~Ahsoka's POV~
Ahsoka had always loved morning, or, more precisely, listening to it. She had loved listening to the quiet of the temple, allowing her thoughts to twirl in her head without distraction.
Morning offered a new day, one she could control to make better or worse than the one before. Morning was a time she could dream and plan for the day ahead, plan to be the hero of the day.
But now morning only snapped her out of her dreas, the only place safe from Sith and prisons. Now she dreaded morning, another day in this horrible place that used to be the senate building, a symbol of peace and democracy now smoldered. Only a couple hundred meters away, the ruined remains of her home still stood.
Ahsoka looked around her room; she had grown accustomed to it in the week she had been here. She had no clue who had lived here before, but they obviously hadn't lived simply.
Her bed was like three beds smashed into one, a couple of feet surrounded her on both sides. Her bed spread was a dark, smooth burgundy, and her room was a light maroon.
A desk, two brown comfy couches, a book shelf, and a balcony with a beautiful view of the stars at night and tall buildings during the day were the flashiest features.
Too bad the balcony was ray shielded so that even if one day she did turn suicidal (which the thought that she would wasn't always far from her mind) she couldn't end it that way. Through her glass doors leading to the balcony, the sun shone in dimly, deterred by her curtains.
Ahsoka sighed and studied the bandage on her arm, it was from her…. Surgery. Meaning that Anakin had had his Empire doctors put a chip in both her and Obi-wan, so that they could not access the force, couldn't even touch it.
Ahsoka had felt both blind, deaf and naked the first few days, but her predatory instincts sharpened without the force holding it back, so the world sensing wasn't lacking. The self-control and warmth and peace were though.
She was constantly cold, shivering even in her blankets and sleep. And emotions stayed with her now, she couldn't release her despair or anger into the force, so it sat in her gut like iron.
Her teeth had returned to their original form as well, sharpening like a cat's jaws. She was more aggressive and predatory, often stalking the clone guards unconsciously or tearing at her food like an animal.
Her finger nails had grown long and sharp until now they were claws. Ahsoka sighed and looked at them, picking at the dirt under them; she had kind of liked her human formed nails better. She looked so sinister now.
Speaking of sinister, Ahsoka thought as the doors were pushed open by the force and into the room walked Darth Vader. His cape flowed behind him gently as he strode over to her bed with a cheerful smile. He stood over her with a twinkle in his yellow eyes.
Anger bubbled inside Ahsoka. How could he stand there, so smug, when he kept them as prisoners? When he treated them like property? Ahsoka sat up quickly, baring her fangs at him in a hiss, completely losing all human composure.
Anakin didn't seem worried, only intrigued. "I think your teeth have actually gotten longer, snips. What next, a tail?" Anakin-no, not Anakin, this monster was not her master- Vader teased.
"Ever heard of knocking, Darth?" Ahsoka demanded angrily. "I thought you would be asleep, I wanted to wake you up," The Sith replied calmly.
He used to wake her up, when he had gotten used to having her as a padawan and their bond had strengthened, he had actually taken to listening to the morning quiet with her, but that was then.
That was over.
"Why? Why can't you let me sleep?" Ahsoka groaned. "Because, I don't want you getting lazy and fat," still, he tried to joke. When Ahsoka only glowered at him, he switched tactics.
"Actually, I woke you up because Padme is having contractions and she said she wanted you. She looked like she was in some pain so I shut-up and came to wake you," he said with a shrug.
He looked perfectly calm, but Ahsoka could see the concern in his eyes; the plead for her to hurry and get up. Ahsoka threw off her blankets, and shivered violently when the cold air hit her bare legs. She slept in only a T-shirt, two robes covering the rest of her.
"Are you okay?" Anakin asked reaching to put an arm around her. The second his hand touched her shoulder, Ahsoka hissed again, warning him. "Don't you ever touch me!" She shouted angrily. "Alright, alright," Anakin growled putting his hands up in defense. "I was only trying to help, no need to go predator on me" he said.
Ahsoka glared at him for a moment before saying "tell Padme I'll be there in a second."
Anakin nodded and sprinted out. Ahsoka sighed and walked into her bathroom to get dressed for another day in prison.
~Obi-wan's POV~
Reduced to this. The once great Obi-wan Kenobi reduced to a mere prisoner. The Negotiator, the hero of Democracy, the flawless gentleman and charming politician, prisoner.
Now, he had been a prisoner before, many times, in fact. He had been captured and tortured for information that he never gave. But that was heroic, that was noble; and everyone loved him even more after each beating.
But captured by his own brother and son, confined by the friend he wasn't sure he would have even been able to kill. The fact that this was what he was reduced to is what made it painful.
Obi-wan sat next to Padme, powerless to help as she let out slow breaths. "Are you sure it isn't anything more serious?" Obi-wan asked worriedly. The esteemed senator seemed to be in too much pain to be having a simple contraction. Surely this child was on its way?
Padme smiled feebly, a miracle surely. "I would know if my water broke, Obi-wan. It's just a little stomach ache is all" she said breathlessly. Obi-wan had to give her points for bravery and strength.
Even pregnant, she was trying to calm him, trying to stay together in front of him. And he was reduced to taking her comfort when he should be the one giving more than he could. All that he could. Suddenly, Ahsoka walked in, followed by Ana-no, followed by Vader.
Ahsoka came and knelt next to Padme, taking her hand comfortingly. Obi-wan felt another stab of anger at his former apprentice at the sight of her. Ahsoka was shivering violently, as if beyond the capability of warmth.
Her eyes were still red, she had been crying, no doubt, but her face was stony and proud. She is only a child, a young child who has seen war and death and pain, and now has been betrayed by her own master, it isn't right Obi-wan thought angrily.
"How far apart are the contractions?" Ahsoka asked Padme, who waited a moment before answering. "Ten minutes, is that good?" She looked at Ahsoka anxiously. Obi-wan heard Anakin gulp behind him. Ahsoka put her right Lekku to Padme's womb, her advanced ears listening for a heartbeat.
"Yes, for someone eight months into their pregnancy, it means you're on track, I think" she answered. Padme let out a breath of relief and Anakin un-tensed behind him.
"You really should let a doctor look at you, Padme" Anakin said. "Ahsoka doesn't know everything, and there may be something she can't hear inside of you. I would sleep better knowing that you're on track" he said worriedly.
"No, I don't trust any of your stupid Sith doctors near my baby," Padme snapped. "I could swear I hear two heart-beats" Ahsoka muttered. Obi-wan scooted closer.
"Do you really think I'd let anyone I didn't trust near the baby?" The Sith demanded. "I don't care if you trust him, I need too. This is my child, I'm going through the pain, I'm birthing it, I decide who will handle my child, and I deem Ahsoka qualified enough," Padme told him.
"Do you believe there could be something else wrong, that you aren't seeing?" Obi-wan whispered as they argued. "The heart-beat and breathing seem to be fine," Ahsoka observed. "But there are a million things going on in there right now, if it's something worrisome, I'll probably hear it, but I can't be absolutely sure," Ahsoka sighed.
Obi-wan put a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing in life is 'absolutely sure' young one. You are doing your best, and that is all that matters" he said. Ahsoka nodded and looked up. And in her eyes, Obi-wan saw every emotion he himself was feeling. Despair, Anger, fear, longing, hurt, guilt, and, dimly, a sense of hope.
"Fine!" Anakin shouted throwing up his hands. "Whatever. I trust Ahsoka too, so it's not a big deal," he crossed his arms huffily. "It kicked me!" Ahsoka suddenly blurted, she looked down, fascinated.
"It did, I felt it too," Padme agreed grinning from ear to ear. Obi-wan looked down at Padme's swollen stomach as Anakin knelt next to them. "It did?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes, feel," Padme, in her evident excitement, grabbed his hand-the real hand- and placed it over Ahsoka's. Obi-wan saw a tiny lump of skin rise under their palms.
"Hah, hah! It'll be a strong baby!" Anakin declared, exhilarated. Obi-wan couldn't help the smile that bit at his mouth, this was the moment. A family moment where they forgot titles and roles and wars for a second. They only remembered the child inside of Padme. A child of hope.
Suddenly, Anakin's comm. link beeped, and reality broke through their defense. Anakin was A Sith, the Republic was dead, and The Jedi had been slaughtered. They were prisoners of a war that had ended in tyranny.
Anakin growled and Ahsoka snatched her hand away from his. Padme tensed under his touch. Anakin stood, his eyes still glued to his un-born child. "I'll be back in tonight," he said. None of them asked where he was going; they already knew it would be nowhere good.
Anakin left, his shoulders sagging sadly. "Help me stand," Padme sighed. Obi-wan and Ahsoka grabbed her hands, hauling her to her feet silently. Padme wobbled for a bit before regaining her balance. Obi-wan stroked his beard contemplatively, and glanced at Ahsoka.
"It's sad, how short a time we get in happiness," the young girl said. "It will get better when the baby is born," Padme said confidently. "Will it?" Obi-wan asked.
"I doubt the birth of his children, no matter how wonderful a moment it turns out to be, will turn Anakin back to the side of the light," he said. "We can't lose hope," Ahsoka broke in sternly.
"I saw his eyes master, on Mustafar, they were blue. For that one second they were blue. Anakin is still in there somewhere. I know he is" she said. Obi-wan nodded, he believed her; he believed her too much. A second was all they had, that one second that his eyes were blue. It was all they could hold on too, the only thing they could hope for.
"I'm just saying not to get to excited about it," he said. "It will be a very long time until I'm excited again," Padme laughed cheerlessly. They fell silent for a moment, before Padme shuffled into the kitchen.
"Obi-wan, can you make me some tea please? Ahsoka could you put on some movie or something? There's nothing else to do" she said shuffling into the warm living area and sinking into a large, pillow filled rocking chair.
"Alright," Ahsoka walked to look into a cabinet for a suitable movie while Obi-wan made Padme some sweetened tea. He draped a blanket over Ahsoka while he passed by, in some way to give her warmth.
He handed Padme her cup and sat in the couch as Ahsoka held up three different movies. "Alright, movie time. Which one?" She asked. Padme pointed to the second movie and Obi-wan shrugged indifferently.
Ahsoka nodded and slid it in before doing a back-flip to the couch, landing next to Obi-wan. She nudged him slightly in gratitude for the blanket and they started the movie, and the day.