Longing, Part 2
Dec. 8th, 2006 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilAnd here's the next exciting...er, not quite sleep-inducing installment of my fic.
Longing
Part 2
---
The first surprise upon coming home was discovering that her sister was pregnant again.
Padmé had taken a leave from Theed a few years back to attend Sola’s wedding – one of the rare times she had had with her family during her queenship – and had been delighted to learn, a year later, that she would be gaining a niece or nephew before the end of her term. When Sola and her husband had come to visit Theed with Ryoo, Padmé had cooed over their baby’s soft skin and the fluff that barely covered her head, and found herself undeniably envious. She had looked forward to spending more time with her niece now that she was staying at home again.
She hadn’t expected to be gaining another. After Padmé finished hugging her parents, Sola greeted her with a wide embrace, her eyes twinkling laughingly at Padmé’s shock.
“You didn’t tell me,” she said accusingly and gave Sola’s round belly a reproving glare.
Sola grinned in triumph. “Just to see that look on your face. It’s not many things that can break your queenly serenity.”
Padmé rolled her eyes. It was the sort of teasing thing her sister would do, but instead of laughing it off, she found herself a bit miffed. “Sola, this is such an important thing in your life. How could you keep it a secret?”
Sola blinked. “Padmé – it wasn’t a matter of hiding something. I was just waiting to tell you in person.” She laughed and put her hand on her belly. “Or show you, anyway.”
“Of course.” Padmé shook her head, unsure why it bothered her at all. “Don’t worry about it, Sola.” A genuine smile spread across her face. “Another baby! I’m so happy for you.”
Sola returned the smile. “Ryoo is delighted. Of course, she thinks it’s going to be a baby doll for her to play with.” They both laughed. “You know, I have the feeling it’s another girl...” They wandered off into Padmé’s bedroom and continued chattering while she unpacked. By the time their mother called out that dinner was ready, Padmé’s annoyance was forgotten.
The holos were back on her bedroom walls, the quilt wrapped around her as she tried to fall asleep. But Padmé was restless. It was wonderful, as always, to be in the room of her childhood again, and to know that it would be her mother’s warm voice waking her the next day rather than the chime that jangled every morning in her palace bedroom. Yet when she closed her eyes, the sight of Sola touching her belly with a strange smile or stroking Ryoo’s hair made her toss and turn.
It didn't take a leap of genius to come to the conclusion that she wanted her own family. That was hardly a new idea. She had always assumed that she would eventually marry and have children, after she had finished serving her people. Well, her term was over. On to the next stage of her life. Padmé flopped onto her other side. If only it were that easy. One couldn’t merely acquire the proper accreditation and join the Marriage Guild.
Then how was she going to get married? It would require finding someone. That was something all her training hadn’t taught her how to do. The closest she had ever come to romance was a childish kiss with a fellow member of the Youth Legislature. Even if they hadn’t chosen different paths, she doubted anything would have come of it. She had her work; nothing was more important than that. She was good at her work. She didn’t know how to do anything else.
For a moment she entertained the idea of going on a search through the archives of Naboo’s Artists Guild, finding out where Paolo was now, and renewing whatever fledgling relationship they may have had. But the idea didn’t carry the least bit of excitement for her. She couldn’t tackle this problem like the ones she had faced in the palace, with meticulous research or diplomacy.
How had Sola done it? Padmé hadn’t had much chance to get to know her sister’s husband while she was queen, but she knew that they had been childhood acquaintances. As they grew older, they must have renewed the acquaintance and fallen in love. But Padmé couldn’t imagine being married to any of the boys she had played alongside while growing up. There weren’t many of them to begin with. And most of them would probably be cowed by the thought of a relationship with a former queen.
It was all beginning to seem like a great, unreachable mystery to Padmé. What if she never found anyone? What if she had a chance and lost it because she didn’t know how to do it right? Padmé sat up, fluffed her pillows testily, and fell back against them, letting out a gush of air that Sola could probably hear in her room next door.
She could ask her sister about it. She’d probably be more than willing to dispense advice and wisdom. Chances were, she would tease her as well. Padmé stared up at the ceiling.
This was ridiculous. She had been gone from Theed for one day. There was no reason at all for panicking. Every problem she had faced in her life had required time and patience. In that respect, this was no different. Time. Patience. Taking calming breaths, she was able at last to fall asleep.
Longing
Part 2
---
The first surprise upon coming home was discovering that her sister was pregnant again.
Padmé had taken a leave from Theed a few years back to attend Sola’s wedding – one of the rare times she had had with her family during her queenship – and had been delighted to learn, a year later, that she would be gaining a niece or nephew before the end of her term. When Sola and her husband had come to visit Theed with Ryoo, Padmé had cooed over their baby’s soft skin and the fluff that barely covered her head, and found herself undeniably envious. She had looked forward to spending more time with her niece now that she was staying at home again.
She hadn’t expected to be gaining another. After Padmé finished hugging her parents, Sola greeted her with a wide embrace, her eyes twinkling laughingly at Padmé’s shock.
“You didn’t tell me,” she said accusingly and gave Sola’s round belly a reproving glare.
Sola grinned in triumph. “Just to see that look on your face. It’s not many things that can break your queenly serenity.”
Padmé rolled her eyes. It was the sort of teasing thing her sister would do, but instead of laughing it off, she found herself a bit miffed. “Sola, this is such an important thing in your life. How could you keep it a secret?”
Sola blinked. “Padmé – it wasn’t a matter of hiding something. I was just waiting to tell you in person.” She laughed and put her hand on her belly. “Or show you, anyway.”
“Of course.” Padmé shook her head, unsure why it bothered her at all. “Don’t worry about it, Sola.” A genuine smile spread across her face. “Another baby! I’m so happy for you.”
Sola returned the smile. “Ryoo is delighted. Of course, she thinks it’s going to be a baby doll for her to play with.” They both laughed. “You know, I have the feeling it’s another girl...” They wandered off into Padmé’s bedroom and continued chattering while she unpacked. By the time their mother called out that dinner was ready, Padmé’s annoyance was forgotten.
The holos were back on her bedroom walls, the quilt wrapped around her as she tried to fall asleep. But Padmé was restless. It was wonderful, as always, to be in the room of her childhood again, and to know that it would be her mother’s warm voice waking her the next day rather than the chime that jangled every morning in her palace bedroom. Yet when she closed her eyes, the sight of Sola touching her belly with a strange smile or stroking Ryoo’s hair made her toss and turn.
It didn't take a leap of genius to come to the conclusion that she wanted her own family. That was hardly a new idea. She had always assumed that she would eventually marry and have children, after she had finished serving her people. Well, her term was over. On to the next stage of her life. Padmé flopped onto her other side. If only it were that easy. One couldn’t merely acquire the proper accreditation and join the Marriage Guild.
Then how was she going to get married? It would require finding someone. That was something all her training hadn’t taught her how to do. The closest she had ever come to romance was a childish kiss with a fellow member of the Youth Legislature. Even if they hadn’t chosen different paths, she doubted anything would have come of it. She had her work; nothing was more important than that. She was good at her work. She didn’t know how to do anything else.
For a moment she entertained the idea of going on a search through the archives of Naboo’s Artists Guild, finding out where Paolo was now, and renewing whatever fledgling relationship they may have had. But the idea didn’t carry the least bit of excitement for her. She couldn’t tackle this problem like the ones she had faced in the palace, with meticulous research or diplomacy.
How had Sola done it? Padmé hadn’t had much chance to get to know her sister’s husband while she was queen, but she knew that they had been childhood acquaintances. As they grew older, they must have renewed the acquaintance and fallen in love. But Padmé couldn’t imagine being married to any of the boys she had played alongside while growing up. There weren’t many of them to begin with. And most of them would probably be cowed by the thought of a relationship with a former queen.
It was all beginning to seem like a great, unreachable mystery to Padmé. What if she never found anyone? What if she had a chance and lost it because she didn’t know how to do it right? Padmé sat up, fluffed her pillows testily, and fell back against them, letting out a gush of air that Sola could probably hear in her room next door.
She could ask her sister about it. She’d probably be more than willing to dispense advice and wisdom. Chances were, she would tease her as well. Padmé stared up at the ceiling.
This was ridiculous. She had been gone from Theed for one day. There was no reason at all for panicking. Every problem she had faced in her life had required time and patience. In that respect, this was no different. Time. Patience. Taking calming breaths, she was able at last to fall asleep.
