When You Come Home

-51-

The drive had been silent and unpleasant. Anakin was disappointed, to say the least. This was the one reunion that he had desperately feared as much as he had desperately needed. Rex was the only singular person he would have braved coming back to Coruscant for. Luke didn't really count; he wasn't a person. But they had a long drive through central Coruscant, under a cloudless night sky, with the brightness of a thousand neon lights screaming at them, and yet ... nothing. No words, no comments, no smiles. Nothing. Rex sat looking out his window and Anakin out his. The only sound passed between them was a collective "thank you" to the patient driver when they exited the car.

The reception was being held in a repurposed meeting room in the Senate, dressed up a little with a few bunches of flowers and dampened by black tablecloths and curtains. A mural sat quietly at the back of the room, presenting a rare photo of Cody smiling and adorned with a handful of flickering candles. Even the lighting was dim. A couple of staff members glided out with a pair of platters, saved specially for Cody's family. And Anakin. Only two or three people remained, slinking around the back of the tables, nibbling at some of the cold food. There was no knowing how long they had been waiting.

"Glad you could make it," a soft voice, with that rich Naboo accent, floated into Anakin's consciousness. Padmé appeared beside him, offering a small quiche.

"You're still here?" Anakin was dully surprised, taking the savoury and trying to find something other than her gorgeous face to stare at. His eye tracked Rex walking from the room, heading for the mural in the room across.

Padmé shifted, tucking her blazer tighter around her little black dress. "I wanted to be sure you made it."

"Your boyfriend here?" He was too drained to opt for proper grammar or manners. He took a bite from the quiche. Hot egg squirted onto his hand.

Padmé offered a napkin. "No, my fiancé had work. He's probably at home by now."

"He'll be waiting for you." Anakin didn't know why he couldn't just say "thanks for staying."

She shook her head. "We don't live together yet. My father negotiated that I stay with him until we get married."

"Negotiated?" He took another bite. Hit bacon dropped onto his other hand. He gobbled it up hastily.

She flipped one of her dangly earrings, making the tiny gemstones glitter under the white lighting. "Yes." She sucked in a quick breath. "How long have you been in the military for?"

"About a year. Maybe a little more."

"Thank you for your service," her response was automatic. She looked down, tugging at her swishy skirt. "We're all grateful for your efforts to keep the Republic safe."

"Don't know how Cody feels about it," Anakin commented absently. He took a bite out of whatever had materialised in his hand. It tasted sweet, like caramel.

"Anakin!" the sudden greeting was enough to dislodge whatever void Anakin had fallen into, and he jumped. His piece of tan slice splatted on the wooden floor.

He dropped to his knees to clean it up, but Palpatine — the bringer of said greeting — stopped him.

"No, no!" He seemed amused. "We have a janitor. We have to keep him in business, you know," he added with a wink, nudging Anakin's arm. "Padmé, I'm so happy to see you're still here! I thought you might have given up and gone home, but nothing is more powerful than friendship, isn't it, my dear?"

Padmé tangled her finger in a loose curl, spinning it a few times. She smiled and said nothing.

Anakin watched her silently for a moment before he saw Palpatine's gaze fixed on Rex's boots, the only visible part of his around the curtain divider. Anakin could see his friend, in his mind's eye, sitting on his calves, his hands laid distraught in his lap, the undersides of his boots pointing to the ceiling. He wondered if he was okay.