Author's Note: Thank you for the wonderful comments and the follows! Hope you enjoy this chapter as I enjoyed writing it. MUCH more to come (hopefully you're still with me)!

Rest

Chapter 11

They were on route to Utapau.

Anakin did not appear in a mood for small talk. Obi-Wan could sense that with ease.

However, his curiosity was getting the better of him. Obi-Wan knew that Anakin had been spending much of his time away from the Jedi Temple when they were on Coruscant. He was quite certain he knew where the younger Jedi was spending his nights, but he wasn't exactly sure how to bring up this conversation without sounding like he was lecturing Anakin on the "no attachments" rule yet again. Obi-Wan also sensed that Anakin had become very good at shielding his thoughts; whenever they were together, it felt almost as if there was this invisible wall holding up between them.

Obi-Wan let out a deep breath. Perhaps he could bring things up in a round-about way… "So Anakin, were your days off on Coruscant restful? I believe I saw you meditating at the temple one day."

Anakin looked up. "They were fine, Master." Obi-Wan frowned at the formality. "I did as you said and took some time for rest and reflection. Now I'm ready to destroy Grevious and whatever else is out there waiting for us."

"Alright Anakin." Obi-Wan considered for a moment… "Just let me know if there's anything I can help you with. I know you're probably about as ready for this war to end as I am."

Anakin decided to put on a face, "What, and miss all this action, Obi-Wan? Don't tell me you're hoping to retire to the temple now. I mean, although you're young enough, the Force knows you have the grey hairs for it."

"Hah-hah, Anakin. More than half those greys are from you, you know."

"Well deserved then." Anakin smirked.

Obi-Wan huffed. "Fine. Well, I am going to go have a nap before we get there." Obi-Wan was ready to leave this conversation.

"Okay, Oldi-Man." Obi-Wan shook his head at Anakin and headed to the barracks of the ship.

-break-

Padme was using her last day in office to clean things up and put some final organizations into the paperwork for the new senator elect coming to replace her. She found herself lost in the information of a datapad that she almost missed the sound of knocking on her office door.

Senator Bail Organa stepped into the room and cleared his voice. "Senator Amidala," he began.

"Senator Organa." She smiled.

"So you are leaving us, quite soon now, I believe?"

"Yes, today is my last day. I'll be heading back to Naboo to take a leave of absence," she stated, with the conviction of a politician.

"I see, I see," he said. "Well, Senator Mon Mothma and I, we… well, we thought this may be coming soon. She couldn't make it today but we wanted to wish you well. A token for you." He held out a card and small parcel.

"Oh, Senator Organa – Bail, thank you! You shouldn't have." Padme rushed, as well as she could, to give him a hug.

He smiled. "It was nothing, Padme, least we could do. If you are ever on Alderaan, you are welcomed to come visit me and my wife Breha. We would love for you to come by."

"Thank you, Bail. And tell Mon I said thank you too. I will miss working with you both, truly."

Senator Organa nodded. "Well, it would seem you're on to your next big adventure, milady." Padme smiled uncertainly, and a half-knowing look was shared between the two friends.

"Until next time, Senator," he said.

"Until then," Padme returned. "Goodbye."

Senator Organa left the office, and Padme finished up cleaning her office space and prepared to leave, the card and parcel in hand.

-break-

Within the next couple days, Padme was packed and on transport to Naboo. After arriving at Theed, she took a speeder to Varykino, the Lake Retreat.

Sighing as she managed her way out of the speeder, she gazed up and marvelled at how it looked exactly the same as when she last left it. "That was when…" she laughed to herself, "when we got in this bittersweet predicament." Funny how they should end up here again.

The next days were spent with Padme cleaning the retreat, sleeping, and sending C3P0 to visit the market to buy food and place orders for infant supplies. Padme prepared the baby's room next to the master bedroom with anything she could find in the villa's basement storage to make it lively and livable. Her favourite find was an old, worn rocking chair which she added beneath the window in the room.

Things were looking prepared. If only Padme matched the décor.

-break-

The Jedi had arrived in the orbit of Utapau around the same time Padme arrived on Naboo. Anakin and Obi-Wan took a speeder from their main ship to Pau City, where they were greeted by the Pau'an Port Administrator, Tion Medon, who was surrounded by a group of Utapese officials. Medon, though slender, stood at an intimidating height, and was clad in crimson robes with a high collar covering his ears. Anakin eyed Obi-Wan as they left their speeder and approached.

Medon welcomed the newcomers, "Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?"

It was Obi-Wan who first spoke, "Unfortunately, the war."

"There's no war here. Unless you brought it with you," responded the elegant Medon.

Obi-Wan continued, "With your kind permission, I should like some fuel, and to use your city as a base as we search nearby systems for General Grevious."

With this comment, Medon looked to his Utai companions and spoke something rushed in Utapese. They moved to fuel Obi-Wan and Anakin's speeder.

The ancient Medon stepped uncomfortably close to Obi-Wan's presence and whispered, "He is here. We are being held hostage. They are watching us."

"I understand."

"Tenth level. Thousands of battle droids," concluded Medon.

Obi-Wan, "Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time."

Both groups bowed to each other. The Jedi turned around and returned to their speeder; Obi-Wan sent their R4 unit with the speeder to return to the main ship and deliver the message about Grevious's whereabouts, then he and Anakin followed the Utapese officials back into the city to plan their attack.