Hi Everyone - sorry for the delay on this chapter! I hope to upload the last few chapters a lot faster :)

Mon Mothma objected to Princess Leia joining the dangerous return mission to Sullust, but the sixteen-year-old was a force of nature. A force Mon found to be unstoppable. She thought of her two young daughters on Bothawui and wondered if that same fired would course through their veins. Cutter and Mon's five year old son, Cassir, named for Cutter's grandfather, was already a handful.

Jeanida was the oldest at eight and she was daddy's girl. Mon felt she grew further apart from her oldest with each passing year. Elin was the hardest to leave. She was only two and this trip would be the longest Mon would be parted from the newest member of their family.

Each time she had to leave their home on Bothawui she left her heart behind. If not for the presence of her parents and Cutter she knew she never would have the strength to step off the front porch. She missed them when she was away. She learned to live with the constant dull ache. Though she was a like a Yavin 4 hurricane, Leia helped to numb that ache.

Despite worrying about Leia's safety, Mon was glad Organa allowed his daughter to come. Returning to Sullust brought back memories of Matches and the loss of her friends. Time blurred the pain Vader inflicted but Mon knew it would never fully disappear. She didn't want it to. She used it as a constants reminder why she kept fighting.

Mon sat in a nook in her compartment on the ship. She reviewed her final notes for the speech she would once again deliver to the Sullustans. She looked out the window and watched the stars pass by. Despair found its way to her. She just left her young family for what would probably result in another fruitless mission to establish an alliance.

Her door was open but a soft knock drew her attention. She turned to find Leia standing in the doorway. The girl wore white pants and an pastel purple cardigan. Her hair was wrapped in layers of braids on her head.

"Senator Mothma?"

Mon extended her hand to the chair in the room.

"Please, come in."

Leia stepped inside but stood rigidly. The girl bit her bottom lip. Mon waited patiently.

"I wanted to ask you..."

Mon set down her notes and gave Leia her full attention.

"May I? Would you allow me to speak to the Sullustans?"

Bringing Leia on the mission was dangerous enough and the idea of letting the princess directly interact with military leaders did not seem a wise decision. Before Mon made up her mind she let Leia continue.

The princess moved close and slipped into the seat. She leaned forward as if her inner force couldn't be contained.

"I've been practicing, you see, what you and father have taught me. This is my first real chance to help the resistance."

Mon considered the request. Common sense told her the best hope of convincing the Sullustans to sign the alliance treaty lay in Mon's voice. Organa would surely have words with her if they went all the way to Sullust and Mon didn't even address the people.

Leia's brown eyes were wide with hope. There was something about the teenager. Something special.

"This is an enormous responsibility you ask for. Are you sure you are ready?"

Leia pressed her lips together. Her eyes remained bright.

"I mean no disrespect, Senator, but I can say words that you would never say. Words that need to be said."

The cryptic answer caused Mon to raise an eyebrow. Leia clearly had something in mind, something she felt passionate about. Mon remembered her younger self, how her own passion took her on a journey that brought down a Star Destroyer. In order for the resistance to turn into a rebellion Mon considered that perhaps a little more passion is what they needed.

"Agreeing to this goes against my better judgment," Mon began."You're father will never trust you with me again."

Leia jumped from the seat and threw her arms around Mon.

"You won't regret this, I promise!"

The princess dashed excitedly from the room. Mon wasn't finished with her. She wanted to review Leia's speech. She wanted to make sure the teenager wasn't about to do something foolish or drastic. She would be in enough trouble with Organa just for letting Leia step to the podium.

The hurricane blew out of her compartment before Mon could extract more information. Nervousness and worry took Mon's mind off missing Cutter and her children for a short time. Mon couldn't shake her concern over Leia's speech. It seemed like an eternity passed before they landed and gathered at the secret rondevu.

Mon clasped her hands behind her back and stood proudly behind the podium.

"Greetings Sullustans. I have beseeched you to our cause many times and so today I've brought a new voice. Though she is young, Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is wise." A reassurance from the force nearly knocked Mon backward with its power.

"Please listen to her with the same respect and kindness you have shown me."

Mon looked into the large eyes of each Sullustan on the front row. Many had come. Politicians and military leaders. Even as she stepped away to make room for Leia she doubted the wisdom of her choice. Her doubt was immediately pushed out by the force.

The young princess gripped the podium, one hand on each side. She froze though she didn't look scared. Mon hitched her breath. Leia was up to something.

"You are all the biggest bunch of cowards I've ever seen."

Mon closed her eyes. Her chest tightened. She was helpless to do anything. She opened her eyes to look at the reaction of the audience. Not a good first impression.

"How can you sit there and claim to support the resistance when you won't take action?"

Leia's tone dipped into scathing waters. Mon wanted to crawl under one of the black molten rocks.

"This woman before you," Leia held out her hand to Mon. Mon stiffened and felt the sharp glare of a hundred Sullustans, "has single handedly taken down a Star Destroyer. You claim to follow in her?"

Leia slammed her hand back to the podium.

"Then I ask you, Sullustans. How can you doubt the success of the Rebel Alliance with the leadership of Senator Mothma? For years, my father has run a guerrilla operation against Empire. He has succeeded with nothing more than a blaster and a bunch of rogues. Imagine what an alliance, a true and proper alliance could do."

Leia made a fist.

"We can beat the Empire. We can win. It will be a long and difficult battle, but my father and Mon Mothma will never abandon the fight. It's time to stop being cowards. It's time to stand."

Leia unraveled a scroll. Mon clenched her teeth. The princess had taken the alliance treaty without asking permission. Leia read the words loudly and with feeling.

" We, the Rebel Alliance, do therefore in the name—and by the authority—of the free beings of the Galaxy, solemnly publish and declare our intentions:

To fight and oppose you and your forces, by any and all means at our disposal;

To refuse any Imperial law contrary to the rights of free beings;

To bring about your destruction and the destruction of the Galactic Empire;

To make forever free all beings in the galaxy.

To these ends, we pledge our property, our honor, and our lives."

Leia took the treaty and walked down the stage stairs. She stopped at the most important looking Sullustan she could find. She handed him a pen.

"It's time to pledge."

Mon swallowed. There was a solemn silence in the open cavern. Mon realized there was nothing left to do or say but stand in her white robes as the symbol of hope she was.

The Sullustan took the pen, looked up at Mon and signed. Within moments the entire delegation erupted into applause and cheers so loud the carven walls shook.

Leia gripped the signed treaty and turned her bright eyes up to Mon. Yes, Mon knew it now. Princess Leia was the hope of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

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After the Sullustan's signed other worlds followed rapidly. Mon's schedule filled up with trips across the galaxy. What she thought would be a few weeks away from home turned into a month, then two, then more Senate meetings. Mon and Cutter decided long ago that sending messages across the galaxy was too dangerous so she heard no news of her family. Establishing the counsel of the newly created Rebel Alliance left Mon with little time to dwell on her absent family.

News of the Alliance moved fast but Mon and Organa mutually agreed that an official broadcast throughout the galaxy directed at the Empire was needed. Preparation for such announcements were relatively simple. A holo-recorder was set up. The background was disguised so no one could discover the location of the base.

Bail Organa dressed in the traditional blue of Alderaan and Mon wore her famous white. They stood together in front of the holo-recorder while resistance leaders and helpers worked around them.

"You're daughter is amazing," Mon whispered to him while they waited.

"She learned from the best," he replied with a wink.

After learning of Leia's interaction with the Sullustan's Bail Organa was, in a word, upset. He soon calmed down and now seemed resigned to the fact that Leia would play an important part in the rebellion in years to come.

"We are ready," one of the holo-recorder technicians said. Mon and Organa both went into leadership mode. Somehow it seemed strange to be standing next to the former Senator. She'd done so many time during their time in the Old Republic. That world was a lifetime ago.

Organa began. He directed their words at the Empire and then read the formal alliance agreement and the names of each civilization. Alone they were a target, but together the Empire had to realize they had a galactic war on their hands. Mon stood beside Organa but said nothing.

The recording stopped. They all waited while the technician flipped switches and pressed buttons.

"It's been sent."

A round of applause filled the room. The Alliance was now official. Mon felt the sting of tears. For ten years she had waited for this day.

The other Generals came forward to shake hands. Mon spotted Captain Dodonna, now a General in the Rebellion. He took her hands in both of his.

"Dear Mon Mothma, how good to see you."

Her ties to the leaders of the rebellion ran deep. Perhaps deeper than most realized. She exchanged pleasantries and retired to her chambers. She had a mountain of briefings to review and a length list of messages to record for delivery to various allies. She was tempted to record a message to her family but interception by the Empire was a very real danger.

She was halfway through the briefings when one of the ground troops ran into her chambers.

"Senator Mothma, come quick!"

The urgency in his tone caused her to jump from out behind the desk. It was not easy to run in her long robes but run she did. Panic set in when she saw all the Generals around the command center. The green light cast shadows over their solemn faces. Organa stood at one end of the round table.

"What is it?" Mon asked stepped up to the table across from Organa.

"The Empire received our transmission. They sent one of their own. We are about to watch."

Mon braced herself. This was a bold and strange move for the Empire. It meant that they were afraid. For the first time the Empire showed fear. In itself it was a victory.

The blue holo light came on. Mon inhale sharply as she recognized the half hood covered face of the Emperor himself. He touched his finger tips together and leaned forward. Age had not been kind to Senator Palpatine. A chill found its way to Mon's core just from the sight of him. She hated him with her ounce of her being.

"Do you really think your insignificant rebellion is a threat to the Empire?" He laughed. A raspy, creepy noise from the back of his throat.

Mon took his communication as a confirmation that indeed they were a threat.

"I have foreseen the destruction of your Alliance. In spite of this I offer you one chance. Join us or witness the end of all you hold dear."

Palpatine frowned and the image turned off. No one spoke. No one made eye contact. Paplatine had succeeded in planting fear in the hearts of her rebellion leaders. Mon looked around the table. She flipped on the holo recorder.

"To you, oppressor of the free worlds, we offer one chance."

Her confident tone drew all eyes to her.

"Surrender to the Alliance or you and your Empire will be destroyed."

She ended the transmission and addressed the nearest technician.

"Send the response, now."

The technician looked over to Organa. He nodded. The message was sent. Mon still saw fear in the eyes of the leaders around her.

"Do you remember the Jedi?"

A few heads nodded. Mon leaned on the command center with both hands stretched before her.

"There is a force for good in this galaxy and it is on our side. Our task now is to fight on. Fear nor death nor hollow prophesies can drive us from the path we know is true."

Organa copied her stance. Eyes moved to him.

"The Senator from Chandrila is brave as she is wise. We are an Alliance. We are strong. The Emperor fears us now. Let's really give them something to fear."

Mon watched as Organa's words inspired the military leaders into a firm resolve. The Alliance she worked for years to create was finally a reality. The threat from Palpatine was met with courage and Mon felt satisfaction in knowing the coming war would be a fight to the death.

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On the flight home Mon couldn't shake the hideous holo image of Palpatine's face. The dark side of the force had scarred him. His true nature showed on his face no longer the genial diplomatic one she remembered from many years ago. She pushed his image from her mind and turned her thoughts to her family. Four months. It had been four months since she last saw them. It felt like a lifetime.

At the spaceport on Cloud City she assured her rebel bodyguards she would be fine and took off in her own ship. As per usual they were less than happy about letting the leader of the Rebel Alliance out of their sight. Mon knew it had to be this way. The first thing she always did once alone was change out of her famous white robes. In regular clothes she found that most people didn't give her a second glance.

She was grateful Cutter taught her to fly a ship. The galaxy was a dangerous place now and her piloting skills were vital to her lifestyle.

She changed ships at two more spaceports, then doubled back to make sure no one followed her. No precaution was too much trouble when it came to protecting her family. Once she was finally convinced it was safe, she turned the ship toward Bothawui.

Even when she was still four hours out the thrill of returning home fell around her like a warm blanket. She thought of all the questions she wanted to ask her children. She anticipated the sweet moment when Cutter would take her in his arms. Whenever she returned home, their reunion, both emotionally and physically was intense. She was pretty sure the result of a couple of those reunions was the birth of her son and youngest daughter.

She smiled at the memory. At sadness accompanied it. Cutter had quit his job flying for the resistance in order to keep the children safe in the rugged mountains of Bothawui. She knew he missed it. His eyes would travel up to the sky and cloud over with longing. Mon knew he loved the children, loved raising them, but he loved the stars too. She worried that she had unfairly taken one of the best pilots away from the rebellion.

The first glimpse of the green and blue atmosphere of Bothawui met Mon's eyes. She let the tears come at the sight of it. No one was around to see her cry. She flew under the Bothan radar and over the remote mountain range in the south. In the last two years Cutter and Mon's father worked to build a landing platform right out of the rock near their home. Not only was this convenient, it added another layer of safety so Mon didn't have to avoid the crowds at a Bothan spaceport.

It was dark by the time she landed. She came down the docking platform to find her father and a Bothan native her mother had recently employed ready to greet her. Mon objected to the stranger at first, but Mon's mother had gotten to know the female Bothan and trusted her deeply. Mon's parents lived in a home not far from the house Cutter built.

Mon hugged her father and the Bothan took her luggage.

"How was the journey?"

Mon answered and let her eyes adjust to the dark. She didn't see her husband.

"You look tired," Mon's father said. He must have seen her searching because he continued.

"Cutter is at the house with the children. When they heard the ship they all jumped out of bed with excitement. It's chaos down there."

His words inspired in her the urge to run home.

"Tell mother I'll be up to see you both tomorrow."

His kissed her forehead and Mon followed the Bothan down the mountain trial. The native navigated the rough terrain better than Mon, but a few bruises were worth it to keep up the quick pace.

The reached the front door and Mon could hear the chatter of young voices. The Bothan, who's name couldn't remember at the moment, deposited her luggage and ventured back to Mon's parents. Mon thanked her just before the door flung open.

"Mommy!" Cassir yelled. He only called her "mommy" when he was teasing. He leapt from the front step and into her arms. He was five and enormous. He nearly knocked her down. She wrapped her arms around him and didn't let go as she walked into the house.

"I missed you so much!"

He slid out of her arms and then held up his hands.

"This much?" He ask with his hands close together. Mon took his arms and moved them out as wide as she could. He giggled.

"More than that much!"

"Wanna see what dad and me made?" He took off down the hallway. The stomp of his feet rattled the picture frames.

Cutter approached her with Elin in his arms. The two year old hand her hands outstretched. Mon took her from Cutter and kissed him at the same time. The kiss was painfully quick.

"I always thank the force when you walk through that door."

Mon gave him a look that said they had much to catch up on. She turned to her two year old.

"Elin, can mommy have a kiss?"

The girl turned bashful and lowered her head. Mon kissed her soft skin.

"You better not wipe it off."

Elin responded with a grin and then used her small hand to rub her cheek where Mon planted the kiss.

"Oh no. You did wipe it off. I better give you another one." Mon kissed her again and the girl again wiped off the kiss. Elin laughed after they repeated this a few times.

Mon scanned the area for eight year old Jeanida. Their oldest daughter hugged the edge of the hallway wall. Most people looked to Mon with hope, but her own daughter's eyes reflected apprehension, awe and maybe a little resentment.

"Jeanida, can I have a hug?" Mon tried to pass Elin back to Cutter but the girl clung to her.

Jeanida shook her head and moved closer to the wall. There was a cost to leading the rebellion. A cost no one in the alliance knew about. It became all too clear to Mon in that moment. She turned to Cutter. His eyes told her he had things to catch her up on as well.

Mon carried Elin across the room toward Jeanida. For a moment she thought her oldest might dart back to her room. She knelt down.

"I missed you tremendously, Jeanida." She wanted to reach out for her daughter but thought better of it.

"Why were you gone so long?"

The innocent question ripped at Mon's heart.

"I was detained at work. I couldn't get away sooner, I'm sorry."

Jeanida processed this information and it seemed to pass the test. Jeanida stepped forward and hugged Mon. The action brought an epic amount of relief with it.

Cutter and Mon mutually decided not to tell their children about Mon's involvement in the resistance. They kept them isolated from the outside world, though the children did know there was an Empire and a war going on. They thought it best to let their children have as normal and positive a childhood as possible, without worrying about the possibility someday their mother might not come home.

Jeanida quickly back out of the hug, just as Cassir came bouncing down the hallway. He carried a translucent tube and flipped a switch on the handle. The tube lit up.

"This is a lightsaber, mom! Dad told me that some old warriors used to fight with them. We made one." He swung it through the air a few times. Mon looked up at Cutter.

"He told you that, did he?"

Cassir nodded with enthusiasm. Cutter held up his hands.

"Every kid should have a lightsaber."

After the initial excitement of her arrival, Mon helped Cutter settle the kids and tuck them in. Elin went right to sleep since it was past her bed time. Cassir fought his sleepiness and only gave in after several reassurances that Mon would be there in the morning.

Jeanida firmly insisted she was old enough and didn't need tucked in. She hugged her father said goodnight to Mon and shut the door to her room. Mon wanted to ask Cutter about it but it was all they could do to keep their hands off each other until they made it to the bedroom.

When Mon woke up in Cutter's arms the next morning the first thing she did was turn the conversation to Jeanida.

"She's angry with me because I'm gone so much and I don't blame her. I would be angry at my mother too."

Cutter traced the outline of her bare arm with his fingers.

"She loves you. She doesn't understand why you have to leave."

Mon snuggled closer to her husband. She knew where this conversation was headed and she didn't like it.

"She thinks you care about your work more than her."

Cutter hesitated for a moment. The movement of his fingers stopped.

"I think we should tell her."

Mon sat up in bed. She pulled a robe over her nightgown.

"She is still a child, Cutter. We shouldn't burden her with it. Not yet."

Cutter moved up and sat beside her. His hand caressed her back.

"She's a bright girl. She can handle it."

Mon closed her eyes as if it would help her to shut out the reality her daughter might permanently hate her. She opened them slowly.

"A few more years. Let's give her a few more years to enjoy this simple life."

She felt Cutter's hand remained on her back. He said nothing but his gentle touch reassured her. She knew he didn't agree but to her surprise and relief he didn't fight her on it.

"So," he put his hand under her chin and directed her to look at him, "I hear there's this new thing called the Alliance to Restore the Republic."

He grinned. Mon couldn't help but smile. Finally, there was an Alliance to Restore the Republic.

"Have I thanked you for giving up what you wanted so we could have this?"

Cutter's eyes filled with the rebellious charm she loved so much.

"Last night was a good start. How about more of that?"

She laughed and he kissed her. Mon was surprised when he ended the kiss.

"For the record, this is what I want."

She smiled and ran her hand down his bare chest.

"I know."

He shook his head at the innuendo.

"No. I mean, yes, but I'm talking about this life we have. We've both had to sacrifice. I know it's not easy on you to leave us for long periods, just like I miss flying in the stars. As tradeoffs go though, I think we both got a pretty amazing deal."

She always came home with an empty cup, and spending only a few hours with Cutter he had a way of filling it back up. With him she felt anything was possible. He had proven anything was possible. They had three beautiful children, a good life, and the Rebel Alliance had never been stronger.

"I love you." She didn't say those words to him enough.

Cutter shrugged.

"I know."