It was the day before the coronation. Everything, thanks to Caroline's highly skilled planning and management, was put to perfection. She'd planned out so many tours, concerts, private gigs, and appearances for Count Crescendo, she knew how to prepare for any disaster from wardrobe malfunctions to anxiety attacks.
"The bakers are decorating the cake, security has been quadrupled to ensure no attacks or invasion of reporters or party-crashers of any kind," listed Caroline as Qui-Gon was being shown some last-minute preparations. "And the entire family has been briefed on all the rituals of the coronation ceremony."
"You have a way of being very organized, don't you?" said Qui-Gon.
"You'd be surprised how composition and choreography classes improve your organizational skills." Caroline said. "Which is why party planning is my job outside of music management."
"Did you do all the planning for your wedding as well?"
"No. We actually eloped. We were freshly graduated from school, just had our baby, and didn't have the means to have a proper wedding. Too bad, though. We had all these amazing plans for the wedding of our dreams."
Suddenly, that was when something, or rather someone jumped on Qui-Gon's back.
"Gabriella, what are you doing?" Qui-Gon asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Playing Tigger Tag." Gabby said.
Qui-Gon picked Gabby from his shoulders and set her down. Over the last few days, Gabby tried playing Tigger Tag with Qui-Gon, but was shocked to find out she couldn't knock him down like she did with any other adult she'd previously done with. It must've been because Qui-Gon had super strength and was more firmly balance now.
Then, Qui-Gon felt another little girl jump on his back.
"Lamenta? You too?" Qui-Gon said, setting his other granddaughter on her feet.
"I was getting good at Tigger Tag too." Lamenta said.
And then Qui-Gon felt someone bigger jump on him. He still didn't fall.
"Seriously?!" Boba said, hanging from his grandpa's shoulders. "Can no one Tigger Tag you?"
"Get down, Boba." Qui-Gon said, and Boba let go.
"Aren't you kids supposed to be getting fitted for your outfits?" Caroline asked.
"We finished that already, Mommy." Lamenta said.
"It goes pretty fast when you have clothing changing magic." Gabby said, twirling and switching from the yellow jumper she was wearing to a purple shirt and blue overalls. "Like that."
"Where are the twins?" Caroline asked.
"Uncle Anakin is making sure the horses have their saddles ready and Daddy's overseeing the music with Harmony and Remix." Lamenta said. "We're all ready for the big day tomorrow."
"Good. A lot of hard work has gone into making this day perfect." Caroline said, looking at the time. "Speaking of which, children... all of you best prepare for bed early tonight. We've got a big day tomorrow."
The kids groaned and left to get themselves ready for bed. Except, they weren't tired yet. Even Princess of the night Lamenta didn't want to sleep.
But Qui-Gon had an idea.
"Would you like to hear a story, children?" Qui-Gon said.
"Really?" Gabby said, sounding excited.
"Of course. I understand you enjoy story time."
"It may seem silly, but I enjoy it too." Boba said.
"There's no reason to stop enjoying having a story read to you just because you got a little older." Qui-Gon said, ruffling Boba's hair. "Now, what story would you kids like to hear?"
The kids looked among their favorite storybooks. And Boba found one he always loved. The Lion and the Mouse.
"This was my favorite book growing up." Boba said.
"I haven't heard that story before." Lamenta said.
Gabby looked at her cousin and said, "It's actually pretty great. It sends a message about kindness and courage coming from beings of all sizes."
"Is that the story you'd like to hear?" Qui-Gon asked.
The kids looked at each other and took it to a vote. And it was unanimous. So, Qui-Gon read them the story of the lion who spared the life of a mouse and later had his act of goodness rewarded by that same mouse saving his life later despite the lion's initial doubt that a tiny mouse could do such a huge favor for a big, strong predator like the lion.
All the grownups were pretty tuckered out after all the prep for the coronation. No arguments were made when Caroline declared it bedtime for everyone.
Qui-Gon placed his granddaughters in their beds and got ready to get into bed himself. Tomorrow was a big day for him and his entire family. With Caroline's party planning skills and everyone pitching in to help, he felt sure it was going to be a perfect day.
So he lay himself down comfortably and closed his eyes, drifting off into dreamland.
Except, what he saw in his sleep was anything but a dream.
Qui-Gon saw... a vision.
He couldn't quite see everything perfectly clearly, but he could hear a lot of things and make out at least a few images. He could see his family, a battle, he could see a coronation ceremony for his eldest granddaughter, and a plethora of glowing lights of many colors. But, he could also hear screams, cries of dismay, and he could see a bunch of black butterflies and Boba looking a little bit older and being thrown into the ocean to drown. And he could see a young woman a few years older than his twins. A woman with light brown skin, darker brown hair and blue eyes with two little gold stripes in each of them.
That was when Qui-Gon woke up with a gasp. He sat up and breathed, sighing with relief that he was fine in his bed at the Naboo Palace.
With a sigh, Qui-Gon slipped out of bed and decided to walk a little bit. That usually helped him when he had trouble sleeping before. As he walked, he came across the others' rooms. The kids were sleeping like babies and so were their parents.
When he looked at each of his sons sleeping, even though they were pretty much all grownup, he could still see those sweet little boys they were the very last time he'd seen them before his battle with Darth Maul. He was given a miracle; a second chance to be a father to his sons, and now a grandfather to his grandson and granddaughters too.
Qui-Gon had no idea how much time he would have with his grandchildren. Sure, he hadn't aged a day after he was killed and basically remained sixty after he was revived, but still. Anything could happen. But, he chose not to dwell on that. He would make sure his return was not in vain by being there for his family, and being the great ruler his mother was born to become but never did, hopefully passing on that knowledge to his children as they helped to rebuild their ancestral home.
But before he went back to bed, he decided to make a call to someone at the Temple.
"Kara, I hope I didn't wake you." said Qui-Gon.
"Hello, Father." said a woman over the transmission.
"Kara, Dear. I know I couldn't be there for you growing up, but I want to be here for you now. And it is entirely your choice to be involved in this family."
"As much as I wish I could've grown up with you, I don't see any reason not to start somewhere or get to know my half-brothers."
"Yes. However, I think we may need to wait a while before we reveal to anyone else of our relations."
"Why is that?"
Qui-Gon explained to Kara what he saw in his vision, and how he sensed it meant that the royal family would face an upcoming threat that only someone with Solaran magic could stop.
"Because you are the only royal child no one but me knows about, you may be key to ensuring the restoration of this kingdom and our family's safety. Can I trust you to keep this secret?"
Even over the transmission Kara could see sincerity in her father's eyes. For years, she'd known he was her father ever since she found the letter that he'd left to her before he died. And after seeing her secret niece with her father so many times, it made her reflect and wonder what might've been had she gotten to grow up with her father. She lived by the old Jedi Code, and like any other Jedi Master who'd grown up with it, it took some time for her to adjust. But when she learned of her father's revival and that the Chosen One was her half-brother and that he had a twin, she felt a spark of hope. Hope for having the family she always wanted. Even though she didn't have any kids of her own or even a husband, she could at least be the mother she always wanted to her nieces and nephew.
But now, she had to keep it secret that she was part of the family because her father told her a lot was at stake. She felt hesitant to keep secrets again, but if it was for the greater good of both their family and the galaxy, she knew what she had to do.
"I will keep this secret, Father." Kara said. "Until the threat is ended."