Perfect

Chapter Twelve

Throughout my career thus far, I'd been involved in numerous wars; mainly civil disputes. As a Jedi, I'm responsible for keeping the peace, but on a few occasions, I'd been forced to take sides.

As I'd walked out of the Temple following what I considered to be a therapeutic debacle, my emotional state slightly unstable, I sought out the Force. Some have the incorrect assumption that Coruscant lacks a strong connection to it. They couldn't be more wrong. The Force is created by all living things and in Galactic City, there are a lot of living things.

I could sense it in those flying speeders overhead as well as the millions of beings planet-wide working or walking the streets along with me. I focused on its ability to disperse my aggravation and then started thinking. Healer T'Pal would not take part in a prank. She was too professional for that. And besides, she had zero sense of humor. I mean, none whatsoever.

Anakin can be quite charming when he needs to be. Had the young man been able to convince the Healer his ridiculous story was true? If so, why was he going to such great lengths to make it seem real? What could he hope to achieve by this? Unless, of course, it was true and he was only looking out for me. He did do that once in a while.

Even though I was strongly against the idea that I actually had a wife, there was one sure way to find out. I hopped on board a public transport heading to the Senate District.

Since the Republic now had an army, the bill Senator Amidala had been trying so desperately to get passed was now nullified. She was no longer in danger, so I assumed she'd be at work.

I was wrong, and was told she had taken the day off to stay home.

Another transport, another few credits, and I eventually found myself standing outside her apartment door. This could go two ways: She could laugh at me and tell me what a fool I was to believe such nonsense, or she could confirm it was true.

I was actually hoping for the first result because if it was true, it would mean I had been a complete bantha's ass for the past ten years. How could I ever explain to her why I had abandoned her? Because I bumped my head? Would she even believe that excuse?

I was getting ahead of myself. I wasn't even sure if it had actually happened.

After gathering my courage, I rang the chime and was greeted by Captain Typho. He was a cautious and friendly fellow I had met before and he immediately showed me in.

"The Senator will be with you momentarily," the head of her security team told me before stepping back to his watch near the front door.

Apparently, she was still being careful. I didn't blame her. These were dangerous times.

"Obi-Wan? Is there something wrong? What are you doing here?"

She had come in from an adjoining room and was a lovely sight. Sometimes her gowns and hairstyles had the tendency to distract from her natural beauty, but not today. Today, I assumed since she was staying home, she'd chosen a more form-fitting casual dress and her hair was loose and down. It had grown substantially longer since I'd seen it last.

Wait. I'd never seen her hair down before! What was I thinking?

"Good day, Mi'Lady," I greeted with a bow and a smile. "I checked with your office but they said you'd taken the day off. I hope you're not coming down with anything."

"No," she replied with a cautious expression. "Just tired. Come in and take a seat."

I'd always considered myself a fairly good judge of character and could read other's intentions as well as their state of mind. I had learned how to tell if someone was lying or concealing evidence as well. Jedi are trained to do so, which is useful in the field, although experience through interrogations had sharpened these skills.

If I were in her shoes, sitting here next to the man who married me and then walked out of my life without a word, I would be furious. Or at least nervous. She was neither of those things. She did seem tired, but she was also at peace.

"Are you going to tell me why you're here?" she asked again and I realized I was stalling. This was going to be more difficult than I'd imagined and I wasn't sure where to begin.

"You know my Padawan, Anakin?" I asked stupidly. Of course she knew him. She'd actually met him before I did! "He seems to have gotten this idea in his head that he simply won't let go. I'm not sure if he's playing a prank on me or not – because, well we tend to do that sort of thing from time to time. But he's carrying this one too far, and I need confirmation from you that it's total nonsense."

Concern lowered her brows as she thought for a moment. "Why from me? What do I have to do with the tricks you two play on each other?"

"Funny you should ask," I nervously said with a slight chuckle. "This particular one involves you. You see, he's been trying to convince me that – you're going to get a kick out of this – you and I are married! I know! It's insane! And not only that, but our wedding was ten years ago."

There. I'd gotten it all out and now all I had to do is wait for the laughter to begin. Soon, this situation would be resolved and we could all get on with our lives.

Instead, Padme stood up and stepped away from me, with her back turned. Her hand was over her mouth, but it wasn't the sound of giggling she was trying to stifle. When she turned back around, I noticed she was angry. She was extremely upset with someone. I just hoped it wasn't me.

"I told him not to say anything!" she ground out passionately.

Her words hit me like an impact grenade and it took several seconds for me to find my voice. "So, it's true?" To say I was in shock would be an understatement.

Still, her face didn't relax. She was infuriated, but now confusion was added into the mix.

"What did you mean by that? Are you trying to tell me you didn't know? Or somehow you've forgotten? You know, in the past, I wondered what would happen if you and I ever got a chance to discuss this. I never once believed you would resort to absolute denial or pretend to not remember it at all! What kind of man are you?"

A confused one, that was for sure!

"Hold on," I encouraged, coming to my feet as well. All throughout the galaxy, I had faced adversaries who were intimidated by either the fact I was a Jedi or that I possessed a lightsaber. This petite young Senator was having none of that and she stepped forward, completely ignoring my personal space, glaring at me the entire time.

"You have no idea what you've put me through Obi-Wan Kenobi!" she spat out angrily while jabbing me in the chest with her finger. "I waited for you! For months! I tried contacting you at the Temple. I even left messages! And nothing! Not a single word! I've never felt so used in my life! You got what you wanted and then you vanished!"

"Wait...just hold on!" I pleaded, backing up a step, just out of finger range. "I don't know how to explain to you that I have no recollection of a wedding! When and where did this ritual supposedly take place?"

"You're something else, do you know that?"

That wasn't a compliment.

From within her gown, the Senator pulled forth a long golden chain with some type of pendant hanging from it.

"And I suppose I just wear this because it's fashionable?"

I studied the object in my hand for a moment. I couldn't imagine why someone of her wealth and station would be wearing something as simple as a rusty metal ring, that looked remarkably similar to…

"That's a tuning flange from a lightsaber," I informed her, which seemed to offend her for some reason.

"I know that!" she replied, jerking the thing from my grasp and returning it to its previous position. "You were the one who gave it to me!"

This entire situation was close to comical and I desperately tried to conceal a rather maniacal laugh trying to escape me. "Why would I ever give a beautiful woman such as yourself something as worthless and ugly as that?"

Something I'd said ruffled her feathers, because at that point, she clenched her jaw and pointed toward the door. "Get out of my house, Obi-Wan! Now!"

"What did I say?" I innocently asked as she began shoving me toward the exit.

This meeting couldn't have gone any worse, until it did, of course. Just when I thought I was in the clear and was headed out her door, in walks my Padawan.

"That's it! I've just about had enough of both of you!" the young man blurted out loudly. "You're acting like spoiled stubborn little brats! I can hear you all the wait to the lifts! Have a seat! We're going to discuss this problem like adults."

My brain had turned to mush. Where was I? In a parallel dimension?