A/N: There we go people! Welcome to all new readers! But before you start reading, this is a sequel, so should you stumble upon this, it'd be better for you to first read Destined for more and Kept hidden. Other than that, good reading to all!

Italic speeches: mind-bound speech

Bold speech: visions

1. Loss and gain

Irri woke up that morning with a nagging feeling at the back of her head. A twitch in the Force, the presence of two Force-sensitives that had come back to her system.

A small smile played at her lips when she recognized the auras.

"Obie... Ani..."

She got up and quickly got dressed, her short, spiky blonde hair ruffled, and got out of her rooms and into the now familiar sitting-room of Senator Amidala.

Almost a year prior, Padmé had asked the Temple to assign Irri to her protection ad vitam aeternam. And the Knight could have only agreed.

It was soon after her return from Felucia, soon after...

She wanted to forget, but couldn't, not when...

!-!-!-!-!

"Irri! You're awake!"

Eirtaé walked to her, a huge grin on her lips, a hand on her swollen belly.

Irri smiled after glancing down briefly. The child of her best friends was growing inside that belly. And she felt as equally happy and sad about it. "Good morning, Taé. How is this little devil today?"

"She's perfectly fine. How about her godmother?"

Eirtaé had decided without Obi-Wan's consent to assign Irri to the care of their child should anything happen.

And something should very well happen soon.

"I'm okay. I think Obi-Wan and Anakin have come back today, I could feel it while waking up."

Eirtaé's smile didn't falter until a door slid open behind them both, making them turn and bow the head.

!-!-!-!-!

"Senator Amidala."

Padmé sighed. "I told you before, Irri. Call me Padmé."

The Jedi smirked. "I know. But it is my duty to call you formally. At least when we're not alone."

"Well, we are alone, so please." She walked to an armchair and sat, rubbing her equally swollen belly under her fingers.

Irri didn't know what hurt her more. The fact that Anakin had conceived a child with his wife, or that he had crawled into her bed during a lonely night, and that she had let him...

!-!-!-!-!

It happened four months prior. Irri was called for an emergency inside the Temple. Aayla Secura, her former Master, had been taken ill and had asked to see her.

And that night, Anakin bolted into her room, sweating cold, infuriatingly sad and lonely, and had told her how much he missed her, how much he regretted marrying Padmé, how much he cared...

She had opened her arms without thinking, and there she was...

With the unforgiving guilt of having betrayed both herself and someone she respected.

With the as equally unforgiving guilt of still loving him as if he was hers and not another's.

!-!-!-!-!

"I hear the Jedis have sent a rescuing party to salvage the Chancellor."

Palpatine had been abducted by General Grievous, a half-droid half-alien chief within the Separatists' force.

Irri nodded. "Indeed, Master Yoda spoke of that. And by what I can feel is happening above our heads right now, I'd say they asked Anakin and Obi-Wan."

Her gaze widened, tears of joy glistening in them. "They're back?"

Irri nodded. "So it seems."

"So this is a happy day."

The Jedi nodded, but thought otherwise. Happy day? She wasn't this sure...

!-!-!-!-!

Half and hour later, the elevator in the living-room announced a visitor.

Irri was the one to greet him.

A smirk formed onto her lips at once. "Senator Organa."

"Knight Nabié."

Irri smiled wider. "What brings you here this early, Bail?"

He sighed. "All Senators have been called to the Senate. Chancellor Palpatine has been rescued and is on his way. We have to be there before him."

She nodded. "Stay here, I'll call Padmé."

But she was already on her way, Dormé on her heels. "I hear I am needed at the Senate, Bail. Have you come to escort me?"

"As always, Padmé."

She chuckled. "Let us go then." Her gaze shifted to Irri. "Feel free to go anywhere you wish, I don't think I might need you where I'm going."

The Jedi's heart twitched at those words, and she knew was lurked behind them. She wanted to greet Anakin alone. To tell him the great news.

She nodded. "Then I shall go to the Temple. I will come back later."

Padmé nodded. "Thank you, Irri."

And she escaped the room.

!-!-!-!-!

"You still don't like her, little blossom..."

Irri sighed, Eirtaé coming to stand next to her. "If Obi-Wan married another, would you like that other?"

"God no."

"Then you know why I feel this way." She turned around and faced her friend. "I'll go say hello to old friends now, I'll see you later." She put her hand onto her friend's belly for a second. "And you, little one."

But before she could walk away, Eirtaé stopped her. "Irri, are you sure you're alright?"

She sighed sadly before stepping into the elevator herself. "I don't think I will ever be alright again, Taé."

!-!-!-!-!

The hangar of the Temple was buzzing with people when Irri parked her speeder.

When she overheard a mech saying that they were awaiting Master Kenobi's shuttle, she smirked to herself and hid into the shadows of the greatest ship present, that of the Counsel.

Not long after, said shuttle landed, and a beige-clad figure got out, with ever-growing beard sticking out in the pale face and pale outfit.

Obi-Wan stopped a few paces later, and a smirk formed onto his own lips.

"You can get out of the shadows, I know you're here."

Irri smiled and walked forward, coming into her friend's sight. "Oh, I didn't know you were coming, Master Kenobi."

"Sure you didn't."

They stared at each other for long moments before two huge grins formed onto their faces and they hurried in each other's arms.

Irri had never hugged someone tighter in her whole life.

"I was so worried."

"Well, I am safe. We both are." He sensed her frown at his words. "Is something wrong?"

She untangled herself from him and started walking towards the Temple itself, sighing. "I feel ever more...inclined to resign, Obie."

"Why? Because of Anakin?"

"No, because of you." His red eyebrows shot up, and she felt the need to explain. "You are going to be a father, Obi-Wan. Something I can never be."

He smirked. "No, you can't be a father. You are a woman."

"You know what I mean."

"Irri, I didn't...I didn't plan to become a parent. It sort of...was an accident. But a welcomed one. I don't intend to take part in the child's life as a real father should. I can't. This was a mistake. As agreeable a mistake it was."

Irri took her friend's hand and squeezed tight. "But you are still going to have a child. Who will have some of your features. Whose name you will choose."

"And you are going to be her godmother. Share in that happiness." He stopped in his tracks, facing her, both his hands going to her shoulders. "I know these past years have been hell for you, but...embrace those little moments. Embrace them, Irri. Be happy, I beg you. It kills me to see you this sad."

A small smile formed onto her lips, not reaching her eyes. "I am trying. I swear I am."

"Good." His arm went around her shoulders and he planted a kiss onto her head. "Now come, I have to be debriefed and I'd like a good time spent with you. As horrible as it sounds."