Author's Note: I don't have much time for long thank you's tonight but I had to get this chapter up! One big HUGE thank you to all who reviewed!!

I hope you enjoy this chapter and please, please, review!


Chapter Seven

Longing

Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. How had Anakin convinced him to go through with this? The entire concept of this ceremony appalled Obi-Wan in almost every aspect. He wasn't one that enjoyed attention; he would rather remain out of the eye of the public. He felt safer that way and knew that being unrecognizable was a crucial advantage in a possibly dangerous situation. Obi-Wan also never really cared for senators. They always gossiped, were very conceded, and tended to favor only those who would help them. All of these things together in one room made this whole celebration practically torture for poor Obi-Wan. If only he could think of a good excuse that would allow him to leave!

"Relax, Master," Anakin said confidently, "today we are to be celebrated! Today we are heroes!"

"Heroes?" Obi-Wan shook his head in disapproval, "no we are not heroes. We merely carried out our duty."

"Master you are too modest. You should take pride in your accomplishments every now and then," Anakin said leaning back in his chair emanating a sense of accomplishment and content.

"I am not being modest. It was you, Anakin, who saved me and the Chancellor and landed the ship safely! Or rather half a ship that is," Obi-Wan said chuckling.

"If you say so Master," Anakin said smiling.

Obi-Wan was about to continue, when he noticed a pair of eyes that were glued to his companion. Chancellor Palpatine's gaze was fixed intently on Anakin. Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. Why was he staring at Anakin that way? It was almost creepy! The gaze reminded him of one that a small child would have when he looked into a window of a shop and saw a toy that he greatly desired, but could not yet acquire. At that moment, Palpatine must have felt Obi-Wan's gaze. His eyes flashed in Obi-Wan's direction and then immediately darted in another direction as he turned to talk to a senator next to him. Even though the gaze only lasted for a few seconds, Obi-Wan couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He turned to Anakin, who seemed to be totally oblivious to what had just happened. Anakin looked back at Obi-Wan with a perplexed expression.

"Is there something wrong Master?" Anakin inquired.

"Oh, no not at all," Obi-Wan responded as he quickly changed the subject. "So, Anakin, how is Senator Amidala doing? I presume that you saw her yesterday."

Anakin was dumbfounded by the question that appeared to catch him off guard. "I- well- I mean- Yes, I saw her but only briefly. She was talking with some other senators and I was only able to say hello. She appeared to be alright. Why are you asking?"

"I don't know. I was just curios I guess," Obi-Wan said. Why did I ask?

Obi-Wan now became aware of something in the Force. He sensed Padme. She was alone and seemed sad. The feeling was growing stronger. It was as if she were calling to him. What should he do? He felt like he must go to her. There was no doubt in his mind now that she needed him. Obi-Wan stood up. He had to go to her. He just had to.

"Master, where are you going?" Anakin asked puzzled.

"I am leaving. I have something that just came up. I am being summoned so to speak. Besides, Anakin today is your day, not mine," Obi-Wan said as he hurried towards the door, praying Anakin would not follow.

Thankfully he didn't. His confused gaze followed him as he walked out the door. Just before exited, he saw Palpatine. His gaze at first showed little emotion, but when his eyes met Obi-Wan's a small smile spread across his face. Obi-Wan felt a pang of guilt and dread. He was leaving Anakin alone with that man. Anakin is a grown man. He can take care of himself. Padme needs me.


Padme nearly jumped out of her seat when she heard a soft knocking at the door. She quickly walked over and looked at the holo pad on the wall to see who was outside of her door. Needless to say she was shocked by the appearance of this man coming to visit her. She opened up the door and met his sad and concerned eyes. They hit her like a great wave that nearly knocked her down with all of the power and emotion they held.

"Obi-Wan what are you doing here," Padme asked in surprise.

"Honestly Padme, I'm really not sure. I just had this feeling that you needed me. Is everything alright?" Obi-Wan asked soundly very concerned.

"Yes I suppose it is," Padme sighed. "Please come in." Padme lead Obi-Wan to the back patio of the apartment, near the fountain and landing pad. She sat down on the sofa and motioned for Obi-Wan to do the same.

They sat there in silence for a long while before Padme said, "Obi-Wan I'm worried. Ever since we had lunch at the diner I have been thinking about what you said about being in love with Anakin. I am starting to realize that our love may be different than what I had believed it to be. I am frightened to think that what I thought we had all along was never really there. It hurts to think that our love may only be an illusion and that our marriage may be a… mistake," Padme ended sadly, her eyes to the ground.

Obi-Wan paused and ran his hand through his hair. He needed to choose his words carefully as to not convey a message he did not intend. "I am sure that you and Anakin love each other. I see the love he has for you in his eyes. I hear it in his voice when he speaks of you. He has loved you ever since he saw you. When you returned to Coruscant, he was overjoyed. He loves you Padme, he always has and I am sure he always will."

"Then why doesn't he show it anymore? The Ani that I knew and that I married isn't around much. Instead I get his suspicions, his temper and his cold words. It seems like he is changing before my eyes. Did something happen when you two were away on the Outer Rim planets? I asked him today what he loved about me and he couldn't answer me. He thought I was testing him or that I didn't love him anymore. He became angry and I thought that he might even try to hurt me! I don't think that he trusts me anymore and those nightmares are to blame. Worst of all, I am beginning to question how much he loved me to begin with. I agree that he seemed infatuated with me ever since we met again in Coruscant, but I am wondering if it was more of an obsession than love that drove him to pursue me! If that is the case, then it would explain the treatment that I have been receiving from him lately. If his goal was to marry me just to have me as his own, then he would no longer need to act the way he did when we were seeing each other. I regret rushing into this marriage. I truly and deeply do. I hope that is the only thing about our marriage that I will regret but now I am becoming increasingly doubtful."

"Padme have you told Anakin any of this," Obi-Wan asked.

"No I haven't," Padme said.

"Why not?"

"I don't know what he would do… I don't trust telling him this."

"Yet you trust me?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Of course, I always have. Ever since our first meeting I have trusted you."

Obi-Wan now remembered that meeting. He was just a carefree Padawan then! He had come to help the pretty young handmaiden who was cleaning off R2. He had been in such disbelief when later he had learned from her that the lovely handmaiden he had secretly been attracted to was the queen! He wondered if she even knew that he had feelings for her then… Then again the feelings didn't last long. Things changed dramatically after Qui-Gon's death. He had thought of her every now and again during those ten years apart, but he had new responsibilities to take care of and he had to push those thoughts aside. Now she belonged to Anakin, he had no right to ever think of her like that again. But why was he?

"I'm really glad you came," Padme said hugging Obi-Wan, "I really wanted you to be here. I knew you would understand."

Obi-Wan paused and inadvertently realized how much he was enjoying Padme's embrace. Her arms seemed to wrap perfectly around him. She had pulled close to him, his head hovering just above her shoulder. He could feel her chestnut hair caress his cheek. He smelled a sweet fragrance coming from her, it was intoxicating. Suddenly all he could see was her. He practically melted in her chocolate brown eyes. He now realized that he hadn't pulled away very far from her and that his arms were still wrapped around her, except now they had slid down to her waist. He was attracted to her and it was becoming harder and harder to resist. She had become the only thing that he could see, smell, and feel.

"Obi-Wan?" Padme's sweet voice asked softly. He could see confusion in her beautiful eyes.

"I-I am sorry. I must go- Now. Goodbye, Padme." He said as he rushed out. He had to get away, far away, before he did something he would deeply regret.