"Just like old times," Dormé laughed, clapping as Sabé came out in another dress. Sabé had invited her old friends from Naboo, the Naberries, and Memily and Leia to help her pick out a wedding dress. They all sat squished together on a few couches, critiquing every dress they found.

Sabé smiled as she recalled the memories her old friend was referring to. "I remember. Except, Padmé made it a lot more fun. And we were still kids."

From the other end of the couch half the handmaidens were sharing, Rabé chuckled. "You were always the serious one out of all of us. Padmé used to joke that you were the hardest to please and it was her daily mission to make you laugh."

Sabé snorted. "That would explain a lot." Standing before the tall mirror, she turned to her side and studied the silky lace dress Dormé had picked out for her. It was sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. And the whole thing was lace. All of it. "This is too much, Dorm," she said, shaking her head. "This is way too much."

"You are so picky," she complained, half-joking as she got up from the couch and went to help Sabé out of the dress. They went back into a stall and Sabé came back out in another. "Mind me," she rolled her eyes, playfully shoving Dormé. "Just because Padmé was willing to wear anything you and Saché came up with."

"The red dress!" Fé moaned, then burst into guffaws.

Saché jumped to her feet to protest. "Hey! Padmé loved that dress!"

"They looked like kriffing eyeballs!" Sabé exclaimed. "Now, stop it! Your taste is too extravagant. Where's Leia?"

"Come here." Leia hurried to take her hand and pulled her across the store. "I think I know what we're looking for now."

"Good because I have no idea."

"Look. Why don't you try on something simpler? Less frilly, dazzling, and lacey." Leia stopped at a rack of plainer dresses. "It doesn't have to be completely boring. I think you just need something . . . less loud." She pulled a dress off the rack and held it up for Sabé to see. It had a shorter skirt, long sleeves, and a corset back. The older woman shook her head. "You're right. Too plain."

"Alright. Now we at least have a range. What do you like in a dress? A little sparkle? Bedazzled? Lace?"

Sabé considered. "I liked the lace. It was just-"

"Too much."

Leia nodded and turned back to the rack, her eyes darting back and forth as she continued the search. Just watching her, Sabé had to laugh. "You are just like your mother sometimes," she told her. "While she was queen, the other girls always said I was the serious one. And picky. Padmé would always take it as a challenge. She would spend an hour just trying to find something I'd like. She was nice like that."

Leia smiled, glancing sideways at her. "You should feel beautiful on your wedding day. And your dress shouldn't take the attention away from you. It should compliment you." Her hands suddenly stopped their dance across the shoulders of the hangers and she quickly reached in to pick up another dress, beaming. "Here we go," Leia muttered, clearly excited. She held it up in front of her to display it to Sabé. At first glance, it looked very plain. It wasn't the traditional white, but a fancier champagne or ivory color that went so well with the vines of lace that swirled up the sides of the skirt and covered the top of the dress and three-quarter sleeves.

Sabé gasped. Giggling, Leia handed it to her. "Oh, stars of Naboo, it's beautiful!"

"What are you waiting for? Go try it on!"

"Memily!" Sabé called down the aisle, holding up the gown in its plastic bag. "Will you help me?"

"Yeah, of course."

When Sabé came out of the changing stall, it almost looked as if she were gliding along with how the dress fell to the floor, hiding her feet. Its champagne color went so well with her skin tone, Leia could only describe the effect as it seemed to be a part of her, fitted to her so perfectly. Sabé looked nervous as she came out in it. Her fists were caught up in the fabric and she held it up off the floor. She took a quick breath before looking back to the other women.

At first, no one said anything. All they could do was stare. Leia, Sola, Rabé, Saché, and Dormé all found themselves leaning forward in their seats, gaping at Sabé as she approached.

"Oh, Sabé!" Jobal was the first to manage words. Her hands over her mouth, she started to giggle é flushed and Leia almost laughed aloud at how nervous she looked. She didn't seem to see what everyone else did: she looked stunning. "It's been a long time since I've worn a dress," she laughed quietly and Rabé smirked at her. "Well, don't tell me you were planning on walking down the aisle in that old orange dress, were you?"

Sabé turned to face the tall mirror and she turned, eyeing herself down. "Does it look alright-?"

Leia groaned. "Sabé, are you kidding? You look amazing!"

"Do you like it?" Jobal asked her. Sabé turned to face her. A small smile spread across her face and tears began to glisten in her eyes as she nodded. "Yeah. I really do."

"Is this the one?"

Eagerly, she nodded again.

"Alright," Sola smiled. "I'll help you get it off." Sola followed her back into the changing stall and helped her carefully pull the dress over her head. "I've never seen you so nervous," she suddenly said. "It's kind of funny."

Sabé laughed shortly. "My fiancé has a funny way of doing that to me."

Sola laughed again. "I'm going to say it because I just might suffocate if neither of us says it soon already. Here goes: I keep thinking about Padmé and what she would think of all this."

Sabé didn't respond.

"I know it's still hard to think about, but I just know she would have gotten a real kick out of watching you get giddy over a man."

Still, she didn't respond.

"Sabé," Sola soothed. She turned while Sabé got out of her slip dress and put her clothes back on. "She-"

"I know," Sabé quickly interrupted her. "I know, Sola. Ducchi has helped me reach a certain peace with Padmé's death. I can talk about it now, but I've been thinking about her the same way lately. I keep thinking about when we were younger and we promised we'd be each other's maids-of-honor. Back then, it seemed ridiculous to think I could ever give someone else that honor at my wedding. Or to think that I would never get to do that for her." She sighed. "She should be here, Sola. I keep looking around, wondering where she is. But she isn't there. It almost feels wrong."

"How could it feel wrong? What part of it feels wrong?"

"The part where I came here. And found new family. And made a new friend who cares about me just as much as Padmé did."

"You've already decided on a maid-of-honor?"

"Yeah. I decided pretty quickly too. It was obvious and I'm happy with my choice. I think she'll be very honored . . . but it still seems wrong that it isn't Padmé."

Sabé tapped her shoulder, telling her she was done dressing. Sola turned around and smiled at her. "You deserve to be happy, Sabé. Padmé would want me to say this all to you. When she died, you didn't deserve to lose everything with her. Perhaps, it was Fate that understood that and had Breha Organa call you and offer you a job on Alderaan. So that you met Ducchi. So that you made new friends. So that you found all the happiness that you have always deserved and Padmé always wanted you to have. This is how things are supposed to go, Sabé. She wants you to be happy. She doesn't want you to feel bad or guilty. She wants you to enjoy all the happiness you've gained." Sola stepped forward and embraced her late sister's best friend. "She is still here and she wants you to move on and be okay. With your new family. With Ducchi. Let go, Sabé. Let go of all your guilt and pain. Let him heal you. And be happy again."