THE DEPARTED

Chapter Nine

"Master Naberrie, thank you for coming here today. However, the Council's reasoning for asking you here is not happy matter. We've received information from a source that you are pregnant. Do you admit to this?"

Padme faltered for only a moment, feeling the reality of her situation begin to sink in.

"Yes, Master Windu, I am pregnant."

A murmur escaped through the rest of the Council members and she tried desperately not to let her eyes search for Anakin. Despite her efforts, she found him sitting beside Obi-Wan, his eyes focused on her intensely.

"Master Naberrie, who is the father of your child?"

Padme's chin lifted slightly and she responded bravely. "I will not tell you his name but I can tell you that he is not a Jedi."

Another murmur echoed throughout the room as Anakin helplessly watched this tragedy play out in front of his eyes. He gripped the ends of his chair tightly, desperately keeping his emotions at bay so that the other Jedi wouldn't notice his distress. Obi-Wan's focus, however, was not centered on the current dilemma the Council faced, but on his padawan's pale face and through their bond, he could feel Anakin's worry and anguish. His gaze shifted back to Master Windu as the proceedings continued.

"Master Naberrie, do you love the father of your child?"

Padme closed her eyes for a brief moment to keep her concentration on the Council members and not on Anakin or the fact that she was about to reveal something she had never really even admitted to herself.

"Yes, I love him."

Master Windu nodded knowingly and wasted no time to speak again. "Then I have no choice but to motion for you to be expelled from the Order on grounds of breaking the Code."

Silence erupted through the room and Anakin could do nothing but watch. He had known this would happen, but now that it was, it was unbearable and the worst experience he had ever had in his life. The love of his life and the mother of his child was about to undergo unimaginable scrutiny and personal pain and there was nothing he could do. She had made sure of that.

His eyes remained transfixed on her defiant form and he could only admire her strength; strength he knew he would never be able to muster in this situation. Her eyes focused intensely on the members of the Council as she awaited the sentence she knew was coming. He noticed with a heavy heart that her right hand rested lightly on her stomach as if to protect their child from any possible harm. He wanted to cry out in anguish at the sight of it because he couldn't be there to protect their child as well, no matter how much he wanted to.

Anakin's attention snapped to Master Windu, who was now standing to give Padme the Council's verdict. He swallowed, knowing that the inevitable had now occurred.

"Master Naberrie," Master Windu began. "The Council has accepted my motion to expel you from the Jedi Order. You've broken the Code and this is the only punishment that you can receive. I know I speak for the Council when I say that it would be in not only the Order's best interest, but yours and your child's as well if you leave Coruscant as soon as possible. Will you please hand over your light saber?"

Padme nodded, obliged Mace's request then immediately left the room, not daring to the meet the eyes of anyone in the room, especially not Anakin's. She hastily walked to her room and when she reached some form of safety from the curious eyes surrounding her, she leaned back against the door, then within an instant, moved into her bedroom to begin packing all her belongings.

Anakin turned to leave and just as he noticed that Obi-Wan was still rooted in his chair, he heard his name called by Master Windu.

"Yes, Master?"

"Anakin, you've known Master Naberrie for some time now. Do you have any reason to believe that she was not being truthful in her testimony? Do you have any reason to believe that the father of her child is, in fact, a Jedi?"

Anakin swallowed hard, unprepared for this. He carefully glanced to his left and caught himself from biting his lip in frustration when he saw Obi-Wan still sitting in his chair, watching him intensely.

He hesitated to answer for a moment because part of him wanted to say yes, the father is a Jedi. He wanted to tell everyone that he was about to have a child with the love of his life, that he had never been happier, and that he hated the fact that the Order couldn't let them be. Instead, with great effort, he shook his head.

"No, Master, I have no reason to suspect that she is lying about that."

Mace nodded, then continued. "Good. There is something else that the Council would like to speak to you about. We have all noticed your ability as well as your potential. With this last mission, you have proved yourself to be controlled, patient, and the responsible Jedi your Master knew you would become. Therefore, on behalf of the Jedi Council, I hereby grant you the rank of Jedi Knight."

Anakin nodded, turmoil coursing through his veins. This wasn't right. It just wasn't right. He knew he didn't deserve this and now he didn't even want it. He left the room, not wanting to answer any more questions about Padme and allowed his feet to carry him to the only place he wanted to go.

Padme hurriedly opened the door and she couldn't hide her surprise to her visitor.

"Anakin! You shouldn't be here…you need to leave now, please…"

Anakin ignored her and quickly sidestepped her to enter the room. He surveyed the work she had done in the room and sighed deeply.

With his back still turned to her, whispered softly: "You don't have to do this, Padme. We can leave now, I'll even stow away on your ship if you want me to so no one will know right away. We can be together. We can, Padme. You just have to let it happen."

Padme shook her head sharply, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "No…I'm sorry, Anakin, but we've already talked about this. I've made up my mind about this, Anakin. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but this is the only way it can be."

He nodded sadly, having known that he would once again be rejected by her but he hadn't been able to stop himself from offering the life he dreamed about one last time.

"What will you do now?"

She smiled softly and walked past him so she could continue packing. "I've spoken with my parents and they agreed to let me live with them on Naboo. That's really where I should be now anyways. My father has a repair shop and he's agreed to give me an accountant position. I'll be fine, Anakin."

"I know," He smiled faintly before continuing. "You got what you wanted, Padme."

She stared at, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The Council just Knighted me."

Her face broke into a wide grin and she had to stop herself from running into his arms. "Anakin…that's wonderful news. I can't believe this..."

Anakin bit his lip and tried desperately to hide his anguish at her excitement over his news. He didn't want it, he didn't need it, the only thing he needed was her and their child.

"Yes, I know."

He looked away from her, but she still noticed the pain in his eyes. She nodded slowly, then continued packing.

"Anakin, you should probably leave now."

He nodded and before he turned to leave, he moved closer to her and whispered: "If you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to contact me."

Padme looked away quickly to hide her tears from him and nodded.

He knew that no amount of words would ever be enough for him, so he took that as their final goodbye and exited the room.

Padme watched him leave, her lips quivering with sadness and heartache. She allowed herself to cry for only a minute, then she resumed herself to her preparations to leave for Naboo.