Obi-Wan rested on the quite uncomfortable cot inside the small spacefreighter carrying he and his apprentice away from Sardis-IV.
Even though Master Secura and her padawan had successfully negotiated a peace treaty, the mission had be his responsibility. But for the second time in his life, he had lost his focus. He hadn't been listening to the Force, hadn't heard its warning. Instead, he was distracted by his stubborn refusal, his indignation, and the bitterness that had been slowly eating away at his soul.
And then he had decided to do something that he had only done once in his life. He had chosen retreat. He had been resigned to wipe away the memory of his past and the pain of refusing to follow what the Force was obviously leading him to.
But then somewhere in the darkness, beyond his physical pain, beyond his resentment and regret, her words came back to haunt him. His conscious mind knew it was his padawan's voice that was speaking, but it was easy to imagine it was her.
So instead of retreat, Obi-Wan was drawn out of despair and cast into the serenity of words he had once found comfort in, especially now, since he knew whose heart they had come from.
And when he awoke, he realized what he had to do. He had to fix this. He had to make things right. But it wasn't going to be easy.
Her reaction to him at the diner was shocking. But what choice had he given her. He had been just as rude.
And now that he had studied her letters in the light of the knowledge of their author, it was all too clear that she shone through every syllable. The girl that he had known on Naboo all those years ago with the same ferocity of her convictions, her strength, her intelligence, and her beauty. It was all there, in every word.
And she hated him.
But she didn't use to.
Somehow he had to prove he was the same man she had fallen in love with all those years ago. The man that she loved now, although she wasn't aware of it.
But how?
Once upon a time, he hadn't had any difficulty charming a woman. It had come as easily to him as wielding his lightsaber. But finding himself standing outside of the upper level Coruscant restaurant, Obi-Wan discovered that it wasn't easy any more. In fact, he was scared to death.
He had tracked down the young senator through her personal secretary at the Senate. The older woman was more than eager to give him all the information he needed, which gave him some hope. It seemed that he possibly still had a way with women.
As he seated himself down next to Padmé at her table, he breathed deeply in nervous anticipation. He would definitely be needing those skills tonight.
"Your secretary told me where to find you." He began, smiling gently. He had apparently caught her off guard, which was an important aspect in any offensive strategy.
"Is that so?"
Her words were somewhat sardonic and Obi-Wan hurried on before she could add to her sarcasm.
"I was hoping I could talk with you regarding your involvement with the Loyalist Committee." The Jedi Knight noted the doubt of his sincerity, marked by the slight confusion in her eyes, and he grinned once more. "I wanted you to know that I support your efforts and if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
With a nod to her assistant, Obi-Wan reached out to offer Padmé his hand. She responded mostly from habit and numbly shook it. He lingered his grip ever so slightly, caressing her hand with his thumb.
"Have a pleasant evening." He stated before rising and leaving their table.
Padmé's eyes followed Obi-Wan as he left the restaurant, her gaze hovering on the doorway long after he had gone.
"What is going on?" She asked, turning to Dormé with incredulation in her voice and on her face.
"What do you mean?" The handmaiden feigned innocently, once more resuming her meal.
"He was nice!" The senator hissed quietly.
"He's always nice!" Dormé hissed back, receiving a cynical glare in return. "What?" She chuckled as Padmé's eyes continuing to bore holes through her. "Ask anyone, Mi'Lady. Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the kindest and friendliest Knights in the Jedi Order."
"Well, he hasn't been that friendly to me." Padmé responded, crossing her arms on her chest in defiance.
"From what you've told me about your last meeting, it seems to me that you were the unfriendly one."
"Wait a minute.." Padmé interrupted hotly. "He was the one who….who…"
Padmé's brows furrowed. What had he done? She wondered. Other than question the validity of her literary choices, he hadn't said anything out of line. In fact, she was the one who had been rude.
"All right." She admitted. "He has manners, but that doesn't mean I have to like him, especially after what he did to me on Naboo."
Padmé shoved aside her uneaten meal and concentrated on the bubbles in her drink.
"Let's review that too, shall we?" The handmaiden responded casually, continuing to eat her meal. "You seduced him and he responded. He made love to you, but never actually told you he loved you. Then you decided to inform him of everything you had done at the worse possible moment."
"But…" Padmé attempted to butt in, but Dormé continued as if she hadn't heard her.
"You knew his time on Naboo was short. He would have left you no matter what. His mission was complete. You're just upset that he didn't forgive you."
"That's right!" Padmé threw up a pointed finger at her friend's seemingly valid point.
"But maybe he finally has." Dormé replied and Padmé's victorious finger dropped into her lap.
Is that what this is all about?
"But why now?" She asked quietly.
"Maybe it has something to do with his last mission. I hear that Master Obi-Wan was severely injured."
"He was?" Padmé responded with such concern that it brought a smile to the handmaiden's face.
"A head injury from what I understand. He was unconscious for several days."
Padmé sighed and then regarded her handmaiden curiously. "How do you know all this?"
Dormé finished the last bite on her plate and shoved it aside, leaning forward to keep their conversation private. "I've been dating Padawan Trell. He's Anakin's best friend."
The senator's mouth turned up in a wry grin. "Really? How did you meet him?"
"Of all the places." Dormé replied with a blush. "Coruscant Connections!" Both women giggled.
"I didn't think Jedi would ever use a dating service like that!" Padmé noted, her eyes quickly scanning up to the restaurant's exit.
I wonder…she began to think and then brushed the absurd thought from her mind. It was one thing for a Jedi Padawan to use a Holonet dating service, but a Jedi Master?
Impossible. He would never.