AN: This chapter is the setup to a multi-year chapter. Percy needs to get setup with the Naberrie family before he can begin his life on Naboo. This chapter might feel a little slow, so I am sorry if it does.

Chapter III:

Third Person POV

After the painful awakening that he experienced, Percy had quickly come up with some story to cover himself. He felt awful lying to the people that saved him, but had no clue how to explain the actuality of what happened. His excuse was that he was disposed royalty, that had been banished from his home planet. During the course of his banishment, there was an assassination attempt, causing his crashed ship. The torture marks he told the truth about; being help for a week, tortured by a monster.

Ruwee Naberrie, the father of his savior, took all this information in, without one question. When Percy finished the man gave him a long stare. Finally the man grunted and seemed satisfied with whatever he was looking for. He stepped outside the room and brought his daughter back in.

He explained the culture and politics of Naboo with his daughter's help. He explained their family's political status, and his daughter's role in the royal household.

"The doctor and medical droids have instructed me to make sure you have about 2 weeks of rest before you can start to do strenuous tasks again. Besides leaving your planet, did you have any plans on a future?" Ruwee asked Percy.

Percy shook his head. "I honestly did not expect to make it somewhere after my banishment. I was sure the assassination attempt was going to finally do me in. I don't really have any plans for the future." Percy said not meeting their eyes. Ruwee shared a look with his daughter.

"Well I have an offer for you." Percy met his eyes. "You can live with us for the few weeks you need to not overwork yourself. Then when those weeks pass, we can help you find and job and start a life here. And you can use that job and life to help repay the cost of us providing housing for you initially."

Percy was already shaking his head. "While I thank you for the idea of providing housing, I can make do. I do not want to impede on your family. I will also find a job on my own. I am used to paving my own way in the world."

"There are no places with housing in the capital and no jobs outside the capital. To get housing otherwise, you would not be able to get a job. And to get a job, you would not be able to get housing here." Padme said impatiently.

"While my daughter speaks rash, she is right. How about this. You can help me around our estate to earn your keep until you recover then we can reevaluate the housing situation when you have recovered."

Percy looked closely at Ruwee for any sign of deceit, then accepted. "Deal. But I will do everything possible to earn my keep."

All three got up to leave. Padme went to separate from the two, fully intending to get back to work, when she heard the final exchange.

"Since my daughter lives here and we have no empty rooms, you will take her room." Ruwee said chuckling. Padme hearing this, did not turn around, but blushed very hard and hurried away. Unknown to her, Percy blushed just as hard. Ruwee's booming laughter was heard throughout the building.

- TIME SKIP TWO WEEKS -

Padme was making her way back to the estate. R2 had commandeered the family speeder to come pick her up under her father's orders. After today, she was taking Percy back to get some sort of job in the city. His weeks of recovery was finally over. According to her father, Percy was adamant that he was going to find his own job and housing. Padme did not care either way. She just wanted him out of her room.

As she reached her estate and R2 parked the speeder in the hangar. She noticed that they were not alone. Her sister, Sola, was waiting for her. Her younger sister could sometimes be an major annoyance. She was 14 and thought the world revolved around her. Her sister was looking at her with a face of annoyance. She stomped over to her sister.

"Why do you have to take him away!" Her sister whined to her.

"What... what are you talking about?" Padme asked confused.

"You know what I mean. You are here to take Percy. Its your fault he's leaving. Your jealous he was offered to stay in your room. Its not fair." She stomped her feet frustrated at the last part.

"Its his choice to leave..." Padme responded. 'And anyway its not like I wanted him here.' She thought. Then she realized something. "What do you mean he was offered my room. Did he not stay there?"

Padme was confused. She would have thought he would have stayed there. There were no other rooms available for someone to sleep in.

"He has been staying out by the water. He built a small lean-to, and has been staying on a small cot out there. Father tried to argue against but Percy seems as stubborn as you. Luckily he still joins for dinner but otherwise he has been doing all the work around the house. He put the house droids out of a job." Sola ranted. If Padme didn't know better, she would assume her sister had a little crush on the boy.

Padme and her sister made their way inside. Her father and mother were in the kitchen. She quickly greeted them. Her father asked her how she was doing and her mother made her a cup of caf. They talked for hours catching up on everything. Her sister apparently had not been lying. Percy did not stay in the house.

It was dinner time when she finally saw him for the first time since her father took him from the capital. He walked into the kitchen, R2 following him. He seemed caught up in some sort of conversation with the astromech. She had never heard such happy beeping from the droid. Percy was covered in sweat and grime, but did not seem bothered by it.

"I got the speeder refueled, cleaned and tuned up. Also gave R2 an oil bath, since he complained about being dirty." R2 gave him a small shock with his probe. Percy chuckled sligthly. "Hey, you know I'm right. Ruwee, would you like me to clean up before..." He trailed off when he realized that Padme was in the room. "... before dinner."

Ruwee chuckled, sensing why he stopped. Percy was supposed to be cleaned up before his daughter came home.

"I thought she was coming later... Sorry sir. I will go get cleaned up quickly. Feel free to start dinner without me." He all but ran out of the room, R2 following at his heels, laughing in his own beeping way.

He did not talk during dinner though everyone tried to engage him in conversation. When dinner was done, as if by command, Percy was up first grabbing everyone's plates. He started cleaning. Padme went to say that it was a droid's job when a look from her father silenced her.

When everyone headed off to bed she watched as Percy headed outside. From her window, she could see the small lean-to Percy was staying under.

When morning came, she was anxious to get going. Breakfast was a short affair that Percy did not join, which Padme was okay with. As she said her goodbyes, she realized that Percy was still nowhere to be found.

Her father, as if sensing her thoughts, exited towards the beach and where Percy was staying. She decided to follow. She found her father standing over Percy as he was packing a small bag. She saw him stick some small tools in, and what looked like some small mechanical project.

Ruwee and Percy were talking quietly. She couldn't make out most of it. They shared a handshake though her father did not let go right away. He looked into Percy's eyes. She stepped closer, intrigued what her father was going to do.

"Protect her. I know she doesn't like you, but for my sake keep an eye on her." Padme was incensed. She did not need looking after, especially by this boy. "I know you work for your own merits and I respect you for that. But please, from a father to a man. Keep my daughter safe."

Percy looked him in the eye. "I will. With my life. I can never repay what your family did for me, but I will promise you I will do this."

They broke apart and Ruwee slung his arm around Percy. They laughed, throwing jokes back and forth, while walking towards the speeder. If someone did not know that family, it seemed like a father and son walking by.

Padme was silent on the way back. Her father had gifted her R2, saying that with Percy helping around the estate, they had saved money and could afford another astromech. Since R2 liked Padme and Percy, Ruwee sent it with them.

Padme dropped off Percy right at the entrance to the capital, fully intent on staying as far away from him as possible.

"Thanks." Percy mumbled not looking at her. He grabbed his pack and stepped out of the speeder. He took a look around. "I'll see you around." R2 beeped sadly, but Percy did not acknowledge. He took off walking, not walking out of the capital but not walking further in.

Padme watched for a minute perplexed but then decided to ignore him. "I won't be seeing you, not if I can help it." She told herself under her breathe, speeding away with R2, heading towards her quarters at the palace.

AN: And that is a wrap. Some setting up of the plot in this chapter. Please read and review, and let me know what you think. Hope to have the next chapter out to you soon.

Last Updated: 11/21/21