Disclaimer: Star Wars is not mine
Author's Note: Here's an early Christmas present! Hopefully chapter 8 will be up soon also. Happy reading and please leave feedback!!!
Chapter 7: Life goes on…
Luke had just finished recording his message to send to Leia and Han when Caylee burst through the doors, carrying a handful of flowers.
"These are for you daddy!"
Luke took the flowers from his daughter, brought them up to his nose and inhaled their sweet fragrance. "They smell nice Caylee. Where did you get them from?" he asked as Caylee climbed up onto his lap.
"Threepio and I got them by the river."
"And did you leave Threepio by the river?" Luke asked looking around for the golden droid.
"No. I just ran home."
Luke smiled just as Threepio came clanging into the house. "Mistress Caylee never do that to me again!"
"What did she do Threepio?"
"She ran away from me and left me worried Master Luke!" Threepio squawked in typical Threepio fashion.
"Sorry Threepio. I won't run away from you again." Caylee said.
Threepio accepted her apology and left the room.
"He's right Caylee. You shouldn't have left him. If Kandra or I had gone with you, would you still have run away?"
"No. But daddy! I told him I was going home! I guess he didn't hear me because he was complaining about something." Caylee protested.
Luke sighed. He had to admit that Threepio needed to lighten up a little bit.
"Just don't do it again sweetie."
"I'm sorry daddy," the little girl said looking down at the floor. She hated to make her daddy mad at her.
"I'm not mad at you Caylee." Luke said pulling her into a hug. "I just don't want someone to take you away like they did with Cray."
Caylee didn't say anything, but began to cry. She missed her brother and mommy so much. But she couldn't let her daddy sense how sad she was. But what she hadn't learned yet was that a Jedi could sense feelings of those around them. So no matter how hard Caylee tried, Luke knew exactly how she was feeling.
"Now I have a surprise for you," Luke said as he picked Caylee up and kissed her cheek.
"What daddy?"
"You'll see. Now go change clothes and we'll leave."
Caylee scrambled out of her dad's arms and ran to her bedroom.
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She starred up and down at the building. It was really big, with a dome top and lots of stairs in front. Caylee had never seen a building like this before. She thought that it was really pretty.
"What is this daddy?" Caylee asked walking up the stairs, holding Luke's hand.
"This is a museum. I thought that you would want to see a little bit more about heritage."
"Hun?"
"You'll understand in a little while sweetheart."
There were a lot of different species in the museum; some were human, some Gungan, and some were from other planets. To make sure he didn't loose Caylee, Luke carried her most of the time that they were there.
Caylee had never been to a place like this before. And she was having a blast! She got to see all sorts of animals, birds, and plants. Even some fish. Then she learned about the history of her new home world. And finally she and her dad made their way towards the gallery where all the rulers of Naboo were exhibited.
Luke carried her past most of them then stopped in front of one of them. "Now Caylee can you read me the name of this Queen?"
Caylee looked at the name and sounded out each letter. "Queen Ami…"
She couldn't sound out the rest of it.
"Amidala," Luke said finishing it for Caylee.
Caylee looked at the face of Queen Amidala for a minute or so. Slowly it all came together in her mind. "Daddy is this grandma?" she whispered.
Luke smiled and nodded yes.
"She's so pretty," Caylee said in admiration.
They kept looking at all the information about Queen/Senator Amidala. They came upon an old picture of a celebration with many Jedi there.
"That's grandpa, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Master Yoda, Master Windu, grandma…" Caylee said pointing out several people in the picture, which really impressed her father. Then she stopped at an older gentleman, standing back in the crowd a little. She turned away from the picture and curled up tight against her father's shoulder.
"What's wrong Caylee?"
"That's the bad man in my dreams," she said into his shoulder.
Luke knew who that man was. It was then Senator Palpatine. "Sweetie, the bad man is dead. Grandpa killed him."
Caylee lifted her head from her father's shoulder and looked him square in the eyes. "No daddy he isn't."
Luke had met several reincarnated versions of the Emperor and each time he had overcome them. But to hear something like that from his own flesh and blood didn't sound right. But he would figure this out later. Something next to him had caught his attention.
Two Gungans were standing next to him and Caylee. There was an older one and a younger one. And the conversation they were having was rather interesting.
"PawPaw disa you know Queen Amidala?" the younger one asked.
"Yes mesa knew her."
That was when Luke interjected. "Excuse me, you knew Padmé Amidala?"
"Mesa did! Mesa called Jar Jar Binks." The older Gungan said to Luke. "Disa is my granddaughter, Tara."
Luke smiled and said hello to Tara. Then he introduced himself. "I am Luke Skywalker and this is my daughter Caylee."
Caylee lifted her head up a little and smiled at the two Gungans.
"Yousa Padmé's boy!" Jar Jar exclaimed.
Luke motioned for Jar Jar to keep it down as they left the museum.
Once they were outside and away from crowds, Luke spoke up again. "Do you mind me asking a few questions about her? You're one of the first beings that I've come across that knew her. She died when my sister and I were very young."
"Mesa be happy to." Jar Jar said.
Luke led the way home.
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While Luke and Jar Jar talked in the living room, Caylee and Tara played outside under the watchful eyes and sensors of Kandra and the droids.
"How old are yousa?" Tara asked Caylee, as they sat out on the back steps.
"Three. But I turn four soon, I think."
"Mesa five."
Artoo beeped next to Caylee. "Oh Tara! Want to learn to play a game with me? My brother and I used to play it all the time."
"Okies!"
Caylee taught Tara how to play hide-n-go-seek. Even Artoo wanted to join in on the game. He had many times before on Yavin, when Caylee and Cray would play while their parents were busy with the Jedi Academy.
And they were still playing the game when Luke and Jar Jar came outside once they had finished talking.
"Tara! Wesa gonna be leaving!" Jar Jar called out.
The two girls came running up to them. "Daddy does Tara have to leave? We're having fun!" Caylee asked.
"For now she does. But if its ok with her parents and PawPaw then she can come back whenever she wants."
Both girls were very happy about this, because neither of them had many friends.
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Over the next few weeks, the changes in Caylee became clearer to Luke. She rarely had any more nightmares, maybe once or twice every two weeks. And usually it was one of three nightmares; the lightsaber battle or the ones with the ugly white monsters. But other than that, nothing was really bugging her that much. Well that wasn't entirely true. She still missed her mother and brother dearly. And so did he. Only time could heal wounds like that.
The other thing that Luke noticed was that Caylee had made at least three good friends. Of course there was Tara Binks. She and Caylee became inseparable at times. Neither of them cared that the other was a different species. They always had fun. Then the family next door had a daughter about Caylee's age named Caitlin and a son named Kyler, who was around three years old then Caylee was. And their last name was Hendrix.
While Caylee loved having a good time with her new friends, she loved even more practicing her Jedi skills. So far she had gotten very good at communicating with her father through her mind's eye, both with her eye's closed and opened.
Now Luke was teaching her how to use the Force to levitate objects. So far she had been able to levitate up to three medium size rocks at a time. Luke didn't know if it was her determination to become a Jedi Knight and save her brother or just pure talent. There was only one other person that he had seen grasp nature of the Force this fast at such a young age. And that happened to be her favorite cousin.
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"Didn't Uncle Luke say that Caylee was down by the lake with her friends?" Jacen Solo asked, looking all around. All he could see were trees and a lake a little ways off in the distance.
"Yeah. She should be down here with 2 humans and a Gungan, whatever that is," Jaina said, walking up behind her twin brother.
"Have either of you thought that she is probably hiding from us because she knew we were coming." Anakin suggested bringing up the rear.
Jacen and Jaina turned to look at him, like he was stupid. "Now why would she do that? Uncle Luke has been practicing with her Force skills. She should know how to pick out friend from foe. Besides we're her cousins!" Jacen said.
That's when all the Solo children felt happiness through the Force. And they followed it. What they came upon was a funny sight. Sitting in the middle of a grassy area was a little boy, who was being covered in flowers by Caylee, another little girl, and some kind of creature.
"That must be a Gungan," Jaina whispered.
The three of them stepped out into the field and was walking towards the group, when Caylee spotted them.
"Jacen! Jaina! Anakin!!!!" she squealed as she ran up to her cousins. And in typical Caylee fashion, the first one of her cousins to get a hug was Anakin. She gave Anakin a big hug, and then moved on to hug Jacen and Jaina.
"Come meet my new friends!" she said pulling Anakin with her towards the group that was waiting for her in the middle of the field. Jacen and Jaina followed behind them.
"This is Tara, Caitlin, and Kyler. They are my friends!" Caylee said smiling up at her cousins. The Solo children all said hello and introduced themselves.
"Itsa time for mesa to go home," Tara said waving bye a few minutes later.
Everyone watched Tara leave and head home to the Gungan city underwater. Then they all head home.
Once Kyler and Caitlin had gone their way to their house, Caylee spoke up. "Why are you here?" she asked curiously.
"Isn't tomorrow your birthday?" Jaina asked.
Caylee nodded yes with a big smile on her face.
"That's why we're here! Besides we missed our favorite cousin." Jacen said.
By then they were home. And Caylee was so happy to see her aunt and uncle and Chewie.
"Now how old will you be tomorrow?" Han asked, as he hugged Caylee. She held up four fingers.
"Almost old enough to fly on your own!"
Chewie roared in agreement at what Han said. Everyone laughed.
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The next day, Leia, Han and the children all went to the museum. Luke had told Leia all about the stuff that was there about their mother and she wanted to see it. And so did everyone else. Chewie on the other hand, wanted to tinker with the Falcon some.
Then Kandra was busy most of the day making a special dinner for Caylee's birthday party that night. And Artoo and Threepio were helping her with that.
That just left Luke and Caylee for some father/daughter time. And he had a special present for her birthday. He wanted to give it to her when they were alone.
"Here's your birthday present from me."
Caylee took the little box from her father's hands and opened it. Inside were two golden rings on a matching chain.
"What is it daddy?"
Luke picked up the chain and slipped it around Caylee's neck. "These were mine and your mom's wedding rings. I'm giving them to you to keep."
"Why daddy? They are yours."
"I'm giving them to you so that no matter what happens in the future, you will always know that your mom and I love you a lot, as well as Cray. So take good care of these rings."
"I will daddy," she said hugging him. "Thank you."
"Your welcome sweetheart. And happy birthday."
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Caylee couldn't sleep. Her birthday had been fun and all, but there was so much that was missing. Her mom wasn't there. And neither was her brother.
She quietly got up off the floor in her daddy's room and tiptoed past her room where Leia and Han were sleeping, then past Kandra's room, and then past the living room where her cousins and Chewie were sleeping. Then she quietly opened the back door and went to sit outside on the steps.
She wrapped herself in a blanket and sat there looking up at the stars. She thought back to the last time that her entire family had looked up at the stars on Yavin 4. It was right before her mommy died and Cray went missing.
Tears slowly began to slide down her cheeks as she buried her head into the blanket.
No tears sweetie. I told you that I'm always going to be watching over you.
Caylee looked up. "Mommy?"
Next to her, a shiny figure began to appear. "Yes my dear."
Tears began to come down Caylee's cheeks faster. "I miss you mommy."
"I know. But I'm always here." Mara's spirit said pointing to Caylee's heart. By then Caylee was practically bawling.
"I have to go now Caylee. Remember that I love you so much and happy birthday."
"No mommy! Don't go!" Caylee cried out.
By then it was too late. Mara's spirit was gone. Caylee lay down against the cool stones where her mother's spirit had been and sniffled. She was about to cry more, but a soothing feeling settled over her. It felt like her mother was holding her, like she did when she when she was still alive. Caylee lay there and fell fast asleep.
The moonlight glistened gently off of the two wedding bands she wore around her neck.