DISCLAIMER: I do not own Star Wars... etc.

A Fateful Decision

"And you're sure that you already want to leave ? You could stay with us for another couple of days." Padmé suggested while she was preparing the breakfast. She did not want Shayariel to leave. Although they had known each other for only a couple of days, they had become close friends. Moreover Padmé had to think about her nightmares over and over again. They had predicted Shayariel's death and she was afraid that they might come true when she left now.

"I'd love to stay but I really have to go. I bet my plants are already more than dried out." She joked. Although she sensed that something was wrong with Padmé, she did not mention it. Her friend was still worried about her and she also was aware of the sadness Padmé was carrying with herself. But she did not want to ruin the perfect harmony that morning. And furthermore, she also felt that it was time to leave Padmé and Obi-Wan alone so they could finally talk about their undefined relationship.

"It's a long and dangerous way back to Mos Espa." Padmé mentioned while drinking a drop of coffee.

"It definitely is. But I got here all alone in a damn sandstorm. I think I'll make it back without problems." Shayariel returned smiling.

"I don't know, Shayariel. I really think… I mean… I just have a bad feeling about this." The woman said concerned. Obi-Wan looked at his friend and knew that there was more to it than just a bad feeling.

"Padmé, what is it ?" he wanted to know.

"Nothing. It's just that I don't want her to go alone." She answered. Obi-Wan shook his head and took her hand in his.

"Can I talk to you for a second in the living room ?" he whispered. Padmé nodded and then they left the kitchen together.

Padmé sat down on the wooden bench and Obi-Wan placed himself beside her, putting an arm around her, trying to calm her down.

"What's wrong with you, Padmé ? I know you're keeping quiet about something. Tell me… Please… I want to help you but you have to be honest with me." He said carefully. Padmé started to sob.

"I had a nightmare. And… in that nightmare… she dies."

"But it was just a dream. That's nothing to be worried about." He replied.

"No, Ben. The Force… the Force was speaking to me… It said the nightmare was a vision. Do you understand ? It was the kind of dream Anakin used to have… about his mother… and me." She tried to explain.

"But he dreamed that you'd die in childbirth and you're still alive. See, dreams or visions not always come true. But still I'm glad you told me. Now we can probably do something about it." Obi-Wan said calmly.

"What if we can't ? What if she dies ?" Padmé said, sadness dripping off her voice.

"You know the ways of the Force, don't you ?" Padmé answered with a nod. "Then you have to remember that there is no death, there is the Force…"

Obi-Wan's words made her hope that it was not to late to change the events from her vision. But she had also noticed that he had not promised anything. Obi-Wan was a wise Jedi. And he knew that he could not save everybody. But he always found comfort in the Force…

"Shayariel ?" Obi-Wan called out her name.

"Huh ?" she answered and entered the living room.

"Uhm, Padmé and I think that it would maybe better if we accompany you. I mean, the desert can be dangerous, even at daytime. And we need some food supplies anyway, so what do you think ?" the Jedi suggested with a smile.

"Hmmm. Yeah, I think that's a damn good idea. To be honest with you, I was hoping you'd ask. It's a bloody long way home…" she laughed.

"Well, let's get started then !" Obi-Wan said.

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They reached Mos Espa in the late afternoon. Without a speeder, it really was quite a long way. Shayariel joined Obi-Wan and Padmé on their way to the market. While Padmé was looking for accessories, which could make their little house even more comfortable, Shayariel helped Obi-Wan carrying the food.

Padmé had not talked to him yet. She could sense it in the way he looked at her. Although he was longing for her so badly, he still kept a slight distance. He did not show it but Shayariel knew that it almost broke his heart.

"You need to talk to her, Ben." She interrupted the silence.

"What ?"

"Padmé. You need to tell her." She repeated. Obi-Wan turned around and looked at the girl kind of confused.

"What are you talking about ?" he inquired.

"Oh, for cryin' out loud, do I have to explain this stuff all over again ? Your feelings for her."

"How… how do you know ?" he whispered.

"She hasn't told you about the gift, has she ?" Obi-Wan shook his head.

"I have empathic powers. And I feel… things… emotions… of other people."

"Are you saying that…"

"Yes."

"Oh… But how ?"

"Does that really matter now ?"

"No."

"Then why don't you talk to her ?" she asked once more. Obi-Wan took a deep breath.

"She knows. And I know, too. But we both need…"

"…Time ?" she completed his sentence.

"Exactly." He replied and lowered his head.

"Don't you think that time is something way too precious to waste it like this ? Waiting ? Waiting for a moment that will probably never come ? You will never forget about him, Ben. Neither she nor you. But he's not here right now, is he ? Your life could be over tomorrow. And I'm pretty damn sure that you would regret… you know… not to have kissed her… and… It breaks my heart… literally. Because I feel you. Your feelings… sadness, heartache, sorrow. You could end it right away… Do me a favour and think about what I've just told you." She said with a sad voice and turned away from him.

Somehow, Shayariel's words had touched him intensely. She had not said much but what she had said was beautiful and so depressing at the same time. The girl was right. Time was something they did not have. The galaxy had become a battlefield and even here on Tattooine were spies and dangers coming from the empire. He could be dead by tomorrow and so could she. Padmé was all that was left of his former life. He lived for her and she lived for him. They lived for each other. She was so close to him every day but still so far away. He could not touch her, could not kiss her, could not tell her that he loved her because he was afraid. And suddenly everything seemed to be so easy. They loved each other – that was all that counted. The fear was gone and so were the thoughts of Anakin.

Shayariel was watching Padmé from a distance. A feeling of relief covered her soul. She had done anything she could to influence Obi-Wan's and Padmé's fate and somewhere deep within she knew that everything would be alright.

"Excuse me, Sir ?" a low and scary male voice shook her out of her thoughts. She turned around quickly, knowing that something was going horribly wrong. A tall, weird looking man was standing behind Obi-Wan. He was wearing a kind of metal suit, his face was covered by an heavy helmet, so she could not even see his eyes and he did not look friendly at all.

"Yes ?" Obi-Wan said while turning around, well knowing that whoever it was, he did not want to befriend with him.

"I have been watching you. I am looking for you... Jedi. Your head will be worth a lot…" He said, pointing his blaster at him. Obi-Wan swallowed. Normally, he would have killed him within a single second. But now he stood there and could not do anything. He was helpless because he could not put Padmé at risk, nor their disguise.

"Ah, for cryin' out loud, a bounty hunter. Shoulda known…" Shayariel murmured quietly. "Hey, Master, still there ? Shouldn't you warn me when something like this happens ?" she called out to Qui-Gon.

"I am sorry, padawan, but this is a lesson you have to learn on your own. This time I'm not allowed to interfere. I can only give you one advice: Listen to the Force and make the right decision." Qui-Gon's voice answered.

"Right decision ? What decision ? A bounty hunter is pointing a damn gun at Ben, what the hell is there to decide ?" she murmured while grabbing her lightsaber. Only a millisecond later, the purple energy blade let the civilians around them back away, although she knew that it was always risky to use the Jedi weapon in public. There were empirical spies everywhere, even on Tattooine. They were usually looking for rebels, Jedi or supporters of the Old Republic. Shayariel looked at her friends and she suddenly knew that there was only one thing she had to do. Padmé and Ben could be discovered by spy. Their true identities could be revealed… That would be their certain death. No, she would not let that happen. She couldn't. And suddenly, she knew what Qui-Gon had been talking about. She would probably have to sacrifice her life for theirs. And she had already made her decision…

"Hey, he's not the one you're looking for !" she shouted at the hunter who turned to her immediately.

"Shayariel !" Obi-Wan shouted, Padmé standing next to him.

"Look, this guy right there is just some moisture farmer from the desert. Really, how could one be so stupid and think he's a Jedi ?"

The hunter looked at the girl holding her lightsaber in her hands. He could not be sure if Obi-Wan really was the Jedi he had been searching for. But she definitely was a Jedi because only the Jedi used such weapons.

C'mon buddy, show me what you've got !" she challenged her enemy who started to shoot at her right away. But Shayariel was very good with the lightsaber. She blocked every shot with it and let the bounty hunter look like an amateur.

"Ben, we need to help her…" Padmé whispered to her companion while her hand was wandering to the lightsaber Obi-Wan had given to her. But he put his hand on hers and slightly shook his head.

"No… We can't. If we interfere, we'll all be in danger. She's doing this for us, Padmé." Obi-Wan said softly.

Stay away, I beg you ! This is my decision, my fight, my will and the will of the Force.

The Force sent her thoughts to her friends who were understanding and watching helplessly. Padmé felt tears coming up in her eyes because she knew that her vision was coming true and there was nothing she or Obi-Wan could do about it. She also knew why Shayariel did this and although she felt terribly guilt, she was thankful for the girl's decision. And then, Padmé's dream repeated itself in front of her eyes, but this time it was neither a nightmare, nor a vision of the future. It was happening right now and Padmé just fell into Obi-Wan's arms and cried.

It had only been one shot that she had not been able to block. One shot and she fell. One shot that would made her fade away. But not without losing this fight. As we was leaning down to her to check if she was dead, she opened her eyes.

"Hey… buddy…" she whispered.

"You lost. You're dead." He said triumphantly.

"No… I'm not dead… There is no death… there… is the Force… But you… you are… Game over !" Shayariel said grinning with all that was left of her strength. Then she reactivated the blade of her lightsaber and cut off his head with only one quick movement. As the bounty hunter's head fell on to the ground, Shayariel took a deep breath of relief.

"Shayariel !" Padmé said her name while she and Obi-Wan were running over to her.

"Hey…" she said weakly.

"What have you done ? Oh, Force ! You're bleeding !" Obi-Wan realized the wound in her chest that was bleeding profoundly. He put his hands on the burned flesh and tried to stop the flow of blood.

"I saved your lives…" she answered smiling.

"But why ?" he wanted to know.

"Because you're… my friends… I made a decision… And the hell… you know why…" Shayariel replied coughing.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Hope you like this one. I know it's a little sad in the end, but it had to be… Remember: There is no death, there is the Force…