So, this just makes sense to me. And I'll attempt to explain why in the best way I can for those of you wishing to know. Hope you enjoy, and obviously I don't own Star Wars. If I did, she would've chosen Obi-Wan. Or at the very least, Rey would be Obi-Wan's granddaughter. Which, I'm still holding out hope for. But that's another story for another time.

Episode I- The Phantom Menace

It started with a look. When his stormy eyes met hers, she knew there would never, and could never, be any secrets between them. Already she could tell the young Jedi padawan had discovered the truth behind the thick make-up she wore or didn't wear. It was the mask that hid her true identity from everyone but him. He always seemed to know whether she was dressed in the royal, elaborate gowns of a queen, or the simpler robes of a handmaiden. A knowing glance, a slight nod, or the small hint of the smile she was beginning to cherish, and a blush would creep into her cheeks, making her grateful for the thick white make-up or the hood of her handmaiden robes. They developed a close friendship, both determinedly refusing to acknowledge the spark of attraction between them, steadily growing into a flame that burned within both their hearts. But they were so young. So very young. Yet both had been placed in positions that required them to act beyond their years. She, a queen, and he a Jedi knight in training. Duty above the desires of their own hearts was their unspoken agreement.

Until the day she saw him fall.

Since returning to her beloved Naboo, the days had passed in a whirlwind. Now though, as the dawn broke over the horizon, Padme Amidala Naberrie finally had time, a stolen moment before the ceremony that would later occur, to reflect on the events that had so recently transpired. But, as she walked the empty halls of the palace, she realized she was not alone. Obi-Wan Kenobi was kneeling on the balcony overlooking the crystal waters of the lake below. Padme smiled when she saw him, but approached quietly so as not to disturb his meditation. She was more than surprised that he did not sense her presence as he normally did. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Obi-Wan?" Eyes like the ocean looked up at her, valiantly fighting to stop the flow of tears cascading down his cheeks. "Oh, Obi-Wan," Padme sighed, falling to her knees beside him and taking his larger hand in both hers.

"He's dead, Padme," he choked. "Qui-Gon is dead."

"I know," she nodded, hot tears pricking her own eyes when she thought of the loss of their dear friend. Her heart broke as she watched Obi-Wan struggle with his own grief. Sighing heavily, Obi-Wan released her hand and stood, gripping the rails of the balcony with white knuckled fists. "It's alright to miss him."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's not the Jedi way. We are taught to accept death as a natural part of life. We are to give our emotions up to the Force, and let it guide our actions, but…"

"But?"

"When I killed him… when I killed the Sith," he said, his jaw clenched tight against the sob in his throat, "I could think of nothing more than avenging my master. I was not thinking of the safety of the Galaxy or the good of the Republic, but I let anger and hate control my actions. And they praised me for it! Knighted me for abandoning all the principles I swore to uphold!"

"No," Padme said in the commanding voice of a true queen, "I will not have you belittle yourself in such a way, nor will I have you dishonor Qui-Gon and all the years you spent taught under his tutelage." Obi-Wan cast his gaze away from her in shame but she placed a slender hand on his arm, the other resting between his broad shoulders, speaking in a gentler, but no less firm tone, "Your reaction in the face of Qui-Gon's murder was natural. You are a Jedi, yes, and an exemplary one at that. But you are human. You spent over a decade with Qui-Gon. I'd be worried if his death didn't upset you in some way."

Obi-Wan looked back down at her, and once again, she could not help but feel that his eyes were looking into her very soul. "Attachments are forbidden," he whispered.
Padme felt her heart begin to pound in her chest when she realized his face was mere inches from hers. "You can't always help what you feel."

And then, without either realizing just quite what was happening, his lips were on hers. Padme melted beneath his touch, and she was incredibly grateful for the strong arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her steady. She dug her fingers into the folds of his brown, soft robe, her heart rejoicing at the long denied sensation. The sweet taste of his kiss was marred only slightly by the saltiness of his tears, so recently shed.

They finally broke apart, each breathing heavily as Obi-Wan leaned his forehead against hers, amazed by how much he cared for Padme, and how whole and complete he felt with her in his arms. For her part, Padme had never felt so safe or at peace as she did in that moment. "Obi-Wan, I…"

He stopped her words with a brief kiss. "No, please don't say anything. Either you'll say something sensible that will force us back to a reality I find myself at this moment unable to face, or you will speak of what is in both our hearts, a dream you know as well as I do that can never come true."

"But if it could," she found herself saying, "if I was not a queen and you not a Jedi…"

"Then nothing could keep me from your side," he promised, his calloused hand pressed against her soft cheek as his thumb brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. "But that is a path we cannot take, Your Highness. You know as well as I do all that awaits us there is pain."

"You are right," she consented, dropping her gaze. Obi-Wan sighed and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Padme snuggled into his chest, drinking in his familiar scent and hiding her face in the thick brown robes that draped over his body and hers. He pressed a kiss to her hair and whispered tenderly, "This I vow to you, my queen, my love, you will never be alone. Whenever you need me, I will be there."

She nodded, not trusting her voice to speak her gratitude. Or her love. He made to move away, but she clung to him. "Not yet," she said softly. "Please, Obi-Wan, not yet. Let us have the morning."

Obi-Wan smiled sadly. "As you wish, Padme."