A/N: In the spirit of one of my favorite shows, Friends, I hereby name this chapter The One Where Everything Rapidly Goes Downhill. There's not going to just be an overnight turn around for Padme. It's been a really rough couple of months for me and, quite frankly, my head has been in a dark place. So angst is what's coming out when I write. Primarily. There was a small break in which I started a humor fic for The Avengers. It's been hard to write the second chapter. Things are looking up, though, so perhaps there will be light at the end of the tunnel soon.

We're picking up back at the palace, after the day's visit with the Naberrie clan. Focus will shift between Obi-Wan and Padme. And off we go.

"So you think this will really help her?"

Obi-Wan eyed the holo-image of Siri in surprise.

"Do you think it won't?" he asked her in response. She sighed, clearly annoyed with his habit of answering her question with one of his own.

"Obi-Wan, I'm not saying that. But I'm not there. I'm merely asking if you truly think this is the best thing to do. Master Yoda would probably die of a conniption if he knew you were instructing someone who wasn't a Jedi in meditation practices OF the Jedi."

He grinned at Siri before replying.

"Master Yoda will never die. Certainly not from anything as mundane as a conniption. As for me instructing an 'outsider' in the ways of the Jedi…there's no reason he has to know."

"Obi-Wan!"

"What?" he defended his statement. "Qui-Gon knows and he agreed with me that it was the best course of action. So, technically, I've already obtained permission from a Jedi Master to instruct Padme in any way I see fit. And I see fit to teach her the basics of meditation."

"After the fact, of course."

"Again, that's just a need to know piece of information. Since Master Yoda isn't here, then I see no reason why he needs to know."

Siri chuckled.

"I'm not there and I know about it," she reminded him.

"I wish you were here," Obi-Wan whispered. He was rewarded with a smile and continued in the same vein. "We'll come here together someday, Siri. It's really such a beautiful place and I know Padme would want us to visit."

"I think that sounds lovely, actually," Siri agreed.

They contemplated one another for a few moments. Siri seemed to be just as content to stare at Obi-Wan's holo-image as he was to stare at hers.

"I love you," she finally said.

"I love you, too," Obi-Wan wished desperately he could accompany his words with a more physical reassurance. Contacting Siri and talking things over with her had assured him even further that he was doing the right thing as far as Padme was concerned. It was playing havoc with his own personal emotions, however. He missed Siri now more than he had since leaving Coruscant.

"Poor Obi-Wan," she laughed, knowing just exactly what he was thinking. "When you get back, we'll spend the entire day together. We'll even have lunch at Dex's, if you like."

Obi-Wan could think of many other things he'd like to do with Siri once he got back to Coruscant and none of them involved Dex or his diner in any way, shape, or form. Since they had promised one another to wait until after the joining ceremony for THAT particular pleasure, however, he conceded the point. Besides, Siri was making quite a concession. While she liked Dex himself, she wasn't overly fond of going to the diner.

"That would be-"

He was interrupted by a rather agitated knock on his door. Turning back to Siri's holo-image, he saw that she looked as concerned as he felt.

"What time is it there?" she asked.

"Two in the morning," he replied as he went to answer the door. He opened it to reveal Sabe, who was clearly distraught.

"Obi-Wan…" she began. He held up a hand to stop her before she could apologize. Quickly crossing the room again, he brought himself back into the area where Siri could see him.

"I heard. Go on, Obi-Wan. Let me know if she's okay."

He gave the holo-image a soft smile of thanks before Siri cut the connection.

"Our lives are built upon a framework. The framework of privilege and freedom purchased through the blood, sweat and tears of our warriors, these brave Gungans and Noobians. Their hearts have known courage, for they've placed lib-"

"Well…this is coming to a stop right now."

Padme practically jumped out of her skin at the interruption. Directing her gaze in the direction of her bedroom door, she was able to make out the silhouette of Obi-Wan.

"Turn on the lights and leave us alone, please," he said. There was the briefest moment of hesitation before someone, she thought it might be Sabe, did exactly what he had instructed.

Padme was forced to shut her eyes against the flood of light. When she thought her eyes might be adjusted, she opened them once more and immediately wished she hadn't. Obi-Wan was clearly angry. She turned away from him, not wanting to see the condemnation on his face.

"Sabe told me she's caught you doing this before now. She was worried tonight when she realized you were still awake. Why are you looking out the window? What's out there?"

He was next to her before she could say anything. It took only a few seconds for him to find the statue and she knew the second he realized what it was. His jaw visibly tightened and he turned towards her. Padme averted her eyes, but Obi-Wan quickly made it known that he was tired of that tactic.

"By the Force, Padme! Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

She complied, although her eyes didn't quite meet his. It seemed to be enough for him at the moment, however.

"You are a young woman of exceptional talents," he intoned. "I wasn't aware, however, that self-pity and self-recrimination were among them."

There was no tenderness in his voice, no hint of the gentle affection he had shown her during their earlier conversations. She fought the urge to look away again, not wanting to anger him further.

"What I showed you yesterday will not help you at all unless YOU are willing to accept the past and move on with your life. You can't release everything into the Force and then make a determined effort to get all of it back again when you aren't in a state of meditation," he sighed and shook his head. "The problem is that you've thrown yourself into this depression with the same amount of passion usually reserved for your more worthy causes. Now it's come to the point where you seem to almost revel in your misery. Isn't that right?"

Padme didn't respond. Deep down, she felt the truth of his words. She had actually begun the evening trying to do the meditation he had shown her, but a feeling of melancholy kept pulling at her the entire time. The blissful feeling of serenity had remained tantalizingly out of her grasp and Padme eventually gave up, coming to the conclusion that she simply wasn't able to do it on her own.

She could've gone to Obi-Wan. She could've asked for his help. But there actually was a strange sort of comfort in the despair she felt herself sinking into. Padme had begun to rationalize over going to Obi-Wan. It was too late and he was surely already sleeping. She didn't want to wake him. He would be disappointed that she couldn't manage on her own. So Padme had simply given up and returned to her old habits. It was easy. It was familiar.

In its own way, it was peaceful.

"I have to remember them," she finally said. "I owe them that much, at least".

It was the wrong thing to say.

"Yes, wallowing in misery is an excellent way to honor their memories," he snapped, his anger back in full force. She opened her mouth to respond, her own anger finally beginning to surge up, but he cut her off with the closest thing to a shout that she had ever heard from him. "Sabe!"

Padme's bedroom door practically flew open, admitting her decoy and best friend. To Padme's chagrin, Panaka was standing alongside her. Obi-Wan seemed rather pleased to see the captain, however.

"Good," he nodded. "Now I don't have to repeat myself. Padme is moving her quarters temporarily. I believe the room next to mine is empty. Would you get some things together for her tonight, Sabe? We'll move some more of her things tomorrow."

Neither Panaka or Sabe moved at first, mostly because they were too shocked by the circumstances to truly register what had been said. With a slightly impatient huff, Obi-Wan strode over to the nearest wardrobe and opened the top drawer. Padme watched, dumbstruck, as the Jedi seemed to lose all sense of propriety and began to pull out articles of clothing, barely looking at what he tossed behind him. She felt heat spread to her cheeks as she saw one of her more 'intimate' garments sail through the air to land in a silken heap on the bed. Whether it was from embarrassment or her anger, she wasn't sure.

She turned her attention back to her Chief of Security and handmaiden. Surprisingly, Sabe was the first to recover. Taking a deep breath, the young woman began making her way to Obi-Wan. Padme's inner shout of victory was quickly silenced when Sabe bypassed him and disappeared into the large closet. She emerged in mere seconds with one of Padme's less ornate gowns and, after gathering a few things off the bed that Obi-Wan had tossed over his shoulder, Sabe swept out of the room.

"Kenobi, I don't think…" Panaka finally began, causing Padme to cheer internally once more. But Obi-Wan cut him off, his tone harsher than before.

"It's Knight Kenobi, Captain. If you disagree with my actions, take it up with Master Jinn. Otherwise, be sure there are guards stationed outside these quarters at all times. No one is to be allowed in except myself or Sabe. No one," he emphasized his last words, meeting Panaka's gaze steadily.

The two faced off for a moment, a silent battle of wills taking place. Padme wondered to herself why she couldn't seem to speak. She certainly had plenty to say. Was she just that angry over the whole situation?

'Or perhaps you know this is what you need?' said a voice in her head. She closed her eyes, not willing to listen to that tiny little voice of reason. She was in no mood to be logical.

"I'll see to it that guards are stationed here," Panaka broke the silence. "But I intend to speak to Master Jinn in the morning."

"Do as you will," Obi-Wan replied, his non-committal shrug indicating his total faith that the other Jedi would back his decision to the hilt.

Padme tried to lock eyes with Panaka as he turned to leave, but the man didn't meet her gaze. Whether or not it was intentional she couldn't say. Somehow, however, it was the final straw. When Panaka was out of sight, she found her voice.

"How dare you."

He looked over at her from across the room. Even from that distance, his anger was clear and Padme had a moment of wondering if it was wise for her to verbally assault him at this point in time. The moment quickly passed.

"How dare you barge into my quarters like this and begin to order everyone around. You are a guest here, Knight Kenobi, not a figure of authority. Certainly not one who has any jurisdiction over what I say or what I do. How I spend my time and where I sleep is absolutely none of your concern."

At some point during her tirade, Obi-Wan had begun to move closer to her. They were barely two feet apart now, both of them facing the other with blazing eyes and tightened jaws.

"You made it my concern when you asked for my help," Obi-Wan's voice was still low and tightly controlled when addressing her. For some reason, it only served to irritate her further.

"Consider my request withdrawn. I don't need or want your help any longer. What I want is for you to leave. You can start by just leaving the room. When I wake up tomorrow, however, I want the first thing I hear to be news of your return to Coruscant," she ignored the flicker of hurt on Obi-Wan's face at her words, although the small part of her that wasn't angry was overwhelmed with guilt at the sight.

Padme gasped when she felt Obi-Wan's hand clasp firmly around her wrist. It didn't hurt at all, but she was nowhere near strong enough to extract her arm from his grip. Any pretense of hiding his anger from her was gone now and he no longer controlled his tone when he spoke.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm a Jedi who has found himself on a planet without an effective leader and it is my sworn duty to bring everything to rights," he was reaching with this statement and Padme knew it, but the phrase 'without an effective leader' hit her harder than anything else he had said. "Force knows why you don't seem to have any sense of self-preservation when it comes to your state of mind, but you are going to get past this one way or another. And you will not be staying in this room a minute longer. I'll drag you out kicking and screaming if necessary."

"I am the Queen!" she shouted, her emotions so jumbled that she was unable to come up with any other argument.

"Then behave like one!" he yelled back.

She felt tears prick the back of her eyes and stubbornly denied them free reign. She would not cry. She was the Queen of Naboo and queens didn't cry.

"It's your decision, Padme." Obi-Wan spoke once more.

Decision. What decision was he giving her? He had practically staged a coup in the space of fifteen minutes. She stared at him, feeling her anger grow even further as she took in his deceptively calm stance and the neutral mask he had slipped over his features.

"I hate you," she whispered. Obi-Wan gave a nod of his head, no flicker of emotion visible on his face upon hearing the words she spoke.

"That's fine. Just go hate me in your new quarters," he responded, releasing her wrist from his grasp.

Clearly, her anger was having no effect on him at all. Furious beyond words, Padme merely glared at Obi-Wan for a moment longer before storming out of the room. She made sure to slam the door behind her, although it was very difficult since the door was so ridiculously large and heavy.

The action was intended to make her feel better. As soon as the noise reverberated through her head, however, all she felt was defeat. All her anger, all her righteous fury just seemed to rush out of her with the next breath she took. She noticed that, mercifully, she was alone in the corridor. At least no one had been witness to her childish action.

Slowly, Padme made her way to the room Sabe was preparing for her. With every step, she pushed away the urge to go back to Obi-Wan and apologize. She had behaved horribly and said awful things to him…but he had responded in the same manner. Instead of focusing on her own transgressions, Padme chose to focus on Obi-Wan's instead. By the time she arrived at the door to the room, she had managed to rekindle a little of her anger again. Sabe was in the room and remained silent while Padme went through her usual motions as though everything was perfectly normal, merely dropping a small curtsey when Padme dismissed her.

As the door closed behind her handmaiden, Padme closed her eyes. She was determined to get some sleep and worry about everything tomorrow. Just as sleep began to claim her, however, Obi-Wan's indifferent expression as she declared her hatred for him drifted through her mind. And she couldn't quite manage to stop the first tear from escaping her eyes, convinced she had just lost one of the dearest friends she'd ever had.

As the door slammed behind Padme, some hidden corner of Obi-Wan's mind found the energy to be impressed by the amount of strength she must've had to exert to accomplish that action. The rest of his mind, however, was too jumbled up with emotions to pick out a single one to focus on. Sighing wearily, he sank into a nearby chair.

Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan breathed deeply and tried to clear his mind. He wouldn't be able to fix anything without spending some time in meditation and he didn't even want to leave the room without doing just a little bit. If he didn't, he was worried that his anger would just take charge again if he happened to see Padme out in the hallway or even if he just saw the door to her new temporary quarters. No, it was better to try letting go of a few things before he returned to his room.

His anger was fairly easy to let go of, perhaps because he didn't enjoy the feeling of being angry, especially since his battle with Darth Maul. The hurt he was feeling, however, was a different story. It had been easy to give the appearance of shrugging off Padme's statement that she hated him. Once again, his experience with his younger sister had helped him immeasurably. Between the brotherly pleasure he took in annoying Lea and her quick temper, he had heard those own words from his sister's lips too many times to count. He was able to dismiss them without a second thought because he knew Lea would be laughing and joking with him again in ten minutes time.

This was different, though. Lea was his sister. He had known her since she was born and knew she was incapable of actually keeping a grudge, especially against him. Close as their friendship had become, he had no such assurances with Padme. For all he knew, she actually did hate him now. Obi-Wan had no intention of letting such a thing keep him from helping her in any way he could. But the thought of actually losing her friendship was very difficult to bear.

He was too tired to really be able to figure all this out right now. With a sigh of resignation, he stood and began to make his way back to his own room. Contacting Siri again was out of the question. All Obi-Wan wanted to do was try to get some sleep. Pausing at his door, he cast a glance towards the room Padme was in. Briefly, he contemplated reaching out into the Force to sense her emotions. He dismissed the thought just as quickly and entered his room before he could change his mind.

Once inside, he sent a quick message to Siri saying he would contact her sometime tomorrow. Her reply was almost instant and managed to bring a slight smile to his face. Feeling somewhat better, he climbed into bed with the hope that a few hours sleep would help him see things more clearly.

But the silence only made Padme's words taunt him further. Every time he got close to sleep, her voice echoed through his mind over and over again. Tossing and turning, Obi-Wan tried everything he knew to calm his thoughts. Nothing helped.

Sleep eluded both Obi-Wan and Padme that night, leaving them exhausted in more ways than one. So when the morning dawned on Naboo and the city of Theed began to stir, neither of them were all that inclined to fix the damage they had inflicted on their friendship.

A/N: Please feel free to leave a review. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Someday, I'll be able to take proper advantage of replying to reviews like the grateful author I truly am.