A/N: As always, enjoy!
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
Mon Mothma stared at her chief diplomatic officer.
"I told you long ago that that man would be your downfall."
"I'm not resigning, Mon," Leia replied forcefully.
Despite the fire in younger woman's voice, the Chief of State's visage didn't change, "You will do what is best for galaxy. If that means resigning, you will resign. Before I ask you to do that, however, I want to know exactly what is going on."
"May I sit?"
"Yes. Now, please, go ahead."
Leia lowered herself onto one of the white upholstered chairs in front of the Chief of State's white desk, in the middle of her white office. She kept her posture upright, and crossed her legs at the ankle. Given what she had to disclose to Mothma, she felt the ingrained need to appear as proper and professional as possible. The muscle ache beginning in her lower back served as a reminder that she wasn't as proper and professional as she appeared. Mon Mothma was like a cold and distant parent, and Leia was not thrilled at the prospect of sharing any personal information with the woman in this setting. During the Rebellion, people had called Leia an ice princess. Little did they realize that their Supreme Commander was the person who could be as chilly as an ice planet.
"Han Solo was an unannounced member of the New Trade Federation delegation that arrived here three days ago to open talks with the Republic regarding formal recognition of the organization. Minister Nix and I were to lead the talks. I believe that the head of the NTF delegation included Solo in the delegation – and did not include his name on the manifests we received – in order to use him against me," Leia paused to let Mothma take in what she was saying.
"That's reasonable," the older woman ruffled a hand through her hair, "Continue."
"After the initial meeting, I immediately recused myself and appointed the Deputy Minister to lead the negotiations on behalf of the Ministry of State. Minister Nix continued as representative of the Commerce Ministry. I had Solo declared persona non grata by my office and asked that he be removed from any further meetings."
"So you have not attended a meeting between the Republic and the NTF since that initial meeting, when you were made aware of Solo's presence?"
"Yes."
"That makes things a bit easier. Have the meetings been recorded?"
"No, not that I know of."
"That's unfortunate," the Chief of State tapped the comm station on her desk, "Qi, please contact the Commerce Minister and inquire if the talks with NTF have been recorded. Thank you."
Leia eyed the woman seated opposite her, a person she didn't entirely trust, although one whom she considered an ally.
"Now, Leia, could you describe to me the nature of your relationship with Solo at the present time?"
"We have seen one another on several occasions since his return to Coruscant."
"Am I going to need to drag details out of you?"
She bit off a sigh before it escaped, "We have seen one another twice on personal business. He has come to my office thrice."
"On any of these occasions, did you discuss the negotiations between the Republic and the New Trade Federation?"
Leia was quickly wearing of being grilled, "We only discussed the strategic role he was playing in the talks, because that was a personal matter. We have not on any occasions discussed the status of the NTF, the NTF proposals to us, or any other matter concerning the talks."
"Have you disclosed any information to Solo about any other business of the Ministry of State? Have you disclosed any sensitive information to him?"
"No, certainly not."
Mothma pursed her pale, thin lips, "So, what is the nature of your relationship with Solo?"
"You already asked me that question."
"Until three days ago, you hadn't seen him since he left Coruscant after the Alliance victory?"
"That's correct."
"Are you in a relationship with him, Leia?"
"No."
"Are you having relations with him, Leia?"
The Minister of State sucked in a deep breath, "Yes."
Mon Mothma smiled in such a way that the expression didn't quite reach her eyes, "Thank you for being truthful with me, Minister."
"I do not think my relations with Han Solo are grounds for asking that I resign from my office."
"Based on what you have told me, Leia, I agree. You are a smart woman and an excellent diplomat. You would not let personal interests get in the way of performing the duties entrusted to you by the beings of the galaxy. Others, however, may not see it that way."
"What would you like me to do?"
"I won't feed you to the krayt dragons just yet. Let's call a press conference for this afternoon," she crinkled her eyes in thought and a genuine smile ghosted across her finely lined face, "In fact, I have an idea."
Leia raised her eyebrows in query.
"We will call a press conference this afternoon, early. I will give short remarks about the Republic's commitment to transparency and rooting out corruption. I will inform the media that we will be opening an internal investigation into your affairs –"
"What? You're going to investigate me?"
"Calm," the Chief of State held up her palm, "If you have committed no wrongdoing, it will be purely formal. We have to demonstrate to the public – and to the Senate – that we take charges of corruption seriously here. You will then present short comments, paraphrasing what you have just told me."
"I can do that … " Leia furrowed her brow, expecting further instruction.
"But I want you to fudge one thing," she tapped a fingernail on the white desktop, and Leia could almost see the gears turning in her mind, "Black and white is easier for most people to understand that shades of gray. And, everyone enjoys a good love story. Rather than saying you are having relations with Solo, tell them you are in a relationship with him"
"Oh, no. No. I will not tell the galaxy I am in a relationship with Han Solo if I'm not."
"Understand the wisdom of this, Leia. Anything less and there will be speculation that you are hiding something, and the charges of corruption will resurface. If you tell everyone now that you are in a relationship with him again, there will be no story. You defang the beast before it has a chance to bite you. The stories in the holonews will be about a reunited couple, heros of the Rebellion, rather than about a corrupt bureaucrat."
"I doubt words will actually placate anyone."
"No, of course not. Why not do this? Let's institute a new protocol. The NTF is the first organization of its kind to request recognition from the New Republic, and the novelty of the situation provides an opportunity to demonstrate how open our government is. You can work out the details and language, of course, but let's draft a specific plan for requiring open-door talks between private firms and the Ministry of State?"
Leia had to admit that the idea was a very good one. She and Lisi Nix had been flying blind regarding the NTF talks, and a special protocol would be an excellent guide for these talks as they progressed, as well as future talks. However, the whole plan was rather complicated, and a simple thought niggled her brain.
"Why don't we simply dismiss the NTF?"
"I will not have us make the same mistake the Old Republic did. We will be partners with the NTF, and any other major economic organizations, and will not drive them away and into the arms of our enemies. I can only imagine what sort of trouble the leadership of the NTF could stir up if they hired a private security force, or struck a deal with remnant Imperial forces, or the Hutts, or anyone else. No. The NTF negotiations go on."
"I see that, but –"
"No buts. Think like a politician, Leia, not like a heartsick teenager."
"I take exception to that, Mon."
"I know you will do the right thing for the Republic and the beings of the galaxy. Inform your staff to expect instructions concerning this afternoon's press conference from my office."
"Should I not see Solo again?"
"On the contrary, Leia. We will need you to make your relationship with him as obvious and public as possible. If you don't –"
"Everyone will think I'm hiding something," she sighed.
"Yes. My office will issue a press release immediately about this. Thank you for drawing it to my attention, Leia. I am glad it has been caught early."
"I hope that makes a difference."
To Leia's eyes, a shadow settled over the woman in white, seated at a white desk, in a white room, "I'm optimistic. If this strategy doesn't work, though, remember: I wanted you as my Minister of State for a reason. Whatever I may have to say in public about this situation and about you, know that I respect you fully and am very pleased by the work you have done for the Republic I assure that if it comes to making unfortunate decisions, I will try to make it as painless for you as possible."
Drained and concerned by the ominous tone of Mon Mothma's final comments, Leia pounded lift door with her fist after it closed to take her back to her office. All of her silly worries of this morning had faded away, while the pressing crisis of her position dominated her thoughts. She was glad the Chief of State had not called her the laser-brained fool she knew she was. That it hadn't even occurred to Leia that spending time with Han would present a problem worried her deeply. Had she been so caught up in him that the basics of being a public official – things she'd learned as a young girl in the Imperial Senate – had so completely slipped her mind? It was a horrible feeling, being bested by one's own blindness.
A wrong move now, and Mothma would throw her out the airlock to protect the government. She'd placed herself in a position of political vulnerability by associating with Han, and now the strategy that she was expected to employ was to continue her association with him. It was a good plan, and while she often underestimated the Chief of State's abilities at political maneuvering, Leia had to admit it was a good move to address the allegations head-on.
When the lift chimed and the doors opened wide, she was met by a tight circle of her assistants, all silently staring. Vmadfadf was lingering by her officer door, and the Assistant Deputy Minister of State was with him. News had obviously traveled.
"Back to work!" she barked at the dozens of eyes watching her. To her assistants, she spoke more quietly, "In my office. Now."
She lead them in a silent parade to the privacy of her office, and gestured for the Assistant and Deputy Ministers to follow her in as well.
Turning to Jas, who was walking by her side, she whispered, "Contact the Ithorians and our Ambassador to the Corporate Sector, and tell them an urgent matter has come up, and we will be unable to meet today."
"Minister, if I may, you have been canceling a number of meetings lately, and –"
"Do it. You answer to me, not the way around."
"Yes, Minister Organa. I will reschedule the Ithorians and the Ambassador."
Leia barely acknowledged him with a nod. She wasn't happy the news about the scandal with Han Solo and the NTF had tempted a member of her staff to talk back to her and question her authority.
Seven bodies crowded into her office, and she moved to stand by the viewport, pulling herself up to full height.
"The Chief of State and I will be holding a press conference this afternoon to address the allegations put forth by The Galaxy and other media outlets concerning the Ministry's relationship with the New Trade Federation. This takes top priority, understand?"
The motley group of beings gathered in front of her desk nodded in near unison.
"Let's get on it, then."
At 1051, a call came through to her office from Luke. She left her staff, and the Deputy Press Secretary she had collected, working furiously in her office, with datapads and chips and flimsy strewn across the padded floor, and ration bar wrappers beginning to pile up, and sat down at Jas's desk with his oversized headset.
"Busy morning, I take it."
"We're holding a press conference this afternoon. We have to draft a new protocol for our dealings with private firms so it can be released this afternoon, too."
"I heard. Do you need me?"
"I'll be okay," she bit her lip and sank further into Jas's large chair, "Do you think I should be worried?"
"I don't know much about this kind of thing, Leia. I'm just a Tatooine farmboy, remember? Politics is way over my head. I think it's all pretty silly, actually."
Leia smiled to herself, "I do, too. But I know I haven't done anything wrong, and I'm not even a part of these meetings now. I'm ultimately responsible, sure, but I only wish the public knew that having Han Solo is not an asset to the NTF."
"I take it you aren't resigning?"
"No, no. The plan we hatched is to be as open as possible about everything. If we look like we don't have anything to hide, we— shit, shit, shit, shit!"
"What? Leia, what?"
"I need to get a hold of Han. If he gives an interview or comment to the media that doesn't match up with the official story, this is all going to be blown to hell. I'll talk to you later, Luke," she moved to disconnect the call until she realized she didn't know how to contact Han directly, "Wait – do you have Han's private comm line?"
"Yeah," she could hear her brother's good-natured laughing, "I'll patch you through."
"I've been stockin' your apartment with food. Took a little trip to the outdoor market they've got in the Intergalactic District and brought back a whole bunch of stuff for you."
"Thanks," his generosity embarrassed her, and it made her feel a bit cheap, like he was giving her something in exchange for sleeping with him; however, she was in problem-solving mode, and didn't want to dwell on that ugly thought, "So, besides that, you've been sitting around my apartment all day?"
"Yeah, somethin' like that. I saw the story this morning, Leia. I'm not an idiot, and I wasn't about to walk into that Sarlacc pit before I heard from you," something clanged in the background and he swore under his breath in Corellian.
Ignoring what she was sure were the sounds of some horrible mess-making in her home, she pressed on, "And you haven't talked to anyone?"
"Nope."
"No reporters? No nothing?"
"Nope."
"Thank the Force. Do you plan to stay in my apartment all day?"
"Considerin' I'm cut out of the NTF negotiations, and I found a datapad to commandeer, and you've got that huge holovid projector in your office here, I figured on it."
"Well, I want you to come to the press conference. You should be there for what I have to say."
There was another metallic crash, "Yeah, sure. What are you gonna say?"
"Just," she pressed her face into her palm and sighed, "The truth. I have nothing to hide. Although, I think I'll need to change one little detail concerning our association."
"Uh huh. And what is that, Your Truthiness?"
"Well, Mon Mothma and I agree it'll be less suspicious if I simply say we are in a relationship. It doesn't mean anything, but the more black and white something is, the more likely the public is to believe it, unfortunately. There isn't anything that would make this announcement a problem, is there? Are you seeing anyone who might get upset and dispute it?"
"Nah," he said over some sort of background buzzing sound, "Been single for a few standard months."
His statement unexpectedly rankled Leia, "Oh, okay, good, then."
"But," his voice took on a teasing tone, "In one fell swoop, you're takin' me off the market in front of the whole galaxy, huh?"
"Sorry," Leia pulled her teeth across her bottom lip, "It's temporary. Things will be back to normal soon enough."
He was silent a moment before replying and the buzzing ceased, "I know. It's not a big deal, so don't worry 'bout it. 'Sides, I want you to be able to keep your position, and it's no rivets outta my hull to help."
"Thank you, Han."
"Yeah, anytime."
She played with the headset's cord nervously and continued, "Come up to my offices beforehand to get a press pass from one of my assistants. Things'll start at 1430 hours, so maybe show up a bit before that. If that's okay, of course."
"Sure," the buzzing resumed. Was he rebuilding some ship part in her apartment?
"By the way, how did you get back into my apartment after you went out?"
"Oh, that. I reprogrammed your door panel to accept my handprint."
Leia sat back and placed her hands on hips as if he was there in front of her, "And how'd you override the system?"
"Didn't have to, 'cause I guessed your passcode."
"You're insufferable."
"You suffered me well enough last night."
She rolled her eyes, "I have to go. We have a lot to get done here in the next few hours."
"Good luck, Sweetheart."
"Bye, Han," she pulled off the headset, and felt it catch in her hair. As she detangled the flexing metal from the twisted locks running down behind her ear, she considered the position she had placed Han in. She felt bad about lying, and about the consequences he might face for it, but was secretly glad he had acquiesced so easily. His kindness despite their earlier argument, was disarming, but maybe it meant this strategy wouldn't be so difficult to employ after all.
But it was all just a story, anyway. Changing the story didn't mean changing the truth.