One month later...

The Senate had put forth for the notion to do a live broadcast explaining what had occurred on the battlefield in neutral space. There was little surprise among the senators when the conversation shifted from the debts of the Jedi Order to the Jedi's involvement with the Hutt Clan.

Captain Gregar Typho wasn't shocked when his mistress launched her pod to defend the Jedi, and thus her own involvement in uncovering the plot by the Separatists. He found himself sharing a look with one of the handmaidens, Teckla. They were both hoping the Senator of Naboo wouldn't mention her husband too much.

"How is it that you were the one to learn the dangers General Skywalker faced?" It was Rush Clovis, one of Senator Amidala's primary opponents.

Senator Amidala didn't react at her husband's name. "I happened to be in the Chancellor's office when…"

Typho zoned out again when the Senate floor erupted into questions for the Senator. He wanted to stay focused, he truly did, but the security checks had been completed only a few minutes prior to the meeting and another wouldn't be due for some time.

He pulled out a datapad, squinting at the bright light when it came on. There was a message from the Nubian staff requesting extra security for a banquet, a file sent from his uncle, and-

Dormé had peering over his shoulder, and snatched the datapad from his hands. "My gods! Gregar, look at this!"

"I was looking at it," he muttered. "You took it out of my hands, Dormé."

"What is it?" Teckla asked, her voice notably quieter than theirs.

Dormé shoved the datapad at her, the subdued demeanor of a handmaiden forgotten as she bounced on her toes in excitement. "The Senator's going to be so happy!"

"Can you keep a secret that long?" Typho asked, lips quirking as the handmaiden stuck her tongue out at him.

Teckla handed back the datapad, looking to the other handmaiden pointedly. "If General Skywalker wants his homecoming to be a surprise, a surprise it will be."

He chuckled, glancing down at the screen again when a new message popped up. "Skywalker will be at the apartment before us."

"Tell the staff at the apartment. We don't want a repeat of last time."

"I know, I know."

While he was penning a message to the rest of the Nubian staff, a final message popped up from Skywalker. Enjoy your night off, Captain.

Typho rolled his eyes, abandoning the message to the staff momentarily and tapping the General's message. Does the entire staff get the night off?

The reply was almost immediate. Do you think I want everyone listening?

Dormé had been reading the messages as they appeared, and snorted in amusement. "He'll never change, will he?"

Typho shook his head in agreement, and set to work penning the messages once again. The Senate had calmed while he and the handmaidens were talking, discussing what was due for the next time they met and an upcoming election for Coruscanti District Governors. His legs were starting to go numb for standing upright that long. Dormé and Teckla tittered beside him, trying to plan their night off. By the time he had shoved the datapad back into his belt, Senator Amidala's pod was docking.

The handmaidens donned their bored expressions and hurried to help the Senator up from her pod. She thanked them, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.

"Permission to speak, m'lady?" Teckla asked quietly when they emerged from the pod entrance and into the chaos that was the Senators of the Republic.

Senator Amidala frowned at the formality when she glanced at the handmaiden. "Yes, Teckla?"

"How do you think the live debate went?"

"Oh…" Senator Amidala pursed her lips, nodding to a senator that called her name in greeting. "Well, I believe. Promoting the public to vote for the next election should have been addressed earlier in the broadcast but…" She trailed off, taking a deep breath and shaking her head. "What are you going to do, hmm?"

The handmaidens glanced at each other, though neither of them spoke. Captain Typho quickened his step until he was striding next to his mistress, lowering his voice to a whisper in the crowded halls of the Senate. "Do you want your meetings cancelled for today, m'lady?"

Senator Amidala glanced at him, startled at the notion."Cancelled? Why would I want my meetings cancelled?" She stopped at an elevator, nodding to a Twi-Lek Senator while they waited.

Dormé touched the hand of the Senator gently when the door to the elevator slid open. "I think you should, Senator. You're not in the right mind - no work will get done."

Senator Amidala didn't say anything until they had stepped into the elevator, punched in the number for the senate parking lot floor and were moving up the levels. "I am perfectly capable of deflecting questions about Anakin in meetings, if that's what you three are worried about."

"M'lady, when was the last time you took a break?"

She didn't respond, keeping her back straight and eyes on the door. Captain Typho refrained from sighing, looking at the handmaidens hopelessly. It would be nearly impossible to convince the Senator to cancel her meetings without a reason. He pulled out his datapad and tapped out a quick message to Skywalker, which read: cancel your wife's meetings for today.

Already did, Skywalker typed back. There's nothing scheduled for the next thirty-six hours.

Typho tried not to growl. Why did that stupid man always take everything into his own hands?

Did he disapprove of his mistress entering into a marriage with a Jedi? Of course. Anakin was hot-headed, arrogant, loud, and quick to anger. Typho wondered what the Senator saw in the Jedi knight.

Anakin was constantly coming in going, not coming home for weeks on end and sometimes not able to make contact for the same amount of time. When he did make contact, he was always exhausted, never being able to stay in contact for longer than an hour.

Typho shook himself from his thoughts when the elevator dinged open. He stepped forward first, knowing it was expected of him. The halls were quiet on the floor, and there wasn't much of a need for security. Still, he walked through the halls, to the parking lot, and onto the Senatorial shuttle. It was a quick ride to the apartment. He halfheartedly listened to the handmaidens continue to plead the Senator to relax.

He didn't bother to tell the Senator what her husband had done - he'd let Skywalker do it.

He probably should have let the Senator go into the apartment first. The staff was peeking out of all corners of the apartments, looking anxiously into the living room for the reunion. Moteé was setting hor'derves and wine on the coffee table, and straightened rapidly when the door hissed open.

General Skywalker met the eyes of Typho, looking crestfallen for a moment before his wife strode in.

"...appreciate the concern, but I-" Senator Amidala stopped in her tracks, losing her words while she stared at the couch's occupant.

Skywalker grinned, rising stiffly from his seat. Half-moons were stamped under his eyes and there was dirt on his clothes and skin, but he was there, alive and well. "Hey Angel."

Senator Amidala recovered herself, a watery smile breaking over her face. "Anakin!"

When the General caught the Senator in his arms, there was not a single dry eye in the room. She was laughing and crying at the same time, murmuring, "You're safe, you're safe," over and over again.

Anakin chuckled, wiping away her tears and pressing a kiss to her brow. "I am."

Typho smiled, blinking back the tears that came to his eyes. He glanced at Dormé when she touched his hand, raising his eyebrows in question.

"Still doubt them?"

Panaka glanced back over to the pair, who were now being swarmed by the rest of the staff. The General had a protective arm around his wife while they chatted and laughed with everyone - he didn't look he was letting go of her anytime soon.

"Well?"

Typho pressed his lips together before making his way forward. The people surrounding the couple fell silent - his disapproval of the pair was well known. He felt his lips curl into a smile upon sticking his hand out. "It's good to have you back, General."

Anakin blinked, sharing a surprised look with his wife before letting out a laugh and grasping the outstretched hand. "Good to be back, Captain." He pulled the Senator closer, his smile softening. "It's good to be back."

Author's Note: Well, it's not Wednesday, but oh well. Here's the last chapter of "A Week On Taootine." Hope you guys enjoy it!

Ta for now, dearies!

ii Digestive Reader ii