A/N: I'm glad everyone's enjoying this story. I'm having fun writing it. :) I think you'll like what I'm going to do with Asajj Ventress in this story. And, yes, Qui-Gon never died in the Battle of Naboo, so he's in this story too. He'll show up later, but he's mentioned some in this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

The first couple of days went by smoothly. Of course Jeela wasn't expecting it to be smooth sailing the entire way through, but she'd take anything she could get. After the initial rough spot, he began to soften toward her, especially when it became clear that she had his back in battle.

One night after the skirmish with some straggler Geonosians, Obi-Wan was heading for his tent for meditation when he caught sight of Jeela doing her katas. It was fascinating to watch, he had to admit. But what was really getting his attention was the way her trim, yet curvy, body flipped in the katas. He noticed that she always kept her hair bound up in some configuration. Probably for the best, he thought. Yet a small part of him yearned to have her long reddish blonde hair hanging down so he could run his fingers through the soft locks…

He jumped, startled. When had that entered his mind? You can't let those thoughts go any further, Kenobi, he scolded himself. She's so young and she's a Jedi Knight.

He hurried to his tent, hoping she hadn't sensed his presence.

Jeela finished her katas and headed to her own tent so she could send a transmission. "G9, scramble code 6 to Coruscant, care of the repair shop."

Anakin Skywalker answered her transmission. "I thought you'd send a report to the Council first," he teased.

"Wiseacre Jedi," she laughed. "I needed a friend to vent to first."

"I take it you've made contact with the Sith."

"You could say that." She wrinkled her nose with annoyance. "The first words out of his mouth were about my age. He asked where my master was." She took a deep breath to release her annoyance into the Force.

"Who're you working with?" he asked curiously.

"Sith Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," she replied.

Anakin whistled. "You should be honored. He's one of the best Sith warriors in the Order. He's pretty close to becoming a master."

She wrinkled her nose. "Now, if he can get past the fact that I'm the youngest Jedi Knight conferred, I think we'll make it through this mission with as little drama as possible."

"How are things with the mission other than that?" he asked. "Geonosis was a messy affair when Padme and I were to be executed there."

Jeela shrugged. "We're just cleaning up your mess. There are pockets of Separatist troops and battle droids still clinging here. There's enough to keep us busy." She sighed and smiled. "But enough about me and this mission, what about you? How's wedded bliss treating you?"

Anakin smiled and blushed. "Can't complain too much. We love each other. We were allowed a small respite on Naboo, but the war brought us back here to Coruscant. Padme's doing whatever she can to bring about the end sooner, but…"

Jeela didn't need to hear any more. With the chancellor having emergency executive powers due to the war, the Galactic Senate was basically powerless to do anything at this point. The Senate was there for decoration and nothing more. It made Jeela want to cry sometimes. She wrapped up the transmission and sent another to Master Yoda and the Jedi Council, reporting her making contact with Sith Knight Kenobi and the progress of the mission on Geonosis. As she switched off her transmitter, she turned to find Obi-Wan standing in the opening of her tent.

"I didn't know Jedi were allowed to marry," he said with mild amusement. Her eyes flashed.

"And I didn't know Sith knights eavesdropped on private transmissions," she shot back. "I was having a friendly conversation with one of my friends in the Order." She tried to appear unruffled, but she was trembling, wondering what he'd overheard.

"Be mindful of your thoughts, Jeela; they betray you," he said with a wry smile. "I only caught you talking about his newlywed status. As I said before, I didn't know Jedi were allowed to marry. Last I heard the Jedi Order was very strict on such things."

"Master Yoda is more forward thinking than the Sith Order gives him credit for," she said shakily. "Anakin and Senator Amidala came to care for each other during the time he was protecting her. Yoda gave them his blessing to marry; he said it would give Anakin something else to fight for, and he's right."

His eyes widened and he looked at Jeela long and hard. "His name is Anakin?" he demanded.

"Yes, Anakin Skywalker," she replied. "He came here with his wife so they could rescue his master, but were captured and sentenced to be executed alongside Master Qui-Gon."

"And Asajj Ventress," he added for her. "Did they tell you about her?"

She nodded. "She was injured in that particular battle, if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes, she nearly became one with the Force during that battle, and I nearly died saving her life." He turned away. "She's fighting in the Outer Rim sieges even as we speak, partnered with one of your Jedi Masters, Quinlan Vos. She's a good friend to me, and I'm…protective of her, much to her annoyance sometimes."

Jeela smiled. "She's fortunate to have a friend like you, someone to look out for her. I've never worked with her, but I know who she is."

He gasped softly, realizing how much he'd told her. "I apologize, Jedi Linn for monopolizing your time. I shall retire for the night. You have my comlink code if you sense danger. Good night."

"Good night, Sith Kenobi." She watched as he left her tent, and then settled in for some time for meditation before taking a rest for the night.