Chapter 8

"The Association of Nubian Artists, a government-funded group, is requesting an escort to Coruscant to participate in their once-a-decade art show..."

Padmé sighed internally as yet another official read off a list of bills that needed her attention. Normally, she might be fascinated by the intricacies of the web she wove from the throne, as her people became the webbing material. But today, for some reason, she wouldn't stand to listen to this monotone man.

Today, she longed for the feeling of her heart fluttering, even a little, in her chest. She'd never experienced such a great desire for something as little as an accelerated heartbeat. And she knew the way she'd prefer for it to speed up.

Obi-Wan was here, but like a good Jedi he was standing tall, silent, and still, listening to the words she heard. All she wanted was a gaze from those gorgeously sharp eyes, enough to make her pulse quicken. She realized that now that she'd experienced this faster life, it was hard not to want it all the time. And he was so close...

"The two percent clothing tax should be repealed on all neckwear..."

If only he would turn his head. Then she would catch his gaze, and she would automatically feel his tender lips caressing hers. That other man would disappear and all that would exist would be they two. Everything would dissolve into nothing, creating the perfect place between them.

It happened, all of a sudden, as beautifully as she'd hoped it would. She couldn't concentrate for the rest of the afternoon.

The minute her time was up she exited the throne room, not even bothering to take the time to discuss anything with the representative. He hadn't waited for her, of course not. Everything would be obvious and he wouldn't take that risk...

But he had, and for that she thanked the former kings and queens. As she giggled, he drew her into a corner and pulled from her lips that kind of passion no other had ever been witness to.

Smiling contentedly, she rested her head against his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

"I know we shouldn't be doing this, but..."

"How can something be wrong when it feels so right?" he finished for her. "An ages-old question."

"Mmn, if you were any other man I'd have made you marry after that very first night we kissed so you'd never get away." She squeezed him tighter. "I should have done it, too. We would have lived in the royal quarters, then, after my term, at my family's lake house. My parents would love you. And we'd have beautiful children together, Obi-Wan, beautiful children..."

"Stop," he said, voice cracking.

"What's wrong?" She lifted her head, surprised to see his eyes filled with wetness that marked sorrow.

"You're making me not want to leave."

-

"Yané, you're sitting on my foot!"

"Sorry!"

"Shh, girls, they'll be here soon."

"Why are we doing this? We don't even know him that well. He's Padmé's boyfriend; why isn't she sitting in the dark?"

"Don't complain, Rabé. You know she asked us as a favor."

"Yes, she wants to do something special. It's his twenty-fifth birthdate."

"Twenty-five! That's so old!"

"No it's not."

"We all know she's going to do something really 'special' once she kicks us out, anyway."

"RABÉ!"

"Quiet down, girls! I hear footsteps..."

"SURPRISE!" All five of Queen Amidala's handmaidens jumped out from hiding as soon as the door opened, to a very surprised Jedi and a hysterical queen.

"Perfect, girls, perfect!" Padmé held her sides as she burst with laughter, Obi-Wan standing in slight shock. "One would think...a Jedi could sense an attack!" He turned to her with a devilish glare.

"You set this up?"

"I read your file and found your birthdate." She still smiled widely.

"You should have seen your face, Jedi Kenobi!" Saché grinned as largely as her lady.

"I can't believe this." He sat down as the giggling girls began throwing party decorations at him. "How could I fall for this?"

"Oh, stop moping!" Eirtaé yelled. "Let's go eat your cake!"

-

"Thank you, girls. I couldn't have done this without you." Padmé led her handmaidens to the door.

"Just remember that you owe us," Rabé said, smiling.

"Of course." They exited the apartment, all but Sabé.

"Go on, I'll catch up in a minute." The other girls left, and she turned to Padmé with serious eyes. Padmé automatically rolled her eyes in her head.

"Careful." She touched the queen's arm.

"Always," Padmé smiled, trying to reassure her friend.

"Remember who you are, the promises you've made. And...for gods' sakes, don't let yourselves get caught."

"You are going to be the best mother some day. But your children will never have any fun."

"I'm serious."

"We're fine, Sabé. Nothing will happen. Go to your quarters and get some rest."

The handmaiden sighed. "I worry about you."

Padmé rolled her eyes, this time visibly, moving to close the door. "Believe me, I know." As soon as the door closed she hurried back to Obi-Wan, who she could tell was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that five giggling girls had surprised him. It's because I was holding your attention.

"Yes, that must be it," he said aloud, back facing her and surprising her momentarily.

"Obi-Wan! I thought we talked about this mind-reading business!" He turned.

"I thought this might warrant an exception. Besides, you were thinking so loudly!" She smiled at him and, how beautifully! he returned it. Then his eyes changed and there was a smoldering and seductive glint in them that made her want to melt and sing and dance and hold him and kiss him. But mostly, she just wanted to go to him, and suddenly she felt powerless against the path her feet were taking. Before she knew it he had met her halfway and was pulling everything below her shoulders crushingly close to him as they kissed passionately. After a bit she tugged down toward the corner of his mouth and moved her lips across his smooth cheek and down the slope of his neck until her chin rested over his shoulder. She could stay like this for eternity, as everything around her crumbled, so long as his warmth and scent encompassed her.

Eventually, though, they moved apart and went out onto the balcony. It was dark but still warm, and they sat for a while on the couch. She spoke after a long silence, abruptly but with careful thinking.

"I think we should get married." He started, and she looked up at him and saw the confusion on her face.

"Padmé, what are you talking about?"

"I think we should get married. Before you leave for Coruscant, so we'll always know that we love each other."

"But you're far too young, and we have commitments—"

"We'd see each other so little that it wouldn't be like we were married. Women from Naboo my age, especially queens, have married this young. I'll be fifteen in four months."

"It's forbidden for Jedi to marry. Padmé..." He held her tightly, so that she almost couldn't breath. When he spoke again he was very quiet. "I am thrilled that you want to marry me, and I would like nothing more than to be your husband, but it just isn't possible. We could never keep a secret like that, and living apart would be torture. You cannot travel to Coruscant too frequently, and I cannot return here unless there is a conflict that requires Jedi assistance, which is highly unlikely. And...people change."

"My love for you won't change, Obi-Wan."

"Mine won't either. But..." He kissed the top of her head. "Please, let's not talk about this. It's not going to happen."

"All right," she said, sighing and feeling a weight on her shoulders. They remained silent until it became chilly, and then he knew it was time for him to leave. As he climbed down her outer wall, whispering sweet nothings to her, her heart ached and she wished that he'd said yes to her proposal. She knew their love would never change, and they could make their marriage work. Instead, she would have to settle for these few blissful months.

-

A dark figure watched as the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi descended from the balcony of Queen Amidala. A plan was forming. Soon, soon indeed...

I am SO sorry it took so long! I have no excuses. Actually, I kind took this chapter in a whole different direction originally, but then I hit writer's block, so I took oneoneohone's request for more Obi-figthing-action and did some rewrites and ran with it. Not that there is Obi-fighting-action right now. But there will be. I PROMISE.