Once again Obi-Wan let love get the best of him. He and Padme had spent another beautiful night together. Just being in that familiar place had soothed him. Being there with her, holding her in his hands, his lips brushing against her velvety skin, hers calling out his name in a faint whisper that was almost drowned out by her remarks of satisfaction. Her nails dug into his skin as he entered her but it was the best pain he'd ever felt. He'd give anything to keep her there, but he knew it would have to end. It was the best night of his life and he didn't know if he'd get another chance to experience another night like it again; so for the sake of her happiness he gave himself to her, and she accepted him with her own burning passion.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes again. It was barely dawn and light crept into the room. He looked over to see Padme sleeping, for once she looked peaceful. Her back was facing him as she slept, the sheet wrapped loosely on one side. Obi-Wan put his palm on her back and rubbed it gently, pulling back the sheet but what he saw made him gasp. There on Padme's hips and lower back were big purple bruises. His action didn't cause her to wake up but now Obi-Wan was debating whether to wake her up himself. This was serious. How did they get there? Were they his fault? Was he not as gentle as he thought he'd been? With all these question going through his mind Obi-Wan didn't notice Padme looking at him.
"Obi-Wan, are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine. But what about you? You're not hurt are you?" he asked, leaning towards her face.
"No, I'm-" she stopped because he was looking at her with sad eyes, like he knew something she didn't.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked again, looking deeper into her eyes. She had a feeling inside that told her he'd found something out. She felt the urge to cry coming on again so she had to get away.
"Excuse me for a moment." Padme said, getting up and wrapping the sheet around her exposed body, but he could still see the marks. They looked worse than he thought. He had to find out how they got there.
"Padme wait." Obi-Wan said, getting up to go after her, slipping on his boxers as he followed her to the bathroom. She ignored his call and went into the bathroom, shutting the door in his face. She didn't bother to lock it but he felt like he should respect her privacy; but at the same time something was going on and he needed to know. He could hear her sobs from inside the bathroom.
"Padme please, we need to talk." Obi-Wan said.
"Go away Obi-Wan!" she shouted.
"We...We're going to have to talk about this some time." he said.
"We don't have anything to talk about!"
"I saw them Padme!"
Padme took her head out of her hands. She knew what he was talking about and he was right; they would have to talk about it now. She couldn't hide herself any longer. It was getting more difficult, maybe just telling him the truth now would make it easier. He knew something was up.
Obi-Wan stood outside the door, patiently waiting for Padme to open it. A few moments later it finally did, but only enough so he saw her face.
"What?" she muttered.
"I...I saw the marks Padme." Obi-Wan said hoarsely.
Her eyes looked downward.
"Can I come in?" he asked her.
She didn't answer, she couldn't answer. All she wanted was for him to hold her; hold her in his arms and keep her safe, protect her from the horror she was bringing upon herself. He too would suffer if he knew the truth. She felt hot tears stream down her cheeks. Obi-Wan took her face in his hands.
"Oh darling, whatever it is you know you can tell me anything. I love you. I want to help you." he begged. In his beautiful eyes she saw how much he did care and wanted to help. Why did she ever let him go? He was so beautiful and now he was back with her, but she could never truly take him back. She told Obi-Wan she had no regrets, but that was a lie. She had one that ate at her heart every day.
It was the day she fell in love with Anakin Skywalker.
It seemed so long ago and they seemed like different people, which was true. The Anakin Padme fell in love with was gentle, passionate, and sweet; not the monster he'd come to be. It had only been a few short years but they had changed dramatically. She remembered back to when she didn't have to be afraid and she didn't have to hide, but it seemed so far away now; out of her reach. She'd never be able to have it with Anakin again. But Obi-Wan was the right one. He showed her love and care, the things she yearned for in her darkest hours; ones she never wanted to relive again.
But if Anakin knew of this, he'd truly inflict the darkness back over her again; nothing stopped him from doing it before. She didn't have a voice with him. He overruled her in every possible way and made her so vulnerable she'd let him continue his heinous crimes, straight on into the night. Just recalling those nights brought a strong sense of fear into her heart. She let Obi-Wan do it to her as well, but he was different. Obi-Wan was gentle and kind, but more importantly, it felt he had purpose, He loved her. She could feel it deep inside her that he loved her, and she loved him. In the moment that feeling would overpower that dark fear, but when it was over the fear would rush back in, even worse than before. And now she not only feared for her own life, but his as well.
And now sensing that fear Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke four words. Just four little words that seemed to take Padme's ability to answer them.
"Tell me what happened."
It was done then, he'd asked, more like commanded. But he was gentle and his guard was down.
And with that she took a breath, and Padme Amidala told her story.
Obi-Wan saw the horror in her eyes as Padme recollected on her life; it was more like a fiendish nightmare, but she was true to her words. From the beginning he knew it would be tough on her, as bad revisiting the time it happened in a memory. She struggled to get the words out, and they burned his ears; words like "hurt" and "rape" melted his heart to ash. But since he was Obi-Wan Kenobi he had to mold it back together and stay strong, for her sakes. She needed him and he was there; he'd always been there. He could have stopped this. Obi-Wan felt the trust in him boil until it evaporated, leaving him feeling dry. He held her tight as she dug her face into his chest; her sobs filling the air around them on the floor of the bathroom. It felt more dense and heavier than usual, or maybe it was all the emotion in the room. Padme had certainly reached her brink.
"Shh," Obi-Wan hushed as he rubbed her back, "It'll be alright." he said, trying so hard himself to believe what he was telling her.
"No it won't! Don't you see Obi-Wan, he knows! He'll come after us!"
Obi-Wan swallowed. "No he won't. I won't let him hurt you."
"How? You're gonna have to leave and once you're again then..." her voice faded. She didn't have the strength to go on.
Obi-Wan rubbed her head softly.
"I won't leave. We'll face him together." he said.
Padme lifted her head upward and looked into his eyes.
"No, we can't. You...We have to end it, while we're still safe."
"Safe?! Padme, I can't stand down and let him do this to you. If I would have known sooner-"
"If you would have known sooner things would be worse," she spoke sadly, lowering her head back down on him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She closed her eyes, because in his embrace she felt safe.
"I have to talk to Anakin about this." Obi-Wan said softly.
"What?! No! Obi-Wan, you can't! He only has suspicions. If you ask him he'll know something going on between us."
"But there is something going on! I love you and I can't stand aside and let him hurt you. Why did you put up with it for so long?"
Padme sighed. She was hoping to avoid that question, though it was one that she asked herself every day. She didn't want to answer because she didn't have one. Obi-Wan stared at her with worried eyes. She knew he wanted that answer she would try her best to explain.
"I...I don't know exactly," she sighed again. "It's...complicated. I guess I'm more scared of life without him."
It was Obi-Wan's turn to sigh. "There's no need to be. I'll never leave you again. Just let me talk to Anakin, please."
"No!" Padme cried as she threw her arms around Obi-Wan's neck and put her face to his. Tears now fell from her eyes onto their cheeks. "I can't lose you again! I tried to push you away but I just can't. I need you Obi-Wan! Please don't say anything to Anakin!"
"Then how do I solve this problem?" he asked puzzled.
"I don't know, but promise me we'll face it together." Padme said, squeezing his face.
He kissed her lips, "Anything darling," he said, then kissed her again. "I love you."
She let Obi-Wan take her and cradle her in his arms as they kissed.
This is where I belong, Padme thought. Now what were they to do about Anakin?
Obi-Wan had returned to the Temple later that afternoon. When he left Padme he had feelings of hope and joy, but as he sat now in the Room of A Thousand Fountains they were crushed. He had promised Padme he wouldn't say anything to Padme, but the thought of ignoring her pain only gave him pain of his own. Anakin had been his student, his best friend. But their relationship had gone under change since he had married Padme. Obi-Wan had never forgiven Anakin for that. He said he had known of his past with Padme. Ha! Anakin was naïve, and dare Obi-Wan think it, stupid!
It was unusual and against the Code for Jedi to hold grudges, but Obi-Wan had one over Anakin, or maybe it was hidden jealousy. Was there a reason to be jealous of Anakin? Yes, it was true. He'd been secretly jealous of Anakin's relationship with Padme, the woman he once and always loved. But knowing this awful truth now, jealousy seemed so pity, so wrong. Anakin didn't love her, he probably never loved her. And yet Obi-Wan had been so open to the fact to take Padme back. Doing so he'd discovered his own weakness. Revenge was not the Jedi way, and seeking it for someone who didn't want it was just as wrong. But what was he to do, stand down and just let Anakin hurt Padme? Suppose he go too far and...
Obi-Wan shut his eyes and cringed from his own thought, too menacing to complete. He tried to focus on something else; back when things were easier, when he didn't have to worry about betrayal, lies or secrets between the woman he loved and his best friend.
