A short time ago, in a farm-house not so far away...

[thefinaljedi]

Who: The Skywalker Family, immediate and extended and any close friends.
What: An evening with the family
When: August 4th
Where: Skywalker Ranch...or...something
Summary: Luke and Ami bring everyone over for a Sunday thing.
Rating: H is for Heartwarming


It's a bit of a monthly tradition, and has been for some time. The first Sunday of every month is the day the entire family gets together for an afternoon and has a nice dinner. Some might call the family a bit old fashioned, but it's just something that they do and have for as long as any of them can recall. It's never a fancy thing, but then does it really need to be? It's about the warm, fuzzy feeling of being surrounded by relatives and friends, sitting out on the porch and watching fireflies, and relaxing.

Food's been left to the people who can actually cook, because let's face it: Luke takes after his mother and Grandma Padme was not known for her fried chicken. But there's plenty of it. Chairs are set up on the large back porch so the weather can be enjoyed and tea along with a cooler of glass-bottled Coca-Colas, a bit of a splurge for the end of summer.

Everything's set to be a fairly nice afternoon and evening, provided the mosquitoes aren't too bad anyway.

Comments

[geniustheveil]

Ami knows Chouji likes to eat, which means Ami occasionally makes extra when she knows he's coming so she can send some cookies (she's gotten better at baking them over the years of indulging Arya, really) along with him when he leaves.

Tonight, it also means that she's taking note of the dishes Chouji seems to be especially enjoying, and makes sure they're passed around again when he seems to be almost done with what he has on his plate.

"You must be very excited," she mentions after awhile for everyone to have begun eating a little first. "With the dance so soon now."

[16autumnroad]

He notices the extra effort Ami goes to, and it earns her a smile before she even speaks to him specifically. Chouji is always observant at the dinner table.

And the smile becomes even more pronounced when she asks about the dance. "Yeah. I'm glad I didn't miss eating with everyone today. Afterward, though, I just have a little while before I need to change and go pick up Prim."

[geniustheveil]

"She's a nice girl," Ami observes as she passes another plate. Prim is the sort of girl it's good for a boy from her family to be dating, because to Ami, those manners and that kindness are important qualities to look for in love. She hopes Chouji knows that; or rather, she hopes he'll always find that sort of person, so that he isn't hurt by someone instead.

The question of class and money- well, her marriage to Luke should say enough about what she thinks about that.

"We'll be sure not to make you late," she promises Chouji about the dance.

[16autumnroad]

"She is." Chouji knows exactly how lucky he is. It isn't just about Prim's acceptance of the class differences, the way she hardly seems to see them except when it helps her better understand her friends. She's unfailingly kind, and she cares about him. He blushes slightly, still marveling a little that she's interested in dating him.

Chuckling, Chouji admits, "That really wouldn't go well. Prim wouldn't hold it against me, but her dad and brother might. They're my coach and my teammate, so I should probably stay on their good sides." There's also the fact that he wouldn't want to keep Prim waiting regardless.

[geniustheveil]

Ami can't help a small laugh, a pleasant sound while she's feeling relaxed. "You'll never be late again after you learn their lessons," she teases Chouji.

The mental image of a girl's protective male relatives is something of an amusing one, when she knows perfectly well Chouji will never do anything to truly run afoul of someone looking out for Prim's welfare.

[16autumnroad]

Chouji grimaces. "I think I'd just as soon avoid the lessons in the first place." Especially if it would take disappointing Prim to earn such a lesson. He definitely doesn't want to do that.

He brightens up quickly enough, though, taking a second helping of one dish and eating a few bites.

[geniustheveil]

Ami can't help another small laugh, covered politely by her hand. She seems to laugh more often these days, she thinks, and then she wonders what makes her think that because she's been happy like this, after awhile to adjust, since being with Luke.

"Eat up," she urges Chouji. It's healthy for a growing teenage boy to have an appetite, and it definitely makes the one cooking the food feel good to see it devoured and so obviously enjoyed. Something about it tasting better when it's shared and appreciated... Was that a book quote?

[16autumnroad]

Chouji never needs to be told twice, obliging by digging into his meal. He does pause, though, to grin at his sister in law and jokingly insist, "Only if you make sure to do the same instead of spending your entire day ensuring that everyone else gets enough good things to eat."

[geniustheveil]

"I have mine right here," Ami says, although she seems to be eating with restraint as always, napkin spread properly across her lap, "I'll be sure to have enough."