The Force is With Her

08 · skywalker, kryoff, amidala

(vera)

Senator Padmé's apartment was very large, and I immediately felt like I was going to be out of place. The two were married, meaning I would be third-wheeling, and on top of that, feeling incredibly inferior to them both. When Padmé was my age, she was queen of a planet! I can barely sit through a political meeting, much less speak at one! And Anakin is literally "The Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy!

"Vera, don't think like that," Anakin said as he parked his speeder outside the apartment. 

"Well, it's true. I'll never be as great as you or Padmé," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest and looking down at my boots.

Anakin placed his hands on my shoulders. He smiled at me, and took his gloved hand and lifted my chin up.

"Come on, smile," he said.

I couldn't help it. I smiled too. There had been a sudden change of demeanor when he arrived, and it was contagious. Anakin must really love Padmé. His air around her was just like the one me and Cassie had. We arrived at the door and it slid open. 

"Vera?" she asked, looking nervous.

"Hi, and um...I know the secret...but I won't tell, I promise. M-M'lady," I stuttered.

Her nervous expression changed to one of calmness, and she rushed (well, as much a heavily pregnant woman can rush) to hug me. I hadn't seen her in a long time, and the last time we'd spent a lot of time together was on Geonosis.

"You've gotten so much taller," she whispered, "you're the same height as me now. And you seem so much older."

"What can I say," I muttered, my hand instinctively tracing the large scar on my thigh from a blaster wound from a mission, "war changes you."

Our embrace lasted a little while longer, until I felt something kick against my stomach. Oh, stars! Her baby! I stepped away with a jolt, scared I had hurt them.

"T-the baby...it kicked me," I whispered, staring at her stomach.

"I guess they like you," Padmé chuckld.

I remembered that Anakin was standing right behind me, and I stepped away to give them some time. Her apartment was very nice, and I found myself particularly drawn to the large window overlooking Coruscant. You don't get views like that in the temple, that's for sure.

"Vera, would you like anything to drink?" Padmé asked, opening the cold food storage compartment.

"No, thank you," I said, gently nodding my head. I felt uncomfortable again, because Anakin had decided to take a nap, leaving me alone. 

Padmé nodded and sat down on the couch with me.

"Ani's told me a lot of good things about you, and if I'm being honest I was really scared to see you again," she said.

"I was scared to see you again too!" I exclaimed, laughing a little. "I guess we were both a little silly."

"I was nervous you would think I was boring, or stuck-up."

"I was nervous you would think I was annoying, or wild."

Padmé smiled.

"You've got a free spirit my dear. There's nothing wrong with that."

She hugged me again, and suddenly, I felt a lot better.

(anakin)

"Save your energy."

"I can't..."

"Don't give up Padmé."

I snapped out of the vision, setting down my holo game. Vera was taking a nap in the chair in the corner. I would've smiled, but the vision of Obi-Wan and Padmé left a sour taste in my mouth.

"Obi-Wan's been here, hasn't he?" I asked Padmé as she rounded the couch with a pile of clothes.

"He came by this morning," she answered, rubbing my shoulder.

"What did he want?"

I got up and started following her.

"He's worried about you. He says you've under a lot of stress. Vera said so too," Padmé replied.

I sighed. Of course they would do that. 

"I feel lost," I muttered.

"Lost? What do you mean?"

"Obi-Wan and the council don't trust me."

"They trust you with their lives!"

"Something's happening. I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more, and I know I shouldn't. And I feel like I'm going to fail Vera, just like I failed Ahsoka."

"You expect too much of yourself. You won't fail her."

There was a pause.

"I won't lose you Padmé."

"I'm not gonna die in childbirth Ani, I promise you."

I thought back to what Vera had said earlier about dreams. Was I becoming too obsessed with it? Maybe it was just a bad dream after all. And what she said about being scared of me? Of what I might become? I made my choice then and there. I will not let this dream destroy me. 

"I think Vera's a good influence on you," Padmé said, smirking. 

"She's definitely an influence, that's for sure."

"I hope if we have a daughter she's just like her."

I felt a sense of pride swelling up in me. 

"Yeah," I whispered, "me too."

(It's a shorter chapter, but it exists so there. Also, you probably notice a little bit of Padmé and Anakin's talk in their bedroom is missing. That's because Anakin never heard the Darth Plageius tragedy, so he doesn't have a way to save Padmé. That's intentional. I missed it on purpose.)