A/N: Because of my memory, there's a double update this week. Please make sure to read Chapter 3 before this one.
It was later than he'd expected when Padmé had arrived at the temple before the meeting with the Council. She still had a few hours before they would be needed to explain what happened in the mission to rescue the Chancellor, but when her call had come well into the morning he was surprised. Had Senator Skywalker taken that long to leave?
While he'd kept their secret as long as possible, Obi-Wan had to admit that he wasn't surprised when Padmé had told him she was pregnant with Anakin's child. He knew she had never moved past the romantic feelings that had developed during their time on Naboo, and knew it was unlikely for Anakin to have ever done so as well. He'd only expected she would have waited until after the war to act on those feelings.
Still though, what was done was done, and while he had to admit he was a little stung that Padmé had either thought he wouldn't realize when two of his closest friends were interested in each other and still seeing each other (he wasn't blind) or hadn't trusted him enough with the information that it went well beyond a drunken one night stand, it wasn't worth getting on her case for when there were much more pressing issues.
That was especially so when she looked like she stumbled into their shared apartment in the Temple, looking like she'd been run over by a wild bantha. "You look terrible."
"Nice to see you too, Obi-Wan." If nothing else, he was relieved to know her sense of humor hadn't suffered from whatever had her looking so exhausted.
He sighed. "That's not what I meant and you know it. I figured a night with Anakin would be a good break from the war, and for the two of you to discuss everything. Instead you come back looking more tired than you were during the war."
Padmé sat down across from him. "It was a nice night, don't think it wasn't." Obi-Wan frowned, waiting for her to continue. "I had a hard time sleeping last night, that's all."
"I'd ask if it was from sharing the bed, but clearly you've done that before." Padmé cast him another glare. "I'm worried."
"I had a nightmare and couldn't get back to sleep." She rested her head on the table. "I talked to Anakin about it, we both think it might just be because I'm worried about everything that could happen when the baby comes."
"That's all you think it was?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that he didn't believe it, but if it had Padmé looking more run down than any of the battles in the war, that was not good.
"..." She hesitated for a moment. "Anakin had a nightmare as well. He was awake when I woke up too. Some of the details of his dream matched my own…"
"So you're worried there's a chance it's more than just a simple dream." He put his hand to his chin in thought. It was entirely possible that what Padmé was experiencing was a vision. While she'd never had one before, they weren't uncommon among the Jedi and Force Sensitive, and it was possible Anakin could have been experiencing an echo of the vision Padmé had had if that was the case, or possibly his own. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"Somebody took the baby, and Anakin was dead." It was clear Padmé had chosen not to beat around the bush with her explanation. Obi-Wan remained silent for a moment, considering the dream. He could see why they'd dismissed it at first. If she was simply anxious about her child and their fate, then it wasn't hard to believe that that was all it was.
Still, Obi-Wan wasn't going to just dismiss it like that. "I can see why you're concerned. If it is a vision, then it's a troubling one. Perhaps it might pay to request leave from the front lines until the baby comes. If nothing else, it may put your mind at ease, and if you're less stressed the nightmare may vanish."
"And if it doesn't and it's a vision?" Padmé asked.
Obi-Wan thought over the answer for a moment. In a normal circumstance, he would warn her not to act hastily, but Padmé already knew that. With the exception of her relationship with Anakin, she had proven herself to be level headed, and while like most of the Jedi, the war had not done Padmé any favors for her mental health or stability, he had the utmost faith in her to do what was right and try to stay calm in handling this. "If it is, then we'll face it together."
"Sir, Senators Organa and Mothma are here." Anakin looked up from the papers on his desk to see Threepio standing at the door. While the two had briefly met with his mother yesterday in his place while he'd taken care of more personal matters (read: celebrating his wife's pregnancy) he knew they would be reaching out today to try to plan once more. Figuring out who in the Senate would side with them in taking Palpatine out of his seat was an exhausting plan, but a necessary one.
Chancellor Palpatine had too much power, by this point, and while he didn't believe secession or all out war was the best option (after everything with the Separatists, he was too tired to want another war, and he couldn't imagine going against the Republic if it meant fighting the Jedi and Padmé) he did believe something had to be done, and after some whispers from Bail, the three had made regular meetings to discuss both peace at the end of the war and a way to remove Palpatine from office for good,
Anakin nodded to the droid. "Thank you Threepio. Let them in, and if anybody besides Padmé or Mom show up tell them I'm busy." Admittedly, he probably shouldn't have even let them in, but Shmi was as much a part of this as he was and Padmé wouldn't be coming anyways unless it really was an emergency.
"Of course." Threepio opened the door, and Bail and Mon sat down across from him.
"Good morning, Senator Skywalker."
"Senator Organa, Senator Mothma." Anakin nodded to them before pulling out a single sheet of paper. The petition, slowly being signed around the Senate that he, Bail, and Mon had been advocating for.
"You've been busy," Bail noted, looking over the document with interest.
Anakin smiled. This had been his primary goal after all. "I wanted to ensure as many signatures as possible. It's important that this seems as unanimous as possible if we want the Chancellor to take it seriously." With the signature of Meena Tills, he'd gotten to almost two thousand signatures, and it would only be a few more until they were beyond that as well.
"And he will, you managed to get Senator Binks and Senator Naberrie, right?" Mon asked. Anakin hesitated for a moment at the name of the Nabian senators. He'd almost forgotten that his wife's sister was the current senator of Naboo. "Senator Skywalker?"
After a moment, Anakin nodded. "Sola was willing to pledge her support, so was Jar Jar." He hadn't been surprised by the Gungan's willingness to help, they'd known each other since he was a kid. It had been Sola that had surprised him. She, like her sister, was close to Palpatine..
"Good, with any luck we'll be able to start making a motion to remove the Chancellor from power soon." Mon smiled before indicating Bail.
"Anakin, you still have close connection with several Jedi, correct?" Anakin nodded at the question. "Do you think you can get information on how much longer until the war might end? I spoke briefly to General Naberrie last night, but she seemed uncertain on how long it would take for the Jedi to hunt Grievous down."
"With luck, it'll be soon." Then again, when had luck ever been on their side in this entire war. Everytime it felt like the Republic made it one step forward, it felt like somebody else had managed to push them two steps back, like the Separatists knew exactly what to expect. "But if I hear anything from Padmé or Obi-Wan, I'll let you know." Idly, he thought about his wife and close friend. Would they be willing to get involved in the delegation? Perhaps it would be worth investigating.
"Thank you." Bail turned to Mon. "You had something you wanted to ask as well I'm assuming?"
Mon smiled. "Nothing quite so serious as what we were currently discussing." And with that, the conversation turned towards lighter subjects as Mon began to talk about the current committee they were all officially on.
Soon they would be able to take their petition to the Chancellor, it was only a little bit longer to go.
"Knight Naberrie, I believe we should be formally welcoming you back to Coruscant." Padmé smiled nervously as Mace bowed to her, welcoming her into the council's chambers. Despite the fact that it was meant to be a simple debrief to discuss what had happened in the battle the prior day, the knowledge of her coming confession made Padmé's chest constrict. She looked to Obi-Wan, sitting in his chair in the corner as he gave her a reassuring smile. He would be looking out for her in this meeting.
She took a deep breath. "Master Windu, it's great to be back on Coruscant."
"Much has happened, since you were here last, hmm?" There was a certain glimmer in Yoda's eye, as though he already knew the secret that Padmé carried with her, and was simply waiting for the right moment to reveal it. Still, she decided she wouldn't open with it, her child would come up in time.
"It has. Did Master Kenobi fill you in on what happened over Coruscant?" She pulled at her sleeves, but couldn't help the feeling of relief as the council members present nodded. "In that case, where would you like me to begin."
"We didn't call you in for a debriefing, Padmé." She froze as she attempted to focus. They knew. Obi-Wan had told them. He'd lied to her and– "We're here talk to you about General Grievous."
What? "General Grievous?" Padmé asked, her face scrunching in confusion. "I've only met him once. I couldn't tell you much more than what happened aboard the Invisible Hand."
"We are well aware, Padmé." Mace turned to Obi-Wan, as though waiting for him to explain.
Her master sighed. "Padmé, they want us to lead the attack on General Grievous once he's located."
"Does that mean we'll be searching for him as well?" she asked, hesitant. Obi-Wan shook his head. "So we're going back to the outer rims?"
"Wrong you are," Yoda said, bringing Padmé's attention back towards him. "To Mandalore, you will be sent. Aid your former Padawan, you will in the capture of Maul. Answers to the Sith's plans, he will have."
As far as assignments went, being tasked with helping with the Siege of Mandalore might have been the best one she'd received since the Outer Rim sieges began, unfortunately, even she knew her time as a member of the GAR was coming to an end. "I'm afraid before I accept this assignment, there's something you need to be made aware of." She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she remembered the story she had crafted with Obi-Wan. "Last time I was on Coruscant, I spent a night with Senator Skywalker in order to catch up on what had happened since my last visit. Things went out of control and…" She felt like a Padawan, standing in front of the council as she admitted to what had happened. "There were consequences."
"Consequences?" Padmé kept her head down, unable to meet Plo's eyes. They all had to know where she was going, right?
"Anakin and I slept together." She attempted to ignore any judgement that might come. "I'm pregnant."
There was silence in the council. It seemed as though none of the council members had been expecting the reveal. She couldn't blame them. If she wasn't the one carrying a child, if she had been a council member, she would've been just as surprised to see one of their best knights had done something so careless.
Luminara spoke up first. "How far along?"
"Six months." Six months pregnant, almost seven. Too far along to continue fighting on the front lines. Too far along to take a chance at one of the only missions that she would willingly leave Coruscant for, to help Ahsoka.
"You do understand the position this puts us in, correct?" Mace asked. Padmé remained silent. "In your current state, it would be unwise to send you to Mandalore. Even with the Force, it won't be long before you're unable to handle the battlefield, let alone against a Sith." She didn't deny that either. "We will need to discuss what will happen in the future. Assuming we find Grievous after the child is born, we will still keep you on the mission."
"A mistake you have made, Knight Naberrie, but brought harm it has not." Yoda smiled at her, though it hardly made her feel any better. She had absolutely destroyed any chance she had at gaining the council's favor for the time being. "Find another position for you, the council shall. Until then, on standby you will be."
"I understand, thank you for being understanding." Padmé bowed to the council. She could only be thankful none of them had guessed at the true nature of hers and Anakin's relationship. She could still be a Jedi, at least until all this was over. "If I can be excused."
"Of course, my Padawan." Obi-Wan spoke up before any of the other Jedi had a chance. The feeling of endearment she normally felt from being reminded of who trained her faded into bitterness. It felt like he was scolding her. She walked out. She knew Obi-Wan would be by to visit her later, but right now, she didn't want to see or talk to him.
She just wanted to be alone.