Chapter Text
Padmé could read the stress on her husband’s face like a book. He was often very hard to read, but on those rare occasions where he let his guard down and let her in, she could see it clearly.
“Ani.. what’s bothering you?” She asked, her hand resting on his arm gently, softly, not applying pressure in case just the mere gesture might send him over.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Anakin responses in a tense voice, his teeth clenched, and he put a smile on his face- a forced one.
“Ani..” she whispered softly with a slight frown. “I’m your wife. But I’m also a friend. An ear. Someone you can talk to.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his cheek. The skin was smooth under her lips, and she could feel the built-up tension.
“The Jedi want me to spy on Palpatine. Palpatine wants me to spy on the Jedi.” Anakin let out a breath as he leaned back into her couch. Padmé frowned. “What?”
“Don’t make me repeat it.” Anakin lifted his hand, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and fore finger.
“Why are they doing this?” Padmé questioned with a slight tilt of her head out of confusion.
“They don’t trust each other. And they chose me.” Anakin shook his head.
“I don’t understand.” Padmé leaned forward, laying her hand on his chest. His heart was beating rapidly.
“I could talk with Palpatine-”
“No. No- you can’t.” He sat up, his hand leaving his face and going to her abdomen. “I don’t want you to get involved.”
“Ani, is this is about those dreams...” Padmé frowned. He shook his head, his thumb running over the fabric of her dress. His eyes were trailed downwards, watching his hand as his thumb traveled in a circular motion. Padmé’s mouth parted slightly as a movement from inside of her reacted to her husband’s touch. A smile- a real one this time, broke through the darkness of his turmoil. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. Nothing will ever happen to you.” He bent his head down and pressed his lips, feather soft, on her own.
“I’m not in any danger, Anakin.” Padmé’s hand raises to rest against his cheek, looking into his blue eyes. He leaned into her touch for a second, before he took her hand into his. “Still. You could be. You always were.”
“That was then. This is now. People have more important things to worry about than a galactic senator.” She laughed slightly.
“You’ll always be important to me.” Anakin squeezes her hand gently.
“Speaking of, I’m going to be late for the meeting.” Padmé stood up, and Anakin did too.
“Please take it easy, Padmé.” He looked at her.
“I’ll do my best, Ani.” She leaned in to kiss him, running her fingers through his hair.
He leaned down and kisses her back, his arms sliding around her waist, pulling her close.
“I love you.” She let the words leave her lips as they pulled away, and Padmé didn’t want the moment to ever end.
“I love you more,” He whispered, his eyes closed. Padmé let out a breath as she stepped away and could already begin to feel the emptiness without him directly next to her. She let her hands drop to her sides and she forced herself to regain her composure. The kick to her ribs she took as protest, and Padmé found she had to laugh. It appeared she wasn’t the only one who disliked being away from Anakin. Padmé sighed as she laid a hand over her abdomen. “Don’t worry little one.” She whispered softly. “We won’t be apart for long.” The words left her lips as she watched Anakin walk over to his speeder. Padmé lifted her hand to wave goodbye, and he did the same, as Artoo beeped a farewell.
-
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Threepio asked.
“Yes,” Padmé responded as she got her thoughts together. The meeting had taken forever, and she was tired, doing her best to keep herself awake and alert. But it has been a struggle, to say the least.
“Threepio, you can return home. I’m only going to stay a little while longer.” Padmé said to the droid.
“Are you sure? I could stay-”
“I’m sure.” She smiled lightly at the droid who was looking back at her.
“Very well.” He turned around, his voice had sounded solemn. Padmé frowned. She didn’t like making Threepio upset. He was a droid, but he was built by Anakin- who was then a child, with so much emotion.
“You can wait for me at the ship, if you’d like.” She said at last. Threepio lifted his head and gave her a slight nodded. “I will do as such.”
Padmé only had a few more paperwork related items she needed to fill out, but she knew her energy was fleeting. The very generous kicks to her bladder were protesting her. Padmé shook her head, gently running her hand across her stomach. “A few minutes more, I promise.” She whispered lovingly to her child, and her voice seemed to calm them, as the kicks slowed down. Padmé let out a breath of relief. The amount of kicking this child has done in the past few days was intense.
With that thought, Padmé laid down her paperwork. She thought of Anakin, the stress in his voice and on his face as they talked. Perhaps she could talk to Palpatine for a second, to get his side of things. Surely an old friend and a colleague could talk about the Jedi they both saw as friends.
She watched as Threepio made his exit, before standing. The paperwork can be dealt with tomorrow, she thought to herself as she made her way out of her little office room, and down the hallway to where Chancellor Palpatine’s office was.
“Chancellor?” Padmé called as she stood in the doorway. His room seemed empty. A frown crossed her face. Had she just missed him? No, she was sure he was still in the building. Padmé decided to wait and see, hoping that he just hadn’t made his way back here yet.
Padmé entered the room slowly, feeling a wave of nervousness crash over her. Why was she nervous? She had been in this room multiple times before. But this time it felt different. Padmé walked over to Palpatine’s giant desk, her eyes just merely glancing over what lay on the table. Nothing of any real interest- a few pens, some closed holocrons. Everything was neat and had its own place. Padmé had a new sense overwhelm her, uneasiness. She received a few painful kicks to her stomach; the child could feel everything she was feeling. “Shhh, it’s okay.” She whispered, hoping her words would calm the child down. It did, but only for a few moments.
She stood straight up and continued around the desk. Padmé knew this was wrong, and she shouldn’t be snooping- at the Chancellor’s desk of all places. But if what her husband told her was true, that Palpatine really did want him to spy on the Jedi, she had to find the reason why.
Padmé heard footsteps approaching, so she straightened and backed away from the desk. She placed her arms behind her, interlocking her fingers behind her back. The doors wooshed open.
“Senator Amidala,” The Chancellor greeted, was that shock on his face? She shook her head mentally.
“Greetings Chancellor. I am sorry about this unplanned meeting. I happened to be walking by your office and stepped inside.” Padmé said in return, hoping that everything she said made sense and came through as truthful.
“Of course.” Palpatine nodded. “And what is the meaning of this surprise visit?”
Padmé let out a breath. “There seems to be unease floating through the republic. With Count Dooku dead, it seems people and senators are unsure what is going on, and why it seems like such a standstill.” She swallowed. “Things should return to normal by now. The Jedi no longer should need to fight in this war.”
“With all due respect, Senator Amidala,” Palpatine said, Padmé could hear a small bit of anger raising in his voice, “these matters should not concern you. I have everything under control.”
“But Chancellor- this is a democracy. The people should have a say in what is going on.” Padmé leaned forward, her hand out stretched as she pointed towards the senate floor.
“I understand your point Senator, of course. I am sure things will be back to normal before long.” Palpatine drew his hands together in front of his face as he sat down in his chair. “For now, please leave these issues to me.”
Padmé looked down at her feet. It didn’t matter what she said, there was no getting through to Palpatine. “Surely our past must mean something to you, Chancellor. You’ve been my longest ally. Please, we must do something.” She swallowed.
“Do not put your head where it doesn’t belong.” Palpatine’s voice grew cold. Padmé ran her hands up and down her arms out of nervousness. Had she said something wrong?
“I am only just worried for the Jedi-” she began, “The republic cannot fall,” Padmé continued, and as she said the word ‘fall’ she fell back onto the floor. Palpatine’s hand was outstretched in front of him, having sent her backwards. Padmé barely had time to catch her breath before she felt the air leaving her lungs. Her hands reached for her throat, trying to free her airway but found she couldn’t- there was nothing physical blocking her. She saw Palpatine squeezing his hand together and couldn’t get the words out. Her eyes darted frantically around the room- what was close enough for her to throw? There were books to her left, a chair to her right. The chair was big enough, but was she able to pick it up and throw it at him? Long enough for her to escape to her ship? Would the books be enough instead? Her thoughts were beginning to mix together, and she realized she was running out of time. She decided to go with the books. Surely there would be enough of them to cause a distraction. With one fluid motion she leaned as far as she could, picked up the entire stack, and threw them across the room at Palpatine.
She inhaled a breath as she dropped to the ground, and stood as fast as her body would allow. Padmé turned and fled from the room, running as fast as she could muster. She choked on air as she ran, tears springing to her eyes. Everything she had thought to be true, was a lie. Her child kicked, rapidly. Padmé groaned in pain, shaking her head. She had to get to her ship.
“Threepio, come in, Threepio.” Padmé coughed as she talked, her voice weak.
“Miss Padmé, where are you?” Threepio’s metallic voice beeped back at her.
“Contact Anakin and the Jedi council. And hurry!” She could feel her body weakening.
“Yes Miss Padmé.”
Padmé forced her body to make it to her ship. She was running on pure adrenaline at this point. Her body wanted to crumple to the ground and curl into a tiny ball. But not yet- not while Palpatine could still get to her. She needed to make it to the safety of her ship. By then, hopefully Threepio would have made contact with the Jedi and more importantly, Anakin.
Padmé could still feel the effects of Palpatine choking her. Her throat felt tight and it was hard to breathe. She forced air into her lungs as she kept walking along the endless hallway.
Finally, the exit was dead ahead of her. She forced her body forward, step by step. Palpatine was sure to find her soon. She just needed only a few more steps-
Fresh air hit her face and she sucked in a big of breath as her lungs would allow. Her ship- there it was, the door open, and she ran to it, out of breath, clutching her throat as she stepped inside, shutting the door.
“Threepio did you get a hold of-”
“Padmé!” Anakin’s voice was thick with worry. “Anakin!” Padmé coughed, holding a hand to her throat.
“Tell the Jedi that Palpatine is-” she choked out, coughs escaping her. She couldn’t stop them.
“Padmé, where are you?”
“Anakin-” his name left her lips. The adrenaline was running out. Her body was weakening. The kicks from the child that had been so strong moments before were weak as well.
Padmé could see stars in her vision and she knew this wasn’t good. She sat down, and then laid down. Surely Threeepio could tell Anakin where she was.
“Don’t go to the temple.” She whispered out. Padmé wasn’t sure why, but her gut instinct told her it was the wrong thing to do. She wasn’t like this. She should be stronger. She was stronger than this. But her body wasn’t as strong as it once was. She struggled to keep her eyes open. Padmé wasn’t sure what exactly Palpatine had did to her but she was certain it wasn’t good.
Her eyes closed, her hand pressed on her stomach, trying to feel her child. She blacked out, unsure with what was going to happen.