Padme and Obi-Wan were sitting in front of the lit fireplace talking. Padme was in an especially good mood. "My parents are going to be here on Coruscant in a couple of days. Would it be okay for them to come here? They'll only be staying for the day."

"They're more than welcome. I'm looking forward to meeting them." Obi-Wan could tell how excited Padme was to see her parents. He found it hard to look into her beautiful, shining eyes. It reminded him that he was developing feelings for her that went beyond friendship – feelings that could never be acted upon. A part of him believed that she felt the same way, but the more rational side reminded him that she loved Anakin. Obi-Wan sighed. His heart was heading down a path that he could not walk…and that knowledge hurt.

Padme watched the glow of the firelight on Obi-Wan's face. He was deep in thought about something. She wished that he would talk to her about whatever was bothering him. "Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan snapped out of his ruminations. "Oh, I'm sorry. I will try to clear my schedule while your parents are here."

"Don't feel obligated to spend the entire day with them. I know how busy you are." Padme decided to broach the subject that had needled her for a while. "And on that subject…I'm worried about you."

Obi-Wan's brow creased as he turned to her more fully. "Worried?"

"Yes. I think you're taking on too much. This latest idea of sitting in on the interviews with the final candidates for Kira's adoption…"

"I want to be sure she's given to good people. I feel personally responsible for her."

"I know you do. But you seem to feel personally responsible for everyone and everything! You've been getting up earlier and earlier every morning, even though you're still getting to bed late. Every idle moment is spent with a datapad plotting strategy. Throughout the day, you're constantly on the hololink with your fellow Jedi out in the field or you're being called away to help oversee a particularly hairy battle. And on top of that, you're trying to make time for the kids and your duties on the Council. I don't care if you are a Jedi! You are stretching yourself too thin!"

It warmed Obi-Wan's heart to know how concerned Padme was about him. He took her hand and squeezed it. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."

"No, you're not! I live with you, Obi-Wan. You're exhausted – mentally, physically and emotionally. I want you to promise me that you will begin to delegate some of your responsibilities." Padme was also determined to go to Yoda and Mace with her concerns.

Obi-Wan could see the determination etched on Padme's face. He hesitated. What could he delegate? He WAS tired, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.

"Please, Obi-Wan?"

One look at the pleading in her eyes and the hesitation vanished. "All right. I promise. But you really don't need to worry about me."

"Yes, I do, because you don't worry enough about yourself."

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Obi-Wan walked into his apartment and was immediately greeted by an enthusiastic Padme.

"Obi-Wan, these are my parents, Ruwee and Jobal."

Obi-Wan reached out his hand to greet them. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Padme has told me quite a bit about you."

Ruwee smiled warmly. "The pleasure is ours, General."

"Oh, please, call me Obi-Wan."

"I don't know. With this latest success of yours, you've earned the title!"

"Well, thank you. But no titles here among friends."

Ruwee nodded his head in approval. "Agreed."

Jobal glanced at her daughter. "Padme has told us quite a bit about you, as well, Obi-Wan. I think what you are doing for these kids is wonderful."

"I wouldn't be able to do it without Padme. She's been wonderful and the children adore her." Obi-Wan smiled over at Padme.

Padme couldn't help but show her happiness at being with the people she loved most in the galaxy. "You were helping the kids long before I came into the picture."

Jobal watched Obi-Wan interacting with the children. "You've told us all about your time with Obi-Wan, haven't you, Kira?"

Obi-Wan put his hand upon Kira's shoulder. She looked up at him with an adoring expression. "Yep. I told 'em how you saved us from the Sepriss."

Devin came over to Obi-Wan. "I'm hungry."

Obi-Wan ruffled his hair playfully. "I'll go make us all some lunch."

"I'll help." Padme started to follow him into the kitchen.

"No, Padme. Visit with your parents. I'll get it."

"If we both do it, it will be done in no time." Padme went into the kitchen, effectively ending the argument.

Obi-Wan threw her parents a rueful look before following her into the kitchen.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A few hours later, Jobal got up from the sofa. "Is there a place where I can take a quiet walk with my daughter?"

Padme gave her mother a questioning look. "Yes. There's actually a room here that's reminiscent of Naboo."

Jobal held out her hand to her daugher. "Show me." As Padme got up, her mother smiled over at the two men. "You boy's can handle the children for a while, can't you?"

Ruwee waved his hand in a shooing fashion. "You gals go on ahead. We'll be fine."

Jobal was just as impressed with the Room of a Thousand Fountains as Padme had been. She linked her arm through her daughter's as they started down the path. "You love Obi-Wan, don't you?"

"What?" Padme stopped dead in her tracks. "What makes you say that?"

Jobal smiled at her daughter. "I know you."

Padme sighed heavily as she started walking again. "Is it that obvious?"

"To me it is. When I see you with him, I see…well, I see what I've always wanted for you – a meaningful relationship with a good man."

"He is a good man. The best I've ever known. I didn't want this to happen, but my time with him has been so wonderful. I can't even begin to describe how at peace and how content I am in his company."

"You don't have to, because that's how I still feel with your father." Jobal took a deep breath before continuing. "But what does this mean for you and Anakin?"

A flash of guilt shot through Padme at her mother's question. She and Anakin had decided it was best to keep their wedding a secret, even from her family. It was a decision that she still regretted. She did tell her parents a few months later when she could no longer stand lying to them. They had been disappointed to say the least. They were hurt that she hadn't let them be there. They were also troubled by the haste of her relationship with Anakin. "I should have listened to you all those times you told me not to rush into marriage. I do love Anakin, but more as one would love a brother."

Padme was so glad to have someone she could talk to about this. "Anakin is changing. He hasn't been the same since his mother died and it's been getting worse lately. He hardly ever smiles or laughs. He gets angry and jealous so easily. Sometimes I feel like I'm nothing more than a treasured possession to him."

Jobal's concern for her daughter inched up. "Has Obi-Wan noticed these changes?"

"Yes. His relationship with Anakin has also been a bit rocky lately. He's worried about him, as well."

"What are you going to do?" Jobal hated the despair on her daughter's face.

"I really don't think there's anything I can do. Obi-Wan is a Master on the High Council. He will not break his vows. Attachment is forbidden for a Jedi. And he knows that Anakin loves me. He would not do anything that would hurt Anakin. Besides, I don't think Obi-Wan's feelings for me go beyond friendship."

"I think you're wrong. I think he feels the same way you do."

Padme's heart leaped in her chest. "Why do you think that?"

"A woman can tell about these things."

"I can't tell."

Jobal chuckled. "You're too close to the situation, my dear. But I've watched you two together. I've seen the way he looks at you."

Padme didn't know what to say. Could it really be true? Did Obi-Wan love her as much as she loved him? Her mind quickly brought her back to reality. "Even if he does love me, it doesn't change anything. Even if Obi-Wan were willing to break his vows to the Order – that would still leave Anakin. If I left Anakin, most of all for Obi-Wan, it would send Anakin down a really dark path. He doesn't have the emotional control that a Jedi should have. I think he would completely give into his anger."

"I take it that Obi-Wan does not know about your marriage."

"No, he doesn't. I hate having to keep it from him! It's such a betrayal! But if I told him, it would put him in a horrible position. As a Council member, he'd be obligated to report such a violation of the Code. But if he did that, his relationship with Anakin would be over."

"So I ask again, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stick with my marriage. I made those vows of my own free will and I'm going to abide by them." Even as Padme spoke the words, she felt her heart breaking.

"But if Anakin is no longer the man you thought you married…"

Padme shook her head. "I'm stuck, Mom. If I left him…" She shivered at the thought. "Anakin is the most powerful Jedi alive. If he was to be consumed by anger, it could have negative repercussions throughout the galaxy."

Jobal's heart ached for her daughter. "But what of your love for Obi-Wan?"

Tears pooled suddenly in Padme's eyes. "He's my soul mate, Mom. But I can never be with him."

Jobal drew her daughter into her arms and let her cry. "Oh, my precious Padme. I don't believe that the Force would bring you your soul mate and not ever let you be with him."

Padme drew away from her mother and sniffed. "I never thought of it that way. I wish I could share your optimism. But right now I can't see how Obi-Wan and I can ever be together."

Jobal wiped the tears off her daughter's face. "You know what they say. When the Force closes a door, it always opens a window."

Padme smiled at her mother. "Thanks." She re-hooked her arm through Jobal's as they continued down the path. "So, what do you think of Obi-Wan, Mom?"

Jobal chuckled. "Well, from what you've told me, and from what I've seen on the holonet AND from what I've witnessed today, I'd almost say he's too good to be true."

"He almost is."

"I like the way he treats you and the children. He engenders trust, doesn't he?"

"He does. Mom, you should see the respect his fellow Jedi have for him. All the younglings and padawans look up to him."

"It also doesn't hurt that he's so easy on the eyes."

Padme laughed as they headed back towards Obi-Wan's apartment. "You think he's good looking now, you should see him clad in nothing but a towel…"