SnowflakesandMozart - Kitab either gave in or he was influenced.

Phantom-jedi1 - Thanks, trying to keep up. Work remains insane.

Chapter 62

Padme stifled another giggle as the lift carried them up toward their destination. It could have been her imagination, but it seemed as though Anakin's ears had a slight tinge of red. He turned and looked at her with pitiful, pleading eyes and an irresistible jut of his bottom lip. She squeezed his hand.

"You aren't the first person to ever receive a warning from a patrol droid for excessive speed," she said before the giggle she had fought so hard to contain finally burst free.

"Garen and Byram will never let this one go … and when my master hears about it …" Anakin groaned.

"At least it was just a warning," she said.

The lift stopped, and they stepped out into the corridor. Padme had to admit that it was nice to be leaving the Senate district and the stress of galactic politics for a little while to have dinner in the home of a history professor. Qui-Gon had seemed to know just what everyone needed when he extended the invitation. As the door to the small apartment opened, a hint of what awaited teased their senses. An exquisite aroma billowed out into the corridor. Anakin seemed to not notice, still looking very guilty as the door closed behind them. Padme could feel another giggle welling up inside. Anakin looked utterly betrayed when it bubbled out just as Qui-Gon stepped out of the kitchen.

"What's so funny?" the Jedi master asked.

"Go ahead and tell him," Anakin sulked.

"Anakin received a warning for excessive speed."

"Imagine that," Qui-Gon replied dryly.

"I got us here safely." A lopsided, cocky grin tugged at Anakin's lips as he offered his defense. "And, at least I beat the traffic."

"Please try to remember that I am the one who must face Master Yoda if you get yourself killed," Qui-Gon chided gently. "There was no need to rush. Dinner isn't quite ready."

"Good." Anakin looked down at the attire that identified him as one of Padme's guards. "I'd kind of like to get out of this uniform."

As Anakin disappeared down the hallway, Padme followed Qui-Gon back to the kitchen. "Do you need any help? Contrary to what rumors may circulate, the former queen of Naboo does know her way around a kitchen."

"No, no," Qui-Gon protested, shooing her to a nearby chair. "I have everything under control. You sit and rest and keep me company."

Padme settled down at the small table, glancing around the room. Anakin had been staying with Qui-Gon since coming to Coruscant – at least when he wasn't at Padme's apartment. But it was her first time to visit the home Obi-Wan had grown up in and spoke of so warmly.

"I was expecting Obi-Wan, Byram, and Garen as well."

Qui-Gon had turned back toward his cooking so she couldn't judge his expression, but the concern in his voice was evident. Both Obi-Wan and Byram had been working absurdly long hours as of late, perhaps avoiding returning to empty homes while their families were away. It was the main reason Qui-Gon had planned for dinner.

"Obi-Wan had just come out of a meeting with the Chancellor when we were leaving. He said that he needed a little more time. Garen and Byram stayed with him. They will be along later."

"I hope so," Qui-Gon murmured.

Padme sneaked a peek back down the hallway only to turn back and find that she had been caught. Qui-Gon was studying her, leaving her heart pounding hard in her chest. She and Anakin had not been as careful since their arrival on the Senate landing pad – a few hugs here, brushing hands against each other, Anakin placing his arm around her. Obi-Wan, Byram, and Garen knew how the couple felt about each other, but what might have only been a suspicion among the elders likely had to be certainty by now.

"So, have you and Anakin started thinking about a wedding date yet?"

Qui-Gon turned back to cooking, which was fortunate. Padme could feel her cheeks burning and was certain she was blushing.

"No, we haven't," she said only after finally gaining composure that had taken years as a politician to be able to obtain. Deciding honesty was best, she added, "there is too much uncertainty right now."

"I see," was all Qui-Gon said in a simple, clipped response.

"For one, we don't know when Anakin will be knighted," Padme continued.

"True."

"Anakin also fears that a more public relationship will place me in further danger, especially now that one of the Sith knows who he is." She let out a sigh. "Besides, any courtship and marriage are likely to be a spectacle. I don't want to subject Anakin to that kind of scrutiny just yet," Padme said softly.

"It seems as though you both have given this much thought." A smile curved the older Jedi's lips as he returned to tending the pots and pans on the cooking unit. "There has actually been much talk among the elders about the two of you."

She resisted the urge to let out a groan. Her heart was now thundering in her chest.

"It might interest you to know that there have been several cases before where certain 'rules' have been bent when the elders feel as though the Force is prompting."

"I didn't know …"

"Yes, Obi-Wan's parents, for one." He turned and offered a reassuring smile. "I just wanted you to know, that as an elder, you two will have my blessing when the time is right."

Padme felt as though a brick had been lifted from her chest. The elders knew and it was all right. Yes, the time was not yet right, but both Anakin and Padme knew that. She opened her mouth to say something when she noticed that Qui-Gon suddenly seemed agitated. Padme had seen it happen with Obi-Wan and Anakin before, both of them sensing something she could neither understand nor see.

"Qui-Gon, what's wrong?"

He remained silent, allowing his eyes to slide shut. "Anakin," he said softly.

Long legs ate up the distance to the bedroom. Padme struggled to keep up with him. Anakin was resting against the bed. He had managed to get his boots off and shirt unbuttoned before sliding to a sitting position next to the bed. Qui-Gon crouched down next to him.

"What's wrong with him," Padme asked, failing to hide the concern that crept into her voice as she rushed to his side. Anakin's eyes were open but unblinking, and his breathing was shallow.

"He's okay," Qui-Gon assured her. "It's a vision. I hope Obi-Wan isn't alone," he murmured.

"Why not?"

"Chances are he is seeing something as well."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Obi-Wan couldn't remember ever seeing the sky over Dantooine so dark. Even on nights, moons and stars shone through brightly. He was standing outside the training center next to a large blba tree at the entrance, one that had been his nemesis as a child. He wasn't alone. On his right stood Yoda. On his left stood Anakin, the Force's Chosen One. The young man was ablaze in glory, luminous.

"The storm comes," came Yoda's monotone voice.

The gentle prairies that Obi-Wan had known since childhood were not to be seen, swallowed up in churning winds and a growing, dense black fog. The darkness had descended. The storm was upon them. Obi-Wan could feel the wind tearing at his cloak. Dust and debris and frayed blades of torn lavender grass pelted his face. He resisted the urge to close his eyes, knowing that what he was about to see was too important. He was drawn to a sound he heard in the distance – the echoes of thousands of footfalls as one by one, a horde of white emerged from the shroud of fog and began to march on the building. Everywhere they touched, the darkness spread.

Obi-Wan's hand went to his side. In unison, three blades split the darkness. The sound echoed far behind him. He turned to find the training center no longer there, replaced by a sea of ignited sabers – an army of light.

"The storm comes."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Anakin sat on the side of the sleep couch, accepting the glass of water Qui-Gon offered. "Do you want to talk about it?" the older man asked.

"I don't understand what I saw," Anakin replied, shaking his head from side to side. "It was like some sort of army marching on the training center on Dantooine. I am hoping that Obi-Wan saw more or understood what we actually saw."

Anakin sat and relayed the exact events of the vision as he had seen it. When he was done, he watched as Qui-Gon sat in contemplative silence. Padme had a look of horror on her face. The memory of an army marching on something she held dear was still a fresh wound, even though over ten years had passed since the Battle of Naboo.

The front door opened and three sets of feet hurried down the hall. When Anakin's eyes met Obi-Wan's, he knew that Obi-Wan understood exactly what he had seen, perhaps too much.

"You have to distance yourself from me politically," Obi-Wan said abruptly, directing his attention to Padme.

"Distance myself? Why?" she asked.

"I've been set up – we all have." Obi-Wan sank down to the floor and rested his head back against the wall. "The debate in Senate – it's a charade – it doesn't matter …"

"Of course it matters," Padme protested. Her voice took on a fierceness most often saved for the Senate arena.

"Padme, there is already an army of the Republic - it exists."

"What do you mean?"

"I was called into Palpatine's office today," Obi-Wan explained. "Palpatine asked me to investigate some accounting errors from when Senator Kitab was still serving. Kitab used his authority to divert funds and contracted a clone army."

"Are you certain?" Qui-Gon asked.

"It would have been noticed," Padme added.

"I spent the evening speaking with the Prime Minister of a planet named Kamino," Obi-Wan said, leveling them both with a serious stare. "I don't understand … Olin Kitab wouldn't have done something like this, but the army exists. It's real. They showed me via holo … training grounds. There were rows upon rows of troops – all dressed in white armor."

Anakin looked up at him sharply, the image of a marching horde of soldiers flashing in his mind.

"We have to stop it, then," Padme said.

"That's why you have to distance yourself," Obi-Wan said. "It's going to get ugly."

"I won't do that." Padme shot back. "And I know how ugly it can get. But they can't blame you for something that happened before you were even a senator," Padme replied.

"I was Olin Kitab's aide and protégé. I assure you, I will be investigated and the Sith will make every attempt to discredit me."