Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, cause it's fun. Don't own the lyrics to the song Never Gone by BSB either.

AN: Here's chapter 2! Thanks for all the great reviews!

Never Gone

Chapter 2: Reunited

The things we did, the things we said
Keep coming back to me and make me smile again
You showed me how to face the truth
Everything that's good in me I owe to you

Though the distance that's between us
Now may seem to be too far
It will never separate us
Deep inside I know you are

Never gone, never far
In my heart is where you are
Always close, everyday
Every step along the way
Even though for now we've got to say goodbye
I know you will be forever in my life
Never gone

Obi-Wan was genuinely perplexed by the mystery unfolding. The archive computers had come up with nothing on the planet Kamino, which was where Dex had assured him that the saber dart that was in the gun left behind by Zam Wessel had come from. Now, master Yoda had concluded that someone must have erased the planet from the temple data banks. As Obi-Wan carefully packed extra clothes in his travel case for his trip to Kamino, he thought about everything that had happened. He wondered how his friend Senator Amidala was coming along. He imagined that she was finding Sev to be quite boring. Sev had been trained by Master Windu and it was a running joke in the temple that Mace had rubbed off on his former padawan a little too much. Sev was the grumpiest Jedi Knight he knew. Obi-Wan finished packing and left for the docking bay. His mission was to find Kamino and uncover this mystery around Senator Amidala's assassination attempts.

Anakin Skywalker was immediately granted clearance to land at the palace. It seems that no one had forgotten the boy that destroyed the control ship ten years ago. Anakin was a bit surprised at how easily he had gotten through. He hoped getting to Padme would be as easy. The crew in the docking bay informed him that someone would be coming to meet him.

"Anakin?" a female voice asked. He turned and smiled.

"Hello Sabe," he greeted.

"Goodness, someone sure has grown," Sabe replied.

"Did you expect me to still be a little boy?" Anakin joked.

"No, I'm just having a hard time believing its been ten years," Sabe replied.

"Me too. I came to see Padme, I mean...Senator Amidala," Anakin stuttered. Sabe smiled.

"You're in luck. Padme just arrived on Naboo this morning. She's still here in her quarters. There's a bit of a situation on Coruscant, but I'll let her fill you in. She'll be so happy to see you," Sabe said. Anakin smiled. He had hoped that she would.

Anakin waited patiently outside Padme's senatorial suite in the palace, while Sabe announced him.

"Milady, you have a visitor," Sabe said. Padme wondered who it could be since not many knew she was even back on Naboo. She could see that the Jedi was ready to protest, so she nodded. She was almost completely caught off guard by the handsome young man that entered her quarters. He was very tall with shaggy blonde hair that brushed at his shoulders. He wore a sandy colored tunic, dark pants, and a dark vest. His skin was perfectly bronzed like he had spent a lot of time out in the sun and he had a handsome face, with chiseled features. He gazed at her and Padme gazed back into his gorgeous pair of sapphire eyes. Only one person in the galaxy had eyes like that.

"Anakin?" she asked. He flashed her a crooked grin at her and she felt her knees go weak.

"You recognize me?" Anakin asked. She smiled.

"You've grown so much, but I could never forget your eyes Ani," she replied, as she closed the distance between them and gave him a big hug.

"It's so good to see you," she said.

"It's good to see you too Padme. I've missed you," he said.

"I've missed you too Anakin. We've got a lot to catch up on," Padme replied.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but it is time for you to say goodbye and for us to move you to a more secure location," the frowning Jedi spoke.

"Secure location? Sabe said there was a situation on Coruscant. What's going on Padme?" Anakin asked, concern rising in his eyes.

"Ani, there's been two assassination attempts on my life. I was ordered to leave Coruscant and I was put under Jedi protection. This is Jedi Knight Sev Urkin," Padme said. Anakin nodded his greeting, his expression of concern still focused on Padme.

"Don't worry Ani, I'm safe here on Naboo. I plan to go to the Lake Country. It's very secluded and we can catch up more there," Padme said. Anakin smiled and nodded.

"Forgive me senator, but I will be choosing your location and I'm afraid that your friend cannot come," Sev frowned.

"Excuse me master Jedi, but this is my home and I know it very well, that is why we are here. The Lake Country is very secluded. We are going there and Anakin is coming with us," Padme responded shortly. Sev gritted his teeth, trying not to get angry with the bossy Senator. Anakin couldn't help but smirk. She was as fiery as ever and he loved it. Anakin picked up her travel case and then his own and followed her out to her speeder. About an hour later, they arrived at the Lake Country. Anakin was astounded by the beauty of Padme's planet. He had never seen so much crystal clear water in one place. Padme smiled, as he looked on at the scenery with a childlike wonder. Anakin stepped out of the water speeder and helped Padme out. Anakin was in awe of Padme's beauty even more so than he was with the scenery. She wore a flowing, multi-colored dress, which dipped low and left her entire back exposed. Anakin had nearly forgotten about the frowning Jedi that was following them.

"We used to come here during school retreat all the time. We would swim out to that island and lay on sand, letting the sun dry us," Padme told him. He smiled at her, but then a look of concern washed over his face again.

"Ani, what's wrong?" she asked.

"I just don't know how anyone could want to kill you," he replied. She smiled and put her hand on his.

"I'm okay Anakin. Master Kenobi is investigating the crimes himself," Padme assured him. Anakin smiled and nodded.

"So, how'd you get stuck with the stiff over there," Anakin whispered. Padme laughed.

"I'm beginning to wonder that myself. He is a bit of sourpuss, isn't he," Padme replied.

"I don't think I've seen him smile once," Anakin chuckled. Padme laughed.

"I'm so glad you're here Ani," she said. Anakin softly caressed her shoulder.

"I never want to be anywhere else again," he replied, gazing lovingly at her. She gazed back, her gaze mirroring his own. Anakin leaned closer to her, as he caressed her shoulder. She leaned in too, meeting him halfway. Their lips met in a soft kiss, that slowly grew in passion. Padme wrapped her arms around Anakin's neck, as he slowly moved his lips over hers. Anakin was in heaven, as his dream of kissing the angel in front of him came true. They finally broke the kiss, as the need to breathe forced them to.

"I've wanted to do that for the longest time," Anakin told her. Padme smiled and blushed a little.

"Are you hungry? I can make us a picnic lunch and we can go out to the meadow," Padme suggested.

"That sounds nice," Anakin replied, as he followed her inside.

Padme changed into a yellow floral sun dress that was off the shoulders. She let part of her hair down and put the rest in twin buns that rested on either side of her head. Anakin and Padme shared the picnic lunch on a blanket in the meadow, while the Jedi watched from the distance. They talked for hours about anything and everything. Anakin told Padme all about returning to Tatooine and working to free his mother. Then he told her about his mom falling in love with Cliegg Lars and how they moved to the moisture farm. Padme told him about the challenges she had faced as queen after the blockade and then her time as Senator. Padme had never felt like this before. Just this morning, she was furious about having leave the Senate behind, but now she couldn't think of anywhere else she'd rather be. In the space of a few hours, he had come in and swept her completely off her feet. She had always thought that she didn't have time to fall in love, but as she sat next to Anakin, she realized that perhaps a small part of her had been waiting for him. That somehow she knew, that he was the only boy she would ever love. That's why she now found herself hesitant to answer his question, for any boy she had ever previously kissed mattered nothing to her like the one sitting before her.

"I don't know," Padme said.

"You just don't want to tell me," Anakin replied. Padme rolled her eyes.

"Okay, I was twelve. His name was Palo. He had dark curly hair, dreamy eyes, very cute," Padme teased.

"All right, I get the picture. Whatever happened to him?" Anakin asked.

"I became queen and he went on to become an artist. What about you Ani? Who was your first kiss?" Padme asked. Anakin smiled.

"You were Padme, of course," he replied. She was a little taken aback by that. Anakin was very handsome and she imagined that the girls back home definitely noticed.

"Really?" she asked, as he looked away shyly.

"You're the only girl I've ever wanted to kiss," he replied.

"Surely, other girls have certainly noticed you," Padme smiled. Anakin blushed.

"I guess, but you already stole my heart the day you walked into Watto's shop," Anakin replied. She leaned in and kissed him softly and he eagerly returned it. After that, they turned playful and started chasing each other through the meadow. Anakin decided to try and impress Padme by riding on one of the shaaks grazing in the meadow. Padme laughed and watched, as he struggled to keep his balance, while the shaak tried to buck him off. The shaak soon succeeded, sending Anakin crashing to the grass. Padme laughed, but her smile faded quickly, as she saw Anakin struggle to get up and fall back into the grass. Concern washed over her features, as she quickly ran to his side.

"Ani, Ani, are you all right?" she asked, as she knelt down beside him and turned him over, only to see his face dance with laughter. Padme huffed and smacked him on the chest, before he pulled her down and they started rolling around in the grass. Their laughter quieted, as they stopped rolling, realizing that their faces were only inches apart. Padme leaned down and brushed her lips against his. Slowly, the kiss deepened and both became lost in the sensations they were feeling.

Later, Anakin and Padme packed up their picnic and headed back to the house. It was getting close to dinner time and Padme had gone to change, leaving Anakin to explore the vast lake house. He encountered Sev in the sitting room. He was standing in the doorway, leaning against it, looking bored as usual.

"You don't seem happy with this assignment," Anakin ventured, trying to talk to him.

"Baby sitting spoiled Senators is hardly work for a Jedi," Sev grumbled.

"I'm worried about her. Someone's trying to kill her and I want to know why," Anakin said.

"Listen kid, I don't why anyone's trying to kill her. She's a politician and they can't be trusted. You'd do well to remember that. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be doing the security rounds since it's beginning to get dark," Sev said, as he stalked off.

"Padme was right, a rock is better company than him," Anakin grumbled.

"Ani?" he heard her melodic voice call. He turned and his eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. She was wearing a tight, black dress with one strap in the center, which fastened around her neck, leaving her shoulders bare. The dressed dipped low, leaving him a tantalizing view of her cleavage. Her hair was in braid down her back and she wore a silver headband. Anakin's mouth went dry and he found himself unable to form coherent thoughts, much less words.

"You...you're so beautiful," Anakin uttered. She blushed and took his hand, leading him into the dining room. The servants brought them dinner. They offered to let Sev eat with them, but he opted to eat in the kitchen, which was just fine with Anakin and Padme.

"I'm so glad your mother is doing so well. I can't wait to see her again and meet the rest of your family," Padme said.

"Me either, they really want to meet you too. I know you and Beru will get along great. But I haven't met your family either," Anakin mentioned.

"Well since we can't leave Naboo right now, we should go see them. They've been bugging me to come home for a while now," Padme replied.

"That would be great, I'd love to meet your family," Anakin replied.

"Well, it's settled then. We'll go visit them tomorrow," Padme said, as they continued to eat.

"So is the Republic really trying to build an army?" Anakin asked. Padme sighed.

"I'm afraid so Ani. All negotiations with the Separatists have failed. We're looking at war," Padme said sadly.

"So you think this...Count Dooku is behind the assassination attempts on your life?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, he and perhaps Nute Gunray. The Jedi don't think he's capable of murder though since he was once a Jedi," Padme replied.

"That seems a little narrow minded. Anyone that wants something bad enough will do anything to get it and will hurt anyone that stands in their way, no matter who they are. I learned that a long time ago on Tatooine," Anakin said. Padme nodded, agreeing with him. They finished their dinner, as they continue to talk about their families.

Obi-Wan arrived on Kamino. He pulled his hood over his head and was admitted inside the main complex. A tall, lanky Kaminoan approached him.

"Welcome master Jedi, we've been expecting you," the female Kaminoan spoke.

"I'm expected?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Yes, my name is Taun We. Prime Minister Lama Su is waiting to speak to you. This way," the Kaminoan ushered. Obi-Wan had no idea what was going on, but he intended to find out. He had a bad feeling about all of this and he had a feeling it was all somehow connected to the attempts on Senator Amidala's life...

...In the next chapter, fire place confessions and more romance ahead. Plus, Obi-Wan begins to discover some very disturbing things on Kamino...