Disclaimer: all main characters (except Khalee) are owned by Lucasfilms. I just borrowed them for a bit.

AN: Thanks to those of you that gave me reviews! I like them…..hehehehe. To everyone else reading this, READ AND REVIEW!!!! J/K! No seriously, do it!

Chapter 3

The landing in the field that had been cleared for Khalee's ship was as smooth as possible. It's just nerves...that's why my stomach is so unsettled. Khalee looked once again in the mirror checking her appearance.

"My lady, you look lovely," Sunya declared, trying to scare off her lady's nervousness. "They will love you no matter what you look like."

"But why can't I shake the feeling that this is just the calm before the storm, Sunya? All they…scratch that…all my MOTHER ever did was critique my every move until I wanted her to burst into flames!" Khalee looked back towards the mirror and into her own eyes. There had been many times when she was first taken to Alderaan that she wished her family, her mother especially, had came and said she was sorry and that she was wrong. But after the messages became fewer and fewer and the only real news came from Padme, Khalee came to realize that her family was never going to ask her to come back to Naboo. No matter what I do, I'll never be perfect for her. The least I can do is enjoy my time with Padme and papa.

Khalee heard the buzz at the door but stayed where she was. She heard Sunya talking to the Jedi knight and his Padawan. Sunya poked her head around the corner. "All of your possessions have been unloaded my lady and there is a welcoming party gathered outside of the ship."

Well, I guess it's now or never. "Okay, I'm ready." And with that, Khalee's wall that she had learned to erect around her emotions went up, and the stoic, impenetrable, diplomatic Khalee Dinala was ready to see her estranged family again after 17 years.

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Obi-Wan Kenobi surveyed the woman he was asked to escort back to her home planet of Naboo as she walked in front of him to disembark from the ship. Her stiff back and tensed muscles of her neck gave away her real thoughts on what she thought of the situation she had been placed in. The stoic and cordial manner in which she had greeted him and Anakin in her quarters was…well…confusing. It was almost as if she was entirely void of emotion.

"Good morning gentlemen," Khalee said as she entered the main room of her quarters.

"Good morning, my lady," both Obi-Wan and Anakin answered with a slight bow. "Are you ready, my lady, to meet your family? They have all gathered to greet you," Anakin stepped forward and offered his arm to Khalee with a slight smile. "Thank you Anakin. And yes, I am ready to see them." Khalee was completely poised as she took the proffered arm and walked out of the room, with Obi-Wan and Sunya following them. But Khalee's thoughts had begun to make little cracks in her aura of aloofness. She still could not shake off the feeling that there was something else here on Naboo that would cause problems. The fact that she had been having visions for the past few days about what could transpire on Naboo didn't help either. And they all involved her beloved sister Padme.

Obi-Wan continued to observe Khalee, though as covertly as possible, to attempt to figure out what she was thinking. I don't like the vibes she's giving off, he thought as she continued to walk ahead. Anakin had been trying to make conversation with her, but her answers were clipped and short. For the life of him he could not figure out why she had shut herself off. And that was something he wanted to figure out. The smile she had given him just the evening before had shown him a glimpse of her heart, and that had intrigued him. It has also been intoxicating to his senses. He couldn't stop thinking about the way her eyes sparkled when she had smiled at him. Why is she hiding the fiery spirit I saw in her eyes last night?

The group halted close to the start of the docking ramp. Khalee closed her eyes to gather what strength she could at what was about to transpire. I wish Maani was here, she thought as the reality of seeing her family again finally hit her.

"My lady, are you all right?" Anakin's simple question jerked her out of her head and back to the situation at hand. She could not allow her misgivings of her family cloud her thoughts. She was a grown woman with a job to do.

"Yes, Anakin, I am fine. I was just taking a deep breath of air. It smells wonderful," Khalee added with a slight smile to belay her new friend's concern.

With that, the group of travelers began to walk down the ramp that would lead everyone down a path that would forever change all their lives.

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Padme Amidala had never felt so excited and nervous in her entire life. "Mother, what if she doesn't recognize me?" she asked with a hint of anxiety in her voice. All Padme had ever wanted was to see her big sister again, the one who had always protected her at night when storms had raged outside and had always been more than please to let Padme climb all over her when they were little. "Well, my dear, if she doesn't then don't worry. No one has seen her in 17 years." That's because you sent her away, Padme thought to herself sarcastically.

Padme continued to look at the ship, waiting with bated breath for her sister to walk down the ramp to greet her. She knew that it would take a while to get used to being around her again, but it would be worth it. I really can't wait to see her, Padme thought with a smile. "Padme, why are you smiling like that?" her mother asked, seeing the mischievous smile that had taken over her youngest daughter's face. "Oh, no reason. Just thinking of all the trouble Khalee and I can cause while she's here." Padme knew her comment had hit its mark when she heard the sudden intake of breath from her mother.

"Mother, I'm just kidding."

"Oh no you aren't. I remember how much trouble the two of you got into. Padme, you are a senator of Naboo now and it will not look well for you to be running around acting like a child!" Lady Ornlea scolded, attempting to persuade Padme to not follow her sister's example of acting, well, like a boy. Oh wonderful, Padme thought ruefully. Always concerned about my career and not me.

"Look, Padme. Here she comes." Her father interjected, knowing that the two women were bound to say some harsh words if attention wasn't taken away from the argument. His wife had always been overly concerned for Padme and not concerned enough for Khalee. He had always loved Khalee, especially her unpredictability. He had missed her these 17 years because of that reason. She had always been able to make him smile on the worst of days.

The three family members turned towards the ship and watched as two women and two men walked down the ramp. Padme was able to tell which on was her sister right away. She's always been so regal and poised, Padme thought with a smile. She watched with a smile until her sister reached the bottom of the ramp and then ran over to meet her.

Khalee saw her little sister, so grown up and beautiful, run over to meet her. Khalee detached herself from Anakin and walked over to see her. The two sisters stood there, just inches from each other, looking at what 17 years had done to the other. Then all of a sudden, Khalee opened her arms and Padme basically jumped into them, resulting in the biggest hug anyone had ever seen.

They look so much alike it's kind of frightening, Obi-Wan thought as he surveyed the two women in front of him. After Khalee had walked away from Anakin, the two of them stopped just at the end of the ramp with the lady's handmaiden. All eyes were on the two sisters as they continued to hold each other, so glad that this day had come.

"Hello, my dear Khalee," a deep voice said from behind Padme.

"Papa!!" Khalee squealed, letting go of Padme and hopping into her father's outstretched arms. "I've missed you papa." "I've missed you too butterbear," her father answered with a voice thick with emotion. Khalee was having a difficult time holding up the wall around her emotions after seeing her sister and father, but that all changed when her mother walked up. The warm Khalee that had been seen just a few moments earlier was locked away when she heard that sickingly sweet voice.

"Hello, my baby girl. How was your trip?" her mother asked with a very uninterested look on her face, as if greeting her was a chore.

"Hello mother. It was satisfactory." Khalee looked at her mother and knew that she hadn't changed one bit.

Obi-Wan surveyed the scene that was transpiring with interest. The lady has a very good control over her emotions, he concluded. He realized that her mother was the reason for her reluctance to return. But he knew there was something else. What is Khalee hiding?

"Khalee, all your belongings will be placed in the palace with Padme, since she now resides there. Isn't that wonderful? Of course, she was Queen, as I always knew she would be." Lady Ornlea taunted, knowing just how to push her eldest daughter's buttons. But she was not expecting the reaction Khalee gave.

"That's wonderful. At least I'll be able to spend more time with her since my time with Padme was cut short 17 years ago." Padme and Master Ornlea looked at each other with concerned looks on their faces. From what they could both remember, Khalee had never been able to stand up to her mother. The look of shock on Lady Ornlea's face was all the incentive Khalee needed to continue talking to her father and sister. "So, Padme, where is this room or apartment of yours?" Khalee said with a wink at Padme, knowing why she was looking as if she had just grown two heads. She linked arms with her sister and started walking off towards the palace.

What in the world?! Obi-Wan mused as he followed Khalee and Padme to the palace.

AN: Okay, so read and review. Thanks!!!