Years went by. Young Padme Naberrie was no longer a little girl, but now a beautiful young woman.

But, Padme's father's dream of opening a restaurant still hadn't come true. Padme, however, was determined to make it happen. She spent all her time in school reading up on how to open a restaurant, learned about all kinds of cuisines from around the world, and practiced cooking every chance she got. But it took more than knowledge to open a restaurant. It also cost money to reserve the space, build the place, stock up on equipment, ingredients, furniture, and pay staff.

Padme worked two jobs to be able to pay her bills and to put into her restaurant fund.

Right now, Padme just got home from her night job working retail at her sister's new boutique, which was already proving to be very successful.

"Well, Padme..." Padme talked to herself. "It was a rough night for tips, but every little credit counts."

Padme unfolded her father's drawing and placed it near a picture of him. A sad story, Ruwee Naberrie was tragically lost years ago before he ever had a chance to make his restaurant dreams reality. Sola offered to loan Padme the money she needed for her restaurant, but the younger sister was insistent on working hard for it herself. Their father always told them to work hard for the things they wanted, and Padme would not violate that promise by taking money from anyone else unless she worked for it. But, she at least accepted a job just to satisfy her sister and their mother.

"Don't worry, Daddy." Padme smiled sadly, kissing her finger and placing it on her father's picture. "We'll be there soon."

Padme lay on her bed and tried to get a little rest, only for her alarm clock to ring a few moments later. Reluctantly, she got up and went to her wardrobe to get ready for work at her other job.

"Goodnight Sew and Sola, good morning, Dex's." Padme said, getting her waitress uniform.

In the south land

There's a city

Way down on the river

Where the women are very pretty

And all the men deliver

Padme rushed over to Dex's Cafe, passing by musicians as they were making music, people having a good time.

We got music

It's always playin

Start in the day time

And go all through the night

And when you hear that music playing

Hear what I'm sayin

Make you feel alright

Sadly, Padme was so busy working all the time, she didn't let herself take a break just to have a little fun once in a while. Padme did have a real gift though. She worked so great as both a waitress and a cook at Dex's. She always delivered on time, she never dropped a dish, the customers loved her, and she always made the best frosted blossom buns, treats that were like beignets but shaped like blossoms, her specialty.

Grab somebody

Come on down

Bring a paint brush

We're painting the town

There's some sweetness goin around

Dreams do come true in New Starlanes

Meanwhile, not too far off, there was a man by the name of Dr. Palpatine, who was a master of voodoo and black magic. Today, he had a customer in the form of a human man who was bald and wanted hair. So, for a small fee, Palpatine gave him a full head of hair. But then, the man grew hair all over his body like a werewolf!

We got magic, good and bad

Make you happy or make you real sad

Get everything you want or lose what you had

Down here in New Starlanes

As Palpatine was laughing after taking another sucker for their money, he happened to notice Nicholas Mitchell, one of the wealthiest men in the city and his wife driving by, giving a newsboy a big tip for one copy. Palpatine looked at the ten credits he managed to get from his last client and then saw what must have been a thousand given to the newsboy, and he figured it was time to have a bigger score.

Hey partner, don't be shy

Come on down here and give us a try

You wanna do some livin' before you die?

Do it down in New Starlanes

And today, everyone was super excited for what was on the front-page news today.

On this very day, twin princes Anakin and Carmine of the kingdom of Coruscant were coming to town for a special visit. Their valet Mas Amedda, carried a lot of stuff, while the two princess went down. While Anakin was eager to get down and be adored by the ladies, Carmine was shyer and quieter.

Caroline Mitchell was especially excited when her parents showed her the paper and she saw not one but two princes were coming to town. Since she was a little girl she'd dreamed of marrying a prince and becoming a princess. And two princes meant double the chances.

Stately homes and mansions

Of the Sugar Barons and the Cotton Kings

Rich people, poor people, all got dreams

Dreams do come true in New Starlanes

As Padme worked some of the tables outside, Prince Anakin, dressed to appear as a civilian, flashed a smile.

"Hey, Angel." Anakin smiled.

Padme just rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Huh." Anakin was surprised at first that this girl didn't swoon at the sight of him, but he shrugged it off and walked off.

"Mmm. Something smells delicious." Carmine said, liking the scent coming from the cafe.

"Come on, Carmine!" Anakin said, pulling his brother along as the Mitchells were arriving at the cafe.

DING!

"Order up, Padme!" Dex called.

"Another coffee here, Miss." said a customer.

"Coming right up, Typho." Padme said.

"Morning, Padme." called another customer with a group of friends.

"Morning, Dorme. Morning everyone." Padme smiled.

"We're all going out dancing tonight." said Dorme. "Care to join us?"

The others added in, trying to convince Padme to join in and have a little fun.

"You know I'm not a dancer." said Padme as she served a coupld more tables. "Besides, I'm... need a napkin, Sweetie... working a double shift tonight...Stuffed toast heavy on the berries. You know, so I can..."

"So you can save for your restaurant." said Dorme. "I know, I know. Come on, girl. All you ever do is work."

The bell dinged again for Padme to pick up another order.

"Maybe next time." Padme shrugged.

"I told you she wouldn't come." Dorme said, which Padme overheard.

"Talking about that restaurant again, Padme?" Dex said.

"Dex, your eggs are burning." said Padme.

"Oh!" Dex got to the eggs. "You're never going to get enough for the down payment."

In part, it was because segregation did not stop at it being between humans and non-humans. Here, it was really difficult for women to get jobs. So many of the men believed the women were only good for jobs like waiting tables, cooking, sewing, nursing, babysitting, and teaching. Things like business, politics, and rescue work were still male-dominated jobs. But Padme hoped she could change that someday. Her plan was, earn enough money to get her restaurant, gain enough influence to get into the Senate, and use her power to end segregation for good and help more women get jobs they wanted.

"I'm getting close." Padme said.

"Yeah, how close?" asked Dex.

"Where are the pancakes?"

"Ha! You have about as much a chance of getting that restaurant as I do of winning the Naboo Derby!"

That was when some familiar faces entered the cafe.

"Morning Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell." Padme greeted.

"Good morning, Padme." said Kathleen, her husband pulling out a chair for her.

"Congratulations on being voted king and queen of the Starry Grand parade."

"Caught me completely by surprise." said Nicholas. "for the fifth year in a row. Now, how about my wife and I celebrate with..."

"Blossom buns?" Padme smiled, placing a fresh batch for the couple. "Got a fresh batch just waiting for you."

"Well," chuckled Nicholas. "Keep them coming till I pass out."

"Nicholas, we talked about you cutting down on the sugar." Kathleen scolded.

And then in came another eager young woman by the name of Caroline.

"Oh, Padme! Did you hear the news?" Caroline said excitedly.

"Hey, Caroline." Padme said.

Caroline sat at the table with her parents.

"Oh, tell her, Daddy! Tell her the news." Caroline said excitedly.

"Oh, yeah, Prince Anakin-"

"Prince Anakin and Prince Carmine of Coruscant are coming to New Starlanes! Twin princes! Aren't they just the bee's knees? Tell her what you did, Daddy! Tell her!"

"Well, I invited-"

"He invited the princes to our masquerade ball tonight!"

"Tell her what else you did, Daddy!"

"Are you sure you don't want to tell it, Caroline?" said Kathleen.

"And they're staying-" Caroline began until Nicholas stuffed a bun in her mouth.

"And they're staying in our house as my personal guests."

"Aw, Carrie. That's sweet." Padme smiled, picking up another tray of blossom buns. "A little word of advice, my mother always said, 'the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'"

And that was when Caroline had an idea. She picked up a bun and rushed to Padme.

"Padme, you are a genius!" Caroline said. "I'll need about 500 of these man-catching blossom buns for my ball tonight."

Caroline got hold of her father's wallet and took out a bunch of cash that she gave to Padme.

"Will this cover it?"

"Oh! This should cover it just fine, Caroline." Padme smiled. This money was just what she needed to complete her restaurant fund. "This is it! I'm getting my restaurant!"

Dex's jaw dropped at this. And both girls were so excited.

"Tonight, my prince is finally coming!" Caroline said.

"Only question is which prince is your prince?" Kathleen asked her daughter.

"I don't know. But I'm about to find out. Whichever one kisses me first, I'll know he's my prince."

But, as the Mitchells left, they didn't know a shadowy figure was watching them from the corner of the cafe.

Padme soon met the Harden brothers at the old, abandoned sugar mill she was buying to build into her restaurant.

"Everything looks wonderful, Mr. Harden and Mr. Harden." Padme said as the two brothers picked up the for sale sign.

"We'll have all the paperwork ready to sign, first thing after Starry Grand."

"I'll do you one better. Why don't I sign them tonight when I see you at the Mitchells' masquerade ball?"

"You drive a hard bargain, Padme." said one of the Hardens as they took off in their vehicle.

"Table for two, please." said a familiar voice.

Padme turned to see two familiar faces.

"Oh! Mom. Sola."

"We thought you might like a little something to help you get started." Jobal said, holding an old pot with a red ribbon tied around it.

"Remember this from when we were little girls?" Sola smiled sadly, looking at the pot.

"Daddy's gumbo pot." Padme said, hugging her mom and sister.

"I know." Jobal sighed, still grieving over the loss of her husband. "I miss him too."

"Well, hurry up and open the door." Sola said.

And Padme did open the door.

"Just look at it, will you?" Padme smiled, looking at the inside of the mill.

Jobal and Sola looked at each other and the place. The whole place was covered in webs and dust. It looked like no one had been in there in years.

"I can see it now. The maitre d' will be right where you're standing now. Over there, a gourmet kitchen, and hanging from the ceiling, a big old crystal chandelier!"

Padme had a beautiful vision in her head.

"How about some curtains to spruce up those windows?" Sola suggested. "Woven with fine silk, with seed pearls to make 'em shine?"

"Oh, yes! That would be so perfect!" Padme said.

Jobal chuckled, "You're both your daddy's daughters alright. He used to go on an on about this old sugar mill too. Flower, I'm sure it'll be wonderful, but it's a shame you're always working all the time."

"It's true." said Sola. "I mean, retail by night, waitress by day. I'm amazed you're still standing. I was lucky enough that Darren wanted to be a stay-at-home father, or I'd be even more stressed balancing work and the babies."

"But how can I let up when I'm so close?" Padme said. "I've got to make sure all of Daddy's hard work means something."

"Padme." Jobal said seriously, placing the pot on a stool. "Your father may not have gotten the place he always wanted, but he had something better. He had love. And that's all I want for you, Flower. To meet your Prince Charming and dance off into your happily ever after.

"Mom! I don't have time for dancing!" Padme said, starting to sweep away some dust

Padme:

That's just gonna have to wait a while

"How long we talking?" Sola asked.

Ain't got time for messing around

And it's not my style

"I want more grandkids!" Jobal said.

This old town can slow you down

People taking the easy way

Padme showed her mother and sister her father's drawing.

But I know exactly where I'm going

I'm getting closer and closer every day

Padme imagined her vision of the beautiful restaurant. A beautiful venue, the chandelier, every table perfect, the food always amazing.

And I'm almost there

I'm almost there

People down here think I'm crazy

But I don't care

Trials and tribulations

I've had my share

There ain't nothing gonna stop me now

'Cause I'm almost there

I remember Daddy told me

"Fairytales can come true

You gotta make 'em happen

It all depends on you"

So I work real hard each and every day

Now things for sure are going my way

Just doing what I do

Look out boys, I'm coming through

Padme believed she could make it happen. People would come from all around the world just to get a taste of her and her father's amazing recipes.

And I'm almost there

I'm almost there

People gonna come here from everywhere

And I'm almost there

I'm almost there

Padme had to sacrifice a lot and work herself to the bone, but as her mother and sister helped her to clean up the mill, she knew it would all be worth it once he dream finally came true.

There's been trials and tribulations

You know I've had my share

But I've climbed the mountain

I've crossed the river

And I'm almost there

I'm almost there

I'm almost there!

At least one table was set up now. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

I know. Dex isn't actually a human in Star Wars, but just imagine he is for this story.