Padmé? sighed wistfully and stared down at her beloved home planet, Naboo. She turned around in her seat to see Anakin behind her. He too was staring down at Naboo, a delighted smile on his lips and a joyful sparkle in his eyes. As he saw her turn to him he smiled at her.
"It's so excited to be here again, Padmé! I just love Naboo. I can't wait to see your house"
Padmé laughed and looked out the window as they landed on Naboo. She turned to Anakin and to Obi-Wan also, who had just walked near them to retrieve her bags.
"I know, I'm excited to see Mom and Dad again, and Sola and Ryoo and Pooja. Also, I believe you'll just love my mom's cooking." She turned and walked down the ramp and onto the ground of Naboo and into the sunlight. She smiled and closed her eyes in bliss, she turned around in a circle, so delighted to be back home. Anakin stood on the ramp, smiling down at her. He turned around as he felt a nudge on his back. Obi-Wan was standing there also, looking down at Padmé with something in his eyes that Anakin couldn't figure out. He looked at Anakin and then behind them where a long line of people and creatures were.
"Hurry up Anakin. You're blocking the door!" he said with a smile on his lips.
Anakin smiled sheepishly and hurried down the ramp, coming to stand beside Padmé. He looked around in delight but followed Padmé as she continued to walk down the road, she must have come to her senses and thought she was being a fool turning around in circles like a little 9 yr old. He smiled and look back at Obi-Wan who was walking a few feet behind them, looking around also. Anakin mused. It was kinda weird without having Siri here, who was always making jokes and laughing. Sadly she had to leave and go back to the Jedi Temple for something. She told them later while she was there that she wouldn't be able to accompany them any longer. He sighed.
Padmé walked a little bit faster, eager to see her family. She smiled and fondly watched children running down the road, laughing and playing. Vines were hanging down the walls of the beautifully decorated houses and it always smelled like flowers walking down this road to her house. A few houses down from hers she saw a man standing there with two young girls next to him jumping up and down and asking for something. The man smiled and picked up one of the girls, the youngest, it seemed and kissed her on the cheek and stopped. He stared at Padmé for about 5 seconds before breaking into a grin. He let the girl down and walked towards Padmé.
"Padmé! How nice it is to see you!" he said, while giving her a hug. Padmé laughed and hugged him also and watched the two little girls run towards her, their curls bouncing around their head, yelling.
"AUNT PADMÉ! AUNT PADMÉ! You're back!" they said as they each gave her a hug.
Padmé kneeled down to their levels and each gave them a hug and a kiss.
"Ryoo! Pooja! I'm so glad to see you two girls! Now, where's your mom"
Ryoo smiled.
"She's with Grandma and Grandpa." she said in her little voice, her cute little dimples sticking out.
Padmé laughed and turned to the two Jedi. She gestured towards the man.
"Anakin, Obi-Wan. I would like you to meet Darren Jarred. My sister, Sola's husband. And these two," she gestured to Ryoo and Pooja, "are my nieces, Ryoo and Pooja. Darren and Sola's girls"
Ryoo and Pooja smiled and curtsied politely. Padmé turned to Darren.
"Darren, I would like you to meet Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker"
Darren smiled and each shook his hand. He smiled at them but noticed that Padmé kept looking towards her house. He laughed and stood in front of her.
"Well, what are you waiting for! GET GOING and go see your family! I'm sure they will be very surprised!" he said smiling and giving her a brotherly hug. "Want us to come too"
Padmé nodded and looked at the Jedi. She smiled.
"You guys ready! And sure, come along if you like!" she said as she walked down the road towards her house. She stopped as she found herself standing in front of the front door. She turned around and smiled at the encouraging looks she got from Obi-Wan and Anakin. Her gaze lasted a little bit longer on Obi-Wan, who was smiling this cute little smile that he always gave just for her. Padmé decided to surprise her parents and just walk in. She slowly opened the door and walked into the hallway.
She looked at Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"You guys can set my stuff in there and wait for me while I go surprise my mom or dad, ok"
Obi-Wan smiled and walked into the living room.
"Sure, no problem," he looked at Anakin, who was still looking around, "Anakin! Come on! It won't take long for Padmé to get her parents in here." he said as he gave Padmé a wink and that special small smile again. Anakin turned and walked into the living room starting to say something to his Master but Padmé was already in the doorway of the kitchen to see her mom making very delicious tasting, and smelling food. Her mouth watered and she smiled.
"Mom, I'm home." she said softly as she walked towards Jobal.
Jobal turned startled and gave Padmé such a tight hug that she couldn't breath. Padmé laughed and kissed her mom's cheek.
"It's so nice to be home, Mom. Come, I have some people I would like you to meet." she said as she ushered Jobal into the living room. They stood at the doorway of the living room and Padmé watched as both Anakin and Obi-Wan turned towards them at the same time. She glanced at her mom to see her giving them an approving smile. She smiled and said.
"Mom, these two men are Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is his apprentice Anakin Skywalker"
Jobal walked in.
"I am all delighted you are here, and Padmé." she said turning to her daughter, "I would love it most if you would tell your dad and I why you are here exactly...later of course.. Anyway, you have just come in time for lunch. First, I shall introduce myself. I am Jobal Naberrie, Padmé's mother. Ruwee, my husband, is gone at work right now but he will be back real soon. He makes sure to never to miss out my lunch!" Jobal said while winking at Padmé when she heard her daughter's soft beautiful laugher fill the room. "Now, if you would all make yourself comfortable in the dining room, I'll have Padmé help me get the food out." Obi-Wan and Anakin smiled and walked into the dining room, looking around as they made themselves comfortable in this comfy home. Jobal walked into the kitchen with Padmé close at her heels. At that minute Sola came into the kitchen, smiling that secret smile to Padmé, for she had just noticed the two extra men sitting in the dining room…handsome men at that…especially that older one with the beard. My…my if I wasn't married…but her thoughts were stopped as Padmé asked her to hand her that bowl next to her. She did and looked at Padmé. She smirked.
"So, Padmé, I see you've brought two extra men home with you. So, which one are you more interested in? The young one? Or the hot one with the beard?"
Padmé looked at her sister in shock.
"SOLA! STOP! And, first of all, they have names! The one with the beard is Obi-Wan Kenobi and the young one is his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. About your question concerning which one I like most….I'm not answering that…" she said blushing and not looking at her sister.
"No, come on dear sister, tell me! I want to know! Personally, I like Obi-Wan"
"Sola!…," Padmé turned to Jobal, "Mom! Make her stop!" Suddenly Padmé felt something hit her back, she turned around and something hit her face. She sputtered.
"Sola! What are you doing!" she asked as she saw her sister pick up another piece of broccoli.
Sola aimed the piece at her sister.
"Tell me! Now! Or you will feel the consequences!" Sola told her sister, threateningly, although it didn't seem like much of a threat since Sola was trying not to laugh. Padmé smirked and grabbed for a piece of broccoli and threw it at her sister.
"NO! I won't tell you! You're hitting me with broccoli"
"Yeah, well! SO ARE YOU" Sola said while laughing and she dropped the bowl of broccoli and it crashed to the floor. Jobal, during all this had just sighed and muttered 'girls…' and had ignored them until she heard the bowl crash. She slowly turned to Sola and Padmé, who were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. She rolled her eyes and smiled at her daughters.
"Now, you girls had better clean this up, I bet the men are starving!"
Meanwhile in the dining room Obi-Wan had been admiring this place and had been watching his
padawan very closely to try and see what he thought of this place. He raised an eyebrow at Anakin as he heard Padmé and her sister yelling something at each other, then heard their laughter. He chuckled softly but turned as he heard a door opening and closing from his right. Obi-Wan saw a man, most likely in his mid fifties walk into the dining room and stop as he saw the two men. This must be Ruwee, Padmé's father he though as he stood up quickly and nodded to Ruwee. Ruwee Naberrie stood there in shock, sitting at his dining room table were two men he had never seen. He didn't move until he saw Jobal walk out of the kitchen and set food on the table. He slowly edged his way towards her and whispered to her.
"Jobal? Who are these people! Do we know them?" his brow wrinkling in confusion as he once again studied them.
Jobal smiled and gestured for him to sit down. Anakin and Obi-Wan were standing up politely and she gestured for them to sit down, and they did.
"Dear, these are friends of Padmé "
Ruwee looked at Jobal in surprise.
"Padmé's home!" he interrupted her.
His wife smiled and nodded.
"Yes, dear, she's home, anyway these are her friends, Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, his apprentice"
"Oohh, so you're friends of Padmé's, eh?" he asked as he shook their hands. "Well, I'm glad you are here, we haven't seen Padmé in awhile. But…why are you here"
Obi-Wan cleared his throat and looked at Ruwee politely.
"Well, we came here so Padmé wouldn't be in anymore danger, WE, meaning my apprentice and I, we came along to protect your daughter"
Jobal went pale.
"Padmé's in danger?" she asked fearfully.
Anakin smiled.
"Not while she's here, with us and her family, Mrs. Naberrie"
Jobal smiled and turned to walk into the kitchen again, she spoke over her shoulder.
"Oh no, please, don't call me that, no formalities while you are welcome here. Please call me Jobal." and she walked into the kitchen.
Anakin gave Obi-Wan a smirk, for some unknown reason. Obi-Wan shrugged and suddenly his stomach gave a huge gurgle. Anakin laughed and smirked at Obi-Wan again.
Obi-Wan glanced at his padawan and muttered.
"Oh shut it, Anakin. Hopefully you won't eat all their food and they don't starve"
Anakin's smirk fell off and he snorted.
"Yeah, you just keep worrying about that, Master"
Obi-Wan laughed but quieted as the three women walked in and sat down at their places. Well, all except for Padmé, who before sitting down next to Obi-Wan, put her arms around her dad and kissed him on the cheek.
"It's so nice to be home with family and friends. Now, let's eat!" then she sat down next to Obi-Wan, who she smiled at in delight. They all piled food into their plates, Anakin's being the biggest pile, and he was almost drooling over it. Padmé actually managed to stifle a laugh, managing not to spew food that was in her mouth when Anakin started shoveling, slowly and politely, but still shoveling food in his mouth. She risked a glance at Obi-Wan, to see him watching his padawan in almost hidden disgust. He spoke to him through the bond they shared again.
"Anakin! For the name of the Gods, don't shovel food in your mouth! WE ARE GUESTS"
Anakin's fork stopped halfway to his mouth and he looked around, sheepishly.
"Uuuuuhhhhhhhmmmmmm, sorry, Master. I'm just so hungry and this food looks so delicious! Well, it is delicious! And really, Master. You can't tell me you're not hungry! You DO eat….don't you"
"Of course I eat, my young apprentice….you're just always too busy shoveling food in your big gape in your head to notice"
Anakin mock glared at his Master but he did continue to eat, ACTUALLY eating slowly this time.
Padmé smiled lightly and wondered what the two were talking about…she glanced up from her food to see her sister watching her closely. Padmé frowned while Sola grinned wickedly and winked. Padmé sniffed and continued to eat. Ruwee looked around the table, proud to be the man of this family. His gaze lingered on the two Jedi, he was still a bit surprised they were here with his daughter. But, as he looked at them, he figured they were trustworthy and good people.
Jobal looked up to see almost all the food gone.
"Would anyone like desert!" she asked smiling.
Everyone nodded, except Padmé. She stood up.
"No thank you, mom. I'm full, but if you don't mind I'm going to go sit outside for awhile"
Jobal nodded and started to walk to the kitchen.
"Alright, dear. But don't stay out too long, it gets cold real fast"
Padmé smiled and walked out into the backyard, slowly walking along the brick path her father had made when they moved here so long ago. She followed the path across the yard, looking and smelling all of the beautiful flowers and their scents. She stopped and walked on the grass, her now bare feet relishing in the softness of it. She stopped and looked up at the stars and sighed happily. Padmé laid down on the grass and put her hands under her head, just gazing at the stars. She was remembering how when she was young she use to try and count the stars when she heard footsteps, light and easy footsteps walking towards her. She didn't move until she saw a silhouette of a man standing beside her. His rich soothing voice reached her ears and she smiled.
"Mind if I lay beside you"
She shook her head.
"Of course not, you're always welcome"
Obi-Wan smiled and laid down next to Padmé and gazed up also. A comfortable silence issued before them. Padmé didn't know why but she always felt safe around Obi-Wan. There was just this aura around him that she found pleasant. She turned her head to him.
"I missed you." she said softly.
Obi-Wan looked at her in surprise but said nothing. Padmé squirmed a bit, she didn't really know why she was telling him, she just...had too...she supposed.
"After you left Naboo ten years ago, I missed you. I missed your company. I was always wondering what you were doing and how you were doing training Anakin"
Obi-Wan smiled.
"Well, thank you for that Padmé. I missed you too, you know"
"You did? Well, I'm glad we're here together right now"
By this time Padmé had her hands by her sides and Obi-Wan smiled and took her small delicate yet strong hand in his and squeezed it and didn't let go.
"As am I, Padmé as am I." he said smiling. Padmé's heart soared at the touch of her hand in his and she basked in the glory of it all. Suddenly she had the urge to do something risky, yet she couldn't help it. She turned on her side and looked at Obi-Wan quickly before kissing him. It was a gentle soft kiss yet both of them felt the power they possessed. They both gasped for air and Padmé snuggled up to him. Of course Obi-Wan was a bit shocked by this but he savored the feelings.
"I'm even happier that we're together now." she said smiling slyly.
Padmé felt Obi-Wan's chest rumble with his deep soft laughter. He put his arm around Padmé's shoulders and kissed her temple.
"As am I, Padmé, as am I"
And they stayed like that for some time, just gazing up into the stars, loving their time to be together.