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Chapter Nineteen

"Timeout"

Her apartment wasn't that spacious. Two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, a common area, and a balcony. At some point in the future, she would probably opt for the larger apartment upstairs, which would provide another living space, as well as two extra bedrooms for guests such as family.

In the meantime, she was satisfied with what the Senate had offered her. It wasn't until today, however, that Padmé realized just how small the space actually was. When two of its occupants were at odds with one another, the place was downright cramped!

Dormé had spent most of the day in her room with Anakin moping about in the kitchen and common area. Obi-Wan had spent his time sunning on the veranda, sleeping off the stubborn remnants of the Plyridian virus. Padmé had done her best to tie up some loose political ends via her comm system, although there were several tasks which could only be completed in person. The communique she had sent to the Chancellor regarding her absence had been accepted and returned by his personal secretary with a kind note attached telling her not to worry.

There was nothing more she could do, so Padmé shut down the system for the night and checked on Anakin in the kitchen. She was surprised to discover he had been spending his time trying to create a meal for them. Padmé had been previously unaware he knew how to cook, and after viewing the mess he had made in her kitchen, she still wasn't sure.

"You didn't have to do this," she gently scolded the young man, secretly wishing he hadn't!

"I had to do something," he grumped. "Another ten in this place and I'm going to lose my mind."

He hadn't complained when he and Dormé were getting along, and Padmé wondered how she could fix this. Or even if she should try. If history repeated itself, the two would most likely be participating in a noisy make-up session before the night's end.

"I'm certain everything's going to be all right," she did her best to console him.

"That's easy for you to say. You and Master Kenobi never say one cross word to each other! How do you do that? Doesn't he annoy you with his constant criticisms and overbearing nature?"

She blamed the young man's sour attitude entirely on Dormé, and smiled sweetly at him, as she began cleaning up the mess he had made. Why were egg shells all over the counter? "I'm sure Obi-Wan is doing his best to train you the best way he knows how. He's very proud of you."

The young man's shoulders slumped as he leaned over the stove. Padmé took the opportunity to turn off the heating elements before he caught himself on fire.

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Padmé did, and there didn't seem anything she could do about it! So, she decided to change the subject.

"What did you make?" she asked, after she'd been unable to recognize any of the dishes he'd prepared.

"I was going to make lamta and ahrisa, like my mom taught me, but it's not going to be as good I'm afraid. You didn't have all the ingredients, so I had to make some substitutions."

Anakin handed her a tray which was loaded down with what looked like some type of meatballs, a broth-based soup, and pieces of crusty brown bread.

"You made this all yourself? I'm impressed," she complimented him.

"Don't be until you taste it," he warned playfully.

After setting the tray on the dining table, Padmé went to retrieve Obi-Wan, who was still basking in the waning sunlight of the day. She knelt next to him, unsure of the best way to wake a Jedi. There were many temptations that came to mind, such as nuzzling his neck with her lips or twirling her tongue around his earlobe. Noticing how peacefully serene he appeared, however, she decided not to shock him awake and simply leaned forward to place a kiss upon his cheek. His head turned almost immediately, a grin slowly spreading across his face.

"I was dreaming," his cultured voice purred, sending a shiver to Padmé's toes.

"Oh? May I ask about what?"

"You may," he smirked.

"Fine. Be that way. Food's prepared. Are you hungry?"

"That all depends," Obi-Wan answered, pulling himself to an upright position. "Did you make it?"

"Anakin did."

"Aha. Then prepare yourself, Senator, for some rare Tatooine fare. I just hope he took it easy on the tezirett this time."

Padmé wasn't even sure she had any of that particular herb in her pantry. "I'll keep plenty of ice water on the table," she teased, knowing a little tezirett went a long way. She assisted Obi-Wan as he stood, a bit wobbly at first, although he regained his footing quickly.

Once they had seated themselves around the table, Padmé hesitated, unsure whether to hail Dormé or not. The girl had been sulking all afternoon, and frankly, one brooding dinner companion was enough. Apparently, though, her stars weren't aligned this evening, for as soon as the food was set on the table, the drama queen, herself, walked into the dining area.

"Looks like I'm just in time," the young woman announced. "Senator, Master Kenobi, I hope you had a pleasant afternoon," Dormé greeted everyone, with the obvious exception of Anakin, who's eyes were currently transfixed upon the ceiling.

The young woman sat in her usual chair and eyed the preparations. "This smells delicious! Senator, is this a new recipe?"

"Anakin made it."

The information Padmé supplied wiped the supercilious grin off Dormé's face. "Oh."

"It's a family recipe," Anakin noted with a hint of pride.

"I guess that makes it automatically edible then, right? And if it's not?"

"You can go eat the scraps I put in the disposal for all I care!" the young man replied hotly, depositing a forkful into his mouth.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you!" Dormé shot back. "Isn't that what you said earlier? That I would always be eating the scraps from beneath the Senator's table? That I would never be anything more than a personal assistant? Isn't that what you said?"

"I didn't say that exactly," the young man mumbled.

"Then share with the Senator and your Master exactly what you did say! I'm sure they'd like to hear it!"

"Why? You always take everything I say the wrong way anyway!" Anakin shouted. "And why is that? It's like you enjoy fighting!"

"Enough!"

The single word accompanied by a strong hand slamming down upon the table was enough to silence the couple and vibrate the dishes. Padmé nervously glanced toward Obi-Wan, expecting to see his face reddened with anger. But it wasn't. He was quite calm, and when he spoke, his words were forceful though tightly controlled, his eyes focused solely upon his Padawan.

"You are a guest in the house of a gracious and kind host, and I will remind you both to respect that. Padmé and I will be taking our meal into her suite, and by the time we are finished, the two of you will have reached some sort of agreement. I don't care what it is, but there will be no more personal attacks or shouting in this home. We have two more weeks to spend in each other's company, and may I remind one of you, just who put us in this predicament in the first place? I suggest we all make the best of this situation, and if you can't manage to be civil to one another, I will be forced to take more drastic measures. Understood?"

Padmé wasn't about to ask what those measures pertained to. In fact, she was too stunned to speak at all. She couldn't imagine how Anakin and Dormé felt.

"I believe I asked if you understood," he repeated, rising to emphasize the seriousness of his words.

"Yes, Master," Anakin droned.

"Yes…yes sir," Dormé meekly added.

Apparently satisfied, Obi-Wan lifted his plate of food from the table. Padmé did the same. "If you would follow me, Senator?" he suggested, walking with decent speed to her private suite, shutting the door once they had both entered.

He stopped her there, obviously listening for any repercussions to his stern lecture. After hearing none, he glanced toward Padmé.

She hated to admit it, but she was nervous. Padmé possessed her own voice of authority she used during senatorial proceedings, but the command she had just witnessed in Obi-Wan's voice demanded nothing but respect and could easily evoke fear in an enemy.

But then he waggled his brows at her. "Do you think they bought it?"

Padmé chuckled with relief. "Are you kidding? I nearly peed myself!"

Obi-Wan tilted his head back and laughed, shushing himself immediately afterward. "Let's move away from the door. Do you mind eating on your bed?"

"It's either there or the 'fresher," Padmé pointed out the only other option.

"The bed it is then."