A/N: Hi y'all! I am SO sorry that this is later then I said it was going to be. I have been so busy and I haven't had time to edit it all that much so this chapter is going to have more typos then normal. I know there are typos in sentences everywhere and thank you to the reviewer who pointed out the typo in the last chapter. So this chapter is dealing with a lot involving Obi-Wan and there are lots of Skywalker family feels with the twins kicking up a storm. This chapter also deals with the rekindling of Lux and Ahsoka's relationship... sort of. Lux is going to have a bigger role as of chapter 9 which I am writing now so updates for this will slow down a bit until I can write a few more chapters so I don't lag behind with updates later on on. I know this is not the chapter you guys wanted in terms of Palpatine's ousting but that is coming up soon and Luke and Leia's birth isn't all that far away either. So thank you all so much for the faves and the follows. It means a lot.
Chapter 05: Ousted
At daybreak the next day, Ahsoka and Anakin met with the Jedi council once more. Despite the fact that they were tired, they managed to pull through the meeting They had agreed with the council that in three days, they would meet again to set about putting in notion a plan that would see Palpatine ousted from office.
As the council chamber door shut behind them, Anakin and Ahsoka slumped against each other. Exhaustion had seeped into their bones. Their eyes were ready to close and to dip into endless slumber.
"We should get some sleep." Ahsoka tried to cover her mouth to conceal her yawn.
Anakin yawned in response.
"I think you're right, Snips."
"Go back to Padmé. I'll see you later." Ahsoka covered her mouth, hiding another yawn with the back of her gloved hand and waved lazily as she walked back to her quarters.
Anakin watched her go before he too headed home.
Anakin laid on one of the couches in Padmé's living room. His eyes were closed as he attempted to get the sleep he was trying to catch up on.
Walking into her living room, Padmé found her husband dozing. It was a rare thing for her to see. She had never seen him so at peace before. She assumed Ahsoka had told him to come home and get rest he needed. The last couple of days had been exhausting.
Smiling and touching a hand to her stomach, she felt their child kick as if to tell her that he or she wanted their daddy's attention.
Deciding her child was right, Padmé walked over and stepped behind the couch and leaned down to gently brush Anakin's hair from his face.
A smile formed on Anakin's face as he opened one eye. "You alright there?"
"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time." She walked around the couch and sat next to Anakin's feet.
Anakin smiled. He pushed himself into a sitting position to allow for more room for Padmé to sit. "I'm home," he said as Padmé moved closer to him. "That's why I'm happy."
Padmé pursed her lips and shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Oh?"
"I think Ahsoka had something to do with you being here."
Anakin blinked. "How'd you know?"
"I've come to know both of you well. I know Ahsoka will never let anything go until she gets what she wants."
Now fully sitting up, Anakin reached over and pushed Padmé's hair out of her face and back behind her ear.
"You're right." Anakin said casually.
Padmé pursed her lips and nodded trying not to smile. She enjoyed being right. "I see so much of you in her, Ani."
"I hate seeing myself in her," Anakin admitted. "I see just how much trouble I caused for Obi-Wan when I was a Padawan."
"Surely, you weren't that bad." Padmé said amused.
"Oh, I would say he was bad. I think he was more…foolish then anything."
Anakin and Padmé looked up to see Obi-Wan standing there watching them. His arms were crossed. His expression was hard to read.
The color drained from Anakin's face.
Padmé's stomach dropped.
Uh oh! The couple's brains shouted at once.
"How long have you been standing there? When did you get back from Utapau?" Anakin croaked.
"Long enough. Not long ago. Don't change the subject, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied, unimpressed.
Coming out of her chambers in the Jedi Temple, Ahsoka staggered, her hand instinctively reaching up to grab the metal doorframe. She felt as if she had had been kicked in the stomach. She gasped as her master's emotions rushed through her.
She felt through the Force Anakin's guilt. His nervousness. His defiance. His pity. His anger. His fear. His hate.
Before she could stop herself, Ahsoka found herself running. Running towards Padmé's apartment as fast her legs would carry her, her original task forgotten.
"You have done the council and the Jedi Order a great wrong, Anakin. You have done many stupid things in the time I have known you but nothing as idiotic as this."
"Idiotic!" Anakin shot to his feet. "That's covenant coming from the Jedi Master who had a fling with the late Duchess of Mandalore!"
"I will have you know, Anakin, that I was young and foolish." Obi-Wan half-shouted.
"Doesn't appear that way!" Anakin shot back.
On the couch, Padmé watched helplessly as Anakin and Obi-Wan argued. She wanted to stop them but wasn't willing for the argument to turn on her.
Flinging herself down the corridor towards Senator Amidala's apartment, Ahsoka was exhausted having run all the way from the Temple but she pushed herself to continue.
She could feel Obi-Wan now. His anger was rising and she felt Anakin's anger rise too. Why were they arguing? They must have been, as Ahsoka had never felt their anger through the Force so strong before.
Finally, she reached the apartment. The door slid up at her approach. She bolted inside and sure enough she could hear arguing.
"…You have no idea how hard this has been!"
That has to be Anakin, Ahsoka thought. There was no mistaking it.
Round the corner, Ahsoka skidded to a halt to see Anakin standing protectively in front of Padmé while she stood wedged between Anakin the couch. Her pregnant belly wasn't doing her any favors.
"What is going on here?!" Ahsoka yelled loud enough to be heard over Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan and Anakin stopped arguing. Padmé tried to look around Anakin but with very little luck.
"Ahsoka? What are you doing here?" Obi-Wan asked before Anakin had a chance to open his mouth.
"Why do you think I'm here, Master Kenobi?" Ahsoka said harshly.
Obi-Wan blinked. Ahsoka had never spoken to him like this before.
"You knew about this?" Obi-Wan asked the Padawan incredulously.
Ahsoka stepped forward. "Of course I did. I've known for a while."
Obi-Wan's overpowering gaze turned away from Ahsoka and back to Anakin. "You told her? Yet, you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't tell her. She worked it out for herself." Anakin said stepping away from his wife.
Ahsoka's protective instincts took over and she found herself wrapping her arms around Padmé who held onto her like her life depended on it.
Obi-Wan's gaze turned from Anakin to Padmé whose baby bump had become too difficult to hide. The cogs very quickly clicked together. The Jedi Master's eyes snapped back to Anakin. "You," he said. "You're the father of Padmé's unborn child, aren't you?"
Anakin felt his stomach drop.
Ahsoka's hold on Padmé tightened.
Padmé allowed her nails to dig into Ahsoka's arm.
Obi-Wan knew he had his answer when nobody spoke up. "I see." He said lifting his chin.
"You aren't going to tell the council, are you?" Ahsoka asked.
Padmé's nails edged deeper into the Padawan's arm.
Ahsoka nearly jumped out of her skin.
"No, I will not," Obi-Wan said after a moment. A smile crossed his face. "Has this been going on for three years?"
"Yep." Anakin said obviously guilt-ridden.
"The first Battle of Geonosis." Obi-Wan said in realisation.
"Before that." Anakin put in.
Obi-Wan knew better then to ask for specifics. "So I take it you married after the first battle on Geonosis?"
"Yes again." Anakin muttered.
The tension seemed to lift.
Anakin and Obi-Wan moved away from each other while Ahsoka and Padmé released each other with Ahsoka checking her arms to see if she had drawn blood.
Anakin and Obi-Wan sat opposite each other while Ahsoka and Padmé sat together, keeping as much distance between them and Anakin and Obi-Wan as possible.
Obi-Wan then turned to look at Padmé who would have gone pale if Ahsoka hadn't been sitting next to her. "When is the baby due?"
"Couple of months yet." Padmé responded, her hand resting on her belly.
"Do you know whether it is a boy or a girl yet?"
"No." Padmé, Ahsoka and Anakin chorused at once.
Obi-Wan chuckled. "I have never seen you three so in sync before."
Anakin gave Obi-Wan a look of annoyance. "You're going there, really?"
"I will keep your secret, don't worry. After everything you have been through Anakin, you deserve a chance at a real life."
Anakin snorted. "Real life? What real life?"
"You are not like most Jedi, Anakin. You weren't raised like most of us. You became a Padawan almost straight away. You were raised by your mother who willingly let you become a Jedi because it was your dream. You broke the sacred rules of the Jedi code and married and are about to become a father. Most Jedi would frown upon that."
"Most? You mean all, right?" Ahsoka raised an eyebrow.
"Alright, all. The way the council has treated you isn't right."
"You admit to that?" Anakin was surprised.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Anakin, we're brothers, you and I. Remember when Qui-Gon died and I honored his dying wish and took you on as my Padawan?"
"Yeah." Anakin nodded.
"Well, it's going to stay that way. We have fought alongside each other a very long time and no matter what you decide once the baby is born I support your decision."
"I'm not leaving the Order once the baby's born, Obi-Wan." Anakin stated firmly.
"You cannot hide the child forever."
"I know which is why, after the baby is born, I wanna make the whole thing public."
"What?" Padmé and Ahsoka cried at once.
"Are you crazy?" Ahsoka said. "Do you know what the council and the Queen of Naboo will do to you and to Padmé if you let this whole marriage thing get out?" Anakin was about to answer when Ahsoka cut across him. "Look, I know how you feel. Not being able to proclaim your love to the galaxy but going out there and telling anyone isn't the way to go about it. The council and the Queen's views aren't going to change."
"I agree with Ahsoka," Padmé said, speaking up for the first time since Obi-Wan had asked her about the baby's pending birth. "We can't just jump in and hope we don't get in trouble. That's not how we should be seeing things. We should be focusing on the baby and then focusing on what to do next."
Everyone looked like they were ready to argue but when no one spoke up, it was clear that the conversation was over.
A couple of hours after Obi-Wan's discovery, Ahsoka was called back to Padmé's apartment, this time without Anakin.
"Miss Ahsoka," Motée greeted with a smile as Ahsoka entered the apartment. "Padmé is waiting in her office."
"Her office?" Ahsoka frowned. "She told me the apartment."
"There was a last minute change. She went to the doctor for a check up."
"Is the she and the baby okay?" Ahsoka asked concerned.
"Motée chuckled. "As far as I know."
Ahsoka thanked the handmaiden and headed for the Senate Office building.
Ahsoka was exhausted by the time she reached Padmé's office. She had run the entire way. Despite Motée telling her nothing was wrong, she couldn't help but think something was up. She knew Padmé wouldn't have called her until it was urgent.
"Padmé," Ahsoka said as she entered the office. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I did." Padmé sat the paperwork she was reading aside.
"Why didn't you call me and tell me where you were going to be? I was worried when Motée said that you went to the doctor."
"I'm alright. You really are like Anakin."
"Yeah well, unlike that fun loving husband of yours, I don't freak out every time something happens to the people I love."
"True." Padmé nodded.
"So what did you wanna talk to me about?" Ahsoka sat down at the desk.
"Do you remember Lux Bonteri?"
Ahsoka blinked. "Yes." She replied slowly.
"Anakin mentioned that you've worked with him in the past."
Ahsoka nodded again, wondering where this was going. "You have too. You knew him when he was young. Ah, what's this about?"
"He's on world. He wants to catch up."
"Why did you wanna talk to me about it?"
Padmé examined Ahsoka's facial expression. "Is there something you wish to share?" A smirk crossed Padmé's face when Ahsoka's face paled.
Ahsoka's mouth opened and closed liked a fish gasping for air.
"You're in love with him." Padmé said amused.
"What? No! I'm not… oh. My head hurts." Ahsoka groaned, gripping her head.
Padmé laughed. "I know you too well Ahsoka. Does Anakin know?"
Ahsoka couldn't bring herself t look at Padmé as she shook her head. "No. I don't want him to know. If he did, he'd never let me live it down."
"Of course, my lips are sealed." Padmé pressed her lips together placed a finger to them.
"Thank you. How did you know to begin with?"
"That my dear is something for me to know and for you to share."
Ahsoka sighed. "There were flirtations. Nothing serious, I might add. A few kisses." The memories made Ahsoka blush. She would never have revealed something like that to Anakin. He would have annoyed the hell out of her. At the time, she had very firmly believed that Jedi weren't suppose to become involved in romantic affairs but now she thought very differently on the subject.
Obi-Wan and Anakin's experiences had taught her a few things.
Ahsoka forced herself to hide her smile by bowing her head.
"Hey," Padmé said gently. "It's only me. I'm not going to tell Anakin. Not unless you want me to."
Ahsoka lifted her gaze just a faction so that her eyes met the senator's.
"Can you not? At least, not for the moment?"
Padmé nodded. "Of course."
"It's just, the relationship just didn't go anywhere and we ended things. Did you feel that way in the beginning with Anakin?"
"Yes, for a matter of fact. I didn't want things to continue because it would ruin our careers but we couldn't stop it from happening. One thing led to another and we ended up getting married on Naboo, when Anakin was supposed to be taking me home. Three years on, we haven't looked back. It's hard seeing him go off and fight when there's a possibility the next time I see him, he'd be laying on stretcher ready for burial." Padmé gave a shaky sigh.
Ahsoka knew how she felt. Whenever Anakin sent her back to Coruscant for a break and he returned to the battlefield, she felt that she might never see him again alive. "I know exactly how you feel, Padmé."
Padmé gave Ahsoka a grateful smile before looking down at the work she had pushed aside earlier. "Can I tell you something?" she asked.
"Sure. Anything."
Padmé swallowed. "I'm proud of you, Ahsoka."
Ahsoka stared at her. "You are?"
"Yes, I am. You keep Anakin from getting himself killed. I could not thank you enough for that. If it wasn't for you, I would be a war widow by now."
"There are times you know, where I have almost gotten him killed."
Padmé knew arguing wasn't going to help her cause. "I know. I have seen some of the holo-reports."
There was a silent understanding between them. Protect Anakin and nobody else gets hurt.
"Back to the whole Lux thing, Ah, when were you planning on meeting with him?" Ahsoka asked.
"Tomorrow, if that's okay with you."
"Yeah, I should be good with that."
"Great, I'll be sure to let him know."
When Anakin returned home that evening, he was surprised when Padmé bought up her meeting with Ahsoka.
"What did she say?" he asked. He was leaning up against the wall of their bedroom as Padmé went about putting away a few things.
Padmé knew she couldn't betray Ahsoka's trust by revealing her crush on Lux to Anakin.
"She said, she and Lux go back a long way and that it would be good to catch up." It wasn't exactly a lie but it wasn't exactly the truth either.
"Sounds like a certain couple." Anakin teased.
Padmé fixed him a look of agreement as she rounded the bed and sat on the end. "Unlike us, their relationship isn't anything more then friendship."
"Yeah, ah-huh. We thought that too and look what happened."
"We were different. You were only a child and I was Naboo's queen in disguise when we met. Lux and Ahsoka are teenagers who can take care of themselves."
Lux was in his early adult years but Anakin didn't mention it. "She would tell me if there was anything more going on between them, wouldn't she?"
"Of course she would," Padmé lied. "Let's just hope that they don't turn into us."
"When are you meeting up with Lux anyway?"
"Tomorrow," Padmé answered. "I'll make sure it doesn't turn awkward."
"Let's hope it doesn't."
Padmé rose from the bed and went to kiss Anakin on the cheek as she passed, being mindful of the day-old stubble he hadn't bothered to shave off.
That night, Ahsoka had trouble getting to sleep. Padmé's revelation had changed her perspective on just about everything. Thinking back on the few romantic encounters she had had with Lux, she wished she could come out and say that she was in love with him but truth be told, she couldn't be certain if she had been.
Now, as she lay in bed, she thought about something Anakin had once told her. She remembered their first mission together where they had played surrogate parents to Jabba the Hutt's huttlet son, Rotta.
"The desert is merciless," Anakin had said. "Takes everything from you."
At the time, Ahsoka had thought happy thoughts, then oblivious to her master's past on Tatooine. Now, she realized that Anakin's statement could also refer to other thing such as her doomed relationship with Lux. She understood now. The social divide between them, she being a Jedi and Lux being a politician, was the desert part and that them not being together was the 'take everything' part. She then thought of the social divide Padmé had mentioned earlier. She and Anakin weren't meant to be together but they had defied the rules of their respected careers to be together.
It all had become so much clearer. Satisfied, Ahsoka rolled over and closed her eyes, a smile etched on her face.
The next morning, Ahsoka met with Padmé early and the pair ventured towards the venue Padmé had chosen: a senatorial lounge just off the corridor from the main senate chamber.
Ahsoka hesitated.
Padmé placing a hand on her shoulder pulled her from her worry. "It's going to be okay, Soka."
Ahsoka swallowed and nodded, still unsure but allowed herself to follow Padmé into the lounge.
All the worlds in the galaxy and other places Ahsoka had been to during her time, as Anakin's Padawan couldn't have prepared her for what she saw when entered the lounge.
The room was luxurious and yet it wasn't over the top like Ahsoka had suspected it would be. The room was relevantly empty except for a few senators sitting here and there.
Lux wasn't hard to pick. He was sitting on the couch closest the wall to floor windows towards the back of the room. He hadn't changed from the last time Ahsoka had seen him. He was still handsome and charming and appeared to be very business-like.
At the sound of Padmé and Ahsoka's approach, he stood up, ready to greet them.
It's gonna be okay, Ahsoka's mind reminded her. Don't let your past with him ruin your chances.
"Padmé. Good to see you again."
"Lux," Padmé greeted. "Nice to see you. I take it you remember Master Skywalker's Padawan, Ahsoka?"
Lux peeked around Padmé. "Hello, Ahsoka. It has been a long time."
"Certainly has Senator Bonteri." Ahsoka said through half-gritted teeth.
Nervousness won't get you anywhere! Ahsoka's mind screamed. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! She told herself.
"Please ladies, sit." Lux said gesturing to the couch in front of the one he had been sitting on.
Padmé sat first, then Ahsoka.
"It has been a long time," Ahsoka said, breaking the momentary silence. "I thought you would have forgotten me."
Padmé looked between them but said nothing.
"Never." Lux smiled charmingly.
"We thank you for coming Lux." Padmé interrupted with a charming smile of her own.
"Is it true what I have heard from my Jedi informants?" Lux asked. "That Chancellor Palpatine could be a Sith Lord?"
"Who are you Jedi informants?" Ahsoka questioned.
"Kit Fisto and Plo Koon."
Ahsoka frowned. That was unexpected. "Yes," she spoke aloud. "What they told you is true. We have two days until the council are going to arrest him."
"Arrest him?" It was Lux's turn to frown. "Arrest him for what? Have you got evidence to prove this?"
"Plenty." Ahsoka said her tone was hard and sharp. "We have information from Asajj Ventress that, and this only a hunch, that Palpatine might very well be a Sith Lord and that he may be supporting the Separtists like your mother."
Lux stared at her like she had lost her mind.
It was no secret that Lux's late mother Mina had been a Separatist sympathizer and had served in their senate. Lux knew Padmé through his mother, as Mina had been one of Padmé's mentors. While Mina had associated with the enemy had upset Padmé, Mina had still cared for her young former charge. Padmé in return, served as a mentor to Lux in the Republic Senate.
"Anakin has been assigned to spy on him." Padmé said lowering her voice.
"You're on a first name basis with Master Skywalker?" Lux raised an eyebrow.
Padmé went to open her mouth to speak but Ahsoka cut across her. "He's an old friend of hers and we're all friends so we use each other's names as opposed to titles."
Ahsoka cast a hard look at Padmé. The look she received in return was one of guilt.
"Right." Lux nodded, his lips pressed together.
"Why are you here? The last time I saw you, you wanted to work things out for yourself."
Lux reclined back in his chair. "I'm making up for my mother's mistakes."
"You already have. You tried to have Dooku assassinated." Ahsoka said.
Padmé nodded in agreement. "I agree, Lux. Your mother was a good friend to me but her decisions as well as where her loyalties belonged were wrong. You are not her. Remember that."
Lux clenched his jaw, pondering over what Padmé was telling him.
Ahsoka nodded. "Padmé's got a point. Your mother made the wrong decision and she paid for it with her life." Ahsoka jumped to her feet. She held out a hand to help Padmé up. Padmé took it, allowing Ahsoka to pull her to her feet.
Lux observed the pair. "Is everything okay Padmé?"
"Yes, everything is fine. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, its just Ahsoka helped you get up. You're normally more then capable of getting to your feet yourself."
Ahsoka watched as Lux's eyes travelled the length of Padmé's body, trying to piece together what was really going on. Suddenly, a light appeared in Lux's eyes prompting Ahsoka to gulp. She wanted to step in front of Padmé as Lux edged towards them a few steps but reframed from doing so.
"Are you… pregnant?" Lux asked Padmé lowering his voice so only Padmé and Ahsoka could hear him.
Ahsoka's eyes widened and turned her head towards Padmé who ignored the look of desperation on the Padawan's face.
"Yes, I am." Padmé whispered.
Behind her, Ahsoka rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Lux didn't asked who the father was but it could be assumed by the look on his face he knew.
"Are you going to tell everybody about what you have… observed?" Ahsoka asked, her voice suddenly bitter.
"No," Lux said. "Padmé is one of the few friends my mother was able to keep despite their opposing views on politics. I hate that my mother chose the Separatists. I hate that I was forced to join Death Watch just to try to kill Dooku. But I'm hoping that my help will make everyone see that my mother didn't die in vain." He looked to Padmé. "You know how much you meant to my mother. She would want what's best for you. I know your secrets, Padmé. Please, let me keep this secret."
Padmé wasn't sure how to react to that request. She looked over her shoulder at Ahsoka who nodded in approval.
"Alright but no one can know, understand?"
"Understood." Lux agreed.
He WHAT?!" Anakin exclaimed.
It was now just after noon and Padmé had taken Ahsoka back to the Temple so that she could meet Anakin for their weekly lightsabre training session.
"He guessed. He guessed that you were the father of Padmé's unborn child." Ahsoka cringed as she spoke, knowing Anakin was either going to blow a gasket or he was going to try to keep it together.
"Lux isn't stupid, Anakin." Padmé said simply.
"I never said he was," Anakin said. "You do remember that his mother was a Separatist sympathizer, right?"
"We're aware, master." Ahsoka said, trying to keep her own emotions in check.
Padmé sighed, threw her hands up in the air, turned and walked out of the room.
Anakin looked Ahsoka in disbelief as if realizing something for the first time. "You and him? Seriously, Snips?"
Ahsoka gave him a cold hard stare that could have killed.
Anakin bit his lip and didn't reply, his gaze turning on his Padawan.
There was a long agonizing silence, as Ahsoka and Anakin sized each other up.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Anakin asked clenching his jaw in annoyance.
"You know why."
"Oh right," Anakin nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "The whole forbidden love thing, how can I forget?"
"See, that is exactly why I didn't tell you, just like you didn't tell me about you and Padmé."
"It's different."
"How is it different?" Ahsoka asked, her voice displaying her discomfort as well as her disbelief.
"How do you think it is different?" Anakin retorted. "Sorry," he immediately apologised. "I didn't mean to say it like that."
Ahsoka's face softened. "It's okay, I understand."
Anakin stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're a pathetic pair, aren't we?"
Ahsoka could help but laugh. "Yeah, well, you are the one with a baby on the way."
Anakin snorted in amusement. "It's nice to see you're never gonna let me live that one down."
"Any thing to defy the council, master. Remember that."
"Always, my young Padawan. Always."
Padmé sat in her office, looking through a small pile of paperwork. She inwardly groaned. She hated manual paperwork. She hadn't been feeling the best since she had left Anakin and Ahsoka earlier. Maybe the baby could sense that she wasn't in the same room as their father and godmother. She wasn't entirely sure but she had a gut feeling that the baby was going to be Force Sensitive.
With a father that was incredibly strong with the Force, there was no doubt that the baby was strong with the Force to some degree. Anakin had joked that he could tell how strong their child was by how forceful the kicks were.
Padmé smiled at the memory. As little time as she had had with Anakin over the last three years, Padmé knew that whatever time they had had together had been precious. She understood that and she understood Anakin's frustrations. He had every right to be annoyed and upset.
With a marriage as secret as theirs, it was a miracle that it hadn't gotten out sooner, particularly with the amount of allies that now knew.
Bail.
Satine.
Dexter.
Lux.
Ahsoka.
Ellé and Motée.
R2 and 3PO.
Captain Typho.
Padmé's head started to hurt at all the people that knew about her and Anakin. There was only a few that knew she was pregnant and that Anakin was the father. Then those select few who knew the whole truth.
"Miss me?" said a voice.
Padmé's head shot up to see that Anakin had just entered the office.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were training Ahsoka."
"I was. Or rather, she told me about her and Lux."
"Oh, Ani, I'm sorry."
"You knew?"
"Yes, I did. Please don't blame Ahsoka. I guessed. She knows she can't lie to me or you."
"And look where that got us." Anakin said half-heartedly as he perched across from her.
"She didn't want to tell you because she feared you'd tease her."
"Tease her?" Anakin scoffed. "Like she teases me? That's hypocrisy, you know."
Padmé sighed, pursing her lips. "Ani," she said leaning across her desk a little. "She knows how protective you are of her. She didn't want you pulling out the big brother card and scaring Lux away."
Anakin looked appalled by the whole idea. "I would never do that!"
"Really? Does you trying to kill Clovis count?" Padmé countered.
"That was different," Anakin said defensively. "I pulled the husband card for that one."
"It was the same thing, Anakin." Padmé exclaimed, laughing, upon seeing her husband's severe look of distain. "We love you. We both do but we're perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves. I might be pregnant but I can still use a blaster." A mischievous smirk crossed the senator's face.
Anakin sat back in his chair, defeated. "I don't know why I even married you."
"You needed a politician on your side."
"And Obi-Wan told me never to trust them."
"He was wrong." Padmé smiled, a hand resting on her stomach. "And I think the baby agrees."
"Another kick?"
"Yeah." A thought then emerged. "You better not jump into protective father mode if our child is a girl. I hate to think that she would think of you." Padmé rubbed soothing circles on her belly as if telling her unborn child that their daddy was being silly and over protective.
"If I did that, Ahsoka would be clawing at me." Anakin screwed up his face at the thought.
"She has a good heart. I think she's looking forward to this baby being born more then we are."
"Yeah," Anakin agreed. "I think she's only looking forward to it so she can be Aunt Ahsoka and be our personal babysitter."
"That is certainly a thought I hadn't thought of. It's a good idea."
"I wasn't being serious." Anakin yelped. When he caught Padmé's expression and he lowered his gaze. Padmé had a lot of love and respect for Ahsoka, that he wondered whom Padmé loved more. "Who do you love more? Me or her?"
Padmé couldn't help but laugh. "Jealous are we, Ani?"
Anakin's eyes narrowed into slits and mouth became a tight straight line. "Why would I be jealous of my own Padawan?"
"Because she's more fun to be around then you are?" Padmé suggested through her laughter.
"Whatever the case," Anakin said once his wife's laughter had died down. "She will be very much involved in our child's life."
"Wise words from a wise man."
Twilight had fallen much too quickly for Ahsoka's liking. She had secretly enjoyed her meeting with Lux and seeing Anakin's reaction but it had scared her a little. She knew Anakin would do anything to protect her, even scaring away any potential suitors. She shook her head. Suitor was the wrong word to consider when describing Lux. Their relationship had been a short-lived fling. Nothing more, though part of her had wanted it to be more. The other half of her was screaming at her not have a relationship based on secrets, like Anakin and Padmé's marriage was.
"Ahsoka."
The Padawan turned to see Obi-Wan walking towards her.
"Master Obi-Wan. What are you doing here?"
Obi-Wan smiled as he stopped next to her. "I thought I would join you."
"That's very thoughtful of you, master." Ahsoka stated as she started walking, Obi-Wan at her side.
"How was your meeting with Senator Bonteri this morning?" Ahsoka cast him a puzzled look. "Anakin told me. He said that it was the first time he has ever seen you nervous."
"It went well," Ahsoka said, trying to keep her panic from showing. "It was good to see him again considering he wanted to be left alone the last time I saw him."
"Ah, yes." Obi-Wan nodded as they walked. "I remember when Anakin reunited with Padmé for the first time in ten years. I don't think I have ever seen him sweat so much."
Ahsoka laughed. "Nervous? Really? I don't think I've ever seen Anakin nervous."
"He always had a close bond with Padmé. Now I know why."
Ahsoka found that she was sympathetic towards Obi-Wan for not knowing. "Anakin was afraid of your reaction," she found herself saying. "He hated himself for hiding everything from you."
"I know. I am truly sorry I snapped at him. I wish I could apologize for everything I said to him."
"You don't need to, Obi-Wan," Ahsoka gently reassured him. "He knows. You are like a brother to him. He loves you like you love him." It was all brotherly love, of course.
Obi-Wan was moved. It was amazing just how much Ahsoka could read into their emotions like that. If Anakin had caught him doing that, he'd kill him. Obi-Wan knew that all too well. "Like he loves you, my dear Padawan?" Obi-Wan cracked a smile.
"Yeah, like that. I'm sorry too. I was sworn to secrecy. Anakin would have told you if he didn't have this nagging thought that you would blab to the council."
"You're right, my dear," Obi-Wan said with a sigh. "Some part of me would have told the council but this war has taught me something," he gave a small smile upon seeing Ahsoka's look of interest. "It has taught me to cherish everything you hold dear because you don't know if you'll live to see the next day."
Ahsoka blinked but said nothing. Was this his way of mentioning Satine without mentioning her by name?
"I know how you feel, master. I really do."
"You and Lux?" Obi-Wan said, teasing in his tone.
"It's a sad life when you're a Jedi, Obi-Wan, you can't love. You can only be compassionate. How pathetic is that?"
"It is the life we signed up for young one. Though I think between the three of us – you, me and Anakin – we shouldn't complain. We all have broken the laws of the Jedi, at one time or another."
Who hasn't? Ahsoka thought bitterly.
"From what Anakin tells me, he and Padmé have named you their child's godmother." Obi-Wan smiled.
Ahsoka nodded, her lips pressed. "Hmm."
"How does that feel?"
Ahsoka knew Obi-Wan was prodding her. Joking with her. It was a rare thing when it came to Obi-Wan. Unlike Anakin, Obi-Wan had a dry sense of humor.
"It feels… good." Ahsoka said thoughtfully. "Anakin keeps calling me Aunt Ahsoka. Am I crazy to like the pet name so much?"
"No, I don't believe so," Obi-Wan shook his head. "You already have pet names for each other. One more isn't going to be so bad."
"Yeah, Snips and Skyguy. Fun times." Ahsoka rolled her eyes.
"You started that one, I'm afraid my dear," Obi-Wan chuckled. "You and your pet names. I'm surprised Anakin went along with it."
"Padmé calls him Ani. Shouldn't I get the same luxury?"
"Actually, that's different." Obi-Wan put in.
"How is it different?" Ahsoka thought she was suffering from déjà vu. She remembered saying the same thing to Anakin earlier.
"Anakin has always been called Ani. His mother use to call him that. As did Master Qui-Gon. Padmé is merely continuing it."
Ahsoka detected sadness in Obi-Wan's tone at his own mention of his late master who had been killed by Darth Maul during the Invasion on Naboo thirteen years earlier. Anakin had told her the story. He had told her how close and how different the pair had been. From what Anakin had told her, Qui-Gon's death had hit Obi-Wan hard and it had triggered Obi-Wan's desire to train Anakin even if the council had been against it. It was surprising to Ahsoka that Obi-Wan would break the rules just to fulfill his master's dying wish. Then again, she shouldn't have been surprised. There was a lot of things that she hadn't expected and yet had found were true.
"I wish I had of known him." Ahsoka said sadly.
"I think Qui-Gon would have loved to have seen Anakin take you on as his apprentice. He saw Anakin like a son." Obi-Wan agreed.
"And what were you to him? Chop liver?" Ahsoka teased.
Obi-Wan chuckled. "I took things a little too seriously when I was young. I was always telling him not to do things like defy the council." Obi-Wan smirked at the memory.
"Wow and I thought Anakin was a bad ass." Ahsoka muttered mostly to herself.
"Language, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan scolded. "Anakin wouldn't want you to have bad language around his child."
"Sorry, slip of the tongue."
The pair were now inside the Temple, headed in the direction of the mess hall.
"You best get something to eat, Ahsoka. You've had a long day." Obi-Wan smiled gently.
"Yeah," Ahsoka said, her stomach grumbling. "I think I will. Goodnight, Master Obi-Wan." She went to turn to enter the mess hall when Obi-Wan called her back.
"Ahsoka."
Turning, Ahsoka gave Obi-Wan an expectant look.
"Good luck with Lux."
Ahsoka gave him a thankful look before turning back around and entering the mess hall.
A quiet night in was all Anakin desired and apparently the council (and Ahsoka) had agreed to grant him that. Ahsoka hadn't made contact with him once since they had spoken earlier. The council hadn't given any indication that they needed any more of the information and he and his Padawan had in their grasp.
He lay on the couch with Padmé, feeling their child kick up a storm.
Padmé giggled as they felt the child kick once. Twice, Three times. Four. "Did you feel that?" she laughed. She wasn't normally the giggly type but this was a special occasion.
"Ah, yeah, I'm right here." Anakin smiled.
Padmé laughed again. "Don't listen to daddy little one," Padmé said to her belly. "He's just being silly."
"Silly?" Anakin questioned. "Is it silly that I love you both?"
"No," Padmé said sweetly. The baby kicked again. "I think he agrees."
"He?" Anakin raised an eyebrow. "I thought we agreed we didn't wanna know until the baby was born."
"You agreed. I am merely acting on motherly instinct."
"Motherly instinct, huh? What ever happened to fatherly instinct?"
"No such thing." Padmé shrugged as she snuggled up next to him. She yawned, resting her head against his shoulder.
If only the war had permitted more moments like this. All the times they could have spent together had been torn away from them because some idiot had to ruin it. Now, Anakin could almost feel the war coming to a close. He and Padmé would be able to live together with their child in peace and not have to worry about rules and regulations that would keep them apart. It finally felt good thinking about what life could be like but it didn't make it any more far from reality.
Anakin craved a family life outside the Jedi Order. He loved being a Jedi still but the council's mistrust towards him often got him down. It was if they took pleasure in making his life a misery. He couldn't think that though. He was just going to have get use to it. No, wait. He was use to it.
Looking down at his dozing wife, Anakin felt as if the weight of his burdens had been temporarily lifted. The love he had for her and the little life form growing inside her made him feel complete. His little family. Their little family. Ahsoka was included in that. The four of them was just right. Not too big. Not too small. Just right.
"Ani?"
Anakin looked down to see that Padmé was awake. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
"What were you thinking about?"
"The future." Anakin kissed her forehead.
"What kind of future do you think we're going to have?"
Anakin thought for a moment. "One where we will be able to be together as a family and not have to watch our backs or watch what we say around each other."
"Don't forget the baby. We will be able to be seen in public with our child." Padmé sighed dreamily at the very thought.
"And together without everything becoming awkward." Anakin added.
"I like the sound of that."
"So do I." Anakin sighed as he gently pushed Padmé's hair out of her face. "How did I get so lucky?"
Padmé smiled up at him and returned the gesture. "If we hadn't met all those years ago on Tatooine, we wouldn't be together."
"Is it strange for a nine nearly ten year old to fall in love with a fourteen year old Queen despite him not knowing that?"
"Aww," Padmé pouted as she reached up to stroke his cheek. "I don't think it's strange. I think its sweet. I did act as a mother towards you."
"Then thirteen years later, we're married with a baby on the way. Go figure."
Padmé laughed. "I would never have thought that would have been possible. I am older then you."
"What does that matter?" Anakin snorted in amusement.
"I never said that it mattered."
Anakin laughed. It took him a moment to realize that they hadn't laughed together in a while. Sure, he'd laughed with Ahsoka and Obi-Wan but he hadn't laughed with Padmé. It felt good. It was as if everything was finally falling into place. They were finally spending time together as a couple and as to-be parents. What saddened Anakin the most was the thought of his mother never getting the chance to meet her first grandchild.
"I've been thinking up names for the baby." Padmé announced.
"Oh? What have you considered?"
"I know you've been thinking about your mother and what if the baby is a girl? We could call her Shmi."
Anakin's face paled as he shook his head. "No. If our child is a daughter and we named her after my mom, it could bring back memories of her death. I don't want that. I am honored that you thought of including her but no."
"Understood." Padmé was sitting up now. She could see the sadness in her husband's eyes. "We can ask Ahsoka for help."
Anakin groaned. "Do we have to? She's bound to wanna call the baby 'Cutie' or 'Tinnie' or one of those odd pet names she calls everybody."
"She's the baby's godmother, Anakin. She has to have some say."
"We'll see. After the Chancellor has been captured, we'll talk to her."
"Promise?"
"That's a promise."
Okay, so that's that then. Lux is back in Ahsoka's life and Anakin's playing protective big brother while playing protective husband and father. Man, Anakin's a killjoy. Just a warning, Lux is going to be absent for a few chapters and will pop up as a main character as of the middle of chapter 9 which will lead into Luke and Leia's birth.
To be continued...