Kriff, Anakin, what have you done? Obi-wan thought as he leant back from the data terminal, where, during a routine search on his Padawan, he had made a discovery that could end Anakin's career as a Jedi, while costing Padmé her seat.
You didn't just have a brief intimate relationship with her. Even Yoda could understand that, at your ages. No, you went and married her.
He would have to confront them both about it. But he should have known.
Their secret smiles should have been enough, as should the slight blush on Padmé's face when they met. The fact that Anakin's robes were embroidered with his name in a Nabooan embroidery style, to a Jedi with his investigative training, should have been sufficient grounds to at least confront Anakin.
I thought it was just a minor flirtation, a brief, trauma-based relationship, he realised.
That the signals indicated that. I should have known better. I should have realised something was going on when both of them started wearing rings, the classic symbols of marriage, at the same time. The fact you can never find Anakin when you need him should have confirmed it. That Padmé sometimes meets up with a Mr Par Credo should have started alarm bells ringing. Par Credo. It's an anagram for Podracer. Sithspit, Anakin, why are you doing this to me?
Tearing himself away from the console, he sprinted for the temple hanger bay, knowing that he needed to confront Anakin as soon as he could, simply to get his explanation.
~0~
As Anakin gently laid Padmé back on the bed in the small, cheap, traveller's lodge they used for their liaisons', he suddenly stiffened, before stepping out of the window, fortunately fully clothed.
Unfortunately, Obi-wan was waiting for him at the bottom.
"Anakin Skywalker!" his master yelled. "I think I know exactly who I would find in that room…"
Oh, sithspit. Anakin thought as he said that. He knows.
"It's not a…" he quickly broke in, before pausing as Obi-wan produced a small square of flimsiplast. "Before you deny anything, Anakin, I would suggest you read your marriage certificate." Obi-wan broke off briefly, waving the sheet at him. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in? The council will have your saber for sure! This is worse than the time you manacled your Padawan to her bed and nearly killed her with an injector droid."
"That was an accident!" Anakin screamed at his former master.
"Could it have been predicted? Were you with Padmé at the time?" Obi-Wan asked, the calm voice masking the edge of the anger he felt. "They would have had your saber if you'd returned ten minutes later, and found her dead from hypothermia."
"Yes, I guess I could have predicted it would happen." Anakin answered, falling into the trap.
"Then it was not an accident. Accidents are things you couldn't have predicted, Anakin."
Mastering his temper, Anakin forced his hand away from his saber, and asked; "Shall we talk about thing in the suite, where people can't see two Jedi having an argument?" He knew that, by now, Padmé would be long gone.
"Lead on." Obi-Wan replied, suddenly conscious of the fact that they could end up on the holonews if they carried on outside the building, and that Yoda was a keen viewer of the galactic 24 standard hour news channel.
Inside the suite, Padmé had managed to get comfortable, despite her nakedness, and the fact her hands were pinned together behind her with fiberbinders she had 'borrowed' from the security locker in her office with the aid of R2-D2 the previous evening, at Anakin's suggestion as to a discrete source of quickly removable bindings..
With a lot of squirming, she had successfully rolled onto her front, but was alarmed at the two raised voices she could hear. It sounded like Anakin had felt Obi-Wan coming, and that was why he had skedaddled. He had also forgotten to untie her.
Abruptly, she heard two pairs of steps coming along the hallway, and, from a hostage rescue incident, where she had been the hostage; she recognised the steps as belonging to Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Realising Anakin had convinced his master to return to the room, forgetting her bindings, she began to squirm around, determined to preserve her decency. By holding the bed-covers in her teeth, she managed to pull it over her head just as Anakin and Obi-Wan opened the door to enter the room.
Obi-Wan was not impressed.
"Anakin!" he snapped; "why is the senator tied up on the bed?"
"Ah. It was her idea…"
"So you left her up her tied up, while you tried to sneak off."
"I forgot the binders."
"Forgot?"
"It was the first time…" he tailed off, blushing.
"I see."
"Master…" Anakin began
"There is no need to tell the council about this?" Obi-Wan completed.
"I don't think there is."
"You are in breach of one of the most fundamental rules of the Jedi order. You have a clearly broken the rule on emotional detachments, and marriage is nearly always grounds for expulsion."
"And what about Satine Kryze?" Anakin asked his former master. "Your relationship with her did not break the code?"
"My relationship with her, Anakin Skywalker, is none of your kriffing business."
"I see." Anakin replied. "You are allowed to love someone, but I'm not?"
"This has gone a damn sight further than feelings of affection, Anakin." Obi-wan retorted. "You and the senator are sleeping together regularly, if the hotel guest register is anything to go by. What happens if she gets pregnant? Will you admit being the father?"
"I'll make that jump when and if it come to it, master." Anakin replied, before pulling a small vibroblade from his belt gripping it with his thumb over the blade.
Obi-wan recoiled slightly, his hand going to his lightsaber, expecting Anakin to come at him with the blade.
