A/N: More dialogue used from Revenge of the Sith, I don't own, so please don't sue. Also, I don't own this video either. It's another deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith that's going to depict Padmé and some of the other Senators' meeting with the Chancellor. Feel free to check it out but remember....I don't own, so please don't sue.

The meeting with the Senate following her discussion with Bail is long and arduous but Padmé pays more attention.

A lot of it consists of Bail and some of the other Senators from the Delegation of 2000 explaining why appointing governors to every star system in the Republic undermines the purpose of the Senate almost entirely. Padmé moves her pod to be closer to the other Senators in the Delegation.

Opposing Senators protest Bail, Padmé and the rest of the Delegations' arguments with many of their own.

Padmé feels her resolve slipping at all the conflict riddling the Senate. How has it come to this? She feels as though they can't even remotely agree on anything anymore. Everyone is too set in their own ways to see the other point of view or to consider other options. Her heart breaks in between that and her situation with Anakin. Her hand slowly rubs along the smooth edge of the pod as she listens to what the other Senators are discussing.

At one point, Chancellor Palpatine breaks into the conversation to try to pacify things. Bail respectfully disagrees with him and Padmé smiles at him encouragingly. Palpatine, subtly shoots a grimace in Bail's direction and tries to quell any retorts all together,

"Senator, I hope you realize that everyone in this assembly wishes for this war to end as swiftly as possible and for there to be peace in this Republic."

"Of course, but I'm afraid that in this pursuit of peace, the very ideals that this Republic was founded upon are not being considered in the decisions made. These decisions, in a way, are undermining the very core of the Republic and the ideals that it has stood upon for over a thousand generations," Bail answers.

The session continues with more rebuttals, mostly from the Senators that oppose what the Delegation is trying to make clear.

When Palpatine finally dismisses the session, Padmé realizes that she has never felt so relieved and so disappointed after sitting in her pod for a couple of hours, listening and participating in political drivel.

There was a time when she would not have called it drivel but after today's session, she's absolutely certain that drivel is the only word to describe what she sat through.

Padmé decides to catch Bail outside of the Alderaan pod entrance to commend him on his efforts in the session. Ellé and Moteé follow her there and the trio discovers Mon Mothma already standing outside.

"Hello," Mon Mothma greets Padmé and her company, "I'm assuming you're here for the same reason I am."

"Yes," Padmé replies, "I need to inform you of something. I am going to speak to the Chancellor tonight at his office. I would like you to join me"

"I would be honored, but I have made another commitment this evening," Mon Mothma replies sadly.

"That's alright. I will miss having your wise counsel there but I'm sure the Chancellor and I will come to some sort of agreement," Padmé reassures her.

Bail steps out of the Alderaan pod and startles a bit at the amount of people waiting outside for him.

"Well hello, Senators. I was not expecting to speak to either of you again until this evening," he greets as he steps into the corridor. Padmé, her handmaidens, and Mon Mothma follow Bail as he starts to walk, avoiding other Senators and personnel walking through the crowded hallway.

"We came to commend you on your efforts in the Senate today," Padmé replies, "And to continue to encourage you."

"Senators, perhaps we could take this to the garden on the plaza," Bail answers. The group weaves their way through the Senate Tower and eventually walks among the busy traffic to the garden just off the plaza. Padmé smiles at the beauty and peace that being in the garden gives her during this time of war and concern. They find some private benches and Padmé sits down next to Mon Mothma while Bail begins to pace.

"What exactly are you discussing with the Chancellor this evening?" Mon Mothma asks.

"I want to bring his attention to the lack of power that the Senators now have since the installment of governors to every star system," Padmé answers, "The less power the Senate holds, the more democracy slips."

"Which means that there will be a rebellion against the Chancellor by the Separatists or another group like the Separatists if this conflict does not end through diplomacy," Bail elaborates, "It's a slippery slope to go down once it's started."

"The Delegation is the only thing standing in between the galaxy and some sort of state of eternal war," Mon Mothma concludes, "This meeting is vital to the protection of the Republic."

Padmé and Bail both nod their heads in agreement.

"If we are finished, I think I will go find Captain Typho and prepare for this evening's event," Padmé decides. Bail and Mon Mothma both nod their heads in agreement.

"Good day, Senators," Bail replies and the three Senators part. Ellé and Moteé return to Padmé's side as Padmé summons Captain Typho via her commlink. A few moments later, Padmé and her handmaidens are climbing into her speeder and Captain Typho whisks them away to Padmé's apartment.

Padmé watches the speeder traffic whiz by from her speeder as she mourns the loss of democracy in the Senate, the loss of the ability to listen and everything else that has been bothering her recently. She has no idea if what she is doing is the right thing to be doing, but she feels it is, so she is going to do her best to chase it until she cannot anymore. She wishes that the Jedi could come to their aid. She wishes that her husband wouldn't worry about losing her anymore. She wishes that the other Senators would listen to each other and think about what they are doing. She wishes the Chancellor wouldn't be taking so much control like this. She wishes that there wouldn't be so much fighting in the galaxy but that there would be peace. But more than anything, she wishes that this war would end and that she could go back to Naboo to live a peaceful life with her husband and baby.

She's only pulled out of her thoughts by Captain Typho.

"My Lady, is everything alright?" he asks. Padmé startles and gently shakes her head to clear her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I was lost in my thoughts. I didn't realize we were approaching my apartment," she replies as she exits the speeder and walks into her apartment.

"It's alright, Milady. Is there anything else you'll be needing of me today?" he asks her.

"No thank you, Captain," Padmé replies as she clasps her hands in front of her, "Not until my meeting with the Chancellor later."  Dormé rushes over to her at the sound of that.

"You have a meeting with the Chancellor?" she asks in a hurry, "Why didn't you inform me?"

"It's been a busy afternoon. She didn't have time," Ellé says, coming to Padmé's defense, "Moteé or I can go prepare her wardrobe. And we'll come up with a headpiece so you can keep her hair simple if needed."

"I can do it," Moteé volunteers, "Making her look her best is my specialty." Moteé and Dormé start to walk back towards Padmé's wardrobe, Captain Typho exits to go find rest in his own quarters until Padmé summons him and Ellé and Padmé sit down on one of the couches in the veranda. Sabé enters the room and sits down with them.

"I need my datapad," Padmé muses out loud as she realizes that she needs to contact the rest of the Delegation.

"I'll go find it for you. Just stay comfortable," Sabé answers. She returns a moment later with the datapad in hand.

"Thank you," Padmé says as Sabé hands it to her. She takes it and starts typing a message over the HoloNet out to the other Senators in the Delegation about the meeting. Bail and Mon Mothma instantly reply and a few of the other Senators who have been in meetings with them reply. She sets her datapad down in her lap as she thinks. Her mind races as she considers all of the different possibilities of how this could go. Chancellor Palpatine seemed to be so much more reasonable and diplomatic in the past. What could have changed?

"Milady," Dormé calls out, "We've selected something that will work for tonight." 

"Alright," Padmé answers as she stands up from the couch. Ellé and Sabé follow her. Dormé begins talking about her plans for Padmé's hair as they walk. Padmé gazes out one of the apartment windows as they walk, the sun gleaming off the various skyscrapers in the distance as it starts to set. Dormé starts to lead her to the wardrobe to get her changed and ready. Moteé and Ellé help her get into a large peacock colored dress with a wide skirt to conceal her baby bump. Dormé begins to arrange her hair into a simple bun that is very popular on Naboo, similar to the bun Padmé had been wearing during the first battle of the Clone Wars.

She feels as though she's going into battle now against everything she believes in and holds dear to her, the Chancellor, the Senate, and the war. The only reason she doesn't consider Anakin a part of this is because she feels that there is still time for him to stop worrying about what happens to her and the baby and to come back to her. That is a hope that she will never let go of.

But even that hope seems to grow dimmer and dimmer with each passing day.

Dormé brings her out of her musings with a tap on her shoulder.

"If you don't mind standing, Milady, I can place the head piece on top of your head," she states.

"Oh, of course," Padmé answers and stands up.

"Are you having another contraction, Milady?" Dormé asks and Padmé shakes her head.

"No, it's everything else that's happening. I'm just....upset is all," Padmé replies as she slowly runs a hand down her abdomen on the inside of her dress. Dormé places the headpiece on Padmé's head and adjusts it until she has it where she wants it.

"There. You look beautiful," she says with a soft smile, "Try not to worry too much."

"Funny that you're the one telling her that," Moteé quips as she smooths out any last wrinkles in the dress. Ellé discreetly elbows her and Dormé rolls her eyes.

"I only worry because I care," she defends. Padmé stares down at the floor during the playful banter as she thinks about the upcoming meeting. Whatever happens at this meeting could change a lot for her future. Why does everything have to feel so final? Why does it all feel as though it is falling apart?

Because unless the Chancellor is actually going to be reasonable once the war ends, it is going to fall apart. 

"Sabé, would you please summon Captain Typho and tell him that I am ready to leave?" she asks. Sabé does just that and a few minutes later, Padmé is preparing to get into her speeder when Sabé calls out to her.

"Be careful," she advises, "Anakin needs a wife to come home to."

"I will. I'm sure nothing about my actions are treasonous but I'll be careful nonetheless," Padmé promises, "I'll see you when I get back." Captain Typho steers the speeder into the busy sunset traffic of Coruscant. Padmé steels and mentally prepares herself for this meeting, banishing any thoughts of her unborn child, the future of her marriage, the future of her life in general and how much this could look like something it wasn't supposed to.

Thanking Captain Typho once they arrive at the Chancellor's office, Padmé slowly walks inside. She makes it to the waiting room and raises a hand to knock when the doors swish open, revealing Anakin on the other side. He steps through and gestures for her to follow him into the waiting room.

"What are you doing? The Chancellor told me he was having a meeting with you but I didn't get a chance to ask you what it was about," he explains as they walk.

"It's business in the Senate," Padmé answers, "I didn't think it was a major concern to the Jedi why I'm having a meeting with the Chancellor."

"It's not," Anakin replies, biting his lip anxiously, "The Chancellor asked me to be with him during the meeting. He says he wants any insight that the Force has to give me about this situation."

Padmé bristles at his response and Anakin raises an eyebrow. "That's....unusual," she replies.

"I don't think so. He's someone who sees my potential and if it's something the Jedi will need to eventually know about, I'll need to be there," he explains.

"Fair enough," Padmé says, "I would have preferred that you had sent me a message. This meeting is going to talk about some sensitive topics. What happens tonight will carry a great weight on the fate of the Republic."

"And I will need to be here to support the Chancellor and the Jedi in any decision that is made here," Anakin answers, "You seem upset. Is the Chancellor not going to like what you're going to discuss? Am I?"

"I....." Padmé starts to answer, "I just want what's best for the galaxy and the Republic and for us. And I want you...to remember that." He steps closer to her and gently runs a hand down on her face.

"I will. And I will do anything I can to keep you and our child safe," he whispers in return. His hand slowly moves to the inside of her dress, to feel her swollen abdomen, "I love you, Padmé."

"I love you too, Ani," she replies and the two move in for a kiss until Anakin pulls away.

"Someone's coming," he warns and the two of them move apart and act as though they hadn't just been in a rather romantic embrace. 

The doors to the waiting room open and Senator Fang Zar steps through, noticing the looks on Padmé and Anakin's faces.

"Oh! Excuse me! I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important," he says, "I was just coming to attend a meeting.

"That's why I'm here, Senator," Padmé answers, "Jedi Skywalker and I were simply...discussing the meeting while we waited for everyone else to arrive."

"Please..don't let me stand in your way," Senator Zar says as he gestures a hand motioning for them to continue, "I would be interested to see what Jedi Skywalker's opinions are on some of the issues at hand." 

"I'm loyal to what the Jedi wish and what the Chancellor wishes," Anakin replies, "I think together they can come up with a solution that is best for the Republic." Padmé feels her blood boil at him mentioning being loyal to the Chancellor. The same man who is slowly taking away the powers until they would be no more than people with titles sitting around in floating pods, wearing fancy clothes and pretending that the topics they discuss are of importance to the Republic as a whole. She hopes it never falls to that level.

Before the conversation continues, two more Senators enter and after some pleasantries, the last two arrive within about two minutes of each other. 

"Excuse me, but I have to attend to the Chancellor," Anakin excuses himself from the room full of Senators. Padmé suspects it's to get away from the stifling discussion of politics that she knows Anakin hates. 

"No matter what happens this evening, we have to remember that the democracy of the Republic comes before anything else we do tonight," Padmé says encouragingly. "We can't forget that and we can't let the Chancellor think he can take that away from us." The other Senators nod and Padmé steps up to knock on the door to Palpatine's office. The door opens and Palpatine greets them as they enter.

"Good evening, Senators. I'm glad to see all of you here to discuss this development," he says this as if it's a good thing, "Please take a seat." Padmé sneaks a look at Anakin as she takes her seat directly across from Palpatine, noticing him standing behind Chancellor Palpatine. His eyes flick to her and she sees his face etched in a slightly disappointed frown, indicating to Padmé that the Chancellor has filled him in on what the meeting is about. The other Senators sit in five other seats with the Senator from Mon Calamari standing in the middle of the group behind the seats.

"Good evening, Chancellor. Thank you for granting us your attention," Padmé replies in the most diplomatic voice she can manage.

"Of course, My Lady. Anything for a fellow Naboo politician," he replies with a bit of a sinister chill in his tone. Padmé gives an involuntary shiver when she hears it, "Now, what is it you wish to discuss?" Padmé glances at the other Senators before she begins.

"We, as the Delegation of 2000, wish to discuss how we feel that the manner in which you are fighting the war violates and destroys many of the ideals that the Republic strives for," Padmé states, "The emergency powers that you continue to declare destroy the amendments of the constitution of the Republic in many fashions. We also fear that the placing of governors in each of the Republic star systems will ultimately lead to the abolition of the Senate as a whole. We do not wish to argue this but merely seek out as to why this is being done in the way that it is. We are also not certain that the way you wish to end the war is going to bring about peace in the Republic and the galaxy but rather destroy it. You have not, up until this point, given democracy or diplomacy a place in your war strategy. We are not saying that you do not have the capability but we merely question whether or not you will and not just for our own peace of mind, but for the good of the galaxy as a whole."

The room is silent as Palpatine takes in what was said. After a moment, he speaks,

"I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you that the appointment of governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate."

That answer doesn't cover all of the bases that Padmé wants it to. He didn't say anything about the amendments which is why they have governors in every Republic star system. The fact that it seems as though he ignored it worries her. If he's ignoring her questioning him about the amendments, then what's to assure that he's going to relinquish that power back to the Senate once the war is over? Padmé decides to test the waters. There's no harm in asking him about something that she has already asked him about.

"May I take it then, that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?" she asks in as diplomatic a tone as possible. She doesn't want the Chancellor to think that they can't work things out. She wants things to work out more than anything else.

"I want this terrible conflict to end as much as you do, My Lady, and when it does I guarantee an immediate return to democracy," Palpatine reassures her. A small smile sneaks onto his face as he says this and Padmé's not sure how to feel. She doesn't trust that Palpatine is going to allow an immediate return to democracy but she also wants to hold on to the hope that he could change. Everything could go back to the way things used to be before the war came. She wants to know for certain that her hopes are going to become a reality and she won't give into diplomacy and democracy falling to the wayside.

"You are pursuing a diplomatic solution to the war, then?" she confirms in an authoritative but diplomatic way. She wants to know that this will happen but she wants to keep the situation as peaceful as possible. There is no sense in irritating the Chancellor further than they already have by just creating the committee. The look on his face indicates that she's not succeeding.

"You must trust me to do the right thing, Senator. That is why I am here," Palpatine states in a very stoic tone laced with the slightest indication of irritation on the edges. Padmé stiffens a bit in her seat. The Chancellor isn't listening. He's pushing them to the side along with their concerns, trying to convince them that what he is doing is the right thing. Padmé knows that the way the Chancellor is doing things couldn't be a more wrong thing to do.

Senator Fang Zar must have a similar idea because he cuts in,

"But surely..."

"I have said I will do what is right," Palpatine interrupts him, shooting him a very annoyed look, " that should be enough for your.....committee." He says the last word with so much disgust that Padmé thinks he is repulsed by the very notion of a Senate meant to keep his powers in check. There is nothing more to be said directly to the Chancellor's face. Her husband now knows for certain how she feels about the Chancellor and the war. She also has a fairly good idea of where his loyalty lies.

She hopes that he will come back to her. Somehow, Palpatine has gained her husband's trust and possibly twisted him until he isn't the man that Padmé knew. She knows that he was a good husband once. He doesn't have to support an endless war. He can help end it. She doesn't understand why Palpatine is targeting her husband. There's a piece of the puzzle missing and it doesn't make sense why Palpatine, the Chancellor, would be so interested in a Jedi. Especially when the Jedi aren't typically this affiliated in the affairs of the government of the Republic.

There will be time for musings later, the meeting must end. There is nothing more that can be done in front of the Chancellor or Anakin. Padmé stands from her seat and says,

"On behalf of the Delegation of 2000, I thank you, Chancellor." Palpatine softens a bit at her tone of voice.

"I thank you...for bringing this to my attention, Senator," he replies gently. Padmé keeps her expression neutral and gives the tiniest nod to Chancellor Palpatine. She shoots Anakin a very frustrated look. She doesn't understand what he sees in Palpatine. Palpatine is clearly taking advantage of his powers and taking the wrong approach to ending the war.  She doesn't understand why Anakin can't see that. Anakin is supporting him, but why?

Is the Chancellor providing some kind of counsel to him that Obi-Wan can't? Why can't he see that the Chancellor is corrupt? He's ignoring the Senate completely and just playing to their love for power. They support the one who shouts the loudest and claims to have the most power.

She and the other Senators exit as she ponders these things. She hears Anakin and Palpatine discussing the meeting.

Palpatine says that she is hiding something and Anakin tries to defend her. At least, he hasn't given up on making this work.

Once they exit the room, she looks to the other Senators and sadly gives them a nod.

"There is nothing more we can do at this time," Fang Zar says as he notices Padmé's mood, "We must meet with the Delegation and see what happens in the Senate. There is much work to be done but we must be careful with how we proceed.  After that, the Senators depart. Padmé signals for Captain Typho. When he arrives, he looks at her sadly.

"It didn't go well, did it?" he asks and Padmé shakes her head, "I'm sorry, Milady." Padmé merely sits down in the speeder and they take off. She plays with the ends of her wrap as they ride and gazes out at the city. The ride doesn't take long and soon, Padmé is back on her veranda. She hurries deeper into the apartment and Dormé follows her.

"Milady, what happened?" she asks, slowly approaching Padmé.

"The meeting didn't go well," Padmé answers sadly, "I would like to change back into the clothes I was wearing this morning and then I'd really like to be alone for awhile." Dormé notices the sad expression on Padmé's face and sighs.

"I was worried about you as you went into that meeting. I didn't want something to happen to you," she explains, "That's why I try to make everything perfect and why I try so hard to make you look the best that you can. I'm afraid that everything we've worked so hard for will go to waste if I don't. Especially if a slip up on my end means something terrible happens to you."

"Dormé, I've asked a lot out of all of my handmaidens what with my pregnancy and other things. It's not fair for you to take this upon yourself, alright? If something happens to me, it's not your fault. There's only so much we can do. Besides, I know you care deeply for me and want me to succeed and that you will do anything you can. You don't have to worry about proving that to me all the time," Padmé responds and the two women embrace.

"Every time you go out into a dangerous situation, just remember that you have a friend who is worried sick and who wants you to come back safe and sound," Dormé advises as they hug, "Now let's get you into some comfier clothes." Dormé starts to help Padmé out of her outfit and Padmé slips into the fresher to change into her green robe dress. Dormé is putting away Padmé's previous outfit as Padmé steps out in her clothing, her hair still in the tight bun.

"You don't need to worry about cleaning those or anything tonight. Just hang them up. I really just want to be alone right now," Padmé says as she starts to pull at the pins in her hair as if they are the very thing that prevent her from showing her true emotions. Dormé notices her pulling at the hair pins worriedly but doesn't say anything.

"Alright then. Just call if you need anything," Dormé says softly. She finishes hanging up the clothes and then leaves Padmé's apartment. The moment she's gone, Padmé starts pulling madly at the pins in her hair, not caring if they poke or scratch on their way out. She wants them out, pretending that with each pin she pulls out another one of her problems stops poking at her. One eventually gives way allowing some of her hair to spill loose. After a few more minutes of pulling, Padmé has all of them in her hand and her hair falls loose around her shoulders. If only solving her problems is as simple as taking out her hair pins. She gives her loose curls a shake and walks over to the small nightstand with a drawer in it next to her side of the bed. She opens it to place the hair pins inside and notices the japor snippet Anakin had made for her laying there in the drawer. Her index finger traces the grooves absentmindedly as she drops the pins into the drawer. Sighing sadly, she closes the drawer, leaving the japor snippet inside with the hair pins.

Just as though she is leaving the hopes that things will change, that she will have good fortune, with it.

A/N: This is a very sad chapter. I remember thinking that in between writing all of the politics, her interactions with Anakin and the Chancellor. It's a good chapter but a sad one.

You can tell that she's starting to be done with Anakin and the Chancellor because she knows that what they're doing is wrong. They shouldn't be handling the war in the way that they are. 

She's trying so hard to work in a diplomatic way against what the Chancellor's doing but it's hard for her.

One of my favorite things about this book is how much I get to explore how Padmé was feeling and what was going on inside her head and heart. It's very interesting and complex to explore and I think it will be for the whole book.

She has her wants and statutes that she stands by but, the details often involve things that conflict or don't work with the other which then puts her in a situation. She's an interesting character to say the least.

I hope you enjoyed the little added scenes and dialogues!! :) I had fun writing them. I hope you enjoyed the chapter as a whole even if you thought it was sad. Thanks so much for reading, commenting, voting and doing whatever it is you do.

-Aisling