Country Rose

AU where Leia goes to school in the country, in farmland and meets Han Solo.

I love you. The words were whispered through her hair, into her ear. She shuddered as the breath caught her ear. I love you. Another kiss. It was all another kiss. And another. She propped her feet on the dashboard after they were done, rubbing the place where he'd kissed her cheek.

It was a nice truck. She wasn't even sure if it was his. She wasn't even sure if she could be here. Bail would totally kill her. But he seemed like a nice guy. Kind of, in a roguish way. He cared for her. He worked hard -he told her he'd go the air force and wanted to earn some money before training. He didn't have time, nor did she, mostly. But in the country it was all good. Peaceful.

She could watch as the sunset colored her legs on the dashboard gold, as his denim turned white and washed out. She could run her hands along the messy papers she'd brought, and not think about the work at home.

They'd laughed and talked a lot that night, but she always had to go. So did he. But each time he drove away, he managed to come by. Her father wondered at the flower behind her ear somedays, the cheap necklace the next.

She'd met him by way of a gift. That night, when she'd been given a car she'd drove it as far as she could, until it ran out of gas. She'd been overwhelmed by it all. When she didn't know how to get back, she'd cried. She couldn't call anyone, or they'd know. Oh god, it was embarrassing.

Then he'd stopped his truck by the side of the road. "You've really messed yourself up haven't you, Your Highness?" she noted his sarcasm, mocking tone. The humor. "You need a ride?" She nodded this time, and he'd helped her take her car to the nearest station.

"I'm sorry," she'd said. "As annoying as you, you helped a lot. Even found my shoes." She'd been crying, and had thrown them to the side. "Anything you'd want?" He'd boldly leaned towards her and said: "Only that if you do this again, I'll be able to help you."

"Won't you tell me not to do it again?"

"Nah. I know you won't listen. Besides, I get it. Even insufferable pricks need breaks." She'd hit him with her shoe, and laughed about it until dawn the next morning. The next time, she'd put on a long overcoat and walked out the door.

This time, she parked her car and walked down the road barefoot in her denim shorts. Balancing on the rails. Pulling flowers from roots. Singing to the swaying grasses. He'd come driving by. Telling her that he was on patrol and that he'd have to take her back. They'd sat under the stars the night, and he'd taught her how to fight from his training. And she wished his trianing couldn't end, because then he'd fly away.

Soon, they met when they could. The next time, she was invited to a party by the river. There had been people and drinks. And no one knew her. She was no princess there. Just some girl with dancing feet and a smile. Her cover had stayed. She was just Anna Garen, a homeschooled farm girl. Not Princess Leia, a rich girl with tutors and a castle.

After that night, they'd met even more. Until tonight. Tonight, they were leaving. He'd fly away, and she would go become Senator Alderaan. Cadet Solo and Senator Alderaan. From now, their love was just a memory. But that could be dealt with in the morning, when she'd drive back home for the last time.

Clean the dirt off her heels the last time, wash her denims for the last time. She was spotless now, or she had to be. All the I love yous, the whispers would just sort of fade away as she boarded her transport. She'd take the bullet train to the ship-port, watch as the country zoomed by. Maybe he'd come wave. Could she even wave back?

She fingered her hair. Tonight, it was in two messy and long buns. Tomorrow it was be rolled and wrapped and perfect. No more grain fields, house parties, adventures. No more studies, competition of all sorts, friends. She'd left the grassy field behind for a ground made up of roses with thorns triple their size. Thorns with venom.

She'd never regret Han. Ever. But she wasn't a country girl anymore, after that night. She too had become a rose. A deadly rose. No more singing grass and bare feet. She wondered if he still loved her after that. After knowing who she was, what she did. What she did, done, and would be doing. Could he love a rose?

She wanted him too.