A/N: chapter ten! we're getting closer to my favourite parts. hehehe. REVIEW! reviews are the best thing you could give me

Chapter Ten: Understanding

Anakin watched as he and Padmé approached the lake retreat. She had suggest to Queen Jamillia that they stay there, as it was secluded and well protected. He could see that, as the lodge was on an island, anyone approaching would be easily sighted. And the retreat was situated amidst the beautiful scenery of Naboo's countryside – which would make his confinement much more comfortable.

Padmé shifted closer to him, laughing as the water speeder dipped and sent a spray of droplets over them.

Anakin glanced at her and realised that she was looking at him, a strange expression on her face. He looked away quickly.

Maybe not quite that comfortable.

When they reached the lodge, they deposited their luggage and walked out to stand on the balcony, looking out at the lake.

"I love the water," Padmé said dreamily.

"I do too," agreed Anakin. "I guess it's from growing up on a desert planet."

"When we were young, we used to come out here and swim every day. The water always felt so cool and smooth. It was like glass." She leaned towards him slightly, so that her arm brushed his. He stiffened a little, suddenly nervous. "An old man lived on one of the islands, and made beautiful things out of glass," she continued. "They had ripples in them, like the water. It was magical."

She turned her head towards him, and the power of her gaze drew his eyes.

"I used to think that if I stared long enough into the glass, I would lose myself," she half-whispered. I could lose myself in your eyes, Anakin…

She found herself closing her eyes, reaching up and kissing him.

Almost immediately, he turned his head and stepped away from her.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone almost angry.

"I'm sorry," she said, blinking quickly. Don't be angry with me, Ani. Please don't. "I shouldn't have done that."

He shook his head and walked inside.

Padmé watched him go. She wasn't sorry that she had kissed him – her lips were still tingling, and the touch had left her feeling elated and breathless. But she was sorry about the way he had reacted. She had hoped – expected, even – that it would have turned out differently.

She turned back to the lake, and leaned against the balustrade.

There's plenty of time left to change his mind.

Kamino was right where it was supposed to be. Jovarii and Obi-Wan landed their starfighters at Tipoca City, as instructed by a Kaminoan called Taun We.

Rain drove down on them as they made their way to a tower near the landing platform. By the time they reached the door, they were soaked to the skin. They entered, and stepped into a brightly lit white room.

"Master Jedi, so good to see you," came a soft voice.

The two Jedi pushed back their hoods and saw the Kaminoan, Taun We, approaching them. She was tall and slender, with pale skin and huge almond-shaped eyes. She also seemed genuinely pleased to see them.

"The Prime Minister expects you," she went on.

"We're expected?" Jovarii asked, her astonishment thinly veiled. Obi-Wan could understand her incredulity – he could not fathom how the Kaminoans could have been expecting them.

Taun We seemed not to have noticed their astonishment.

"Of course," she answered. "He is anxious to see you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now please, this way."

The Jedi followed her through a maze of corridors, each area as bright and clean as the room they had first entered. Taun We led them to the Prime Minister's office and ushered them in. Another Kaminoan rose to greet them, a warm smile on his face. He waved his hand, and two egg-shaped metal chairs slid down from the ceiling.

"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino," Taun We introduced. "This is Master Jedi –"

"Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"And Master Jedi –"

"Jovarii Amara."

The Prime Minister indicated the chairs, and the Jedi sat down.

"I trust you are going to enjoy your stay," Lama Su said, sitting down at his desk. "We are most happy you have arrived at the best part of the season."

This is the best part of the season? This storm?

Even in silent Force communication, Jovarii's cynical tone rang out sharply. Obi-Wan shot her a fleeting warning glance, then smiled and said, "You make us feel most welcome."

"You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule," the Prime Minister went on. "Two hundred thousand units are ready, with another million well on the way."

Jovarii raised her eyebrows in surprise and confusion, a gesture Lama Su took to mean she was impressed.

"That is…good news," Obi-Wan said cautiously. Units of what?

I don't know, Jovarii replied.

Lama Su spoke again. "Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that we have every confidence his order will be met on time and in full. He is well, I hope?"

"I'm sorry – Master…?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. He's still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?"

"I'm afraid Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago," Obi-Wan told Lama Su.

"I'm sorry to hear that," the Prime Minister said sincerely. "But I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we've built for him."

"The army?" Jovarii asked without thinking.

"The army of clones," Lama Su answered. "And I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."

An army. An army of over a million soldiers. That's more than enough to completely crush the Republic, Obi-Wan thought numbly. He glanced at Jovarii, and though her expression was neutral, he could sense her shock. He knew she was thinking the same thing.

"Tell me, Prime Minister," he said, carefully choosing his words. "When my master first contacted you about the army, did he say who it was for?"

"Of course he did," Lama Su replied unsuspiciously. "This army is for the Republic."

Instead of feeling relieved, Obi-Wan felt distinctly unsettled. Why would Master Sifo-Dyas have ordered an army for the Republic? Why hadn't the Jedi known about it?

Lama Su stood. "You must be anxious to inspect the units for yourselves," he said.

The Jedi rose. "That's what we're here for," Jovarii replied with a forced smile. They would have time to question the Jedi Council about Master Sifo-Dyas later. Now, they had to gather the information.

Padmé sat next to Anakin on the couch in the lounge room of the lodge, the fire washing glowing warmth over her. She wanted desperately to kiss him again, and savour the feeling of being close to him once more. She slid closer and leaned in, but Anakin turned away.

"No, Padmé, don't," he said, standing up, his voice quiet but firm.

She stared at him, hurt. "I thought…"

"You were worng."

She blinked and looked down at her hands. She had not realised that Anakin was so committed to the Order. He had not seemed like one to accept the restrictions of rules. And she had felt a connection with him that she had never felt before – surely he had felt it too?

He seemed to sense her hurt feelings, and sighed and sat back down. "Padmé, you have to understand me. I didn't mean to hurt you…"

Padmé looked into his eyes and saw sincerity. A flicker of hope leapt in her – he must care about her!

"But you have to understand that you can't feel this way," he continued. "It's not possible."

"No, Anakin, anything is possible. I know you are a Jedi, but –"

"It's not just about the Jedi." He glanced away, and when he spoke again, he was quiet and intense. "My heart belongs to Tsena."

Padmé drew back, shocked. Although she knew it was irrational, she had never imagined Anakin feeling anything for anyone other than herself.

"You love her," she said, more of a statement than a question. Her heart was sinking, and she realised that she could now never tell him her true feelings. She couldn't come between two people who loved each other.

Anakin nodded. "I'm a Jedi. You're a Senator. Even without Tsena, it would not be possible."

"You're right," Padmé said. I have a duty to my people, to my home… "I have more important things to do than fall in love." The words were more to convince her than him.

"Then you understand?" He searched her face.

She nodded, and drew a shaky breath. He smiled, relieved, and hugged her. She held him tightly, breathing in his scent, treasuring his warmth. Yes, she understood. She would move on and forget her feelings. Padmé Amidala could not fall in love with Anakin Skywalker.

She would not love a Jedi.

Jovarii waited while Obi-Wan finished transmitting their brief message to Master Yoda and Mace Windu. Taun We and Lama Su had given them a tour of the facilities, showing them thousands of clones. Taun We had organised a meeting for Obi-Wan and the original, a bounty hunter named Jango Fett – Obi-Wan and Jovarii had decided that two Jedi would arouse too much suspicion, so he had met Jango alone. He had caught a glimpse of rocket-armour – possibly the same armour worn by the bounty hunter who had killed Senator Amidala's assassin, and Jango had told him that he had been hired for the cloning job by a man called Darth Tyranus – not Sifo-Dyas.

Obi-Wan ended the transmission and moved over to Jovarii.

"Well?" she asked him.

Obi-Wan began to walk towards the building. She followed, easily matching his pace.

"We have to bring Jango in for questioning," he informed her. She nodded and placed her hand on her lightsaber hilt.

The two Jedi snuck into Tipoca City and up to Jango's apartment. Jovarii tried the door – it slid open, revealing chaos – drawers emptied and hanging open, chairs knocked over, every personal item gone. Obi-Wan dashed to the wall computer, located the landing platform where Fett kept his ship – the Slave I – and found the fastest route there.

"Follow me," he said to Jovarii, then they sprinted out the door and into the rain.

Jango and his son, an unmodified clone of himself named Boba, were still loading their ship. Obi-Wan instantly recognised him as the bounty hunter from that night in Coruscant – Jango wore the same armour and jetpack. His back was to the door, and together, Obi-Wan and Jovarii charged forward.

Boba saw them approaching and shouted a warning to his father. Jango spun around and fired his blaster. Jovarii powered up her lightsaber just in time to deflect the bolts, and Obi-Wan ran forward. Just as he reached him, Jango yelled over his shoulder, "Boba, get on board!" and activated his rockets, shotting up into the air and continuing to fire at the Jedi.

Jovarii dodged the shots and dived forwards, aiming to come up behind the bounty hunter. He drew a second blaster and began to fire at her.

Suddenly, a huge explosion blew a chunk out of the landing tower, throwing Obi-Wan to the ground. His lightsaber clattered to the floor.

That boy in the ship – he's firing the laser cannons! Jovarii realised, and then she had to dodge out of the way as Boba directed a shot at her.

When the energy pack had been depleted and the cannons stopped firing. Jovarii darted back towards Obi-Wan. He and Jango were rolling down the slippery surface, throwing punches. Suddenly, Jango fired up his rockets and leapt away into the air, and Jovarii saw something shoot down and wrap around Obi-Wan's wrist.

Oh no. Cling wire, she thought, then she burst forward and launched herself into the air, using the Force to extend her jump. She somersaulted through the air, slicing through the cling wire with her lightsaber – but as she did so, Jango kicked her away, and she flew over the edge of the platform.

Obi-Wan! she screamed silently as she fell. She could see Jango rocketing back to his ship, and vaguely thought, Great. I'm going to die, and he's getting away – then she felt wire snake around her arm and her descent halted. She looked up and saw Obi-Wan standing at the edge of the platform, grasping the other end of the wire tightly. He had used the Force to send the cling wire down to wrap around her arm and pull her to safety. He pulled her up, and once she was back on solid ground, she drew a tracking device from her belt and threw it at the retreating Slave I. They heard it clank against the ship, firmly attached. Then they turned and quickly made their way back to their own starfighters.

"Go back to Coruscant and report to the Council – I will follow the Fetts," Obi-Wan told her when they reached the fighters.

"What? No. I'm coming with you," she replied, her face defiant and stubborn.

Obi-Wan turned to her. "No," he said firmly. "Wherever Jango's going, he doesn't want to be found. One Jedi is easier to conceal than two."

She glared at him, waiting for further explanation. He sighed and his face seemed to soften.

"I almost lost you then. I won't risk losing you now," he said.

Jovarii blinked. He…what? She relaxed slightly, feeling oddly comforted by his words. Then she tensed, realising that what he feared could happen to her could just as easily happen to him.

"Well, what about you?" she asked. "I don't want to lose you, either."

"You won't." He climbed into his fighter. "I will return with answers quickly. I promise."

She eyed him for a second, then sighed and backed down. "You'd better." Her love for him and concern for his safety was matched by his for her – and she knew that if she went and something happened to her, it would hurt him deeply. And it crushed her to think of causing Obi-Wan pain.

"Be careful," she said. My heart goes with you. Don't get into trouble, or you'll break it.

He nodded, and a moment later he was off, speeding after the Slave I. Jovarii watched the fighter disappear before climbing into her own.

So they had come to an understanding – neither of them could ever be put in danger again – it would only cause the other grief.

Stay safe, Obi-Wan.