Chapter 10 The Story Goes On

"Anakin lived on Tatooine with his mother. They were slaves, owned by a junk dealer." Jobal stopped then poured more milk into Luke's glass. He thanked her and she moved on.

Jobal sat at her own seat at the dinner table and looked around her before continuing. They bonded on the way back. She couldn't stop talking about the little boy for months after."

Everyone was at the table, listening intently. Sola decided to finish the tale and let her mother eat.

"Anakin went on to become a Jedi. Master Qui-Gon died and Master Kenobi took over. When Padme was finished as Queen, she became our senator."

Sola looked to her husband, Damian and smiled. "That was also when I got married. We had Ryoo shortly after."

"Well," Luke began, " I don't get how they re-met. If he was to become a Jedi then why-"

"Slow down, Luke. I'm not done." Sola leaned back in her seat, finished and ready to concentrate on her story.

"Padme was receiving death threats from the Trade Federation. Chancellor Palpatine suggested some Jedi watch over her. He assigned Master Kenobi and Anakin to her." Sola looked at her parents, sadly. "And the rest is history, I guess. They fell in love, they kept it a secret. Until it destroyed them both."

Leia had stopped eating the moment Sola began to speak. Her plate was full and she didn't care. Han nudged her. "Don't starve yourself, Princess." She scowled at him in return.

Jobal noticed and politely asked Han, "Why do you call her Princess?"
"Because she is one," Han said before anyone else could answer. He took her hand and kissed it.

Leia rolled her eyes and nodded. "Technically I guess I'm not a Princess. But when Bail adopted me I received the title."

An awkward silence surrounded the table. Every person was lost in his or her own thoughts. Leia's sense of despair came back. The anger was gone, but she felt empty. Where was the mother she was supposed to have? The family she was supposed to have was accepting her. She'd seen her own father, but where was her mother? The pictures and little vids were not enough. Leia pushed away from the table.

"I'm sorry," she glanced around nervously, "I need some time." She brushed past Luke, who'd stood up. "Not now, Luke."

Leia walked to the room she'd just recently been introduced to. The yellow room her mother had lived in. She walked into the musky scent of dust and old things. Things remembered and forgotten. The pictures on the walls the colors made her tear up. She shut the door behind her and sat on the bed.

The windows were open on a sunset so beautiful she sighed. Leia lowered her head and studied the bedspread.

"I wish I could've met you. I don't know how someone carries on like your family does, after so much pain. After lies and death."

"What can you do?" Leia's head whipped up.

At the window, the woman she's sought after so hard, stood.