Chapter 6

"I can never get enough of you," Obi-Wan whispered as their lips parted.

"The feeling is mutual," she murmured back, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. "After all," she traced his ear with a finger. "I love you." She put emphasis on every word. He drew back from their embrace to grin at her.

"The feeling...is mutual." She smiled wider. "I love you too."

Chills ran through her whenever he said that. She squeezed him once more and then reached for the door controls to her quarters. He stopped her, bending over her hand and kissing it.

"Your Highness."

"Sir Knight." She nodded at him, a warm feeling flowing throughout her at his smile. Then she opened the door and went inside.

The lights turned on as soon as the door slid shut.

"Oh, Sabé! What were you doing?"

"You're home two hours later than you should be," Sabé said seriously.

"It was worth it, too."

"I was worried. You've got to stop this." The handmaiden picked up the shoes and outer garments the queen was flinging everywhere.

"We had the most wonderful time. We watched holovids in his quarters."

"How much did you actually see?" Sabé untied Padmé's corset and the girl flopped onto her couch.

"Oh. I don't even know what species the main characters were." She giggled, remember snippets of the evening. "And I told him that I love him."

"What? You've known that for ages!"

"Yes, but I could just tell him it right away. We've only been together for two weeks."

"And you've spent about 85 of your time out of those two weeks with him! Is that why you were so late?"

"No. Well, we actually got back only one hour late..."

"You've been standing out there kissing for an hour?"

Padmé blushed. "We both have long attention spans."

Sabé held her hand to her head. "Padmé, I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. Didn't you even think that someone might see you?"

"Of course we did. But we can't help it, Sabé. We're in love."

"Do you know what will happen if the Press get their digits on this? He's going to be expelled from the Jedi Order!"

"He says he knows what he's doing," she replied quietly.

"Padmé." Sabé sat in front of her, holding her hands. "He loves you. He doesn't know what he's thinking."

"You're--you're wrong! We know what we're doing!"

"Padmé, I'm trying to help, please listen--"

"No! You don't know what you're talking about! You're dismissed." She felt awful instantly. She was treating Sabé as nothing more than a servant, something she'd always vowed not to do. The girl's face fell, and she stood up quietly and seriously.

"Yes, Your Highness."

-

"What's wrong, Darling?" Obi-Wan murmured in Padmé's ear, brushing the curls away from her face and neck. "You're been acting strangely all day." They lay together on a couch on her balcony, watching the sun set. They had been reading to each other from holonovels, but had stopped to watch pink and orange tear through the blue of the Nubian skies. But he could tell her mind wasn't with him.

"Nothing, I just...I don't want to think about it." She turned more toward him. "Help me forget." He expected a bit of a joke on her face, but instead he saw nothing but desperation and fear.

"No. Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"I--I don't want..." She buried her head in his chest, suddenly sobbing. This was strange for her, usually so held-together. He drew her close, rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her.

"Padmé, it's all right. It's all right. Darling..." He clenched his arms around her, feeling fiercely protective all of a sudden. He would destroy whatever it was that was distressing her so.

"I don't want to lose you," she whimpered, turning her head so he could hear.

"What?"

"I though I could handle it--I handle so many other things. But then Sabé...she thinks everyone will find out, and I know we have to end it, but I thought I could handle it. And now I know I can't, because I love you too much. Much, much too much. I don't want to lose you. Obi-Wan..."

So. This was why she was so scared and was shaking and crying in his arms. He felt almost hollow at her revelation, because he realized he felt the exact same way. He loved her so much that it was dangerous.

"I'm leaving for Coruscant tomorrow. We can't continue this." He sat up, rigid and wearing an emotionless mask.

"What? No, you can't!"

"I have to. Padmé, I'm so in love with you that it hurts to think about being without you. That's my cue to leave, because it will only get worse."

"No, I don't want to lose you! Obi-Wan, stay! Promise you'll stay." Her eyes pleaded with him, and he wanted to say yes more than he'd ever wanted anything.

"We can't. It can't work."

"I don't care. I need you. Stay with me. Please." His heart broke for her.

"All...all right." he face brightened in relief and she laughed once, wiping away a tear. Then she pulled him in for the kiss he'd promised. A strange sense of unease washed over him as he realized the pledge he'd just made.

He now knew why the Order forbade love.

Erik's Siren - Yes, ANGST! (evil cackling) This is actually about the fluffiest story I've ever written.

ME - Yeah, she seems like she could handle a relationship. Of course, she wouldn't have time...but if it's Obi-Wan, you MAKE time. ;)

HanSolosGal - Don't worry, I'm pretty sure everyone else feels the same way. ;) (Sigh)

Sorry for the lapse in updates. September equals EVIL! But then I watched Moulin Rouge, and everything was better...