"Can't you sense it, Master?"
He thinks it's calling him that word – in the exact same tone Anakin has always said it in – that makes Obi-Wan pause again, sensing closer. "Your Force presence feels wrong, as well," he muses, "But this doesn't make any sense."
"I do not know what happened either," he defends.
"You are serious," he states more than asks, looking increasingly mind blown.
"I just said that, Master. I know this is crazy, but I'm not joking."
"Well," Obi-Wan says, flatly, "You do sound like Anakin, and he definitely did not."
"We've been... filling in each other's roles?"
"And you never considered telling anyone this... concern?" he demands, still incredulous. Not that Anakin can really blame him for that.
"Padme did not want to. And how would we have explained it? You still don't believe it." He can't help a laugh at the end, because honestly this is ridiculous.
"I'm finding that rather difficult, but I can tell you aren't lying. I won't even ask how this happened."
"I don't know either," Anakin defends, "I woke up this way two days ago."
"Well, that explains why you've been avoiding me ever since," he says, grumpily. "It's been Senator Amidala on the Council this entire time?"
Anakin nearly winces. "... yes."
"You are well aware of the complications this could cause? She is hardly suited for that role."
"It would be no different if I had told you. I couldn't sit on the Council like this, Master."
"We could have arranged something," he grumbles, "If you don't know how this happened, do you know how to undo it? Have you even looked into that?"
"We... don't have a way to," he supplies, "We were hoping it would fix itself. Padme was searching at the Temple, but we didn't find anything."
Obi-Wan huffs, crossing his arms. "What were you doing when this happened?"
Uhh, err, no, not answering that question. "We..."
"Anakin..." he begins, in that same chiding tone he so often talks in. "I didn't want to bring this up to you before, but I don't believe I can ignore it now that I'm here."
So, they're about to talk about this. And suddenly, for all that he's tired of lying about it, he's afraid. "I know what you're going to ask, Master," he says, quietly.
"There is something going on with you and the Senator, isn't there?"
He nods, slightly.
"Would that be why your Force presence now feels as though it not just... one person?" The twins. He's sensing the twins. "You're the father, aren't you?"
Anakin nods again, feeling very small. It doesn't help that he's shorter than Obi-Wan right now. He hasn't had to look up at him in a long time, not that he can look at anything but the floor right now.
"I thought there was something there, but I believed you mature enough to make the right decision for the Order."
He can't quite suppress a flinch from the words, but he knows what he has to say this time. It's not like this is something he can ask forgiveness for anyway. He broke the Code irreparably – except by cutting off ties with his family, which he will never do. Besides, he can't well apologize sincerely when he's... He does regret doing this sometimes, but not – not truly. He couldn't. It's not something he's ashamed of. Not this. "Master, I – It was something for me to anticipate during the war. I know it was against the Code, but it... helped."
"I know you've always struggled because of how late you came to the Temple, but this is... too far, Anakin."
He looks up finally, forcing himself to hold Obi-Wan's gaze. "I know I didn't follow your teachings, Master, and I apologize for... failing you. But they are my family, I know you do not understand that, but I had a family before the Order."
"And then the Order become your family," he replies, distinctly unhappy, though Anakin's mildly surprised he hasn't started yelling at him. Yet.
Anakin shakes his head. "I was never one of them. Not like the rest of you. I –"
Maybe it's a good thing that, that very moment, the door opens, and Padme walks in. "I – Oh. Obi-Wan –"
"He knows, Padme," Anakin interrupts.
"Yes, this meeting has been quite enlightening," Obi-Wan agrees, grumpily.
Padme practically deflates. "I knew it would come out eventually, but I was hoping to be prepared."
"I would have appreciated you at least warning us of what was happening. And I am also aware of your... relationship with Anakin."
She stills further, and Anakin can tell how unhappy she is, at the unexpectedness of this coming up now. "Will you tell the Council?" she asks.
Obi-Wan glances briefly at Anakin, expression unreadable. "There is little other choice, but... seeing as your relationship is about to come out, if you choose to wait for that or tell the Council yourself, I will... wait."
That – what? Anakin didn't expect that. It's Obi-Wan's duty to report on him, and it – it means something that he's not immediately going to do it. "Thank you, Master," he replies, quietly.
"You know what this will mean, Anakin."
"I know, Master." He doesn't know what else to say.
"It may not have been the best decision when we made it, but I can't say either of us regret it," Padme speaks up, "We both wanted a chance to settle down, and we'll have that while raising our children. I know Anakin is like a son to you, and you'll always be welcome to visit if you want to."
Obi-Wan... doesn't contradict that. He seems about to say something, but then he just nods, moving to the door.
Probably, he needs space to process this just as much as Anakin needs time to think about what it will mean now that Obi-Wan knows, and that... the fact that he's about to leave the Order is becoming a reality.
**w**
Obi-Wan leaves for Utapau later that day. Anakin comms him, and they talk briefly. No one mentions the... Padme thing, but the teasing they exchange feels more forced than it normally does. Anakin can't take the time to focus on that right now, though.
The meeting with the Senators that afternoon goes well. Everyone is outraged at the evidence, but they eventually settle on keeping the illegal evidence they've collected for later, to avoid escalating the situation unless necessary.
It's near sunset when their group heads for Palpatine's office. Anakin won't deny being nervous, because he has no idea what they're about to find out, or how Palpatine will react. It's far more unsettling to see himself standing near Palpatine's seat when they enter.
Anakin opts to let Bail speak, because they don't need the Chancellor to realize what's really going on here.
"I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate," Palpatine replies, firmly, once Bail finishes listing his issues on that. Palpatine isn't really answering anything, though.
"Then why are they necessary?" Anakin has to ask.
"Their jobs are unnecessary alterations to the Constitution. It's going to further corruption, not decrease it," Padme interjects, and Anakin eyes her discreetly. He would never openly argue with Palpatine like that. It's not even his place. As a Senator, Padme has the right to do that. But Anakin is... he always voices his opinions to Palpatine – the Chancellor is the only one who ever encourages him to do that instead of shutting him down – but he always would do it respectfully.
Forget not making Palpatine think something's wrong. Anakin already feels bad about doing it at all, but he needs answers,and why is the Chancellor being so elusive about it? He wishes things with them could just be simple, the way they were before he started finding all this evidence.
"I understand your reservations," he replies, evenly, "But it will make individual matters that need attention come to the Senate far more quickly. You must trust me to do the right thing."
"You will return all your powers to the Senate once Grievous has been dealt with?" Anakin clarifies. Even if he doesn't know that that will be any better, because the galaxy is still so corrupt. The entire system needs to be changed, and he doesn't know what they can even do about that.
"I am here to make the right choices, Senators."
"But surely – one of the others starts.
"I have said I will do what is right," he cuts him off, the slightest edge in his voice that almost surprises Anakin. That... Something's not right about this. It might help if he could talk to him in person, but he can't shake the feeling that would only leave him feeling even more confused. "That should be enough for your... committee."
They all slowly move from the room, and no one speaks until they're some paces down the hallway, out of earshot from anyone else.
"I'm afraid we may need to take the action we spoke of," Mothma says, looking between them.
"Wait until after the report of Grievous' defeat," Anakin advises, "As soon as we hear word, we can petition in the Senate for a return of his powers."
The others murmur their agreement, as they disperse.
The moments are counting down now, and even without being able to feel the Force strongly, Anakin doesn't have a good feeling about it.
**w**
It's not long after dark, when Anakin gets the expected call from Padme.
The Council just received word that Obi-Wan killed Grievous. He's dead. The cyborg who has haunted the galaxy for the entire war, slaughtering countless simply because he can, is finally dead. And that also means the war can finally come to an end.
But first, he needs to get this motion in the Senate before things... go badly. Because he can't shake the feeling that if he isn't fast enough, that's exactly what's going to happen.
Only right after Padme stops by at the Senate to give Palpatine the news, Anakin puts the motion in, forcing the Vice Chancellor to call for an emergency Senate meeting. Now – now is the moment that they'll see if he was telling the truth, and –
"The war is over," Palpatine calls, voice echoing through the room on the speakers. Anakin stands at the front of Padme's Senate pod, tensely listening. "But still, the galaxy is in disarray. It will take a long time for it to be unified and rebuilt, and during this time it will need a strong leader to get through this critical time. Now is not the time for a new election, on the very evening of our victory. The forces of dissidence are still abundant, and we must keep our attention focused on subduing them until the Republic is stabilized."
He's not wrong. Anakin knows that much. An election right now could be dangerous, but he also knows that it's only going to be excuse after excuse. He's really not planning to return his powers, and if he was actually using it only to help, Anakin wouldn't have a problem with it. But he's not.
Or if he is, it's time for him to give direct answers to the public, especially about what he's been doing with the bank.
Orn Free Ta's pod moves forwards. "I concur," he says, "Now is not the time for elections."
Which is pretty much all the motivation Anakin needs to push the button his pod, so it moves forwards. He knows the kind of person the Twi'lek Senator is.
There's other Twi'leks who often hover around him, and when Anakin was younger, he'd thought they were slaves. It was something he got in trouble for asking them about, but he'd thought the Republic wasn't supposed to have things like that, and he didn't understand how it could be allowed. Or how no one would even think twice because it wasn't their concern.
He still doesn't understand it. That's why he doesn't have faith in the Republic's government the way it was operating even before the war. But what's happening now isn't much better.
"The Senate recognizes the Senator of Naboo," Mas Amedda calls.
"Before the Senate agrees to postpone a new election, some evidence has come to light of questionable activity from the Chancellor's office, that the Senate must consider," he says, even if every word feels like betrayal. Palpatine trusted him, enough to ask him – Padme, technically, but still – to keep an eye on the Order, and he's betraying him.
But Palpatine betrayed the Republic first. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Doesn't mean it doesn't feel he's betraying the one person who always looked out for him when he was young, who supported him when no one else was there. That's not what this is about, but he still feels... dirty. Like he shouldn't be doing this.
Shocked murmurs ripple through the Senate, as Anakin inserts the disc into his pod, displaying the information to everyone.
He can't tell how Palpatine is feeling, but he's speaking quietly to Mas Amedda, as the rest of the Senators look over the evidence.
It doesn't take much longer before outraged cries and demands for answers start spreading through the room instead, along with some people demanding to know where he got the evidence in the first place.
Which is difficult without implicating Padme in something illegal, but he opts for telling them that he has... sources. No one pushes too hard, too distracted with the sheer enormity of the evidence.
"I am aware of the missing funds," Palpatine speaks again, never sounding perturbed, "This information has been withheld from direct documentation for security reasons. The funds have been spent for other military equipment in the war effort. There have been reports of security breaches in the top levels of the Republic, and if the Separatists knew the extents of the weapons that we were amassing against them, they would be able to prepare to count it far better. If this information got out to the public, it would cause needless, widespread panic in a time when we need their support the most."
It's clearly a pre-planned excuse, but also, a very poor one. The public wouldn't have any way of finding out about that, and if they did, Anakin is fairly certain the holonews – which always paints a picture of how heroic supporting the war effort is – would smooth it over easily.
And as for the Separatists... it doesn't make sense. If that was such a concern, then why would the rest of their documentation on equipment spending not be a concern?
The Senators are all talking on top of each other, some wanting to call for a vote about this immediately, some asking for it to be pushed off, and Palpatine and the Vice Chancellor are conferring again. Anakin already knows what they're going to do.
They're going to call for this to be delayed, and – and then, they're going to just smooth it over as though nothing's wrong.
He talked to the other Senators and Padme about more extreme action, and now it seems like it's time to take it. Even if he can't much feel the Force, it still whispers to him, urging him forwards. Even if this feels far more like betrayal than anything he's done this far.
He has to do this, because it's the only way to stop whatever is really happening. And if Palpatine is so determined to hide it, it... He can't believe it's as innocent as he wants to.
"These matters are too pressing to be deferred," Anakin interjects, speaking with a firmness that he doesn't feel whatsoever, "While the Senate has argued throughout the war on how much funds the Republic can afford to spend on the war, millions of credits from these allotted funds have been disappearing, and still there is no explanation. If one is not forthcoming, I move for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Palpatine's leadership."
There.
The words are said, and he can't take them back.
He nearly wants to sink back onto the seat behind him, but he has to keep up Padme's image. But he just – This is going to forever change Palpatine's... career and everything, and it – it feels wrong. He should've talked to him about it in person maybe, but that wasn't an option, and –
But it's too late, and he can't take it back. All he can do is try to remind himself that this... this is what a Jedi ought to do. Obi-Wan would probably be proud of him for once. Maybe. That never seems possible. (Even that thought doesn't do much to make him feel better, though.)
This could also entirely destroy Padme's career, but she agreed he could do this if it became necessary.
The uproar in the Senate is practically deafening. Everybody is talking loudly on top of each other, but protocol is protocol, and for once, the only thing the Vice Chancellor can do is call for a vote on the decision.
Anakin doesn't know if they have more support on their side or not. All he can do is watch and wait, entering his own vote.
The minutes drag by almost endlessly, before the voting period finally closes.
He keeps his eyes fixed on the Vice Chancellor, waiting for the verdict.
"By a 63% majority," he speaks, finally, "The Senate rules in favor of removing the Supreme Chancellor from office and calling for immediate elections."
It's over.
It – it worked. Anakin doesn't feel any relief, though. He just feels... worse than before. He remembers far too clearly how much it had hurt when the Council threw Ahsoka out of the Order. It felt every bit like betrayal, and even if this situation wasn't the same, it still feels like he's the one who did that to someone else.
Even if he's angry that Palpatine was using his power for himself. Or whatever he was doing. Probably, there's going to be an actual investigation into that next, though since it'll be under the control of the Senate, it probably won't get anywhere.
The Senate session ends, and it's still jarring to walk out of Padme's pod back into the halls, when this is the first time Palpatine hasn't been the Chancellor since Anakin became a Jedi. The entire galaxy is going to be a different place, and he has no idea who's going to take Palpatine's place. If it's actually going to be someone better, or someone even worse. And if it is someone worse, that's going to be on Anakin.
But he can only trust in the Force that when they go forward from here, it's going to be to something better.
"Good job pretending to be me," Padme congratulates, when he sees her again. It's still bizarre to hear that in his own voice. "I can't believe this worked."
Anakin just nods. Doesn't really know what else to say.
"You don't seem happy about it," she notes, eyeing him.
"We do not know that whoever becomes Chancellor next will be any better," he points out. Nor does this change that Palpatine was his mentor, and he doesn't know how he'll... even be able to bring himself to go see him again.
"At least there's a chance for it," she replies, "Either way, it was time for him to be out of office. He's been there far longer than anyone should be."
Anakin just hopes she's right.
**w**
Despite everything that happened, the future still feels brighter when Anakin wakes up the next morning. He can't say what changed, but it feels like the course of history was forever altered, even if he can still tell there's going to be a lot of chaos.
Meditating for a long time in Padme's body doesn't give him nearly the same clarity than doing so in his own would, but he can clearly feel direction from the Force, since he... has to be entirely calm to sense anything at all. Finding that state is difficult, but he needed the couple hours he spent doing it early that morning, after what happened yesterday.
He doesn't pull back to himself until he hears his comm – Padme's technically – beep, to see a message from her, telling him he'll probably want to come over because Ahsoka is back?
And Obi-Wan just got back from Utapau, too.
How he'll do this without being suspicious, Anakin doesn't know, but he doesn't waste a second in getting back to the Temple. By the time he gets to the hangar, Obi-Wan and several other Council members are taking Maul away, in a box of all things, which leaves him and Padme alone with Ahsoka.
It's also bizarre to be at the exact same height as her practically, when she's still so small. "Ahsoka," he starts, so relieved to see that she's okay. She was going to confront Maul, after all, and anything could've happened to her.
But her gaze is mostly focused on Padme – who she thinks is him.
Of course.
He hasn't quite figured out how he's going to explain this to her.
"Senator Amidala," she greets, cordially, "It's been a long time."
"There's something we need to talk about privately," Padme interrupts.
"What?" Ahsoka asks, curiously, following her and Anakin into the main hall of the Temple. Visitors are allowed in the public areas, but they're more likely to attract attention, so it's a good thing few people are moving about right now.
"How do we say this?" Padme asks, looking at Anakin, sounding close to laughing.
"Say what? What's going on?" Ahsoka demands.
"We have an... inconvenient situation," Anakin supplies, "We switched bodies."
Ahsoka blinks, just staring at them. "Is now really a good time for a joke?"
Anakin laughs. "We're serious."
"Prove it," she replies, flatly.
"You're right on time," Anakin supplies, cheerfully.
"Really? I thought I was late," she replies, a touch disbelievingly.
"That's what I mean."
Padme looks between them, clearly confused. It's... an inside joke with the two of them and Obi-Wan that she'll never get. "What?"
"I almost believe you now," Ahsoka says slowly, looking between them uncertainly.
"You can sense it, in the Force," Anakin reminds. Obviously, she can tell something's wrong with both of them, but this is a stretch.
The Togruta's expression shifts from disbelief to incredulity, as he can feel her nudging them. "How is that even possible? That doesn't make any sense!"
"We don't know either," Padme defends.
"We don't know how it happened or how to undo it," Anakin confirms, maybe a little too cheerfully.
Ahsoka snorts. "Of all things, of course I'd come back to this, Skyguy. Can you even feel the Force anymore?"
"Minimally."
She outright laughs, and Anakin can't help joining. Because really, the whole thing is ridiculous. Even if he'd rather like if it was over.
"You did well against Maul," Anakin tells her, changing the topic, because that's what's really important right now. He knew she could do it, but it's still impressive.
Ahsoka nods, smiling faintly. She's looking at him the way she always used to once, back when he thought they would always be with each other. "Thanks to your training."
He returns the smile, ignoring how weird it is to be at Ahsoka's height when he's in Padme's body. "What will you do now?" He's... afraid to know the answer, really. Will this be the last time he sees her again for the indefinite future?
"I don't know," Ahsoka admits, "When I was in the Underworld, I... helped some people, and it reminded me of what the Jedi means to people like that. It... reminded me of what I thought the Jedi were supposed to be, before I became a padawan." She always had a hard time with the war, and Anakin didn't want to have to teach her to be a soldier, but there wasn't any other choice. It was the only way she'd survive. Until she left.
He doesn't know where she's going with this now. He thought about leaving the Order once, even if then he didn't know that he intended it to be forever. "The war is over now," he replies, "The Order is... still the same right now as when you left, but that may change."
"I know," she replies, something thoughtful and considering in her gaze, "I've thought about coming back, but I don't know yet."
He stills, staring at her. That's not what he expected to hear, even if he's not that surprised, either. Ahsoka was raised to be a Jedi, after all. It's the only life she's ever known. He didn't think she would come back, the day she walked away, but he... wondered, anyway.
But Anakin's not going to be there anymore if she just comes back, though. He could... tell her now, but he knows she's going to be upset by it – she... looks up to him, and she wouldn't take it well that he disregarded the Code like that. She doesn't know what it's like to be raised with family any more than Obi-Wan does, even if Anakin tried to give her that as much as he could, throughout the war.
"Take your time to consider it," Anakin tells her, finally. The news of his... marriage will come out in a couple days, anyway. She has the right to know before she rejoins that he won't be there to finish her training – if that's what she wants.
Ahsoka nods. "I will," she replies.
Maybe he won't be able to be her master again, but he still has the feeling there's a chance they'll be together again.
**w**
Anakin knew this moment would come, but he was hoping they'd be swapped back by then – assuming that's even going to happen. Because he has no idea how he's supposed to handle... this. Well, he thought he would have no idea, but it somehow seems instinctual anyway.
The twins are... about to be born.
Evidently, he thinks a little dryly, as he holds Leia in his arms after it's over, he technically is both their mother and father now. Hopefully, they'll never have to explain that to the twins.
Padme is holding Luke, sitting next to him. "So this was the surprise you didn't tell me?" she asks, smiling faintly, "That we were having twins?"
It still looks weird to see his own face instead of hers. All he knows is that this is beginning to get very old.
"Yes, I... sensed it."
Padme reaches out with her free hand, squeezing his much smaller one – he'll never get over the sheer weirdness of that. This is why they've kept a pointed distance since the swap because of how bizarre it is. "The Council will hear the news now," he reminds her.
She sighs, nodding. "Once this settles down, I will tell the Queen about my resignation. Maybe we can keep it quiet for a little longer."
"Maybe," Anakin offers, but he doubts it. The Council wouldn't go talking to people about it, but word gets out.
He's fine with that, though. His children are here, and he – he's always wanted a family. He never imagined he could actually have children of his own, because he could hide his relationship with Padme but a child he never could or would want to hide. He thought Ahsoka was the closest he would ever come to raising a child, and he was... fine with that. That doesn't mean this isn't still one of the happiest moments of his life.
"The public is probably too taken up with the Chancellor scandal to notice this," Padme says, a little hopefully.
Anakin nods. She's... not wrong about that. Now that he's out of the Senate, and Mas Amedda is temporarily in control as they call for a new election, the Senate is also launching an investigation into what he was doing as Chancellor. Anakin doubts it's going to go anywhere, though, because... Well, even if what Palpatine was doing wasn't right, that doesn't mean the Senate is effective either. Something will have to change eventually. He's just afraid of what it will take before everything falls apart entirely.
And he can understand Padme wanting to stay just a little bit longer in the Senate until everything settles down before they can finally feel free to leave for Naboo. Maybe Ahsoka will even come with them.
**w**
When Padme wakes up the next morning, she's... in a bed at the medcenter? Which is definitely not where she fell asleep the previous night.
Everything doesn't feel so bright anymore, and her body doesn't feel all wrong like it has for days now. It – She looks down, blinking several times, half expecting to see Anakin's body instead, but it's real. She's... back in her own body. Finally.
She slowly, experimentally pushes herself upright, looking around the room, just to make sure this is staying real.
She can't believe this. She's finally swapped back, and she's... still exhausted, probably from the twins being born yesterday, but that chaotic – she wouldn't call it nightmare, because some good came of it, and it was pretty comical at the end of the day – mess is finally over with.
Which means... she can finally resume her Senate duties, and no more faking to be Anakin. Which... okay, she knows it won't be easy for him to have to face being thrown out by the Council, but she had no idea how to go about handling that.
She'll get to go back to the Senate, too, to deal with whatever fallout there will be from kicking out a second Chancellor. Not that she has any regrets about that. There was so much distrust in the Senate towards her when she first joined because of her actions when she was Queen. No one believed that she truly believed in the system, and she's really proved their points again now. So, she's probably getting more heat on the holonet now that she thought, but...
She doesn't really care right now. Palpatine is finally out of office, and she's going to be leaving the Senate soon anyway. And she's a mother now. She can't wait until there's actually a chance for them to go to Naboo, even if just living is hardly something she can imagine doing forever.
**w**
Anakin jerks awake at the strange disturbance in the Force, but what hits him most prominently is that he can feel the disturbance again, with every bit the burning intensity he always could before. Because he's – he's back in his own body? Padme technically fell asleep next to the twin's beds, and that's where he is now. Finally back in his own body.
He was beginning to get afraid it would never happen, and finally being back normal, having the Force back – what always made him him and has defined everything he's done since he met Qui-Gon – is beyond relieving.
Anakin reaches out instinctively, first for his bonds with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. They're pulsing as brightly as ever, and he would rather like to see both of them again as himself. Ahsoka, at least. She'll be happy to know he's swapped back, and there's probably some things she'd like to talk to him about.
He's not ready to face Obi-Wan quite yet.
Anakin stares at the twins for a few long moments, making sure they're still sleeping peacefully – though, when he lightly touches their Force presences and truly senses them for the first time, he can feel them curiously touch him back – before moving for the door to find Padme.
She's sitting up already when Anakin steps into the room. "Padme," he murmurs, beyond relieved that he can finally see her as her again, instead of looking at his own face.
"I can't believe this is happening," she says flatly, moving to stand.
Anakin laughs. "Let's hope it lasts."
She shudders. "Don't joke about it. It wasn't funny."
"I am... relieved it's over too," he replies.
Padme moves to stand, and he hastily scrambles to her side. "They gave me – you – specific instructions to rest –" It was apparently a serious strain on her body, and he wonders for a moment, if it helped her that it was... him who had to deal with that, because he's used to far more stress than she is. He's always had to be.
"I'll be fine for this," she insists, leaning closer to wrap her arms around him.
Anakin pulls her close immediately, for the first time since this happened. He missed actually being able to hold her, and just be around her without the sheer weirdness of them being each other.
He doesn't know if he'll ever understand how or why the Force swapped him and Padme in the first place, but it obviously was for a reason. What happened because that happened changed the future, from... whatever darker one was in store instead. If not for that, he never would have realized what Palpatine was truly doing, and he doesn't know what that would have meant for him or the galaxy. Maybe, it's better if he never has to know.
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