Chapter 4

"Where is it? Where is it?" Kayden asked as soon as he heard Padme come through the door.

"Please give him that surprise, May. He's been bugging me about it all day." Kaliee said as she held a crying Leigh-Ann.

"What happened to hello?" Padme joked. She took Leigh-Ann from her frazzled mother. "Kayden the surprise will be here for third meal. But if you keep asking you won't get it."

Kaliee watched Padme as she stepped into her nurturing mode. Even when they were younger she had had a special connection with children. Like her patience with them.

Kaliee knew when Padme was aggravated but she never took it out on the little ones. Kaliee knew that Padme would make a good mother, only if she could see it.

"I've already made the food. Do you think you could watch my two trouble makers while I get a quick shower?"

"Of course," Padme replied while tickling little Leigh-Ann.

"Thank you." Kaliee turned and made her way to the refresher unit.

Padme put Leigh-Ann in her play pen. She saw that Kayden was patiently sitting on the sofa. Padme went to change out of her Senatorial garb and into something a little less extravagant.

The door pager sounded as she emerged from her bedroom. Dorme went and answered the door.

"Milady, Anakin Skywalker is here."

"Thank you, Dorme." Padme met the two in the common room of the apartment. Anakin bowed when she came in.

"Anakin quit that! Kayden!" She called.

The young boy came running from the direction of the kitchenette. Kayden immediately stopped in front of her at the sight of the stranger.

"Anakin, this is Kayden. Kayden this is Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker."

"Hello, Kayden."

"Hi." He answered back timidly.

"Anakin is staying for third meal, Sweetheart." Padme was trying to get him to relax. She couldn't understand why he was so shy around Anakin and not Obi-wan.

Kaliee walked in the room, "Hey what's everybody doing standing in here. Let's go sit down." At the suggestion they all sat in the common room.

Well, Kaliee was a little less lady like and flopped down on the sofa. "So, you're Anakin Skywalker, huh?"

"Yes ma'am." Anakin answered in an appropriate manor.

"So, do you like study all the time? I mean, do Jedi ever take a day off?"

"Kaliee!" Padme just shook her head. When Kaliee wanted to say something she just said it.

"The reason I ask is that my things have arrived from off planet and my apartment is ready. I need help to move them in." Kaliee shot Padme a sly grin.

This won't be good. "Anakin you really don't have to. I know you're busy with your studies and missions. I can get some movers to come help." She shot Kaliee a glare.

Anakin's heart leapt at the thought of being able to spend a whole day with Padme. Even if her really strange friend was going to be there.

Padme wasn't quite sure what Kaliee was pulling. She was pretty sure she didn't want to know as well.

"Padme, I'd love to. I'll of course have to see if it's alright with Master Kenobi but he shouldn't have a problem with it."

"Hey you could even invite him too. More hands make the work load light. Right, May?"

She had no particular desire to be near Obi-wan Kenobi. She had worked hard for five years to avoid the man and Kaliee had blasted it all away in just a week. But of course she couldn't say no. "Sure, ask him if he wants to come."

"The food is ready, Milady." Dorme said walking into the room.

"I'm starved!" Anakin said heading to the dinning area.

"Me, too." Kaliee chimed in.

"Me, too, Mommy." Kayden wanted to be included.

Padme situated Kayden in his chair next to Kaliee. When she finally got him to sit still she was headed to her own seat when Dorme came in.

"Milady, Her Majesty of Naboo, has called via holomessage. She wishes to speak with you."

"Thank you, Dorme. Please excuse me." Padme went into her private communications room.

"Hello Your Majesty Enebell."

"Good evening, Senator." She lowered her voice. "Anyone around?"

"Nope." Padme replied softly.

"Good! Formalities take too long."

"I know. So Nikkei, what pleasure do I owe this call?"

"You remember the welcoming ball for the new Queen?"

"Yes, I'm looking forward to Jamilla's party."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. It's been moved up."

"Moved up? To when, Nikkei?"

"Two weeks from yesterday." She said and grimaced knowing Padme's reaction.

"Two weeks? Wait! I was supposed to go with Bail and Breha. They're going on a trip back to Alderaan and won't be back until after the party."

"Padme you will be alright. You just have to find a date."

"Just find a date? It's been a long time since I've been on 'just' a date. Plus, I have a teenage Jedi sitting in my dinning room trying to make googily eyes at me! Then there is Kaliee trying to get him to help her move her stuff!"

"'Googily eyes', Padme?"

"Shut up, those were the only words that fit!" Padme crossed her arms over her chest and looked like a little child.

Nikkei just laughed at Padme. "Well it doesn't sound like you have to look too far for that date."

"I don't like Anakin in that way, Nikkei."

"Right."

"I've tried to tell him!"

"Well just try harder. You know I'm very interested to see who you'll be bringing to the function."

"Me too." Padme mumbled under her breath.

"I guess I shall allow you to return to your company."

"Thanks for the call Nikkei."

"You're welcome. Bye, Padme."

"Bye Nikkei, Amidala-out." Padme ended the transmission. She walked in to her dinning room and saw that Anakin and Kaliee were highly engrossed in conversation.

Leigh-Ann had fallen asleep in her highchair and Kayden wouldn't be far behind.

Kaliee realized Padme was back in the room. "Anakin said he would help us move everything. He comm-ed Obi-wan and he said he'd be glad to help."

"You three might need to go without me. I have a Senate session everyday for the next week."

"I know but you have an early day tomorrow so we can do it then."

"Alright." Padme said as if things were okay.

To Padme the night seemed to drag on forever. She was shocked when she received a call at midnight.

"Hello?" She chose not to use the holograph because she was almost ready for bed.

"Milady?" asked a deep voice on the other end.

"Obi-wan is that you?"

He released a sigh. "Yes, Milady. Is my Padawan still at your residence?"

"No he left a few minutes ago. He and Kaliee would've stayed up all night and talked had I not sent him home."

"Well I appreciate it greatly, Milady. It prevents me from having to go search for him."

She chuckled, "In that case you're welcome."

He heard her laugh, he missed it. But he remembered that hew as the on to walk away from that laugh. "I hear I will be helping you move your friend's things."

"If you don't want to, you don't' have to. It's very last minute." She sounded almost disappointed.

He had hoped when she came to Corusant he would see her more but he had barely seen her. He wasn't about to pass up the chance.

"No, I'll be there."

"Good. Then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes you will. Rest well, Milady."

"Thank you and same to you." She cut the transmission and crawled into her bed. She fell asleep that night with a slight smile on her lips.


A/n: I feel bad about taking sooo long to update. I need to learn not to have two stories going at once! Anyways, i've already got chapter 5 written ijust gotta type it up. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.