A/N: Timeframe here is pre-ANH. Same as "I Know" this oneshot was already shared on the Han and Leia Fanfic Writer's blog, so, sorry for the repeat if you've read it there. Inspiration here came from an early picture of Carrie Fisher that I ran upon on a random tumblr. If you want to see the picture, feel free to visit the blog (there's a link on my profile page).

Leia's Laugh

Alderaan – 2 BBY

Bail Organa watched as the shadows stretched lazily against the rolling hills of the Organa Estate. He held his arms out wide and yawned in imitation. His eyes drifted back towards the sound of blaster fire over his right shoulder just in time to see the intended target explode. The shot was good, better than he probably could've done, but it was a little late. "That was perfect," he said, his stomach growling as his mind wandered to what might be happening in the large kitchen up at the main house.

"I hesitated," his daughter returned grumpily as she checked the charge on her blaster and summoned the target droid for another round.

"C'mon, Leia, sweetheart. It's getting late, you'll barely be able to see the targets."

His daughter turned toward him swiftly, that familiar determined look on her face. "And how many ambushes have you heard about that happened in broad daylight?"

He raised his hands in surrender. "Point. But I'm hungry. Even the best trained soldiers know when to stop and eat."

"One more round?" She asked, her wide eyes absolutely impossible to say no to.

"One more round," Bail conceded with a proud smile.

Nearly every family in their circle of friends trained their children in basic combat techniques and self-defense. For most, the daughters proved difficult students at best. Typical girls were more interested in learning how to braid their hair extravagantly then how to handle an assortment of blasters. But his Leia was different.

Driven would be the one word to describe her. As he watched her fire off another round, Bail was secretly grateful. He shuddered to think what his life would be like if he had had to force this training onto his daughter every step of the way. Because for his family, for his daughter in particular, this wasn't just some silly precaution. For her it would be all too real.

Everyone assumed it was due to his rumored role in the Rebellion against the Empire that Bail trained his daughter so. That is why when Leia opted for interrogation training over a fancy party, no one raised an eyebrow. It provided an excellent cover. Leia's talents could very well be tested someday as the Rebellion gained momentum, he had to admit, but that was not the test that Bail had spent his entire life preparing her for.

We'll take the girl. He had said those words all those years ago. He could still hear his voice perfectly as he spoke them, could smell the sterile air of the hospital board room where they had sat, could feel the prickle against the back of his neck as he realized that this was something bigger than he had ever taken on before. Little did I know.

Being a father was bigger than Bail had ever anticipated. He had no idea that love could be so boundless. The more he watched her grow, the more he saw that she was prepared and ready...it seemed the more he begged for time itself to stand still.

"Hellooo. Alderaan to base command?"

Bail blinked and found Leia staring at him, her blasters packed away and the target droid ambling off toward the back of the estate. "That was much better," he sputtered with an easy smile as he pulled Leia under the crux of his arm and began to lead her toward the house.

"You're a terrible liar, Bail Organa. And I thought only really old, old men could fall asleep standing up."

"I wasn't sleeping. I was deep in thought."

"About me," Leia stated.

Bail hugged her to him. He learned long ago not to be surprised by her perceptiveness. "What else is there?" He asked and she laughed as Bail shut his eyes briefly, cherishing that glorious sound.