Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I would love to hear more, good or bad. Reading feedback makes me happy.
Leia was on her bed lying on her stomach, looking at the holographic images of Padme. She looked at the different images of her throughout the years: Padme in traditional Royal costume when she was Queen, and the beautiful robes she wore when she was a Senator. She touched the images with her fingers and not only could she feel the texture of the fabric on her tips, but she could sense what she felt at the time. Leia felt a very strong connection to Padme, like she knew her. She studied the image from her funeral the longest. Leia ran her fingers over her hair, her robes and over the snippet of japor with child like carvings. She could not only feel the sadness of the spectators present but also the immense sadness and heartbreak that was once inside Padme. She studied the picture for a long time and with her finger traced Padme's swollen belly. Even though Leia knew she appeared pregnant she couldn't help but think, "What if it was a trick - to protect the child that really was born and lived?"
Leia heard a knock at her door and she hid the book under her pillow. "Come in." Bail and the Queen came into the room and sat beside Leia on the bed. "Leia, there is something your father and I need to tell you. Something that we think you are old enough to know." Leia looked at her parent's faces. She saw her mother was about to cry and was worried. "What is it?"
"Leia, you know that your mother and I love you very much, since the day you were born. We know you feel a strong connection to Padme and we think it's time you know why. Leia, she's your mother. She died the day you were born and we adopted you."
Leia's brown eyes opened wide and she turned to look at the pillow where her book was hiding. She said softly, "I know. Somehow, I always knew." She turned to look back at her parents.
The Queen looked into Leia's eyes. "You know that we love you as our own and when we took you in we also had to protect you from the Empire. No one must ever know that you are Padme's daughter."
"I understand. That is why she still appears pregnant after she died."
Bail smiled, "You are very smart."
Leia was trying to process this news. She knew it all along but couldn't believe that what she felt was actually right. Then she asked, "Who is my father?"
Bail and the Queen looked at each other, then at Leia. "We don't know. Even though Padme was a good friend she never revealed whom she was married to. We are not even sure why she kept it a secret. It is believed though that he died during the very end of the Clone Wars."
Leia sensed they were protecting her and she knew not to further explore this question. She felt relieved that she knew her feelings were right and she loved and respected her parents more for telling her the truth. "If it's all right, I'd like to be alone right now."
"Of course," Bail answered. They got up to tuck Leia in to bed.
"Mom, Dad, I love you, and - thank you for telling me."
"We love you too, princess," they answered together and kissed their daughter good night.
After Bail and the Queen left Leia's room she took out the book from under her pillow. Once again she flipped through the images and felt incredibly sad. She was glad that a loving and caring family adopted her but she couldn't help but grieve over Padme. She would never get to know her. She had always felt Padme's presence in her life but it wasn't until she found this book that she was able to feel closer to her. With all these thoughts and feelings swarming inside her, Leia cried herself to sleep.
Leia was walking barefoot on the shore of a lake. She could feel the warm sand under her feet and the sun on her face. She knew she was in the lake country on Naboo. It was so beautiful. She saw a figure coming toward her from the middle of the lake. Her long curly hair was adorned with flowers and she wore a long, deep blue gown. She wore the necklace with the snippet of japor. It was Padme. Padme smiled and held out her hand to Leia. Leia felt calm and serene. She looked up into her mother's brown eyes and took her hand. The walked along the shore in silence and everything was peaceful.
Padme pointed towards the house and there on the veranda Leia saw two people. She saw Padme covered in a white veil. She was with a young man. He was dressed as a Padawan, like she had seen in books. They were looking out into the distance but didn't see Leia and Padme. Leia realized this was her parents' wedding. Leia looked up and smiled at Padme. They then walked across the lake. On the other side they were on a desolate, desert planet. They walked up to a farmhouse. Leia saw a little boy, her age, sitting on the ground playing with toy star ships and star fighters. He was making shooting and flying noises with his mouth and crashing the toys into each other. He looked like he was having a lot of fun and Leia wanted to go play with him, but Padme wouldn't let go of her hand.
A woman's voice in the distance said, "Luke, time for dinner!"
"Coming Aunt Beru!" Luke did not get up. He was still playing with his toys.
"Luke Skywalker, stop playing with your toys and come eat your dinner!"
Luke sighed and stood up. His eyes met Leia's and they looked at each other for a moment. Luke then smiled and ran off before his aunt called him again. Leia wanted to follow him, but then she heard in the distance, "Leia, it's time to get up for school."
Back on the shore of Naboo, Padme kissed Leia on the forehead. She smiled and said, "One day you will see Luke again. I love you Leia." Then she disappeared.
"Leia, it's time to get up."
Leia opened her eyes. It was yet another morning when she couldn't remember what she dreamt, but she knew she felt happy.
Professor Joria took her class to the library again. "Class everyone did very well on their book reports last week. I am very proud of you. This week we are going to learn about the old Jedi Order. I want everyone to go over to that section of the library in groups of 5 and take out a book for this week's report." Leia was part of the first group. She was looking at a book that told of the different battles the Jedi encountered during the Clone Wars. She was more interesting in this era than any other of the millennia that the Jedi were the guardians of the Republic. She read about many of the Jedi Masters and Knights, such as Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ki-AdiMundi. One of the Knights she read about was Anakin Skywalker, The Hero With No Fear. Skywalker, Skywalker - that sounded so - familiar. Leia looked at the image of Anakin surrounded by Senators and Chancellor Palpatine. It was taken after he and General Kenobi rescued the Chancellor from General Grievous. She thought Anakin looked very familiar, but after some thought she came to the conclusion she must have just seen holographic images of him before in other books. Leia then checked out the book she was looking through and she also decided to borrow Padme's biography again. She didn't want to depart with the book.
After the class had checked out there books, Professor Joria escorted her class back to their room. However, they would never make it back because that afternoon Imperial Stormtroopers infiltrated the school. They were arresting professors, deans, even some of the older students who were fighting back. They took many of the younglings into custody. Leia saw her mother, the Queen and Headmistress of the school running down the hallway toward them. Leia had a bad feeling. "Professor Joria, take the younglings down to the sub level. There are transports down there and take anyone with you on your way. Go as quickly as you can, we don't have much time. Go to the safe house in Plumbfield. Captain Antilles will be there to help you. Leia come with me." The Queen took her daughter's hand and they escaped through a secret passage. They made it home safely, but the Queen knew she wasn't safe for long. She was the Headmistress and the Empire would be looking for her. Right now though, her priority was protecting Leia and Bail. Bail was Alderaan's representative in the Imperial Senate and he appeared to be a loyal member. It was important that he remain in that position for Leia's sake and the sake of the Alliance. The Queen knew what she had to do to protect her family.