All Along ~ Chapter Five
Following the few times I'd been submerged in Bacta, I'd come to realize that while it did an excellent job in healing, it only healed the surface level. I would have no scars or infections, but I still had to deal with the soreness of my muscles as well as the mental repercussions of what had happened to get me to this point.
My distracted thoughts had nearly cost multiple lives and I needed to guard my mind as I should. I was a Master for Force-sake! If my Padawan had done something like that, I would've lectured him for days on end!
I would meditate on my sudden lack of focus later. Right now, I had to deal with an unexpected, though welcome visitor. While I was confused as to the reason why she was here, seeing Padme brought me pleasure. I had always enjoyed her company and conversation, and now that I was dressed, I would be more comfortable speaking with her. There was a patient area outside of the treatment room, where she was waiting for me and greeted me with a friendly smile.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you," I told her politely, although my expression of curiosity was most likely giving my question away.
"You're probably wondering why I'm here. Anakin told me about what happened and I had to make sure you were okay. That's what friends do, right? I didn't bring you flowers, though," she teased.
"That's okay," I told her, suddenly cautious and nervous for some reason. Something else to meditate on later. "And how are you?"
Such small talk was unusual for us, although I was hoping she wasn't going to notice it.
"If you're talking about my current situation, I'm fine. I took your advice and have visited with a physician who has set up a nutrition and health plan for me and the baby. You'll be pleased to know I'm taking much better care of myself."
It was good to hear, although one question still remained.
"And Anakin?"
"As you said, Obi-Wan," she told me as she began walking. I palmed open the door for her and we entered the hall. "I've had to adjust my priorities."
I wasn't certain what that meant, although I was glad she had listened.
"Does that mean he's home more often?"
"Not exactly," she answered softly although a slight smile lifted her mouth. "He's been invited by the Z-Ball team to accompany them during their off-season training on Corellia. He'll be gone at least three months."
My brows rose in surprise. I'd been guessing thus far since she hadn't told me, but I was wondering when the baby was due.
"Don't worry," she added. "He promised to be home in time for the delivery, and that's okay."
Her countenance seemed more at ease and she even appeared to be happy, although I was still uneasy. Three months was a long time to be separated from a spouse for a reason such as that. It wasn't like he was taking part in an important, life-saving mission or anything. This was a frivolous duty, to say the least, no matter what Master Windu believed.
"Are you sure?"
She did appear to take some time to think over my question before answering, which told me she had seriously considered my suggestions.
"As long as you promise to visit me from time to time," she explained confidently.
Of course, I had no problem with that; although next time, I wouldn't be bringing wine.
"In fact, I'd like to invite you to dinner the evening after tomorrow. Anakin's home packing right now. He'll join the team in the morning."
Despite her new outlook on things, the thought of him leaving her alone for so long still bothered me, and my sense of responsibility for her once again emerged.
"I tell you what," I offered, "why don't I offer you a break, and this time, I'll cook for you."
The idea brightened her eyes. "You can cook?"
There was a teasing tone in her voice, which caught me off guard, though reassured me that she was again back to her normal self. "Who do you think fed your husband during all those missions?"
"Sorry, but he never mentioned it. I guess I assumed you bought your food or took it with you, but that doesn't make sense either. Of course, you had to make due sometimes. You're not going to be frying up a carcass or boiling up dung tea, are you?"
A smile of surprise spread across my face. This was the Padme I liked to see and the one I enjoyed being around.
"I'll avoid any carrion," I promised her. "I promise it will delicious and healthy as well."
"Very well," she said, still eyeing me suspiciously. "If you'll tell me what you need, I'll have Dorme pick up a few things at the store…"
I lifted my hand to stop her. "No need. My treat. And," I continued as another thought occurred to me. Perhaps a change of scenery would do her some good. "I'll send Temple transport to pick you up at 1900 hours and bring you up. My apartment has a full kitchen."
"Your apartment? Really? I've always wondered what your living arrangements look like. It's a date."
A strange choice of words, I thought, although she probably meant nothing by it.
Before things got too awkward - again something I wasn't used to - I decided to walk her to her transport. She had been inside the Temple previously and there wasn't much else I could tell her about. The passing Jedi were friendly and greeted her as well as myself.
Once we'd gotten to the hangar where her personal driver was waiting, I smiled at her in a friendly manner. "I'll see you then."
"I can hardly wait."
I only had one class to teach, seeing it was the last day of the week, and spent the majority of the afternoon refining a few old recipes I'd tried out on both my padawan and my Master. Anakin had always been surprisingly generous with his compliments, while my Master had been often brutally honest. 'It's the only way you can improve,' he'd informed me.
At 1800, an hour before her arrival, I was a frustrated and frenzied mess and the kitchen was even worse. The bread I had so carefully prepared hadn't risen, the nerf steak was burned on one side, and the tubers were overseasoned. I tossed the disastrous dishes into the trash and ordered a special meal from the commissary, to be delivered to my apartment within the next half hour.
There was no possibility I was going to take credit for the ordered meal, but I was amazed at how quickly my culinary talents had diminished. What Padme had said was true. Oftentimes, when on remote systems, Anakin and I had made due. We either relied upon the protein powders and bars that Jedi always carried with them, or ate whatever food was offered to us. Depending upon our location, it was always a gamble. Not all species share the same digestive system and more than once, we had succumbed to severe gastrointestinal discomfort in lieu of causing offense.
With one eye on the chronometer, I tidied up the kitchen and then cleaned up myself, glanced around my seldom-used space, and flipped a few sofa pillows Anakin had stained just as the door chime rang. It was 1900. She was right on time, but dinner was late.
I opened the door and greeted her with a customary kiss to her cheek. She immediately breezed by me and I offered to hang up her cloak.
"My. This is..." she paused in an obvious search for words. "Exactly what I expected."
We both laughed slightly. "What were you expecting?"
"You know," she said as she walked around the common area, gazing at the few mementos I had gathered during my travels, as well as the display case of all the rocks Master Jinn had given me for each of my naming days. "A bachelor's apartment, which isn't lived in very often."
"Understood," I stated. "Up until recently, I've really had no use for it. This is actually a Master/Padawan suite. I haven't been relocated yet. I'm actually looking forward to it. Less space to take care of."
"Don't tell me a Master's suite is smaller than this?"
She seemed surprised. I imagined that compared to her luxurious senate apartment, it didn't seem like much but it suited me just fine. "It's relatively the same size except it lacks the extra bedroom."
"I see," she said while continuing her survey. There were a couple of holopics on a corner shelf; one of me holding my recently cut padawan braid, and the other showing Anakin doing the same.
"This seems like so long ago," Padme told me in a voice that was distant and almost sorrowful.
"They were better times," I confirmed.
"True," she agreed, turning to me and offering me a brilliant smile. "Where's this proof of these cooking talents? I'm famished!"
As if on cue, the door chime rang, and I went to retrieve the evening's meal from the temple droid. When I returned, Padme was playfully glaring at me, with her arms crossed. "Are you kidding? Don't tell me you were going to try to pass this off as your own doing!"
"Absolutely not," I confessed. "What I prepared for this evening has gone down the disposal."
I placed the dish on the table and removed the metallic lid. Steam rose up from a meal that was very similar to what I had strived so hard to prepare. Just then did I notice that Padme had her hand over her mouth to suppress her own giggle.
"What is it? Don't tell me this is what you had for mid meal."
"No, that's not it at all," she managed to say after catching her breath. "You and I are too much alike. I can't cook either. I usually order out."
"Oh, good," I told her with a chuckle. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Honestly, I used to do a decent job at it. I guess, it's just been too long. Come have a seat," I offered, pulling out a chair for her. "Which do you prefer? Sparkling or non sparkling water?"
She smiled and my heart warmed. "Just water. Thank you, Obi-Wan," she said with kind eyes. "I needed this."
"It's my pleasure."
