Chapter Text
Each daily rotation was starting to blend into the next daily rotation. The holonews was repetitive, saying that the war is almost over. Padmé Amidala turned it off constantly. The war had been almost over for months which only made her anger more intense. Why had the war gone on for as long as it has? The Jedi, and their clone troops, were being pulled thin. It was only a matter of time before they fall. And of course, Padmé missed her Jedi husband with every breath she took.
Standing up off her sofa, she made her way to the veranda, and leaned her arms against it. Her eyes danced across the ever-alive planet, watching as speeders made their way to and from buildings that were tall enough that Padmé couldn’t see the tops of, even at her high-altitude apartment complex. Padmé glanced up towards the darkening sky and wondered what it would be like to see stars on Coruscant. It was always nearly impossible, with the planet never going to sleep. It was always awake with humans and other species doing whatever they wanted.
Padmé didn’t blame them. How long had she wanted to do something she wanted?
‘When the war is over’ Anakin had said. But when will it ever be over? Will it ever be over?
Her eyes finally came to rest against the senate building. It’s domed top creating a break in the skyline. Her thoughts drifted to Palpatine, about how he had extended his term with no care to the people, he did it for himself. She was reminded of her two terms as Queen of Naboo, and when her people wanted to re-elect her, she gratefully declined. It had been the right thing to do.
Her thoughts turned to yet anger again. How many times had she and other senators tried to get Palpatine to end the war peacefully? It had been almost three years of never ceasing fighting. Many lives had been lost.
‘That’s what they were created for,’ is what Palpatine said about the Clones. It made Padmé’s blood boil.
She was drawn out of her thoughts with a soft kick from her stomach, and then another, and she couldn’t help but to smile. Yet another reason she hoped Anakin would return soon and the war would end.
Yes, Padmé was pregnant. She found out shortly after Anakin left to the outer rim. It about destroyed her inside, keeping their marriage a secret was hard enough, but now having to hide a pregnancy as well? They had always been careful when he was home, but she knew this child had been conceived on Naboo, when they both had two weeks off. It had been a wonderful time, not worrying about when he would come home to her, that they just forget everything and everyone, and had instead focused on the love they had for each other. She blushes at the memory and pressed a hand against her growing stomach.
five months
Five long months without him by her side. Laughing at his stupid jokes. Dinners with Ahsoka on occasion. She missed it all so much.
How would this baby change their lives? She wasn’t sure it would be good. Of course, growing up Padmé pictured a large family running around her, a husband at her side, growing old and gray together. She never thought she would marry a Jedi of all people; of course, Padmé never took the easy path.
However, loving Anakin was the easiest thing that came to her. It was easy as breathing, she smiled to herself, most days.
Anakin Skywalker was stubborn. But he was also kind. He gave with his entire heart and always put others before himself. He sometimes made rash decisions leading to rash outcomes, but Padmé loved him, flaws and all. His flaws made him human. She didn’t care that he was a Jedi. He was her Ani, and she was his Padmé.
A beeping sound came from her holo and she gingerly stepped back over to it, pressing the button to turn it back on.
“Breaking news to report: General Grievous has attacked Coruscant and kidnapped the Supreme Chancellor. Jedi generals Anakin Skywalker, The Hero with No Fear and General Kenobi have been dispatched to bring the Chancellor home.”
Padmé felt her heart hammer in her chest. She swore anyone in hearing distance could hear how fast her heart was beating. Terror seeped through her blood, sending a shiver throughout her body. Slowly making her way back to the veranda, lifting her head to the sky. She could see the gunships as they flew into the space above Coruscant and wished with all her heart that Anakin and Obi-Wan would make it back safely.
Her body tensed. Someone was in the apartment with her, and she didn’t like how it made it her feel. Padmé was usually smart about knowing when she was alone. Her hand flew to her waist where she usually kept her blaster but remembered at the last moment that she had left it on the table.
“Sleep.” A dark mysterious voice said behind her, and she felt a hand against her head. Padmé fought with all her might, but she wasn’t strong enough to keep fighting for long. She fell backwards into the home invaders arms, her eyes closing.
-
Rescuing the chancellor had been a piece of cake. To Anakin at least. If someone had asked Obi-Wan however, he would say that it was difficult and time consuming.
Anakin smiled, a fake smile that he learned how to do through Padmé’s teachings as a politician. It helped him get through some tough political meetings with the press (which, to be honestly, he rarely met with the press. He hated mixing his Jedi status with anything political. He only liked two politicians.)
The press holorecorded him and asked him a million questions but he waved them off with a “Just doing my duty as a Jedi.” He made his way over to the growing group of senators and his eyes flicked through each of them, fighting with each death to keep his fake smile from turning into a frown.
Where is she? She’s not here. Is she okay? What happened...
He fought through his thoughts as he felt Obi-Wan fall into step besides him. “The council would like to meet with us to debrief on the outer rim sieges.”
Anakin simply nodded, but he couldn’t get the feeling to go away. Padmé should be here. Why isn’t she here?
He jumped when Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder. “You seem distant, Anakin. Is something bothering you?”
Anakin forced the fake smile back onto his face. “I’m fine, Master. But could you do me a favor and cover for me? There’s something that requires my attention.”
Obi-Wan gave him a look, and he could swear he heard him say under his breath “or someone.” But Anakin ignored it.
He heard a soft whirring sound behind him and turned to see his trusty little droid, Artoo, rolling towards him. He walked away from Obi-Wan without waiting for a response. He kept checking his comlink. Wouldn’t she have commed him to let him know something came up? That she couldn’t be here to meet him? Kriff, it had been months since Anakin could hold her in his arms and not have to worry if she was okay. The outer rim siege had taken its toll on him, constantly fighting against the seppies, killing Trench, destroying he didn’t even know how many droids. It wasn’t all bad. Finding Echo, and knowing he was alive out there was one good thing. But all he really wanted was to feel Padmé’s soft skin against his. Force, he missed her so much. Being surrounded by his men was usually nice and fun, they all shared jokes and played games at nights when they were free from the fighting for a few hours. But nothing compared to sitting at home, Padmé next to him, her soft voice saying his name. He had decided long ago that her voice was the most beautiful sound in the entire galaxy.
It didn’t make the sinking feeling in his gut any less when he thought of her. It only grew. It took everything in Anakin to not use his Jedi speed and run to her senate apartment. He hopped into a speeder (he’d return it to the owner later) and sped to her apartment. It had been their home ever since they got married and it was the only place Anakin wanted to be when he was on Coruscant.
He had heard the constant reminder “no attachments” but he just couldn’t give them up. He wouldn’t. He had lived nine years without the Jedi, and he had been fine with the attachments he had. His mom. His friends. He had even cared for the droid he made for his mom. Nine years of life with attachments, and the Jedi just expected for him to give them up?
He wouldn’t.
He didn’t. Not a day went by that he didn’t think about Padmé. When they reunited, he was sure his life would never be the same, and it wasn’t. Marrying her was the best thing that ever happened to him. It made everything worth it. To feel her soft lips against his own, her deep brown eyes looking into his blue ones. She was the single most important living person in his world.
And then he was assigned an annoying, snippy Padawan that turned out to be one of his best friends. A Padawan of his own, someone who he could teach. That would look up to him. Being her master had been full filling. And yet he never thought of one day sending her off on her own. Of letting her go. Would she ever be ready? He knew she would’ve been more than ready, if she hadn’t been tossed aside by the Jedi, her family. It drove him insane. Ahsoka trusted the Jedi, she followed every rule, and they go and toss her out? Willingly send her to her death because of a crime everyone knew she didn’t commit. He shook off the anger as he made his way into Padmé’s apartment.
Something felt wrong, very wrong. Anakin could feel it in the force. Something dark and angry and full of hatred... the dark side.
“Padmé?” Anakin called his wife’s name, and felt a cool shiver run through his body. “Come on, Padmé...” he whispered out. Surely there must be a sign of her here...
He saw her blaster sitting on the table next to her sofa, her comm open and playing the news. Odd, she never usually left her comm on. Something was terribly wrong. Anakin glanced down at his own comlink, seeing it blinking. He quickly turned it on, seeing his former Padawan.
“Ahsoka!” Anakin exclaimed.
“Anakin, I’m sorry. Maul left Mandalore, Anakin. He escaped.” Ahsoka began. “He’s told me that Sidious has been using you and Maul wants to kill you, so you don’t become his new apprentice.”
Anakin sank down on Padmé’s sofa, confused. “Slow down Ahsoka. What are you saying? Sidious as in the Sith Lord?”
“Yes Anakin. Maul wanted to use Obi-Wan to lure you to Mandalore so he could kill you. But something came up... he said he had a new plan in place.”
“Padmé...” Anakin whispered out her name. “I think Maul took Padmé.” He swallowed, anger boiling through his body. “He wants to kill me? Let him try. I won’t let him hurt Padmé.” He bawled his flesh hand into a fist at his side.
“Do you have any idea of where Maul would go?” He asked next. He watched the hologram of Ahsoka shake her head.
“He could come back to Mandalore. Or another planet close by. I’ll have Bo-Katan start her search up again for him immediately. We’ll find Padmé, Anakin. Don’t worry.”
He watched as she faded out as the call ended. Throwing his comlink across the room, and as it shattered, he let out an anger filled scream. Maul would die at his hands. He would make sure of it. He wouldn’t let anything happen to Padmé.
-
The Temple used to be a calming place, but now it was full of mistrust. Anakin walked up the long and many steps towards the entrance and ran to where he knew the debrief was happening. He saw as Jedi were leaving and figured he just missed the whole thing.
“Sorry I’m late Master.” He greeted Obi-Wan. “But something has come up.”
Anakin could see as Obi-Wan turned to regard him and watched as shock crossed his face. “I can sense you’re extremely angry and tense, Anakin. Probably the whole temple can.”
Anakin crosses his arms over his chest and let out a breath. “I’m leaving the Jedi order, Obi-Wan. It’s time. Padmé has gone missing and I’m most likely sure that Maul kidnapped her, and I can’t do anything about it being here.”
Obi-Wan rested his hands on Anakin’s shoulders. “You are the only person who can chose your path, Anakin. If the force is telling you to leave, then leave you must.”
“I feel it’s time.” Anakin said carefully. “I appreciate everything you’ve taught me, Obi-Wan, but I can’t trust the council anymore. Not after what they’ve done to Ahsoka. What they’ve done to me.”
“Leave, Ahsoka chose to do. Tell me Young Skywalker, leaving is your choice as well hmm?”
Anakin jumped. He hadn’t even noticed master Yoda enter the room.
“Master Yoda- I-
”
“Reasons for leaving we shall discuss at a later time. Choose you must. Stay or go. Decide now you must.”
“Then if I have to decide now my answer is yes. I am leaving, Master Yoda.” Anakin stood straighter. He felt strongly about this decision. “Someone close to me is danger and I feel it is necessary for me to leave in order to find her.”
“Danger, you speak of?” Yoda questioned. “Elaborate, you must, young Skywalker.”
Anakin took a deep breath. “I fear that Senator Amidala has been captured by the former Sith apprentice Darth Maul. I knew I would be torn between my duties to continue to be a Jedi General for the Republic and my duties to Padmé. And Padmé will always come first. I know as a Jedi we are forbidden to have attachments but Master Yoda, I will not apologize for my attachments. To my attachment to Padmé-”
“Speak more you don’t have to, Young Skywalker.” Yoda held up a three clawed hand. “Focus we must on finding Maul.” A soft tapping sound echoed around the room as he made his way towards Anakin.
“And Padmé.” Anakin reiterates.
“Find Maul, we will, find him and we will find Senator Amidala.”
Anakin inclines his head. He reaches down for to hand his lightsaber to Yoda, but again, Yoda holds out a hand. “Keep it, you must. If we find Maul, need it you will.”
“Thank you, Master Yoda.” Anakin dropped his hand. “We must find Maul quickly. My wife-”
“Did you just say ‘wife’?” Obi-Wan asks visibly stunned.
Anakin stutters and pales slightly. Oops. “Yes. We are married. Have been for years.”
“Worry about this later, we must.” Yoda replied. “Focus we must on finding Maul.”
“Yes, Master Yoda.” Anakin said, and started to make his exit out of the temple. He needed to get in contact with Ahsoka and see if she found Maul.
“Anakin wait.”
Anakin lifted his head and turned back to his old master. “If you’re going to lecture me, Obi-Wan, it can wait until after we kill Maul and save Padmé’s life.”
Anakin stares intently at Obi-Wan, pleading with him with his eyes. Obi-Wan lets out a resigned sigh and holds up his hands. “Anakin, do you believe me to be blind?” His old master’s words shocked Anakin.
“You knew?”
“Anakin, pretty much everyone in the galaxy knew there was something going on between you and Senator Amidala. I just didn’t know how deep it went. Neither of you are subtle.”
Anakin scratches the back of his head and let out a breath. “She loves me because I’m me, Obi-Wan. She loves me and I love her, and nothing would ever come between that. Which is why I must find her. I can’t lose her, master. Please help me find her. Not as a Jedi but as my friend.” Anakin stares intently at his former master, his eyes pleading with him.
Obi-Wan nods his head. “You forget Anakin, that she is my friend as well. I will help you find her.”
Anakin closes his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ahsoka said that Maul escaped after learning vital information. Which is why I believe he kidnapped Padmé. Where would he go?”
“Clearly, he’s after you, Anakin. Where would he take Padmé? He wants to lure you out...”
“Would he take Padmé to Naboo? Where this all started?” Anakin cuts him off, feeling the force leading him towards his favorite planet. His hands clenched at his sides, aching to get onto a ship and to get to Naboo.
“Is that what the force is telling you?” Obj-wan questioned.
Anakin nodded. “I believe the force is leading me towards Naboo.” He said, his voice strong.
Obi-wan nodded, leading him towards the hanger. “Then Naboo is our destination.”