I smile as R2-D2 and C-3PO trundle past me onto the ship, and I hear 3PO moan again about space travel. We've only had him here with us for a little over two weeks now, but he has still managed to irritate the hell out of us all. I even heard Anakin threaten to 'dismantle that irritating thing if he complains one more time.'
It's been a couple of days since Bant told me about Obi-Wan, and yet I still can't quite believe what she has told me. Just a few years before I met him, Obi-Wan was….well just like Anakin. Impulsive, a bit reckless…in love. And it makes me wonder whether or not it really is just Qui-Gon's dying plea (that I know Obi-Wan so desperately tries to fulfill) which makes him as tough and strict as he is on Anakin. Could it be that, no matter how hard he tries to forget the past, he can still see it being replayed in Anakin's life…can he see some disaster at the end of this shining rainbow that Anakin and I have started out on that we can't see? This is when I realize that Obi-Wan is much more like Anakin than I think I fully understand, and perhaps even Anakin really understands. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a never-ending puzzle, a web of his own as tightly woven as the threads in his Jedi robes. But even the greatest of all tangles can be unpicked….all it takes is a weak link.
"Master would you please stop holding my arm, it makes me look old."
Laughing I turn to the hallway leading to the landing platform as I hear Anakin's strong voice echo from somewhere behind me. I see Obi-Wan shaking his head, smiling a smile I haven't seen him wear since he brought Anakin back to Courascant. It is one of slight concern, but playfulness as he gently teases his best friend…his son.
"Well Anakin, you are nearly 20 now…"
"Oh no, don't you start that. I have plenty of 'Ha, look how old you are Master' cracks up my sleeve that I had time to think of when I was laid up in bed. I will use them."
"You do my apprentice and it will be your head."
"Now come on, I don't think that is entirely fair seeing as I just lost my arm…"
I burst out laughing as Obi-Wan swats Anakin round the head, pleased that things finally seem to be back on track between them. The past few days had been spent with Obi-Wan, Bant and I getting Anakin back up on his feet, and planning this trip. Now he walks pretty much the same as he did before Geneosis, with only a slight limp and occasional stumble evident at times.
Eventually, with more wise cracks being hurled at each other, Obi-Wan and Anakin finally reach the platform where I stand in my irritatingly elegant regalia, carefully stood so as not to displace my headdress. If I did, it would probably send me flying head first over the edge of the platform they're that damn heavy.
They both bow as the reach me, as is custom to the Jedi. I have told them not to repeatedly of course, and Anakin is always more than willing to comply with that. Its just Obi-Wan's thick skull I have to drill it into now.
Anakin grins at me as he sees my face. He know exactly what I'm thinking, or at least half the time he thinks he does. I smile along with him, giving him a hug, resisting the urge to lean up and kiss him. I can feel the warmth of one arm wrap around my back, but gently frown as he holds me when I see him make no move to put his mechanical one there. I step away smiling of course, and move to shake Obi-Wan's hand.
Hugs always make Obi-Wan feel uncomfortable, and now I know what I know I can see why. Anakin has always, according to him, teased Obi-Wan about it and now I realize how hard it will be to keep this story to myself. When I hear Anakin's jokes, will I be able to laugh along as I did? Or will an awkward silence now fall? I can't understand how Obi-Wan can stand it, how can such jokes not make him think of his past? But maybe he does, maybe it still haunts him.
"Take care of him Senator. He says he can look after himself…"
"I can look after myself!"
I stifle another laugh as Obi-Wan rolls his eyes and Anakin shifts around impatiently.
Today is finally that day that Anakin and I get to retreat back to Naboo for a week, and in a few days, we will finally be married. I smile at the thought, of how eager to get away Anakin looks, his neatly braided Padawan braid trembling with excitement.
"I'll be sure to Master Kenobi. Anakin won't get away with much with me and my handmaidens around."
Anakin playfully groans and rolls his eyes, and then darts behind Obi-Wan to hide as Bant comes storming onto the platform.
"Anakin Skywalker! Get out from behind Master Kenobi and face me like a man."
I watch as he peeps his head out from his crouching position behind Obi-Wan, and I can't help but burst out laughing again as an Impish grin spreads across his face. So many times during my stay with him had I seen that, and now after two weeks of hell, it had finally returned.
"Anakin Skywalker, don't you dare give me that grin. You know you have to take this medication with you, it was our agreement."
Anakin steps out gingerly from behind Obi-Wan, a playful pout being directed her way. He holds out his hand, looking down to the floor like a little boy who'd just been scolded. I can see Obi-Wan trying desperately not to fall about laughing, trying to be the strict Jedi Master everyone sees him as. Bant on the other hand, has no such restrictions and is practically leaning on the ship, trying to hold herself up. Anakin was truly back, and I find myself loving him more and more with each passing moment.
"Come on Ani; let's get you out of here before you get into any more trouble. I'll take his medication Bant."
I don't think I've ever seen Anakin move as quickly as he did at that moment. By the time Bant had handed me the small bottle of tablets, Anakin was in the cockpit and had fired up the engines. I shake Bant's hand before she turns to leave, smiling gently at Obi-Wan as she goes. I turn to join Anakin on the ship when Obi-Wan touches my shoulder, a worried look making me frown.
"Milady..."
"Padme."
"Padme…please take care of him. I know he still has some issues he refuses to talk to me about, and since Palpatine's visit a couple of day sago…well he seems a bit…confused."
"Don't worry; he'll be safe with me. I'll talk to him and see what's wrong. It's probably to do with his arm; I noticed he doesn't like using it."
"He has mentioned a little concern about that."
"He'll be fine, I promise. If it's something you should know about I'll contact you."
"Thank you."
This time I do give him a hug. I don't care how uncomfortable it makes him feel, it's about time Obi-Wan Kenobi came back to the real world instead of living in 'Perfect Jedi' mode all the time. I feel him tense slightly, but gently relax as he puts his arms around me. Smiling I pull away, and walk up the ramp to join Anakin, who looks thoroughly agitated. I sit next to him as he sighs with relief and, with a small wave to Obi-Wan, launches the ship into space.
I watch his hands seemingly glide over the controls, noticing the glint of gold durasteel. Its funny how at these moments, it doesn't bother him in the slightest; it works just as well as his normal hand would. When, however, it comes to working with other beings, he's hesitant…embarrassed. As his movements gently slow, I reach over and place my hand on his mechanical one. I see his shoulder's tense, and I frown as he pulls it quickly away, not looking at me, still focused on the controls.
I stand up as he puts the ship into hyperspace, and turn his chair around to face me. Carefully, I lower myself into his lap, and wrap tender arms around his neck, leaning my head on his shoulder. He still feels quite thin underneath the tunic, and it worries me a little, but I know that he still has to recover, and he is doing so now at a remarkable rate.
I feel his left arm snake round my back and pull me closer, but the absence of his right arm makes me sigh and look into sparkling blue eyes that remind me of the beautiful lakes on Naboo.
"Why so bothered Ani…"
He looks away and wraps his right arm across his stomach.
"I'm not."
I smile and gently lift his chin up to make him meet my gaze. I reach down and clasp his mechanical hand in mine, holding tighter as he starts to pull away again. I pull back gently, guiding it to the small of my back, running my own hand back up his arm to his shoulder, never stopping until I reach his cheek. I feel him gingerly move his hand up my back and I smile as his confidence grows. I lean forward and plant a gentle kiss on his lips.
Suddenly I feel him push me closer to him, and his tongue gently runs along my bottom lip before finding its way inside to meet mine. I mumble to him through my breathlessness and his invading tongue.
"Ani…we mustn't…"
"Yes we must."
I pause to respond, to explain my reasoning. The fact that he is still not at a hundred percent, that too much activity could still hurt him bothers me. However, all thoughts of that kind flee my head when a gasp escapes my throat as he caresses sensitive skin on the back of my neck, and his hand slips back down my spine, gently pulling the zip of my dress along with it.