Obi-Wan was in the archives, moving around as he studied a tri-dimensional chart. He turned around when he heard her steps and smiled warmly, making her heart flutter.

"Leia," he greeted her with a bow.

"Obi-Wan," she replied, stepping more inside the small room. "What are you doing?"

"I am searching for a new location for our base. Some out-of-hand planet or moon."

Leia nodded, approaching him and watching how the tri-dimensional galactic map seemed to surround him. It was a nice image, Obi-Wan enveloped by stars and nebulae.

"May I do something for you?" he asked in that pleasant, accented voice of his.

She strengthened her resolve and answered, "Yes. I would like to talk to you about a …certain matter."

"An important matter, I feel," Obi-Wan commented, switching off the maps he had been checking.

"Yes, it is."

"Does it regard the Alliance?"

"No. It's…a personal matter," Leia murmured, observing him.

It looked like his eyes widened for a moment, before he folded his arms over his chest and told her, "I am listening."

All at once, Leia's voice seemed to disappear. She stared silently at the man in front of her, taking in the details of his handsome face, unable to say any of the words she had planned to say.

"Leia? Are you all right?"

She nodded, and finally mustering her courage she spoke, her tone surprising strong. "I've come to tell you I love you, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

His eyes widened in a way that was almost comical and he took a step back. "I- I…" Obi-Wan cleared his voice and tried again. "It's really kind of you to say so, Leia, but I think you are…confusing your feelings. You aren't in love with me. You see me like the father you have lost and-" he never completed the line. Leia did not give him the time.

She stepped forward and pressed her mouth against his own, as bold as she had been when she had kissed Luke, but much more passionate and desperate.

When the kiss ended, Leia took a step back and, with her cheeks flushed and her breath hurried, she asked, "Does it look like daughterly love?"

Obi-Wan shook his head, speechless. Then he ran a hand in his hair and stroked his beard; all gestures she knew he did when he was nervous or worried—or shocked, just like now.

However he had responded to the kiss, and this gave Leia the hope and the patience to wait until he regained his composure.

"Leia," Obi-Wan finally said "I- I am honoured…but you are so young…I am three times your age. You should find someone else to love…"

She ignored him and declared with conviction, "You are the one I want to love."

"But I am so old…"

"One is never too old to love or be loved. And then you are not old, Obi-Wan. You are mature, distinguishably handsome, and perfect in my eyes."

He blushed at her passionate speech, and then shook his head. "I cannot give you what you need. I am a Jedi and I will soon go away."

All the blood left Leia's face upon hearing those words. "You- you are leaving?"

"Yes, together with Luke. Vader and the Emperor can feel our presence and we are becoming dangerous. We are putting the Alliance at risk."

"Where do you plan to go?"

"On some safe planet where I will be able to complete Luke's training," was the calm answer.

"Will you be back?" Leia asked, forcing her voice to be steady despite her trepidation.

"Yes, I will."

"Then I will wait for you."

Obi-Wan's face softened and he shook his head gently. "Leia…you are so young, so beautiful." He took a step forward, and caressed her cheek with his calloused fingertips. "Find someone else. Our Captain Solo worships the ground you walk on. Be with him, he will make you happy."

"I am happy," Leia replied decisively closing the distance between them and kissing him again.

This time Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her against his chest, as his mouth opened beneath hers and their tongues touched.

It was a passionate, intense, and yet tender kiss Leia never wanted to end, but it was brutally interrupted when the alarms went off in the outpost.

"The Empire has found us," Obi-Wan commented grimly, before they both moved to the door, ready to face the imminent battle.