Like every year since Anakin took up the name of Vader, Padme just wants to find a safe place to raise the children. She wants not to worry about the Empire finding them. She wants not to worry about them turning to the Dark Side as their father did.

Previously, she was glad to be able to show them so much of the galaxy- so much of so many different cultures from such an early age. The unfortunate cost is continual upheaval. Every new planet they visit, they assume a new identity, and they never stay long enough for the children to really make friends with anyone. She worries about them socially because of it, and she worries that they'll never be able to trust anyone aside from each other. Even in adulthood. On the other hand, there's a heavy price to be paid if any of them place their trust in the wrong person.

So, this year, Padme hopes to find them a place where they can stay longer than a few weeks or a month. A place where they won't have to hide their identities. She'd like to see her family- she'd like Luke and Leia to meet their aunt, their cousins and their grandparents. She misses them as well. Unfortunately, it's not likely safe for them to go there. It's not safe for them to even know she still lives. If the Empire were to find out, Padme's family would be the first people suspected of hiding them.

The Rebels would be a safer bet, she decides. Their strength and resources grow as time passes. They would probably be safe there, regardless of what names they used. She knows she still has friends among them, although their connections are kept secret. It would be nice to be able to see them again.

This year, perhaps that is what she'll do that she hasn't done before. She'll take her children somewhere where they don't have to hide who they are.

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Misc Movies (Star Wars Prequels)
Word Count: 343

"Mommy?" The soft whisper invades Padme's sleep, along with the little pokes to her ribs, disturbing a rather peaceful dream.

She stretches a bit and rubs her eyes before opening them to peer at the little seven year old boy beside the pilot's seat. "Hmm?" She mutters sleepily. "What is it, Luke?" A glance at the chronometer tells her it's still late. Very late for one little boy to be wide awake. "What're you doing up?"

"Mommy, are you sleeeeeeping?" Definitely completely and totally awake.

( Read more... )

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars Prequels (Misc. Movies)
Word Count: 615

When she rebelled, it was quiet and discreet. Back room politics, secret meetings; all done within Coruscant's legal standards. All of which would've led them to be branded traitors- or at the very least, Separatist sympathizers- should they be found out. She had no doubt that if they were discovered by Palpatine before they were ready, all of their political careers would be over. He would use such information to increase fear in the Republic- after all, if Separatists could corrupt a group of Senators, they could influence anyone- and further tighten his stranglehold over them.

So they worked together. She and a select few other Senators would meet quietly and talk about what needed to be done, and rallied others to their cause. Gathering support to have the Chancellor removed from a position he held far too long. She had feared the longer it took to remove Palpatine from power, the more difficult it would be. The situation had already gone on far too long, and it would be proven that it was too late to act.

"Be good little Senators," she had told him. "Mind your manners and keep your heads down. And keep doing... all those things we can't talk about. All those things I can't know. Promise me, Bail."*

It would take years for the Empire to fall and rise again as the Republic- she knew the odds of her living to see it weren't very good. Between Anakin's dreams, and everything that had happened...

Time would tell, she supposed. And very shortly at that.


*Quoted from Revenge of the Sith, Matthew Stover

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars Prequels (Misc. Movies)
Word Count: 269 (including quoted text)

I don't understand how people can see terrible things happening, and stand idly by and do nothing about it. I can understand when one doesn't act out of fear of reprisal. I don't agree with it, because there's always some way to protect yourself- it's just a matter of finding it. But that I understand. But to sit by and let injustice happen because you think it doesn't affect you? Well, it might not be affecting you now, but some day it will. If a person, or a group, or a government is permitted to walk all over another, whether it be a person, a group, a race, a planet, or a system... As their confidence increases because that time, they succeeded, what's to say whoever they go after next won't directly affect you. Or be you. Take Naboo, for example. If the Gungans hadn't come to our aid to battle against the Trade Federation, we would have lost, and then they would have hunted out the Gungans as soon as they found out about their existence.

It comes down to one basic line of thought, I suppose. If it were you, would you want or need someone to come to your aid? Well, some day it could be. And if you don't act when the problem first shows itself, there might not be anyone left when it does come for you and yours. Or if there is, the power you're finally standing against might be too strong to face. Then what? Kicking yourself over it now isn't going to help, is it?

But mostly, as my father taught me, if you can help, you should. Not just because it could be you in the future- that's rather self-centered, really. The more we can stand together, the stronger we'll become.

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars Prequels (misc movies)
Word Count: 312

If...

If things had turned out differently, Padme wonders where she might have ended up. If he hadn't gone away with her to raise their children away from all of the mess left behind. The Sith-controlled government, the war caused and ended all by one man with a hidden agenda they didn't find out about until it was too late.

They never would have settled on a quiet world that reminds her all too much of Naboo. She wouldn't have left everything she knew behind in favour of raising her family in peace. She wouldn't have abandoned everything that used to be important to her.

Everything is just so perfect. It's all warmth, and sunshine and perfect happiness. Flowers and trees outside the windows are in bloom all the time, although, she can never remember it raining.

Luke and Leia. Her children. Their children. They're growing up quicker than she would like, but they're growing up happy, and healthy, and safe. They're growing up together with the knowledge that they're well-loved by both their parents, and they both take a very active role in making sure they get the education they deserve.

It's perfect.

It's Utopic.

At night, she stares up at the sky at the stars, thinking about how lucky she is...

Until she wakes sitting strapped in the pilot's chair in the cockpit, with those very same stars right outside the window, with the children huddled together on the bunk in the back, sound asleep.

The dream shatters, and once more, she's in a world where running and hiding is their reality, and it's the father of her children they're running from. Nothing's safe. Nothing's warm. Nothing's peaceful.

And she slides the door to the cockpit shut so she won't disturb them, and mourns for the lost life in her dreams that could have been if only one simple request had been granted.

If only...

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars Prequels, Misc Movies
Word Count: 318

It's quiet and peaceful there. When Padme wakes in the morning, it's to the sun shining into the bedroom, except for of course during the rainy season, filling and warming the room with natural light. She can hear the calls of birds outside, and the wind blowing through the trees. Sometimes in the morning, before she gets up, she just lays there and listens, and as when she was a child, tries to identify the sounds from outside.

The room itself is bright and cheerful and brings many fond memories to mind. The floor hardwood, polished, but retain most of their natural mahogany colouring. There's a throw rug on the floor right by the bed- woven from brightly coloured fibres that have only faded slightly over time. The walls are white and painted landscapes are hung to keep them from looking too bare. The furniture matches the floor- dresser, nightstand and bed frame are most likely from the same kind of wood.

The rest of the home is the same- warm and comforting, and holds many fond memories for her. There's a couple more bedrooms for family and guests, mostly decorated in the same fashion. There's a fireplace in the main room that, on summer evenings when it starts to cool off, sometimes she'd rather use that as a source of heat instead of the environmental controls. It's comforting and warm and a good way to wind down from a long day. To curl up by the fire and watch it crackle away, while enjoying a cup of tea.

It's far enough out of the way, that it's rare to hear the sounds of the city. There are other homes not too far away, but she's never been disturbed. It's a safe place, too, to take refuge in times of danger.

This is the place where she comes to when she feels the need to be away from everything. Even since she was a small child, she's wanted to raise her family here. She wants her children to be able to experience the same sense of peace, home and safety that she always felt growing up. That's quite some time off, though. So for now, the retreat in the lakeside country will have to remain just that.

But some day, it will be her permanent home as well.

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars (Prequels)
Word Count: 400

( ((Not really happy with this one, but I'm posting it reguardless. It's up for a total re-write either tonight or tomorrow. Just none of the more recent topics spoke to me (or Padme), and I know I have to get something out of her today. So forgive the cruddyness, please?)) )

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars (Prequels)
Word Count: 211

When Padme closes her eyes and lets her mind wander she finds her thoughts returning to Naboo. She misses her home, and her room, and the lake retreat. She misses the clear blue waters of the lake. Being able to wade into the water, or walk along the beach, or through the grass in the sun. She misses the birds singing, which on Coruscant is replaced by the sounds of speeders roaring through the skylanes.

She misses her family too. Quiet dinners. Or loud, if her sister and her family were there too. It always amazed her how much noise Ryoo and Pooja could make amongst the chatter of adults sharing stories, and discussing recent events. She misses taking the children out and playing with them and spending time with them. She wants children of her own some day- Ryoo and Pooja made her realize that. But not while things are so unsettled. Not while she's still in the Senate. Maybe not even on Coruscant.

Sure, of course there's always ways to contact them, but it just isn't the same. It's hard to play with your nieces through holo-recordings, and it's so entirely different to just be in the presence of family. So, she visits as often as she can. Which really isn't as often as she might like, but that is the life she's chosen. It's not a choice she regrets.

After all, if she hadn't accepted the position in the Senate, she wouldn't have met Anakin again and despite how much she misses him, too, while he's away, she wouldn't trade the love they share for anything.

Muse: Padme Amidala
Fandom: Star Wars (Prequels)
Word Count: 281

Padme spends the ride to Palpatine's office sitting quietly in the back of the speeder with Anakin, her hand on his. She rather reluctantly lets go once they pull over to the platform and steps out of the speeder. "Well, he wanted to see you right away. You should go in first. I still have a few minutes. Unless you'd rather wait...?"

Then again, the longer he waits, the longer it'll take him to get back to the Temple.

When morning comes, the sun rises over Coruscant, lighting up the bedroom of Padme's apartment despite the curtains being pulled. She yawns and stretches a bit before recalling the previous night. Anakin coming home for the first time in what felt like forever. She smiles a bit and rolls over to see if he's still asleep beside her.