Chapter 7

The next morning, Anakin and Lara took one of Padme's starships to Naboo for their honeymoon. They would be going to the lake country, where they'd first met a year and a half before. It would be nice and private and perfect for the two weeks they would spend together. Before going to the lake country cottage, however, they did have to check in with Queen Jamilla just to let her know how things were progressing on the political front.

"Congratulations," the regal queen said jubilantly. "I know you two want to get to the rest and relaxation part of your honeymoon, so we'll try to get through this as quickly as possible. I understand that you've been assigned to work with the Senate Loyalist committee with Senator Amidala-Kenobi, and your new bride, Master Jedi."

Anakin's eyes widened. How had she found out about his new assignment? "Master Skywalker, it's all right," the queen said reassuringly. "Senator Amidala-Kenobi and her husband informed me of this new project. They're very concerned about the direction the Chancellor is taking the senate."

"We all are," Anakin said, finally finding his voice. "He's made radical changes to the constitution, and we just want a return to democracy as soon as possible. That's why Master Kenobi and I have been assigned to work discreetly with the Loyalist committee. The war seems to winding down now. Count Dooku's getting reckless and sometime, probably soon, he'll make a mistake, and that's when the Jedi and our army will be able to strike and end this war."

Lara nodded. "Anakin's right. The war is slowing down, yet the senate continues to vote more executive powers to Chancellor Palpatine. And, he's been becoming more interested in the Jedi affairs. With my husband and Master Kenobi working with us, we're going to keep a close eye on the situation, as the Jedi are no happier with the situation than we are."

The queen nodded. "We shall continue to keep our faith in the Republic. Hopefully, this crisis will end soon and there will be a return to democracy." She stood and everyone in the room stood with her. She walked over to the newlywed couple. "But for now, you're on vacation, so I won't keep you. Will you be making use of your cousin's cottage at the lake country?"

"Yes, when our couple of weeks here is up, Anakin will be heading back to Coruscant, and I'll follow a week later for the beginning of the congressional sessions." Lara smiled.

The queen smiled and dismissed them. As she watched them go, she couldn't help but feel a touch of envy. There was a woman in politics, yet she was able to make time for marriage and starting a family. Perhaps there will be time for me, she thought. Someday…

The woman walked into the seedy bar in the bowels of Coruscant. She had long brown hair which she kept hidden under a cap. Her eyes were good at hiding her emotions, so while she looked like she was going to be looking forward to this possible "job", inside, she wanted nothing to do with the man she was to meet.

"Amara," the man said in greeting. "How nice to see you again."

"Kent," she said tonelessly. "I wish I could say the same, but why should I lie?"

"Come now, we're old buddies, you and I," Kent practically sneered, looking over her still trim and sexy body.

"Oh, what? We're friends with benefits?" she hissed. "Those were your benefits, not mine. You've got some serious balls wanting to hire me for a job after all those times you took advantage of those benefits."

"Yeah, but you're one of the best bounty hunters in the biz, ever since Jango Fett got himself beheaded at the hands of a Jedi Master." Kent glared at her. "I need you to do something for me, actually two things. First, I need you to kill this chick." He slid a holograph across the table. Amara gasped. The girl looked to be no older than twenty, and Kent Lars wanted her dead.

"What'd she do to you?" she asked.

"Nothing personal to me, just my master wants her dead. She just got herself hitched to a Jedi Knight, one he wants to stick it to. Her name is Senator Lara Naberrie."

"And what's the second thing?"

He slid another holograph across the table. "I want you to capture this one out of the Jedi temple and bring her to me. Her name's Beru Whitesun. I'm sure you can guess what I want her for."

"You must be desperate." Amara rolled her eyes. "You're telling me you want me to stroll into the Jedi temple and snatch this girl from the custody of the Jedi masters? They'd laugh in my face, and that's before chopping me into tiny pieces with their light sabers."

"I'll make it worth your while, Amara," Kent said. "Once I have that girl, I won't need you for any more 'favors'."

"Fine, I'll do it," she snarled. "But I'm going to do this my way. I'll contact you when it's done."

With that, she threw some credits on the table to pay for her drink and stormed out of the bar.

Okay, she thought to herself. How do I fake this one? I know what I can do…

Padme sat up and stretched. It had been three days since Anakin and Lara's wedding, and already she missed them. They were to be gone for two weeks, and then Anakin would return to Coruscant to resume his Jedi duties, while Lara would remain on Naboo and take some time to visit with her old friends from school before returning to the capital for the Congressional session.

She padded to the refresher and stepped into the shower. She washed her hair quickly and enjoyed the feeling of the warm water as it slid down her body. After turning off the water, she stepped out of the shower and began to dry off. As she wrapped the towel around her body like a sarong, the door opened and she saw her scantily clad husband standing in the doorway.

"Like what you see?" she teased.

He grinned. "Absolutely, but I don't we have time for me to show you how much I like what I'm seeing." He pulled her close and kissed her softly. "What time are Senators Organa and Mon Mothma supposed to be here?"

She sighed under his kiss. "They're coming in four hours," she mumbled.

He smiled, his eyes dark with desire. "All right, I take that back. We do have time." He removed her towel and steered her back into the shower, undressing as he went. He started the water running again and kissed her passionately.

"I…like…how you…think…" she mumbled in between kisses. They made love slowly and tenderly in the shower, and when it was over, they collapsed on the shower floor as the water rained on them, washing away the evidence of their lovemaking.

Obi-Wan found himself gazing down at his sated wife. If her senatorial colleagues could see her now, he thought with a rueful chuckle, they'd see a woman in love with her husband. He kissed her softly and helped her out of the shower. He dried her off, kissed her one last time, and then playfully shooed her out of the refresher. "I must get ready for our guests, and can't have you distracting me, even though you are such a lovely distraction," he joked.

Padme found herself staring at the closed door for a full minute, then laughed and headed to their bedroom to dress. Cheeky Jedi, she thought. And he thinks Anakin is bad.

AN: Thanks for all the reviews, ladies. They really help. Things are really going to start heating up now, on all fronts.