Padmé sat motionless on her bed, still staring at the wall after what seemed like hours.

Pregnant. She was pregnant with Anakin's child.

She couldn't believe it when she found out. She was taking precautions to prevent this from happening and she'd never even had a scare or a close call before. This was impossible. Something had to be wrong. Three different tests could be wrong after all, couldn't they?

Padmé sighed and lowered her head, tears reaching her eyes. Part of her wanted to rejoice in the news. A baby. They had made a baby together. They would have a perfect little family of their own… but they wouldn't be allowed to enjoy it. The Queen would most definitely ask her to give up her seat on the Senate to allow her personal time with her child. Anakin's side of things would be much more complicated.

There was no doubt in her mind that he would be happy about the pregnancy. He didn't have any bloodlines left and having a family would fulfill his heart. The price he would have to pay for that happiness would be very high. The Jedi would certainly expel him, not only for the child but for having a wife.

Padmé endured several sleepless nights trying to think of a solution. Keeping their marriage a secret had worked so far. Could they do the same with a child? She could look for her own apartment in Coruscant and raise the child there so Anakin could see it… but any children born in the planet had to be tested for Jedi potential. It would be hard to disguise the midi-chlorian count of Anakin's offspring; she had no fantasies about that. But… what if she had the baby in secret?

She could resign from the Senate before she started showing and move to her lake house… She could buy medical droids and have them at her disposal when she gave birth. She could even hire a healer and bribe him if it was necessary to maintain the secrecy. The plan started to grow on her until she realized that Anakin wouldn't be around much, if at all. Maybe she could wait a few months – or a year, she thought with a broken heart – before returning to Coruscant to be closer to her husband. It was the only logical plan she could think of.

And yet, she still couldn't be happy about her child. Not until Anakin was back.

Weeks went by and her hopelessness only grew. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to be happy about her baby, a baby that just know she'd realized how much she wanted. Whenever she caught herself getting excited about it, her fears would surface and ruin whatever security she'd built.

Her body changed and she felt different, but nobody could see it. Nobody could know about it. Dormé had been as loyal as ever, listening to her and comforting her whenever her feelings of foreboding got out of hand.

"Let's try this one," Dormé said, bringing a new dress to Padmé. She helped her into it and pulled up the zipper on the back. Padmé smoothed her hands over the dress and looked at herself on mirror, then turned sideways.

The inevitable was happening. It was getting harder and harder to conceal her pregnancy. She still had over three months to go before her baby was born and already her wardrobe was no good. She sighed heavily and ran her hand down the swell on her stomach.

"I can go as your representative," Dormé said, trying to give her options.

"Thank you, Dormé, but the Queen will ask me why I need one in the first place," Padmé replied.

"You can cite health reasons," the handmaiden pressed.

"She will appoint a medic to give me a check-up. You know how she worries," Padmé said, turning to look at her friend.

"We could find you a good decoy," Dormé suggested.

"No. With the war the way it is… I need to be there," Padmé sighed hopelessly, sitting down. Dormé observed her in silence, her head tilting. "What is it?" Padmé inquired. Dormé turned the mirror to her.

"Look," she said with a smile. Padmé looked at her reflection carefully. "I can't see it when you're sitting down," Dormé needlessly explained. "You can still be in your senate pod and listen to what's going on if you're not standing!" she continued, excited. Padmé smiled for the first time in a long while and stood to hug her loyal friend.

"Thank you, Dormé," she whispered, suddenly feeling choked up. Her handmaiden tapped her back softly.

"You're welcome, Padmé." She looked up and her eyes widened. "What was that?!" she exclaimed, shocked. Padmé frowned and followed her eyes out the window.

"Oh, my goodness!" she gasped. A large ship had crashed on the city, smoke and fire rising to the sky. "What in the world…?"

"Do you think they're attacking the capital?" Dormé asked fearfully. Padmé tried to clear her head.

"No, they would've warned us," she reasoned, hoping she was right.

"Oh, dear!"

Both women turned to see Threepio walking into the room, his arms flailing as much as his stiff elbows allowed.

"Miss Padmé, the news reports are saying a Separatist ship has landed forcefully in the city!" he said.

"It's a Separatist ship?" Padmé asked dreadfully.

"Yes, Miss. And they say Master Ani and Master Obi Wan are in it with the Chancellor!" he announced.

Padmé clutched her chest, her mind racing. Anakin. Was he safe? She needed to see him. Gods, he was finally home. Was he harmed? She'd have to tell him about the baby. Did he survive the landing? When was she going to see him? She hoped he was well. How was he going to react to her news? She hoped he was alive. She hadn't seen him in almost six months. Where was he?

"Padmé."

Padmé looked at her handmaiden, almost hyperventilating. Dormé gave her a small smile.

"He's home."

Padmé's heart stopped when she saw Anakin abandoning the transport after Chancellor Palpatine, but he didn't follow the politician. He stayed behind. Why wasn't he going into the senate building? What was he doing? Was he… she squinted… joking around with Obi Wan? Friendly banter after that violent landing could mean only one thing: he was unharmed. She couldn't help but smile. He was safe.

Her eyes followed him as he walked with her friend Bail Organa and suddenly he stiffened. She smiled again. He knew she was there.

It took him a second to excuse himself and another second to take her in his arms, away from the prying eyes of the senators following the Chancellor.

It almost didn't feel real, being in his arms again after such a long time. Her emotions got the best of her and tears fell down her cheeks as a gasp of his name left her lips. "Anakin…"

"I missed you, Padmé," he managed to whisper, overcome with emotion. She held his face in her hands and pulled him down for a ferocious kiss, which he gladly accepted. His hands slipped down her sides to her back, pulling her closer. Then, something odd happened.

He bumped into something.

Anakin broke the kiss and looked into Padmé's eyes in disbelief. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for his reaction. Anakin looked down and saw what she was trying to hide under her heavy senatorial garments. His eyes widened as they shot up to hers again. Padmé gave him a gentle nod, smiling tentatively. Anakin exhaled and pulled her into his arms again.

"Oh, Padmé… I'm sorry I was away for so long, I'm so sorry," he mumbled against her ear, the thought of her facing her pregnancy all by herself leaving him feeling guilty and ashamed. "I love you so much, you must know that."

"Of course I know," she whispered. She kissed his lips again and caressed his cheeks very gently, eyes on his. "So you're happy about the baby?" she wanted to be sure. As if the huge grin that spread over his face wasn't confirmation enough, he pressed a series of loud kisses to her face, making her laugh. She couldn't remember the last time she was this happy.

"How soon can you be home?" she asked between giggles, trying to be as quiet as possible. Anakin pulled back, his eyes roaming over her face.

"I'm supposed to spend the day with politicians and then go to the temple," he informed.

"To hell with those politicians," she quipped. Anakin chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose.

"I agree."

500 REPUBLICA

That afternoon

Padmé touched her hair. The tight bundles on each side were almost completely undone but she couldn't care less. She turned to Anakin, who was propped on his elbow while his hand roamed over her belly, and gave him a radiant smile. He met her eyes and for a brief moment there was nothing else in the galaxy but them. Suddenly he flinched.

"Whoa, it moved!" he said in wonder.

"Mommy is very happy," Padmé explained. Anakin laughed and kissed her, then forced himself to get out of the bed. He dressed himself under Padmé's hungry gaze, her eyes taking in his form. Her hormones had been driving her crazy lately and part of her feared that Anakin wouldn't find her beautiful anymore. She knew he loved her for her and not her looks, but those silly doubts took over her thoughts every now and then.

"I have to go to the temple, but I'll be back in a couple of hours," he said, then paused awkwardly for a moment. "Uh, sorry about your hair."

Padmé laughed heartily in that way that swelled his heart and he knew that it was okay to have made such a mess of her hair.

"You didn't hear me complaining, did you?" she teased. Anakin crawled on top of her, his face looming above hers.

"Just wait till I come back," he whispered, then leaned down for a kiss. "I'm going to love you so much you're gonna need a new headboard," he mumbled against her lips. He felt her smiling. "I'm serious. I'll probably get you pregnant again." She laughed sweetly into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck. His desire for her had certainly not diminished and she couldn't be happier. Their honeymoon phase would last forever, she just knew it.

"It'd be very convenient to have two kids right away," she reasoned. Anakin chuckled at her quick wit and gave her one last kiss.

"I won't be long," he assured. Padmé caressed his cheek one last time and let him go.

She turned on her side and released a happy sigh. He was really home. They still had so much to sort out, but she could worry about that later. Right now she just wanted to enjoy the moment.

He was finally home.