If they think I'm going to add another person to my already overly stocked security, they've got another thought coming.
"What about an old friend, like...Master Kenobi?" Palpatine asked.
Obi-Wan? That's an idea. I haven't seen him in 10 years. This is my chance, maybe my last one.
"Alright," she said, trying to sound disappointed, but inside she was exploding with excitement. ****************************************************************************
I can't believe this. 10 years - not a word. Now all of a sudden, they want us back - to protect her. I would protect her with my life.
"I haven't seen her in 10 years, Master." Anakin said.
Neither have I, Anakin. Neither have I.
"You're sweating. Relax!" Obi-Wan said. But even as he said it, he had a hard time convincing himself to do the same. ****************************************************************************
Padmé smiled broadly as Obi-Wan came in.
Control yourself! She thought.
"Welcome back, Master Kenobi. It has been far too long." Padmé said, with a smile that could light up any darkness.
Far too long indeed. Obi-Wan thought.
After exchanging formalities, Padmé dropped her regal manner a bit.
"Master Kenobi, may I have a word with you please?" She asked.
"Absolutely," Obi-Wan answered, perhaps a little too soon.
Anakin looked at him in question. Obi-Wan knew what he was asking.
I get to come too, right?
As Obi-Wan began to follow Padmé out of the room, Anakin proceeded to tag along. Obi-Wan turned around and looked at him in warning and Anakin stopped, looking at him in disbelief. Obi-Wan just smiled.
****************************************************************************
Once she was sure they were out of ear-reach by anyone, she turned around to face Obi-Wan.
"You wouldn't believe how much I have missed you," she said.
"I've missed you too," he said quietly.
"I really didn't think I'd see you ever again. Then they suggested a Jedi be added to my security. I didn't want to, but then Palpatine suggested you. I couldn't deny that offer."
"I'm glad you didn't."
She silently slid into his arms and they merely sat on her bed, content with holding each other.
"I should return, before Anakin suspects something." Obi-Wan said, hating that he had to leave her.
"Alright," she said, not wanting him to leave anymore that he did.
As he rose to leave, she rose with him. He turned around to face her before leaving, and leaning down, placed his lips on hers. This time, it wasn't as brief as their previous kiss. This time, she had time to wrap her arms around his neck. And she treasured every moment.
****************************************************************************
Why, oh why! How could the Jedi counsel place him to protect me and then take him away! Instead, they put me with Anakin! He's just a padawan. An above all that, Obi-Wan has gone to Kamino. Who knows what could happen to him. He could be in danger.
She remembered leaving Courisant, remembered leaving him. As she stepped onto the transport, Anakin followed her. Then, Obi-Wan stepped on as well. Padme's heart leapt.
"Anakin, don't do anything without consulting myself or the counsel," Obi-Wan said.
Padme's dread came back when she realized Obi-Wan wasn't coming with them. She looked up and caught Obi-Wan's eyes. He looked solemnly back at her. Tears filled her eyes and she forced herself to look away so neither Anakin nor Obi-Wan would see her crying. She composed herself and saw Anakin glance from her to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan saw the plead in Padmé's eyes and turned to Anakin once more.
"Anakin, I must discuss something with the Senator. Would you mind?"
Even if Anakin did mind, he wouldn't have had a choice. He and Captain Typho waited as Obi-Wan and Padmé stepped off the transport for a moment.
"Obi-Wan..."
"Shhh... I'll be back before you know it. You'll be back here. The danger will have past. It'll be ok."
"I wish you'd let me go with you."
"Not a chance. This is terribly dangerous. I can't risk putting you in that kind of danger."
She gave him a quick hug before she saw Anakin turning around to face their direction. While the pilot of the transport announced they would be taking off in a few moments, Captain Typho was stepping off as Padmé boarded. Obi-Wan gave them both a brief backwards glance before stepping off the transport just as its doors closed. He waved as the transport grew smaller and smaller, until it was nothing but a speck in the Courisant sky. She knew she would see him again. And he knew he would see her.
To Be Continued...
"What about an old friend, like...Master Kenobi?" Palpatine asked.
Obi-Wan? That's an idea. I haven't seen him in 10 years. This is my chance, maybe my last one.
"Alright," she said, trying to sound disappointed, but inside she was exploding with excitement. ****************************************************************************
I can't believe this. 10 years - not a word. Now all of a sudden, they want us back - to protect her. I would protect her with my life.
"I haven't seen her in 10 years, Master." Anakin said.
Neither have I, Anakin. Neither have I.
"You're sweating. Relax!" Obi-Wan said. But even as he said it, he had a hard time convincing himself to do the same. ****************************************************************************
Padmé smiled broadly as Obi-Wan came in.
Control yourself! She thought.
"Welcome back, Master Kenobi. It has been far too long." Padmé said, with a smile that could light up any darkness.
Far too long indeed. Obi-Wan thought.
After exchanging formalities, Padmé dropped her regal manner a bit.
"Master Kenobi, may I have a word with you please?" She asked.
"Absolutely," Obi-Wan answered, perhaps a little too soon.
Anakin looked at him in question. Obi-Wan knew what he was asking.
I get to come too, right?
As Obi-Wan began to follow Padmé out of the room, Anakin proceeded to tag along. Obi-Wan turned around and looked at him in warning and Anakin stopped, looking at him in disbelief. Obi-Wan just smiled.
****************************************************************************
Once she was sure they were out of ear-reach by anyone, she turned around to face Obi-Wan.
"You wouldn't believe how much I have missed you," she said.
"I've missed you too," he said quietly.
"I really didn't think I'd see you ever again. Then they suggested a Jedi be added to my security. I didn't want to, but then Palpatine suggested you. I couldn't deny that offer."
"I'm glad you didn't."
She silently slid into his arms and they merely sat on her bed, content with holding each other.
"I should return, before Anakin suspects something." Obi-Wan said, hating that he had to leave her.
"Alright," she said, not wanting him to leave anymore that he did.
As he rose to leave, she rose with him. He turned around to face her before leaving, and leaning down, placed his lips on hers. This time, it wasn't as brief as their previous kiss. This time, she had time to wrap her arms around his neck. And she treasured every moment.
****************************************************************************
Why, oh why! How could the Jedi counsel place him to protect me and then take him away! Instead, they put me with Anakin! He's just a padawan. An above all that, Obi-Wan has gone to Kamino. Who knows what could happen to him. He could be in danger.
She remembered leaving Courisant, remembered leaving him. As she stepped onto the transport, Anakin followed her. Then, Obi-Wan stepped on as well. Padme's heart leapt.
"Anakin, don't do anything without consulting myself or the counsel," Obi-Wan said.
Padme's dread came back when she realized Obi-Wan wasn't coming with them. She looked up and caught Obi-Wan's eyes. He looked solemnly back at her. Tears filled her eyes and she forced herself to look away so neither Anakin nor Obi-Wan would see her crying. She composed herself and saw Anakin glance from her to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan saw the plead in Padmé's eyes and turned to Anakin once more.
"Anakin, I must discuss something with the Senator. Would you mind?"
Even if Anakin did mind, he wouldn't have had a choice. He and Captain Typho waited as Obi-Wan and Padmé stepped off the transport for a moment.
"Obi-Wan..."
"Shhh... I'll be back before you know it. You'll be back here. The danger will have past. It'll be ok."
"I wish you'd let me go with you."
"Not a chance. This is terribly dangerous. I can't risk putting you in that kind of danger."
She gave him a quick hug before she saw Anakin turning around to face their direction. While the pilot of the transport announced they would be taking off in a few moments, Captain Typho was stepping off as Padmé boarded. Obi-Wan gave them both a brief backwards glance before stepping off the transport just as its doors closed. He waved as the transport grew smaller and smaller, until it was nothing but a speck in the Courisant sky. She knew she would see him again. And he knew he would see her.
To Be Continued...