Chapter 6

"I'm bored!" Kayden said as Padme sat in her study going over datapad's for tomorrow's Senate session.

"I'm sorry, Kayden. Padme had had Kayden for three days and finally understood why many Senators didn't have children or waited until they were grown to get involved with politics.

"Can I call someone to play with?"

"Kayden, you don't know anyone to call." She had introduced him to the few 'Senate Babies', as they were called, but none to which she was willing to allow in her quarters or him at theirs.

He stomped his foot and crossed his arms. "Yes, I do! Anakin and Masder Ben!"

Padme's heart said "Call them, call them now!" But her brain said "Don't!" It was internal fight. One that was lost at the sight of Kayden's pout. She was understanding how come Kaliee had a hard time resisting.

"Fine, go get the comm link." The boy returned rather quickly and jumping up and down. Padme typed in the appropriate code to take her directly to Obi-wan, over the years she hadn't forgotten.

"Kenobi, here," came the reply.

Padme almost hung up like a nervous school girl but she stopped herself. Why am I acting like this? "Obi-wan? It's Padme."

She could almost hear his smile. "Padme! Hi! Is everything okay?" He sounded worried at the last part.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine." She thought she heard him release a held breath. "My boy was wondering if yours could come over and play."

Obi-wan laughed at her wording of the request. "Like a play date?"

"Why, yes." She continued to joke with him.

Obi-wan's laugh was once again heard through the commlink. "You speak as if they are two small children."

"Well, my Kayden is a small child."

"Well, my Anakin isn't. He's almost 19."

Padme sighed. "I remember what things were like when I was that age."

"I remember what things were like when you were that age as well."

"Kayden is in the room! And I do believe that comment wasn't very befitting of a Jedi Knight." Padme truly couldn't believe he'd said it. That he'd even brought up their past.

He was taken back by her comment. If it hadn't been for the smile he heard in her voice than her would've worried that she wanted to forget the experience. "If I have offended you, Milady, I do apologize and I shall never submit you to such hostilities again." He replied elegantly and in a joking manor.

Padme laughed at him. "Just bring Anakin over." She cut the transmission. "Kayden, Anakin is coming."

"Is Masder Ben coming too?"

"I'm not sure but I do suppose he might." She said with a small smile on her lips.

She began to wonder how it was that she spent the last four and a half years avoiding this man and now she was openly flirting with him. Old habits die hard, she thought.

She soon went back to her work and awaited the arrival of the two Knights.

"Swimming? Anakin, I'm not so sure about that." Obi-wan, Anakin, Padme, and Kayden stood in the common room of Padme's quarters.

"Please Aunt Padme? I wand to go swimming!"

"I'm not so sure." Padme answered. "Are you going with them?"

"I thought what ever we did, we'd all go." Obi-wan said

"I still have a few disks to go over."

Anakin cleared his throat. "I did learn how to swim. I can take care of it."

"I know, Anakin, its just…" She wasn't about to say it here.

"Come with us, Aunt Padme!"

"Kayden, I can't I have work to do."

"Bring it with you." Anakin suggested. "That way you could swim with us when you're finished."

"Anakin, let Padme be. She has to work let her get it done. You should learn something from her, work before play." Obi-wan said trying to defend Padme.

He would defend her but he was confused on why she didn't want to come. He remembered how much she loved their swims on Naboo.

At his last statement Padme just thought, 'Work before play', he would be the one to say that.

"Please Aunt Padme?" Kayden asked grabbing a hold of her leg.

"Come on, Padme, we really want you to come." Anakin tried to pout as Kayden was.

Padme sighed, "Alright."

"Yes!" Kayden said in his small victory."

"Just let me get my things ready."

The four headed off to the Senatorial Recreation Center. Padme situated herself at a round top table in sight of the swimming bowl.

She wanted to go swimming but she was having a hard time with Obi-wan there. During his 'stay' on Naboo swimming had been something they would do everyday. It was making her heard ache to be around him again.

"I hope very much that you finish that work and can join us." Anakin said with a look in his eyes as he laid his lightsaber on the table and proceeded to remove his under tunic.

Padme watched him walking back to the water. Was he flir…? Nah. She had to admit she was impressed by his physique. That was until she allowed her eyes to drift to whom her affections belonged.

Now that is a man's chest. She watched Obi-wan as Kayden hoped around him. She loved the way he had hair on his chest. She remembered nights when they'd be lying in bed and she'd run her hand through his chest hair.

She immediately started blushing. She shook the memory away. I can't think of him like that anymore. His only attachment can be to the Order, Padme reminded herself. He said so himself.

She quickly went back to her work. But occasionally she would glance up. She tried to tell herself it was to check on Kayden, but she knew otherwise. Especially when she was looking out and Kayden walked up beside her but she didn't notice.

"Are you almost finished?" He asked almost making Padme fall out of her chair.

"Almost, Sweetheart."

"Well, can I dive off the diving board?"

Hell No! Her diplomatic training taught her better. "Kayden, to dive you have to go to the deep water. I just don't think you should."

"But Aunt Padme?"

"NO, Kayden. Now, go play."

Padme watched as he ran back to play with Anakin. She was startled by a voice from behind her.

"Hello Senator."

Padme smiled, "Why Senator Organa what are you doing here?"

"Why looking for you Milady?"

"Really?" she asked not very convinced.

"And Breha's been dying to come down here with Mon Mothma."

"I thought so." Padme glanced down at the datapads and then back to Bail. "Did Nikkei call you?"

"Sure did. So, who shall be accompanying you to the ball?"

"That is the least of my problems right now."

Bail had become like an older brother to her. He was protective like a brother. He always cared and worried about her. "Is everything okay?"

"I hope it will be." She said rubbing her hand over her face. "My best friend, Kaliee's son Kayden is staying with me for a while. He seems to have attached himself to a pair of Jedi Knights."

Bail was the one person that knew about her 'affair' with Obi-wan but not Kayden.

"Let's take a walk, Padme." Bail suggested.

"But I should be watching them."

"There are plenty of Senators and their families here. Plus Master Kenobi and his apprentice. He's in good care."

"Breha won't mind?"

"She's been talking with Mon Mothma. I don't think she'll care."

"Alright." Padme put her work into her bag and headed off with Bail.