Satine stood alone in the hall, having given her guards the day off, the throne room cleared of its usual furnishings.
The Duchess gazed out over the capital through the window farthest from her seat of power, melancholy etched across her features.
"I haven't seen you like this in years." The statement came from behind her, familiar and warm.
"These difficult times have been forcing people away from me," Satine replied. "It's more than a simple understatement. You just don't notice it as much when you're present."
"I apologize, Duchess. Please forgive this Jedi Knight for the crime of not being able to admire your beauty as often as you deserve."
The blonde Mandalorian ruler shook her head, a serene smile crossing her face as she turned toward the man she'd summoned.
She still loved this Jedi with her entire heart.
"If you believe flattery will work on me, my dear Obi-Wan, you'll need to try considerably harder," she teased, offering a playfully smug expression.
"Oh dear, I must have lost my touch," Kenobi said, placing a hand over his chest in mock heartbreak. "Usually, I leave people utterly bewildered by my compliments."
She glared at him playfully. "Oh? How special that I'm receiving this treatment."
"Perhaps you're right," Obi-Wan said smoothly. "There's an entire galaxy out there yet to experience my considerable charms. Who am I to deprive them of the opportunity to be properly captivated?"
Satine scoffed lightly. "What would Master Qui-Gon say? Didn't he tell you your mouth was equally responsible for getting you into trouble as getting you out of it?"
"One of many valuable traits and lessons I learned from him," Kenobi said, his tone carrying genuine pride.
"Master Kenobi, I detect distinct pride in your voice," the Duchess said with feigned disapproval. "How very un-Jedi-like."
"I believe you're mistaking my statement of fact for false pride," the bearded Jedi countered confidently.
Satine lifted her chin and looked away from him.
He simply smiled, shook his head slightly, and crossed to stand beside her.
Neither spoke until the Jedi Council member broke the silence.
"Duchess, did you wish to speak with me privately?" he asked gently.
"Yes," she admitted softly. "I did. I just wanted to see you alone. Just the two of us."
The ruler of Mandalore bowed her head now, clasping her hands together.
"I simply wanted to see you. To be with you again. Without all the galaxy's troubles weighing on our shoulders," she whispered.
The Jedi understood what she desired but chose remaining silent.
"Obi-Wan," Satine turned to him, longing evident in her eyes. "I told you when Maul held me at Death Watch's mercy that I loved you with all my heart. I always have, and I always will. Do you remember?"
Kenobi glanced down, thinking back to that terrible day.
"Yes, I remember," he murmured.
She stepped forward until she stood within arm's reach. "Tell me you'd help if I needed you."
The Jedi Master couldn't find his voice as she drew closer.
"If I asked you now..." Satine reached out, placing her hand against his cheek, gently lifting his face so she could look into his eyes. "If I asked you to stay with me right now, would you?"
He couldn't voice the answer, but his eyes conveyed everything the Duchess needed to know.
"I see," she whispered, disappointment and heartbreak threading through the words.
Kenobi's own heart clenched at the broken tone of her voice.
She turned to leave, but he instinctively reached out and caught her wrist.
Satine stopped, turning slowly, hope flickering in her gaze.
"Satine, I..." Obi-Wan searched for appropriate words but ultimately remained silent, releasing her hand.
Satine simply sighed. "I know. To this day, I still wonder what might have been if circumstances were different."
"I'm sorry, Satine," the Jedi said quietly.
She offered him a pained smile. "I know, my love. I know."
Without warning, she threw herself into his arms, embracing him tightly while trembling.
Obi-Wan was caught off guard by the action, but he made no move to pull away as he felt Satine shaking while holding him desperately.
He heard a sob and looked down to see tears streaming down Satine's cheeks. His heart twisted at the sight.
Without prompting, Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around the woman he'd fallen in love with all those years ago and held her close.
The Jedi Master felt her grip tighten on him, almost desperately, as he sensed dampness spreading through his robes.
"I'm afraid, Obi-Wan," she whispered, her voice nearly breaking. "You and I witnessed my people's destruction in our youth. I wanted ensuring it would never happen again. But now, not only is violence still occurring, I've failed my people."
"No," Kenobi said firmly without hesitation. "You haven't, Satine. I understand how this makes you feel, how it torments you, but you've accomplished what few leaders in galactic history have been willing to do. You've set aside your beliefs, your pride, what you wished to stand for, all to guarantee your people's safety, security, and freedom. You've done all of this ensuring your people could have a tomorrow of their own choosing."
She pulled away slightly to search his eyes for any falsehood or exaggeration and found only endless sincerity in his gaze.
"Oh, Obi-Wan," she whispered, silently cursing their impossible situation before pulling him close for a deep, passionate kiss that nearly overwhelmed the Jedi Master.
After several seconds, Kenobi felt his resolve shatter and quickly returned the embrace, the two former lovers locked together intensely.
After several minutes, they finally parted, breathing heavily.
Satine blushed but radiated contentment as she gave the Jedi a soft smile. He simply looked down, momentarily ashamed of his loss of control but making no move to pull away from her.
She continued smiling, holding his face in her hands, caressing his beard and cheek affectionately before wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head against his chest.
Obi-Wan simply placed his hands on her waist, resting his head gently against hers.
"No matter how hard I try distancing myself, my heart will always belong only to you, my love," Satine said peacefully. "Now and forever."
Though he didn't voice it aloud, Kenobi could never truly deny it, no matter how much he wished he could.
"You will always have my heart," he thought to himself as the two simply savored their embrace, needing nothing more in that moment.