Author's Note: For disclaimers, see the first chapter. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Leia shifted uncomfortably in her hiding-place. This trip was much longer than any she'd ever taken before (besides being the first in space), and she was both tired and bored.
I wonder what Ben thought when he found out I was in space, she wondered. Then, a stab of pain hit her as she thought, I wonder what Mommy thought.
In a sudden bout of loneliness, she reached out to Luke-in-her-head. She'd already tried several times in the last few hours, but he was too far away. But she kept trying, just out of habit, out of hope, out of hopelessness…
&Luke?&
&LEIA!&
She was amazed to find him answering, but even more amazed to find him grab the bond and hang on as if for dear life. His mind voice was nearly frantic.
&Where are you? Ben and Mommy are yelling, and Mommy was crying, and Ben is going to take me away from Mommy and Mommy's going to try to find you!&
It was by far the longest mind-thought Luke had ever sent her. Actually, it was one of the longest things Luke had ever said to her, period. He was quiet and cuddly, not sassy and tomboyish like Leia.
But the bond was slipping in and out, despite Leia's own desperate efforts to keep it in place, and Luke was already sort of staticky. She had to ask her gremmel for lots ofhelp to keep the bond steady for her answer. &I'm on a spaceship, Lukie dear. Don't worry, everything's going to be just fine. Tell Mommy I'm going to Alderaan, and tell her I love her and don't worry.&
The bond began to flicker more and more until Leia's gremmel slipped and with Luke's last desperate &Leia!&, the bond faded out.
Leia curled up tighter, as the strong façade she'd put on to reassure Luke crumbled, and cried herself to sleep in the middle of a storage room, en route to Alderaan.