Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It all belongs to George.
AN: Here's chapter 5! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 5: Meeting with the Council
"Senator Amidala, good it is to see you," master Yoda spoke, as he and Mace Windu both bowed. Their shimmering holograms shown to full size in the sitting room. Fingers still laced with Anakin's, she bowed to them in return.
"Captured the assassin you have Knight Urkin?" Yoda asked. Sev lowered his head in shame.
"No master, it was not I that caught her," Sev admitted.
"Masters, this is my fiancé, Anakin Skywalker. I trust that you remember him. Anakin saved my life from the assassin and captured her," Padme said. Yoda and Mace exchanged surprised looks.
"Accomplish this, how young Skywalker?" Master Yoda asked.
"I felt the danger to Padme and was able to get her out of the way in time. Then, I went after the assassin," Anakin replied.
"Master Urkin, sense danger did you not?" Yoda asked.
"No master, I did not sense it," Sev admitted shamefully.
"Obi-Wan has discovered that Jango Fett is behind the assassination attempts on your life Senator. He has tracked him to Geonosis and we were sending him there. But in light of these events, I believe we shall send Obi-Wan to relieve Sev," Mace said.
"Master, I assure you that I can complete the mission," Sev argued.
"Decide that we will. Speak to you we shall in a few moments. Escort the assassin back to Coruscant and into our custody you will," Yoda said.
"Master Kenobi will be informed of the situation immediately and should arrive on Naboo sometime tomorrow. I will be going to deal with Fett myself on Geonosis. But I feel Naboo might not be safe anymore. We must relocate you when Obi-Wan arrives," Mace said.
"If I may make a suggestion masters?" Anakin spoke. Mace and Yoda nodded.
"Padme would be safe at my family's home on Tatooine. We live on a moisture farm in the desert that is miles from the cities," Anakin suggested. Mace and Yoda exchanged glances.
"Very well Anakin. We will inform Master Kenobi that he shall escort you to Tatooine for the Senator's protection.
"Thank you masters," Padme replied.
"Injured you are young Skywalker," Yoda said.
"I was just about to patch up his wound master Yoda, if you'll excuse us," Padme said. Yoda and Mace nodded and bowed to her, as she and Anakin left them to deal with Sev.
"Much to talk about we will have once you return, knight Urkin," Yoda said.
"Masters, I implore you to let me finish this assignment," Sev pleaded.
"Not happy with this assignment you were. Clouded your judgement was and not able to sense danger you were. Lucky you were, that young Skywalker was there to protect the Senator. Very important she is the Senate. Many senators, corrupt they are. But not Amidala, very strong ally to us she is," Yoda scolded.
"I'm sorry master," Sev bowed his head in shame.
"You will leave for Coruscant with the prisoner when Obi-Wan arrives in the morning," Mace ordered sternly, deeply disappointed in his former padawan.
"Discuss this more upon your return, we will," Yoda said, as their hologram blinked out. Sev secured Zam in a room and sat down to meditate, but never letting his senses leave the tricky assassin.
Padme made Anakin sit down on her bed, while she went to the fresher for some bacta patches. She returned quickly and lifted Anakin's shirt over his head. She observed the charred flesh on his shoulder and was grateful it wasn't more serious than it was.
"Oh Ani," she said, as she pressed the bacta patch to his wound. He hissed a bit, as the bacta made contact.
"It's fine angel, it's not that serious," he insisted.
"I know, it's just that it could have been and I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. We just found each other again and..." she ranted, but he stopped her and put a finger to her lips, before silencing her with a kiss. Anakin angled his mouth over hers, deepening the passionate embrace. Padme felt a warmth spread through her body, as he moved his lips to the nape of her neck. She pulled herself up and straddled his lap without breaking the kiss. She began to slowly undo his belt, causing him to look up into her eyes.
"Padme...are you sure?" he asked. She looked deep into his eyes, her own lit with desire for him.
"I love you Anakin and I want to be with you, forever," she said, as she kissed him again. As his lips moved over hers, he reached around and unzipped the back of her dress and slowly slipped it down her slender frame. His eyes took in her beauty, as he lowered her to the bed. The unbridled passion between them surfaced and consumed them, melding them together as one...
Mace Windu and Yoda sat quietly in Yoda's meditation chamber.
"Perhaps it was a mistake to turn Anakin away from the order," Mace said.
"No, the right thing we did for Skywalker," Yoda replied.
"How can you be sure? If he is that powerful, then we could use him," Mace said.
"Happy he is with the Senator and his family. Right decision it was for his mother to finish raising him. Clouded his future, no longer is. Strong in the Force he is, powerful he could be. But draw attention he would to himself and his family and seek him out the Sith Lord would. No, train him we will not. Imparts naturally to him the Force does and the chosen one he still may be," Yoda said, after hours of meditation on the boy.
"But how can he bring balance to the Force if he has not been properly trained?" Mace asked.
"Know this I do not, but guiding him Qui-Gon's spirit has been. Watching over the boy he is. And watch him I will too, but let him lead his life as he pleases we will. Adapt to our code, he could not," Yoda replied. Mace nodded in understanding.
The early morning sun's rays streamed through the blinds in Padme's room. Padme whimpered, as the light caught her eye. She lay spooned against Anakin and she rolled away from the light, snuggling deeper into his arms. She propped her head up on his chest and inhaled his now familiar scent. Normally, she was an early riser, but today she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with her future husband. She blinked her eyes open and looked up at his peaceful, sleeping face. She smiled, thinking about how handsome he was. Last night had been nothing short of amazing, as they gave themselves to each other. They had only been asleep for a few hours now, as their passion and thirst for each other had lasted well into the night. She nibbled a little at the nape of his neck and his collarbone. She let her hand travel over his defined pectorals and his chiseled abs. Anakin smiled, as he slowly opened his eyes.
"This has got to be the best way I've ever woke up," he chuckled. She giggled and kissed him tenderly.
"Good morning, my love," Padme replied.
"Morning angel," he replied, as he kissed her again. He rolled over and buried his face in her curly brown locks, while kissing her neck.
"Mm...Ani, didn't you get enough last night?" she giggled. She heard a muffled response that sounded like a no and she giggled again. He looked up at her and she held his face in her hands.
"Neither did I," she replied. He gave her one of his roguish smiles, before descending on her swollen lips again.
Obi-Wan Kenobi allowed himself to take in the beauty of Naboo, as he rode in the water speeder, which was taking him to Senator Amidala's lake home. His battle with Jango Fett had ended with the bounty hunter getting away, but not before Obi-Wan managed to attach a tracking device to the hull of the ship. Then he had contacted the council to wait for further orders. He had expected them to send him after Jango Fett, but to his surprise, it seemed that Sev had failed in his mission to protect the Senator. Zam Wessel had made another attempt on her life and he was intrigued to hear that her life was saved by Anakin who was now engaged to the Senator. Obi-Wan smiled slightly. Since the day that they had rejected Anakin, he had wondered if they had made the right decision. And now, it seemed that Master Yoda had been right to send the boy back to his mother. He was looking forward to seeing them both. The lake palace came into view and the driver docked it. Obi-Wan stepped off and was met by four people. As they came into view, Obi-Wan recognized two of them to be Sev and a restrained Zam Wessel.
"Hello Master Kenobi," Sev greeted stiffly.
"Hello Sev, the prison transport is leaving in one hour and Zam is to be aboard. There is a star fighter waiting for you at the palace in Theed to take you back to Coruscant," Obi-Wan said. With a frown, Sev nodded, as he and Zam boarded the water speeder and headed back to Theed. Obi-Wan was met by two more figures and as they came into view, Obi-Wan recognized one to be Senator Amidala. He regarded the man standing next to her with a bit of disbelief. He knew it was Anakin, but it was hard to believe how much he had grown, even though it had been ten years. Gone was the little boy and standing in his place was a young man that stood at about 6'1", a good few inches over Obi-Wan's head. His sandy blonde hair was shaggy and golden streaked, probably due to the suns on his home planet. Indeed, Anakin had certainly grown up and Obi-Wan sensed an inner peace in him that was not there ten years ago.
"Hello Obi-Wan, it's good to see you," Padme greeted.
"Hello Padme, it's good to see you too. I'm very happy to see that you're safe and I guess that's thanks to you Anakin. It's good to see you as well, you certainly have grown up," Obi-Wan said. Anakin smiled.
"It's good to see you too Obi-Wan," Anakin replied.
"My ship is out back and our things are already loaded. Artoo is waiting for us," Padme said.
"Good, it is best that we get on our way. I'm sure the news of Zam capture and your assassination attempt is all over the holonews by now. Every bounty hunter in the galaxy will know you're on Naboo, so it's best we leave right away," Obi-Wan said. Anakin and Padme nodded. The three boarded the ship and left the atmosphere on Naboo. Anakin and Artoo prepared the ship and made the jump to hyperspace. In three hours, they would be home. Anakin smiled. He couldn't wait to tell mom and Cliegg that he was getting married to woman of his dreams...