Sorry, I know this chapter is short. I have about two more chapters written that are longer-ish, but I'm not very good at writing lengthy actions scenes and that is what is delaying the next couple chapters. Please leave a comment if you'd be cool with me writing shorter action scenes so I can just get to posting the Anakin/Padme stuff faster. I know that's a cop-out but let me know. Thanks, and as always, enjoy
Rest
Chapter 15
Padme had fallen asleep on the couch with no problem. That was what happened after any big cry. However, as she went from the beginning of her sleep to in and out of dreams, her mind seemed to replay a day from the past that was just as emotionally exhausting as the one she experienced today…
Coruscant, approximately 6.5 months ago…
The day after Bail Organa's senatorial ball, Padme went in disguise to a med centre. It wasn't just the incident with the dress. She had a suspicion about things for the past couple weeks now; the dress was the final straw. She needed to know for sure, no matter how terrifying finding out would be.
That morning she woke up, and surrendered her stomach contents to the 'fresher, something that might have made much more sense had she drank the night before. Instead, she found herself declining drinks all last night, just in case…
Padme wore a veil and hooded cloak, and took a roundabout pathway through the city to get to the med centre. She checked in at the desk under a pseudonym and was called to a room with a med droid. The droid asked for her present symptoms and concerns. She listed the weight gain, sickness, sensitivity to smell, and lethargy, among other things. The droid drew a blood sample from her arm and took a minute processing.
"Oh Force." Padme was a wreck with nerves. She intently wished for Anakin to be there…
"I'm probably not…" she thought. "It was just the first night we weren't careful… Otherwise we were fine. I think. But if I am…" she thought… "That changes things."
The med droid beeped and explained it had checked her blood for any common diagnoses related to her symptoms. A paper file printed in scroll out of its front, and the droid detached it to hand to Padme.
Padme took the sheet. Quickly looking past all the introductory information at the top of the sheet (Species: Human / Sex: Female …) she looked at the findings: 72000 U/L hCG detected in blood. Results: findings are most commonly associated with human pregnancy, approximately 8 to 12 weeks gestation.
Padme's vision blurred. She felt light headed, and sat back for a moment to prevent herself from fainting. "Deep breaths…"
She needed to get out of there. She stood up, went to exit the room, left the building, and somehow managed to return to her apartment, her body on autopilot. Once she was back at 500 Republica, she went to her room, drew the blinds, and shut the door.
Her head was pounding. She fell onto her bed, breathing heavily, immobilized, and dizzy…
She wasn't sure how long she had passed out for when she woke.
Padme woke from her nap sticky with sweat. Anakin's black cloak she had been sleeping in now felt awfully thick and too warm… She went to the 'fresher to splash water on her face in an effort to cool down.
Padme returned back through the living room and went to see what was happening in the kitchen. Sola saw her enter, and exclaimed, "Padme! Glad you're up, we're just about to sit down for dinner."
Padme smiled in return. "Do you need any help with anything, Sola?"
Sola had her hands full, wearing oven mitts and carrying a heavy-looking dish to the table. "We're ok for the table settings actually… could you go get the girls and whoever else is still outside and tell them dinner is ready?"
"Of course."
Padme headed out through the back to the veranda again. She stopped at the screen door, and was a little surprised at the scene she saw before her on the swing set.
Jobal sat in the middle of the swing set with the two girls cuddled right up against her, their hair messy and lightened from playing in the sun all day. On Jobal's lap was out splayed a book, The Fambaa's Friend.
Jobal read the words aloud, emphasizing the voices of the characters. Ryoo and Pooja were captivated by the pictures and storytelling, and Padme was entranced by the ephemeral loveliness of the scene before her.
The story finished, and Padme opened the door to go outside. "Hi girls, dinner's ready. Go wash up."
Pooja and Ryoo climbed off the swing set and ran into the house. Padme turned to follow after them.
Jobal called out, "Padme." Her daughter stopped and turned to face her.
Jobal stood up from the swing, "Padme, I'm so sorry about earlier. I was so taken aback by everything and spoke without thinking, and I'm very sorry."
Padme considered for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, "It's ok mom. I know this is all a shock. It was a shock to me too," she said, flattening the folds of her dress over her middle and remembering her dream from earlier.
Jobal gazed over her daughter's middle and up again to meet her eyes. "Your dad and I talked while you were resting. We're thrilled we get to be grandparents again," she said with an uncertain smile.
Padme, recalling the sweetness of the scene she just witnessed of her mother reading to her nieces, wanted to reassure, "I was so nervous to tell you both, but I am glad I did."
Jobal stepped forward to offer her daughter a hug, which was accepted and returned. Now reconciled, they headed inside for dinner.
-break-
The family spent the meal chatting about light hearted subjects. After a funny anecdote about Darred's work in architecture this week, Sola decided to change the subject and asked, "What fruit trees did you buy today, mom?"
"Oh, we bought a few different varieties of shuura trees to plant out back in the yard."
Jobal and Ruwee looked at Padme, who face brightened like the sun, "My favourite! Which kinds?"
"Well, they won't be ready for maybe a few years, but golden shuura and red shuura, and there's a new violet variety that we thought we'd try to grow also," said Ruwee.
Jobal considered a moment, then spoke, "It's funny really, we actually bought them today thinking of you, hoping you'd be back on Naboo with us soon."
Sola smiled, "Looks like your plan worked."
A content silence fell over the table.
Darred collected the dirty dishes and utensils from around the table and brought them back to the kitchen to wash.
Having had a thought, Jobal asked her daughter, "Padme, where are you going to stay now until the baby comes? Were you planning on going back to Varykino…?"
"I haven't…"
"I suppose it's just probably best if there's someone with you, just in case." Ruwee stated. "We don't mean to be overbearing."
"I'll be fine; C3P0 will be with me. And the Lake Retreat is not completely out of the way from Theed. I can take a speeder if anything happens."
Jobal frowned. Sola spoke up, "Padme, why don't you stay with us for a bit? Just until the baby gets here?"
Padme considered, "Sola, it could still be a few weeks. Are you sure?"
"Of course Padme! We'd love to have you."
"Alright," agreed Padme.
Jobal smiled, "That's great, I'm glad."
Sola continued, "Oh Padme, I was also thinking, I still have a lot of Pooja's baby clothes and things downstairs. We can go take a look later if you like?"
Padme felt an immense amount of gratitude for her family right now. "Yes Sola, thank you so much."