Dearly Departed: Chapter Eight

She was dying. Somehow, she knew it. She could feel it deep within, like she was losing her grip. Little by little, her strength was diminishing and she was sliding further and further down. It would do little good to ask Obi-Wan what was going on. He hadn't admitted anything so far, and had avoided answering most of her questions, which was rather confounding. He'd always been so forward and honest with her, but now; it seemed as if he was hiding something.

Like the possibility that she had somehow contracted a fatal disease. It was the only explanation for her deteriorating looks, her loss of energy, her lack of appetite and inability to sleep. She wouldn't last long at this rate. Nobody would.

Maybe a few days; maybe a week, but it couldn't be longer than that. Each passing moment brought a new awareness of the growing hollowness inside, as if her body and her spirit were being separated and pulled in different directions, leaving behind an empty shell.

A disease might also explain the gap in her memory. Or perhaps Cordé wasn't the only one who had been injured during the attack on her ship. Following the assassin's attempt on her life, she recalled meeting Obi-Wan and Ani, and then going to bed. Everything after that was a blur.

If she were dying, she would actually prefer to be with her family; to spend her last moments surrounded by the people who loved her, not just the one man she was in love with.

Yes. It was true. She was in love with Obi-Wan Kenobi and had been for a while. In the beginning, she had dismissed it as a crush. Following his heroic efforts of battling and killing the Sith apprentice on Naboo, she had become quite enamored. The time they had spent talking before he left to return to Coruscant had only increased her favor of him.

However, the time they spent apart following the war in Theed had dampened it. Neither of them were at fault. They both had busy lives and many responsibilities. She had thought about him often, but honestly had very little hope they would have a future together.

Ten years later, however, fate intervened and the attack happened. The moment he stepped a foot through her door and she saw his face again, she knew. This wasn't a simple crush. She was in love. Only, he wasn't aware of it, and she was too proud to tell him.

She should've told him.

What did it matter now? It was too late. She had run out of time and ironically, would be spending her last moments not only with Obi-Wan, but also with her regret.

He had fallen asleep a few minutes ago and Padmé was sitting next to him on one side of the wide bed. He had stripped down to his under-tunics and leggings, and as soon as his breathing had slowed and steadied, she took the opportunity to ghost her hand over his chest and up and over his face, her bold caress hovering as close to his skin as possible without actually touching him.

Unlike Obi-Wan, she was tired of keeping secrets, although not brave enough to say it where he could actually hear it. When the time was right, perhaps she would find the courage to say it when he was awake. For now, she would use this opportunity to practice putting her feelings into words.

"I'm uncertain if you've taken on this task voluntarily, but it's definitely above and beyond the call of duty. Don't misunderstand me. Even if you were assigned, I'm glad the Council chose you," she whispered into the growing darkness. "I'm in love with you, Obi-Wan. I hope I get the chance to tell you before I go."

Padmé watched him closely, making sure he was sleeping soundly until she could no longer make out his features. An accumulation of clouds had erased all illumination in the night sky, making further observation impossible.

She could lie down next to him and wait for morning she supposed, but restlessness quickly gnawed away her efforts, forcing Padmé to rise from the bed.

She spent a good deal of time standing before the tall double doors, staring out onto the veranda and up into the falling snow, until discovering a gentle pulling sensation deep within herself. Something was drawing her outside. Whether it was her own will or the mysterious, elusive Force which Obi-Wan relied upon, she wasn't sure, but she followed its call and stepped outside into the gathering storm.

A/N: Yes, this was short, but it's all about quality not quantity, people. ;)