Anakin wondered if he had made the right choice. If he chose the wrong one, everything would be ruined. He had taken his most trusted advisor with him, as well as two experts on the subject at hand, to guide him. Anakin had narrowed the choice down to two possibilities with minimal troubles, but when it came down to making the final choice, he was inadequately equipped with the type of mind needed for the decision. After much discussion and advice from his guests, Anakin chose.
"I'll take the grey banded with the blue and white stones." Anakin said decisively, pointing to a beautiful ring of sapphire and diamonds sent in platinum, sitting in a black velvet-lined display case.
Jobal's eyes shone as she commented, "oh Anakin, she will love it. She couldn't possibly say no." She then gave the beaming Jedi a hug that could only come from the mother of a bride-to-be.
Sola joined in the hug, planting a kiss on Anakin's now blushing cheek.
A pair for lips smirked beneath a reddish brown beard at the memory of a young boy in padawan robes defiantly stating, "I'm NEVER gonna get married, EVER! Girls are icky!" then whispering, "they have COOTIES". The memory was flicked aside as Obi-Wan was yanked into the group hug.
"You remember our plan, right master?" Although Anakin was past padawanship and beginning his days as a full fledged Jedi knight, Obi-Wan's title of master stuck, perhaps because Anakin still looked to him as that – an advisor, friend, brother and father all rolled into one convenient lightsabre-weilding package.
"Yes Anakin, we've gone over it a thousand times." Obi-Wan replied patiently. "I comm Padme and arrange a meeting to discuss Naboo's progress in establishing trade routes with Coruscant at the lake retreat. When she arrives, you surprise her with with flowers and dinner on the beach."
"Ok, good, and you know that-"
"That I need to make sure that she arrives at the beach at 6 standard, in time to watch the sunset." Obi-Wan finished for Anakin, who was becoming increasingly anxious by the minute. "What you need to worry about NOW is getting the...you know...stuff."
Anakin shuddered at the realization of what he would have to go through to make the proposal perfect, but the image of Padme's smile (among other things) helped him keep going, despite looming 'discomforts' and 'irritations'.
As the jaunty group left the store, Obi-Wan (using his impeccable discretion) stated irritably, "Anakin. Please. You are broadcasting your thoughts – which might I add are semi-vulgar – so strongly that I'm surprised Jobal hasn't picked up on them and given you the old 'snip snip' on the spot!"
Anakin blushed deeply as Jobal laughingly said, "is that so?" winked, and the four of them continued on.