Learning

Chapter 14: Alternatives

Anakin woke up with the smell of his wife's cooking wafting through from the kitchen. Checking the clock, he could see that the time was half five. Far too early. "Padme! Why am I up this early? It's still only my third day!" Anakin huffed and stomped around as he pulled a shirt on and mooched into the kitchen.

His wonderful wife was stood at the counter, completely ignoring his protests as she handed him a bowl of porridge. "Eat, it's good for you." She grinned at his disgusted expression.

"It looks less appealing than the sludge we ate on holiday last year. Why am I eating porridge at half five in the morning?" Anakin whined as he reluctantly ate a spoonful.

Padme sighed as she sat down next to him. "I wanted to talk to you about something. Dr Jinn called early this morning to inform me of the results of the fertility clinic. I asked him to call me the minute he had the results. And... Oh Ani! We can't have children on our own, I'm sorry. Apparently you have low mobility sperm." Anakin had stopped eating his porridge now and staring at her with wide eyes. He'd all but forgotten about going to the fertility clinic last week and had barely stopped to consider the results.

Now he was learning that it was all his fault they wouldn't have a child that was completely half him and half her. "Oh... I'm sorry too." He hadn't realised his eyes had filled with tears until Padme pulled him into a hug. "So what does this mean?"

Padme sighed, holding back tears herself. "Well, we can keep trying but it's unlikely that we will be able to do this on our own. The alternatives however would include adoption or maybe a sperm donor. We could even look at surrogacy if we were both happy with having our bun, fully us, in another oven." She had sat down beside him now, breakfast for both of them completely forgotten.

Anakin took a deep breath. "I see, well what do you think we should do? It's my fault this isn't happening for us so you should decide our next course of action." He visibly cowered at the furious face of his wife.

"Look at me, Anakin Skywalker and listen well: THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT! This is an unfortunate difference that we have to overcome but never, ever blame yourself for it. Understood?" Anakin nodded meekly, absolutely terrified yet in awe of her. Padme relaxed and kissed his head. "Good, now finish getting ready and if you have time maybe you can go back to bed." She laughed at his expression.

"You know that the minute I am ready to go back to bed, it'll be my regular time to get up." Anakin grumbled as he continued to eat his porridge. Padme smiled as she hugged him and went off to their bedroom to get changed. "Hey Padme?" He called her back. "It will be okay, won't it?" She sighed and wrapped her arms around him.

Padme kissed the top of his head. "Of course it will, we'll be fine. We will also discuss it more when you return home tonight, right now you have to get ready for work." She ushered him towards the doorway where his bag was, ready to be packed. "Now, I'm going to get changed." Padme told him before she properly retired to their bedroom.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahsoka woke up at the sound of her alarm and the even more alarming smell. It was stale, cold and stung the back of her throat. It was an all too familiar smell. It meant that her mum had returned sometime in the night and immediately hit the drink despite Ashla's promise to Ahsoka earlier in the evening.

Slowly making her way downstairs, she poked her head into the kitchen to see her mum slumped at the kitchen dining table. A bottle of wine and three bottles of beer stood guard around her. All open. All empty. Ahsoka sighed and surprised herself with the bitterness that flooded herself afterwards. Anger at her mother's hopelessness but also grief that this probably meant Mr Sharn was no longer part of this world.

Silently, Ahsoka walked over to the table and gingerly picked up the stinking bottles of alcohol that Ashla considered to be her friends. Putting them in the bin, Ahsoka heard her mum stirring and was quick to stand by her side. "Hija..." Ashla mumbled as her consciousness awoke. "How are you dear? What time is it?" She sluggishly pulled herself to her feet, using Ahsoka to steady herself.

Ahsoka looked at the clock over her shoulder. "Half seven, I just got up. Wait happened at the hospital Mum?" Ahsoka immediately regretted letting those words put of her mouth for Ashla's eyes filled with tears.

Starring to sob, she dramatically threw herself back down into the chair and onto the table. "Oh darling girl, HE'S GONE! Mr Sharn, such a wonderful and caring person, taken so soon from this world. It's so unfair! Still, I learnt what we were left in his will and why: The kind man has left us his entire stock! All because, and I quote: 'You were the kindest pair of customers ever to grace the shop floor.'" Ashla started a fresh round of tears while Ahsoka stood to the side, still trying to process exactly what her mother meant. "I mean, it was just a charity shop, but to make such an impact in someone... Oh Ahsoka, we simply must acquire his stock immediately. We must make him proud!" Ashla jumped to her feet despite her tears and made her way quickly to the landline.

Ahsoka smiled for the pure fact her mum seemed to have something to preoccupe herself with and not question why her breath stinks or she woke up in the kitchen. For all Ahsoka knew, Ashla was very much aware of the answers and was choosing to ignore them. Regardless of the reason, so long as it didn't get as bad as last time and Ashla kept her promise to Ahsoka, she didn't mind her behaviour in general without drink. "I'm going to put my uniform on and get ready for school Mum." She explained while she busied herself with making phone calls. Ashla smiled at her over the top of her phone book and waved her away.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anakin had remained sat in his car for a good three quarts of an hour since he arrived on the school grounds. He'd also opted to park towards the back of the school rather than the front. His mind was still a mess from what he had learnt this morning but he was getting there. A group of students loudly marched past as they made their way to school. Anakin wondered if he would ever have someone in that group to call his own kin.

Someone on a bicycle rode past him, ringing their bell and stopped near his car. "Sir!" The accusatory voice broke through his daydreams and he looked up to see the incredulous face of Ahsoka Tano. She cycled over to his open window. "I didn't know you parked here." She told him with a smile.

Anakin had a sudden flashback then to when Ahsoka told him he would make an excellent parent. "Hey Snips, you're right, I don't normally but I wanted a change. How are you?" He grinned at her.

Ahsoka's smile seemed to faulter but it quickly fixed it's position. "I'm fine thank you Sir, do you have something on your mind?" She noticed the slightly distant look in his eyes.

Anakin sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I got some news earlier today and I'm still trying to process it." A bell rung that signalled the start of Tutor. "Karabast! Come on, Mr Kenobi is going to tell us both off for being late today." He pushed her along as he got out his car. Ahsoka laughed as she peddled alongside him. "I thought you arrived with your friends, Barriss and Lux, Snips?" He asked her as they reached the gate.

Ahsoka frowned as she put her bike away. "Barriss came in early for some meeting about career opportunities after we leave because she is a perfect student and Lux... Had other plans." She tried to put the image out of her mind so far but him kissing Steela in the park burned brighter in her mind.

Anakin felt torn then between teasing or comforting her and eventually chose to change the subject. "Do you remember when you said I'd make a good parent?" He asked her.

Ahsoka's eyes suddenly lit up. "Are you?! Yay!" She skipped happily in front of him and Anakin laughed.

"No, not quite. Maybe. I'm not sure, but did you mean it?" Anakin asked her, suddenly nervous.

Ahsoka stopped skipping before turning to look at him. "Of course, I don't say things that aren't true. Also ask anyone of us, we will all give you the same answer." She smiled at him as they made their way into Charlie block.

It warmed Anakin's heart to know that's what she and others thought. Perhaps this wasn't such a bad thing after all...

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was actually quite long. I'll update again tomorrow. Bye, bye.