Chapter Four: Mending and Healing

Padmé sighed and told Sabé the whole story, and didn't leave anything out. As it went further and further, more tears gathered in Sabé's eyes. "I am so sorry, Sabé, and I'll understand if you never forgive me," Padmé said with immense grief. "Padmé, although what you did was very awful, I know you didn't mean for any of this to happen. I know that you don't love Obi-wan, or intentionally make him fall in love with you. I'm your best friend, and I'd never turn my back on you during this time of need," Sabé said with distress in her voice. Padmé couldn't hold back her tears, and neither could Sabé. They hugged each other and cried together, as true friends should bond in times like these. They let go and just sat on Padmé's bed in stillness. "Well, Pad, we should be getting some rest. We'll figure all of this out in the real morning," Sabé said as she walked to the door. "Good night, Sabé," Padmé said. "Good night, Padmé," Sabé said before she turned and left.

Padmé drifted into a dreamless sleep, and awakened just three hours later. Padmé opened her eyes, looked at the alarm clock next to her, and found out that it was around 6:00 a.m. After lying there for a moment, she got up, freshened herself up, and went for a walk in the palace. She went down the staircase and into the gardens. She stayed there for about half an hour and decided to make herself breakfast for once. When she got there, she remembered that all the cooking she had learned for breakfast was to make a bowl of cereal.

She went over to the ledge by the window, sat down, ate her cereal and milk in solitude, and tried to forget everything that happened last night. Padmé was startled when Anakin came in and sat down next to her. "Padmé, I've been thinking a lot last night, and I realized that it was a good thing you stopped us from fighting," Anakin said. Padmé breathed in and out before saying, "Ani, there's something that I've been meaning to tell you…" "What is it?" Anakin asked with panic. "Ani, Obi-wan didn't try to kiss me. I was the one who kissed him. I wanted to find out if your love for me was true, and I made the most foolish mistake in my life. I don't know why I ever doubted you. I'm so sorry," Padmé said before tears filled her eyes. Anakin was about to yell at her, but took her in his arms and she wept.

"Ami, how could you ever doubt my love for you? You know that I have true feelings for you and that I care for you deeply," he said with a quivering voice. "I don't know how I could. I don't know why I did it. I know now, and I should have known then, that I have good reason to have faith in you. I know that I've ruined everything, and this is all my fault," she shed even more tears than she thought she could. "Shh, Ami, it's okay," Anakin said as soothingly as he could. They embraced each other like that for nearly an hour.

They were about to get up and go into the gardens when Padmé realized something. "Ani, I have to fix this. I've ruined things between us, and we've made up. But I still have to fix things between two other people." "Two? I thought there was only Obi-wan…" "No, there's Sabé," she answered. "Sabé???" Anakin asked in a confused tone. "I'll explain later. I have to go now," Padmé said before she left towards Obi-wan's room.

She knocked on the door, and Obi-wan opened it. He sighed and let her in. She explained everything, and he surprisingly understood. But he was still in love with Padmé. She was determined to convince him that he was truly in love with Sabé. "Why do you think you love me, and how long have you felt this?" she asked. "I've felt this way since last night, when you kissed me…" "But you know deep down that you're really in love with Sabé…" Padmé said with a desperate pitch in her voice.

"Why would you think that?" Obi-wan asked in curiosity. "Because I know, and if you two had something serious going on then, how can it disappear just like that? You should know this, and if it would have more of an influence on you, I talked to Sabé, and she knows, too," Padmé said with a confident smile on her face. Obi-wan suddenly looked as if his world brightened once again. "You know, Padmé, you're right! I need to talk to her right now," Obi-wan said before running up the stairs and towards the handmaidens' quarters.

Padmé smiled excitedly and walked to the kitchen to find Anakin and Sabé doing something that she never thought they would ever do. Tears welled in Padmé's eyes and she regretted what she did…