Dearly Departed: Chapter Three

It was rather ironic. He had asked for more time. He had wished for her to be alive and yet he hesitated outside the rec galley where he had left her.

"I thought that was you," her voice announced as the door suddenly slid open. "What are you standing about for? We have some preparations to make. If you think I'm going to spend all my time running and hiding, you've got another thing coming."

"But I need to tell you.." Obi-Wan began and then stopped. She was energetic and full of purpose; just as he remembered her, before the world they had known and loved toppled and fell. He wasn't sure why she was here. It may have been something he'd said, or something she needed to do. In either case, why would she need to know everything? Her time was short. Extremely short. He might as well let her enjoy it.

"What is it you were saying?" Padmé asked him before reaching up and placing the back of her hand on his forehead. "Obi-Wan? Are you feeling all right? You seem to be drifting."

"I'm fine," he confirmed, removing her hand with his own, surprised to find it warm when there was no reason for it to be. Perhaps her blood had not congealed yet. He shuddered at the thought.

"No, you're not. You're shaking. Here. Come inside and sit while we talk."

He allowed her to draw him inside the galley and seat himself next to her on a bench that was against the wall. "Where are we headed? Naboo? I know some very isolated places. The Lake Country is extremely remote…"

Yes, he was aware that was where his apprentice had hidden her before, but a lot had changed and a few years had passed. He was older and wiser than he once was.

"No, we're not going to Naboo. If I were an assassin, your home planet is the first place I would look."

"But out in the Lake Country there are.." she continued to argue, though Obi-Wan would have no part it in it. In this instance, he was going to put his foot down. They couldn't go traipsing around Theed! What if someone saw them? What if she were recognized? She was supposed to be dead!

"Your family's vacation home?" he interrupted. "Good thinking. They'd never even consider looking for you there."

Okay. He hadn't meant to sound to snarky, but his nerves were raw. He really needed to meditate. He took a chance and glanced at her, expecting to find a frown or her mouth gaped with shock, only to be surprised to find she didn't seem offended. In fact, she looked quite…peaceful.

"Then, where do you suggest?" she asked.

As far away as possible? Someplace in the Outer Rim maybe. It wasn't his decision, really. He was supposed to be looking after her, making this time enjoyable for her. He would let her decide – as long as it wasn't Naboo.

"You decide," he told her.

"I tried that already," she bit back. Well then. Maybe she wasn't so at peace after all.

Someone was at the door. It turned out to be Senator Organa and he poked his head in once Padmé had told him to enter.

"I've contacted Breha, and told her of our….situation."

Obi-Wan couldn't stop his brows from making a hasty retreat up into his scalp. Why not just announce it across the Holonet News? 'Galactic Senator Rises from the Dead! Tune into tonight's main broadcast for more details!'

"With Master Yoda's consent, of course," Bail hurriedly explained, apparently noticing Obi-Wan's alarm. "And she told me she would be more than happy to have some guests stay at the palace. In one of the more private suites, of course."

"Alderaan would be perfectly fine," Padmé announced with a smile. "Is that all right with you, Master Jedi? Secure enough? Or do you have a better idea?"

Taking care of a corpse inside one of the most luxurious palaces in the galaxy? One which most likely has an enormous staff? What a perfect plan!

"That would be fine," Obi-Wan grinned, hiding his growing anxiety.

"Then, Alderaan, it is. Tell Breha I'm looking forward to seeing her again. It's been a long while." She told Bail.

'Longer than you realize,' Obi-Wan said to himself.

Bail had left them alone once again and Obi-Wan found himself nervously anticipating conversation with her. He had never been this nervous around Padmé before, but this was different. And it wasn't because she was dead. It was because she didn't realize so much had happened. He had so much to hide!

"I hope this matter is resolved soon. These are dangerous times and I'm needed at the Senate. The Separatists don't yet have an army, but if the Military Creation Act passes, I am sure the Republic will be forced to go to war. I just can't let that happen. I'll need to return to Coruscant as soon as…"

Obi-Wan sat statue still and pretended to listen as she went on and on, although he was actually arguing with himself. Should he tell her? Or should he keep her in the dark?

As far as Padmé knew, the Clone Wars hadn't even happened, but the threat of war was foremost on her mind. All she seemed concerned with at the moment was the military act, which passed, by the way. He definitely wouldn't want to inform her about that.

At least, he thought with relief, she hadn't asked him about Anakin.

"So, tell me," she smiled at him sweetly, apparently finished with her political discourse. "How's Annie? And where is he, by the way?"

Obi-Wan sighed heavily. When was he ever going to learn?