PROLOGUE
Notes: This is an AU story, set in a GFFA where Qui-Gon lived and Anakin didn't. The prologue is set eight years after the battle of Naboo – the bulk two years later (in what would be Attack Of The Clones in Lucas' universe).
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Padmé.
FORCE-FORCE-FORCE-FORCE-FORCE
Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi scrubbed at his beard in a nervous gesture he thought he'd defeated years ago then glanced down at his 14 year old Padawan. Yes; she'd seen him as the mischievous grin informed him only too readily.
Why was he so nervous? Granted; it had been many years since he'd seen her, but they'd hardly been strangers in the time since the Naboo blockade. They'd written, made com calls and had followed each other's growing fame via holocasts when personal communications had been impossible.
Padmé Amidala – now Senator for the Chommell Sector – was one of the few politicians Obi-Wan could genuinely claim to like, with the other one being the Senator for Alderaan, Bail Organa. She was warm, clever, funny and had an evil sense of humor. As well as being lovely to look at, of course.
Now, where had that thought come from? Obi-Wan scrubbed at his beard once more – this time in frustration. Even though the ban on attachments had been lifted more than ten years earlier, the beautiful young Senator could have her pick of handsome suitors. Obi-Wan was more than a decade her senior and, though he was fit and strong, he knew that he couldn't compete with the dashing young men that flocked around the Senator.
The door opened and he promptly got to his feet to greet the Senator. "Padmé …," he got out stupidly. Gone were the overpowering head-dresses and face paints that had characterized her time as Queen of Naboo. Instead she was dressed simply in a delicate rose color, her brown eyes and hair equally free of artifice.
The young Senator smiled widely at him then crossed over to pull him into a surprisingly fierce embrace. The petite woman was far stronger than she seemed. "Obi-Wan!" she exclaimed in delight. "When I was informed that two Jedi would be attending my swearing-in, I'd hoped you would be one of them."
To Obi-Wan's dismay, his complexion took on the same rosy hue as Padmé's gown, and he coughed to mask his discomfort. "I'm honored to attend, Senator," he said, mindful of the mirth-filled eyes of his young Padawan.
He received another beam – more impish this time – then felt soft lips touch his cheek. "Why so formal all of a sudden, Master Kenobi?" she teased, tucking her hand through his arm. "Just because we haven't seen each other in person for a while, it doesn't mean we aren't still friends."
"Of course we're still friends," Obi-Wan said, wondering if everyone could hear the blood thundering through his body. "I was just … surprised that's all. You've changed so much."
Padmé laughed. "So have you, Master Kenobi." She tugged at his beard. "For instance, why have you taken to wearing Wookiee hide on your face?"
Obi-Wan had to laugh at that before fingering the beard he'd adopted about a year ago – when he'd had the status of Master conferred upon him. He hadn't wanted to look like a Padawan still, especially now that he had a Padawan of his own. So he'd grown the beard to mask his youthful features. Yet he couldn't work out how to explain this to Padmé without appearing as if he was fishing for compliments. "I felt like making a change," he said, recalling the teasing he'd endured from his former Master while the beard had grown in.
"Well …" Padmé tilted her head to one side in a gesture someone cockier would have construed as flirtatious. "I think I like it," she pronounced. "Anyway – enough of feeding your ego … what little there is of it! Come and sit and talk. It's an hour until we have to leave – that should give us time to catch up a little."
Obi-Wan laughed again and allowed the younger woman to tug him over to a small settee. She truly was a force of nature, but one that he thoroughly enjoyed. "Yes, Milady," he teased gently, settling himself comfortably before gesturing for his Padawan to sit also. "I've forgotten my manners," he added ruefully. "Senator …"
"Padmé"
"Padmé; this is my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano."
"It's nice to meet you, Ahsoka," Padmé said with another of her warm smiles, this time at the young Togruta.
"You too," Ahsoka replied then lapsed into a highly uncharacteristic silence.
"So, Obi-Wan; tell me what you've been doing lately. And how is Master Jinn – as hot-tempered as ever?"
She chuckled sarcastically and Obi-Wan smiled also. He realized that Padmé had no idea that Qui-Gon had once been far more passionate and headstrong but a devastating loss many years ago had tempered him, made him far more cautious.
Encouraged by the young woman's warmth and friendliness, Obi-Wan began to talk in a way that would have surprised the many people who thought him reserved.
FORCE-FORCE-FORCE-FORCE-FORCE
Padmé Amidala rubbed hand across the back of her neck, reveling in being free of those heavy head-dresses for the first time in nearly ten years. It was still sometimes a shock to feel her loose curls instead of ornate metallic or feathered arrangements but she was quickly becoming accustomed to it.
She looked at her friend, noting the more mature features. Gone was the smooth baby face of eight years ago, replaced by a man full-grown. And a handsome one at that, with his bright eyes, fair complexion and slim but muscular physique.
In so many ways, he had changed so much, but he still blushed much as he'd been prone to when they'd first met all those years ago. In a galaxy full of change, this was comforting to Padmé.
She raked her eyes across his handsome visage once more, pleased when he flushed and his pupils dilated briefly. She was not unaware that people found her attractive, but for someone like Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi – so serious and reserved – to have expressed his desires thus … it was more than a little flattering.
No!, she scolded herself. You're the youngest Senator in history! Do you really want to prove the naysayers right – that you're still a young girl who can be swayed by a pair of lovely eyes and a beautiful smile? Besides, he's not your type.
She called to mind the image of her current suitor; a tall dark-haired man of her own age with boyish good looks. And was dismayed to realize that it wasn't only his looks that now seemed boyish. Leith was amusing, popular, didn't take life too seriously, and hadn't let her status as then-Queen stand in the way of making his intentions toward her known.
They'd been courting for six months and she was fairly certain that he intended to propose a bonding. But how did she feel about that? Shouldn't she be more excited at the prospect of marrying the man she loved?
"Padmé?" A gentle hand on her knee interrupted her ruminations and Padmé felt a delicious warmth radiate from his touch. "Are you all right?"
And Padmé felt an overwhelming urge to kiss away that worried frown – an urge she quickly squelched. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," she said, squeezing the hand that still rested on her knee – a hand that was as strong and gentle as its owner, she realized. "I've … had a lot on my mind lately."
"Understandable," Obi-Wan said then looked at his wrist chrono. "I believe it's time, Senator," he added.
"Not officially – not for another half an hour," Padmé argued. "And never to you, Obi-Wan. I always want to be Padmé as far as you're concerned."
Obi-Wan got up and extended his arm in a gallant gesture. "Then shall we go, Padmé?"
Smiling up at the man she felt honored to call her friend, Padmé nodded her head and took his arm. "We shall indeed, Obi."
He glanced at her quizzically, and she hastened to explain; "Obi-Wan is such a mouthful all the time – it sounds so … formal. And we're friends; friends shouldn't feel the need to be formal."
"Indeed not," Obi-Wan said then grinned. "Pad."
Padmé cringed and slapped at his upper arm. A very firm, very strong upper arm she noticed, more than a little tempted to squeeze the taut muscles. "Under that calm proper Jedi; you're hiding a mean streak," she accused. "All right; you win. No more shortening of names."
Obi-Wan smiled again. "Much better," he said.
If either of them had realized how flirtatious their interactions were becoming, they would have been both surprised and dismayed. However, they did not, and the bond of friendship – forged initially so many years ago on this very planet – began a slow metamorphosis into something better and deeper.