Three weeks after Anakin and Obi-Wan left for the Outer Rim, the Senate was convened for yet another emergency meeting. Padmè had little patience for the same debate that they had been having since the war began. At eight weeks pregnant, her morning sickness was finally catching up to her. It was a new experiemce for Padmè, and she wasn't used to pacing herself during work. A young Queen that went on to be the youngest Senator in the Republic was used to working to the maximum at all times, balacing her public service duties and her own studies proved to be difficult at times. Padmè reminded herself that it was best for the baby, so she had started to try to take breaks in between her work, getting Dormè to remind her when she forgot. Padmè felt more comfortable now that Dormè knew. She hated lying to her friend, and now with Anakin in the Outer Rim, Padmè decided there should be at least one person with her that knew of her 'condition'. "Supreme Chancellor, Members of the Senate," She said as she approached the Chancellor, she was now the focus of the Senate. "I urge us all to stop the fighting, let democracy resume. Many of our planets and star systems have been friends for over a millenia. Is this loss, this suffering really worth it? What can be achieved through fighting that cannot be achieved through debate. The Republic strives on the debate of opinions, for centuries we have settled any issues through resonable measures. Why is there war breaking out throughout the galaxy, when the heavy losses can be avoided. The Jedi are keepers of the peace, not soldiers as the Republic seems to have forgotten. Their resources are spread just as thin as ours. Senators, I ask you, I beg of you to stop the fighting, withdraw your troops, let diplomacy resume," Padmè concluded. If the Republic stood any chance of standing through the turmoil, democracy had to resume, quickly. Padmè wanted the fighting to stop for the good of the Republic, but she also had her own selfish reasons. If the war stopped, then Anakin could return home to her safe. There would be no worry that he could be killed at any moment. She knew as a Jedi his life will always be risky but at least the war ending would reduce that risk. Padmè's plea was met with a wide variety of responses, some were strongly supporting her argument, others strongly against it. The hovering seat made its way back to her post, Padmè sat down slowly, her head beginning to spin. Dormè place a hand on her shoulder, the silent signal between the two women was now a practised gesture. The news of Padmè's pregnancy was yet to be released into the public, the innocent gesture between the Senator and her Handmaiden seemed just that, an innocent sign of support. A sign of respect and friendship, but it was so much more to them both. Padmè smiled and nodded, careful to keep her features expressionless as she returned her attention to the Senate. Nobody but Dormè, Anakin and Obi-Wan knew she was pregnant, and Padmè wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. Padmè's stomach churned as the debate dragged on, her face turning a deathly white, which didn't go unoticed.
"Senator Padmè, yousa okiday?" Jar Jar asked quietly, "Misa don't think you lookey too good. Misa thinks..."
"Jar Jar, I am okay," Padmè whispered with a kind smile. The Chancellor closed the Senate meeting, after not being able to come to a decision or a pleaseable outcome once again. Padmè walked from the Senate building with her friends from Alderaan and Dormè, Jar Jar ambling behind.
"If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with Master Yoda I must attend," Padmè stated.
"Senator, I feel you should know, some members of the Senate, and the Chancellor, do not like it that you are spying on the Senate for the Jedi," Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan commented. Padmè was shocked at the accusation.
"I am not spying on the Senate, I am merely helping two leading forces in this war to communicate with eachother. Perhaps that is why there is conflict, an inability to communicate with one another. I am reporting to the Senate as well as the Jedi, and I do not care for your accusations Senator. Excuse me," Padmè said non-chalantly. Padmè couldn't help but feel furious at the accusation, but realised that in a time of war every action, especially within the Senate, would be heavily scrutinised. Although she had hoped for more loyatly from Bail Organna, who had become a mentor to her in her early years in serving the Senate. Padmè paused in a quiet corner of the vast building, stealing a moment or two for herself, a rarity in her busy life. Dormè found her a few minutes later.
"Are you alright Milady?" she asked, briefly hugging her friend.
"Yes, thank-you Dormè. Just taking a moment for myself,"
"There is nothing wrong then... You know with..."
"No, I'm fine," Padmè smiled softly, "I must get going though." Dormè bowed her head dutifully as Padmè left for the Jedi Temple.

"Looks like you will have a scar there, my young friend," Obi-Wan commented as both he and Anakin took a few moments rest from scouting and strategising. Anakin only smiled a small, weak smile, and brought his hand to the cut on his eye. It had almost healed, but Anakin knew Obi-Wan was right - there would be a scar.
"Just another battle scar," Anakin replied rather coldly. It hadn't gone unnoticed that there was an uneasy tension between the two Jedi. The clones were used to Obi-Wan and Anakin pratically reading eachother's minds. Now they could barely have a conversation together. When duty called for a trusting relationship, on the battle field, the two Jedi worked just as well as they had in previous missions. However there were none of the usual light-hearted remarks that they flung at one-another. When they had first arrived, it was Anakin doing the chasing, trying to get Obi-Wan to talk to him, but now it seemed the other way round. "Anakin. Anakin, look at me," Obi-Wan started, unsure of how to say his thoughts with out his brother retracting further away from him. Anakin looked up, looking into the eyes of his former Master. "I know I shouldn't have spoken to you like I did, but you must understand how disappointed I am. After everything we have gone through, after all I had to risk to get you into the order. How could you just expect me to accept you breaking the most sacred and binding rule,"
"It wasn't my intention to break the code Master... Obi-Wan. But I love Padmè. She's the one that has kept me focussed. You may not have agreed with that assessment at times..."
"No I did not," Obi-Wan interrupted, chuckling to himself, Anakin smirked. "I just don't know what to do with this, Anakin." Anakin nodded in understanding, looking down to the table they were sat at. Obi-Wan may not be his mentor anymore, but he was still a friend, a father figure to him, and Anakin wasn't pleased he had disappointed Obi-Wan.
"It is only because you know me so well Obi-Wan that you knew where to go. I hated lying to you. Both of us did. I wanted to tell you, then Padmè told me she was pregnant. She was so scared and it was my fault. I know I have made a commitment to the order, but I also have a commitment to my wife and child. It's my responsability to keep them safe..."
"I think we have proven Padmè can take care of herself," Obi-Wan commented, both Jedi chuckled slightly at this, remembering the 'games' before the Battle of Geonosis. They had been to busy trying to figure out what to do, that neither of them had noticed tbat the young Senator had taken matters into her own hands.
"Yes, I believe she could," Anakin agreed. There was a comfortable lapse in the conversation as Obi-Wan considered what the younger Jedi had said.
"That is the first time I have heard you talk about responsability. Without it being pushed upon you by the order," Obi-Wan commented, fiddling with his beard. "I am truly happy for you my friend," he concluded. He may have been disappointed with Anakin, but he couldn't help but feel proud that Anakin had made his dreams come true after such a horrific start to life. Anakin's face lit up after hearing Obi-Wan's assessment. He felt so much better knowing that his brother was happy for him. Again there was silence for a few moments, but it was a comfortable silence, not the awkward, tension-filled silence it would have been an hour ago.
"Now, enough of this, we have a battle to win, assuming you want to go home to your wife," Obi-Wan said standing up and leaving the room. Anakin only smirked before following out the door. It was odd to hear Obi-Wan call Padmè his wife, to hear anyone but himsekf say it, but it did make it seem more real. To have at least one person know about their marriage was reassuring that it wasn't a dream that he could wake up from atany minute.
"Thank-you Obi-Wan,"
Obi-Wan only smiled in return before turning his attention to the strategy meeting that was taking place.