Obi-Wan took his place between his apprentice and Naboo's Governor, Sio Bibble, during the Freedom Parade later that morning, in which the Gungans and Nubians proclaimed peace between their two civilizations, at the same time declaring victory over the Trade Federation.
However, the grandeur of the festivities before him, the rumbling music played by the Gungan musicians, and the cheering of the massive crowd was not enough to steal his attention away from the young woman who stood center stage on the steps of the Theed palace. Dressed formally for the occasion, Obi-Wan had never seen her look more beautiful, and he simply could not take his eyes off of her.
She turned at one point and smiled at him and then winked at his apprentice. Obi-Wan shot a glance down to his padawan, but the boy simply looked up at him innocently,although somewhat suspiciously as if he were hiding something.
Following the ceremony, the royal court had invited the Jedi to attend a grand banquet as they had before. Obi-Wan walked beside his young charge as they followed directly behind the Jedi Council members and the leaders of Naboo, heading toward the banquet hall. He kept Padmé in his line of sight the entire time, blushing slightly when she turned and caught him staring at her.
"She likes you, ya' know."
"What?" Obi-Wan asked his apprentice as they continued walking.
"Padmé. She likes you."
"What are you talking about?" Obi-Wan asked as he slowed considerably, allowing the crowd behind them to move quickly past.
"She told me so. This morning after firstmeal when she took me to see the waterfalls."
The Jedi Master stopped and knelt to eye level with his apprentice, his look of concern confusing the young boy.
"What did she say exactly?"
Anakin frowned at the worried look on his master's face. Had he said something wrong?
"She asked me if I was worried about living at the Temple, and I told her I was a little."
"And?" Obi-Wan urged when Anakin paused.
"Then she said that I shouldn't worry because you were the best Jedi Master there was. I told her I knew that and then she got a funny look on her face, so I asked her if she liked you."
Once again the boy paused and Obi-Wan once more prompted him to speak with a raised eyebrow.
"She said she did. Very much."
Anakin waited as his master appeared to be lost in his thoughts. "Are you all right, Master?"
Obi-Wan stood abruptly, smoothed his tunics, looked down the hallway toward the banquet room, spun on his heel, and started walking the opposite direction. Anakin hesitated, but then obediently followed.
"Master Obi-Wan! Where are we going?"
"Back to Coruscant." The Jedi replied, not slowing his stride, causing the child to practically run to keep up with him.
"But I thought we were going to the banquet first!" The small boy exclaimed as they rounded the corner leading to the hangar where several of the chancellor's ships waited to take the Jedi back to the Temple.
"We're leaving now, Anakin." Obi-Wan motioned for the attendant to lower the loading ramp of one of the ships.
"But Master Obi-Wan. I didn't get to say goodbye to Padmé."
Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks on the steel platform and then turned to look down upon the face of his distraught padawan. He knelt once more and placed his hands on the thin shoulders.
"I'm sorry Anakin. You're right." He attempted a shaky smile. "I'll see if I can contact her to meet us here before we leave, but I need you to get on board now."
He smiled again as Anakin stood his ground, and then reached up and ruffled the boy's hair. "Everything's okay, Anakin. We were going to have to leave sooner or later. This will give us a chance to start your training that much earlier. All right?"
A small grin slowly appeared on the boy's face. "All right."
Obi-Wan watched his apprentice scamper up the ramp and into the ship, and then he reached for his comlink in order to request permission to leave the planet. He would also contact the queen's head of security to see if she would be willing to come and bid Anakin goodbye. Although he doubted she would. She was, after all, attending the celebration banquet.
Following his requests, Obi-Wan clipped the comlink back on his belt and waited.
"Damn." He muttered aloud. He wasn't going to interfere this time! What had he done?
Obi-Wan began pacing the hard gray hangar floor. If Padmé didn't fall in love with Anakin, it would be calamitous! There is no telling what would happen. He just couldn't take any risks. This was his last chance. He had to get out of here.
He heard Padmé's footfalls tapping across the floor in a rapid rhythm, almost as if she were running. He turned slowly to face her and she immediately slowed her pace, breathing rapidly when she spoke.
"I thought you were staying for the banquet."
"I'm afraid duty has called us back to Coruscant." Obi-Wan stated bluntly, biting his inner lip after he told the lie.
The young woman took one step forward. "I wish…" she began, but was interrupted by Anakin's appearance as the boy ran down the ramp to greet her.
"Padmé! We have to go, but I'm glad you came to say bye."
"Me too, Ani." Padmé replied as she ruffled the boy's spiked hair. "I'm sad to see you go." She then leaned down and hugged the child tightly.
"Take care of Obi-Wan for me." She whispered into his ear before she released him.
Anakin stood between his Master and the Queen of Naboo, his eyes glancing back and forth between them. Looks were being exchanged he did not quite comprehend. But it was obvious, even to him how much they liked each other. So why didn't they just kiss or something? Isn't that what people do when they like each other? Or at least talk. But neither of them were saying a word.
Instead, his Master turned and strode up and into the ship and Padmé turned and walked away.
Anakin continued looking at both of them, his lip curling in confusion.
"Grown ups." He huffed as he followed his master up the ramp and into the ship.
