[Well... the reviews haven't been so great lately. ;_; I guess I should take this as an opportunity to clarify something. I know MOST of us really, really love Obidala stories, however this is not going to be one. Don't worry, it'll have it's moments in part three, but this isn't a happy story. This saga isn't classified as a happy romance. Nope. It's classified as angst. Therefore, no Obidala mushy-ness. Besides, I couldn't write a mushy saga if I really, really tried... *shrugs* So, I'm terribly sorry. I know part two hasn't been the greatest, and I'm very sorry about that. However, part three is going to be great. I promise you that much. ^_^]



Dressed in simple handmaiden's attire, Amidala sighed as she studied the silent Anakin. A far-off gaze danced in his marble-like orbs, and a morbid expression was painted upon his weary face. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days which was probably true. Although he was near motionless, his mind was in constant motion. So many plans to plot and actions to act upon. So many possibilities to ponder and thoughts to remember.

"Well, it's been so long since we've talked. I... I still have the necklace you gave me. Ben really liked it." she said.

His morbid expression turned to one of puzzlement. She noticed and almost giggled at the sudden change.

"Obi-Wan, I mean. He goes by Ben now. I'm not quite sure why. He wouldn't really talk about it." she said.

He stared at her as if to ask her to continue.

"I suppose you haven't seen Obi-Wan over all these years. Well, he's spent a lot of time here." she said with a bright smile, "Everything is so much happier when he's around. He's such a nice distraction from the needs of Naboo. He loves me; he really loves me. That's the best thing about him. He doesn't see me as just a queen. When he says all those pretty things, he's talking to me, not the queen. You see, everyone compliments me. Everyone is nice to me. They have to be, I suppose, because I'm a queen. I have the power they want. But when Obi-Wan talks to me, it's different. It's simply wonderful."

Anakin nearly rolled his eyes, but for the sake of gathering information he forced an expression of interest.

"But.. things haven't been so perfect lately. It's not Obi-Wan's fault. Not at all..." she said as a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

Anakin slowly reached out and held one of her hands. He didn't really mean to, but he hated to see her cry. She smiled at him slightly.

"When Obi-Wan came here, the Clone Wars were beginning. He wanted to protect me, so he decided to join the Imperial Army and help guard Naboo. But the Emperor knew of our affections and used Obi-Wan to make me cooperate. If I tried to go against the Empire in the slightest of ways, he would send Obi-Wan away. Obi-Wan would think he was going on a diplomatic mission." she said, then paused for a moment. "What he didn't know was that the Emperor had given his men the command to kill him if I didn't comply with the wishes of the Empire."

A smirk nearly danced across Anakin's lips. The Emperor seemed to be a brilliant man, but he couldn't admit that to Amidala. He continued to act deeply concerned for her, but he was beginning to have an admiration for the Empire.

"I.. I had said that if the rebels were to land on Naboo, I wouldn't kill them. The Emperor was furious with me, and he sent Obi-Wan away for a year. An entire year without my sweet Obi-Wan..." she said softly.

"Good ridence," Anakin thought.

"Things became even worse once he left. The officals in the palace kept insisting that Obi-Wan and I must be married as soon as he returned. We had never even discussed an engagement." she said, her voice trailing off to a near whisper. She sighed and gazed out the window, silently wishing Obi-Wan would return. She closed her eyes for a moment and allowed visions of her beloved one dance in her head. She shook her head and slowly walked toward Anakin. He looked so unhappy, yet he said nothing. He seemed interested in learning of her affairs since they went their seperate ways, so she sat in the chair across from him and tried to gather her thoughts again to continue.

The conversation was beginning to disgust Anakin. The mere thought of Obi- Wan marrying his beautiful, angelic Amidala made him feel sick.

"I love him," she finally continued, "I truly love him, and because of that, I can't marry him. By marrying him, Obi-Wan will be forever bound to Naboo. He won't have the freedom to leave anymore. Although I would love having him here all the time, I know he would be unhappy. Also, by marrying him, the Emperor would continue to control Naboo. He would continue to threaten me with Obi-Wan's life."

It was a tragic situation, Anakin admitted that much. Still, he was delighted by the fact that Amidala wouldn't be married to Obi-Wan.

"But, I haven't told Obi-Wan yet. The Naboo officals won't allow us to keep up this flirtatious relationship unless we're to be married. If I tell him that, he'll insist that we get married, the consequences won't matter to him then. So how can I... oh, I don't even want to think of it. He's never hurt me, never left me, never done anything I wouldn't approve of..." she said.

Then in a tone both monotone and morbid, Anakin interrupted, "He killed my mother."