Midday meal had been partially eaten and carried away while the couple still lounged in each other's arms the next day. Having taken care of just the basic necessities of food, drink, bodily functions, and occasional showers together, they had resigned to spend their entire two days in bed in order to make up for lost time and to make memories that would hopefully last until their next time together.
Padmé smiled to herself at the realization that she was going to be sore in places she never thought she would be. The inconvenience would help keep the events of the past two days fresh in her heart and mind.
But when the afternoon sun cast is angular rays across the marble floor of her bedchamber, the smile slipped away from her face to be replaced by despair and she aggravatingly swiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.
"I'm sorry." She whispered to Obi-Wan as he caressed the moisture away with his thumb. "I promised myself I wasn't going to do this."
"I'll come back as soon as I can. You know I will." He vowed, holding her face gently, continuing hissoothing caress.
"I know." She attempted a shaky grin, but failed miserably.
A chirp sounded from across the room, causing Padmé to wince as her heart began to grieve. It was Obi-Wan's comlink, and she closed her eyes to fight back more tears as he rose from the bed to retrieve it.
"Jedi Kenobi, your ship is ready for takeoff."
"Thank you Captain." Obi-Wan replied into the communicator, and then began donning his clothing that had mysteriously been folded and placed on the nightstand some time during the night.
Padmé had sat up on the bed and wrapped the silken coverlet around her petite frame as she watched him dress. She would not be joining him in his walk back to the hangar. The last time she had, they had both made quite a scene, even worse than the one upon his arrival. She would say goodbye to him here, and probably leave a message for him before he even arrived back at Coruscant.
Once he had finished dressing, he attached his utility belt and lightsaber and sat next to her on the bed. Leaning toward her with one hand wrapped in the luxurious curls laying haphazardly about her head, he drew her in for a farewell kiss, groaning upon its end. Even with his years of Jedi training, Obi-Wan found leaving Padmé incredibly difficult.
She surprised him by suddenly scooting off the bed and grabbing something from off the nearby nightstand. Moving to stand between his legs, she let the object dangle from her grasp and Obi-Wan immediately recognized the item as the silver pendant necklace that she always wore, but had never questioned her about.
She widened the chain between her hands and slipped the piece of jewelry about his neck, tucking it into the vee of his cream tunics. But Obi-Wan reached down and lifted the pendant away from his chest to gaze upon it.
The sterling symbol in his grasp was a configuration of lines and dashes and he couldn't quite interpret its meaning.
Padmé watched the etch in his brow deepen in concentration and decided to end his internal struggle with a smile and an explanation. "It's an ancient Nubian symbol that means always. My mother gave it to me when I was elected Queen, as a reminder that no matter how difficult things got, or wherever I was, that there was always someone thinking of me and loving me."
Obi-Wan watched the pleasant expression on her face glow with the comfort of that knowledge.
"I want you to wear it, so that you'll know that I am thinking of you and.." She took a slight pause and a deep breath before continuing, and Obi-Wan reached out and grasped her hand. "that I love you. Always."
Instead of responding with what he knew she wanted to hear, Obi-Wan thanked her for the gift and drew her into his embrace, holding her firmly to him.
He had never been in love before. Was he in love now?
When he was with her, he didn't want to leave her. And when he wasn't with her, she was constantly in his thoughts. On missions, during training sessions, even during the endless hours spent traveling, when there was nothing to look at except stars and the occasional asteroid. There always seemed to be something that reminded him of her.
Was that love? He wasn't sure. And until he knew, he wouldn't commit himself to saying the words, or give her the false hope of believing in something that possibly wasn't true.
Padmé walked him to the doorway of her room and kissed him once more goodbye. As the door slid shut between them, Obi-Wan hesitated in turning away from it, wanting one last glimpse at the beautiful woman he was leaving behind.
He quickly turned and strode to the hangar to his awaiting ship before he changed his mind and ran back into her arms.
As his ship lurched into hyperspace, he switched to the rear viewport to watch the rapidly retreating blue and green planet of Naboo and a feeling of regret crept over him.
"I should have told her." He murmured to the ship's control panel, watching the planet now moving completely out of sight.
The next time he saw her, he decided. He'd tell her he loved her.