Before the Saga Surprise Reunion in Theed (Padme/Palo Oneshot for OTP Challenge #29)

Title: Surprise Reunion in Theed

Author: devilinthedetails

Characters: Padme Amidala; Palo.

Genre: Romance; Fluff; Mush; Drama; mild AU.

Timeline: Before the Saga. Prior to the events of TPM. During Padme's time in the Legislative Youth Program.

Canonicity: Can be viewed as a mild AU in the sense that Padme and Palo don't break up as soon as Palo decides to pursue his art and Padme remains committed to her political dreams.

Summary: Padme and Palo share a surprise reunion in Theed.

Author's Note: Written for the OTP Challenge #29: Destination Events. My Column A event prompt was reunion and my Column B planet was Naboo. Which naturally made the Padme/Palo couple spring to my mind!

Surprise Reunion in Theed

Padme had left her Legislative Youth Program Galactic Conference–the highlight and culmination of a year’s mock debates and research into legal technicalities–on Coruscant three days early. To return to Theed in time for the opening of a gallery display prominently featuring the works of Palo and other promising young artistic talents on Naboo.

She had made her vague excuses to her mentor. Who had clucked disapprovingly and admonished her about how her civic duty to her planet–to the people she was learning to represent in politics–was supposed to come first. How all other concerns and considerations were meant to be subordinate to that all-consuming goal of service. The implication being that she lacked the true heart and grit to serve Naboo if she departed the Galactic Conference so much as an hour early.

She didn’t have the nerve to explain to her reproachful mentor that her heart had been stolen, at least partially, by another. That her sole allegiance was not just to Naboo, but also to the marvelous mingling of flesh, blood, and soul that made up her boyfriend Palo.

Palo who had dropped out of the Legislative Youth Program two months ago to pursue his art with the same deep dedication that Padme wished to pursue politics. Their paths could have diverged then. Their passions pulling them in different directions, but instead they remained drawn to each other like the opposing poles of magnets. Padme could feel that magnetism flowing between them–binding them together–whenever they snuck kisses on park benches or held hands strolling through city streets.

With her mind full of Palo, she had packed up her suitcase in the Coruscanti hotel room she shared with three other girls, who had watched her departure with wide eyes and gaping jaws. Paid for passage to Theed on a commercial vessel with a swipe of the cred card her parents had given her in case of emergencies or unexpected expenses. Spending a thousand creds to see Palo without a second thought because what was love if not that?

Her parents would understand, she was sure, once she brought Palo home to meet them. To share her mother’s delicious dinners and admire the flowers her father cultivated in their backyard garden. A form of artistry Palo would no doubt appreciate. They were always urging her to be more selfish. To not give her entire heart and soul–her whole life–to Naboo and leave nothing remaining for her own pleasure.

When the ship landed at the Theed spaceport, she hurried along cobbled city streets to the gallery where Palo’s work was being showcased. Palo had given her the gallery’s address when he told her about the exhibit in animated detail, but it turned out that she didn’t need the address because a proud neon holosign proclaiming the display of the works of the “Best 20 Artists under 20 on Naboo” blared outside.

Padme entered the gallery. Stood on the line to purchase tickets. Again swiped the cred card her parents had given her to finance this exhibit visit to see Palo’s work. To support his art that made her soul sing. Robbed the breath from her lungs.

As soon as she stepped into the gilded chamber with its soaring, domed ceiling where the art was displayed, Padme’s eyes found Palo and his beautiful creations. His masterpieces. His series of soft watercolor paintings depicting the progression of the sun across a Lake Country waterfall during the course of a single day. The bright crimson and oranges of dawn, the gold of mid-morning, the burning yellow of high noon heat, and the pastels purples and pinks of sunset all mirrored in the cascading water.

Palo, standing beside his creations, was in the midst of conversation with critics who could compose gushing praise or scathing condemnation of his labors in their assorted publications as well as potential customers who might purchase pieces of his work to adorn the walls of their museums or carefully curated private collections. Still, his gaze fixed on her at once when she walked into the exhibition chamber. Lit up as if she were the only one in his galaxy. The guiding star by which he led and navigated his life. Didn’t hesitate to drop the thread of his conversation with critics and customers to rush over to her.

Feet flying across the tiled floor. They embraced. The music of their hearts beating in sync as Padme thought there had never been such a gleeful reunion in the history of the galaxy. His palms drifting down to cup her flushed cheeks. Her fingers rising to flit like butterflies through the dark curls of his hair.

“You came,” he whispered as he kissed her. “I didn’t expect it.”

“It was meant to be a surprise.” Padme returned the kiss. Brown eyes sparkling up at him like summer firecrackers bursting over her father’s garden.

“Thank you.” He seemed to overflow with joy looking at her. She felt the same. Gazing at him. Beholding the elation her sheer unexpected presence could evoke in him. “I will take you out to lunch.”

He did. Taking his lunch hour. Escorting her out of the gallery and down the city streets to one of Theed’s many small cafes favored by its budding artists and university students.

They claimed a tiny table on a patio overlooking a square with a marble statue and burbling fountain surrounded by a milling crowd. Ordered a cup of caf with foamed milk each, a platter of pastries for splitting, and a salad for sharing from the smiling waitress who came over with her datapad and pleasant afternoon greeting.

As they waited for their drinks and dishes to arrive, Padme bent down. Reached into her suitcase. Withdrew an acrylic painting of the glowing green jungles of Felucia she had found after much hunting through Coruscant’s art districts. Seeking the perfect gift for Palo. Presented it to him now with a proud grin and flourish. “Another surprise for you. A great work of art from Coruscant.”

“There’s no need for you to bring great works of art home to me from Coruscant,” Palo told her as the waitress set their steaming mugs of caf before them. “Just bring yourself. You’re all I’ll ever need. You are the most magnificent work of art I will ever see in my life.”

“Do not see me as a work of art.” Padme sipped at her caf. The foam sticking to her nose in a manner her mentor would chide as uncouth. Undignified and unbecoming of any young woman with even the remotest ambitions of being elected Queen of Naboo any time in the next millennium. She wiped the foam smear away with a napkin from the dispenser in the center of the table.

Continued, recalling a classic Naboo play about an artist who loved a statue he had created so much that he brought it to life with his sweat and his tears. But the statue, for all the devotion and passion he poured into it, could not love him in return. He died a sad and lonely man. Disappointed in his one desire. A rare tragedy in Naboo drama, which tended to prefer more optimistic stories befitting the cultured tranquility and natural splendor of their world. “That always ends in heartbreak, not happiness, Palo. Because works of art can’t live and breathe. Can’t love, dream, and desire as sentient beings do. See me as a sentient being. Love me as a sentient being. And I will do the same for you.”

It was frank. As honest a presentation of her heart for skewering as a young girl trained in politics could manage.

He accepted the frankness. The honesty. Responded to it with his own, “That is how I love you. How I see you. Yet I can’t resist praising you. Flattering you. Showering you with compliments like spring rain so that I might keep you forever. So that you might never decide to leave me.”

“I will have to leave you to pursue my political dreams.” Padme paused as their salad and pastries arrived. She dove into the salad with her fork. Tasting the leafy greens coated in tart vinaigrette, the sweet sprinkling of dried fruits, the crunch of nuts, and the creamy dollops of cheese that comprised it. “But I will always come back to you, and our reunions will always be joyful as long as you can accept that.”

Palo was quiet for a moment. Munching on a puff pastry. Then he answered, “I can accept that compromise. I might have quit politics but I attended the Legislative Youth Program long enough to gain a keen appreciation for the delicate art of compromise.”

“Even when politics take me to Coruscant, my heart will always be on Naboo.” Her eyes swept over the square filled with talking and laughing Naboo citizens. Then back to him. “With you and all those I love. On Coruscant, there is no peace. Just endless rush. Hustle, bustle, and noise. There’s no room for nature either. I saw the lone bit of nature preserved on Coruscant. The summit of Umate. Highest peak in the Manarai mountain range. They built Monument Plaza all around it. Surrounded it with shops and restaurants. The Legislative Youth Program brought us on a tour there. We became some of the millions of tourists from other worlds who visit Monument Plaza each year.”

She sounded boring to her own ears. As if she were reciting passages memorized from a guidebook.

Apparently, Palo heard something else in her voice. A shade of passion that he loved. Urged her to continue. To tell him all about the things she had seen and done on Coruscant until his lunch hour ended.

Discussion of her adventures on Coruscant dominated their walk back to the gallery. Then she drew on her deft political skills to seamlessly segue into compliments of his watercolors on display in the exhibit. Making it clear how much she loved them. Loved him. How happy she was to be reunited with someone who was becoming the light of her life.

 

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing my work! I'm so glad that you loved this because it was a real treat for me to write this romantic story set on one of my all-time favorite Star Wars planets: beautiful Naboo!

I thought it was very romantic and sweet of Padme to find a way to see Palo during such a special moment in his life (having his art exhibited) and I am so glad that detail was touching to you as well! And I picture Padme's parents as the type who love her very much and would want her to be able to enjoy life outside of politics as well even though they are very proud of her and how committed she is to serving her planet, so I'm thrilled that characterization of them rang true for you! I wanted their love for Padme to shine through in this story even if they didn't make a direct appearance. They are still there in the background. Influencing and shaping who she is as a person in a great way! At least that is how I like to imagine it

And I absolutely picture Palo as the romantic and passionate type who would instantly abandon his conversations with critics and potential customers to reunite with Padme in a most blissful fashion

Their lunch made my mouth water as I wrote, and I am so happy to hear that you thought it sounded delightful. It was wonderful for me to be able to imagine this conversation between them, and I'm thrilled that you found it tender and candid as some of the best couples talk can be

That AU where Padme survives ROTS and reunites with Palo to raise Luke and Leia together sounds heartwarming, and I'm flattered that you'd consider this story a prequel to that!

Thanks again for the kind words and for reading!

@Vek Talis As always, thank you so much for reading and commenting!I do think there is some true love blossoming between Padme and Palo here, and I'm so glad that shone through for you

I think Palo could sense that Padme truly does love politics for the service and idealistic aspects of it and not for any crooked or corruption aspects of it, and because he loves Padme, he has an interest in learning more about her loves and passions. And her having a chance to share her love of politics with him only deepens her love for him and for politics! So it is a wonderful cycle of love all around

Thank you again for your kind words and support of my work!

 

@UltramassiveUbersue Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I'm so flattered that you found this to be a wonderful use of the challenge prompts and a lovely story since I wanted to do the sweet couple of Padme and Palo justice

Like you, I am a huge fan of the idyllic setting of Naboo, and it is always a treat for me to be able to visit beautiful Naboo in my writing! I also must admit that writing that delicious cafe lunch made me so hungry. I really thought of this story as being a celebration and ode to the heady quality of young love that you mentioned, and I'm so happy to hear that aspect of the story shone through for you.

Padme and Palo are each geniuses in their own way, as you say, and it was nice for me to be able to give them this moment to pause in the midst of pursuing their different ambitions and just enjoy being together. Luxuriating in the joy of being reunited at last. I think so much of happiness is being rooted in the ability to treasure and appreciate the ordinary, wonderful moments of life such as sharing a meal with a loved one or being reunited after a separation. And, yes, as Palo would appreciate, love has been the inspiration for many of our most beautiful creative works!

It felt so right for me that Padme would correct and call out Palo when he idealizes her, and I'm so glad that was a highlight for you, and that you felt it rang so true to her character and worldview!

Thanks again for reading and for the kind words that made my day

@earlybird-obi-wan As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing my work! I agree that this is love for Padme. Love in all its beauty and all its challenge because to her love is an escape from her politics and her duties to savor stolen moments such as meeting with a wonderful artist to admire his exhibit and share a lunch And, yet, with her too, there is that tragedy that she can never neglect her duties for long, and she always feels that pull and temptation to place politics first. To sacrifice her own happiness for the good of the galaxy by serving as a politician first and foremost. So, love can never be entirely straightforward or simple where Padme is concerned! She always experiences these internal conflicts...