Obi-Wan Kenobi stood with Anakin Skywalker in front of the senatorial apartments of Padmé Amidala. Normally Anakin was smiling when he was standing in front of this door. Instead, he stared a spot just above his feet, his eyes dull.
The door whooshed open, and the golden android C-3PO stood before the two Jedi. "Master Kenobi! How delightful that you should stop by," the droid gushed. Then, remembering his Maker, he turned to Anakin. "It is good to see you as well, Master Anakin." Anakin gritted his teeth at the droid's sing-song tone. He wondered idly if Padmé would let him fiddle with the droid's voice modulator to make it less cheery.
The two men stepped into the apartment and followed C-3PO into the living area. "Senator Amidala, you have visitors!" he cried out.
Padmé walked into the room, looking dignified as usual in her detailed Senatorial robes. Her face quickly brightened at the sight of the two Jedi. "Obi-Wan, Anakin, I'm so glad you stopped by."
"He knows, Padmé," Anakin replied glumly.
Padmé's smile slipped off her face and she stiffened at her husband's despondent tone. What had Obi-Wan's response been? She quickly crossed the room to Anakin's side, placing her arms around his waist. Anakin's arm automatically slipped around her shoulders.
Obi-Wan looked sadly at the young couple. It was not as if he was surprised at this development. No, he had seen it coming for a long time. Well, not the pregnancy, but he knew that it was only a matter of time until Anakin and Padmé could no longer hide their feelings. Anakin had never been good at that in the first place.
In all honesty, he was more surprised at Padmé than anything else. Anakin had always been impulsive. Act now and think later had always been the way he did things. But Padmé had always been cool, calm, and collected. She was always in control of herself. The woman had been a queen while still a child, for Force's sake! But now here she stood in front of him, pregnant and in a scandalous relationship. Here she stood, asking for his help.
"And?" she prompted after a long moment of silence.
Obi-Wan tried not to sigh too loudly. "I'm not sure what exactly I can do, Padmé," he said softly. "The Jedi Council has… rules, forbidding this sort of thing."
"I'm not leaving her, Obi-Wan," Anakin stated. Not as if Obi-Wan had ever doubted that.
"Anakin, you could be expelled," Obi-Wan said, aware that he was pleading.
"I don't care."
"Anakin," Padmé interjected. "The Republic needs you right now."
Anakin slipped out of her embrace to turn towards her. "No, Padmé," he retorted, looking straight into her eyes. "You need me. Our baby needs me." His voice softened at the mention of the baby, but his jaw was still set into a hard line.
Obi-Wan sucked in his breath. Anakin being a father was going to take a lot of getting used to. He was about to speak again when Padmé turned back towards Obi-Wan. "Is there anything you can do about the nightmares, at least?" she asked.
"Nightmares?" Obi-Wan asked, clearly surprised. "What nightmares?"
Padmé turned to look at her husband for a second. She was trying very hard not to glare at him, but the look was definitely in her eyes. She inhaled deeply, and then replied, "Anakin had a nightmare last night. About me dying."
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "I won't lie to you, Padmé. It may have been a vision."
Anakin looked down at the floor. "Just like my mother," he said hoarsely.
"Anakin, don't go off doing anything rash. The future is always in motion," Obi-Wan reminded the younger man.
"I'm not a Padawan anymore, Obi-Wan," Anakin growled. "And I'm not a child, either."
"No, but you're about to bring one into this world!" Obi-Wan yelled.
As soon as the words slipped out of his mouth, he realized that had been a mistake. He saw Anakin's mechanical hand clench as if it were looking for something to choke. Anakin held Obi-Wan in a smoldering gaze for only a second, until Obi-Wan visibly flinched.
Anakin brusquely stormed past Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan reached out to grab Anakin's shoulder to stop him, and Anakin bodily threw Obi-Wan's arm back, and stormed out into the night.
"Would anyone like some tea?" Threepio asked the silent room.
