Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars

AN: Here's chapter 7! Thanks for all the great reviews.

Forever Destined

Chapter 7: Celebration on Naboo

Aayla and Obi-Wan lay entwined in the mass of bedding. As the afterglow wore off, Aayla stood up.

Obi-Wan's eyes roamed over her naked body in appreciation, as she headed for the fresher.

"Going so soon?" he asked.

"I'm going back to the party for a few drinks. You could join me and then you can take me back to your quarters," Aayla suggested.

"And whatever would we do there?" he teased.

"You would have your way with me," she replied, playfully, as she shut the door to the fresher to shower.

Siri was practically livid when she saw Obi-Wan and Aayla leave together. A few drinks had helped her calm down, but as she saw Aayla and Obi-Wan return to the party together, her anger returned. Aayla came to the bar, while Obi-Wan left to mingle.

"How could you?!" Siri asked harshly.

"How could I what?" Aayla asked.

"Don't play stupid with me. I have a pretty good idea where you and Obi-Wan have been. How could you sleep with him when you know I love him?!" Siri accused. Aayla sipped at her drink.

"Obi-Wan doesn't want to have anything to do with you Siri. I think it's time you both moved on. Besides, what Obi-Wan and I did is no big deal. We hook up all the time. It's just sex," Aayla said, nonchalantly.

"He's probably just using you to make me jealous," Siri huffed.

"Obi-Wan wasn't trying to make you jealous. We both just wanted to get laid. My advice to you Siri is just leave it. Face it, Obi-Wan and you are over. And you only have yourself to blame," Aayla said, as she left to mingle with some of her other friends.

Anakin and Padme mingled a bit, before Anakin pulled her onto the dance floor. She gladly wrapped her arms around his neck, as they swayed to the music.

"So, I hear the Senate is in recess for the next couple weeks. Do you plan to stay here?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, I was thinking about going to my home in the lake country and I was hoping very much that you would come with me," she replied.

"Really? You want me to come?" he asked.

"Of course I do. The lake country is beautiful this time of year and it would be very romantic," she replied, with a soft smile.

"Well, I have to check with my father and the council, but I would be happy to accompany you milady," he replied, as he drew her lips into a soft kiss.

Siri approached Obi-Wan at the bar.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Can't we just talk? Catch up a bit?" she asked. Obi-Wan set his drink down.

"Fine, let's talk. Tell me, was following those crime lords around the galaxy as an undercover operative more fulfilling than being with me?" Obi-Wan asked. She sighed.

"How many times am I going to have to apologize for that?! And for your information, thanks to me, we brought down a large part of that crime ring," Siri snapped.

"Oh yes, I've read the reports of your exploits. You were very close to the big heads. Tell me, how many times did you have to go to bed with each of them to get your information? Obi-Wan asked. Siri wound up to slap him, but he caught her arm.

"I did what I had to do to bring them down," Siri said angrily.

"No, you didn't have to. You requested that mission from the Council. They weren't even considering you for that mission, but you just had to get away from me," Obi-Wan replied.

"Obi-Wan, I'm sorry, I was scared," she replied.

"Scared of what?" he asked incredulously.

"I...I don't know. I don't know...commitment maybe. I don't know what it was," she replied, defeated.

"We're over Siri. We've been over for fifteen years and I have no intention of beginning a relationship with you again," Obi-Wan said, as he left the bar.

Anakin walked Padme to the door of her room in the palace. Anakin took her hands in his own and kissed her passionately.

"Good night Padme. Sweet dreams," he told her, as they prepared to part for the night.

"Good night Anakin. I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he replied, with a smile. He kissed her gently, before she went inside her room for the night.

The next day, Gungan bands paraded through the streets of Theed. Confetti and streamers wafted through the air and citizens gathered and celebrated in the streets. Queen Jamilla was dressed in a long gold gown with a full headdress and makeup. Her handmaiden, Yane, held a case with medals inside it. The queen picked one up and placed it around Siri's neck. Aayla was next and then Dooku. Padme was to the side of her dressed in a long, full white/pinkish gown. She was beautiful and Anakin couldn't take his eyes off her. She picked up a medal from the case that Sache was holding and placed it around Qui-Gon's neck and then another around Obi-Wan's. She moved to Anakin finally and their eyes lingered on each other for a few moments. He was dressed in his normal Jedi attire, but he looked even more handsome to her than usual. His padawan braid was gone, as was the ponytail at the back of his head. His hair was loose, making it thicker and a bit longer. She smiled, as she placed the medal around his neck, but did not step back from him. He smiled and took this as an indication of what she wanted. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. It thrilled him to no end that he was kissing her for everyone to see, letting them know that they belonged only to each other.

"I love you, my handsome Jedi hero," Padme said, love shining in her eyes.

"I love you too, my beautiful angel," Anakin replied, as he picked her up and spun her around. She squealed, but was soon silenced by his kiss again. He slowly lowered her to her feet, as they continued to kiss each other passionately. The celebration continued throughout the day. Later that day, Anakin and Padme were seeing the Jedi Council and Anakin's family off at the hanger.

"Well, we'll see you both in a couple of weeks I suppose. Stay out of trouble Ani," Qui-Gon said.

"Hey, it's me," Anakin replied, with a grin. Qui-Gon grinned back.

"I know, that's why I said it," Qui-Gon replied.

"Goodbye milady," Qui-Gon said, with a small bow to Padme.

"Goodbye master Qui-Gon and don't worry about Ani. I'll take good care of him," she promised.

"I know you will," he replied with a grin.

"Well, baby brother, the clubs will be boring without you. But I guess I should get used to it," Obi-Wan said. Anakin sighed.

"At least try to be happy for me," Anakin pleaded.

"I will. I guess we will see you both in a couple weeks," Obi-Wan said, as he patted Anakin on the back and gave a slight bow to Padme.

"You know, it's okay to get in a little trouble, if you know what I mean," Dooku said, winking at his grandson. Anakin blushed.

"Grandfather," Anakin flushed in embarrassment, while Padme giggled. Dooku chuckled.

"Goodbye kids. We'll see you soon," Dooku said, as he boarded the ship. Once they were gone, Padme turned to Anakin.

"Dorme has all my things packed. I'm going to go freshen up and then we'll head for the lake country," Padme said.

"Sounds great," Anakin replied, as he waited patiently for her to return.

Dorme finished her hair and smiled.

"You look beautiful milady. And I must say, that it's good to see you so happy," Dorme said.

"Thank you Dorme," she replied.

"You're welcome milady. Now, don't keep your handsome Jedi waiting any longer," Dorme replied, with a grin. Padme grinned back, as she left her quarters.

Darth Maul entered the dark room. He knew his master was there, but he had yet to say anything. Maul clenched his new metal prosthetic hand in anger. A boy...a mere padawan was responsible for his injury. He was an unusually strong padawan, but that was beside the point. He was defeated by a kid. To say that his arm was only thing that had been injured in that battle would be incorrect. His pride had taken a hit and he knew his master was not pleased with him. He feared that his master may have lost confidence in his abilities and might punish him. As that thought ran through his mind, several blue blots of Force lightning shot out at him. Maul screamed in pain and writhed on the floor. The lightning ceased, as the cloaked form of his master approached.

"You have failed me, Lord Maul," Sidious said harshly.

"I'm sorry master, forgive me," Maul pleaded. His answer was another jolt of Force lightning.

"Things did not go well on Naboo at all. The Queen still lives and you didn't manage to kill any Jedi. In fact, you were defeated by a padawan," Sidious said.

"He was a padawan, but he was powerful my master. He seemed quite close to Jinn and Kenobi," Maul insisted.

"Yes, Jinn's youngest son. Anakin is quite talented. He is the youngest Knight in Jedi history and his abilities are extraordinary. Still, I do not tolerate excuses for failure, my young apprentice," Sidious said, as he poured more Force lightning into Maul.

"I will find him and make him pay master. I will have my revenge," Maul panted in pain. He was met again with more Force lightning.

"No, you will follow my orders, Lord Maul! The time to deal with the Jedi will come. But for now, you will leave for Kamino and you will continue overseeing our project there," Palpatine ordered.

"Yes, my master," Maul replied obediently.

Anakin and Padme stood together on ferry.

"Wow, this place is amazing," Anakin said, as he took in the beauty of Naboo's lake country.

"It is. I love coming here whenever I'm home. That's why I bought Varykino here in the lake country, so I could always come here when I was on Naboo," Padme replied.

"What about your family?" Anakin asked.

"My mother, sister and I get along okay. But the same can't be said for my dad and I. He doesn't like my career and thinks that I should have married some boring man like Palo and settled down by now," Padme said, rolling her eyes.

"But what you do is important. I mean, you help a lot of people. I don't pretend to know much about politics, but I've heard my father and grandfather talk. You're what the Senate needs more of," he told her. She blushed slightly.

"You're sweet," she replied.

"It's true. Besides, I can't see you settling down with a boring man. Especially one that treats you like that jerk did. You need an exciting man," Anakin said, with a grin. Padme grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Like a handsome Jedi, perhaps?" she asked playfully.

"Precisely milady," he replied. She kissed him passionately and shivered, as she felt his hands on her back. The dress she was wearing was a colorful, light and airy selection that left her back bare.

"Your dress is driving me wild," he told her huskily. She giggled.

"I thought you might like it," she replied, as he kissed her again. Once the ferry docked, Anakin helped her off and they entered her home. They stood on the balcony in each other's embrace, while Padme pointed out things in their view.

"I've never seen such huge waterfalls before," Anakin marveled.

"Well, there is a path that leads to them. I used to go there all the time when I wanted to think or be alone. We can walk there and then we can come back here for dinner," she said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Then, after that, we can cuddle by the fire and etcetera," she said in a mysterious, sultry tone. He raised an eyebrow.

"Etcetera huh. Sounds great," he replied, before he kissed her softly. Then together, hand in hand, they set off to see the falls.