AN: Ratings warning ahead. This is where that T definitely comes into effect.

Chapter Eighteen

With the droid army destroyed and the remaining Trade Federation representatives under arrest and on their way back to Coruscant to await trial, Sabé had taken it upon herself to stand in as queen once more and make a public service announcement, plus oversee the release of all Naboo citizens from the prisoner camps.

Padmé had been strongly encouraged to 'rest.'

She was actually doing anything but. Pacing back and forth in her private quarters, she anxiously awaited word from Captain Panaka. When the announcement chime to her quarters rang out, her heart skipped a beat. With a trembling hand, she palmed the control that opened the door. Captain Panaka stood alone in the hallway, his features displaying what Padmé feared the most. Whatever her head of security was about to say wasn't going to be good news.

"I regret to inform you that Master Jinn has been killed."

A measure of sadness mixed with relief passed through her, replaced quickly by guilt and panic. She and Qui-Gon had had their differences, but she would never would have wished anything like this.

"What about Obi-Wan?" She stammered out, barely audibly.

"Jedi Kenobi has not been located yet." Panaka regarded his queen who had, for some reason, just lost the color from her face. He moved quickly to support her swaying body.

"Are you all right, your highness?" The captain guided Padmé to a nearby chair.

"Yes, yes." She attempted to brush him off with a wave of her hand, but was surprised at how feeble her attempt was. The news of Obi-Wan's disappearance was far from reassuring. She honestly didn't know whether he was alive or dead. If he were dead, what was she going to do? And if he was alive, then where was he?

After Panaka had assured that Padmé wasn't going to fall on the floor, he stepped back and Padmé looked up, breathing in a quick gasp of air.

In the doorway stood Obi-Wan, appearing exhausted and bruised, but in his eyes there burned a determination that Padmé had never seen before.

Catching the intensity of the gazes being exchanged between the two of them, Captain Panaka excused himself from the room. He didn't want to interrupt whatever was going on.

Obi-Wan stepped in as Panaka stepped out, never taking his eyes off of the young queen who had now recovered her strength and rose to meet him.

"Obi-Wan." Was the only thing she had time to say before the young, shaken Jedi was upon her, sealing her mouth with his own, crushing his lips against hers, holding her head firmly to increase the pressure and depth of his kiss. Padmé's whimper of submission echoed throughout the chamber, her body going limp under his passionate assault.

"Please." His own voice crackled with emotion as his hands deftly moved up underneath her skirt to press her lower body firmly to him.

Padmé opened her eyes in response and was slightly startled by the unleashed desire she saw in him. But she was not afraid. Never could she be afraid of this man. The man she loved more than her own life.

"Yes." She responded with a whisper, opening the gates and was immediately flooded with an overpowering desire that she wasn't sure all belonged to her. Their passion was rising quickly and although this was not exactly the way she had imagined their first time together would be, she recognized his need and could not deny him.

Her undergarments were removed with haste where she stood and she let out a loud gasp as Obi-Wan picked her up with one arm, positioning her legs around his waist. With the other hand, he undid his stola and sash while plunging his tongue deeply into her mouth. Padmé had the sense they were moving, but she wasn't sure, until she felt the chair she had previously been sitting upon bump into the back of her.

Sitting her on the back of the chair and grasping her firmly by the hips, Obi-Wan wasted no time as he thrust into her. It was a powerful lunge but there was no pain. Padmé was not a virgin and she had been ready for him. She had been ready for him since the first day they met.

His rapid and forceful movements did not slow down until Obi-Wan literally spent himself both physically and emotionally.

As he pulsed inside the depths of her, Padmé held him close and only then did she notice the shuddering. A trickle of moisture traveled down her neck and she realized he was weeping.

Still joined together, Padmé slid down astride Obi-Wan as he lowered himself to a kneeling position on the floor, straddling him with her legs and embracing him tightly in her arms.

"Shh." She comforted him. "It's going to be all right." She whispered as she rocked him back and forth.

Some time later, his shudders had subsided and the room had darkened.

Padmé wasn't sure what to say. Had she taken advantage of him? He was in obvious distress over his Master's death. Perhaps she shouldn't have allowed this to happen. After all, he would be leaving Naboo now that the occupation had ended.

And besides that, she wasn't even sure he loved her. He desired her, that much was clear, and it was becoming more clear as she began to feel him lengthen and harden once more inside of her, his hands moving to the opening at the top of her gown.

This time, she assisted with the undressing, removing the gown and standing up and off of him, revealing herself fully to his avid gaze. Not taking his eyes from her, Obi-Wan followed her to the bedroom, removing his Jedi attire as he went. By the time they had reached the bed chamber, he too was exposed to her gaze.

His stomach trembled as Padmé lay a gentle and loving caress across a muscled and lightly haired chest, taking note of several battle scars, placing soothing lips on those that appeared most recent, especially the obvious bruise that was quickly developing along his left jaw.

What had that monster done to him?

Pressing the length of her body along his, Padmé arched to meet his probing kiss and felt herself being lowered backward onto the bed.

Their passion started as a flicker this time, a glowing ember burning brighter by the minute. By the time they had each explored one another thoroughly with both hands and mouths and had reached mutual and glorious fulfillment, the moon had risen high in the Naboo sky and shafts of soft light shone through the skylight above Padmé's bed.

The young queen lay on her back and Obi-Wan lay beside her, propped up on one elbow, his finger tracing lazily up and across the sweat-glistening skin of her stomach and the valley between her breasts.

"Are you going to be okay?" She whispered and noted a sad but hopeful smile appear on his face.

"Yes. A Jedi is always prepared to become one with the Force." He responded quietly, his finger now tracing around one rosy peak. "I'm sorry." He said suddenly, his hand stilling. "I shouldn't have forced myself upon you like that."

Padmé's chest quivered with a soft laugh. "Forced yourself? No, Obi-Wan. I wanted you." She assured him, raising her hand to smooth across the slightly stubbled chin, playfully flicking a finger into the indentation there. She then turned her countenance more serious and met his gaze. "I love you."

Slowly, Obi-Wan's mouth descended upon hers in a luxurious and exploratory kiss, taking his time to learn the contours of her mouth, his hand busy comparing the textures of her breast.

Hovering just above her lips, Obi-Wan glanced down to them and back up to her eyes. "And I love you."

It was Padmé who captured his mouth this time, arching her back up off the bed to press herself against him, his arms moving to hold her tightly against him.

Following a series of lengthy kisses, Obi-Wan moved to lie on his back, pulling Padmé with him, her head now resting against his chest. His hands were running through the loose curls of her long brown hair that cascaded across her bare skin.

"You're leaving soon, aren't you?" The unwelcome question hung in the air and Obi-Wan's hand ceased moving.

"Yes. But I don't want to." He added quickly. "I don't want to leave you."

After a long pause, the fascination with the soft curls resumed. "I would like to see you again Padmé Amidala."

It was a bold statement for Obi-Wan to make. Never before had he pursued a relationship with a woman, especially one that his Master had forbidden him to see. But never before had he been in love.

He had wanted to question Qui-Gon exactly what the young queen had done to make him dislike her so much, but as his Master lay dying in his arms following their battle with the Sith, there hadn't been time. Too focused on the future and the fate of young Anakin, Qui-Gon had insisted that Obi-Wan train the boy to become a Jedi.

After Obi-Wan's promise had been made, Qui-Gon had passed into the Force and Obi-Wan had been left to wonder what Qui-Gon had been keeping from him concerning Padmé.

However, with the next words the young woman in his arms spoke, he realized he wouldn't have to wonder any longer.

"Obi-Wan." She began quietly. "I need to tell you something."