Ch. 6

"Two more buckets for the table!" Fives yelled, each metal can hit the table with a loud clank, the beer bottles and ice rattling inside.

"Oh, fuck off, who's gonna put away ten more bottles? We just finished two other buckets!" Anakin said, belching as he reached in to grab one from the center of the ice.

The TVs roared overhead, each blaring a different sports program until all words were incomprehensibly. The recaps of last season's highlights, preseason chatter, and unnecessary commentary on players personal lives drowning out the music fighting for dominance in the same space around the bar. Why he considered places people shouted at each other just to carry a conversation appealing baffled even himself, but here he was. Just like every month. The one weekend set aside for as many of his Army buddies as possible to get together. And Tony C's gave them just the spot, complete with that gorgeous view of the harbor that never failed to make him grateful to call Boston 'home.'

Rex walked back towards their corner table, shaking the water off his hands before wiping them on his jeans and grabbing another beer. "Speak for yourself, mate. We've got all night," he said with a slap on Anakin's back.

Cody wandered back over, still eyeing the brunette across the room at the bar, blushing and smiling at him as he climbed backwards onto his own chair.

Anakin flipped his ballcap around, pulling the bill down toward the back of his neck. "Maybe not if we're Cody, he looks ready to get the hell out of here with…whatever her name is," he nudged, "And what is her name, hmm?"

Cody winked one more time at her before swinging his legs around, a cocky smirk still on his face. "I'm sorry, was someone talking to me?"

"My man." He reached over, shaking his shoulder. "I said what is her name?" He nodded to the women as her friend leaned over her shoulder to wave at him.

"Theresa, I think. Or… Luisa? Jaleesa? Fuck…" He looked down at the center of his palm, "She didn't leave a name, just a number."

"What is this, the 90s? Who the hell writes their name or number on someone's hand anymore? You lose your phone?"

"Shut up, Fives, not every woman needs to be in my phone," he barked causing the other men to laugh.

"Well, you better figure out her name before you say the wrong one and end up a little less lucky than you hoped. But cheers to not putting every woman's number in your phone!" Anakin added, clanking his bottle against his friends in a toast at the other man's expense. Glancing down at his watch, 11:22. Wonder if Ahsoka decided not to come after all. "Hey, anyone heard from Tano?"

All eyes drifted toward Rex, a light pink flushing over the man's face as he cleared his throat settling his eyes on the tv above the bar, "Would you look at that play?"

Anakin took a swig of beer, glancing at the less-than-impressive field goal being replayed in slow motion for the fifth time. Not a single patron in the place watching except Rex. "What'd you do? What'd I miss?"

"More like what did he miss, which was his entire shot," Fives added, dropping another empty glass bottle upside down in the bucket.

Anakin leaned forward on the wooden table top, holding back a laugh, "With Snips? You serious? When the fuck…" And he thought he had interesting taste in women...

Rex turned to retort, leaning forward to point a finger at Fives, "Hey, I thought we weren't—"

"What's goin' on, boys?!" A familiar voice shouted. He'd know that sound anywhere, having committed it to memory over the sound of gunfire. Definitely recognizing it over shouting people, music, or TVs. He turned to see the brown-skinned woman, waving a hand in the air at them as she came over stopping to tie her wavy black hair back into a knot. Stepping in front of her, the curly-headed blonde woman, Aayla Secura, wrapped him in a tight hug before making her way around the table.

"Snips!" He jumped from his seat, pulling her in for a clumsy hug as gravity caught up with his tipsy state of mind. "Was just talkin' about whether you'd ditched us or not."

She peered up at him, slapping him on the back. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Skyguy, you know that." She leaned into his chest for a more proper embrace before grabbing two more stools from a nearby abandoned table as she took her seat, Aayla sitting next to her.

Aayla shook the metal buckets, the condensation and leaking water dripping off the corner of the table. "Really? Nothing but beer? No wonder you all get here so early and stay out so late…"

Ahsoka shook her head, clapping her hands together as she raised up on her feet leaning on Fives shoulder for support, "Can someone get me a cocktail list?! Or just… a round of shots?" She shouted at the bartender who gave her a thumbs up. She eyed the dark-haired man across from her, avoiding looking her way. "Good to see you, Rex. You look a little ill, something the matter?" She grinned, tilting her head to the side.

Cody sniggered at her sly remark as Rex's face went bright red and he chugged down the rest of his beer. Anakin leaned back, crossing his arms against his chest. This was way more entertaining than sitting around his place alone, wishing for an opening with Padmé.

Nearly all his favorite people were in a single space, their laughter of today reminding him of their laughter shared during deployments and reunions, both good and bad. It was how they made it through missions together, sharing food, stories, and drinks and waiting for the next time. Hoping they'd all make it back. The reason they all trusted each other, still, even as most of them had adjusted to civilian life. Settling somewhere on the east coast or being stationed nearby allowed them to take advantage of even the briefest chances to get together and shoot the shit. The brothers all coming from a military-family where their uncles and cousins proudly served, Ahsoka being driven toward it since ROTC, and Aayla who felt the calling after losing her dad in service. They were the people that understood him, all the unspoken parts, the things too painful to want to relive.

"Fine, fine, all's fine, Tano. Thanks for asking," Rex said, clearing his throat.

"Good, everyone loves a happy ending," she said holding his eyes as he dared to glance her direction. The air around the table felt a little thicker than usual, Anakin deciding to rattle the metal pail calling everyone's attention to something else.

"So! What trouble have the two of you been causing while we were off on the west coast?" He asked, throwing an ice cube at Ahsoka who refused to let Rex off the hook for whatever it was he must've done wrong.

"Us? We don't cause trouble, that's your department," Aayla added, reaching across the table to playfully smack his cheek.

"Spoken like a true troublemaker. Besides, Tano works for the media. No such thing as an easy, drama-free day," Fives said backing him up.

One of the waitresses ran over a round of tequila shots for everyone while the women ordered cocktails and warm pretzels. Ahsoka threw hers back the second the waitress walked away, squirming in her chair as she did before sticking the lime in her mouth. "Woo! Okay, yes. Easy going means I'm not getting paid, no one reports on all the cars that drove safely on the road. Only that one nasty car crash. But! I've been taking it easy. Summer's my chance to do fun shit with my job, festivals, parades, whatever they'll give me on location."

He snorted, "That sounds more like it."

"And what about you? Vacation was over… weeks ago, right? Rex, am I getting that timeline right?"

"Oh, stop it," Aayla said, knocking Ahsoka's hand to the table. Rex waved her off, excusing himself from the conversation. "Come on, man! Don't go!"

"Taking a smoke break, be back soon," he said, Cody quickly following after him.

Fives let out a low whistle as they left, shifting around to the other seat. "Well that was awkward."

"The fuck happened with—" Anakin started to ask, Aayla shaking her head outside of Ahsoka's view at him. "—never mind, never mind."

Her chair making a loud scrap on the ground as she moved with haste, Ahsoka snatched the mojito from the bartender as soon as the glass hit the wood.

Aayla leaned over toward him, whispering, "He cancelled on her twice, she's still pissed. In case that's not obvious. You don't want the details. Trust me." She sat back up, lifting her brows as Ahsoka returned to sit with a huff.

Point taken.

"So, what's new with you, Skywalker?" Fives asked with a head nod, handing him another beer.

"Not much, hanging out at the house. Finally got the bike up and running. Been working on some projects for the Naberries."

"You still talk to the Naberries?" Ahsoka perked up, taking another sip from her straw, stirring the mint around in her glass. "Can I ask something about them? Just a rumor I heard, you don't have to answer."

"They're good people, and my neighbors. Of course I do. Jobal's like a second mom to me anymore. And if it's related to your work then I don't want to answer," he said with a soft laugh at the end, scratching the back of his neck as he looked away.

"Okay, okay, no problem," she said taking another large drink as Rex came back through the door. "Lord, give me the strength to not strangle a very large man tonight…"

Anakin laughed, punching her in the arm, "Don't bring Him into your messes, besides…" he pointed at Rex and Cody talking to the same women still seated at the bar, "We're all supposed to be having a good time. Don't be the only one who doesn't."

"You know, I think you're right." She hopped up again, "Barry! I need another round! Top shelf!"

He buried his face in his hands as he shook his head, that was not what he meant.

Three rounds of shots later, Anakin's vision was more than a little fuzzy. Cody had long ago left with Theresa-Luisa-Jaleesa that Rex had settled for him was Luisa when he introduced himself on their way out the door. The crowd had thinned out as the 1am mark got closer, officially shutting the place down.

"Anakin," Ahsoka said, jostling his shoulder slightly. Her voice rang through his head with an echo.

"Huh?" He leaned over, looking toward her. The rest of the table was empty, no clue when the rest of them had decided to leave. His arm swept outward, glass clanking as the shot glasses and beer pails crowded the surface. "Hey, there's two of you now." He waggled his finger back and forth.

"Okay! Someone's in need of some water, an ibuprofen, and good long sleep. C'mon, big guy," she laughed, helping him as he stumbled to his feet mumbling.

"You're great, you know that?" He grinned, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"I do, you tell me every time you get drunk like this," she said, doing her best to haul him out the door.

"Well... I'm always right, y'know."

"Right, of course. You're great, I'm great, everyone's great in their own way."

She managed to stuff him in the the Uber she'd called for, climbing in next to him. She shoved him back upright as he slumped over on her shoulder before toppling to the other side.

His head hit the window with a thud, "Hey."

"What now?"

"What were you gonna ask about the Naberries?" he said, his words coming in a slightly jumbled mess.

"It's nothing, you said you didn't want to talk about it."

"I changed my mind," he said with a grin, laughing to himself.

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I bet you did. It's just a rumor. I heard that the senator…" she hesitated, gauging his reaction at the mention of her, "…was spotted around here. I'm not looking to use the information. Just wondered if you…knew…"

"Padmé?" He said, jerking back upright with a sharp intake of breath.

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Right. Padmé. Otherwise known as Senator Amidala?"

He hummed, leaning back against the window, "Right. Senator Padmé. No clue what you're talking about." He shrugged.

Ahsoka believed that like she believed the sky was green or the grass was blue. She let his non-answer hang in the air while she watched the city lights dance across the night sky from the backseat of the Buick as they drove toward his home. With his face pressed up against the glass, his breath fogging the window, a loud snoring interrupted her quiet. What a pain in the ass. She shook his arm, waking him up again. "When you get home, I want you to go straight to bed. Or whatever flat surface you crash onto first, you hear?"

"Sir, yes, sir," he said with a thumbs up.

"You're lucky we're friends…" she grumbled as the car pulled up in front of his house and she finagled him out. Their driver was completely silent as she cursed at him and pulled him by the arm like a toddler throwing a fit in the grocery store. Anakin found the whole thing hilarious, crashing into his yard in an unshakable fit of laughter. "I am so sorry, I'll just be a second," she said to the Uber driver, promising to leave a good tip before turning her attention back to him. "Anakin Skywalker, get your ass in the house. Now."

"Can we just go over it one more time, please?" Padmé said, pacing around her room. She'd been avoiding a heavy strategy call, trying to think about anything but work on her trip. Now she was desperate to start thinking about anything but Anakin. So here she was, way after midnight, on this call.

"Sure, but it doesn't change anything…"

"I know that, Saché. Just… tell me again?"

"There's… a few mayors, California's current and former governor, and some representative from Chicago I haven't heard too much about. Chatter from some hedge fund guy, I'm pretty sure that's just a threat. Potentially Mothma but that was big-time unconfirmed, and then… a few cabinet members?" Saché said, her voice straining at the end to remain sounding hopeful.

"That… Jesus, that's a whole field!" Padmé exclaimed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah, but hold on, will you? Let's think about this. Saché, who actually has made any buzz, with the people that matter? Donors, the elites, big party players?"

"Uh, well… I mean the cabinet members have legacies on their side, I guess? The mayors, eh, they're probably vying for their own… governorship or something, the senate maybe. Y'know, go big or go home?"

"So they're swinging for the presidency?" Padmé groaned. The carpet already feeling worn under her feet in the pathway she'd committed to making.

"I mean, what's bigger than the presidency?" Dormé added, offhandedly.

"What Dormé said. They hit the national stage, their platform is wide open. If their messaging is good, or their campaign… Padmé you know this is a crap shoot for most of them. Really, we just have Mothma, maybe Bibble?" Saché said with a sigh.

"Mothma though? Where'd that come from?" Padmé was beside herself, running a hand through her hair. She could practically feel the seconds of the countdown to her decision ticking away.

"It's mostly coming from everyone waiting for a statement from us one way or the other, Padmé. They're scrambling in case you don't do this. And if you don't… Mothma's mostly vying to keep that loose cannon Gerrera from getting involved," Dormé said. Like that was supposed to make her feel better.

"Well…" She needed to get away from this subject. "Where are we at with Palpatine anymore? Might as well cover all our bases…" Padmé forced herself to sit on the bed, the soft comforter making a 'whoosh' as she plopped down. She scrolled through her email updates from Dormé, waiting, the sound of shuffling paper in the background.

"Oh, well… about that…" Dormé started, and she could hear Saché giggle.

"What did you do?" Padmé said, her tone flat, bordering on disapproval.

"She did you a favorby doing someone as a favor,if you know what I mean…"

"Saché, a ten-year-old would know what you mean!" Dormé huffed.

Padmé couldn't help but laugh, "You didn't!"

"I did… In my defense! It was good?"

"Just good? For shame! Was it Javin again?" Padmé added quickly with an exaggerated gasp before laughing, "More importantly, if you apparently didn't get much out of it, who did? Probably him..."

"Very funny. And yes, it was Javin, but whatever!" she sneered. "Actually, our end of the deal was good. He confronted Palpatine, cameras rolling, asking why he would attack you – a woman – over women's right to choose. It was truly beautiful. A work of art. Sheev just stammered around the subject trying to not say what he meant by it, trying to maintain his…" Dormé imitated his voice, "melodramatic, patronizing tone…"

Padmé laughed, "Oh my god, Saché please tell me there's a news clip."

"Emailing you now! You really have been avoiding the news, haven't you?"

She heard the keys clacking in the background before her email chimed, almost instantaneously. "Like the plague, you have no idea…"

"Yeah, so, you're welcome. Now he's stopped agreeing to press, since I— aka you—called in a few favors to get that little clip picked up…" Dormé said, a little smug.

"Still… Only good, Dormé? Come on… How is that even still possible?" Saché laughed.

"Enough about my sex life! Senator – what are we doing next? What's the move? What do I need to be drafting? Oh, by the way, I have a bill for you to co-sign out of Senator Kryze's office relating to this Palpatine business… She wants to force an on-the-record vote about medical privacy, stripping language from one of the bigger bills. Y'know, the ones they 'would love to but just can't support'? Well… Kryze and Mothma want you to co-sponsor with them."

"I love it, absolutely. I hope you already told them yes! What's September looking like?" Padmé asked, pausing the Palpatine clip she'd been playing on loop just to see his face. That might be the first time she'd ever seen him actually speechless. "Oh, and Dormé, it could be your dating life if you'd just agree to see the man instead of only sleeping with him a few times every other month, you know."

"Anyway… The schedule Saché!"

"Right! September… September… Um, very busy, I have you somewhere every weekend. Only 2 Sundays off. And a few things in the middle of the week if you can make them. If not, we'll go. Check your calendar, should all be there," Saché said, quickly running through her schedule with her. "Confirm what you can for the stuff not already marked."

September was full, back to the regular routine between the Senate, press, and constituent work. Her senate schedule was a monster of its own but looking at this… Saché sent her all the invites, requests, and events she'd been offered in Massachusetts between labor unions, religious service, pancake breakfasts, meetings with state legislators, setting up constituent meetups and calls, a couple fundraisers, and a few college visits. Am I going to have a minute to breathe? she wondered. They were hitting the road hard because after the next break, it really was time to announce if she was going to.

"This is it, isn't it?" Padmé said, scrolling through to confirm her attendance with her team.

"It will be now or never, yes. You have your ten days in October and then, I need an answer. Preferably a lot sooner for all these people I've set you up to see after your break. They do love you, but this isn't solely out of the goodness of their hearts that everyone wants to talk to you. Someone, somewhere, wants an exclusive. You decide," Dormé said. "And I need to get my sponsor and donor lists ready for the interns when you do…"

"So, where are you on the decision, if I can ask?" Saché asked hesitantly, circling back to the original purpose of the call.

There was something about her time away that made this feel much more substantial – if that was even possible. Everything she thought about late at night – about what her life could be like. All of that would go up in smoke. She'd be resigning herself to the highest office in the land and nothing would ever be the same afterwards.

She was also signing up for the potential to go toe-to-toe with Palpatine every single day, on the trail and if elected - in the Senate. It's not as if he was going to take his potential loss in peace, and neither were his closest allies. Including one dreaded ex-boyfriend of hers, Clovis, rumored to be running his campaign. Her team had yet to let her down, and she'd have yet to fail them but… still… Maybe touching back down in DC would clear it all up for her, dropping her back into her version of 'normal' and out of this suburbia dreamland.

"I wish I had an answer for you, but I just… don't. I want to get through these first few trips on the road, see how we're doing in the field first. How's the team building going?" Padmé rubbed her face, falling back against her pillows.

"It's… going. Interviews are going fine, applications are rolling in, but I can see it on their faces. They also want to know because they want to know how deep they're getting, they're concerned about their own exposure," Dormé said. "You're a big deal, they want to know if they're along for the ride or not."

"Well… It's not like I'm not working on it. I can't stop thinking about it, actually." Padmé shut her laptop. If she didn't now, she'd be up all-night mulling over every detail and possibility.

"I know that – we're right there with you, you know." Her chief-of-staff was right, they were in this together.

"I know, I know. You just had to insist I come home though, didn't you?"

"There was not a chance I knew who would be waiting for you!" Dormé scoffed, Saché laughing in the background. "You're not letting that derail you though, are you?"

"Not… exactly. No. No I'm not, that would be stupid. It's just… given me pause. Not him, just, things." Padmé stretched her legs out on the bed, cringing from the awkwardness in her own voice. If she could escape this conversation she'd be gone already.

"What things?" Saché asked in, mimicking her tone.

"She can't decide if she wants to have a conversation with the man or just let him keep getting her all hot and bothered, so it's delaying her decision on having us start to call her Madam President," Dormé laughed.

Padmé scoffed, "That is not true! I've decided, thank you. And I never want to hear you say that unless we're in front of a foreign minister or something."

"Decided what? Because this is news to me, and I know everything about you."

"If he asks, I'll talk to him—just talk! But…" she shrugged, "If he doesn't then oh well."

"Look at you. Senator's out and on the prowl," Saché added with a laugh of her own.

On the prowl… How were these the same people that saved her from the media and were going to put her in the White House. It'd been one of the highlights of her life and career for them to run their office like they had – full of competent women leaders, each with their own skills and excellence, working toward the single common goal of bettering the lives of their constituents. Catching them off the clock, though, they were still various parts of one entire idiot. Because at the end of the day, they were more than her team. They were her friends, her family. Always willing to run talking points, always there for a fast bite to eat before meetings, laughing through stuffy fundraisers together, movie nights, vacations, Friendsgivings, birthdays, holidays… She was nothing without them. Forever indebted to their dedication and love for her, and her love for all of them.

But they were also a bunch of fools over her love life, or lack of.

"I've never heard anything more ridiculous than that, I don't go on the 'prowl' for anyone."

"What if he wants to talk about you and him? Like, the past? What are you planning to do?" Dormé asked, back to business. "I still think you should've just… gotten down and dirty already and talked after."

"I take it back, Saché. That is now the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I hope he wants to talk about us! In some capacity. It's just looming over my damn head otherwise. Like it always has. The thing everyone's afraid to bring up. He's so different now though. I hardly recognize him. Except…"

"Except for his nice body and constant flirting?" Dormé laughed.

"Yes. That." Padmé said, pressing her lips together.

"Well… If he does talk to you… Hope you hear him out, for his sake and yours since I don't see him magically disappearing any time soon. And you need closure. Lots of it."

"Tell me something I don't know…" Padmé rolled her eyes, flicking a pen between her fingers.

"Bet you don't know who's leading the mock polls for a race they're not even in yet," Saché said.

Padmé perked up, more than happy to stray from their last discussion. "Really?"

"God, yes. Everyone is waiting for you! Why don't you get that?" She laughed.

"I do. I do get it! That's why I'm being so damn careful about it… I know you want an answer, you're the first ones I'm calling when I have it." Padmé said, once and for all.

"Alright, alright, she's not giving us an answer tonight so we might as well wrap up this strategy chat so we can go back to asking her about Anakin!" Dormé teased.

This call was never going to end… "Isn't there something, someone, more interesting to talk about than me? What about going back to Javin?!" she teased, Saché wheezing out a laugh in the distance.

"No one wants to talk about Javin, least of all me!" Dormé huffed, "What about Saché? What ever happened to your little boyfriend that wanted a job with someone important?"

"I told him I already work for the most important person on The Hill, and we weren't hiring," she giggled. "But there's a new guy in Senator Binks' office and he's…" There was a pause followed by a dramatic groan. "…kinda hot."

"Don't forget to breathe over there," Padmé laughed. Faintly, she heard something hit the window, startling her. "H-hold on you two, something…" She heard a sort of strained yell. "Someone? Is hitting my window?"

"Wait, what?" Dormé asked.

"I don't know, I said hold on…" Padmé climbed off her bed, carefully peeling back the curtain to look out as a small rock hit the window again, making her jump. "Dormé, Saché, you are not gonna believe this…"

"We work in Washington and at least part of the time, watch news reports for a living. Try us," Dormé said, a level of suspicion in her voice.

"Anakin is in front of my house. In his boxers. Throwing rocks at my window. Like we're twelve," she shut the curtain tight, laying back on the bed. "I'm not going out there. It's two in the morning!"

Dormé laughed, harder than she expected, "What?! You have to go! And Facetime us when you do!"

"Yeah! We wanna see!"

"Absolutely not, I am not going to find out what the hell is going—" the doorbell rang cutting her off, "Son of a bitch…"

"Spoke too soon, over there?" Saché said with another laugh. "Looks like you might be getting your conversation after all."

"When I get back, I want to hear about the guy from Binks' office! Everything because I know you probably snooped on him to a point that may not be legal anymore," she laughed.

Saché groaned, "I haven't done that for the last two guys thank you!"

"Maybe you should go back to doing it, the last couple weren't all that great…"

"Oh god, Dormé, don't encourage her!" Padmé shook her head, the doorbell ringing again. "Alright, let me go find out what my neighbor wants before he wakes everyone in the house up since he's apparently not going away… But I mean it about that guy, I want to be nosey too!" She stood, sliding her feet in her slippers and throwing her robe around her.

"Have fun, we'll talk in the morning," Dormé said, Saché adding in her own sly remark before the line beeped dead.

This man, and her friends, were insufferable.