A few hours later, Padme was putting the dishes from their meager meal back onto the dispensing tray. She sent the tray back out to the waiting droid.
Obi-Wan watched her. "We better try and get some sleep."
"I suppose so." Padme walked over to the cot protruding from the wall and lay down.
Obi-Wan picked up his cloak and glanced around for the light control. He found it and turned the lights down. He walked over to the cot and lay down beside Padme. He spread his cloak over the two of them.
Padme settled herself against him and lay her head on his chest. She sighed contentedly. She listened to the soothing sound of his heart beating. She loved this man, though she couldn't bring herself to tell him. She feared the power in those words.
Padme thought back on the love she once had for Anakin. That love had been consuming, passionate, exciting. She had lost herself in it. The usually duty-driven, in-control Padme had herself gotten caught up in the rush of Anakin's affection and passion. She had known that letting emotions overrule reality would never end well, but she had done it anyway. And boy, did it end badly!
Her love for Obi-Wan was different. It was peaceful, steadfast, mature. The love she felt for Obi-Wan was the kind that lasted forever. It was a firm foundation. She had grieved, terribly, over losing Anakin. But the thought of losing Obi-Wan cut her in two. She unconsciously clung tighter to him. She wondered if Obi-Wan loved her as much as she loved him. She knew that he was thoroughly dedicated to the Jedi Code. But now that the Jedi were all but gone, would he allow himself to love?
Her thoughts again turned to the past. When Obi-Wan had left her on Alderaan three and a half years ago, when they had thought it was forever, a large part of her had died. Although being near her precious Leia had kept her going, she had felt like the walking dead. She had just existed.
Now, being with Obi-Wan again, she felt alive again. She felt she had a reason to live. She knew that she couldn't bear to lose him again…
Obi-Wan lay on the cot, lost in thought. He held Padme close to him. Her head was rising and falling along with his breathing. He loved Padme, very much, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. The love of the last man had cost Padme dearly. He didn't want to add to her burdens.
Part of him, though, was still trying to cling to the Jedi Code. With there only being a handful of the Jedi left in the galaxy, it seemed kind of silly. But he was still a Jedi. His remembrances of a life now gone helped to keep him strong. He clung to it like a drowning man clings to a lifesaver. He knew that there was still good in this galaxy, that there were still things left worth fighting and dying for. His use of the Force had diminished greatly since going into hiding. He hadn't been able to afford using the Force with any real power, for fear it would attract Vader's or the Emperor's attention. He missed its light and its warmth. He missed feeling it flow through him like a river.
Right now, he didn't have access to the Force at all, thanks to the drug given to him. He wondered if they would continue to bar his use of the Force. He felt that all he had now was the Jedi Code. But he also knew that wasn't really true. He had Padme. The bond between them had also given him strength. She was such a strong, decent, wonderful person. The fact that she was still sane, after all that had happened to her, spoke volumes about her. He was unsure if she loved him as much as he loved her. He knew she adored him as a friend and confidant, but after Anakin, he was unsure whether or not she would be able to truly love another man. Almost as if she had heard his thoughts, he felt Padme cling to him tighter.