Chapter Text
The sun was starting to reach its peak in the Coruscant sky. The twins sat side by side in their double hover stroller eating their snack of small blue cheese puffs and apple slices. They had started to get cranky, and the snacks were not a long term solution. This peace would only be temporary, but Padme hoped it would last until they were back home.
She grabbed the handle and pushed the stroller down the promenade. Chic boutiques, high-end stores, exclusive clubs, and award-winning restaurants lined both sides. The middle was lined in large thick trees that offered lots of shade but had to cost a fortune to maintain. Well-dressed people slowly walked and checked the displays in the store fronts with a few carrying shopping bags, and shiny, new, top-of-the-line droids either followed their owners or went about their own tasks.
Padme had enjoyed her morning so far. She had gotten a bite to eat and a good caf at a cafe then broswed a few shops. She only bought a handful of items, yet still enjoyed pursuing the stores. The twins had held up really well with no major outbursts or tantrums. So far. Nap time was approaching, and the twins' good mood was fading.
She didn't linger in front of any shops as made her way directly down the promenade to a speeder loading platform and signaled for her driver to come on her comm. She stepped around the stroller to check on the twins. Their hands were sticky with blue cheese dust, but they were still content.
She smiled. How could she not? She dearly loved her precious little children.
"Senator Amidala?"
Her smile faded as a tightness formed in her chest. She straightened up and turned towards the approaching human man. He wore a well tailored outfit in dark grays. She did not recognize him.
"It is you," he said as he came to a stop.
"And you are?" Padme asked.
"I'm Sim Ty'lore, senator of the Pengalan system." He bobbed his head.
Pengalan was in the inner rim. It was a well off system with strong trade in agriculture, but its politicians were more passive and quiet on the galactic stage.
Padme raised her hand as she started to dismiss him.
"I'm sorry, but–"
"I just need a moment of your time," Sim said. He spoke fast. "There is a vote regarding the tariffs on the Parlemian Trade Route. This unfairly targets certain systems."
"I'm not a senator any more," she said sternly.
"I know." He leaned in closer, unphased. He waved his hands in front of him as he spoke. "But some systems can't afford these tariffs. They are struggling as it is with little aid from the Empire."
"I understand," she said as she held up her hand in front of her warding him off from coming closer. "I really do. But I can't help you."
Her list of contacts of political allies had long since been deleted. The few she still kept in contact with were her close friends, and even then she kept up a strict no-politics talk when she was around them.
The tightness in her chest was getting worse.
"But maybe if you ask your husband if he could just–"
She jerked away and grabbed the handle of the stroller. Her heart ached in pain as her chest squeezed.
"I cannot help you," she said.
She marched away to the waiting speeder.
Nap time had come and gone, and the twins were playing on the carpeted floor surrounded by brightly-colored and softly-rounded plastoid toys. Padme sat at a table nearby watching them as she ate a light snack of crackers and freshly sliced veggies. She turned as she heard heavy boots approaching. Anakin smiled the moment her eyes landed on him.
She smiled back. It was not as strong as his.
He was dressed in all black robes with the tabards on top being made of Vylum leather. She noted the lack of any shoulder armor and cape. The glove on his left hand was gone leaving his flesh hand bare.
He had come home early from work and did not plan on going back out.
She bit the inside of her mouth.
"Hello, my love," he said as he sat down next to her. He eyed her food, but did not eat.
"You're home early," she said, keeping her voice light and casual.
"My schedule changed leaving my afternoon free."
"Do you have any plans?"
"I just want to spend time with you and the twins."
They both turned their attention to the children, who still played. Yet she turned back to him when he gave a very soft chuckle. He was looking at her with a soft adoring expression. A smile had grown on her face when she looked at Luke and Leia, and Anakin had noticed it. Her cheeks burned red; he chuckled louder.
"How was your morning?" he asked. "Did you do a lot of shopping?"
Padme tried to swallow, but a lump had formed in her throat. The shopping trip had been an impromptu thing, and she had never told him about it. But he kept constant surveillance on her. She knew that, and he knew that she knew that. Yet, they never talked about it.
"I bought the twins a few things and some sandals for myself."
Anakin's gaze had traveled to the twins. A smile genuinely grew on his face. Most likely one that had matched Padme's a moment earlier.
"I stopped at a nice little cafe. Had a good croissant and nuna jam. Then we came home and took a nap."
"We?"
He turned towards her with an eyebrow raised and a teasing smirk.
"Yes," she said. "I took a small one."
She had laid in the bed, but hadn't slept. She had gone to hide away in her room knowing there were no security holocams there.
He reached out to her plate, picked up a pink grape, and popped it into his mouth.
"Tell me," he said slowly and in a lower tone, "what did you and Senator Ty'lore talk about?"
The hair on her arms and the back of her neck stood on end. A chill ran through her.
"He was telling me about a vote," she said as calmly and evenly as she could and looked directly at him.
"And?"
"I told him I was no longer a senator. I then left."
She kept her gaze on his eyes.
If he already knew she had met with the senator, then he also knew the conversation hadn't been long.
He smiled. Her skin crawled seeing it. It was not the warm welcome, the playing smirk, or adoring look he had given the children. There was something twisted about it.
"I am glad that you are no longer a senator."
His words felt oily and gross, thick with hidden meaning.
She gave a small nod.
"I get to be home with the twins," she said. She had pitched her tone ever so slightly higher. She wanted to convey happiness.
"Is that all you talked about?" Though he spoke calmly, his words felt like a hiss.
"Yes. The driver had arrived, and I wanted to get back before one of the twins had a meltdown."
He kept her gaze for a moment longer before he looked back at the twins. The venom in his face started to fade.
Padme walked up to a large window in Bail's large penthouse apartment. Outside the sky was dark and laced with traffic. There was also a very impressive view of the Senate building.
"Enjoying your evening?" Bail Organa asked.
She turned to face the senator of Alderaan. He handed her an iced drink.
"It's been lovely," she said, taking a sip. It was a spiced fruit tea.
She looked past him at the various guests who talked in small groups scattered across the large sitting room.
"How are the twins?" he asked as he stepped up next to her. They both turned their attention out the window.
"They're doing great," she said.
A silence fell between them. Neither had it in them to continue with pretend small talk.
After a long moment, he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Senator Ty'lore was found dead this morning."
She sucked in a small surprised breath. She forced herself to slowly let it out. To keep calm and act casual.
"He spoke to me about the tariff vote. In public." She kept her voice low too.
Bail was a seasoned politician. He didn't react. His face muscles didn't even twitch.
She did not know the relationship between Bail and Sim Ty'lore. Sim had not been a close ally of Bail's when she was at the Senate, but things had drastically changed over the past two years.
Somewhere behind them a guest laughed.
Bail's face transformed. He smiled warmly and held up his glass to her.
"I hope you continue to enjoy yourself, my friend." His tone went back to a normal volume.
"I hope to do so," she said, matching his farce.
Anakin walked in during the middle of dinner. The twins squealed happily seeing him, and he walked straight over to them and gave them both a kiss on the head. He sat down across from Padme and a serving droid soon brought him a plate of still-steaming food.
He was still dressed for work with his shoulder armor and cape on. He must have rushed home to make it in time for dinner.
She looked down at her food and poked at it with her fork.
"Full?" he asked when he noticed.
She placed her fork and down and stared right at him. "I've lost my appetite," she said. Her words were short.
He placed his fork down and raised his head as his eyes narrowed on her. The duel had started.
"Why are you angry at me?" he asked.
Out of the corner of her eye she kept tabs on Luke and Leia, who were still happily eating their meal and oblivious to the tension between their parents.
"Do you really not know?" she asked. Her words were full of bite.
The corners of his mouth turned down.
"No," he said. "You'll have to enlighten me."
She let out a loud disgusted sigh.
"Does killing people have such little significance to you? Have you grown numb to your death toll?"
"Killing people is my job," he growled.
"And look how good you've gotten at it," she hissed softly.
"I am making this galaxy peaceful and safe," he hissed back.
"Mama?" Luke asked.
Without hesitation, she was looking at her son. Her face had gone soft.
"Yes?" she asked in a pleasant and calm voice.
He looked from her to Anakin and back to her.
"Keep eating, Luke," Anakin said. The tone was reassuring and soothing. His shoulders were relaxed, his eyebrows were up and round, and a small smile tugged on his lips.
Leia waved a handful of peas as to say "Look! I'm eating!"
"Good job, Leia," Anakin praised her.
She gave him a big smile.
"Sim Ty'lore," Padme snapped at her husband.
His gaze slid back to her.
"Senator of the Pengalan system."
He raised an eyebrow.
She could not believe he was making her spell this out for him.
"He talked to me at the shopping promenade."
His eyebrows rose in recognition, and the tension fell as he picked his fork back up.
"Ah, him," Anakin said. He took a bite of his food, chewed, and swallowed. "I didn't kill him."
"You think you're absolved because you didn't personally do it?"
His face was darkening in annoyance.
"I didn't do it," he said. "I had no involvement. I didn't even know he was dead until you just mentioned it."
"Do you really expect me to believe you hold no responsibility?"
"Whether I do or not, he is already dead. What does it matter?"
Unsaid words sunk into her.
What are you going to do about it? You're not a senator. Your life does not involve politics any more. This death, this person, this stranger, should not affect you in any way.
Her hands curled into balls.
"Do you believe me so petty?" he asked. "To kill such a fool?"
"I don't know," she snapped. "He wasn't the first person who died shortly after talking with me."
"Talking to you is not a crime, but being a traitor of the Empire is."
The crime of being a traitor was loosely defined and very much up to interpretation. No one really looked too closely at the cases of those who were labeled as traitors out of fear for being labeled as one themselves. Simple dissent could be twisted into criminal charges.
Padme did not know if they were true traitors or not. Regardless, they probably would still be alive as long as they didn't approach her. Because the moment they did, they were brought to the attention of Lord Vader.
Very few survived such scrutiny. She wondered how Bail and Mon did it.
"I really had nothing to do," he said, drawing her out of her thoughts.
"Truly?" she asked doubtfully.
"You think he wasn't on the Empire's shit list already? Especially with the lies he used to try and garner sympathy."
She clenched her teeth.
Was it lies? Or did it just go against the Empire's best interest?
He suddenly stood up and picked up a small soft rag. He wiped Leia's face and hands down and picked her up.
"This is no longer the Republic," he said. His voice wasn't as low and sharp. He was looking fondly at his daughter. "The rotten pieces of corruption are being cut out to make way for a new galaxy. A peaceful one." He gave Leia a kiss on the cheek.
"Is it peace?" she asked. "Or just terrified submission?"
He put Leia down and glared at her.
"And what would you have? A return to the Republic? To a government that only benefits the elite and wealthy?"
"There were problems with the Republic," she said tersely. "But it was democratic and–"
He waved his hand ending the conversation. His attention was turning towards the children. He picked up the rag and stepped over to Luke. But he paused and glared at her.
"The Empire is good, Padme. You just don't get it."