Vale's P.O.V.

"My dear, don't take this the wrong way." My father says while walking around his desk. "... But you look exhausted. You need a few rest days. You're spreading yourself thin."

"There no need, I feel fine." I sigh while walking toward a couch and sitting down in his office. "Besides, I have another lead. If I don't leave tomorrow, I could lose it."

"Another?" My father announces in shock while coming to me sit with me on the couch. "You've just arrived after being gone for six months."

This in my first I've been back on Coruscant since my miscarriage. I've talked to Yoda and Windu about another potential lead. My unit's already set up for space travel again. I came to visit my father, knowing he'd want to see me before I left again.

"Really, I enjoy traveling for months at a time."

I mumble, feeling like a little girl again in my father's presences. I pick up one of his fancy objects on his coffee table and lean back onto the couch. Fiddling with it, I feel my father's gaze on me seriously. Sensing what he's going to say next, I blurt out.

"It's not because of that, father. I've moved on. It's been six months."

"No, a mother never moves on from losing a child, Valera." My father sighs and I feel him petting the back of my head. "If only you had told me sooner... I could have done something."

A week after I lost the baby, I came to my father crying to him about what happened. I didn't want to speak to Obi-Wan about it after our argument and decision. I had nowhere else to go and my feet wandered into his Office.

He cried with me and thanked me for telling him what had happened. Maybe that's why I come to see him when I stop at Coruscant for a day or two. He's the only one I have left that's there for me.

I can't and won't go to Obi-Wan and Anakin. Honestly, I'm afraid to see them after what happened. Padme's always in Naboo when I'm on Coruscant, so I never talk to her anymore. Raising the elegant decorating in my palm with the force, I mumble to my father.

"It's in the past now. Leave it alone."

"Well, if there's anything you need don't hesitated to come to me." My father offers in a genuine tone. "You just name it and I'll make it happen."

I smirk, knowing the power of being the Supreme Chancellor gets to his head sometimes. Most of the time, I try to forget he's the Chancellor and I try to forget that I could be the chosen one. It helps me feel like our family is traditional when I know nothing about our family is normal.

Though, he likes to point it out to me to show I can want anything for nothing. Yet, what I want disappeared the day I had a miscarriage. Nothing my father can do will change that.

I can't have kids, Obi-Wan and I aren't on speaking terms, and I've become an important asset to the Jedi Order. Some times I think of what could have been just to relish in the thought I almost had it. Standing up and putting the decoration back on the coffee table, I say in a genuine tone.

"Thanks, but I'm past the point of getting what I want."

"Maybe not... You are my daughter, after all. My one and only." He suggests while standing up to face me. "Surely you can mend things with Master Kenobi, dear."

"It still wouldn't change anything." I declare and wander around his office. I hate it when tries to corner me with an idea like when I was a child. Glancing around at all his elegant things, I think out loud. "My life is for the Jedi Order. What I want would be selfish to ask for..."

"Valera... I sense you still want it, nonetheless. It's like a scar."

My father announces from behind me, making me frown. How can he sense what I'm feeling when he doesn't know how the force works? Turning my head and glancing at him, I question curiously.

"How can you sense that?"

"I... Just can see it on your face, dear."

"Dad, that's my physical scars." I roll my eyes and turn around for him to get a look at the dark lines on my neck and jaw. Sauntering towards him, I give him an optimistic smile and point out proudly. "Regardless of the past, I've risen above it. Like I always do."

"I know that, dear." My father smiles and comes up to me while resting his hands on my cheeks. Leaning closer to me, he whispers with nothing but pride. "Though there's nothing wrong with being selfish from time to time... It shows that you're human."

My father's right to a certain point. What happened six months ago did mentally scar me for life. Yet, it brought me to the reality of my place in the Jedi Order. If anything, it brought me closer to my responsibilities as a Jedi.

I've grown stronger with the pain of losing Obi-Wan and our baby. My missions have been more dedicated to the objective. Who I am now is the best version of me for the Jedi Order and I'm sure where ever Obi-Wan is, he's thinking the same thing.

Obi-Wan's P.O.V.

"Daddy... Daddy!"

I hear my name being called and turn around with a goofy smile on my lips. My eyes drop to a boy not a day over the age of five. He has his arms out as he runs toward me. Chuckling, I kneel and pull him into my arms.

"Where's your mother?" I speak up curiously while lifting him in my arms. "I hope you didn't leave her alone."

"She's coming." He answers before whispering into my ears. "Mom's taking her sweet time, though."

"She does love the beach."

I mumble while walking to the tree line toward the sandy beach. My son has his arms around my neck while looking the way he came from the beach. As I go past the treeline, I see Vale taking a long time coming up the beach.

"Told you!" My son sighs in a tone that sounds like mine. "Mom, hurry up, will you?"

"Give me a break, kid."

She calls out while rubbing a hand over her stomach tiredly. The corner of my lips curl up at the sight of her being sassy as ever. Vale's long blond wavy hair moves with the breeze. Her long white bathing suit coverup also moves with the wind.

I move toward her so she has less distance to walk by herself. When I reach her, she lifts her head to smile up at me tiredly. Kissing the side of her forehead, I rest a hand on her nine-month baby bump.

"This baby as two more days until I use the force to push it out." Vale jokes as I rub my thumb across her large bump. "I will not have our son thinking I'm slow." Smirking while sending a look to our son, Vale adds. "You just wait. When she's out, I'll be running laps around you."

"Does it have to be a she?" Our boy mumbles in a sulking tone I've heard Vale use. "Why can't I have a brother?"

"Well, because the force told me I can have only two little boys." Vale raises an eyebrow at me while trying to hide a smile as she jokes. "You and your father have maxed out my number of boys the force gave me."

"... But, mom... What about the one you lost?"

Gasping awake, I glance around my room with my dream still hot on my mind. I turn on the light, trying to catch my breath. The dream felt so real, as if I was really holding my son and I could actually feel her baby bump.

Sitting up in my bed, I push my hair out of my face, trying to understand what the dream meant. I can't go to the council about it, I can't go to anyone about it. Though, it brought up Vale and I's miscarriage.

Doesn't that have meaning behind it? The beach looked just like the one on Spira. My son looked just like me, but with Vale's button nose. Rethinking the dream, I groan, not knowing what to do with it, but I feel regret in of my mind.

Standing up, I walk into my bathroom and turn on the light. I lean my hands on the sink and close my eyes. Trying to ignore the sensation of the dream, I let out a shaky breath.

The dream was unconsciously showing what I desire, and it kills me, knowing I won't ever have it. I'll never get a baby girl or a son. Vale and I can never have a family or settle down. It's been almost a year since I've seen her and still that's the only desire I have.

Looking up into the mirror, I see my aging face. I've cut my long hair and grown my beard more. I have a few more wrinkles than before. In the dream, though, Vale looked just as she did ten years ago, only with a baby bump.

Turning on the facet, I splash water into my face, hoping to get the dream out of my head. Wiping my face dry, I feel like I'm still right where Vale left me in the hall a year ago. I'm still trying to pick up the pieces of my life.

~A Month Later~

"I sense these rumors have a hidden agenda."

"Sense it, I do too."

Master Yoda speaks up, agreeing with Master Shaak Ti from his seat. Everyone on the Jedi Council is in High Council Chamber sitting at their appropriate seat. All besides one, leaving the chair beside mine empty.

Master Windu had called this meeting about the rumors about the Council of Neutral System. They speak for over 1,500 systems who want to stay out of this war between the Republic and Separatists. However, rumors about the Neutral systems have reached the Republic Senate.

"Though it's not farfetched for Mandalore to be rebuilding their army."

Master Windu points out, thinking about the history Mandalore has with the Jedi Order. Rumors have been suggesting that the Neutral Council's new leader, Duchess Satine of Mandalore, is secretly building her own army to fight for the separatist cause.

Though, I knew Satine many years ago as a padawan. Qui-Gon and I came to Satine's aid months after Vale left with Master Windu to Naboo.

"It may not be far fetch for Mandalore, but it is for their Duchess." I speak up knowing her opinions on the matter of war. "When Qui-Gon and I were sent to Mandalore years ago, we were always under the impression that Satine Kryze valued peace over everything else."

"That may be true... But, if the rumors are true, it will greatly hinder the Republic." Ki-Adi-Mundi points out in concern. "We should have someone sent to Mandalore to discover the truth behind these claims."

Rubbing my chin, I nod to him, respecting his suggestion. If this rumor wasn't on the verge of being true, we wouldn't be discussing it now. I glance to Vale's empty seat, almost glaring at it from her not being here.

I know Yoda and Windu called her to come for this meeting. But yet again, she probably refused with a vague excuse and told them to speak on her behalf. Master Windu then calls for a vote to see if we should investigate these claims.

Most of the council supports this mission and a few oppose. Mace Windu speaks up favoring with someone going on this mission. A second later, he speaks for Vale on her behalf, saying she'll support this mission.

I force myself not to roll my eyes and express my irritation. Odds are Vale would agree and even offer to go to Mandalore herself. It's just irks me she doesn't take her role in the Jedi Council serious enough to come back to the Temple to be in meetings like these.

"Decided it is then." Master Yoda announces when all the votes are counted for. "One of us will go to Mandalore."

"Master Kenobi..." Ki-Adi-Mundi speaks up innocently. "Might I suggest you go to resolve this matter? You're the only one out of us who's worked with Duchess Satine before."

"Alright. Will do."

I nod, knowing I should be the one to go out of all of us. However, I feel my nerves rising from seeing the Duchess again. I met her when I thought I would not see Vale for at least ten years.

Ironically, at this moment, I don't expect I'll see Vale anytime soon, just like I did when I first met Satine. It's funny how life and the force works like that. Though, maybe this will do me some good.

This mission might just be the thing I need to move on from what Vale and I had.