Title: A New Order

Author: Jedikma

A/N: As always, thanks to everyone for reading and especially for the reviews. Hope you continue to enjoy.

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Chapter 11

They waited in a typical med-clinic room with stark white walls, but at least it was private.

Siri removed her son's wet clothes and grabbed a towel to dry him. He sat on an exam table as she ruffled his hair with the towel and tickled his middle with her fingers. Reeft giggled, showing signs that he was putting his trauma behind him.

Obi-Wan smiled as he watched her. He had removed as many of his wet things as he could. His boots and socks sat next to a chair in the corner and his damp inner tunic lay over that chair. He worked a towel over his chest, back, and hair and hung it around his neck when he was done. Impatient, he kept going to the door of the room and looking out trying to see if he could find anyone who might be able to answer some questions.

"Obi-Wan, stop being so restless. You are making us nervous," Siri said, as she nodded her head toward the toddler.

"Sorry. I just want to know what's going on."

"It would be fine if you wanted to go back to your room and get some fresh clothes on. I can handle everything from here."

Obi-Wan turned to look at Siri. She was picking up Reeft from the table, but she looked weary. "No," he said. "I want to stay here and wait with my little man and see that he is all right." He reached out and took his son, now clad only in a diaper, from Siri's arms.

Reeft pressed his hands on Obi-Wan's chest and smiled. "I'm like Papa!"

Obi-Wan gave him a big hug and tickled his belly with his beard. "Yes, you are! You're lucky like him, too."

As Siri lowered herself in a nearby chair, Obi-Wan once again went to the door of the room. This time he caught Anakin just down the hall.

"Anakin," he called. "What's going on? What's the news?"

"Obi-Wan! There you are." Still dressed in his own damp clothing and looking rather unkempt, Anakin hurried towards his former mentor. "Not much to tell yet. Barriss has been with Dru, who hasn't regained consciousness, but there is still plenty of hope that she will recover. Padme has managed to contact Dru's mother, who is on her way. Padme also went to the nursery to talk to the caretakers and I think she plans on bringing Reeft back some clothes." Anakin grinned at the sight of a frazzled Obi-Wan holding his son. "Where's a holorecorder when you need one?"

"You look quite ruffled, yourself, my friend." Obi-Wan smiled.

Just then Padme emerged from around a corner. "Oh good, I found you. And I brought Reeft some fresh clothes to put on." She then looked to the men. "Now we need to do something with the two of you."

Before either of the Jedi Masters could respond to her quip a loud moan came from inside the exam room. It was a sound that Obi-Wan had come to be familiar with since the birth of his first child. Obi-Wan looked inside the room and saw Siri gripping the arms of the chair she was sitting in. There was no doubt she had just had a contraction and it was a very strong one.

Still holding Reeft, Obi-Wan went to Siri's side and leaned down in front of her. "How long have you been in labor?"

"I had a few very small contractions this morning, but they were irregular and stopped. And now this." She looked him in the eye. "I have a feeling it will only take a couple more just like that one and this baby will be born."

"All the running and excitement must have kicked her into hard labor." Padme commented. "She definitely needs to get to a birthing room."

"Mama hurt?" Reeft asked, his eyes wide with fear.

At the sound of the child's voice, everyone turned to him. Padme was the first to speak. "Mama's going to have her baby. I have an idea, why don't you come with me and we can get a treat?"

"I want Mama!" The child began to whine.

Siri reached up to touch her son's face and spoke calmly. "Reeft, I need for you to go with Padme and Anakin for now. I promise everything will be all right. You can come to see me and the baby after she is born."

Siri struggled not to grimace as she felt another contraction begin. Obi-Wan handed Reeft to Padme and then helped Siri get up from her chair. "Just another busy day."

As Siri tried to breath through the contraction she gripped Obi-Wan's hands. "I still can't figure out how we ever found the time to even get pregnant with these children."

Helping her out of the room and down the hall, Obi-Wan noted the concerned look on Reeft's face as the little one shoved his thumb into his mouth. "Try not to scream until we get you out of Reeft's hearing range. He's looking quite upset."

Her current contraction was waning, but Siri's jaw was still set. "I had to hold back with the last one. Obi-Wan, I don't want to scare you, but this baby is coming fast."

As they neared the rooms for labor and delivery Obi-Wan caught a glimpse of one of Healer Barriss's assistants and he yelled after her. "We need help. Siri is having her contractions very close together."

"I'll get Healer Barriss, Master Kenobi," she responded as she hurried off to find the healer. Another assistant came to help them get settled into the room.

Obi-Wan helped Siri remove some of her clothes and helped her get up on the birthing table. Another contraction started. This time Siri did not hold back and Obi-Wan tried to coach her with her breathing, but it was all happening so fast that Siri couldn't seem to hold her focus. Then, in the midst of the contraction, her water broke and Siri became frantic.

"I need to push, Obi-Wan!"

"Siri, you can't push yet. Barriss isn't here."

The look that Siri gave Obi-Wan at that moment was completely indecipherable, but it somehow made Obi-Wan feel as though he had the word 'stupid' taped onto his forehead.

"I don't think this baby cares whether Barriss is here or not! I need someone on the other end now to catch her!" Her last words were barely understandable as she let out a loud groan.

For the first time in years, Obi-Wan wanted to panic, but for the second time that day, luck was with the Kenobi family as Barriss rushed into the room with her assistants and started to take over and issue orders.

Siri hadn't been exaggerating when she said she needed to push. As soon as Barriss examined Siri she saw that the baby was crowning. She had just enough time to coach Siri as she carefully guided the child out of the birth canal.

The high-pitched cry of an infant was heard echoing through the room as Barriss handed the baby over to an assistant. "It looks like your girl is here, Siri and Obi-Wan. And she is quite beautiful."

For the second time that day the parents let out a long sigh of relief.