From her rooms she could see the Temple burning; a hazy red smudge on the horizon at the base of a massive column of black smoke. Anxiety flaring with in her chest, Neva's thoughts suddenly turned to Obi-wan before remembering with no small amount of relief that he was off-planet. It was then that her thoughts turned to Padmé; Anakin was not off-planet, and the Senator was alone this evening. Without a moment's hesitation, she tore herself away from the window, leaving her own portion of the apartments and entering Padmé's.

Everything felt wrong. Padmé had been acting even more on edge than usual. After her conversation with Obi-wan earlier that morning she had re-entered the central chambers of the apartments looking distinctly troubled. It was not a new state for the former Queen; since his return, her few rendezvous with Anakin hadn't had the same soothing effect they'd had in the past. Something was going on with the young Jedi, something more than his sudden strange appointment to the Jedi Council as the Chancellor's Representative. Even Neva had noticed that during the one encounter she'd had with him since the Battle over the Capital.

In addition to that, some of the meetings the Senator had attended in the last few days had been doing little but causing Padmé even more stress. Whatever had been happening behind those closed doors, Padmé was deeply troubled by it. Neva had been tempted to pry, both into the conversation with Obi-wan and the mysterious meetings, but refrained from doing so. Padmé wasn't likely to reveal what was troubling her. In keeping her secrets, the Senator had become far less open with Neva as the years had passed. She internalized everything now, or, if she desperately needed to talk, which was rare thanks to all the secrecy, she only confided in her handmaidens.

Neva was only an aide, not a confidant, and even then, she had been charged with running the Senator's household more than assisting her with Senate business, but that was something Neva was grateful for. After the attempt on her life and her soul-searching conversations with Obi-wan, Neva had wanted little to do with politics anymore. At first she had found Amidala's proposal odd, but when she found out the duties she was to be charged with, she felt far more at ease consenting. However, it did mean that she was not to be nearly as close to Padmé as she might have been as a true Senatorial Aide. It also meant that, as far as confidences went, Neva was close to the Senator, running her household and all, but she was not nearly so close to Padmé as her Handmaidens. True, she did periodically help the Former Queen design and create her elaborate senatorial garments, but if Neva hadn't been so involved in Padmé's wardrobe, she wondered she would have even been told of Padmé's pregnancy. Even so, she had found out by accident. But, she had kept the secret, and had even helped in altering and creating fashions that hid Padmé's condition. She had even suggested that she, the Handmaidens and any other female staff begin wearing similar styles to further imply mere fashion dictated the Senator's changing garments rather than her changing body.

Neva suspected that part of Padmé's request for Neva to join her staff on Coruscant came from her background in Naboo's garment and textiles industries. The Adyés had run their Dressmaking Shops for generations. Her paternal Aunt and Cousins had opened a popular salon in Theed shortly before Neva was appointed as a Princess, while Neva's father, and her grandmother before him, ran their ancestral shop in Fara quite successfully. Both shops had, on occasion, produced Gowns for Naboo's monarchs, including Amidala. Even as a Senator, with her expanded choices for fashion, Padmé's closet still contained gowns created in Adyé Shops. Clothing was a deeply ingrained mode of expression on Naboo, particularly in the political arena, and it was a tradition that Padmé had retained even after her duties catapulted her into Intergalactic Politics. A Nabooian Politician's Garments had the ability to say as much as a well-written speech; it was an aspect of public life that was often taken quite seriously.

Neva had inherited the talent that had brought so much success to her family, and even during her tenure as Princess of Theed, had still worked closely with her father, designing and supervising the creation of most of her own official, ceremonial and personal clothing. In fact, during many of Neva's more informal encounters with the Former Queen in the time they had known each other, conversation had eventually turned to fashions, and admiration on Padmé's part of Neva's wardrobe or her family's handiwork. It had created a closeness that, while perhaps shallow in some respects, had helped pave the way for a casual friendship that lasted through Amidala's terms as Queen. It had opened the door for the two Royal women to further bond when Padmé caught wind of the Election results, the assassination attempt and Neva's subsequent abstention from accepting the Throne.

Thanks to their previous relationship, Senator Amidala had returned to Naboo upon receiving news of the attempt on Neva's life and the chaos her near mortal injury had caused. It was also the reason why Neva had been comfortable enough to confide in the Former Queen about her private desire to withdraw from political life, and Padmé hadn't judged. She had even genuinely and openly supported Neva's choice to retire from Public office, declaring in a public statement that, in addition to needing time to recover from her injuries, Neva deserved to live her own life after having sacrificed so many years and even risked her life out of her sense of duty to Naboo and its people. It had greatly affected the perception of Neva abstaining, preventing the public from turning against her and allowing her to bow out of office with dignity. It had indebted Neva to the Senator and further cemented the growing bond between the two women.

So, though Neva was not Padmé's closest confidant, she still considered the Senator a close friend. That was part of why she was so concerned for Padmé. The Senator was already worried about Anakin, and now, with the Temple burning and no word about what was going on? Neva was beginning to fear for not just Padmé's emotional wellbeing, but her health as well. On top of everything else, all the stress and worry couldn't be good for the baby.

It was dark in the apartment as Neva entered. Apprehension sent a shiver down her spin, causing the former Princess to wrap her heavy sable-coloured surcoat just a little tighter. It was yet another thing that didn't feel right. She had known that Padmé had already dismissed her Handmaidens for the evening, stating a wish to be alone, but the apartment felt too quiet.

Thankfully it didn't take long to find the Senator. She was a still silhouette looking out at the forbidding glow of the besieged Temple. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she jumped in fright when Neva laid a gentle hand on her arm.

"Neva, I—I don't—I haven't heard a word." Neva tried to give the frightened Senator a comforting smile, but she couldn't manage it. Instead, she took the Senator's hand, giving it a squeeze. Neva looked back out at the Temple.

"You don't even know if he's in the Temple. He might be with the Chancellor. Maybe even now they are coming up with a plan to fix what's happening." Padmé nodded absently, not looking at all reassured. She didn't even seem to fully register Neva's presence, and certainly didn't question how the former Princess knew whom she was talking about.

"I sent Threepio to contact the Chancellor's office," the Senator murmured, more to herself than anything else, it seemed. Several long moments later, Neva finally caught some movement out of the corner of her eye indicating the droid's return. Off to the side, C-3PO approached hesitantly.

"The Chancellor's office indicated Master Anakin returned to the Jedi Temple. Don't worry, My Lady. I am sure he will be all right." Neva looked to her friend. Padmé's face showed little sign that the news had affected her, that is, until Threepio moved off, muttering sadly to himself.

As soon as he had moved away, Padmé broke down completely. It was all Neva could do to keep the Senator on her feet as she sobbed into the former Princess's shoulder. Neva could only hold her in silence, helpless to do anything but look on as the Jedi Temple burned.

***

Neva jolted awake to the sound of quiet voices not far away. It had taken a while for Padmé to calm herself enough that Neva was able to guide her toward the couches, encouraging her to sit before she fell over. The Senator had looked so pale and anxious that Neva had been severely tempted to send for a healer or at least a medical droid. Neither had wanted to retire for the night after what they had witnessed, plus Neva suspected that Padmé was hoping Anakin would contact her to say he was all right. So they had both settled onto the couches, waiting anxiously and silently for any word. After a while, Neva must have dozed off, for the next thing she knew, she was waking up, and far off in the distance the horizon was beginning to lighten, heralding that the night had passed far more swiftly than she had anticipated.

It was then that she realized she could hear voices winding up from the Veranda. She was immediately on her feet, almost tripping on her chestnut skirts and her heavy velvet surcoat as she made her way downstairs. As soon as she rounded the corner out onto the Veranda, a surge of relief went through her when she saw it was Anakin. He and Padmé stood close together, speaking quietly. Normally, she would have let them be, but things still felt so wrong. She had to know what was going on.

As she approached, the couple were pulling apart, Anakin beginning to retreat to his fighter. There was something very wrong in his expression. Something had changed. Neva felt a flash of panic and fear surge through her. It took a great deal of effort to keep herself calm and, not for the first time, Neva was thankful that her political career had prepared her to keep the majority of her feelings to herself and press on, though it was proving harder than usual.

"Master Skywalker," she called out, willing herself not to flinch as he turned his intense gaze on her. Padmé paled when she caught sight of Neva approaching, but Neva paid her little mind. "We were all so afraid, with the Temple burning—What is happening? Is it the Separatists? Has there been another attack on the Capital?" Anakin's expression darkened, and something inside Neva twisted in fear. She forced the feeling away, willing herself not to flee.

"The Jedi have staged a Rebellion against the Republic." Neva's jaw dropped. It was unthinkable! The Jedi could never... "They are now our Enemies just as much as the Separatists. We are now fighting a War on two fronts, though it will all be over soon." Neva began to unconsciously shake her head; the Jedi were the protectors of the Republic. There had to be a mistake. Her thoughts and fears instantly turned to the one Jedi she cared about most. Before she could think of the consequences, she acted on her fears, the words spilling from her mouth.

"What of Master Kenobi? Has there been any word from him? Is he—all right?" She had hesitated, unable to voice her first thought, that he had been killed. Anakin's expression shifted again, a harsh, thoughtful expression coming to his face. It was almost accusing. Neva again fought the urge to distance herself from him.

"Why do you care so much about Obi-wan?" His tone was almost angry, and the threads of the accusation she had seen in his face wove through his words. Neva's mind kicked into overdrive. Thankfully, the ability to form quick, convincing responses in a heartbeat was essential to surviving in the world of politics; it was an ability Neva had always had in great proficiency.

"He saved my life once, and for that I will always be indebted to him. Plus, he is the only Jedi I know personally, beyond you. I like to think of him as a friend." She pushed her feelings for her Jedi as far away as she could as she spoke. Obi-wan could always read her like a book, and she had never discovered if that was because of the connection they seemed to share or his Force-ability. She knew a little about shielding her mind from Force-users, and all her instincts in that moment were screaming at her to keep the extent of her feelings for Obi-wan from the Jedi in front of her. Anakin just watched her for a moment, obviously deep in thought. Neva struggled to keep her composure under his stare.

Padmé had remained silent through the exchange, watching her Jedi intently. Her brow had furrowed worriedly when Anakin's tone had changed, and as he surveyed Neva the Senator had taken a step closer, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. At the contact, his gaze dropped to her, his expression easing. Something passed silently between them, and after a moment, Anakin's shoulders fell ever so slightly, his anger melting away just a little to reveal how betrayed he was feeling in that moment.

"I don't know. If he has remained loyal to the Chancellor, he may yet be alright, but there has been no word." Neva stopped herself from gasping in fear at Anakin's tone more than his words. He doubted Obi-wan's loyalty. The subtext was there, plain for all to see. Padmé's gaze shot to Anakin's face in alarm as he spoke. More than that, he didn't expect his former master to survive. Neva struggled to hold back the tears that were suddenly threatening to fall. The ache in her chest flared to a throb at the thought of her Jedi never coming back. Suddenly not trusting her legs, Neva allowed herself to sink down onto the nearest couch. Anakin had turned back to Padmé, repeating their farewell, though he surreptitiously glanced to Neva once or twice. Dread filled Neva when she noticed one of those looks. But he didn't say anything else to her. He only spoke to Padmé, begging her once again to wait for him, gently touching her cheek before he retreated to his fighter. Neva couldn't bear the tenderness in that action, and fled the Veranda.

Inside her chest, the shards of her broken heart stabbed her with every breath she took. 

A/N: Thanks for reading!

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