9 | PARADISE

Tara, Anakin, R-2 and Padmé all were on the way to Naboo to keep Padmé safe from her threats. They were eating in a small restaurant for a quick stop on the way to Naboo, eating the food up quickly. "Must be difficult, having sworn your life to the Jedi... not being able to visit the places you like or do the things you like." Padme commented with Anakin.

"Or be with the people that I love." Anakin mumbled.

"Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi?" Padme inquired, truly curious about the rules.

"Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love... is central to a Jedi's life. So you might say that we are encouraged to love." Anakin explain his own logic.

"It's a bit more complicated than that." Tara pitched in.

* * *

Once Padmé, Tara, R2 and Anakin were all in Naboo, they headed toward Padme's childhood home, the grand palace. "I wasn't the youngest queen ever elected...but now that I think back on it, I'm not sure I was old enough. I'm not sure I was ready." Padme contemplated on her life as the nostalgia kicked in because of her surroundings.

"The people you served thought you did a good job. I heard they even tried to amend the constitution so you could stay in office." Anakin mentioned.

"I was relieved when my two terms were up. But when the queen asked me to serve as senator...I couldn't refuse her." Padme sighed, explaining why she remained in power.

"I agree with her. I think the Republic needs you. I'm glad that you chose to serve." Tara smiled at Padme. Padme shot her back a small grin in return, gladly accepting the compliment from a fellow woman in power.

* * *

Anakin and Tara stood on either side of the meeting room as Padme discussed pressing political matters with her comrades. "If the senate votes to create an army, I'm sure it's going to push us into a civil war."
Padme told one of her councilmen.

"It's unthinkable. There hasn't been a full-scale war since the formation of the Republic." One of the advisors, an older man, argued.

"Do you see any way through negotiations? To bring the separatists back into the Republic?" The current Queen of Naboo asked Padme.

"Not if they feel threatened. My guess is they'll turn to the Trade Federations or the Commerce Guilds for help." Padme gave her input. Tara listened, quite intrigued in the conversation.

"It's outrageous, but after four trials in the Supreme Court, Nute Gunray is still the viceroy of the Trade Federation. I fear the senate is powerless to resolve this crisis." The advisor somberly told.

"We must keep our faith in the Republic. The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it." The queen spoke directly to Padme.

"Let's pray that day never comes." Padme replied.

"In the meantime, we must consider your own safety. What is your suggestion, Masters?" The queen asked Tara and Anakin.

"Oh, Anakin and Tara are not Jedi yet. They're still Padawan learners. But I was thinking—" Padme began, but Anakin interrupted.

"Hold on a minute." Anakin spoke up.

"Excuse me," Padme hissed at Anakin, "I was thinking I would stay in the lake country. There are some places up there that are very isolated."

"Excuse me. I'm in charge of security here, milady." Anakin retorted.

"We are in charge of security. And I think the lake country sounds like a wonderful idea." Tara snapped at Anakin.

"And this is my home. I know it very well. That is why we're here. I think it would be wise if you took advantage of my knowledge in this instance." Padme shot daggers at Anakin, making him bite his tongue regretfully.

"Sorry, miladies." Anakin apologized.

"Perfect. It's settled, then." The queen curtly nodded at the three.

* * *

Anakin, Tara and Padme all arrived to the lake country. It was absolutely beautiful. On one side if was line with sparkling blue waters that Tara felt a longing to take a dip in. Anakin spotted Tara standing on the balcony watching the water rise and fall. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Tara could sense Anakin was standing behind her, watching her.

"Incredibly." He spoke as he took a spot standing next to her.

She felt Anakin trace his finger on her smooth arm, practically painting invisible circles on her upper arm. She turned to him, abruptly. "Anakin..." she shook her head at him.

"Why don't we just run away, together? Screw what the Jedi Order has to say about love. It's torturous to abstain from loving." Anakin huffed.

"It's just... wrong." Tara turned away to stare at the water again.

"If we had never been found by the Jedi, it wouldn't be wrong." Anakin told.

"If I hadn't been found by a Jedi, I'd be dead." Tara growled at Anakin's inconsideration for her personal story.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

"I get it, Anakin. I care for you, too. But, I just can't see myself giving up all the years of pain and sacrifice just so I could be with you. It's nothing personal, but I value myself more than to just let a man destroy my career." Tara spoke fairly reasonably, but Anakin took her words as direct insults.

"You think I'm just another man? After all the years that we've spent together? After all of the years we've shed blood, sweat and tears together?" Anakin folded his arms across his chest.

"You are not just another man, Ani. You will never be just another man. You will accomplish great things, as will I. I just don't see our love lasting more than a few chapters of our lives. Is it worth risking everything we have for just a few chapters out of the entire book?" Tara sighed.

"And how do you know? Are you all knowing?" Anakin snickered.

Tara chuckled. "Perhaps one day, you will change your mind." Anakin sighed, turning his head to look out to the blue waters.

"Perhaps."

* * *

The next couple of weeks were blissful for everyone. And although Tara had said only a couple weeks ago and that she and Anakin would never become a thing, the peaceful and uninterrupted vacation they were on made her forget about reality. She began to think anything was possible and that they could get away with many things that were not allowed while under the command of Obi Wan.

Tara ran out into the fields past the lake country palace, Anakin running after her, just like they did when they were children. Once he caught up to her, and he always did, he'd tackle her, making her fall to the ground. "Point!" He shouted as he stood up, counting up the number of times he had managed to capture her in their game of chase.

"That's not fair!" Tara jumped to her feet, brushing off the silt from her pants.

"How? I ran after you just as you did me!" Anakin rolled his eyes.

"You have longer legs." She scoffed.

* * *

That night, Anakin knocked on Tara's bedroom door. She opened it, weary of who was behind it, but when she saw it was only him, she graciously allowed him to enter. "Anything on your mind, Ani?" Tara asked, leading him to take a seat on the love seat in front of the fireplace.

"A lot, actually," he sighed, rubbing his temples, "these couple of weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life. I've realized, that although what you told me two weeks ago was true, I still love you regardlessly. And keeping that to myself will destroy me. I don't know how you particularly feel about me, anymore, but, I hope you reconsider your words." Anakin fidgeted with his fingers.

"I love you, too, Ani. And I can't deny these past two weeks I've swooned over you and your gentleness. It's difficult, it truly is, since, if we decide to be together, we risk being caught." Tara explained herself to him.

Anakin grabbed her hands in his. "I'm willing to take that risk if it means I get to have you."

Tara was silent. But, Anakin acted upon the silence and finally placed a kiss on her lips. Although it wasn't the first time their lips touched, it was certainly just as magical as the first. The two had been haunted by the first kiss for so long, they had yearned for the second one even more. When they parted, they simply stared, lovingly, into each other's eyes until Anakin picked her up and led her to the bed. The two spent the rest of the night to each other, doing sinful things that would condemn them from the Jedi Order forever. But, in that very moment, they couldn't care less. No one was around to stop them and they were in the heat of the moment. A moment the two would never forget.

* * *

In the midst of that very eventful night, Tara awoke to Anakin shouting whilst asleep. "No, no! Mom, no! Don't! No! No!" He screamed.

Once his terrors were over his eyes shot awake, and Tara reached over to caress his face. Anakin grabbed her soft hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand. "I'm sorry." He apologized for disturbing her sleep.

"Don't apologize. You see her, don't you?" Tara asked about his mother.

Anakin nodded slowly, his eyes glazed in the moonlight. "She is suffering, T. I saw her as clearly as I see you now." He took a deep breath.

"She is in pain. I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect Padme... but I have to go. I have to help her." Anakin whispered, holding back his tears.

"I'll go with you." Tara told him.

"I'm sorry. I don't have a choice." Anakin allowed for a few tears to roll down his cheek. Tara carefully shushed him so that he'd fall peacefully back to sleep, so that he could leave in the morning, when he was well rested.

* * *

By the break of dawn the next morning, Anakin and Tara took off to Tatooine, where it all started. "Chut-chut, Watto." Anakin greeted his former slave master.

"I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker." Anakin spoke in his native tongue to Watto.

"Ani? Little Ani? Nahhh. You are Ani! It is you! You sure sprouted, huh? Wee-hoo! A Jedi! Whattaya know!" Watto took a moment to realize it was Anakin.

"Hey... maybe you could help with some dead beats who owe me a lot of money." Watto chuckled.

"My mother." Anakin reiterated why he was there, sternly.

"Oh, yeah. Shmi. Uh... she's not mine-ano more-a. I sold her." Watto shrugged.

"You sold her?" Anakin grew tense.

"Years ago. Sorry, Ani, but you know, business is business, huh? Yeah, I sold her to a moisture farmer named, uh, Lars. At least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not, I heard he freed her and married her! Can ya beat that, eh?" Watto chortled.

"Do you knowwhere they are now?" Anakin inquired.

"Ooh, long way from here. Someplace over on the other side of Mos Eisley, I think, mmm." Watto hummed.

"I'd like to know." Anakin narrowed his eyes at Watto.

"Eh, sure. Absolutely! Let's go look at my records, huh?" Watto led Anakin and the very quiet Tara into his hut.

Quickly enough, Anakin and Tara got the exact information of where Anakin's mother was. When they arrived, the place was a desert and there was a tiny bit with a very familiar C3PO standing in the front. "Oh! Um, uh, hello. How might I be of service?I am C—" C3PO began to introduce himself until he was cut off by Anakin.

"3PO?"

"Oh, um... The maker! Oh, Master Ani! I knew you would return. I knew it!And Miss Tara. Oh, my." C3Po seemed quite excited to see the two there.

"Hello, 3PO." She smiled.

"Bless my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you both." Threepio chuckled in his usual robotic way.

"I've come to see my mother." Anakin told Threepio.

"Oh. Um, I think perhaps we'd better go indoors." Threepio led the two into the home's courtyard.

"Master Owen, might I present two most important visitors." Threepio told his new master.

"I'm Anakin Skywalker."
"And I am Tara."

"Owen Lars. Uh, this is my girlfriend, Beru." Owen Lars introduced himself.

"I guess I'm your stepbrother. I had a feeling you might show up someday." Owen spoke in such a nonchalant manner it bothered Tara.

"Is my mother here?" Anakin got to the point.

"No, she's not. Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife. We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about." A new face appeared in the house. It was of an older man, obviously named Cliegg Lars, he sat in a disabled person's chair, his legs clearly not effective.

They all entered the home. "It was just before dawn. They came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tusken Raiders. Your mother had gone out early, like she always did...to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators. From the tracks, she was about halfway home...when they took her," Mr. Lars sighed, "those Tuskens walk like men...but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her. Four of us came back. I'd be out there with them, but after I lost my leg... I just couldn't ride anymore until I heal. I don't want to give up on her...but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long." Cliegg explained.

Anakin jumped to his feet to set off to go find his mother on his own. He had been so quiet and clearly frustrated that no one had managed to save her. "Where are you going?" Owen asked.

"To find my mother." Anakin hissed.

"Your mother's dead, son. Accept it." Cliegg told him. Anakin walked out of the hut. Tara quickly followed him out.

"You're gonna have to stay here. I won't be long. I don't want you to have to see this." Anakin embraced Tara. Tara nodded, fearful of what treachery he'd commit.