Disclaimer: All fame and fortune belong to George Lucas. Keturah belongs to me. Chapter Five title c/o George Michael.

Rating: PG-13

Love's Dress Rehearsal
Chapter Five: Hard Day

Obi-Wan could tell something was amiss with his young padawan. Anakin was smiling and joking with the other students, and even with his Master. He accepted all missions and challenges with great energy and excitement, no matter how trivial the matter was. The boy's normally cocky air had increased ten-fold in the past few weeks.

What have you done, my young apprentice?

Perhaps Anakin had heard his thought. From his spot on the cargo bay floor, the Padawan looked up, his now-permanent smile slowly fading. The look resembled panic at the idea that whatever secret the young man held had been discovered. Not one to let things remain secret, Obi-Wan sat down next to his charge.

The facts of the situation became all too clear the closer Obi-Wan got to his apprentice. With a sigh, he rubbed his tired eyes. "Please do not tell me you have fallen in love, Anakin."

Anakin tried to grin. "All right, then I won't." Obi-Wan leveled a stare at the young man. Despite his bravado, the padawan bowed his head submissively. "I am sorry, Master, but she is just so...intoxicating. I have not felt this way about anyone since…"

Obi-Wan shook his head, interrupting the young man's words. "You are not supposed to feel that way about anyone." He dropped his voice, trying to sound less angry. "Anakin, love is a bond that distracts a Jedi from his work. You will always be tempted to think of her first, and not the good of your mission." He sighed. "I want you to end it. If you do it quickly, I will not inform Master Windu of the situation."

****

"It cannot be over," she said. They had found a quiet balcony to discuss this life-changing event on; the fact that it was 0230 helped things considerably as well. If Anakin hadn't known better, he would have thought that Keturah was going to cry. But Keturah was stronger than that.

He whispered his words, trying to make them more soothing with the Force. "It has to be. We've both committed ourselves to the Order; we can't go back on that vow."

She shook her head, anger building up inside her. He wanted her to turn around and look at her, so he could explain that this decision was not really his to make.

"No, you don't understand; it will never be over." She finally looked up at him, only to take his hand and place it on her stomach. "I am with child, Anakin; you are going to be a father."

He felt his eyes grow wide. Even as she had spoken the words, he had felt the tiny being inside her. Still, denial was the first step. "That's not true...that's impossible. We were so careful..."

She shook her head again. "Apparently, not careful enough."

He put his head in his hands, the life he had chosen for himself crashing down around him. "What are we going to do?" he asked no one in particular.

"I've already decided," she answered. He felt angry for that moment. This was his child too, after all. "I'm going to Chancellor Palpatine and will ask him for an extended leave of absence..."

"Palpatine has no authority over the Order!" His mind was still flailing: all questions and no answers.

Despite the situation, she found the energy to roll her eyes at his naiveté. "How little you know, Anakin. The Order could not exist if Palpatine decided it shouldn't. The Jedi Council will allow my leave if he authorizes it."

Anakin frowned, separation already beginning to eat away at him. "And what about me? Do I ever get to see you again?"

She shrugged. "I won't be able to tell you where I'm going, and you'll be off on your missions…"

"And after the baby?" he asked, hoping for at least one bright mark in the dark mess he'd created.

She could only shrug. "I can only decide about that when the time comes."