Wow the response I got was overwhelming. Thanks to everyone who submitted a review, and so quickly too. I woke up with an inbox full of alerts! I will try my hardest not to space out my updates as I have done in previous stories.
I am also debating if I should delete my old story, Demise of the Sith (slightly like this one but suckier). Any thoughts?
Sit back and relax, this one's looooong.
Chapter 2: Facing the Fire
If you've ever walked to face something you didn't want to, but knew you had to, you know how Padme was feeling right now. Her long black robe scraped the heavy black carpets in the halls of the Jedi temple. Her hands were fumbling around underneath it, betraying her feelings.
Jedi after Jedi passed her, and her companions, with stoic and curious looks. Many nodded, recognizing her or possibly being polite. Obi-Wan and Anakin were in front of her, like a shield, but they could sense as any other Jedi could, the torrent of feelings she felt. And she felt them even more keenly now.
After their conversation in the Senate, the trio had decided to go to the council directly, instead of putting it off. Padme called two of her handmaidens and Captain Typho to escort her to the Jedi temple.
Unsure of their future or what should be done, the companions were eager to reveal as little as possible while at the temple.
As they reached the council's doors, Padme's breath came in short puffs. Obi-Wan and Anakin turned around quickly, simultaneously. Anakin was about to reach out to her when Obi-Wan stopped him.
"Not here. You know better." Obi-Wan turned his face to her handmaidens. "There is a chamber next to this one that you can take your lady to rest for a while." The handmaidens nodded and took Padme by the arms. They gently guided her along the hall to another chamber a few feet from the Councils.
Padme didn't realize she was being led away until she heard Anakin's voice behind her.
"Just give us a moment, Master."
Motee and Elle led her to a small couch next to an open bay window. She sat down, shakily, then dismissed them. Only Anakin remained in the room. Padme looked around nervously.
"Ani," she began, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry if I've ruined it. I shouldn't have given in." She stood up to pace the room. "I was stronger than this."
"No, Padme." Anakin stopped her with that one word. He approached her slowly and deliberately took her in his arms, despite the setting. Despite all the feelings that swirled around them. Despite the fact that Obi-Wan and countless other Force-sensitive Jedis were just outside the door.
"You should blame me. I pushed you into this."
"Ani…we both knew this would destroy us. What're we going to do?" She leaned her head against his coat. Then she whispered, "My head hurts."
Anakin chuckled and rubbed her back. "I'm sorry your head hurts. If you didn't wear those elaborate hairstyles all the time, you wouldn't have this trouble." His hands traveled to her stomach.
"It's not just us anymore. And the last time I looked, no one's been destroyed."
"Well, just-," she sighed, "Just tell me what to do in there."
He led her to the same couch she'd launched herself off then made her sit.
"Don't you worry about saying anything unless they ask you. I'm going to tell them."
Padme noticed a bead of sweat trailing down her husband's temple. She cautiously wiped it away.
"This is going to change everything. We need to decide what's next."
"Padme, are you listening to me? I'm telling you," he said with a smile. "You're not listening. When they ask us what's next you tell them we're going to Naboo to stay with your family. Does that sound OK?"
"Oh," Padme's eyes filled unexpectedly with tears. For a few months she'd had these days where she'd pondered why she couldn't and wouldn't tell her family about her marriage. Now she'd have to fess up to more than just the marriage.
"I'm sorry," she said. Wiping her tears away she shifted awkwardly. "I do this a lot now."
"I don't mind." His hand reached for hers.
"And unexpectedly, too. For no reason." She searched his face. He was nothing but earnest.
"I don't mind." He looked at the door. "It's time. Now. Put on your best Senator's face."
Padme's look of despair turned into one of hardened determination. Her political face made her look strong, and slightly scary.
"There's my girl. Now remember, don't say anything yet." She nodded and they both stood.
Her heart beat quicker and her mind swirled with the possibilities. The door opened smoothly and her handmaidens awaited her. They turned the corner and stood in front of the Council doors. Padme's hand was dropped and the door slid open. Her hands shook and she put them behind her back.
Before her, Obi-Wan stood in the middle of the room, in the middle of the council's circle. Padme's eyes fell to the elaborately etched floor. Different shapes and outlines, made carefully, created simply to decorate the large space, all faced him. She glanced at her husband.
He was no longer sweating, and seemed totally in control. His dark Jedi robes were in complete opposition to his Master's light ones. She caught his glance at her, and could've sworn he winked. She only hardened her resolve and faced the music.
It hurt so badly. Her fingers were on fire and she knew that more pain was coming. Mother was going to punish her good this time. Or well. Whichever word she was supposed to say.
The little blubbering bundle walked to her sister and held out her fingers. Sola only shook her head.
"You are so dead little sister. Mother told you not to touch the grill." Sola took her little sister to the sink and put her fingers under the faucet.
"I just wanted to help."
"But you can't help unless Mother is around, right?" Sola rolled her pre-teen eyes. Her little sister often got into mischief. "The fire is too hot, right?"
"Right." She hiccupped.
After being cleaned up and bandaged, Sola led her to her mother's room. Mother was folding clothes. Her heart beat quickly and her hands shook.
"Mother-"
"I hereby call the council in session," Mace Windu cut through her thoughts. She shook her head and blew out a breath.
"Master Obi-Wan, news you have for us?" Master Yoda, the head of the council, began the inquiry.
Looking around the room, Padme saw a dozen Jedi all staring at them. They surrounded her. She could almost feel them prying into her mind.
All kinds of species, alien and familiar to her, stared at Obi-Wan. She only recognized four of them. Master Windu of course, his dark skin illuminated in the soft lights of the chambers. He helped Yoda in the leadership aspect and had always seemed to her, to be the hard-headed one.
She recognized Shaak Ti, who had always seemed calm around her, and kind. Her strange contrasting skin, red, white and blue, always made her eyes hurt a little. She too was an elder. Then there was Ki-Adi-Mundi who'd clashed with her a couple times when she'd suspected Count Dooku of leading the attacks on her life. With her being the victor. His large pointy head made her think of the buildings on Coruscant, shooting upwards into the sky.
Then of course there was Yoda. The little green master had been an ally in all her many problems in office. Now she'd hope he'd continue to use his wisdom to help her when she needed it most.
"Yes," Obi-Wan began, "I have a breach of the code to report."
A murmur rose through the chambers.
"Unfortunately," Obi-Wan glanced at the couple on trial, "I found out today that Anakin has been married these past three years to Senator Amidala. And they have hid their love since the start of the Clone Wars."
The Council murmur grew. Expressions changed, from meditation to distress. Master Yoda's brow furrowed, Master Windu scowled, Master Ti's eyes grew wide then compassionate, but Ki-Adi-Mundi's face hardened. The rest of the council seemed of the same mixed reaction.
Master Ti spoke up first. "And you have proof of this?"
Anakin nodded. "We have no reason to deny it."
The wave of sound grew louder, until Master Yoda cleared his throat. He who had been sitting in deep thought, not even listening to Anakin's confession. When he finally banged his walking stick on the floor, the council was silent.
"A grievous thing this is to judge. Rules there are, and rules you have broken." He eyed Padme closely.
"More, you have to say?"
Padme knew this was her chance. She didn't want to stay silent anymore.
"Yes, Master Yoda. I'm pregnant. I was just telling Anakin when Master Kenobi found us." Her senatorial voice worked. Not knowing how she was able to pull it off, Padme sighed.
If Padme thought that the council was angry before, she was sure of it now. Each face had a measure of betrayal on it, even Master Ti and Master Yoda. Looking at such pain, then glancing at Anakin, Padme lowered her head.
Thinking it useless to hide it any longer, she pulled off her cloak, revealing her large form. Her face was hot and she felt shaken. Only her handmaidens had thus seen her without any sort of disguise. But it was obvious to everyone how far along she was. She didn't have too long left.
Voicing everyone's thoughts, she spoke. "I believe I'll deliver by mid-spring."
After another silence, and the pain of waiting for a reprimand, they got one.
"This is disgusting," Ki-Adi-Mundi began, "I cannot believe our so-called 'chosen one' has broken the code."
Comments sprang up around the room. Padme looked around her at the faces. She locked in on Mater Ti. Her eyes moved over Padme then over Anakin, then back on Padme. She held up a hand.
"Masters, please." She looked over to Yoda. "Master Yoda, there's more to this than just a broken code."
Anakin's hand had somehow found its' way to Padme's back, and was now reassuringly patting it. Shaak Ti noticed this and nodded.
"We took a vow of no possessions, and no lasting relationships. We must let go. Some cannot do that," she smiled. "Even a chosen one."
"Master Ti you are being so unreasonable. Stop letting your feelings get in the way," Ki-Adi-Mundi sat back with a grunt.
"My feelings are not in the way. But there's are. You forget, Senator Amidala has broken no codes. It is only Anakin of whom we speak." Shaak Ti sat back and put her hand to her head. "I sense so much feeling."
Mace Windu huffed. "I knew we shouldn't have taken him in at his age. He'd already been too exposed to a non-Jedi life."
"He'd been exposed to love and caring. He'd been exposed to family," Padme cried.
"Padme-" Anakin took his hand off her back and onto her shoulder. "Look what more do you want from us? We told you the truth, so expel me already and leave her out of it." Anakin's face had turned red during his minute tirade.
Yoda took the opportunity to speak. "Very troubling this all is. The Chosen One, you may still be, but out of the Order you are." The Council members all nodded. Then he continued.
"Senator Amidala, nothing wrong there is with love and family, but a Jedi has not these things."
"I'm sorry Master Yoda." Padme shifted on her feet.
"Yes, sorry you are, and tired. Carrying these children, hard on you it is."
Padme couldn't hear anyone else but the rushing in her ears. Children? Anakin seemed to find his voice first.
"Children? Master Yoda I don't-"
"Twins they are, and strong in the force they will be."
The Council seemed to sit back at this news. One by one, they all began to murmur again, to one another and to themselves. Padme turned during the confusion to Anakin. She also saw Obi-Wan's shocked expression behind him. Anakin took her in his arms as she repeated over and over, "I didn't know."
The council seemed to quiet, watching the couple. Mace Windu turned his head away.
"Very disturbing this all is, but happy for you it may be," Yoda rubbed the fine hairs on his head. "Think on what to do next, this Council will. For now, a Jedi Knight, no longer, will you be."
Padme's head whipped around to Anakin. Although shaken, he nodded and then bowed to the masters.
"That doesn't mean I can't use the Force. Thank you Masters."
Anakin took Padme's hand then turned to go, but Yoda stopped them.
"Notify us, will you, when the children come? To Naboo you go, I assume?"
"Yes, Master. We will tell you."
Heads held slightly higher than when they came in, the couple walked out with Obi-Wan trailing behind. The door closed behind them, and shut it would remain.