Chapter 36

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'The Talk-Let's Be Honest'

'Getting to Know You'

'Pull my String and I'll Talk to You'

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A week passes after that kiss the night before the twins' birthday party. It has been a hectic week.

Leia was packing and unpacking for her weeklong visit with her grandparents. Anakin had to put his foot down. Luke wanted to bring along his new boxing gloves but his father didn't think it was a good idea. Ruwee might think Anakin was advocating fighting to resolve problems. Anakin was all for giving deserving idiots a good ass whooping but he didn't want to make grumpy grandfather Naberrie think he encourages it. After a brief explanation, Luke understood everything his father was saying. He buries the gloves at the bottom of his backpack. Luke couldn't wait to spar with his uptight know-it-all architect uncle Darred, or 'Dimwood' as Anakin refers to him. Anakin has a slew of nicknames for Aunt Sola's husband. He would keep the twins in stitches upon their return from Naboo inquiring about 'Darwud dah builder'.

Ordinarily, Anakin would never make fun of another adult in front of his kids but Darred got on the wrong side of the Sith's nerves one day when he ridiculed Anakin's parenting skills; but worst that this, he tried to scold his children. The humorless architect intervened one day when the twin's Aunt Sola was correcting Leia on her behavior. Anakin waited until his children were safely back at home. He committed a 'forbidden' remote choke on the stupid little man during a presentation for a new building on Corellia. The choke was meant to be more embarrassing than harmful. It turns out it was embarrassing and hilarious because the clients watched as Darred kept tugging at his collar then tried to speak. He started to sound like a cartoon duck. All he needed was a blue sailor cap and matching jacket.

Anakin was glad that they finally got a moment alone to talk with Isabel. The children were away on Naboo enjoying a second big celebration with their relatives. It paled in comparison to the party back home. Luke enjoyed having the bossy redhead in his home and Leia would have been heartbroken if her great nemesis Nelson did not come. Ruwee and Jobal were happy to see their grandchildren. If only Padmé were alive to see how well her beautiful angels are doing now.

Back in Coruscant Anakin has just returned from dropping off the twins. He walks through the front door and heads for the laundry room. He sees Isabel loading the washer and grabs the laundry basket from her, tosses it to the floor, and kisses her.

"I missed you. We haven't done this since last weekend. Do you have time to chat before you leave on your vacation?"

"Sure."

"Let's talk in the day room." They walk over to the room facing the patio where it is quiet and private. "Have a seat."

"Thank you."

There is an awkward silence. Suddenly they both laugh.

"We're not going to get very far gazing into each others' eyes. I know you like me and all, and I make you speechless when I walk into a room…."

"That's true, you do." Isabel begins to relax. So does Anakin.

"Hey! I'm not that bad…but seriously, I want to take you out. I think we get on well and the children would be thrilled. They love you." What he meant to say was, 'I Love You', but it was easier this way.

"We should bear in mind that I still work for you and I'll need to keep my reports objective."

"Oh, yeah, I'm not off the hook yet with 'Judge No-Nonsense.' I don't want us to have to sneak around but I do want to be with you. God, you're beautiful when you talk business."

He caresses her hands in his. Isabel blushes and rolls her eyes.

"That's the word on the street."

"Aaho! You've been spending too much time with my daughter! That sounds like Leia talking." He sighs for a moment then smiles. "I wish I could go away with you."

"And who will be here to greet your children when they return?"

"You know my children. They can fend for themselves. I'm just joking... I would never leave my kids. Sooo…, Isabel, I don't know very much about you."

"You have my résumé."

"Not that. I want to know about you."

"What would you like to know?"

"I want to know your favorite color, your worst hair day. I want to know about your childhood."

"Wow, you want to know a lot."

"I have time."

"You might fire me after I finish telling you about myself."

"Oh, I was ready to fire you before I hired you."

"Yes, I heard."

"That's my Leia. She's my personal dictaphone. I can't stop apologizing enough for that."

"She was honest. I realized later that it was a compliment. So, you want to hear about my childhood first?"

"Seems as good a place as any…Do I need to get comfortable?"

"Are you asking if it will be long and boring? If it gets to that point, feel free to stop me at any time."

Anakin grabs a decorative throw pillow and fluffs it before resting on the sofa. He grins.

"Just in case. I like to be comfortable when I fall asleep."

"It's your house."

"That's the word on the street."

Isabel begins telling Anakin about her life growing up on the tree-lined street in Coruscant Village. It was just outside of town. It does not resemble the sleek Metropolis of the city center. She lived a short drive from the Galaxy-Metro Expressway in a quiet part of town. She was spared the trappings of life in the downtown district, as she was the petty crime and the simmering political climate. She was just a young schoolgirl back then. She didn't have a care in the world.

She is the cherished and only daughter of Nakai Nor and his wife Ouisanne, a prominent watercraft builder and socialite. Even with the oppressive dark hand of the Empire hovering over Coruscant, Nakai Nor maintained a lucrative business. He was of no threat to the Empire.

The Nor's took pains to shield their three children from the daily reports of carnage and tyranny inflicted on some of the citizens of the Core Worlds. The galaxy was in turmoil. Nakai saw many of his friends in the business community taking sides. Some businesses had no choice because of indirect alliances with the Trade Federation. Some, otherwise innocent merchants, were pulled in because of their usefulness to the cause.

Stephan, Philippe, and Isabel, attended school and participated in recreational activities. They were virtually unaffected by the political climate. The Nor siblings were aware of the bad political climate as soon as they were old enough to understand. Isabel would overhear discussions by the village elders in the meetinghouse. Her father was one of the most well traveled members of the lodge and his views were widely respected. His travels took him mostly to Naboo but also to Kamino and even to Dagobah where he would confer with Jedi who were in hiding. He designed a special swamp trawler to navigate the murky waterways of the swamp planet. He was one of the few trackers who could safely negotiate across the dark waters. These exploratory trips were secret and never entered into his logbooks.

The bread and butter of the Nor watercraft industry, however, was all of the business on Naboo. The Nor family was, and remains the official watercraft builder for the Royal House of Theed. The intricate artisanship remains unrivaled to this day. He has many other clients in the area.

Isabel discovered that being an only daughter had its shortcomings. She had to put up with an overprotective father who, at the same time demanded only the best from her. She was expected to excel in her academic schoolwork and she did. She consistently made the honor roll and received the award of distinction for her work. She took courses well advance for her years. Her teachers, impressed with her perseverance challenged her. She outshone the older, more seasoned students in her class and graduated university at age 17.

Her social life suffered. Forbidden to date, unless strictly chaperoned by an older brother, Isabel asked to travel to see other worlds. She skied on the slopes of Hoth, hiked Endor, and visited refugee camps where she got her first look at true despair. Families separated, children left orphaned by the Intergalactic War. She knew what she wanted to do.

She returns home. Isabel applies to graduate school. She is immediately accepted. She buries herself in her studies. He mother worries her daughter would never find a suitable husband. Nakai Nor is thrilled. His daughter is too busy to 'hang out' as the kids call it.

Ouisanne competed with her husband on the direction in which their daughter's life should take. Ouisanne won this round, reintroducing her daughter to the world of Bimmisari garden parties at the Bimmisari Tea House and Social Club. Isabel was back wearing the beautiful dresses as she did when she was a little girl. Her mother enjoys showing off her 'Star Child' The women would sit around chatting and bragging about their daughters. There was more bragging than chatting. Isabel would blush from all the attention. She recalls bursting into tears at the Coruscant Society Ball. All of the brightest and prettiest girls attended this cotillion or debutant ball. The event made her feel like a slab of shaak steak at the marketplace. She managed to hold herself together until after the dance. The young men were all trying too hard. The were either awkward or pretentious. She was not impressed by their wealth, or of their schooling or lineage. Some were sons of Imperial officers. Isabel thought she would throw up. She witnessed true suffering caused by the Empire. None of these young men seemed affected by this.

Isabel, always mindful of her manners, gracefully excused herself. She escapes upstairs, locks herself in the refresher, and sobs. She felt she was doomed.

That night, after returning home, Ouisanne visits her daughter's room and apologizes. She could see her daughter was miserable all evening. Ouisanne, in a good conscience could not see her darling daughter betrothed to an officer of the Empire or any of the wealthy insipid spawn of the elite. She trusted that her daughter would find her own way and not stuck in a loveless marriage to a snobbish aristocrat. Still, neither Ouisanne nor Nakai wanted their daughter 'shacking up' with some common riff-raff either.

Isabel returns to Coruscant University to complete her PhD. Her thesis: 'Mother and Child Separation Anxiety Algorithms In A Hostile Environment'

Anakin pretends to be sleeping. He is snoring loudly. Suddenly he opens one eye and looks at her from his sofa.

"Oh, you're still here?"

"You asked me to tell you about my childhood."

"Remind me to keep my mouth shut and mind my business. So, what grade did you get for that wasted tuition money?"

"I got a "A" plus. My professor said it was the most impressive case study ever."

"Bunch of Bantha fodder."

"You need to have some compassion. It was a truly heart wrenching case."

"So, you wore all those frilly little dresses growing up?"

"My mother was thrilled to have a girl to dress up and to show off to people."

"Got any holographs on you?"

"Sure."

She leaves the room then returns with an album of images from her childhood. Anakin takes the album and flips through it. He glances at the first few pages then looks up at her with an incredulous expression on his face.

"What's this one? All I see is a doll on a dresser."

Isabel pretends to be insulted.

"That's me!"

She has to admit, her mother did go overboard with the dresses when she was a little girl. Anakin tries not to laugh but he is smiling a lot.

"You sticking to that story?"

"Yes. Why? Are you making fun of me?"

"No…no…it just looks as if your mother selected you from a shelf in a store. He does an imitation of what her mother might sound like during a shopping trip. 'I'll take that one with the yellow ribbon in her hair.' He waves his hand gesturing for her to turn."Turn around so I can pull the string on your back.Heheheh."

"My mother does not sound like that; and that is a cute holograph of me."

"So you're smart too, eh?"

"I think so."

"You're smart and your mom dresses you like a doll. You freak."

Isabel snatches up her photo collection.

"Fine! That's the last time I show you anything personal of mine."

"Awww, come back, I'm sorry."

"No, I have to go." She looks at her watch. "Oh, dear! We've been sitting here too long."

A sound of a taxi speeder pulls up in front of the house. Anakin leaps up and heads for the door to help with her bags. Isabel gathers her purse as she starts to return the album to her room.

"Isabel, leave it. I'll put it away for you."

She heads for the door.

"I forgot the laundry."

"I'll take care of it." He hands the bags to the driver then takes Isabel by the hand back inside the house and closes the door. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you..."

"…See you in a week."

They kiss.

"I think I felt that string in your back. Can I pull it?"

She pretends to ignore his joke.

"Goodbye, Anakin."

"In a week."

He refuses to say goodbye. He is afraid of the word right now. He opens the door and watches her leave.

That evening, he sits on the patio sipping a glass of wine. He flips through the album. He starts from the first page. It is a beautiful baby with a rattle and pink satin booties. Anakin smiles. She's always in a fashionable pair of footwear! He flips to her first day of school, her first camping trip. Her first canoe made by her father, her various graduations. He uses his hand as a placeholder for his favorite image of her as a child. The adorable 'doll on the dresser.'

He knows her favorite color: Yellow.

Her worst hair day: Visiting refugee camps of displaced families

She had the most beautiful 'bad hair' ever.

Now he should tend to the laundry that 'Little Miss Baby doll PhD.' was supposed to do. He should fire her.

To be continued… 'Something is Happening'

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Attention Readers: It might take 24 hours or more for the next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying this heart wrenching story of rebirth and forgiveness.

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