Treasured (Book 2)

Arrival

"Daddy! Pleeeeaaassee?"

The kids had been begging to get a cat for the past week, and it was driving Anakin insane.

Anakin set his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, groaning. "What did I tell you?"

"You told us 'yes!'" Hayden said.

"No," Anakin corrected.

Padmé walked into the living room from Leia and Emilie's room. "Remember that Sola will be here any minute, Ani."

"Right."

"Kids, Grandma Nabérrie, Aunt Sola, Ryoo and Pooja will be over soon."

"Yay!" Emilie squealed with delight.

Padmé's mother, Jobal, Sola and her nieces were coming to stay for the week at the Skywalkers' house to visit. It was Saturday, and they would be staying until next Saturday.

"Great, so I have to share my room?" Luke complained.

"That is not a kind way to talk, young man. You should be sharing your room. Your attitude is sour," Padmé remarked.

"What?" Luke said, taken aback. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's supposed to mean, 'your attitude is sour.'"

Luke frowned and sat back on the couch, continuing to play his video games.

All of the sudden, Leia piped up and said, "The Nabérries are here!"

Padmé was used to her Force-sensitive family, and she always knew why they would know things or sense things before she did. She didn't question why Leia knew they were at their house; she already knew.

Leia scurried to the door and flung it open. The group of Nabérries walked up the steps. Ryoo, who was eighteen, and Pooja, who was seventeen, were at the front of the group. Sola and Jobal were at the back with their suitcases. They shielded their eyes from the sun.

Ryoo, Pooja and Leia all squealed together with delight and kissed each other's cheeks, babbling on about how long it had been since they'd seen each other.

"Sola!" Padmé said after she hugged the girls and talked to them for a minute. She scooted past them to get to Sola and embraced her older sister tightly.

"Padmé! Oh, I missed you so much! The girls were blabbering on and on about all of you the whole ride here!"

Padmé giggled and walked to her mother. She buried her face in her shoulder. "Mom!"

"Supreme Chancellor Skywalker. I am so proud of you!" Jobal squeezed her youngest daughter tightly.

Hayden, Emilie, Leia and Luke all came running for Jobal.

"Grandma!" Hayden said as he hugged Jobal's legs.

All of the Skywalker children piled up and hugged their grandmother.

"Baby Hayden! My goodness, look at you! You've grown so big!"

Hayden beamed and jumped up and down in excitement.

"My girl Emilie! Aww, you're so precious! You were two years old last time I saw you!" She turned to the twins. "And my beautiful twins. Luke, you look just like your Daddy," she said, pinching his cheek playfully. "Leia, I can't believe how beautiful you've grown over the years. Look at you!"

Anakin walked out to help Jobal with her bags, and Jobal beamed at him.

"Anakin! I swear you're more and more handsome the older you get!" she gushed. "And look at those muscles!"