A shuttle from the Senate building arrived on scene a few minutes after the Jedi led the Chancellor off the wreck. Anakin strapped Artu to the side while Obi-Wan helped Chancellor Palpatine onto the large saddle. After Anakin joined his two comrades, the shuttle took off back towards the Senate.

As they flew over the city, they could see the damage left behind in the wake of the battle. Bodies of fallen homunculi littered the streets, their white armor smeared red with blood. Shattered remains of war automata of all types lay scattered among the corpses. Volunteers dragged carts through the streets to assist the homunculi in carrying their fallen brothers away.

Several buildings still burned across the city, though Coruscant's primarily stone construction kept them from spreading too far. Civilians came out in droves to observe the damage and to start cleaning up the chunks of fallen masonry. General Grievous' plan that his attack would rattle the morale of Coruscant's population had not been as successful as he had hoped, especially with the news of the Chancellor's rescue.

The shuttle landed on the Senate's main landing platform where a small crowd of senators and their entourages awaited. The Chancellor was the first off the shuttle, helped down by a pair of blue armored Senate guards. Palpatine raised his hand and waved at the crowd, eliciting cheers of relief.

Anakin climbed down next and started unbuckling the straps to let Artu down. He looked up to Obi-Wan who just stood at the top of the saddle's folding steps. "Are you coming, Master?"

Obi-Wan raised his hand as a polite gesture of dismissal. "Oh, no. I'm not brave enough for politics. I have to give my report to the Council. Besides, someone needs to be the poster boy."

"Hold on. The whole operation was your idea." Anakin placed Artu on the ground and patted the top of his domed head.

"Anakin, you rescued me from the buzzers, you killed Count Dooku, and you rescued the Chancellor while carrying me unconscious on your back."

"All because of your training."

Obi-Wan chuckled and shook his head. "No, let's be fair. Today you were the hero the Republic needed. You deserve the glory and the admiration of the politicians."

Anakin smirked. "Oh, all right. But you owe me one for saving your life for the..." He counted on his fingers for effect. "Tenth time."

"Ninth time," Obi-Wan corrected. "I told you, that business in Cato Nemoidia doesn't... That doesn't count. Anyway, I'll see you back at the Temple."

Anakin waved as Obi-Wan sat back in his seat. As the shuttle took off, the wind from its wingflaps ruffled Anakin's hair. "Come on, Artu. There's someone I want to see."

Mace Windu greeted the Chancellor as he and the crowd of senators made to reenter the building. "Chancellor Palpatine, are you all right?"

"A bit shaken, but yes. All thanks to your Jedi Knights. They killed Count Dooku, but General Grievous managed to escape once again."

"General Grievous will run and hide as he always does. He's a coward."

"But with Dooku dead, he has become the leader of the entire Separatist army." Palpatine sighed. "I assure you, Master Windu, so long as Grievous lives, the Senate will vote to continue the war."

"Then the Jedi Council will make finding him our highest priority." Mace Windu bowed and the Chancellor's entourage continued inside.

Senator Bail Organa was the first to see Anakin. He rushed over and shook the Jedi's hand. "The Republic cannot thank you enough."

"Thank you, Senator," Anakin replied in a voice that only slightly concealed his boredom at the formality.

Out of the corner of his eye, Anakin watched the gleaming gold See Threepio stroll over and greet Artu. The presence of the diplomatic automaton meant that Padmé was nearby, but he hadn't seen her in the crowd that greeted the Chancellor.

"... afraid the fighting will continue until Grievous is killed or captured," said Bail. Anakin had only just tuned back into what he was saying.

"Indeed," said Anakin. As they walked on, he saw Padmé standing in the shadow of a column. His heart jumped. This was the first time he had seen her in nearly eight months.

Senator Organa continued. "Nonetheless, I will see what I can do in the Senate."

"Thank you, Senator. Now, if you'll excuse me."

"Oh, certainly."

Anakin peeled off and walked towards his wife while Bail Organa made to catch up with the other senators. Anakin rushed towards Padmé, holding out his arms to hug her. As he approached he noticed that her clothing was far more loose and flowing than her usual styles, but thought little of it.

Padmé held out her arms just before they connected and as they embraced, the two of them gently rocked side to side. Their lips connected on instinct, a kiss that spoke volumes of how much they had missed one another. After breaking the kiss, Anakin held her head against his chest lovingly, inhaling the sweet flowery aroma of her favorite perfume. Padmé put her ear to Anakin's chest, listening to the heartbeat of the one she loved.

"It's so wonderful to see you again," Padmé croaked through tears of joy.

"I've missed you so much. Not a day went by that you weren't in my thoughts."

Padmé sniffled. "There were whispers that you had been killed."

"Shh, I'm all right. I'm right here." Anakin sighed. "It feels like we've been apart for a lifetime."

Padmé nodded against his chest.

"And to think, it could have been longer if the Chancellor hadn't been captured. It seemed like the Outer Rim sieges were never going to end."

Anakin was interrupted by the distant sound of approaching voices from the landing platform. Padmé tried to push herself away from Anakin on the off chance that they were seen. Anakin pulled her close again.

"No," she whispered. "We can't risk being seen!"

"I'm tired of all the deception, Padmé. I don't care if they find out that we're married."

"Ani, don't say things like that." Her voice was serious. "Besides they'll figure out that you're..."

"...That I'm what?"

Padmé pulled away enough to look Anakin in the eye. "...Ani... I'm pregnant..."

It took several seconds for his wife's words to fully sink in.

"Anakin... You're going to be a father."

Now it was obvious to him why her clothes were so loose. He had been so preoccupied with the thought of being with her again that he hadn't noticed her rounded belly until that moment. Many emotions clashed to be the dominant one, but joy won out. "That's... That's wonderful!"

Padmé smiled nervously. "I think so too, but... What are we going to do?"

Anakin put a finger to her lips. "We're not going to worry about anything right now. This is a happy moment. The happiest of our lives."

They held one another tightly again and kissed, joined together with the joy and excitement of future parenthood. This was their moment, and nobody could take that away from them.

Far, far away, sat the nation of Utapau. It was an arid land covered in savannahs and pockmarked by wide and deep gem mines. These mineshafts were long-extinct volcanoes, rich in diamonds and other precious stones. The people of Utapau carved their cities into the walls of these shafts to escape the searing heat of the sun above.

A half mechanical belbullab slipped out of a Hyperion gate over one of these pit cities. This one, in addition to being the capital, also held the nation's foremost monastery in which sat Utapau's theocratic leader. It was also the city that the Separatist leadership had forcibly made their base of operations for the Outer Rim.

The eyes of hundreds of automata watched as their supreme commander's belbullab gracefully landed on the city's grand platform. Grievous climbed down from the saddle far less gracefully though. He wheezed as he made his way towards his command center, escorted by a quartet of Magnaguards that had been awaiting his arrival.

General Grievous stormed into the monastery's central chamber clutching his chest and coughing hard enough to make some of the Separatist leadership seated inside wince in sympathy. The cold air of the Hyperion stream had not been gentle on his injured lungs. One of the Nemoidians tried to catch his attention, but he ignored them and made a beeline for the Pontiff's chamber.

The bone font at the far end roiled with an incoming communication. Grievous waved a hand over the surface and bowed once it solidified into the shape of a man in a hooded robe. "Yes, Lord Sidious?"

"General Grievous." His tone was less than pleased, but not upset. By his standards, he was in a good mood. "Your bold attack had the effect I had desired. However, I believe it will not be long until your hideout is discovered. I recommend that you move the Separatist leadership to the island of Mustafar."

"It shall be done, my Lord."

Sidious smiled. "The end of the war is near, General."

Grievous cocked his head. "But, the loss of Count Dooku-"

"His death was a necessary loss. Soon I will have a new apprentice. One far younger and more powerful."

For the first time since the fires were lit, only one of the Grand Harbor's lighthouses guided ships into port that night. Salvage crews had been toiling all day dismantling the wreck of the Invisible Hand. From the balcony of Padmé's apartment, Anakin could just make out the fires that lit the salvage crews' work. He didn't focus on them though. Instead he gazed at his wife as she brushed her hair in the cool night air.

Anakin had hardly been able to take his eyes off of Padmé since he had returned. He believed that she had only grown more beautiful in their time apart, and as she stood on the balcony bathed in the light of the two moons brushing her wavy brunette hair he felt as though he was falling in love all over again.

"Ani?" Padmé's voice brought him back from his love trance.

"Hm?"

"I want to have our baby back home in Naboo. We can have her at Varykino Villa where no one will know. Where we can be safe." She turned and looked to Anakin with a sparkle in her eye. "I can leave early and set up the nursery. I know the perfect spot right by the gardens."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Her? Do you already know?"

"Oh, no. I just go back and forth in my mind."

"I assume you've been putting thought into names?"

"Well, it's tradition in Naboo for mothers to name their children. I was thinking that if our baby is a girl I want to name her Leia. I think Luke would be good for a boy."

Anakin nodded and said the names out loud, trying them out. He smiled. "I like them."

"I'm glad. Leia may be somewhat common, but it's an old family name and I've always liked the name Luke." Padmé sighed happily and looked out to sea.

A breeze caught a lock of Padmé's hair and the hem of her silk nightgown. Anakin watched them sway, enchanted. He walked over to her and gently put his arms around her waist from behind. "You really are so beautiful."

Padmé turned and hugged him back. "Thank you, Ani. You really are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Well, the baby and you might be tied now."

"I can't imagine a life without you, Padmé. I'll do everything I can to keep you and our baby safe."

Anakin woke in a cold sweat, panting heavily. He looked to his right and saw that Padmé was still next to him, sleeping peacefully. He gently brushed her face, mostly for his own reassurance that she was still there. Images from his nightmare came flooding back and he sat on the edge of the bed, holding his head.

The images persisted and he knew that he couldn't get back to sleep. He stood and threw on a robe before leaving the bedroom.

Padmé stirred, reaching an arm out to wrap around Anakin for comfort. When her arm only found empty bed, she sat up confused and looked around groggily. Anakin was nowhere to be found. Padmé rolled herself out of bed, an action that had become significantly more difficult over the past few months.

She found Anakin leaning on the balcony railing looking out to sea. Even without seeing his face, she could tell by his posture that he was upset. Padmé walked over to him and put a hand on his back. She knew that he already sensed her and didn't worry about startling him. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Anakin shook his head. "Nothing." He looked at her and gave a forced smile. His eyes trailed down and saw the japor wood amulet he had made for Padmé as a boy. He gently lifted it off of her chest. "I remember when I gave this to you."

"Ani, please. Be honest with me."

Anakin sighed heavily and looked back out to sea. "It was a dream."

"Bad?"

A single nod. "Like the ones I used to have about my mother, just before she died."

Padmé waited for Anakin to continue.

"This time it was about you."

Padmé's heart sank. "Please... Tell me."

Anakin pushed off the railing and made to walk back inside. "It was only a dream." He stopped after a few steps, and turned to face Padmé. "...You die in childbirth."

Padmé gasped. "Wh- what about the baby?" Her hands went protectively to her belly.

Anakin hung his head. "I don't know..."

Padmé walked over and hugged him. "It was only a dream," she said, trying to reassure him.

Anakin returned the hug, gripping her tightly. "I won't let this one become real." There was an edge to his statement, one of fear and anger.

"Then let's make sure we do everything right." Padmé felt a drop of wetness on the top of her head. She looked up and wiped away the trail the tear had left on Anakin's cheek. "This baby will change our lives. I doubt that the Queen will allow me to continue serving in the Senate. And if the Jedi Council finds out you're the father..."

"I know." Anakin sighed. "I know..."

There was a long pause before Padmé spoke again. "Do you think Obi-Wan might be able to help us?"

At first, he thought it the best option. But then he worried about what Obi-Wan's response would be. There was no doubt that he at least suspected a relationship between Anakin and Padmé, but for Obi-Wan to learn that not only were the two of them married, but that they were expecting a child together, he would certainly report it to the Council. Anakin did want to speak to someone about his vision though, and there was someone who had great deal of experience with them.

"We don't need Obi-Wan's help," Anakin said. "This baby is a blessing."

Once the sun had been up for an hour, Anakin travelled to the Jedi Temple to speak with Master Yoda. After a quick explanation, the old Jedi agreed to discuss the matter with Anakin. The two of them headed to one of the dimly lit meditation chambers and took up positions facing one another.

Yoda adjusted his short legs into something approaching a lotus position. "So, young Skywalker. Visions, you say?"

"Yes, Master. Premonitions, I think."

"Premonitions? Hmm. These visions, about them, tell me."

Anakin took a deep breath. "They're of pain, suffering." Anakin paused. "Death."

"Yourself, you speak of? Or someone you know?"

Anakin hesitated. "...Someone."

"Close to you?"

Anakin cast his eyes down. "...Yes."

"Careful, you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side."

Anakin looked up, but didn't make eye contact. "I won't let these visions come true, Master Yoda."

The old Jedi shook his head. "Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who become one with the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is."

Anakin nodded slightly. "What must I do, Master?"

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

Anakin's face fell. This was the last thing he wanted to hear. There was no way that he was going to let Padmé die, Not if there was any way to stop it. He would find another way. He had to.