Can you hear me calling?

[nodifferentfate]

Who: Padmé Amidala and YOUUUUUUUUUU!
What: Padmé's just trying to get into the swing of things around Mayfield. That and there's quite a bit of new information about the future that she has to come to terms with.
Where: The Park
When: February 17th, afternoon.
Warnings: None that I can think of right now!

[There was so much to take in. Too much, if she really wanted to think about it. Padmé was one who knew just how quickly a situation could change, and normally she was fairly good at adapting to the changes.

But could this truly qualify as normal?

Being spirited away to some strange world on her wedding night was bad enough- but coming face to face with her future daughter, and said daughter telling her of the horrors to come; of death, and destruction, and the endless pain of loss and separation... to say Padmé felt tired was a slight understatement.

But she couldn't fall asleep. Sleep felt useless at the moment, when there was so much to think about. To rationalize.

So she walked. Padmé made her way through the park; it was beautiful, but still held nothing compared to her home of Naboo. Looking somewhat distant, she seated herself on a bench and stared ahead.]

Comments

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke's mostly recovered from the excitement of the past few days and has better learned to control the Force through meditation so being out and around people isn't as scary as it was before. He's taking a walk with Leia in the park, and enjoying the day off work. Hey, rescuing a cat out of a tree is harder than it looks.]

She's so young and claims to be inexperienced. I don't know how she became the lone mechanic on a transport ship. It's impressive is what it is.

[Sorry, this is all he's been talking about all day.]

[of_alderaan]

[Leia is listening with a smile.]

That's quite impressive. As I'm sure you've told her.

[nodifferentfate]

[At the sound of people approaching, Padmé pulled herself out of her reverie. It was Leia, walking with a young man who looked so much like Anakin it nearly made her heart stop. She stood up, before abruptly sitting back down. There really was no need to make a scene of things...]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[He grins broadly.] Only a few times. [Understatement of the year.]

[Movement from the side of the path catches his attention. He felt the presence of the young woman sitting there but he hadn't paid her any mind until she moved. Now he's ultra-aware of the familiarity he feels from her, though when he looks he knows he's never seen her before.

She's beautiful. So much like Leia...

He doesn't realize he's staring, though his pace has changed and he's gone quiet.]

[of_alderaan]

Oh dear, that many?

[She'll have to have to meet this woman. She pauses though when she see's Luke looking off to the side.

.....oh. Well. This...

It had to happen sooner or later. She touches his arm for a moment. To get his attention and to get him to stop walking.]

Luke.

[nodifferentfate]

[Padmé watches the two with worried eyes, a part of her wanting to rush up to these apparent children of her's and Anakin's. But the much more sensible part tells her to wait and see.]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[The change in Leia's emotion worries him and he stops when he feels her hand on his arm. He glances to her in concern, then back at the young woman on the park bench. Now he's sure that this is someone Important.]

What's going on?

[of_alderaan]

Luke.

[She pauses for a moment after repeating his name. This is going to be strange.]

I was trying to think how to tell you this, when....

You remember Wes ...is from a different time then us.

Well that woman over there.

[She nods to where Padmé is looking over at them.]

Is from our home as well. But from earlier....before the Emperor took over. I was talking to her not too long ago.

[She takes his arm and leads him over towards Padmé. She nods to her, the calm face of a practised politician.]

Luke. This is Padmé Amidala. She is senator to the planet Naboo.

....she is also our mother.

[nodifferentfate]

[When the two finally approaches her, Padmé draws herself to her feet. She stares, eyes taking in first Leia's features, then Luke's.

The resemblances were there- they warm her heart, and yet fill her with an incredible sadness. To think of the world they grew up in...]

Hello, Luke. [She offers the smallest of smiles.] Leia.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Mother. That word is so foreign to Luke. He's never called anyone that before. And now here she is. His real mother. It's like seeing a ghost or a fictional character come to life.

Of course he'd known who she was all along. The familiarity he felt is clear now. How could she have been anyone else? And yet the shock of it has left him unable to move or breathe or do anything.

It isn't until she says his name that Luke finally snaps out of it and understands what it is he's feeling. It's as if instinct has taken over from a suppressed childhood.

He's already stepped over to Padmé before he really knows what he's doing and at that point it's too late to change his mind. The tears are already streaming and now he must hide his face in her shoulder. That's what Mother is there for, right? To protect him. His body is racked with uncontrollable sobs.]

[of_alderaan]

[Leia is the more controlled of the two. But she looks over sadly at their mother. Trying to say with her eyes, don't push him away.]

[nodifferentfate]

[When Luke hugs her, Padmé's momentarily thrown, unsure how exactly to react. This young man, sobbing into her shoulder, and his sad, dark haired sister are complete strangers to her- and yet they're born of her flesh and blood.

Being nothing more than a new bride, having children of her own was no more than some distant fantasy. Something wonderful, yet terrifying all the same.

Padmé loves children. She loves spending time with her two small nieces. But these two adults certainly aren't quite as small and dependent as Pooja and Ryoo.

... Then why does it feel so right to rap her arms tightly around Luke, holding him and making soft, soothing sounds?]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke had long ago been resigned to the fact that he'd never know his mother and it was better that way. To lose her after knowing her would have been painful and he would probably be a different person today.

He knew this town did horrible, sadistic things, but this has really taken the cake. Now she's here. She's real and comforting and being the mother he should have had. Only now, when this is all over, he'll have to say goodbye to her.

The sense of impending abandonment is so powerful, it's crippling. Luke is frozen to this spot, shaking and holding tight to Padmé, as if she's going to disappear at any moment.]

[of_alderaan]

[Leia stands there, watching over them.]

[nodifferentfate]

[After a few moments, Padmé pulls back, keeping her hands on Luke's shoulders. She smiles at him, then at Leia, her eyes bright with a mix of emotions.]

This is... unbelievable.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke wasn't quite ready to look her in the eyes yet and he looks almost panicked for a minute, maybe a bit embarrassed at himself, but he manages to give Padmé a weak smile anyway. His eyes are reddened and lashes wet with tears.

It's a sad smile. To him this meeting is nothing but bittersweet.

He looks like he wants to say something but his throat is still tight and he elects to stay quiet for now, instead wiping his eyes on his shirt sleeve and then looking to Leia with that panicked look he had a second ago.]

[of_alderaan]

[Leia smiles back at him warmly. She knows this is strange. It's strange enough for her as well. Instead she walks over to stand nearer them.]

It...really is.

[nodifferentfate]

I'm not really sure what I should... [She trails off for a moment, and removes her hands from Luke's shoulders to clasp them together.]

How are you?

[The mighty Senator, at a loss for words. Padmé purses her lips worriedly, a small frown forming on her face.]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[He finally manages to look her in the eyes, swallowing the lump in his throat. He lets out a breath, maybe a bit exasperated but the small smile is still there. It's more for show than anything else. He's hurting inside.]

Could be better.

I feel like I know you but-... that's not possible.

[of_alderaan]

[Leia shakes her head.]

....I remember her. ...somewhat. And there seems to be little that is impossible. Especially here.