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Padme turned her head to gaze at Obi-Wan, who was dozing soundly. After another marathon of lovemaking, they had decided to allow themselves a bit of sleep. Sleep was eluding Padme, however. She was just too happy and excited. In fact, she could never remember being happier than she was at this moment.
Smiling contentedly, Padme lightly stroked the arm that was slung around her waist. She thought about the differences between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Physical intimacy with Obi-Wan was a completely different experience than it had been with Anakin. Anakin had always been about fiery passion. Not that Obi-Wan wasn't passionate, by any means! But he was all about prolonging, and thus heightening, sensation. For Obi-Wan, it was about HER pleasure. With Anakin, it had always been about HIS pleasure.
Considering how different their personalities were, that wasn't very surprising. Anakin had always rushed through things – careening gladly for the finish line. Obi-Wan was more methodical – patiently gauging the best way to approach something, rather than the quickest. Lying here with Obi-Wan now, Padme felt wholly open to him and utterly safe. Things she had never felt with Anakin. Truly and deeply loving the person you're with makes all the difference in the world.
As Padme turned to gaze at the face buried in the pillow right next to hers, she thanked the Force profusely for this precious time. She sat up a bit so she could see the chrono. 4:10 a.m. Padme leaned down and placed soft kisses on Obi-Wan's cheek and along his jaw. There wasn't much time left before Luke and Leia would be waking up wanting to be fed. And she had no intention of letting him use their remaining time sleeping!
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"Are you sure you have searched EVERYWHERE?" Emperor Palpatine glared at the flickering image of the bounty hunter.
"Yes, my Lord. It's like Kenobi's disappeared from the face of the galaxy!"
The emperor raised a disfigured brow at the remark.
"Excuse me, my Lord, I meant GENERAL Kenobi."
"That isn't possible – not even for him! 'I can't find him' is not the response I want to hear. If none of you bounty hunters can find him on your own, then I suggest you pool your resources. The rewards upon finding him will be substantial. But so also will be my displeasure should you fail."
The bounty hunter took a deep breath. "Understood, my Lord." He bowed and the image disappeared.
Kriffing bounty hunter scum! Supposedly the best and most cunning of the lot were looking for Obi-Wan. But not one of them had found a shred of information on where he could be hiding!
Some of Palpatine's closest advisors had even suggested that he find someone else to be his apprentice. The emperor snorted. As if he would settle for anyone less than Obi-Wan Kenobi! No, not this time. He had looked away in the past – looked to what he had thought to be a better, not to mention easier, coup. But no, easier was rarely better. And the Chosen One, HIS Chosen One had been defeated. Palpatine would accept no one but the one who had defeated him.
The emperor got up from his desk and strolled over to the large window. He WOULD find Obi-Wan. It was a large galaxy, but he could only hide for so long. Somewhere, sometime he would make a mistake. And Palpatine would be there waiting for him when he did.
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Yoda watched Obi-Wan and Padme as they sat with him eating breakfast. There was a deeper connection between the two now. They sat right next to each other, periodically holding hands or resting a hand on the other's leg. They seemed adverse to being so much as a centimeter apart. Yoda reveled in the happiness that radiated from the pair.
"New project I have in mind."
Obi-Wan looked over at Yoda. "Really, Master? What is that?"
"Vegetable garden. Packets of seeds I have found in storage. Be good it would, to grow some of our own food."
Padme smiled happily. "That's a wonderful idea! Once the fruit-bearing trees in the meditation garden are fully grown, we'll get to have fresh fruit, as well!"
"Long, that will not take. Growth accelerator I have also found." Yoda beamed proudly.
Obi-Wan chuckled at the old Master. He was glad Yoda had found projects that he could dive into and oversee. Yoda had developed quite an extensive knowledge about gardening in his almost nine-hundred years of life. "You'll have us almost self-sufficient in no time, Master."
"Hmph. Self-sufficient, I wish we could be. Already getting low, some supplies are. The list of supplies that we did not realize we would need, is growing." Yoda looked pointedly at Obi-Wan. "Re-supply trip you must take, in the not too distant future."
Padme gasped at that. "But the Emperor is looking for Obi-Wan!" She looked over at Obi-Wan when he grasped her hand in his. She knew that look – understanding mixed with determination.
Yoda looked at Padme with compassion. "The one to go, Obi-Wan must be. Blend in well, I do not. Obi-Wan's forte, this kind of trip is."
"Padme, I won't let Sidious stop me from doing what I need to do." Obi-Wan ran his thumb in gentle circles on top of her hand. "I will be careful."
That did little to ease Padme's worry. "How long before he needs to go?"
"A month, perhaps." Yoda's ears flattened against his head. "Right to worry, Padme is. Extra careful you must be, young one. Searching for you, the Emperor is. Doubts about that, I do not have."
"I will, Master." Obi-Wan squeezed Padme's hand as he turned back to her. "I promise."
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Padme sat in one of the rocking chairs feeding Leia. She hadn't been able to dispel the worry at Obi-Wan leaving the safety of this place. She understood that they needed supplies, but there were so many things that could go wrong! Who in the galaxy hadn't heard of or seen General Kenobi? Yoda may not be one for blending in, but neither was a face like Obi-Wan's.
If she was this worried now, Padme knew that she would probably be a basket case when he was actually gone. She had lost so much, she couldn't bear to lose Obi-Wan, too!
"You're not going to lose me."
Padme turned to Obi-Wan, who was sitting in the other rocking chair feeding Luke. "Palpatine probably has people all over the galaxy looking for you. It's too soon for you to be showing your face."
"I don't intend to show my face more than absolutely necessary. And we can't know how long Sidious is going to continue to look for me."
"True. But going this soon will make that almost a guarantee."
"I won't be leaving for another month." Obi-Wan swallowed his sigh. "I promised you I'd be careful, and I will."
"Careful people get caught all the time."
"Padme, I have to go."
"I know. I just couldn't bear it if anything happened to you!" Despite her efforts, a tear slid down Padme's face.
"You're stronger than you think, my love. But I will come back to you." Obi-Wan looked pointedly over at Padme. "And I really do know how to take care of myself." Why did this conversation seem entirely too familiar?
"I know you do. But I understand now what Palpatine is capable of! You can't underestimate him!"
"UNDERESTIMATE HIM?" Obi-Wan quickly released his irritation into the Force. Neither he nor Padme had noticed that both Leia and Luke had stopped eating and had started fidgeting. "Let me see if I have this straight…He managed to slowly-but-surely dampen every Jedi's access to the Force; orchestrate a galaxy-wide war; turn the young man I loved and trained into a Sith; destroy the entire Jedi Order, save two; and turn a republic that has stood for generations into a dictatorship!" Obi-Wan kept his voice low and steady, but his eyes were a blue flame. "I think that underestimating him would be impossible, even for me."
Even as Obi-Wan's words hit Padme like a slap in the face, Luke and Leia began to wail. Both she and Obi-Wan put aside the bottles and got up with their distressed children. Padme placed Leia over her shoulder and bounced her lightly. "Shh, sweetheart. It's okay."
Obi-Wan was doing something similar with Luke. "Hush, little one. It's okay. Daddy's sorry for upsetting you." Obi-Wan now felt guilty. The children had obviously sensed his negative emotions. He was surprised at the strength of the bond he already shared with them. Obi-Wan infused his young son and daughter with comforting waves from the Force. Both soon quieted down.
Once Luke and Leia had been put down for their nap, Obi-Wan took Padme by the hand. "I'm sorry."
Padme shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. You're right. You, of all people, know what Palpatine can do. I didn't mean to sound condescending. I know you get tired of people fussing over your safety, but it's only because we love you. You have a way of bringing out the protective streak in people."
"So I've noticed." Obi-Wan gave Padme an ironic smile before pulling her into a hug. "I WILL be careful, Padme. Sidious can't keep me from coming back to my family."
Padme smiled at Obi-Wan's heartfelt words. She pulled back, keeping her arms hooked around his waist. "I guess we've had our first official fight. Care to kiss and make up?"
"Of course, that's the best part." Obi-Wan gently captured her soft lips with his.
Even as Padme melted into the arms of her love, she had to fight the niggling thread of worry that wouldn't go away. She didn't want Obi-Wan anywhere but right here with her! Padme's insides began to liquefy as his lips and tongue worked their magic. As Obi-Wan removed her clothing and his warm hands found her flesh, Padme was finally able to push aside her concern and focus on the very enjoyable task at hand.