POV: Anakin Skywalker

It was the middle of the night and Obi-Wan and I couldn't sleep. I got sick about an hour ago and I just…couldn't get back to sleep and he ended up staying with me. He took me downstairs to get something to drink and Satine was exceptionally bitchy. She eavesdropped on the conversation Obi and I were having about the therapy session I had been fortunate to schedule for tomorrow. She bitched up a huge storm about how we shouldn't fuck around if things were meant to end between us. Obi stayed to bitch back at her and I got upset just listening and watching him, so I went outside and sat on the front steps. The door was closed and the rain was pouring down heavily on me. A beautiful mist a distance away even though the rain's onslaught threatened to dissipate all that remained of the little cloud.

After being out here for maybe ten minutes, I felt Obi-Wan's anger shoot sky high and I sighed, pulling my knees up a bit. I'm so glad he's not the one able to carry a child. Then again, I didn't understand why I was acting so passive. I used to be headstrong and aggressive and now he is. My sweet negotiator was now the aggressive idiot I was most of the time. I rubbed my stomach and I swear I could feel the baby's emotions. It was hurting and I could only imagine it felt Obi's anger and the pain that caused me.

I sighed, feeling Obi-Wan's anger pulsing through our bond. It was beginning to overwhelm me now, so I countered his pulsation and sent my own back at him. It wasn't angry. It was distressed. I heard something crash and I flinched, then the door was opened and arms were wrapping around me. Warm, wet lips pressed against my neck. His hands rubbed my chest slowly and he sighed. "I'm sorry, love." I lifted a hand to stroke his hair. "You're freezing," he whispered. "Let's get you inside, my dear."

I didn't even feel cold. Maybe it was because I let his anger and just him in general warm me. He helped me up and led me inside. I found it odd that Satine was crying in the kitchen, but I chose not to question it. Whatever he said to her was probably what she deserved. He led me up the stairs and into our bedroom where Padme was waiting for us. I sighed and took my shirt and belt off. Obi watched me with amused eyes. "Anakin, could you please have a bit of decency and change elsewhere?"

I shrugged and didn't bother to listen to her. She wasn't my mother nor was she anything really important to me. "Leave the shirt off. I like the little baby bump." I locked eyes with him and he was smiling genuinely. His eyes made him look happy and I could feel it within him as well. I smiled back and chose to grab one of the sleep shirts that hung open. I didn't really care that Padme was in the room and she chose to look away when I started moving my pants down. Obi-Wan was entranced as he watched, but Padme felt awkward. I slipped into the matching sleep pants and sat at the foot of my bed. "What is it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"How many times has the Council contacted you, Obi-Wan?"

He looked falsely stunned. "Obi-Wan?" I added.

His eyes shifted from her to me and he looked…resentful. "They've been trying to get in touch for a while," he said quietly. Padme looked and felt upset. I knew she wanted to go back. Our ship was a piece of shit right now and none of us could really afford to buy the parts or purchase a new ship altogether. "I can't let them split us up," he added angrily, his eyes narrowed and focused on me. It made me shiver all the way up my spine until he moved closer to me and rested his hand on the middle of my back, taking his seat beside me.

I could understand why he didn't want us to get split up, but I was early into my pregnancy. I still had time before I would be unable to contribute to the war effort. "Obi-Wan, at least contact them so they don't think we're dead." He gave me a glare that froze everything in me. I even felt my heart stop and that wasn't a good thing. I couldn't help but project my thoughts because I was so afraid. Please, please don't hurt me.

He softened his glare instantaneously and slid his hand down to my left hip, rubbing over it gently. "Never again will I hurt you." I wanted to trust him. I really did. "Never, Anakin," he whispered sincerely, looking up at me with his sad eyes. I nodded and he continued aloud, "I…suppose I can contact them." Padme sighed in relief and nodded, quietly thanking him before leaving our room. I moved away from his arm that circled me and crawled towards the pillows. "Ani, sweet love of mine, I'm very sorry…" I shrugged, trying to move the blankets to get under them and he came closer, stopping me. I glanced at him and he gently pushed me into my side before lying in front of me. "I love you and I'm sorry that I'm continuously intimidating you."

"I can at least be grateful that you didn't hit me," I said quietly, giving him a half smile.

He pushed himself up and leaned over me as I shifted a little and our lips met. He stroked my hair and his teeth grazed my lower lip before he laid back down. "I'm really trying for you." I nodded and put my mechno hand on his chest. "I don't like seeing bruises and marks on you because of me."

He curled into me and I slid my arm over him with my other one crushed between our chests. "I love you, Obi, and I know you're trying." He stared up at me and the frown hurt my heart. "Things will be fine. I'm just edgy when you're angry. I know you won't hurt me." At least I want to believe that. I couldn't guarantee my own safety when he was angry.

We didn't talk anymore after that, but we did kiss a little. It was slow, soft, passionate kissing. It was a way he hadn't kissed me in so long. His gentle touches and soft kisses were frequent, but he hadn't done this in a while. I was on my back and he was above me. He held himself up with one arm and his free hand slid up and down my chest and stomach as we kissed. I had my fingers tangled up in his hair and the feel of his beard was soothing to my stress-filled nerves.

At some point, we fell asleep. Well, I assumed we fell asleep. I found myself sitting on the stairs outside of the house again and it was still raining. I would bet anything this was either a dream or a premonition and I hoped it wasn't something I would regret seeing.

I found that I could actually control myself, so I stood and went back into the house, shaking my wet hair from side to side in a futile attempt to dry it somewhat. Obi-Wan was sitting at the top of the stairs, angry. He stood as I closed the door and came down the stairs, seething. "Where were you?" he all but screamed at me, startling me.

He gripped my wrist forcefully and it felt like he was trying to break the bone. My voice worked with a mind of its own, unlike my body. "I-I was outside, Obi." I felt tears pricking at my eyes. "You're hurting me."

He scoffed and I felt very afraid. "You son of a bitch, tell me where you were. Now!"

"I swear I was just outside!" What the hell did I do wrong now? He shoved me back against the wall and I was gasping, my eyes pleading for him to stop. "Obi-" He hit me. Hard. "Obi, the baby! Stop!" I was on my knees, trembling as he stood over me. He growled at me, ordering me to get up. I tried to and it didn't seem like I had control anymore. Whatever was going on, my entire body, in and out, was working on its own.

I stood up, straightening so I would tower him. I shoved him back with the Force and bolted for the door. Well, whatever was controlling me at the moment did anyway. Pulling it with every last ounce of strength in my mechno arm broke it out of its hinges and I let it fall as I darted out into the rain. The only immediate thoughts I could process were that I get away quick and pray to whatever greater being existed that he wasn't following me.

I put the Force into my step and ran across the dirt and dying grass. I reached the town and immediately threw myself towards the nearest building. I stumbled and a sudden pain surged through my right ankle. I limped a little and attempted to make my way towards another building, only to have an arm wrap around my neck. His strong arm, to clarify. "Running, beautiful? How come?" His voice wasn't anything near comforting. It had so much venom laced into it.

My mouth opened, but no sounds came out. My mind was absolutely blank. He dragged me back the way I'd come and I wondered why I wasn't putting up a fight. I was just giving in. He took me back towards the house, but stopped and shoved me against a nearby pole. I still made no sounds and I didn't even attempt to fight him off as he tied me with a cable in his utility belt. I didn't even struggle, but I did cry silently.

He ripped my pants down to my ankles and he'd somehow managed to drag my boxers down with them. Within moments, he had forced himself inside of me and was thrusting into me painfully. That was the first time I'd made any kind of sounds and it was strangled cries and pleas for him to let me go.

He slapped me and my eyes snapped open. I lurched up quietly, silently gasping for air that wouldn't come or go. I was sweating heavily and I looked down at him to see him still asleep. I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, opening them as tears started slipping down my face. I wiped them away in frustration only to have more come. I glanced towards the windows and saw the same dreary scene from hours ago.

I looked back down at Obi-Wan and bit my lip. How could he be so terrifying at times? He looked like the sweetest man in the galaxy. Those long lashes; soft, angelic features… How the hell could he intimidate me to the point where I would submit to him without resistance? More importantly, what the hell was wrong with me? I was a slave as a child. There was absolutely no reason for me to allow him to control our relationship. I had just as much say in it as he did. Never would I even consider controlling him with force. Yes, we've had our arguments in the past and I've wanted to hit him just for some of the comments he'd made in the past prior to this mission, but I never laid a hand on him. My love for him kept me from giving in to that temptation.

I leaned closer to him and pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder blade, closing my eyes as more tears spilled out. I trembled with my lips on his skin. Once I felt that I could control myself, I moved away from him and sat on the edge of the bed, letting shaky, quiet sobs escape me.