*Reunited
Anakin Skywalker was trembling with excitement. As Obi-Wan Kenobi and he stood in the turbolift of the Senate apartment complex, he couldn't stop thinking about his best friend.
"You seem a little on edge, Anakin," Obi-Wan noted as the lift continued its climb.
"Not at all," came the unconvincing reply.
"I haven't seen you this nervous since we fell into that nest of gundarks."
"You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you. Remember?"
Obi-Wan's little distraction seemed to have the desired effect, and the pair shared a much-needed laugh. Coming out of it, though, Anakin remained obviously on edge.
"You're sweating," Obi-Wan noted. "Take a deep breath. Relax."
"I haven't seen her in months."
"Anakin, relax," Obi-Wan repeated once more. "She's still the same."
The lift door slid open and Obi-Wan started away, while Anakin, behind him, muttered under his breath, "That's not why I'm nervous."
As the pair stepped into the corridor, a door across the way slid open and a well-dressed Gungan, wearing fine red and black robes, stepped into the corridor opposite them. The three regarded each other for just a moment, and then the Gungan diplomat, losing all sense of reserve and propriety, began hopping around like a child.
"Obi! Obi! Obi!" Jar Jar cried, tongue and ears flapping. "Mesa so smilen to see'en yousa! Wahoooo!"
Obi-Wan smiled politely, though his glance at Anakin did show that he was a bit embarrassed, and he patted his hands gently in the air, trying to calm him down. "It's good to see you, too, Jar Jar."
Jar Jar continued to hop about for just a moment, then suddenly, and with obvious great effort, calmed down. "And this, mesa guessen, issen yousa apprentice," he went on, and the Gungan seemed to have much more control of himself. For a moment, at least, until he took a good look at Anakin.
"Noooooooo!" he shrieked, clapping his hands together. "Ani? Noooooooo! Little bitty
Ani? " Jar Jar grabbed Anakin and pulled him forcefully to arm's length, studying him head to toe. "Noooooooo! Yousa so biggen! Yiyiyiyi! Ani! Mesa no believen!"
Now it was Anakin's turn to wear the embarrassed smile. Politely, he offered no resistance as the overexcited Gungan slammed him into a crushing hug, childish hops shaking him violently.
"Hi, Jar Jar," Anakin managed to say, and Jar Jar just continued on, hopping and crying out his name, and issuing a series of strange sounds. It seemed as if it would go on forever, but then Obi-Wan gently but firmly grabbed Jar Jar by the arm. "We have come to speak with Senator Amidala. Could you show us to her?"
Jar Jar stopped bouncing and looked at Obi-Wan intently, his duck-billed face taking on a more serious expression. "Shesa expecting yousa. Ani! Mesa no believen!" His head bobbed a bit more and he grabbed Anakin by the hand and pulled him along.
The apartment inside was tastefully decorated, with cushiony chairs and a divan set in a circular pattern in the center, and a few, well-placed artworks set about the walls.
Dormé and Typho were in the room, standing beside the divan.
Anakin frowned when he noticed she wasn't with them. Where is she?
"Mesa here. Lookie! Lookie!" screeched Jar Jar, hardly the announcement Obi-
Wan would have preferred, but one that he knew he had to expect from the emotionally
volatile Gungan. "Desa Jedi arriven."
"It's a pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," Obi-Wan said, moving to stand before Padmé.
Padmé took Obi-Wan's hand in her own. "It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again. But I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."
"I am sure that the members of the Jedi Council have their reasons," Obi-Wan replied.
Padmé wore a resigned, accepting expression at that answer, but a look of curiosity replaced it as she glanced again behind the Jedi Knight. She took a step to the side, so that she was directly in front of Anakin. "It's good to see you, Anakin."
Anakin smiled and shook her hand, though he wasn't focusing his attention on her. Instead, he stared at the hallway behind her.
Padmé turned to see what he was looking at and realized who he was looking for. She smirked to herself before turning back to him. "She's sleeping."
Anakin scratched the back of his neck as he got caught.
She walked over to Dormé and whispered something in her ear. Dormé nodded and rushed quickly out of the room and down the hallway.
Turning to his Master, he started to have a conversation with him. He stopped mid-sentence when he saw a familiar figure in the hallway. Standing directly in front of him was the person he missed the most. His eyes roamed her frame in her blue robes, taking in every detail. He saw her brown bed-head hair all over the place, and wanted to lose himself in it. He saw her eyes and wanted to stare into them for eternity. He saw her lips, and wanted to...
"Anakin!" Amara ran toward him and hugged him fiercely, delighted to finally see him. Anakin closed his eyes for just a moment and inhaled deeply, smelling the scent that had been burned into him.
As she pulled back she ruffled up his hair. "You've grown."
"So have you," Anakin began, widening his eyes at what he had just said. "Grown m-more beautiful, I mean."
Amara felt her cheeks heat up and laughed nervously, glancing over at Padmé, who was trying not to smile. To her left, Obi-Wan sighed while giving Anakin a disapproving look.
"Well f-for a Padawan, I mean," Anakin finished, embarrassed from what he just confessed.
Amara laughed again, this time amused. She turned her attention to Obi-Wan and greeted him. "I'm happy to see you two here but uh why exactly are you here?" She questioned curiously, before turning to Padmé for an answer.
Padmé sighed and sat down on one of the couches. "After you left, Chancellor Palpatine insisted that I needed two more Jedi; he thinks that you aren't enough. I tried to object, but he wouldn't take no for an answer."
Of course he would, Amara thought as she sat next to Padmé, Obi-Wan and Anakin sitting on the other couch.
"Our presence here will be invisible, milady. I can assure you," Obi-Wan told Padmé, not wanting to upset her.
"I am very grateful you are here, Master Kenobi. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit," Captain Typho admitted.
"I don't need more security. I have Amara here already," Padmé stated firmly, sitting up straight and keeping her head up high. "I need answers. We were both wounded from the explosion and I would like to know who is trying to kill me."
Obi-Wan frowned. "We're here to protect you Senator, not to start an investigation."
Amara rolled her eyes, frustrated by his words. Are you kidding me? How could we keep Padmé safe if we don't know who is behind the assassination attempt? "Wouldn't make more since if we try and find out who is after Padmé?" she blurted out.
"We are not going to exceed our mandate, Amara." Obi-Wan gave her a sharp look, but Amara held her ground, sighing loudly.
"I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing while the assassin is out there, most likely planning an attack on my sister!" she proclaimed with an irritated tone. She stopped as a frown crossed Obi-Wan's face.
He was clearly taken back by her sudden outburst. He noticed that her normally calm demeanor changed from the last time he saw her.
Anakin nodded his head, agreeing with what she suggested. "I agree with her. Well in the interest of protecting her, Master."
"Master Windu told me to keep an eye on you Amara. As of this moment, you and Anakin will pay attention to my lead." Obi-Wan stated.
Amara slowly nodded, keeping her comments to herself. She glanced at Anakin, who was already staring at her. "Why?" Anakin persisted. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, knowing what was about to happen.
"What?!" Obi-Wan snapped his head toward Anakin, his eyes narrowing at his Padawan.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer?" Anakin explained hastily. "Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."
Amara mentally agreed with him. He's got a point.
"We will do as the Council has instructed. And you will learn your place, young one." Obi-Wan proclaimed.
"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed," Padmé began, getting up from the couch. Did she intend to be sarcastic or? "Now if you will excuse me I will retire."
Captain Typho approached Anakin, Amara, and Obi-Wan. "I know I'll feel better having you three here. I'll have an officer on every floor and I'll be in the control center downstairs."
"Mesa busten wit happiness seein Yousa again, Ani. Deesa bad times, bombad times," Jar exclaimed as he patted Anakin on the shoulder.
Anakin looked back to where Amara was and sighed. "I thought about her every day since we parted..."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan began, shaking his head. "You're focusing on the negative again. Be mindful of your thoughts. Now let's check the security here."
Before they left, he stopped Amara, his eyes filled with concern and worry. "Are you okay? Is your head hurting from the explosion? Is there anything I could do?" He questioned her as he checked the back of her head.
She smiled at his concern and explained to him about what occurred on the landing platform. A cough interrupted their conversation, making the pair turn to Obi-Wan. He pointed to the elevator and had a 'stop-flirting-and-let's-do-our-job-now' look on his face.
They left the room and into the elevator, going down to the security room. The ride was silent and Amara stared out of the clear glass that lined the elevator. Coruscant's sun was beginning to set; the sky was a mix of pink, purple, and blue. It's beautiful, Amara thought to herself as she carefully put her hair back into a side braid. She turned back around and saw that Obi-Wan and Anakin had their eyes closed. Are they really mediating in the elevator?
Suddenly, she found herself looking at Anakin curiously; his hair was still short and had the usual Padawan braid on his right side of his head, but he was now taller than her by 5 inches, and his eyes looked bluer than ever.
As she stared at him, her thoughts were replaying again and again the image of him, the look he had given her. She heard his words again, "... grown more beautiful." Those were not words she was used to hearing. She couldn't forget the intensity in Anakin's eyes as he had looked at her.
But what did it mean?
She looked at him again. Her eyes roamed over his lean and strong frame, over his face, tight with the intensity that she had always admired, and yet with eyes sparkling with joy, with mischief, with. . .
With love?
That thought stopped the Jedi. Her hands slipped down to her sides, and she stood there, staring at herself in the glass window, judging her own appearance as Anakin might. She couldn't find anything special about her. She was just….average. Nothing compared to her adoptive sister's beauty.
After a few long moments, Amara shook her head, telling herself that it was crazy.
How could he even look at her in such a manner? He was her best friend for goodness sakes! She'd never felt this way about him until now.
So it was all her imagination.
Or was it her fantasy?
Laughing at herself, Amara turned away from the window. Geez, what am I even thinking. She shook off the thought. The elevator dinged and opened to reveal the security room.
Hours had passed and it was now night time on Coruscant. After visiting security, Obi-Wan and Anakin stayed there while Amara went back to Padmé's apartment. Padmé had work to do for the Senate and stayed in her room throughout the evening. Amara was in the guest bedroom, which was technically her room whenever she stayed with her sister, reading the news on her datapad. The assassination attempt earlier had spread around the planet like wildfire and every news network was now publishing articles on it. She couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous some of the articles were.
Amara had immediately changed out of the dress as soon as she came back into the apartment and took a well needed shower. Since she was too lazy to change into her regular clothes, she wore a simple bathroom robe as she waited for her body to dry.
She was too engulfed in the datapad to hear knocking on her door. After finishing the article she finally heard the knocks and pushed herself off the bed, knowing it was most likely Anakin. Amara pulled the robe up tight as she opened the door, finding, predictably, Anakin standing before her. Her movements again struck her as curious, though, for never before had she felt self-conscious around him.
"Hey," he said, and it seemed as if he could hardly draw his breath, his eyes wandering up and down her body.
"Everything all right?" Amara questioned.
Anakin stuttered over a response. "Oh yes," he finally managed to say. "Yes, Obi-Wan has gone to the lower levels to check on Captain Typho's security measures, but all seems quiet."
"You're disappointed."
Anakin gave an embarrassed laugh. "Is it that obvious?"
Amara laughed, nodding her head. "You're my best friend. I can tell you're not enjoying this,"
"There is nowhere else in all the galaxy I'd rather be," Anakin blurted, and it was now her turn to give an embarrassed little laugh. "Though this is a little boring."
"So sitting around guarding my sister isn't your idea of fun," she teased him.
"We could be doing better and more exciting things," Anakin mumbled, and there was a double edge to his voice, one that made her pull her robe up even tighter.
"Like what?"
Anakin widened his eyes. I didn't think she'd heard that. "I-I don't know. Uh…."
Amara could practically feel the nervousness radiating off him. She placed her hand on his arm and grinned. "So…" she began, changing the subject. "Are you gonna fill me in on what happened on your mission?"
He gulped as he felt a blush forming on his face. It took every ounce of willpower he could muster to not look down.
Amara looked at him weirdly, wondering what was wrong before coming to realization that it was her robes that was making him flustered. "Oh." She felt her face getting hot as she ushered him out of her room. "Um… L-let me change then we can go out on the balcony."
Watching the door shut, she rushed to her closet, quickly changing into her Jedi robes. The attire consisted of a gray inner tunic, a blue outer tunic, and a greenish-blue Obi and Tabard. The pants and boot were a dark gray color and her robe, and Jedi belt were brown. She put her hair back into a braid, with the Padawan braid behind her right ear. She attached her lightsaber to her belt and walked to the balcony.
"— and we were both covered in the blood from the anoobas we had just killed. We both looked ridiculous," Amara finished her story about her and Master Windu's mission on Dantooine.
Anakin laughed, "I could only imagine what you looked like. You probably looked hilarious."
Amara playfully punched him in the shoulder and glared at him, making him mutter 'ow'.
Anakin put his hands up, a smile forming on his face. "I'm just kidding. I bet you still looked beau-"he was cut off when Obi-Wan approached them.
"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?" Obi-Wan questioned the two.
They both shook their head no. "Quiet as a tomb. I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her."
Obi-Wan pulled out a view scanner from his utility, which showed a shot of R2 and Ender by the door, but no sign of Padmé on the bed. "What's going on?"
"Padmé covered that camera for privacy." Amara answered him. She barely gets any privacy…
Obi-Wan shook his head disappointingly. "What is she thinking?
"I helped her programmed R2 and Ender to warn us if there's an intruder," Amara explained, trying to change the topic.
"It's not an intruder I'm worried about," Obi-Wan muttered as he walked over to the door. "There are many other ways to kill a Senator.
"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin. Don't we, Master?" Anakin asked, making Amara elbow him in the side. Well, there goes our plan.
Obi-Wan widened his eyes and crossed his arms, staring at the two. "You're using her as bait?"
"It was her idea..." Anakin glanced over to Amara, making her glare at him.
"Padmé ordered me to. Trust me; no harm will come to her. We can sense everything going on in that room. Just trust me." Amara stated defensively, crossing her arms.
Obi-Wan looked back to where Padmé was sleeping. "It's too risky," He began, frowning at Anakin. "And your senses aren't that attuned, young apprentice."
"And yours are?"
Obi-Wan could not deny the look of intrigue that crossed his face. "Possibly," he admitted.
Anakin smiled and nodded, and closed his eyes, falling into the sensations of the Force. He went to the balcony, Obi-Wan following behind.
Amara stared at the ceiling as she lay on the couch. She slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep trance. "No matter how things seem to change, never forget who you are." The phrase echoed throughout her mind. How can I know who I am if I don't remember anything? It was the gentle same voice every time; the women from her temple vision. "Someday you'll understand, sweetie." I've been trying to understand for ten years...
Amara shifted a bit and gave a little groan. She didn't truly awaken, though, just thrashed a bit and raised her head, opening her eyes only briefly before burying her face in her pillow.
Obi-Wan glanced at the sleeping teen before turning to his Padawan. "I think she's resting. You should too, you look tired."
Anakin took a moment to register the words, and then gave a little shrug, not disagreeing.
"I don't sleep well, anymore."
That was hardly news to him. "Because of your mother?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now," Anakin answered, frustration coming through in his voice. "I haven't seen her since I was little."
"Your love for her was, and remains, deep," Obi-Wan said. "That is hardly reason for despair."
"But these are more than..." Anakin started to say, but he stopped and sighed and shook his head. "Are they dreams, or are they visions? Are they images of what has been, or do they tell of something that is yet to be?"
"Or are they just dreams?" Obi-Wan said, his gentle smile showing through his scraggly beard. "Not every dream is a premonition, some vision or some mystical connection. Some dreams are just . . . dreams, and even Jedi have dreams, young Padawan."
Anakin didn't seem very satisfied with that. He just shook his head again
"Dreams pass in time."
"I'd rather dream of Amara," Anakin replied with a sly smile. He looked over his shoulder at the eighteen year old sprawled out on the couch, watching the quiet rise and fall of her belly. "Just being around her is... intoxicating."
Obi-Wan's sudden frown erased both his and Anakin's smiles "Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you," he scolded sharply. "They betray you. You've made a commitment to the Jedi Order, a commitment not easily broken, and the Jedi stand on such relationships is uncompromising. Attachment is forbidden. And don't forget she's also made the commitment to."
"She's not like the others, Master," Anakin protested strongly.
Obi-Wan eyed him carefully. "It's been my-"
He was cut off by a voice yelling Padmé's name. Amara woke from her trance and she felt her stomach drop, stunned by a sudden feeling of menace coming from Padmé's room. She jolted up from the couch and ignited her lightsaber, sprinting to the bedroom.
