The Sweetest Thing
by obi's girl

Chapter 11

Cherith smiled as Valin held her close, their faces only inches away from each other and the bodies locked in the very small space of a closet. After eating lunch, they both snuck away for some privacy. Actually, they planned to meet each other in the hanger and then sneak off together to a closet for their daily make-out session. Valin left the bar first, and then Cherith followed shortly.

With the exception of Kyp, no one knew of their little romance. Cherith denied there was a thing between her and her best friend, but she was sure her girlfriends were watching her every move. Since her 15th birthday a week ago, Silara and Cassia Brinn have been watching her very closely. Cherith didn't appreciate that they were watching for any sign of a romance but there was no way she was going to give them the satisfaction. Her life was her life, why should it matter what anyone else thought?

She needed this sweet distraction. In the coming months, would be the birth of her twin brothers, her grandmother was dying and added to that, she had her Jedi training to worry about. It was simply too much for the fifteen year old, there were so many expectations of her and Cherith just wanted to be free of all that.

"Can we stay here forever?" Cherith asked Valin between kisses.

Valin shrugged, trying to move so he was at least in a comfortable position. At least, he knew from now on if they were going to have more make-out sessions, he had to scout the base for better places. A nearly cramped closet wasn't exactly the best place, he realized.

"I just don't want to go back out there. So much is going on, Valin. My grandmother's probably dying, I'm going to have to deal with twin baby brothers or sisters," she cried and huffed, "It's just too much!"

Horn nodded and then moved aside, pushing the door open and walking out of the closet. Valin walked out slowly, breathing harshly and rested a hand against the wall while Cherith walked out with ease. "Sorry Fel, I just needed to breathe. It's very cramped in there!"

"You didn't call on the Force to calm your nerves?" Cherith questioned and Valin nodded no, "Oh, I thought there was another reason why your heart was beating really fast and you were starting to sweat,"

"Heart beating fast was because of you, Cherith; the sweat was because of the closed space," He said and smirked, leaning his hand on his right leg, "And because of you too,"

Cherith blushed and smiled, "I didn't realize I made you that excited, Valin,"

Valin shrugged, beckoning her closer, "You always make me excited," Cherith smiled, leaned down and kissed him again. Soon, the two of them found themselves in an interesting position on a couch. Immediately, the two of them shot up and distanced themselves from each other. "But of course, we're both underage youths, so sex isn't a really an option at this point and something we're both not ready for,"

"I agree," Cherith said and smiled at him, "I better go. Kyp's waiting for me, I was supposed to meet him for an afternoon training session,"

"Right," He mumbled and ran a hand through his black hair. Cherith timidly stepped towards him and kissed his cheek before turning, straightening her clothes. "Cherith!" She turned to him again, waiting for him to continue, "Just take it one day at a time; I know there's a lot of stuff happening in your life right now, so just take it one day at a time."

Cherith smiled, "Thank you friend."

~~

Padmé smiled, sensing his presence there in the room before he made himself known. She was alone for the time being; she'd seen her children and grandchildren so she expected this visit from him. "Have you come to help me cross over?" Padmé turned to him and smiled, "I am ready to die, Obi-Wan. I've known it's been coming for a long time,"

"You aren't afraid?"

She nodded no defiantly and then shrugged, giving her feeling away. "For years after I lost my children, I always hoped one day to be reunited with Anakin," Padmé laughed to herself, "He is the reason for all of this,"

Ben shrugged, walking closer to her and sitting down on an empty chair beside her bed. "Yes, I suppose he is...and I know Anakin will be very happy to be reunited with you, Padmé."

"I wanted to be reunited with Anakin for so long, but now, now I'm dreading it," Padmé admitted, "It's crazy, isn't it? He was the love of my life...I used to believe that everything that was happening to us was a bad nightmare and I'd wake up and none of it would be real. I'm scared Obi-Wan. I'm scared to see him again. I'd been separated from him for so long,"

Obi-Wan smiled warmly, leaning his knee as he sat forward, "There's no reason for you to be scared, Padmé. Anakin doesn't hate you; he could never hate you,"

"I know he could never hate me Obi-Wan...I just wish there could be some way to go back. You and I know both know now that his fall happened gradually over time but if I had recognized it..."

"Padmé," he said, placing his hand over hers, "Believe me, I'd wished the same thing for many years but we can't go back and think about what was, what could have been done, what we should have said, now can we? There's no point in it,"

Padmé nodded and smiled, "Why have you come old friend?"

"I didn't come here to ease your pain about dying, if that's what you're implying. I know it's your time too but for me, it doesn't make my pain any less," Ben paused and smiled as Padmé recognized the mischievous, younger Obi-Wan beneath his now aging eyes. Even though he was a serious Jedi Master, most of the time, Padmé often felt there was a playfulness about him. "You survived, Padmé. I know I did too but instead of hiding yourself in a dark corner, like I did, you carried the burden for years and didn't let it consume you. After Anakin became Vader, I blamed myself every day but you never blamed me. You always told me what happened was never my fault and that was it fated to happen," He smiled and laughed, "Jedi are supposed to believe in destiny but I lost my faith for a long time but you've restored it Padmé and I thank you for always having faith in me,"

Padmé felt her eyes swell and she turned away briefly, taken aback by his statement. "Thank you. Thank you old friend, that really means a lot to me," she whispered and turned back to look at him, "I've waited for years for someone to tell me they had faith in me for staying strong; I'm so happy it was you, Ben,"

Ben smiled and leaned over the bed, whispering in her ear, "Just remember Padmé, I'll be waiting for you too," His smile lessoned and kissed her cheek briefly before leaving her alone again and she was whole.

~~

Kyp Durron worriedly watched Wes Janson talk excitedly with his pilot friends about his plans for Kyp and Sera's engagement party. And Kyp knew, no matter what, this party was going to be a disaster. Sera agreed to it because she said if it was going to be a disaster, at least it would be a memorable one and to Kyp, it seemed inevitable that Wes would throw them a party anyway. The Jedi leaned forward a bit, trying to decipher Wes's mumblings...

"...It shouldn't be anything big but then again, it would be a real shame it was really small. What about inviting the whole base," he said and winked at Tycho, "And maybe invite some strippers!"

Stripper! Kyp cleared his throat immediately, forcing Wes and Tycho to look at him as he stalked towards him, "That's it, Wes. I'm sorry but you can't throw Sera and I an engagement party..."

"Did Sera finally realize she made a mistake?" Tycho asked.

Kyp groaned and rolled his eyes, "No, she didn't make a mistake...I've just decided on behalf of the two of us that this is going to be a private party,"

Wes stared at him, shrugged and then turned back to Tycho, "So anyway, I was thinking maybe the squadron could sing a toast in honor of Kyp and Sera and end it with giving them stuffed Ewoks. What do you think?"

Kyp slapped his mouth, mumbled something and left the bar, bumping into Luke on his way out. "I'd be careful in there Master Skywalker, Wes is planning my engagement party and I'd hate for you to have be an innocent victim involved in the planning process,"

"Wes wants to do something with Ewoks again, huh?"

"Unfortunately yes," he grumbled, "I have to find Sera and talk her into maybe changing her mind about Wes planning this thing," Kyp didn't wait for a response as hurried down the hallway.

Luke grinned, confidently entering the bar. He spotted Wes in the corner, talking to Tycho Celchu, (whom was probably dragged away by the pilot so at least someone would listen to him). Not wanting to be another innocent victim as Kyp stated, Luke rushed into the nearest dark corner booth and signaled a waitress over. "I'd like a Jawa Juice please," The waitress nodded, took the order and went back around the bar.

"Master Luke!" Skywalker moaned, hoping Wes hadn't spotted his entrance and turned around slowly. He breathed a heavy sigh as Valin slid into the booth. "Don't worry, I saw Wes but told him I was here to meet Cherith,"

Luke thanked the waitress as she returned with his juice, "How is my grandniece?"

"Stressed. She has so much to worry about, her baby brothers or sisters, her grams...I was wandering if you have any advice about a nice little get-away, stress-free day?"

"Stress-free day?" Luke echoed, "I do suggest that you don't kidnap Cherith and whisk her away to a planet we haven't heard of before,"

Valin shrugged, "Don't worry, that's not an option on my list...I want to do something special for her. She's my friend and I care about her,"

Luke scratched his chin, eyeing the boy suspiciously, "I noticed you and Cherith don't hang out with each other as much; no more afternoon sparring matches to see who buys who dinner...Is she angry with you or something?"

"NO!" he cried and everyone in the bar, except Wes looked at him. "She's not angry with me. I just want to do something special for her."

"Then I don't have any suggestions," he said and Valin frowned, "However, there is this nice park not far from the base. Maybe you can take her there and prepare a lunch,"

"A park huh? Do you have any more ideas?" Valin asked, leaning forward for more wisdom.

Luke shrugged, "Again, I suggest you don't kidnap her and take her off planet. I don't think she'd like that too much," he turned and glanced at Wes and Tycho. Tycho had left but another unwilling pilot had taken his place, probably one of Wes's friends. "What is this about Valin?"

Valin leaned off the table and scratched his chin, "Nothing. Just a friend doing something special for a friend...I just want Cherith to be happy,"

"...I heard from Jaina you gave Cherith a very special gift on her birthday; you sang to her in the lounge here,"

"I might have," the boy muttered, "But it was only a song, nothing else happened!"

Luke raised an eyebrow, leaning against the chair as he studied Valin. Finally, after a moment, a grin widened on his face. "You two are dating aren't you, and you don't want anyone to know about it!"

Valin shrieked, "Keep your voice down! We are dating and Cherith definitely doesn't want anyone else besides Kyp to know about," he paused, "Of course, now you know, which is why you can't tell anyone else. Please Master Skywalker?!"

"Corran doesn't know about this does he?"

"Well, dad might know. I hinted before that I had a crush on Cherith,"

Luke shrugged, taking his Jawa juice and leaving some creds on the table, "If it's any consolation Valin, I've always liked you two as a couple. The best love comes from friendship,"

Valin grinned, "Thank you, Master Skywalker and you won't..."

"I can't promise I won't tell Cherith's mom but I think Jaina can figure out her daughter pretty well," he said, "Here's a tip Valin, if the only reason Cherith doesn't want anyone to know about this is because Cassia and Silara, have fun with it. Play with their heads; it'll drive them crazy."

Chapter 11, Post 2

"Mother? Mom?" Luke called as he entered Padmé's little room set aside in the medical ward. She was asleep, lying peacefully on her bed and clutching an extra pillow. Luke set the Jawa juice she wanted aside on a small table and grabbed a chair close to the bed and sat down. For years, he had dreamed about meeting this woman; getting to know her, listen to her as she recounted tales about her courtship. Padmé had told them very little about her courtship; she wanted to more about children than her children know about her past.

She was a very private woman but Luke supposed after all these years, he and Leia would despise her but how could he you hate a woman who suffered through so much to keep him and his twin sister safe? Obi-Wan, Luke's old mentor obviously knew of her existence but it still bothered him why he never talked to him or Leia about her. He had a right to know her and now, her body was slowly dying. He was being abandoned all over again, only this time, the Empire wasn't the reason.

Luke leaned forward and planted a kiss on Padmé's forehead, she stirred a little and then her eyelids opened and she turned to him. "Sorry mother, I know you need your rest..." he fumbled over his words and shakingly stood from his chair but her small hand stopped him.

"You can stay Luke," Padmé nodded to the Jawa juice and Luke removed the mug from its place and handed it to her. She smiled thanks and took a couple sips before handing it back to him. "Thank you, son. Hmm, there used to be an old nectar juice my mom would give us when we were sick. I never knew what she put it but it always seemed to help."

Luke smiled and then looked down, "What was she like? My grandmother?"

"Mom was the best; she always worried about me because I was the youngest. Your aunt, my sister Sola settled down and started a family. Mom always wanted me to do the same thing, especially after my term as Queen finished but Queen Jamilla asked me to run as Senator. I couldn't refuse her and I still wanted to serve the Republic," Padmé frowned and breathed slower, "After Palpatine declared himself Emperor, he ordered his guard to go to Naboo and search for me. They found my parent's house and demanded to know where I was but mom and dad refused and they were killed. The only reason I knew was because Obi-Wan told me he felt their deaths,"

"Um mom, about Obi-Wan...I have a few questions. I didn't want to bother you before when I talked to you the first time but I want to know..."

"..why he didn't say anything to you or your sister about me?" Padmé finished, "Because I told him not to say anything to you. I've always believed in my heart, one day after all the darkness passed, I would have the chance to meet you and Leia and here I am. What was the point in telling you when the Empire was still a threat?"

Luke nodded and huffed, "I guess you're right. You'd managed to stay hidden from them for so long, why put yourself in that danger again?"

"..And you and Leia," Padmé added, "I couldn't do that to you, my children,"

"Do you hate Ben?"

Hate him? Padmé was dumbfounded by the question as she looked at her son curiously, her eyebrow furrowing, "Do you hate him Luke?"

"I feel since he did know about you, regardless of what you told him to say, he still should have told me about you," he paused, "But I know he wouldn't have because he respects you,"

"Luke, Ben helped me cope through a painful time in my life. After he told me Anakin was dead, I wanted to kill myself but then Ben told me I was pregnant. It made me even more depressed…but at the same time, it gave me hope,"

Luke nodded, hesitant to ask his next question. "Every time you've talked about Obi-Wan, you've had no ill feeling towards him. You've thanked him for being a good friend…are you…Do you love him?"

"Do you want to know the truth?" Padmé asked. Luke hesitated and then nodded yes. "Ben and I weren't very close when we first met but after we lost Anakin, he became my guardian. I didn't blame him because I knew it wasn't his fault…Do I love him?"

The question hung in the air for a long time and Luke found himself dreading the answer. "Yes, I love him," Padmé whispered, "Despite his faults, I will always love and admire Obi-Wan Kenobi,"

Luke suddenly wished he hadn't asked but also wandered how he would have felt if he hadn't asked.

Chapter 11, Post 3

Jaina hummed to herself as she walked through the nursery, Jag had been working on for weeks. He made it his personal mission to make the nursery suitable for his sons', decorating it with (of all choices) baby Ewoks. Jaina figured he must have been talking to Wes and he suggested decorating the nursery with Ewoks since they were the most cuddly and adorable….

She tossed the stuffed toy Ewok into the wastebasket and continued walking through the room. This place looks incredibly ridiculous, Jaina cried and then thought about maybe taking her lightsaber and using it to remove the Ewok wallpaper and everything else in the room. But then it would be too obvious and Jaina would have to explain to Jag that she disliked the design and he would be hurt. She didn't want to hurt her husband but the room simply screamed for redecorating.

//After all, no need to traumatize the twins,//Jaina realized and as she left the room, she nearly fell over her husband. "Darling, what are you doing here so early?" she cried and slipped in the largest fake-grin she could manage.

Jag shrugged, "I thought I'd take you out for lunch, if that's all right" He didn't wait for her response as he strode into the room. "The nursery looks great doesn't it? Wes gave me the idea,"

//Figured.// Jaina's grin lessoned as she sat down in the rocker in the corner, "It's too busy and there are too many dark colors…Um honey, to be perfectly honest, it's hideous and I want nothing more than to remove my light saber and put those smiling Ewoks to death…."

"I agree," he said and turned back to her, "Wes must have bought me a lot of Corellian wine when he talked me into doing this…we can redecorate,"

Jaina bit her lip, looking worriedly at her husband, "You're not angry? You don't mind?"

Jag turned back to her and held out his hand to her, Jaina smiled and slipped her left into it as he pulled her close to him. He smiled, leaned down and kissed her forehead, "It really is ugly wallpaper," Jaina laughed and kissed him as he wrapped his arms around her back, "So, what do you want?"

"How do I want the nursery to look?" Jaina asked and turned slightly in his arms, studying the room again, "Angels. I don't know why but I want them to be surrounded by angels,"

"I understand and I think I know exactly what to do."

~~

"How did your visit with your mother go?" Mara asked Luke as he walked solemnly into their apartment and he dropped down onto the couch. Mara was in the kitchen, feeding Ben his dinner but the boy was more curious about his father's mood. She whispered something to Ben and then handed him his spoon as she went over to Luke and sat down next to him, "It take it the visit didn't go well?"

Luke shrugged, "The visit went very well…It just never occurred to me after my mother lost Anakin she could fall in love with someone else,"

"A lot of things can happen Luke when your life is torn apart,"

"I know, I realize that…" He turned and looked at Mara and smiled, "Let me ask you something Mara. If I suddenly died and left you alone with Ben, how long would you stay a grieving widow?"

Mara grunted, "I don't know but I do know, I am capable of taking care of Ben by myself…but the grief, the grief of loosing you, that's different Luke," she smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek, resting her head on his shoulder, "Who was it that your mother fell in love after Anakin?"

"Obi-Wan," he whispered, "It's incredible isn't it? If Ben had told me, just mentioned something…. He could have told me,"

"Maybe he didn't know how she felt when they parted," Mara suggested, "It is possible Luke, Padmé was afraid of her feelings for him at the time and didn't want to risk another heartbreak,"

Luke nodded, "I guess…But still…I don't know," Mara moved away from his shoulder as he continued, "I've always had this picture in my mind that after Anakin became Darth Vader and abandoned our mother, she'd live out the rest of her days wishing for him to wake up and come back to her,"

Mara smiled, kissing his cheek, "Life isn't perfect, Luke. It isn't a fairytale you can write, painting every detail the way you want it to be because that's the way it is in your mind," she paused again and huffed, "Luke, your mother is dying. Now isn't the time to hate her for loving someone else besides your father. She needs to know leaving this world that you love her regardless of what happened."