Padme pulled on her cloak, as the clock chimed midnight. She crept towards the elevator lift, until she heard footsteps approaching.
"Care to explain?" a voice ordered.
Sabe stopped in front of Padme, her arms crossed. She had a general idea of what Padme was up to, and it would definitely not be wise to go alone.
"I…ran out of blue milk?" Padme helplessly suggested, knowing already that it was a pathetic excuse.
Sabe waved the datapad in her hand, grinning. "If you think that you're going by yourself, you've got to be joking. I'm coming…"
Padme shook her head. "Hold on, did I even invite you?" she asked. Her friend stepped up to her, in her face.
"You'll be asking 'Did I invite death?' if I don't come with you. Besides, you're going to need some support with this. You just found out that your daughter is alive, and I don't want you diving head-first into trouble," Sabe explained, as she lifted a pack onto her shoulders.
"How did you even know?" Padme questioned, astonished that she even knew. Did she spy on her all the time?
"I heard you and found the datapad on the counter…Kind of hard to miss," she stated, receiving a nod from Padme.
The two headed towards the elevator, R2 trailing behind them. "I guess we'll head to the ship then."
"To Alderaan?" Sabe questioned.
"To Alderaan," Padme agreed, smiling. She had no way of hiding her excitement, her joy. Her daughter may be grown up more now, but even that would satisfy that longing and sadness she had faced over the past eleven years.
Aubree would change her more that she even knew.
Aubree finished sweeping the floors, gazing over at the man sitting on one of the barstools. "I'm finished, Uncle Treh," she called, as he stood up.
"That's my girl…Are you sure you want to stay with me right now? I know that with your…dad gone…I'd of thought that you'd go stay with Alora," he stated, rather surprised.
Aubree shook her head hastily. "Are you serious? That womp rat is going to be after me soon…Especially now that I took my dad's key to his fortune…" she admitted, staring at the floor.
Treh raised his eyebrows, clasping her shoulder. "You're insane! You know the rumors to what she does to get what she wants!" he replied exasperatedly. He ran his fingers through his dark hair, sighing. "All right, I'll take you in. Just because your dad was my best friend, and because you're a great kid," he commented, tossling her dark hair.
Aubree smiled, seeing customers come in. Her eyes fell upon her father's guitar, sitting up on stage. "Uncle Treh? Could I play tonight?" she asked, pulling her jacket off.
The older man smiled, motioning towards the steps on the stage. "Why not? Just a couple of songs, you need to head back soon to get some sleep," he insisted, kindly, not sternly. His attitude reminded her of her father, thus why she had run to him.
Aubree stepped onto the stage, sitting on a barstool. She pulled the guitar onto her lap, enjoying the smoothness of the guitar's wood. Her fingers strummed against the strings, gaining the attention of humans and aliens alike. She leaned towards the microphone, gazing out at the crowd that had formed.
"This song is dedicated to my father. It was his favorite…I'm pretty sure that you all are familiar with the tune…" she introduced, smiling sadly. She fought back her own tears, earning a thumbs-up from Treh.
'There's a blue rocking chair
Sitting in the sand
Weathered by the storms and well oiled hands
It sways back and forth with the help of the winds,
Seems to always be there,like an old trusted friend
I've read a lot of books,
Wrote a few songs
Looked at my life where it's going, where it's gone
I've seen the world through a bus windshield, but nothing compares
To the way that I see it,
to the way that I see it,
to the way that I see it when I sit in that old blue chair
From that chair I've caught a few fish and some rays
And I've watched boats sail in and out of cinnamon bay
I let go of a lover that took a piece of my heart
I prayed many times for forgiveness and a brand new start
I've read a lot of books,
Wrote a few songs
Looked at my life where it's going, where it's gone
I've seen the world through a bus windshield, but nothing compares
To the way that I see it, to the way that I see it,
to the way that I see it when I sit in
that old blue chair
That chair was my bed one New Year's Night
When i passed out from too much Malibu and Diet
And woke up to a hundred mosquito bites,
I swear got 'em all sitting right there
In that old blue chair
There's a blue rocking chair
Sittin' in the sand
Weathered by the storms and well oiled hands'
Padme entered a local cantina, her hood lowered as she picked a spot at the bar. Sabe followed in suit, but only one sight caught Padme's attention, seeming to freeze time.
A young girl sat on stage, playing that song…Palo's song. She remembered him singing it afternoons on the lakeshore, taking her back to that time. But she recognized her child by the one thing that captured her attention above all.
Those blue eyes…She recognized them immediately.
"Sabe, that's her…That's my Aubree!" she cried, pointing her out. Sabe smiled, squeezing her arm.
"That's her? Wow…she looks just like you!" she commented, as the crowd began clapping. Aubree stood up on stage, taking a bow.
"Thanks guys! You all are great!" she said, carrying the guitar as she stepped on stage. She raced towards the bar, clapping high fives with the people along the line. She stopped at the end, as she received a hug from what appeared the bar owner.
"How was I, Uncle Treh?" she asked, as she wiped her forehead. He grinned, as he motioned around the room.
"It was an excellent show…Everyone seemed to love it," he complimented. Padme gazed over at Sabe, swallowing.
"Should I go talk to her?" she asked carefully. Sabe glanced around, then pushing Padme in Aubree's direction.
"Go ahead. Nothing should hold you back now," she insisted, as she sat back against the bar.
Padme nodded, as she strode over towards Treh and Aubree. "Umm…Hi, My name is Padme…" she had to contemplate her name fast, since she could not reveal her Senatorial name, "…Naberrie. I enjoyed your show."
Aubree smiled, gazing over at her. "Nice to meet you. I'm Aubree Kenslin, can I help you?" she asked.
Padme was taken aback, surprised that she even had her father's last name. He did adopt her though…"Yes, I need to speak to you in private," she asked.
Aubree blanched, as she warily stepped out from behind the bar. "What? I…I don't think I can," she said uneasily.
"Why?" Padme searched the room. The place seemed rather friendly, despite being a cantina. Aubree shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"I told you, I can't. Especially with Alora around," she replied hastily, motioning towards the woman who had just entered. She seemed to be searching for someone, as her gaze settled upon the girl.
Aubree winced, as she immediately grabbed Padme by the arm. "Okay, fine. Five minutes, now hurry!" she insisted, as she pulled her outside.
The two stood in an alley, safely unseen by the stepmother. Aubree ran her fingers through her hair, forcing a smile.
"Well? What is it?" she asked, clambering onto a garbage can to sit on. Padme sighed, as she gazed up at the streetlight for a moment.
"Well…I don't know how to tell you this, but…Aubree, I'm your mother," she explained. Aubree dropped her jaw, surprised.
"H-How did you know my name? N-Never mind, you're just one of those bounty hunters that Alora sends to finish her dirty work, aren't you?" she accused, backing away. There was no escape now.
Padme narrowed her eyebrows, confused at the reaction. She fished the datapad out of her belt, handing it to Aubree. "See? Your father, Palo, sent this to me a week ago. I had received it and he had given me custody of you," she explained.
Aubree shook her head, refusing to trust her. Who was she kidding, this town was officially out to get her! "So what, you expect this plan of yours to work? Sorry, I'm not dumb like the other kids and ex-husbands that Alora tricked. So bye!" she said, starting to back away.
Padme gazed hopelessly at her retreating figure. As she turned away, she heard a shot ring through the night. All she could do was run in the direction of Aubree, screaming out her name.
"AUBREE!"
Cliffie on the notes to you readers, LOL.
To answer questions, now...First, Avschick33, about the Episode I occurance. Yes, it did happen and everything from that episode did occur. Anakin is still a Jedi, still Obi-Wan's apprentice. So within the next 2-3 chapters, he and Obi-Wan will be brought into the beautiful picture.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed.
The Golden Rule…or atleast Platinum: 5 reviews or no update.
Thanks!
-Fall Out Guirl