DISCLAIMER: see chapter one

A/N: I am sosorry for the delay in updating, I for the life of me could not get logged into the site! GRR! It made me so mad I kept getting this ERROR number something about invaild URL or server overload, what a pain! But I am here now, so don't stone me or anything :-) Thanks for reading! RaeAnne

CHAPTER NINE

"So Anakin, what have you been up to while I've been away?" I ask casually as we sit sharing an evening meal.

"She is so beautiful…more beautiful then I remember…"

I slap my hand against my forehead, this topic was one I was hoping to avoid, and I knew it would be impossible, but I was forever hopeful.

"Yes Anakin, she is, but padawan I was asking you a question," I push away my dinner plate.

"What? I am sorry Master, I just can't seem to focus," he sighs dropping his utensils, also pushing away his dish.

"Quite all right, I was just asking what you had been doing while I was gone."

"Nothing exciting, I'm afraid. Just sitting in on intergalactic trade negotiations, it rarely got exciting…I never even got to use my lightsaber!"

I laugh at that, he sounds so dejected, let down, "You sound disappointed."

"Maybe a little, I do like to use my lightsaber!" he grins brightly.

"I know," I chuckle.

"How was it on Naboo?"

I tense then force myself to mellow, Anakin is too observant, one slip and he'll see…"Well nothing monumental. They tried to attack while we were in the Palace Gardens, they also tried to infiltrate the Palace, so for safeties sake we moved Amidala to the Naboo Lake Retreat to finish her term," I try to make it sound causal, business like.

"I love her you know," he admits.

It's a huge admittance; he knows he not supposed to, he knows what it means to have these feelings, what it means to his training…he trusts me. I never thought it would hurt to have someone trust you this much; to know that you will have to and had in effect already betrayed their faith.

"Anakin…we are Jedi…" I put my hand on his shoulder.

"But Master…I can't help it! She told me she cared for me…that she would never stop! How can I just ignore that? How am I supposed to not love her?" he is clenching his hands so they are nearly white.

I wish I could tell him love was okay, I wish I could tell him that the Code isn't absolute, but I can't. I can't tell him I've known his pain, I can't tell him to betray the Order, the Code, his path is not the same as mine, his future is not clear! I hurt him no matter what I do! I can't tell him it's okay to love Padme…but I can't tell him he's flat our wrong for thinking these things; I can't just come out a betray him like that, he has trusted me to train him fairly… he is like a son to me, I can't do it! How can I explain that if he were to love as a Jedi that it could have a horrendous effect, perhaps even cause him to fall? How can I explain? I will dig dipper, I will try finding the root, the cause.

"Anakin, ask yourself if you truly are in love with her or is it perhaps that you remember when she cared for you after you left your mother? Maybe you are taking the love you had for your mother and are transferring it to Padme…You are maybe mistaking romantic love for the lack of your mother's love?" I try and get to what I believe the truth is.

"What? Are you saying I don't know what I feel?" anger bursts forth and quickly hardens him.

"Anakin, just listen okay?" I falter.

"I am a Jedi, I know, but I can not help it!" he stands; I see his chest heave rage.

"Anakin…!" I call but he is half way through the door.

What have I done? How could I ever explain this to council? His emotions are getting more and more out of control, please, please Anakin let this just be a phase associated with adolescence—one that you soon will grow out of.

"Master Obi-Wan," Master Windu stops me in the hall.

"Yes Master?" I try and not show my upset over the incident with Anakin only moments ago.

"Will you be attending Padme Amidala's swearing in tonight?"

"I wasn't aware of it."

"Hmm, well she is going to be sworn into the Senate tonight, with a little celebration to follow. While the council does not feel the need for Jedi protection, we thought that if, since I am sure you and Amidala became somewhat friendly during your stay on Naboo you would be attending and therefore make sure nothing happens…Just in case there be any shall we say…remnants from the group wishing her ill and using this as a last attempt."

I stand straighter, he is scrutinizing me, I wonder if he suspects… Don't fidget! I reprimand my anxious hands that threaten to clench. Mind your words.

"Amidala and I became friends, yes, but since getting back we haven't spoken," and that is the painful truth. Five days I haven't heard her voice, seen her face, touched her…

"I would be more then willing to attend the swearing in…" don't sound too eager! "For her protection," don't try to sound too aloof, he knows you're friends… "and of course since she is a friend I'd like to see her take her oath, I know she has been looking forward to it." There, that sounded pretty good, if I do say so myself.

"Of course," he nods arching an eyebrow slightly, "well Amidala's delegate Jar Jar Binks came to see us; it seems she has requested you to stand with her as she is sworn in. She wishes it because she says if not for you and your padawan she would not be able to take such an oath."

Oh, Padme…that was risky, someone could suspect! …Don't analyze me Master Windu, please don't search…

"Okay, shall we go?"

"What refuse a senator? I hardly think so. Go, though the council wishes to see you afterwards, there is a mission," he finishes and leaves just as abruptly as he arrived.

Where is that blasted boy? He knows we have to go!

"Master Obi-Wan…" a young messenger enters the Jedi Temple Grand Entry Hall, face flushed and winded.

"Yes?" I answer a bit irritated, glancing toward the time dial.

"Padawan…Skywalker…asked me…to tell you that he will…meet you at the Senate Building," he breathes labouredly.

Does he now? Well he better be there, I am growing very tired of this stunt. "Thank you," I nod and head for the exit.

Just as I am ready to board a ground transport, my communicator bleeps.

"Obi-Wan," I answer stepping from the waiting door.

"Hellosa, Obi-Wan!"

"Hello Jar Jar," I sigh just a bit wearily.

"Issa call for the Senator, shessa wantsya, to come to her apartment before wessa all go to the Senate okyday?"

I think of Anakin, but this might by my only chance to share some privacy with my wife, Anakin will have to wait.

"Yes Jar Jar I'll be there."

I stand in my wife's receiving room waiting for her to enter. She is so near, I feel her warmth cascading over me. I know that it has only been a few days but I crave her. I drink it all in storing it for when we part…as I know we will.

"Master Kenobi," her voice rings clear.

I nod smile subdued, though it takes a lot of will power to make it so. I have my back to her at the moment so I just let the clarity of her voice register before I turn, "Milady."

I see her heart beat quicken, I spent long hours on Naboo just mesmerized by her body, how it reacted to my touch, my voice, I watch it all unfold now. If she only knew…and maybe she does, what she does to me. Especially in this black number she is wearing, my word if I catch any guys eyes lingering too long, and why wouldn't they, I might seriously get myself into trouble…I could just nibble all night long on those bare shoulders, and that neck…

"Thank you for coming," she nods coolly, though her eyes would suggest she is anything but.

"Of course."

"Please, sit," she waves a hand to settee, a settee made for two.

"Jar Jar could you please have the guards check on the escort," she seems to have a crack starting in her staunch exterior. He disappears with a mere nod.

We are alone.

"Oh I've missed you!" she cries throwing her arms around me.

"As I have missed you," I state pulling her quickly into my lap, kissing her senseless.

A mess of tangled limbs, hot passionate kisses that go on for minutes, till she pulls slightly away, "We…have…to ...t...t…talk," she manages even through my most persistent kisses.

"Okay…" I absently agree still kissing her, not at all intending on stopping.

"Serious Obi-Wan…it's about Anakin."

His name has a way of sobering the moment; I pull away.

"He came to see me today," she looks to her hands, "he professed to be in love with me! Obi-Wan he kept going on about being grown up, that I had told him I would never stopping caring about him…" she is visibly distraught, frustration showing in the tiny crease lines along her forehead.

"I do care for him, but not like…like that! I tried to tell him that he would always be that little boy on Tatooine to me, which just made him livid. I thought maybe he was just missing his mother, and I told him as much. You should have seen him! I have never seen anyone hold so much anger in; I mean it was right there…right there on the surface I could just see it about ready to burst…he stormed out. I think of him as a little brother," she shakes her head, leaning against me.

"He is having a hard time right now…" I try and not let her see my concern, this aggressiveness and 'love' is going to have to be dealt with, and soon, "I believe his dreams have worsened, I've tried to talk to him, and I will have to try again…and again after that, until I can break through. He is angry, but we will work through it, somehow. You did well though," I kiss the top of her head.

"Hmph," she swallows an unbelieving cynical laugh, "Well if he is angry now imagine if he finds out we're married, that I am in love with his Master…"

I shutter, "He wont find out, he can't," I set my words in iron.

"We've put ourselves in a mess haven't we my dear."

I sigh, though I have to smile, when I realize she is wearing the diamond necklace along with the trailing black scarf secured around her neck, it reminds me that no matter the difficulty, we are in this for the long haul, we are forever.

"Yes, but it is more then worth it," I kiss the tip of her nose.

"Yes it is," she seems to perk up, "You know Sabe and Sache have a crush on you."

"What?" I laugh and she slips off my lap heading for a mirror, to straighten the clothes I have effectively ruffled, and the hair I have mussed.

"Oh yes, when I talked to them after the wedding…before I actually told them of it they were giggling like they were school girls, saying how charming and dashing you were. How they just loved your lightsaber," she pauses hand tucking an errant hair in place, her face turns to one of question, her brows knitting, "Though I am not sure if they were actually referring to your actual lightsaber or something else altogether…" she shrugs her shoulders and catches my eyes and wide smile in the mirror.

"And why my darling wife, didn't you mention this before?" I lift an eyebrow.

She giggles, biting her lip "I don't know," she lifts a single shoulder turning to me hands on her hips eyes alight with amusement.

"Why tell me now?"

"I guess I figured since your padawan has a crush on me, it is only fair that I tell you my handmaidens have a crush on you."

"Well thank you for enlightening me, my dear…let's just hope your handmaidens stay faithful to you," I smirk, standing and folding my arms.

"They will, they think it's terribly romantic, our risking everything to be together," she steps closer to me tipping her chin to meet my gaze with challenge and humor, hands intertwining behind her back.

I want to lean down and capture her perfect lips, but our conversation is interrupted abruptly by the aforementioned handmaidens.

"Milady, the escort has arrived."

Yes, there is a bit of a blush creeping into Sabe's cheeks as she steels a glance toward us…how odd.

"Thank you we'll be down in a moment," Padme grins and as Sabe leaves she turns to me "Told you."

Indeed, she did, she heads for the door and I pause admiring the view.

"Coming Master Kenobi?" she asks in her sultry laced 'formal' voice, the special one she reserves not for addresses to the Senate floor or heads of state, but for me.

"Of course…milady," I let my voice drop a few octaves and caress the last word; her tremor can not be missed.

"Don't do that to me Obi-Wan! I've got to give a speech and I won't be able to focus if you keep talking to me like that! The things you can do to me!" I receive her message as I help her don her black hooded cape.

"Well baby, if you knew what your dress is going to me…well we would just stay in…besides you started it," I send back, letting my hand travel along her spine, reveling in her shiver.

"I love you, you know," she casts a glance at me over her shoulder.

I smile at her, "I know."

A/N:

sassy-satine Thank you, I hope I am not abusing the water/sky thing lol, I know that you can use something so much it becomes redundant I just hope it hasn't reached that point yet :-)

I had forgotten about the 'I don't want to hear anymore about Obi-Wan.'! I don't know how I did, but I did! And I thought the exact same thing! Anakin was a bit threatening, I was waiting for him to hit her or something, but it did make Obi-Wan seem that much more of an escape, a refuge for her; and I loved that.

Thank you so much for always reading and reviewing!

mystripedskirt Well I am so glad that you came across my story! There are so many awesome Obidala stories out there. I hope you enjoy this story and thank you so much for adding my story to your favorites.

sir-writes-alot Thank you :-) I did update a bit faster then normal these past few times, I was just so excited, and all the reviewers just make me feel so good and make me want to oblige when they ask so nicely for an update I can hardly refuse!

Aren't you lucky! All the Obi-Wan you can handle for free! Mmm, I'm jealous:-)

Aiska Kenobi: Thank you so much:-) I'd love to tell you when Anakin finds out but it's a surprise… (even to me at the moment lol)

TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith Oh, I am sorry for your writers block! I truly hate that! I have so many half written stories, or in some cases one half written page of a story idea that just went kaput but I can't bring myself to toss because I just know one day I will get this sudden idea and it will all come together…but my minds seems to work like lightening…one brilliant flash and it's gone ;-) lol

Thank you for the complement on my writing, truly, it was so very nice I smiled about all day :-) though I hardly consider it such, it means a lot to think that people enjoy it. So thank you again.

mrs. skywalker: Thanks :-) I know, the girl all she does is rule a planet, make a few speeches and bam, she gets the HOTEST Jedi in the known (and most likely unknown) galaxy! Of all the luck… ;-)

biblehermione I am so glad you love this story! Thank you for reading! I agree there should be more, but the population is steadily growing I believe, people are seeing the light! Yes! It's just a matter of time before the world forgets all about Padme…and what's his name…Anakin something lol (well maybe it won't go that far)

abcabcThank you, I try and reply as much as I can, everyone is so wonderful with their reviews I figure it's the least I can do :-)

Swooning? I think the woman were at the doors of the Jedi Temple on their knees pleading to have their children! Poor Yoda and Windu they probably had to beat them off with a stick…or a cold hose…LoL And of course you can have a piece of the Jedi sandwich…there is certainly enough to go around! Hmm, pass the Obi-Wan!

Us Addicted? You don't say…I know I am at the very least, and I must say I enjoy every minute!

Yeah, I thought Padme must have been taught something too, I wouldn't think you could live with a Jedi and not learn something…I am glad the communication thing between Padme and Obi-Wan came out okay, I was worried people would think it a bit cheesy lol.

SuP3RG1R: I am glad you like that line "handsome senator or any handsome man…" I always kind of liked that line too; it is so cheesyily romantic lol

All the questions will soon be answered :-) And I have a pretty good feeling that Anakin will not respond well when he does find out, and action is most certainly coming :-) I am very glad you are hooked I hope you enjoyed this update and never fear another one is on the way!

UltraViolet41: Thank you so much for the wonderful remarks! I am not one for pure fluff all the time either, though I do indulge a bit more then I should :-) I am so glad that characters have come across well, I always worry about that when I write first person.

I do sincerely apologize for the spelling/grammar mistakes. I do have spell-check as well as the grammar check but they just don't seem to catch all the mistakes I tend to make (my mind just words faster then my fingers) so I do apologize, I proof-read though it seems no matter how many times I do I always catch something, no excuse though, I will try and be more mindful. Thank you for the helpful suggestions, I hope you enjoy the story :-)

Hmm, hostage, would Obi-Wan be available to rescue me? ;-)

starnat: George Lucas came up with a fantastic idea...I just wish someone would have tapped him on the shoulder and said:

"Georgie, great idea, fab, just love the 'Star Wars' idea, but please! A 14 year old queen who looks and acts older, falling in love with a nine year old boy? Especially when there is another Jedi there who is closer to her age and so much more appealing! Please! Yeah, I know, you say she doesn't fall in love with him till he's 19, but she doesn't see him for ten years and then BAM she's 24 and a senator and falling for an egotistical power hungry teenager she knew only briefly when he was NINE! I can make lightsabers, wookies and no bathrooms believable but that? Work with me here! ... There is more you say…really? Oh, they have twins…nice, okay and…they what? They kiss…as in tongue in mouth…You sicko! There is sexual tension between siblings? I don't care if they didn't know…that just wrong! Yeah my little Georgie man, your idea is great, but your love stories suck!"

See if someone had told him that, maybe the Force would have been balanced without that evil breathing dude that looks amazingly like Dark Helmet from Spaceballs… lol Thank you so much for reviewing!