Tw: Sexism, pregnancy, language, discussions of abortion, talk of virginity, talk of sex, and people being di'kuts.

Two weeks into ruling was when it happened.

Karina had been talking with her advisor, Mary, about distributing food to a nearby town when soldiers burst through the doors. They looked vaguely like clone troopers, but their helmets had a thicker rim among other differences.

"Can I help you with something?" Karina stood up from her head of the table, flashing them a bright smile that didn't reflect the unease she felt.

"We're looking for the king."

Karina walked around the table to assess them, taking her time to respond. "There is no king. I am the head of the council of leaders. If you need something, I am the one to speak to."

She was handed a datapad with the screen showing a contract. 

"You're to sign this, officiating the joining of your planet to the Empire."

"I will review this and get back to you after the council has voted," Karina curtly said, handing it to Mary. "Thank you, and goodbye."

Obviously disgruntled by the clear dismissal, they left. Karina sighed and returned to her seat, massaging her temples. 

"Someone read over the contract," she ordered. "I can't deal with this right now. I'm too tired."

Mary offered a sympathetic smile. "Why don't you go to bed, dear. We'll take care of the rest of the meeting."

"No. I'm fine." Karina straightened and grabbed her glass of water. "Let's continue."

"My Lady, I think it would be wise to rest," Nicky told her. She didn't completely trust him, but the public did, so she had added him to the council.

"I agree," another council member with black hair said. "The wedding date is grower closer."

Karina frowned. "I haven't agreed to that yet."

"Benedict's patience will come to an end. And you need to marry soon. A woman cannot rule on her own," the black-haired one remarked.

Karina only sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We've discussed this, Arnold. I will not tolerate such blatant disrespect towards not only my own, but any gender. You are walking on thin ice."

"Of course, Karina," Arnold said with a sneer, bowing slightly.

"Address me by my title," Karina sharply said. "You are below me." She smiled sweetly at him before facing Mary. "I assume the contract only benefits the Empire?"

"Yes, Karina," Mary answered, holding out the datapad, flashing Arnold a venomous glare. "We not only will have to give them a healthy amount of credits every month, they will also inhabit the planet."

"I'll have to think about this. I'm absolutely not letting anyone take control. Any ideas?" Karina looked around the council.

"Fighting back is out of the question," Nicky replied. "We have practically no military compared to the Empire."

"We could form an alliance with other nearby planets," Ruby, one of Karina's most favoured council members suggested. "We could make an arrangement try. It benefits all of us and keeps us out of the Empire."

"We'll decide later," Karina said as she glanced out the window at the setting sun. "It's getting late. I would hate to keep you all longer than necessary."

They all filed out, leaving Karina and Mary alone. Mary lingered while Karina cleaned up the flimsi littering the table.

"You should go home to Timmy," Karina said without looking up. "I'm sure he misses his mother."

"You'll eat dinner?" Mary worriedly asked.

"Of course." Karina nodded, rubbing at the bags under her eyes. "I'll be fine, I promise."

After Mary left, Karina went up to her room. She grabbed an apple from the kitchen on her way, and ate that as she read over the contract. It was as ridiculous as she had been told, and she tossed it aside.

She couldn't quite tell if the feeling in her stomach was nausea or nerves. She'd been feeling so much of both lately it was difficult to differentiate them.

Her medical exam tomorrow though, would clear up Mary's needless concerns.

Feeling only slightly faint, Karina considered it a win.

Having new blood drawn was never pleasant and often left her feeling like she would pass out. 

Mary squeezed her hand comfortingly as the doctor examined the vial of blood. Karina smiled at her, sipping the water she had been given.

"I'll be back in a moment," the doctor said, bowing her head.

"I looked over the contract they want me to sign," Karina told Mary. She scowled, forehead creasing. "It's unbelievable."

"I don't think they'll back down, either." Mary pursed her lips. "There's no good options."

Karina sat up as the doctor returned, her chest tightening at the doctor's guarded expression. "Is everything okay?"

The doctor gave her a kind smile. "I have your results. There's a couple irregularities that caught my eye."

Karina's heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," the doctor assured her. "But I want you to know I'm here to support you in whatever direction you choose. You're pregnant."

Karina sighed. "Shit."

"I could send you a couple files about pregnancy, or I could help you find an alternative." The doctor sat across from Karina, crossing her legs. "You have plenty of support in whatever you decide."

"Thank you, Doctor Esklen," Karina numbly said, slumping. She cleared her throat, pasting a smile back on. "I'll get back to you when I make my decision about what to do with this."

"Of course." Doctor Esklen packed up her bags before leaving.

"It was Wolffe, wasn't it," Mary immediately said, raising an eyebrow.

Karina narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Are you going to tell him?" Mary questioned.

"I don't know. I don't know if I'm even going to keep it!" Karina tugged at her hair. "I need time to think about it!"

Mary squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sorry, but we have that meeting to discuss the Empire's offer."

Karina groaned. "I nearly forgot about that."

"You're pregnant?" Arnold demanded, slamming his hands onto the table. 

"First of all, that's none of your concern. Second, how did you even find out?" Karina leaned back into her chair. "I barely just found out myself."

Arnold scowled. "So it's true. You got knocked up."

"How did you find out?" Karina asked again.

"I happened to be walking by." Arnold dusted his jacket off. "And how are you supposed to marry Benedict now? You've given away your purity."

Karina slowly stood up, and the room fell silent. All other discussions ended as everyone turned to see them.

"Why would that stop anyone from wanting to marry me?" Karina coldly asked. "Why would it matter if I'd had sex?"

Arnold puffed out his chest. "Pure women are important. If she's whored herself out, she clearly isn't marriage material. She didn't preserve her value."

"Let me tell you something," Karina raised her voice for everyone to hear, "you arrogant, immature, bantha fodder! Women aren't just toys to be played with! And so what if I had sex? I was never going marry Benedict anyway!"

"I think you're letting your pregnancy brain talk," Arnold retorted. "Calm down so we can talk civilly."

"Why don't you grow up and be a better person." Karina pointed at the door. "Get out. You are now officially out of the council."

"You can't do that! A vote needs to be held!" Arnold yelled.

Karina smiled sweetly. "Oh, no, Arnold, I think your non-existent brain is talking."

"All in favour of tossing Arnold from the council," Ruby said.

Everyone except Arnold raised their hands.

"Get the kark out of here," Karina ordered.

"You'll regret this," Arnold threatened, glowering at them all. 

"I don't think we will." Nicky threw him out of the room.

Karina sat back down, gesturing to the datapad with the contract. "What are we going to do about this?"

"If we don't sign, what happens?" Mary questioned.

"Nothing, I don't think. The Empire is still fairly new and they don't want to risk their public image by invading us our something." Karina cupped her chin contemplatively. "So we have a bit of time before they'd attempt something."

"We have time to think of a plan, then," Ruby summarized.

"Let's push this aside and focus on another issue for now. Like choosing another council member." Karina slid the datapad away, reaching for her water glass as nausea suddenly sprung to the surface.

And they still hadn't come to a decision about the Empire, weeks later.

The council had elected a new council member (a wise old farmer man from a northern village) and Karina had continued to adjust to her new life. Timmy visited his mother at work a lot, so she got to see him often.

Exhausted after a long day, Karina trudged back to her room, aching to sink into her bed. She opened the door and slipped into her bedroom.

She hadn't moved rooms when she returned, not wanting the master suite. She never liked that room. When she was sick as a child, she had gone to her parents' room for comfort, only for them to yell at her.

Karina kicked her shoes off and slipped into the closet to change into nightwear. Afterwards, she climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up to her chest.

"Security is shitty around here. Your bodyguard sucks, too, whoever that is. I guess you could never replace me, though."

Karina shot upright, turning the light next to her bed on. 

Wolffe winced at the sudden light, bringing a hand up to shield his eyes. 

"Wolffe!" Karina gasped, clutching a pillow to her chest. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Heard you were pregnant."

"Oh." Karina dropped the pillow. "Well I am."

"And... Is it mine?" Wolffe hesitantly asked.

"Yes."

After watching each other for a minute, Wolffe rubbed at his cybernetic eye with the heel of his hand. "I'm just going to say it. This is awkward."

"Maybe if you didn't break into my room it would be less uncomfortable," Karina sarcastically suggested. "There's an idea."

Wolffe hummed. "Maybe." 

She ran her thumb along the top of her other hand, watching him. "How've you been?"

"Good. You?" Wolffe blandly replied.

"Fine." Karina sighed. "Look, Wolffe, I don't care what you want to do. If you want to help our, that's great, but I don't want some Imperial soldier raising my baby."

"I'm not in the Empire anymore," Wolffe's hand twitched towards her before he flexed his hands by his sides. "I left."

Karina threw her legs over the side of the bed, walking closer. "Wolffe..."

"I've missed you," Wolffe whispered, stared at the floor. "Have... Have you missed me?"

"I have," Karina softly replied, reaching out to brush his cheek with her fingers. "I've missed you a lot."

"Why didn't I just go with you?" Wolffe murmured, leaning into her touch. "I think that was the dumbest I've ever been."

"Can I kiss you?" Karina asked, angling her head already.

Wolffe kissed her, gently and softly. Every piece of him had missed this; had missed her.

Some pieces of him more than others.

His hand had felt empty without her own in it.

"I still love you," Karina muttered against him before pressing her lips to his again.

"Same," Wolffe responded, pausing to kiss her between her eyes.