"I'm not sure I understand, mi'lady. If this is a date and the Jedi wanted to see you, then why is he dragging along his apprentice?" Dormé questioned while she arranged her employer's long dark hair into an intricate jeweled headpiece, allowing the long curls to dangle loosely across her shoulders.
"He was just being polite, Dormé. You know Jedi Masters and their padawans. They're practically inseparable."
"Should make for an interesting honeymoon."
Padmé caught sight of Dormé's smirk in the mirror. "Ha, ha. It won't be like that at all. You just wait and see." She argued back. "He's interested, I'm telling you! Didn't you notice the way he blushed in the hallway? And then got really quiet. That's not like the Obi-Wan Kenobi we know at all. Admit it."
"That's true." Dormé agreed. "Back on Naboo, you two would stay up until dawn although you never did tell me what you talked about."
A small smile appeared on Padmé's face as she recalled the events on Naboo. It seemed like a lifetime ago. What had they discussed? Mostly the death of his Master, she remembered, and how that would affect Obi-Wan's life. They had also talked some about Anakin, and his new responsibilities of training a padawan.
"We just talked, Dormé. Like friends do."
But in Padmé's mind, they had become much closer than mere friends. During the short time that Obi-Wan had stayed on Naboo following Qui-Gon's funeral, she had definitely felt the development of something much stronger than friendship. However, life interfered - hers and his - and knowing a separation was imminent, she didn't pursue a relationship.
And then there was also the age problem. She was only fifteen at the time, but mature enough to realize that her feelings would have to wait. If they were meant to be, then someday, fate would bring them together again.
Well, it seemed that fate had finally caught up with her, and she was excited beyond measure.
"Are you sure everything is ready?" She asked as Dormé finished applying the final touches to her make-up.
"Yes, mi'lady." Dormé answered the same question for the third time. "The food is in the warming unit, the candles are lit. All I need to do is dim the lights and begin the music."
"Great." Padmé then stood up and turned to face her friend. "How do I look?"
"Fit for a queen…or in your case – a Jedi Knight." The young assistant winked before leaving the room to finish up the small tasks for the evening.
As Padmé turned to follow, the chime to her apartment rang out and her heart skipped a beat.
Earlier that evening, the Jedi Master was having a similar conversation with his young padawan.
"Tell me again why you are dragging me along on this date of yours, Master?" Anakin straightened his inner tunics as he leaned his head to look past his doorway, across the common room, and into the open door of his Master's bedroom.
"It's not a date, Anakin." The Knight answered back. "Padmé and I are just friends. I would have thought that you would have been excited to see her. And besides, we're not seeing her for me. This is for you."
Obi-Wan waited in silence as he could hear the slowly approaching footsteps of his apprentice and then glanced to his doorway to see Anakin's face revealing a slow but steady awareness.
"You're setting me up again, aren't you Master." There was no trace of a smile with the statement.
"Anakin. It's my duty as your Master to provide you with a bondmatch for your Shidoki Ceremony, which – let me remind you, begins in three months! It's not like we've had much success so far." Obi-Wan turned back to the mirror to continue trimming his short beard.
"And just whose fault would that be? If I recall correctly, the last bondmatch you tried toset me up with had a tail."
"She was highly intelligent, padawan."
"And a glass eye."
"She was a wonderful cook."
"And one leg." Anakin continued.
"You're just too picky, Anakin." Obi-Wan pointed his trimmer toward the young man and then broke out in a smile. "Don't worry, padawan. I have a good feeling about tonight. The Force clearly told me that she was the one. And besides, you already know her, so you should be able to relax and enjoy yourself."
Obi-Wan put the toiletries away, brushed off his tunics, amd then walked over to pick up his dark brown cloak.
"Master!" his young charge pleaded as he stood in the doorway. "That was ten years ago. I was nine years old at the time. I hardly remember her."
"Well, then you're just going to have to trust your old Master." Obi-Wan teased as he ushered Anakin through the doorway and toward the exit. "All of her body parts are intact and appear to be fully functional."
He paused at Anakin's snort.
"She's as beautiful as ever, padawan. You'll be happy with her. I promise."