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Palpatine had not recovered well from the assasination. His skin was grey, and wrinkled. His face twisted into something alien and not at all like a human.
But there are parts of his old self that remain. The smile is as kind, soft, and gentle as ever. His blue eyes sparkle with a light that suggests a life of good deeds and a sense of humor. His hands are clasped in his lap, waiting patiently for Padme to speak, to state her reason for this sudden meeting.
Padme stares at him. She does not speak. Part of her is afraid to. Afraid to confirm what she knows.
"Senator Amidala," he says with all the good humor in the galaxy, "I do hope you didn't call a meeting in this time of crisis with me to look at one another. Please, tell me what has asked you to ask for a meeting so fervently."
"At this time of crisis," Padme hears herself say, "I am surprised you allowed it."
His aged, wrinkled hand waves lazily. "For a fellow Nabooen, especially one that has done so much for our people as you have, I think I can allow a few moments of my time."
Padme has not trusted Palpatine in some time. Not since the end of her queenship and she returned to Coruscant as a senator to find him cold, and unhelpful. But even she might have been fooled by this front were she not so steadfast in her realizations.
"You're the Sith the Jedi are-" she corrects herself, "-were, looking for."
It is clear to her now. It makes far too much sense, explains many small discrepancies she has noticed over the years. She's furious with herself for realizing it too late.
Palpatine merely blinks at this loaded accusation, then sits back in his chair. "Why- whatever gave you that idea? And for that matter, why should that be so horrendous? After all, the Sith are merely, well, a religion. Not unlike the Jedi."
"Of which you ordered the extermination of for the actions of one council." Padme replies coldly. "I do not have times for games, Palpatine. I know you are the Sith. I know you have played both ends of this war. I know you have influenced Anakin Skywalker all these years. I want your honesty, and I want it now"
Palpatine is silent for a long time, bringing his hands up to rest on his chin. "If you know so much, what left do I have to be honest for?"
Padme smiles gently, a little sadly. "How long do I have left to live?"
He laughs. "Senator, while I know you lead the petition of the two thousand senators, that is no reason for you to be killed. It was perfectly within your rights, I understand how worried you must have been-"
"If you cannot be honest with me then there is no point to this meeting." Padme tells him levely.
Once again Palpatine fell silent, finally, his eyes harden. "If you swear allegiance to my rule, to support me, as all the senators have, then we shall have no further issue."
"And we still do not have honesty between us." She says. "You are aware of Anakin and my relationship?"
Palpatine nods. "Yes."
"Then how long until I am assassinated?"
He sighs, leaning back against his chair, staring down at her as if she is a simple child. "Senator, you seem so sure I will kill you. Really, you are an invaluable, essential member of the senate and an especially brilliant and a worthy, if I might be so bold, colleague. Why would I want to?"
Padme looks him dead in the eye. "A Sith cannot have any love in their life, just as the Jedi cannot."
"A rather narrow minded assumption, but then there is little information on the Sith." Palpatine says lightly, but not so lightly as he did a moment ago.
She tilts her head, an amused smile coming over her face. "Must I spell it out for you?"
"I'm afraid you must."
Padme nodded. "Very well. You need Anakin Skywalker, he is the power that will ensure you remain on the throne. But you know as I do, that Anakin is loyal to people. Not principles. Whatever you've used to convince him to, oh- convert, to the dark side of the force will not hold if the people he loves try to sway him otherwise. Therefore, you must be the sole influence in his life. That was why Ahsoka had to be killed, though you failed on that front. It was why Obi-Wan had to go. I am all that stands in your way."
There. The guise of a kindly old man has dropped entirely. His eyes burn with hate for her, and the sneer of his mouth makes her blood run cold, even if she knew it was coming.
"You, Padme Amidala," Darth Sidious purrs, "are far too clever for your own good."
Padme smiles wryly. "You are hardly the first to say that. Now, how will it be done? A mistake in the programming of a droid? A draught of poison- no." She raises a finger as he opens his mouth. "A rogue Jedi. I see it now. A rogue Jedi storms my apartment, killing me for revenge against the senate. That will certainly erase any remaining guilt my husband will have for slaughtering them."
He cackles at her plans, sneering at her. "And why would I inform you of my plan, what motivation would I-" his gaze falls to her stomach, understanding fills his eyes, "ah. I should have guessed, all those shapeless robes... About eight months along, are you?"
"Five." She corrects softly.
He blinks. "Really? Well, rest assured, I will allow your child to be born." Darth Sidious says. "They will be a valuable asset to the empire."
Padme's face noticeably pales, but she straightens. "I won't let you use them as you have used Anakin."
"And how will you prevent this, I think?" He wonders.
She is silent. The Jedi are gone. No doubt her apartment is being watched. Anyone from her meetings these last weeks will be watched just as closely. Everyone else is under his control.
Unless, she can convince Anakin to leave with her, to raise their child in hiding, perhaps even under that organization that Organa has organized. It might be her, and the child's, only chance.
"Perhaps I will be unable to." She lies quietly. She stands, and turns to leave. She is halfway to the door when he calls to her-
"I would not advise going to Anakin for the time being. He is rather… explosive, at this moment."
Padme turns. The strain of the past few days has caught up to her. Her face is white, strained, tired. Shadows are cast under her eyes. Though her face shows no expression, it looks as if it was set in stone. She looks, like a corpse. Dead.
"Anakin would never hurt me."
The words are empty, a practiced justification she has stated over and over again.
Darth Sidious brings his hands to his lap, only now it is the complacent motion of one who knows they have won the fight. "We will see."
She stares at him for a moment, then walks out the door.