Midnight in the Garden

Chapter 31: When Mercy Tempers Justice

Anakin had taken to escorting Padme everywhere these days. When Sereine arrived for the emergency meeting that Padmé had called, Finis met her alone.

"It's certainly discomforting," Finis said, passing her a glass of water, "meeting you here at the door and offering you something to drink as if you were a total stranger. Palpatine fired you, and still you're staying in our apartment alone at night. Tell me." He folded his arms. "Is this going to continue?"

Sereine could not meet his eyes. "Do you want to divorce me?"

"I thought you wanted to divorce me."

"Finis, I've tried to tell you over and over that all I want is for things to be the way they used to be. For me to feel the way I used to feel. If I knew how to do that, I'd do it!"

"Well. It appears that I may be free to leave here fairly soon, so if we want a divorce, the way may be clear. Although I can't imagine the love of your life ever taking you back again now." Finis Valorum scowled and turned away to stalk across the room, then suddenly turned around.

"Sereine. If we were to stay here, on Coruscant, to live, how would you feel?"

He saw her do a double-take. "What? Finis, you can't do that. You're miserable here."

"Bail has asked me to stay on as an advisor to him if he and Padmé win the election. If I were to join Bail's cabinet, obviously I would have to live here."

Sereine stared down at her hands. "Kinschem, so much has happened to you here that's been unpleasant. I think Bail was smart to ask, but I don't want you to do anything that's going to make you unhappy. I know how much you love home and the peace and quiet of all your flowers and rocks and gardens there."

Finis shrugged. "I can have a garden here. A small one."

"But that wasn't the main reason! All that negative coverage by the press! You hate that! They even tried to insinuate that your daughter-in-law was some extramarital girlfriend!"

"As you're fond of saying, my dear, it's the politician who's on stage, not his staff. Anyway, I'll admit that I was -- very raw, and sensitive, when Palpatine took office, but that was thirteen years ago. I think most people have all but forgotten me, and as for those who haven't ... Part of self-confidence lies in no longer believing your detractors. In these past few months, I've matched wits with a Sith lord the likes of which this galaxy has never seen, and helped to drive him from office ... and I believe that has helped to restore some of mine."

Sereine stared at him doubtfully from wide brown eyes. "Finis, I just don't want you to be unhappy. I don't want you to do anything that's going to make you unhappy."

As he looked into her eyes, he comprehended what his wife was really saying. "Sereine," he said gently, "you do  love me, you do."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. A moment later she was in his arms, and he pulled her close to his heart.

Valorum blinked tears from his own eyes. When he could speak again, he said, "Let's give it another year, Sereine. Live with me one more year, and this time we'll talk, really talk to each other, both of us. And if it's still no better than it's been, we'll know we really did all we could. Will you?"

She brushed tears from her face, sniffled, looked up at him, and nodded. "But, Finis, if ever this is going to work, you have  to understand about Palpatine. You have to understand that I will not abandon him in darkness -- and it doesn't have anything to do with you!  You have to understand this, Finis. You have to accept it."

He took his wife's face in his hands. "And you must never keep anything from me again, Sereine. No matter how much you think it will hurt me. If it's important to you, don't think that it doesn't affect me, or that somehow we'll suffer less if you keep it from me. Yes? You have to agree to this."