A/N: I am so sorry for the delay in getting an update posted for this story. Big life changes are afoot! Rest assured, nothing is abandoned and hopefully we are back to our regularly scheduled updates. I appreciate everyone so much for sticking with this and especially for reviews ... even in my long absence!
Don't Call Me
"Ambassador."
The much older Rodian held out his hands to grasp Leia's in greeting, "It's a pleasure to see you, darling. I'm so glad you could come tonight."
"The pleasure is mine, Geeto."
"Every time I see you, you look more and more like your mother."
Leia seated herself at the polished table, laden with rich food. Thinking of Padme Amidala as her mother was still strange; 'mother' always brought to mind Breha Organa first, just as 'father' made her think of Bail.
The former princess cleared her throat and reach for the water goblet at her place setting, "She was far more beautiful than me."
"I can't speak to Human beauty standards, Minister, but your presence … the same."
"Well, thank you, Ambassador," she took a sip of the liquid in her glass and nearly spat it out – she'd forgotten Rodians drank water hot, "Actually, I have a question for you about Pad– my mother. Did you know of her relationship with my father?"
Geeto flexed and stretched his snout, "There were rumors, but there are always rumors. No one really knew anything. Padme and Anakin Skywalker favored one another, but that sort of thing was not uncommon. Both were so young, to have so much responsibility …"
"The pressures on both of them must have been enormous."
"You would know, my dear," the Rodian dipped his head in Leia's direction.
"But the Senate and the Jedi Council were always so opposed. Before my father turned, how could they have dealt with those conflicting interests?"
"They were unusual. Unconventional. Extraordinary, really. The tragedy of your father's story masks what a talented young man he was. The same with your mother."
"The point is that the story didn't end well."
"No, the point is that Palpatine was a brilliant politician with all the power in the galaxy at his disposal, yet no one knew it. Things didn't have to end the way they did, and conflicting interests never stopped the Jedi and the Senate from working together before Palpatine gained power as Chancellor. Relations deteriorated from there."
Leia sighed and was silent a moment before continuing, "So few people are left who knew both of my parents."
Geeto stretched his snout again, "I know."
"I guess it's ironic that Padme and Anakin's children became a Jedi and a politician."
"Not irony, Minister: genetics."
Leia opened her mouth, but her reply was cut short by the arrival at their table of a Rodian she did not know. He spoke in Rodese to Geeto, who chuckled heartily and slapped the young man on the shoulder.
"Minister Organa, Daardo here – the politics reporter for The Galaxy – tells me the Republic has opened negotiations with the New Trade Federation?"
She knew better than to say anything in front of a reporter, but made a mental note to check the holonet when she returned home for news coverage of the talks, "Unfortunately, Daardo, I cannot comment on past, present, or possible future diplomatic negotiations."
Daardo flexed his snout, "Pity, Minister, as we have a good source inside the government claiming such negotiations have begun."
"I will repeat that I cannot comment."
Geeto seemed to sense her tension and laid a hand on Daardo's arm, speaking softly in his native tongue. The younger Rodian's face tightened and he trotted off after a brief goodbye.
"Ah, to be young and idealistic. That one – so set on government transparency, democracy, making sure the gentlebeings of the galaxy know exactly what is happening in the Republic. Long enough on Coruscant and he'll eventually learn the value of limited information."
Leia should have agreed, but she was chagrined. Hadn't they fought, at such a terribly high cost, for ideals like transparency and democracy and everything the Empire wasn't? Palpatine was evil, a Sith Lord, but he was also an ordinary-if-talented power hungry politician who ran the Imperial government on a foundation of secrecy and centralized authority. The Dark Side was the least of the Empire's evil.
"Excuse me, Ambassador," Leia abruptly stood from the table.
She was about to violate all kinds of self-written secrecy and clearance rules as she approached the press table. Mon Mothma might have a stern word with her the next day once her aides delivered the highlights of the morning news cycle, but Leia at least couldn't be fired from the Cabinet. The Senate had to confirm a dismissal, and she was too popular to have to worry about the consequences of holding an impromptu press conference at the Rodian Clan Unity Dinner.
"Daardo."
"Minister Organa. I thought you were not offering any comment?"
Leia stiffened a bit at the accusatory tone in his voice, "The Ministry of State has no reason to hide its meetings with the New Trade Federation. I will give you," she looked up at the rest of the table and raised her voice to public speaking volume, "and your colleagues here, a few words on the record, if you like. Five minutes and voice only, no holos."
Everyone seated with Daardo erupted in activity, pulling out datapads and recording devices.
"Please, sit," a human male pulled out the sliding seat next to him, "I'm Tono Ruu of the Coruscant Sun."
"Pleasure to meet you."
"So, Minister," Daardo spoke across the table, "Did the New Trade Federation approach the Republic? Or was it the other way around?"
"The NTF contacted us."
"The galaxy is still recovering from the war. Don't you think it is unfair for the Republic to show favoritism to certain business conglomerates and not others?"
"We hope opening the door to the NTF will encourage future public-private partnerships in all sectors," Leia replied.
Ruu broke in, "Do we need to worry about a new Separatist movement?"
"A new war is not in the interest of anyone in the galaxy, especially anyone looking to make money.
"But is the NTF a criminal enterprise? The leadership is filled with former underworld types."
"Business experience is business experience, legal or no, and the backgrounds of organization members have no bearing on the future of the business; however, the NTF has tentatively agreed to full annual government audits."
Tono Ruu stroked his short beard and smiled, "Good answer."
The Minister of State tingled with the man's genuine praise.
Culturally, it didn't make much sense, but Rodians threw great parties. Leia had decided to take dinner at the press table, shocking and pleasing the reporters present. She didn't answer any further questions about sensitive issues or negotiations, but ingratiated herself to those reporters she didn't know and caught up with those she did. Following dinner, she excused herself to the bar and found Ruu following her. He'd retrieved for her a much too sugary drink.
"I would've preferred the ale," she gestured with her frosted glass to the bottle he was holding.
"My kind of woman."
"Please. I don't do reporters," Leia twisted her lips into a half smile.
"Not dashing enough for you, Princess? I know all about your standards."
The twisted grin on the Minister of State's face turned into a twist in her gut. If his delivery had been condescending and misogynistic, she would have laughed, reminded him of her position in the Galactic government, and walked away. But he wasn't trying to take her down a peg: he was flirting. Calling her 'Princess' was familiar and sarcastic, even self-effacing. Tono Ruu was pulling a Han Solo and Leia Organa was falling for it.
"Dashing, hmm … dashing you have to prove."
"And just how might I do that?"
Leia wondered if she should go for it with him. He was tall and well-built and looked vaguely like the young Obi-Wan Kenobi she'd seen in holos with her father. She could make him sign a vacuum-tight confidentiality agreement.
"You can start by ordering two Alderaanian Flamers."
"You drink Flamers?"
"Only to see if my company can."
Tono had her halfway out of her dress before she managed to palm open her apartment door. It was an expensive garment, and she had to keep admonishing him to be careful, warning him that the Coruscant Sun would get a hefty bill if he tore out the closures.
Leia moaned as his lips met her collarbone.
"You don't have a secret husband stashed away in here, do you?" he murmured against her neck.
"Not to my knowledge."
He slid his hands down her sides and cupped her ass. Leia gasped against his mouth, and was surprised by how eager and turned on she felt. She knew herself well enough to realize that her response had less to do with Tono – although he was attractive – and more to do with the fact she hadn't been able to think straight about anything all day except Han. At several points she'd found herself daydreaming about the things he could do to her on various pieces of furniture in her office.
Leia stepped back from the flushed reporter in her entryway, "Do you want anything before we – "
The comm station in her living room beeped.
"Kreth. I'm sorry—"
"You have to take it, I know."
"Sorry. I'll … I'll see who it is."
She backed toward the console, struck by a confusing swirl of annoyance and relief. Interruptions were a way of life and a call at home could mean that her brother had a bad dinner or that Corellia had invaded the Corporate Sector. As she reached down to press the 'Receive' button, she noticed the message light was flashing. She pleaded silently to the Force that the Republic not be at war.
"Organa."
"Hey, Sweetheart."
Leia glanced back at Tono, slightly panicked. He was absently scanning a state-of-the-art communications datapad. She sucked in a deep breath and fumbled with the headset before getting it plugged in.
"Aren't we meeting tomorrow, Han? It's late."
"But you're up."
"You don't know that."
"Aw, 'course I do, Princess. I know what you sound like when you're woken up."
Leia looked over her shoulder at Tono again, who was now seated patiently on a fluffy chair. She drummed her fingers on the console's metal top.
"What do you want? Can this wait? I'm a little busy."
The pause was longer than she expected.
"Look, I'm … you know what? Nevermind."
"Han, what?" She was getting impatient.
"Nothin'. See ya tomorrow, Sweetheart. Have fun."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The red light went out on the comm station signaling the connection was dead. Leia couldn't resist throwing the headset violently at the device.
Tono walked over, grasped her hand, and brought it to his lips. He pulled her pinkie into his mouth and sucked lightly, "You okay? Anything urgent?"
"No, just …" she waved her free hand around, "Just … you should probably go. I'm sorry."
"But," he turned her hand and kissed her palm, "we were just getting started."
Leia felt terrible and confused, but managed to muster the best excuse on Coruscant and execute a perfect delivery as she pulled her hand away from him, "I have a very early morning tomorrow, and while I'd love to continue, I realize now I've had too much to drink since I'm feeling a bit achy. I'm so sorry, Tono."
"No, no, I know. Well, any time you want to do an exclusive …" his eyes twinkled.
His good humor was refreshing and Leia had a fleeting doubt about letting him go. Would it be so hard to have sex – or even a relationship – with a halfway decent man? She shook her head and did her best to grin back at him.
"I'll let you know."
He leaned in and kissed her cheek, "'Night, Minister."
"'Night, reporter."
Tono laughed as he left, but the moment the door was closed she moved back to the comm station to listen to her messages. She didn't need the Force to know who had left them.
