Disclaimer: all main characters (except Khalee) are owned by Lucasfilms. I just borrowed them for a bit.

AN: Please read it. I really want feedback on the story…..anyway, enjoy. Oh yeah…and I apologize for it taking a while. No internet at home yet…soon I hope…

Chapter 6

It had been a month since Khalee began her search for more information for Maani and the Jedi that had enlisted their help. The Jedi, as smart and knowledgeable as they were, still could not figure out why Padme was a target to the Sith. Of course, there were many postulations, but they always led to more questions. Khalee, since she was technically not a Jedi and was close to her sister, was a prime candidate for the project. It didn't help that she desperately wanted to prove herself to the Jedi council. For the past month she had sat in on several conferences between the Queen, her council, and her sister trying to glean any information on anything relevant to Padme. Every time she left those meetings she had more questions, mainly about Padme and her intentions.

Khalee looked up from the notebook she had been writing notes in and realized the sun had set for the day. The play of oranges, pinks, and purples with the clouds caught and held her attention, relieving her of the tension that had built in her shoulders throughout the course of the day. I can't believe I've been sitting here all day. Earlier that morning, Khalee had asked to not be disturbed since she had a dire need to write down what she had observed. The only interruption had come during the noon hour when Sunya knocked at the front door and left a tray of food for her. She knew that Padme would be home soon and that they would be going to dinner with their parents again. Another evening with Mother glaring at me.

Khalee stood up, stretched, and walked to her room. She locked her notebook up and then walked out onto the patio. Sitting in her favorite spot next to the railing out of plain view of the world below, she closed her eyes and went into a healing and energy trance, calling on the Force to ease her muscles, give her strength for the evening to come, and to grant her wisdom to sort through all the conclusions she had made that day. She was so deep in the trance that she did not hear her sister enter the apartment, nor did she hear that she was accompanied by two men.

Padme noticed that the door to the patio was open and realized that Khalee was most likely out there. She's always loved the outdoors. Padme knew that she was out there thinking and decided to leave her alone until she decided to come inside. Instead she struck up conversation with the young Padawan about his day. The two were so deep in conversation that they didn't realize it when Obi-Wan walked out onto the patio to see the beautiful view of the city.

Obi-Wan knew it was dangerous to leave Anakin and the Senator alone together, but he needed time to think. Khalee had been strangely distant and formal with him over the past month. He had sensed it at dinner the evening following the training room incident, but her distance had begun to trouble him. He knew that there was more to her purpose for being back on Naboo. He also knew that there was something different about her, something that triggered an alarm in his gut every time she was near. The fact that he couldn't put his finger on it bothered him. Obi-Wan strolled to the railing and took a deep breath and stared out over the scenery before him. The water mirrored the colorful play of the clouds in its clear blue depths. The trees creaked in the wind and the nighttime creatures were beginning to wake up. He continued to stand there, almost visibly swaying with the wind, and wondering about the mysterious ways of women.

Khalee felt the presence on the patio before she completed her trance. She knew her sister must be back from her meetings for the day and was waiting for her to acknowledge her presence. She opened her eyes and saw that it was not Padme on the patio, but the man she could not stop her thoughts from straying to at night. He looked so wonderful in the sunset, like a mystical fire beast glorifying in the strength of his realm. The sunset seemed to set his hair and beard on fire. The breeze was playfully nipping at his cloak, causing it to swirl around his body. She could have watched him for hours standing there looking every bit the proud Jedi knight, but her feet had begun to fall asleep. She unfurled her legs to stretch them, calling attention to the Jedi that he was not alone on the patio.

Obi-Wan glimpsed someone out of the corner of his eye and turned rapidly. He saw shapely legs sticking out from behind a potted plant and smiled. So that's where she disappeared to. He walked over and saw eyes full of distress looking up at him.

"Good evening, my lady." "Good evening Master Jedi." Obi-Wan continued smiling until he thought sparks could fly from those chocolate eyes of her.

"Sir, do you find amusement in something?" Khalee was incredibly distressed that she had been discovered, but also more distressed in the fact that feeling was beginning to return to her feet and it felt like thousands of red-hot needles were being stuck all over them.

"Should I find amusement in something?" Obi-Wan could tell he was treading on dangerous ground when Khalee's face finally reflected what her eyes were saying. "Is there anything I can do for you my lady, since you are obviously in some kind of distress sitting on the patio?"

Khalee looked dejectedly at her feet while a slight pink tinged her creamy cheeks. "I have to admit, I was quite peaceful sitting out here alone until someone interrupted my privacy." Khalee looked up to ask him for his helping standing, but found those glorious eyes extremely close to her own. "I fear that my feet have fallen asleep and I feel as though they are now full of pins."

"Well, we should remedy that as your sister is waiting for you in the main room." Obi-Wan slid one hand beneath her knees and the other behind her back in order to lift her from the patio floor. The speed at which he stood up elicited a small gasp from Khalee. The shock caused her to wrap her arms around Obi-Wan's shoulders, causing his eyes to widen. Feeling her curves pressed so close to his chest made his heart jump. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and took in the essence of the womanly form in his arms. What are you doing Obi-Wan! The voice in his head was that of his former master, who seemed to be popping up more and more lately. Admonished from his momentary lapse, he abruptly set her down, making sure her feet were under her, and then turned and walked back into the apartment.

Khalee could do nothing but stand there, not only because she didn't trust her feet at the moment, but because she needed to get a grip on the emotions coursing through her. Is that disappointment I feel because he put me down? Sighing, Khalee gathered her composure and gingerly walked into the apartment, following in the wake of a brooding Jedi.

Khalee sat on the ledge of the fountain in her parents' garden, dress hiked up to her thigh, one foot in the water and the other curled underneath her. Her shoes and knee stockings were discarded on the ground next to the fountain. She sat there thinking about what she was doing.

That night at dinner, Obi-Wan had been extremely polite but had not been quite as flirtatious as he usually was. She caught him looking at her several times, which always managed to disrupt her composure and send shivers up her spine. He seemed to be going out of his way to avoid coming in direct contact with her. As much as she hated to admit it, she was sad that he wasn't talking to her.

After dinner, to help take her mind off of the Jedi knight, Khalee and Padme went for a walk in the garden. Padme knew that something was bothering her sister, so she was hoping she would open up once they were outside. Lately she had noticed that Khalee was forever lost in her own thoughts when nothing was going on. "Khalee, are you alright?" Padme questioned, hoping that her gentle pleading would comfort her sister.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

The two rounded a corner full of crisply sweet-smelling roses and came to the center of the garden where the fountain was. Khalee gasped as she stared at the fountain from her childhood. "I can't believe they kept this. Or I should say, I can't believe Mother allowed it to be left here."

"I knew you would remember it." Padme smiled as she saw the first pure smile of joy on her sister's face she had seen all day. "Papa wouldn't let her get rid of it. He told me once that it reminded him of you since you could always be found here when something was bothering you."

Khalee turned to her sister and gave her a hug. "Thanks Padme. I needed this." Khalee released her sister and walked around the fountain. "Do you remember right before I left when Mother told you I was leaving…or told me I was leaving?"

Padme stared at her feet and softly responded, "Yes, I do."

"I slept out here that night. I wished for all I was worth that the fountain would swallow me up and I could stay here. I could never understand why I was sent away. Over the years, whenever I was confronted with something new that I didn't understand, I always found a fountain. But they could never measure up to the beauty of this one." Khalee sighed as she walked back around to her sister. "Eventually I found my purpose in life."

Padme looked with curiosity at her sister, wondering at all the implications in that statement. Instead she took the conversation on a different path, one Khalee should have seen coming, but was too lost in the fact that she felt she had found an old friend.

"So Khalee, what's going on with you and Master Obi-Wan?" Padme grinned devilishly as she saw her sister taken aback at the question.

Thanking the Force that it was dark enough outside for her sister not to see her blushing, she choked out, "I don't know what you mean Padme. And you really should be asking yourself what you're doing with Anakin."

"I know what I'm doing." Padme attempted to defend herself in that simple statement, but she knew that she was also trying to convince herself.

"Do you? Do you really? Padme, listen to me. I worry about you when you're with him. It's obvious that you are incredibly attracted to him, but I don't think you realize…"

Padme couldn't believe that her sister had turned the conversation so expertly around to her relationship with Anakin. "Realize what? That he's a Jedi? I know what their lives are like."

"No you don't." Khalee hated herself at that moment for bringing this up, but she needed to know more about their relationship and how far it had gone. "Do you know anything about the vows a Jedi takes when they enter the order? Do you know anything about what he's going through?"

"How would you know any of this!" Padme glared at her sister, knowing that both of them were dangerously close to giving away secret information. "What makes you the expert on the Jedi…and on my life, for that matter!"

Khalee knew that if this conversation continued, feelings would be irrevocably hurt. "I'm sorry, Padme. I didn't mean to upset you. I just worry about you. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Padme hugged her sister, thankful that she cared about her as a person. "It's alright. I'm so glad you're here."

Khalee didn't know how long she had been sitting at the fountain. She had curled both legs under her as her feet got cold and demurely set her dress back over them. Thinking about her conversation with her sister had left her with more questions, not only about Padme's relationship with Anakin, but her own attraction to Obi-Wan. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed that not reacting to the Jedi knight was not an option to her heart. I don't understand why I am so attracted to him…

Slowly unfurling from her sitting position, she realized that she was being watched. Putting her guard up, she slowly put her shoes on and stood up, carrying the stockings in her hand. She started retracing her steps back to the house, but the presence continued to watch her, gauging her every move. Khalee slowed her pace to a leisurely walk and slowed her heartbeat because she was sure the world could hear it. As she climbed the steps into the house, she immediately sensed the presence behind a column and knew who it was even quicker.

Obi-Wan had watched Khalee and the Senator leave the house earlier that evening. He knew that they needed some time to talk, as sisters do, but he became disturbed with Padme returned without her sister about an hour later. During that time he had discussed numerous subjects with those inside- mainly politics- but his gaze was continuously drawn to the doorway through which the two sisters had passed. Claiming to need some fresh air after a rowdy debate over the current economic structure of the Republic concluded, Obi-Wan drifted outside and found a secluded spot on the porch overlooking the gardens.

His exchanges with women in the past had always been brief. Needing physical relief from a taxing assignment with his Master, Obi-Wan had always sought refuge in younger, more inexperienced female Padawans who hadn't yet realized that life would be so much harder than memorizing rules and lessons and passing tests. Many of those young women had never really been on an assignment. He soothed his physical needs and then left in the middle of the night. He knew it had been callous of him, but he didn't have time for attachments.

Obi-Wan had been running full tilt for quite a while now, ever since before they were sent to Naboo during Padme's reign as Queen. He had never had the time to even think about women in that manner. But now before him was a walking dilemma. She was confident, incredibly intelligent, beautiful, and kind but also reserved in a way that he had never seen before, almost as if she was hiding something. He had never met someone who made his heart completely contradict what his mind was saying. Talk about bad timing, he smirked while his thought dripped with sarcasm.

Needing to change positions, Obi-Wan moved to the porch railing and leaned on it. He scanned the gardens, completely unaware up to that point where his trek had led him. He had a prime view of the garden's centerpiece, an intricate fountain that currently had the woman of his thoughts sitting on its edge. Entranced by the view, he moved slightly to allow himself the cover of darkness to observe her. He watched as she swirled a foot in the water while the other was neatly tucked beneath her as her chin rested on her knee. That must have been some conversation she had with her sister. Realizing that she had become aware of his presence, he slowly made his way back to the doorway and waited behind a column for her.

Khalee reached the top of the steps and halted, keenly aware of the presence lurking behind the column. "Good evening, Master Jedi," Khalee said, keeping her voice devoid of emotion while her eyes sparkled and her heart began to race. Again thankful for the cover of darkness, Khalee waited for the confirmation of his presence.

Obi-Wan knew he had been found when she greeted him without seeing him. Something triggered a slight alarm in his head, but he ignored it as he stepped out in full view of Khalee. "Good evening, my lady. How are the gardens this evening?"

"They are well this evening, thank you. The fountain is most comfortable." Khalee knew she was treading on thin ice with her composure, but the words came out before she could stop them. "I suggest you try it some time."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I'm sure I will."

"Tell me, Master Jedi, was there anything in the gard…"

"Obi-Wan…"

Khalee stared blankly at the Jedi Knight before her completely thrown off by what he had just said. "Excuse me?"

Obi-Wan sauntered closer to Khalee until they were barely a foot apart. "My name is Obi-Wan. I give you permission to call me that."

Khalee's heart had begun a rapid beat the moment he closed the gap between them. Keenly aware of the man in front of her, she closed her eyes in a moment of panic, frantically trying to calm herself, unaware that Obi-Wan watched her intently.

Khalee opened her eyes, settled in the fact that her heart had calmed enough so that she could hear her surroundings. She once again regained her senses and her partially damaged barrier. "I give you leave to call me Khalee."

Obi-Wan smiled, knowing that his conscience would pay dearly for this moment. Recovering from his quick internal celebration, he noticed that she was staring at a point on the wall above his head.

"Excellent. Now what we need to talk about…" Obi-Wan placed his fingers beneath Khalee's chin and turned her eyes to his "…is why you were in the gardens without an escourt so late in the evening."

Khalee's world became decidedly warmer at the precise moment his fingers graced her chin. I can't lose it now! She knew that if they were caught at this moment, she could never forgive herself, even though it was not her fault. Stepping away, she turned her back on him not only to compose herself, but to emphasize something she had been thinking about. "I was thinking…about my sister." Realizing that she might be able to get some information about Padme's relationship with Anakin out of him, she continued speaking. "I think she has feelings for your Padawan."

Obi-Wan walked beside her and stood with his hands firmly clasped behind him. He had come so close in that one instance to losing all sense of propriety and kissing her. "I have had the same suspicions about Anakin's feelings towards you sister. They seem to be having a lot of time alone." Which I would like more of with you.

Khalee looked at Obi-Wan, her face devoid of emotion but her eyes conveying the concern she felt. "I think she's in danger…with him."

Obi-Wan was completely taken aback by what she said. He turned towards her to ask her more questions, but they were cut short.

"Khalee? Are you still out there?" Padme asked from just inside the doorway. "Yes I am." Khalee stepped away from the Jedi and turned towards the doorway. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes. I have a meeting in the morning with the Queen and it's getting really late." Khalee walked through the doorway, followed by Obi-Wan who went straight for the kitchen for some water. "You were out there for a long time." Padme's eyes followed Obi-Wan as he walked into the kitchen. She lowered her voice. "Are you okay? I was getting worried."

Khalee gave her sister a small smile. "I am completely fine. I was thinking and encountered Master Obi-Wan on my way back from the fountain. We were just talking." Padme accepted the answer, mainly because she knew her sister was telling the truth.

Khalee turned to say good-bye to her father and the Jedi knights. "Sweet dreams, butterbear," her father said as he walked her to the door. "Nite, Papa."

The two women were escourted back to Padme's apartment by the Jedi in silence, each person wanting to talk but not knowing how to approach the subject.

After dinner, she slipped out unseen and made her way to the rendezvous point. She had a meeting and she had missed the last few, so that made this one extra important.

She approached the cloaked figure hiding in the shadow of the forest.

"You're late." The cloaked figure was not happy with her tardiness as well as her failure to show up on several occasions.

"I apologize, Master. I was not able to get away and sending a message would have been too dangerous." She bowed before the figure to show how sorry she was with her ineptitude.

"Try harder."

"I will, Master."

The cloaked figure looked at the young woman with a mixture of pain and disgust. "Stand up." When the young woman was standing, the cloaked figure commanded, "Give me your notes."

The young woman pulled out an old fashioned notebook and handed it to the cloaked figure. "Now, listen carefully. I need to know what I can about these Jedi. Especially their weaknesses. I will contact you in two weeks with the meeting time and place."

"Yes, Master." The young woman bowed her head.

The cloaked figure waved its hand to dismiss the young woman.

The young woman flitted between shadows until she made it back to the Palace. She entered through the hidden entrance and winded her way through the servant's passage to her destination. She pulled out the key to the apartment and entered darkness, sighing in relief at the realization that no one was home yet.

She had a feeling she already knew the weaknesses of both the Jedi knights. And they were walking through the door…