The Japor Snippet necklace was clutched so tightly in Padme's hand that it began to create indentations on her skin. But still she didn't let it go as the tears came hard and fast. Instead, she held on for dear life. Because this was all she had now as she lie there in the darkness of her apartment, cold sheets wrapped around her slight frame. All she had were tears and broken memories of the life she'd once led.

Every night, it all came back to her in flashes - her agitation at Anakin's cute little snores waking her up when she had a Senate meeting the next day, the blending of their laughter as he peppered kisses on her face in apology...

"Oh, Ani, where are you?" she whispered into the darkness as her salty tears soaked the pillow beneath her head.

Burying her face in the soft material, she wept as the memories washed over her...

Padme was sleeping soundly when a noise awoke her in the night, a distinct thud followed by a painful, annoyed grunt. Bolting upright, it took her a moment of fumbling in the dark before she flicked the lamp beside her on. As the room was lit up, the sight that met her eyes made her burst out laughing. There at the end of the bed was Anakin, face-down in the covers. Evidently, he had tripped over the end-table once again. That man was so clumsy sometimes. When he glanced up, he shot her a glare that quickly dissolved in good-natured laughter for the both of them...

Those were the moments she missed most, just being with Anakin. Her cocoa-brown gaze turned to the holographic photo of their wedding day resting on the nightstand. In it, he was holding her with a smile plastered on his face, cerulean eyes shining. There were few precious things in Padme Amidala's life and now there was one less...

Taking a deep breath and wiping her tear-stained face, she got out of bed and flicked on the light. She could barely do this anymore: raising Luke and Leia alone, living without Anakin... It took all the strength she had. Walking into the kitchen to grab a midnight snack, she had barely retrieved the dried chokie from the cabinet when she heard a noise. Spinning on her heel to face the intruder, she was met with a familiar pair of blue eyes.

She placed her hand on her chest and let out a breath, "Obi-Wan, what are you doing here?"

"I was just coming to see if you were alright. I felt a disturbance in the Force," Obi-Wan confessed, stepping into the light.

His face was lined with worry, concern etched in his gaze. Ever since Anakin had disappeared, he had become overly-protective of her and the twins. It was sweet, like having an older brother. Shooting him a warm smile before turning back to the counter to make her a cup of Ruby Bliel, she assured him they were safe.

He hummed in response, nodding once before turning to leave, "In that case, I suppose I'd be best be going then."

"Wait!"

"Hmmm?"

"Obi-Wan...how would you deal with a situation like this?" Padme sighed tiredly.

He gazed at her a moment, doubtlessly sensing the shift in her mood through the Force. Slowly, he walked over to her.

"This is about Anakin again. Isn't it?" he asked gently.

Wearily, Padme nodded her head and allowed Obi-Wan to wrap one arm around her as he led her to the couch in the adjacent living room. Grabbing the blanket lying across the back, he draped it over her shoulders before taking a seat beside her.

"Padme...I know you miss Anakin. He was your husband and the father of your children, a great part of your life. But you will learn to adapt to the life that has been chosen for you. It will be hard at first but it can be done. When Siri died, I..." he trailed off then, voice breaking for a moment before he continued, "...I cried for days that seemed to never end. Everything was dark in my life but...I carried on. I kept living, Padme, because I knew in my heart that Siri would have wanted me to be happy. And I know that wherever Anakin is now, he would want the same for you,"

Hot tears filled her eyes and she felt her heart swell for her friend.

Placing her hand on his and squeezing gently, she replied, "Thank you, Obi-Wan. You always know what to say,"

"I try my best... Well, it's getting late and I must be off. Goodbye, Padme." Obi-Wan nodded her to once with a warm smile as he got up and walked to the elevator.

Outside the glass windows, the night lights of Coruscant twinkled back at them. Yet shadows almost seemed to jump out at Padme if she looked just a little too long. Shivering, she pulled the blanket around her tighter as she bid her friend goodnight.

Trudging back to bed, the thoughts she had been avoiding while conversing with Obi-Wan seemed to rush back all at once. Everything in this apartment reminded her of her love, no matter what she did to escape. Obi-Wan meant well, she knew that. But...how could she move on from Anakin? It had been months with no word of his whereabouts but still her heart couldn't let him go. Her chest tightened with anxiety and the unrelenting grip of depression. Padme cried herself to sleep again that night, finally escaping from her harrowing thoughts.

Yet as the morning light streamed in through the windows, heralding the start of a brand-new day, memories swirled in her mind...

They hadn't been married long, just a few days. Everything was so new and wondrous. Every moment held something precious, a memory not to be forgotten. Lost in these rapturous thoughts, Padme watched her husband sleep. He looked so peaceful, so adorable. She couldn't bring herself to wake him so carefully, she slipped out from between the sheets and made her way across the room.

"Where are you going?" Anakin's sleepy voice drifted to her.

She jumped in surprise, despite herself. Glancing over at him, she noticed he was sitting straight up in bed, wide awake with blue eyes shining.

"Ani!" Padme exclaimed with a laugh, "I didn't think you were awake,"

Running a hand through his short blond hair, he yawned, "I wasn't. But I felt you move and it woke me. Where are you going?"

"I'm hungry, it's time for breakfast,"

"Oh. I'll come with you then," Anakin said, getting out of bed to join her as they walked to the kitchen.

Grinning, Padme couldn't help but tease, "You don't have to come with me, you know. Believe it or not, I did cook my own breakfast before we married,"

"I know. I just..."

"What?"

"I don't know how long it will be before I'm called for another mission. I want to spend as much time together as we can before that happens..." he said, looking away in embarrassment.

His words warmed her heart, reminding her of the early days on Naboo. She smiled over at him before reaching up to press a sweet kiss to his cheek. She loved him more than she could put into words.

Padme was cooking Bantha burgers when the letter came. How strange to think that happy moments in life start out so mundane in nature. Leaving the patties to cool on the counter, she took the stack of envelopes in front of her and began to sift through them. But when her eyes landed on one with familiar scrawl across the front, she felt faint. She'd know that handwriting anywhere. Glancing at the top, she noticed the date stamped in red ink - the very same month her Ani had disappeared.

Tearing it open unceremoniously, she read the words hungrily.

My love,

It feels like I've been away from you a lifetime. I hate being separated like this. It's times like these I wish that weren't a Jedi and you weren't a Senator, that we were simply two people in love. Two people who couldn't be torn apart by the whims of others. But I know that these are just daydreams and it cannot be the way we wish it. Have you asked the med droid yet about the gender of the baby? I still think it's a girl. She kicks too hard not to be! But if it's a boy, I hope he's a fighter just like his mother. Sending all of my love your way, I promise to be home soon.

Your Anakin

Tears were openly streaming down her face now, her heart aching from the pain of missing him. Reading these words was like having him right here with her. Just then, she heard two cries emanating from the bedroom. Not letting go of the letter clutched tightly in her hand, she followed the sound that led to the twins.

They were wriggling in their bassinets, baby legs kicking aimlessly. Shushing them softly, she began to rock them back and forth. Leia's cocoa-brown and Luke's cerulean blue gazes looked back at her as they went quiet. Despite her pain, there was a sad smile etched on Padme's face. She no longer had Anakin but at least she had a part of him here with her still.