Chapter Two

Do you ever get the feeling that today is going to be one of those days? Like, nothing could go wrong? You wake up refreshed, the sky is brighter, and even your clothes fit better! It was that kind of day for Dormé.

What made it so special was that she had a date. The famous Jedi team of Kenobi and Skywalker were on furlough, which meant they had time to come over for dinner. During their earlier conversation via holocom, Anakin had informed her that he had the suspicion something significant was going to happen this evening, although he wouldn't tell her exactly what that something was.

Dormé had a feeling it was something significant regarding the Senator and Master Kenobi, but she dared not hope. Anakin knew her feelings about it; he couldn't keep from it. The impending marriage of those two was all that was on her mind these days!

"You're in an awfully good mood today," the Senator pointed out as they hung up her dry cleaning.

"I'm just excited we get to see the boys tonight. It's been a while."

"Yes, it has." Padmé's voice took on a melancholy, distant tone Dormé recognized. The Senator missed Master Kenobi terribly, though it took a bottle of Mandalorian Brandy for her to admit it.

"I wish they would've come over sooner," Dormé pointed out as she struggled with one particularly heavy gown.

"They've been busy!" the Senator defended him. "Obi-Wan said the Old-Timer's briefing was extremely drawn out this time. It lasted until the wee hours of the morning. He and Anakin went to bed just a short while ago."

"They could've slept here," Dormé muttered under her breath as she hung the last garment and closed the wardrobe.

"What was that?" Padmé asked, while she retrieved the discarded garment bags from the floor.

"The door chime!" Dormé answered excitedly, checking the chrono by the Senator's bed. "They're early!"

The young woman could barely restrain herself from running through the common room to answer open the door, but lost all decorum when she checked the hallway security holo.

"Anakin!" she squealed, throwing herself into his arms the second the door slid open. Her exuberant embrace was returned before her lips captured in a smoldering kiss. "Stars, I've missed you!" she told him as soon as she was able.

"I've missed you, too," he replied as his hands cradled her face, though his expression did not reflect her own happiness. In fact, Anakin appeared quite concerned about something.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry," the young man rumbled, his forehead lighting landing on hers. "I can't stay. I only have a few minutes and then I have to return to the Temple."

"Don't tell me," Dormé grumbled, grabbing hold of both his hands as she looked up into those gorgeous blue orbs of his. "Not another mission!"

"It's part of the package I'm afraid."

"I know, I know." She couldn't hide her disappointment, although the majority of it wasn't for her. "I understand, but I don't know why Master Kenobi couldn't have come to at least say goodbye to the Senator."

"My Master's commandeering a vessel. I'm supposed to be packing. Most of our stuff had just been sent to Supply. I pulled some strings though and had another Padawan forward it to.."

"Anakin," Dormé interrupted. "Did you come here just to tell me all this?"

"No," the young man pointed out, a sparkle now lighting his gaze. "I have some good news and I wanted to tell you in person. I've seen a ring."

"You what?"

"While Master Kenobi was speaking with Tower Command, I was packing his things and dropped his utility belt. Out of one of the pockets fell a ring. It's gold, with a jewel in the center…."

"This is terrible!" Dormé announced unexpectedly, confusion replacing Anakin's joy. Isn't this what she wanted?

"He was going to propose? When? This evening?" she asked, though not really expecting an answer. He could tell by the exasperated tone of her voice.

"I don't know…"

"And let me guess, you'll both be gone for what? Two months this time? Three?"

"I'm..."

"And I suppose this mission is to someplace close by," she said with heavy sarcasm. "With an established relay and satellite system, so we can communicate with you while you're there. Right?"

"Not exactly," Anakin responded once he had the chance. "We're headed to a small planet just inside the Rim. Nothing dangerous, I don't think. We're supposed to settle a resource disagreement."

"Of course you are."

Anakin knew the sarcasm wasn't being directed at him. She was just disappointed. That was all. He hoped.

"Well," she clucked her tongue while deep in thought. "We'll just have to do something about that, won't we?

The statement worried the young man immensely, but he didn't have time to figure out the details. He reached out once more and framed her lovely face in his hands.

"Promise me you won't do anything to endanger yourself or the Senator."

Her dark eyes flitted back and forth. She was hesitating!

"Promise me!" he repeated more firmly.

"I promise," she finally surrendered, her lips curving into a smile, which Anakin covered with a kiss.

"I'll contact you as soon as I can." The young man checked a chrono he pulled from his belt. "Sith! I've got to get to 17A in 20 minutes! I've got to hurry! Behave yourself," he warned playfully.

"Be careful!" Dormé hollered after him as she watched him go.

Twenty minutes? She could pack for a year in half that time, but packing wasn't the only thing she had to do. If she and the Senator were going to make it to that ship, she'd better get busy!

Master Fisto eyed the older Jedi warily as they entered the lift. He didn't agree with this course of action, thought it extreme and invasive. He'd kept his opinions to himself, however, and was only accompanying Master Windu by request. 'Keep an eye on him, you will,' Master Yoda had suggested, and Kit intended on doing just that.

"When we arrive at the apartment, I shall address the Senator myself. Let me do the talking. This is a Council decision."

And a bad one at that, thought Kit. Since when did the Jedi Council interfere with private citizen's lives? What had this Dormé girl done to him anyway? Windu had gone to great lengths and manage a lot of political procrastination to convince the Chancellor to authorize an arrest warrant for the poor woman, so it must've been something significant. All he knew was that Kenobi wasn't pressing charges, and it should've been left at that. This was ridiculous.

After the door remained unanswered, the Council member had convinced security to allow them in. Kit wasn't an investigative specialist, but it looked to him as if the apartment was unoccupied and had been vacated in rapid fashion.

"The Senator and her assistant have apparently left Coruscant," security informed them, proving Kit's theory, although that wasn't the reason for his broad smile.

"Damn," he'd heard Windu murmur.

That was.