Chapter 13
"Still here?" Chloe asked as she walked into the meditation chamber. The same room where earlier she had been with Obi-Wan and her life completely turned upon it's axis.
"You have a problem with knocking don't you?" Obi-Wan said jumping up, flushed with surprise and the sudden rush of desire that coursed through him at the appearance of Chloe.
"So, I've been told." Chloe said walking towards him smiling, her hips swaying a little more than was necessary. "So, have you been here all day?" She asked softly as she walked up to him, her right hand reaching up to touch his cheek. Slowly he lifted his own hand up and grabbed her wrist, turning her hand so that he could kiss the inside of her palm, then slowly letting it drop down the side of his body, until it rested upon his hip, while his own hands, met her hips.
"Well, yes actually." He choked the feeling of her hands upon his hips becoming too much. The desire he thought that he had flushed out, that he had taken a hold of became alarmingly apparent once more with Chloe within his grasp.
"And what have you been doing?" She asked slyly her gaze burning into his own, as she savored the last few moments she would have with him.
"A little of this and a little of that. I just needed some time to myself."
"I see." Chloe said pulling back from him and sitting down on the meditation pad.
"No. Don't think that Chloe!" He said sitting down next to her and taking her hand within his own. "I want you here! I just needed some time to clear my thoughts, and it has been adequate enough. You affect me greatly Chloe and I just need some time between our meetings so that I might function properly." Obi-Wan said causing them both to blush.
"I see." She said once more, but this time smiling as she did "But is this proper behavior for a Jedi, Master Kenobi?"
"Not in the least." He chuckled as he leaned in placing a soft, yet sensual kiss upon her lips, but pulling away before they both got carried away. "I've never know a proper Jedi to do that."
"I have." Chloe mumbled thinking of Anakin.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, not having heard her.
"Likewise." She said smiling as she covered for her friend, silently cursing her own stupidity.
"So, what are you doing here?" He asked as he began to see her smile falter. "Not that I am displeased in any way to see you."
"I need a reason to see you? Why Ben I am offended!" She said still smiling, but the action was fake.
"Now I know you came here for a reason." He said concerned. "You can tell me. You can tell me anything."
"I know I can." She said, feeling tears come to her eyes as she tried to control them. "I just don't want you to be disappointed in me."
"You could never disappoint me Chloe. Tell me what's going on. Is it Brady again, because if he has hurt you in any way, well I don't know what I would do, but I would do something." He said causing her to laugh.
"It's just. This." She paused to point between them, "just started. And I don't think I am ready for it to end."
"Chloe, I don't understand. You're going to have to spell it out for me. I don't want this to end either, but I don't know what you mean. Did the council find out? Are we in any trouble?"
"Okay, maybe I am being a little melodramatic." She said pushing the heels of her palms into her eyes, willing herself not to cry. "No one knows about us. But I don't think this can go on, because I am leaving. I got my first assignment and Brady and I are going to Naboo. We are to protect the Queen as well as my sister and other politicians, as well as help lead the Clone Army. The Council feels that with the past animosity between Naboo and the Trade Federation, it is inevitable that the Separatists and the Droid Armies will strike there. So, to prevent anything we are being commissioned to go there. The reason I am to go with Master Black instead of you and Ani is because this is part of my trial, to see if I can separate myself from my emotions where my family and home are concerned. I don't know how long I will be gone, but hopefully after all of this is over I will be able to take the Trials and become a Jedi Knight."
"I think it's a good idea." Obi-Wan said after letting her words register.
"You sound exactly like Brady, he said the same thing. Do you want me gone?" She asked timidly.
"No!" He protested. "Not at all. I think that this will be good for you. The Council is right. I am glad to see that you have reconciled with Brady. This is exactly what you need. You have to focus on your studies Chloe. But I don't want you gone. I will miss you and worry about you, but in the end you going with Brady is for the best."
"If it leads to me becoming a Jedi."
"Right." He said as the silence slowly began to consume them. Hours ago what had seemed like the most important thing in the world was now taking second to their duties, what they had pledged their lives to. The feelings still lay there, deep within them, and what once had seemed so right now seemed the exact opposite. "This doesn't change how I feel." He said breaking the silence.
"Me either." She reassured him, as they both let out the breaths they were holding.
"Good."
"Good." Chloe responded as once more the silence overtook them. "Why is this awkward now?" She asked confused.
"I have no idea." He said chuckling as she soon joined him. "You leaving doesn't mean we don't care. It just means we have to put a hiatus on whatever this is."
"Right. And you could maybe come to Naboo. You never know, we might need you there." She said looking into his eyes, as they both felt their sparks coming back.
"Right. And you might not be there that long. Who knows when this whole thing will blow over. The council could station Anakin and I there as well, if things get bad. Not that I want them to get bad, just."
"Right Ben. See, everything is just like it was, just a vacation between friends. Think of it as an extended meditation."
"Exactly. So, when do you leave?" He asked, reality still looming over them.
"Dawn. I still have to pack and perhaps get some rest before the long trip there. And traveling with Jedi Master Brady Black can be nothing but exhausting." She said laughing.
"Well then perhaps you should be leaving soon. Not that I want you to. But you have much to do and it would be best."
"Right." Chloe said standing up as she felt him stand as well, turning to each other she lifted her arms up around his neck and embraced him long and hard, willing her ever-present tears to stay back. As they pulled away Obi-Wan looked deep within her eyes as she did the same. Slowly he leaned his head down, prepared to capture her lips within his own, but Chloe quickly reached up and placed her palm upon his mouth. "Not now. Kiss me the next time we are together. For it won't be long now." She said smiling at him as he nodded. Stepping back she took one last look into his eyes and saw a single tear caress his cheek. Walking to the door she continued on, never looking back as she heard him whisper his goodbye.
"Come what may."
As Obi-Wan's words reached her ears, Chloe didn't know if she would be able to control her feelings much longer. She leaned against the closed door behind her and placed her hands over her face. Time moved to it's own accord, Chloe on the one side of the door, Ben on the other, but not just a single door separating them. With her face still buried within her hands, she jerked them quickly away as she heard someone approach.
"Chloe Amidala. Just who I was looking for." Bright blue eyes stared at her as Chloe looked on in shock.
"Chancellor Palpatine." Chloe stuttered trying to straighten herself out.
"I was hoping I could speak with you." He said as Chloe nodded following the blue clad Supreme Chancellor, unsure of what the head of the Galactic Senate would want with her.
"Still here?" Chloe asked as she walked into the meditation chamber. The same room where earlier she had been with Obi-Wan and her life completely turned upon it's axis.
"You have a problem with knocking don't you?" Obi-Wan said jumping up, flushed with surprise and the sudden rush of desire that coursed through him at the appearance of Chloe.
"So, I've been told." Chloe said walking towards him smiling, her hips swaying a little more than was necessary. "So, have you been here all day?" She asked softly as she walked up to him, her right hand reaching up to touch his cheek. Slowly he lifted his own hand up and grabbed her wrist, turning her hand so that he could kiss the inside of her palm, then slowly letting it drop down the side of his body, until it rested upon his hip, while his own hands, met her hips.
"Well, yes actually." He choked the feeling of her hands upon his hips becoming too much. The desire he thought that he had flushed out, that he had taken a hold of became alarmingly apparent once more with Chloe within his grasp.
"And what have you been doing?" She asked slyly her gaze burning into his own, as she savored the last few moments she would have with him.
"A little of this and a little of that. I just needed some time to myself."
"I see." Chloe said pulling back from him and sitting down on the meditation pad.
"No. Don't think that Chloe!" He said sitting down next to her and taking her hand within his own. "I want you here! I just needed some time to clear my thoughts, and it has been adequate enough. You affect me greatly Chloe and I just need some time between our meetings so that I might function properly." Obi-Wan said causing them both to blush.
"I see." She said once more, but this time smiling as she did "But is this proper behavior for a Jedi, Master Kenobi?"
"Not in the least." He chuckled as he leaned in placing a soft, yet sensual kiss upon her lips, but pulling away before they both got carried away. "I've never know a proper Jedi to do that."
"I have." Chloe mumbled thinking of Anakin.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, not having heard her.
"Likewise." She said smiling as she covered for her friend, silently cursing her own stupidity.
"So, what are you doing here?" He asked as he began to see her smile falter. "Not that I am displeased in any way to see you."
"I need a reason to see you? Why Ben I am offended!" She said still smiling, but the action was fake.
"Now I know you came here for a reason." He said concerned. "You can tell me. You can tell me anything."
"I know I can." She said, feeling tears come to her eyes as she tried to control them. "I just don't want you to be disappointed in me."
"You could never disappoint me Chloe. Tell me what's going on. Is it Brady again, because if he has hurt you in any way, well I don't know what I would do, but I would do something." He said causing her to laugh.
"It's just. This." She paused to point between them, "just started. And I don't think I am ready for it to end."
"Chloe, I don't understand. You're going to have to spell it out for me. I don't want this to end either, but I don't know what you mean. Did the council find out? Are we in any trouble?"
"Okay, maybe I am being a little melodramatic." She said pushing the heels of her palms into her eyes, willing herself not to cry. "No one knows about us. But I don't think this can go on, because I am leaving. I got my first assignment and Brady and I are going to Naboo. We are to protect the Queen as well as my sister and other politicians, as well as help lead the Clone Army. The Council feels that with the past animosity between Naboo and the Trade Federation, it is inevitable that the Separatists and the Droid Armies will strike there. So, to prevent anything we are being commissioned to go there. The reason I am to go with Master Black instead of you and Ani is because this is part of my trial, to see if I can separate myself from my emotions where my family and home are concerned. I don't know how long I will be gone, but hopefully after all of this is over I will be able to take the Trials and become a Jedi Knight."
"I think it's a good idea." Obi-Wan said after letting her words register.
"You sound exactly like Brady, he said the same thing. Do you want me gone?" She asked timidly.
"No!" He protested. "Not at all. I think that this will be good for you. The Council is right. I am glad to see that you have reconciled with Brady. This is exactly what you need. You have to focus on your studies Chloe. But I don't want you gone. I will miss you and worry about you, but in the end you going with Brady is for the best."
"If it leads to me becoming a Jedi."
"Right." He said as the silence slowly began to consume them. Hours ago what had seemed like the most important thing in the world was now taking second to their duties, what they had pledged their lives to. The feelings still lay there, deep within them, and what once had seemed so right now seemed the exact opposite. "This doesn't change how I feel." He said breaking the silence.
"Me either." She reassured him, as they both let out the breaths they were holding.
"Good."
"Good." Chloe responded as once more the silence overtook them. "Why is this awkward now?" She asked confused.
"I have no idea." He said chuckling as she soon joined him. "You leaving doesn't mean we don't care. It just means we have to put a hiatus on whatever this is."
"Right. And you could maybe come to Naboo. You never know, we might need you there." She said looking into his eyes, as they both felt their sparks coming back.
"Right. And you might not be there that long. Who knows when this whole thing will blow over. The council could station Anakin and I there as well, if things get bad. Not that I want them to get bad, just."
"Right Ben. See, everything is just like it was, just a vacation between friends. Think of it as an extended meditation."
"Exactly. So, when do you leave?" He asked, reality still looming over them.
"Dawn. I still have to pack and perhaps get some rest before the long trip there. And traveling with Jedi Master Brady Black can be nothing but exhausting." She said laughing.
"Well then perhaps you should be leaving soon. Not that I want you to. But you have much to do and it would be best."
"Right." Chloe said standing up as she felt him stand as well, turning to each other she lifted her arms up around his neck and embraced him long and hard, willing her ever-present tears to stay back. As they pulled away Obi-Wan looked deep within her eyes as she did the same. Slowly he leaned his head down, prepared to capture her lips within his own, but Chloe quickly reached up and placed her palm upon his mouth. "Not now. Kiss me the next time we are together. For it won't be long now." She said smiling at him as he nodded. Stepping back she took one last look into his eyes and saw a single tear caress his cheek. Walking to the door she continued on, never looking back as she heard him whisper his goodbye.
"Come what may."
As Obi-Wan's words reached her ears, Chloe didn't know if she would be able to control her feelings much longer. She leaned against the closed door behind her and placed her hands over her face. Time moved to it's own accord, Chloe on the one side of the door, Ben on the other, but not just a single door separating them. With her face still buried within her hands, she jerked them quickly away as she heard someone approach.
"Chloe Amidala. Just who I was looking for." Bright blue eyes stared at her as Chloe looked on in shock.
"Chancellor Palpatine." Chloe stuttered trying to straighten herself out.
"I was hoping I could speak with you." He said as Chloe nodded following the blue clad Supreme Chancellor, unsure of what the head of the Galactic Senate would want with her.