Chapter Seven

"Love Isn't a Game"

While Anakin and I enjoyed some refreshment, we leaned toward one another and tried to look as if we were having a private conversation. I was beginning to feel guilty, however. Not what Dormé would think, of course, but I worried Obi-Wan was going to get the wrong idea. It was a risk I wasn't sure I was willing to take. What if he hadn't made up his mind and would simply give up before even giving us a chance? What if he didn't care about me in that way at all? Was I just making a fool of myself?

Dormé was the first one to approach. Her words were clipped and her arms were still crossed. Whether she was ready to admit it or not, she had feelings for Anni that went beyond friendship.

"Enjoy the dance?" she asked him before reaching between us to grab a glass of champagne.

"The music was too fast," Anakin replied, turning to smile at me. "I'm looking forward to something slow and romantic so that I can take the Senator in my arms and… Ow! What did you do that for!"

It was difficult to stifle my laughter when Dormé kicked the young man's shin, although he had been laying it on a little thick.

"That wasn't part of the deal! We canceled all that! Remember?" she angrily hissed at him. "And besides, Kenobi was the one you were supposed to be making jealous!"

"That's what I'm doing!" Anakin argued back, turning away from me. "This was your idea in the first place! Why are you getting all pissy at me?"

The louder they spoke, the further away I snuck, until I handed off my glass to a passing waiter-droid and stepped out into the hallway.

Obi-Wan wasn't in the ballroom and he wasn't in the hall either. I walked some ways down beyond the front stairway to where the refreshers were and waited a little while. He apparently wasn't in there either. Where had he gone?

As I wandered back to the foyer, I spied him gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows. His face was turned up as if he were looking at the sky beyond the glass and he was completely alone.

Isolated. It was one of the words Dormé had read me from the confounded book. I focused my thoughts inward to get rid of any reference to her idiotic schemes and stepped forward to do what I would naturally do to any friend in need of company.

"Everything all right?" I asked while I imitated his stance. Curious to figure out what he was looking at, I gazed through the windows myself, noticing only that dark clouds had covered the stars.

"I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking," he said without turning his head.

This wasn't going so well. What else could I say to get them to open up and tell me what he was thinking?

"Is it supposed to rain?" I finally asked, desperate to talk about something.

"The official forecast for tonight was questionable. Environmental Control actually said to watch for a remarkable event in celebration of this evening's activities at the Civic Center."

"What does that mean?"

"I have no idea. That's why I'm watching the skies."

Interesting. I continued to watch with him. Our time together wasn't as awkward as I'd initially thought it would be. It was kind of nice just standing with him without interruption.

"Let me know if my Padawan is bothering you. I'll speak to him if you'd like," he abruptly told me. His statement certainly altered my thoughts about the moment.

"Anni's not a bother," I assured him. "He's not as good a dancer as you, of course, but he's quite charming. He's really grown up. You've done a wonderful job with him."

Obi-Wan regarded me carefully and I wasn't able to figure out what he was thinking. He was a private person and typically kept his feelings all bottled up inside, so I wasn't surprised when he turned back to look out the window. I was surprised, however, to see a sense of wonder come over his face.

"Hurry. Come with me."

Before I realized what was happening, he had grabbed my hand and pulled me outside. We skidded to a stop on the dark stone that was just now being peppered with tiny white spots.

"It's snowing!" I said in amazement as I looked up. The Transition Committee had never mentioned anything about frozen precipitation!

"This is a first for Coruscant."

Even a place such as unnatural and ugly as Galactic City looked better covered with a blanket of white, although it wasn't the view Obi-Wan was looking at. His gaze was directed at me and he no longer appeared pleased.

"If you would like to continue enjoying the pleasure of my Padawan's company, I won't stand in the way. I want whatever makes you happy, Padmé."

Is that what that unhappy face was all about? Was he serious? Oh, no! I should've known better than to play games like this! What a lapse in judgment I'd had. I knew better than this! What was wrong with me?

"It's not like that," I tried explaining, only to cause more confusion to be revealed in his brow. "Apparently, Anakin wants something more than friendship with Dormé and he talked me into trying to make her jealous."

"That's why he was dancing with you so…intimately? Do you think that's a wise decision?"

Uh, oh. There may be a chance I had allowed Dormé's irresponsible behavior to influence me and make a rather immature decision. Love wasn't a game to be played.

"You're right," I told him, immediately regretting my participation. "Romance, attraction, love – whatever you call it should occur naturally and not be forced. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan."

"Don't apologize to me," he said to the skies as snowflakes filled his beard. "But if Dormé hurts my Padawan, there'll be hell to pay."

A slow-revealed grin eased my worry and I laughed. "From what I can tell, they'll be good for each other. Maybe Anakin will keep her out of trouble."

"And she will keep his mind busy. I can't tell you how easily distracted he is sometimes."

Once again, we stared at the weather, amazed at the amount of snow that was falling. "You sure you're okay with this?"

"That all depends," he said, which made my breath hitch. Or maybe I was getting cold.

"If you'll be honest with me and tell me why your assistant did her best to embarrass you this evening - If you'll do that much, I'll make sure you get warm."

Seriously? Was he bribing me for the use of his robe? Deal! It was freezing out here!

"She got it into her head that..." Just get it out, I urged myself. "You and I belong together and she was trying to seduce you."

Obi-Wan's brows lowered. "Beg your pardon? Dormé was trying to seduce me?"

"No. She was trying to get me to try and seduce you. I'm not making any sense, am I? I"m sorry. I'm sorry for all of this. I should've never agreed to do anything she said."

"Why did you?"

I was backed into the corner, and other than just walking away, there was no other way out. "Because of that dance," I told him honestly. "I think about it all the time. I don't know if you felt what I did, but being held by you - it just felt right. I can't tell you what music was playing, who we passed, or how long it lasted. All I could see and hear was you. And if a single dance with you was that wonderful, I can't even imagine what other...things...with...you...could be..."

While I was speaking, Obi-Wan stepped closer and closer until he had definitely entered my personal space. When I'd finished, he was standing mere centimeters away from my face.

"You have snow on your nose," he said before he surprised me by getting rid of it with his lips.

"There's some on your cheek as well." I held my breath as his mouth moved next to my ear, where his beard brushed the side of my face, sending a chill down my already cooled skin.

What were the chances? I lifted my face to the sky and Obi-Wan laughed. Perhaps he got my meaning. I knew he did when he tenderly placed his lips upon mine, with a soft caress. However, when I wrapped my arms inside his robes in search of warm skin, his kiss deepened and I opened my mouth to allow him inside. The longer the kiss, the less I thought about the cold. After a few lingering pecks, I gazed up into his face. The twinkle was back.

"Are you warm now?"

"Are you kidding?"

"Would you like to go back inside?"

"Only if you insist."

"Actually I do, on one condition."

"My, you're full of demands tonight. Go ahead."

"Now that I know where you stand, count me in."

I leaned my head back in surprise but refused to unwrap myself around him. "Really? What brought this on?"

"I'm only thinking of my Padawan's best interests. If he is serious about this young woman, then she needs to learn a little lesson on humility. We can't let her know she succeeded. In fact, I think we should make her think quite the opposite."

My grin spread wide. What a wonderful idea! "I agree. For Anakin's sake, of course."

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, pulling me closer. "For Anakin's sake."