So... sorry this is late. I got Covid and had to be hospitalized for four days because I also got pneumonia and couldn't breathe. I am currently home and on oxygen. I am doing better now. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It has a couple of surprises in it. I'm evil. Have some fluff and angst.
I DON'T OWN STAR WARS.
Leia went to bed last night happy. She woke up the next morning still happy but mostly grumpy. Luke and she shared her bed last night and Luke stole all the blankets. To make things worse, Daddy and Mama were arguing.
"Anakin, you need to go to work. I'll be fine here with Luke and Leia. We can do some things here and then before you know it, you'll be back."
Leia entered the living room to see Mama folding her clothes. She had some pretty things. Leia saw a light pink shirt that looked soft.
"Padme, I just got you back. I don't want to leave you." Daddy was begging!
"Anakin."
Mama set down the pants she was holding in her hands. She walked over to Daddy and leaned towards him.
Leia quickly put her hands over her eyes. When no gross kissing noises came, Leia peeked through her fingers and saw Daddy and Mama hugging.
"I'm not going anywhere. Go to work and you can call us on your breaks. We'll be fine. Honestly Anakin, I'm not going to take them and run away." Mama pulled back from Daddy.
"Don't even joke about that." Daddy sounded mad. "That's not funny."
Mama sighed. "Anakin, please? You know you have that customer coming for that laptop you spent nearly all night on."
"Alright fine. I'll go to work. You drive a hard bargain."
Leia wondered what that meant. "Daddy? Mama? I'm hungry."
Daddy smiled and picked her up. "Good morning, Little Angel." Daddy kissed her head and hugged her tight.
"Anakin." Mama sounded like Uncle Obi does when Leia was doing something wrong.
"Alright. I'll go to work." Daddy set Leia down on the couch and knelt on the floor. "I love you, Little Angel. Be good for your mother okay? No getting into things you are not supposed to and listen to her when she tells you things."
"I know Daddy. I'll be good. It's Mama after all." Leia flung her arms around Daddy's neck. "I love you, Daddy. Have a good day at work." Leia kissed his cheek. "Come back safe."
"I will, Leia." Daddy stood up.
"Mama?" Luke's sleepy voice came from their doorway. "Daddy? Are you going somewhere?"
"Good morning, Luke. How did you sleep?" Daddy got on the floor in front of Luke.
"Cold," Luke muttered. He threw himself at Daddy and hung on tight.
Leia could feel Luke's happiness and comfort at the action. She smiled as Daddy looked shocked before returning the hug.
"Where are you going?" Luke asked again.
Leia turned to tug on her mama's pants. "Mama? Can I brush your hair? It looks soft and I like the color."
"Okay, Leia. Just let me finish folding these and after breakfast. Deal?" Mama shook out a pair of shorts.
"Deal. Can I help you fold clothes?" Leia bounced in place eagerly.
Daddy let out a loud noise and fell to the floor. "Did… did I just hear that right? Leia Skywalker, my Little Angel, willingly asking to do chores and with a smile on her face? I just… Padme? You are a goddess among women. If you can get her to do chores, you will forever have a place here."
Leia scowled and rolled her eyes as Daddy acted like he was dead. She ignored Luke's giggles and Mama laughing. She pouted. "It's not that funny." More laughter. "Stop laughing!" Leia stomped her foot.
"Sorry, Little Angel." Daddy got off the floor. "I'm heading out now. Be good all three of you." Daddy picked up his work bag and his lunch box and left the house.
"So… what do you two want for breakfast?" Mama turned to them with a smile on her face.
Leia decided she was the most beautiful when she smiled. Leia shared a look with Luke.
"Pancakes!" Leia yelled with Luke at the same time.
"Okay. Pancakes it is." Mama set down the shirt she was folding and headed for the kitchen.
Padme winced at the sharp tugging of the hairbrush through her hair.
Leia seemed so delighted at the option to do Padme's own hair. Padme didn't know where Leia's hair obsession came from but she can only guess this Soka person started it.
Padme made sure that Leia's hands were clean before touching her dark tresses. Padme did not want sticky syrup in her hair.
Little hands tugged on her curls with an almost awed touch. Leia tried to braid the hair but only succeeded in tangling it into a knot.
Padme held still as her little girl fulfilled her desire to do her hair. She would fix it later.
"Done!" Leia tugged on her hand. "Come on! Come see!"
Padme stood up and headed for the bathroom, careful of the mess of clips and awkwardly placed bobby pins. She gazed into the mirror in slight horror. She quickly smiled a diplomatic grin. "Thanks for doing my hair, Leia."
Padme's heart fell as Leia frowned. "You don't like it? I know it's messy and I'm not good at it but I can try to do better."
"Leia," Padme thought about how best to answer her perceptive daughter. "How about we both can learn how to do each other's hair? I can show you how to do mine and you can tell me what you like in yours?"
Leia beamed. "I like that. Thanks, Mama." Leia quickly looked at the floor. "C-can you leave it down today? It's really pretty and I liked doing it."
"Sure. Let me show you."
Padme spent the next ten minutes brushing her hair and placing Leia's hairclips around her head. "How's this?"
Padme showed off her hair to Leia.
"Perfect!"
Leia was so happy that Padme felt a true grin spread across her face. She hasn't smiled like that since she was a teenager and had managed to ditch her mother approved babysitter for the afternoon. Her cheeks ached.
"Mooooommmmmmm!" Luke yelled from the living room. "Someone is here!"
Padme entered the main area with a gentle scolding on her lips. She paused as she took in the girl in front of her.
The teenager was wearing a red tank top with denim shorts that came down to just above her knees. An oversized white men's overshirt was tied around her upper chest. A tie-dye purse was slung across one shoulder. Her hair was the most unique thing Padme had ever seen. It was a bright white with blue stripes across three french braids on her head. A matching headband rested in her hair making the outer two braids look like they had points.
"Soka!" Leia ran for the teenager and hugged her knees. "This is my Mama. Mama, this is Soka! I told you I was going to get a Mama. Look! She did my hair! It's not as cool as yours and I don't want mine dyed anymore. Maybe when I'm older Daddy will let me. Maybe I'll get brown and blue hair so that way I'll be sort of like you but also like my Mama."
Soka looked like she was overwhelmed. Leia was talking at a million miles an hour and Soka could barely get a word in.
"Leia," Padme spoke firmly. "Let her speak."
"Yes, Mama." Leia bounced in place as she went silent.
Padme wondered if Leia would explode soon with all the energy she seemed to have.
"You must be Soka? I've heard a lot of things about you." Padme gave a smile to the frazzled sixteen-year-old. "I'm Padme. Leia's mother."
"Ah. Yes. Actually, it's Ahsoka. Ahsoka Tano and I thought I was watching Leia today?"
The poor girl seemed so confused. Padme didn't blame her. Padme herself was still not believing this a little and she had been living it for the past few days.
"Mr. Skywalker said to be here by eight-thirty?" Ahsoka wrinkled her brow.
Leia made a peeping noise when Ahsoka mentioned her dad. Padme glanced over and had to smile. It looked like it was taking everything in Leia to let the grown-ups talk.
"Luke? Why don't you and Leia…" Padme hesitated for a split second, thinking about something to do today when she remembered something Leia suggested on Saturday. "Go get ready for our tea party. Doesn't Lucy need to get dressed?"
"Sure Mama. Come on Leia." Luke pulled on his sister's hand.
Leia's face fell. She looked between Padme, Luke, and Ahsoka. "But… Soka is here. I never see her."
Padme was about to gently reprimand her for whining when Luke did something weird.
"Leia." Was all he said in a firm tone. He locked eyes with Leia and both twins turned and left without a word.
"Mrs. Skywalker?" Ahsoka sounded hesitant.
"Ms. Naberrie." Padme corrected sharply without thinking. She winced as Ahsoka flinched. Padme deflated. She ran a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry. It's been a long three days. Would you like some tea?"
"As long as I don't have to wear a feather boa, I'm good." Ahsoka dropped her purse by the door.
Padme led the way to the kitchen and pulled out the pitcher of fresh iced sweet tea she had made last night. "Ice?"
"Yes, please, Ma'am." Ahsoka sat at the table. "Where's Mr. Skywalker?"
"He's at work right about now. I'm so sorry about the mix-up. Next time I'll be sure to double-check with Anakin about any possible sitters coming over." Padme poured two glasses of tea and set them on the table. She sat down with a sigh. "I hate to think you made a trip for nothing."
"It's cool. I had no plans for today anyway." Ahsoka picked up her glass and took a small sip. "Do you mind me asking what exactly is going on? Last I knew Mr. Skywalker didn't have you and that was two days ago."
"That's… a long story."
Ahsoka twirled the ice around in her cup. "I'm not going anywhere."
"It all started about six years ago. I was going on a short trip with my parents and we came across this cocky pilot who had the most gorgeous eyes…."
Padme tried not to let the memories wash over her. She spent about half an hour telling Ahsoka about her dating Anakin and how her parents split them up.
"Wait! Your parents purposely told you that your Baby's Daddy left you because your daughter died and he couldn't cope when all along they duped him too and led him to believe that both you and your son died splitting you up all because he didn't make enough money as a pilot?"
"Yes?" Padme had to admit, it sounded bad when you put it that way.
"And I thought my parents were bad." Ahsoka whistled. "What happened a couple of days ago? All I know was Leia was saying Luke was coming and she was getting a Mama."
"My children are more devious than I thought. Luke and Leia can sense each other and somehow planned to meet at the Grand Canyon on Saturday. One thing led to another and here I am playing happy family to…" Padme saw something shift out of the corner of her eye. "Two amazing children that should know better than to listen in at the door behind a bookshelf that should really be moved."
"Aw. Mama!" Leia grumbled. "How do you do that!?"
"I am a mom. I have eyes in the back of my head. Are you all dressed for today?" Padme held back a chuckle at Leia's wide-eyed glance at Padme's hair.
"Pay up Leia. I told you she would know. Mama always knows." Luke's whisper wasn't exactly quiet.
"Luke, I know you are not betting in this house." Padme sighed at her son's cheeky grin.
"Of course not Mama. I don't got any money."
Ahsoka laughed. "Good luck. Do you need me today?" She stood up and stretched.
"I think we're good. Excuse me a moment." Padme hurried for her room and grabbed the fifty dollars she kept as spare change in her wallet. She hid it in a ten-dollar bill and headed back out to the main room.
Padme walked into laughter.
"And then Daddy started falling on the floor and saying how Mama was a goddess and they were laughing at me." Leia's childish voice was full of the pout Padme was sure she was sporting.
"Ahsoka? Please, stop by for dinner sometime? You are welcome whenever you want." Padme held out her hand with the money hidden in it.
"What about when you go back? I don't think Mr. Skywalker would honor that." Ahsoka took her hand and then blinked down at the cash in it.
"For gas and an apology for having you come all this way for nothing," Padme answered her silent question. "And who knows what the future will bring. I've learned to just focus on today. It's less stressful."
"Thanks…" Ahsoka seemed to hesitate before saying, "Thanks Ms. Naberrie."
"Padme, please. You've just heard my life story. I think we can be a little more casual than that." Padme shot the sixteen-year-old a fond smile. "It was very nice to meet you."
CRASH!
"Mooooommmmmmm! Leia just knocked over the tea!" Luke yelled a split second after the sound of something falling reached her ears.
Padme closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
"Good luck Ms. P. That happens here more often than not." Ahsoka picked up her purse and walked out the door. "Nice to meet you!"
The front door shut with a click. Silence. Then…
"Mooooommmmmmm!"
Anakin bounced his knee and eyed the old analog clock on the wall. 9:09. Only twenty-four minutes since he opened and one hundred forty-one minutes until he could call home.
"Mr. Skywalker? How do you fix a digital clock that is moving twice as fast than it should?"
Bless Rex. Really. Anakin should knight him or make him a sain-. No. Knighting is cooler. The kid would love it.
"Mr. Skywalker? You okay, Sir?" Rex poked his blonde head into Anakin's workroom. "Sir?"
Anakin jolted. "Sorry, Rex. What do you need?"
Rex was quiet for a moment. "I have an old radio I'm fixing up for Cody for his birthday. I know it's not for another month. It's only July, but I have some questions. Cody loves all that old technology stuff. Something about not appreciating history or whatever. Can you help me out?"
Anakin focused on the seventeen-year-old before him. "Sure. What's the make and model?"
Rex seemed strangely relieved.
Yep. Definitely knighthood.
Anakin focused on the interesting project that Rex had picked up. The radio looked to be made new in the 1960s. It was an incredible find and Anakin was happy to help. The radio was soon spread out on Rex's workstation.
The bell above the door rang out and Anakin took a break to present the laptop to the finicky customer. The transaction was soon complete and Anakin was back to working in his area and eyeing up the clock like it did harm to his family.
"Sir? I can watch the counter for a few minutes if you want to take a break for lunch." Rex walked out of the small workroom to the main floor.
Anakin bolted for his bag. "Thanks, Rex! I'll be back in half an hour! You are being knighted later."
"Sir?"
Anakin saw a brief flash of Rex's confused face before slamming the backdoor shut. He sat down at the wooden table and pulled out his phone. Anakin hit the number that Padme gave him and let it ring.
On the second ring, it picked up.
"Hello?" Luke's childish voice answered the phone.
Anakin grinned. "Hey, buddy. It's Daddy."
"Hi, Daddy!" Luke's happiness made Anakin's heart swell.
"Hey. What are you up to?"
Anakin listened avidly as Luke told him about going for a walk to the park and eating pancakes for breakfast. When he mentioned Ahsoka, Anakin winced. He had forgotten about how he had paid her for the week to watch Leia.
"I don't know why Leia likes hair so much." Luke was saying into the phone. "Do you know why Daddy?"
"It's a girl thing, Luke. I don't think we will ever know." Anakin laughed as he imagined Luke's wide-eyed, shocked look. "Hey, is Mama there?"
It was curious why Luke had her phone and she hasn't come to see him yet.
"Yep. She and Leia are in the bathroom. They were having a tea party and Leia spilled tea all over Larry. Leia was crying and Mama took her to the bathroom to clean him." Luke sounded unenthusiastic. "I don't like tea parties. The only good thing about it was eating the cookies Mama let us have."
Anakin winced in sympathy. "I don't like them either, but listen, sometimes we have to do things we may not like to make someone else happy. Did Leia like the tea party? Was she happy?"
"Yeah. Especially when Mama brought out cookies. Mama said next time she will make little cakes for it. She called them petty four cakes. Daddy, do you think Mama means she will let me have four cakes to myself?"
"I don't know, Buddy." Anakin checked on his watch for the time. He only had five minutes to eat his lunch and head back inside. "Can I talk to Mama?"
"Sure. Mooooommmmmmmm!"
Anakin yanked the phone from his ear as Luke's piercing shout blasted the speakers.
"Luke, what have I told you about yelling like that for me?" Padme's voice sounded almost like a whisper in comparison to the deafening shriek of Luke.
"To not to. Here. It's Daddy."
The phone changed hands and Padme's soft voice came on the line. "Hello, Anakin."
Anakin frowned. She sounded tired. "How is everything going?" Anakin put the phone on speaker as he opened his lunch box. "I'm sorry I didn't mention Ahsoka to you. I hope there wasn't an issue. I can text her later. Her boyfriend works for me so I can get her a message that way too."
Padme's warm laugh made him freeze. "Now I see where Leia gets it from. Everything is going fine. I'm going to make some lunch here in a minute and then it's N-A-P-T-I-M-E and then the park if they still have a lot of energy. We'll see you at six?"
Anakin thought about how much work was piling up on his work table. "Might want to make it six-thirty. I have some work to do."
"Okay." Padme sounded distracted. "Oh, Luke no!"
There was a crash over the phone.
"Ani I have to go. See you at home at six-thirty. Love you, bye."
Anakin's jaw dropped. "Did she just…?"
Anakin blinked. Did he hear that right? Warm feelings spread in his chest. She loved him? She loved him! Anakin whooped out loud.
"Mr. Skywalker! If you are done with your lunch, I could use some help in here!"
Rex sounded panicked.
Anakin leaped to his feet and ran back inside. She loved him! Maybe things would work out after all. Anakin's hope swelled further. He felt like he was floating.
"Sir?"
Rex was exasperated with him. Anakin just knew it.
"That doesn't go there."
"Right. Sorry." Anakin forced himself to focus on his work. He could think about Padme later. "Ouch!" Anakin pinched his thumb between two pieces of metal.
Wait! He didn't say it back!
"Damn it!"
Luke was having an awesome day. He had never felt this amazing. He could be himself! He could run in the house after Leia. He could yell for his mom when he needed her. He could play anything he wanted, eat anything he wanted, he had cookies, cookies, for a snack.
Being here was awesome! Luke never wanted to go back to North Carolina. Arizona was an amazing place.
Luke was currently playing at a park. After he got off the phone with Daddy, Mama had gotten them lunch. She seemed busy. Luke had started lunch but spilled the bread box all over the floor.
Mama had run in and helped him. Mama seemed upset though. She scolded Luke for the help he gave her. Luke had pouted. He was only trying to help. He told Mama that. She got sad then.
After lunch, they got ready to go and Mama walked them down the street to the park. It was a good park. It had swings and spinny things and slides and even a sandbox!
Luke swung on the swings with Mama's help. He was a space pilot flying high in the sky! Then he played with Leia on the spinny things. They ran around and pretended the ground was lava.
Luke was kind of sleepy now but he didn't want to go to bed. He would miss everything. He would miss Daddy coming home and playing with Leia and…
"Luke! It's time to go! Come on, we need to get home." Mama called him from the bench under a shady spot.
Luke ran over to Mama. "Mama! I love it here. I don't want to go back."
"We need to get home. We can come back later." Mama took his hand. Luke took Leia's hand. Mama started back down the street to Daddy's house.
Luke noticed that his Mama called Daddy's house home. Luke whined as they went through the front door. "Mama? Can we go do something?"
"How about we watch a movie? What do you guys want to watch?" Mama helped Luke take off his shoes.
Leia ran for the living room. "Beauty and the Beast!"
"Robots!" Luke ran after her.
"No!" Leia scowled. "I hate that movie!"
"Well, I hate Beauty and the Beast!" Luke glared at Leia as she crossed her arms in front of him.
"I'm not watching that stupid robot show." Leia was being so mean!
"It's not stupid! Daddy likes it!" Luke argued. Why can't Leia see it was a good movie?
"Kids!" Mama shouted.
Luke stopped looking at Leia. He felt bad. His Mama sounded really angry.
"I have had enough! Luke, we are not watching Robots. Leia, we are not watching Beauty and the Beast. I am picking the movie. I want both of you to sit on the couch, quietly, while I get the movie on the tv. Why can't you two get along? You were behaving fine a few hours ago." Mama went over to the tv and grabbed the remote. She put on the movie with the cooking rat.
Luke sat on the couch. He felt really sleepy. Luke slumped down on the couch. His eyes itched. The last thing Luke remembered was Remy escaping through the water tunnel in the storm.
Luke woke up to Mama humming. A huge basket of clothes sat on the couch next to him. Leia was still sleeping on the other side of him.
The movie was off. Soft music was playing from the tv. Mama sang to a song about dancing in the dark and looking perfect.
"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms, barefoot on the grass, we're listening to our favorite song."
"You have a pretty voice, Mama." Luke stretched his arms. He sagged back into the couch.
Mama was folding a pair of Daddy's shorts. Luke's shirt went next into a pile on the table in front of the couch. Leia's pants were in her hands when Luke got off the couch.
"Mama?" Luke leaned against her knee.
"Yes, Baby?" Luke's Mama ran her hand through Luke's hair. Luke leaned into her touch. That always felt nice.
"When is Daddy coming home?" Luke looked up at her as Mama froze.
"Home? Luke, home is in North Carolina. Remember? With your cousins and your school."
Luke rolled his eyes. "You're being silly Mama. Home is here. With Daddy and Leia. You even said so. When Daddy called at lunch. You said 'See you at home, love you, bye.' See? You said it was home and it is."
"I-I said I love you to him?"
Luke didn't know why Mama was so upset. "Yes. But that's okay. 'Cause mamas and daddies are supposed to love each other. That's what Leia said and Leia said that Uncle Obi told her. If Uncle Obi says it, it has to be true. Leia said that Uncle Obi is always right and is very smart."
Mama stood up and ran from the room. She went into Daddy's room and closed the door.
Luke stared after her. What did he say? What was wrong with Mama?
Luke edged closer to Daddy's door. He knew he wasn't supposed to go into his Mama's room without her there. Maybe Daddy was the same. But Mama was in there.
He was about to knock on the door when Mama's phone started ringing. Luke ran to get it. Maybe Daddy was calling again?
"Daddy?" Luke hit the button and held the phone to his ear.
"Daddy? Luke Naberrie, tell me where you are at this instant! Where is your mother? Why are you answering her phone? This behavior is unacceptable. Children do not answer their parents' phones. Give the phone to your mother right now and go sit down like the good boy you can be."
Luke swallowed harshly. "Yes, Grandmother."