𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ❷❻

I'm not able to sleep much through the night. And it doesn't help that my husband isn't near to snuggle up to as he carries out my wish to bring Ahsoka home. Laying in the darkness, I stare up towards the tall ceiling and sigh in defeat. Maybe I was a little too hard on him...

Next thing I know, minutes turned to hours and the sun begins to rise just outside my window. Fatigue finally hits me like a ton of bricks, but the instant my eyes close, I hear a muffled voice coming from the living room. Expecting it to be Anakin, I quickly throw the sheets back and rush out of the bedroom in my night gown, but am completely surprised once I find it's Padmé and my mother.

"There's my girl. How I've missed you." Mom states with a soothing smile as she opens her arms. I gladly walk into her embrace and squeeze my eyes shut as I hold her close. "Hi mom." Once she releases me, I turn to my best friend with a confused expression, "Not that I'm not thrilled to see you guys, but what are you doing here?"

Padmé shoots a worrisome glance towards mom before reaching for my hand, "I think we should sit for this." I immediately snatch my hand back and out of her grasp with furred brows, "No." My eyes then begin to water as I shakily continue, "Where's Anakin? Is he alright?"

The hesitation that Padmé displays and the silence that surrounds us makes my heart drop to my stomach. Before I could let her get a single word in, I gasp as the tears fall and my palm lays protectively on my small baby bump. "T-this is all my fault, I-I should've never argued with him and demanded he not come home until our Padawan was found, I mean, I never even got to tell him I'm pregnant, and I never wanted you guys to find out like this, I was planning something for a few weeks from now—"

"Woah!" Padmé screeches over my frantic rambling, getting me to stop talking. With wide eyes, she looks to my now emotional mother as she registers the sudden news and then to me, "Maybe we should all just sit down?" I sniffle and nod quickly before taking a seat on the couch next to my best friend while mom sits on the other side of me with joy and fear glimmering in her chocolate brown eyes.

Taking a single breath, Padmé grips my arm softly and assures me, "Anakin is just fine. He's with Ahsoka as we speak." I sigh in relief and wipe the tears that lingered on my face before wondering, "Then why are you so hesitant and look worried?"

"Because Anakin reached out to me and informed me of how emotional you've been since the events of last night. I didn't want to set you off, but clearly I just did. I don't know how you force wielders do it, but even from a holding cell at the Senate, he could sense your emotions. He's just worried about you." Padmé exclaims softly.

I'm silent for a few moments before my panic begins to rise, "He's not jailed is he?" Mom places her soft hand on my thigh for comfort and I gladly grasp her fingers as Padmé quickly shakes her head, "No. But I'm afraid your Padawan is. Ani has also asked me to represent Ahsoka against the Senate."

Everything clicks into place in my mind, making me realize what this has all come to. "The revoked her title at the Temple, didn't they?" I sulk as my shoulders and my head drop in hopelessness. Mom then reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear so she can see my face and whispers, "Padmé is very good at what she does. I have faith that Ahsoka will win in the end. And if you don't have enough energy to fight out the rest of this trial, which is understandable in your condition, then I shall have enough hope for the both of us." I smile thankfully at my mother and then to Padmé.

Around early that evening, Ahsoka's hearing began. The Jedi Council sat to one side in the upper pews while Senate members sat under and to the other side of them. Chancellor Palpatine stood proudly with his committee as Padmé and I walk in and stand confidently on our bridge platform to represent Ahsoka. Mother waited in the hall and watched from the screen.