AN: I don't think I can say that things get interesting now, but I do really love these next couple chapters. I hope you guys enjoy them, too.
Now, I believe we left off at a cliffhanger? . . .
"Mothma," Leia knocked softly when she approached the woman's office aboard the Home One. "Are you here?"
"Princess? Come in." Mothma's voice sounded less icy than had around Leia in the last couple months and Leia took it to mean progress. It relieved her as she entered the office with Denun's slip of flimsi in her hand behind her back.
"May I help you?" Mon Mothma asked from where she sat at a desk, her chin tilted down, but her eyes glancing at Leia.
Leia nodded and took a seat before the desk. "I don't mean to bother you, Mon Mothma, but I just finished with an appointment with Doctor Denun."
"Hm. And how is your child?"
Absentmindedly, Leia brushed at her abdomen as she responded. "We're doing alright. Though, things could be better. I actually came to discuss a detail of my pregnancy-"
"Princess, quite frankly, I don't care how your child is faring. I have matters of the galaxy on my hands."
"As do I, Chief-Councilor. But, quite frankly, when it comes to the Rebellion and my own child, my own child ranks slightly higher. I would appreciate it if you listened to me for just a minute. My doctor is worried because I haven't gained much weight. She thinks it would help if I were served bigger portions for my meals."
Mothma blinked and, suddenly, all the little warmth Leia had thought she'd seen in the woman's eyes was gone. "Bigger portions?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean just that, Mothma." She handed her Denun's flimsi. "Doctor Denun says I'm underweight and that I should be given more-"
"I understand that, Princess, but do you? You're asking me for special favors just because you're having a baby. Special treatment isn't fair, is it? We just can't afford that."
Leia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Mothma, you know me. I'm hardly one to ask for special favors, but this is important. This is vital. For the life of my very own child." Leia figured it wasn't wise to use now as the time and inform Mothma that she was actually pregnant with twins, so she left it at that.
"Perhaps you would find your argument easier to defend if you weren't asking for so many favors."
"Favors? What else could you possibly be thinking of-?"
"I believe it was you who requested a search team be deployed to rescue Captain Han Solo."
Leia shrunk back.
"Am I right? Princess, when you made that request, were you even aware of your pregnancy?"
"Uh, no, but-"
"Then, it would seem that you are one to ask for special favors."
"This is absurd! Mothma, I'm pregnant! I couldn't care less if you liked me or not, but this is beyond me. This is my child! All that I ask is to be fed properly to ensure my child's health."
"You ask for resources that we don't have. This, Princess Leia, is why we give out mandatory birth control."
"The birth control may be mandatory, but show me where in the Alliance's independent laws it says that it is illegal to get pregnant."
Mothma held Leia's gaze for a long moment. "Consider this your fault, Princess. The Alliance is not to blame."
Behind Leia, the door opened and Denun herself stepped in, an armful of documents in hand. "I'm sorry to bother you, Chief-Councilor, but I told the princess to discuss her dietary needs with you. I thought I might be able to explain if need be."
"Actually, Doctor Denun," Leia smiled at the Ho'Din. "I think an explanation is just what Mothma needs."
By Leia's tone, Denun knew what was happening. She laid her stack on Mothma's desk and pulled out a certain sheet, making a show of scanning it. "Article 43, Section 16 of the Rebel Alliance's Official Guidelines of Member Welfare. 'Every member holds the right to treatment expected and required based upon their healthcare needs; this includes physically, mentally, and emotionally'." She laid the document before Mothma's eyes, her finger casually positioned near Mothma's signature of recognition declaring her the very writer. Mothma's eyes went wide and her cheeks turned fiercely pink.
"Now," Denun continued, "Leia needs to be taking in at least 300 more calories than she regularly does and on a daily basis."
Leia admired her new lunch card in all its glory, tucking it safely in her pocket with her identichip. She could hardly wait for her next meal, imagining the proportions, but stayed content with just the thought for now. She still had a meeting before lunch time.
An hour later, Leia's stomach was grumbling and she was both surprised and thankful that the meeting had ended so quickly. Luke met her in the hall and Leia recounted her and Mothma's face-off on the way to the mess hall. The commons were already busy, filled with soldiers, pilots, and leaders alike in the somewhat small space. As Leia entered with Luke, though, several people froze their discussions to watch Leia pass, their gazes following her. Some glared, but most snickered, pointing at Leia and laughing. Rather quickly, Leia grew uncomfortable and melted into Luke's side. He noticed and took her arm, guiding her through the mess. A figure came approaching them, nearly running, and Leia stopped at the sight of Wedge Antilles's alarmed expression. "Leia," he greeted her softly.
"Wedge." Leia frowned, forcing herself not to look around at the surrounding crowd. "What's going on?"
The commander's gaze fell for a moment, but quickly returned to meet Leia's. "Who all is supposed to know about your pregnancy?"
Leia's jaw dropped and her heart fell. "How did you find out?"
"Leia, answer me first."
Leia's brows drew together in fear. "I only told High Command, Luke, General Rieekan, Chewie, and Lando. How did you . . . ?"
"Somebody else found out, Leia. I'm sorry, but everyone knows now."
Now, Leia did look around. Everyone was staring at her, smirking, pointing, shouting coarse insults, throwing vulgar comments her way. Slut Princess, Ice Mother, Alderaanian dirt, Corellian digger. She was now the slime and juice of the Rebellion. She saw them and they saw her and Leia's heart started pounding so hard, Leia felt like she couldn't breathe. All the relief and happiness she had in her left with a rush.
She was nothing.
She tried to force herself to feel nothing, but the combined emptiness of missing Han and the assault she was currently enduring was too much to bear. The tears were inevitable and they poured down her face.
Leia felt something tugging on her arm and hardly even realized it was Luke and Wedge until they were standing in an empty hallway, the mess hall's roars and cheers a background noise. Leia slumped to the floor, sobbing while Luke tried to build her back up. She fell against him and. Wedge lifted her chin, joining Luke's effort to calm her. She was somewhere else, though. Somewhere else in a world of pain and torture and torment.
Something in Leia was trying to shatter, but Luke wouldn't let it. "Hey, Lei, look at me. Listen to me. Please. Lei, come on."
Leia obeyed, but she didn't relax. Her cries didn't cease.
"Are you really ashamed?" Luke asked her. "Are you really ashamed of what they're mocking you for? Ashamed of being pregnant with Han's child?"
An actual smile made its way to Leia's lips and she shook her head. "Never. I just . . . "
"It was everything else about what they just did. I know. But if you smile, if you don't let it get to you, it won't be any fun for them. Be proud, Leia. Keep your head up and they'll only be able to look down."
Leia finally relaxed enough that Luke could carry her and he brought her to her bed. Wedge stood by and watched, almost jealous, as Luke helped Leia settle into bed. He took off her jacket and shoes and laid her lunch card on her nightstand. Wedge picked it up. "Luke, I'll go grab her lunch tray and bring it in for her."
Luke nodded, his attention still fixed on Leia as he tucked the blankets around her small form.
Wedge left Leia's quarters and returned to the mess hall where the tumultuous assault had calmed considerably. None of the leaders had made a move to stop it. Everyone seemed to be in it against Leia and it disgusted Wedge.
He went through the empty lunch line. The server standing behind the cart took Leia's lunch card, glared at it, then filled a tray with proportions bigger than Wedge was sure anyone was allowed. With another glare, the server slammed the tray on the counter and Wedge left with it. He went to the Rogues usual table for a quick word with his pilots, but found the area blocked by a crowd of witnesses to a fight. Wedge pushed his way through to see half his pilots futilely trying to break up a fight between Lando Calrissian and several random soldiers Wedge didn't know by sight. The rest of his own squadron was helping Lando in the fight.
"Wanna' call her that again?" Lando was yelling, holding up a man by his collar. "Come on! You said it once! Say it again! I dare you! Say it again!"
"Hey!" Wedge screamed, setting down Leia's tray and spinning back around to grab one of his own men by the shoulder. Cut it out! Get off each other!"
Janson took a large step back from whoever he'd been fighting, now sporting a bloody lip. Hobbie sighed, pushing away another guy. He pulled Lando back who maintained a steady glare on his opponent. Slowly, the Rogues and Lando followed Wedge out. When they were far enough from the scene, Wedge cursed. "What the kriff was that about? Huh?"
Hobbie looked sad as he squatted down, rubbing at his scalp. "We weren't trying to be mean to Leia," he said. "Honest, Wedge! Before we evacuated Hoth, Janson and I just thought it was funny. You know, Han and Leia. We didn't realize they were ever going to be serious. Or that they'd treat Leia like this."
Wedge nodded. "Alright. I see what happened. Just . . . try to stay out of anymore trouble, alright? That's not going to help Leia."
"Knock, knock." Wedge returned to Leia's quarters and held up her tray. "I brought lunch. I didn't know the Alliance had this much food. At least, the cook didn't seem eager to give it up."
Leia managed a soft smile. "Thanks, Wedge."
Behind Wedge, General Rieekan suddenly barged in. "Lelila?" He stopped and glanced over the princess. "You're alright? I was in the conference room with Dodonna, but I heard what happened."
Leia nodded, positioning her tray on her lap. "I'm alright, Rieekan."
"Okay. Good." He nodded, slowly relaxing as he saw that Leia was unharmed and relaxed herself. "Are you sure? I have no idea how the word got out so fast. I hadn't heard anything from anyone before-"
"Some chick saw Leia in Medical," Wedge said, his brow furrowed in disgust. "She came straight to the betting squadrons. It spread fast from there."
Leia didn't respond, instead turning her focus to her tray. She picked at a sandwich and crackers, admiring the real deli meats and the cheese spread that came with the crackers.
Everyone was quiet for a long moment.
"Lelila," Rieekan spoke softly, sitting down on the edge of Leia's bed. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Leia set down her partially-eaten sandwich and made a face like she was holding back tears. Luke sat on her other side and squished her, taking her hand. "I'm frustrated that I'm letting it bother me so much," she said.
Rieekan frowned at her. "Leia, I think it's okay if that hurt you. They didn't call you the nicest names."
"But they want me to be ashamed of it. They want me to be ashamed of the months I spent with Han, ashamed that I'm pregnant."
"And are you?"
Without another word, Leia shook her head.
Rieekan nodded again. "You shouldn't be."
"I can handle their criticism," Leia assured him. "But I can't go back out there."
"You don't have to."
Leia gave a small, teasing smile. "Because I have servants to who wait on me hand and foot?"
Rieekan grinned. "That's what we are?"
"Well, that's what you've been doing. But at least I have you guys, I guess. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you and Luke."
Rieekan hugged her once, assuring her, "Don't you worry, Lelila. You'll always have us whenever you need us. Now, I have to head off for another briefing. Do me a favor and stay in bed today, Lelila. You deserve it."
Leia smiled softly at him and nodded as he left.
"Well," Wedge sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "If you ever need anything, Leia, you know where to find us Rogues. Anything, really." He started for the door, then turned back to genuinely smile at her. "And congratulations, Princess. I'm sure Han would be happy, too."
Leia's face brightened as she turned to look at Wedge. Her eyes stung and it took all of Leia's strength to hold back the tears this time. Quietly, she responded, "Thank you, Wedge."
General Cracken did nothing to hide the glare he sent Calrissian's way. He had Lando sitting in a chair while he stood tall before him, his arms crossed and his expression stern. "Fights are not acceptable around here, Calrissian," he said firmly. "Fights are for children. Fights are what you have when you don't have enough basic skills to deal with a simple situation. Fights are used to create drama."
"Sir, they were insulting the princess. I didn't think that should have been acceptable."
"So you punched someone?"
"Yes, sir."
"Because they said a few words?"
Lando looked up at Cracken, then cocked his head to the side as he prepared his response. "Because Commander Airel called Princess Leia a slut when last month he held a challenge to see who could get the most women in Intelligence in bed. Oh, by the way, how was your night with the lovely Lieutenant Kalissy?"
Cracken's eyes lit on fire. "We're done speaking, Calrissian."
"Yes, I think we are."
Lando walked away smoothly, catching Rieekan's grin of approval and his snickering. He pulled out a chair and sat with the general. "So, you enjoyed my little performance?"
"I found it very inspiring," Rieekan grinned.
"So . . . you wanted to talk to me?"
Rieekan nodded, taking a long sip of his caf. He swallowed, then said, "I have an errand for you."
"An errand?"
"Yes. When you joined the Alliance after Captain Solo's freezing, you said you felt guilty and wanted to pay Leia back."
"Of course."
"Then, I want you to join our usual team on their next supply run."
"A- uh, you want me to go on a supply run?"
"I know it's nothing fancy, but, trust me, it's important. Don't you owe Leia?"