Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. Sadly they all belong to GL.

Author Notes: Just a little something to fill in a scene. I thought, in my
world, it's what Ami might be thinking after meeting Obi-Wan and Anakin again
after 10 years. At least what I wanted her to be thinking, so it's probably a
bit AU!

Once again, your final warning, ahead be SPOILERS for the first few scenes of
AOTC dealing with Obi/Ani/Padme!

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Spoilers ahead!

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No turning back now!

(This story takes place between the threesome's first meeting and the creepy
crawly slug assassination attempt that night)

~~~~~~~~~

Padme stood silently staring out at the bright lights of Coruscant,
glittering like jewels even in the dead of night.

She'd tried to sleep, knowing she would need all her strength to deal with
not only the increasingly complicated matters of the Senate, but now the
unknown assassin who was out to take her life.

But sleep eluded her.

The reason was talking quietly with his padawan in the next room.

She felt her heart stutter as she remembered the events of a few hours
earlier.

~~~~~~~~~
Several Hours Earlier:

She had known the Jedi were coming to protect her and had resented the
implication she and her handmaidens could not handle the job themselves.

But she had been unable to refuse Palpetine's order of protection.

Mind made up to resent her new protectors, she steeled herself into strict
'Senator' mode, hoping she looked imposing enough to make the Jedi think
twice.

She was surprised however to feel the pleasant shock go through her system at
hearing the familiar names as her handmaiden announced them.

Images from long ago crossed her mind, remembering the small, innocent boy
and the self-assured, yet strangely vulnerable padawan she had know 10 years
ago.

She found herself feeling a bit warmer towards them as she turned to greet
her new protectors.

She looked up with a smile, only to find herself gazing at one of the most
handsome men she'd ever seen.

Her gaze went directly to his, connecting with the beautiful blue-green orbs
that seemed to deepen in color with pleasure as he murmured a greeting.

His low voice sent a pleasant tingle down her spine as she continued to
observe the changes the years had wrought.

His face, now heavy with beard, his hair no longer short and cropped, but
longer with streaks of gray here and there, was no less attractive than it
had been 10 years ago.

In fact, she thought, the added years had only served to sharpen his
appearance and she now found her heart fluttering with a strange new emotion
as she gazed upon him.

She was so lost in his eyes, wondering at the surprised shocks of awareness
shooting thorough her system that she all but forgot the young man standing
behind him.

Until she felt an intense gaze on hers and turned to see a tall young man,
with familiar eyes.

She smiled as she observed the changes the years had wrought.

Anakin had indeed grown into a handsome young man, so unlike the small boy
they had rescued so long ago. His close-cropped hair and padawan braid had
grown throughout the years, but they still brought a smile to her face.

In her mind, she still saw the young boy she had looked on with brotherly
affection.

She couldn't stop herself from mentioning that, noting he seemed to take
offense, wondering if she had truly hurt him with her words.

She hadn't meant to, but they were the truth.

He was still the kind-hearted, eager young boy in her eyes, no matter how he
had changed in appearance.

She felt a slight bit of unease as she suddenly noted the awe in his gaze, as
if she were the only thing in his universe.

Feeling uncomfortable, she turned back to feast her eyes again upon his
Master.

She was surprised to find her heart sped up a bit as her gaze again connected
with his, as she stumbled on about not needing or wanting protection.

She only hoped she did not inadvertently reveal how much she suddenly wanted
to have this handsome Jedi around.

She shook herself mentally, realizing these thoughts would not do.

She was the Senator of Naboo, with a job to do for her people. In these
troubled times, she must remain focused on their well-being.

Even the wiles of this unknown assassin must not stop her.

Either must these strange feelings for a Jedi she had not seen in nearly 10
years.

Somehow, she managed to get through the stilted conversation, choosing for
the moment to ignore the heated looks of adoration Anakin was sending her
way, focusing instead on his Master.

Still, she actually felt rather uncomfortable under Anakin's scrutiny, so she
quickly excused herself, unwilling to remain even if simply to continue to
observe Obi-Wan Kenobi.

~~~~~~~~

Which brought her back to the present moment.

Sleepless, worried about the increasing threats to her life, to the whole
Republic in general, and now these strange feelings that had sparked as she
laid eyes on the Jedi Master.

Despite all the recriminations and rationalizations she'd drummed into her
head tonight, she found her body tense and uneasy, something stirring inside
her that made her restless and uncomfortable.

What scared her was the glimmer of a feeling that Obi-Wan might be able to
soothe those strange feelings.

It was a distraction she did not need.

But since she was going to be in constant contact with them both, she must
learn to control herself and these new feelings.

She also suspected she would have to deal with the romantic feelings Anakin
seemed to be harboring for her, if she had read the intensity in his gaze
right.

Feelings that even after seeing him so much older, she found she could not
even think about returning.

She knew, even upon such a short re-acquaintance, she still felt for him the
brotherly love she had felt for the boy he used to be.

Her emotions instead were stirred by the gentleness in the eyes of his
Master, the way he moved so fluidly as if nothing stood in his way,
completely comfortable with himself and those around him.

A Jedi Master confident in his skills, his purpose, and his padawan.

Well, at least somewhat confident, if their earlier argument was anything to
go by.

But the point was, she remembered somewhere reading that Jedi could not love.

They took a vow to serve and protect but never love.

Which meant Jedi Master Kenobi could certainly feel nothing for her, simply
brotherly affection at meeting an old acquaintance after so many years.

After all, they hardly knew each other.

The thought rankled.

She frowned as she told herself to stop thinking of a man she could not have,
was not even sure she wanted.

A man she barely even knew, much less remembered.

But something about him had always stayed with her, even throughout the years.

Maybe it was the pain in his eyes as he had watched his Master die.

Or the resolution, then the spark of affection she had seen in those eyes for
the young boy suddenly forced upon him as padawan.

Maybe it was the kindness and compassion he'd shown to her and her people.

Or maybe it was the smile that even 10 years ago could make her heart skip a
beat.

All feelings brought once again to mind, strengthened by the twinkle she'd
glimpsed in his eyes as he'd bowed before her earlier tonight.

She was already in trouble, and she had not spent more than a few moments in
their presence.

Sighing, she forced her tired, confused body to return to bed, hoping that
sleep would come soon, knowing she would be no good to anyone if she were not
rested.

At least she had two Jedi keeping watch over her in the night, making sure
she was safe from the danger that lurked around her.

She felt a strange shiver go through her body as she imagined Master Kenobi's
intense gaze watching her as she slept.

Strangely enough, the thought of him sent her drifting off into dreams,
filled by a pair of sparkling eyes she knew would haunt her for the rest of
her days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The End