Author's Note:

Well, here we are at last! A new chapter! (And on a big day for my family, no less! W00t!) Thank you to everyone who's favorited this, thus far!

So, here's what's happened in the interval between this chapter and the last: I finally have a beta reader, Lady Ravena! Lady R. is a Thrawn lover, but she's willing to edit all my SW stuff, so yay!

AND my connection went down. AGAIN. OUR BRAND-NEW ANTENNAE QUIT ON US. The thing wasn't even two months old yet! Now we have another that will hopefully NOT QUIT ON US.

To my reviewers:

XxRandom NemesisxX: Thank you very much! =)

Pearlmaidenredskyla: Heh, thanks! *grins* Well, hey, there's definitely romance here (in this very chapter, no less), but yeah, I know what you mean. And there will certainly be action, as well! (Hopefully, I can pull those scenes off; because it's been over two years since the last time I tried anything of this caliber.)

And don't worry—Rex will pop up, next chapter! He wouldn't have been included in the prologue if he wasn't still going to have a supporting role… I might as well say it: there'll be some interaction between him and the little Skywalker girl. Very cute, that. ^^

And you will also see some Padmé/Ahsoka time. Not sure how much just yet, but it will be there, I can promise you that. In an AU in which Ahsoka knows, I see the two of them as being sisters-in-law, you know? I do think they would get along quite smashingly! xD

Jedi Angel001: Thank you! Yes, Anakin's decision to let Dooku live is definitely pivotal—that, and it's just plain fun to be able to play with Dooku longer in the story. ^^

Obi's Mom: Thanks! *tilts head* Mm, I can see how you wouldn't like the idea of the Kenobis marriage being under-the-table, and I'm sorry that you don't like it… *shrugs helplessly* It's just the way things worked out, you know? The Council wouldn't have let them do it. …Anyway… welp, you're going to love the last scene in this chapter, I can guarantee that! =D Hope this story continues to hold your interest!

==Chapter II==

Reunions

With a sigh, you turn away
With a deepening heart
No more words to say
You will find that the world has changed forever

—"Arwen's Song," Liv Tyler, The Return of the King

Standing near the hatch, Obi-Wan watched the Supreme Chancellor—erect and dignified as if he hadn't just survived such a harrowing life-and-death experience—disembark from the shuttle and meet with the Senators assembled just outside the Senate Building. Flicking a glance back at the Count, Obi-Wan moved away from the hatch to allow Anakin to exit. Standing just off the ramp, Anakin looked back up.

"Are you coming, Master?"

"Oh, no. I'm not brave enough for politics. Besides—" Obi-Wan cast a significant look towards Dooku—"someone needs to explain this to the Council."

Anakin grimaced, and took a step back toward the shuttle. "Should I come with you?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, I can handle it—you go ahead. Besides, I think you have some admirers awaiting you." He winked knowingly.

Anakin's tired face broke out into a grin, his eyes suddenly soft. "Wouldn't want to keep 'em waiting."

"Precisely. Now shoo." Obi-Wan gestured appropriately.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I'm going, I'm going. Dinner tonight?"

Obi-Wan smiled slightly. "I'll be there."

"All right—see you then."

Obi-Wan's smile turned pensive as Anakin strode off to meet the small crowd. "Your old Padawan has grown," Dooku's voice said from behind.

Obi-Wan turned. "He has." He moved to the back of the shuttle and took a seat opposite from the injured Dooku. "Count, I would like to know what happened in those few minutes I was unconscious aboard the ship."

Dooku arched an aristocratic eyebrow. "I believe that is what you were discussing with young Skywalker on our way here."

Obi-Wan regarded the older man steadily. "Yes, I did. And now I want to discuss it with you. What happened up there?"

Uncharacteristic vulnerability flashed briefly across the Sith Lord's face. "I'm not certain I understand it all myself."

The Jedi Master's face tightened, ever so slightly. "Please don't stall, Count. Now, what happened?"

As the small crowd headed into the building—Palpatine and Mace Windu in the lead—Anakin fell into step with Padmé's longtime friend, Bail Organa. "The Republic cannot praise you enough," the Senator said by way of greeting.

"Thank you, Senator Organa," Anakin returned courteously. Though outwardly calm, his mind stretched out and brushed against his daughter's, nearby. Lúthien's excitement spilled into the Force like water from a fountain, and Anakin worked to maintain his composure as he felt it.

Vaguely, he heard Bail and See-Threepio behind him, speaking at the same time. "Count Dooku's arrest," Bail was saying, "will surely bring an end to this war—"

"Well, it couldn't possibly be as bad as all that," Threepio was saying to Artoo.

Anakin nearly snorted a laugh at that. Oh, Threepio, you have no idea.

"—and an end to the Chancellor's draconian security measures," Bail finished.

Artoo beeped and whistled a response to Threepio.

"Well, there, I agree with you," Threepio continued. "In fact, I could do with a tune-up myself."

Anakin pulled his attention back to the Alderaanian Senator and said, "But the fighting will continue until General Grievous is… spare parts…" Well, he tried to pull his attention back. But Padmé was very close by, and Lúthien's Force sense was a reactor going critical—the combination of which was making it very difficult for Anakin to focus anywhere else.

"I'll do everything I can with the Senate," Bail assured him.

Anakin couldn't take it any longer. Already turning to leave, he said, "Excuse me."

"Certainly," Bail nodded, moving off to rejoin the others.

Anakin jogged back to the shadow of one of the titanic columns of the place and caught his wife up in his arms, spinning her around. Padmé, Padmé, Padmé, my angel… They kissed, and if Anakin could have frozen time right there, he would have been content.

He had his wife, his daughter, his closest friends safe, and the rest of the universe could go to chaos for all he cared.

Anakin Skywalker was home.

"Anakin!" Padmé breathed.

"Daddy!" Lúthien hissed from below in an impatient whisper.

Definitely Daddy's girl. Anakin laughed and bent down to scoop her up. "Ace!" He gave her a bear hug, then a slightly rough kiss on her forehead. "You been good for Mama while I've been gone?"

"Amn't I always?" Lúthien demanded, trying to scowl and failing. She giggled.

Padmé laughed weakly. "Oh, Anakin, you gave us such a scare!"

"Daddy, I saw you land dat ship on da HoloNet—dat was wizard!" Lúthien gushed.

"Wasn't it, though?" Anakin grinned fiercely, rubbing his nose against his daughter's.

Even in these perfect moments, though, Padmé was pragmatic, and Anakin loved even that about her. "Ani, you two are getting loud," she began to fret, and Anakin loved the way her forehead wrinkled slightly when she was worried. "We should continue this at home…"

"We'll continue this here," Anakin said firmly. "I'm tired of all this deception—I don't care if they know we're married."

"I don' care!" Lúthien chimed happily.

Anakin turned to his wife with mild satisfaction, father and daughter standing together on the issue. "Y'see?"

Padmé gave him an exasperated look, and he supposed he couldn't really blame her. He did kind of tend to push her buttons, and yet she put up with him anyway. Point two in her favor.

"Mama, ca' I tell him?" Lúthien asked enthusiastically.

Ah-ha! So now they were coming to the reason for her excitement. Anakin grinned. "Tell me what?"

Padmé nodded, her resignation melting to anticipation. "Go ahead."

"What is it, Ace?"

Lúthien turned to him, just about eye-level, cerulean and cerulean. "Mama's gonna have a baby," she murmured happily.

Anakin froze momentarily, turned to Padmé for confirmation. She simply nodded, smiling tentatively. He turned back to his daughter, who suddenly wore a look of intense concentration, her big blue eyes defocused. He felt her young mind brush against his own in an effort to figure out his thoughts.

He shook his head slightly, gently but firmly pushing her consciousness away. A maelstrom of thoughts and emotions whirled through his head, and getting sucked up into that would not be good for his little girl.

He was afraid, first and foremost. Padmé's first pregnancy and miscarriage… he had been afraid throughout her pregnancy with Lúthien, as well. How could he go through it again? He still felt the pang of losing his first child, his son. Lúthien's birth had healed the wound admirably, but the scar remained.

"Ani," Padmé said gently, pulling him back down to earth.

Anakin exhaled forcefully. "That's…" Oh Force, what was he thinking? This was his child, his and Padmé's. This new baby was a blessing, not something to fear. He looked at Padmé, his gaze trailing down to her now-obviously large belly. It was his eyes, more than his soft smile, that told her, "It's okay, angel. I'm okay." He turned to Lúthien and said, "Sweetheart, that's totally wizard."

Lúthien's solemn expression broke out into a wide grin. Padmé smiled in relief.

"And you know what else?" Anakin added. His angels looked at him quizzically, and he grinned. "This calls for a celebration. The war is almost over, and we're going to have a baby. So, let's go home, change clothes, and… oh, I don't know, maybe head out to the theater? See if we can catch a good holodrama?"

"Yeees!" Lúthien shouted excitedly, punching the air with her small fist.

Padmé laughed. "Okay, we really should leave now before she calls Security down on us."

"Practical as always, my love," Anakin said easily, wrapping an arm around her and guiding them outside.

"Daddy, ca' I fly da speeder?"

Both parents answered: "No!"

"Awww!"

Yoda was waiting for Dooku and Kenobi as the shuttle touched down on one of the Jedi Temple's landing pads. "Obi-Wan, glad am I to see you safe," Yoda greeted, running a critical eye over the Jedi Council's golden boy.

Obi-Wan bowed from the neck. "Thank you, Master."

The ancient Jedi Master's green eyes moved up to Dooku, descending the ramp. Dooku halted, his eyes meeting Yoda's, brown and green, human and alien, Sith and Jedi.

"Wasteful, this war is. Even you agree. Sent you the candle, did I: you know there can be coming home for you. Know this, both of us do, and if come back to the Temple you wish, I will take you there."

"Very kind. Decent of you to give me an arm to lean on."

"Always catch you will I, when you fall. I swore it."

For a long moment, Dooku found that he couldn't breathe, almost as if he were drowning in those ancient green eyes. So much memory and grief there… how could he have ever thought all Jedi cold and unfeeling? How could he have thought that of Yoda?

In that moment, he understood. He'd known it before, but now, in another breathtaking moment like that aboard the Invisible Hand, he understood. Yoda, of all the Jedi—yes, even Skywalker and Kenobi—knew. He knew what it was like to love and lose. To grieve.

Dooku returned to the realm of the living with a shuddering breath. He was not a young man, and in thje space of two short hours, his entire universe had been irrevocably turned upside-down. Vaguely, he wondered why his hand wasn't trembling as it had on Vjun. He remembered a split-second later.

He didn't have a hand, anymore.

He caught Obi-Wan glancing between him and Yoda—two old men to him, Dooku thought dryly. "I shall," the Negotiator said slowly, his eyes trained on Dooku though speaking to Yoda, "deliver my report to Mace Windu when he returns, Master."

"Go, you may, Obi-Wan," Yoda said quietly. "My thanks, you have." Obi-Wan bowed more deeply before heading off. Yoda watched him leave before returning his focus to Dooku. "Came back, you did."

"Yes." Dooku stepped off the ramp.

The diminutive senior Master hobbled up to Dooku, inspected the blackened stumps where his wrists had been, and shook his head. "Terrible is this maiming. Regret, I do, that necessary, it must have been."

A beat. "Your Chosen One is actually quite good," said Dooku, his voice flat.

"Hmph. A good fighter is he. A good Jedi, remains to be seen."

Dooku arched an eyebrow. "If I may play devil's advocate, I might point out that, had the boy not been a good Jedi, he would have struck me down in cold blood. He almost did."

Yoda's huge ears lifted a little, and his already-large eyes widened. "And make him a Jedi, this does, think you?"

Dooku looked him in the eye. "A year ago, he would have done it."

Another beat. "Defend him, you do," Yoda pointed out mildly, "and yet never a favorite of yours, has he been."

"And a favorite he still is not," Dooku countered. "But he, one of the fiercest Jedi alive, felt the pull of the Dark Side and stepped back. Is that not worthy of some admiration?"

Yoda snorted again, though with the air of a mother well-acquainted with her errant son's doings. "Discuss young Skywalker, we may again later." He jabbed his gimmer stick at Dooku's shin and turned to hobble off. "Discuss you, I wish to now."

Easily keeping stride with Yoda, Dooku looked up and away from the little green troll at his feet, his gaze distant. "You once asked me which of my masters loved me more." He paused, and Yoda allowed the silence to settle. Eventually, Dooku spoke again, quietly. "The one that caught me when I fell." He dared to glance at Yoda. The ancient eyes were soft—hurting, but soft.

Dooku quickly looked away again.

From below him, he heard the old, old voice say, "Loved you enough to destroy you then, I did. Love you enough to forgive you now, I do."

Obi-Wan was headed for the medbay and Bant when a beeping from his belt stopped him in his tracks. He knew what that beeping was—his datapad. And there was only one person in the galaxy who sent messages to his datapad.

Smiling, he fished it out of his belt—relieved to find it miraculously in one piece after that ordeal aboard the Invisible Hand—and activated it. Since we're both in town, the screen said, why don't we do lunch? 1:00 at our usual place.

He grinned and sent back a short message. I'll be there.

Two hours, one visit with Bant, and one report to Mace Windu later, Obi-Wan was reclining in his seat in the Council Chambers. Mace had his folded hands pressed to his mouth as he contemplated this latest turn of events.

"Interesting," he said at last.

Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow. "Just interesting?"

The senior Master's dark eyes flicked briefly to Obi-Wan. "Anakin resisted the temptation to strike down Dooku in cold blood. That is an… unexpected decision from young Skywalker."

Anakin's not a cold-blooded killer, Obi-Wan wanted to snap, and didn't. A dark little voice reminded him that that was not true.

"Obi-Wan?"

He jerked his head up. "Yes?"

Mace's solemn expression softened marginally. "I know how attached you are to your old Padawan. I'm merely surprised. And encouraged."

Acknowledging that with a tilt of his head, Obi-Wan suddenly sensed more. "And?" he prompted.

Mace heaved a sigh. "And discouraged," he admitted. "Though not because of Anakin. And it's entirely possible that I need not even feel this way, if Dooku is truly sincere about helping us."

Obi-Wan leaned towards the older Master, his expression inviting enlightenment.

Mace's lips compressed briefly. "This raid—the capture had to be an inside job."

Abruptly, Obi-Wan found it difficult to breathe. "Are you certain?"

"Yes. The timing was so perfect—we were closing in on Sidious, Obi-Wan. We traced him to an abandoned factory in The Works, not far from where Anakin landed Grievous's ship. When the fighting broke out, we were tracking him through the downlevel tunnels." Mace's gaze drifted to the windows, towards an enormous skyscraper in the west. "The trail led us to the sub-basement of Five Hundred Republica."

Five Hundred Republica, the most exclusive address in the known galaxy… home to beings such as Rath Sienar of Sienar Systems and even Palpatine himself. But that was not what knocked Obi-Wan's breath out of him.

Padmé and Lúthien. Senator Amidala's home was high up in that enormous skyscraper—Obi-Wan had visited it several times since Geonosis. Padmé, Sabé, Dormé, Moteé, and Ellé—five of Naboo's finest women, one of which was something like his sister-in-law and certainly a close friend. And Lúthien Skywalker, a bright-eyed three-year-old with an incredible amount of raw talent in the Force—for all practical purposes, his little niece.

Instantly, Obi-Wan Kenobi clicked into battle mode. "We'll have to convince Dooku to tell us who and where Sidious is," he said matter-of-factly. "If he defected to Anakin, it shouldn't be that hard. There are… there are good people in that building. People that I don't want within a thousand kilometers of that Sith Lord."

The Korun Master's face was grave. "You're thinking of Senator Amidala and her child."

Obi-Wan resisted the urge to grimace. "Yes, I am." Lúthien's Force sensitivity was no secret, by the simple fact that someone as brilliant in the Force as she was couldn't live on Coruscant within practical shooting distance of the Jedi Temple without being noticed. Not long after the child's birth, Luminara Unduli had been tasked with speaking with Senator Amidala about the possibility of giving up Lúthien to the Temple.

Padmé had been polite but quite firm in her refusal.

"Lúthien Amidala has been weighing on my mind, too," said Mace. "She's so powerful… and so vulnerable."

Obi-Wan felt his face contort. "Master Windu, please." I don't want to hear this.

Mace dipped his head. "I fear for her, as well, Obi-Wan. I fear for us all. We must face the possibility—the probability—that Dooku was right. That the Senate is under the influence—under the control—of Darth Sidious."

Obi-Wan's quick mind immediately pointed out several Senators that could not possibly be involved, Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa among them. It didn't encourage him, but it was something. "Do you—" he swallowed—"do you have any suspects?"

"Too many," Mace said grimly. "Sidious is bipedal, roughly humanoid—but that's the most we know. Sate Pestage springs to mind. I wouldn't rule out Mas Amedda, either. Possibly even someone among the Red Guards—someone in Palpatine's inner circle. But there's no way to know."

Something tugged insistently at Obi-Wan's mind—perhaps something Anakin had said—but in his tired state, he couldn't focus well enough. Instead, he quickly returned his attention to the older man. "We can't legally investigate this. Can we." Not a question.

Mace exhaled. "No."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly. "Then we'll just have to persuade Dooku to tell us. Strangely enough, I think he will."

He had never seen Mace Windu look so lost. "We can only hope," he said softly.

She felt a warm, calm presence tinged with weary anticipation, and smiled. A moment later, she heard the front door open, and a rich Coruscanti voice call out, "Honey, I'm home, and I'm hungry!"

She burst out laughing before she could stop herself and, turning from her work, rushed out of the kitchen and into her husband's arms. "Obi-Wan!" She buried her grinning face into his shoulder as they held each other tightly.

Then Obi-Wan pulled back just enough to face her, his expression absolutely deadpan. "Lunch?"

She snorted disbelievingly and punched his arm, eliciting an "ow!" from him. "You're reunited with your wife for the first time in two months in the middle of a war—right after a life-and-death experience with the Separatist leaders, I might add—and all you can think about is your stomach?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

Obi-Wan chuckled weakly, rubbing at his arm. "I didn't have breakfast."

Siri sighed, her posture sagging. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Give me lunch?" The sudden fire in her eyes made him backpedal and throw up his hands. "All right, all right, I'll stop, I'll stop!"

She shook her head, stalked over to him, pulled him close, and pressed her lips against his. His eyelids fluttered, his left hand coming to rest on the small of her back and his right hand moving through her hair. Her hands let go of his tunic and came up to press gently on the back of his neck, deepening the kiss.

At this precious point in time, there was no war, no restrictions… nothing but them and their love. Even when they had to come up for air and the kiss ended, they remained suspended in that point in time.

"I've missed you so much," he breathed against her cheek, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. "When we were out there in the Sieges, I would dream about coming home to you."

"That's awfully romantic of you, Master Kenobi," Siri murmured, intending to tease and not quite pulling off the blithe tone. "Why don't you write me love letters like that?"

He smiled ruefully. "I'm afraid the thought never occurred to me."

"Start doing it now, then." Not giving him a chance to reply, she continued. "I've missed you, too, Obi-Wan—so much that it hurt, sometimes. And you were always right in the center of the worst of it. I've been lucky—the worst I've ever had to deal with was Azure." Going undercover the way she did all the time wasn't safe, but it was a galaxy safer than being out on the frontline.

His grip tightened further instinctively as they both recalled Siri's all-too-close brush with death half a year earlier. "I'm grateful for that. I'd rather be the one to deal with the worst."

The words struck her as vaguely amusing, and she smiled faintly. "Would you really? Because, pretty soon, I am going to have to deal with the worst."

Obi-Wan jerked back and looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

Siri's smile widened. "Well, it's generally not the father's place to bear the baby."

It took two seconds for that to register, and when it did, his eyes widened, stunned. "Siri?"

She laughed, her hands falling to grasp his and squeeze them. "Obi-Wan Kenobi lasso stork," she said merrily. "In six more months, darling, we're going to have to share our bed with our child."

His jaw dropped, and for a few moments, he seemed utterly unable to react in any other way. Then, she felt him pull himself together just enough to push his consciousness out towards her—

And Obi-Wan's mind brushed against the tiny life inside Siri's womb. The tiny life that was their child.

She felt her breath taken away with his as if she was experiencing it for the first time once more. Their child. Someone totally unique, yet possessing a bit of her and a bit of Obi-Wan. The thought still amazed her, even after her miscarriage…

No, she wouldn't think of that. Obi-Wan would catch on too quickly, and she didn't want to ruin the moment. They were getting a second chance, whether he knew it or not. She could—and would—be overjoyed for that.

She watched as her husband's lips gradually curved upward in an amazed smile. "Siri," he said hoarsely.

She lifted his right hand and placed it over her still-flat abdomen. "There's no movement to feel yet," she said gently. "But about three more months, and there will be."

"I can't believe it," he breathed.

"Why? That's when babies are big enough to be felt."

He made a sound of disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that she was quipping at a time like this. "You know what I mean. I can't believe we're… parents. That we're really going to have a baby!"

"Well, better start getting used to it," she advised, smiling. "And be grateful you weren't around for my morning sickness. I had fun hiding that from the other guys in Intel."

He grimaced. "I'm sure." His grimace morphed into a pensive frown as the reality of the situation sank in, as he took into account factors that she probably didn't even know. "Siri… Siri, this is going to change everything."

"I know," she murmured.

"We can't hide this like Anakin and Padmé."

"I know," she repeated, her voice rising a bit.

"I don't know what we're going to do."

She twined her fingers with his. "This war is ending… with Dooku captured, it's ending—maybe even before the month is out. So, we're going to finish this war, and then we'll go the Council—you, me, and Anakin. And… and we'll tell them everything."

He lowered his head until his forehead touched hers. "I guess we don't have much choice, do we?"

"Well, it's better than waiting until Bant asks me why I resemble a Hutt more than I do a human being."

Obi-Wan let out a slightly strangled sound resembling a laugh as he looked down at their hands. "We wouldn't want that, would we?"

"Nope." She raised their clasped hands to press tenderly against his chest. "Don't worry," she murmured. "We'll be just fine. All of us—you, me, and the baby."

"And if we're expelled…" He looked up from their hands to meet her eyes, his own grey-blue eyes hardening with resolve. "If we're expelled… this time… this time, it'll be worth it. Our child… will be worth it."

"Our child," she nodded, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder.

They held each other like that for a long time.

And the trees are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you closer

—Ibid.

Author's Note:

In the movie, you don't hear Bail's lines to Anakin in their entirety—instead, you hear Threepio's to Artoo. I decided to mash the two together, since the scene was from Anakin's POV and he probably would've been able to hear both. Wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Anakin's nickname for his little girl is Ace. *cue aws!* And yes, Lúthien does know how to fly—you'll read more about that, later. ;D

Dooku's flashback comes from Yoda, Dark Rendezvous—check it out: it's an excellent novel! Lots of heart to it! (Plus, you have a much, much better understanding of the Dooku/Yoda interplay here if you read it.)

The scene between Obi-Wan and Mace is adapted from the RotS novelization.

The Siriwan scene was actually the first full scene I wrote for this fic, back when I was still working on When You Believe in early August! The "love letters" bit was inspired by some lines between a husband and wife in an old Adventures in Odyssey episode (Christian radio drama)—I always loved that scene, and it's something I've been wanting to use for a long time. Also, you finally get to see one bit from the spoilers given in WYB's epilogue! "Obi-Wan Kenobi lasso stork." Chocolate cake to anybody who recognizes that line! Finally, Siri's quip about resembling a Hutt is a tribute to Darth Ishtar's The Other Half, Part III: When Morning Comes, in which Leia says something very similar to Han. Ironic, isn't it, that the Kenobis have to worry about their baby more than the Skywalkers do?

Should have the next chapter up fairly soon!

Please review!