A/N: Kuk'waibi is a Voolukarian fertility god who carries a spear of desire. He's the closest Star Wars equivalent to Cupid that I could find.
Anakin and Ahsoka ran into Padmé in the hallway of the palace, bursting into a fit of giggles upon seeing each other.
"How did it go?" asked Padmé.
"Ahsoka gave an excellent performance," said Anakin, clapping his padawan proudly on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Master. It was truly a team effort."
"Mace was what really sold it. Obi-Wan might believe that Ahsoka and I would make up such a thing, but certainly not Mace Windu."
"Obi-Wan was so startled by it all, he nearly fell into a plant," said Ahsoka with a chuckle. "He isn't as good at hiding as he thinks he is."
"What about Satine? Did she buy it?" asked Anakin.
"I may not have the Force, but I could practically feel the waves of jealousy rolling off of her when Sabé and Dormé were gushing over Obi-Wan. She bought it alright. She might be a bit cross with me, but she took the bait like a gooberfish."
"Excellent. We make fine matchmakers, I'll tell you that," said Anakin, somewhat smugly.
"Come on, let's see if they come down for lunch," said Padmé, taking them both by the wrists and leading them to the dining hall.
The dining room was decorated much more casually than the night before. The tables were spread with plain tablecloths that were peach in color. People sat together quietly in small group, as the servant droids brought them sandwiches and fruit juice. Neither Obi-Wan nor Satine showed up for a good half hour, though it was obvious why once they arrived.
Obi-Wan joined them at the table with his beard neatly trimmed and his robes cleaned and pressed. He even smelled different than usual - not that he ever smelled bad - but he was definitely wearing some sort of cologne. Ahsoka had stared at him wide-eyed and expectant, so unsubtle that Anakin had kicked her under the table.
"Good morning, Master," said Anakin. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," said Obi-Wan, obviously distracted as he looked around the room.
"I hope so. The parade is tonight and you'll want to have your energy for that," said Padmé.
It took ten more minutes for Satine to arrive, looking lovelier than ever. She wasn't wearing a headdress, and her hair was down around her shoulders. Her dress was light blue, the same color as her eyes, and perhaps a little more low cut than what she typically wore. When she entered, Obi-Wan stopped even pretending to listen to what his companions were saying, his entire focus on watching her. Likewise, as soon as Satine saw him she seemed dead to the rest of the world around her. Dormé even greeted her and Satine did little but nod to her before coming over to their table.
"Good morning, Duchess," said Anakin. "Join us, will you? I believe there is a free seat next to Obi-Wan."
"Thank you," she said, sitting down.
Now that they were right next to each other, they seemed unable to make eye contact. Anakin was happy to fill the silence, however, regaling everyone with some stories of his adventures as a padawan. Ahsoka and Padmé listened intently, but both Obi-Wan and Satine seemed to be lost in their own world.
"And then there was the time I saved Obi-Wan from a gundark. Remember that, master?" said Anakin.
"What? Oh, yes, that's right," said Obi-Wan in a distracted way.
Anakin lifted an eyebrow at the response. He knew Obi-Wan had a completely different version of that story altogether, one that involved saving Anakin. Obi-Wan's was probably more accurate, to be honest.
"Have you seen the gardens, yet?" asked Padmé, after Anakin had finished his story.
"Ye-," began Obi-Wan, before catching himself. "No, I haven't yet. I hear they are most exquisite."
"You have to see them before you leave. Neeyutnee's staff has really outdone themselves and they are absolutely stunning. They are open to public on most days, but closed now for the festival. It isn't often that you have a chance to see them so quiet and secluded."
"Perhaps we should all take a walk around them after lunch," suggested Obi-Wan.
"Actually, I'm afraid that I have to make some preparations for tonight, and Anakin and Ahsoka have agreed to help me," said Padmé. This was all news to Anakin and Ahsoka, but they played it well and nodded along. "You and Satine should go, though. It is a great place to catch up with old friends. And like I said, you really can't miss it. Well, we had better get to it, lots to do." Padmé stood and swept out of the room with Anakin and Ahsoka in tow, leaving a slightly bewildered Obi-Wan and Satine.
"I suppose we really must see these gardens, then," said Obi-Wan, slowly.
"Yes, they sound like they can't be missed."
He stood and offered her his arm, which she took with a slightly shaking hand. She had eaten a total of two bites from her sandwich and he had only eaten before she arrived, so they left their mostly full plates on the table and walked out of dining room.
They didn't speak as they walked through the palace hall, but the fresh air outside seemed to calm them. Padmé was right, the garden was a truly relaxing and picturesque setting.
"I think there is a little fountain down here that you would like. It reminds of the one in the square in Sundari," said Obi-Wan.
"I thought you said that you had never seen the gardens before," said Satine.
"Did I?" Obi-Wan blushed, visible above his beard. Satine decided not to press it.
"Obi, I think I owe you an apology for last night. What I said to you was rude and untrue. And it isn't what I really think of you, not even close. Seeing you again, well, it's brought back some old feelings. And I suppose I was frustrated, but it was unfair of me to take it out on you."
"Thank you, but you weren't completely wrong about what you said. I, too, struggle with the idea of the Jedi being soldiers now. I just - I don't know any other way to stop the Separatists. And they must be stopped, Satine. If you saw the things they've done to the planets they occupy," Obi-Wan's voice began to shake.
Satine brought a hand up to touch his cheek gently. They had stopped walking and faced each other now.
"I know," she said softly. "I know and I think you are a good man for the things you do, the people you protect. But this war is evil and it needs to end." She paused, for a moment, rubbing her thumb lightly over his cheek. "It is so good to see you again."
"It is good to see you, too." He place his hand over hers, holding it there for a moment longer.
"I think you were unfair about one thing, though," he said, releasing her hand, which she brought back to her side.
"What's that?"
"I am not a bad dancer. And I didn't step on your toes even once."
Satine laughed at that, a real hearty laugh.
"No, in truth, you are a very fine dancer. Now let's go see this fountain."
"What's happening now?" asked Anakin. It seemed that the secret project that he and Ahsoka were helping Padmé with was spying on Obi-Wan and Satine on one of the palace roofs with Rex and his macrobinoculars.
"They've stopped walking," said Rex, laying flat on his stomach on the roof, while the other three sat behind him. "She's touching his face. They're going to kiss. Ah, no, missed the moment. I think she's laughing, though. And they're walking again. And they're in the trees - can't see them any more."
"Should we wait for them to come out from the orchard?"
"Do you have any other plans for the day?" asked Padmé.
"Good point," said Anakin, settling back against the roof.
"Your girlfriend seems to be down there, as well," said Rex to Ahsoka.
"Riyo? She's not - I mean, she's not my girlfriend. We're just friends."
"You don't dance like just friends," said Rex.
"So, what's she doing?" asked Ahsoka, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Reading a book, it looks like."
"Let me see," said Ahsoka, reaching for the binocs.
"Ahsoka, don't spy on your future girlfriend," said Anakin.
"She's not my girlfriend. Besides we're spying on Obi-Wan," said Ahsoka.
"Totally different," said Anakin, and Padmé nodded.
"We really have a type, don't we? The Jedi and our politicians," Anakin added, putting an arm around Padmé for emphasis.
It was a huge fountain, almost like swimming pool. In the center was a statue of a wild-haired woman with two rearing ikopi on either side of her. Streams of water burst from the tips of the fingers of her raised hand and from the antlers of the ikopi. Around the outer stone border were carvings of many nature scenes, some involving the wild-haired woman, and the bottom of the fountain was a colorful mosaic in blue, green, and silver. It was a beautiful sight.
Satine sat on edge on the fountain dipping her finger into the crystal clear water. The flower trees were beginning to shed their petals, so several pink and purple petals floated gently across the water, occasionally disturbed by the splashing water in the center.
"Do you remember that day on Ordo when it was so hot?" Obi-Wan asked. He stood a few feet from the fountain, leaning against one of the flowering trees and watching her with a slight smile on his face.
"I do. I was just thinking about it, actually."
"You were washing your clothes, I was keeping you company, and then," he trailed off as he began to walk toward her, a broader smile beginning to creep upon his face."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, don't you dare." She stood quickly from the fountain's edge.
"Alright," he said, with a shrug. He turned as if to move back to the tree. She was almost disappointed, when quick as a flash, he walked up to her, scooped her up into his arms, and fell with her into the water. The water was only about two feet deep, but it was enough to get them both completely soaked.
"How dare you!" she said, pretending to be angry, but failing as she could not keep herself from laughing. She splashed a good handful of water into his face and he was laughing, too. He lay down, propped up on his hands, so that only his eyes stuck out above the water, like some lake creature, waiting for a snack. She could tell he was smiling that smile even if she couldn't see it.
"You know, I think I missed a spot on you," he said, raising up higher in the water. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap, taking cupfuls of water and dumping them onto her head. She splashed more water back at him. Then, wet and panting from laughing so hard, she turned in his lap to face him. Her face suddenly took on a more serious look, and she pressed her forehead against his.
"It is so good to see you again," she said, once more.
He reached up both hands and pushed her wet hair back out of her face. Then, without hesitation, he leaned forward and kissed her. While their first time had been desperate, impatient, and full of inexperienced awkwardness, this one was much slower and more controlled. His hands ran through her hair as he kissed her, and hers were holding firmly to his shoulder. Feeling the need to be closer to her, he ran his hands down to her back and pulled until she was flush against him, her legs straddling his hips, and her arms now around his neck. Obi-Wan had to admit, he was somewhat glad that he was sitting in a pool of cold water, given the way she was pressed against him.
"Ahem."
Satine practically jumped out of his lap at the sound of the other person. Obi-Wan likewise whirled around to face them.
"Queen Neeyutnee, how… lovely to see you," said Obi-Wan lamely.
"Master Kenobi, Duchess Satine, I see you are making good use of our grounds. Perhaps you might want explore some of our indoor facilities, as well. They tend to be much more private."
"Yes, your majesty," said Obi-Wan. Satine seemed too embarrassed to speak.
The queen then swept off, followed by her retinue of four handmaidens and two palace guards.
"Well, I think we're going to be the talk of Theed tonight."
"Yes, last night I got a taste of how the handmaidens love to gossip," said Satine. She smiled warmly at Obi-Wan, kissing him on the cheek one last time before standing, and offering a hand to help him up. "But now, I suppose we had better make ourselves presentable."
"I suppose so," he said.
Dripping and still giggling a little, they climbed out of the fountain and made their way back toward the palace.
"Here comes someone," said Rex. "No, it's just the queen and her guards."
Anakin had sat up excitedly, but hearing that, he had flopped back down next to Padmé. Ahsoka lay on her back perpendicular to them with her left foot crossed over her right knee and her eyes shut. She bobbed her foot absentmindedly to some silent beat.
"Wait, here they come. Well!" Rex exclaimed.
"What is it? What is it?" said Anakin, climbing over to Rex.
"Take a look for yourself, General," Rex said, handing over the binocs.
"Well, indeed. They seem to have been enjoying themselves."
"What do you mean?" asked Padme, trying to cover Ahsoka's ears with her hands, although she wasn't exactly sure where the Togruta's ears were.
"Nothing like that. They're just soaking wet. They look like they've gone for a swim in their clothes."
"Let me see!" said Ahsoka, grabbing for the binocs.
"Kuk'waibi no longer throws his spear, his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love gods," said Anakin proudly.