Chapter 6

“So,” Padmé sighed, bouncing on her toes as she turned from the mirror so that Anakin could see her. “How do I look?”

She’d spent nearly the entire time they’d been in their new quarters aboard the Enterprise in front of it, working diligently on her hair, and she grinned back at him excitedly as she watched him size her up from his seat on the edge of the bed.

“You’re as beautiful as ever,” Anakin smiled, standing up and closing the few steps between them as he watched her turn once more, her dress billowing gracefully, along with her long, flowing curls, as she did so. “Maybe even more so,” he said, gazing down at her fondly as he reached down and took her hands in his.

“Thank you,” she said, her cheeks flushing a rosy pink as she glanced down at her dress, smoothing a few of the wrinkles away with her hands. “I have to say, I love this dress that Deanna sent for me to wear to dinner,” she said, adjusting the blue satin sash at her waist a bit. “Do you?”

“I do,” Anakin nodded, approvingly. “It’s very nice, and it looks absolutely stunning on you,” he said, his own smile brightening a bit more as she turned her beaming face back to his.

He loved to see her like this, as giddy and happy as a schoolgirl. “You really are excited, aren’t you?” he chuckled, mesmerized by the brightness of the eager smile on her face as she nodded her head in reply.

“I really am,” she giggled, her brown eyes twinkling as she squeezed his hands tightly, bouncing once more on her toes. “I know it’s silly, but I can help but feel…”

“Like you did when you were a Senator,” Anakin grinned, finishing that thought for her. “You’re getting to relive a part of your life over again, aren’t you?” he asked, nodding his head as she laughed back at him.

“Is it wrong of me to feel that way?” Padmé asked, grinning up at him sheepishly as she watched him close his eyes and shake his head firmly. “I mean, after all, our first priority is getting home. Maybe I shouldn’t…”

“There’s not a thing in the world wrong with you being excited about this,” Anakin replied, leaning closer and kissing her gently on the lips; she returned his kiss, just as tenderly, until he opened his eyes and grinned back at her. “You said it yourself, earlier. We’re here, and they seem nice enough, and we might as well enjoy ourselves.”

“Besides, that was a big part of your life, and you should definitely enjoy this,” he said, drawing himself back so that he could see her, but still holding tightly to her outstretched hands. “And after all, you are a visiting dignitary, so you should be excited.”

Padmé laughed back at him, then took a quick step forward and kissed him again, long and tenderly. “Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes searching his as she finally let their lips part again. “Thank you for always being so supportive and encouraging.”

“You make it very, very easy,” he chuckled in reply. “So,” Anakin asked, glancing around the spacious bedroom of their new cabin, as she let her arms slip slowly from around his neck, “Pretty impressive for quarters on a ship, huh? How are the accommodations stacking up, compared with the ones you used to get when you were a senator?”

“Not bad at all,” Padmé replied, grinning slyly at him as she took his hand and led him over near the bed. “And I can’t ever remember having a bed nicer and bigger than this on a ship,” she added.

“You know, I always slept in these things alone when I was a traveling as a senator,” she said, bouncing her eyebrows as she drug her fingertips lightly along the smooth, snugly fitted sheets that adorned the large, spacious bed in the center of their room. “I’m looking forward to trying something new after I return from this diplomatic dinner this evening,” she whispered, wrapping one arm around his neck as she pulled him close again, pressing her cheek lightly to his.

“Really?” Anakin asked, closing his eyes as he took a long, deep breath, taking in her sweet, familiar scent with as much hunger as he ever had. “And what might that be?” he asked, placing a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck as he let his hand explore the small of her back.

“I’m sure we can think of something,” Padmé whispered in reply, a contented smile on her face as she leaned her head back, reveling in the soft warmth of his lips on her skin.

She giggled, then sighed deeply as she heard the doorbell to their quarters ring, followed by the voices of their two teenage children as they began to debate who was going to answer it. “Let’s make sure they go to bed early tonight,” she chuckled, cupping his face in her hands as she grinned up at him, then kissed him tenderly. “We are definitely picking up where we left off, do you understand me?” she growled, grinning as she watched him nod his head firmly in agreement.

“Come on,” Anakin chuckled, taking her by the hand and leading her toward to door that joined their room to the large, central sitting room. “Let’s go see who it is.”

The dignitary quarters aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise were second to none, even when compared to most landlocked luxury accommodations. The large, central sitting room was spacious indeed, the smooth, modern furnishings giving the room a warm, yet spartan feel. On either end, two sets of sliding doors led to a total of four sleeping quarters, which had worked out well indeed, given that Obi-Wan and Shanda had taken up residence on one end, with Anakin, Padmé, and the children on the other.

“Well, bless me,” Obi-Wan said; he watched Lana as she hopped down from his lap, then stood up from the seat he’d been relaxing in near one of the large bulkhead windows. “If I didn’t know better,” he said, folding his hands neatly in front of him as he watched Padmé stop, just inside the doorway, and grin back at him knowingly, “I’d say we’d just gone back in time, m’lady.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Ben,” Padmé replied, placing her arm snugly around Lana’s shoulders as she trotted up and hugged her tightly.

“Exactly how it was intended,” Obi-Wan chuckled, watching as their youngest daughter, who’d been sitting on the couch with him a moment earlier, spoke up with her usual eagerness; she’d been quiet, unusually so, since their arrival, but the shyness she’d exhibited on the DS9 station had been replaced with her usual outgoing, bubbly young demeanor.

“You look nice, Mama,” Lana said, squeezing her mother tightly as Padmé smiled down at her, smoothing her long, dark hair with her hand. “Are you going to go eat with the doctor and that other lady tonight?”

“Thank you, baby,” she said, smiling down at her fondly. “And, yes, I am,” she nodded.

“Ben’s been telling me stories,” Lana said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a wide grin as Anakin stepped past them and made his way over to where Luke and Leia stood, near the small table next to the food replicators.

“He has?” Padmé asked, kneeling down beside her so that she could see her better. “What kind of stories?”

“Jedi stories!” Lana exclaimed, her excitement drawing a laugh from her mother as Padmé and Obi-Wan exchanged another knowing glance.

“Jedi stories? How exciting!” Padmé exclaimed, scooping Lana up into her arms as she made her way over to where Shanda and Obi-Wan stood, near the large, circular couch. “We’ll have to get him to tell us all one, after while, won’t we?” Padmé asked, tossing Obi-Wan and Shanda a sly wink, and then turning her attention to Anakin as she heard him speak.

“You two get the door, okay?” Anakin said, as his two teens nodded their heads firmly, and then started to trot toward the door. “And remember, best manners tonight, understood?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Leia replied, and, pigtails bouncing, she trotted off with her brother toward the door.

“Well,” Obi-Wan sighed, quite deeply, as Anakin walked over to join them. “Are we ready?”

“As ready as we’ll ever be, I guess,” Anakin nodded, shrugging his shoulders. “Hey, Princess,” he said, tugging on his youngest daughter’s ponytail playfully as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, then turned his gaze to Shanda, who’d been standing quietly beside Obi-Wan.

“You look nice, Shanda,” he said, nodding his head approvingly; he couldn’t help but notice the flush of rosy pink that filled her cheeks along with that familiar, sheepish grin. “I don’t get to see you in a dress very often.”

“Thank you, Uncle Anakin,” Shanda blushed; she’d always been more of a tomboy at heart, just as content in the traditional tunic, pants, and boots she’d grown accustomed to as a young padawan as anything else. But, as the years had passed, she’d grown into a lovely young woman, indeed, and she’d begun to enjoy -- more than she’d ever suspected she would -- these opportunities to dress a little more feminine, something that had delighted her mother, Beru, to no end.

“Daddy,” Leia called, her voice drawing their gaze as she walked quickly back into the room to join them, “Jadzia’s here.”

“Hello, everyone,” Dax piped, quite brightly, as she stepped into the room to join them, with Luke following close behind her. “I hope I’m not intruding?”

“Of course not, it’s good to see you again,” Anakin replied pleasantly, watching as Padmé leaned down and let Lana slip from her arms. “We were expecting you, but I think we sort of lost track of time. I hope we haven’t kept anyone waiting?”

“Not at all,” Jadzia replied, shaking her head. “You’re right on time, in fact. I’ve just come up to escort you all down to the formal dining hall.”

“Sounds good,” Obi-Wan replied; he glanced around at his companions, an eager grin on his bearded face. “Let’s be off, then,” he said, placing a hand on Shanda’s shoulder as he gestured toward the door. “I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’m famished, and, no matter where you’re from, it’s impolite to keep the captain waiting.”

“Luke, Leia,” Anakin said, turning his attention to the twins once more, “You two keep an eye on your sister while we’re gone,” he said, watching as they both nodded their heads obediently. “We’ll be back up in a while, so use the comlink if you need us for anything.”

“Yes, Daddy,” Leia replied, as Luke nodded his head along with her.

“Actually,” Dax piped up, raising her hand, “I have something planned for the children to do this evening while you’re at dinner, something I think they’ll enjoy quite a bit,” she said, watching as Anakin and Padmé exchanged a curious glance. “If that’s all right with you, of course?”

Anakin shrugged his shoulders, then looked back at Luke and Leia, both of whose faces now bore an excited, eager look of anticipation. “Sounds fine to me,” he said. “What do you think? Would you like to go with Jadzia instead of staying here this evening?”

“Yes, please,” they both piped in unison, nodding their head eagerly.

“Okay,” Padmé said, as she smiled gratefully at Dax for a moment; she was touched, very much so, that someone she'd only known for a few hours had taken her children's interest to heart. She gave Lana a nudge toward them, then turned her attention to the twins once more. “But remember, best behavior, and keep an eye on your little sister,” she said, watching as Lana bounded over and took Leia’s hand tightly in hers. “Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both replied, falling in behind Dax and their parents. “Jadzia,” Luke asked, turning a curious smile toward the brown haired, slender young woman as they all made their way toward the door, “where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” Dax replied, the corner of her mouth curling with the hint of a smile as she opened the door, stepped to the side, and then gestured for them all to follow her. “We’ll escort your parents to the dining hall, and then I’ll show you,” she said, pleased by the look of curious anticipation she saw on the youngster’s faces. “We'll need to stop by my quarters first to pick something up, but I think I can say you’ll enjoy it.”

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“There,” Dax said, her fingertips fairly well flying over the LCARS console; her eyes scanned the display, confirming the information the Enterprise’s main computer fed back to her. “I think that looks about right,” she said, nodding her head as she turned her eyes back to the trio that stood beside her. “Anything else?”

She’d left Anakin, Padmé, and the others in the care of Commander Riker and Counselor Troi a while earlier, and she and the children had spend the last ten minutes or so playing this interesting game of questions and answers. She’d been surprised, quite so, with the clarity that the children had used when describing their homeworld, and she’d drawn on Dax’s vast knowledge and experience to fill in the gaps, so to speak, where the children had been a bit fuzzy.

“Trees,” Leia said, smiling curiously as Dax nodded her head. “Green ones, lots of them, big ones, too.”

“Computer,” Jadzia said, glancing back at the display, “Increase deciduous vegetation by twenty five percent,” she said, listening as the computer’s bell-like tone confirmed her command. “Increase age of largest vegetation by thirty to fifty years.”

“Increasing deciduous vegetation by twenty five percent, with random age adjustment of one hundred to one hundred twenty five years,” the computer responded. “Program complete,” it replied, after a moment’s pause. “You may enter when ready.”

Luke and Leia both exchanged a curious glance as they heard the smooth, yet powerful hum from behind the large, double doors beside them; it remained, just for a moment, and then faded, leaving nothing but the soft, steady rumble of the Enterprise’s engines as the great ship slipped through space.

“That’s it,” Jadzia chimed, quite pleasantly; she leaned down, picked up the large rucksack she’d fetched from her quarters and hoisted it onto her shoulder. “Well,” she said, eyebrows raising as she looked at the three curious, smiling faces that looked back at her. “Are you all ready? It should be a beautiful day.”

“Sure,” Luke replied, shrugging his shoulders as they stepped up to the doors. “But I don’t understand, I mean, it’s just a simulator, right?” he asked, taking Lana’s hand tightly in his own as she stood close beside him.

“It’s called a holodeck,” Jadzia replied with a grin, as she reached up and pressed the button on the door’s control panel. “And you’re right,” she said, watching the children with a growing smile as the doors slid open in front of them. “It’s just a simulator.”

Luke and Leia quite simply couldn’t believe their eyes as they, with Lana in tow and Jadzia right behind them, stepped into this miraculous machine she’d called a holodeck.

“Luke,” Leia gasped, her mouth hanging open in shock and disbelief as she felt the warm summer breeze on her face, smelled the sweet scent of the flowers that dotted the green, gently rolling landscape. “Can you believe this? This is... is...”

Dax laughed quietly to herself; her carefully timed presentation had worked out just as she’d planned, and she watched, with no small amount of enjoyment, as Luke, Leia, and Lana all stood there, stunned, ankle deep in the thick, green grass, gazing out at the natural wonder that lay before them.

“It’s... it’s home,” Leia whispered, her face bearing the smile and wonder of a child half her age; she snapped her head around, pigtails flying, as she reached over and grabbed her brother’s shoulder tightly. “Luke, can you believe this? It’s HOME!” she exclaimed, excitedly.

“It’s... it’s amazing,” Luke said, a huge, astonished smile on his own face as Lana squealed with delight, then pointed toward the flock of large, white geese that swam lazily near the shore of the crystal blue lake. “This is incredible!”

“Lookit, lookit!” Lana exclaimed, and, tearing herself free from her brother’s hand, she bounded off through the grass toward the shore, squealing with delight as she went, making a bee line for the downy young goslings that were wandering about near the shoreline.

“Lana, wait!” Leia called, remembering what her mother and father had told her. “Don’t go near the water until we...”

“It’s okay, don’t worry,” Dax reassured her, dropping the rucksack from her shoulder and offering it to her. “The holodeck fail safes are engaged, so you don’t have to worry, she can’t get hurt,” she said, pleased once more by the happy, astonished smile on the young teen’s face as she took the pack she offered her. “I took the liberty of bringing you some towels and snacks,” she said, nodding toward the tree lined lake that lay ahead of them. “There’s a kite or two in that bag, too, and there should be just enough wind to fly them.”

“Here’s a communicator pin,” Jadzia said, placing one of the small, gold devices into Luke’s outstretched palm as she turned her attention to him. “If you need anything, just press it and I’ll answer,” she said, as Luke nodded, then tucked it down into his pocket.

“Well, are you just going to stand there gawking at it, or are you going to go swimming?” Jadzia asked, placing a hand on Luke’s shoulder as she pointed toward the lake. “The water should be perfect,” she said, winking slyly at him as he turned his astonished smile up to her, and then back out to the wonder that lay before them.

She folded her arms across her chest, watching with a smile as, whooping and shouting with delight, the two teenagers bolted out across the grass and toward the lake. She watched them quietly for a few moments, and, then made her way back to the holodeck doors; they slid open, and she turned and watched them quietly for another moment, and then stepped out into the corridor as the doors closed quietly behind her.

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