Chapter 4

"So, what did you tell Captain Panaka?" Padmé asked, as soon as she and Sabé were in the Queen's quarters. They'd left the other girls with an enforced vow of secrecy. Well, Sabé really just threatened to tell the Captain about the time they'd snuck out with some of the (cute) royal waiters during the last ball. That shut them up.

"I told him the truth—you fell asleep in the garden and didn't know the time."

"And Obi-Wan?"

"The last time I saw him, he seemed fine and didn't think you were in any danger."

"Oh, Sabé, thank you!" Padmé squealed, throwing her arms around her friend.

"I'm just glad to serve and see you happy. But…oh, Padmé, be careful."

"What do you mean?" She looked up.

"You know what. He's a Jedi, and you have an elected duty to your people. Just…be realistic."

Padmé could feel her eyes starting to water. "Sabé, don't say that. I think I might love him. I can't think about losing him."

"It's a truth."

"Well, we'll just have to deal with it when the time comes," she said, drawing on her diplomatic training to present a front of calm.

"Don't do this, Padmé. I'm serious—" The comm. started beeping, cutting her off.

"It could be him! No, don't leave. I need you here. Just don't say anything." She pushed a button, and—oh, it was him! His little image floated on the screen.

"Hello." The word sounded like heaven coming from his lips.

"Hi." The word sounded nervous and squeaky coming from hers.

"I was wondering if you'd maybe like to have dinner? Tonight, in the gardens?" He grinned at her, as if sharing a private joke. She could feel her eyes getting wider and the muscles around her mouth getting tight.

"Sure," she breathed.

"Well…see you then. I'll come get you."

"Okay."

"…goodbye."

"Bye."

His image disappeared and Padmé jumped and squealed with delight.

"We're going on a date! Or…did we already go on a bunch of dates, walking in the gardens all those times? Oh, it doesn't matter; we're going on a date! I can't wait; we're going on a date! I can't wait!" She began bouncing on her bed, something she hadn't done in years but couldn't help now. All Sabé did was stand back and watch, commenting dryly:

"I can see that."

-

Padmé's door toned and she ran to get it, momentarily calming herself before pushing the button to reveal Obi-Wan, looking handsome as ever.

"Hello." She smiled, although she knew he could probably see how weak she felt when he looked at her like that…

"Good evening," he said, grinning and pulling her close for a kiss. But she held her hand against his chest (Gods, it felt nice!) to stop him. She explained when he looked confused.

"Someone might see."

"Oh." He got a mischievous look in his eyes and before she knew it she'd been picked up around the waist and moved inside the doorway. He looked down at her expectantly, that mischief still running rampant through his expression.

"Better," she said, just before he bent to kiss her. She closed her eyes to better absorb this wonderful feeling. When he hadn't broken contact for a long while, however, she was forced to at the thought that Sabé was still somewhere in her quarters and might come out and see. Not that Padmé minded, but she knew she'd get a disapproving look.

"We'd better go. Just a moment." She found the handmaiden in question, ordering the many gowns worn by Queen Amidala, waved a wordless goodbye, then returned to where Obi-Wan was still at her door.

"Let's go."

-

The evening was as wonderful as he'd hoped it would be. He didn't know what had possessed him to ask her, but again it was making him happy beyond his wildest dreams, so he didn't question it.

It was true that she was more…conserved than she had been the day before, though that didn't last long once he got her laughing. Then she was back to his beautiful Padmé, all smiles and kisses and flirting. At one point she actually got up from the little table they were using, came over, sat on his lap, and planted a kiss right on his lips.

"There. That was much better than kissing over the food, wasn't it?" she teased, leaning back.

"Oh, much," he agreed, pulling her in for another kiss.

"Mmn…we'll never finish dinner at this rate."

"So?"

"So I'm hungry!" She grinned as he hung his mouth open in mock shock.

"I kiss you, and all you can think about is your stomach? Unless you weren't talking about that kind of hunger," he teased, raising an eyebrow. She shook her head, averting her eyes but still smiling despite herself, he knew. She pushed him lightly on his arm and then got up and sat back in her seat, cheeks slightly pink.

"I can't believe you said that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is quite a story—a Jedi being fresh with the Queen."

He shrugged, grinning so wide he knew he must look ridiculous. "You may slap me if you wish."

"Oh, never. I might mark your face!"

"Oh. I see, you only like me for my looks." He crossed his arms, nose in the air. "Well, I can't say I blame you…"

"Obi-Wan!" she giggled. The rest of the evening was spent in similar teasing and kissing, until when he was in front of her door again. Then he couldn't help but smother her lips with his, and was even more pleased to find her willing.

"Goodnight, Master Jedi."

"Goodnight, Queen."

I had fun writing this chapter. :)

Erik's Siren - Thank you! I'm glad it's adorable, although it will get (scary voice) ANGSTY closer to the end.

Millpzonesyou - TFKAK! Your presence deserves squees! I'm so happy you're here! DUDE. You are the only person I trust to beta all my stuff (well, read it before it goes up, anyway) so none of this stuff is beta-ed. And Obi's only being Captain of the Obvious. I mean, her makeup must be like that stage makeup we had to wear, and that stuff didn't come off...

♥♥♥♥♥ SQUEE! ♥♥♥♥♥ SQUEE! ♥♥♥♥♥

Ahem. Moving on...

mrs. skywalker - I reread all the rules, and it doesn't say anything about replying to reviews anywhere in there. I also wrote to the support and they haven't replied yet. And I've been replying to reviews since I started, and about a month or so ago they went through and deleted all my songfics and a script piece (because some idiot reported one of my songfics -.-) but they didn't do anything about my review-replying. Thank you so much for the warning, though, and I will definitely be saving all these chapters to my computer in case you're right! Don't worry, if it gets deleted, it'll be back up soon. ;)

storyshark2005 - You're right, I can't believe I forgot the infamous Luke/Leia incest kiss! (Do YOU think there was tongue?. :P) And I must agree, TPM Obi is hot (ANY Obi is hot! Even Alec Guinness!), but the RotS beard...I don't know why, it just gives me shivers. :)

doreenthatshot - Thanks! And by the way, I love your penname.

Aiska Kenobi - Exactly. I though that, as a fourteen-year-old, she might be just a little bit overwhelmed at making out all night with a handsome Jedi. ;)