In the Aftermath

Prevention of the Inevitable

It would have been easy to discount it all as just a dream.  As some fabrication her concussed mind had created after her ship was shot down over Rhodia, something which it had been a miracle she survived.  Yes, Padmé could have accepted her doctor's words, and no one would have faulted her for such a choice.  After all, traveling the galaxy with her adult son, fighting against an empire with her adult daughter, and all to save her husband after his fall to the dark side...it was quite the story.  Padmé wisely kept most of it to herself, outside of an embarrassing moment where she called the visiting Anakin, "Luke." 

The slip up was actually what had reminded her of most of it.  Anakin was understandably confused, but Padmé deftly played it off as a mistranslation of a Nubian word for light.

"I guess my mind is still a bit rattled," she had smiled innocently, earning a lecture from her doctor about the multitude of symptoms that were associated with head injuries.

Padmé mostly tuned it out, though Anakin's eyes were noticeably wide throughout.  Padmé wished her husband wouldn't be so obvious sometimes, the point of their SECRET relationship was to be discreet.  However, he somehow managed to make it through the conversation without alerting the doctor to anything outside of a dear friendship.  A few others came by throughout the day, and Padmé regarded each one with the same mask.  Her emotions were running crazy, however, just below the surface.  It was a different feeling for each person.  When she had awoken to Anakin at her bedside, Padmé had been almost entirely convinced that it was HE who was gravely injured.  Her eyes watered as they embraced, and it took a little while to convince herself that the interaction was even real.

Obi-Wan had shown up in her room next, though the sight of the Jedi Master left Padmé a bit annoyed.  She had nearly let loose an "I told you so!"  But, stopped herself just as quickly as the idea had manifested.  Instead, she just smiled and listened as he gave her some insight as to what happened after she had been brought to the hospital.  It disappointed her greatly to learn that Ono had betrayed the Republic and tried to have her killed...well, he insisted that he only wanted to capture her alive, but for some strange reason, there was a miscommunication between the gunners tasked with grounding her ship.  Regardless, he was to face trial for attempted murder of a senator.  Anakin seemed particularly incensed at the situation, clearly thinking that the traitor deserved a far more swift punishment.  Padmé was upset as well, yet she had found it hard to find much passion behind the feeling.  It had only been about a day, and she knew she should have cared more, but it didn't seem that recent.  If she had been asked, Padmé would have suggested the event took place ages ago, far back into the past. 

Bail came soon after Obi-Wan had left, bearing news of the impact of her near death on the senate.  The entire government, it seemed, was in an uproar.  With arguments ranging from the fate of Rhodia, to actual sympathy towards Padmé.

"You know," he had smiled knowingly, "we might be able to capitalize on this surge.  The senate might be willing to finally grant you an ear, Padmé."

The idea excited Padmé, though she wished it could have come about through less morbid means than her botched murder.  Either way, it left the two of them brimming with plans.  By the time Bail finally gathered his things, proclaiming that he would write the greatest speech in the galaxy, Padmé was feeling a bit more in place.  It still saddened her to watch her friend head for the door, though she assumed, at the time, that it was due to her still wanting to continue working.  It wasn't until Bail nearly bumped into her final visitor, that Padmé realized the true root of her anguish.

"I'm so sorry, excuse me Chancellor."

"That's quite all right, Senator."

Padmé stiffened as she watched Anakin welcome in Palpatine.  The man had a stressed smile, accentuating the wrinkles of his face.  The two talked for a brief moment, before his attention turned to Padmé.