Chapter Two
He remembered the first time he walked these floors, staring around in wonder, having trouble staying in a straight line. Obi-Wan's hand had been on his shoulder, a rare show of touch and comfort, like he knew how overwhelming it was. Had that hand not been there, Anakin might have wandered off and disappeared forever within the halls.
Now, he did know that building like that back of his hand, and walked confidently through the entrance, feeling sore and exhausted and just barely able to form a coherent thought.
Luckily, it was Senator Organa talking to him - not some gundark like Orn Free Taa or Lott Dod.
"...the Republic cannot praise you enough."
Anakin attempted himself out of the fog he had been in, making sure to put one foot in front of the other, not focus on the beings behind them, the thousands of presences in the buildings, the hum of trillions of beings all over Coruscant. He tried to focus on only one presence. "Thank you, Senator Organa."
"Well Count Dooku…"
There. Anakin nodded his head, a bit distracted and not quite hearing what the Senator was saying, watching his lips move and wondering why the hell his wife's Force presence felt different than usual. "The fighting will continue until General Grievous is spare parts," he managed when he realized the Senator had stopped talking.
Bail gave a small chuckle. "Well, I can do everything I can to save it."
Ah - he's talking about saving the Republic. He glanced out of his peripheral vision, trying not to smile and coming to a stop. "Excuse me."
"Certainly."
He didn't bother to wait if Bail was looking - he trusted the man enough to know that if he did witness a private moment, he would keep quiet about it.
His feet went on their own accord, nearly sprinting over to her, easily picking her up and spinning her about. Five months...man, wait until he told her about Mandalore…
Padmé held him closely, barely able to get a word out she was so choked up. "Oh Anakin…"
"I missed you Padmé ."
"There were whispers - that you'd been killed."
Anakin forced a small smile, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm alright...it feels like we've been apart for a lifetime...we might have been if the Chancellor hadn't been kidnapped...I don't think they would have ever brought us back from the Outer Rim sieges."
He kissed her, not caring that there were cameras in the halls or Mace and the Chancellor only thirty meters away - the cameras couldn't view them, not at this angle - and well frankly, he didn't care anymore who knew.
"Wait - not here."
"Yes, here - I'm - I'm tired of all this deception, I don't care if they know we're married."
"Anakin...don't say things like that."
They stared at each other, each silently trying to win a battle that was three years in the making. He would have quit the Order if she'd asked, she wouldn't have wanted him to…
They seemed to mutually agree not to worry about it for now - five months apart and they were already arguing? - and embraced again.
Anakin tucked his head against hers, feeling her quiet breaths, the way she...wait… He pulled away, holding her in concern. "Are you all right? You're trembling...what's going on?"
Padmé looked close to tears, her voice cracking a bit. "Something...wonderful has happened...Ani, I'm pregnant."
His world began to spin. Fuck….fuck fuck fuck. Idiot - wait no, what? How - we're so careful, always so careful - how in the galaxy… From the moment they had been married, Padmé had talked about kids - it was half-baked idea, whispers at night, dreaming when the war was over and Ahsoka had been knighted and her term in the Senate ended.
Those peace talks, on Kalevala all those months ago...they had talked about it in earnest, hoping and praying and crying when it was ripped away from them so cruelly.
Bringing himself back to the present, Anakin looked at her scared expression. This was happening - now. This was happening now, and he was to be a father. How far along she was he had no idea - he could guess, maybe - at least five months, maybe a bit more.
"That's….that's - that's wonderful."
"What are we going to do?"
Anakin swallowed, internally screaming at himself, realizing how scared she must have been all these months. I should have been there, I should have been there…
"We're not going to do anything right now, alright? This is a happy moment." Anakin smiled, a genuine one this time, and put a hand on her neck, feeling her tension loosen. "The happiest moment of my life."
"I'm busy tonight."
"Uh huh - I believe you."
"Fuck off old man."
Obi-Wan laughed, glancing away from pouring his tea and towards the hologram of Anakin Skywalker. He looked so...happy. So happy it hurt. Brimming from being with Ahsoka on Mandalore - hah, didn't even realize how many panic attacks Obi-Wan had during their time on-planet - and now being on Coruscant.
And not at the Temple.
He shook his head, and went around the kitchen, trying to find a package of Cassius tea. "Well - tell -"
Wait - Anakin still thought I don't about Padmé . My god, how long can he keep this up? I never made it a secret about Satine
"Have a good night, Anakin - lightsaber training at dawn."
"That hasn't happened since I was a padawan." Anakin shook his head, and gave a mock salute before cutting his signal.
Obi-Wan smiled, finally finding the Cassius tea and putting a packet into his steaming mug. He sighed, smelling the instant, gentle aroma.
"Remember my dear Obi-Wan...I've loved you always. I...always will."
He closed his eyes, leaning against the counter, trying to control his breathing.
Whatever happened...Obi-Wan would not let Anakin lose his wife.
"God you're so tiny."
Padmé glanced over at him sitting on the bed, a smile on her face. She felt a bit self-conscious, which was utterly ridiculous. Just...he'd hadn't seen her naked very often - naked and pregnant, that is. Blushing, she walked over to him, standing between his legs and watching him put a gentle hand on her stomach, feeling it experimentally.
"She isn't hurting you?" Anakin asked when he felt a nudge against his hand, glancing at her in concern. "Causing you pain?"
She was tempted to roll her eyes, but that would do no good. Gently, she covered his hand and shook her head. "He is perfectly fine - it's pregnancy, Ani - it's not magical by any means. I can't have my daily pot of caf."
That got him to laugh, wrapping his arms around her, brow resting against her stomach. "You don't look that pregnant - sure you have the correct date?"
"Mmm hmm." Padmé stroked her hands through his hair, listening to him hum in appreciation. He'd been so tense lately, always waking in the night - the night terrors weren't anything new, but now that they involved her…
Cassius tea - a tea native to the Mandalore system. Supposedly brings good health.
Author's note: The first scene always gets me. Without fail, every time. Damn it Anakin, why did you have to be such an idiot? I've always wanted to get into his head, and yay I finally did :D
I love the scene with Obi- so many feels :( But I do love making my cinnamon rolls suffer so… ;)
Everytime I watch RotS, even just a scene, I have to remember that the movie takes place over several weeks - it's an easy fact to forget when watching it.
ii Digestive Reader ii