Chapter 5: Picnic Talk & Family Dramas
Padme and Satine were both surprised when Luke, Leia and Isabel found out that they were having lunch with their teachers and their teacher’s aide as well, in fact they became rather excited! Although both Padme and Satine then realised that this was due to the fact that they discovered their children really liked their teachers despite only being back at school for a week.
Satine and Padme felt uneasy because aside from family members, they hadn’t really had male companions join them for lunches with their children and both were determined to not open their hearts after too many upsets. Still they didn’t want to be rude and would just enjoy their lunch with Anakin, Obi Wan and Ahsoka as well as their kids.
Luke, Leia and Isabel decided that lunch time was a perfect time to talk about their projects which they were very excited for although the kids were starting to wonder how their incomplete trees would look. As Padme plated up Luke and Leia’s food, Leia looked over at Anakin. “Mr Skywalker” she spoke in her soft clear voice. Anakin having just reached for a bread roll smiles over at her “Yes, Leia, what is on your mind?” He asks as she took her plate from her mother. “You said it doesn’t matter if our family trees are half done but will other kids make fun of us?” She asks. Padme is silent as Anakin quietly chuckles
“Leia, your family tree will look perfect because it’s your family and you will be showing us that there are different families and believe it or not, Leia, I was raised by a single mother till I was twelve” he admits. This made Padme, Satine, Isabel, Leia and Luke all look over at him. Obi Wan and Ahsoka continued to start their lunch knowing this story. Luke looks surprised “You didn’t have a dad Mr Skywalker?” He asks. Anakin nods. “I didn’t for the first twelve years of my life, it was me and my mother then she married my stepfather and he moved in with his son who is my stepbrother” he explains.
Padme then looked over at her twins “See you two, your projects will be just fine, there is nothing wrong with having one parent” she reminds them. Handing Luke his plate as he looked over at Ahsoka .”Miss Tano, is it fun living with two men?” He asks as Ahsoka sniggers “When they’re not stirrers, it’s fine and we all have plenty of laughs but then there are times when they love to stir up trouble” she points out “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world because when I first came to this city, I didn’t have anyplace and I ran into Anakin when I was at the school for a job interview and after we were talking, he offered their place” she reveals
Satine took a seat beside her young son passing him his plate as she looks over at Obi Wan and Anakin “And your girlfriends didn’t mind?” She asks. She wasn’t snooping to see if they were single but she found it hard to believe these two handsome men have been single all the time. Obi Wan chuckles “Iconically at the time, Anakin and I were getting through break ups with our girlfriends and we welcomed a fresh face to distract us” he replies.
Padme reaches for her drink “Well, we know it’s only been a week but Luke and Leia cannot stop raving about their teacher and his aide” she grins as Satine nods “Isabel too, she told me that she loves when her teacher does story time because he does all the voices for the characters” she points out. Ahsoka and Anakin curiously and cheekily look over at their friend who remains silent as Anakin sighs “Well, aside from the window incident, Luke and Leia have made up for it with their work” he says.
It was at that moment a child, who looked around 10 years old, came riding past them on his skateboard. He had short thick orange coloured hair and wore shorts and loose t shirt. He notices them and comes to a stop. “Aunt Satine!” He cried “I didn’t know you would be here today” he smiles. Satine looks up to see her nephew moving over towards her “Korkie” she cried getting up to hug her nephew as Isabel grins up at her cousin “Korkie!” She happily exclaims as he leans down to hug his little cousin as she giggles.
“Korkie, we’re having lunch with our teachers from school!” She gushes as Ahsoka looks up at him smirking “I know you” she says as Korkie’s eyes widen as he remembers why she did. Ahsoka looks over at Anakin and Obi Wan “I was on playground duty two days ago and Korkie here was playing ball with his friends and let’s just say had I not had quick reflexes I would have had a sore head for the afternoon” she reveals. Korkie is quiet as Anakin sniggers as Isabel speaks up once more “I saw that!” She cried “Miss Tano kicked the ball back really hard, it nearly went over the fence!” She exclaims. Leia and Luke start to chuckle along with Anakin and Obi Wan.
“I did apologise” Korkie reminded her as Ahsoka waves a hand “Don’t worry about it, but you need to try out for the school football team” she insists. Satine looks back at her nephew “Sounds promising” she suggest before she adds “Would you like to join us for lunch?” She asks. Korkie smirks “If it’s alright with you aunt Satine” he replies as she nods before Padme speaks up “Always happy to have you join us” she says seeing him take a seat beside his aunt and James before everyone went back to enjoying their lunch.
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One hour later, Korkie had taken Luke, Leia, Isabel and James back over towards the playground leaving Padme, Satine, Anakin, Obi Wan and Ahsoka sitting around talking, getting to know each other and for Padme and Satine it felt nice to be able to talk to a man without knowing it would end badly or never see them again.
Anakin then looked over at Padme and Satine before he spoke. “So, how long have you two been friends, did you met at a playgroup with your kids?” He asks as Padme shakes her head. “Actually, Satine and I have been friends for seven years. We met on the first day of work and we were both single and pregnant” she reveals. Obi Wan nods “And you’ve both been friends ever since” he notes “You two would have been helping each other out a lot” he adds. Satine smiles “I was four months pregnant and Padme was three so we had stories to share and our children have become fast friends together” she reveals.
Obi Wan looks over seeing the children happily playing together. “And it shows because when I see them on the playground, Isabel, Leia and Luke look like great friends” he admits however it was just at that moment they heard a angry snap coming from the playground. “Luke!” Came Leia’s voice “Leave us alone, stop being mean!” She cries. Padme sighs getting up from the table. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back” she tells them hurrying over to see what had happened just at the moment Ahsoka’s phone rang. “I’ll just get this” she smiles. She didn’t feel like telling them it was Lux because that only gave Anakin and Obi Wan a chance to tease. As she moved away, Anakin calls out to her “Tell Lux I said hello!” He grins chuckling to himself as Satine looks over at them.
“So how long have you three been roommates?” She asks “You all seem like to get along so well” she notes. Obi Wan smiles back at her “About two years now, although Anakin and I have been friends for five years. We went to the same teaching college and let’s just say that if it wasn’t for me Anakin probably wouldn’t have become a teacher” he reveals. Anakin’s eyes widen as he looks back at his friend “Hey!” He cries “What does that mean? I graduated with some decent grades” he reminds him as Obi Wan shakes his head “After you got your act together and focused less with the girls” he argues back as Satine quietly giggles.
Anakin glared back at him silently which only made Obi Wan laugh even more as Satine smirks “Are you sure you both aren’t brothers?” She asks “Because you both act like brothers” she points out as Anakin places an arm around his friend “Nah, we’ve just become close friends real quick” he tells her just as Padme returns to the table taking a seat in between Anakin and Satine, sighing “One downfall to being a single parent” she admits “Being both the mother and father and let’s just say the lack of a father figure for Luke and Leia shows” she explains. Anakin is silent for a moment before he became curious.
“Padme” he begins to say “You don’t have to answer this only if you want to talk about it” he goes on “But where is Luke and Leia’s father?” He asks. Satine looks over at her friend as Obi Wan keeps quiet and takes a sip of his drink knowing just what his friend was up to. Padme takes a deep breath before she answers him “Luke and Leia’s father will never be in the picture because he gave up custody rights of them shortly after they were born but he and I broke up whilst I was pregnant with them after he wanted me to in his words get rid of them” she informs him. Anakin’s eyes widen in shock as she goes on “We were engaged to be married and he said he didn’t want to have children so early and just wanted to be a couple first” she goes on “Seven years old and I don’t even feel anything for him and Luke and Leia will never know him” she insists. “It’s hard at times and I do imagine what it would be like if we were all together but then I remember how he just walked out on me and I forget all about him” she admits.
Padme looks up at Anakin “Luke and Leia have taken a liking to you as their teacher and I want to thank you” she tells him. Anakin smiles “It’s nothing really, they’re good students, very smart for their age” he admits making her smile. Padme gives a small shrug “That’s what makes me feel that Luke and Leia don’t need their father because they’re being themselves and adapting well” she confesses.
Anakin grins over at her “Well, for what it’s worth, you’re doing a wonderful job raising them” he insists ignoring Obi Wan’s look over at him. Padme lightly smiles “That’s all a mother wants to hear” she simply replies reaching for a bowl of chips as Anakin reaches for his drink. He looked over and saw Obi Wan chatting with Satine so casually but yet Anakin wasn’t going to give up
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Two hours later and Anakin, Obi Wan and Ahsoka headed back home as Ahsoka surprised her two friends with the news that Lux had asked her on a date, something which Obi Wan and Anakin couldn’t resist teasing her about on the car ride home.
“So for someone who was in denial last night about having a crush, you accepted a date real quickly” Anakin points out as Obi Wan adds “What were your exact words “I do not have any crush” he reminds her. Ahsoka rolls her eyes “It’s not a date, it’s two people sharing pizza and then a coffee” she tells them. Obi Wan and Anakin exchanged glances with each other “Pizza and coffee afterwards, that reminds me of my first date with Darra” Anakin reveals as Obi Wan sniggers
“And you were on the phone for an awful long time for just being friends” he adds. Ahsoka shrugs before she allows a smirk to cross her face “At least Lux stepped up and actually ask me out even if we’re just friends” she smirks. Now it was Anakin and Obi Wan’s turns to go silent, before Anakin casually shrugs “Our situation is different. We teach their children, we can’t just ask them out. Chances are after all this time, they’ll just say no” he explains before he leans in towards Obi Wan “However, I think today’s picnic worked so you’re welcome” he grins as Obi Wan shakes his head
“It’s not like we got dates with them. They’re both single yes but seems that their focus is with their children, it still needs more time” he reminds him as they continued to drive down the road back home. Little did they know just situations would occur which could help their chances.
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Shortly after Anakin, Obi Wan and Ahsoka left, Satine and Padme decided to head back to their homes, especially when Luke once more stirred up trouble for his sister and Isabel and was now sitting in the car whilst Padme packed up the car. “I don’t understand Luke today” she admits to her friend as she continues to pack up. “Luke rarely stirs up his sister when he’s in front of friends or even his cousins and yet twice today, he’s stirring up trouble” she continues as Satine finished strapping James into his seat when she had a thought.
“You don’t think he was acting up because of our surprise lunch guests?” She asks her going on to explain her “I only say this because when Isabel was three and I was getting ready to go on a date with a work colleague, she started having tantrums and kept stopping me from getting ready until I moved the date to my place so I could stay at home with her and then Isabel stopped her tantrums” she reveals
Padme closes the trunk of her car looking over at her friend confused “Why would Luke act up in front of his teachers outside of school?” She asks as Satine shrugs “My sister told me that children sometimes act up when they don’t feel like their parent is paying them attention. She said Isabel’s tantrums were because she didn’t want to lose any attention from me because I would be dating” she reveals. Padme shook her head. “Luke’s never acted up before. It was more Leia every time I went on a date and Luke’s teacher is very kind and friendly. He’s very good with kids” she points out as Satine smirks “So much for having no feelings for Mr Skywalker”she teases as Padme gasps “I don’t!” She argues looking towards the playground
“Leia! Come on time to go” she calls out to her seeing Leia slide down the slide before running over toward her following by Isabel. “Say goodbye to Isabel and we’ll go home” she says. Leia turned to hug her friend “Bye!” She waves before Padme helps her into the car into the seat opposite her brother who was quietly staring out the window.
She closes the door and moves towards the driver’s side looking back at her friend once more “Perhaps it was a one time thing” she admits “I’ll see you on Monday” she tells her getting into the car, Satine and Isabel watched them exit the car park before Satine helped Isabel into the car and then they headed home as well. Satine’s mind still thinking about their picnic with Obi Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka. Obi Wan was quite charming and friendly although with her situation right now with her ex, she knew she couldn’t focus on any new man until Viszla was long gone.
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When Satine arrived home, she found a surprising visitor awaiting her arrival back home. They were sitting on the front step and smiled so brightly when they saw her pull into her driveway. Satine smiles. She loved when her sister dropped by to visit, Bo was always such a good listener and gave her advice. She was there for her after Viszla dumped her and helped her for the first year with Isabel.
Bo moves over towards her as Satine got out of her car and goes to help Isabel and James out. “Aunty Bo!” Isabel cries as Satine helped her from the car watching her run over towards her aunt. “Hey sweet pea, I’ve missed you” she tells her as Isabel giggles “We saw Korkie at the park today and then we had lunch with my school teacher!” She exclaims. Bo looks confused and surprised
“Lunch with your school teacher?” She asks “You didn’t say anything about a school picnic?’ She adds. Satine lifts James into her arms. “It wasn’t a school picnic, they sort of invited themselves to lunch. They’re Isabel, Luke and Leia’s teachers and they happen to be at the park” she explains handing her young son to her sister before moving to the trunk to unpack the car. Bo grins “Uh huh, so you're talking about this Mr. Kenobi” she grins. “What was that word you described him as, handsome and kind hearted than any other man” she teases
Satine rolls her eyes as she sighs “Handsome and kind yes, but he’s just Isabel’s teacher. I’m not focusing on finding someone to love, especially since…..” Her voice trailed giving her sister a stare referring to her situation with her ex husband. Bo sighs “He’s still contacting you?” She asks “Doesn’t he just get the hint?” She adds as Satine shakes her head as they moved up towards the house. “I’ve sent off the papers to him so I’m waiting for the call that has him furious that I’m serving him with custody/court papers” she tells her as they entered the house seeing Isabel and James rushing towards the play room leaving Satine and Bo to enter the kitchen.
“Why do you think after seven years he wants to see his daughter?” She asks her sister as Satine shakes her head “I have no idea but he’s never going to even glimpse her and with her teacher’s reassurance that he will ensure no one but me picks her up, I know even at school she’s safe” she admits. Satine then scoffs “He probably grew some kind of guilt and thinks I’m still pining for him” she adds. Bo chuckles “I can’t believe I ever liked that guy. Korkie loved his uncle although he’s become protective of his cousins” she tells her.
Satine smiles before she looks over at her sister “I’m surprised you’re letting him skateboard. You wouldn’t let him roller blade” she reminds her as Bo shakes her head “Don’t remind me. Korkie kept insisting that he learn to skateboard. He would not give up. He said if I can’t rollerblade, please let me skateboard and he would not stop pestering me” she explains “But he assured me he would be safe with it” she adds. Satine giggles remembering something Isabel blurted out at lunch
“Well, at least the skateboard didn’t nearly hit a teacher’s aide at school this week” she reveals as Bo nearly chokes on her drink she had gotten from the fridge minutes before. “What!” She cries “Korkie never told me that, how did you find out?” She asks as Satine smirks “Isabel revealed it at lunch today, Obi Wan’s friend Anakin, the other second grade teacher’s aide was supervising on the playground and Korkie and his friends were playing ball and threw the ball too fast and far and nearly hit her had she not had such quick reflexes” she explains.
Bo then remembers a thought “Oh, that explains when I asked him how was school, he quickly said I don’t want to talk about school, everything was good” she replies before they both shared a laugh before they headed into the living room where Isabel and James were playing with their toys.
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While Ahsoka readily herself for her just friends date with Lux, Anakin and Obi Wan were chilling out in the living room when the door bell rang. Anakin got up to answer the door opening it to find Lux standing there dressed in dark denim jeans black short sleeved shit and grey vest. Anakin smirks leaning against the door frame. “Well, well, you look very dressed up for a just friends date” he observes as Lux seemed unfazed by his taunt
“Ah, Ahsoka did warn me you would have some taunting about us” he replies “It’s just pizza and coffee afterwards, friends can do that” he reminds him as Anakin rolls his eyes “Uh huh, I give you one month and you’ll be together” he tells him just as Obi Wan came around the corner. “Anakin, you’re not giving our new friend here a hard time now are you?” He asks him moving over towards them. “You must be Lux, Ahsoka’s very much looking forward to this date” he smirks.
Lux then tilted his head “So you two both have all this time for teasing and yet you can’t get dates of your own?” He asks. Obi Wan went silent as Anakin stared back at him “You know what?” He starts to reply “We’ll send Ahsoka out to meet you when she’s ready” he says closing the door in Lux’s face as Anakin looks at his friend “Can you believe him?’ He asks as Obi Wan shrugs “Well, he did have a point, even if we happen to be crushing on two school mothers, at least Lux stepped up and asked her out for pizza” he points out.
Anakin’s eyes widen “His situation is different, Ahsoka’s single and not a parent yet. At least they don’t have to worry what people say if they’re found out” he reminds him. Obi Wan nodded. He had a point - if people found out Anakin and Obi Wan were dating two school mothers, people could talk and kids could bully Leia, Luke and Isabel, besides so far Padme and Satine were showing zero signs that they were interested in them.
“It was nice at the picnic today” he reminds him “Padme and Satine are women who have been through hard relationships and now focus on their jobs and children, all we can do is continue to be friendly and charming” he suggests right at the moment Ahsoka came down the stairs dressed in a knee length skirt and baby blue halter top carrying a small clutch bag.
“Is Lux here yet?” She asks them as Anakin remained silently as Obi Wan looks over at her “He’s on the front porch” he tells her seeing her eyes widen “What!” She exclaims “Why didn’t you let him in!’ She cries hurrying over towards the door opening it and stepping out on the front porch to see Lux standing near the steps. “I’m so sorry for my roommates Lux” she breathes as he grins
“Don’t worry about it, I think I stuck a nerve when I mentioned how they didn’t have any dates tonight” he replies. Ahsoka gives him a hug “Still….” She glares back at them “I wouldn’t do that to their dates” she says. Anakin then lets a smile cross his face “So, you are going on a date then?” He asks watching Ahsoka head down the steps to Lux’s car saying nothing before Anakin and Obi Wan watched them drive out of the driveway and down the road before they headed back inside. They had the whole place to themselves for the night.
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When her sister offered to take Isabel and James out for dinner that night with her and Korkie, Satine welcomed the offer because she had to prepare statements for her court case with her client that was on Monday. She had made herself a light dinner and sat down at her laptop to begin when skype began to flash on the screen indicating she had a video call. She took a deep breath wondering if this was who she thought it would be before she clicked answer.
Sure enough there was the face of her ex husband and he was not happy before he then waved papers at the screen. “You’re serving me!” He cried “You want full custody” he goes on as Satine rolls her eyes “Well, you refused to stop calling and pestering me to see Isabel and I need to put her needs first which means serving you with court papers and a hearing for full custody of Isabel” she explains.
Viszula tried once more to reason with her “Satine, please I’m begging you, I was a fool to walk out on you. I was stupid and acting rashly. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out in seven years but I’ve been afraid” he confesses. Satine rolls her eyes
“Afraid?” She asks “I don’t believe you” she tells him “People talk and I’ve had friends tell me how you’ve been busy womanising and holidaying around the country while I’ve been raising a child!” She snaps as he scoffs “Well, if you had gotten rid of the child like I had asked we’d be together having fun before raising a family together” he tells her. Satine gasps “I can’t believe I ever loved you” she tells him “You are talking about the daughter you want to see” she reminds him “So keep talking like this and you really will never see her” she warns him
Viszula glares at her waving a finger at the screen “You are pushing it Satine. I will be in my daughter’s life” he assures her as Satine shakes her head “Keep telling yourself that, but first I’ll see you in court” she tells her hanging up on the call before she places her head in her head.
Not only was he getting persistence but now he was threatening her to get to her child, something she wouldn’t allow. However she was just unaware of her ex husband’s real reason why he needed to see his daughter.
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Court papers, she was serving him with court papers and to be in court next week for the first hearing of the custody hearings, this was not what he needed right now. He thought it was so simple - call Satine, she’ll be so happy to hear his voice and want to give him a chance, but instead the hatred for what he did was there and she was blocking him which given his current situation only made him more nervous
Flashback -six years ago
It had been one year since Viszla became a single man having ended his marriage to his wife who had informed him that they were going to have a baby…so soon prompting him to panic and leave. He was enjoying his life right now, being single again and womanising. He did at times think about his ex wife but then remembered she was a mom now and he shook that thought away.
However he then entered into a business deal with two strange and mysterious brothers Mr. Opress and Mr Maul. It was a business partnership in opening a brand new hotel and casino however when the financing fell through and Vizsla back out of the deal, Mr Opress and Mr Maul became violent threatening to take him down with them because it was in their words, his idea to use his own building team and neglected to mention it was crumbling.
Viszla struggled under Savage’s tight grip on him as Maul coldly glared over at him, waving the gun in front of him “You think you were just going to walk away and leave us with nothing” he sneers as Viszla felt his body begin to shake as he started to stutter “I….I….it wasn’t my fault, my business partner failed to share the details of the decline to me and I was left out of the loop” he tries to say as Savage only held him tighter as Maul scoffs
“Lies, you were planning on living the city and leave us high and dry and no way to find you” he sneers seeing him shakes his head “No, no I was going to get you your money” he insists “I promise” Maul and Savage exchanged glances with each other before Savage releases his grip on Viszla fall to the ground
“Get the money soon but stay in the city” he informs him before they left the apartment without another word.
Flashback - five years ago
Vizsla was on the run - he had managed to get out of the city before Maul and Savage realised he was gone but he was running out of cities to live in until one of his friends suggested if he showed he was a family man, perhaps they wouldn’t kill him and thus he decided thinking about Satine and their child
And despite running out on Satine, he knew he didn’t want to put her in harm’s way should Maul and Savage ever find him but he was desperate and if being a family man was his way of living, he was going to get in touch with his ex wife.
End of flashback
And now he was stuck with court papers and failing at becoming a family man and he feared Maul and Savage would soon catch up to him. He needed to get to his daughter and Satine’s court papers wasn’t going to stop him. He wasn’t going down by these men, he didn’t want the company to fail, he wanted the casino and hotel just as much as they did and he wasn’t going to quit despite Satine’s objections and refusing to listen to him.