Come Undone

Chapter 10

                               Obi-wan approached the door to Senator's (he still couldn't bring himself to think of it as "Anakin and the Senator's home") new apartment with some trepidation. Another day, another confrontation with the Jedi Council but this time, they had actually given Obi-wan (that he felt should have been his a long time ago,) the leeway to try a new approach in dealing with the young Jedi. Master Yoda himself had come to Obi-wan, realizing that at this point, Kenobi was very possibly the only man (the only Jedi) whom Anakin would actually listen too.

                   "Much anger in him still," the old master said sadly. "Concerned for him, concerned for the Senator and the child, the council is… Go to him, Obi-wan. Speak to the Senator as well if you can…"

               It had seemed like such a simple proposal at first, but standing here at the door…

             "Master Obi-wan, always a pleasure…" Dormé beamed as she granted him entrance. "Mistress Padmé is in the sitting room, please come in…"

               Obi-wan bowed slightly and followed Dormé into the sitting room. Although it had only been a few weeks since he had seen her last, the change in the Senator was remarkable. She was sitting on the couch, feet curled up beneath her legs; her hair loosely tossled on top of her head, her belly had grown… fuller… A protocol droid, indeed the same one that Anakin had rebuilt as a child stood behind her, data pads in hand.

                    Padmé looked up and smiled, "Good afternoon Master Obi-wan," she said brightly. "On the insistence of my Jedi healer 'Master Skywalker', I usually have a rest at this time of day. However, as he's not here…"

                      Obi-wan bowed a little stiffly. "I apologize madam, if I've arrived at an in opportune time…"

                       "Sit down Obi-wan," Padmé insisted. "If Anakin were here, we'd be taking that little nap together…"

                       "Excuse me Mistress Padmé," Threepio interrupted. "If Master Anakin were here I don't see how you could sleep in the time you spend together in the afternoons…"

                         "Threepio…" Padmé warned softly, but to no avail.

                         "It's just that the noises that come from your sleeping quarters…"

                         "Threepio PLEASE…" Padmé's voice rose a notch and she coloured slightly.

                         "…Are hardly conducive to 'sleeping'…" he finished satisfactorily.

                         'Threepio, can you please assist R-2 in my office…?" Padmé sighed resignedly.

                         "R-2 has thoroughly checked these data pads Madam…"

                          "Then please check them again… and a third time if necessary…" she cut him off, leaving no room for argument this time, and with a prissy little bow, the droid headed into the small office.

                           Padmé lowered her head momentarily, still a little embarrassed. "My apologies Master Kenobi," she said as she rolled her eyes. "Anakin says that there is a flaw in his etiquette programming but he finds it so amusing that he refuses to rework it. I think he was planning on sending the droid to the Ambassadors ball next month…"

                               Well, at least he had kept some of his sense of humor. Much better than hearing that the black rage that seemed to consume him with every meeting with the council. Anger over increasingly minor things, the last outburst over his demands for more freedom from the confines of the Temple and the newest training schedule they had imposed on him…

                                "Where is he Senator?" Obi-wan asked softly. "Is he here?" (On Coruscant?  He wanted to add, but didn't dare.)

                                 "Down in the Gymnasium, working off some tension…" she replied absently, taking the tea that Dormé handed her.

                                   Obi-wan accepted his with thanks. "Does he do that often?" he had tried to phrase the question causally, but Padmé was all too familiar with the situation.

                                    "Often enough…" her reply was friendly, but her voice was wary.

                                    There was no way around it, Obi-wan had to be straightforward with her. "Has he… has he 'changed' in any way?" he asked carefully.

                                      "Changed? How do you mean… changed?" she replied, her voice becoming cooler as she regarded him from across the room.

                                        Damn the woman! She was almost as impossible as the man who's child she carried. "He seems to be suffering from… he's angry… short tempered…"

                                        "Well, between the Jedi and the Chancellor, and his ministrations to myself…"

                                              (The Chancellor? What in blazes was he doing in the Chancellors services?)

                                              "He is exhausted… What are you implying Obi-wan?" Years of staring down opponents in the Senate came into play as her eyes bore into him.

                                                 "Has he…. 'hurt you'?" he said at last and Padmé stared at him in disbelief.

                                                  "HURT ME?" she said, aghast.

                                                  "The Council fears for you and the child…" he began but Padmé cut him off, furious.

                                                  "What do you want me to say Obi-wan?" the chill of her voice belying the fire of rage in her eyes. "What do you want to hear? That he beats me? That he forces himself on me? That our children are a result of rape? Forgive my ignorance Obi-wan, but do I believe that even members of the so called Sith would not lower themselves to such atrocities..."

                                                    Obi-wan, an old hand at such outburst, refused to be baited.   "I said the COUNCIL fears for your safety…" he interrupted softly. "I did not say I agreed with them…"

                                                         "But do you?" She asked, not missing a beat.

                                                           "I am concerned for both of you… All of you" he answered cryptically, and he turned his head towards the door. Padmé followed his gaze and a few moments later, the figure of their discussion entered the room. Anakin, dressed in a training tunic and trousers, headed directly to his wife, seemingly oblivious to the Masters presence.

                                                           "Why are you still up?" he asked, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "My son needs his rest as does his mother… Master Obi-wan…" he said dryly and smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "Another lap dog mission for the Council or truly a social call?"

                                                              "Anakin…" Padmé scolded gently and he lowered his head, a little chastised. When he looked up again, Obi-wan felt his heart break a little. There before him, all traces of the angry young man were gone and only his learner, his friend remained.

                                                              "I'm sorry Obi-wan," he smiled, and lightly poking Padmé's abdomen. "My SON has me running myself more ragged than you ever could. If it's not a Bothan stewed Nerf at two am, it's a Nubian sweet cake at three…"

                                                              Padmé pushed him away playfully. "And who is WORSE Master Jedi?" She teased. "For someone who claims that his son tells him that he wants to be held by his father at all hours of the night…"

                                                                Feeling, perhaps rightly so, that he was intruding on a rather privet moment, Obi-wan cleared his throat, rising and both Anakin and Padmé

collapsed into fits of giggles. Unable to help himself, Obi-wan allowed himself to join them briefly. At last, he rose again heading to the door.

                                                                 "If there's anything I can do for you… either of you…" he began only to be interrupted by Anakin.

                                                                  "Have supper with us…" he entreated. "Please… Master. We would be honored.

                                                                      "Yes, please…" Padmé joined in, her eyes that had been so angry so shortly before now seemed to be pleading. "We would both love to have you… well, all of us… if you would…"

                                                                        Obi-wan nodded, understanding far more than he let on. "I would be honored…"