Pregnant.

She is pregnant… There's a baby – her baby – Anakin's baby – inside of her. It doesn't feel real, no matter how many times the information replays in her mind in a constant loop, she just can't process it. Part of her still just can't believe it, not after taking a second and even a third test, all displaying the same undeniable result. Positive.

How many other people in the world have done what they have and not ended up in this situation? Millions probably! Padme isn't a risk taker by nature; she likes to plan everything out, to keep one step ahead of everyone… Just once in her whole life she did something stupid, ignored the uncertainty and just did what she wanted… And now… And now consequences have come crashing down…

It's not that she's opposed to the idea of children, quite the opposite really, a family of her own is something she's always wanted one day. One day. When she's ready and prepared, settled down with someone she loves, just like her parents did, like Sola did… A night of passion rekindling an old relationship is not how she pictured this happening at all. At least she's actually in a relationship, it could be worse she supposes. If she and Anakin just gone their separate ways after the reunion, this could have been disastrous.

Just thinking about the man she loves, her boyfriend… The father of her child, a crippling fear clutches at her throat, making her feel a nausea that has little to do with the what she supposes was morning sickness that woke her up so early this morning.

They're going to be parents…

How is this going to work? They don't even live in the same state! For all that they whisper about him selling up his business or opening another here, it's all just – just more empty promises! He can't sell everything he worked so hard to achieve, asking him to do that would be like asking her to walk away from her own career. The mere thought makes her sick. It's too much; it would be selfish to let him do that, even for her… And the… And the baby. What's worse is, she knows he'd do it! He'd do it without a moment's hesitation and never look back.

He's always been too good for her.

She meant what she said when she thought he'd make a good father… Anakin has always been great with kids, they love him and he loves playing with them. And he told her that after his mother's death, all he wanted was a family of his own, to feel complete again, loved again even, but that is no reason to bring a baby into the world! He wanted those things out of grief, not from being ready to shift his life around a child – their child. Besides, his mother's passing happened years ago, his wants might have changed, especially since his business has taken off so wonderfully. He's surprised her this past month, at just how driven he's become. While as a teenager, he'd had his dreams of course but true ambition was something he lacked. If anything his dreams were fuelled by a strange sense of entitlement from the world, not a desire to make them a reality on his own… But it's different now, he's different now.

That's what has been best about their separation, it's given them a chance to change, to grow up and learn before coming back to each other… They're different people to who they were before and Padme has enjoyed exploring these differences in him, she wants more time for that, to just be them and find their way together before… Well, this. It's the furthest thing from the right time for either of them. Their jobs are extremely demanding and time consuming, how are they supposed to balance a baby too? If Anakin goes home, or even finds a way to split his time between there and here, she's still going to be left to take care of the baby on her own at least a few days out of the week… How can she manage that and her job?

Her mom left work after getting pregnant with Sola, and Sola left work after getting married… Padme is not following in their footsteps. She loves her job, she lives and breathes politics, and she's worked too damn hard to get where she is to give it up now. If she has this baby, she will keep working, no matter what it takes. It's easier to be a working mom these days, right? There are daycares and nannies… They can figure something out…

None of that changes the fact she doesn't want a long distance family. If she and Anakin have this baby, she doesn't want to have family conversations over Skype! It's hard enough being separated from him now for weeks at a time, but enduing it with a baby too? It would kill her! But what could they do? She really doesn't have any answers…

At some point today, she has to talk to him… The sooner he knows, the sooner they can come to some kind of agreement and they can figure out what they're going to do. But telling him involves telling him. The idea is terrifying! How do you tell a man you've only been reunited with for a month, that you're pregnant with his baby? It's not that she's afraid of his reaction exactly, but of what comes afterwards. Once Anakin knows, then it's real – they're really having a baby. She isn't sure she's ready for the reality to hit quite yet.

While she muses, she sips on her coffee in the kitchen – she can still have this, right? – and listens to the running water of Anakin showering. He said he was here for a week, didn't he? That's plenty of time to figure something out… That is, if she works up the nerve to tell him today. Maybe if she calls Dorme and makes some kind of excuse, she can get away with skipping work today – there are important things she has to get done, but this is more important. They only have a week together, seven days to wrap their heads around the fact their lives are never going to be the same again. That's not enough time, not nearly enough…

As she sighs into the hot beverage, the bathroom door swings open behind her and a moment later a warm, damp body is pressed against her back as twin arms come to rest on the counter by either side of her, trapping her against him. "Are you hungry?" She asks without really needing to, Anakin is always hungry, it really is just as well he works out as much as he does otherwise she suspects his physique would be very different. At first, the only answer she's given his the sensual feel of his lips kissing a sweet trail along her neck, one hand abandoning its post in favour of sweeping her hair out of the way, onto her other shoulder, exposing more of her to his ravenous mouth.

"Definitely…" The word comes muffled against her skin, making her giggle quietly. "But not for food."

Very surprising… As incredible as she believes he is, Anakin is a rather simple man. Honest too, almost brutally sometimes. She's always loved that about him, now more so than ever after experiencing years worth of insincere flattery at work. Honestly is an underrated trait these days. "Why doesn't that shock me?"

He ignores her snark in favour of a sharp nip at her skin and she gasps at the sting. "I want to spend this whole week with you." He whispers lowly, "we'll do whatever you want." His words are so sweet, she can't resist leaning back against him a little despite the lingering dampness soaking through her thin nightie and onto her own skin. She'd give anything to have an entire week just to themselves with no distractions or work to pull them apart, but that's just not possible. She can steal today to be with him, but anything else would be pushing her luck…

"You know, I do have commitments outside of this relationship Ani." Padme drawls, savouring the way he chuckles quietly before scraping his teeth across her pulse. "And my boss would have my head put on a spike if I missed any more than a day. We're in the middle of a huge campaign to-"

"Just today then? Please?" The sweet kiss he places beneath her earlobe is enough to soothe the slight irritation she feels at him cutting her off like that. Anakin has zero interest in politics, less than zero… He practically abhors everything to do with it, and as a result struggles to get through even the most interesting of her work stories without interrupting or seeking some kind of distraction. It can be infuriating at times. When this baby comes along, she'll teach them just how important the world of politics is before daddy here can make it all about cars and engines and sports.

"Oh, now you're just asking too much from me." She teases him playfully, reaching forward to grab one of her newspapers from the neat pile in faux indifference. She'd already planned to take the day off, but he doesn't need to know that right away. He doesn't give her very long to enjoy her smug joke, the second she has the paper open at a random page, a damp hand knocks it out of her grasp and back onto the table.

"C'mon, Padme…" His hot breath wafts over her ear, making her shiver, "you know you want to… We could go out, get some breakfast, or go see some of the touristy crap. Or…" The hand that just assaulted her paper lands gently on her thigh, squeezing before slipping upwards, inching higher, beneath her silky nightie with clear erotic intent and she's helpless against him, instinctively parting her legs just slightly. "We could just spend the whole day in bed."

She turns her head a little to see him from the corner of her eyes, but he isn't looking at her, his eyes are trained firmly on the newly uncovered skin of her thighs and she almost rolls her eyes. A simple man indeed. He's a total one track mind kind of person… Which is exactly how they ended up in this position in the first place. "You're getting my floor all wet…"

His hand moves quickly, before realises what he's doing and brushes his thumb against her clit so suddenly that it's all she can do to hold back the cry her body wants him to hear… There is no stopping small squeak that does manage to pass her lips however and Anakin delights in it. "That's not the only thing I'm getting wet…" He mutters huskily against her ear, pulling a gasp from her unwilling lips this time as his thumb repeats the action again, slower and harder this time.

"You – oh! You're disgusting…"

"And you love it."

Well, she can't deny that at all.


By the time they make it out of bed – and then the shower afterwards – they're both beyond starving. Though, after calling Dorme pretending to be sick and claiming she'd be in bed all day recovering, Padme feels a little guilty about going out. Maybe it's just lying to her friend has unsettled her slightly, but she'd rather just stay in and order take out, just in case. It would be just her luck to run into her boss or Bail or anyone she works with after calling in sick for the first time.

Anakin just says she's crazy.

In the end, she lets him talk her into going out for lunch, because they only have week together and they should be going on dates while they have the chance. If they didn't go out, after he left her again she would have regretted it. Besides, what's the harm in a sweet date with her boyfriend? Maybe them being out together is a perfect chance to tell him about the… The news? The setting will certainly be romantic and she's sure this is going to make him happy, she truly is… It's just… What she isn't so sure of is her own reaction.

There hasn't been enough time for her to think all this through, to truly map out the possible scenarios and search her feelings… She doesn't feel unhappy exactly… But at the same time, this doesn't feel anything like she thought it might. Sola cried with joy when she found out she was pregnant with Ryoo, Padme was with her while waiting for the result and to this day she's never seen anyone so truly happy or grateful for anything since her sister in that moment. She supposes she'd just always assumed finding out she was pregnant would feel like that. But it doesn't. The difference is, Sola and Darred tried for a baby after being married for a year, she and Anakin didn't try. They haven't even thought about children.

Her whole life, Padme just took for granted that her experiences with impending motherhood would inevitably mirror her mother and sister's. Not the settling into being a housewife, she was never meant for that, but she'd thought she'd be settled into a life with the man she loved and be ready for a baby… Maybe after a few years of marriage and a little travelling if possible. After she's truly done some good with her life through her work… This is quite far from that scenario. Obviously, she loves Anakin, and she never wants to be apart from him again, but having a baby together? After only a month?

She has no idea how to feel.

Maybe seeing Anakin react will help her understand what's going on with her… He may share the same concerns she does – she hopes that he does! Then they could have a real and frank discussion about this, one that isn't clouded by a naive burst of joy… Though something tells her it'll be the latter option. Anakin is all heart, and she loves that about him, but just this once, it would be nice to have her concerns validated, to know there isn't something wrong with her, that he feels the same way she does about this.

"Padme?" Her name interrupts the stressing train of thoughts and her eyes snap up from her empty plate to meet Anakin's concerned gaze. She totally spaced out on him… No wonder he's worried, she would be too if the tables were turned. Should – should she tell him now? Earlier, before they'd arrived at the restaurant and eaten, it seemed like a good idea, but now the opportunity has come she can feel her hands trembling against the pretty white tablecloth as apprehension destroys the will to share the news. She can't… Not yet. She just needs a couple more minutes.

"I – I'm fine…" Somehow she manages to smile as the nice waiter arrives to collect their plates. "Just got a little lost in thought, that's all." It's not a lie exactly… She just doesn't want to tell him what those thoughts are about right now. There's nothing wrong with that, is there? He'll know all about it later. "Did you want to order dessert or…?"

He knows something is going on, she can see it in the narrowing of his eyes but she ignores it as best she can in favour of grabbing the menu and opening it up. The idea of actually telling him what's going on right now makes her want to throw up… No… She really wants to throw up… The nervousness must be getting to her more than she thought. Forcing another smile for Anakin's sake, Padme reaches out to grab her glass of iced water in the hopes that it'll settle her stomach a little. The cool water helps the flush of warmth spreading through her skin, but does nothing for the nausea assaulting her stomach. Suddenly, the thought of eating anything else makes her want to vomit up her lunch.

"I'm alright…" Anakin mutters and she's beyond relieved. Maybe getting outside will make her feel better? The fresh air could get rid of this awful sick feeling… "Do you?" In response Padme can only shake her head and keep her lips tightly sealed. For a horrible second, it feels like even just opening her mouth will make her ill. This can't be just nerves… What if it's some kind of morning sickness… In the afternoon… Is that even possible? It's either that, or extremely fast acting food poisoning. Thankfully, he requests the bill and the waiter delivers it quickly enough. The sooner they pay, the sooner she can get outside and stop feeling like this.

Since Anakin is her guest this week, it's only fair that she take care of the bill. Besides, she's a modern woman, paying for a date is perfectly fine with her – she likes doing it. It's nice to treat him the way he likes to treat her. She reaches across the table for the little black tray hosting the paper receipt but Anakin, with the advantage of longer arms, gets it first. Ever the traditionalist… It's a battle to get him to let her pay for anything when they're together. It's very sweet, but she really doesn't mind paying every now and again! "Ani..." She scolds him playfully but he only rolls his eyes.

"I'm supposed to be taking you out, remember? This was my idea. It's on me." He smiles smugly for a second, before returning his eyes to the price printed onto the paper. Just because it was his idea doesn't mean he should be lumped with the payment… That's hardly fair. She leans over the table slightly in another attempt at grabbing the bill out of his hand, but unfortunately he sees her coming and holds it up, just beyond her reach.

"You are supposed to be my guest this week! Now give it to me!" She pouts, sitting back down before her dress rides up too high… Other customers seeing her underwear peeking out from beneath the hem really is the last thing she needs right now. Anakin ignores her completely, and pulls his wallet out of his pocket and this time it's her turn to narrow her eyes. She should be paying for him this time – he paid for everything last time she visited him. It's her turn now. "Anakin Skywalker, do not make me cause a scene."

"Yeah, yeah…" He dismisses her threat with an amused wave of her hand and gets back to pulling cash out of his wallet and she slumps back in her seat, defeated. Next time… She'll pay next time and he can't do anything to stop her! As they pull on their jackets and head for the entrance, the nausea assaults her body again, violently this time so there's nothing she can do to prevent or hold back the vomit filling her mouth. The bathroom is far back, on the other side of the restaurant, and the thought of running back doesn't even occur to her. Instead, she lurches forward and grabs the beautiful vase from the reception desk and throws up into the neck of it. It's humiliating, and disgusting and completely necessary. It was either the vase of the floor and this seems like the better of the two.

By some small mercy, the vomiting spell doesn't last long and when she sheepishly glances up from the ruined decoration, all she sees is the worry on Anakin's face as he grabs her shoulders. "Are you alright?" Still bombarded with the terrible sick feeling on top of the embarrassment, she needs a moment to gather her wits enough to form some form of answer but there's no time. Someone – the manager of the place she supposes – rushes up behind her and he doesn't bother hiding the irritation in his voice which only makes Padme wish the ground would just swallow her whole right now.

"She just ruined that vase!"

"It was probably the food here that made her sick in the first place!" Anakin is quick to leap to her defence and she's beyond grateful for it. She's really in no condition to speak up for herself right now… If anything she's fighting down the rising urge to throw up all over again. But it wasn't the food that did this, she knows that. It was the baby. She can't let him blame the restaurant for this, that kind of accusation is dangerous for food establishments.

"Ani," she swallows the disgusting bile lingering in her mouth – spitting it into the vase would just add insult to injury she thinks – and reaches up to wipe away the wetness beneath her eyes throwing up has caused, "it – it wasn't the food." When she envisioned telling him about the baby, she'd imagined something a little more romantic and sweet than holding a vase full of vomit surrounded by angry staff but there's no going back now. Curiosity blooms in his eyes and despite the impatiently frustrated sigh from the manager behind her, Padme carefully lowers the pretty porcelain to the floor and shakily reaches up to rest her hands on his chest… How does she word this? Simply? Straight to the point? Or dance around it with pretty speech that'll make her point clear before the actual words leave her mouth?

Honestly… She'll tell him honestly.

"Something – something's happened…" Her eyes meet his nervously and the confusion there is clear, but it's what'll be in there next that worries her. Happiness, anger, shock…Regret… It could be any of those. Or all of them. "Ani… I'm pregnant."