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The rising sun spilled slowly into the room, casting a bright orange glow onto the tile and illuminating the large vaulted bedchamber. Padme yawned and sat up, taking up a small amount of space in the expansive bed. She pushed her long curls out of her face and adjusted the small silk straps of her seafoam green silk nightgown. Although these days she slept alone, she still liked to dress in pretty dainty things, even just to sleep.
In the corner of the room the two cribs stood side by side, sheltered in the shadows. Leia was sleeping, a small lump under the blankets. But Luke was standing in his crib staring at her with large round blue eyes. She chuckled and rolled rather ungracefully out of bed, planting her bare feet onto the cool tile.
She stretched and bent into the crib lifting Luke up, he clung tightly to her shoulder. Carrying Luke she preened in front of the mirror before quietly exiting the room. She hummed as she made her way down into the kitchen, she passed Obi-Wan in the halls, on his way for his morning walk.
“Good morning my dear,” he said, she smiled and hoisted Luke up higher on her hip.
“Always the early bird eh Obi-Wan,” she teased.
He shrugged and they continued down into the kitchen. Obi-Wan was about to exit the large double doors into the back patio, when he paused and pinched his brow.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered.
Padme had plunked Luke into the highchair and was about to brew some caf.
“What?” she said coming over, “Oh,”
A pair of bare brown feet were in view through the glass. She opened the door and was greeted with the entrancing view of Quinlan, naked save a tiny red pair of shorts, sprawled in the grass.
Pottery was broken, chairs were knocked over, flowers crushed and an array of empty beer bottles littered the lawn. The offending party was sleeping (or rather passed out) a peaceful and innocent look on his face, lying amid the devastation.
“I’m sorry,” Obi-Wan said, “I should have made sure he went to his bed last night.”
Padme sighed, of course Obi-Wan ever the martyr would blame himself for the actions of this idiot.
“It’s not your fault,” she said.
They both stared, wondering the best course of action. Obi-Wan stroked his jaw thoughtfully in the absence of his beard.
Sabe entered the kitchen carrying Leia and began the caf preparation.
Padme nodded resolutely to herself and delivered a sharp kick to Quinlan’s meaty thigh. There was some grumbling and he rolled onto his stomach, bits of grass sticking to his bare skin, but still content to sleep.
Padme stepped into the kitchen and grabbed the broom. It was made with a sturdy wooden handle and lots of dried Naboo wildgrass gathered tightly in a thick thatch on the end. It would definitely sting. She raised it high before slamming the bristles down onto Quinlan’s backside.
The sound was like a crack of thunder, followed by a sound that resembled a birthing Bantha.
“YEEEEOOOWWW!” he shrieked, reaching back and grabbing his butt-cheeks.
“You destroyed my garden!” Padme said sternly, still brandishing the broom.
“Sorry mommy, I’ve been bad,” Quinlan mewled, “I deserve a spanking,” he arched his back.
THWACK
Padme delivered another deft blow against the purpling skin. That’d show him, trying to joke like an imbecile.
“AAAAHHHHHHHH I’m sorry momm-hee hee!” Quinlan’s scream dissolved into laughter.
“What the kark is all that racket?”
Padme and Obi-Wan looked up and Anakin was standing on his balcony, wrapped in his quilt, his hair a dreadful tangle of bedhead. Padme thought he looked like a grumpy child in need of a nap, but of course she didn’t say anything.
“Sorry for the noise my sweet one,” Obi-Wan cajoled.
Again, apologizing for something that wasn’t his fault.
“There are clubs that cater to deviant behavior Quinlan,” Anakin shouted down, “you don’t need to rope my ex wife into your sick fantasies.”
Quinlan continued to laugh, he flopped onto his back wincing a bit, his dreadlocks breaking free of their tie and spilling around his head.
“Why doesn’t baby go back to bed and leave the adults be,” Quinlan said.
“You an adult?” Anakin scoffed.
“You had better tidy up my garden Quinlan or so help me…” she drifted off trying to think of a threat that wouldn't result in more jokes.
Quinlan got up groaning and began righting chairs, and picking up beer bottles.
“I am sorry,” he said sincerely.
“Good,” she said.
Obi-Wan wandered off, presumably for his walk and Padme returned to the kitchen. Sabe handed her a mug of caf wordlessly as she shook her head.
Padme and Sabe enjoyed their caf quietly sitting at the table.
“I suppose I should get started on breakfast,” Padme said reluctantly as she got up. She was hoping to relax more on this vacation, but all the cooking, preparing lunches and watching the twins was exhausting. Even with Sabe and her other handmaids helping.
“Let me,” Quinlan said, he'd slipped in quietly through the open doors, “as a token of goodwill and regret for the ruined flowers,” he flashed a bright smile.
Padme sat down again.
“Alright,” she said warily, “just don't burn down my villa,”
She sighed and sipped at her caf, relishing the hot drink. More often than not her beverages and food got cold before she could enjoy them.
She'd been needlessly worried, Quinlan proved a capable cook. Bacon was sizzling and he was flipping eggs, browning toast and cutting fruit. He presented a comical sight, still wearing the minuscule shorts with a frilly pink apron on top.
Anakin trudged in looking tired and grumpy, his hair tangled and only wearing sleep shorts. Why did the men insist on being half naked so often? She held back a laugh imagining if she were to parade around in her underclothes, it was a double standard of course.
“Move,” he growled to Quinlan and began to pour himself a mug of caf.
“Aww is someone sleepy?” Quinlan teased.
Padme couldn’t fathom how chipper he was after spending the night passed out on the lawn, he didn’t even look hungover.
Anakin flopped down next to her, jostling the table, he sat glowering into his mug.
“I’m sorry we woke you,” she said quietly, patting his forearm.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t able to sleep anyway,” he said sulkily.
“Quinlan!” she yelled getting up. He was trying to give Luke a strip of bacon.
“What? He has teeth,” he justified, “probably sick of fruit and mush.”
Padme sighed, “he only has two teeth,” she shoved the bacon in Quinlan’s mouth and began re-cutting the fruit smaller for the twins.
“Sorry mommy,” Quinlan said, chewing with his mouth open.
Obi-Wan came in, followed by Rex and Cody. Padme poured them all caf and began to brew a fresh pot.
Everyone was chatting amicably, except Anakin who was still irritable, he eventually left and sat outside by himself.
Padme thought to go talk to him, but even Obi-Wan was letting him be. So she sat down and let Quinlan serve them all. The breakfast looked and smelled amazing, she selfishly hoped she could rope him into cooking more.
Ahsoka wandered in, the only one that managed to sleep in. She began to pick at the cut fruit.
“Is Anakin on a time out?” she asked.
Everyone turned and looked, he was sitting in the grass by himself. Padme had forgotten he was out there.
“He’s hungover and we are too noisy,” Quinlan replied, he was cooking another batch of bacon.
“Ah,” Ahsoka said and began to serve herself.
Obi-Wan had finished and he excused himself, he joined Anakin outside and they sat together. Padme watched them as she sipped her second mug of caf, Obi-Wan was rubbing Anakin’s back and talking to him. Padme was glad Anakin ended up with someone as kind and patient as Obi-Wan.
There was a high pitched shriek, Leia, as she launched mushed up strawberries at Quinlan’s back.
“Ewww,” he shrieked in return.
“Leia, we don't throw food.” Padme admonished.
“It’s so cold and icky,” he squirmed as Sabe wiped him off.
Ahsoka left with Rex, both animatedly discussing engine specs and other nonsense that flew over Padme’s head. Anakin had tried to talk to her about mechanical things when they were together, but it never interested her in the slightest. But his eyes had glazed over when she tried to explain the nuances of politics.
“Thank you for cooking, I really appreciate it,” she said as Quinlan sat down with the rest of the bacon.
“No problem my lady,” he smiled before devouring the crispy strips. Thankfully, she was beyond tired of being called mommy.
Padme eyed the mountain of dishes and inwardly groaned.
“I got the dishes,” Cody said, “just relax, you should be enjoying your vacation too.”
Padme almost teared up, Cody was such a nice guy. Him being more quiet he sometimes faded into the background during boisterous gatherings.
“Thank you so much,” she said, “you boys are so kind.”
“I mean you are letting us stay here all summer, it’s the least we can do,” Cody said.
Quinlan finished his bacon and bowed before leaving, still wearing the frilly apron.
Sabe had taken the twins to clean them up and dress them. Cody was doing the dishes, sounds of running water and plates clinking together lightly. Padme treated herself to a third cup of caf as she packaged the leftover food, they could use some of it for a picnic lunch.
Obi-Wan and Anakin came in and sat down. Anakin’s eyes were red and he looked like he’d been crying. Obi-Wan began preparing him a plate, Padme helped.
“I was thinking we could do a day here at the pool, instead of the beach,” she said.
“That sounds lovely,” Obi-Wan said as he poured himself another cup of caf.
“There is more shade here, and it's not like the beach is going anywhere,” she justified.
Since she was the host, she usually directed what everyone did each day. So far it'd been the beach every day, but it'd be a little easier to just enjoy the pool.
“I will personally be enjoying the shade,” Obi-Wan said. He had burned yesterday, his cheeks, nose and shoulders were quite pink.
Anakin was pushing food around his plate.
“Eat a few bites,” Obi-Wan chided, “for me,” he added, playfully batting his eyelashes.
The pool was large with lounge chairs surrounding it. It was adjacent to the villa, just past a lush green garden with herbs.
Padme loved it here, as a child she would wander around alone while the adults were busy. While the hedges were not near as tall as she remembered, it was still secluded and offered a good amount of shade.
Everyone arranged their towels on the chairs and service droids came in with cold drinks.
Padme lay back in her lounger, the twins were having their noon nap.
The tranquil environment seemed to have an effect on everyone, even Quinlan was swimming quietly.
Ahsoka was lying in the sun. Anakin and Obi-Wan were huddled together, sharing a lounge chair. Sabe was reading and Rex was showing Cody a holoshow on his datapad.
She sighed and sipped her drink, listening to the tree branches whooshing softly above them and the birds twittering.
She’d definitely plan more days by the pool.