Perfect

Chapter Eight

I was at the end of my story; at least the part I had participated in, and yet Anakin sat there staring at me, not saying a word. "Well?" I asked him, trying to convince him to say something. Anything!

"I don't know what to say," he finally admitted. "You tell me you married my Master and yet I've seen no evidence of that. He never speaks about you except during his sleep and that could be for many reasons."

Was he trying to say he didn't believe me? Of all the nerve!

My face must've revealed I was upset about that possibility because he continued immediately.

"Don't get me wrong. I think it happened exactly the way you say it did. It just doesn't make any sense why he would just walk away from you like that. He never comm'd or even sent a note?"

"No, nothing," I explained, listlessly falling back into the cushions behind me. "Needless to say, I was confused and heartbroken. I contacted the Temple a couple of times, but he was always away on a mission with you. And by the time I'd been nominated Senator and moved to Coruscant, too much time had passed and I guess I was too hurt to say anything."

"Well, I never would've guessed you two once had a thing. When we entered your apartment the other night, you were as calm and friendly as always. If I'd been in your shoes, I would've punched him right in the face."

I had learned long ago how to smile through my grief. It kept others from worrying about me. "Believe me, that idea crossed my mind a few times," I admitted. "But it's healthier just to let things go."

"No it isn't!" Anakin argued. "Not this! You don't let things like this go! You were in love! How can you just give up like that!"

Okay. I understood their master and padawan bond was special, but I wasn't going to sit here and take the blame!

Anakin had inadvertently put me on the defensive. I stood and my voice raised in pitch and volume. "Are you kidding? I've waited ten years for him! And I've heard nothing! Do you realize how many times I thought he was dead? He told me he loved me and that he would be right back! He lied! He lied to me!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, Padme. Really, I am."

I took a couple of deep breaths and focused on the waters of the lake to try and calm down before I lost complete control of my emotions. After several months of not hearing from Obi-Wan and coming to the upsetting realization that I may never see him again, I had cried so much that I didn't think it was possible to ever do it again. Lo and behold, I was wrong in that assumption as well, and tears quickly formed and fell from my eyes.

Anakin was on his feet in a flash and drew me into an embrace, although it probably wasn't anything like he'd been hoping for. This was a sympathetic gesture and its sole purpose was to comfort; as one would offer a friend.

"I'll figure this out," he spoke into my hair. "As soon as you're safe, I'll speak with him and find out what's going on under that thick skull of his."

I began shaking my head and the movement caused him to release me. "No. I'm not asking you to do that. That's not why I shared our story with you. I only wanted you to understand why I can't be with any other man. Why I will never be with any other man."

Still, he didn't understand! How could he? What Anakin felt for me was most likely infatuation. He was a lonely, hormonal teenager who missed his family. I was an inadequate replacement for what he'd lost when he joined the Jedi.

"Promise me Anakin," I said in my most adamant tone once again putting some distance between us. "Promise me you won't interfere. Let Obi-Wan live his life as he chooses and I'll continue to do the same."

There was a long pause and I was beginning to doubt the young man was going to agree to my command. Finally, a half-smile appeared on his face and he nodded his head.

"I think you're making a mistake, but your wish is my command, Mi'Lady."

If I'd heard it once, I'd heard it a thousand times: There is no emotion, there only is peace.

Padme was a beautiful woman and I cared about her – a great deal. Right now, she was an emotional wreck. Even I could see that, even though my Master believed I was blind to such things.

From my point of view, I had one of two choices. I could pout like the spoiled teenager Master Kenobi believed me to be, or I could help someone I loved.

I know I promised not to interfere, but I had to do something! I couldn't allow her to continue on like this. Her confession had hurt me, that's true, but I wasn't so selfish. Mom had always told me we were put here for one reason: To help others. I had to help Padme. But how?

First off, I needed to speak with Master Kenobi. Only he would know the reason why he had abandoned his new bride without any further contact whatsoever. He had to have a reason. Over the past eight years, I had gotten to know him very well, and even though he was stubborn and strict, he would never treat someone the way she claimed he had.

But how could I talk to him when my duty was to stay on Naboo with the Senator? It was my job to protect her, so I couldn't exactly leave her here or drag her around the galaxy to hunt him down. I didn't even know where he was, and he was the worst about answering his comm.

Whatever I did had to be pretty sneaky or the Senator would figure it out. She was a smart lady. Or at least I thought she was. How she had ever allowed herself to be this miserable I'd never understand.

This would be my new mission – in addition to my current mission. I could do this, but first I had to come up with a reason we needed to leave Naboo.

"I'm getting hungry. Can we go inside?" Yes, I knew we had just eaten our first meal like an hour ago, but I was energetic and I was famished!

The Senator chuckled at me and said there was some fruit on the table inside I could have.

That would have to do for now. I never could think on an empty stomach anyway. She took a seat at one end of the table as far away from me as possible, I noted, while I took the seat on the opposite end. I ate while she watched, although her gaze wasn't necessarily on me. Her mind was far away; most likely reliving some ancient memory of my Master.

The sooner I figured out what to do, the sooner I could move on. As hard as I thought though, I couldn't come up with a good reason to go look for Master Kenobi.

And that's when Fate intervened.

The Senator's astromech rolled in. He had an important message to show us.

From his internal holoprojector, the R2 unit began to play a relay he had intercepted from my Master to the Jedi Temple. In it, Obi-Wan was reporting he had discovered Count Dooku who had gathered enough support on Geonosis to begin building a significantly sized separatist army. That was all he had managed to get out, however, before several droidekas appeared and began firing at him. The feed was cut off after that and Padme abruptly stood to her feet.

Without further warning, she hurried off. I followed her and watched with growing interest as she began to rummage through her bags.

"What are you doing?" I asked while leaning casually against the door frame.

"Changing."

She pulled out what looked to be a white battlesuit complete with a matching holster and sporting pistol.

"Planning on going somewhere?" I asked innocently.

"Yes," she said, paying very little attention to me. "I'm going after Obi-Wan. You can come with me or stay here. It's your choice."

Inside, I was grinning like mad. This was perfect! We were headed to my Master and I hadn't had to do a thing!