Chapter Text
The music had been incredibly too loud, the drinks too strong, for the hangover that was now entrapping Padmé to the soft bed that lay underneath her. Her head was throbbing, her eyes did not dare open to test the lighting in the room.
What room? She wasn’t sure. Last night was a complete blur to her. She couldn’t remember anything except for the flashing lights and the alcohol as she drank glass after glass.
She was celebrating, but right now her memories evaded her. Padmé was finding thinking was just as painful as the hangover was. She slowly- cautiously- raised her hand to her forehead, letting out a soft moan of pain at the movement.
She rolled onto her stomach- oh no- bad choice. She groaned and curled in on herself, trying not to make herself stand and run to the bathroom. But it was inevitable- she found herself forcing her body to get up- and after a quick ‘wasn’t the bathroom over here?’ She found the bathroom on the other side of the room, dropping down to her knees and vomiting up whatever she had left over in her stomach.
It was awful and painful and Padmé swore up and down that she would never ever touch alcohol again- at least not that much. She finally drew enough energy to half stand, half crawl her way back to the hotel bed, dragging herself up on to it, not even bothering to get under the covers.
The soft sound of snoring came from besides her on the bed, and she froze, her mind coming to her for a split second between the throbbing pain.
She carefully and slowly opened her eyes, peering through slits to look at her companion.
Recognition flashed through her as she slightly remembered the man from last night, who had partied with her and drank with her, while also being her gambling partner. The only problem was she didn’t remember how she ended up here- it what she suspected to be his bedroom.
Thankfully she realized she was fully clothed, so at least nothing on that end happened.
She slowly tilted her head sideways, opening her eyes more to look fully at him. His brown curly hair fell over into his face, his hand over his eyes. She heard him groan as well, and watched him get up, half stumbling into the bathroom she just had evacuated. He returned minutes later, climbing into bed, not noticing her.
Who was he? She wracked her brain for names, but nothing was coming to her, at least not yet. Her head still pounded and Padmé didn’t know where her purse was, where she kept spare Advil in case she ever got migraines.
Finally, she felt his eyes on her. She glanced sideways at him as he reached over, handing her a glass over water. Padmé didn’t even notice him acquire it. She took it with her small hand, raising it to her lips to gingerly sip it.
Padmé didn’t trust herself to speak, so she simply nodded her thanks, handing him the cup back, closing her eyes yet again.
Padmé must have passed out again, because the next time she awoke she was underneath the blankets, her head resting against the pillow. She glanced next to her on the nightstand, seeing a cup of water next to a bottle of Advil.
“Are you alright?” A voice asked behind her. She sat up slowly, pressing the palms of her hands against her closed eyes.
“Honestly, I’ve had better mornings.” She forced the words out of her mouth.
“Do you remember anything about last night?” She added quietly. Please tell me your name. Please. I don’t remember it she pleaded silently.
“Not much. Just the music, the drinks, the games.” He responded, watching her.
“Same.” She replied, leaning over to take three Advil and chug the water.
“I ordered room service, I figured you might be hungry.” He added. “I’m hung over, yes, but you clearly aren’t used to getting hammered.” He said with a small laugh. Padmé shook her head.
“No. I don’t usually let it get that bad.” She found herself letting out a small laugh.
“If Sola found out I ended up hung over she’d have my head.” Shaking her head a moment before was painful, so instead she decided to use as little motion as possible.
“Sola is...” the man questioned, eyebrow raised.
“My older sister.” Padmé replies.
He inclines his head and stands. Padmé can’t help but to watch him. She had to admit he was attractive, his eyes upon her had been kind.She lowered her gaze to her hands.
“How did...” she trailed off.
“You end up here? Well, all I can remember is that your friends ditched you, and I couldn’t just leave you.” He shrugged. “I think. I don’t know. It’s all hazy.” He rubbed at his forehead.
“I see...” she stood up. The sunlight filtered through the half-shut blinds, and she had to force her eyes shut.
“I’d be careful if I were you. Hangovers are no joke.” The man said quietly.
She shot him a look before sighing. “I need to get back to my own room.” She said, moving to grab her things.
She bent down with as much effort as she could, grabbing her purse.
“Thank you for- for bringing me back here.” She said quietly, and she couldn’t believe how calm she was about this whole thing. It made herself shiver. The man was kind enough to bring her back to his room without taking advantage of her, even providing her with Advil and water. The whole situation could have been very different.
The man nodded, sitting back against the bed. “I hope your hangover goes away.”
“You too.” She answered quietly, before excusing herself from his room.
-
Padmé had ten missed calls. Half from her best friend Sabé, and half from Sola. She groaned inwardly as she slowly made her way back to her singular hotel room. She finally remembered, the three of them were there to celebrate Sola, her bachelorette party. Giving herself a few more minutes to let the Advil kick in, she pulled her phone in front of her face, putting it on speaker as she called her sister first.
“Padmé Naberrie, where the hell have you been?!” Her sister yelled into the phone.
“Sis, please don’t yell. My head is killing me.” Padmé closed her eyes tightly.
“Good. You’re hung over. It’s what you deserve, for not answering my calls.” Sola said, her voice more worried than angry.
“I’m sorry. Last night is a blur to me,” Padmé said, her voice full of sincerity.
“You ditched us, sis. For a man.” Sola replies.
“What? He says you two ditched us.”
“Well, yes. We did. You were all over him, sis. Sabé and I decided to leave you two to it. And I swear Padmé, nothing better have happened-”
“Why would you care? You left me, right? So, what if something did happen? What if he had killed me?” Padmé couldn’t stop the anger from boiling inside of her.
“But he didn’t, and you’re fine.” Sola’s voice said, surprisingly calm.
Padmé ended the call, throwing her phone to the opposite side of the bed. She didn’t bother to call Sabé. They both had left her with some man- a man she didn’t even know the name of.
She sits up on the bed and runs her fingers through her hair, but her hair snags on something on her hand. She slowly pulls her hand to her face and lets out a soft, surprised sound. The ring on her finger she did not recognize. Frowning, she pulled her hand closer to inspect it.
It was for sure a wedding ring. She let out a shocked gasp as she stood, fumbling for her phone and her purse, running out her door, and she ran into him. In his hands were a bottle of champagne and two glasses, a look of shock identical to the one on her face.
“So, Mrs. Skywalker, would you care to share a drink?”