The Secrets We Keep
Author: LVB
Summary: Back briefly in Coruscant during the Clone Wars, Anakin notices his wife is acting strangely. What is Padmè hiding?
Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to GL and LucasFilm Ltd. All rights reserved.
A/N: Once again a big THANK YOU to my reviewers! I also have a proposition - I've been bitten by a plot bunny! It started from a viggie I began to write and now am seriously considering on expanding it into a mulit-chapter fic. Except, I don't really want to do it alone.
So I am asking if anyone wants to write this story with me. Without giving too much away, it is an AU from the Old Trilogy.
If anyone is interested, leave me a review (signed or with your email) or just email me and I'll give you the rest of my plot bunny details!
Ch 4: Playing the Waiting Game
Finally, Padme found herself at the doctor's office. The morning's confrontation with Anakin had managed to scare her enough into coming.
He's right, a little voice inside her head said. Padme never thought to take care of herself and now, this was the result.
The doctor she had seen was not her usual one, but he had been kind. She even felt slightly guilty for making him sign a confidentiality agreement. Of course, it was in her best interests. She would have gone to a medical droid if it had been her choice, but Anakin had referred to the kind, elderly doctor.
She had already had her examination. He had left no stone unturned regarding her health – to the point of embarrassment for the young Senator. Luckily for her, the office was fairly empty so not only did she have a certain degree of privacy, the available droids were all working on her test results.
Thank the Force for the small graces.
She looked around the office. It was nice enough – simple. She looked around the empty waiting area. She had come here alone – without Anakin. Of course, that was a necessity since their relationship was a secret. And what about a Jedi accompanying a Senator to a doctor's appointment? That in itself would nearly give it away.
Force, I missed him.
A thick voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Senator Amidala," the doctor started.
Looking up, she met the eyes of the kind doctor.
"Would you like to come back in? It should only take a moment."
Standing, she felt her heart begin to race. If it was something he could tell her right here and right now, surely it wasn't too bad? Bracing herself, she followed him into his room. Closing the door behind her, she slightly dropped her Senator façade. She sat down in the chair he motioned to.
"So, doctor…"
The doctor smiled slightly.
"Senator Amidala, I can tell you are anxious to find out the results from the tests. I'll get to the point as quickly as I can."
She relaxed a little. The doctor noticed her demeanour and continued.
"Your earlier suspicions were correct, Senator. The sickness you've been experiencing has been a rather harsh side effect of the insurmountable amount of stress you've been under."
I knew it!
"Now, Senator, I understand the situation you're in at the moment, with the Clone Wars, but I have put forward a recommendation that you take a significant amount of time away from the Senate. You have been granted an extra two weeks leave."
Padme sighed in relief. It had been stress after all.
"But…"
But?
"There's something else I found in your blood sample, Senator. Tell me, have you thrown up in the mornings before this past week of 'stress sickness'?"
Where was he going with this?
"Yes, come to think of it I have. But I took no notice of it, to tell you the truth. I thought it was just the preliminary symptom of my stress."
She frowned.
The doctor took a deep breath. "There is no easy way to say this, Senator. You're pregnant."
