Seldom Darlin – Hee! Aw, the 'awkward' line made me smile, so I thought it would make a nice 'end' to the chapter - so glad you liked it. :-) Thank you for all of your wonderfully sweet compliments - they really mean a lot!
meandmysharpie – You're right, Obi-wan does great during awkward moments, so we can only hope he handles this one just as well. Keep your fingers crossed! I'm so glad you've joined me for this adventure – thanks for always being so supportive!
Avschick33 – Wow, that made my day! I don't know why I'm so drawn to angst because I am totally a "they lived happily ever after" person. But this storyline demanded that I stay true to the canon ending so I hope you'll bear with me. Thank you for reading!
HellishRedDevil – Guess this update probably wasn't as quick as you were hoping for but at least it was within a week! Yes, I'm grasping at straws! Hee! If only real life would slow down for awhile - I'm sure you can identify with that feeling! Thank you for leaving such encouraging comments. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
ALL – See you back here next week with more. Thanks for reading and if you have time, for reviewing - it's always so amazing to hear what you think.
Padmé heard the hiss of the door opening and screwed her eyes shut, feigning sleep. The med droid had left no more than thirty seconds ago, insisting that the poking and prodding was finished for the time being.
Apparently, that droid was a blasted liar.
She sighed and silently admonished herself. She couldn't bear to be ungrateful; the Jedi had given her and her unborn child the best care imaginable and if they thought she needed more tests, she would take more tests. She would do anything - just as long as she got a couple minutes to concentrate solely on the reassuring thrum of her baby's heartbeats. Perhaps she could blame her moodiness on hormones-
"Padmé."
Her name was breathed so softly, her ringing ears and preoccupied mind almost missed it... but her heart would have recognized the love in that voice anywhere. Ani.
Her brave façade crumbled at the sight of him. His face was pale and drawn, hands clasped nervously in front of him. She smiled and he loped towards her, more or less diving into her embrace. Several moments passed before he pulled away, trying to give her one of his trademark grins - but this time the result was unusually lopsided and tentative.
"You're okay; the baby's okay." He repeated the statements again and again, trying to convince himself of their validity.
"We're going to be fine, I promise."
His hand came up to caress her cheek and tuck a stray curl behind her shoulder. "What happened?"
"There was an explosion."
"At your apartment?" His voice was raw with outrage.
She sighed regretfully before confessing, "No. I was in the Trader's Market in the Lower Sector-"
His breath hissed between his teeth as his eyes narrowed. "What were you doing there? Master Fisto just decided to let you just walk around unprotected? How could he do that? I'm going to-"
"I sneaked out," she interrupted, taking his hand apologetically.
"What? You willingly left without taking any security measures? Padmé, what were you thinking?"
"I didn't think it would be a problem. It's just... nothing has happened in so long; I thought I was safe."
"Love, you should have known better than that! What was so important that it couldn't wait?"
"I just wanted to buy some things for the baby." she whispered. "I overheard some people in the Senatorial rotunda discussing a children's store... The quality was supposed to be good, the designs unique. Of course, I knew the location was a bit questionable but I thought it would work in my favor. No one would recognize me and I could simply be there as a mother. The same as countless other women throughout the Republic."
"But you aren't like those other women. You should have sent a handmaiden on your behalf!"
"No, this is something I had to do myself," she argued hotly.
"Why?"
"Because my handmaidens aren't going to be this baby's mother!" she cried bitterly. "And Force forgive me for being selfish, but I just wanted to buy some baby clothes. We have missed out on so much already! I'm sorry, you have to know I didn't want to put our child in danger. You do know that, right?"
Her sobs grew muffled as she sank into his chest, hands grabbing fistfuls of the soft tunic one of the healer's had loaned him. She sniffled once, then twice before fixing him with a questioning gaze.
"Ani, why are you wearing a patient's smock?"
He opened his mouth to respond, but the voice that echoed through the chamber was not his own: "Because he is also recovering from the explosion."
Padmé's blood froze as she glanced up to find Obi-wan Kenobi standing in the doorway.
"M- Master," Anakin sputtered. He backed away from the bedside and her hands fell back onto pristine sheets. "You're here."
"Yes, I'm here," the Jedi Master replied evenly.
"I... I can explain." Anakin ran a hand through his hair, his gaze darting helplessly from his wife to Obi-wan and back again. "You see, I heard that the Senator had been in an accident and since I was here anyway I thought I should check on her status-"
"Enough, Padawan. I know why you're here... but even more importantly, I know why you collapsed and it most assuredly wasn't just a coincidence. Such a reaction indicates your connection goes just a bit deeper than friendship."
At that, Padmé's spine went rigid. "You were hurt because I was? Oh, Anakin."
Obi-wan pulled his cloak a little tighter, scrutinizing the couple before him. "Will one of you please tell me how long this has been going on?"
Padmé decided to answer - a wise choice since her husband was still silently reeling. "Since the Battle of Geonosis. We were married when Anakin escorted me home to Naboo."
"Married?"
"Yes, Master. Married," Anakin echoed firmly.
The elder Jedi began to pace, gesturing wildly. "And you didn't feel you could tell me this, because...?"
"Because you would be duty-bound to report us!" Anakin's cheeks grew more and more flushed with every word. "And because you would be disappointed and hurt... you know, everything you're feeling right now!"
"Perhaps you do not know me as well as you think. I may be committed to the Code, but I am on your side above all else, Anakin. I'm sure we could have made something work."
"And what would you have had me do?"
Obi-wan flinched and Anakin knew he was sensing his emotions through the Force but he didn't care. There was one thing he had to get straight before he set to the task of releasing the maelstrom to the Force.
"Would you have me annul my marriage to my wife?" he continued. "Because if so, you can save your breath. That wouldn't have happened then and it will not happen now."
There was a lengthy silence as the Jedi Master considered the question. He finally bowed his head and shrugged. "Quite honestly I don't know what I would have done but I do know we would have dealt with the situation as a team. As brothers. I hope you know that is how I think of you, Padawan."
The words were more effective than any meditation exercise and Anakin's shoulders drooped as the fight left him. "I'm sorry."
"As am I, Master Kenobi," Padmé added softly. "I am not proud of our deception, but I wouldn't trade the past three years for anything. And as you know, something wonderful has come out of it."
"Yes, congratulations to both of you." Despite the tension that swirled in the air, Obi-wan couldn't prevent the smile that spread across his face... at least until another realization struck him. "Another Skywalker. Oh Force! I don't know if an old man like me has the energy to handle such an experience."
"You've got plenty of years left in you yet," Anakin teased. "Between your legendary light saber skills and annoyingly perceptive mind, I'm sure you'll be teaching our daughter more than I would ever want her to know!"
"You are having a girl then?" He bit back a laugh as he imagined his former apprentice confounded by the intricacies of raising a daughter.
"We don't know for sure," Padmé admitted, playfully tousling her husband's hair. "I mean, Anakin claims to be overwhelmingly certain, but this is an instance where I happen to disagree. I think we are having a boy. Motherly intuition and all that, you know."
"I can already see that this child will be well loved."
"She will be." "He will be."
Their playful squabbles were flooded with joy and Obi-wan felt a flicker of guilt. He hated to bring the subject back to the task at hand but he knew that he must.
"I think we can all agree on this: we have to make sure this baby does not have any more close calls," he mused soberly. "I believe the best way to do that is to go before the Council. We have called for an emergency meeting to discuss what actions should be taken to investigate the events of this afternoon. I can use the opportunity to set things in motion."
"I appreciate the offer, Master, I really do," Anakin insisted. "But we all know that I should go before the Masters to explain my actions. No matter what punishment they may lay upon me once this ordeal is over, I will accept it. The most important thing is that I am allowed to make sure that Padmé and the baby are safe. What happened today has served as a reminder that I cannot let my guard down. "
Obi-wan regarded his Padawan with a sense of pride. "I will stand with you before the Council."
"Please, wait just a moment. Anakin, are you sure about this?" Padmé wondered fearfully. "You could be kicked out of the Order."
"Perhaps, but that is a risk I am willing to take. The Council must know everything if they are to truly help us," Anakin's voice carried a sense of calm he was nowhere close to feeling. "Besides, Obi-wan feels this is the right path and I have no reason to think he is mistaken."
At that moment, the Jedi Master's com-link beeped in rapid succession. He glanced at the young couple, his apology reflected in his eyes. "It seems the meeting is about to begin. Shall we go?"
Anakin squeezed his wife's hand, brushing a kiss across her forehead. Closing his eyes, he exhaled a deep breath.
"Yes."
