Padawan Skywalker: Revisions, kiddies. I like the way this draft flows more. Because of how long I've neglected this project, I'm giving you a double update. Please enjoy it and review!

Dust

Prologue:

Anakin Skywalker was reasonably nervous, as he stood on Senator Padmé Amidala's landing pad. She was already rushing toward him; but, though he opened his arms to her, he was far from ready to receive her bright, happy body into them. Something he'd identified already in his abdomen stirred, making his stomach flip uncomfortably. What would he do if she felt it? He knew he'd have to explain either way, but…but it would be easier, if he got to do so, before she knew. If he got to tell her…maybe she'd feel less betrayed about it. They'd been married for less than a week… This had been with him for more than a month. Surely she must understand that he'd never thought he'd see her again, when it had happened… Surely she must understand his feelings on the matter too.

"Oh, Ani!" She cooed, hugging him tightly. He returned it, forcing up a small smile. Now the creature growing inside him wasn't the only thing causing his stomach to flip-flops. "What are you doing here? It's still daylight! Someone might see!"

"I had to see you, Padmé." His smile faltered, now a pathetic excuse for what he had intended. She looked at him, worried. "I had to talk to you now. It couldn't wait."

"What is it, Anakin?" Her tone was soothing, patient and curious. He wondered how many of those emotions she would feel once he'd told her. His stomach squirmed again, and the thing kicked, making it difficult not to wince.

"Can we sit down? It's a long story."

"Sure, Ani."

She let him go and they wandered in from her private landing pad, to her sitting room. Anakin briefly wondered how many Senators she'd entertained in that room.

Sitting weakly down on her sofa, Anakin rested his face in his hands for a moment. Looking up at her, he steeled himself for this confession. Her expression was so mild that he almost lost his nerve. He wished she didn't look so understanding…he didn't deserve her understanding, anymore.

"We were apart for a long time, before you came back to vote on the Military Creation Act." He began finally. Padmé smiled gently at him.

"Ten years," she confirmed, placing a small hand on his back. It seemed horribly heavy, just then, though. "Anakin, what's all this about?"

"I told you…that I thought about you every day, while we were apart…" He continued, closing his eyes. He suddenly felt unable to meet her gaze. "That's true, but… But I didn't wait for you."

"What?" Her tone was now hopefully disbelieving. She didn't want to know, he realized. He'd tell her anyway. She might not want to know, but she deserved to know.

"Obi-Wan and I…we…" He struggled to explain, finally breaking off. He didn't need to continue. She stood up and stared at him in shock.

"You were with him the whole time!"

"Yes." He confirmed miserably. "But it's more complicated than that…"

"More complicated?" Padmé echoed, her eyes wide, eyebrows high. "How can it possibly be more complicated? This seemed to be pretty straight forward to me –"

"I'm pregnant, Padmé." She stopped abruptly, and stared at him harder than ever. This time she seemed more alarmed than surprised. Anakin was interested to learn there was apparently a difference.

"You…you're…what?"

"Pregnant." He nodded, standing up and grabbing her hand. He placed it on his stomach, where the baby kicked in protest to something touching its carrier. "As in baby."

"Have…have you told Obi-Wan yet?" Her eyes were wide as they rose to meet his. Obviously his angel was having a hard time grasping this concept. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Yes, he knows." Anakin sighed, sitting back down again. His arms encircled his stomach protectively, nervously. "He wants to get married, so it won't be born out of wedlock."

"But…but the Council –"

"He doesn't care enough about the Council to let them make this decision for us, he says."

Padmé Amidala was silent for several more minutes before she sat down next to him once more. She seemed to be coming to grips with the situation, somewhat.

"Ani…I don't think I understand," she admitted softly. Anakin laughed aloud.

"I know you don't understand." He agreed. "I barely understand."

"Have you told anyone else?"

"Not yet." The blonde shook his head. "Just Obi-Wan, for obvious reasons." Padmé looked a bit touched that she'd been the first.

"What are you going to do? The Order – you'll be expelled!"

"I don't' know," he smiled wryly at her. "But they're not taking it away from me. I can tell you that much. Promise me that you won't be the one to rat us out?"

"I…I promise, Ani… I promise."

Continued in chapter one...