A slight cool breeze wafts across the porch, fluttering his cream tunics.
A song from a native Nubian fowl echoes against the distant background of the forest.
The sky is rich with hues of purple and yellow as the sun retreats behind the heavily wooded hills, casting long colorful reflective shadows across the lake.
Obi-Wan takes a deep breath, drawing the peace and serenity of the surroundings into his soul. Peace and serenity for once instead of the dark power he had previously been gathering to himself.
Four months. He had denied the inevitable for as long as he could. He owed her that. She hadn't expected this, didn't deserve this.
But the Force was becoming impatient. The galaxy was demanding. It would not be long now.
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Padmé sipped her tea, looking out the window at the lake retreat porch, watching Obi-Wan as he stood at its edge staring out at the waters. It had become his evening routine, and she had felt inclined to leave him alone to meditate.
Four months. They had come to Naboo where they had expected to spend their last days together, but for some reason, he was waiting.
Until she was ready? Until she could cope? How could she possibly ever cope with this?
Her hand absentmindely reached to the growing bulge of her abdomen. The lives she felt moving within her brought a peace and joy to her heart, albeit short-lived.
A glance back toward the lake, and the strong urge to join her soulmate overwhelmed her. Like all the nights before, this could possibly be their last one together.
The bare soles of her feet padded gently through the puddles on the stony porch left by that morning's rainfall. She stole silently up to his side and slipped her fingers through his.
He smiled slightly, she noted, and grasped her hand more firmly.
Neither of them said a word.
He was thinner now and he looked older somehow. Wiser. More beautiful than before, if that was possible.
She was going to miss him desperately.
His arm released her hand and moved around her waist. She leaned into his body and sighed, content for the moment, as the shrill cry of a nearby waterfowl filled the air.
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Obi-Wan leaned on his elbow and watched her sleep. Should he wake her and tell her? If he did, what would he say? Goodbye?
The word seemed insignificant. They knew this moment would come. He felt she was prepared, as prepared as one could be for such a time.
A gentle caress to her abdomen sent a wave of Force to the growing children hidden inside.
'I love you. Take care of your mother for me.'
He smiled as he felt the vibration against his hand as a small foot kicked out in response against the womb.
A gentle caress then to dark brown curls sent a wave of Force into Padmé's dreams.
'I love you sweetheart. I always have. I always will. You'll be fine."
Then a gentle kiss to her forehead, and Obi-Wan moved away from the bed, out the double glass doors and onto the porch.
Clouds were beginning to roll in from the East, bringing more rain, hiding the luminescent Nubian moon.
Obi-Wan moved to the edge of the porch once more and lifted both of his arms, outstretched toward the night skies. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and waited for the darkness to come.
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Padmé was awakened by the sound of thunder. She instinctively reached across the bed, but found only cold and empty sheets. A sudden fear gripped her heart. She leapt up from the bed and hurried to the doorway.
A flash of bright blue lightning streaked across the sky and she saw Obi-Wan at the edge of the porch in his typical spot, but not in his typical posture. His hands were stretched out almost as if he were calling the lightning to himself.
And then Padmé realized what it was. It was not actual lightning from a storm she was seeing. It was the power of the Dark Side, and Obi-Wan was drawing the last of it to him.
Padmé had never actually witnessed the phenomenon before, but as the vision of what was going to happen came to her, she realized with great sorrow that this was the end. He had wanted to face it alone, but she found she just couldn't let him. She rushed out to him just as all the swirls of blue power converged into one and a huge bolt burst through the clouds and came crashing down, directly over where Obi-Wan stood.
He never heard the tortured 'No!' she screamed out.
She reached him just after it had struck, catching his lifeless body as he fell, weeping and holding him tightly against her, rocking him gently.