Obi-Wan walked a little slower than usual, keeping tempo with the much-esteemed Jedi Master Yoda who walked beside him.
They had just finished receiving a report from the Supreme Chancellor regarding pirate activity just within Republic borders and Chancellor Palpatine had requested Jedi intervention. Several of the Jedi had attended the meeting, and it was decided that Allie Stass and her padawan would be assigned the mission.
Once reaching the circular inner hall of the senate building, Yoda stopped and turned to gaze up at the taller Jedi.
"Quiet you are, Obi-Wan. Much on your mind, I sense you have."
"It's nothing, Master." Obi-Wan replied, anxious to keep moving, as his nerves the past few days were wearing thin.
"See through you, I can." The wizened Jedi croaked. "Worried about your padawan, you are."
Obi-Wan acquiesced with a groan and moved to take a seat on one of the long benches that lined the hallway. Yoda followed him.
"Anakin's Shidoki Preliminary Ceremony is in three months, Master, and the Force has yet to provide a suitable mate."
"Hmm." The diminutive Master replied, which Obi-Wan recognized as his way of stalling while he consulted the Force. "Perhaps trying too hard, you are."
"Or perhaps the entire thing is unnecessary." Obi-Wan blurted out before he could stop the words, his frustration getting the best of him. He winced in anticipation of what he knew was coming and was not disappointed when Yoda's gimerstick struck his shin.
"For eight-hundred years the Shidoki Ceremony has occurred. Every Jedi, a mate they need. Lonely on missions they become. Loneliness leads to the Dark Side. Know this you do, although padawan you have. But knights who do not have students, someone to come back to, they need. Helps stabilize them in the Force, it does. Important also for the future of the Jedi, it is. Such bonds provides padawans strong in the Force. Almost all children born of Shidoki bondmatches, Force-sensitive they are."
"I know…I know." Obi-Wan rubbed his face with his hand. "It's just been a lot more difficult that I thought it would be. Anakin came to the temple at such a late time. All the other padawans his age had already been bondmatched since the creche, it seemed. And the missions we have been assigned to have been to mostly non-humanoid civilizations."
"A problem mating with a non-human, young Anakin has?" Yoda asked with such naivety that Obi-Wan almost let out a snort. But instead, he looked curiously at the smaller Jedi, actually unsure whether Yoda was serious or not.
"I think he prefers humans, Master."
"Hmmm." Yoda replied once while Obi-Wan awaited the results of his introspection.
And waited.
Hefinally chose to speak out of turn.
"Master, if you don't mind, can we continue this discussion back at the Temple?"
"Patience, a Jedi must have."
Obi-Wan performed a perfect imitation of his young charge at that moment whenhis eyes flew up to study the details of the hallway ceiling trim and tile just before the Force tugged at him – hard. He glanced first down to the esteemed Master sitting peacefully and serenely beside him, and then down the hallway to see a young woman dressed in an elaborate dark gown, followed by a similar-appearing female, although not as regally dressed. He recognized the young woman right away and rose to greet her.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi." She beat him to his greeting, and shook his hand warmly between both of her own, a bright smile lighting her face. "It is so good seeing you. I was just saying to Dormé the other day – I wonder what Obi-Wan has been up to?"
"Senator Amidala, a pleasure it is seeing you as well." He returned her smile warmly.
"And Master Yoda, it is good to see you too."
"Senator." Yoda bowed politely and then returned to the bench to give the younger people some privacy.
"And please, call me Padmé, Obi-Wan. We've known each other too long not to be on a first-name basis."
"Of course, Padmé." Obi-Wan's smile widened even more as he returned the young woman's warm gaze.
A somewhat uncomfortable silence passed between them before Dormé leaned forward to whisper something into the senator's ear, at which point Padmé grinned back toward the Jedi Knight standing before her.
"I'm sorry, but I have a meeting to attend to." She once more held out her hand, which Obi-Wan immediately grasped and held firmly. "It was really nice seeing you again." And then she began to move away.
Once again, Obi-Wan felt an urging from the Force, and with only a slight hesitation, he called out to the young woman. "Senator. I mean, Padmé."
Both women stopped and turned to gaze once more at the Jedi.
"If you wouldn't mind." Obi-Wan drew a deep breath. "I would like to come to your apartment to see you again sometime."
A hint of surprise flashed behind the dark brown eyes before a smile lit them. "That would lovely, Obi-Wan."
"And also if you wouldn't mind, I would like to bring my padawan along. Anakin's been dying to see you again."
"Anakin." The small grin she had been displaying broke out into a large smile. "I would like to see him again too. When should I expect you?"
"Tomorrow night, if you are free About seventeenth hour?"
"That would be perfect. I'm looking forward to it."
"So am I."
He then watched the young woman stroll down the long corridor, immediately followed by her assistant.
His attention was suddenly caught by a tsk-tsk sound coming from the bench where Master Yoda still sat.
"Worry wastes much energy, it does. Trust in the Force, you should. That young senator, provided an answer to your problem, she has."
Obi-Wan searched the Force for confirmation of what Yoda had said and then turned back around to catch another glimpse of the retreating figure of Padmé Amidala.
"I believe she has." He agreed in a whisper before she moved out of his sight.