A/N: Okay, I'm really sorry about the whole scene separation issue. Nothing I've tried works! If anyone can tell me how everyone else gets the nice, neat line-going-across-the-page thing . . . that's be wonderful! So, yes, we're still stuck with stupid o's. Please enjoy.

"Start small," Han began their first lesson, handing Leia her DL-44. Leia accepted it with a warm grip and nodded, intently drinking in every word he uttered. "The bigger it is, the harder it is to handle. But, I think smaller might just be a perfect match for you. It's simple, precise, and light." Taking his own identical blaster into hand, he eyed the target from across the room, aimed and pulled the trigger. A nanosecond later, the target fell victim, lying dead on the floor, sporting a burn mark in its very center. Impressed, Leia smiled, slowly raising her own weapon. "Okay, tell me what to do. How do you do it?"

"Simple. First, try it by yourself. Just let me see what I have to work with."

Leia nodded, turned to another target and eyed its position in comparison to where she had her blaster pointing. She tried to be sure they were level and pulled the trigger in hope. Once the shot was finished, Leia looked to see it had just barely grazed the target, the target still standing. "Alright. That's not too bad. I mean, it hit it."

"Just barely."

Han dropped his arms to his sides and audibly sighed, saying, "Hey, at least I'm trying to be positive about it. And really, that's not too bad for your first time."

"But I need you to make me better."

"Okay."

"So, tell me what to do."

Han stepped up to Leia's side and turned her so she faced the target at an angle, his hands gently turning her by the shoulders. Leia jumped a little at the touch, but eventually relaxed as Han continued to survey her. "Now show me how you're holding the blaster."

Leia held the DL up, hugging it tightly, her fist bound around the handle, and one finger sitting against the trigger. "Okay. You need to loosen up." He took her hand and pulled on her fingers so they loosely gripped the blaster by its handle and so her trigger finger rested easily against its designated spot. Han shook her by her shoulders to loosen her up, then told her, "Okay. Now shoot it."

Leia fired the weapon again only to just barely graze the target again. Her shoulders slumped and she frowned at Han. "It didn't work."

"What? Did you expect to become an expert in three shots?'

"No," Leia corrected him. "Two. Now, help me. I'm not going to stop until I'm better at this."

OoO

"Viceroy Organa," Carlist Rieekan smiled warmly as he shook the other man's hand with a nice grip. "It's wonderful to have another occasion to meet again. I've been so busy lately."

Bail smiled back, clapping the fellow Alderaanian on the back. "General Rieekan. I ought to keep you busy. I've heard from Mon Mothma that you've been doing great things for us. We need more loyal, hard-working men like you, Rieekan. I'm glad to have you with us." Bail turned to greet said senator. "Senator Mothma, welcome back. And you too, Senator Fang Zar." However, these were not the only ones attending this particular meeting. Also in attendance were several Rebellion fighter pilots as well as people who worked more as ground forces or in resistance cells. "It's a shame we only get to meet so often." The senators and other Rebellion figures all seated themselves to begin the confidential meeting. Of course, much of Bail's staff was well aware of these meetings and had a rough idea of Bail's plans, but they had little idea how serious Bail's ideals and plans were. And that he wasn't the only one.

For the sake of secrecy, Breha had left the palace shortly before with Bail's big-mouthed sisters to "go shopping for Leia" and the staff had been told they were not to interrupt his meeting unless it was utterly dire. But, as a small exception, Memily quickly came in to serve the assembled group with drinks and a few trays of snacks. "Thank you, Memily," Bail said, nodding her off and she hurried, not risking a single more glance back as she'd been told. Then, Bail started the meeting. "I called this meeting in hopes that we could, together, discuss moving forward with our opposition of the Galactic Empire. Of course, under mine and my wife's leadership Alderaan hasn't yet taken any action against the Emperor or his policies and government, but I do not wish to cause my own people and home danger due to my own opinions. I have a daughter to care for and I do not wish to put her in harm's way either. However, she is older, now. She understands the reality our our galaxy and . . . she is quite the fierce little one." A few chuckles were heard from the older senators and men. "I feel that we are facing a turn of age and Alderaan cannot sit under Palpatine's wing for much longer. Things are becoming worse by the day and Alderaan will no longer stand for this tyranny."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Senator Zar laughed. "Nor could I agree more. It was very smart of you to play friends while doing undercover work, Organa. Very clever, Viceroy, very clever of you."

"Actually," Mon Mothma smiled from her place at Admiral Ackbar's side. "I believe that was an idea of Senator Amidala's before she passed away. You know, Rieekan, Senator Amidala was a very huge part of this whole operation before the Emperor actually came to power-"

"And also a very good friend of Palpatine's, yes?" interrupted Meena Tills, a Mon Cal. "We could argue Senator Amidala's mindless ideas of politics, but I'm afraid we don't have time for that."

"A rebellion is in long due!" Orn Free Taa insisted, his fat, blue head tails falling past his shoulders. "We all should have struck back while the Empire was merely a fledgling. How is a band of rebels supposed to destroy a galactic government?!"

"This isn't about what should have been done, Senator," Ackbar cut in as he glared at the twi'lek. "But what we should do. And the Rebellion is not that helpless. We have resources, allies, supplies, followers. We are doing just fine, aren't we, General Rieekan?"

"I would have to agree so, yes, Admiral. If I am allowed to speak freely, Senator Taa, I think that it was much wiser for Alderaan to quietly support the Rebel Alliance. Our funds are stored here. If Emperor Palpatine were to have a reason to keep close watch on the planet or even knew of where its loyalty lay, I doubt he would be very forgiving. Now, as for striking out now, I think it's the perfect timing for Alderaan to come out of the shadows. Many Alderaanians have been waiting for this. I think there's a point where even Alderaanian pacifism must stop."

"Oh, dear," Bail muttered, rubbing his temple with two fingers. "Don't tell my daughter that."

"I know several fellow Alderaanians who would make wonderful additions to the Alliance. Captain Tycho Celchu, for instance. Cal Omas, Kell Tainer and . . ."

"Don't say it, Rieekan. Please don't say it," pleaded Bail as he shook his head over his wine glass. "We've been friends for so long, how could you do this to me?"

"Perhaps, the viceroy's daughters."

"Oh, no."

Mothma gave a gentle smile at Bail's displeasure of the idea and told him, "I understand that Leia's hand is up in the marriage market. Also, I've heard she is very anxious to be a part of the Rebellion. A young, but smart one she is. Bail, you can't keep her out of this for much longer."

"Leia is a strong, natural leader," Ackbar agreed and continued with Rieekan and Mothma's point. "That's why she became a senator. She is exactly what the Rebellion needs, what we've been waiting for."

"As soon as she's married, we'd also have a lot more funding," Mothma considered, slowly turning her gaze from her lap back to Bail. "She would be the perfect addition."

"Leia is still young, though. She is eager and impatient. I feel that she still has some maturing to do before we trust her with all of this. Yes, I agree she could do much for the Rebellion, much for the galaxy and she can't wait to, but right now is a very busy time. I think it better Leia waits a while. Winter, on the other hand . . . I trust her more for this."

OoO

"You sure we're not going to get caught?" Han asked again as Leia led him through the palace's halls. Slowly and rather hesitatingly, Han followed her to the kitchen, one hand remaining on the wall.

Leia smirked at him, a light, quiet chuckle escaping her lips before she turned back and jogged down the hall, her long chestnut hair still hanging in a ponytail. "Yes. Relax, now, flyboy. Nobody's here. My father is in a meeting on the other end of the palace with a bunch of senators and Rebels. No one's going to be hanging out around here. Now, come on and let's get a drink."

They made it to the kitchen where Leia opened the giant fridge's doors and grabbed a bottle of wine. "I still can't believe you've never had Alderaanian wine before. It's only our main export." She grabbed two wine glasses from a cabinet and set them down, with the wine bottle, on the counter, taking a seat across from Han.

"Hey! I told you, I've had Alderaanian Ale."

"That's not even Alderaanian, nerf herder. It's Corellian. It's a joke. This," she shook the bottle before grabbing the plug to start tugging on it. "This is the real stuff." She tugged on the plug until it finally popped free and poured the rich, red wine into both of their glasses, passing one to Han. "Try it. It's my mother's favorite."

Han took a long sip, knit his brows while he considered the taste. Then, he smiled and said,

Laughing, Leia took a sip of her own and grabbed a muffin from a tall tray that stood at the end of the counter. While she sipped, Han asked her, "What's your favorite brand?"

"Mine? White. Mellorbell's white wine. You know, for Alderaanians, wine is like caf. We drink it all the time. Perhaps, too often. However, we never get drunk."

"Impressive, but if any Alderaanian ever did, I would think you might be drunk right now."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm in the palace right now. And I probably shouldn't be."

"I probably shouldn't either. I'm not exactly . . ."

"A proper princess?"

"Yep. It's official. We're both drunk."

Han laughed, draining his glass in a third sip. Leia finished off hers and put the glasses beside the counter sink. "Okay, I don't think we need any more wine," she giggled, shaking her head. She skipped back to the island counter and returned to her seat, her hands folded before her. "So."

"So," Han repeated her phrase.

"How did I do?"

"With the blasters, you mean?"

"Yes. With the blasters. Did I do well?"

Han shrugged, turning to his side and smiling at Leia. "Eh," he shrugged. "You didn't too bad . . ."

"Let me guess. For a princess?"

"No. You did pretty well. For anybody."

"Why!" Leia grinned widely back at Han and, if ever so slightly, blushed a little. "Thank you, Han. That means a lot."

"Yeah. Just don't get too proud. Your aim could use some work. Otherwise, your reaction time is pretty great."

"Aim. Got it."

Han eyed the chrono on his wrist and got up from his seat. "I'd better get going," he told Leia. "My shift with Ducchi is coming up."

"Right," Leia nodded, pointing him out the kitchen door. "Wouldn't want to be late. Leave out this door. Even if you left how we came in, it's safer to leave here."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Thanks for the lessons," Leia called after him, watching him leave. Once he was gone, Leia washed their glasses and slowly paced down the halls until she came near her father's meeting room. Well aware her father was meeting with Rebel leaders and other members, she stopped in her tracks, considering if she should listen outside the door. Perhaps, she could catch anything that was being said or whether her father was going to let her officially join. An excited smile played her lips and she, on light feet, ran to the right hallway and crept closer to the door.

"She is eager and impatient," she caught her father's deep voice speaking to the other attendees. "I feel that she still has some maturing to do before we trust her with all of this. Yes, I agree she could do much for the Rebellion, much for the galaxy and she can't wait to, but right now is a very busy time. I think it better Leia waits a while. Winter, on the other hand . . . I trust her more for this."

Leia froze, her eyes narrowing in anger as she weighed her father's words. Her eyes stung and she tried not to think about how hurt those words made her feel, that her father had been the one to say them. She shook her head, cleared her thoughts and continued listening.

"Well, you at least have to respect the girl's enthusiasm," Leia heard Senator Zar, a human representative of the world of Sern Prime, laughed with a clap of his hands. "She's very . . . enthusiastic, excited, and anxious to do something."

"I think you mean to say impatient, Senator," the monotone voice of Mon Mothma droned and Leia sighed heavily in annoyance of the older senator and leader. "Though she may be a strong figure, she has little patience and respect for the rules, guidelines and opinions of others. She simply is too much to take on if you, Viceroy, wish to finally speak out against the Empire now. She isn't for the Rebellion. Besides, I believe she's currently busy with some nuptial concerns. Filling in the throne, yes, Viceroy?"

"Forget the Alderaanian matters, forget the personality concerns. Leia is as much a leader of Alderaan as her parents." This time, it was Ackbar who was speaking, joining in with the debate. "She is a strong leader and she is eager to fight. Isn't that what we're looking for? She has an out-spoken opinion of the Empire, the view of a Tatooine slave, I've heard! She understands what's wrong here and she has the sense to fix it. Senator Organa acts as though she's part of the population Palpatine is crushing down on. She has empathy for the non-humans, for everyone the Emperor is discriminating against, destroying. She also knows what we're up against, knows what to do. Why wouldn't we take her in?"

"Perhaps, I could meet with Senator Organa myself?" Leia recognized the voice of Rebellion pilot and commander Wedge Antilles. "I'm sure she'll fit in just fine. We need outspoken, rebellious fighters. You can't expect manners and fine-tongued apologies will beat down the Emperor, now do you? We need more pilots. We need more fighters. We need more leaders. Senator Mothma, you asked me and several other Rebels to take a look at her profile? We need more people like her. Fierce, determined, strong-headed. And we need them now."

"Leia is not ready," Leia's father's voice boomed and the arguments settled. "I know we spoke of having her join and carry out the plans, but I think Winter has the better training. Besides, just as Mothma said, Leia is very busy with matters that personally concern Alderaan's well-being. If she doesn't handle them, Alderaan's strike against the Empire is futile and there'll be nothing for us to do. It will be over before it even starts. Consider the matter settled."

"Very well," Senator Zar let the subject drop with a heavy, regretful sigh. "I believe the Death Star plans are next on the agenda."

OoO

Hurrying up the steps as Winter was descending came Leia, her face red and her pace rushed, Winter had to stop a moment to be sure her friend was alright. "Leia?" she asked, but the other young woman, with a push to the shoulder as she hurried past, cried through gritted teeth, "Father wants you. He's sending you out on a mission to General Kenobi." Then, her and her private storm were both gone.