Chapter Ten

For three years she had watched him, loved him, worried about him. It was time for Obi-Wan to face his demons, but what would be the consequences? Would she lose him? Surely not. Their feelings for one another were much stronger than any evil force that wished to consume him. But therein lay the problem. Obi-Wan had grown much too dependent upon her. It was why she had pushed him, told him how she felt. She was in love with a hollow shell of a man, and she wanted all of him, but it was up to Obi-Wan to discover who he really was and what he was meant to be.

Plagued by those thoughts, Padmé lay down upon the double cot in their cabin and tried to get some rest, pulling the blanket folded upon the end of the bed up over her legs. Just before she drifted to sleep, however, she became aware of the sound of feet pounding upon the decking of the ship and sat up in time to see Mace Windu rush past the open cabin doorway, his lightsaber glowing purple in his hand.

She hurried to follow him, her heart hammering in her chest, but not from exertion, but fear. There was only one reason why Mace would feel the need to arm himself.

Sliding to a stop in the cargo bay, Padmé was met with an alarming sight. Mace stood close by the kneeling form of Obi-Wan, who, although it appeared he had been meditating, was not presenting a picture of someone who was serene and relaxed. In fact, he appeared more tense than she had ever seen him, almost as if he were in physical pain. His mouth set firm in a grimace, beads of sweat popping out above his lowered brows, his fists clenching.

She had to help him.

But when she moved forward, her efforts were halted by Master Windu who held his arm out against her stomach.

"I need to go to him."

"He needs to do this alone."

Padmé stared up at the Jedi Master with disbelief. "You're giving him a chance?"

A raised brow was his only reply.

"If that's true, then what's the lightsaber for?"

"In case he doesn't succeed." Mace answered cryptically while Padmé drew her attention back to Obi-Wan.

The struggle went on for some time, the tension never leaving Obi-Wan's face, and the lit 'saber never leaving Mace's hand, until finally a gasp escaped the kneeling young man and he fell forward, facedown upon the floor.

Padmé rushed to him then, free to do so, and rolled him into her arms, looking pleadingly up into the concerned face of the hovering Jedi. "Will you help me take him to our cabin?"

When Obi-Wan opened his eyes, he was thankful for two things -- the lights were dimmed, and he was wrapped securely in the arms of someone he loved. It felt good to be close to Padmé, knowing it was where he was meant to be. However, his lengthy meditation and subsequent battle with the dark forces of the galaxy had also taught him that he was of the Light. And although he may not be allowed to be a Jedi, he could still serve it.

Being in Padmé's arms though was really good, since right now, he felt as if he had gone one on one with a draigon.

Which he had before.

Obi-Wan bolted upright, straight out of Padmé's arms and spun round to face her shocked expression.

"I remember." He told her as a bright smile appeared on his face. A bright and beautiful smile, the likes of which Padmé had never seen before.

"What?" Padmé asked, her eyes lit with hope as Obi-Wan kneeled in front of her with the face of a child opening up a naming day gift.

"Everything! Bruck, Garen, Reeft, and Bant. Dear Bant. How badly I wanted to be Qui-Gon's apprentice. How much I looked up to him. I almost got assigned to AgriCorps, was sent there actually, but Qui-Gon showed up. There was a mission, and we had already formed a training bond. Unheard of."

Obi-Wan was caught up in the past, his voice turning wistful, the tones rising and falling, every related emotion drifting across his face as Padmé watched in awe, pulling her legs up in front of her.

"There was a bomb. I was willing to sacrifice my life to save him, but he wouldn't let me. And then there was Melida-Daan. I stood up for what I believed in, and I was wrong. But he took me back. I tried so hard to prove myself worthy of being his apprentice. I didn't blame him for not trusting me, I mean, after what Xanatos had done."

Obi-Wan's bright gray-blue eyes drifted up from the bed. "Gods, Padmé. This must have been awful for him. He already lost one apprentice to the Dark. I can't imagine what losing me did to him."

"He tried to resign." Padmé said quietly, reaching out her hand to place onto Obi-Wan's where it lay on the blankets, smiling when he turned his palm to interlace his fingers with hers. "Yoda told me that after his two-year search for you, he went before the council and tried to resign as a Jedi. They wouldn't let him, but as a compromise, they accepted his vow to never take another apprentice."

"I'm afraid, Padmé."

Obi-Wan's admission startled the young woman. "Why?"

"Not for me." He quickly said to ease her worry. "For Qui-Gon. I should be able to feel his emotions, and I don't feel anything. I sure hope he's not…"

"He's not, Obi-Wan. We'll find him, and he'll be fine. You'll see."

A wide grin creased the corners of the young man's eyes. "I love you."

"And I you." She replied with a smile of her own. "Let's get some sleep."