"I'm telling you, I'm fine. Yané exaggerated my condition!"
Obi-Wan gave Sabé a cross look.
"She's great, but she's not a fully trained healer yet. I know how much I can take."
He shook his head. "No. I'm to watch you and watch you I shall. You will stay home and rest."
Sabé leaned back in the bed and crossed her arms in irritation. "It's going to be just that much harder to catch up when I get back."
"It's been taken care of. "
She glared at him, but she did lay down. A few minutes after Obi-Wan got back to the living room of her apartment, he sensed that she was fast asleep. He smiled and returned to the studies of Qui-Gon's archive.
The afternoon passed, and the time neared for Obi-Wan to pick Meira up from the day care center. He left a note for Sabé letting her know he'd be back soon and put it on the preserver where she'd be sure to see it. There was a shopping list and a couple of prescriptions already held there by magnets. Noticing those two items, Obi-Wan checked the time, and figured he'd be able to fill the orders along the way if he came across the market.
Following the directions to the child care center that served the Palace employees, he came across Saché, sitting in the square during her time off. Obi-Wan sensed that she was displeased with him, but it didn't take a Jedi's Force sensitivity to reveal that. She was downright icy as she nodded her greeting to him. He decided it best to give her a chance to speak of what was troubling her. He didn't want any bad blood between himself and the handmaidens.
"Saché, wait--I have a favor to ask you."
She inclined her head politely. "How may I be of service?"
Obi-Wan pulled out a flimsy and looked it over. "Before I get Meira, I would like to fill an order for the list of supplies that were prescribed for her and her mother. Foods, herbs, vitamins, other things for the two of them. Will you show me the way to the market?"
She remained cool as she answered. "I will be happy to do so. Please follow me."
As they walked the short distance to the market, Saché kept glancing at Obi-Wan out of the corner of her eye. When they were about halfway there, she finally spoke.
"Jedi Kenobi--I know it's none of my business, so I don't expect you to discuss the matter with me, but I have been thinking..."
Obi-Wan nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Well, Sabé is my friend, and she saved my life, so I want to see her get what she deserves." She paused and glared at him for a few seconds. "She's had offers. Turned 'em all down. Did you know that?"
He shook his head, and waited to see what would follow.
"There are men out there who would consider themselves fortunate to have a woman like Sabé and a child like Meira to call their own. I'm wondering if you're one of them."
The Jedi felt his hackles rise. He started a breathing excerise designed to keep him calm. In a tone that was rivaling the the chill of Saché's, he responded. "Sabé and I are working things out."
"Are you? I'm not talking about 'doing the right thing', keeping in touch, or any of that so-called 'noble' poodoo." She stopped and turned to face him. "What I'm talking about is making her feel loved."
Obi-Wan found himself shocked at her candor. "And what leads you to believe that she doesn't?"
"I've got eyes, Kenobi. When she came out of the woods after she was with you, she had a whole different attitude. It was like she was walking on air. She believed you loved her then. The next day, after the battle, that was gone. When I see it again, I'll know things are right."
Saché returned to his side and they finished the trip in silence.
At the market, Obi-Wan placed his order with one of the service droids. He punched the keys a bit harder than usual. When he had finished what was on the list, he glanced at Saché and placed one more item in the order.
A short time later the droid returned with everything neatly packaged and gave him a total. After he paid for the order, Obi-Wan reached in one box and withdrew a bag that contained small wrapped squares of chocolate. "Deliver everything else in one hour to the address I just entered." The droid beeped and went on its way.
Holding the candy out to Saché, he spoke. "Here, I know you need to restock your supply. Make sure it ends up in your bag, not Meira's, next time, if you please."
Saché accepted the bag with a surprised look. Then realizing he had her, she smiled mischievously. "Give you a hard time, did she? Well, you had one night. Sabé's been dealing with it all those other nights."
Obi-Wan chose not to respond to her statement. He made sure to keep his tone carefully neutral as he spoke. "I think I can find my way to the care center from here. Thank you for your help and your opinions, Saché. I'll keep them in mind."
After he collected Meira and got back to the apartment, it didn't take long before the little girl was ready for a short nap herself. After he made sure she was settled in her crib, he returned quietly to Sabé's bedroom to watch her as she slept.
"What am I going to do with you?' he whispered under his breath. "Strong, stubborn, talented, dedicated, caring ,and so beautiful. And to think, you love me! You could have someone that would have taken care of you all this time, been here for you as you gave birth. He wouldn't ask you to leave your home. Instead, you had to pick one of the least deserving men in the galaxy to fall for. Silly, silly girl." He brushed back a stray lock of hair that had fallen in her face.
"The first time I took a chance on love, it ended in disaster. I made the mistake of leaving the Jedi. My very presence caused strife. The girl died in my arms. I know...I already love Meira, but that's different. You can protect her. Do I risk loving you? Is it the just thing to do?"
He sighed, then continued. "Is it even within the Code to be in love? There was so much left for me to learn from my Master." He looked up and around the room, then back to Sabé. She turned over and stretched in her sleep. It seemed she sensed his thoughts of her on a subliminal level, or perhaps it was her own concern that she focused on. Now that the shields were relaxed, Obi-Wan picked up on what passed through her mind.
"Have I wanted you? Oh Dear One-yes! There were nights that even in my darkest moments of depression, I would catch a glimpse of you in my dreams. You were the only woman I ever thought of in that way for those two years; that must mean something. I suppressed it then, but that's because I was foolish. If I could trust myself now, I would hold you close, not to escape the pressures of war, or to create a child, but to love you for your own sake."
He rose and kissed her forehead, his lips barely touching her skin. "Please wait for me, Sabé. I have to get it right this time."
Obi-Wan gave Sabé a cross look.
"She's great, but she's not a fully trained healer yet. I know how much I can take."
He shook his head. "No. I'm to watch you and watch you I shall. You will stay home and rest."
Sabé leaned back in the bed and crossed her arms in irritation. "It's going to be just that much harder to catch up when I get back."
"It's been taken care of. "
She glared at him, but she did lay down. A few minutes after Obi-Wan got back to the living room of her apartment, he sensed that she was fast asleep. He smiled and returned to the studies of Qui-Gon's archive.
The afternoon passed, and the time neared for Obi-Wan to pick Meira up from the day care center. He left a note for Sabé letting her know he'd be back soon and put it on the preserver where she'd be sure to see it. There was a shopping list and a couple of prescriptions already held there by magnets. Noticing those two items, Obi-Wan checked the time, and figured he'd be able to fill the orders along the way if he came across the market.
Following the directions to the child care center that served the Palace employees, he came across Saché, sitting in the square during her time off. Obi-Wan sensed that she was displeased with him, but it didn't take a Jedi's Force sensitivity to reveal that. She was downright icy as she nodded her greeting to him. He decided it best to give her a chance to speak of what was troubling her. He didn't want any bad blood between himself and the handmaidens.
"Saché, wait--I have a favor to ask you."
She inclined her head politely. "How may I be of service?"
Obi-Wan pulled out a flimsy and looked it over. "Before I get Meira, I would like to fill an order for the list of supplies that were prescribed for her and her mother. Foods, herbs, vitamins, other things for the two of them. Will you show me the way to the market?"
She remained cool as she answered. "I will be happy to do so. Please follow me."
As they walked the short distance to the market, Saché kept glancing at Obi-Wan out of the corner of her eye. When they were about halfway there, she finally spoke.
"Jedi Kenobi--I know it's none of my business, so I don't expect you to discuss the matter with me, but I have been thinking..."
Obi-Wan nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Well, Sabé is my friend, and she saved my life, so I want to see her get what she deserves." She paused and glared at him for a few seconds. "She's had offers. Turned 'em all down. Did you know that?"
He shook his head, and waited to see what would follow.
"There are men out there who would consider themselves fortunate to have a woman like Sabé and a child like Meira to call their own. I'm wondering if you're one of them."
The Jedi felt his hackles rise. He started a breathing excerise designed to keep him calm. In a tone that was rivaling the the chill of Saché's, he responded. "Sabé and I are working things out."
"Are you? I'm not talking about 'doing the right thing', keeping in touch, or any of that so-called 'noble' poodoo." She stopped and turned to face him. "What I'm talking about is making her feel loved."
Obi-Wan found himself shocked at her candor. "And what leads you to believe that she doesn't?"
"I've got eyes, Kenobi. When she came out of the woods after she was with you, she had a whole different attitude. It was like she was walking on air. She believed you loved her then. The next day, after the battle, that was gone. When I see it again, I'll know things are right."
Saché returned to his side and they finished the trip in silence.
At the market, Obi-Wan placed his order with one of the service droids. He punched the keys a bit harder than usual. When he had finished what was on the list, he glanced at Saché and placed one more item in the order.
A short time later the droid returned with everything neatly packaged and gave him a total. After he paid for the order, Obi-Wan reached in one box and withdrew a bag that contained small wrapped squares of chocolate. "Deliver everything else in one hour to the address I just entered." The droid beeped and went on its way.
Holding the candy out to Saché, he spoke. "Here, I know you need to restock your supply. Make sure it ends up in your bag, not Meira's, next time, if you please."
Saché accepted the bag with a surprised look. Then realizing he had her, she smiled mischievously. "Give you a hard time, did she? Well, you had one night. Sabé's been dealing with it all those other nights."
Obi-Wan chose not to respond to her statement. He made sure to keep his tone carefully neutral as he spoke. "I think I can find my way to the care center from here. Thank you for your help and your opinions, Saché. I'll keep them in mind."
After he collected Meira and got back to the apartment, it didn't take long before the little girl was ready for a short nap herself. After he made sure she was settled in her crib, he returned quietly to Sabé's bedroom to watch her as she slept.
"What am I going to do with you?' he whispered under his breath. "Strong, stubborn, talented, dedicated, caring ,and so beautiful. And to think, you love me! You could have someone that would have taken care of you all this time, been here for you as you gave birth. He wouldn't ask you to leave your home. Instead, you had to pick one of the least deserving men in the galaxy to fall for. Silly, silly girl." He brushed back a stray lock of hair that had fallen in her face.
"The first time I took a chance on love, it ended in disaster. I made the mistake of leaving the Jedi. My very presence caused strife. The girl died in my arms. I know...I already love Meira, but that's different. You can protect her. Do I risk loving you? Is it the just thing to do?"
He sighed, then continued. "Is it even within the Code to be in love? There was so much left for me to learn from my Master." He looked up and around the room, then back to Sabé. She turned over and stretched in her sleep. It seemed she sensed his thoughts of her on a subliminal level, or perhaps it was her own concern that she focused on. Now that the shields were relaxed, Obi-Wan picked up on what passed through her mind.
"Have I wanted you? Oh Dear One-yes! There were nights that even in my darkest moments of depression, I would catch a glimpse of you in my dreams. You were the only woman I ever thought of in that way for those two years; that must mean something. I suppressed it then, but that's because I was foolish. If I could trust myself now, I would hold you close, not to escape the pressures of war, or to create a child, but to love you for your own sake."
He rose and kissed her forehead, his lips barely touching her skin. "Please wait for me, Sabé. I have to get it right this time."