Chapter 6

Mallie pressed her forehead against the chest of her husband only for a moment as to breath him in, she then returned to her previous position, her head resting on his arm. She watched her husband sleep, curled into the confines of his strong muscular body. She couldn't deny that he was handsome man, she traced the small cleft in his chin with the pad of her thumb, then made her way to the small scars left on his prominent jaw line from being in the front lines of battle, she lightly kissed each one.

It always amazed her how peaceful he looked when he slept as his face was usually masked in hardness unless he was looking at her. His eyes would melt into hers and she felt as if they had an unspoken connection, as if their expressions always said more than words. Her hand felt the whiskers on his cheeks and she smiled warmly to herself, amazed at the love she had been fortunate to find.

All those years of being told that love was dangerous and could lead a person to the dark side seemed silly to her now. How could something,this beautiful, shared between two people lead done a path that would be full of destruction. She felt a small movement in her lower abdomen and she couldn't help but widen her smile. These past few months were full of happiness, she and her love had traveled far away and were unburdened by the war, her child within her continued to grow, and best of all their love did not have to be kept a secret any longer.

She laughed as her husband's hand slid up her back, tickling her ever so slightly, and played with her wavy light brown hair that fell midway down her bare back. He kept his eyes closed but began to twirl his fingers in her hair while she caressed his cheek. She thought to herself about the life they had once shared in the order, they were never allowed these sweet moments together. She pressed her lips to his and his long lashes opened to reveal the chocolate irises beneath them; he added pressure of his own to her lips. They just laid there together in their bed reveling in their closeness.

"Kento?" she asked quietly trying not to break the sweet moment between them.

"Hmm…"he mumbled closing his eyes again.

"When she comes…"

"She?" Kento's eyes popped open raising an eyebrow staring into her innocently green eyes.

"Yes. She, "Mallie answered stubbornly, "You know how I feel about little girls. Besides girls are easier to raise. All right fine. He or she" She added as Kento's eyebrow rose higher and higher and she was afraid it might disappear into his hairline. She continued, "When our child arrives what will we do?"

"What do you mean?" he propped himself up on his elbow.

"How will we raise them? Do we even want to train him or her, do we want that life for our baby?" she paused and whispered without meeting her husband's eyes, "…or how will we keep them safe?" Kento had no reply. Mallie's fears spread into him.

Mallie turned over, her back now facing his chest. She breathed out feeling unsure. Kento wrapped his arms around her figure and placed his hands on her now swollen stomach. He could feel his child moving slightly beneath the safety of their mother's womb. Mallie absent-mindedly played with the ring she wore around her neck.

"Mallie," he said pressing his face into her hair, "Nothing will ever happen to you, to our child, to our family. Nothing I promise you that". She turned to face him again,

"Do you mean that Kento? Do you promise?"

"I promise." His voice was so firm that there was no doubt he intended to keep it. They lay there in each other's arms until she fluttered her eyelids shut and fell asleep. Careful not to wake her Kento rose from the bed and got dressed.

He watched the people walk by his living room window, a few clone troopers passed by as well. He and Mallie had traveled to Tatooine hoping that the war wasn't that prominent here. They were correct but no planet could escape some imprint and the troopers here were evidence of that. Kento nodded to them and they acknowledged him back. Kento had accidently exposed himself as a Jedi to the troopers but they paid no heed. It didn't bother him to know that they knew in fact he was revealed because then he felt some connection to the war. Raising a family was a sacrifice but it was well worth it. Kento thought about the life he had now, he wasn't the war hero he had always imagined himself to be, nor was he the obedient Jedi un-swayed by emotions.

His wife lay sleeping in the next room unaware that sometimes he felt helpless and afraid. He had promised to protect his new family but sometimes he doubted if he really could. The sun poured itself into the room creating a golden tone to all the furniture and Kento himself. Even with all this warmth Kento felt cold, haunted by his dreams of late.

His nightmares had grown steadily worse over the last few months. He often saw a young man with features not that different from his own sometimes standing above Kento's head with a crimson blade positioned to strike. Other times he dreamed that he could hear screaming, he could smell fires and felt betrayal, anger and despair. His dreams were always blurry and unclear but there was only one image that was clear, his family's crest was in every single nightmare. He was grateful Mallie never noticed his uneasiness when he woke up in the morning. Kento tried to push these dreamed aside but could never quite get rid of the feelings left by the night visions. He tried to meditate on these but his efforts were fruitless.

Sometimes he wanted to tell Mallie about these dreams but he didn't want to unload his own burdens onto her and showing this kind of weakness, well he couldn't be weak not in front of her. He was a selfish man and knew it; he could never be completely open to his wife while she spilled her secrets willingly.

"You look tired. You should get back to bed," Mallie said playfully curling her finger at him beckoning him over to her. She stood in the doorway wrapped in a soft white robe. Her figure had softened over the course of her pregnancy but she was still as gorgeous as ever. Kento stood watching her with a playful smile on his face, when he didn't come over to her she stepped forward to him swaying slightly while grabbing the doorframe and placing a hand cautiously over her stomach. Kento rushed forward to catch her if needed.

"I'm sorry," she said trying to regain her balance, "I can't walk properly anymore with this". She indicated to her large frame. Kento laughed with her along with her. She sat at the table, the light reflected in her eyes, her hair shone with gold streaks, her cup cuddled in her hands. Kento was in front of the window again watching the lives of others passing by. Mallie could sense his boredom, she had to admit that sometimes this quiet life was a bit dull compared to the previous one they had. Staring into her mug she said,

"Kento, if you want you could go. Go back to the battles for a while. Our child isn't coming yet. I can protect myself. I know you miss them I know-" He cut her off sharply with his soft but hard reply,

"No. Mallie I won't leave. I won't deny that I miss the order," he turned to face her, "but I would miss you more and if I missed our child's birth or you got hurt somehow I could never forgive myself"

"I'm selfish to make you stay here, really Kento, I am," she said as he opened his mouth to speak, "But I'm glad I'm selfish enough to keep you here". She stood on her toes so that she could kiss his forehead before she went to the shower.

The afternoon was spent in peace, Mallie read on the couch, made a baby list, and washed clothing, while Kento left to go into town to gather some metal so that he could repair the fixtures on the outside of their home.

It was in the crowded market that Kento felt something. He could feel the trace of someone familiar. It couldn't be. Why would he be here on this isolated and dry planet? Before Kento could confirm his suspicions he was hit on the back of the head. Igniting his saber he twirled around only to meet the laughing face of his friend Galen. Kento could hardly believe his eyes. He hugged Galen, releasing him he asked incredulously,

"What are you doing here? I thought for sure you would be on a more interesting planet such as Felucia? I mean look around," he hand gestured to the apparent wasteland. He paused for a minute thoughtfully, "You didn't come here to find me, did you?"

"Oh Kento, you're making me blush," Galen said jokingly, "You think that I would come here for you? How touching. I was sent here with a squad. The masters have given me the most boring task in the entire galaxy. I just take my small army with me as we spend a week or so on planets checking for any signs of resistance. What I wouldn't give to be somewhere else". Regardless of the reason Kento was glad to see his friend again. Galen dismissed the fourteen or so troopers lagging behind him as he embarked on a walk with Kento. They talked nonstop; Kento grateful for any kind of news that might have to do with the order and Galen being such a talkative mouth enjoyed the opportunity to gab at his heart's content.

"So they put Skywalker on the council?" Kento said more as a statement than a question. Galen nodded adding more to the story,

"Yeah. Shortly after you left. But he was denied the level of master. I know it's unheard of but the council is doing anything to appease the chancellor right now. Kento, things are changing. People are changing". Galen and Kento discussed more about the war with regards to the order the entire way to Kento's home. They were soon in front of the small wooden door that seemed eager to welcome them. Kento reached out for the handle when Galen stopped him.

"You know Kento, I haven't seen Mallie in months. You might as well tell me how big she is now so I don't say anything rude to her once I see her. So how big is she?" Galen said half serious, he knew of the anger a pregnant woman could house. Kento lifted his hands into the air indicating his wife's size and mouthed the word, "huge". Galen smiled.

Mallie opened the door to find the two men standing there, caught in the act of discussing her figure. She crossed her arms trying to look intimidating before she said,

"I may not be able to hear you both but I still understand that you're talking about me". Her face turned into a pout that could only stay there for a second before she smiled holding her arms open, waiting for Galen to hug her. While hugging her he whispered in her ear,

"Hey Mallie, I don't know if you've noticed but you're huge". She slapped him playfully and invited both Kento and Galen inside.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. Mallie and Kento were grateful for company and Galen was a friendly face. The three of them laughed and talked, it was almost like old times. All three of them missed this kind of laughter that grew from the gut. Mallie jumped as her belly moved. Galen took notice. He looked at Mallie and Kento, what would it be like to raise a child with someone. His mind floated to the quiet confines of the Jedi archives, it was a place he sometimes "accidently" bumped into the copper-skinned goddess, Tierra. He smiled dreamily.

"So Mallie," he asked, mouth full of food, eying her full stomach, "how much longer do you have till little Marek gets here?" She smiled while patting her stomach before answering,

"Well, she should be arriving, hopefully, within a few weeks." Kento rolled his eyes at Galen, careful not to let Mallie see. He leaned in close to Galen's ear and whispered hurriedly,

"Mallie insists that we are having a girl. I think she plans on naming her old master, even if I hated the woman". Galen snorted, food flying everywhere. The three of them laughed. This was the last moment of happiness the three of them would share together as the world came crashing in through the door.