Chapter Thirteen
Everett stood a few feet away from Padmé, who was dressed now in her Queen garbs. Everything had slowly gotten back together over the past two days, though, Everett had yet to see Gregar and was fearing the worst.
At the moment, they were waiting for Chancellor Palpatine to disembark his ship along with several Jedi. Padmé was standing with the Viceroy and his entourage.
"Now, Viceroy," she was saying. "You are going to have to go back to the Senate and explain all this."
"I think you can kiss your Trade franchise goodbye," Captain Panaka added.
Joined with Obi-Wan, Captain Panaka led the Viceroy and his group to a cruiser where they would be escorted to the Senate. Everett watched Obi-Wan with saddened eyes. In the fight, Qui-Gon had been lost, leaving Obi-Wan to continue the fight. He ultimately won, but did any of them truly win when the lost was larger than the gain?
Though he was trying to hide his emotions, Everett knew what it felt like to lose someone important, and she could see what he tried to hide. She drew her eyes away from him to bow to Chancellor Palpatine.
"Congratulations of your election, Chancellor," the Queen said.
"Your boldness has saved our people, Your Majesty," the Chancellor told her. "It is you who should be congratulated. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic."
That night, a large group stood on the funeral temple steps, watching as Qui-Gon's body went up in flames. Everett stood in the far back, leaning against a column, it had been a while since she had last stood on these steps, memories trying to force their way to the center of her mind.
As soon as the ceremony was over, Everett escaped to the gardens once more. She had yet to find Gregar, but maybe he would meet her there. And she was correct. She saw him leaning against their tree, fiddling with his blaster.
"Gregar!" she called quietly.
His head shot up, putting the blaster away as he took a few long strides to reach her. He wrapped his arms around her, spinning her around. She buried her head into his shoulder, breathing him in.
She felt his chest start shaking and she pulled back to see tears falling down his face. For the first time, she noticed a black eyepatch laying over his left eye. Her fingertips lightly brushed against it before pressing her lips around the edges.
"I thought I lost you," she murmured. "I couldn't find you."
"I was in medical," he whispered. "I didn't want you to see me… like…"
Her lips descend onto his, silencing him.
"Do you think I love you any less?" she questioned, lips brushing against hers with every word. Gregar shook his head, resting their foreheads together.
"No, Ette, I know you better than that." She smiled lightly, cupping his cheek.
"I do not care what you look like, Gregar. I never have and I will not start now." Another tear slipped down his cheek and she brushed it away.
"Oh, how I've missed you," he told her. "Your wit, your kindness, your smile."
At that, Everett flushed. She might have been a senator that usually had a witty comeback, but his sweet words made her stammer. He hugged her again, relishing in her presence.
In the morning, Everett stood with Gregar and the council as a grand parade was thrown in honor of the Gungans. They were finally signing a peace treaty, the first in a very long time.
Boss Nass and his guards stood before the Queen and Padmé passed Boss Nass the Globe of Peace. He turned to the crowd, raising it above his head.
"Peace!" he shouted. The crowd cheered, the party raging on.
The Jedi Master, Yoda, moved to stand beside Everett.
"Senator Alvera," he greeted. "An honor to meet you, it is." "An honor indeed, Master Jedi," she nodded her head at him.
"Come to Coruscant, soon you will."
"Yes, I will be returning with Chancellor Palpatine tomorrow."
From her other side, Gregar tensed. She had meant to tell him before now, but there hadn't been a chance. After their reunion in the garden, he had been summoned by his uncle and she had retired for the night.
"A pleasant trip, I hope you have," Yoda told her.
"Thank you, Master Jedi."
As he walked away from her, she could feel Gregar go to speak, but she stopped him.
"We will discuss this later."
"But Senator…"
"Gregar, we will discuss this later." She was firm, leaving no room for him to argue.
"We will be discussing this at length," he relented.
One more chapter to go!
-Amy Thorton
All rights belong to Disney and Lucas Films.
