something wonderful

                                    

                                          
Padme waited silently behind the marble column, anxiety building up inside her. Had he returned? Were the rumours true? Was he alive? She tried to distract herself from diving to deep into her thoughts, thoughts of Anakin's cold, dead body, wrapped up and returned in a coffin - No, she must stay level headed. He would be fine, he had to be. 
In swept a large group of senators, the chancellor was there, there was R2 and Threepio, but where was... Anakin! Padme almost collapsed against the pillar in relief. He was alive! He was alright, he was walking, breathing, she had never felt so relieved in her life.
 Of course, she felt relieved whenever he came back alive, but this time it was different...
 Anakin was talking to Bail Organa, he hadn't noticed her yet, she had told him she would be there when he got back. She began to feel agitated, her nerves were not helping her now constant nausea. Anakin turned to senator Organa, muttered something that seemed like he was excusing himself and Padme felt excitement bubble up inside of her. Once the senators were well out the way he turned and ran over to her, grinning boyishly, embracing her tightly in his arms as he spun her around.
 Oh how Padme had missed his strong, steady embrace, she felt instantly calmed. He put her down gently, she kissed him hard, savouring his soft lips, then nestled her head into the crook of his shoulder. 
It had been weeks since he was last back in Coruscant, 9 weeks to be exact. His hair was much longer now, but his scar had healed considerably since she has last saw him. She sighed deeply, relishing his musky scent. 
"I've missed you Padme." He said into her shoulder, she felt tears fill her eyes, happy tears. "there were whispers," she said frantically, finally letting out the anxiety that had filled her mind every day, "that you had been killed" 
"I'm alright" He said in his soothing, level voice, smiling uncontrollably and staring intently into her eyes. "it feels like we've been apart for a lifetime." he said breathlessly, leaning closer into her "and it might have been if the chancellor had never been kidnapped, I don't think they would have ever brought us back from the outer rim sieges" He closed the already small space between their lips. 
"wait, not here" Padme pulled back, wary of the senators nearby.
"yes here," he murmured, enough for Padme to completely melt beneath his gaze. "I'm tired of all this deception, I don't care if they know we're married."
He was becoming restless, "Ani, don't say things like that." she stared into his eyes forcefully,. He gave in and pulled her back to his chest, Padme's heart raced so fast he could probably feel it. She had to tell him, now was her chance. Anakin sensed her unease and let her go slowly.
" Are you all right? You're trembling. What's going on?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
She hesitated, putting on her best brave face despite being full of fear. "Something wonderful has happened." She paused, "Ani... I'm pregnant."
Anakin felt his heart stop for a second. His brain tried to process what she had just said. What does she mean, pregnant? 
Padme pregnant, a baby?
She was carrying a baby, his baby. 
She would be a mother, he would be a father.
They would be parents?
He would have a family.
His eyes searched hers frantically as if looking for any deception but he found none, his face fell into subtle shock. The thought of children, with Padme? Pure joy started to seep through his body. He breathed deeply, then a smile formed on his face for a second.
 Padme was scared of this, two months she had had to think through his reaction and she analysed every expression he made, searching his thoughts for any sign of despair. 
Anakin looked at the ground. "That's.." he could barely form words, he tried to breathe deeper, looking into Padme's eyes he saw fear. Fear the pregnancy? Or fear of his reaction...
"That's.. that's.. well that's won - wonderful!" He chuckled nervously. He seemed happy, Padme relaxed for a split second but remembered the other aspect of the situation.
"What are we going to do?" She asked him, fear creeping into her voice. 
Anakin rubbed her arm, trying to calm her but he could no longer contain his joy and let a wide smile spread over his face. "we're not going to worry about anything right now, all right?" He caressed her face, "this is a happy moment..." 
He paused, losing himself in her hazel eyes, "...the happiest moment of my life."
She collapsed into his arms, letting him soothe her worries.



"Something wonderful has happened. Ani, I'm pregnant."
Anakin woke suddenly, it was the middle of the night on Coruscant yet the never dwindling glow of the city illuminated the room. Padme was sound asleep on her side of their bed. 
Careful not to wake her, he sat up and made his way into their living room, closing the door softly behind him. The city buzzed through the wide window, it was always alive, never quiet.
 Anakin replayed Padme's words over and over in his mind.
"something wonderful..."
"...Ani, I'm pregnant."
"I'm pregnant"
At first, all he felt was happiness, pure happiness. The idea of starting a family had always lingered at the back of his mind; he'd imagined children playing by the lakes on Naboo, Padme smiling with a baby in her arms, him rocking his child to sleep... 
But now, as he stared out over Coruscant, the jedi temple looming in the distance, all he felt was fear. How long would Padme be able to hide a pregnancy and still be a senator? How long would they be able to keep their relationship secret? His child would be born of an illegal marriage, he would be expelled from the jedi order.
And what of the child? Born into a war, their father gone for months at a time, their mother worried sick. And his child would be force sensitive, very force sensitive, they would need to be trained. But how, and by who?
Anakin paced back and forth, the questions consuming him. He stopped, remembering the joy he had felt earlier, remembering what was more important. A baby with Padme, it was all he ever wanted. All he ever wanted. Taking a deep breath, her turned and went back to the bedroom. 
As he slid into bed next to Padme, she stirred and opened her eyes, "where were you?" She whispered, shuffling closer to him and laying her head on his chest. He put his arm around her, "Just... thinking." he replied.
"What about" 
"nothing" he said dismissively. 
Padme knew what he had been thinking about, with her head on his chest she could hear his heart beating steadily. "do you think it will be a girl or a boy." she whispered into the darkness.
"I don't know, what do you want."
"I don't mind, as long as it's healthy, but I think it will be a boy."
"No, its definitely a girl." Anakin chuckled softly.
"Want to bet?" Padme smirked, they laughed quietly, then fell back into silence. Anakin stroked circled on Padme's arm, her skin was smooth and soft under his fingertips. He finally felt calm.
Padme's mind had been racing all night. She was afraid of lots of things, childbirth, raising a child, the war... Slowly, she took her husband's hand and gently moved it over her lower stomach, right where the baby would be. 
"Ani?" she breathed
"yes my love?"
"I'm scared."