Chapter Twenty-Six: Don't Be Sorry
"I only ask for defense against Kyr'tsad!"
"Are you not listening to me?! My aunt is granting you defense!"
"Denying my province the ability to kill, much less wound, potential threats - "
Korkie rolled his eyes, not having the energy to argue with Governor Fett. He let himself slouch on the throne - it wasn't his anyways - waiting for the Governor to exhaust himself. It was rather amusing, how similar he was to his dead grandson Jango - and how the Republic's clones looked so much like him.
He studied the governor flushed face, tapping his fingers against the arm of the throne. How auntie did this every day was beyond him.
"...and to demand we must give these terrorists to the ruling body, or even to the Republic - "
"Governor!" Korkie barked, finally drawing himself back into the conversation. He had to admit, it was amusing to watch the aides jump at the ferocity in her voice, and the governor of Thrace swallow his words and sit down. "Did you not read the documents my aunt sent you?"
"Your Highness - "
"You are allowed to defend against Kyr'tsad. My aunt only asks you try not to wound them - no one wishes for your people to kill these terrorists, but we all know that your people are often over-excited when wielding weapons - "
"But demanding they pay fines - "
The door to the throne room whooshed open. Korkie glanced over, eyebrows raised in surprise. He ignored the pit in her stomach, and smiled softly. "Christo - what is it?"
"Governor Fett," Christo murmured while she made her way to the throne and up the steps. "Ariel Command has contacted the palace, Madame. ETA class Jedi shuttle 634 just docked at the Royal Hospital."
"Ah, Rusabaahya cuyir olar," Governor Fett murmured, rolling his dark eyes. "Ni cuyir tarba a Jetti seyi'r."
Korkie pressed hus lips together, itching to run to the hospital and punch the General in the face. How dare that idiot put his aunt through so much pain. Regardless of the Governor eavesdropping, he nodded. "Thanks Christo."
Christo raised her eyebrows, but nodded nonetheless and walked out of the throne room.
He stared after the handmaiden, wondering how in the universe he had gotten himself into this situation.
"Gar Kujyr?" Governor Fett asked.
He sat straighter, feeling sweat drip down his back, causing his tunic to cling to skin. "If your people kill Death Watch members - I wish for them to pay fines - not if they wield weapons, Governor. Death Watch has declared war against the state and the throne - of course I want them in my custody if possible. They need to be interrogated. But where, may I ask, did you presume I will hand these people over to the Republic?"
Governor Fett swallowed hard, and tried to straighten his short stature. "I just assumed with General - "
"General Kenobi may be my aunt's riddur, but I assure you, he does not have sway on this government. Your ignorance preludes your judgement once again, Governor Fett."
"Why - of course, Your Highness."
Obi-Wan felt his heart hammering while he signed into the hospital ward. He had nearly forgotten that they had signed paperwork that confirmed they had, technically, a common law marriage. She had insisted after the Kadavo incident, and he had gone along to make her happy.
The receptionist was nice enough, even though a little leary. It must have been the weirdest situation she had ever dealt with - giving a Jedi General directions to the Duchess' room number.
In the maternity ward.
He knew he looked barely twenty, with his short hair and one day shadow. Barely legal to do most things on most planets.
Everything was shaking. He felt so ill, especially with the antibiotics that the Nubian palace had shoved down him as a precaution and the fact he was still getting used to his own body.
Room 333.
Purple butterfly sticker outside the door.
The sticker signified to staff and patients that there had been a child, but it had been lost.
Obi-Wan thought it was a nice idea...if they weren't the ones -
It hurt too much to think about.
That's all he had thought about on the flight to Sundari.
He stopped in front of the door, feeling himself shake. He pulled a hand through his hair, then scowled. He felt like a padawan, stupid and reckless and carrying too much pain. Gods...gods. Oh my God.
The purple butterfly sticker was the only thing in his vision. He wanted to rip it down.
Swallowing hard, Obi-Wan palmed open the door. The smell of disenfectant filled his nose. He wanted to run, though he forced himself to step in and give a small smile.
Satine was reading from her datapad, propped by pillows. She looked ghastly pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Too many cords and wires snaked out from under her blankets.
It took a second for her to glance over, but when she did…
An attempt at a smile crossed her face, though it immediately began to crumble. He wondered if she had even let herself cry since it had started.
Obi-Wan shed his cloak, crossing the room in a few short steps and sitting down on the bed. The sheets crinkled. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing a fierce kiss to her chapped lips. Their teeth clacked painfully together.
"I'm sorry - I'm so sorry Ben, I - "
"Don't be sorry." Obi-Wan cupped her face, aware tears were falling down his cheeks. He wiped at her eyes gently. "Don't be sorry. Don't blame your - "
"I didn't want her - Obi, I didn't want our baby." Satine was sobbing now, leaning into him and twisting her fingers into his tunic. "I - I didn't want her, I wanted you."
Obi-Wan propped his chin on her hair, rubbing her back while she shook. He could feel how tense she was from pain.
"I - I wanted to tell everyone about you being alive - "
"Forget about my mission - I shouldn't have gone. I know that now."
Satine buried her nose into his neck, grimacing when he pulled her closer. She was still shaking, though the sobbing was beginning to quiet. "I - I am so sorry I lost our baby. I'm so sorry."
Obi-Wan held her even more closely, feeling a sob escape him.
"Mace decided that once we return from Coruscant we can discuss the health insurance."
Padmé sighed in relief, glancing at him from where she lay on the floor. She laughed while he laid down next to her, bumping his brow against her. "Who knew the Hero With No Fear was so cuddly?"
Anakin chuckled, stretching out his long body. He studied her feet propped on the couch of the Lake House, then shook his head. "Thank goodness your parents own this and not us - it would cost a fortune to maintain."
"True...true."
They had decided on no staff during their two week stay here - Padmé would have to leave for Coruscant by then, leaving Anakin to finish the last week of his leave there.
It was peaceful, being able to spend every morning lounging in bed and recovering from the past few months.
Life had hit them all hard lately.
Sighing, Padmé smiled half-heartedly when he grasped her hand.
"Obi-Wan messaged me."
She knew those two weren't talking, but this situation ignored personal issues.
"...He messaged me too." Padmé couldn't help shedding a few tears. "Oh, poor Satine. I can't even imagine what it's like, losing a child - especially in a place like Sundari."
Anakin held his tongue about Obi-Wan, but it was rather easy to do so. Sundari wasn't that kind to unwed, pregnant women - regardless of their social status. Probably because of their social status. There was so much shame in a miscarriage there that he was shocked they even learned about it.
He squeezed his wife's hand tightly. With her health, he didn't even know what would happen if they had children. Part of him didn't even want to have children, despite Padmé's desires.
"...we should send them something, Ani. Like, Satine's favorite tea and maybe some Holomovies."
"Aayla! Aayla, please for the love of the Force will you listen to me?!"
"You can have fun sleeping alone - I'm sure you'll enjoy that!"
Kit Fisto groaned, well aware that they were arguing in the middle of one of the most populated hallways in the Temple. I didn't have any of this trouble before I apprenticed Bant - I didn't even know anyone besides my family!
He could see Master Yoda on his hover chair, pausing in conversation with Madame Nu.
Two of the worst gossips witnessing this.
Great.
Even Quinlan has some tact.
Aayla was climbing the main stairs, and he followed her quickly. She had been fuming ever since the Rako Hardeen mess broke - but she was concerned more for Anakin and Bant and Garen and Master Tholme and Dex and Ferris than she was for Obi-Wan.
"Aayla please." Kit grasped her wrist gently, the action hidden under the sleeves of their cloaks. He softened his voice while she yanked her wrist from him and raised her pencil-inked eyebrows, leaning against the bannister.
Oh... we're doing this here.
Aayla quirked an eyebrow, her lekku twitching in its harness. She could sense what he was thinking, even if she didn't know exactly. Besides - even a human could have read the embarrassment on his face.
Kit sighed, wondering what to say and eventually sighing. "I...I voted we do the Hardeen plot - "
"You're an idiot," Aayla scoffed.
"...I didn't vote for Obi-Wan. I didn't vote we do anyone in main, active duty. I voted we use...we use a clone."
"Kit!" Aayla screamed in frustration - then stomped on his foot and stalked up the stairs.
Kit groaned, grimacing while he heard people chuckling at the scene. Shaking his head, he limped up the stairs and spotted her stalking towards a lift.
"We're not breaking up," Aayla muttered while he catiously approached her waiting for a lift. "I'm just pissed."
"I gathered - but I would like to have my bedmate back at least."
Aayla sighed, shrugging him away when he attempted to touch her. She looked at him a bit forlornly, putting a hand on the lift opening so it wouldn't close. "Kit...just...give me some time. I need to be alone, to meditate in my own chambers."
Kit opened his mouth, then shut it and nodded. He had to smile a bit when she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then stepped into the elevator.
Obi-Wan left the room early morning, just to go on a short walk. He had swung by the Palace to pick up things for both of them - flimsi and a few Holomovies for Satine, along with her hair products and a change of clothes. There wasn't much for him in her chambers - just a few pairs of trousers and some long sleeves. Still, it was better than wearing Jedi robes in a Sundari hospital.
Satine was supposed to leave the hospital the day after he arrived - though unfortunately, a mild infection had set in quickly, forcing her to stay in the hospital longer than she liked.
"Korkie can have more practice ruling," Obi-Wan had tried to soothe, only to dodge a pillow that she threw at him.
That had been yesterday. The smell and the general happiness of the ward made his teeth ache. He couldn't sleep much, unlike Satine. The miscarriage had wiped her out, physically and emotionally. She slept often, though it was unrestful.
He found himself near the gift shop - each floor had one. He hadn't stopped in one, especially not this one. There were too many baby onesies and cut plaques and -
And yet he still wandered in. Apparently he liked to hurt himself.
There were food and mugs too - things one couldn't buy in the cafeteria. There was even a bag of that fancy chocolate Ahsoka liked, and he picked it up despite the price.
It was quiet, no one in there besides himself and a young, barely adult human female cashier.
It was impossible to avoid all the small blankets and little supplies for a baby, though he was amused that generic medication for flight sickness and sunscreen and things like that were right next to it. It was almost a calming place, with no music and soft colors.
He wondered if all the gift shops were like this.
She studied him for a moment while he browsed the shelves, then widened her eyes.
"You're - "
"A little preoccupied - tell me, are these handmade?"
The cashier - Cleo, by her name tag - blinked in surprise and glanced at what he was gesturing too. Medium sized bantha plushes near the cash register, in several different colors. There was a small bin of them on the floor, sandwiched between several bins of different animals throughout the Galaxy.
Cleo nodded, leaning against the counter that seperated them. "Yep. We have someone from Tattoine that ships them every few months. They go really fast. I just put those out this morning."
Obi-Wan put the chocolate on the counter, nodding when she gestured to ring it up. He took one of the banthas - a blue one with pink horns - and turned it around in his hands. The tag was small, though he nearly dropped it upon reading the name of the creator.
Beru Whitesun-Lars. Creator of these plushes. All made from genuine Bantha hair. Dyed with love.
"This is actual Bantha fur."
"You've been to Tattoine?"
"I read the tag." Obi-Wan chuckled at her sheepish laugh, standing with only mild difficulty. "I'll take this too."
"Sure." Cleo was quiet for a moment while she rang it up, then glanced at him. "Want it gift wrapped?"
"Uh - sure. Yes, that would be great, thank you."
Cleo nodded, handing him the bag holding the chocolate and wrapping the Bantha plush on a separate counter away from him. She did it quickly and skillfully, and handed it back to him with a smile.
"Thank you." He dug out the needed credits and blinked when she shook her head.
"I'll pay for it - it's the least I can do, after you have risked your life so many times General Kenobi."
Obi-Wan blinked, unsure of what to say.
Cleo gave a small smile. "My sister is a pretty big fan of you - you and the Duchess. She was heart broken to learn that she was in the hospital, but really happy you're alive."
"Ohh...well, thank you. I'll - I'll give the Duchess your regards." Obi-Wan bowed his head at the young girl, smiling while he walked out the gift shop. It didn't take long to reach her room - mostly because he wanted to avoid the several people beginning to occupy the halls of the ward.
Satine was propped in bed, leafing through a mag. She still looked pale and ghostly, but not as bad as before. A puzzled frown crossed her features while he tossed the chocolate to the side with their belongings and set the gift bag on her lap.
"Open it," he murmured.
"You're a sap." Satine gave a hoarse laugh when he pressed a kiss to her temple, then set about undoing the wrapping paper. A small noise escaped her while she held the Bantha plush. She read the tag, eyes widening while she traced the features.
"Obi-Wan - "
Obi-Wan put an arm around her. "You deserve something cute and stupid."
"Besides you?" Satine laughed when he squeezed her closer, then held the Bantha plush close. "I like it. Thank you."
Author's note: helllo and welcome! We're almost at the end of this depressing story. I promise all of you it's sequel will be more lively ;)
Now - who thinks Obi-Wan will stay or leave the Order now? Come on, don't be shy
ii Digestive Reader ii