"Tired?" Sabé asked, though she already knew the answer. Crossing Leia's room to open the window, she smiled at the pregnant woman.
"Only of being stuck here."
Sabé sighed, snapping the curtains open. "You need to stop making me feel bad. I love you enough as it is, Leiá."
Leia smiled sardonically. "Oh! I'm sorry. Would you prefer I not tell the truth?"
"My, my." Sabé shook her head. "Someone is getting moody. I don't think I like you when you're pregnant."
Still joking with her, Leia narrowed her eyes. "That's a lie! Just yesterday, you called me adorable."
Sabé laughed. She opened the window to let fresh air in and joined Leia on her bed. "You know how much I hate seeing you like this. I feel awful for you and I will do anything I can for you but I also care about you enough to enforce this." She pointed to the mattress. This is for you and Babies Solo. You may not like it, but this is what's best."
"I know," Leia sighed. "I get that and I'll stay on this stupid bed, but I can't wait to get off. I can't wait until I don't have to carry these babies anymore."
When Leia had first been put on bed-rest, Han had laid out the rules as instructed by the doctors. He'd stated them clearly to Bail, Memily, Luke, and Sabé, but the Nabooan could hardly stand to watch her niece suffer so. For dealing with this all, Sabé admired her patience. She gave Leia a soft smile, telling her, "Memily's getting your breakfast prepared. She should be bringing it up in a few minutes."
"Alright. Thank you, Sabé."
Sabé headed back downstairs to the smaller kitchen. Memily was, of course, cooking breakfast while Luke and Bail sat at the counter, talking. Han was coming out of the refresher, patting his hair dry, and Sabé caught his eye. "You just checked on her?" he asked. "How is she?"
"Tired," Sabé answered him. With a sigh, she crossed the kitchen area and started a fresh pot of caf, melting to stand limply against the counter. She waited for the dark caf to finish boiling before turning the settings off and pouring some into a mug. Startlingly, she turned away from the counter with her mug to see Han approaching her. His face wore a frown. "I don't like doing this to her either," he said.
Sabé kind of laughed at that. "You're not doing anything to Leia," she told him. "If she really felt like it, she could get out of bed. She doesn't have to stay lying there. No one can make her do anything. . . . But I know what you mean. I hate watching her like this, too."
Sabé brought her mug to the table, joining Tia , Rouge, and Celly there. The three sisters shared a look of deep thought and it irked the Nabooan to see them both thinking so hard. On what, puzzled her. A few seconds after she settled into her seat, Sabé caught them turn their heads to each other and, suddenly, Rouge was smiling faintly, growing steadier, broader.
"Oh, no," Bail muttered as he caught their looks. He, Han and Luke joined the three women.
"What?" Sabé was still trying to uncloak the mystery to their smiles. "Is there something I'm missing?"
Bail gave a laugh that almost sounded worried as he took his seat, eyeing his sisters carefully. "I've seen that very same look before," he cautioned. "Last time I saw it, the three of them were planning Leia's birthday ball. Can't remember the last time something good ever came out of that look."
Rouge quickly looked away, her face clouded with guilt. Tia rested a hand on her sister's shoulder, shaking her head and telling their brother, "No, hush now. This one is Rouge's idea and I'm sure you'll love it! It's the perfect idea for Lelila!"
Sabé had gained a newfound respect for Tia, so the Organa woman's eagerness soothed her worries somewhat. Tia turned to hold her gaze and took on Rouge's bright smile. "For just one day, we should let Leia out of her room." Han stiffened. "Just one day! And we don't have to take her anywhere. After a whole month in bed, I'm willing to bet just a day out of that room would be a miracle. We'd help her downstairs and make sure she stays sitting."
"Is that it?" Bail narrowed his eyes. "Free her from her room only to confine her to a chair downstairs?"
"No, that's not it, Bail! That's not it at all! Tell them, Rouge! Explain your idea to them."
Rouge sheepishly looked back up to the small crowd and Tia and Celly encouraged her on, beaming. "I was just thinking like Tia told you, it would be nice for Leia to just get a little while out of bed. But she wouldn't be "stuck" down here, too. She would be doing something fun!"
"What do you mean something fun?"
"I mean, we should throw her a baby shower!"
Without meaning to or really thinking about it, Sabé straightened in her seat, sitting taller. Tia smiled at her. Sabé looked to Han and Bail, the two who took Leia's bed rest the most seriously. They seemed to really be considering it. They looked to each other and had a silent conversation of their own about it.
"A baby shower?!" Memily suddenly appeared behind Sabé and nearly gave her a heart attack. Sabé leaned away, a hand to her chest while she recovered. "Goodness, Mem!"
"Sorry," she blushed. "It's just that I think the idea is splendid, Lady Rouge! I'm sure that would cheer Princess Leia right up."
Han and Bail still seemed to be considering, so Sabé didn't yet give voice to her opinion and tell them that she wholly agreed with Memily. It was exactly what Leia needed right now. A break. She'd still be resting, but it would feel like a break. Practically squirming in her seat, she tried to stay patient while she waited for Han and Bail to finish their "conversation". Just by their expressions, Sabé figured that Han was more open to the idea than Leia's father. That only partially surprised Sabé. She knew that Han ached for Leia as much as she and even more. She knew he hated having to be so strict on her and he wanted, more than anyone, to let her have a break. Apparently, Bail was going to play bad cop. That did surprise Sabé.
After what felt like a few minutes, Bail sighed in defeat, a smile alighting his face. "I'm sure that would help Lelila quite a bit. She needs a break from the stress."
Tia, Celly, and Rouge cheered, trading quick high-fives. Memily was trying to remain calm, but Sabé knew her well enough to tell just how excited she was. Sabé silently prayed the Organa sisters had the insight to allow Memily, a mere cook and servant of the House Organa, to be a part of this. Apart from her position, she meant so much to Leia. She had all the dignity to sit at the same table as the Organa family, though she rarely overstepped the regular boundary of a servant.
Queen Breha had never treated her like just a servant.
And being on nicer terms with Lady Tia, Sabé wondered if she could communicate this to her. Catching her gaze, she raised a brow and glanced the cook's way. Tia nodded. "Well, then, the three of us plus Sabé and Memily will get to work on that. It'll be a fun project."
"And a fun surprise for Leia," added Rouge.
It was with a pang of sadness that Sabé sat on the living room floor with Memily, making different pastel paper decorations. Thanks to Rouge's remarkable organizing and planning skills, things were running quite smoothly and everything would be well prepared in time. Memily had prepared a simple menu: lunch and lots of snacks. Tia and Celly had concerned themselves with activities for the ladies while Sabé had foraged together a list of guests to invite. She looked to Leia who was sitting on a rocking chair. Her eyes were hard, her cheeks pulled up in a slight wince. "Leia, honey, everything okay?"
Leia jerked to look at her. She was quick to nod and reassure her. "Just fine. It's the braxton hicks again."
Sabé nodded in acknowledgment. "You're going to be alright?"
Leia nodded back. "Nothing I can't handle."
Smiling, Sabé gave her back a little rub. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" she asked her for the umpteenth time.
Leia turned her eyes from Memily's table of treats to her aunt-like figure. "Is this about Pooja's family again?" She rolled her eyes. "Yes, Sabé; I'm fine with it."
"But I don't want you to be fine with it," she objected, dropping aside a crinkly pom-pom. "When I asked you if I should invite them, I meant to ask if you wanted to meet them if you were ready for that. If you're not ready for that, then tell me. I'll explain it to them. They'll understand, I'm sure."
"Sabé," Leia said firmly, holding her gaze. "It's okay. I do want to meet them still. I mean, it's overwhelming, but . . . I do want to meet them."
They were talking about the Naberries, Padmé's family. While pondering her guest list, Sabé had come up with the idea of inviting Padmé's mother, sister, and nieces so they could finally meet Padmé's daughter. Leia had eagerly agreed, but, being the aunt she was, Sabé still feared how the whole situation would go. Maybe that could have been where the pang of hurt came from, but she was sure it was more of just thinking about Padmé while Leia was preparing for motherhood.
Simultaneously trying to calm herself, Sabé told Leia, "They're all nervous to meet you too, Leiá." She gave a little laugh. "You should have heard Jobal over the comm."
Leia's gaze wandered for a few seconds "Jobal," she muttered, turning the name over in her head. "Jobal . . . my . . . "
"Grandmother," Sabé reminded her. Then, she caught Celly looking over at them, her eyes glistening. Sabé silently swore. All too often, she forgot that Leia was the Organas'. In Tia's, Rouge's, and Celly's eyes, Leia's grandmother was their mother Mazicia. Mazicia, who was long dead as well. To the Organas, Leia had no living grandparents. To Sabé, Leia had two living grandparents: Jobal and Ruwee. Odd and awkward as the whole thing was, Sabé always tried her hardest to respect the Organa sisters, but she'd now crossed a line where the Organas were not a welcome sight. Truly, she felt horrible about it. After all, Bail, Tia, Rouge, and Celly had all raised and loved Leia her whole life. Sabé hoped they'd be able to find a median where they could get along well with the Naberries. Sabé was aware they already loved Bail.
Soon, guests started to arrive. Aryn arrived first, bringing with her the young and pretty Freneá. They deposited gifts at one of the tables Memily had set up and moved to cheerily greet Leia. "Look at you!" Aryn squealed, leaning down to give Leia a ginger hug. "You look amazing!" Then, Beru Lars, Luke's uncle, who seemed to want to become an aunt to Leia as well.
In addition to these familial-like guests, Sabé had thought to invite several others who Leia didn't particularly know. These came in two groups; the first of which Sabé was ecstatic to see. She'd brought it up with Leia before sending invitations, but Leia had eagerly agreed how wonderful it would be to meet some women who had been very close to her mother Padmé. So, Sabé had invited a few of the other handmaidens she hand once worked with while serving Padmé. She had invited a couple of the other handmaidens who had been the closest to their queen: Dormé, Saché, and Rabé. Sabé swore no message had ever been answered faster. All three immediately, and quite eagerly, agreed to come upon Sabé explaining to them what had really happened to Padmé's child.
But then there was the second group Sabé had invited.
Distantly and faintly, she heard a knock on the entry door. Just a minute later, Memily came hurrying back to the living room. She nodded to Sabé , saying, "Sabé, perhaps you would like to welcome your guests yourself." Though the woman couldn't have known any better, Memily's word choice made her feel even worse. Kindly, though, she responded, "Of course, Memily. Thank you." Sabé hurried to the door where they were waiting. Jobal and Sola stood side by side, clinging to each other. They both wore similar outfits: long, red skirts with bleeding orange near the ends and silky, draping, red blouses that had black beads for buttons. Stunned, Sabé realized their outfits were supposed to resemble Padmé's favorite dress she got to wear as queen. Behind them, Ryoo stood shaking in her own nervousness. She couldn't even manage a smile, her lips quivering so violently. Like her mother and grandmother, she wore a piece Sabé swore was from another of Padmé's outfits. Her dress, too, was red. The red, sparkled fabric hung at her ankles. The sleeves didn't even cover her shoulders, meeting each other at a point to make a 'v', clear, net-like fabric bunched up with it. Then, around the waist was a band of plain, but bright red fabric, ending the top section just below her breasts.
Lastly, there was Pooja. Sporting her own gold leggings and dress with a skirt to it that somehow resembled a delicate leaf and matching sleeves that were separate from the dress. Looking at Sabé, she beamed excitedly, practically bouncing on her feet. "Sabé!" she exclaimed, throwing out her arms for a hug.
"Pooja!" she cried back, eagerly accepting her hug. "I've missed you! I hope your trip here went smoothly."
"Just fine," Pooja agreed. "I always love visiting. Alderaan just has the nicest weather!"
Sabé nodded and was bringing her attention to the other three Naberrie women when Memily scurried to her side. She gestured to the Alderaanian and told them, "This is Memily. She'll take your purses and things for you." Memily nodded with a smile and accepted their things. She hurried off and Sabé quickly caught Jobal and Sola's arms. "You made it!" she exclaimed to them and Sola managed a quivery smile. "Of course," she agreed. "Why wouldn't we? We always love seeing you, Sabé. We miss having you on Naboo."
"Well, I do miss Naboo, but, right now, my heart is here in Aldera. Wherever the princess is."
Joal caught her eye and practically burst into tears. "She's really here? Leia? She's really . . . really . . . "
Sabé knew what word was stuck on the tip of her tongue, suffocating her. She also knew that Jobal wasn't strong enough to finish that statement right now. So, she finished it for her with a nod. "Padmé's. Yes." A few seconds later, she released a breath because she had been sure Jobal was going to faint.
"And she's here." She didn't say it. She was so nervous, she was asking.
"Yes, Jobal. She's here. That is why you were invited."
The aging woman managed to roll her eyes in her frenzied state. Sabé laughed. "Well, of course, but . . . but this is real and it doesn't seem like it should be. Padmé's been dead for over twenty years. It doesn't make sense to suddenly have a piece of her left still."
Sabé corrected her, "Two pieces."
Jobal looked like she was going to crumble into a million tiny pieces. She gave a little sigh, tears already streaming from her large brown eyes. She looked like she had so much to say, but none of the strength to say any of it. Sabé understood. "Don't be cross or angry or anything with Bail," she spoke up for the older woman. "After what happened, it-"
"I know, Sabé," she cried. "I'm not mad at him. I can't be. I understand what he and Breha did for Leia-" she cut herself off, surprised that she had managed to say her name. Jobal fought to regain her composition. "I understand how vital it was that they protected her like they did. I'm not mad at him for harboring her like he did. In fact, I'm really thankful he did. I will forever owe the Organas for caring for her. And the . . . Anakin's family."
"The Lars." Sabé looked to Jobal's older daughter Sola. She had gained her calm and looked to be on the opposite side of things. Lightly, not all harshly, she crossed her arms, looking away. "I still don't understand why they had to keep this from us," she said. "We would have taken care of the twins! We would have loved them and fed them and given them the galaxy-!"
"Sola!" Jobal quietly reprimanded her. "If we had known from the start, Luke and Leia would have been in danger. We couldn't have. We couldn't have cared for them like the Organas and Lars have." Jobal turned back to Sabé and nodded. "So we come to see her. To see my granddaughter. For the first time."
Sabé smiled gently, reaching out an arm to guide her forward. "Come. She's waiting in the living room with the other guests." Quickly, though, she made sure to catch Ryoo's eye. "Are you alright?"
The woman nodded, her long curls bobbing with her head. For the first time, she spoke, assuring Sabé, "Well enough to continue. I've been waiting for this for years."
Sabé shared with Ryoo her reassuring smile and led them to the party room which was filled with laughter and talking and such joyful noise. Of course, Leia was at the center of it; Aryn sat right at her side while Memily and Tia stood close by. The others were clustered together on couches around the one on which Aryn and Leia sat. As Sabé entered with the Naberrie women, she caught sight of Rouge stiffening and turning away. Tia smiled in greeting, waving them in. "Welcome! Come in! It's a pleas-"
Leia craned her neck to playfully glare at Tia, admonishing, "Aunt Tia, this isn't one of Papa's formal meetings. Stop it!" Memily chuckled and it was only a couple seconds before Sabé, Rouge, Celly, and Aryn burst into guffaws. After, it was only for a second that Tia appeared embarrassed about it. Then, she laughed it off with them.
Jobal bent as if to curtsy, but Tia shook her head. "No, we will have none of that. As Leia said, this isn't a formal event. We are here together in celebration."
They all hugged before Sabé got them to approach Leia. Pooja was hugging her fiercely and Sabé saw the evident worry in Memily's eyes. "Relax," she whispered to her, smiling. "Jobal," she began as Aryn stepped aside to give the reunion party room. "This is your granddaughter Leia. Sola, your niece and Ryoo, your cousin."
The sense of bittersweet union was palpable. The air was heavy with sorrow, yet light with relief. Joy was somewhere in the mix, just hard to define as it was muted in an odd way. Sabé figured the real joy would come in a sudden burst once reality dawned and settled. No one said anything for a long time.
Jobal gave a little gasp as she took in the sight of her third granddaughter before her. Sola's knees were buckling and Ryoo had discreetly retreated to her sister's side. "Leia," Jobal whispered her name and the rest of the room went dead silent, all eyes watching the scene unfold. "Oh, Padmé," the grandmother whimpered. "You look like her. Just like her. My Padmé. You look just like your . . . mother." Leia visibly gulped, but she found her courage and held out her arms to her grandmother. Jobal gave a little cry before she flew into Leia's arms and even Sola laughed. She took her turn to embrace Leia, smiling proudly at her. "She's right," she managed, in tears. "You're so beautiful and you do look just like her!"
"Thank you. Aunt Sola."
Sola froze, nearly dying on the spot.
"Oh, dear," Pooja murmured, hurrying over to her mother. She took her firmly by the shoulders and pulled her back. "Naboo to Mama! Relax, Mama. Caaaalm down."
Leia chuckled. "It's wonderful finally getting to meet you. Sabé has told me much about all three of you and I've been very excited for this. I'm glad you could come here to Alderaan."
Sola managed to break free of her shock and she nodded quickly. "Of course! We wouldn't miss this for the world, getting to meet you. My niece!" Sola gave a little laugh. "You really do look just like her."
Pooja gave what almost sounded like a laugh of nervousness as she gently pulled on her mother, telling her quietly, "Yes, Mama. Relax. And be careful not to freak her out. This is new to her, too."
Leia shook her head and laughed. "It's fine."
"Sit down," Sabé encouraged. "Tia, Rouge, Celly, these are the Naberries: Sola, Jobal, Ryoo. And I'm sure you'll recognize Miss Pooja . . . "
Tia nodded. "Senator Pooja Naberrie. What a pleasure."
"I should say the same to you, Lady Tia. Thank you for having us over."
"Well, it's all for Leia."
"Two girls. Two girls are perfect."
Aryn smiled at Jobal and Sola with a bit of envy. "Is that all your family does?"
The two older Naberrie women plus Pooja all looked to Ryoo who went pink in the face. "Pretty much," she said.
Sabé gaped. "Are you pregnant, Ry?"
"Three months along and Ruwen is already swearing it's another girl. What about you, Aryn? Isn't it a boy you have?"
Aryn nodded. "Raynar. He's nearly a year old! I can't believe it. This last year has just flown by."
Leia looked away, her expression growing solemn. Instantly, Aryn felt guilty. "I'm so sorry, Leia. I didn't think-"
"No." Leia shook her head, shifting in her seat and rubbing her belly as if to remind herself that, despite the precious baby she'd lost that day, she was getting another baby very soon. And two more than that! "It's alright. I do keep thinking about Mama, though. Of course, I wish she was here."
"Ohh." Memily reached over and squeezed her knee. "You know she would have loved to be here for you. It's alright, though. Just ask your daddy and he'll assure you that Breha's still watching over you."
The comment seemed to be enough to comfort the Organa sisters since the Naberries arrived; it must have assured them that they were still Leia's first family.
"Anyway, Raynar is a bit of a handful. Bornan and I couldn't imagine having another child. As much as I may want a girl."
"You could have just done it like Leia," Sabé suggested with a smile. "Multiples-"
"I do not recommend in the least," Leia interrupted, shaking her head and biting into another cupcake slathered in thick, rich, tie-dye blue and pink frosting.
Everyone laughed.
"So," Pooja propped her chin on her hand, leaning forward as she began to ask, "What are the genders? You didn't actually think you'd be able to keep it a secret this long, did you?"
Licking a layer of frosting from her lips, Leia shook her head. "What secret? I'm not keeping any secrets."
"Stop that! Leia, honey, this is what baby showers are for. You're supposed to tell all your friends if it's a girl or a boy. Now, tell!"
Discreetly, Sabé coughed to hide her laughter, looking away so as not to be noticed. She could feel Leia's glare on her. "No secrets," Leia insisted. "I swear. We don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"The genders. We don't know."
"That's absurd!" Sola exclaimed. It seemed that everyone else was starting to get impatient too. "That's what ultrasounds are for. Did no one ever tell you how these things go?"
"No, listen. Han and I had the ultrasound. That's how we found out we're having the do-one-get-three package deal." Sabé and Memily snickered. "However, it was too difficult to tell the genders. Han and I have no idea what we're getting."
A long, astonished silence fell as the others realized that Leia was telling the truth. "You're kidding," Ryoo said, staring at her cousin. "How have you and your husband been preparing, then? What about names and clothes?"
Leia allowed a smile to flicker onto her lips and she explained simply, "Three girl names, three boy names. We have a list defined by priorities. If there are two girls, we'll use the first two girl names from our list."
Saché chuckled from her spot on the floor between Sabé and Rabé. She shared a glance with women and admitted, "I'm sorry, but I just can't get over how much she looks like Padmé. I keep thinking that we should have had a day like this with her, but we never got that proper goodbye." She dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her sleeve. "I know it's foolish, but I used to be mad at her for never telling us about everything, but, when I see Leia now, I can't be mad. I can only feel so sorry for her and then I have to wish that I could have helped her somehow, that I could have been there for her and everything would have been fine. Maybe I could have saved her. And I know that that's not really realistic, but I can't help it! I have to think! I have to think about her and Leia and Luke and try to imagine how things could have turned out. I hate myself for doing it, but I can't help it.
"I miss my queen so much, but, now, when I look at Leia . . . it's all okay. I'm okay now. I finally feel healed. Like, somehow, I'm getting to say that goodbye to Padmé like I've always wanted to."
Silence. Whether Nabooan or Alderaanian, Saché's words had a profound effect on everyone. The Alderaanians may not have understood the full impact having not ever known Padmé, but the bittersweetness of the moment was palpable and joined the Nabooan in their tears. Though Jobalcried with everyone else, she smiled, nodding. She cupped Leia's cheek in her hand, smiling. "I miss her," she cried. "But I get to see her again. This night." She wiped her eyes and fell into Ryoo and Pooja's arms. "And she looks as beautiful as she always was."
This time, Leia's tears were not induced by a single ounce of hormones.
Suddenly, Rabé laughed. She took one of Jobal's hands and one of Leia's, laughing. "Forget that! Try imagining Padmé as a grandmother!"
Though everyone's tears were already of joy, they all laughed together, everyone surrounding Leia and celebrating with her. Sabé fought her way back to Leia's side. She hugged her, crying along with everyone else, and said, "She would be so proud of you!"
"How do you feel?" Aryn asked Leia, bringing her another few cookies and bars. "Ready for motherhood yet?"
"Well, I did get a lot of advice. Maybe more than I'll know what to do with!"
"Oh, trust me. You're going to be begging for more advice real soon."
Leia paused. She stared at her belly, both hands resting on it. "But it's still worth it?"
Aryn beamed. "Every single second."
