"There remains the problem of the clone soldiers who are now spread across the galaxy. The rebuilding efforts will have to come to an end, eventually." The Senator speaking was one from a former Separatist system, in which Padme and Bail Organa had advocated for total amnesty following the end of the war. He was snide, and clearly did not want to have to wait to speak his mind on the issue. "They are essentially wards of the Republic and are a great cost to the Republic."

"The chair recognizes the Senator from Naboo." Padme rose form where she was sitting next to Satine, who was privy to the small glint of anger in her eyes before she composed herself to speak.

"With all do respect, Senator Ernst, I think you underestimate that amount of damage caused by this war. Well beyond civilian casualties, the recovery time for agriculture could be half a decade, these men are the best force we have to help manage these tasks. Several are being trained in medical care, and many are aiding in the rebuilding of cities." A small murmur went through the crowd, but Bail Organa, from his interim Chancellor seat, raised his hands for silence.

"The clones are far more than wards of the Republic, they are sentient beings with control over their own lives. They are citizens of our Republic."

A large round of clapping, particularly from those friends of Padme, rose up through the crowd. She commanded respect, and her words carried the weight of a woman who had seen the horrors of war up close. "We cannot abandon them because it is seen as an unjustified expense. War is an unjustified expense, these men are equal members o our Republic."

After the clapping died down, a hush fell over the room. Senator Ernst stood again, and Satine watched, his frustration clear across his features, but he knew that was a fight he had lost. "What then, of the Jedi Order? Without the war effort, what need do we have to sustain them as we do now?"

Bail Organa spoke, silencing the cries of both outrage and agreeance that rose from among the gathered people. "The Jedi Order serve at the command of the Senate as both diplomats and keepers of the peace. Many are married now, with families who will grow as strong members of our new Republic. To abandon them is to disregard their sacrifice. Thousands of Jedi were killed in a war to protect this Republic, and continue to operate as those negotiating for all systems throughout our borders. There will be no talk of unfunding or disbanding them."

Satine paid little attention to what else was said in the meeting. There was talk of economics and internal strife as the Republic tackled the huge debts it had incurred to fund the war effort. Obi-Wan had warned her there would be talk against both the clones and the Jedi, but she had not expected this level of animosity. She thought of all she knew of the New Jedi Order, Obi-Wan and Anakin had spearheaded the movement to allow for both romantic and familial attachment. They were the first to marry, and both married outside the confines of the order itself. Others had stayed within the order, several Knights and even a couple of masters choosing to marry even as others protested that they stay with the olden ways of doing things.

The Republic was changing and rapidly: as some Jedi such as Obi-Wan negotiated peace talks, others like Anakin talked about other ways to secure the Republic's longevity. Anakin, she knew, had been talking to Obi-Wan about taking clones in Hutt Territory to end the salve trade he had grown up in. She knew her husband was torn, from the danger of the mission, from the extent of Jedi involvement and risk of death and injury to so many on both sides. It had kept his up as of late, ever since Anakin and Padme had returned from their brief stay on Naboo; she did not see it getting any easier in the coming days.

When the meeting ended, she nodded to Padme, choosing instead to walk back to her quarters alone. She wanted to see Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, who had been asleep when she had left that morning. She hoped they might be doing something fun.

She opened the door to their apartment, ignoring the bustle of people around and behind her, some of who nodded and waved to her in obligations she was forced to return. She let out a long breath on the other side of the door, locking it quickly behind her. There was no noise inside the apartment, causing her to vaguely wonder if Obi-Wan had taken Qui-Gon out for some reason, but as she stepped inside the living room, she couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips.

Obi-Wan was there, along with their tiny son. They were sitting on the ground, facing each other, their bare feet pressed together. Both had their eyes closed, Obi-Wan's fingers looped together in their typical meditative stance, Qui-Gon's holding onto his feet. She wasn't force sensitive, but she could feel the change in the room, a type of aura wrapped around both of them. How strong Qui-Gon was in the force remained a mystery to them both, but he was due to start temple classes soon, and with his already passive demeanor, finding him meditating with Obi-Wan was no surprise to her.

"Mommy!" She heard him chirp, and Obi-Wan's eyes flew open, the odd ambience of the room gone. He smiled up at her, but looked back to Qui-Gon.

"How did you know she was here, Qui-Gon?" The little toddler looked confused and pursed his lips in concentration. "Did you see her?" He shook his head, his little mop of ginger curls shaking.

"Me feel her." He said, and Obi-Wan smiled at him, standing and picking him up in the same motion.

"Perfect." He said, and swung him up and around like a hoverbike, Qui-Cong laughing wildly, before he pulled him in to his chest.

She watched them both, even as they came over to her, and felt the tiredness of the day drain slowly away. It was impossible to be sad when her little son was so happy and at peace, and her love was at home with her like he belonged and she knew that they, along with all the others, were safe from whatever lie beyond the decisions of the Senate.