Chapter title: Jedi attachments

…

"Oh! Look at that one!"

Shaal looked up at the night sky, trying to find out what star Karal was pointing at. "That one?" he asked, pointing to a blue one.

"No! That one!" she exclaimed, pointing towards a vibrant bright one. Shaal smiled, "that one is beautiful."

"Yes it is."

"Not as beautiful as you."

Had Karal not already been red, Shaal was pretty sure the young Togruta would have been blushing like mad. She ducked her head and had to bite back a small smile. "You shouldn't say such things," she said as she collected herself and turned to look at him. "Only if you mean them."

"But I do mean them!" Shaal exclaimed. "Why wouldn't I?"

Karal frowned, "because… it isn't proper."

Shaal averted his gaze downwards, "I can't help how I feel."

Karal just stared at him with her wide blue eyes, "I wish things were different… maybe if we weren't jedi…"

Shaal nodded, "If we weren't jedi, we'd be allowed to love each other."

Karal let out a deep sigh and looked back up at the stars. "We could do it, you know."

"Do what?" asked Shaal curiously.

"Have love for each other… nobody would ever have to know. It would be our secret."

Shaal turned to look at her, baffled. "Do you have any idea what that would cost us? My friends… my master… your master!"

Karal bit her lip, "It was only a suggestion."

Shaal glared at the ground, "well, it was a bad one."

As soon as the words slipped out of his mouth he realized exactly how it must have sounded to Karal. "I didn't mean that… you have to believe me. It wasn't supposed to come out like that –"

"No, I understand," Karal looked disappointed. "I should have known you would never do that. I admire you for that. You'll make a great jedi some day, Shaal."

With that she stood up to make her leave, but Shaal grabbed her arm. "Please."

Karal gave him a torn look. Shaal knew that she was debating on whether or not she should stay with him or leave for good. Apparently she decided that staying with him was for the best, because a moment later her eyes softened and she sat down next to him, holding his hand.

"Our secret?" Shaal whispered. He thought she never looked happier in her life. "Our secret." She agreed.

…

"Shaal, have you listened to a word I've said?" Surenit demanded. Shaal blinked out of his daydreaming, "I'm sorry Master, what was it you were telling me?"

Surenit sighed. "Your mind has been wandering a lot recently, padawan. You'd do better to listen to what I have to tell you."

"I know," Shaal ducked his head, ashamed.

Surenit lifted his chin up and looked at him seriously. "Whatever is bothering you, you know you can tell me."

"I know I can, Master."

Surenit nodded, "So is there anything you wish to tell me?"

Shaal pretended to think. "No Master, nothing that I can think of."

Surenit frowned but gave a tight nod, "Well, if you ever get bothered by something, I'm here to help. You're my padawan, I hate seeing you suffer." Shaal glanced away, feeling his heart quicken. "I'm sorry Master, I'll try paying more attention."

"There is no try." Surenit reminded him. Shaal nodded, "I will pay more attention to your teachings, Master."

Surenit looked pleased.

…

4 months later

"Shaal, I am deeply disappointed in you! How could you do this?"

Shaal looked at the ground, feeling as though his whole world had crumbled around him – which it very well could. His master had found out about him and Karal, though Shaal still had no clue how he did it. Of course, he had been anticipating this for a while, but now that the time had actually come he felt dread like no other. What was he supposed to say? I'm sorry, it won't happen again?

No, he couldn't do that. He was in love with Karal Nik, and he'd be damned if Surenit got in the way. He looked back up, his eyes hard. "I love her."

Surenit stopped his rant and stared at Shaal open-mouthed. "You love her?"

"I do. I want to be with her for as long as I live."

"You do realize that you can be kicked off of the jedi order for this?"

Shaal didn't say anything. He knew the repercussions already, and he'd be willing to take them for Karal. "I'm sorry, Master. I truly am, but if I have to be kicked out of the order to be with Karal… well then, so be it."

Surenit and Shaal both shared the same surprise at his speech. Shaal had never thought those words would ever come out of his mouth; he'd wanted to be a jedi more than anything when he was growing up. Then… things changed when he met Karal. He knew without a doubt that he would choose her over anybody, or anything, that the universe had to offer. He hadn't known what real love felt like until he met Karal.

"So, I guess this is the part when you go to the Council and tell them what I've done – what I've been doing. What I'm still doing and forever will be doing," Shaal growled.

Surenit gave him a long, hard look. "You forget your place, little one. You may be mature, but I'm still your master. I don't pretend to abuse this power, but sometimes I need to use it, if only to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" Shaal demanded. "From love?"

"From yourself."

Shaal stared at him. "What?"

Surenit shook his head. "Shaal, you've always been a great padawan learner, but things have gone too far."

"No they haven't," Shaal said stubbornly.

"Yes. They have," Surenit spoke in a calm voice. "Padawan, you and Karal must put aside your feelings for each other and move onwards."

Shaal felt his heart drop. "No!" he exclaimed heatedly. "No, I won't just shove aside my feelings for her because YOU told me to!"

"Shaal…" Surenit put on his warning voice, "you have to listen to what I'm telling you. I only want what's best!"

Shaal glared at him. "You don't know what's best for me."

"You must leave her!"

"I won't. I can't."

"Shaal, you have to leave her. I'm sorry."

"I can't!" Shaal's voice was desperate now.

"And why is that?"

"Because…." Shaal trailed off, his heart speeding up. "Because she's pregnant with my baby."

…

Shaal couldn't help but to feel betrayed as he stormed out of his quarters and stalked past jedi and padawans alike. His mind was in a turmoil. He wanted to be a jedi, more than anything in the world! At least… he did…

Shaal felt his russet hands ball up into fists. He loved Karal! He couldn't help his feelings. The way his master looked at him… he had wished more than anything that he could just brush off attachment like he would a speck of dust…

But… it was Karal. He would never betray her, not on his life. It was only dumb luck that Surenit had found out. Shaal was hardly surprised; Surenit Kli'qiy was a great many things, but unobservant was not one of them. He'd been suspicious about Shaal's 'going ons' when they weren't together ever since Shaal had met Karal.

Karal would be heartbroken when she heard that Surenit found out. She hadn't told her master either, who would surely be just as angry as Surenit was. He was so caught up in his thoughts he almost crashed straight into Anakin. He managed to skid to a halt at the last moment, only for it to have no effect as Anakin promptly bumped straight into him, apparently as deep in thought as Shaal was.

Anakin took a step back, an apology on his lips, before frowning at Shaal. "Something's wrong."

It wasn't a question. Shaal sighed; of all the people he had to bump into – it would be Anakin! Irritating when Shaal didn't need someone irritating him.

"Nothing's wrong," he practically growled, "Now move."

For a moment there was a flash of hurt in Anakin's eyes (some part of Shaal felt slightly ashamed of himself) before Anakin's eyes steeled over. "Not until you tell me what happened."

"No!"

"Yes!"

Shaal made to move past Anakin, but Anakin just stepped in front of him, blocking off all passage. Shaal actually did growl this time. "Anakin stop being so stubborn!"

"Tell me," Anakin said, ignoring the comment.

Shaal wasn't sure if he hated Anakin or loved him for being one of the only ones to see his anguished crying past cold barriers and covering masks. "Not here," Shaal finally said, glancing around. Shaal had meant for that to mean he'd say it at a later date, when he was composed, but Anakin simply grabbed his arm and dragged him down one of the hallways. Shaal's protests and fighting seemed to have no affect on Anakin, who simply shoved him into one of the empty padawan classrooms.

Shaal glared at Anakin, who simply rose one eyebrow at him in a silent inquiry of his previously asked questions – more like demands.

Shaal stared determinedly at the ground, trying hard to ignore the fact that Anakin was standing in front of him. He could practically feel something snap in Anakin and winced as the Force seemed to slap his body. No doubt because of Anakin. He'd always been more in-tune with the Force then the rest of them.

Might be because he's the Chosen One, Shaal's mind supplied dryly. This did nothing to improve his already foul mood.

"Why do you care so much?" he managed to get out, feeling Anakin's temper rising in the cold air.

"Because you're my best friend," Anakin's reply was simple. Shaal snapped his head up to look at Anakin, as though trying to detect any lie in his face. There was none.

Shaal sighed, suddenly feeling very exhausted. "Do you know Karal?"

Anakin's brows scrunched together as he racked his brain. His eyes widened slightly. Shaal knew that Anakin was starting to put two and two together. It was honestly scary how fast his brain worked and how quickly he figured out these things. There was no point in keeping secrets around Anakin Skywalker.

"…Shaal, you didn't…"

There didn't seem to be as much accusation or venom in Anakin's voice as there should be. In fact… Shaal looked closely at Anakin. He seemed to look almost sheepish – a guarded look had haunted his azure eyes.

"She's pregnant," he stated heavily, and Anakin seemed to deflate, leaning against the wall. "Pregnant?"

"I just found out," Shaal said. "Nobody knows – not even her master. Anakin, you can't tell anybody! Promise you won't tell?"

Anakin blinked, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. "I won't," he said, looking at Shaal with clear eyes. "Can I ask you a question?"

Shaal held him under close scrutiny, knowing that he was going to ask something more about him and Karal…

"Would you have come to me and told me this if I hadn't dragged you in here and forced you?"

Shaal blinked. That… hadn't been the question he'd expected. He tilted his head as he thought about this. It would come out soon enough, and Shaal would have to tell all of them… but, would he have told Anakin beforehand? Eventually…maybe… yes.

"Yes," he murmured, staring at Anakin. Something was bothering him. "You seem troubled… is it because of me?"

Anakin looked confused for a moment, "What? No… no, it's great – I mean, good news if you guys weren't…" he trailed off. Shaal knew what he was trying to say. His eyes narrowed. Anakin looked on the verge of telling him something –

"I've got to go," said Anakin quickly, looking confused, guilty, and a little worried. "I won't tell anybody, you have my word."

Before Shaal could respond Anakin all but disappeared he walked out of the door so fast. He blinked. What had just happened…?

…

Figured I'd try something different and spice things up with a switch of POV from Anakin to Shaal. I don't really like writing Shaal that much, especially in this chapter, seeing as he's hard to write when he's all freaking-out like this. It would have been easier if there was nothing on his mind, but…

Anywho, got a shocker in this chapter though. Karal is pregnant! What do you guys think, baby boy or baby girl?

Please tell me what you think! I'm sort of nervous that I won't get good feedback for this chapter…