Perfect

Chapter Three

Captain Panaka, head of Palace Security was stationed near the so-called disturbance, with his arms crossed and a smirk of inconvenience lifting his mouth. Beside him, seated on the floor with his head in his hands was a man wearing a dark nerf-hide robe; one that I recognized immediately. So, it was Obi-Wan who was making a spectacle of himself, although it wasn't much of one I'd already decided.

I knelt down, not sure what I was going to discover beneath the drawn hood. Was he ill? He hadn't looked that well earlier, and I chastened myself for not checking on him sooner.

"Obi-Wan?"

There was no response to my voice, so I added a touch to his shoulder. Slowly, his head rolled to one side and he smiled at me, in a rather ridiculous way I thought. I looked closely into his eyes to discover they were bloodshot and soon determined the reason why. His breath reeked of alcohol.

"I remember that," Anakin broke in. "He was already upset before we even got there; something about the Council criticizing his treatment of me. They'd told him he wasn't being strict enough, or maybe he was being too strict. I can't remember now, but I do recall him being irritated during our trip to Naboo. I tried to stop him from drinking too much but he wouldn't listen to me."

"Was that all?" I asked as I led him toward a half-circle of cushioned outdoor furniture which was sheltered from the blazing sun. A service of iced water was on the table in front of us and I poured us both a glassful. "I mean, is that all he was upset about?"

The young Jedi paused for a moment, leaned back in his seat, and observed the cloudless sky. Whatever he knew, he was hesitant to share and I had to ask my question again.

"Please, Anakin," I coaxed while placing a hand on his knee, immediately drawing his attention to it.

Not a good idea, I decided. If my touch did to him what Obi-Wan's did to me, then I needed to keep my distance. I quickly retreated and placed my hands on my lap.

"Don't touch me," he advised quietly though a little vehemently. "You have no idea what it does to me."

"Yes I do," I assured him. "I understand more than you know. Please, Anakin, will you tell me something? Did Obi-Wan ever mention me after he left? I need to know. It's important."

This conversation was hard on him. I could tell by the way he was clenching his jaw. Before answering, he displayed elevated aggravation by running both of his hands through his spiked hair.

"Of course he did!" the young man blurted out with frustration. "During his dreams, I had to listen to him call out your name! It was maddening! I wanted you for myself. Don't you understand how hard this is?"

I wanted to hold his hand to offer him some comfort but decided against it. Instead, I would try to relieve his anxieties through my words only. It was what I did for a living and I was good at it – as long as the recipient was willing to listen. He had to listen! I did not want to be the cause for increased tension between him and his Master.

"I'm so sorry, Anakin, but I fell in love with Obi-Wan ten years ago, when you were still a child. I couldn't help it and I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did! You mean a lot to me, but not in that way. I care for you like I would a brother. I've always wanted one. Can you not learn to accept our relationship for what it is? Would you really wish me to pretend to feel something for you that I don't?"

"I just don't understand," he told me. "How did this happen? If you're married to him, why hasn't he mentioned anything about it? Why aren't you with him?"

The answer to that question was complicated and I wasn't sure I understood it myself.

"Please Anakin, allow me to continue sharing my story. Maybe things will start becoming more clear why things happened the way they did."

With his head now in his hand, Anakin gestured with the other for me to continue.

"Come on, Obi-Wan, let me help you up."

"I'm fine," he told me with a clearer voice than I'd expected.

I wasn't sure how much he'd had to drink or how quickly a Jedi could detoxify. He actually seemed okay and didn't even appear to be wobbly on his feet.

"Come, dance with me, Padme, until the stars in the sky cease to shine down upon us."

Before I could accept or deny him the opportunity, he twirled me out between the dining tables where no dancing was occurring. That was scheduled for later. Once dinner service was completed, a place had been designated in the plaza for such an activity but not until sundown.

"Obi-Wan," I murmured quietly as he held me close and spun me around, gathering interest from several diners while others kept their focus on their meal. "There's no music."

"Of course, there is," he mentioned blithely, revealing a charming grin that caused my stomach to flutter. "We make our own. Listen."

His suggestion sounded absolutely ridiculous and I had no intention of doing what he'd asked, but as Obi-Wan slowed the pace of our movements and we swayed gently together while his gaze was locked onto mine, a soft, tinkling sound came to me like a bird's song brought through an open window upon a summer breeze. It gradually grew louder and composed a sweet and romantic melody; one that touched my heart and brought a smile of wonder to my own face.

"How's that possible?" I murmured with a good dose of amazement. "It's beautiful."

"That's our music," he informed me. "The Force is playing it just for us."

At that point, he lost me.

"The Force wants us to be together," he continued dreamily. "I've struggled with that fact for the past two years. I've argued with myself as well as the Force about how wrong it was - how we couldn't work. I'm a Jedi, sworn to defend the innocent and stationed in the Core, and you're a Queen on a remote planet. Our relationship would be too difficult and completely unfair to you. You deserve so much more; someone who would be present to support you and offer you the things I can't. I thought I'd convinced myself my thinking was right, but that all changed when I received your invitation and knew I'd have to see you again. I'm tired, Padme. I'm tired of the constant battle of denying what my heart longs for. I can't do it anymore."

"Wait," I suggested, wishing desperately to whisk him away to a more private area so we could talk - preferably someplace that had some strong caff for him to drink.

Before I could, he lowered his head and I was caught in the mesmerizing shifting colors of his eyes. And right there in front of both Gungan and Naboo, he kissed me. It wasn't a prolonged gesture, but sweet and generous, and one I felt down to my toes. After its completion, I stood there stunned and silent, quite aware that my entire world had just been transformed. It was Sabe who drew me back to reality by saying my name.

After thanking her and with a flushed face, I excused myself from the dining room, dragging Obi-Wan along with me.

I headed straight toward the kitchen and ordered a cup of strong caff from the chef. Obi-Wan claimed he preferred tea with cream, but after the intense look I gave him, he quickly accepted my offer and drank the entire cup in one long gulp.

After setting the empty vessel aside, I took his hand again. "We're going to go someplace private to talk," I resolutely informed him. "There are a few things we need to get straight."