Padme couldn't stop thinking about Anakin. They had left each other rather abruptly, and she hadn't heard from him since. It worried her. Was he alright? Was she alright? What was going to happen now? Never had Padme felt so conflicted in her entire life. The knowledge of Anakin's dark past was more than she could cope with. It haunted her dreams; horrifying images of Anakin taking out his rage on an unconscious individual; darkness shrouding him. It was this dangerous side of him that had Padme troubled. She knew he was emotional; she had known that all along. But this was different. There was a darkness inside him, a darkness he had clearly tried to suppress without luck, and she was concerned that it would slowly consume him. Padme couldn't let that happen. He was a good person. She needed to heal him. It was her duty.
No matter how much she wanted to see Anakin, she couldn't build up the courage. It ached. She needed someone to talk to. Someone wiser. She needed her older sister.
Resolved to tackle this emotional whirlwind than Anakin had stirred inside her, she decided to ring her sister. Sola picked up the phone after three rings, muttering a distracted greeting before shouting at Ryoo to stop hitting her sister. Padme waited patiently.
"Sorry. Kids, y'know," Sola groaned on the other line.
Padme laughed. "Uh, no, not really." She could practically see Sola rolling her eyes.
"What did you call for, Padme?"
"What?" Padme asked, innocently. "I can't just call my beloved older sister because I miss her?"
Sola snorted. "Well, some could, but you don't. You want something, dear sister. Spit it out."
She knew her too well, Padme smiled. She had never been able to hide anything from her sister, face to face or even over the phone. Swallowing, she struggled to figure out how she would address her current situation. Just as she was mulling over the words, fresh on the tip of her tongue, Sola interrupted her thoughts.
"It's about that Anakin Skywalker, isn't it?" Padme blinked, shocked. How had she known? When she confessed as much, Sola simply replied, "You're predictable. So, what is it? You're not pregnant or anything are you?"
"What? No! That – that's ridiculous! We've never - " She felt her cheeks redden and she suddenly grew very hot. Not that she'd ever admit it to anyone, least of all Sola, she had fantasised at least once about Anakin in… well, that way. She felt guilty and dirty about it, but she was a woman after all and she had desires that needed fulfilling.
"Good. That's good. I think dad would murder him, and probably you too, if you were. So, what's the problem, then?"
With a reluctant sigh, she told Sola everything; from Anakin's revelation to her confused feelings. Sola listened patiently, never interrupting, absorbing the information with careful deliberation. Once she was finished, Sola whistled. "Well, shit."
Smiling at her reaction, Padme nodded her head. "Yeah."
"Do you want my honest opinion?"
"I wouldn't have called you if I wanted lies."
"I think you need to let it go. That boy… he's got a lot of emotional baggage, and, honestly Padme, I don't think you can handle that right now."
Padme scowled, suddenly defensive. "What do you mean I can't handle it?"
"Don't get shitty," Sola consoled her, remaining firm. "You told me yourself, you still aren't fully healed from that bastard Clovis. The last thing you need is to get involved with someone so... complex. It'll only break you."
She was right. Of course she was. Sola had always been so wise and thoughtful. It was why Padme had turned to her. She needed advice. Rush had hurt her badly, and Anakin was so, damaged… she couldn't handle that. Not until she was completely healed.
