Chapter 29

Padme squeezed Obi-wan's hand as they walked up the long walk way to her parents' home. She was now beginning to feel some of the nervousness that Obi-wan had earlier expressed. She wondered if now that Obi-wan was in the picture, would they still allow the past to be the past.

Padme looked at Obi-wan and she saw him swallow hard. She wanted to laugh; she had never seen him so worried. But she stayed quiet and watched as Pooja and Kayden raced to the steps of the house. Padme stopped, and pulled Obi-wan to a stop, when she saw an elderly couple step out of the door.

"Gram!" squealed Pooja.

"Papa!" Kayden said running and jumping into the older man's arms.

Obi-wan watched Padme as her eyes began to get moist. He knew how much it meant to her to be able to see Kayden interact with her parents. He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick kiss on the temple and guided her to the house.

Padme followed her sister up the steps and hugged her mother and father. "I've missed you so much." She said as she took a step back.

"We've missed you too." Padme's mother put a hand on Kayden shoulder. "And we've missed you too."

"I misseded you too Gram. But look, we brought a surprise home!" Kayden walked over and grabbed Obi-wan's hand and pulled him closer to the group. "Daddy, this is Gram and Papa. Gram, Papa, this is my Daddy."

Padme watched emotions flash across their faces before her father spoke again. "It's nice to finally meet you, Obi-wan."

"Same here, Sir."

Padme's smile multiplied three fold. They all entered the house and began talking as if they had always been one happy family.

ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Padme, I should probably head back to my room." Obi-wan said as he leaned onto the headboard of her bed.

Padme was leaning into him because Kayden lay asleep on the other side. "Obi-wan, I think it'll be okay if you're just in here."

"I don't want your Father to come after me with a blaster if he sees me going back to my room at an odd time."

"You worry too much." She said as she patted his thigh and made her way to stand up.

Obi-wan grabbed her by the wrist to pull her back to him. "And you, my Love, worry too little sometimes." He kissed her cheek and then let her go.

"I'm going to go get something to drink, do you want anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"And you will be here when I get back." Padme told him. She walked out of her room and down the hallway. She knew the house like the back of her own hand. She knew every turn to make in the dark to get where ever it was she would need to go.

Tonight, though, she headed toward the kitchenette and found what she was looking for rather easily. She was headed back when a figure sitting on the common room sofa caught her eye.

"Daddy?"

"What are you still doing up, Padme?"

She walked over to where he sat. "I was thirsty and came to get something to drink. What are you still doing up?"

"Thinking."

"About what?"

He was always happy to see the innocence in her eyes and thankful the harsh reality of the galaxy hadn't taken it from his youngest daughter. "You, and when Obi-wan was going to come out of your room."

"Daddy, I'm sorry. We were up talking. I'll tell him to head back."

"Its okay, Sweetie. You don't have to. I was only teasing, you two are engaged now." He gave her a nudge on her shoulder, "plus you two already share a child."

Padme knew he was joking but she felt kind of guilty about the statement. "Daddy, thank you for being sweet to Obi-wan today. He was so nervous."

"Why wouldn't I be nice to him?"

"I just thought you'd be upset or something." She took a sip of her water.

"I have no reason to be angry with him. Not being there wasn't his fault."

Padme's head went down a bit as well as the tone of her voice, "It was mine."

"Padme, it truly wasn't your fault either." He put his arm around her and hugged her close.

"Were you ever mad at me?"

"I wasn't mad, maybe a little surprised and disappointed. You have to see where I'm coming from, Padme. My youngest daughter had been away, ruling a planet. I didn't get to see you much. So when you two terms were up, I was a little selfishly excited to have my little girl back home with me.

"You came home and told us you were pregnant. That you weren't going to tell the father because he held an important spot in the New Republic. You weren't even going to tell us his name."

"I'm sorry Daddy." Her voice cracked as she leaned into her father's hug.

"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. Padme, we all make mistakes, me included. I just want you to understand that things could've turned out so much worse than they had. And I'm not mad at you or Obi-wan. I love you and Kayden and I'm sure once I get to know Obi-wan, I'll come to love him too."

Padme wiped at her nose. "It all happened so fast. I was confused."

"Sweetie, its okay now. You've done right by both Obi-wan and Kayden. And that's what matters the most." He rubbed her back to assure her he wasn't mad. "So do you think he'll be leaving your room anytime soon."

Padme chuckled at his comment. "Not if he thinks I'm coming back." She gave a quick sniffle. "I should probably go back and send him to his room."

"You don't have to send him to the guest room." He stood up and pulled Padme up with him. "Just make him sleep on the floor."

Padme laughed at him again. "Okay, Dad."

"I love you, Padme." He gave her a hug. "And I'm so glad you're coming home to stay."

Padme squeezed him close. "I love you too. And I'm glad to be back."

"Goodnight, Sweetie."

"Goodnight." Padme walked back to her childhood bedroom and walked in to see Obi-wan asleep on the bed. And Kayden sitting up leaning over him.

"What are you doing?" Padme asked.

"He's snoring again, and it woked me up."

"You want to go sleep in the other room?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay," she picked him up and carried him into the bedroom next to hers. "Here you go. Sleep sweet, Honey."

"Sleep sweet, Mommy." Kayden rolled over and quickly fell back asleep.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Wake up! Wake up!" Kayden jumped up and down on the bed.

Padme rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head. "Stop jumping, Kayden! I'm trying to sleep."

"But you have to get up now!"

"You don't want Gram and Papa to find you jumping on their furniture." Padme sighed when she felt him land on the bed and he stilled.

"See Daddy, I told you it wouldn't work." Kayden slid off the bed.

"Go help Gram in the kitchen, I'll take care of your mother." Obi-wan waited until Kayden left and then slipped into bed beside Padme. He stuck his hand up the back of her sleep tunic and began rubbing her back.

"Padme, Padme" he said in a sing-song voice.

"No." she whined.

He slid his hand down to her lower back. "I've got a surprise for you." He whispered in her ear as his hand slipped lower feeling the beginnings of navy blue laced underwear.

"I'm going to have a surprise for you if your hand continues to head south." She threatened but still being half asleep. She rolled over to face him.

"Padme, its extremely important that you get up."

"Force! She's still in bed?" Sola said as she waltzed into the room. "Never was a morning person." She strolled to Padme's side of the bed while sipping her water.

"You were never one to knock." Padme said buring her head back under the pillow.

"Padme, get up. We're all waiting on you."

Padme's response was to snuggle deeper into the covers and ignore Sola.

Sola responded too. By pouring her glass of water on Padme's back.

Obi-wan had never seen Padme jump so high. Or throw a pillow so hard. Sola had ducked but there was obviously some force behind that pillow.

"Sola, I'm going to kill you." Padme tried to grab the pillow next to her but it wouldn't budge. She shot Obi-wan a look but he kept his elbow on the pillow. "Obi-wan, get off."

"No." He stated calmly while a smirk laid across his face.

Padme stood up and placed her hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'no'? She poured cold water on me!"

Sola put her hands on her sister's shoulders, "Now that you're up though, you can come see the surprise we have for you."

Obi-wan followed the two into the common room and stepped behind Padme. "Close your eyes."

"No." She said in a mocking tone.

He knew she was tired and they had woken her up out of her sleep but this was too important. He placed his hands over her eyes and led her to the window. "Surprise."

Padme took in a sharp breath, it was beautiful. A lattice arc sat in her parents back yard. It had lavender and red rose vines neatly frown on it. A white strip led from the house's door to the lattice. Padding by a few rows of lavender chairs.

She spun around to look at Obi-wan. "What's this?" She asked with tears in her eyes, already knowing the answer.

His smile reassured her. "You said small with no holopress reporters. I thought this was the best way to have both."

"When?" She allowed her joyful tears to spill over and run down her cheeks.

He gently wiped a tear away with his thumb. "I had spoken to Sola about it. She said that she knew what you would like."

Sola leaned in, "I even picked out your dress. You want to go see it? Everybody else is getting ready."

Padme threw her arms around Obi-wan. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Not today," he teased.

She quickly pecked his lips and whispered, "Later I'll show you." Padme reveled in the fact that she could still make him blush.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo

"It's beautiful Sola. You know me so well its scarry." Padme hugged her sister. "Thank you, for helping Obi-wan, for setting it all up, for picking out this dress, for all of it!"

"That's what big sisters are for." Sola said zipping Padme into her gown.

"I thought they were for pouring water down your back."

"That too." Sola smiled.

"So you planned all this?"

"Not you and Obi-wan staying here. That threw me off but it worked out."

"Well this explains why Kayden has been so excited lately."

"Probably, oh, did I tellyou that Mom and Dad want Kayden to stay with us tonight."

"Where am I going to be?"

"I don't know, I'd guess on your honeymoon." Sola nudged Padme's shoulder.

"I wonder where we're going."

"I don't know, Obi-wan wouldn't tell me."

Padme chuckled, "He's such a sneak, but I love it." Padme sat to brush her hair. "I can't believe it Sola. I'm getting married." Her tone revealing pure awe.

Sola smiled at Padme. " I know, and to great guy."

"A wonderful man." Padme corrected as she wiped at her eyes feeling them collect moisture.

"Come on May, we have a wedding to get ready for." A voice came from the doorway.

Padme spun around to see her best friend standing there. "Kaliee! You're here!"

"I wouldn't miss my best friend's wedding for anything. Come on, lets get ready."