Chapter 3Mother and Daughter
Leia kissed each of the twins on the head and set them down on the picnic blanket. Jacen giggled and pulled himself up on his knees, crawling after his sister. Jaina squealed and crawled away, babbling something as she did. Jacen started babbling as well and continued after her.
The picnic around which the toddlers played was set for two adults, but only one would be dining. Leia sighed. Han was a away for a time, but she had decided it would be good to get out of the house.
The twins could use the sunshine and she could use the change of scenery, but it didn't help. The picnic made her feel even more lonely the home did… especially since she knew its history.
This had been where her mother and father had spent many secret get always at, or so she had been told. Leia could see why, the place was beautiful, like it was out of story book. But her parents hadn't had the happy ever after ending, most stories did...
Jaina wondered off the blanket and headed farther into the meadow. Jacen followed still chasing her. Leia stood up to catch them.
"Now, my young adventurers, you're gunna get your jumpers all dirty. Then what is mama gunna do with you?" It wasn't much of scold and the twins knew it. They giggled and Leia swept Jaina up in her arms.
"I caught you..."
Jaina squealed and giggled as her mother tickled her. Jacen pulled on his mother's pant leg, not quite able to stand up yet. Leia squatted down and started tickling him too. She let the twins roll around on the grass, knowing she'd regret the grass stains later. She was so absorbed in them, she didn't sense anyone come up behind her.
"Excuse me, ma'am," a voice from behind her said. "I hate to interrupt, but..."
Leia spun around and froze. The other lady stopped talking as well and stared at her. It was as if they were almost copies of each other. The other lady was slightly shorter, but her dark brown eyes and face structure was strikingly similar.
Leia stared before she opened her mouth to ask the impossible. "Mom?"
Padme's eyes widened and then filled with tears. "Leia.." She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh force, is that really you?"
Tears stared coming down Leia cheeks. "Mom..."
They threw their arms around each other and cried. Padme pulled back to look at her daughter. She touched her cheek. "You're all grown up... my little girl..."
Leia smiled. "You haven't aged a day... You look just like you did in the holographs fa-- I mean, Bail gave me."
Padme looked at her daughter with sadness in her eyes. "I wish I could've been there..."
Leia hugged her. "I know, mom, but you're here now..." She pulled back to look at her. "Do you know... how?"
Padme shook her head. "I've been sent back, but I don't know how, why or what I'm supposed to do now."
She felt a pull on her legs. Leia and her looked down at two teething toddlers, begging for attention.
Leia touched her mother's arm. "Meet your grandchildren: Jacen and Jaina."
Hot tears continued down Padme's cheeks. She picked up Jaina and cradled her in her arms while Leia picked up Jacen, who seemed fascinated by the women in front of him.
"Will you join us mom? We're having a picnic."
Her mother smiled at her.
Leia smiled back. "I even packed for two."
"Perfect timing, then?" Padme asked.
Her daughter smiled and then her face turned serious. "You have no idea..."
Not to worry, my readers. Dooku and Anakin will finish their talk in the next chapter.