A window of opportunity lay open before her. She should just blurt it out and get it over with, but was it absolutely necessary like Sabé had said?
Padmé smiled up into the radiant blue-gray eyes peering down at her and decided, no, it was not. One more little white lie wouldn't hurt. There will be time to tell him the truth later.
Much later.
She took Obi-Wan's arm and escorted him back into her cabin, her features turning more serious.
"Qui-Gon is concerned about you." She began.
"Is he?" Obi-Wan teased, backing up to a table inside the cabin, sitting himself down upon it, drawing Padmé closer and positioning her between his thighs. He then began placing a trail of soft kisses down the side of her neck, his hands moving along her back under her thick brown curls in long, luxurious strokes.
"Yes." Padmé rasped out as she began to lose her concentration. "He thinks I'm trying to seduce you."
Not really a lie, Padmé justified to herself.
"Maybe it's the other way around." Obi-Wan murmured against her ear as he nibbled on the lobe.
Definitely not the time for confessions, Padmé decided. She wasn't sure she could speak anyway.
When his mouth finally found hers, she wasted no time in matching his aggressiveness. Her tongue eagerly sought out his as their mouths molded together, her hands moving up along his chest to cradle his face and deepen the kiss. The slightest stubble tickled her fingers and mouth.
When the kiss ended, Obi-Wan placed a soft follow-up kiss to her mouth and touched his forehead to hers.
Padmé realized that she didn't need the handmaiden's advice or opinions any longer. At least not about this. She was definitely in love. She ran her thumb playfully over the cleft in his chin, bringing a beautiful smile to his face.
"So what was it you were going tell me?" He asked huskily as his hands traced along her outer arms.
And suddenly, Padmé was filled with a new courage and determination. Without a second thought, she opened her mouth and the words came out more naturally than she would have ever dreamed possible.
"That I'm falling in love with you." Padmé said softly, without fear, only until after a long pause and a hint of surprise showed behind his blue eyes and Obi-Wan kissed her without saying the words back.
Adding to her nagging dismay, he abruptly ended the kiss, glancing over her shoulder toward the open door.
"What is it?" Padmé asked.
"Someone's coming."
Padmé stepped away and took a few deep breaths in order to regain her composure as Obi-Wan readjusted his tunic.
Before leaving, he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss to Padmé's receptive mouth. "See you later." He whispered.
He passed Sabé and Rabé as he exited the room.
Both young women were grinning mischeviously, assuming what had just transpired, evident by the blush along Padmé's face and neck, but quickly noted that the queen's eyes were troubled and she wasn't smiling.
"What happened?" Rabé questioned, immediately becoming concerned.
"Qui-Gon knows." Padmé responded, settling down onto the couch.
Sabé cocked her head suspiciously as she joined her. "How much?"
"Everything." Padmé admitted.
"Is he going to turn us in?" Rabé asked as she sat down on one side of Padmé.
"I don't think so." She responded, beginning to chew on her nails again.
Sabé reached over and pulled the queen's hand away from her mouth, grasping it firmly.
Padmé smiled tenderly at the gesture, but then Sabé noticed the young queen's leg beginning to bounce up and down. She was nervous -- as she had every right to be. As they all should be.
"If he's not turning us in, then what are you worried about?" Sabé asked.
"He wants me to tell Obi-Wan." Padmé replied.
"Oh." Sabé responded plainly. "Are you going to tell him?"
Padmé mulled the question over, weighing her options carefully.
"Not yet." She declared. "Not until after we're married."
Rabé's eyebrows arched in surprise. "So, he's proposed already?"
"No." Padmé laughed softly. "Don't be silly. But he will. I know he will." She added confidently.
"You're sure?" Sabé asked with some worry.
"As long as he doesn't find out what I've done." Padmé moaned and leaned forward into her palms. "What a mess I've made."
Rabé consoled the queen by lightly rubbing her back, looking sympathetically over to Sabé.
"Have you decided what you're going to do when we reach Coruscant?" Sabé asked. The queen's personal life was high on her list of concerns, but Sabé felt she needed to remind Padmé that a much bigger problem faced them.
"I'm gong to meet with Senator Palpatine and try to convince the senate to intervene. Maybe Gunray will back off if the Galactic Senate declares war on him. There's nothing else I can do."
"Excellent idea." Rabé observed, once more glancing toward Sabé with a 'What else was I supposed to say?' expression on her face. The truth was, that for the last couple of months, she had been worried about Padmé's leadership abilities. They all were. The girl seemed completely scatterbrained, especially since this Jinn fascination.
She joined Sabé's soothing caress of the young queen's shoulders and back, as she began bouncing her leg up and down and chewed the fingernails of her free hand all at the same time.