Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I own only Odessa and the Plot!
Responses to reviews below!
One line in here is inspired by my wonderful reviewer, Mirielle! I'm sure you'll find it!
Padmé wasn't as torn up about Anakin's departure as she had been the last time, but she was certainly upset. When she first entered Odessa's apartment, she seemed to be suffering silently, but once Odessa made her a steaming mug of coffee, she began to speak. Wistfully she told Odessa how they had spent every possible moment together, and it had been heavenly. Odessa listened patiently as her friend spoke of the short time with her husband, small tears crawling down her cheeks. She placed a comforting arm around Padmé as she recounted the precious events of the past week.
"'Dessa, I'm sorry I practically ignored you this entire week. It's just that when he's around, I can't think about anything but him. It does wonders for my political career, believe me. He just makes me feel so loved, so…complete. Still, that's no reason to ignore the one person who's helped me through the difficult times without him. And with your pregnancy, too! Something could have happened, and I wouldn't have even known about it; I was so caught up in my own little world. I promise, next time he's here, we'll all do something together, so you can meet him properly. I just hope you can forgive me." Her voice was so full of sincerity and emotion that had Odessa felt the slightest bit of anger towards her, it would have disappeared in an instant.
"Padmé, don't you worry for a second about me. I know how eager you were to see him, and I'm more than capable of keeping myself entertained. I'm just glad that you had such a wonderful time with Anakin. If I needed you, you would have heard from me. Everything was fine." She cast her friend a sincere smile, and Padmé visibly relaxed. Her tears had stopped, and she appeared to be in a much lighter mood.
"So, what did you do to entertain yourself while I was distracted by my charming husband?" she asked jokingly.
"Well, apparently I wasn't the only one who was neglected," Odessa joked. "A certain Master Kenobi came to me the day they returned to thank me for the advice I gave him regarding the battles, and we spent every lunch hour thereafter discussing battle strategies and whatnot. It was quite exhilarating, actually, to be able to discuss Jedi tactics again. And Master Kenobi is a wonderful person to talk to - he has very interesting ideas of his own, and we got into some rather heated debates. The mission they're on now shouldn't be dangerous, but it will be long – a few months, at least. I asked Master Kenobi to let me know when he returns safely, so I won't have to eavesdrop the next time they're returning. Needless to say, Merina wasn't terribly fond of all the time I was spending with the Jedi, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable week."
"Obi-Wan has always been very kind to me. He looks for the best in people, so it's no wonder he was drawn to you – there's no part of you that wouldn't intrigue him. I get the impression he sees Anakin as a bit too inexperienced to really discuss strategy with him on their free time, though. Obi-Wan's always treated Anakin as a son, and I think he may not see how much he's really grown," Padmé replied.
"Master Kenobi is very fond of Anakin. He just worries that he may be a bit headstrong, and too eager to move ahead without truly being ready," Odessa said apologetically.
"Oh, he's always thought that," Padmé said, then told Odessa the story of when Anakin felt that Obi-Wan was holding him back when they visited Tattooine to find his mother. Odessa listened patiently, but as the story progressed, she couldn't help but agree with Obi-Wan. Of course, she appeared sympathetic towards Padmé, who seemed very concerned that Anakin wasn't living up to his full potential. As she neared the end of her story, Padmé let out a barely suppressible yawn.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, 'Dessa!" she exclaimed, embarrassed. Odessa only smiled at her, then stood.
"I'm sure you've had an exhausting week. Go on home, get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow." Padmé flashed her a sleepy smile and left. Odessa started at the door for a few moments after her friend disappeared. She felt torn. Her times with Obi-Wan had been wonderful, but she couldn't help feeling that, by agreeing with his ideas on his apprentice, she was somehow betraying her friend. She prepared for bed, lost in thought. Her dreams were haunted with images of her master, her husband, and, most disturbingly, Obi-Wan's eyes as they parted ways.
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Merina was pleased that Odessa was once more dedicated to her work, with no other engagements to pull her concentration away. Surprisingly, Odessa found her work slightly boring, without anyone to discuss it with. She took to jotting down notes on anything that she wanted to discuss with him once he returned, and had amassed more than twenty pages by a month after he had left. Every evening had been spent with Padmé, discussing Odessa's rapidly approaching child and how to care for the baby. Padmé was a wealth of information, and Odessa took in as much as she could. Still, the prospect of having a child frightened her. She knew that Padmé would be there to support her, but it wouldn't be anywhere close to having her husband with her.
Her stomach continued to grow, and she developed an unbecoming waddle that she tried to hide as much as possible. Still, the younglings found it amusing, and even Padmé would giggle at it, even though she was very apologetic afterwards. It became very uncomfortable to perform her morning exercises with swollen ankles and no waist, so she took to tidying up the study to convert it to a nursery. Her work was becoming exhausting as well, as she couldn't sit for more than half an hour without needed to rush to the bathroom. Her progress slowed considerably, but at least Merina didn't chastise her for it. It wasn't as if she could really control her child's growth.
She returned home from a particularly exhausting day of work about a month and a half after Obi-Wan had left, and had the immediate sense that something was out of place. On her guard, she reached for the door of her apartment, and it swung open. Inside, she saw Threepio busily preparing in the kitchen while Padmé was fidgeting with some large, brightly wrapped presents in the center of her living room. She turned to Odessa.
"Surprise!" she said, smiling. She came over to Odessa and hugged her. Odessa shot her a perplexed look, and she laughed. "I wanted to throw you a baby shower! I know you've been trying to prepare for your baby, but it's absolutely essential to have a baby shower, in order to complete the experience! Now come sit down and open your presents, you look absolutely exhausted."
Odessa smiled at her friend as a wave of gratitude washed over her. No one had ever done something like this for her before – she'd always been too busy trying to save the galaxy to have time for parties and celebrations. Making her way to the couch, she sat heavily and reached for a gift. Padmé batted her hand away.
"You're the main event here! You just sit back and relax, and I'll get the gifts for you. You don't need to raise a finger," she said excitedly. Odessa smiled and sat back. Padmé started handing her gifts to open, and Odessa soon saw that her friend had really gone on a shopping spree. She had gotten her mountains of diapers, enough bibs to last her a month without doing laundry, bottles, blankets, pictures, and toys galore. On top of it all was a small wicker basinet that Odessa could keep right in her room, and a sturdy wooden crib for when the baby got a bit older. She was overwhelmed. So much of what Padmé had purchased she wouldn't have even thought to buy, and she couldn't be more thankful to have her as part of her life. She looked up at her friend, who was beaming at her.
"Padmé, this is too much. Thank you so much for it all, but please let me pay you back for some of it," she said, teary-eyed.
"Nonsense. I've got more than enough money, and I can't think of a better way to spend it. You've done so much for me, even if you don't see it, and since this is an area that I can help you in, I figured that there wouldn't be a better way for me to say thank you. Now, let's go eat, then we'll set up the baby's room." Odessa reached over and hugged Padmé tightly, then struggled to get up. They made their way to the table, where Threepio had prepared a delicious five-course meal. As they ate, Padmé chattered on about the ideas she had for setting up the room, and her escapades purchasing everything she had. Odessa listened silently, too grateful to speak. Once they had both eaten their fill, they started carrying the gifts into the now barren study. Padmé and Threepio moved the crib into the nursery and the basinet into the bedroom as Odessa began to arrange things in the room. A few tiring hours later, both women were about to collapse, but Odessa had a perfect nursery. Looking around the room, she couldn't have imagined doing it all by herself. It was truly a miracle. She turned to Padmé, who looked like she was about to drop.
"Thank you so much for everything. You have no idea how much it means to me. You look exhausted – do you want to stay here for the night, and go home in the morning?"
Padmé cast her a smile, but her face was weary. Stifling a yawn, she stretched her sore limbs.
"I'd love to stay, but don't even think of offering your bedroom. I'll sleep on the couch. You worked just as hard as I, and with that baby of yours to carry around on top of things. I'll be perfectly fine here. Now go get some rest." Padmé sat on the couch and let her hair down, gently combing through it with her fingers. Odessa brought her a blanket and some pillows. Padmé sleepily thanked her, and Odessa went into her bedroom. She was asleep in minutes.
The next morning came too soon, but Odessa sleepily rose at the same hour she always did. She walked into the new nursery, where faint rays of sunlight were just beginning to peek in through the curtained windows. The room seemed so peaceful, sweetly decorated for the child that would soon inhabit its walls. Small stuffed toys were placed on every available ledge, and a mobile of small metallic orbs swung gently over the crib. The desk in the corner had been transformed into a changing table, covered with a thick pad and a neat stack of diapers placed to one side. The room had a very calming effect on her, and suddenly the thought of having a child didn't seem so daunting.
"Well, doesn't this place just look perfect?" Padmé's voice sounded from the doorway. Odessa turned, and saw her friend still in a sleepy haze. Her hair was in a frizzy halo around her delicate face, and her clothes, normally so pristine, were a bit wrinkled. She smiled at Odessa as she entered the room.
"I can never thank you enough for all of this, Padmé. I would never have been able to do it without you." Odessa voice was full of gratitude, and Padmé hugged her.
"Just let me know when the little one gets here, because then I'll never leave. I love taking care of babies," she replied. "I should head back and get straightened up – there's a meeting of the senate today, and I don't think they'd appreciate me coming in as disheveled as I am. Thank you for letting me stay here."
Odessa smiled and walked her to the door. Threepio noticed their movement, and hurriedly made his way to his mistress's side. He opened the door for her, and she turned to Odessa.
"I'll see you tonight?" she asked.
"Of course," Odessa replied, smiling.
Once Padmé and Threepio had left, she got herself ready for work. The stress of having her child had momentarily disappeared, and for the first time in a while, she felt relaxed. She made her way to the temple and continued with her work, in no particular hurry. She tried to clear her mind of any desires and emotions that she had been carrying around, and was surprised to see that she could still accomplish it with very little resistance. The day seemed to fly by as she worked steadily, and she returned home. She freshened up and headed over to Padmé's apartment, where they enjoyed a quiet dinner discussing Padmé's meeting with the senate. Padmé expressed her concern over the amount of power the chancellor seemed to have, and how his power over the senate only seemed to be growing.
"Well, there have been rumors that a dark lord of the Sith is in power of the senate. I'm not suggesting that Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord himself, but perhaps he is being influenced by one?" Odessa asked.
"No, I don't think so. Anakin is very close to the Chancellor, and he would have told me if that were the case. Or, if not me, at least the Jedi council. Surely a Jedi like Anakin would know if the chancellor was being influenced by a Sith, no? No, I think it's just a case of greed and lust for power. I care for Chancellor Palpatine – he has always supported me in everything that I've wanted to do for Naboo – but I do fear that the power of his position has gone to his head," Padmé answered thoughtfully. They ate in silence for a bit, then Padmé continued on with her discussion of the happenings of the senate. They spoke for a few hours, then Odessa bade her farewell. She returned home and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next month passed rather uneventfully. Odessa's baby kept growing, and it was soon extremely uncomfortable to reach her computer at work. Still she struggled through it, knowing Merina would be extremely upset if she didn't seem dedicated to her work. Odessa was disgusted at her fitness level, as she would be completely winded by the time she reached the top of a flight of stairs. Padmé tried to explain to her that it had nothing to do with her, that the baby was pressing against her lungs, but it did little to help Odessa's mood.
One particularly uncomfortable morning, as Odessa sat in an awkward positing to relieve her back pains and analyze the battles at the same time, Mace Windu came to visit her. He cleared his throat roughly. She looked up at him, and saw extreme contempt in his eyes as he looked at her.
"Ms. Sinthea, Master Kenobi requested that I tell you that he and his apprentice have succeeded on their mission, and will be returning to Coruscant shortly," he said curtly, and turned to leave.
"Thank you, Master Windu," she replied, struggling to stand. "When will they be back?"
He turned back to her. Gazing at her with a mixture of disdain and disgust on his face, he paused a moment before answering.
"Not that it should be a matter of yours, but they will be returning within the week. No doubt he will seek you out, for some reason that I cannot comprehend. He seemed rather interested in talking with you during his last stay here."
She smiled weakly at him, but it was not returned. Her smile faded. "Thank you for the information, Master Windu," she said formally. He left, without another word to her. She sat back down, wishing she had the strength and position to be able to tell him how absolutely awfully he was acting towards her. Of course, he wouldn't listen to her, but perhaps she could bring it up with Obi-Wan. The familiar twinge of excitement started to grow in her at Obi-Wan's impending arrival. She tried to tell herself that he may have changed his mind about her, that he may feel the same way Master Windu felt, but she couldn't make it go away. She spent a few moments to clear her mind, and was able to calm down enough to finish the day. Seeing Padmé was another matter. She knew her friend would be ecstatic about the news, but she wasn't sure if she had the strength to stay up to all hours chatting with her. She knew that she had to try, though, since her friend had done so much for her.
She made her way to Padmé's apartment, and gently knocked on the door. Threepio answered, and let her in. Padmé was preparing a meal in the kitchen, and greeted Odessa merrily. They sat down to eat, and with a bit of reluctance that Odessa was able to cover with over-exaggerated excitement, she told Padmé the news. Her friend was understandably elated, and it still warmed her heart to see her friend so happy. She seemed to glow whenever she was looking forward to seeing Anakin, in a sweetly childish way. Luckily for Odessa, Padmé seemed just as tired as she felt, so they didn't stay up very late. That evening, Odessa's dreams were haunted once again by Obi-Wan's turquoise eyes. They seemed to be searching for her, but she wasn't sure why.
She woke the next morning, very achy. He stomach felt stretched to its absolute limit, and she hoped that it wouldn't be long before her child was born. With much effort, she pulled herself out of bed and groggily prepared for the day. Her mind cleared a bit as she arrived at work, but she still felt as if she were in a pain-induced stupor. Shortly after lunch, she was snapped back to reality by a gentle voice.
"Immersed in your work again, I see," Obi-Wan said. Her head snapped up, and all memories of the pain she was feeling diminished as she saw him. Struggling to stand, she smiled happily at him.
"Master Kenobi! It's wonderful to see you back so soon! Master Windu told me to expect you sometime within the week, but I didn't expect you here yet. Congratulations on a successful mission!" she said to him excitedly. He smiled serenely at her.
"I have much to tell you. Some of the battles we had talked about previously didn't go as we thought – apparently some of our enemies have learned from their past mistakes. For instance -" Odessa silenced him with a wave of her hand as she noticed Merina's stern gaze. He looked at her questioningly.
"Master Kenobi, I would like nothing more than to discuss this with you, but perhaps we can discuss it over dinner? I fear that our dear Madam Orven will have my head on a platter if I'm distracted by you once more," she said apologetically. "If it's alright with you, I can prepare something for around seven o'clock? Here's my address, and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you in the library." She jotted something down on a spare slip of paper, and he read it carefully before tucking it away.
"Until this evening, then," he said to her, smiling. She returned the smile, and he wandered off into the library, greeting Merina kindly as she cast him a disapproving look. Odessa couldn't hear what she was saying, but she had the impression that she was chastising him for distracting her archivist once again. Seemingly unfazed, he exited the library, with one more smile in Odessa's direction.
The rest of the day seemed to creep along. What was she thinking, inviting him to dinner? Of course Padmé would be otherwise occupied, but she wasn't really prepared to have guests over. While she was a reasonably neat person, she hadn't been able to dust or straighten up as much as normal, so she would have to do that before he arrived. She considered asking Padmé if she could borrow Threepio for a bit of extra help, but decided against it. Obi-Wan would probably recognize the protocol droid, and she didn't want to reveal her friendship with Padmé to the Jedi Master yet. She sent her friend a rushed message explaining that she had made plans for the evening, but she figured that she would be preoccupied anyway. When the time came for her to leave, she rushed home as quickly as possible. Returning to her apartment, she was grateful to see that it wasn't as messy as she had imagined, and after about fifteen minutes, she was satisfied with the work. She then prepared a quick but elegant meal, and as soon as it was in the oven, she went to change.
She stood in front of her closet, unsure of what to wear. She didn't want to appear too formal, yet she didn't want to look sloppy. Finally she decided on a simple blue dress. It accentuated her stomach a bit more than she liked, but it would do. Quickly fastening her hair into a neat bun, she returned to the kitchen. Setting the table, she checked the clock – it was ten minutes before Obi-Wan was supposed to arrive. She took the meal out of the oven, and paced the kitchen as it cooled, aimlessly straightening her appliances as she waited for him to arrive. Promptly at seven, the doorbell rang.
She opened the door, and there was Obi-Wan, in his traditional Jedi garb. In his hands he held a loaf of freshly baked bread. She smiled at him, and held the door open.
"Good evening, Master Kenobi. I'm glad to see you made it here without any trouble," she said warmly.
"Please, Ms. Sinthea, I do believe that once we are away from the temple, informal names will suffice. You may call me Obi-Wan." He looked at her with an expression she couldn't place, but he was certainly happy to see her. He handed her the loaf of bread and looked around the apartment. She placed it on the table, then turned to him.
"Well then, you must call me Odessa. Whenever I hear someone call me Ms. Sinthea, I feel like I've gotten into trouble." He smiled at her. "Please come sit, and you can tell me of your exploits as we eat."
They sat at her small table and began to eat. Obi-Wan started telling her about his first battles, when a sharp pain ripped through her stomach, causing her to cry out. She felt a distinct wetness between her legs, and looked up at Obi-Wan, embarrassed.
"Well, this is certainly inconvenient. Master Ke- I mean, Obi-Wan, I believe that my child is on its way," she said breathlessly, flashing him an embarrassed smile. Another sharp pain ripped through her body, and she grimaced. Obi-Wan jumped up, and pulled her out of her seat.
"We'd better get you to the hospital. Can you walk?" He said, his voice full of concern.
"Yes, I think so. Oh, I'm sorry about this, Obi-Wan," she said apologetically. She took a few tentative steps, but practically collapsed as another sharp pain shot through her body. He quickly grabbed her arm, and supported her as they walked to the door. With a wave of his hand it opened, and he hurriedly pulled her through. The door shut behind them, and locked.
"Wait! All of my things…I'll need some sort of identification…" her breathy voice trailed off.
"Where are they?" He asked her.
"In the bedroom…a small leather pouch on my bed…" He rushed back into the apartment as she supported herself shakily on the wall. He was back within seconds, and slipped his arm gently but firmly behind her back as he escorted her to his speeder. Once he fastened her in safely, he jumped into the driver's seat and sped off. They were at the hospital within minutes, but they felt like hours and wave after wave of pain coursed through her body. She could vaguely hear Obi-Wan speaking to her, but whatever he said wasn't getting through. They arrived, and she felt him lifting her out of the vehicle. She tried to protest, but was too weak for her protests to have any effect. Obi-Wan brought her to the reception droid.
"She's in labor," he said anxiously. The droid looked at him blankly.
"Does she have identification?" it asked in a tinny voice. Obi-Wan gently placed her into one of the seats in the lobby, and sorted through her pouch until he found her identification card. The droid took it and read the information as two more droids approached Odessa.
"Are you the father?" the droid asked. Obi-Wan cast it an incredulous look.
"No, I am not," he replied. The two new droids had placed Odessa on a stretcher, and were about to take her back.
"You'll need to wait back here until she's free to have visitors," the droid said flatly.
"No…please…let him come…I don't want to be…alone," came Odessa's faint voice. He rushed to her side.
"Very well. Take her to Room D." The two droids quickly escorted them to a fairly small examination room, and placed her on the bed.
"The doctor will arrive shortly," one droid said as the other hooked her up to an IV. They left as soon as their work was complete. Obi-Wan took a seat next to Odessa, and gingerly held her hand. Her forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and her face was unhealthily pale.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly. She opened her eyes long enough to shoot him a proper glare, then spoke.
"How do you think I'm feeling? Please, just continue with the stories of your mission – it will take my mind off of the situation," she said as firmly as possible. Obi-Wan admired her strength, and smiled. He began to speak to her, telling her of each battle he encountered. His voice was soothing to her, and he felt her trembling lessen. A medical droid entered the room and prepared her to deliver the baby. Obi-Wan stood next to her, never letting go of her hand. She was soon gripping it tightly as she pushed her child out of her body, and Obi-Wan whispered words of encouragement to her. Two exhausting hours later, the medic droid looked up.
"Congratulations, you have a baby boy." It bundled up the small baby in a soft blanket, and handed him to Obi-Wan. Gently letting go of Odessa's hand, he took the baby in his arms. His pink face was scrunched up and his tiny hands were balled into tight fists. Obi-Wan placed him in Odessa's arms. She smiled down at the tiny child in her arms, as a small tear trailed down her cheek.
"He's so beautiful," Odessa whispered. "He…he looks like his father, just a bit. His nose, and his ears. I wish I could see his eyes." She ran a finger over his cheek.
"So what are you going to name him?" Obi-Wan asked. She looked up at him, then down at her child.
"I think…Han. I've always liked that name." Obi-Wan gently took the boy from Odessa and held him up. He spent a few moments studying the baby's face.
"Han Sinthea – it suits him well." He looked over at Odessa, who smiled and shook her head.
"No, he will have his father's last name. This little boy here is Han Solo." She reached for him, and Obi-Wan returned him to her arms. She yawned hugely, and Obi-Wan smiled at her.
"I can imagine you're exhausted. I'll go find one of the medical droids, and see if you're free to go," Obi-Wan said, and headed for the door. Just as he reached it, a droid entered.
"Ms. Sinthea, we would like you to stay here for a couple of days, to ensure that you and your child are healthy. We're going to move you somewhere a bit more comfortable, where you can keep your child with you," it said. Odessa handed her baby to the droid as she struggled to get out of the bed. Obi-Wan was by her side instantly, lifting her out of the bed with ease and placing her into a wheelchair. The droid returned Han to her and led them all to a much larger room, with a simple bed and a small crib. Obi-Wan placed Han into the crib before helping her into the bed. His face was still full of concern.
"I can't stay long, but I promise I will return tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, get some rest. No doubt both you and Han need it," He said to her as the droid left. She smiled weakly at him.
"Thank you so much for everything, Obi-Wan. I'm sorry to have taken up your entire evening," she said.
"Nonsense. There's nowhere else I would have preferred to be. Now get some rest, and I'll be here in the morning. Rest well, Odessa." He made sure she was comfortably in bed before leaving.
When she woke the next morning, sunlight was streaming through her window, and Han was missing from his crib. In a panic, she tried to spring out of bed, but found that her muscles were still far too sore for such movement. Wincing, she turned towards the door, and saw Obi-Wan sitting beside her bed.
"Well, it's about time you woke up," he said teasingly. The sight of him had calmed her a bit, and she sat back in bed. Surely if there was something wrong with her child, he wouldn't be trying to lighten her spirits.
"Do you know where Han is?" she asked immediately. He smiled.
"Well, good morning to you, too. Don't worry, Han is fine. One of the medical droids came in to do some tests on him a few moments ago, but I sent them out so they wouldn't wake you. Apparently I needn't have worried, though – from what they told me, your little boy was causing quite a racket in the middle of the night, and you slept through it all. But I think that may have been due to the drugs they gave you. From what I hear, you lost quite a bit of blood in the delivery. They were worried you wouldn't pull through. Had I known that, I would have stayed." His voice had grown serious, and a few lines of worry had formed between his eyes.
"Well, I feel alright now. A little banged up, perhaps, but nothing that won't heal in a few days," she replied. "Oh dear! What time is it? I need to let Merina know that I won't be in – she'll skin me alive if she thinks I'm just lounging around- " she was cut off by Obi-Wan laughing.
"Odessa, I stopped by the library before I arrived here, and let her know what had happened. You can imagine how pleased she was to hear it from me, on top of everything. But she understands that the whole reason you're working for her is because of Han, so of course she wasn't terribly upset. A bit miffed, perhaps, but not upset." His turquoise eyes still glittered with laughter. Relaxing, Odessa stretched against the back of her bed. Just then, the door opened, and a droid carrying a whimpering Han entered.
"Oh good, mom is awake now. The baby – Han, is it? Your friend here told me – is perfectly healthy, but a bit hungry. However, we want to keep the two of you here while you're recuperating. As you might have heard from your friend, you weren't looking all that good last night. But you seem to have healed up quite nicely," the droid told her. It placed Han in her arms, and he settled down immediately. She held him close, and noticed that at some point during the night she had been changed into a hospital gown. The droid left, and Odessa gently rocked the baby in her arms, admiring his perfect little features. Large dark blue eyes looked up at her serenely, framed with dark lashes and adorably pudgy cheeks. He started fussing, and Obi-Wan respectfully turned away as she brought him to her breast.
"So, do you like being a mother so far?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Well, I haven't had to change any diapers or clean up any spit-up, so, so far, I can't complain," she said happily. "He's just so…perfect. I never imagined that I could love someone so strongly and so quickly. I didn't even feel this strongly for my husband, and believe me, our bond was the tightest I'd ever felt in my life."
"How did you meet your husband?"
"It's quite a story, actually. We were children together on Corellia, before I was taken to the Jedi Temple. The details are quite fuzzy, but from what I recall, there was an attack, and many adults were killed, including the parents of many children my age. The authorities brought all the children together, which is where I first met him. Neither of us were really sure what was going on, but he tried to comfort me and make me feel better, if you can imagine a three-year old boy trying to be comforting. It was very traumatic, so the memory of it never left me. By chance, some fifteen years later, my Master and I returned to Corellia, and we ran into each other again. He had become a hotshot pilot, and once we were reunited, he took to following me around, saying that the Jedi always got the best action. After one particularly close battle where I was nearly overrun, he outright proposed, saying that he couldn't imagine life without me. I knew that I felt the same way, regardless of my Jedi teachings, so of course I accepted. My Master appreciated his aid, so if he knew of our relationship, he stayed quiet. Our wedding was simple, with only one of his longtime friends as a witness. Still, I think it was the happiest day of my life, until now. You can turn around now."
Obi-Wan turned back to her, and saw her gently cradling Han in her arms. Her face was so full of emotion, it was hard to believe that she had any type of control over her feelings. Yet, in the short time he had gotten to know her, he saw that she was a strong, capable Jedi. While her life would be consumed with the child she now held in her arms, Obi-Wan could see that she would have made a wonderful Jedi.
"Unfortunately, I can't stay long. I must meet with the Jedi Council, but I will stop by in the evening to make sure everything is going well. Is there anything I can pick up for you?" He stood and made his way to the side of her bed.
"Yes, actually. At my desk in the library, you will find a stack of papers in the corner. They're notes I've taken on some of the battles I've recorded, and I wanted to discuss some of them with you. If you could get those for me, I'd be very grateful."
"Oh sure, send me in to see your lovely overseer. If I come out missing a few limbs, the blame will be entirely on you," he joked. He looked at Han, and touched a finger to his tiny nose.
"Now Han, take good care of Mom while I'm gone. I'm counting on you to make sure that she doesn't fall into any more drug-induced comas," he said in a mockingly formal tone. Han gurgled at him. Odessa smiled.
"Thank you again for all your help last night. I know it must be a hassle for you, what with everything else you need to get done," she told him. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Trust me, being in your company is far more enjoyable than anything else I could do here, even if I do have to drag you to the hospital. I will see you this evening." He squeezed her shoulder gently, and left. She laid back and placed Han on the pillow next to her, gently stroking the feather-light hairs on his head as he dropped of into sleep. She gently placed him into the small crib, and took a nap herself.
She woke up in the early afternoon, feeling quite refreshed. A sandwich and a few pieced of fruit had been placed next to her bed while she slept, and she realized how hungry she was. Han was awake, and she tickled his stomach as she ate. Obi-Wan had not yet returned, so she assumed that the Jedi Council was still in session. Hoping that Padmé was alone, she contacted her apartment.
Threepio answered, and greeted her warmly. She asked him if Padmé was in, and she appeared where he was.
"Odessa, are you alright? I tried to get a hold of you at your apartment last night after I received your message, but no one was there…of course, I was busy with Anakin, as you know, but you seemed a bit worried in your message, so I wanted to make sure everything was ok. Where are you?" Odessa smiled at her friend's chatter.
"Everything's fine, now. I'm at the hospital, and there's someone here I'd like you to meet," she said happily. Padmé gave a little squeak as a huge grin appeared on her face.
"Oh, I'll be right there! Let me just leave a note for Anakin, and I'll be right over! This is so exciting!" she exclaimed, and then the communicator went dark. Odessa reached over and gently picked up Han, who let out a little cry of complaint at being woken up. She rubbed his back, and he settled down. It appeared that the medical droids had stopped by once more, and changed him while she slept. He was swathed in a soft baby-blue blanket that made his eyes stand out even more against his pink skin. She rocked him as he stared up at her, wide-eyed. No more than ten minutes later, a breathless Padmé appeared in the doorway, carrying a bouquet of brightly colored flowers and a yellow teddy bear. She squeaked in excitement as she saw the tiny baby in Odessa's arms.
"I came as quickly as I could! You didn't say if it was a boy or a girl, but look at him! Oh he's just precious!" she exclaimed, placing the flowers on the bedside table. She held out her hands, and Odessa passed Han to her.
"Well hello there! I'm your auntie Padmé! Aren't you just the most adorable thing ever? Oh 'Dessa, he's perfect! What are you going to name him?"
"Han. And I'm giving him his father's last name, since he does look very much like him." Odessa replied, watching her friend gush over her baby. Padmé placed him in the crib, and tucked the teddy bear in beside him. Han seemed very interested in his new crib-mate, and turned his full attention to it.
"So tell me, what happened last night? What were you doing, and when was little Han here born?" Padmé asked. Odessa told her of her planned evening with Obi-Wan, and how she went into labor in the middle of dinner.
"It was quite embarrassing, but Obi-Wan stayed with me the whole time. He came by this morning, too, to make sure I was alright. Apparently I lost a lot of blood during the delivery, so they want me to stay here for a few days to make sure I heal up correctly. Obi-Wan said he would stop by again tonight to check on me. I'm so glad he was with me – I really don't know if I could have made it alone," she told Padmé.
"Oh, you could have. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. But I'm sure his presence did help – it's always nice to have someone for moral support. So, the two of you are on a first name basis, now?" Padmé asked teasingly.
"I don't think anyone could go through an experience like that without being on a first name basis afterwards." Odessa said to her friend, shooting her a playful glare. Padmé smiled, and walked over to Han's crib. He was asleep again; one tiny arm wrapped around the head of the teddy bear.
"He's so beautiful, 'Dessa. You're so lucky to have him," Padmé said wistfully. She ran a finger along his pudgy arm, then sat on the bed beside Odessa. "And how are you feeling?" she said, casting a concerned look in Odessa's direction.
"I'm fine. A bit weak and achy, perhaps, but nothing that I can't handle. The pain was definitely worth it. But enough about me – how are you and your beloved?" she replied. Padmé immediately gushed about how Anakin had completely caught her off guard and had a special meal prepared for the evening before. The two women talked for two hours, when a soft knock sounded on the door. It creaked open, and Obi-Wan stood outside.
"May I come in, or are you entertaining company?" he asked. Odessa glanced at Padmé nervously, but she seemed unfazed. She stood, and walked to the door.
"Obi-Wan! How lovely to see you!" she exclaimed, greeting him with a hug. "Odessa was just telling me how you helped her last night – that was very sweet of you. I actually need to run; I have an appointment at seven that I can't be late for. So I'll leave her in your capable hands. 'Dessa, let me know how you're feeling tomorrow!" She gave her friend a quick hug, and breezed out of the room. Puzzled, Obi-Wan shut the door behind her.
"Was it something I said?" he asked as he sat beside Odessa. She smiled at him.
"Oh, Padmé's always doing five things at once. She's always trying to keep herself busy," Odessa told him.
"Well, that's true. I've known her for quite some time. But more importantly, how are you doing? And how do you and Padmé know each other?" He looked at her curiously.
"I'm feeling much better. I took a nap earlier, and I'm almost as good as new now. Padmé and I live relatively close to one another, and we just started talking one day. We've been practically inseparable since. She's helped me quite a bit in preparing for Han – I'd probably be lost without her."
"Yes, she's a very caring individual. She likes helping those in need. She and Anakin have always been very close, and I've gotten the feeling that their relationship is only growing stronger. He's told me that he cares for her, and I constantly tell him to not let himself get attached, but you know those pesky apprentices. They never listen to their Masters." Odessa swallowed. It wasn't her place to alert Obi-Wan to his apprentice's extracurricular activities, no matter how dangerous they could turn out. And she didn't want to endanger Padmé or get Anakin exiled from the Jedi as she had been, so she remained silent.
"Has she ever mentioned Anakin to you?" He asked suspiciously.
"Only that they're friends." Odessa's voice was calm, but if Obi-Wan had pried at all, he would have known that she was hiding something. If he did, he didn't mention it. Instead, he stood, and took a stack of papers out of his cloak.
"I believe these are yours, and trust me, they weren't terribly easy to get. I hope they're worth it." He handed the stack to Odessa, smiling. They spent the rest of the evening discussing the battles, taking breaks for doctor's visits and suppers for both mother and child. The talked late into the night, until an irate droid ordered Obi-Wan to leave.
"I'll be back tomorrow. They can't keep me out forever," he said jokingly. He gently stroked Han's head as Odessa held him on her lap, then stood.
"Feel better. Get some rest – no doubt you want to get out of this hospital, and I daresay these droids will get as bad as Merina before your stay is through. I'll see you in the morning." With a sweet smile to Odessa, he closed the door.
She stayed in the hospital for two more days, then Padmé helped her return home. She sent Obi-Wan a brief message letting him know, and he arrived at her apartment in the evening with yet another bouquet of flowers. They ordered dinner from a local delivery place and ate a quiet dinner in the new nursery.
"I'm glad to see that they gave you a clean bill of health. I wouldn't have liked to leave without knowing that you were alright," Obi-Wan told her.
"You're leaving already?" she asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. It's a long assignment, too. We need to oversee the installment of clone armies on multiple planets in the outer rim, and that coupled with separatists trying to destroy us could make for a very long stay away. I'll send you messages, letting you know how everything's going."
"Well, don't send them through Master Windu again – he wasn't terribly amused to play messenger boy to the failed Jedi girl in the library," she replied, annoyed.
Obi-Wan laughed. "Yes, he's a very hard person to like. Some would even call him a 'dog-eat-dog world' personified. But he's got a good heart, and his head's in the right place most of the time. No, I'll send you the messages directly. Since this next stay will be so long, we'll have more permanent living accommodations, complete with long-range communicators. Hopefully we can still have our discussions of battles, even with me halfway across the galaxy."
They spent the rest of the evening talking about his upcoming mission, as well as her plans for Han. Once it became clear that the small boy was entirely too exhausted for any more visitors, Obi-Wan stood. A brief look of sadness flashed through his eyes, but he covered it with a smile.
"Odessa, as always, it's been lovely spending time with you. I shall contact you once I've arrived at the base. May the force be with you." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and for a moment it seemed as if he wanted to hug her, but thought better of it. She smiled at him.
"And you, Obi-Wan. Good Luck out there, and if you don't contact me, I'll send those medical droids after you," she joked. He laughed, and left. She tucked Han into the small basinet beside her bed, and laid down to sleep. It eluded her as she spent many hours thinking of Obi-Wan's upcoming battle, as well as the way he had treated her in the past few days.
Thank you for everyone who reviewed! I know this post is up a bit later than you may have like, but quality over quantity, right? I'll try to have at least one chapter up per week, if not more.
Apocalypse90 – I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
A.K. Anomynous – thank you for the compliment! I'm glad you like it!
Kiki-0303 – I try to keep it moving, but I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Mirielle – My wonderful reviewer! I sent you an email right after I got your review, but I'm not sure if you got it. Let me post the response to your reviews-
I'm so happy you like my story - I actually wrote another obi/odessa fic that I started right after Ep1 and finished right before Ep3, but once Ep3 came out, it was completely off, so I came up with this plot. There are some things in the first one that I like better, but the situation just wasn't plausible with the rest of the story. I might post it after I finish up with this one, if people are interested.
Grammar nitpick - Ack! How did I, the Grammer Nazi herself, miss that:-) Thanks for pointing it out - I'll go fix it.
Back History – As you saw, I put Odessa and her Husband's history in here.
Han's youth - Thanks for the info on Han's youth - I knew that he was abandoned on the streets of Corellia when he was young, but I didn't know the stuff about his mother. I know what I'm going to have happen with him, and I think with a bit of tweaking, it will fit with the story. He will know his mother, and she will love him very much. As for beautiful, well, I like to picture Odessa as beautiful :-).
While I was watching the last movie, I couldn't help thinking that Padme really needed a good friend, and since I had to scrap the plotline of "Odessa the bodyguard to the queen," I figured she'd make a great friend. I'm not sure if I'm doing all that well with Padme's personality, but I don't think I'm too far off.
Trust me, Odessa and Obi-Wan won't be throwing themselves at each other. Truthfully, I don't think my story warrants the T rating, but I'm putting it in there just to be safe. Their relationship will be slow and sweet, not something completely out there.
I've read about Siri, and it does seem as though she and Obi-Wan would go well together. However, since I'm in the middle of writing this story, every time I try and read a fanfic about her, all I can think is "That hussy BETTER stay away from Odessa's man!" :-) Once I'm objective again, I'm sure I'll like her a lot better.
Of course I've read the Shadow series! I haven't gotten my hands on the latest one yet, but Bean is definately awesome. It's so sad that the best characters have to die young.
Thank you so much for reading my story! It really does brighten my day when I get reviews, so thank you so much!