Dinner went about as well as Elena expected, which was not well at all. To Aimee's great pleasure, reuniting with their parents had been a tearful and guilt-ridden experience. Elena didn't want to explain that she'd thought the collapse of the New Jedi Order had been her fault, that the shame of not being able to protect her friends had influenced her to stay away from the others she held dear, lest she failed them too. They'd also tell her it was alright, that they didn't care about what she did, that they would love her no matter what. And that's not what she wanted to hear, she wanted to handle her own failures, and not be coddled into a false sense of security.
As Elena figured, her parents loved Poe. Her mother fell instantly in love with him the minute he introduced himself, and her dad got to have his childish fill of talking about starships. The dreaded topic of their relationship also came up as both her and Poe awkwardly stuttered through the negatives. Her mother was none to subtle about hinting for the opposite.
In all, Elena was happy to see her parents again, but it was hard to deal with the barrage of emotions coming from them, especially when she and her sister were both taught to control them, though granted, in different ways. It also didn't help that the most visible emotion on Aimee's face was smug.
After a tearful goodbye from her parents, with her mother all but threatening her to come visit again, Aimee retired to her room and Elena waited a while before following. She'd told Poe to stay behind because one, it might look a little suspicious to those in the castle, two, Elena wanted to have a private conversation with her sister, one not interrupted by formalities or political etiquette.
Elena quickly walked into the room Aimee said she was in and shut the door behind her. The suite was incredible, massive and ornately decorated with all the styles of Naboo. The room had a large window facing the castle gardens where Elena was sure that if it wasn't nighttime, would give the room an open feel.
"You made sure you were discreet?" Aimee asked disregarding all greetings. Elena rolled her eyes and looked at her sister, who was free of the ceremonial makeup and wearing a nightgown.
"Yes, Aimee," Elena huffed.
"Do you even realize the gravity of what I'm doing right now?"
"No, because you haven't told me anything; though I figure you plan on helping me based on the nature of this meeting and I thank you for it."
"I am going to help you," Aimee announced, "you drive me up the wall sometimes, but I hate The First Order as much as you do, and just because I don't have the council's approval doesn't mean I can't do something to help."
"What can you do exactly?" Elena questioned incredulously.
"Despite the national decision to be peaceful, there are many on Naboo who are against The First Order, and thankfully some of them work in manufacturing, I can get you the things you need, the problem is getting them to you," Aimee explained, "so I have hired a smuggler-"
"Wait-what?"
"and he can bring the goods to Lothal, where you will be able to pick them up," Aimee continued, ignoring the interruption.
"You hired a smuggler?"
"Honestly Elena, do keep up."
"Yes great, thank you for the help, but Elena you're Queen, what if you're caught?"
"Some things are worth the risk," Aimee replied quietly. A long silence fell between the two of them as they stared at one another.
"I'm sorry I didn't come home," Elena uttered in the same quiet tone.
"And I'm sorry I yelled at you, though you did kind of deserve it." Both girls chuckled at that. It was soon after another silence that they both moved in for a hug.
"I missed you 'Lena," Aimee sniffled into Elena's shoulder.
"Right back at you," Elena choked out, her nickname being the emotional breaking point. They both stayed like that for a while, taking advantage of the fact they were no longer fighting.
"So, I suppose we should talk about your secret plan with greater detail am I right?" Elena asked grinning widely at her sister.
"I suppose," Aimee relented rolling her eyes and looking amused. Aimee moved towards a desk where she picked up a small hard drive, "this drive holds all the credits that it cost to transport the goods, try not to loose it."
"Where is the faith?" Elena scoffed, plucking the item from her sister's hand.
"You will meet the smuggler on Lothal, the drive also contains the coordinates which were sent to me for the drop off," Aimee continued to inform, sounding very much like the Queen she was, "You will have weapons, medical supplies and some food delivered to you. I wish it could be more but that's the most I can give."
"Aimee, the fact you are helping at all is greatly appreciated," Elena assured, Aimee gave with a soft smile.
"Do be careful," Aimee pleaded, "and try to come home sometimes."
"I promise."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
"So, Lothal huh?" Poe inquired as they flew to their destination. The pair had met up with the resistance in deep space to exchange the X-Wing for a shuttle that would be able to transport the cargo back to base.
"I know, interesting meeting place but unlike during the Empire, Lothal has fallen off the map to the First Order," Elena explained, "I'd say it's safe."
"Let's hope," Poe sighed, as they began to enter atmosphere, "I appreciate your Jedi talents and all, but us against a starship are a bit too skewed of odds for me."
"Have you been talking to 3PO?" Elena teased, glancing at Poe in the pilot's seat. According to General Organa, that protocol droid is decades old and had always been as snooty and fearful as it was presently. She had to admire the patience of Master Luke and his family, hearing that droid whine for just five minutes was enough to drive her insane.
"Ha. Ha," he scoffed, there was silence in the cockpit for a while before he spoke again, "so your family seems nice."
"They liked you a lot," Elena informed, "I could just tell, they were never that excited about- "She stopped abruptly; Elena hadn't had these many thoughts about Kylo Ren in a long time. It seemed that going home to the place where it all started had started bringing back all the memories she had tried desperately to forget.
"Elena…" Poe reached across the control panel to grab her hand.
"It's fine. I just-" Elena took a deep breath, "it's fine, uh lets just land."
As usual, the landing was a smooth process due to Poe's incredible talent in piloting. They landed in a rocky ridge with a large valley; large enough for two ships, but also containing an appropriate amount of cover. The smuggler didn't seem to be there yet, so Poe and Elena were forced to wait.
Once both were out of their seats, Elena was abruptly pulled into Poe's chest. Frozen in shock, she just stood there stiff in his arms for a couple seconds.
"Uh Poe-?"
"Seemed like you needed it, just roll with it alright?" He responded, not letting go.
Elena wasn't going to lie, she wasn't hating the feeling, and within a few more moments she hugged him back, clinging a lot harder than was probably needed. The moment was interrupted by the sound of another ship approaching, and so the both of them walked out to greet the person bringing the cargo.
It was a large, red ship that was landing in front of them, one that Elena didn't recognize, so she was a little wary. Elena hand drifted to the blaster on her thigh and saw Poe doing a similar action with his.
The gangway before them slowly opened and Elena could spot two forms, one large the other normal height. It didn't take her long to put two and two together.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me."