Chapter 2

Sorry it took me so long. I don't even know if I should apologize, since probably nobody is reading this, but still... Reviews or anything would be very welcome. Hope you enjoy my story.

Disclaimer : Sadly I own nothing. Nor Star Wars, nor All-Star shoes,...

I was waiting for Leia in front of bathroom door. Soon she came out, holding her battle gear in hands.

»Where can I put these?« she asked.

I showed her my closet, which was half empty anyway, because I hated shopping, and she put her former clothes in.

»You'll have to get rid of the boots too« I pointed out. »As much as I love the way they look, they would be just... you know... people would notice them.«

She nodded: »I understand. Different planet, different fashion.«

I couldn't help myself not to smile. »Something like that yeah. Come, let's have some breakfast, you must be hungry.«

»I am.« She answered and I led her to kitchen. While we were crossing the living room my dog Ay came running to us. Leia didn't look too shocked.

»This is my dog, Ay« I said. Leia kneeled beside her and stroked her.

»I've seen pet's like this before. Smart creatures aren't they?« she said lovingly.

I had to agree with her. »True. I taught her many tricks, like play dead or hide. Then she hides her head between her paws and that looks totally cute.«

"I think, Luke once mentioned he had a dog back home on Tatooine."

"Really?" I asked and searched my memory for this information.

I looked at the clock again. We were already a bit behind my usual schedule. »We must hurry« I said »or else we'll be late for school.« I prepared us two bowls of chocolate cereals, which were my usual breakfast.«

»Oh gods, this is so good.« she said after taking the first bite. I was a bit puzzled by her statement.

»Really?" I asked a bit puzzled by her statement. "I thought you are used to eating only really luxurious stuff. You know being royalty and all.«

She shrugged. »Not since I joined Rebellion. You know our founds are strictly limited, so we mostly eat only imperishable food, which by the way tastes like rubber.«

»Oh I see.« I said.

»So... do you live here all by yourself?« she asked

I wanted to answer immediately which almost ended really bad, because my mouth was full of cereals. I coughed and Leia chuckled seeing me struggling with my food.

»No« I managed to say after some caughting. »I live here with my mum and my little brother Nal.«

»Where are they now and what about your father?« I could see that her mind was full of questions.

»Well my mum is at work and Nal is already in school.« Then I grew a bit uneasy. »And about my dad. He left about 6 or 7 years ago. He said he didn't want this kind of life anymore. Can you imagine? What a jerk« I said.

She lowered her eyes. »I'm so sorry I brought this up« she apologized.

»Don't be« I quickly stopped her. »It's fine really, that was long ago.« I wanted to keep the conversation running, but wasn't successful and we spent the rest of the very short meal mostly in silence.

We put our bowls in the dishwasher, which Leia of course found rather primitive and then we went to bathroom again. In our bathroom there was this huge mirror and when I saw Leia in it, I realized she didn't look like a normal teenager.
»Well, you'll have to change your hairstyle« I pointed out. »Ok first, loosen you hair." She did so and I was stunned by the length of her hair.

"I've never thought it was this long" I said. "I mean in the holomovies you usually wear them close to your head."

"Yes" she replied. "Complicated hairstyles are… were traditional on Alderaan" I noticed her correction, but decided not to mention it.

"You should try something simple. A ponytail or a braid maybe." I suggested.

She decided for the latter and did her hair in no time.

»You look fantastic, but sadly still more than recognizable."

»Thanks I guess« she said unsurely, probably still very confused about this holomovies idea.

"You know, I too had long hair until four months ago." I said while I was putting some gel on my now short hair.

"What happed?" she asked.

"It wasn't Falcon hyperdrive breakdown or airlock accident or something if that's what you're thinking." I said and it made her laugh. "I don't know I guess I have just grown tired of long hair."

Now we were almost ready to go. We put on some jackets and went to our front door, where I kept my shoes. I handed her a pair of All-star shoes.

"Is that what you wear on this planet?" she asked, looking at my shoes. To be honest, they really didn't look like much.

I shrugged. "Well yes. Everybody wears them. They're cool. I mean nowadays no so much anymore, but two years ago everybody wore them. You see, they are something like classical boots from your universe. They are universal." I explained and Leia laughed at my choice of words.

"My parents wore them before I was even born."I added. "I guess All-star shoes became popular about 30 years ago." I put on an older pair of All-stars that I used to wear before I got the ones I gave to Leia. Those truly looked like they belonged nowhere else but in to the garbage.

"I always have only one pair of shoes." I explained.

"Excuse me my curiosity. Is your family poor?"

"No" I smiled "I just hate shopping." And we were off. When we came outside, I started to unlock my bike and then remembered that she probably could ride one.

»Do you know how to ride a bike?« I asked, but she didn't even hear me.

She was observing my house, few meters away from me and when I joined her she said: »It's so... It's so...«

I chuckled »You can just say it. It's old and ugly. But it's my home and there's no place I'd rather live."

I decided that we should walk, since we had no other choice. Soon I realized we will be late for sure, seeing that walking would take us about 45 minutes or more.

While we were walking Leia asked: "So… What kind of government do you have on this planet?"

"Well" I started "actually this planet is divided in many countries and they have different kinds of governments. Some are still ruled by tyrants, some have sort of parliamentary monarchy, sort of Alderaan I guess. And some countries, for example this place have democracy. If we could call it this way."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well many things, but mostly it's just about twenty rich bastards that play with tax money of simple mortals." I said bitterly. "Please, let's not talk about it. I hate politicians. "

Leia looked offended. "I have studied all my life to become one, you know."

"Yeah I know, but that's totally different."

"How different?" she demanded in her royal commanding tone.

"You are a great leader. You're honest, just and brave. It's in your blood." I told her enthusiastically.

"What do you mean?" she eyed me suspiciously.

"Nothing. I was just… You know referring to Bail Organa." I gulped. "Your father."

I didn't know why I didn't just tell her about everything I knew. About her true parents, her brother, about how Han felt about her. It just seemed wrong. It's was like telling her about her future. And as Yoda would say: Always in motion the future is.

But on the other hand. I hated myself for lying to her, for hiding the truth from her. Because of it I somehow felt like Obi-Wan.

" It's really strange that you know so much about me. How is that again?" she asked

"Han, Luke, you and everybody else are part of a great story. I have read books about it and seen the holovids of it. To be honest I am quite obsessed with it." I sighted. "Because of this everybody thinks I'm weird." I added quickly:" Not that I care though. It's my world… I mean your world and if it makes me happy, that's all that matters.

She patted my shoulder friendly. "You don't seem weird to me." She said.

I laughed. "I'm sorry it's just… You're… you know. You come from far away and believe me people here have very different opinion about…"

"What in the name of wookiee is that?" she asked panicky, pointing at completely usual car that drove past us.

"This" I answered "is our version of landspeeder. It's not that useful though, but still the most common example of transport.

I didn't take her long to adjust to fast cars and motor bikes. I guessed she was quite used to all that noise, since in her youth she often stayed at Coruscant. We passed the small forest near my home and were now in the town.

Leia looked around her, turning her head side to side continually.

"This is so beautiful." She whispered, overwhelmed by sight and silence, since cars weren't allowed to drive here. I agreed with her. It was so peaceful and when I was walking through this part of town, whole world seemed better than usually.

"This is the old town" I explained. "The buildings here are mostly very old

"This reminds me of Alderaan" she whispered again and I could have missed the sadness and regret in her slightly trembling voice.

"I know." I said my voice quiet as hers was. "Alderaan was really beautiful and what Empire did was monstrous."

Tears were entering here eyes. "Millions of voices silenced …"

"There's nothing you could have done" I tried to comfort her. She turned to me and we stopped.

"You don't know that." She said her voice angry all of the sudden.

"In fact I do." I said calmly. "Even if you would have told them the real location of the rebel base, they would have destroyed it. It was brave that you lied. I couldn't have done it if I was in your place."

"You saw when they…?"

"Yeah I did" I said. "It's in the holomovie." Than I said kindly: "Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault."

"Still, I blame my self. You know, I haven't told anyone about what happened on Death Star."

"They don't know that Tarkin made you watch?" I asked quietly. I was shocked. She really didn't let anybody near her. I didn't know what to say. I hugged her and that means something since I never hug anyone. We just walked in silence next few minutes.

" I dreamed about it last night. Alderaan I mean," said Leia."I was there again, you know. I could almost have felt the warmth of the sun" she added her gaze dreamingly distant.

"That's weird" I murmured. "That's the same thing I dreamt tonight too. Do you thing it's somehow connected with you being here?"

Leia was considering my idea for some time and we were quiet again. "I don't see any other explanation" she stated at last. "That must be the reason I am here."

"Yeah" I whispered. "Because we were…"

And than we said it both at the same time: "Sharing a dream."