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Padme paced the room. She didn't think her nerves could handle much more of this waiting! Oh, please get through to him, Master Yoda! Padme finally gave up on pacing and went into the fresher to splash some cold water on her face. She needed to calm down, but it felt like her entire life was in the balance!
Making her way out of the fresher, Padme stopped short when she saw Obi-Wan. Oh, boy. I can't hear him say no. I'm not ready to hear him say no! Doubts began to flood her mind. She shouldn't have pushed him. She could have waited a while longer.
"You talked with Yoda about this beforehand, didn't you?"
Padme bit her lip. Obi-Wan's voice sounded so neutral. "Yes, I did."
Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh. The edges of his mouth began to quirk up. "Am I always the last one to know?"
Releasing her breath in relief, Padme returned his growing smile. "Not always...but most of the time."
Obi-Wan moved closer to her. "Padme, I never meant to hurt you with my hesitation. My doubts had nothing to do with you."
Padme cupped his cheek in her hand. "I know that. And I'm sorry for pushing you. I didn't mean for what I said to sound like an ultimatum."
"Don't apologize. Sometimes, I need to be pushed out of my complacency." Obi-Wan studied Padme's lovely face. He felt like things were finally RIGHT. "I love you, Padme."
Heart brimming with joy, Padme lost her battle against the tears threatening to fall. She started to cry as she embraced him fiercely. "I love you, too!" She buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.
"I must confess, this was not the reaction I was expecting," Obi-Wan said as he rubbed her back.
That started Padme laughing. She pulled back as she wiped at her face. "I'm sorry. It's just that I've dreamt of this moment for so long. It's such a…beautiful moment."
Obi-Wan smiled down at Padme. "Yes, it is." He cupped her face with his hands and slowly leaned down to capture her lips. Kissing her was so much more wonderful with no guilt and no impending goodbye hanging over their heads.
Padme melted into the kiss. Oh, how long had she waited for this! It was amazing. It was beautiful. It was…uncomfortable. Padme broke away from Obi-Wan, slightly out of breath. "Um, I have one more question for you."
"Let me guess. You want me to shave my beard."
Padme's eyes went wide. "Yes!"
Obi-Wan laughed. "I KNEW that would be your first request!"
"You know me too well." Padme looked a bit sheepish. "Are there shaving supplies, though?"
"I'm sure there are. This place was already well-stocked with durable goods before we arrived. I'll have a look in the supply room."
"Good." Padme would enjoy kissing Obi-Wan much more without his beard irritating her sensitive skin. "I have something I'd like to show you." Padme took him by the hand and pulled him over to her side of the bed. She opened one of the drawers in her nightstand and picked up a holodisk.
"This was one of the few things I took with me when we left Coruscant. I had the feeling that we wouldn't be coming back, and I couldn't bear to part with it." Padme sat down on the bed, indicating that Obi-Wan should join her.
Obi-Wan watched curiously as she turned on the holodisk. The first picture to come up was of him, Padme, Kira, James and Devin. He gasped in surprise. "How did you…"
"Master Yoda sent this to me the day you left for Fembrak. He captured our time together at the Temple."
"Why that sneaky little troll!" Obi-Wan leaned in as Padme slowly flipped through the pictures. His breath hitched as a picture that included Mace popped up. He quickly released the pain that hit his heart like a blade.
Padme grabbed Obi-Wan's hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you pain by showing these to you."
"It's alright." Obi-Wan swallowed through the tightness in his throat. "It's actually good to see Mace like this – smiling and enjoying himself." He continued to stare at the picture. "He rode with me on the gunship to see me off the day I left for Utapau. I remember the look in his eyes as we said goodbye. I think he knew we would never see each other again."
"I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to know him better." Padme turned back to gaze at the picture. "Anakin didn't like Mace at all. I only heard negative things about him. My time at the Temple showed me the truth, though."
"Mace was a good friend. He was always encouraging to me, always supportive. He was also one who told it to you straight."
"That's the best kind of friend." Padme decided not to tell Obi-Wan about Yoda's revelation about Mace – that part of the animosity between Mace and Anakin was Anakin's attitude toward Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had a way of bringing out the protective instinct in just about anyone. It was a truth that he probably would not appreciate.
Padme continued on to the next picture. This one was just of her and Obi-Wan. Padme snuggled up to Obi-Wan, who put his arm around her. "These pictures came to mean the world to me. The day you left for Fembrak, I was a mess. Receiving this holodisk helped me get through it." She smiled up at Obi-Wan when he pulled her even closer. "Getting the com call from you was the highlight of each of my days. But while waiting for that call, these pictures were a balm."
"I'll have to thank Yoda for doing that. And believe me, talking with you was also the highlight of my days out in the field." Obi-Wan stroked Padme's cheek. "Seeing your beautiful face and wishing I could hold you in my arms again..."
Padme maneuvered so she could give Obi-Wan a quick kiss. She gazed into his warm eyes. "There's no place I'd rather be." She settled back against him, holding his arms tightly around her.
Obi-Wan kissed Padme's temple. He spoke up reluctantly. "Luke is going to wake up soon."
"Oh." Blast! Padme sighed as she extricated herself from Obi-Wan's warm embrace. "I'll get the bottles ready."
Obi-Wan went over to the crib to greet Luke, who was just starting to open his eyes. He leaned over to smile down at the now fully-awake child. "Hello, sleepyhead," he whispered. Obi-Wan's heartstrings were tugged when Luke smiled happily up at him. "Let's get you out of there, shall we?"
Obi-Wan gently picked Luke up, careful not to disturb Leia, who was surprisingly still asleep. "You certainly are gaining weight." He rocked him in his arms as he waited for Padme to finish preparing the bottles.
"All done." Padme came over and took Luke from Obi-Wan's arms. "I'll take over here. You go hunt down some shaving supplies."
"You don't waste any time, do you?"
"There's no time like the present." Padme shot Obi-Wan a beatific smile as she sat in one of the rocking chairs.
Obi-Wan shook his head ruefully. "If you say so."
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Obi-Wan looked at his clean-shaven reflection. He felt so…different without the beard. It had been a comforting cloak of sorts, throughout most of his adult life. As comforting as the real cloak that was part of his Jedi uniform. Oh, well. A new look for a new life, I suppose. It was actually rather fitting – a nice reflection of what was happening on the inside. After all, he no longer had to hide his feelings for Padme.
Padme watched her children, contentedly occupied in their baby swings. She looked up as Obi-Wan exited the fresher. Her heart did a little flip-flop. She was struck yet again by how much younger he looked without the beard. Padme grinned as he came toward her. "Yep, definitely a crime to cover that face."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Don't start that again."
"Start what? I'm just being honest." Padme ran her hands down his smooth cheeks. "Mmm. Much better." Then she dove in for a kiss.
The fierceness of Padme's kiss surprised Obi-Wan. But if this was her reaction to him shaving off his beard, then he really didn't mind having done it!
"Master Kenobi, Sir." C3PO's voice rang out through the comlink.
They broke off their kiss with great reluctance. Obi-Wan went over to the small desk and punched the answer button. "Yes, 3PO."
"Dinner is ready, Sir."
Obi-Wan looked over at Padme and sighed. "Thank you. We'll be right there."
Thanks, 3PO, Padme fumed to herself. Of all the rotten timing! She went over to the two baby swings to collect Leia. They probably couldn't have done much with the babies awake, anyway.
Obi-Wan pulled Luke out of his swing. He started to lead the way out of the room, but paused midstep. He turned back to Padme with a wicked grin on his face. "Eat well tonight. You'll need your energy." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
Padme was now riveted in place. Did she just hear correctly? Her insides had instantly turned to mush and she couldn't seem to make her feet move. Anticipation and excitement had flared brightly to life. She didn't know whether Obi-Wan's comments were a threat or a promise. Either way, she intended to hold him to it.
Obi-Wan poked his head back through the door, innocent expression firmly in place. "Are you coming or not?" Not waiting for a response, he went back into the hallway and headed for the dining area.
Her feet finally willing to cooperate, Padme also made her way to the dining hall. This had better be one quick dinner! Padme could hardly believe it. This would be the night that her dreams and fantasies would actually come true!
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I know...I'm supremely evil for leaving you hanging like this! But I really hope that by next chapter, you will think it was worth the wait!