Khan had taken the time to rest in the guest room he'd been given while waiting for dinner. The room itself was warm and understated—hand-carved Naboo woodwork, soft lantern-light, a window overlooking the gardens. Khan sat cross-legged on the floor, trying to return his mind to stillness.
Yet his thoughts continued to circle the same heavy truth: the possibility that his destiny might be far greater than he had ever imagined. The responsibility alone felt like a mountain settling onto his shoulders. He breathed, trying to center himself, but the uncertainty clung to him like mist.
A soft knock broke his meditation.
A voice filtered through the door. "Excuse me, sir. I've come to fetch you for dinner."
Khan opened his eyes slowly. "I'll be out shortly."
"I'll wait here for you, sir," the servant replied.
Khan stood, smoothing the wrinkles from his tunic and taking a moment to steady himself. Then he crossed to the door and opened it. The servant stood respectfully with hands folded.
"All right," Khan said gently. "I'm ready. Please—lead the way."
The servant bowed politely and guided him through the softly lit hallways toward the dining room.
Inside, the table was already partially filled. Ruwee sat at the head, Jobal beside him, and Sola at his other side. Their warm smiles greeted Khan as the servant pulled out a chair for him.
Ruwee asked first, "Did you get some rest?"
"Yes, Ruwee," Khan replied with a grateful nod. "I was able to recharge after the long trip. Thank you for your concern."
Jobal leaned forward with a kindly smile. "So, how long will you be staying this time?"
"I was assigned to remain here for six months by the Jedi Temple," Khan answered. "So I'll be here for quite some time."
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that," Jobal said, clearly pleased. "I hope you get to see more of Naboo during your stay."
"And if you need anything while you're here," Ruwee added warmly, "feel free to ask us."
"Thank you, both," Khan said sincerely.
Sola, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, leaned her elbows on the table. "While we wait for Padmé to arrive, how about you tell us a little of what it means to be a Jedi?"
Khan smiled, amused by her eagerness. "I'm more than happy to tell you. But I hope you understand—being a Jedi is not all adventure, despite the stories."
Sola nodded quickly. "Yes, of course. I'm just… curious. I've heard so many stories of Jedi, but I've never actually met one." She smiled with a hint of embarrassment. "Well—until now."
Khan folded his hands on the table. "Then perhaps it's best to start with what a Jedi is. While we are trained in combat, we are, above all, peacekeepers. Our role is to ensure that when conflict begins to rise, we seek out a peaceful resolution."
"Very noble indeed," Ruwee murmured appreciatively.
Khan inclined his head. "Yes. But it isn't always possible. There are times when words alone cannot stop violence, and when that happens… a Jedi must be ready to be the first to act."
Sola listened with wide, attentive eyes, completely absorbed.
"I imagine," Khan continued gently, "that many of the stories you've heard about Jedi come from those rare moments—those conflicts where peace was beyond reach."
Sola raised a brow. "So… would you consider a Jedi an armed negotiator? That sounds a little contradictory."
Khan gave a quiet, knowing chuckle. "Yes, it does. But the galaxy is not always a friendly place. And with the Republic lacking a military force of its own, the duty of strength—of protection—falls to the Jedi. Or at least, that is what the Order believes."
Sola opened her mouth, clearly ready with another question—when the tall doors to the dining hall swept open.
All heads turned.
Walking through was Padmé Naberrie, the soon-to-be Queen of Naboo—poised, elegant, and carrying herself with a grace far beyond her years.
Padmé's entrance carried the soft rustle of her regal gown, but the moment her eyes found Khan, her composure warmed—subtle, but unmistakable. The brightness in her expression rose naturally, as though the simple sight of him eased something inside her.
"Khan," she said, a smile lifting her features. "I'm so happy to see you."
Before Khan had fully risen from his seat to greet her, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. The embrace was quick but sincere. Khan—surprised, yet pleased—returned it with gentle restraint befitting a Jedi, though the Naberrie family could see the fondness between them.
From her place at the table, Sola let out a small laugh. "Wow, Padmé. You're never that happy to see anyone. You must really like him." She stretched the word playfully, eyes glinting.
Padmé shot her a look, cheeks warming. "Hey—Khan is a good friend. It's been a while since I've seen him, that's all."
Ruwee and Jobal exchanged knowing smiles, and the family's soft laughter followed as Khan retook his seat and Padmé settled beside him.
The table, now fully set with an array of Naboo dishes, signaled the beginning of dinner. Conversation flowed easily—talk of politics, Padmé's impending coronation, memories of Khan's previous visit, and Naboo traditions. The warmth in the room was natural, comfortable, the kind that came from people who cared for each other without needing to say as much.
As the last dishes were cleared, Padmé turned to Khan.
"The last time you were here," she said, "I promised I'd show you more of Naboo. I have the next three days free. How about I take you to my family's vacation house? You'd get to see some of our most beautiful landscapes."
Khan nodded, pleased. "I would be delighted to."
Ruwee leaned back in his chair, exchanging a glance with Jobal before speaking. "How about we all go together? It would be good for everyone to have a bit of rest before things get busy."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Sola added, practically bouncing.
And just like that, plans were set: a quick family trip the very next day.
After dinner, Khan and Padmé slipped away for a quiet walk—something they'd naturally fallen into years ago. Two years apart had done little to dull their ease with one another. If anything, their friendship had taken on a new depth, as though time had stretched it rather than worn it thin.
They strolled through the peaceful upper district of Theed, the streets lined with soft lights and elegant stone buildings.
"I still can't believe you're going to be Queen of Naboo," Khan said with a quiet sense of admiration. "I remember you telling me how you wanted the strength to make a difference. With the role you're about to take… I know you'll do great things, Padmé."
Padmé's steps slowed, her smile softening. "That means a lot, hearing it from you. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. My father and Senator Palpatine have helped so much, but… your confidence really makes me feel ready."
"If nothing else," Khan said gently, "I'll be here during your first months as Queen. If you need anything—guidance, help, someone to talk to—I'll do everything I can for you."
"Thank you," Padmé murmured. "Even when we first met… I could feel your kindness."
They stopped walking without quite meaning to, standing beneath a balcony where lantern-light spilled across the street. Padmé met Khan's gaze—her eyes steady but carrying something deeper, something unspoken. Khan held her look with quiet compassion, unaware of the nuance in her expression, seeing only the warmth of a friend he cared for deeply.
A moment of silence hovered.
Khan glanced toward the horizon. "I can't wait to see the scenery at the vacation house. Naboo has so much beauty to share."
Padmé blinked, as though pulled gently back into the moment. "Yes," she said softly. "I can't wait to show you more."
They continued their walk, moving side by side as the sun dipped below the distant hills, casting Naboo in a golden twilight.
The day with the Naberrie family had been far more comforting than Khan expected. As he returned to the quiet of his guest room, the echoes of their laughter, their warmth, their gentle teasing all lingered in his mind like a pleasant aftertaste. He sat at the edge of the bed for a moment, letting the silence settle.
He had never known a home like theirs. Watching them—seeing how easily they moved around one another, how naturally affection flowed between them—left Khan with a strange ache he didn't fully understand.
So this is what a family looks like, he thought.
Shared meals. Familiar voices. A space where one belonged simply because they were loved.
It was a life he knew he could never have. A Jedi was to remain detached, to avoid the tethers that could cloud judgment. And yet, despite years of training, he could not entirely stop the faint tug in his chest… the small, impossible imagining of what it might be like to sit at such a table as part of a family, not just a guest.
He inhaled slowly and let the thought fade.
Outside, the city of Theed had fallen into its serene rhythm. The window glowed with the soft, golden shimmer of lanterns lining the distant streets. Night had descended—the kind of peaceful darkness only Naboo seemed capable of offering.
Khan rose and prepared for sleep, undoing the tension in his shoulders and setting his lightsaber gently on the stand beside the bed. Tomorrow would bring a new experience—time with the Naberries, the countryside of Naboo, and a brief respite from the uncertainty that had shadowed him since the pirate outpost.
There would be no need to linger on destiny tonight. No need to wrestle with questions he could not yet answer. For once, he allowed himself to breathe easily.
"Just for a little while," he murmured to himself, "I can let the galaxy wait."
He lay back, letting the mattress embrace him. The soft night breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of Naboo's lakes and gardens. It lulled him gently, and slowly, his mind quieted.
Tomorrow would be a pleasant day.
And for now, peace was enough.
A/N: Hello, just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has left a comment. I enjoy reading the few that have been left around my chapters. I'll do my best to make sure not to disappoint, especially as we enter into canon. I want the story not to be exactly like the movies cause you guys already know that story, but I hope you all understand that certain events are set in stone, even with Khan being a part of the story. Anyway may the force be with you and know that someone out there loves you, so never give up on yourself!