Chapter Text
Padme sat on a bench in the garden square of the city of Tatoonie. The once quiet and serene little town she had only know for 3 years was beyond recognition. From tiny local businesses that had once flourished along the streets to large corporate skyscrapers that now dulled beauty of the town. It saddened her to see all the changes. She no longer saw the town she had fallen in love with. Though the sight saddened her, she couldn't help but question. How could the Portside little town have changed so much in only 8 years? In the 3 years she was here, the town showed no sign of growth only decline. So how was it possible that a town with a declining population of under 1,000 now turned into a 100,000 populated city?
Sighing, she decided not to dwell on it too much. She had bigger stuff to think about, like a place to stay. In the rush to get here, she completely forgot she didn't have a place to stay anymore. The house her family had here was sold years ago. With all the drama that had happened to her in Coruscant, she was probably gonna be staying for quite a while so she needed a temporary apartment. Turning on her phone, Padme began to search through available apartments nearby but was quickly interrupted when someone tripped on her stretched out legs.
"Oh my stars! I'm so sorry!" Padme quickly got up and helped the girl up.
"It's okay, haha."
That voice.
Padme came faced to face with the once 14 year old girl she used to help with math homework was now in front of her all grown up and still wearing her staple twin braids.
"Padme?!" Ahsoka quickly brought Padme in for a hug which was obviously accepted.
They broke their embrace after a few seconds. "You're here! I thought you were never coming back after living the big city life in Coruscant."
Padme let out a laugh, grateful for the fact that Ahsoka had remained the same bubbly child she knew. "Well, I just felt like I needed a big getaway. I haven't been here in a while, and it's very far from Coruscant so it was perfect."
"Anakin is gonna be so happy to see you."
She found that statement hard to believe. After what she had done and how hurt Anakin was, she highly doubted that he would be excited to see her again. Anakin was one of those remarkable people that could hold onto a grudge for years and probably take it to the afterlife as well. Though Padme knew, he did not want to see her, she wanted to see him. After all, he had been part of the reason she was here in the first place.
"Where are you staying at? I'll help you."
Padme awkwardly laughed, "Uh it was a really last minute trip. I was just going to go around the motels and see if there were any rooms available."
"What? That's so dangerous Padme. This place has gotten some creeps over the years wandering about." Ahsoka took out her phone and began to rapidly text. "Anyways, you're staying with us. There is no way I'm letting you stay in a motel that could be easily broken into in the middle of the night."
Padme's eyes widened in shock. She wasn't sure she was ready to face Anakin yet, she at least needed a night to herself.
"Oh it's okay Ahsoka. I appreciate, but I don't want to intrude. How about you can just help me find a very safe motel?"
"No, I insist. Besides I already told Shmi you were coming." Ahsoka smiled to herself knowing she had won.
Of all the people Padme did not want to disappoint, Shmi was one of the top. The woman was nothing but supportive and kind during her parent's death and her decision to leave shortly after. Padme sighed and slightly nodded. Ahsoka beamed and grabbed Padme's suitcase quickly sprinting over to her car that was parked just across the street. Ahsoka opened the trunk and shoved the suitcase inside as Padme finally caught up.
"Alright, let's go." Ahsoka closed the trunk and ran to the driver's side quickly getting inside as Padme got in the passenger's side.
A minute in, Padme initiated the catching up talk to which Ahsoka was happy to answer. Padme smiled to herself as she intently listened to the now grown up child she had last seen. At 25 years old, Ahsoka had achieved a lot which filled Padme with an overwhelming sense of pride. She couldn't help but think back to when she had first met her. Anakin had brought her to meet his family after a few weeks of dating. Ahsoka was only 14 years old that time, and she was so chatty which was a characteristic Padme absolutely loved about her.
Ahsoka finally stopped and looked over to Padme, "What about you? What have you been up to?"
Padme smiled and thought about she would go about this. She adored Ahsoka, but she didn't want to divulge everything that was going on in her life right now.
"Well, after I left, I continued school for my Masters degree at Harvard, and then I graduated and has been working for RoScant Law Firm up until a couple weeks ago."
"Huh? What happened?" Ahsoka tilted her head in curiosity.
Padme let out an awkward huff. How was she going to explain this? That she had run away from her ex fiancé because he was a manipulative asshole and constantly made her miserable. Padme visibly winced at the thought of Clovis.
"Uh, you don't have to tell mer if you don't want to."
Padme looked at her in shock. She was surprised Ahsoka had given her a choice to drop something. In the 3 years that Padme had known and watched Ahsoka grow up, she had seen her to be a very curious and some would say a rather nosy teenager, which Padme had not really minded. Before Anakin had officially brought her to meet his family, Ahsoka had already found out they were together only 1 week into their relationship. She had relentlessly pestered Anakin about the "pretty girl" he was with one night. Anakin often described his sister as "Dorry but more annoying".
"Just some stuff came up, and I just.. Well, I just really needed to leave."
Ahsoka nodded, "Hmm, well at least you're back now. How long are you here?"
"Well until I sort out my problems, which will probably take a while."
"We get to spend more time you then." Ahsoka said with a smile.
30 minutes of going down a straight, Ahsoka then finally made a turn into what seemed to be a long driveway. Padme stared out to the long beautiful lush trees that surrounded the area. She was surprised when Ahsoka had mentioned they moved out of town and into the woods because that's where her new father lived. It didn't really make sense to her since the man was apparently a business man and most of the time rich business people tend to stay within city limits to be close to their jobs.
After what seemed to be an endless driveway, they had finally pulled up to a giant mansion. Padme stared up at the large mansion that currently face her. Ahsoka had told her that Shmi had married some rich guy, but wow, the size of the house was unbelievable. It had a historical design to it and was mainly painted in dark blue and plain black colors. It was in complete contrast to its lush green and vibrant natural surroundings. If she could describe it in one word; Eerie. Even though the house looked perfectly normal, she just could not shake the dreadful feeling that accumulated in her. But the beautiful forest and garden in the front did help it feel less odd.
She began to walk to the entrance and finally reached the door. Just as she touched the handle, a shiver ran down her spine. Her hands began to shake uncontrollably and the hairs on her arms stood. Why was she feeling like this? The last time she had felt like this was when she met that man in the woods all those years ago on the night of the crash.
A hand landed on her shoulder, "Hey, you okay?" Ahsoka looked at her with concern.
Padme smiled and sighed as she shook her head. "Sorry, I don't know what's going on with me."
"Are you nervous about seeing Anakin again?"
Before Padme could answer, the door opened.
"Padme! It's been so long."
Without warning, Shmi pulled Padme in for a tight hug. Padme couldn't help but smile. It's been so long since she had last felt such a motherly hug. Shmi was never just her ex-boyfriend's mom. She had been like a second mother to her.
As Shmi finally let her go, a raspy voice chimed in from behind Shmi.
"Is this the wonderful Padme Amidala I've heard so much about?"
Again. She felt another shiver run down her spine. Just then, Padme knew right then and there that it was not some hallucination like many had told her and forced her to believe. This man that currently stood before her, was the same man that had been in her nightmares every night for years.
"Do you have to go?" Anakin groaned refusing to let Padme leave his grip.
Padme laughed at his frivolous attempt, "Anakin, I have to go. My parents are waiting for me. I can't just skip out on my Dad's birthday dinner."
Anakin finally let go with a huff, "Yeah, yeah. Okay well, tell your Dad I said Happy Birthday."
"Okay, I will." Padme leaned in for a kiss which Anakin greedily accepted.
Before it could escalate into a heavy make out session, Padme quickly pulled away leaving Anakin extremely disappointed which he didn't bother to hide. She into the restaurant while fixing herself a little bit in the glass showing her reflection. Spotting her parents and their friends in the corner of the restaurant with the overlooking view, she walked up to them dodging waiters and other tables. Her Dad spotted her and smiled as she approached them.
"Happy Birthday Dad." Padme expressed as she leaned in for a hug.
"Oh thank you sweetie. Glad you could make it."
Padme smiled as she pulled away and leaned in to kiss her mom on the cheek as she greeted her.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world Dad." She said as she grabbed the chair next to her mom and sat down.
"That Anakin boy seems to never want to let go of you."
"I can't really deny that. Anakin loves too much." Padme laughed thinking back to how he begged her to stay. " Also he told me to tell you Happy Birthday."
"He's a good kid. And tell him I said Thank you."
"Glad to know he's got the Dad stamp of approval."
The rest of the dinner went on without a hitch. Her parents chatted and laughed with their friends and as the universal rule of meeting someone's adult kids, her parent's friends asked her about what she did and if she was still in school or not. To which she'd always reply saying she was planning on getting her J.D. and becoming a lawyer. After that, then came the waiters singing Happy Birthday and the giving of birthday cards to her dad.
Time passed quickly and Padme was in the backseat of her parents car. Since Anakin had been the one to drop her off, she needed a ride from her parents back to her apartment.The ride home was a comfortable silence. Combined with the quiet music, the silence, the darkness outside, and the 2 hours of socializing, Padme began to doze off.
Padme awoke from the rough shaking of her face. A man stood above looking down towards her. Her ears were loudly ringing. Her body felt like it was burning. The smell of gas overwhelmed her sense of smell. Her eyes wandered to the dark sky lit up with the bright stars. She was outside, lying on the ground. Why?
"Your.....kin... girl..end"
She could hardly make out the words the man was saying and didn't care to. The man then began to walk away from her. She followed him with her eyes and was confronted with the horrific sight. Her parents lied only a few feet away from her, bloody and lifeless. Her mother's face visible to her. Padme tried to scream, to call out to her parents. But nothing came out of her throat but a pathetically quiet squeak. But her nightmare wasn't over. The man leaned down and shoved his hand through her mother's chest ripping out her beating heart.
Padme's mind raced with thousands of thoughts. She didn't understand. Everything had been completely fine moments ago, what had happened? Why are her parents lying lifeless on the ground? Why was her mother's beating heart currently in someone's hand?
The man then began to walk back to her. He leaned forward. Padme was frozen, her body shook with fear. Was he about to do the same to her? As the man leaned in closer, Padme had began to see a face form. A face of the devil. The man was smiling at her. All while holding her mother's heart in his right hand. His mouth was covered in blood and it dripped onto her face.
"Don't worry child. I still have use for you." The ringing had finally stopped, and this time she had heard all of it.
Not a moment later, the wailing of an ambulance could be heard. The man scoffed and stood straight up and in the blink of an eye had disappeared as a cold breeze had hit her. Her eyelids became heavy again and once again she was met with darkness.
Beep....Beep....
Once again, Padme had awoken but not by the rough shaking of her face but by the loud beeping noise. Her body bo longer felt burning but she didn't feel the warmth of the bed and blankets on her. She was in a hospital.
"Padme!"
She looked to the sighed and saw Anakin get up from his seat and rushed over to her.
"Anakin."
"Padme, it's alright I'm here. I was so worried."
Without skipping a beat, Padme then remembered her parents. What she saw.
"Anakin. My parents."
In a second Anakin's relieved face had turned into one of worry and concern. He looked away, not wanting to meet her eyes. This was enough to tell her.
In the next 2 weeks Padme spent in the hospital, it was nothing but misery and anger. Why? Why her parents? Why on her father's birthday? Why them? Anakin refused to leave her side and slept in the bed with her. She didn't complain, she would spend countless nights crying herself to sleep in Anakin's chest as he whispered comforting words to her. She needed him beside her. Padme only partially listened as the doctor explained she was able to today. Normally people would rejoice at their last day in the dull environment that was the hospital, but she didn't. She wanted to stay. To not go back out into the real world and be forced to face the harsh reality. Because the moment she got out, she would have to start planning her own parents funerals.
Padme nuzzled her face in Anakin's neck as he stroked her, "How are you feeling?"
She gave no answer, which in itself was enough to tell him how she was feeling. Anakin asked her almost everyday and everyday he was meet with silence. He didn't want to push her. He couldn't even begin to understand what she was going through. All he could do for her, was just be there. By her side, comforting her.
As they continued to lie down on the bed, trying to delay their departure from the hospital. A knock interrupted them. Anakin pressed a kiss on Padme's forehead and got up to open the door. Two officers walked in with a solemn look.
"Can we help you officers?" Anakin asked crossing his arms.
The two officers exchanged looks, "We just wanted to give you our condolences. Your parents were great people."
Padme stared at them, her eyes widened as she realized something. These two were at her dad's birthday dinner. In the 2 weeks she spent in misery, she barely thought back to that night. She wasn't really thinking anything most of the day, all she felt was numbness. Then night would come, and she would think of her dead parents. Not once has she thought back to that night. Truth be told, she didn't really remember much before the accident. The only thing she clearly remembered was seeing her parents dead a few feet away from her. and.. that man.
Padme sat up and stared at the officer closest to her, "Did you catch him?"
The two officers once again exchanged glances but not of sadness but of concern. Anakin also happened to have the same look.
"Who?" The closest officer asked.
"The man?" Padme narrowed her eyes, "The man that was there. There was a man there after the crash that night. He.. He did something horrible to my parents."
The officers gave her confused looks. Which lit a spark of anger in her.
"How. How did the crash even happen?" She asked, hoping they somehow knew.
Padme couldn't really explain it, but somehow she felt as if that man had something to do with the accident.
"There was foggy, but clear enough, footage from the bank that was about a 100 feet from the accident. Something had gotten in front of the car, maybe a deer or moose, and had caused the car to flip." They explained.
"But what about after? The man." Padme persisted, she was sure there was someone there.
"There was no footage of anyone other than you and your parents at the site."
That couldn't be right. He was there, she was sure of it.
"I want to see."
The officers nodded in agreement and said she could come down to the station. Soon after their departure, Padme got discharged and hurriedly went to the police station to see the footage. With Anakin closely following behind, Padme stormed into the police station and her eyes searched for the same two officers. Once located, she walked over and quickly took notice of her. They took her into an open investigation room. Anakin stood beside Padme as they handed her the tablet with the footage.
In the footage, the car had done exactly as they had told her. It swerved clearly trying to avoid something and had completely flipped. What exactly it was that her parents were trying to avoid remained a mystery as the footage wasn't clear enough to see. Seeing this was making her stomach turn. But Padme endured, she had to see the man. However, something was not right. She clearly remembered her and her parents were lying outside the car. But after the flip, they had remained in the car. Perhaps they survived, and had crawled out? The footage continued and moments after the flip, the car exploded in a fiery blaze. Then, the footage began to wildly glitch.
Padme looked up the officer and showed the tablet screen, "What's going on? Why is it glitching?"
"The bank had said some debris from the explosion hit the camera." One officer explained.
Padme withdrew her arm and looked back at the tablet. Just in time, the footage stabilized. But somehow, her and her parents were outside now. A few feet away from the car. How? Before she could ask the officers and most likely get another "we think" answer, she noticed herself. On the footage, her head seemed to be following something. Something that wasn't there. Now she fully remembered, she was eyeing that man. Eyeing him as he walked over to her parents and she finally saw what became of them. But the showed no man.
Padme quickly looked up at both officers, "My mother. Her heart. Was it there?"
It was an odd question to ask, but if they confirmed it was missing, then Padme would know she was right.
"Yes, of course it was there."
What? No. She could see it clear in her memory. That monster had ripped out her mother's heart.
"That's. No, that's not right. I know what I saw. This- This footage isn't real!" She yelled as she bolted up from the chair. "There was a man there!"
Padme was getting angry. How could they give her fake footage? How could they gaslight her like this? Padme continued to yell at the officers, trying to make them hear her side. Trying to make them giver her the real footage. But neither officers looked like they even hearing her out. She looked over at Anakin, hoping that the one person that had stayed by her side would believe her. But not even Anakin seemed to believe her.
Yes, it was all coming back. The memories she had worked so hard to repress to the dark corners of her mind had suddenly been brought to the forefront of her mind. Years of therapy had led her to believe the man that she saw that night was just some delusion. A way to put the blame on someone. Yet here he was. Clear as day, and looking exactly the same. The very man that had cost her countless nights of sleep. The man that had even haunted her during the daytime as if the nightmares at night wasn't enough.
"My dear? Are you alright?" The man moved forward to her and Padme instinctively moved back. "You look like you've seen a ghost my dear."
The man had passed it off as a joke, but Padme wasn't stupid. She could feel the condescending undertone of his "joke". Her anger began to emerge and boil within her.
Shmi backed up and rested her arm on the man, "This is Sheev Palpatine, my husband."
So that's his name. Padme put on a fake smile. A name had finally been put on the face of the man. As the memories quickly replayed in her mind, the anger and resentment came back with it. This Sheev Palpatine most definitely had something to do with her parent's death that night. And she was going to prove it. She was finally going to give her parents the justice they deserved.
Shmi and Palpatine had parted and gestured for Padme to come in. Walking in, she immediately shivered. It was almost an automatic reaction her body had to the atmosphere of the place. The living was dimly lit, the walls were painted in dull colors and little to no furniture. It looked almost as if no one actually lived here.
"Your room is the 2nd door on the right, sweetie." Shmi gestured up to the 2nd floor to the right. Padme nodded and headed up.
The rest of the night, nothing much had happened. Anakin was nowhere to be seen, which Padme was little bit relieved about since she still wasn't ready to face him. Although nothing unusual happened, something had caused her to feel like something was off. Being hidden from her. It was during dinner with Shmi and Ahsoka that Padme had began feel it. She had asked where that man, Sheev, was and Ahsoka had slipped and said he was out hunting deer. But Padme knew that was a straight lie. Because she had seen the man leave the house wearing a business suite. Not a single hunting equipment was anywhere near him. She had decided to say nothing.
"Hmgh... Ugh.."
Padme tossed and turned but for some reason, she just couldn't force herself to sleep. Feeling defeated, she got up and started walking downstairs to the kitchen. This was a habit she had developed while being with Anakin. Whenever she couldn't sleep, she would go to the kitchen and eat a jello, and this continued eat after leaving. But considering this wasn't her house and she was just a guest, going down to drink some water was main option. Finally making it to the kitchen, she walked around the island counter and got to the cabinets to grab a glass. She grabbed a random glass and walked over to the sink and filled the glass with water.
"Hey."
Padme whirled around to the source of the voice.
And there he was. Her Anakin. In the very dimly lit kitchen and house, she could still see him all so clear. Leaning against the frame of the kitchen entrance. This scene had felt all too familiar. The time that he had caught her eating a bucket of chocolate ice cream on their kitchen floor because of cramps and Anakin just sat down with her. They would often laugh about that moment. But now the circumstances were different. They were no longer 2 young adults who are madly in love with each other. Now they were just two strangers with memories. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Padme cleared her throat, "Hey."
"What are you doing?" Anakin pushed himself away from the frame to walk closer.
"I couldn't sleep."
Anakin walked to the fridge and opened it, "We have jello." He took out a green jello, "Here."
Padme had stood, confused and frozen. The closer Anakin got to her, the more clear his face became. It had been 8 years already. Yet he had looked exactly the same as he did the day she left.