Chapter Six – Discovery

In a blink Obi-Wan Kenobi's ship came out of lightspeed and was now flying over the lovely planet of Naboo. He didn't immediately fly toward any destination; he just let his ship hover over the planet. He was positive that Anakin and Padme had come here and though his assumption of Lake Country had some meaning, there were many places they could have gone. He settled back in his seat and relaxed. The Force flowed around him and he searched for Anakin's presence. Strangely, he found Anakin's presence faster than expected, but it wasn't troubled or sad as he would have expected; it seemed calm and blissful. Puzzled, he turned the ship and flew it in the direction of Anakin's light.

Soon he arrived in Lake Country. It seemed his hunch had been right after all. He soared over a vast Lake and in no time at all he saw Senator Amidala's ship parked at a landing strip near a massive villa. He also saw a number of her security team stationed around it and was not surprised. So Obi-Wan flew his ship up onto one of the high hills and came quietly back down the hill on foot in the humid air. Even in the darkness, Kenobi had to admire the extreme beauty of the country. It was easy to see why Anakin had fallen in love with the planet. It was definitely a million times better than the climate of Tatooine.

With his Jedi skills it was easy to avoid the few security guards. When he finally reached the villa, he tapped into the Force again and suddenly froze in the middle of a grassy garden he was currently crossing. He had to do a double take. It wasn't just Anakin's Force presence he could now feel. There was one he was sure he knew but couldn't place a name to despite it's familiarity. The other was more confusing, it was strong but it also had a faint familiarity about it but Kenobi couldn't figure it out.

More confused than ever, Kenobi continued on his way until he reached the other side of the garden. He then tread softly through the shadows of the villa walls, taking great care not to be seen or heard. Finally, he made a massive leap up and climbed onto a balcony. The white net curtains of the open balcony door floated in the gentle breeze like a ripple on a watery surface. He could feel that Anakin was in the room, which led in through the curtains and to Senator Amidala. The calm and relaxed atmosphere he felt from their presence told him that both were fast asleep. Obi-Wan's heart seized as a preconceived idea rang in his head. He wished that he would not see what he suspected he would. But he knew he had to, so he approached the balcony door.

With the lightest of touches, he moved one of the white net curtains aside and what he saw in the room put all the pieces of the puzzle together. The luminous moonlight which gently illuminated the room showed Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala sleeping peacefully in each other's arms, looks of blissful happiness all over their faces. Anakin's hand was resting on Padme's stomach which Kenobi now saw was swollen in a familiar way and he immediately understood. Padme was pregnant and Anakin was the father. He knew this because the other Force presence he felt before was coming straight from Padme, and he was positive it was the child growing inside her who was strong in the Force, just like its father.

Kenobi turned away and leaned against the stone wall outside on the balcony bowing his head and closing his eyes. A wave of emotions was taking over him. Sadness, disappointment, understanding and regret.

Sadness that Anakin had gone through so much he didn't deserve, disappointment that Anakin had not followed the Jedi rule of no attachments despite his dedication to the Jedi Order, understanding that Anakin's long-time friendship with the Senator had been because he had been in love with her. Worst of all, he felt regret that he had not realized or looked deeper to sense it in the past few years since Anakin had been reunited with Padme.

He must have fallen in love with her when they had first met as kids on Tatooine, in his decade as a Padawan learner that love had grown stronger from being apart, and when he had had finally been reunited with her as a young adult that love had taken full bloom, and now he was the father of her child.

Lifting his head, Obi-Wan let a tear fall down his cheek as he knew what he now had to do. He went to the edge of the balcony and climbed back down to the ground. With his mind only set on the sad action he was about to do, he made his way back up the hill slower than he had before until his boots almost skimmed over the grass.

When he reached the ship, he paused leaning against one of the wings as he took several deep breaths and allowed another tear to fall down his cheek. He hated what was to come, but it was what had to be done. Straightening up, he started to climb back up into the ship.

"So you're going to report him are you, Obi Wan?"

The sudden female voice behind Kenobi made him freeze mid-climb. He knew that voice and turning round he instantly recognized the young Togruta girl who stood there, her face serious.

"Ahsoka!" Kenobi exclaimed, turning round properly and sliding back down to the grass. He now understood that it was her Force presence that he had also felt earlier along with Anakin's child. "But what are you doing here? I thought you were arresting Maul on Mandalore?"

The young woman sighed and shook her head. "Maul is in Rex's custody and is being transferred to Coruscant prison as we speak. But you didn't answer my question, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to the wing of his ship and nodded sadly. "Yes, I'm going to have to report to the Council what I have seen."

Ahsoka came closer and her face was full of disapproval. "So you're going to destroy the peace Anakin has finally found for himself." Her voice was calm, but the glare she gave him made her words more threatening.

"Ahsoka, his sudden disappearance at a critical time like this deeply concerned us, and given what I have learned, I'm afraid I must report it to the Council."

She folded her arms across her chest. "So it's only duty you care about? Was it this so-called duty to the Council which prevented you from doing anything to defend me, when I was expelled from the Order for a crime I did not commit?"

Obi-Wan was about to say something, but stopped himself, because she was right. In the beginning he had tried to urge the Council not to fulfill Tarkin's demands and expel her from the Jedi order. That they had to stand with Ahsoka and defend her. But Mace Windu had insisted that defending her any further would have made the Jedi look as though they were trying to oppose the Senate. And given the convincing evidence which had been created to frame Ahsoka, it had turned fellow Masters against her, broken their trust and therefore given him no choice but to follow the decision of the Jedi council.

"You're right," he said, turning away and stepping from the ship to look at the view of the beautiful lake. He could feel the former Padawan's eyes on him as he continued to speak. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about how unjust the whole thing was." He said no more and the silence which followed seemed to echo their understanding.

After what felt like a minute of listening to the sound of the lake Obi-Wan felt her come and stand next to him.

"I have a request for you Obi-Wan. I suggest you accept it before you perform another duty which will bring misery to another you care deeply about."

Kenobi turned back round to face her. "What is this request?"

Ahsoka's glare had softened to a more relaxed expression. "I suggest you wait until morning and speak with Anakin first, hear his side of the story. They've told me everything and I understand. And when you hear everything then you will have the full truth and the Council won't be brought to any reason to doubt Anakin's loyalty to them. You both may have been powerless to save me, but this time we have a chance to save Anakin from being condemned. I acknowledge he has broken a rule of the Jedi order. But his explanation gave me plenty of reason to understand his actions. I may not have known you for as long as Anakin, but I know you care about him, and once you understand the truth of what he's been through you will see as clearly as I do."

Kenobi was amazed that despite her ordeal, she seemed to have become stronger and more determined. And now she was willing to stand up for her former master against the whole Jedi order. The broken look she's had in her eyes the day she had walked out on them had convinced Obi-Wan that her spirit had completely shattered like glass. But here it was once again strong as ever despite the lack of weapons and allies. She still had her faith and belief in the greater good.

And she was right. Kenobi did not want to break Anakin's spirit in the same way the Jedi council had done to Ahsoka, even though he had not been against her, he had not tried harder to convince them of her innocence. He had stood by and allowed it all to happen. Anakin had seemed to have been through a lot lately, so much which he had not told him. If Anakin was willing to explain, then he would listen. Because there was something he was positive about. The serene calm he now felt surrounding Anakin had to be because of his relationship with Senator Amidala. If given the choice, he would rather Anakin feel this calm rather than the troubled fear and uncontrolled anger he had sensed in his apprentice quite frequently, despite his efforts to hide it from his master. He did love Anakin like a younger brother, and he didn't want to hurt him any more than he already was.

Turning back round to face Ahsoka properly, he said, "I will fulfil your request and will wait to hear Anakin's explanation tomorrow before I make any reports to the Jedi Council."

Ahsoka smiled, looking more like her old cheerful self. "Thank you Obi-Wan." The older man smiled back. She reached out a hand, which Obi-Wan took and they gave each other a friendly squeeze.

She then led him back down the hill towards the villa until they reached the back door in the gardens.

"There are some spare rooms for you to choose to stay in. I'll come find you in the morning once I've given Anakin the news that you're here to see him."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Thank you and Goodnight Ahsoka."

"Goodnight Master Kenobi." And with that, he headed in through the doorway. In truth, Kenobi wanted nothing more than to crash down on a comfy bed and get some rest. Even though lots of time had passed since his victory on Utapau, his body still felt a lot of the exhaustion from the fight. He had been running on adrenaline, and the Force to give him strength, but now was the time to give into sleep.

He chose a small guest room, which was on the other side of the building from Anakin and Padme's room. He did not want Anakin running into him by accident before Ahsoka informed him of his presence the following morning. Pulling his boots and cloak off, he set them aside and lay back on the bed in the room and in no time, he was fast asleep.

Author's Notes
Well here is the new chapter. I'm hoping to make the chapters longer but I hope you're enjoying them anyway. We will have more Anakin and Padme in the next chapter I promise. I'm not sure when it will be posted as it is incomplete at the moment. I've also been writing the other future chapters of this fanfic. But please keep enjoying and sending me your reviews.

Thanks Carrie2sky for your Beta Reading!

May The Force Be With You!
LouisaJane007