AHHHHHHH, I am so, so, so sorry for taking forever to update! I have been busy with work and revision for my exams next month, and Cadets! But I'm back. I just HAD to give you something to let you all know that this story IS STILL ALIVE! I'm sorry to disappoint you here but this will be the last update until June where my exams will be finished. I need to think work and keep my larger FF projects out of my head until then. But I hope you enjoy this update! :)

Chapter 3: 500 Republica.

A soft rasping on the door caught Padme's attention like a fish on a hook as she rose elegantly from the sofa and quickly walked to the door. "Hello?"

The impatient rasps seized and the unmistakeable soft and Coruscanti accent of Obi-Wan Kenobi reached her from the other side of the durasteel door. "Padme? Please, can I come in?"

The former queen and current senator of Naboo's hand was already on the encoder, opening the door in a flash. Just as expected, Obi-Wan, face set stoically, yet what surprised her was the smaller and unconscious form of Satine Kryze. Her still dust-covered golden tresses cascaded down over Obi-Wan's forearm and towards the floor. She looked like a fairy tale princess who had been rescued by her Knight in shining armour.

Hurriedly stepping to the side and providing a path for her friend she quickly ushered them in. "Oh my, Obi-Wan! Come in quick!"

The Jedi wasted no time in stepping in, his storm gaze fixed on the sofa in the centre of the living room. Padme watched, concern sparkling in her mahogany eyes as she watched the auburn Jedi gently lower Satine's prone form onto the sofa, slowly lifting her head with a tenderness the young Senator had never seen in the Jedi before he pulled back, hesitating slightly.

Timidly, the young Senator approached the tense Jedi. "Obi-Wan, what happened?"

Shoulders remaining tense, Obi-Wan turned around slowly to meet the Senator's concerned and expecting gaze. Though his eyes felt like someone had thrown sand in them he managed to twitch the corners of his mouth up into a small, brief smile. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"On… on Mandalore… Maul… nearly killed her." His voice was much graver and croaky than he had expected. Trying to build up the confidence to speak, even to his long-time friend, had not succeeded, and the woman before him detected it instantly.

"Oh Obi-Wan…" she breathed as she approached and placed a warm, comforting hand on his left shoulder. She wanted to offer him so much more comfort; hug him, talk to him. But she wasn't sure if the Jedi before her would want to talk about so soon after it occurred.

After feeling the tension in her friends body leave him did she finally step away, offering him a tiny but what she hoped would be a comforting smile. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," he answered shortly, storm grey eyes now darkening into a brighter blue. "Not yet. I think I'll just stay with her for now." He gestured towards the unconscious blonde behind them both before he perched himself on the edge of the sofa, leaning slightly over Satine's frail and unresponsive form. His steely eyes gazed unblinking at the blonde's serene face, as if he was burning the image of her serenity into his mind.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Padme asked softly. Her friend's failure to tell her what had happened and his body language indicated that he was distressed, the least she could do was offer hospitality to him if it helped console him. He may keep a stony expression on his face and sound uncaring but she knew him better than he gave her credit for. Miniscule signs from his body language such as the quick aversion of his gaze onto the traffic outside or to any inanimate object told her so.

"No, I'm just going to stay here, thank you Padme."

She suppressed a sigh of disappointment and rejection as she told him that she'd make some tea for him anyway in case he wanted it, which he thanked her for gratefully, before walking off to the kitchen.

Only a few minutes later she returned with one steaming mug to see Obi-Wan now tenderly running his calloused fingers through Satine's hair. Highly surprised, Padme's lips parted into a small circle before she stepped forward and set the mug of tea onto the table beside him. Once again to her surprise he didn't stop his tender ministrations, eyes still locked affectionately onto Satine's face, as if Padme wasn't even among them.

Anakin had told her that Obi-Wan and Satine had a history, and that in his former master's padawan days he had grown close to her whilst protecting her from bounty hunters in a year-long mission to Mandalore just after she became Duchess. Initially she didn't entirely believe her husband, knowing that he enjoyed teasing his best friend greatly, but now bearing witness to it she could see the connection that sparked between them.

He cared for her.

Obi-Wan Kenobi cared for her perhaps more than any other being in the galaxy. Of course he cared a great deal about his closest friends at the Temple, Ahsoka, Anakin and herself, yet it was fundamentally obvious that this particular woman held a special place in his wonderful heart.

He loved her. Loved her.

And he could deny it all he wanted; ramble the excuse of the Jedi Code to her but she knew love when she saw it, and she was staring at it in the image of one Obi-Wan Kenobi sitting beside Satine and running his fingers through her silky, golden tresses.

Clearing her throat and pulling Obi-Wan, who looked dumbfounded like an animal caught in a speeders headlights, out of his reverie she successfully managed to suppress a coy smirk from gracing her features. "She's welcome to stay if need be."

At this offer she saw Obi-Wan's eyes light up with hope, as if life had been restored to him. The man's hopeful face and silent words as he attempted to form a response brought joy to her as he closed his mouth again and breathed in deeply, closing his eyes for a few seconds and putting a hand to his forehead.

When he next looked up at her he cracked a genuine smile. It was small and only lasted briefly again, but it held a much more optimistic vibe than his previous and vague one did. Nodding he replied softly. "Yes. Thank you, Padme."

He was about to continue before she cut him off sharply. "And you don't owe me anything!" She lightly patted his left arm, emitting a small chuckle from him. After a few seconds of companionable silence in which they smiled at each other warmly, a thought suddenly struck Padme. "Where's Anakin?"

"He's at the Temple," Obi-Wan thought it strange how Padme would ask where he is. He knew Anakin had strong feelings for the Senator, and he had felt an inkling from Padme whenever she was near him; a brief burst of affection that spawned either from friendship or because she reciprocated his feelings. But they were both sensible, mature adults. He a Jedi, she a Senator. He trusted them both with his life and hoped that they would come to him if anything happened between them. Trust breeded trust. And he hoped that his trust was returned.

Padme nodded, hiding her disappointment at not being able to see her husband. It was good in some ways since she and Anakin had agreed to keep it secret, even from Obi-Wan, yet she could not deny that she would long for the solace she found in her husband's arms tonight.

Informing the Jedi once again that Satine was welcome to stay and he to stay with the blonde whilst she rest, Padme excused herself from the living room and reclined to her bedroom, changing into her night clothes in the dark before climbing into bed, hoping that her dear friend would fare through whatever emotional turmoil he may be feeling throughout the night before succumbing to the comforting embrace of sleep.

It ends with another person sleeping! I've made a habit of that in this fic! My latest three chapters have been doing that, lol! :P Well, I hope this wasn't a mind-numbing chapter! I am sorry for the terribly long delay and for the next one that is now imminently here, but its my A levels and I need to do well in both year 12 and 13 to get into University. What fun! Anyway, let me know in a review, please guys! Love you all and I'm still astounded and touched with all of your responses to this fic so far! :D