The hand on his shoulder is appreciated, and he slants his gaze toward her to acknowledge it, but he's grateful when she takes the change of subject without mentioning it further. Qui-Gon's fate, and his feelings on it, are what they are, and nothing can change the former, and only time and contemplation can change the latter, in his experience.
"Meeting your parents and hearing you speak about them are entirely different things, though," he says, smiling at her story. "So you have altruistic tendencies in your blood. I can't say as I'm surprised."
There's a slight pause, before Obi-Wan asks, in a manner that aims for nonchalance, but is slightly tentative for him, "What about the village? Have you been back there recently? Is it still a village, or has it grown into a town or city by now?"
Her parents had raised her and Sola to be compassionate and caring people, lessons she still values greatly to this day. Without those pillars in her life, she couldn't begin to guess where her path would have diverged, and she wouldn't change a thing about her life before now.
With a shake of her head, she answers, "I haven't been back in a very long time. It's still small, I believe, though it's expanded as the families have naturally grown. I think the people there like it that way, and I remember it being a very peaceful place."
Obi-Wan is quiet for a moment, staring out toward the water with a contemplative look on his face.
Eventually, he ventures, aiming for nonchalance but sounding a little tentative, "What if we had a house there? If it's close to Theed, it would be near where you needed to go, but still separate as well." He rather obviously doesn't glance toward Padmé to gauge her reaction, but he's highly attuned to her through the Force.
When it comes to personal preferences, Obi-Wan isn't very well-versed in asking for what he wants; he's used to making due, and appreciating what he's given. But the village holds sentimental value, if not childhood memories, for Padmé, and it sounds like the kind of place he would enjoy, despite being Coruscanti and thus the very definition of 'city boy'.
The suggestion takes her by surprise, for she'd never even considered it herself. On Coruscant, she has to stay where her security can look after her, and on Naboo she'd always stayed with her parents. But with Obi-Wan, they have a choice, and Captain Typho wouldn't object to her being so far from his watch when her main source of protection will now be sharing her home.
Moving closer to that her side presses against his, she leans her cheek against his shoulder and rests a hand over his chest. "I would love that," she tells him with utter sincerity, the thought of returning to her childhood home filling her with joy, even more so because she knows without doubt that he will have peace there.
Even with Padmé moving to sit against him, it isn't until she answers that Obi-Wan realizes how stiffly he'd been holding himself and relaxes against her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. A soft, pleased and peaceful smile crosses Obi-Wan's face, and he presses a kiss to her hair.
Lunch is eventually finished and the remaining detritus gathered back into the satchel - Obi-Wan manages to get the blanket in as well, now that there's no food taking up room - and the two of them wander back down to the house, enjoying a little more of the scenery and chatting, with what Obi-Wan was quickly beginning to think of as their 'usual' teasing banter.
With the stress of the past few months, she'd forgotten how good it was to just relax and enjoy the company of someone she cared about. As the hours pass, she can feel a weight lifting from her shoulders, as if Obi-Wan had found some way to take her burden from her through the Force. Honestly, she wouldn't put it past him.
Upon returning to the house, and after putting away the things from their picnic, Padmé leans in close to slip her arms around Obi-Wan's waist. "What do you say to a few hours relaxing in the library?" She remembers how pleased he'd been with it.
Surprised, but infinitely pleased at the open affection, Obi-Wan returns the embrace for a moment, before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I say that sounds like a marvelous idea. Come along, milady, you can direct me to an appropriate lazy-afternoon-reading book."
Not that he really expects to get much reading done, but that's sort of the point; you hold a book and pretend to read, while your mind and occasionally your eyes wander. It's almost as good as meditation, if the atmosphere is right.
She grins up at him in agreement, already having quite a few titles in mind. The list is narrowed down to the best options as they make their way to the library, entering through the study once more.
Retrieving a datapad, she takes a moment to call up three books: a tale of seafaring explorers from a nearby system, a dramatic story of espionage and betrayal on Coruscant, and a recently published compilation of Gungan folktales that grew increasingly ridiculous with each tale. "I'm certain one of these will provide you sufficient amusement for a lazy afternoon," she informs him as she hands over the datapad.
Accepting the 'pad, Obi-Wan steals a kiss with a grin, still enjoying the novelty of open, easy affection. Glancing at the options, there's an internal debate over explorers and folktales - if he wants espionage and betrayal on Coruscant, he'll just go talk to the Jedi Council, or interrupt a Senate meeting, thanks - but there's really not much debate, because he remembers meeting the Gungans quite well, and he has to know what their traditional stories are like.
"And what tales shall you select to wile away the afternoon?" Obi-Wan gives her a mildly reproving look. "And no working."
Each kiss and smile from him makes Padmé's heart sing, her own smile echoing his -- until that look he gives her, anyway. Then she's narrowing her eyes slightly, as if debating arguing the point with him, followed quickly by an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
"No working," she agrees, a faint smile fighting through her put-upon expression. "Though my reading is indirectly work-related. I've been studying the history of Alderaan's capital city. Bail and Breha are good friends of mine and always inviting me to visit - if I ever do, I want to be able to properly appreciate their home."
Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow challengingly at her narrowed eyes, his own smile barely contained. He's almost disappointed when Padmé capitulates - he would have enjoyed the ensuing mock-battle of wills - but does add his own obvious eye-roll as she says it is tangentially work related.
He doesn't know the Organas well, though he's had occasion to visit with the Senator, as he's a pacifist and vocal about helping other systems that are in need, a sentiment that aligns with the Jedis' own tenets and oaths.
"Would you not appreciate it as fully, if you visited without knowing, and allowed your first glimpse to be through their eyes?" he asks, settling down on the sofa. "Don't get me wrong, I agree that knowing the background and history of a place is important, but reading about it is never the same as hearing from one who's lived there, has memories and stories of it."
"You're right, it isn't the same," she agrees, retrieving her own datapad to call up the volume she'd been slowly reading. While she did vastly prefer physical volumes, it was easier to continue from where she'd left off this way. "And I've visited many places with the method you suggested, allowing my vision to match their own. But I've heard so many stories already from the Organas that I'd like to be able to participate in the telling in the future."
She settles down on the opposite end of the couch from Obi-Wan, slipping off her boots to curl her legs up and get more comfortable. "And I intend to ask them about their preservation methods for the older parts of the city. Even after all these years, there are still sections of Theed we're trying to restore, and I know the Queen would appreciate advice on how best to proceed."
Watching Padmé get comfortable, Obi-Wan gives a knowing look at her last remark. "Ah. Now I see where the 'indirectly work-related' part comes in." He gives her another reproving look, before it melts into an indulgent smile. "I suppose so long as you're relaxing, it can be allowed. But if you start to get tense, I shall have to find a way to distract you..." His tone is warning, and his face stays innocent and slightly stern, but his eyes make it quite clear what he's implying.
Oh yes, she knows exactly what he's implying and wholly approves. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," she acknowledges quite seriously, though there's a thrilled mischief in her eyes. She'd never say no to a little well-timed distraction, after all. And he is so very good at it.
Trying to hold in a laugh, he nods at her and asks, "Is that why you're sitting over there? Am I already so distracting you can't bear to touch me?"
...Actually, that might very well be the case; he's certain that if she curled up against his side, he'd hardly be able to read two words of his own book, but he hadn't considered until after saying it that the same might be true for Padmé.
Still, it's a lazy afternoon, and what he finds he wants most is to spend it curled up with his wife.
She doesn't even try to hold in her responding laugh, lifting the datapad for a moment to shield her face before dropping it to her laugh. He is that distracting, of course, and she won't deny it.
"That may be somewhat true, yes, but I'm also sitting over here so I can do this." And she proceeds to resituate herself to laying down with her head on one of the coach's decorative pillows and her legs draped over a certain distraction's lap. Perfectly comfortable once more, she lets out a loud sigh of contentment.
Delighted at both her reaction, and the ensuing repositioning, Obi-Wan grins, placing a hand comfortably on her shin while he holds the datapad in his other hand, propped on one of her legs.
Watching her for a moment, a look of abject affection crosses his face, mesmerized by her. Padmé is beautiful, but he's never been unduly swayed by outward appearances, and has met plenty of gorgeous people who inwardly turned his stomach. Padmé's beauty shines through, coming from her strength of spirit, her courageous stubbornness, her innate sense of empathy, and her morals to do all she can to protect those around her. It's no wonder he's in love with her.
...It's no wonder Anakin thinks he's in love with her, although Obi-Wan knows from experience that his apprentice simply hasn't spent enough time getting to know Padmé to know her well enough to be in love. Even if you're startled to discover you love someone, as he was at first with Padmé, he knows that the best love grows slowly, through shared experiences and complimentary ideals.
Not exactly what he should be thinking about on what is now essentially his honeymoon, Obi-Wan thinks wryly, pushing the bittersweet thoughts and memories away and turning to his book. The hand on her leg starts kneading the muscle unconsciously, working the muscle in a sort of lazy massage.
The way he looks at her -- she's never had anyone look at her quite that way before. Gazes filled with gratitude and adoration hadn't been uncommon when she was Queen, but never before had someone watched her so openly with such affection. Warmth filled her up inside and she was so utterly content with her life in that moment that it nearly took her breath away.
She turned her attention to her book just before he did, her concentration focusing on an examination of a religious site in the heart of Alderaan's capital. It was a beautiful temple she'd heard of from Breha, and her thoughts drifted to perhaps planning a trip soon for herself and Obi-Wan. After a few months back on Coruscant, they would undoubtedly need a little escape from the hustle of their daily lives.
That gentle kneading was relaxing, his very touch helping to chase away any tension her muscles held. Add in the exertions of their morning and how little rest she'd gotten and, well, not twenty minutes later Padmé was drifting off to sleep, datapad resting against her chest.
It takes a few moments for him to realize why Padmé is so relaxed against him; he glances over to confirm that she's asleep, resting peacefully this time. He hopes, even if it's a brief nap, that she can recover some of the rest she lost due to the previous night's nightmare. ...Not to mention other strenuous activities they'd engaged in already.
Walking. Walking could take a lot out of you, of course.
Inhaling deeply with utter contentment, Obi-Wan turns back to the book of tales, fascinated by the rich history glimpsed in the stories, if one is versed in recognizing such things. Which he is, thanks to his rather unique Jedi education. There seemed to be an awful lot of singing and dancing in the stories, which doesn't fit very well with his memories of first meeting the Gungan people - but then he recalls the celebration after the invasion was stopped; the last thing he'd wanted was to celebrate, but he dimly recalls seeing several Gungans performing jigs and great spinning dances.
The spirit of the stories catches up with him, and Obi-Wan begins humming, then eventually singing softly as his mind, caught up in the almost-musical cadence of words in the stories, supplies lyrics.
He's stopped kneading Padmé's leg, but continues to stroke it, almost as one would a cat. It's not sexual, just a simple, unconscious show of affection and intimacy.
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"Meeting your parents and hearing you speak about them are entirely different things, though," he says, smiling at her story. "So you have altruistic tendencies in your blood. I can't say as I'm surprised."
There's a slight pause, before Obi-Wan asks, in a manner that aims for nonchalance, but is slightly tentative for him, "What about the village? Have you been back there recently? Is it still a village, or has it grown into a town or city by now?"
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With a shake of her head, she answers, "I haven't been back in a very long time. It's still small, I believe, though it's expanded as the families have naturally grown. I think the people there like it that way, and I remember it being a very peaceful place."
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Eventually, he ventures, aiming for nonchalance but sounding a little tentative, "What if we had a house there? If it's close to Theed, it would be near where you needed to go, but still separate as well." He rather obviously doesn't glance toward Padmé to gauge her reaction, but he's highly attuned to her through the Force.
When it comes to personal preferences, Obi-Wan isn't very well-versed in asking for what he wants; he's used to making due, and appreciating what he's given. But the village holds sentimental value, if not childhood memories, for Padmé, and it sounds like the kind of place he would enjoy, despite being Coruscanti and thus the very definition of 'city boy'.
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Moving closer to that her side presses against his, she leans her cheek against his shoulder and rests a hand over his chest. "I would love that," she tells him with utter sincerity, the thought of returning to her childhood home filling her with joy, even more so because she knows without doubt that he will have peace there.
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Lunch is eventually finished and the remaining detritus gathered back into the satchel - Obi-Wan manages to get the blanket in as well, now that there's no food taking up room - and the two of them wander back down to the house, enjoying a little more of the scenery and chatting, with what Obi-Wan was quickly beginning to think of as their 'usual' teasing banter.
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Upon returning to the house, and after putting away the things from their picnic, Padmé leans in close to slip her arms around Obi-Wan's waist. "What do you say to a few hours relaxing in the library?" She remembers how pleased he'd been with it.
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Not that he really expects to get much reading done, but that's sort of the point; you hold a book and pretend to read, while your mind and occasionally your eyes wander. It's almost as good as meditation, if the atmosphere is right.
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Retrieving a datapad, she takes a moment to call up three books: a tale of seafaring explorers from a nearby system, a dramatic story of espionage and betrayal on Coruscant, and a recently published compilation of Gungan folktales that grew increasingly ridiculous with each tale. "I'm certain one of these will provide you sufficient amusement for a lazy afternoon," she informs him as she hands over the datapad.
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"And what tales shall you select to wile away the afternoon?" Obi-Wan gives her a mildly reproving look. "And no working."
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"No working," she agrees, a faint smile fighting through her put-upon expression. "Though my reading is indirectly work-related. I've been studying the history of Alderaan's capital city. Bail and Breha are good friends of mine and always inviting me to visit - if I ever do, I want to be able to properly appreciate their home."
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He doesn't know the Organas well, though he's had occasion to visit with the Senator, as he's a pacifist and vocal about helping other systems that are in need, a sentiment that aligns with the Jedis' own tenets and oaths.
"Would you not appreciate it as fully, if you visited without knowing, and allowed your first glimpse to be through their eyes?" he asks, settling down on the sofa. "Don't get me wrong, I agree that knowing the background and history of a place is important, but reading about it is never the same as hearing from one who's lived there, has memories and stories of it."
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She settles down on the opposite end of the couch from Obi-Wan, slipping off her boots to curl her legs up and get more comfortable. "And I intend to ask them about their preservation methods for the older parts of the city. Even after all these years, there are still sections of Theed we're trying to restore, and I know the Queen would appreciate advice on how best to proceed."
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...Actually, that might very well be the case; he's certain that if she curled up against his side, he'd hardly be able to read two words of his own book, but he hadn't considered until after saying it that the same might be true for Padmé.
Still, it's a lazy afternoon, and what he finds he wants most is to spend it curled up with his wife.
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"That may be somewhat true, yes, but I'm also sitting over here so I can do this." And she proceeds to resituate herself to laying down with her head on one of the coach's decorative pillows and her legs draped over a certain distraction's lap. Perfectly comfortable once more, she lets out a loud sigh of contentment.
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Watching her for a moment, a look of abject affection crosses his face, mesmerized by her. Padmé is beautiful, but he's never been unduly swayed by outward appearances, and has met plenty of gorgeous people who inwardly turned his stomach. Padmé's beauty shines through, coming from her strength of spirit, her courageous stubbornness, her innate sense of empathy, and her morals to do all she can to protect those around her. It's no wonder he's in love with her.
...It's no wonder Anakin thinks he's in love with her, although Obi-Wan knows from experience that his apprentice simply hasn't spent enough time getting to know Padmé to know her well enough to be in love. Even if you're startled to discover you love someone, as he was at first with Padmé, he knows that the best love grows slowly, through shared experiences and complimentary ideals.
Not exactly what he should be thinking about on what is now essentially his honeymoon, Obi-Wan thinks wryly, pushing the bittersweet thoughts and memories away and turning to his book. The hand on her leg starts kneading the muscle unconsciously, working the muscle in a sort of lazy massage.
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She turned her attention to her book just before he did, her concentration focusing on an examination of a religious site in the heart of Alderaan's capital. It was a beautiful temple she'd heard of from Breha, and her thoughts drifted to perhaps planning a trip soon for herself and Obi-Wan. After a few months back on Coruscant, they would undoubtedly need a little escape from the hustle of their daily lives.
That gentle kneading was relaxing, his very touch helping to chase away any tension her muscles held. Add in the exertions of their morning and how little rest she'd gotten and, well, not twenty minutes later Padmé was drifting off to sleep, datapad resting against her chest.
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Walking. Walking could take a lot out of you, of course.
Inhaling deeply with utter contentment, Obi-Wan turns back to the book of tales, fascinated by the rich history glimpsed in the stories, if one is versed in recognizing such things. Which he is, thanks to his rather unique Jedi education. There seemed to be an awful lot of singing and dancing in the stories, which doesn't fit very well with his memories of first meeting the Gungan people - but then he recalls the celebration after the invasion was stopped; the last thing he'd wanted was to celebrate, but he dimly recalls seeing several Gungans performing jigs and great spinning dances.
The spirit of the stories catches up with him, and Obi-Wan begins humming, then eventually singing softly as his mind, caught up in the almost-musical cadence of words in the stories, supplies lyrics.
He's stopped kneading Padmé's leg, but continues to stroke it, almost as one would a cat. It's not sexual, just a simple, unconscious show of affection and intimacy.