Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It's George's sandbox. I just play here.

AN: Thanks for all the great reviews! Enjoy the chapter!

Never Gone

Chapter 15: Forbidden Love

Three days had passed since the Gala. Anakin was returning this morning with his mother and Padme's own mother and sister would be arriving soon too. Obi-Wan had made himself scarce the last three days. He performed his duties of security without being seen and had taken to eating his meals alone. She knew that it bothered Anakin and he still felt like it was his fault that Obi-Wan had distanced himself. But Padme had an inkling that it was more than that and she knew it had something to do with Lea. So, she had taken it upon herself to have a talk with him this morning herself.

"You wanted to see me Senator?" Obi-Wan asked formally.

"Yes, I was hoping you would escort me down to the lift to meet my mother and sister since Ani isn't back yet. He wouldn't like me going alone," Padme replied.

"Of course Senator and he would be correct, you shouldn't go alone," Obi-Wan replied. Padme nodded, as they left her apartment and headed for the elevator.

Obi-Wan, did Anakin do something that has upset you?" Padme asked bluntly. Obi-Wan sighed.

"No senator, it's not really his fault," Obi-Wan replied.

"This is about Qui-Gon, isn't it?" Padme asked.

"He told you?" Obi-Wan asked. Padme smiled.

"Ani tells me everything. And he really couldn't hide anything from me even if he wanted to," Padme replied.

"I shouldn't let it bother me, but it does hurt a little that he would speak to Anakin and not to me," Obi-Wan admitted.

"Well, a little bit of advice from something I've learned in the Senate. You have to be listening in order to hear the truth," Padme replied. Obi-Wan sighed.

"Obi-Wan, I think there is more going on here than whatever Anakin said to you. And I think it has something to do with Lea," Padme replied.

"What did she tell you?" Obi-Wan demanded.

"Nothing, but you two have been avoiding each other like the plague," Padme replied.

"I am at your apartment to do my job Senator. There is nothing going on between us," Obi-Wan replied. Padme decided to drop it since she obviously wasn't getting anywhere with Obi-Wan. She would just have to drag the truth out of Lea. The Naberrie family ship landed in the docking bay at 500 Republica and Padme waited for them to walk down the ramp.

"Padme!" Jobal cried, as ran to her daughter and hugged her tightly.

"I missed you mom," Padme said.

"I missed you too honey. Where's Anakin?" Jobal asked.

"He's should be returning from Tatooine any time with his mother. Then, I'm going to take us all out to dinner tonight. That includes you Obi-Wan," Padme ordered. Obi-Wan was about to decline, but Jobal interrupted him.

"Are you the Jedi that is responsible for seeing that Anakin, Padme, and Lea got out of that horrible situation on Dantooine?" Jobal asked.

"Um, yes Mrs. Naberrie, I am Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," he replied.

"Well, then I should thank you Obi-Wan. And please call me Jobal," she replied, as she shook his hand.

"Well little sister, don't I get a hug?" Sola asked, as she lugged her travel case down the ramp.

"Of course, it's so good to see you Sola," Padme said, as she hugged her older sister tightly.

"It good to see you too little sister. We have a lot of catching up to do. I want details, details, details," Sola laughed. Padme rolled her eyes and helped with her sister's cases. They took the elevator back up to the apartment, where Lea was anxiously waiting.

"Lea!" Jobal exclaimed, as they entered the apartment. Lea ran and hugged her.

"It's so good to see you Aunt Jobal," Lea said.

"We've missed you darling," Jobal said. Lea hugged Sola next, before her eyes fell on Obi-Wan for the first time in three days. Their eyes locked for a moment, before both quickly looked away. Padme settled her mother and Sola in two of the guest rooms. She was infinitely glad that her spacious apartment flat contained six bedrooms, just enough for her mother, Sola, Shmi, Lea and Obi-Wan. She decided that now would be a good time to talk to Lea. She found her cousin in her room.

"Can I come in?" Padme asked.

"Of course," Lea replied.

"Lea, what exactly happened between you and Obi-Wan the other night?" Padme asked. Lea froze.

"Nothing, why do you ask?" Lea replied.

"Lea, I know something is going on and I think you'll feel better if you talk about it," Padme replied. Lea looked at her uncertainly, as she sat down on the bed.

"We kissed," Lea confessed.

"What?" Padme asked.

"The other night, after Obi-Wan stalked off at the gala. I followed him on to the terrace and we talked a bit. Then, the next thing I know, we were kissing. He suddenly pulled away and apologized for letting it happen and left. We haven't spoke since," Lea said miserably.

"And you're miserable now," Padme concluded. Lea nodded.

"I think I love him," Lea said, as tears started to slide down her cheeks. Padme hugged her tightly, as she began to cry.

"But he's a Jedi...and nothing can ever happen between us," Lea cried, as Padme held her.

A couple hours later, Padme's comlink beeped and she eagerly turned it on.

"Anakin?" she asked.

"How were you positive it was me angel?" she heard him laugh.

"Lucky guess my love. Have you arrived yet?" she asked.

"We just got landing clearance, so I'll see you at the docking bay in a few minutes," Anakin replied. Padme almost leapt up and announced Anakin's arrival to everyone.

"Ani's back, come on!" she urged everyone. Jobal and Sola chuckled and followed her, along with Obi-Wan and Lea who were still avoiding each other's glances.

Anakin dropped the ramp and helped his mother down, while carrying her travel case. Once they were down the ramp, Anakin set the case down just in time to catch Padme as she threw herself into his arms. Anakin laughed and spun her around.

"Did you miss me?" he asked playfully.

"Terribly," she replied, as she kissed him passionately. They broke apart and Padme blushed.

"Hello Shmi," Padme said. Shmi smiled and hugged Padme.

"Hello sweetheart, it's good to see you," Shmi replied with a warm smile.

Padme helped Shmi settle in her room, while they chatted.

"Shmi, I'm taking all of us out to dinner tonight. I wasn't sure if you had a dress, so I picked something up for you," Padme said, as she reached into the closet and pulled out a dress. It was a simple, yet elegant plum colored dress with thick straps and a beaded design along the modest, yet flattering collar. The dress was long with slim.

"Oh Padme, you didn't have to do that," Shmi said, as she stared at the beautiful dress.

"I wanted to Shmi. You're Anakin's mother and you're going to be my mother too. Let me spoil you a little," Padme said with a smile. Shmi hugged her.

"Thank you darling," Shmi replied.

"You're welcome. There are some matching shoes in the closet. I better go get ready myself though, because then I'll have to help Ani. It's quite funny to watch him try to put on a tux," Padme chuckled. Shmi laughed heartily.

"Oh what Owen wouldn't do to have the opportunity to see that," Shmi replied.

"Ani would never live it down," Padme said, as she strolled to her room.

Anakin was dressed in his tux and now he and Obi-Wan were just waiting on the women.

"Obi-Wan, I'm really sorry for the other night. I'm really hoping we can still be friends," Anakin said. Obi-Wan sighed.

"You don't have anything to apologize for Anakin, it is me that should apologize. I lashed out at you for something that wasn't really your fault and I'm sorry," Obi-Wan replied.

"It's forgotten," Anakin told him. Obi-Wan smiled.

"Obi-Wan, I was wondering if you would consider being my best man in our wedding?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan was truly touched, but he knew that he couldn't let himself get anymore attached than he already was.

"I'm truly touched that you think so highly of me Anakin...but I'm afraid that I will have to decline. My duties will probably not allow me the time and I don't even know if I will be able to attend. But I wish you and Padme well," Obi-Wan replied, hating every inch of himself at the moment. Anakin pretended not to be hurt and tried to hide his disappointment.

"Oh...okay, I understand. You're a Jedi after all, I shouldn't have assumed that you would have the time anyway," Anakin gave him a fake smile and casually walked away. Obi-Wan carefully hid his own hurt behind his well developed, emotionless, Jedi mask.

Dinner was going well, as far as Obi-Wan could tell anyway. Jobal, Sola, and Shmi had hit it off famously. Currently, they were exchanging embarrassing stories about Anakin and Padme's childhood. Obi-Wan found himself laughing along. Lea was too, but he could tell that she was off in her own world, as her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Fortunately, Anakin and Padme were too absorbed in each other to notice the very embarrassing stories that were being told. They were at a very high class restaurant in a private room at the back of the restaurant where they saw that the Senator was not bothered by spectators or reporters. Padme giggled, as Anakin fed her another bite of desert off his fork and then took one himself. They were practically nauseating. So why did he find himself longing for something like that? For the first time ever, he found himself questioning the code. Why was this kind of thing bad? He shook those thoughts from his head, as everyone stood up. It was getting late and they left for Padme's apartment.

Obi-Wan stood on Padme's veranda a few hours later. Once again, sleep had escaped him. He tried meditation, but he could not acquire the concentration that meditation took tonight. His mind drifted back to Lea and he grit his teeth in annoyance. She had looked extremely beautiful in her elegant black dress tonight and he could not pry his mind from her. Suddenly, he heard faint footfalls behind him and he turned only to find Lea there.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would be out here at this hour. I couldn't sleep," she said.

"Me either," Obi-Wan admitted. Lea took a shaky breath and came to stand beside him.

"Obi-Wan, I think we need to talk," Lea said.

"What about? Nothing can ever happen between us," Obi-Wan replied.

"Why?" she asked. Obi-Wan looked at her incredulously.

"Why! I'm a Jedi! This sort of thing is forbidden by the code!" Obi-Wan replied harshly.

"You know, this code you speak of seems that it would be more suited for droids rather than human beings. Does your council really expect Jedi to be emotionless warriors with nothing other than duty to fill their lives?" Lea asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan answered quietly.

"Well, I don't see an emotionless warrior when I see you. I see a man whose heart is filled with love that he wants to give, but feels like he can't, because he's bound by duty. I love you Obi-Wan and I want your love," Lea told him passionately. Obi-Wan stared into her light brown eyes.

"Lea, I can't. Don't you see? We can't!" Obi-Wan cried, though his resolve was fading fast, as the sweet scent from her hair wafted toward him.

"Fine. Then look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me. Tell me you don't love me back and I'll never bother you again," Lea said, as she stood mere inches from him. And Obi-Wan couldn't do it. He couldn't tell a lie to her, for he didn't have the strength. Nor did he have the desire to rip her heart out, for doing so would rip out his own.

"I can't...I can't because I love...I love you too," Obi-Wan stuttered.

"Then be with me," Lea whispered.

"If the council found out, I would be expelled. I know nothing else Lea. I don't know how to be anything else except a Jedi," Obi-Wan replied. Then Lea realized that he was afraid...afraid of what his love for her would mean.

"They never have to know. We'll love each other in private. Only Anakin and Padme have to know. They'll help us hide it, I know they will," Lea urged. The Jedi in him was screaming no in his head so loud that his ears were pounding. But the man in him was quickly defeating the Jedi, as her lips edged closer to his. As they met, all rational thought began to leave Obi-Wan's mind, as everything about her began to invade his senses. The pent up desire and sexual frustration began to take them over, as their kisses turned from tender to desperate and furious. Obi-Wan lifted her into his arms, while stumbling back inside and managing to find his way to her room...