"Knight Kenobi? Are you all right?" The young, brown-haired initiate knelt down beside Obi-Wan, his green eyes wide with concern.
Obi-Wan had felt a sudden overwhelming nausea that had quickly brought him to his knees. He breathed deeply to gain control over it and then focused upon its source. It had to be coming from Padmé.
He apologized to the half dozen initiates gaping at him before quickly leaving the saber training arena and ran toward the creche where Padmé was located.
It had been two months since they had returned from Naboo. Through their daily rigorous bond training sessions, they had succeeded in maintaining a painless distance of approximately 600 meters. An improvement, but not enough to the point that T'Pal had released Padmé from the Temple to begin her duties as Senator.
Padmé discovered that staying at the Jedi Temple was a great comfort to her. She was near Obi-Wan and she also had the opportunity to meet and get to know some of his friends. She was especially fond of Bant, one of Obi-Wan's oldest and dearest friends.
Her days at the Temple however quickly became tedious when Obi-Wan began his training assignment. She had gone to Yoda to ask for something to do and he had immediately suggested that she help out with the younglings. To her surprise, she found herself enjoying babysitting the children immensely. Being around the toddlers reminded her of being back home on Naboo and visiting her nieces.
It was Bant who stood over her now as she gripped the sides of the toilet bowl, reaching up to flush away the remnants of her breakfast.
Bant laid her salmon-colored hand upon her brow, her silver eyes squinting in concentration. She removed her hand momentarily and smiled at Padmé. Padmé frowned at her in return.
"Mind telling me what's so humorous about this?" Padmé struggled to rise from her kneeling position.
"Not humorous. Just enlightening. You might want to go see Healer T'Pal."
"Why? It's just a virus or something I've picked up from the younglings." Padmé grabbed ahold of Bant as the room seemed to spin.
"Trust me. This is more than a virus. Do you want me to help you there?"
"That's okay Bant. Obi-Wan is here."
The Jedi twirled around after Padmé spoke the words to indeed see Obi-Wan rushing through the creche, heading straight for them.
"Are you all right Padmé?" Obi-Wan immediately supported her with his arm, grabbing her hand with the other.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. It's just a stomach bug or something."
Obi-Wan looked to Bant who shook her head and grinned.
"Come with me. We'll go see Healer T'Pal to make sure."
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The healer paused a moment and then replaced her hands upon Padmé's torso. Without showing any emotion, she removed them and stepped away. "I need to consult Master Yoda. I'll be right back."
The door hissed shut behind her.
/What is going on? Why does Master Yoda have to be involved in this? It's just a stomach virus./ Padmé insisted along their bond.
/Maybe it's more than that./
/Something serious? I would think that T'Pal would have told us if it was./
/Maybe you have food poisoning. I told you not to eat that Mova pudding in the dining hall last night./ obi-Wan teased, trying to hide his worry.
/Reeft ate it and he's not sick./
/Reeft eats anything and everything. He has the stomach of a bantha./
Their conversation ended as Yoda's gimer stick tapped his entry into the room.
Padmé could not stop the questions that sprang up in her mind and she began to rapidly blurt them out. "What is it? I've got some kind of incurable bond disease? Am I dying? What?"
/Padmé, give him a chance to explain./
Yoda hmphed before moving to sit on the small couch in the examination room. "Death, the Force does not bring to you, but life, it does."
/What? Why doesn't he ever talk where people can understand him ?
/Padmé, please. You need to control your emotions./
/I'm sorry Obi-Wan. I don't know what's wrong with me lately./
"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan reached for Padmé's hand and gripped it tightly, hoping that his guess would be the right one. "Are you saying that Padmé has conceived?"
"That I am. Congratulations."
"A b..baby?" Padmé stuttered, immediately searching along the bond for Obi-Wan's feelings. She read confusion and shock and was momentarily disappointed until she discovered that his feelings were mirroring her own. Suddenly, an awareness and acceptance replaced them and they were both in each other's arms.
/A baby! Obi-Wan, are you as happy about this as I am ?
/I think so. I'm a little surprised, but definitely happy. The Force has blessed us Padmé./
He moved out of her embrace, held her face gently between his hands and placed a tender kiss upon her lips. "We're blessed." He reassured her outloud and held her tightly once more as her tears began to fall.