Chapter Text
“The hero with no fear is rumored to be dead!” The holonews had said that morning. After talking about the chancellor being kidnapped, and the brave Jedi knights who had rescued him, one even rumored to give his life for the chancellor’s!
They couldn’t even say he name? He has a name! anger flurries through Padmé body like hot fire, sweepings its way through her entire form. What surged the angry fire within her was her anxiety. For months now these rumors had been floating around the holonews, but each time they were proven wrong. This time would be no different. Which is why she forced herself to dress, putting on the soft purple gown as it covered her growing body with ease. Her worry was still there, and would be until Anakin Skywalker was in her arms, or rather, she was in his again.
“Deep breaths, Padmé. You look nervous. Cut it out.” Padmé said to the mirror that sat upon her vanity. Taking tiny deep breaths, she let Moteé finish up her hair, two crescents upon either side of her head.
She felt her handmaiden gently pat her cheeks with a dampened towel, and Padmé didn’t realize until then that she had been crying. It wouldn’t look well, blotchy cheeks and red eyes, but Moteé did her best to hide it with a small bit of powder.
“Thank you, Moteé.” Padmé lifted her hand slightly as her handmaiden finished, offering Padmé a tiny smile before making her way out of the room.
“Threepio, I have a request for you.” Padmé called to her protocol droid. Well, actually he was Anakin’s, but Anakin had gifted him to her.
“Yes, Mistress Padmé? What is it you request of me?” Threepio responded as he made his way to her.
“I would like you to tell people that ask me where I am that I am officially extremely busy and swamped with bills and I will be in my office, with no interruptions.” She said quietly.
“Of course, Milady.”
Anakin was alive. She knew it deep into her very being. If he was dead, she would know. She didn’t know how, but all that mattered was that she would know.
Her hand rested against the curve of her belly. She felt a kick right under her palm and a small smile crossed her ivory complexion.
“Your daddy is alive, I know it.” She whispered to their child.
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Standing in the shadows amongst the long pillars that covered the entrance to the Senate building, Padmé felt like an outsider. She wanted nothing more than to join her fellow senators as they mingled and chatted, awaiting the rescued Chancellor’s return. But she couldn’t. She was an outsider because she was like them. Sure, she was a Senator, sure, she was just as glad for the Chancellor being alive, but all she really wanted was to run into the arms of her beloved, for him to gently run his fingers through her hair and reassure her that everything would be alright.
What she was not expecting was a hand to gently lay on her shoulder. Padmé jumped unexpectedly, turning towards whoever it was that snuck up on her.
“Ahsoka!” Padmé let the name roll off on her lips. She hadn’t seen Anakin’s former Padawan in months- not since she had asked For Padmé’s help getting off world, shortly after leaving the order.
“Padmé, I need you to come with me.” Ahsoka said quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Padmé questioned, standing her ground.
“It’s Anakin.” Ahsoka responded quietly. Padmé felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she raised her hand, laying it against her chest to try and quiet and calm her heart. Ahsoka stepped forward to take Padmé’s other hand.
“It’s urgent that you come with me, now. Please Senator, Padmé, it’s important.”
All Padmé could do was nod, and she forced her feet to move, to follow Ahsoka to her awaiting speeder.
“Just tell me. Is he dead?” Padmé forced any strength she had left into finding the words she needed to say.
“We don’t know. Obi-Wan and I were with him on Grevious’ ship, and the next moment he was gone. We couldn’t find him in the force. He disappeared.”
Padmé felt her heart pounding. She glanced down at the hands she had moved to place against her chest as they shook.
“If he’s alive, Padmé, we will find him.” Ahsoka said quietly as she helped Padmé into the speeder. Padmé stepped cautiously on board.
This was not what she expected. All she wanted was to have Anakin here, with her, to tell him her news. But of course, fate had not been kind to them.
“Ahsoka, we must find him.” Padmé said, a new sense of urgency in her voice.
and soon she thought to herself. There wasn’t much longer Padmé could be out helping to look for him.
“I understand, Padmé.” Ahsoka said kindly. Without asking, Padmé assumed Ahsoka already knew. It wasn’t obvious to the naked eye, but Ahsoka was attuned to the force in strong ways. And Padmé was carrying the chosen one’s child, so she assumed ahsoka could feel the force flowing through Padmé’s body. She also knew, for a while, that Ahsoka knew about her and Anakin.
“Padmé, if he’s alive, we won’t stop until we find him. Obi-Wan is just as determined.” Ahsoka began to speed away.
“Are you taking me to the temple?” Padmé questioned, but she already knew the answer.
“Yes. I knew you would be able help us.” Ahsoka replied.
“I’ll do whatever I can while I’m able.” Padmé said quietly in response. The trek to the temple was quick. Padmé stepped out after Ahsoka.
“Are you allowed here?” Padmé asked quietly. She knew that Ahsoka had left the order almost a year ago and had stopped being a Jedi.
“I’m a guest as much as you are.” She answered. “When I heard the chancellor was getting kidnapped, I went with Anakin and Obi-Wan to save him. And then... you know what happened next.”
Padmé sighs quietly and bites her lip, deep in thought. Where could Anakin have gone?
“He just disappeared?” Padmé shook her head in confusion. “I just don’t understand.”
“He ran off to try and find Artoo, and then he was just gone. His ship was gone as well. His transmissions were down, and he was out of range for us to contact him.”
“It must have been something intense enough for him not to come home. To come back to me.” Padmé let out a deep slow breath.
“I don’t know, Padmé.” Ahsoka sounded defeated.
“We can’t give up. He’s out there somewhere, I know it. I feel it. I-” she cut off, seeing Obi-Wan walking towards them.
“Senator, thank you for coming.” He greeted kindly.
Padmé looked up at him. “Have you been able to locate him yet?” She asked, getting right to the point.
Obi-Wan shook his head. “Unfortunately, we have not.”
“Well, as I just told Ahsoka, we must not give up. He will be found.” Padmé stood straighter, gently resting her hands against her stomach. Anakin must be found. She needed him now.
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