A/N: I'm back! Writer's block is eeevil. But I hope for somewhat smoother sailing. Shout out to Halcyon for betaing this.

There was a look of vacant terror in Padmé's eyes that Obi-Wan had never seen before. Her mouth opened, but at first, there were no words to

hear. Then everything seemed to reach Padmé all at the same time. She clung onto the tile counter as if she would plummet into hell if she let go.

"I knew… I knew!" Her eyes lost their focus and began darting around the room as if she was trying to glimpse something moving too fast. "He

said he loved me. He said we belonged together forever." Her voice teetered on the edge of hysteria. "He said everything would be fine! It was a

lie!" She screamed, clutching her stomach. "He made me believe him but he lied! They were all lies! And now it's too late." She choked

over sobs that shook her violently. "He's marked me! He's made me his! He'll come back! He'll want his child!" Obi-Wan couldn't bear it. The

vulgarity of his Padawan was sickening. He rushed forward and grabbed Padmé's arms, trying to steady her, but she thrashed and tore at him.

Everything that he tried to say was drowned out by her screaming. Concentrating on the Force, he reached out to her, pouring out peace

with all he had in him. Her thrashing turned to shuddering, and slowly the shuddering stopped. She sank into his arms, still crying softly.

"I swear to you Padmé, that I will protect you as long as you have need of me." He held her tightly, knowing now that traveling to Coruscant,

leaving her to suffer alone, or worse, become prey once more to Anakin should he return, was out of the question. Stroking her hair, he let her

lean against him until she moved again to wipe away lingering tears. "Obi-Wan, what will you tell the Council?" He was wrestling with answering

that question as well. He feared that they would have him leave her, to track down his unstable apprentice himself. "I must tell the Council of

Anakin's actions." Padmé pulled away, fear once again in her eyes. "You can't! Please don't tell let them know about me! Promise me that you'll

keep this secret! I don't even know how I can tell my family, but for the Jedi to know, Obi-Wan, what will they think of me?" She sounded on the

edge of panic again. He reached out to touch her shoulder. "Shh, Padmé, I'll find a way to bring Anakin to justice without compromising you. You are

my priority, the safety of you and that of your child." She drew herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. "Obi-Wan, take me with

you if you must leave. I don't want to be left alone. My family won't understand. They'll hate the Jedi! You don't understand how they are, you're the

exception. Don't you remember how hard it was for Sola to trust you? Imagine how they would feel if Jedi strangers knew what happened to me? It

very well might lead in a separation between myself as a Senator and the Council. I don't want that to happen and I'm sure you don't want that

either. "Where will you stay when we leave here? I cannot keep you in my quarters once we return to Coruscant. But I don't want your presence

revealed in the event that Anakin returns" Padmé considered this. "There are still women loyal to me in my apartments that are still there. Would

Yoda be willing to help us?" Obi-Wan's heart skipped a beat. She had said "us". Might she be starting to feel the same attachment to him as he felt

towards her? "Master Yoda is wise. I will trust whatever advice he has to offer. And Padmé" He finished as an afterthought. "What happened to you

here will not be shared with the Council, that I promise you. Yoda will understand the need for secrecy." Through the Force, Obi-Wan felt Padmé's

internal tension begin to ebb. He could feel that unbearable weight on her heart start to lift. "Sit down and let's discuss how you wish to proceed

now that you've decided to come with me." He led her to once of the nearby chairs. His head was swimming with thoughts of his own. "I am sure

going back to Coruscant is the best option for me now that you must leave Naboo. I cannot stay here with my family, because of me, simply for their

own safety. What I dread more than Anakin discovering my pregnancy is him finding out while here in my city, in my home. Unlike you, I have

no idea how he might react. His zealotry frightens me, and if he does in fact wish to further be a part of my life, I feel like my life will be over and

escape will be impossib-" She broke herself off. A strange look flickered across her features. She intertwined her fingers tightly on the table, her

brow furrowed and Obi-Wan sensed the furious determination struggling to the surface. "No." She said. "No I will not hide, I will not cower when I

return with you. Yes I have been hurt, yes my spirit has taken a blow, but if I become weak and tremulous at the very thought of what must be

eventual; his finding me, then he has won. He has destroyed me. And I will not let that happen!" Her voice had risen in volume, she had stood up

and rammed her fists down on the table. Obi-Wan was surprised… and overjoyed, but he kept silent, waiting to see if she had more to say. The large

tears that tracked down her face were no longer of fear, but of anger. Padmé began to pace around her chair. "Once we return, make contact with

him. Let him know I am back on Coruscant." Her eyes glittered with passion. "He says he loves me? Will he still after he learns of my condition,

of the situation he has put himself in?" She sat back down and looked Obi-Wan dead on. "I almost died from the shame of what he did, his actions,

not mine. I will not let myself suffer any longer. He has made me lose all faith in myself as a leader, and as a woman. I will not let this boy with no

experience, no maturity, rob me of my position within the Senate. I will say nothing public." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "But he

thinks he has won me. It's what he's claimed to so desperately desire; my love. Let him think he has it." She bit off her last sentence. "It will allow

us to have the upper hand and control him. What do you think?" Obi-Wan was quiet for a long time, for he was thinking too many things at

once to be coherent should he voice any of his thoughts. His heart had swelled to breaking at her change from broken to strong. He looked at the

curls that wildly framed her face now revived with color and wanted to reach out and stroke them. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss

her deeply and confess his love. But he was also wary of Padmé's plan to be so open to Anakin after what he had done to her. To underestimate him

would be potentially hazardous. Who knew what his wayward apprentice would do in reaction to Padmé's ruse? Would he treat her gently? Or

instead continue to abuse her in his warped and twisted understanding of love. Obi-Wan scoffed out loud. Blast! He hadn't meant to do that!

Looking up apologetically at Padmé who appeared a little startled and hurt, he said, "I am relieved to hear you're not afraid. I just don't want to

let him harm you more than he already has done." Padmé opened her mouth to reply but he raised a hand to finish. "I fully support this plan and the

bravery it requires. But remember Padmé, Anakin is a Jedi, and well skilled in his senses. Should he discover your duplicity, his anger very well might

encompass any rational thought and put your life in danger. I strongly urge you to take Captain Typho to stay with you back on Coruscant. He will

take precautions that you might not consider while plotting against Anakin, and he will also be there to protect the other ladies there." "I agree, and

his presence will put Anakin on his best behavior. Unless he is more of a fool than I think, Anakin will not compromise me with a man like Typho in

ear's shot." Padmé's eyes once again shone with determination. "Obi-Wan I have faith in you… and Master Yoda… and I trust the Council with the

events that have taken place here." She reached over and touched his sleeve gently, almost as if he was the one who needed reassuring. "I know

now that I can trust you completely, and that means more to me than I can say." She rose from her chair and placed it back to the table. Looking

down, she muttered just loudly for Obi-Wan to catch "-to tell Sola this." Obi-Wan too stood up. "I should apprise Captain Typho of our plan." "He's

out in the garden with my father." Padmé leaned over to look out the window. "I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help." She smiled, and the

feeling it brought to Obi-Wan's heart was bright and warm. He's not the only one. "It's my sister I'm worried about. I'm sure she's going to fight

my leaving, even though she trusts you." "Who trusts who?" Sola came down the hall at that moment. Padmé turned to face her older sister. "Sola?

Even though I know you're going to hate this, you need to know." Sola arched one eyebrow. "I'm leaving for Coruscant. Things are going to change."

I know it's short... the next will be longer! I promise. Please R&R! You know it's important to writers to let them know if they're doing a good job.

~Verite