Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

AN: Here's chapter 4! Enjoy and please review!

Never Gone

Chapter 4: Listening to the Force

Padme stood in the doorway of the small garage at their lake house. Anakin slid out from under the speeder and wiped his grease covered hands on a rag that Ruwee had tossed him.

"That should do it Mr. Naberrie. See if she'll turn over," Anakin said. Ruwee pressed the ignition switch and the engine turned over easily. The engine now sounded smooth and quiet, as if it were brand new. Ruwee looked up at Anakin in amazement and then laughed merrily. He gave Anakin a sound pat on the back.

"I've never seen anyone work magic like that on a piece of machinery before," Ruwee said.

"I told you that Ani could fix anything, daddy," Padme said, as she came up to Anakin and kissed his cheek.

"Sola and I are going down to the beach. Do you want to come?" Padme asked.

"Sure," he replied.

"I'll find you a pair of swim trunks and put them in your room. Then you can meet us down there," she said, as she kissed his cheek and went back up to the house.

Padme rubbed some sun oil on her arms, as she and Sola sat on their beach towels. Padme stood up, ready to get in the water.

"Aren't you coming in? The water feels perfect this time of day," Padme said.

"No, I'm going to try and get some color. Besides, I think you'll have more fun with Anakin," Sola said, as she pointed behind her. Padme turned, only to see Anakin clad in only a pair of black swim trunks. Padme observed him, as he walked toward her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the lean, gorgeous muscles that rippled throughout his arms, chest and torso. Smooth, perfectly tanned skin covered his body and she hadn't even realized she was staring.

"Careful little sister, you might catch flies," Sola joked, not even looking up from her book. Padme snapped her jaw shut and glared back at her older sister. Sola was enjoying her teasing way too much.

"It doesn't look like you're the only one that's enjoying the view. You're white bikini is having quite the effect on him. I think the poor boy's swim trunks are getting a little tight," Sola teased, thoroughly enjoying her sister's discomfort. Padme gaped at her older sister.

"Sola! You're terrible!" Padme scolded.

"Oh please, like you weren't undressing him with your eyes, miss prim and proper senator," Sola replied, again not even looking up from her book. Padme gave her sister another glare, before turning back to Anakin, who was now right in front of her.

"I was just about to go for a swim. Care to join me?" Padme asked.

"Of course," he replied, as they joined hands and trudged into the water. Being from a desert planet, Anakin was enjoying the water immensely, as he and Padme waded together.

"I've never seen so much water in one place. Usually, I'm swimming in sand," Anakin said, as he waded in the water.

"Come on, sand is not so bad," Padme replied. Anakin gave her an incredulous look.

"Trying being up to your neck in it every day," Anakin laughed in reply.

"The sand isn't what bothers me about your planet, it's the awful heat," Padme replied.

"You get used to the heat. I suppose I should be used to the sand, but it's course and rough. And it get everywhere," Anakin complained, as he moved closer to her.

"Not like here. Here, everything is so soft and smooth," Anakin said, as he caressed her cheek. Padme leaned in and captured his lips in a hungry kiss. With lips locked in a passionate embrace, Padme snaked her arms around his neck and pressed herself closer to him.

"Careful you two, don't forget to breath!" Sola shouted teasingly. Anakin and Padme pulled apart and blushed, having completely forgotten about Sola.

"She's enjoying this way too much," Padme said. Anakin smirked devilishly.

"Well, let's get her back," he replied. He pointed at Sola who now had turned on her stomach to tan her back.

Anakin retrieved a couple buckets that were laying in the sand nearby. He and Padme filled them up and quietly tiptoed over to where Sola lay. Suddenly, Sola noticed two shadows over her. She started to turn over. As she did, Anakin and Padme dumped the water on her, drenching her from head to toe. Sola screamed, as Anakin and Padme laughed. A soaking wet Sola glared at them both.

"Oh, you two are dead!" she yelled, as she chased them back into the lake. That began a splashing war between them. They were so involved in drenching each other, that they didn't notice Ruwee and Jobal standing on the beach, calling to them. When they finally did hear them, they turned, accidentally sending a wave of water at the two older Naberrie's. They even managed to get Sev, who was standing nearby. Anakin, Padme, and Sola all covered their mouths with their hands, as they realized what had happened. Ruwee began to chuckle and Jobal joined him. Anakin, Padme and Sola all burst out laughing. Sev, however, did not find it funny at all, as he stomped off to go dry off.

After drying off, the Naberrie's said goodbye to their youngest daughter and her new fiancé and left for home. Padme felt happier and more excited than she had, well...ever. As soon as this whole mess with the attempts on her life were over, she, her mother, and Sola would begin planning her wedding to Anakin. Padme also couldn't wait to go to Tatooine to tell Anakin's family, for she wanted Shmi to also help in planning her son's wedding. She knew Shmi would be beyond thrilled. After they saw the Naberrie's off, they went to dry off and change for dinner. Their swimming excursion had made them both quite hungry.

After a romantic, candlelight dinner, Anakin and Padme stood together on the veranda, just enjoying the feeling of being in each others arms. Anakin stood behind her, with his arms wrapped around her waist. Soft music played in the background and they slowly swayed together, as the cool, soft breeze ruffled their hair and clothes. Both sipped their Nabooan wine slowly. Anakin chuckled, as he continued to nuzzle her neck

"What are you laughing at?" she asked playfully.

"Does your foot still hurt?" Anakin asked.

"It's fine Ani," she replied.

"You must think I'm the worst dancer in the galaxy," he replied.

"Not at all. You caught on very fast once you got the hang of it. The galaxy waltz is not an easy dance," she replied. She sighed contentedly, as she felt chill bumps rise on her skin, as Anakin kissed the nape of her neck. She leaned her head back against his shoulder as he continued to kiss her slowly and sensually. Suddenly, Anakin jerked his head up, his eyes darting around in the dark sky.

"Ani, what is it?" Padme asked, concern washing over her face. The Force often spoke to Anakin, despite the fact that he had no Jedi training. The Force had always imparted to him strongly, as long as he could remember, even before he knew what it was. That was why Qui-Gon had insisted so strongly that he be trained. Ever since returning to Tatooine, the Force spoke to him from time to time, mostly when there was danger near or when he was feeling angry or depressed. The voice that spoke to him had sounded like Qui-Gon since he returned to Tatooine and Anakin was convinced that it was Qui-Gon. At first, Anakin had been very angry and had told the voice to stop speaking to him. It had taken his mother a long time to help him accept what had happened to Qui-Gon and what had happened later, when he was rejected by the Jedi a second time. Over time, Anakin realized that it was really for the best that he did not become a Jedi. He would have felt suffocated by all their rules and code. He would have never been allowed to see his mother again and he would have never been allowed to be with Padme. And that wouldn't have worked for Anakin at all. His mother told him that when Qui-Gon spoke to him through the Force that he should listen, for Qui-Gon cared deeply for him and was very wise. His mother had said that if the dead were speaking to him that he had better listen and so he started listening.

"Ani?" Padme asked again.

"Something's not right, you're in danger," Anakin said, as he drew the blaster from it's holster on his belt. He rarely let it out of his sight living on Tatooine and once he had learned of the danger that Padme was in, he had immediately retrieved it from his travel case.

"Anakin, you're scaring me," Padme said. By now, Sev had appeared and was observing their surroundings.

"I don't sense anything," Sev said.

"Then you're not listening," Anakin replied.

"Listen kid, I don't know what you think you are sensing, but you are not a Jedi. I think I would know if there was danger a little better than you," Sev retorted. But Anakin didn't hear him, for he was too busy listening to the Force.

"His arrogance clouds his vision young one, it is truly sad how blind some of us have become. There is danger heading for you," Qui-Gon spoke.

"What do I do master Qui-Gon. I can't let anyone hurt Padme," Anakin spoke back, silently.

"Listen to the Force young one, it will never lead you wrong," Qui-Gon spoke back.

Anakin's eyes snapped open, as he grabbed Padme around the waist and suddenly hauled her to the ground, as an assassin scaled over the balcony of the veranda. Padme screamed, as Zam Wessel's blaster fired, clipping Anakin's shoulder. He cried out in pain momentarily, before suppressing the pain to the back of his mind. Padme cried out with him, realizing that he had taken the blast meant for her. Sev was now blocking her blaster bolts with his emerald bladed light saber. Realizing that she would need to choose another opportunity, Zam quickly hopped over the balcony and began to escape. Anakin watched as Sev attempted to do nothing.

"What are you doing! She's getting away!" Anakin yelled.

"I won't be able to catch her. It is best I meditate on this and be ready for her next time," Sev reasoned. Anakin's jaw clenched.

"There won't be a next time, I'm taking her down now. Stay with Padme!" Anakin yelled at him, as he jumped over the railing and ran off after her. Anakin let the Force flow around him and carry him as he ran after her. Zam was astounded when she realized that the boy, not the Jedi, was following her. And he was fast, must faster than any normal human could move. Zam jumped on a water speeder and began to speed away. Anakin stopped and aimed his blaster at the engines and fired. The speeder exploded and Zam cried out in pain as she was thrown from it and back onto the beach. Anakin sprinted over to her and pointed his blaster at her.

"Don't move," he ordered. Zam snarled at him, her face quickly shifting to her true clawdite form and then back to her human form.

"You wouldn't kill me kid, you don't have the guts," Zam taunted.

"You tried to kill the woman I love, so don't put it past me. The only reason you're still alive is because I want answers," Anakin replied, as he hauled her to her feet and marched her back to the house. As Anakin arrived back, Sev was stunned that he had managed to catch the assassin. Sev placed Zam in a pair of stun cuffs and then escorted into the house where they would now have to contact the council.

"Anakin! You're hurt!" Padme said frantically, as she began examining his shoulder.

"I'm fine, it's just grazed my shoulder," he replied, as she took her hands in his own. He leaned down and kissed her passionately for a long moment.

"Come on, we should get in there. I want to make sure master Yoda and master Windu know how ineffective their Jedi Knight has been. You saved my life Ani," Padme said, as she kissed him again.

"I told you that I would never let anything happen to you," he replied. She smiled and joined hands with him.

"I'm going to get you a bacta patch after we meet with the council for your shoulder," Padme said. Anakin smiled.

"It's fine Padme," he replied.

"It still needs a bacta patch," she replied in a tone that bore no argument...