Naboo Retreat

In the next two months, Anakin and Padme had shared much with both their Clone Troopers and the Jedi with them. Anakin was surprised that both the Jedi and his Clone Troopers remained with them on Naboo. He had fully expected the Clones to return to Kamino and the Jedi Masters to return to Coruscent. Padme had recovered from her ideal, and was now in her fourth month of pregnancy, in her second trimester. Anakin and Padme's bond had deepened to the point where she could sense him as well, despite not being Force-sensitive. Three-pio had been returned to them by Jar-Jar Binks. Anakin and Padme were sitting on the couch, Padme's legs draped over Anakin as he messaged her feet, when Obi-Wan entered the room.

"I have some good news, Anakin," he replied as Padme giggled, as Anakin had reached a ticklish spot on her feet.

"You know next month we will be able to find out if we are having a boy or girl," Anakin said as he grabbed her foot and pulled her closer to him, so that he could touch the child that was growing within his wife.

"I'm so happy for you, Anakin," Obi-Wan commented dryly. "It appears that many Jedi Knights and Masters have come forward and admitted to attachments, myself included."

"Yes, Master Plo had mentioned a change in the Jedi Code," Anakin said as he took off his flesh-glove so that he could feel the movements of the child he had created underneath his hand. "Let me guess, Satine?" Anakin questioned. "I always knew she was your girlfriend," Anakin teased.

"I don't think she's dead, Anakin," Obi-Wan admitted. "Even after that dreadful business with Darth Maul."

"How many times must you kill him, Master?" Anakin said, with a mock-grin. He wasn't really paying attention to Obi-Wan, not when he could feel his child moving inside of Padme. He knew he would have to leave her side soon, but he was enjoying his time with his family.

"Master Halcyon has admitted to being married with a youngling," Obi-Wan said. Anakin perked up. Perhaps they could protect Padme while he was away. It would do Padme good to spend time with another once-secret Jedi couple. "Not to mention the Marek's."

"What about the Marek's?" Anakin asked.

"She is expecting a youngling any day now," Obi-Wan explained.

"Well, I should offer my congratulations," Anakin responded, pausing as his hand traced Padme's stomach. It was so normal, and yet not, he intentionally traced patterns where the child was not, and he felt the child move in the pattern of his hand. He paused and the child paused as well.

"Kento and Mallie," Obi-Wan supplied their first names.

"And here I thought my Jedi Knight was the only one to break the Code."

"He's not even the first, just the first to admit it. The Council is calling it 'The Skywalker Incident'" Obi-Wan said with humor. "Since 'The Skywalker Incident' many Jedi Knights and Masters have admitted to having families. Many feel it's their duty to offer support to The Chosen One," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Even I admitted my attachment to the Council, not just to the Duchess but to Anakin as well. As a Jedi, we are supposed to put the mission first; I told the Council that if it came down to Anakin's life or the mission, I would choose Anakin."

Anakin was speechless; though he had known Obi-Wan cared for him…putting it in those words left Anakin speechless. "Thank you, Master Kenobi," Padme told him. "I am grateful to you for doing all that you have for us." Padme turned sharply to Anakin, "Haven't you had enough of using my stomach as a sabaak game?" she asked. Ahsoka entered the room, carrying a bowl of shurra fruit with her. She offered one to Padme who smiled as she took one, and Anakin used the Force to grab one for himself.

"Where are they men?" Obi-Wan asked Ahsoka.

"Oh, they are…betting on a sabaak game," Ahsoka mentioned, with a grin. "It seems they've used their leave to hone their gambling skills. If only the war could be won over a game," Ahsoka added, looking down at Padme. "How are you feeling today?" she asked with concern. "Have you thought about names for the baby?" she asked. Obi-Wan stroked his beard before he gave a suggestion.

"If I may, Anakin, Padme," he asked, and they nodded Padme pulling away from Anakin and into a sitting position although Anakin pulled her on top of him.

"Go ahead, Master."

"The name Luke has always appealed to me, in the Old Republic the name Luke meant light, I can't think of a better name for the Son of the Chosen One."

"Luke Skywalker…" Padme said, testing the name out.

"Luke Obi-Wan Skywalker," Anakin corrected and Master Obi-Wan was barely able to maintain his dignity. He maintained it for a minute maybe less before tears filled his eyes, the Jedi failing at his unbreakable posture.

"What about a girl?" Ahsoka asked.

"My mother once told me a story of a warrior named Leia, she had saved her people from slavery, the exact story escaped me," Anakin said, "But the name meant hope," Anakin said. "And I think she should be named after you, Padme. Leia Amidala."

"Skywalker. Leia Amidala Skywalker, I like it, Ani."

"Me too, Skyguy, I can barely wait for the trouble they will cause you."

"Trouble?" Padme wondered. "We should tell my parents before too long. I want you with me, Ani," Padme said, lacing her hand through Anakin's human one.

"I know. We will do it soon, my love, for I know the men long for the glory of battle, perhaps, I have been selfish keeping them here with me," Anakin added. He planned on leaving two of his men to protect his wife, for he knew no matter what he said she would find her way back to the Senate, it was in her blood, in her nature. "I'm surprised the Chancellor hasn't called us back sooner, yet I sense it will not be long," Anakin stood up kissing his wife briefly as he went to find Captain Rex. Ahsoka sat down and held Padme's hand, she had become quite a skilled healer, and she concentrated on the Force using its healing abilities to make this pregnancy easier on the Senator. She sensed….two life forms within the Senator. Ahsoka's blue eyes opened as she stared at the Senator's enlarged belly. Anakin never really had been good at healing, his talents lay on the battlefield, and it was the only explanation as to why he had missed it.

"Captain Rex," Anakin stated, "Follow me," he added as they walked in the garden. "I understand that you are eager for battle."

"It's what we were bred for."

"I will need a sample of your DNA so that we can work on an antidote to the growth acceleration," Anakin stated. Captain Rex turned his hand over. He had taken to wearing civilian clothes while on Naboo. Anakin extracted the DNA and smiled at his friend. "We will be leaving soon, returning to Coruscent to await our Orders. I want you to choose two of your best men to protect my wife."

"Sir, yes, sir. I would not want to see a repeat of Tattooine either. Jesse and Boil will do fine," Captain Rex said after a moment.

"Alright, Rex, inform them as soon as you like. We will return by the end of the month, after we find out the sex of our children," Anakin told his friend.

"General, Congratulations on becoming a father," Captain Rex said and Anakin smiled, the comrade easy between them.

"Master Anakin," Anakin heard the voice of 3PO, "Dinner is served." Anakin nodded.

"Inform the men," he told the Captain as he made his way into the dining room where Padme, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan already sat.