❝ obi-wan, why are you giving
me that look? ❞

—

CARINA SWALLOWED ANXIOUSLY AS she paced around the hall. Breathing heavily as her hand instinctively went to her womb, thoughts running through her head of just how she was going to break the news to Anakin.

She wished to rejoice in the news of her expecting, how much she longed for it, but she was a Jedi. Sworn to the order, to serve and protect. If they ever found out she was pregnant she didn't know how she would explain it, worse that the father was another Jedi member.

She remembered the day she found out vividly, she had been on a mission with Mace, freeing troopers that had been taken hostage when all her strength began to weaken, she had felt lightheaded and out of shape. Halfway through the mission she had passed out.

The emergency doctor had seen her and broke the news to her, the brunette had gone pale with panic, having used the force on the doctor to wipe his mind of the news, so that he would tell Master Windu she was merely lacking sleep.

Ever since she had been slightly dreading the day she had to break the news to Anakin. Her husband had been gone for three months on a mission, and now she was pacing the halls like a madman as she awaited his soon arrival.

A part of Carina dearly missed Ahsoka, wishing she had the girl at her side to calm her down especially with her snarky comments.

Ahsoka always accompanied Carina with plenty of her missions and duties, the young girl was never Carina's padawan, but the brunette cared and protected her as her own.

The universe was a cruel and unfair place, having unjust fates for those who did not deserve it.

Padme halted in her steps as she caught sight of her friend nervously chewing her lip whilst fumbling with her hands. The Senator blinked before beginning to make her way towards the brunette, "Ina? Are you alright?"

Carina slightly jumped at her friends sudden call, turning to face Padme as she nodded, "Oh, yes. I'm just waiting for General Kenobi and Skywalker to report with them to the council."

Padme gave her friend a smile, "You heard the rumors, didn't you?"

Carina shuffled on her feet, "Rumors?"

"Anakin and Obi-Wan are okay, I'm sure of it. You don't need to stress yourself over that."

Carina suddenly remembered the rumors that had spread around that Anakin had been killed, but the brunette knew her husband hadn't been taken down that easily. She could still feel him, so she knew he was alright.

But the Jedi Knight nodded, "Right, yes, I'm just a little worried but I'm sure they're okay as well."

Padme smiled encouragingly, "I will speak with you later then, I'm needed in a meeting."

Carina bowed her head slightly in understanding as her friend walked away.

The brunette gazed down at her stomach, wondering just what she was going to do to hide her growing womb when she would start to show. Carina ran a hand over her face as a familiar voice caught her attention, her eyes looking up to see her husband speaking Bail Organa, a good friend of theirs.

Anakin smiled at Bail before a he sensed a very familiar presence lurking by the columns. The blonde straightened up his shoulders as he listened to Organa speak, "I'll do everything I can with the Senate."

Anakin nodded his head in respect as his steps came to a halt, "Excuse me."

"Certainly."

Bail continued walking down the hall as Anakin turned to face his waiting wife who had a soft smile gracing her tainted lips.

Anakin picked up his speed slightly as he engulfed the brunette in his arms, holding her tightly as it had been too long since he last held her.

"I missed you too much. I'm not accustomed to going on such long missions without you by my side." Anakin softly spoke as he set his lover down, hands cupping the girls face as he stared into her eyes, "I heard you had an accident on a mission, I've been worried ever since."

Carina swallowed audibly as she placed her hands over his own, "I'm okay, I'm here."

Anakin tucked a loose strand of hair behind the girls ear as he whispered, "I hate having to part with you, I hate not having you by my side."

Carina's gaze softened at hearing her husbands words, "I hate it too, but we're here now."

Anakin leaned down to place a soft kiss to her lips, tightening his grip on her as he moved to deepen the kiss. Carina placed her hand flat upon her husbands chest as she pulled back, panting slightly as she reorganized her thoughts, "Anakin, we're in the hall anyone could see us. Not here."

Anakin moved closer to the Jedi as he whispered, "Yes, here. I'm tired of all this deception. I don't care if they know we're married."

Carina gave the male a look, "Anakin, don't say that. We both have a role to play to the republic, I love you, Ani, but I won't let you give up your life, all you've worked for, just for me."

Anakin swiped the pad of his gloved thumb over the girls cheek bone, "I've given my life to the Jedi order, but I'd only give up my life, for you."

"Don't go around saying things like that, you have to report to the council and I have to meet with Master Windu in a bit." Carina did her best to push down her anxiety as Anakin pulled her in for another embrace.

The blonde felt his wife's worry, could feel anxiousness radiating off of her as he pulled back, concern filling his gaze as he questioned, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Carina shook her head, still not knowing how to tell him, "I've just been excited to see you again, my love."

Anakin pursed his lips, "Carina, I can sense there's something else troubling you. You promised you would stop keeping things from me."

Carina began to breath heavily as she licked her lips, unsure how to go about the situation, "It's nothing—"

"Why are you lying to me?" slight anger was noticeable in Anakin's tone as he searched his wife's gaze. Carina lowered her eyes slightly, "Anakin..."

The Skywalker boy pressed his lips firmly together, "Carina, you're worrying me, what is it?"

"I— the mission of where you heard I lost all consciousness, the doctor informed me of something." Carina decided to start her sentence off.

Panic courses through Anakin as he was ready to hear the worst. Hands placed on Carina's waist as she continued, "I had wiped his mind of what he had told me so that he would inform everyone that it had been due to exhaustion."

Anakin blinked, "You did what?"

"I'm pregnant, Anakin. I'm expecting our child."

And so, Carina ripped off the bandaid, watching Anakin's expression closely as it looked like he had just been stunned. The blonde looked down at the brunette's stomach that she was holding with a gentle hand.

The Jedi Knight placed his gloves palm over hers as he let out a breathless laugh, "That's— that's wonderful, Ina. This is amazing."

Carina licked her chapped lips as she voiced her concern, "What are we going to do? No one can know about this."

Anakin cupped his wife's face, reassurance evident in his gaze, "We're not going to worry about anything right now. Let us enjoy the moment, for as long as we can, because quite frankly, I've never been happier to hear such news."

Carina smiled widely, overjoyed with her husbands reaction as he held her closely.

The two couple excited for what was to come.

—

Carina emerged from the bathroom, gazing over to see Anakin sitting in the edge of their bed.

"Is there something troubling you?"

Anakin turned to meet his wife's eyes, shaking his head after a moment, "How could anything trouble me when I'm right where I want to be."

Carina fought the smile spreading across her lips, "Were you always this sentimental?"

"When anything involves you, of course."

Carina tilted her head slightly, "How are we going to do this, Anakin?"

The Skywalker male stood from his place as he walked over to the girl, wrapping his arms around her waist as he softly spoke, "Don't stress so much over it, we should be happy about this."

"I am. Trust me, I truly am, but how am I going to hide my bump? I haven't been able to go out on a mission for a month because of the morning sickness and I blamed it on a virus. How many more lies until the truth catches up?"

Anakin leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her forehead, "I know, it's a lot to worry about, and we will figure everything out when the time comes. That, I can promise you. I'll be by your side through it all."

Carina took in her husbands words as she nodded, placing her head on the blondes chest as the sound of his heart beating served to calm her down.

Anakin held his wife close to him, "I love you, Ina, always."

—

"Anakin, I need Anakin, please. I need my husband."

"We're losing her!"

"Get her stabilized now, I won't lose her too."

Anakin awoke from his sleep with a jolt, covered in sweat as he panted heavily. Reliving the nightmare that just occurred.

The blonde held his head in his hands, glancing over at his wife's sleeping figure, relief slight washing through his mind before he swung his legs over the edge, swallowing thickly as his eyes began to gloss up with tears.

Anakin stood from the bed, slipping on his robe as he descended down the steps and onto the balcony.

Carina stirred around in the sheets, her hand reaching for her lover only to find his spot empty. The brunette's eyes fully opened as she glanced around, pursing her lips as she stood from the mattress.

Carina glanced around, watching her steps as she caught sigh of her husband gazing out at the scenery in the balcony. The brunette slowly approached the male, brows knitted together in concern, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Carina crossed her arms over her chest, "We have got to stop keeping things from one another." the Jedi Knight moved closer to the blonde, standing before him as she gazed into his bright eyes, "Talk to me."

Anakin gaze fell on the japor snippet necklace on the girls neck, a soft smile tugging on his lips as his hand reached out to grasp the jewelry, "I remember the day I gave you this vividly."

"Anakin, stop avoiding the question and tell me what's wrong."

Anakin's smile fell as glimpses of the nightmare plagued his mind once again, "It was merely a dream."

Carina's lips parted in concern, "Dream or nightmare?"

Anakin watched his lover's expression, "Nightmares, like the one I had with my mother."

"So, nothing good then. What was it about?"

Anakin felt hesitant to tell the young girl, but knew he had to, "You."

Carina blinked, knowing nothing good would be coming upon hearing this, "What happened?"

"It was just a dream."

"You and I both know it wasn't 'just a dream'." Carina gave the male a look as he reluctantly spoke, "I saw you begin to die in childbirth."

Carina felt as if all the air in her lungs had been knocked out of her, "And the baby?"

"I don't know, I just heard voices say they were losing you whilst you cried in pain." Anakin's tone was hoarse and raw with emotions. Carina licked her trembling lips as the blonde adjusted his embrace on her, "I won't let this become real, I promise. Nothing is going to take either of you from me."

"Anakin, if I am to be discovered pregnant, I will be expelled from the Jedi order. Just as you will be if they find you you're the father."

"I know, Ina."

Carina placed her hands on her husbands chest as she gazed into his worried eyes, "What if we told Obi-Wan?"

Anakin's expression became stern, "What? Why would you say such a thing."

"Obi-Wan is my brother, your mentor, I imagine he already suspects something."

Anakin shook his head, "He's still on the council, Carina. We cannot trust or tell him anything."

Carina's gaze fell as she meekly nodded, "I know."

"We don't need his help, okay? Our baby is a blessing not a problem."

—