Across The Stars

Disclaimer: Do I look like George Lucas to you? Star Wars always has and always will belong solely to him. I simply use his characters for my own evil though non-profitable purposes.

Rating: PG

Summary: A short romantic interlude between Obi-Wan and Padme on their way to Coruscant. Set during the timeline of The Phantom Menace.

Spoilers: I really don't think there are any.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Obi-Wan padded silently down the corridor of the Queen's Royal ship. Qui-Gon had sent him to check on the boy they had recently picked up on Tatooine, seeing as it was his first voyage into space. His Master may expect great things from the boy, but, personally, Obi-Wan felt a strange disturbance around him. He reached the room Qui-Gon had put the boy in and prepared himself. If anything Qui-Gon said about the boy was true, he'd be able to pick up on Obi-Wan's uneasiness. He searched the room with both his sight and the Force.

He found the boy sleeping easily in the corner, with the soothing presence of one of the Queen's handmaidens sitting beside him. He approached them softly, absolutely loathe to disturb either one of them. Anakin was sound asleep and Obi-Wan managed to forget his initial distrust for the moment. He slept peacefully even though he was on a ship with total strangers, leaving his mother and the only home he had never known for the first time to go to a planet he had never heard of before. Obi-Wan definitely had to give him points for his bravery.

Though he hated the thought of disrupting the boy, he wanted to disturb the handmaiden even less. She was strikingly beautiful, with long brown hair, soft brown eyes, and the smoothest skin. Obi-Wan knew the feelings this girl provoked in him were forbidden to a Jedi; however, he felt he would leave the Order to be with this young woman. She turned towards him as he drew nearer and Obi-Wan couldn't help but notice that she had been crying. "Jedi Kenobi, I didn't know you were here," she said suddenly, pulling her hood back over her head.

"That's quite alright. My Master sent me to check on the boy." He looked upon the golden-haired boy and while he watched the boy's peaceful slumber, the handmaiden took the time to study the young Jedi. She found him to be quite attractive and even though she knew Jedi were forbidden to love, she couldn't help but wish someday they would be more than mere acquaintances. His blue-green eyes were gorgeous; she thought they were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. He looked at her and she blushed at the prospect that he might have caught her staring. "His appears to be untroubled, which is more than I can say for you, my lady."

"Please don't call me that," she said, walking to the other side of the room so they wouldn't disturb Anakin. Obi-Wan followed her and sat down next to her. She forcefully reminded herself of who she was and, more importantly, who he was. "My name's Padme and I'd appreciate it if that's what you called me."

Obi-Wan was startled for a brief moment. She was quite bold for a mere handmaiden. "Alright - Padme." He looked into her beautiful eyes, where a stray tear was forming. Reaching over, he wiped it away with his thumb. "Padme, would you care to tell me why you are crying? It seems unfitting for such a beautiful young woman."

She smiled a little at the compliment. At the very least, he found her slightly attractive; however, it was not enough to entirely lift her spirits. She decided if she was going to confide with anyone aboard this ship besides the boy, it might as well be one of the Jedi. "The people of Naboo are dying at the hands of the Trade Federation. I feel the Senate will be powerless to do anything about it."

Obi-Wan thought carefully about what he was going to say next. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Padme further. He wished he knew someway to take away her sorrow and make her happy again. Was this what people described as love at first sight? He wasn't quite sure why, but he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay. Instead, he simply said "Queen Amidala seems to think there is some hope.

Padme stiffened; that sounded too much like an unwelcome reminder. She glanced over at him, carefully studying his face to see if it would tell her anything. It was rumored Jedi could read people's minds. Could he possibly know? No, he was intently watching Anakin, a slight frown on his face. Padme once again found herself marveling at how handsome he was. She became acutely aware that he was sitting only a few inches away from her. He looked at her suddenly with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Briefly, she wondered if he had pried into her private thoughts and found them amusing. She stared into his eyes; they were so very beautiful and she found she was quickly losing herself in them. She sighed, feeling time had stopped and she could stay there forever . How she longed for herself to be a simple handmaiden and for him to be simply a man, not a Jedi's apprentice. She shook her head and looked away. What was she thinking? She had a job to do and a very important image to maintain. The people respected her and she would lose that respect if they ever found out she had entertained thoughts like that about a Jedi Knight. Just as it was taboo for a Jedi to love, it was taboo in society for people to attempt to tempt a Jedi. Still, she could feel his gaze upon her, and hear the sound of his soft breathing. "Tell me, Padme," he whispered, "what do you think of our newest companion?"

The question caught her off guard, she had been so busy trying to wipe images of him out of her mind. "Ani?" she asked, surprised he would want her opinion on anything. "He's a darling little boy. He's so brave to leave his home and mother like this." She glanced over at Obi-Wan. "I hear he's to be a Jedi. I suppose it's the life of every Jedi to leave their home at a very young age."

"The only home we ever know is the Jedi Temple," he informed her, leaning closer to her. He wouldn't mind telling her about his life, as long as she would share with him. She was so beautiful and so mature; he wondered how old she was.

"So I suppose you never feel the sorrow of parting?" Padme asked. She was very curious to learn more about Obi-Wan, provided she got the chance. After they got to Coruscant, there would be no time for them to talk, and after he left, she would probably never see him again.

"Not so, Padme," he said softly, fixing his intent gaze on her. "Those in the Jedi Order become our brothers, our sisters, our mothers, and our fathers."

Padme nodded slightly and leaned closer to him, her eyes drawn to his lips. "Padme," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. It seemed at that moment she became one with him. Their breathing fell in sync, she could of sworn she heard his heart beating in time with hers, and she could feel every emotion he was feeling at that moment. Especially how much he wanted to kiss her. Then how much she realized how much she wanted to kiss him, despite of the consequences it may bring about.

She fulfilled their mutual wish, pressing her lips lightly against his. "Obi-Wan," she whispered before returning to their kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. She felt him hesitantly wrap his strong arms around her, then he deepened their kiss. She moaned softly in pleasure as she forgot everything else but the strong, handsome Jedi Knight who was kissing her, running his fingers lightly through her hair. She wished the moment would never end. Here, in Obi-Wan's arms, she felt safe and secure, the pressures of being a Queen of a tormented and repressed planet had completely vanished from her mind.

Obi-Wan pulled the young handmaiden closer to him, feeling just a little bit confused. How could something that felt so right be so... wrong? He tried to think of the Jedi Code and why it said it was wrong, but all he could think about was the young woman in his arms. If he had the power to stop time, he would have, so that he could have spent eternity in that one moment.

Eventually, they had to part for air. Taking deep breaths, she stared deeply into his eyes. He gave her a small smile and traced the outline of her face with the back of his hand. She found it quite easy to return that smile to him; that was the secret power he held over her, the ability to make her smile.

He quickly pulled away from her when the door slid open and his Master, Qui-Gon, walked in. Padme couldn't help but notice the guilty expression on Obi-Wan's face. "There you are," Qui-Gon said as his eyes fell upon his padawan and the handmaiden sitting at the opposite end of the room. He didn't say anything but Obi-Wan had the feeling he was going to get a major lecture later. There was no way he could have hid what happened from his Master, even if he wanted to. "I need you up front with me, padawan." He nodded at Padme before turning to go into the hall to wait for his student.

Obi-Wan nodded, his face once again stern and unfeeling. "Yes, Master." He took one last look at Padme before following his Master.

Alone now except for the still sleeping Anakin, Padme pondered what had just transpired. There was little hope it would ever happen again, she thought their was little hope he would even remember after he left. Sighing, she left to get changed for their arrival on Coruscant and to trade places with Sabe as the Queen of Naboo.