DEMOCRACY WILL SURVIVE

“Padme? Angel, please wake up… “ By all of the force running through his body, he hoped with everything he had that she was alright. If she wasn’t he’d make the people who’d had him pay. They had to have had something to do with her pain. After all, they had had him locked up.

Padme heard Anakin’s voice before she could see. “Ani...?” But that couldn’t be right. Anakin was dead. Wasn’t he?

“Am I dreaming?” eyes still straining to see, Padme reached a hand out to smooth one of his golden curls between her fingers. “Is it really you?”

She may not have the force, but she did have intuition. He....felt, like Anakin. He felt like her husband.

Once her head stopped swimming, she realized she’d collapsed in a very public place. “I’m all right.” She began to attempt standing once more.

At the sight of her, Rey’s smile brightened even more, taking in the former queen’s ensemble. It was as if she were seeing the Queen Amidala - with the elaborate clothing and hairstyle, it was hard to believe she was actually here experiencing it. But Rey reminded herself not to get carried away - it’s just Padme, she told herself, remembering not to act too formal. That was what Padme would prefer.

“I’m glad you’re here to experience it with me, too,” She gushed, glancing back and forth between her friend and the bright night sky above them. For a little while, things were oddly peaceful. She just hoped desperately that it might stay this way for a bit longer. “I wish it was always like this,” Rey whispered, her smile fading a bit as she let out a sigh. “Everyone’s celebrating - the Resistance and the First Order alike. I don’t see why there has to be a division, you know? I mean…I understand why, but it shouldn’t have to be like this forever…”

Padme hadn’t been able to raise her own children. Hadn’t lived long enough to ever hear them call her “mother.” She held them but a moment, and it was the last thing she could remember. There was a lost, wayward mothering instinct that she seemed to be placing on many of the young people scurrying about the resistance base. It hardly mattered that she was technically only a beat older than they, or even younger in some cases- it felt as though she’d lived lifetimes. Her hardships and sorrow only aging her that much more. Rey was very much a daughter to her. Age meant very little.

“You sound like me, when I first started my career in politics.” Padme almost laughed. “There is a large part of me that still agrees with you.” The innoence of the girl was actually heartwarming to Padme. There was still hope in the galaxy. “I fought for peace in a time that war was all anyone could think about. I was not a popular figurehead.” She gave a little smirk in Rey’s direction. 

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you, that all is lost. You know better than they do.” Padme took Rey’s hand lightly.

“ANGEL!” Clutching her hand like the lifeline it was to her he stepped closer to get out of the way of the crowd. “I–I can’t believe you’re here, alive. How did you escape that place?”

Padme didn’t understand the strange feeling, a dull pain at the back of her psyche that ached at the sight of Anakin. 

Why wasn’t she....happy to see her husband again? Why would such a strange sensation occur after what felt like lifetimes apart? She stood, silent, staring at him with mouth agape. He was blatantly elated to see her, why couldn’t she muster the same reaction?

Padme attributed it to shock, and instead- let the feeling of love for him wash over her. Because she did. She loved him. With every cell in her body, she loved Anakin Skywalker.

“Escape...?” She finally spoke. “I....” Suddenly she was overwhelmed with far more emotions to fathom, and the world swam before her. Padme suddenly collapsed against him.

Hearing them talk about some deal in more than one language he laughed under his breath as one small droid launched its way past him swearing at its owners for walking so slowly. Well, at least one thing hadn’t changed. Droids were still somewhat similar at least in temperament.

Walking he noticed someone’s hair and height that reminded him so painfully of Padme that he turned away just as quickly and tried in vain to focus on other things. There was no way that someone as good as she had been brought back by that dreadful so-called Order. She was too good. And certainly too stubborn to bow to another’s will that went against everything she stood for. It almost sounded like someone called out to him for just a split second, where his name was like a clear bell through the din of the crowded streets.

And then, THEN, his shoulder had the lightest touch, a small hand, grasping him and pulled him to a stop instantly. He didn’t want to turn. Who could be touching him? He knew no one. And yet something in him has this dreadful excited feeling that it was HIS ANGEL. He reached up and laid his calloused hand on the hand on his shoulder. The tension that had been building instantly seemed to disappear as he knew it was hers. “Padme?” His broken whisper of her name would barely be heard over the din of the crowd. He begged the force that this wasn’t some cruel joke alongside everything else.

Padme knew without a doubt at the first sensation of his light contact, that it was indeed Anakin Skywalker. Her breath ceased altogether, catching abruptly as he turned to face her. Withdrawing from him, she raised that same hand over her mouth in shock. “--Ani?” Her eyes widened, absolutely certain that it was her husband that stood before her- but she asked regardless. She needed to hear his voice.

The crowd hustled around them, and Padme paid no mind. The world was swimming, colors fading into each other. All sound seemingly vanished save for the pounding of her own heartbeat- which was suddenly deafening. He was just as she’d last seen him, though that exact date was hazy in her mind. It did not matter, because he was here- now, standing here just a few inches away from her. 

full given name:  Padme Amidala Naberrie  ( Skywalker ) the name they go by: Padme, Lady Amidala age: 28 gender identity: cis female sexual orientation: straight marital status: married planet of birth: Naboo allegiance: resistance

physicals.

height: 5′3 weight: 120 eye color: brown hair color &. texture: brown, straight, various hairstyles build: petite prominent features: eyes, cheekbones general health: healthy speech patterns: gifted

relationships.

number of siblings: 1 order of birth: youngest father’s status and their relationship: deceased, healthy relationship mother’s status and their relationship: deceased, healthy  siblings’ status and their relationship: unknown (if in a relationship) partner’s name: Anakin Skywalker relationship with partner: married

personality.

hobbies: diplomacy habits: leading positive personality traits: intelligent, brave, resilient negative personality traits: stubborn, emotional immediate impression they think they give off to others: strong, smart, level-headed immediate impression they actually give off to others: strong, smart, level-headed skills: public speaking, philanthropy, tactics, comfort morning and/or nightly routines: various grooming practices

allegiance.

allegiance: resistance position within their allegiance: to be decided views of the cause they fight for: justified views of the first order - resistance war:  must be stopped cause for fighting: family, justice age at which they joined: 28

trademarks.