a/n: ok i'm going to give you this one, to hopefully make up for the terrible last chapter.

a/n 2: a little bragging....I'm sitting in a hotel in NYC and just got back from seeing Carrie Fisher's show Wishful Drinking....I highly recommend going to see it (I was pointed out 3 times in the show. She called me a lunatic...ok I was wearing my hair in the Leia buns Hair do but it's Halloween)

Chapter 4

Just one week after Mara Jade had escaped Home One and hit Luke Skywalker with a lucky shot when his sister touched his mind, and four days after Leia had run off with Han, Luke had checked himself out of the medical ward. Most of the medical personnel had been surprised that he had recovered so quickly. He had the Force on his side to aid with his recovery.

Luke found himself in the ship's training facility. Since it was in the middle of most of the personnel's sleep cycle, he had it to himself. Using the Force he cleared the area and began practicing with his lightsaber. Often times he found that the training remote he used, the one that he inherited from Obi-Wan was no longer a challenge for him. While he was in training hours seemed like minutes and he was unaware that the night shift had passed and now there were early-morning risers in the gym. Many of the on lookers were some of the people he'd fought many battles with; still they were impressed by what the young Jedi could do.

Soon he deactivated the remote, then his lightsaber. He turned to the crowd, "Ok show's over." He gave a few of them a short salute and started out of the gym.

"Hey Luke!" He heard Wedge Antilles call. "It's good to see you up and running again."

"Thanks Wedge, can't let a little blaster wound get me down."

"So I gotta ask ya, where do your chips lay when it comes to Solo and the Princess?"

Luke put his finger up, "Uh, ha, I can't tell you."

"C'mon, you've got the inside scoop. You're they're best friend. What do you think, they going to come back married?" He nudged Luke, "I gotta lot of credits riding on this one."

Luke laughed, "You guys never quit, there's always some kind of bet going on with you guys."

Luke started down the hall and Wedge called after him, "C'mon just a little hint! In the old days you would have been in on the betting."

Han rolled over and looked at the sleeping woman next to him. Her hair was spread out around her; days had passed since she had even tried to put it up into one of her elaborate hairstyles. They had been on their vacation for nearly a week, and Han had yet to see Spira's famous beaches. In a way Han felt safer locked away where nobody would spot them and he was reassured when he received reports from Chewbacca that nobody had seemed to be giving the Falcon a second glance in the private hangar.

Han had lost count the number of times he and Leia had made love. There had been days that they never left the bedroom. His plan to take Leia away to give her time to relax seemed to be working. In the four years that he had known her, he had never seen her so relaxed. He also noticed that in the time that they spent on their retreat she had had no unwanted visitors, and that was beginning to worry him.

Luke had told him that her father was trying for forgiveness, and Han feared when her father returned she would have another break down. For the moment Han just lay back down and gathered the woman he loved in his arms, he would to his best to protect her for the storm to come, or at least get her through it. He was pretty sure this was going to happen before their two weeks were up.

Leia woke when she felt Han's strong arms wrap around her. She stretched in his arms. She rolled over to her side to face him and wrapped her legs around his. She loved the feeling of her naked body against his. "What have you been thinking about?"

"You," he smiled at her, and she returned it, "and how quiet it's been."

"It has been hasn't it?" She shifted uncomfortably, trying to sit up, "Uh, Han?"

"What is it sweetheart?"

"You're on my hair." Han moved and Leia gathered her hair and threw it over her shoulder as she sat up. "It's been too quiet."

Han sat up next to her and kissed the nape of her neck. "I know you haven't had a nightmare or strange visitor, in nearly a week."

"He'll come again, won't he?"

Han knew all too well who 'he' was. "Luke said that he's very persistent. He won't give up." He wrapped his arms around her. "But after all he did to you; I won't blame you if you never forgive him. I know I couldn't."

Leia looked up at him and kissed him long and hard. When they broke, she smiled at him. "Let's go swimming."

Han didn't waste any time to get out of the bed as he watched her cross the room to the double doors that accessed the private beach. "Hey sweetheart, don't you want to put some swim skins on before you go out there?"

"Private beach," she replied back to him.

Han at least had the foresight to grab a few towels before following Leia down to the beach. As nice as it was swimming in the ocean nude, sitting on the beach was not. He didn't want to have sand in any places where sand shouldn't be. When he got to the water Leia was already in the water to her waist, her hair was draped over her chest. Han set the towels down and joined her in the water, where she was giggling.

"Were you enjoying the view sweetheart?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, walking at her with his usual swagger.

"I have to admit, it's a very nice view." Leia wrapped her arms around him and brought his head down to hers; before their lips met she got an evil glint in her eyes. Before Han could react he found himself fully emerged in the water. Leia had swept her legs under his, bringing him down.

"Hey, that was a dir…" Han was unable to continue because Leia had taken his mouth in hers and straddled his waist. Her hands started roaming his body as he finally found a foothold under him. He moved his hands so that the cradled her butt, his desire for her evident. He soon lost his balance again and the couple went crashing into the water.

Han then was able to get up; he scooped Leia up in his arms and carried her to the beach. To hell with getting sand in unwanted places, he thought.

Han came out of the shower and saw that his princess was still balled up in the middle of their bed sound asleep. He decided that he wouldn't disturb her. He pulled out a piece of flimsy and wrote his plans so that if she woke up she wouldn't worry about him.

He pulled on his clothes, which felt strange since much of the past week was spent in the nude. He decided that he would go down to the hangar and check on the Falcon and see how Chewbacca was fairing.

["I see that you finally got out of the princess' clutches,"] Chewbacca growled at him.

"Very funny, how about I go back tending to the princess and forget about you and the ship." Han then looked around the dock, "So it's been quiet, huh?"

["A little too quiet if you ask me."]

"I know Leia's been very relaxed. I wonder if this is how she was, you know before the war." Han proceeded to do a check on the ship, "Hey Chewie, keep the Falcon warmed up in case something does happen and we have to make a quick getaway."

Han figured that if he was with Leia he'd never get a chance to see the shops. He had never been one to go on shopping sprees but there was one thing that he wanted to do. It was a Corellian tradition for an engaged couple to wear commitment rings, to show others that they were committed to another.

Han searched and searched the shops for the right rings, he knew he didn't have the kind of funds to buy a ring that a princess should have, but he knew Leia well enough that she'd appreciate anything that he bought her. He was about to give up when he came to one last shop, there he saw the perfect rings. Although he'd be short on Credits for a while, they were worth it to buy.

When Han returned to the 'cottage' he found himself lost in its many corridors. He couldn't figure out where he had made the wrong turn. He walked through a set of double doors and found himself in some kind of office. He saw several old holos on the walls that were deactivated; he decided to turn them on.

The first one showed a tall man with a woman in ornate traditional Alderaanian clothing. The next one showed the same man and woman holding on to a small baby, who couldn't have been more than a few months old, the baby had familiar chocolate brown eyes. It took him a moment to realize that the baby was Leia. He smiled as he turned on each holo, watching Leia grow. When he got to the one where she was about seven, the woman who was in the previous pictures was gone and so was the bright smile of the little girl in the holos. The last holo he came to Leia seemed to be eleven or twelve.

Han looked at the desk on the other side of the room where he noticed another deactivated holo, it was of just Leia, a cute holo of her with a huge grin showing off her missing front teeth hugging a stuffed nerf. Han decided to pick it up and put it into his pocket; he could imagine that this little girl in the holo would be what his own daughter was going to look like, when he and Leia decided to have children.

He left the office and soon he found his way back to the room he was sharing with Leia. He stopped at the door that she had stopped at when they first arrived. He opened it and discovered that it was a child's room. Around it he saw all kinds of stuffed animals and dolls. This must have been Leia's room while her family had stayed here. He looked at the bed and saw a stuffed nerf on the bed, one that looked exactly like the one in the holo he had pocketed. He picked it up and left the room, he then continued down the hall and went through the double doors of his and Leia's room.

Leia looked up from the data pad on her lap when Han entered the room. She smiled at him, "Everything okay with Chewie and the Falcon?" She got up and crossed the room to Han.

"So far, but he's worried that it's been too quiet." He wrapped his arms around Leia, "I'm getting a bit edgy about it too."

Leia laughed to herself, she knew that he would always be a smuggler at heart; that he would always feel a bit paranoid when things seemed to be going well. It was then Leia saw the stuffed nerf in his hands. "You've been exploring the cottage." She took the nerf from him.

"I got lost, let me guess, that was your favorite when you were a kid."

"I had many favorites," Leia looked at the nerf, "this guy traveled with me a lot when I was a kid; the last time we were here I had forgotten it," she sighed, "but by then I had gotten too old to be carrying around stuffed animals."

"I found this too." Han then activated the holo.

"You found daddy's office." She took the holo from him, "This was his favorite, it was taken the first time we returned here after mother had died. He had surprised me with nerfy when we got here."

"Nerfy?"

"Shut up, I was seven."

Han smiled at her and then took "Nerfy" from Leia, "Let's make sure we don't forget "Nerfy" when we leave, so that if we don't ever come back you'll have something from your old life." He wrapped his arms around her, "And when we have a daughter you can pass him down to her."

"A daughter?" It had taken Leia by surprise. She and Han had not yet discussed the possibility of having children. Of course Luke wanted them to have children; he wanted someone to teach the ways of the Force to. Leia wasn't so sure she wanted children, and now Han her husband to be was talking about children.

"Or son, whichever comes first," he said as he sat down on the conform chair. He then pulled her down onto his lap. "You do want kids right?"

"I haven't thought about it, I mean Luke asked if we were going to have kids. I'm really not all that sure after finding out certain things about my genetics." She sighed and put her head down on his shoulder. "I think I was better off not knowing, believing that I was just a foundling." She then looked up at him and brushed his hair with her fingers, "Do you really want kids?"

"I do, but hey it's not like I want to have them right away." He kissed the tip of her nose, "We have a long time to decide on these things."

"I suppose we do, no need to plan our whole lives right now."

"Speaking of the rest of our lives, I bought you something." Han then pulled a box out of his pocket and handed it to Leia.

Leia inspected the box for a moment then lifted the lid. "Oh, Han they're beautiful, what are they for?"

"Corellian commitment rings, it shows other's that you've committed your life to someone else." Han lifted the smaller of the two rings then lifted her hand. He as he slipped the ring on her finger he said, "I commit my life to you Leia Organa."

Leia was having a hard time holding back the tears as Han kissed her. She then lifted the second ring out of the box, and then took Han's hand. "I commit my life to you Han Solo," she said as she slipped the ring on his finger.

Han then lifted Leia up and carried her to the bed.

The entire rebel base was in an uproar. There had been recent reports that other bases had been attacked. They needed to move and move now.

"What about the Princess and Solo?" Rieekan was not about to leave without Leia and Han.

Borsk Fey'lya looked at the general with his violet eyes, "Are we to risk the whole fleet just for two people, two people who by the way disobeyed an order."

"Actually only one of them disobeyed the order, Solo had permission to leave," Mon Mothma said. "Carlist, I know you think of Leia as a daughter, but we can't risk ourselves any longer. We must leave."

"Please give them one more day, I can get them back."

"Fine, one more day, put the word out, we leave in twenty-four hours."

"Skywalker"

Luke looked up from working on his X-Wing to see General Rieekan coming towards him.

"I need your help; I know you know how to get a hold of Solo. We're shipping out in twenty-four hours; I need you to get him and Leia back to the base."

"Can't we give them more time?"

"We've held off long enough; I've done all I can."

"I'll do my best."

Luke sat in deep meditation, trying to reach Leia. He searched across the galaxy, to find her presence. Soon he found her.

Leia woke up suddenly when she heard someone say her name. She looked over at the man by her side who was sound asleep. She looked around the darkened room, seeing that it was completely empty. Leia, the voice said again, hear me.

"Luke?" She said in whisper. She had spent so much energy not to touch the Force but now her brother was trying to contact her. She was suddenly worried that something was going on, that maybe the fleet was under attack.

Leia, you must return to the fleet.

That was it, no more connection, no more messages. Part of her wanted to ignore the request, but the part of her bound to duty to the Alliance knew she had to go back. She rolled over to the man beside her and started gently shaking him, "Han, Han wake up."

Leia was answered with a few mumbles, and she swore she heard a few choice Corellian curses.

"Han Solo! Wake up this moment!" She began shaking him harder.

He suddenly sat up, "What is it? Are we under attack?" He then realized where he was; he gave Leia a lopsided grin and wrapped his arms around her waist. He started kissing her neck, mumbling into it, "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

She wondered how she was going to break it to him that they had to return early, he had wanted this break as much as she did. "We have to go back."

"Go back where, Leia?"

"To the fleet, I have a feeling." She looked over her shoulder at Han, "Luke's trying to contact us." As Leia said the words Han's comlink started buzzing.

Han picked it up, "What is it Chewie?"

["General Rieekan just commed, he requested that we come back as soon as possible, they're moving the fleet."]

Han looked at Leia, "Okay Chewie, we'll be there in less than an hour." Han closed the link, "I wonder what is going on?"

"We'll find out when we get back," Leia said as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "It must be something big if they're moving the fleet."

Mon Mothma was waiting in the landing bay on Home One, it was only a few minutes earlier that the Millennium Falcon made contact with the fleet. She was ready to reprimand Leia for her little stunt of running away with General Solo, but that would have to wait once things settled down.

Han landed his ship in the landing bay. Many people were scrambling for their ships. Han turned in his chair and looked at Leia, "Well, sweetheart, are you sure you wanted to come back? It looks like we're heading into another battle."

"I don't think we had much of a choice, if we didn't return odds are we would have been abandoned."

"Well let's get this over with," he pointed out the canopy, "Looks like you've already have a welcoming committee."

Leia looked out, "Mon Mothma doesn't look too happy, Han wish me luck."

Han gave Leia a long hard kiss before they left the cockpit and let the ramp down. Almost immediately the couple was pulled in different directions to attend to their duties. They gave Han time to refuel his ship before he was ordered to the team that would lead the fleet. Leia was taken to the high command's ship, where they would be taken to another base.

Leia sat in her quarters on the high command's ship, she was upset that she didn't even get to say goodbye to Han that she didn't get to see her brother or Chewbacca and wish them well. In a way she knew this could happen that somehow rest of the high command would figure out how to separate her and Han. They would end up on different bases, for who knows how long. Leia was not going to allow them to win; she knew that one day she and Han would see each other again.

Leia sat on the couch in her quarters, twirling the commitment ring, trying to look over information on her datapad when the door chime sounded. Leia knew who it was. She watched as Threepio shuffled over to the door to allow the visitor enter her quarters. Leia stood tall ready to face the person.

"Leia," Mon Mothma simply stated.

"Mon Mothma, I know why you've come, and I am prepared to defend myself and my actions."

"I'm sure you are." She motioned to the couch, "Come let's sit."

Leia did as told, holding herself in a regal position.

"Leia, I was very disappointed in you when you ran off with General Solo." Leia opened her mouth in protest but Mon Mothma raised her hand, "Let me finish dear, I was disappointed that you'd do something like that, but after talking with your brother, I came to realize that you weren't the girl that I knew growing up. You've changed. I'm not sure if it is for the better, but after hearing what Skywalker had to say, I will go easy on you, this time."

"Luke told you?"

"Yes he did, I know it must be difficult to discover who your biological father was, I knew of him before he changed, and he was a great hero. But that doesn't make up for what he did later in life."

"Luke wants me to forgive him, but I can't."

"He wishes for you to forgive Anakin Skywalker, not Vader." Mon Mothma put her hand on Leia's, "Vader was not Anakin."

"To me they're one in the same; if Anakin was the great hero that everyone seems to claim he was I'm sure he knew he was making the wrong choice." Leia looked at Mon Mothma, "You didn't come here to talk to me about my biology, and I don't wish to discuss it any further."

"As you wish, I did come here to talk to you about General Solo. There are things you need to know…"

Leia cut her off, "I know about his past, he has told me everything that he is willing to share. The rest I don't care, if it's too painful for him to bring up, then I won't press him."

"I'm looking out for your best interest, you're young and I don't want to see you make mistakes, or see you get hurt."

"Han's not going to be the one to hurt me." Leia stood, "What is this really about? Is it about appearances? Are you worried that people won't think us a legitimate government when one of its leaders is married to a former smuggler?"

"Leia, it's not that I'm worried about, it's you're people, the Alderaanians." Leia sat back down. "I have been in contact with many who were off of the planet; they wish you to marry a fellow Alderaanian."

"Oh Gods, this puts me in such a hard place. If I don't follow their wishes, then I could risk losing my people. But what good will it do if I'm unhappy?" Leia put her head in her hands, "Do I follow my heart or my people?"

"That's a decision that only you can make."

Leia sighed, "Somehow I feel it's a decision that has already been made for me."

Han Solo was not a happy man. First of all as soon as he and Leia returned to the fleet they were pulled in separate directions, she off to who knows where and he was taken to a debriefing. Second, he never got to say farewell to the woman he loved; her ship had already left for another base before his meeting was over. Third he was once again headed off to battle, not knowing when he would ever see Leia again.

At least he had a familiar crew, Chewbacca in the co-pilots chair, and Luke and Lando in the navigation positions. There were also a few others on board to help man the guns. It felt strange to have a full crew on the Millennium Falcon. They would be in hyperspace for two days before they reached their destination, Coruscant. Han felt it was foolish of the Alliance to try to take over the Imperial Center this soon after Endor. But the rumors were the Moffs and Governors would be heading there to fight over who was the rightful successor. They were on their way there to stop them, to establish their government.

Han sat on the bunk in his cabin, had it only been a week since he made love to Leia in this bed for the first time. His thoughts were on her, he hoped that Mon Mothma and Borsk Fey'lya went easy on her. Then he thought about how alone she would be if her father decides to visit her, there would be no one to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be alright.

Weeks had passed since Han and Leia had seen each other. Everyday Leia found herself waiting in the base's landing bay; hoping that one of the ships coming in would be the familiar disk shaped Millennium Falcon. Every day she left disappointed. One day, during her waiting she felt a hand on her shoulder. Leia turned around and saw Rieekan behind her.

"I know Carlist, I know he's not coming soon, but I can't help but hope. I miss Han so much."

"It must be hard to be separated from most of the people who care for you. I have a surprise for you, someone you haven't seen in a long time will be joining us at this base, I know you'll be glad to see her," he told her.

For a moment she thought about who it could be, who would be joining her then it dawned on Leia. "Winter's coming to this base?"

"Yes, and she is excited to be seeing you again." He put his hand on her shoulder, "Now come, let's go back inside, you've been a little pale lately, I certainly hope you haven't caught the Ithorian Flu that's been going around the base."

Leia smiled at the holographic image of Han before her. He gave her a quick wink before turning his attention to rest of the high command. After the word that the Emperor and Vader were dead got out, the Imperials were in total disarray. Many of the planetary Moffs and Warlords started battles between themselves for power. This had given the Alliance the opportunity to sneak in and take over many areas. Many of the citizens, who were scared of Palpatine, became their supporters. Day by day the Empire was slowly falling apart.

Leia knew when that day came; Mon Mothma would make her move and establish their government. Leia also hoped that when that day came, she and Han could start their lives together. It had been nearly two months since they had parted. She sat in the command room watching Han's flickering image as he gave his report, not listening to what he had to say but just watching the man she loved.

The look on her face as she watched Han didn't go unnoticed. Across the room the Bothan, Borsk Fey'lya, was watching the princess intently.

As the flickering image of Han disappeared, Leia felt a sudden emptiness. The pang of loneliness came crashing back to her. As soon as the meeting was over, Leia went down to the hangar. Today was the day that her childhood friend Winter would be joining her at the base and she was due to arrive at any moment.

Leia stood at the landing bay waiting for the ramp to be lowered on the ship that carried her childhood friend. She smiled when she saw the familiar white-haired woman exit the ship. She couldn't believe that it had been over four years since they had seen each other. Winter had left Alderaan to join the Alliance six months before Leia had left to start her term in the senate. The two women closed the distance between them. They embraced. "Oh, Winter, it is so good to see you again."

"I know what you mean your highness." She smiled at her friend, "It has been far too long, yet it seems like only yesterday we were just children on Alderaan." To Winter every memory seemed like yesterday. She had a holographic memory, and could recall anything from ten years ago just as easily as she could something she learned ten minutes ago.

Leia then looked past Winter and was shocked by the sight of a certain woman as she exited the ship. It was her Aunt Celly who was walking with a young man. When her aunt saw her she released the young man and made her way to Leia.

"Oh my Leia," Celly said. She backed away as to get a good look at her niece, "Look at you, you look too thin, do they not feed you on these bases?" Leia was not surprised by that comment; Celly was the plumper one of her Aunts. Leia remembered that sweets were always available at Aunt Celly's.

"Oh Aunt Celly, I can't believe you're here. What of.."

"Unfortunately my sisters were on Alderaan." Leia caught the hint of sadness in her aunt's voice. "But let's not dwell on the past, we must move on to the future." She then gestured the young man forward.

"Leia you remember Daarik Aldrete," Winter said.

Leia then remembered him as one of her school mates; he was from an upper-class Alderaanian family. "Ah, Daarik, it is wonderful to see another fellow Alderaanian."

"It is princess, forgive me for being so forward but, you have grown into a very beautiful woman." He gave her a charming smile.

"Thank you Daarik." Leia could feel something not quite right; like there was something not being told. "Daarik, if you would excuse Aunt Celly, Winter and myself, I would like to spend some time catching up with them."

"Of course, your highness," he gave her a courtly bow, "until later princess." He then bowed to Winter and Celly then left.

As Leia, Celly and Winter walked towards her quarters, Leia took a glance over her shoulder and noticed Daarik watching them as they walked away. She looked back at Winter who was smiling at her. "Your highness, do you find him attractive?"

"He is good looking, yes, but if you're thinking of setting me up with him, forget it." She stopped walking and looked at her friend, "I know he's been sent here for reasons other than joining the Alliance."

"The Alderaanians feel that he is best suited for you, he has the right breeding…" Celly said as Leia cut her off.

"Hold it right there, I'm not going to allow anyone to plan my life. You know as well as I do that father would have never stood for this."

"Now Leia, you mustn't act rashly, get to know the boy," Celly told her. "You're father would have approved of this young man to court his daughter. As your only living relative, I've given him permission to win your heart."

"Aunt Celly, I can't allow myself to be courted, I'm engaged to be married already." Leia said as she palmed the door to her quarters open.

"What! To whom may I ask?"

"His name is Han Solo," Leia said with a slight smile, her thoughts on the man she loved, "He's a general and he's currently with the team fighting for Coruscant."

"What is his planet of origin?"

"Corellia."

"What kind of family does he come from, is it a good respectable family?"

"I don't know. His family was killed when he was a young boy. He refuses to talk about it," Leia told her aunt. "But I don't care what kind of family he comes from, he's a good man."

"Leia, whether or not he's a good man will have no effect on the Alderaanian council, it will come down to if he's worthy of your hand. You're a Princess of Alderaan, the last princess, rightful heir to the throne, who you choose to marry and who you'll be allowed to marry could be two different people," Celly told her.

"I'm past the age I should have been married…"

"Based on the circumstances of the war, the council has decided to extend the age requirement. You have no choice, Leia. You are bound to your duty to your people." Celly placed her hand on Leia's knee, "I'm sorry Leia, but you'll have to break your commitment to Han Solo." Celly stood and looked at Leia. She did feel sorry for her niece; she saw the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She took a deep breath, "I shall retire to my quarters, I truly am sorry."

When her aunt left Leia finally let the tears fall. Winter rushed to her side and put her arms around her. "It's not fair Winter, I never asked to be a princess."

"I know Leia; I also know that Bail would have never stood for this. He would have wanted you to be happy." She handed Leia a handkerchief, "Does this Han Solo make you happy?"

"Happier than I've been in a long time. These past four years, he's been the only one there for me whenever I needed someone. I don't think I would even be alive today if it wasn't for him. He has saved me in so many ways."

Leia and Winter sat in the mess hall eating their breakfast when Darrik approached them. He gave Leia a bow, "Your Highness, how are you this morning?"

For the past month Darrik had taken every opportunity he could to get Leia to see him as her potential suitor, something that Leia kept brushing off. Leia suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, instead giving him a smile. "Why Darrik, I was doing just fine, until a few moments ago." Leia then stood and started to walk away.

"Your highness," Darrik called after her. His much longer legs helped him catch up with her pretty quickly. He caught her by the arm, "Whatever did I do to offend you?"

Leia looked at him then at his hand on her arm. Realizing his mistake he released her arm. "You came to this base expecting me to play this 'let's marry the princess off, who care about her feelings game'." She put a finger in to his face, "I have feelings, I have a commitment to another man and I will not hurt him. I don't care if I don't get to see him for the next six months or the next year, I really don't care if you, my aunt, or rest of the Alderaanians doesn't like it." Leia then turned and quickly left.

Leia made her way to her quarters; this whole thing was making her sick. She hated that Han never got a chance, that he was being judged without knowing him. Her aunt saw him as nothing but a worthless former smuggler, who would never amount to anything. Leia ran into her 'fresher and emptied the contents of her stomach.

When she finished retching she rinsed out her mouth and went into her bedroom. She lay down in the middle of her bed and started to cry, she abruptly stopped when she heard a voice, a voice she hadn't heard in a while.

"It's hard to think people can be so closed minded about someone they never met."

Leia looked up and saw a young man, around her age with piercing blue eyes. He had a blue glow around him. Her first instinct was to scream, but then she realized who it was.

"What do you want," she asked.

"Do you honestly think they'll give Solo a chance? I've only met one person from the royal class that could see past a person's station and accept them for who they were," Anakin said.

"And who was that?"

"You mother."

"My mother?"

"You're so much like her, Leia."

Leia looked away from the specter. Her entire life she had never thought that she was like anyone. Her mother was a mystery to her, somehow she knew that her mother must have known her adoptive father, how else would she have been adopted by the Alderaan royal family.

She looked back to her father; she wanted to ask him but stopped.

"You have questions about your mother," Anakin said.

"Yes, but I'm afraid to know."

Anakin was about to say something when Leia heard her quarter's door open. Anakin looked at his daughter and gave her a smile, "We can continue this later if you'd like."

Leia nodded as her bedroom door slid open.

"Leia Organa," her aunt yelled at her, "I cannot believe how you treated Darrik."

"And I can't believe how you're treating me," she abruptly stood to face the taller woman, but sat back down when a wave of nausea hit her. Her near faint didn't go unnoticed by her aunt.

"Leia, dear, are you alright?"

"Yes, no, I don't know. I just think I'm under a lot of stress lately." Leia lay down on her bed and Celly sat down on the edge. Leia really had known what was wrong, she had known for weeks. She wasn't ready to tell her aunt, it was something that she wanted Han to know first. They had been separated for nearly three months now, and she had no clue when she would see him again. Leia rolled over to look at her aunt and tried to form the words, but couldn't. "I'm just tired Aunt Celly." For now her baby would remain her secret. She rolled back over and curled into a ball.

Celly rubbed her niece's back, "Then get some rest, but I do expect you to apologize to Darrik tomorrow." She got up and left Leia alone.

On the other side of the Force her father watched her, wishing that Han Solo would be back to her soon.