TITLE: Play It…Again
AUTHOR: RaeAnne
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: one-three
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters; I am just playing…no money being made, just hopefully entertainment gained.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi, well if any of ya all are reading my series Between Darkness and Light don't worry I am still writing it, and am not forgetting about it. I just got this idea for this and wanted to write it. This story is inspired by two songs, the first and most obvious is Save the Last Dance For Me by the Drifters, or more currently Michael Bublé (I just love him!) and As Time Goes By, I don't know the singer—expect it is from one my favorite movies Casablanca. Of course the name is taken from the movie too LOL. Anyway, it's rather short, it will in total be two chapters and the focus is just on Obi-Wan and Padmé. It changes the plot line of the movies a bit toward the end. I hope you enjoy! Lots of Love RaeAnne

PART ONE:

There she is Naboo's queen in all her regal elegance. And who is that that stares at her from his shadowed corner? It is her protector her confidante and her friend. Who is it that holds her as she sways to the quick provocative melodies being played by the blithe orchestra? It is just a boy who fumbles and laughs at his patient teacher.

The victory party plays along its merry way the festive atmosphere never waning. There is reason to celebrate just as there is reason for the single Jedi to morn in his corner. Life now has paused… for just a while; the night seems eternal neither giving way to light nor tiring from activity.

Slowly the tired boy's eyes draw heavy and his head droops though he still manages to move his feet to the enchanting music. The Queen smiles sweetly running her hand over the burnt gold of the boy's hair and waves for a handmaiden to see to the young Jedi hopeful.

The Jedi still moving about in his shadows sees this, and sees that the Queen is now alone in the middle of the dance floor. He waits waits to see if another gentleman will step in; one does not. He breathes in a deep breath and walks with head high and eyes clear to the startled Queen.

"May I have this dance milady?" the Jedi bows hand extended.

The Queen blinks slightly shy though moves her hand from her heart where she had placed it to ensure that it still beat after the Jedi's unexpected request.

"Yes, sir Jedi, you may," she puts her hand into his large steady one just as the orchestra strikes up a new song.

His arm wraps around her in assurance, his other holds her hand with confidence. She meets his eyes with question and she finds only riddles and gaiety.

The new refrain is neither euphoric nor is tepid. It is not boisterous but rather sure, as the notes climb and dip along their knowing path. The Jedi whirls her around the gleaming floor with agility and deft awareness of their movements.

Their eyes never part as each searches for meaning in this mingling of souls so poorly costumed as a simple dance. The song sweeps over them whispering in their ears the secrets of their hearts, taunting them with the unknown truths of their future letting them in on the precious knowledge that like this song their paths are sure—and forever fated to be intertwined.

Maybe the Jedi knew of this dance before it began, perhaps he knew of the song that would be played but if he did, he was not confessing tonight. But if one were to look into the mans' kind blue eyes and witness the level of knowing and of the acute sense of pleasure then one would know that he had a bit of knowledge not privy to the rest of the small world beyond this dance, or even to the one in his arms.

"Be assured milady that while you will go on to dance many dances with men from far and wide and while you will have both sorrow and happiness away from me it will be I who has the last dance, it will be me at the end of the day that takes you home," he pulls her close and whispers in her ear.

Her eyes grow wide with surprise and then slightly cloud with understanding, for even she without the aide of the Force knows somehow that these words are true. She knows this truth as deeply as it were spoken from her own lips.

"Would it be too much for me to ask, to ask the orchestra to play it again?" she is not willing to leave the Jedi's arms, fearing the feeling of safety will flee the moment she does.

"Anther day perhaps, it would be too much to ask of this moment for it to be repeated in such a short time. But rest assure it will be played again…and like tonight you and I will dance the last dance," he smiles slightly scornful sweeping his arm across the nearly empty party debris laden room.

She blinks, when had the band left? When had the music stopped coming from the instruments and instead bubbled from her heart? When had the guests slumped in deep slumber in their chairs or wandered away? When had night given way to day?

"But…" she shakes her head in frustration.

"Peace milady," he releases her stepping away leaving her alone in the empty ball room the orange rosy luminosity of the sunrise casting a glow about the room. But somehow, even with that warmth she could not ward of the chill his hoarse whispered words had inflicted just before his arms left, "Remember always save the last dance for me."

And the Queen did. As she ruled her planet with grace and justice, she sat out the last dance of every gathering. She sat among the crowd and watched as whirling couples let their bodies weave a tale of love that she had once shared with her Jedi. The songs most times simple and traditional to her people but often she felt herself sway in her seat to the song that played in heart more then on the instruments.

Every gala she would find herself unconsciously looking to the entrance hoping in vain for a glimpse of the brown robe. Every time she was disappointed. But she still kept her promise and every time the last dance on her card was left empty.

She wonders what has become of the Jedi, she wonders if she will spend the rest of her life waiting for day he will walk back into her life.

What in the galaxy possessed her to agree to such a silly request? What stirred her so deep in her soul that she pledged to wait for a man she barely knew…had never received or offered a word of emotion beyond those called for in their friendship of haste, that grew only because of their working together toward the same goal? What transpired during the few shared minutes of silence that had them sharing a piece of each other's soul on that dance floor?

She had a very sure feeling it was something along the lines of falling in love.

Ten years, had it really been that long since he saw her? He hesitates just beyond the outskirts of the festive soiree allowing him merely a look at the moonlight bathed dance floor that sat just beyond the Senate Rotunda on Coruscant.

High lanterns swung in the gentle breeze from their high reaching poles the soft music floating from a well positioned band on the side. The cityscape bright and inviting but still the Jedi waits.

His heat beat quickens his eyes narrow, when had he changed? When had the leniency of his youth given way to the conservative constraint of age? He had made that young Queen who now laughs and dances as a graceful Senator, promise to wait for him…to never dance the last dance without him. He had fallen in love with that woman and never told her; only made her some wild spur of the moment oath. He aches a bit down deep mind numbing as his heart steps in for a moment, he cannot love her, but yet he does.

His heart cries out in agony he has to tell her, he has to confess! He watches his young padawan whisking her around the floor with more skill then he had years back and his once slight jealously, grows. The night becomes late, his moment is coming soon.

The Senator pulls away from the Jedi padawan leaner feigning fatigue and escapes to a chair. The padawan follows sitting close wondering why her eyes scan the perimeter and why her pulse seems throb.

She had hoped that the Master would come with his learner, she had hoped that she would finally get a glimpse of the man she promised to wait for tonight at this dance but her wishes have been dashed with each passing hour.

The band leader issues the last dance call and the anxious padawan tugs at her hand trying to pull her to the center. She declines all the while heart jumping and pulse pounding. The padawan undeterred.

"Let him come!" she silently pleads.

"I believe this dance is mine," the Jedi's voice is strong, crisp and entirely possessive.

The Senator's soul rises with joy, the learners' falls in defeat.

The Jedi extends his hand to the woman, who seems to have grown more beautiful in the passing years, if it were possible, and she turns her brown eyes to his blue ones and they see only each other.

Salty tears sting a bit, as she looks upon the handsome face that changed very little with time. Instead of the eagerness of youth, she finds the slight creases of confidence of the well trained. The hair a bit longer, the smile a little slower but the eyes, oh the eyes! They still burn bright with excitement and untold secrets. Her hand still fits perfectly in his and his arms still hold as right as they ever did.

The song of yesteryear fades and in its place is something not new, but not old but rather ever present and ever fashionable: the melody of love. It caresses the air leaving it heavy with the taste of romance.

They sway the dance of their souls as they had the years before, perhaps their lives had changed, their stations even but here in the limbo created by the song they find their souls have neither changed nor aged and have picked up right from where they had left off.

"I knew you'd come…" she whispers into his neck, there she hides her face for tears fall.

"You saved the last dance for me like you promised…thank you," he answers chest constricting. He holds her close not caring who might see for he knew it would be the last time.

"Don't let me go, please don't ever let me go," she demands as she hears the music start to fade.

He doesn't want to, but in his heart he knows he has to,"Let's walk," he leads her towards the edge of the dance floor where they carefully blend into the trees.

"What are we doing?" she asks still holding his hand heart jumping excitedly.

"Saying goodbye," he stops, looking down at her sadly.

"Goodbye? What do you mean?"

"I mean this is where we end… I am sorry Padmé; I didn't mean to hurt you…"

"I don't understand? You invade my heart and make me promise to sit out every last dance because it belongs to you…I don't see you for ten years and then you waltz back into my life just to say goodbye?"

"I didn't think it out! I was just a padawan…things were different then!"' he pulls from pacing the shadows.

"Didn't think it out? You need to thinking about something like this? What were you thinking about ten years ago?" she demands voice hissing and hard though her soul felt like it was breaking.

"I was thinking that I was madly in love with you!" he stands rigid unbelieving he just admitted that.

She blinks mouth dry and head spinning, "What?"

"I said I was thinking I was in love with you…" he says a bit quieter stepping close to her.

Tears slide down her cheeks, tears she hates for they show weakness and right now she doesn't want to break, she doesn't want to give in and let him trample all over her tender heart. Or worse yet she doesn't want him to feel pity for her when he walks away like he already said he was going to do.

"I will be here for you always…I will undoubtedly love you always but this can't be…" he kicks a stone hands folded in his sleeves.

Licking her lips, she tries to steady the motion in her, "Then go! Go Obi-Wan go!" she cries loudly her stomach knotting so tight she thinks she might double in pain.

He looks at her his own agony making him weak. He takes a step forward opening his arms to try and console her, she wretches away.

"No, not now. I do stupid things when I am in your arms. I can't think when you hold me! Being in your arms caused this heartache in the first place! You go! Go now, go walk away…please walk away…" she moans with despair.

He stiffens her words acting like iron, chilling his blood. "Alright, if that is how you want to end it, I'll go."

"It's not just what I want, Obi-Wan, but what I need."

"Goodbye Padmé."

"Goodbye, Obi-Wan."

A/N: there is part one, I hope you liked it, and I hope you review LOL :-) Part two coming soon.