Thx for reading, yall :) Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
Padmé was anxious.
There was news that the Chancellor (now known as a Sith Lord) was arrested that evening, and yet now it was morning and there was still no sign of Anakin.
Was he dead? In a healer's or hospital, almost dead?
He hadn't answered his comms all night.
Padmé had cried herself to sleep.
Padmé had slept erratically that night, haven falling asleep on the couch, waiting for Anakin to show.
In any other circumstance, she would have gone to the Jedi Temple herself, and asked for answers.
But no. Besides the fact that she was far along in her pregnancy, and coupled with the fact that it would be suspicious, it was a emphatic no.
So she would wait, she decided.
It was early in the morning, no later than seven standard hours, when Anakin returned.
"Ani!" Padmé cried in relief, hugging him.
Noting Anakin's expression, she asked, "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
"I told them, about us." He whispered hoarsely.
"Oh..." was all Padmé could say.
Anakin's adam's apple bobbed. "They... didn't take it well, I'm afraid."
Padmé rested her head on Anakin's chest, pulling him closer to her.
"I'm sorry," Padmé whispered. "I know how much being a Jedi means to you."
Anakin blinked tears away rapidly. "Not as much as my family does to me,"
Padmé gave him a small smile.
"Anyway," continued Anakin. "I think it's best if we go away for a while, Angel."
"We could go to Naboo...see my family and tell them the good news." Padmé said, patting her pregnant belly.
Anakin nodded and kissed her forehead. "I suppose we should pack, then."
The couple was silent for a few hours; they had packed and were now en-route to Naboo; Anakin in the pilot's seat, Padmé in the copilot seat.
They simply reflected on the events of the previous evening.
Finally, Padmé broke the silence.
"Ani...what do you think my parents will say? I've lied to them for so long." She said, remorseful.
"Whatever it is, I'll be right here beside you."
Padmé gave him a small smile, somewhat reassured.
"Thank you, Ani."
"Always a pleasure, Angel."
When they landed on Naboo, it was late at night and raining. It was a terrible thunderstorm, and Anakin grumped about getting to Naboo late.
Hauling their bags, Anakin paused before leaving the ship.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Padmé asked.
"Do you think we should wait? It's awfully late."
"Ani," Padmé chided. "Come on."
Anakin smirked. "Sorry,"
Then he became serious. "I just don't want to upset your parents."
Padmé pursed her lips. "I don't either, but someone needs to tell them."
"Well, I suppose we could run for it." Anakin said, pointing out the rain.
"Ani, you know I can't run, at least not this pregnant." Padmé giggled, half serious.
Anakin sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
"Wait," Padmé said.
"Maybe it's not such a good idea to have you with me at the moment."
"That's what I just said." Anakin sighed.
"I just mean, I'm already revealing to them I'm pregnant. You stay back for now. I'll take Moteé and Dormé with me for now."
Anakin sighed, knowing better than to argue with a pregnant woman.
Padmé put on her coat, Moteé and Dormé in tow.
And then she left, leaving Anakin alone with his thoughts.
Padmé knocked on the door, anxiously.
Moteé gave Padmé a reassuring smile. "It will be alright, Milady."
Padmé half smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, the door opened, surprising the three women.
"Padmé?" Jobal Naberrie, Padmé's mother asked.
"Hello, Mother." Padmé said, somewhat uneasily.
Jobal gave Padmé a hug and invited her in.
"I wish you would have commed, darling. I would have fixed up the house for you." Jobal said with a yawn.
"I'm sorry, but with everything that's happening in the Senate, I thought it would be better to come unannounced." Padmé stated, calmly.
Jobal nodded. "I understand."
"Anyway, I'll get your father to fix up your old room. We've been storing a couple of things in there." Jobal said, walking over to the living room.
"Thank you, Mother."
"You can sleep on the couch for tonight I suppose. Is that alright?" Jobal asked, patting the couch.
Padmé winced inwardly. If she wasn't far along in her pregnancy, she would deal with it. But she wasn't sure if her back could handle it; she had already slept on the couch yesterday night.
"Please, take your raincoat off, first. You're going to get my couch all wet." Jobal requested, shuffling over to the kitchen.
Padmé winced, and Dormé gave her a sympathetic look.
She took off her coat, sitting down on the couch.
She shuffled her thoughts, what she was going to explain to her Mother, what to say about Anakin.
Just then, the baby kicked inside of her, as if it were saying, Don't worry.
Padmé's mother returned with two mugs of Nubian tea, settling herself down on the couch.
Jobal offered Padmé a mug, which she accepted.
"Mother, I have to tell you something." Padmé said.
"You're pregnant," Jobal finished for Padmé. "I could tell as soon as you sat down."
Padmé hung her head down. "I see,"
Jobal put her tea down on the coffee table.
"I hope it's not too much of an intrusion, Darling,...but...Padmé, who is the father? You weren't...assaulted, were you?"
Padmé rapidly shook her head. "No, Mom, nothing like that."
Jobal visibly relaxed. "Good, I'm glad."
The two women shifted topics and talked late into the night and into the morning.
"...anyway, Sabé is covering for me at the vote. She knows what my stance is." Padmé concluded.
Jobal nodded. "I'm glad, Padmé. These are dangerous times."
"Jobal? What's all the commotion out here?" A sleepy voice, belonging to Padmé's father, Ruwee, asked.
"Padmé has paid us a visit." Jobal said with a smile.
Ruwee smiled. "Padmé, it's so good to see you, darling!" He said, enveloping Padmé into a hug.
Suddenly, he stopped cold, noticing her pregnant belly.
"Who did this to you?" Ruwee asked.
"Dad, please. Nobody "did" anything to me. I wasn't assaulted." Padmé said, exasperated.
Ruwee let out a breath. "Padmé, darling, are you dating someone?"
Suddenly, Padmé stood up, and ran out the door.
Ruwee and Padmé's handmaidens chased after Padmé, just barely missing her, as her ship's door closed.
Anakin was in the pilot's chair, sound asleep, when Padmé shook him roughly.
"Mmm..., Padmé?" Anakin muttered, half asleep.
"Ani, it's time to tell my parents." Padmé said, the calm in her voice all but gone.
Anakin jolted awake.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
Padmé paced for half a minute.
"Padmé, love, come on," Anakin urged, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible.
Padmé grabbed Anakin's arm, looping it around hers.
Anakin silently counted to three as the door opened.
The door opened to find Jobal, Ruwee, and the Handmaidens all waiting expectantly.
"Well, Mother and Father," Padmé said, using her parent's formal names. "Meet my husband, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker."
Alrightie, that was a juicy chapter LOL. R&R and Seeya next time!