Accismus⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Anakin Skywalker⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

73.

The next morning was difficult. Anakin left for the temple and Sol had heard him leave in her speeder after he had placed a kiss on her head. She hadn't spoken to him the night before when he returned. Padme took it upon herself to direct him away from the bedroom because Sol was finally able to rest after an evening of hysterics. She slept through the night and awoke in the late morning to an empty bed.

She was thankful that her rest had been needed to the point of sleeping through to the late morning. After her talk with Padme, Sol wasn't sure if she was prepared to tell Anakin about her pregnancy. Even though Padme had been supportive and insisted that he would be overjoyed to hear that they could start a family, Sol feared an outburst. She liked to think that Anakin would be accepting at the news, but with his recent behaviour and unpredictable mood swings, Sol didn't have the mental strength to tell him just yet.

'Good morning, Madam Sol,' C3-PO entered through the hall that attached Sol and Anakin's bedroom to Padme's wardrobe. 'Senator Amidala has asked if you were well enough to join her for brunch?'

'Yes, Threepio, thank you.'

'You're most welcome, ma'am.'

As the gold droid left to deliver the reply, Sol sat up in bed and felt a strain in her collarbone. With a wince, she carefully leaned her back against the bed's headboard and slowly rotated her shoulder to ease the feeling. Sol felt the uncomfortable puffiness in her eyes from her crying episode with Padme, and she knew that there was a redness in her face that had festered overnight. She hoped that Anakin would have thought it was from excessive sleep when he kissed her goodbye in the morning, and not because she had learnt that she was pregnant with his children. Not that Anakin would be able to link the two things just from the sight of Sol's puffy eyes and red face, but it was an irrational fear that Sol couldn't help but think of.

After dressing in some casual clothes that Padme had left on the chest of drawers, Sol headed through the wardrobe to make it to the living space of the apartment. Her steps were slow and careful with the mind to keep the swinging of her arms to a minimum. The bandages held everything in place, but the general movement of muscles when walking made Sol wince at the pinches in her healing blaster wounds.

'Good morning,' Padme greeted her in the living space. 'How are you feeling?'

'Not too bad,' Sol mumbled as she embraced her friend. 'I probably look like a porg with all the puffiness, though...'

'Your eyes are a bit... red.'

Sol let out a light laugh at Padme's hesitance to comment. She slowly lowered herself onto the sofa and eyed the array of foods on the coffee table. Padme was dressed in a silvery gown that draped its sleeves over her forearms. Her hair was crinkled and pearls were braided throughout its beautiful, brunette mass. Sol wasn't dressed for a posh brunch, while Padme always looked like she was heading to the musical theatre with the fanciest of people.

'Are you going into work today?' Sol decided to ask with a glance at the senator's attire. She took a small plate and took some exotic fruits from the platters to start.

'Yes. Anakin said he was going to the Senate this morning, as well.'

Padme caught the Jedi's paused chewing while looking up through her eyelashes. The senator took some things onto her own plate and hoped that the information wouldn't set Sol off into another sobbing session. 

Much like Sol, Padme didn't like to admit that Anakin's relationship with the Chancellor was strange and unnerving. It was wrong to think that her superior was feeding Anakin negative perspectives and views about political issues, but at her party's dislike for the executive powers the Chancellor now held, Padme couldn't help but be unfavourable towards the Palpatine.