Oct. 2002

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to GL, I own nothing beyond the story line!

Terms Of Service
Chapter 2

The speeder jerked violently, a mirror of Anakin's reaction, as Anakin
slammed it to a halt and spun to face him. "What?"

Padmé's expression mirrored his incredulity.

Obi-Wan smiled wryly, "We have master Yoda's unofficial approval. It's a
long story and hanging motionless in between the airways is probably not the best
place for this discussion."

"Just answer me one thing. How did you get Master Yoda to agree with you,
Master?"

"He offered it, Anakin. It's being held from the council's eyes. We need
more Jedi. Jedi breed stronger Jedi. However, the rules of the order pretty much
forbid this kind of attachment and in doing so we're killing ourselves."

"I still don't see how you managed to get him to turn a blind eye. Even if
he offered to. The other council members would pick up the disturbance when you..."
he glanced at Padmé, his cheeks tinted red.

"When we're intimate?"

Anakin nodded.

"Master Yoda knows our dire straights. Without more Jedi, more individuals
with Force potential, we'll cease to exist as an order and simply be individuals.
We can't allow that. Sabé and I have been called upon to help add to the next
generation of Jedi."

"You've been -asked- to have children?"

Sabé blushed, looking away from them all, "I agreed, Padmé, Obi-Wan means
more to me than being able to live in the spotlight. I've been in the shadows for
so long that people have forgotten me and it's easy to stay there. With Obi-Wan's
gift I'm no longer memorable to most people."

Obi-Wan slid an arm around her shoulders, "You are, Sabé, never say that."

She smiled at him, "I mean because of the implant, Obi-Wan, you know that."

"I know. You're beautiful either way, Sabé."

She shoved him with a smile before looking back to Padmé, "Master Yoda allows
me to stay in the Jedi temple with Obi-Wan, but nobody knows I'm there. I walk
around in a Jedi robe," she pointed to her robes and shrugged, "I usually wear a
lightsaber too, but today it wasn't necessary. The Jedi are gathered, en masse, at
the Senate hall. The Supreme Chancellor is holding a meeting of the Jedi."

"In answer to your question, Anakin, Master Yoda has been masking her
signature since she joined me here over a month ago. No one, even the Jedi of the
temple, take much notice of her beyond being a Knight. They don't need to."

Nobody said anything for a few minutes while Anakin directed their craft
towards Amidala's private residence. As he landed, Sabé turned to Padmé, "So why
did you come back, Padmé? Especially if you're trying to keep your marriage a
secret?"

"I have a few things I neglected to do while I was here. Dormé sent a
message saying I was needed. Besides, Anakin is still assigned as my protector."

"Dormé is still here?"

She nodded, "I didn't take her home with me and with what Anakin and I
intended it didn't seem like a good idea."

Anakin killed the repulsors and hopped out, extending a hand to Padmé. His
mechanical hand. She grasped it without a glance, smiling at him as he helped her
from the speeder. Obi-Wan and Sabé shared a smile. That gesture, more than
anything else, spoke of the love the two shared. Obi-Wan stepped out and then
helped Sabé out behind him. The area was wide open, the top of the building serving
as a landing pad for the senator's private suite.

Sabé pulled her hood up as Obi-Wan did the same, hiding their features from
view. Carrying the luggage by unspoken agreement they looked like hired hands.
Their small procession followed Amidala as she keyed in the access codes to her
suite, Anakin entering first and checking for dangers before he motioned the others
to come in. He pulled a box from his sleeve and turned it on, sweeping the room.
Listening bugs were in abundance and he quickly removed them from the surfaces,
crushing them before disposing of them.

The room inside was wide open, two balconies off to the side with their own
enclosed area of blaster proof tranparisteel, a large sitting room with three long
couches set up in a triangle formation around a similarly shaped table. A hallway
off to the left led to Amidala's bedchamber and the guest chambers. Everything was
done in different shades and tones of blue.

Anakin put one finger to his lips, sweeping the room again before carefully
checking the surfaces. The main room finished, he worked his way through the guest
rooms and then Amidala's room and the refreshers. The bug count was into the
thousands by the time he was satisfied none of them were left.

Anakin sat on one of the couches, Padmé sitting next to him as Obi-Wan and
Sabé took the one on their right, "Do you think I could convince the council to turn
a blind eye to our marriage, Master?" he asked suddenly.

"The council would throw you out, Anakin."

He nodded, leaning forward and rubbing his temples, "Master Yoda then?"

"Master Yoda knows of our situation, I can see now reason why he wouldn't
agree," Obi-Wan sighed, "It's unfortunate you married a Senator. Her life is lived
in the spot light. Body guard or not, and believe me, Master Yoda would assign you
to her permanently to alleviate suspicions, in public you'd have to act like her
bodyguard and not her husband."

"Like you do with Sabé?"

"I don't normally leave his chambers," Sabé's voice was soft, "before you say
how appalled you are with that I should explain that it's by choice. Master Yoda
told me what would happen if we were caught. I know the consequences just as well
as your Master, Anakin, but I'll brave them for him."

Anakin nodded thoughtfully, turning his gaze on his wife. Padmé's hand had
slipped onto his thigh and was gently squeezing the muscle in reassurance, "Just as
Padmé bears them for me." Padmé's eyes were soft as they met his. Anakin turned
back to Obi-Wan, wrapping his mechanical hand around Padmé's on his thigh. "So
you're saying that even if I tell the council what we've done they'll still throw me
out, and not just turn a blind eye."

Obi-Wan nodded, "Master Yoda might, in fact, I'm certain he would, the
council as a whole wouldn't. If you want your marriage to work, you're going to
have to keep it a secret."

"I won't entertain suitors," Padmé told him with a frown, "I refuse to be
pushed into a political alliance when I already have a husband. You know this is
going to be a problem, Master Kenobi, if we try to keep it a secret. Already the
Chancellor and the Queen are pressing me to marry and carry on my line."

"I suggest you approach Master Yoda with your concerns, Senator, he could
help you more than I."

"So you think we should tell Master Yoda?"

He nodded to his Padawan, "Yes, Anakin."

"Thank you, Master."

Obi-Wan inclined his head and then stood, looking down at the young couple,
"If I didn't say so before, congratulations. You two are well matched."

Padmé blushed lightly, smiling, as Anakin squeezed her fingers. Sabé stepped
forward and hugged them both, tears shining on her eyelashes, "He's right. You two
were made for each other." Pulling up her hood, she took up her position behind
Obi-Wan and followed him out of the apartment towards the borrowed speeder. Sliding
behind the controls, he waited for Sabé to seat herself.

Sabé cast a glance behind her, looking through the window at her best friend.
Anakin was removing the Senator's travel robe, his lips on the back of her neck,
and Sabé quickly faced forward again. Those two had sparks shooting between them
like a shorted power pack. She settled herself comfortably, taking Obi-Wan's hand
in hers as he sped away from the apartment, back towards the Jedi temple.


Author's Note: Thanks for reading you guys, there will be more to this story, I'm
just not 100% sure where I'm going to take it yet. If you have any suggestions or
things you'd like to see, please e-mail me at: Jademax@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Jade_Max