A/N: Hope everyone had a good xmas. I certainly did, as it involved getting Sith on DVD : ) In this chapter Sabé learns of a small secret Obi-Wan has been keeping. A small secret named Siri Tachi.

Chapter Forty – First Love, True Love

When Saché found out that Obi-Wan was alive she was overjoyed for her friend. Sabé had broken out of her depression and was as jovial as she had ever been. But seeing just how much she loved Obi-Wan had put things into perspective for Saché. Sabé and Moteé had discussed her seemingly altered attitude, deciding that a change had certainly occurred in her. Padmé thought so too and so it was no surprise when Saché expressed a wish to return to Theed and her young man.

She was quickly replaced by a young woman called Ellé, who was Eirtaé's sister, and just as condescending, if not more so. Sabé did not like either her or the way she looked down her nose at everyone. She may be from a wealthy family, but she was still only a handmaiden. She did not appear to like Sabé much, having decided that she had no right being in such a high position when no-one could successfully trace her heritage.

The months went by and the secret meetings continued. Sabé was less conspicuous, as she was usually the one to do the visiting and Yoda provided her with an alibi. But Anakin, who had never really taken any time to learn subtlety, frequently visited the apartment. Moteé was already more than a little suspicious about this and it did not take Ellé long to catch up. Sabé observed this and told Padmé, and the Senator spent a tense moment explaining everything to her handmaidens, asking for their assistance in keeping the marriage secret. (She mentioned nothing about Sabé and Obi-Wan.) They readily agreed and Sabé had to admit that however much she disliked Ellé, she was a dependable bodyguard.

Obi-Wan was fully recovered from his ordeal and had spent an evening with Sabé, Padmé and Anakin telling his story in detail. The clone known as Alpha was responsible for saving him from the explosion, but they had been swiftly captured by the Dark Jedi, Asajj Ventress. There they had both been held prisoner and tortured for information. Neither had cracked. Finally, after three weeks, they were able to break out and escape, stealing Ventress's own personal ship, the one that Sabé had seen the day she had been talking to Cherek. Obi-Wan had remarked that after three weeks of excruciating torture and disheartening incarceration nothing would ever shock him again. But he did not really mean it, which was just as well, as a few weeks following his and Sabé's second year anniversary he got the biggest shock of his life. It was by no means as dangerous and yet it made his heart skip a beat. Being a Jedi, he was unaccustomed to feeling panic and yet that was what he had to hold back as he walked one day into one of the Jedi Temple's meeting chambers.

As he entered the room Sabé looked up with a smile. Beside her Siri Tachi gave a nod. Startled at seeing them standing side by side he could do nothing but nod back. Behind him Padmé appeared in the doorway and greeted them all with a smile.

"I knew the Senator was accompanying us, but I wasn't aware that you were coming too, Sabé," Obi-Wan began, trying to keep the edge out of his voice.

"Yes, I am. It was a very last minute decision, I'm sorry I couldn't inform you before."

"It's my fault," Padmé put in. "I asked her to come along. I thought she could be of use."

"Although I haven't been briefed properly yet," Sabé said.

"I'll show you the file," Obi-Wan offered. "If you could stay here and wait for Anakin," he said to Padmé and Siri, leading Sabé out the room to the Archives.

"I don't want to see the file, Obi-Wan," Sabé commented as they walked.

"I wasn't going to show it to you. It will be much quicker if I just explain it."

They sat down at a free table in the Archives chamber with the file's contents up on the holo, just in case someone came to look for them. "Ok," Sabé began. "Brief please."

"I don't like the idea of you coming along on this mission," Obi-Wan stated. "It could turn nasty, I would hate for you to get caught up in it."

"Well you're not going to keep me here." Sabé was quite determined on that front. She had heard from Padmé that Anakin had actually ordered her not to go. She couldn't imagine Obi-Wan ever saying something like that to her, but she wasn't going to give him the chance.

"I would never try," Obi-Wan said gently, resisting a smile. "I'm just letting you know that I worry about you, even though I know how well you can take care of yourself. You know I have to keep my distance when we're around others."

"I know."

"Anyway," he said smiling, "briefing. Twenty years ago Qui-Gon and I were sent on a mission with Siri and her Master, Adi Gallia. We had to protect a boy called Talesan Fry. He's a bit of a technical genius and he had managed to record a group of bounty hunters discussing an assassination plot. Of course when this came out he found himself with a price on his head. We were sent to make sure he made it to Coruscant safely in order to testify. To cut a long story short, the bounty hunters were all caught or killed except one; Magus. He killed Taly's parents then disappeared. Now Taly's a recluse living on Genian. He's recently developed a codebreaker that is apparently foolproof. Because we saved his life twenty years ago he's offering it to the Jedi first."

"For a price?" Sabé asked.

"Yes. A price that we must pay otherwise he'll offer it to the Separatists. He's a neutral party in the Clone Wars at the moment."

"So why are we needed?"

"We're the negotiators. Chancellor Palpatine wanted to send a Senatorial representative along and Padmé volunteered. Taly asked for Siri and me, seeing as he spent a lot of time with us the last time we met. Anakin has to come too, of course."

Sabé nodded. "Sounds fairly simple."

Obi-Wan was silent for a long while. "Sabé, there's more to this story that I haven't told you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yes. During that mission twenty years ago…something happened…between Siri and me."

Sabé inhaled sharply and found herself speechless for the first time in her life. She tried to ignore the cold stems of jealousy that were making themselves present in her stomach, telling herself over and over that it was twenty years ago and that Obi-Wan loved her and had done so for twelve years. But she couldn't help but feel it a little. "That's why you had that look on your face when you arrived. I thought it was because you were surprised to see me here. But it was because you were surprised to see her, wasn't it?" Her tone remained gentle, but the words were sharp.

"I was surprised to see both of you. I haven't seen Siri since that mission."

"What happened?" It pained her to ask, but it was something she needed to know.

"Well, what happened surprised both of us," Obi-Wan explained. "I felt what I thought was love, but when I met you I realised that real love was something I had never felt before. When we returned from the mission Qui-Gon and Yoda told me that I must either give up Siri, or give up being a Jedi. Of course I knew it was my destiny to be a Jedi. It was Siri's too. That's why we agreed to bury our feelings. But even so I didn't think I would ever love anyone else. It took me a few days after we met for me to realise I loved you, but as soon as I had admitted it to myself I knew that what happened with Siri was just a first love."

Sabé smiled briefly. "Why did Yoda tell you to leave Siri if you're supposedly one who can love and be a Jedi?"

Obi-Wan remembered the time he'd asked Yoda exactly the same question.

'May I just ask, Master, why your attitude is so different from…last time?'

'It is simple. Before Sabé entered the picture a rare case you were not.'

'Are you saying that Sabé is some sort of true love? And Siri wasn't?'

'If romantic you want to be, yes.'

He smiled. Sabé noticed it and asked, "What's funny?"

"Do you remember that day we were investigating in the Archives? You ended up telling a story to the Padawans while I spoke to Yoda."

Sabé's cheeks flushed. "Yes."

"Well I told you what Yoda said about me. What I didn't tell you was that I asked why his attitude had changed from the last time it was discussed."

"What did he say?"

"That you were my true love. I'm not a rare Jedi without you."

"That's very romantic, but it sounds like another story."

"Well it's true, I can assure you."

"I believe you." Sabé distractedly polished an imaginary smudge on one of her boots. "Why did you not tell me about Siri before?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose the opportunity never arose."

"Were you ever going to tell me about her?"

There was a pause. "Yes. I'm sure I would have. But I can't say when." Sabé nodded and Obi-Wan said, "We should go back. It wouldn't take this long to brief you."

"I agree."

The two stood up and made their way from the Archives. When he saw that they were alone in the corridor, Obi-Wan led Sabé into an alcove and pulled her into a tight embrace. She seemed hesitant at first, but then let her head rest on his shoulder.

"Can you forgive me for keeping this from you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Of course I can, although maybe not right away. If we can't forgive each other then this marriage simply won't last." She let out a sigh. "Obi-Wan, I love you. I will always love you. I'm disappointed that you didn't tell me about Siri sooner, but I'm grateful that you did now. It balances out I think. I'm not angry. I'm not jealous. I'm just…thankful that I'm the one you truly love."

He smiled. "That means everything to me. Of course you're the one I love. I wouldn't choose to go back even if I could."

Footsteps coming along the corridor silenced him and he automatically put up barriers with the Force. Presently Siri came into view, heading in the direction of the Archives.

"That must be our cue to leave," Sabé whispered. "Is there another way out of the Archives?"

"Yes. Come on."

They hurried to the second entrance, then turned around as if they had just walked out. Sabé called, "Siri!" and the blonde woman looked back and headed over.

"Anakin just got here," she greeted. "We're ready to go."

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A/N: Sorry it's a bit brief, but it works out because the next chapter's the longest one yet. The storyline concerning Talesan Fry belongs to Jude Watson, as do any characters you don't recognise. (Except Cherek, I have to accept responsibility for him!)

arliddian – Yay, thank you!

Emerald Green Queen – Cherek will get his comeuppance at some point I'm sure. I don't actually know, I haven't written that far yet! The proposal scene with Sabé was kinda based on Mr Collins's proposal to Lizzy in Pride and Prejudice. At one point I actually had to go and get the book to check I hadn't repeated any dialogue, lol. I hope you're not feeling too brainwashed : )

JediFish – I couldn't kill off my second main character! Plus the Obi fangirls would want to hurt me! I'm sorry I can't give you a chapter estimate at the moment, I really have no idea how long this will be! As soon as I have some idea I'll let people know!

Queen Padme Nebarrie Amidala – Yep, he's alive : ) Yay!

vmorigane – Thank you, hope this was worth the wait : )

Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi – Thank you : )

Lady Underworld – I'm sure it wasn't that long! Anyway, I needed to receive my fantabulous new socks : ) No, you're not alone in the book world. I love the book!

SerendipityAEY – Thanks. Hope it wasn't mushy : )

TriGemini – Yes, poor 3P0. We all love him, even if Saché doesn't!

Cataracta – Yay for alive Obi-Wan! Lol.

jla2snoopy – Finally answering that question you asked me a few chapters ago (sorry, lol) the thing with Padmé and Yoda travelling to a planet isn't in a book. It occurs in the Clone Wars cartoon. If you still want to see artwork, let me know and I'll email it. It's a lot less fuss than trying to post a link up here, lol.

Charlotte Temples – Yep, Obi-Wan is back. No more coming very close to death until episode three, lol.

Handmaiden Dorme – Yay!