Chapter 1:

The Return

The young woman leaned back in her chair with a sigh. She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Her eyes were strained after hours of reading through policies on a small digital screen. Policies that potentially had the power to keep the love of her life far from home. A shadow fell across her desk, startling her. Looking up, she gasped at the handsome young man leaning against the doorframe of her office, tall and imposing in a black leather tunic. His knee-high boots and cloak were battle worn and dusty, but he looked no worse for wear. The man flashed her a white-toothed smile, spreading his arms wide.

The young woman rushed into them, hanging from the man's neck as he spun her around in a circle. He kissed her passionately as he set her back down.

"Oh, Anakin,' Padmé said breathlessly, touching his face, noting the healing scar above his right eyebrow. "You're hurt?"

"Just a scratch," Anakin replied, nonchalantly. "I'd take a thousand more of them if it meant never having to leave you again." Hekissed her again, reveling in the softness of her lips.

"I've missed you so much," he said with feeling. He cupped her face in his hands, one gloved and bionic, one warm and human.

"I was so worried that they would keep you on Cato Neimoidia forever," Padmé said, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "When I heard they were sending you and Obi-Wan to rescue the Chancellor, I was so frightened," she shook her head from side to side as if trying to ward off the terrifying images that had sprung to her mind.

"Shhh," Anakin soothed, enveloping her in an embrace. "I'm home. The Chancellor is safe, and I hope to remain here as long as I can."

"I fear they will try to separate us again. I don't think I can bear it," she said, shuddering against him.

Something about the way she was holding him felt different, tense as if she was keeping space between them.

"What is it?" he asked, voicing his concern. "Are you disappointed that I'm back?" he was half-joking, but Padmé could hear the hurt in his voice.

"It's not that at all," she said. "Oh, Anakin. I don't know where to begin. Come with me, let's go sit on the sofa."

He followed her into the spacious living room of her apartment. A large panoramic view of Coruscant loomed before them. In the distance, the sun was beginning to disappear behind one of the thousands of skyscrapers.

As Anakin sat down beside her, Padmé took his hands in hers. She looked down at them, silent for several moments. Anakin looked upon her, his brows furrowed with concern. "Talk to me," he said softly.

Padmé gently placed his hands upon her belly. Anakin gasped, feeling the rounded expanse of her abdomen beneath the flesh of his left hand. "You're," he began his voice a mixture of shock and awe.

"Yes Ani," Padmé replied, looking up at him, her mocha eyes brimming with tears. "I'm pregnant."

"I can't believe it," he said, unable to contain a beaming smile. "How long have you known?"

"Two months after we parted," Padmé replied.

A flush of heat rose to Anakin's cheeks at the memory of what had transpired during their last night together. The evening in the speeder in the quiet Coruscanti underworld. "I guess our practicing safer methods was ineffective," he teased with a chuckle.

"I just think you were too effective the first time," Padmésaid with a giggle of her own. She studied Anakin's face for several minutes as he looked down at her belly with wonder."I wanted to tell you when I found out, but I couldn't risk someone intercepting our correspondence," she whispered as if afraid someone was listening in now.

"I'm so tired of hiding," Anakin said. "We have nothing to be ashamed of."

"What if we tell Obi-Wan?"

Anakin looked at her as if she had suddenly sprouted Zabrak horns. "What's he going to do?"

"I don't know,"Padmésaid sheepishly."Give us guidance? He's your best friend, Ani."

Anakin sighed, "I wish I could tell him, but I know he wouldn't understand."

Padmé leaned against him, feeling his hand gently stroke her arm."I just want us to be happy," she said.

"We will be, my love," Anakin replied. "I will make sure of it."