Disclaimer:  All characters belonging to Lucasfilm and George Lucas are used without their/his permission and are not intended for profit, merely the enjoyment of myself and hopefully, other fans. Takes place ten years after The Phantom Menace and includes events undoubtedly covered in Episodes II and III. Prequel to my The Beast Within

Beloved Monster:

Part VI

by

They must have fallen asleep, for an insistent knocking on the door aroused Amidala. She sat up at once and looked around the room. The sky outside the window had begun to color with sunset.

"Ani, wake up! It's late," she said, then shook his arm when he didn't move.

He stretched with a wide yawn and gave her a sleepy smile. "Plenty of time, but you're right."

Amidala rose and drew on her robe to answer the door. Sabé waited there, a tray of food in her hands. She grinned at Amidala, taking in her tousled state and a still-reclining Anakin in the rumpled bed.

"Thought you might want a bite before it gets any later," she commented, then held out the food to Amidala. "It's about seven. Obi-Wan said he wanted to remind you, Lord Skywalker, that the shuttle departs in two hours."

"Tell him I'll be there, Sabé," Anakin replied, then returned her grin.

Amidala closed the door after her friend left and placed the tray on the table. "Come, let's eat. I'm starving."

He laughed as he joined her. "Must be all the exercise you've got lately."

"Brute! And just who put me through all that exercise I might ask?" she asked in mock indignation.

Anakin held his hands up. "Hey, you asked for it."

She relented with a smile. "Indeed, I did." Then she sobered. "Thank you, Ani. Those are precious memories for me... These last three months have been incredible."

"For me, too, Am," he replied, taking her hand. They studied each other as if fearing they would never meet again. Amidala, ever the practical one, broke the contact first.

"We need to eat or this will be cold and unpalatable," she managed, her voice tight.

Anakin sighed, nodded in agreement and began shoveling food onto the plates. They ate without further words, each savoring the presence of the other in companionable silence. Once they finished, they bathed, barely able to keep from returning to the bed.

"I can't, Am. I've got to go. There's only about twenty minutes before we leave."

"I know, Ani, I know. Just hold me again," she whispered against his chest.

He ordered his aching body to behave and enfolded her in his arms, knowing she needed the reassurance of his physical presence until the last moment. She stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to his neck, then pushed away. Her gaze moved over him, drinking in his appearance in its entirety. Forcing himself to stand still, he could almost feel that gaze and realized she was indeed memorizing him as he had done to her earlier.

"Let's get you ready to go, love. Obi-Wan will be waiting," she managed, then turned to don her simplest dress.

Anakin closed his eyes, again willing his body to obey, then pulled on his own clothes. He could only pray that this war wouldn't last too long. It didn't seem fair that he must leave her so soon. But then, any time would seem too soon, he admitted.

He held out his arm to her and together they walked to the hangar to meet Obi-Wan and Adi Gallia. Amidala promised she would keep him updated on Naboo affairs. After all, he was her consort now and a part of its doings. In return, he promised he would tell her all he could about the situation he found himself in, though he warned her that he couldn't give her details because of security.

"I understand. One can't be too cautious in these circumstances," she agreed without probing for more information.

Master Gallia stood beside the shuttle. Of Obi-Wan, there was no trace.

"Padawan Skywalker, would you care to pilot the shuttle back to Coruscant?" she asked

"Wizard!" he blurted, then looked acutely embarrassed. "I mean, yes...thank you, Master Gallia."

Amidala exchanged amused looks with Adi Gallia. Yes, indeed, there was still a lot of that young boy Amidala had first met on Tattooine in her husband.

Anakin looked around. "Where's Obi-Wan?"

"He'll be here shortly, Anakin," Master Gallia told him. "Why don't we board and do the preflight check before he gets here? I'll get things ready. Come onboard once you've said your last farewells."

"Sure," Anakin replied, his mind occupied with a myriad of concerns.

"Take care, Ani," Amidala told him.

"I will, Am," he promised. "Remember, I have you to come back to after all."

They embraced for a few moments, then he took her face between his hands and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. With a wave, he went up the shuttle's ramp, sensing Amidala's gaze on his back as he left.

In the quarters assigned to Obi-Wan, two people scrambled to straighten their clothing and pull themselves into some semblance of order. Sabé had waylaid Obi-Wan, trapping him in his room after she had delivered the food to Amidala and Anakin. The sensuality emanating from the Queen's bedroom had driven her to seek out her own love.

She didn't care that he'd told her he couldn't get involved. Who knew what would happen in this war? He might be killed or terribly injured. And she didn't want to take the chance she would never see him again without experiencing his touch. Because of this, she took the initiative and forced the issue.

Obi-Wan had opened the door and she had flung herself into his arms, pressing kisses on him. He stood still for a few moments until she feared he would throw her out. Then, his arms enclosed her and he began returning her caresses.

"Sabé, this isn't wise..." he began.

"I know, Obi-Wan, but are you always wise?"

He groaned and with a quick look around the corridor, ducked back in and shut the door. She relished the feel of his soft lips and beard against her skin and though they had little time, she pressured him to hurry.

"I don't want to hurt you, Sabé," he protested.

"You won't, Obi-Wan...you won't," she assured him, then pulled him closer.

He reinforced his shields, not wanting any Force sensitives to pick up his feelings as he made love to Sabé. While he could have wished for better circumstances, he set aside his objections and gave her what they both truly wanted. Careful, not to let anything leak through, he pulled on the Force a bit to ease his entry and nearly cried out at the intense feeling of her enveloping him.

Close to losing his control, he made himself concentrate on bringing her pleasure before he allowed his own release. Despite the short time they had, he held her close once they finished, murmuring love words. Then, reluctantly, he released her.

"I have to go, Sabé."

"Yes," she replied, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Love, look at me," he commanded, raising her face to his. He saw shame and sorrow in her eyes and he castigated himself for giving in. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... We shouldn't have..."

"Never say it, Obi-Wan. I'm only sad because I know this is all I'll ever have." She straightened her shoulders and her look took on a steely quality. "Don't apologize. At least now I know what it would be like to have your love."

"Sabé..."

She held up her hand. "I don't expect any promises. I knew this was only temporary. Just...just think of me kindly sometimes."

He pulled her back into his arms, murmuring, "Always, Sabé. Your gift of yourself means more to me than I can ever say. I just wish...things were different. That I could take you as my wife..."

"Hush... You know that's not possible. You and I have obligations to others that keep us from such relationships." She sighed, snuggling closer for a moment, then pushed him away. "Now, you have to leave tonight. We'd best get you ready."

They helped each other get presentable, then hurried toward the hangar bay. Amidala stood alone, her gaze fixed on shuttle. Obi-Wan bowed to the Queen, gave Sabé a private "I'll remember" look, then headed up the ramp.

"You went to him, didn't you, Sabé," Amidala asked without taking her gaze from the shuttle.

"I... Yes, Your Majesty," Sabé admitted, uncertain if she had angered Amidala.

"There's something about these Jedi, I must agree. How can I fault you, my friend, when I've fallen under their spell as well. Now, come, they're about to leave."

The shuttle's engines began to whine and glow in preparation of departure. Sabé and Amidala retreated to a safe distance to watch the ship rise and move out of the hangar bay. They watched until the shuttle's engines become nothing more than twin specks of light in the sky, then disappeared among the stars.

"It won't be the same around here," Amidala muttered.

"How true, Your Majesty, how true," Sabé replied, hugging herself against the emptiness and loneliness.

"I feel the same, Sabé. As if a hole has opened in my soul...a part of me is gone." Amidala shook herself free of the melancholy. "Come now. Let's return to our quarters and see if we can get any rest. Tomorrow will be very busy."

Wrapped in their individual memories, the two Naboo women walked back to their respective rooms. Both knew their lives had forever changed because of their relationships with two Jedi men. They had forged yet another link to each other that no other shared.

To be continued...