Chapter 39
The Ties That Bind
The storm was still raging when the three woke the next morning. Padmé, still awake after her early morning discussion with Anakin, didn't move until Anakin began to stir. She was comfortable with his weight, enjoying the feel of his head on her shoulder, his breath feathering across her skin as he slept. She felt his return to consciousness as a gradual thing, the beginning awareness of her heartbeat near his ear. The feel of her skin under his hands. Her soft scent, intoxicating like flowers. His eyes fluttered open and he slowly lifted his head. There was little light in the room with the shutters closed, but there was enough he could see her face. His smile was gentle as his gaze met hers.
Padmé gently brushed her thumb over a crease in his cheek, returning the smile. "Good morning."
"Morning, Angel. Have you been up all this time?"
She nodded. "I wasn't tired. Did you sleep well?"
He gently kissed her, "I did. I felt you with me while I slept, watching over me."
"I promised I'd guard your dreams." She reminded him, "I wasn't about to go back on my word. I'm glad you slept well, you needed it."
"Only because you were watching over me. You really are an angel."
She blushed. "Only for you."
He kissed her again, gently, before carefully pulling away but not letting go of her completely. "I don't know about you, but I could go for a shower and change of clothes."
She laughed softly. "After being unable to do alot the last few days, I'm inclined to agree. It's our wedding day, Anakin."
He grinned boyishly, "I know. I can't wait until the Holy man arrives."
"One might almost think you're over anxious," she teased.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stood, grabbing for his pants as he realized the belt had come free during the night and they began to slip. Padmé laughed as he carefully did the belt back up. "Go take your shower. I'm going to slip across the hall and indulge myself."
He bent back towards her for a last kiss. "I love you, Angel," he said softly. "I'll have breakfast on the table by the time you manage to drag yourself away from the pleasures of a hot shower."
She ran her fingers over his face, "I love you too, Jedi." She replied as he pulled away, smiling, before disappearing into the 'fresher. She tossed back the covers and slid her feet to the floor. Her steps were silent as she left his room and went back into her own. Today was her wedding day and, though it was storming outside, it'd gotten off to a wonderful start.
Sabé curled closer to the warmth at her side, the slide of skin on skin making her stop. [i]Obi-Wan.[/i] A smile curved her lips as she slowly opened her eyes. He was still asleep, curled on his side, an arm around her waist, a smile on his lips. He looked younger in sleep, more innocent. She leaned forward, gently kissing him as her hands slid up his bare chest.
He murmured softly in his sleep, making a noise that sounded almost like a purr in the back of his throat. She smiled against his lips as she ran her hands down. His caught hers just as she placed one on his hip. She grinned, pulling away to find him looking at her with his intense gaze. "Good morning, temptress."
She laughed. "Good morning, Obi-Wan. Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a long time. Only I kept having these dreams of a red headed temptress who was insatiable."
She blushed, "It's the effect you have on me, Jedi. I seem to loose my inhibitions."
"That's a good thing." He told her smiling. "We should get up. Anakin and Padmé are probably already prowling the lower levels."
"What, you can't sense them?" she teased.
"Well, if you want me too..." he trailed off, pausing for a moment. "My mistake, they're both in the shower."
Sabé blinked. "And I thought they were going to wait until after the wedding."
Obi-Wan laughed. "No, they're not showering together. From the feel of it, Padmé is almost healed this morning." He frowned. "Anakin must... He and I have to have a talk about his excessive Force use."
"He's a Knight in his own right, Obi-Wan," she reminded him, "You can't just chastise him. You can offer suggestions, but if he doesn't take them you can't exactly restrict him to his quarters."
"Good point." Obi-Wan grinned, rolling over to pin her beneath him. "But If I tried, I don't think he'd object after today."
Sabé chuckled. "Would you?"
"Object to being confined with you? Of course not, I can think of nothing I'd like more... except maybe galactic peace, but that's not likely."
She laughed softly, gently pushing him and he obligingly rolled away, drawing her with him towards the edge of the bed. "We need to get up. I have to talk to Padmé."
He sighed and she was slightly amused by the suffering in his tone, "You'll get me to yourself tonight, Jedi, I'm not the only one who's insatiable."
He released her and Sabé slide from the bed. She slipped into the robe by the edge of the bed, running a hand through her hair before turning to look at him, blew him a kiss, and left to go find Padmé. Obi-Wan shook his head, pushing himself from the bed. How had he gotten so lucky to be loved by such an amazing woman, he didn't know, but he thanked the Force he was. He grabbed his pants from the other side of his bed and settled onto the floor in a meditative posture. Vacation or not, some habits never changed.
Sabé found Padmé in the 'fresher and decided against bothering her. She opened the massive wardrobe and quickly picked out a loose skirt that fell to her feet and a top of flowing red fabric that tied just beneath her breasts. She quickly left Padmé's room, certain her friend wouldn't mind if she borrowed a couple of items, and returned to her own room. The one she'd dropped her suitcase in. Not that it much mattered. The suitcase held five handmaiden robes and her underwear. Everything else she'd left at the palace. Handmaidens had little in the way of casual clothing, not that she minded. Taking a quick shower, she quickly slipped into the clothes and brushed her hair out before putting on a pair of sandals. All the shutters were closed, and she could hear the muffled sound of thunder somewhere in the sky.
With a shrug, Sabé peaked in on Obi-Wan, to find him still meditating, before heading downstairs. Anakin had finished his own shower and changed into his Jedi robes before heading to the kitchen. That was where she found him. Anakin was flipping something that looked like pancakes over the heating unit when Sabé stopped in the doorway. "You'd make a mighty fine handmaiden with your domestic skills."
Anakin looked up from his task, grinning. "The skills of my misspent youth. Good morning Sabé."
"'Morning, Anakin. How's Padmé this morning?"
"She's much better. I put us into a linked healing trance to use the Force to heal her. I haven't seen what her neck looks like but she can talk this morning."
"I'm glad to hear it." Sabé went to the storage unit and pulled out a pitcher of juice. "Hand me a glass?"
Anakin reached above him to the cupboards and pulled one down before handing it to her. Flipping the cakes, he turned to look at her. "I'm sorry about yesterday, Sabé."
She poured herself a drink and took a sip before placing the glass and the pitcher on the counter top. "For what?"
"I know you saw," he said quietly, his remorse evident. "I know you felt what I almost did to you."
She leaned her hip against the counter. "Anakin, you didn't do anything to me. I know you think your actions fighting Carré in the Queen's wing are my reason for not bonding with Obi-Wan. I admit that's part of it. The other part is that I never want to be his weakness; I want to protect him from that kind of possibility. I appreciate that you and Padmé have something special. More special than anything I've ever seen, and that you want Obi-Wan and I to have that same experience. It's not your choice. The choice was mine, and he's respected it. Can you?"
He swallowed hard, never letting his gaze waver. "I will. I'm sorry I almost didn't."
"No harm done, right?" she offered him a smile.
His was shy, uncertain, "You sure?"
She nodded.
"Well, if you won't bond with him, would the two of you consider getting married today at the same time Padmé and I do?"
She blinked. "Pardon?"
Anakin forged on ahead. "We talked about it last night. The Holy Man will be here already, we're getting married, so why not do both at once?"
She considered it. "You know, I think that's a good idea. When Obi-Wan's finished his morning meditations, I'll ask him."
Anakin's smile was genuinely ecstatic. "I think he'll agree. Anyway, you want to help me with breakfast?"
"Sure, just point me in the direction of what needs to be done."
Anakin smiled, telling her what he had planned for a large breakfast, and Sabé's smile was wide. She nodded, without comment, and proceeded to help him. As they worked side by side, Anakin felt the tension that had been between them melting away. Sabé had forgiven him for what he'd almost done the day before. Yet under that, was the knowledge that the darkside she'd seen in him could possibly emerge at a future date. Anakin wasn't fooled by her playful banter; Sabé was going to keep an eye on him.
The Ties That Bind
The storm was still raging when the three woke the next morning. Padmé, still awake after her early morning discussion with Anakin, didn't move until Anakin began to stir. She was comfortable with his weight, enjoying the feel of his head on her shoulder, his breath feathering across her skin as he slept. She felt his return to consciousness as a gradual thing, the beginning awareness of her heartbeat near his ear. The feel of her skin under his hands. Her soft scent, intoxicating like flowers. His eyes fluttered open and he slowly lifted his head. There was little light in the room with the shutters closed, but there was enough he could see her face. His smile was gentle as his gaze met hers.
Padmé gently brushed her thumb over a crease in his cheek, returning the smile. "Good morning."
"Morning, Angel. Have you been up all this time?"
She nodded. "I wasn't tired. Did you sleep well?"
He gently kissed her, "I did. I felt you with me while I slept, watching over me."
"I promised I'd guard your dreams." She reminded him, "I wasn't about to go back on my word. I'm glad you slept well, you needed it."
"Only because you were watching over me. You really are an angel."
She blushed. "Only for you."
He kissed her again, gently, before carefully pulling away but not letting go of her completely. "I don't know about you, but I could go for a shower and change of clothes."
She laughed softly. "After being unable to do alot the last few days, I'm inclined to agree. It's our wedding day, Anakin."
He grinned boyishly, "I know. I can't wait until the Holy man arrives."
"One might almost think you're over anxious," she teased.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stood, grabbing for his pants as he realized the belt had come free during the night and they began to slip. Padmé laughed as he carefully did the belt back up. "Go take your shower. I'm going to slip across the hall and indulge myself."
He bent back towards her for a last kiss. "I love you, Angel," he said softly. "I'll have breakfast on the table by the time you manage to drag yourself away from the pleasures of a hot shower."
She ran her fingers over his face, "I love you too, Jedi." She replied as he pulled away, smiling, before disappearing into the 'fresher. She tossed back the covers and slid her feet to the floor. Her steps were silent as she left his room and went back into her own. Today was her wedding day and, though it was storming outside, it'd gotten off to a wonderful start.
Sabé curled closer to the warmth at her side, the slide of skin on skin making her stop. [i]Obi-Wan.[/i] A smile curved her lips as she slowly opened her eyes. He was still asleep, curled on his side, an arm around her waist, a smile on his lips. He looked younger in sleep, more innocent. She leaned forward, gently kissing him as her hands slid up his bare chest.
He murmured softly in his sleep, making a noise that sounded almost like a purr in the back of his throat. She smiled against his lips as she ran her hands down. His caught hers just as she placed one on his hip. She grinned, pulling away to find him looking at her with his intense gaze. "Good morning, temptress."
She laughed. "Good morning, Obi-Wan. Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a long time. Only I kept having these dreams of a red headed temptress who was insatiable."
She blushed, "It's the effect you have on me, Jedi. I seem to loose my inhibitions."
"That's a good thing." He told her smiling. "We should get up. Anakin and Padmé are probably already prowling the lower levels."
"What, you can't sense them?" she teased.
"Well, if you want me too..." he trailed off, pausing for a moment. "My mistake, they're both in the shower."
Sabé blinked. "And I thought they were going to wait until after the wedding."
Obi-Wan laughed. "No, they're not showering together. From the feel of it, Padmé is almost healed this morning." He frowned. "Anakin must... He and I have to have a talk about his excessive Force use."
"He's a Knight in his own right, Obi-Wan," she reminded him, "You can't just chastise him. You can offer suggestions, but if he doesn't take them you can't exactly restrict him to his quarters."
"Good point." Obi-Wan grinned, rolling over to pin her beneath him. "But If I tried, I don't think he'd object after today."
Sabé chuckled. "Would you?"
"Object to being confined with you? Of course not, I can think of nothing I'd like more... except maybe galactic peace, but that's not likely."
She laughed softly, gently pushing him and he obligingly rolled away, drawing her with him towards the edge of the bed. "We need to get up. I have to talk to Padmé."
He sighed and she was slightly amused by the suffering in his tone, "You'll get me to yourself tonight, Jedi, I'm not the only one who's insatiable."
He released her and Sabé slide from the bed. She slipped into the robe by the edge of the bed, running a hand through her hair before turning to look at him, blew him a kiss, and left to go find Padmé. Obi-Wan shook his head, pushing himself from the bed. How had he gotten so lucky to be loved by such an amazing woman, he didn't know, but he thanked the Force he was. He grabbed his pants from the other side of his bed and settled onto the floor in a meditative posture. Vacation or not, some habits never changed.
Sabé found Padmé in the 'fresher and decided against bothering her. She opened the massive wardrobe and quickly picked out a loose skirt that fell to her feet and a top of flowing red fabric that tied just beneath her breasts. She quickly left Padmé's room, certain her friend wouldn't mind if she borrowed a couple of items, and returned to her own room. The one she'd dropped her suitcase in. Not that it much mattered. The suitcase held five handmaiden robes and her underwear. Everything else she'd left at the palace. Handmaidens had little in the way of casual clothing, not that she minded. Taking a quick shower, she quickly slipped into the clothes and brushed her hair out before putting on a pair of sandals. All the shutters were closed, and she could hear the muffled sound of thunder somewhere in the sky.
With a shrug, Sabé peaked in on Obi-Wan, to find him still meditating, before heading downstairs. Anakin had finished his own shower and changed into his Jedi robes before heading to the kitchen. That was where she found him. Anakin was flipping something that looked like pancakes over the heating unit when Sabé stopped in the doorway. "You'd make a mighty fine handmaiden with your domestic skills."
Anakin looked up from his task, grinning. "The skills of my misspent youth. Good morning Sabé."
"'Morning, Anakin. How's Padmé this morning?"
"She's much better. I put us into a linked healing trance to use the Force to heal her. I haven't seen what her neck looks like but she can talk this morning."
"I'm glad to hear it." Sabé went to the storage unit and pulled out a pitcher of juice. "Hand me a glass?"
Anakin reached above him to the cupboards and pulled one down before handing it to her. Flipping the cakes, he turned to look at her. "I'm sorry about yesterday, Sabé."
She poured herself a drink and took a sip before placing the glass and the pitcher on the counter top. "For what?"
"I know you saw," he said quietly, his remorse evident. "I know you felt what I almost did to you."
She leaned her hip against the counter. "Anakin, you didn't do anything to me. I know you think your actions fighting Carré in the Queen's wing are my reason for not bonding with Obi-Wan. I admit that's part of it. The other part is that I never want to be his weakness; I want to protect him from that kind of possibility. I appreciate that you and Padmé have something special. More special than anything I've ever seen, and that you want Obi-Wan and I to have that same experience. It's not your choice. The choice was mine, and he's respected it. Can you?"
He swallowed hard, never letting his gaze waver. "I will. I'm sorry I almost didn't."
"No harm done, right?" she offered him a smile.
His was shy, uncertain, "You sure?"
She nodded.
"Well, if you won't bond with him, would the two of you consider getting married today at the same time Padmé and I do?"
She blinked. "Pardon?"
Anakin forged on ahead. "We talked about it last night. The Holy Man will be here already, we're getting married, so why not do both at once?"
She considered it. "You know, I think that's a good idea. When Obi-Wan's finished his morning meditations, I'll ask him."
Anakin's smile was genuinely ecstatic. "I think he'll agree. Anyway, you want to help me with breakfast?"
"Sure, just point me in the direction of what needs to be done."
Anakin smiled, telling her what he had planned for a large breakfast, and Sabé's smile was wide. She nodded, without comment, and proceeded to help him. As they worked side by side, Anakin felt the tension that had been between them melting away. Sabé had forgiven him for what he'd almost done the day before. Yet under that, was the knowledge that the darkside she'd seen in him could possibly emerge at a future date. Anakin wasn't fooled by her playful banter; Sabé was going to keep an eye on him.