Chapter 11:

Coming out of the refresher, dressed in a simple outfit meant to disguise her appearance, was Padme. With all her things packed and ready for the journey up ahead, she strolled on out, collected her suitcase and left her chamber to find Anakin and Captain Gregar talking quietly as they waited for the young Senator to join them.

"Any word from Angela yet?" she asked as she approached the two men. Anakin, wearing a dull gray poncho over his dark Jedi clothing, turned to face the addressing young woman,

"No Senator." He replied, "…not yet, at least." He added.

Sighing, Padme shook her covered head, "What could possibly be detaining her?" she asked out loud to no one in particular, "We leave in half an hour and I was certain she'd be there to see us off."

Captain Gregar stepped up and politely took the Senator's suitcase, "Our transport is waiting outside." He informed respectfully.

Nodding her head at her Captain, Padme quickly glanced over at Anakin beside her before the three of them started walking off together. When the trio finally left the huge building and approached the ship that would take them to the station where Padme and Anakin would be left at to continue their journey alone, Padme looked up to sky as her thoughts once more dwelled on her close friend.

"I do hope everything's going alright with her." She stated. Captain Gregar glanced over at the young woman and smiled softly as he read the concern behind her brown eyes,

"Don't worry Senator, I'm sure that whatever Angela's doing is important." He assured.


Angela laid comfortably in her husband's arms, resting her head upon his bare chest. While she listened to the calming sound of his heartbeat, she let a hand softly trace the hard muscles on his stomach. The bedroom was quiet and with the sunlight lightly streaming through the one window on the far side, it brought about a tranquil feeling to the couple lying in bed.

"This is how things should be…" Obi-wan gently spoke up, breaking the silence; his eyes were closed as if he was in some peaceful trance. Angela lifted her head up to look over into his handsome face,

"What do you mean, love?" she returned not fully understanding his words. Obi-wan opened his eyes to look down at the woman he was holding in his arms. Reaching a hand out, he tucked a loose stray of Angela's strawberry blonde hair behind her ear before he brought his hand back down to hold her waist,

"This…." He replied. "…us…" he added before he released a long sigh. Angela sensed immediately that Obi-wan had something on his mind. Grabbing the top sheet on the bed, Angela pulled it over her chest before she turned to lay on her side so that she could fully face her husband. Using her elbow as a support, Angela raised herself up,

"Hey…" she murmured soothingly, "….what's on your mind?" she asked, her eyes gazing upon him with concern. Obi-wan, who was now staring straight ahead, remained silent. To get his attention, Angela reached a hand out and turned Obi-wan's head towards her "Obi-wan…." She quietly called to him. When his beautiful blue-green eyes locked onto Angela's, she gasped when she noticed the look of pain behind them.

"Do you think it was the best choice to have been separated all those years ago?" he returned softly. Angela blinked at his question, clearly taken back by his words. Clearing her throat delicately, Angela opened her mouth to respond,

"Was it the best choice?" she repeated, "...No." she answered honestly, "But it was the right one." She added firmly.

"Losing you for ten years was the right choice?" Obi-wan calmly threw back.

Brows furrowed, Angela sat up in bed, holding the sheet closer to her chest, "What's brought this on, Obi-wan?" she questioned curiously.

"I've just been thinking." He answered shortly.

"Yeah, clearly." Angela quickly replied. "Tell me; is it a tendency of yours to 'think' right after making love?"

The corners of Obi-wan's mouth turned up slightly in tiny smile before he turned his head to look over at Angela, "Not sure just yet. Only done it a couple times." He answered bluntly.

An uncontainable laugh burst from Angela's mouth before she shook her head in response, "Oh boy, Obi-wan…" she murmured while she raised a hand up and ran it through her long hair.

Sighing, Obi-wan sat up on the bed as well, "Angela?" he asked, "…I don't want to lose you again." He confessed.

Feeling her heart melt within her chest, Angela gently shook her head before she linked a hand behind Obi-wan's neck and brought his head down to her so that their foreheads could touch, "You never lost me, Obi-wan Kenobi." She stated while she tenderly brushed noses with her husband, "You never will." She promised, her voice nothing more than a sweet whisper. Smiling down on her with a loving gaze, Obi-wan closed off the distance between them and claimed Angela's lips in a passionate kiss which lasted for a few silent moments before they were interrupted by the sound of a beeping Com link. Pulling away the married couple glanced off in the direction of the sound before turning back towards each other. Angela smiled knowingly,

"I think you better get that." She spoke softly. Obi-wan nodded his head before he swiftly threw the bed sheets off his body and climbed out of bed. A blush instantly rose to Angela's cheeks followed by a secret smile as she got the chance to fully see Obi-wan utterly naked as he walked unashamedly around to where he had discarded his clothing. He truly was a beautiful man. Every inch of him, perfectly sculpted like he was made from marble. As Obi-wan found his com link and walked into the refresher to answer it, Angela decided it was time for her to start moving too. Scooting down to the foot of the bed, Angela waved a single hand and had her black gown and shorts that were lying on the ground, levitate up and place themselves neatly on the bed beside her. With a sigh, Angela dropped the sheet from her chest and stood up from the bed. Grabbing her panties and shorts first, Angela quickly stepped into them and pulled them up to their place at her hips before she then reached for her black gown and threw it over her head. Right as she finished smoothing the black material down her body so that it was clinging nicely in all the right places, the sound of bare feet moving across the floor reached her ears before she felt Obi-wan wrap his arms around her waist from behind.

"That was Anakin…" he stated. "…He and Padme will be leaving for Naboo in about 20 minutes. And we are to see them off."

"Ah." Angela breathed out, "…of course." She answered with a quick nod of her head before she glanced over her shoulder to look at Obi-wan. She quickly looked him over and laughed softly before she pulled herself out of Obi-wan's arms and went about the room to collect his clothing. "Going to get dressed anytime soon, dear?" Angela asked as she carried his clothes back over to him in a pile in her arms that she then extended out for him. Obi-wan grinned in response before he reached out and grabbed his pants before he quickly stepped into them,

"That depends…" he replied, "…you going to help me?" he finished with a wink. Rolling her eyes playfully, Angela stepped up to Obi-wan's towering form with his tunic at the ready.

"Sure, if you bend down about a foot so I can get this over your head." She replied smartly. Laughing, Obi-wan slowly lowered himself down onto his knees before Angela. Smiling, she slipped his undershirt followed by his Jedi tunic over his head and pulled it down his front while he put his arms through the sleeves. Once that was done, he rose up off the ground before he and Angela quickly sought out their boots. Now that they were dressed, while Obi-wan clasped his utility belt about his hips, Angela hooked her saber to her side before she took Obi-wan by the hand, their fingers entwining naturally before she led the way out of the bedroom. Using the force, Angela collected both their cloaks off the couch and passed Obi-wan his while she draped her own about her shoulders and tied it in place around her neck. Once Obi-wan had his cloak thrown on and Angela hurriedly combed her fingers through her hair, the two headed for the apartment's front door which opened automatically for them before they stepped on out into the corridor.

"We better hurry." Angela stated as they began their walk back through the temple. As they stepped outside, finally leaving the massive temple and headed down its front steps to the street below, Angela directed Obi-wan over to where she had landed her ship. "Climb on in." she said as the cockpit slid open to them and she gracefully jumped up into the ship's opening. Obi-wan followed behind, in a soft daze.

"This your ship?" he asked curiously. As Angela fumbled around with the ships controls, putting the transporter into flight, she glanced over at him and nodded proudly,

"Yup!" she answered before she turned her attention on bringing the ship up into the air safely. Once she was in clear air, the ship took off across the sky. Obi-wan sat back against the seat for the ride before he glanced over at Angela's focused form.

"What exactly were you doing in the archives today, Angela?" Obi-wan suddenly asked.

Angela passed Obi-wan a quick look before returning her gaze up front, "Random!" she exclaimed in a singsong tone, "I was there trying to see if perhaps we had our Bounty Hunter on record there." she returned; Obi-wan's brows rose up at the information,

"Did you find anything?" he asked curiously.

Angela shook her head, "No, though it appeared that you guys had every other Bounty Hunter in the Republic listed." She answered before adding, "We really need a lead Obi-wan."

"I know. After Anakin and Padme's departure I was planning on visiting an old friend who may have the answers we seek." Obi-wan replied.

"Oh goodie." She murmured softly.

Flying the ship across Corescant to the station where they were to meet Padme and Anakin took about ten minutes with Angela behind the controls. When they finally landed, Angela shut her ship down and opened the cockpit before she glanced over at Obi-wan who looked to be on the brink of a panic attack.

"You ok, babe?" she asked while trying to contain the smile that was pulling at her mouth before she jumped neatly out of the ship. Obi-wan watched her for a quick moment before he swiftly climbed out of the cockpit and followed after her.

"I swear, I don't know who's the more reckless flyer, you…" he stated, "…or Anakin."

Rolling her eyes, Angela brushed the comment off while they started making their way towards the station they had arrived at. Multiple transports were flying in and out of the place but Angela and Obi-wan managed to find the one that Padme and Anakin were on, waiting for them. As Angela stepped up into the long, narrowly shaped transport, her eyes quickly landed on Padme who was sitting down in a chair by one of her handmaidens who was dressed to look like her. Padme naturally glanced up because Angela's movement caught her eye and when the young Senator spotted her dearest friend, she flew up from her seat and quickly went to embrace her.

"Glad to see that you made it." She breathed out in relief as she and Angela shared a sisterly hug. Angela smiled in response.

"When have I ever left you hanging Padme?" Angela replied while they pulled back from each other. Obi-wan, who had followed in right behind Angela, had moved past the two women almost completely unnoticed and walked over to Anakin to share a few parting words with the younger man while Angela and Padme shared a few of their own. All the while the transporter that they all were on, slowly lifted off the ground and took off.

"Are you sure that you can't come with us?" Padme asked, biting her lip in hopefulness. Angela smiled sadly and slowly shook her head,

"Not this time, Padme." She answered, "I've got some unfinished business with a Bounty Hunter."

Concern instantly came to Padme's eyes as she stared Angela in the face, "You will be careful won't you?" she asked softly. Angela reached out and placed a comforting hand upon the younger woman's shoulder,

"Of course." Angela answered, "…as always." She added with a smile that was meant to help cheer her friend up.

Smiling softly, uncertainly Padme sighed, "It's going to be so different without you around, Angela." Padme confessed, "I mean you and I have been together ever since the Trade Federation tried invading Naboo." She then added with a nervous laugh, "We're practically inseparable. And now, when I need my closest friend the most, you have to go off somewhere."

Angela's eyes softened as she could strongly sense Padme's hesitation on the whole idea of them being separated. "It won't be for long." Angela assured, "Besides, it's not like I haven't left you without a companion." She pointed out. At the same time, both women turned their heads slightly to glance over at the young Jedi Padawan who was speaking in hushed voices to his Master. Both men sensing that they had an audience looked right back at the young women before they passed a quick glanced between each other and then started walking straight towards them. As they approached, Obi-wan politely bowed

"Ladies." He greeted respectfully as he looked at Padme first before he rested his gaze upon Angela.

"Master Obi-wan." Angela and Padme returned in perfect unison.

"You're to go on foot from here, Senator. You and Anakin will be traveling as fugitives back to Naboo." Obi-wan explained as he drew his attention away from Angela momentarily to inform Padme of the traveling plans.

Padme nodded her head, "Right." She murmured in understanding before she turned back to Angela and quickly embraced her friend one last time. "Then I guess this is where I'll be leaving you at."

Angela returned the embrace before the two friends pulled apart, "Only for a little while, Padme. We'll meet up again, before you know it."

With their departures spoken, Anakin silently stepped up, coming to stand beside Padme, "M'lady." He spoke formally, signaling that they two of them should head off. Padme nodded silently over to Anakin before bending down to collect her suitcase with one hand.

"Then let us be off." She spoke before taking a deep breath in while she moved towards the transport's open exit way and began stepping off down the ramp onto populated streets of the city. Anakin followed in step right behind her as did R2.

Angela, watching Padme and Anakin slowly fade into the crowds, brought her arms up and crossed them over her chest before she leaned up against the open doorway. "Be safe, my sister." Angela prayed silently.

With his Padawan now gone, Obi turned towards Captain Gregar and exchanged some briefs words with the man, "I do hope he won't try anything foolish…" Obi wan stated. Captain Gregar glanced over at the older Jedi and suppressed a laugh,

"I'd be more worried about her trying something foolish." He retorted.

Hearing the words of the two men standing just a couple feet away, Angela found a small smile pulling at a single corner of her mouth. "Foolish indeed."