After eating breakfast, Anakin and I decided that the sooner we left Naboo, the better.
Though the planet was breathtaking and gorgeous, we needed to find Anakin's mother.
And she was on Tatoonie, the one planet that was the polar opposite of Naboo.
It was entirely covered by sand, which didn't settle well with my long dresses.
The heat only added to my misery, I was beginning to understand why Anakin always wanted to get off this planet.
He landed our ship in one of the many available hangers in a populated city.
People stared as we walked, obviously not used to seeing a Jedi and a Senator in one place.
But by seeing the looks of the people staring, I assumed they were judging how much money we were carrying with us.
Anakin looked at me and noticed my worried face, he glanced at our surroundings, understanding my concern, he hailed a carriage to carry us.
He wrapped his arm around my waist as we waited.
My heart raced at the contact, I looked up at him, his face expressionless as he saw the carriage coming towards us.
It stopped in front of us and Anakin helped me into it, climbing in after me.
The carriage was partly covered and too small for the both of us.
It was a tight squeeze, but neither of us were complaining.
Anakin wrapped his arm around my waist again and pulled my body even closer to his.
"Thank you," I murmured, grateful that we wouldn't have to walk through the city.
"You're very welcome." Anakin responded, "but if anyone came at us, I totally could've taken them." He smirked at me.
I laughed lightly at his attempt at a joke.
"I'm sure, but I think this is a better idea." I smiled at him.
"Very true," he replied, smiling with me.
Our faces were close but I decided against kissing him due to our surroundings.
I settled for resting my head on his shoulder.
I closed my eyes and attempted to get some sleep when Anakin spoke up.
"Verena, wake up," he murmured, placing a kiss on my forehead.
I opened my eyes and smiled, my face growing hot.
Anakin laughed when he saw my state and moved to help me out of the carriage.
"Wait here," he said to the droid pulling the carriage.
He walked up to a store front, the owner looked to be some sort of alien.
He had wings, webbed feet, and a trunk for a nose.
I pulled a look of disgust as I gazed at him, glancing at Anakin and wondering why we were here.
"Where's my mother?" Anakin asked, clenching his jaw at the alien.
"Oh little Ani!" The alien exclaimed with a thick accent probably originating from the outer rim.
My brows furrowed, I was growing more confused by the second.
"My mother," Anakin demanded, his anger evident through his words.
His gaze intensified and his jaw clenched, showing off his tan skin and defined jawline.
I'd never seen Anakin like this, and to be completely honest, it was extremely attractive.
I wanted nothing more than to kiss him right then and there, but I knew now wasn't the time.
"Oh right, Shmi." The alien scratched his neck nervously, "she's not mine no more, I sold her."
"You sold her?" Anakin asked, clearly not happy with the answer he received from the alien.
"Years ago, sorry Ani, but you know, business is business." The alien laughed, causing the flies on him to move from the abrupt movement.
When he realized neither of us were laughing, he continued.
"I uh sold her to a moisture farmer named uh Lars, at least I think it was Lars, believe it or not he married her." The alien stuttered out.
"Do you know where they are now?" Anakin asked.
"Oh somewhere past Mos Eisley." The alien replied simply.
"I need to know exactly," Anakin spat back, his anger growing.
"Oh yes, sure, let me get the files." The alien said, picking up on Anakin's anger.
Once we found the exact location, we took the carriage back to where our ship was parked.
Anakin set the coordinates and flew to an isolated farm with a small house coming out from the sand.
We were walking to what looked like the front door when we were approached by a droid.
"Oh hello, how might I be of service? I am C-"
"3PO," Anakin cut off the droid.
I looked at him confused.
Did he know this droid?
"Oh, the maker!" C-3PO exclaimed.
So he did know this droid.
He created him.
I wasn't aware Anakin knew how to build communication droids, and I was very impressed.
"Oh Master Ani, I knew you would return, I knew it!" The droid said happily, "and who is this?" He asked, looking to me.
"My name is Verena Leoet." I introduced myself, "it is very nice to meet you." I smiled at the droid.
"Oh hello Miss Leoet, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." C3PO replied.
"I'm here for my mother," Anakin told 3PO.
"Oh," the droids mood changed from happy to sad in an instant, "we'd better go indoors." He said, walking towards the door.
He led us inside and down a series of steps into a cavern with various tunnels.
There was no roof in this part of the house, so we could clearly see the sky.
"Master Owen," C3PO said to a man walking towards us, "may I present two very important visitors."
"I'm Anakin Skywalker"
"Verena Leoet," I smiled to Owen and the women standing beside him.
"Owen Lars, this is my girlfriend Beru," he introduced.
"Hello," Beru smiled warmly at Anakin and I.
"I guess I'm your stepbrother, I knew you'd show up some day." Owen said as Anakin began walking towards the center of the 'hub'.
"Is my mother here?" Anakin asked, looking at the interior of the house.
"No she's not," a man said.
He was in a small hovering chair, probably for his leg injury.
"Clegg Lars," the man held out his hand for Anakin to shake, "Shmi is my wife. We should go inside, we have a lot to talk about." He said solemnly as he moved towards a door.
We all followed him to a table, I sat next to Anakin and grabbed his hand, rubbing my thumb over it to reassure him.
He gave me a weak smile and turned to look at Clegg.
"So where is my mother?" Anakin asked.
Clegg sighed and began speaking, "It was just before dawn, they came out of nowhere, a big hunting party of tuscan raiders. Your mother, had gone out early like she always did to pick mushrooms. From the tracks, she was about halfway home, when they took her" He sighed again, "those tuscans walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her, four of us came back." He finished quietly.
Anakin squeezed my hand and rose from his seat.
What is he doing?
Owen voiced my thoughts, "Where are you going?" He asked.
Anakin looked at him expressionless, "To find my mother."
"Your mother's dead son, accept it." Clegg said.
Anakin shook his head and walked towards the entrance.
I trailed after him, knowing he was upset.
I walked outside, Anakin was staring at the setting suns.
It was surprisingly beautiful.
He heard my footsteps and turned to face me.
"You're going to have to stay here, these are good people Verena, you'll be safe."
"Anakin," I cried out, hugging him.
I held his robes in my hands and looked up at him.
He had a sad expression on his face but he reached down to kiss me.
He tenderly grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me softly.
I pulled back, regretting my decision almost immediately.
"Please be safe," I whispered.
"Of course," he smiled down at me, kissing my forehead and walking towards a parked speeder.
He jumped on it and sped off towards the horizon.
I had fallen asleep in one of the rooms Owen and Beru had graciously let me stay in after Anakin left.
But I was woken up by rustling in the middle of the night.
I saw a figure come into my room.
"Anakin?" I asked, my voice groggy from just waking up.
"I'm sorry Verena, I didn't mean to wake you." He apologized.
"No it's ok," I replied, sitting up in the bed.
"What happened? Do you want to talk about it?" I inquired.
Anakin was silent for a moment, "She's gone," he whispered.
"Oh Anakin, I'm so sorry." I got up to hug him.
"I killed them all Verena."
"Killed who?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
"The tuscan raiders," he spat out.
"Oh," I said softly.
Knowing this was a touchy subject I decided to change the topic.
"Are you tired?" I asked.
"Yes," he answered simply.
"You can sleep here, I don't know if there are any more available rooms."
He didn't answer and instead took off his robes and belt, leaving him shirtless.
In the moonlight streaming in through a small window I could barely make out the muscle definition on his stomach.
Jedi training pays off.
He sat on the bed and pulled the covers over his legs, looking at me.
"Are you sleeping?" He asked.
"Oh yea," I laughed nervously.
Luckily Anakin didn't notice my gawking.
I climbed in after him and found a comfortable position.
We faced each other, Anakin looking into my eyes.
He wrapped his arms around my torso and pulled me flush against his chest.
I gasped slightly at the sudden contact and my heart began racing as I realized I was touching his toned chest.
I looked at his face, attempting to gain his perspective on the situation, but he had already closed his eyes.
The warmth from his body lulled me back to sleep.