A/N: Oh wow... it's been a while, hasn't it? I guess I should apologise for leaving this story, and all my stories, for so long. I don't really have an excuse, I just lost my motivation. But recently, in social isolation, I came across my own stories on my laptop, and it reignited that passion for writing! So, I started tinkering around and finally finished this chapter I had been stuck on for so long. It's a short one, but there is more coming in the next few days.

I can't promise that I will update regularly, but I will try.

Thank you for all the supportive messages I received while I was gone... They were much appreciated! I hope you enjoy!

shelivesfree xx

The Girl From Harvard

Chapter 45

"P! Your parents are here!" Dorme called out to her from the living room.

Slipping on her final touch to her graduation attire, a pair of nude, strappy heels, Padme called back, "Coming," before standing up and adjusting the crimson hood of her cap so it sat around her evenly across her shoulders. All Harvard graduates wore a crimson hood, regardless of their relative faculties, however, each faculty had a different coloured emblem embroidered into the black gown. Padme's was white, as she was graduating from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. To compliment the colour of her hood, she'd picked a white lace dress, with a fitted bodice and a sweetheart neckline, that flared into a pleated skirt which fell to her knees. Her makeup and jewellery were simple – her Tiffany bracelet from Anakin glittered on her wrist and her lips were painted a pale pink that was almost nude, with lightly lined eyes and a dusting of blush on her cheeks, giving her a natural glow.

She shone radiantly, regardless of how much makeup she was wearing, from the sheer excitement and accomplishment of her upcoming graduation. To say she was thrilled was an understatement. Padme had never felt so proud in her entire life. As she stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, draped in her long, black gown and her black cap sitting regally atop her chestnut curls, her head held high, she couldn't keep the enormous grin off of her face. Finally, she had made it.

As she walked out into the living room, she saw her parents chatting animatedly with Dorme. They heard her approaching, and turned to face her, matching proud smiles on both of the their faces. Ruwee was holding a bunch of pale pink peonies, dressed elegantly in black suits pants, a white shirt, grey tie and black suit jacket. Next to him, Jobal looked beautiful in a pink, red and yellow floral dress, her hair straightened into a sleek bob that brushed her chin and wearing a pair of red, cork wedges.

"Oh, Darling! You look absolutely beautiful!" Jobal gushed, tears brimming her brown eyes as she rushed forward to pull Padme into her arms tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Baby," she sobbed into Padme's shoulder. Beaming and sobbing in return, Padme hugged her mother tightly, relishing in the feeling. It had been just as long since she'd seen her mother as it was Anakin, and Padme hadn't realised how much she had missed her until this moment.

"Thanks, Mom. I'm so glad you came!"

Pulling back, Jobal sniffed and wiped the tears from Padme's cheeks. "Of course I would come, Darling. I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

Ruwee then approached her, holding out the peonies to her, a soft, loving expression on his face that Padme had only seen a handful of times – mainly when he looked at her mother. "Congratulations, Sweetheart!"

"Thanks, Dad. They're beautiful!" she gushed, blush rising in her cheeks, and stepped forward to hug her father. Ruwee's arms came around her tightly and he patted her gently on the back.

"Beautiful flowers for my beautiful daughter," he said softly in her ear, and his words made her want to cry with affection.

They pulled back and Padme dabbed at her eyes with a tissue as Jobal hurried back over to resume fussing about her gown to make sure it sat just right on her shoulders.

"Alright, well you have to be there an hour before the ceremony, so we'd better get going," Ruwee insisted diplomatically. Nodding, Padme grabbed her new, glittery, rose gold clutch (a graduation gift from Dorme) and the four of them headed out down to Ruwee's car. "Your sister, Darred and the girls will meet us there."

"Have you heard from Anakin?" Dorme asked her as they slid into the back seat of her father's car.

Shaking her head, Padme sighed sadly. "Not since he got to the airport." His flight had been delayed so he had yet to arrive in Boston, and the ceremony was in an hour. Even though it wasn't his fault, Padme still felt a little betrayed and heartbroken. She really didn't want him to miss it – as selfish as it was. This was an important moment for her and she wanted to share it with the love of her life.

Dorme reached out and squeezed her hand. "He'll make it, P."

Nodding, Padme gave a hopeful smile, but kept her fingers crossed behind her back just in case. Please hurry, Ani.

When they arrived at Harvard, Padme was quickly whisked away to a lecture theatre filled with other graduands. She was given her seat number, and told to memorise who she was sitting next to, as that corresponded to the order in which each graduand was announced. The Dean's Assistant gave a quick introduction and then proceeded with the order of events, and what each graduand was expected to do when it was their turn to receive their graduation certificate and degree. While the Dean's Assistant was speaking, Padme kept glancing down at her phone, which she'd strategically placed between the folds of her gown, hoping to receive a text message from Anakin. She chewed on her bottom lip nervously, feeling waves of anxiety washing over her. What if he never showed? What if he'd missed it?

No, she thought firmly, shaking that idea from her mind. He'll be here.

When it was fifteen minutes until the ceremony, the Dean's Assistant instructed all the graduands to stand up and assemble in order, ready for the procession. Padme was lumped somewhere in the middle, as her last name was Naberrie. The Asian guy behind her was fiddling awkwardly with his graduation robes and the tall, red-haired girl in front of her was constantly checked herself in her phone's reflection, fixing her hair and checking her teeth. Amused, Padme folded her hands together in front of her and closed her eyes, trying not to think too much about her impending Valedictorian speech. As an aspiring politician, Padme knew that public speaking was a must, but though she had had practice with debating in her classes, she had never given a speech in front of so many people before. She'd spent all night practicing in front of Dorme and she knew it off by heart, but still… her anxiety picked up just a little as the time ticked closer. She just hoped that she lived up to the responsibility of Valedictorian.

Suddenly, she was jerked back to reality by the guy behind her, who was tapping her gently on her shoulder. Blinking her eyes open, she noticed that the procession had begun. Turning to thank him, she hurried a few paces forward to keep up with the girl in front of her. They were lead down a narrow corridor and through a backdoor. As the front of the line entered, Padme could hear the applause erupting from the hall, and her stomach did a little quiver of excitement.

The crowd was enormous, and the sound was just as impressive. Padme gazed around in surprise as she walked down the centre of the hall, her mouth open slightly, as she saw thousands of people standing and clapping. Some where whooping and throwing their hands in the air. Her eyes scanned the hall for her family, and she saw them sitting towards the back. Her mother and father were clapping loudly, her nieces were holding up a handmade sign that said "WE LOVE AUNTY PADME!" as they jumped up and down next to Sola and Darred. The sight made Padme laugh and she waved up at them, hoping they would notice her. Dorme, who was standing next to her father, saw her first, and grinned down at her, waving back enthusiastically.

It was then she heard a familiar wolf-whistle, and she followed the sound with her eyes. Her face broke out into an ecstatic grin as she saw Anakin standing next to Dorme. His blue eyes gleamed with pride as he cheered along with the rest of her family.

"You made it!" Padme cried, tears welling in her eyes at the sight of him in the flesh. All she wanted to do was leap across the crowd and throw her arms around him. It had been far too long since she had seen him. Far too long.

"Of course," Anakin winked cheekily at her.

Filled with a newfound confidence, Padme continued down the walkway with the rest of the graduands and took her seat. Anakin was here. Everything was going to be alright.