I know that love is seeing all the infinite in one.
Denver -The Wings That Fly Us Home
The reception itself was not dissimilar from a hundred others that Kam and Schurke had attended over the years.
At least, not on the surface.
But there was an undercurrent here, something different – something alive.
Aubé, who was dressed in considerably more formal attire than she had been earlier in the evening, squirmed in the seat next to her mother. She had been quiet and attentive during dinner and the subsequent speeches, especially during the speech of welcome delivered by young Organa – the one who looked so familiar – but now she was restless almost to the point of distraction.
It's him, Kampher thought to herself. He hasn't made an appearance, not said a word yet, but he holds this entire room in the palm of his hand…Toboo's son.
Suddenly, the entire room was full of whispers and a swell of applause.
"Calrissian"… "Solo"… the names peppered the room like exotic spices.
"Skywalker"…
At the name, the entire Canaille family, along with the rest of the room, turned to look.
The two Generals - Solo and Calrissian - strutted through the room, easily pressing flesh with various beings, laughing and joking along the way, but Skywalker seemed to drift, evidently uncomfortable with all the attention.
Before too long he approached the family and Aubé, who had slipped unobtrusively behind her mother, suddenly felt a gentle push at her back. Being unaccustomed to the height of her heels, she overbalanced and fell straight into his arms.
He caught her easily. "Nails? I mean, Lieutenant Canaille? Aubé... you look… great!"
Aubé blushed, alternately blessing and cursing her younger brother, who, she was certain, had pushed her. She stood up suddenly, and in her eagerness to stand and salute, she nearly hit his nose. "Commander," she squeaked. "May I present my family?"
"Commander Skywalker," Schurke bowed politely. His face was carefully neutral, yet he never took his eyes off of Luke. "My name is Schurke Canaille, Representative from Correllia. My wife, Kampher, and my son Kay'leb…"
Kay'leb bowed politely, trying to conceal the grin that nibbled at his lips, but it was Kampher who held Luke's attention.
Now it was Luke's turn to appear flustered. Unmindful of the 'hurry up' gestures from Generals Solo and Calrissian, he stammered a little, "Lady Canaille, have we… have we met?"
"I don't believe we have, Commander." Kampher replied softly. "But you seem to be needed…"
As if snapping out of a daze, Luke suddenly seemed to realize that the others were waiting for him, and with a quick squeeze of Aubé's hand, he rushed to catch up with them.
A slow waltz played serenely in the background, and many couples -Kampher and Schurke among them - had begun to dance. Even Kay'leb, who was normally almost painfully shy in such situations, had found a partner.
Aubé, however, wanted to be alone and think. As quietly as she could, she slipped passed the door guards and out side hoping for blessed solitude, but as fate would have it…
"Nails?" His voice was softer than before and oddly sadder.
"Commander?" she replied to the shadows. "What are you doing out here? I thought you'd be inside with…" Aubé's voice trailed off, embarrassed. Although the 'triad love story' between the Commander, the Princess and the General was common locker room fodder, no one would dare mention it in front of Commander Skywalker.
"I'm s-sorry," she stammered, stumbling awkwardly back. "I-I'll just leave you to…"
"Lieutenant… Nails…" He called softly. "Aubé, please stay… I'd like to talk to you."
Aubé hung back, unsure. The lastthing she wanted to talk to Luke about was that… "My mother will be looking for me," she mumbled awkwardly. "I should really go back in."
"Actually," he smiled. "It's your mother I wanted to talk to you about." He paused thoughtfully before continuing. "My sisterhas other things on her mind."
Sister?… The word was like a dash of cold water, and Aubé –'tough as nails'- Canaille, stood in the doorway, her mouth agape. Sister?
Luke laughed a little, more honestly this time. "You'll catch mynocks if you leave your mouth open like that. Don't worry, not a lot of people know – just Leia, myself and now Han I guess." At these last words, his smile became brittle, as if the weight of the world had once again settled onto his shoulders. Aubé could only stare.
"You look nice tonight," he offered quietly, breaking the moment.
Aubé finally found her voice. "Papa always said I was his Adegan crystal in the rough," she giggled, unmindful of the odd look Luke gave her. "He said that under the mud there was always something… beautiful…"
She lowered her head and blushed furiously. Perhaps only for the fact that she was listening so intently or perhaps through the Force, she thought she heard his reply.
You are…
She felt awkward. Trapped. She had to say something - anything - to redirect the conversation before it became unbearable.
"You wanted to talk about my mother," she broke in suddenly, still unable to look into his eyes. "May I ask why?"
Now it was Luke's turn to be quiet, reflective, while Aubé waited with uncustomary patience.
"It's just that … it's just that I have a feeling about her, I guess," he said at last. "Obi-Wan always told me to trust my feelings." Within a heartbeat, he was close enough to touch, but Aubé didn't move, nor did she open her eyes. She could almost feel his hand reaching to touch her face.
Suddenly, the hand dropped away, and Aubé released the breath that until then, she didn't know that she held.
The moment had passed.
"Come by tomorrow," she said briskly, once again adopting the demeanor that had earned her the moniker 'Nails'. "You and my parents have a lot to talk about." As do I…
And without another word, she saluted smartly, turned on her heel and was gone.
