Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

17.

"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts" - Han Solo 

Days flowed into weeks, and Rain's growing stomach became increasingly difficult to conceal. The challenge of hiding her condition was compounded by the piercing gazes of those around her, their unspoken questions growing more evident with each passing day. Rain found herself withdrawing more and more, her cloak becoming both a physical and emotional shield against the world. It wasn't just the Jedi she was hiding from—it was also the truth she refused to confront.

Anakin's reassurances provided little comfort. Where once his words had been her anchor, they now felt hollow, devoid of the conviction they once carried. His distant demeanor, the way he would avoid her gaze or retreat into himself, deepened Rain's anxiety. She could sense the storm brewing inside him, but every attempt to reach him was met with a wall of silence.

Miri, Rain's loyal friend, had noticed the shift in her demeanor but had respected Rain's decision to remain silent. The once carefree banter between them had grown strained, the weight of unspoken worries hanging heavily in the air. Rain had chosen to bottle up her fears, unable to confront the reality of their situation. The secrecy of her relationship with Anakin, the looming birth of their child, and the growing darkness surrounding them had become too much to bear.

Rain sat by the window of her apartment, absently running her fingers over the smooth surface of her growing belly. The cityscape of Coruscant stretched out before her, the vibrant lights twinkling against the darkening sky. Despite the bustling life outside, a sense of isolation gnawed at her. Anakin had been increasingly distant, and the weight of their secret and the impending Council meeting loomed over her like a dark cloud.

The sound of the door opening broke her from her thoughts. Myreil entered the room, her presence bringing a much-needed warmth to the cold silence that had settled in Rain's heart.

"Hey, you," Myreil greeted, her voice soft and filled with concern as she approached Rain. "You've been awfully quiet today. What's going on?"

Rain offered a small, strained smile, gesturing for Myreil to join her by the window. "Just... everything, Miri. It's all getting to be too much."

Myreil took a seat beside her, her eyes filled with the kind of understanding that only a close friend could offer. "Is it Anakin?" she asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

Rain sighed, her shoulders slumping as she nodded. "Yes... and no. He's been so distant lately, like he's pulling away from me. And I can feel something dark closing in around him, but he won't talk to me about it. Every time I try to ask, he brushes me off, like he's trying to protect me from something. I'm scared, Miri. I'm scared I'm losing him."

Myreil's expression softened, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on Rain's arm. "Rain, I know you love him more than anything, but you can't carry this burden alone. Anakin is stubborn, but he's not invincible. He needs you now more than ever, even if he won't admit it."

Rain blinked back tears, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "I don't know how to help him. I'm afraid that whatever is happening to him, it's going to consume him... and I'll lose him forever."

Myreil's gaze grew serious, her voice firm. "Then don't let that happen. You have to find a way to reach him, Rain. Anakin is strong, but even the strongest people can break under the weight of their fears. You've seen what this war has done to him—to both of you. The darkness you're feeling... it's real. And it's not just about Anakin; it's about everything that's happening around you. The Jedi, the Republic, Palpatine..."