Sory for the long delay, so without further ado.

Chapter 11

Breanna watched over the top of her data pad as Wrenga played with a now one year old Crosby. She and Wrenga had fallen into a comfortable intimacy in their time together as Crosby's parents. Breanna was beginning to want more. So she sat in a lounger across from the father and son admiring the way the frayed edges of Wrenga's cutoff utility pants intermingled with the dark hair of his legs. There was however no excuse for the faded and stained Tumbling Asteroids shirt. Wrenga had just returned from a two week jaunt into the unknown and even though Breanna had been looking forward to a little down time from taking care of Crosby here she was. Wrenga sat on the floor with his back to the couch, Crosby was between his spread legs playing with a toy harvest droid. The two had a plethora of toys, from starships to stuffed animals spread across the floor of the suite that they had been allotted on the Lady Vader's flagship, Breanna's was next door. Crosby, it was becoming increasingly obvious, was exhausted as his eyes drooped only to snap open again in an effort to stay up. Wrenga surprised her by catching on to this immediately. In a moment's notice he had snatched Crosby from the floor and carried him back to his room. Breanna started to pick up the toys while he was gone. Wrenga returned to flop on the couch laying his head back staring at the ceiling.

"Is something the matter, Wrenga?" she asked somewhat confused by the usually boisterous man's sudden listless mood.

"Just tired, Bre, just tired," he answered with a long sigh.

"What is it exactly that you do when you take off for weeks at a time?" she asked sitting next to him on the sofa.

"You know perfectly well I can't tell you that," he shook his head, "besides you're an intelligent woman I would guess that you have a pretty good idea as to what it is I do."

"Wrenga," she started placing her hand on his arm, "I'm a doctor. I know the signs of depression when I see them."

"I'm not depressed it's just taking a little longer this time," he smiled giving her knee a shake and standing to walk to the cooler unit.

"I don't follow," Wrenga held up an ale for her to see, "no I don't want one." He popped the top and left it sitting on the counter. He took a long draw after sitting back next to her.

"When you do what I do," he paused looking at her, "you have to sorta set your soul aside, if you believe in that sort of thing."

"It so foreign to me, I devoted myself to saving lives" he waved her off.

"It's not like that. Vader," he took another drink, "the Vader's I should say are doing what they have to in an effort to help those who can't help themselves."

"How is that any different from the Emperor's new order?" she challenged.

"I believe in them," he shook his head, "and I've seen the aftermath of the Emperor's way of dealing with problems, the blame for which Vader grudgingly bares."

"Are you saying the Rebellion is right?" she questioned somewhat shocked.

"Right theory wrong application, but realistically no different than the Lady Vader's subterfuge."

"I see," she looked at him timidly deciding how to go about proposing her latest idea. "You know everyone is going to be caught up with the Senate Inauguration tomorrow?"

"I heard something along those lines."

"I talked to Kazkee; she is not part of the security contingent. She mentioned that she could take care of Crosby."

"There's no need for that I've got a week of downtime coming I can take care of him."

"Well, I was thinking that we could go out," she hesitated slightly, "together." Wrenga paused with the bottle of ale just to his lips and slowly turned to Breanna.

"Why Doctor Feraan," Wrenga's smile was positively lecherous, "are you asking me out?" She smiled her face blushing and nodded her head.

That Leia ran for the Imperial Senate while shocking shouldn't have really been a surprise to Amidala. She often asked about the ins and outs of Imperial politics in their frequent correspondence during the year between that initial meeting and her announcement to run for the Senate. Amidala pleaded with the young princess to wait for a year or even two before surrendering her youth to the binding chains of civil service. When it became obvious that no amount of begging would deter Leia, Amidala had conceded defeat and begun to offer support. In another surprise the princess insisted that she do this on her own, without the support of the exalted Lady Vader. So another year was to pass before Amidala would see the princess in person again at the installation of new senators a week before the latest session was to start. Amidala was shocked to see a young woman and not the tomboyish girl she had met, descend the aisle to take the oath of office as Senator of Alderaan. The Lady Vader had watched with pride that Leia stood tall and confident when she spoke the words.

Hours later Amidala stood at her husband's side in the Grand Ballroom of the Imperial Palace listening absently while her husband discussed the finer points of the Tie fighter with the Empire's greatest ace. Several of the men around them stole surreptitious glances as the Lady Vader stood resplendent in a burgundy dress that enticed the imagination while revealing nothing. She watched with amusement as a young blonde woman politely deflected the unwanted attentions of at least a dozen men. It was the holo-actress, who had been held up by reporters on her way into the gala. The woman was devastatingly attractive; the sleek lavender dress was cut low and high in all of the right places clinging to the curves of her tall slender body while remaining tasteful. It was upon her escape from the last of the hopeful officers that Amidala realized that she was headed towards them.

"Lady Vader," the woman curtsied respectfully, "I am Wynssa Starflare."

"I know," Amidala smiled and offered a hand which Wynssa shook warmly, "your fame precedes you I'm afraid, and please call me Amidala." The young actress looked to continue the introductions only to find Lord Vader gesturing with both hands, one trailing the other. Recognizing that the two pilots didn't even know she was there, she rolled her eyes and looked back to Amidala smirking.

"Great maneuvers, tricky situations, or," Wynssa made her voice as deep as possible; "a lesser pilot would have been killed."

"I don't know honestly," Amidala spoke through her chuckles, "I stopped paying attention the moment I heard 'so I lost all rudder control.'" She cocked an eyebrow. "So am I to assume that Captain Fel is the mystery officer the holo-shills have been going on about."

"Actually we were married several months ago," she held a single finger to her lips and gave a conspiratorial wink; "it's a secret." Amidala smiled enjoying the fact that someone was talking as a person and not the Lady Vader. It was at that moment that Soontir swept his hands to the left coming face to face with his wife. "Soontir," she spoke like a mother to a child, "did you intend to ignore me all night so you could swap yarns with Lord Vader?"

"I uh" the clearly stunned captain turned to the Dark Lord for assistance at the same time his wife stepped forward performing a small curtsy.

"Lord Vader," she spoke in a calm confident tone, "it is a pleasure to meet you." She offered a hand in greeting which Vader took and bowed over.

"Likewise," he replied releasing her hand, "and congratulations on your marriage, Captain Fel is a fine young man." Amidala smiled openly at the couple's shocked expressions. "I keep telling the officers under my command that I know all, but I am not sure they pay attention to me. I was just relating a particularly harrowing dogfight over Coruscant during the Clone Wars." He meant to explain further but was interrupted as his wife touched his arm.

"Wynssa just told me that Soontir had promised her a dance." Wynssa smiled in a way that stole hearts from across the room at the Dark Lord and grasped the hapless captain's arm.

"Of course," Vader nodded his head and allowed Amidala to lead him in another direction. The power couple of the Empire made a slow circuit through the party goers before coming upon Grand Moff Tarkin in a subdued but biting exchange with the newly enrolled Senator from Alderaan. Tarkin noticed their approach and happily accepted the distraction. "Moff Tarkin," Vader greeted before turning his attention to the princess. Dressed in an elegant flowing white gown with her hair in an impossibly complicated style, she immediately stirred memories of his wife during her tenure as queen of Naboo, and he understood her feelings towards the girl. "Princess Leia it is a pleasure to meet you at last, my wife speaks very highly of you."

"And you Lord Vader," she replied in a regal tone far beyond her years, "I was told several stories of blatant recklessness." She smiled airily while he took a moment to shoot a glare at his wife who was sporting a slight smirk. "I trust that the Empires second in command is not still so," she paused as if searching for the word, "remiss with his safety."

"Only when the occasion calls for it, if you ladies will excuse Moff Tarkin and me," both women nodded their consent as the men strode a short distance away.

"Lady Vader," Leia started the conversation with a smile, "it is a pleasure to see you in person again."

"I must confess, Princess, you surprised me today, I was expecting that young girl I met two years ago, but you have matured in to a young woman. I was impressed with how well you handled yourself in the Senate and here this evening."

"Thank you," Leia said graciously, "I find myself wondering what my mother would think of all of this, she always said I would make a better fighter pilot than a politician." Leia looked away for a moment a sad look in her eye. Amidala felt the urge to let her heart burst as she considered how much the younger Leia reminded her of Anakin; Leia's next comments nearly crushed her heart. "She died so long ago; I wonder if my mother could see me now would she be proud."

"Leia," Amidala spoke lowering her voice so as not to be overheard as she leaned close looking straight into the Princesses brown eyes, "your mother can see you, and she is very proud." Leia smiled back with genuine pride and thanks. "So," Amidala quickly changed the subject before emotions could overwhelm her, "where is this young man I heard so much about, did he not make the party?"

"We are no longer involved," she admitted, "but I was asked out by the Captain of Coruscant's smasball team, and he is one of the most eligible bachelors," her smile betrayed the airy tone, "so I think that I will relent."

"He is certainly attractive," Amidala graced her with a wink not unlike the one she had just received from the Holo actress, "just be careful, as the youngest member of the senate everything you do will be watched very closely."

"You mean the Emperor," Leia said stealing a glance towards the balcony where Palpatine sat watching the events playing out below.

"No," Amidala's answer snapped Leia's attention back to her, "I meant the press; their influence can be just as devastating as the Emperor's."

"I see," Leia nodded her head in understanding, "it's just that, I have not met anyone close to my age except him since coming here."

"I am not say you should turn him down," Amidala intoned placing a hand on her shoulder, "just be mindful that some of the people in this room would do anything to discredit you. Speaking of," she cut her eyes to Tarkin, "be particularly wary of Tarkin and the other Moffs," Amidala waved her hand dismissively, "but you know all of that." Amidala shook her head, "I understand that you are not living in the consulate."

"Yes, father insisted," Leia smiled again, "he said it was the same building you and Lord Vader lived in. I was surprised to learn you did not have a residence here in the palace district."

"My husband abhors the wasted space of a palace," she shook her head ruefully, "and to be honest the penthouse has more room than we need. Since you will be so close feel free to stop by and chat, I would very much like to know what all the latest fashions are."

"I would like that very much."

"You said your father insisted that you live outside the consulate, why?"

"He said it would likely be the only time I got to myself," she paused puzzled, "and for some reason he thought it would be safer."

"Well," Amidala admitted, understanding Bail's reasoning, "my security detail can be somewhat, overzealous, so the whole building is very safe. Which brings me to another question Bail said that he did not know you intended to run for the senate until the candidates were announced."

"I, sort of," Leia blushed like a child caught with its hand in the cookie jar, "didn't tell him."

"Director Isard," Palpantine's craggy voice cut through the man's thoughts, "I hope your daughter is adjusting to her new position."

"Quite well," he replied turning back from the balcony where he watched inaugural ball going on below, "aren't you Yasanne."

"Indeed," she dutifully responded, "I am finding the broad scope involved in this section of Intelligence quite intriguing."

"Good, good," the emperor intoned, "You should go and enjoy the party while I discuss some things with your father." Yasanne bowed low and left the balcony stopping just outside the curtain as the Emperor spoke to her father, "it seems that the death of her lover worked just as you suspected it would Armand."

"Yes, your majesty," Armand answered with a smile, "she has a renewed sense of loyalty in the Empire, I must thank you for taking care of that problem for me. I suspect she was planning to make her secret life permanent," Armand finished shaking his head. Outside Yasanne's eyes widened in surprise not believing that her own father would deny her that shred of happiness.

"Think nothing of it," Palpatine waved his thanks away, "it presented the perfect opportunity to test one of my special operatives, who performed flawlessly I might add. There is one outcome that I did not fore see," he looked sternly at Isard, "Vader and Amidala have closed ranks since the incident; I suspect they know it was no accident."

"That is likely my fault," Isard apologized, "I had the apartment bugged all of the information gained on Amidala's fleet came through there."

"I know," Isard flinched at the Emperor's knowing tone, "you needed to tie up a loose source as well as putting your wayward daughter back on track, a very efficient operation indeed Director Isard."

"Thank you, your majesty." The Emperor sat back into his throne relishing the sense of betrayal and hatred boiling off Yasanne Isard as she ran away from the entrance, yes this was working just as he had foreseen it.

Several days later, Amidala aimlessly strolled the corridors of her flagship, currently in route to Caridia. She let her mind wander over the events of the last few days, then back over the last few years on back to when she first met Leia. The decision not to claim Leia as her child had been hard but it had never hurt so much as the moment Leia had confessed missing her mother. She had gotten to spend some more time with her daughter visiting her as she unpacked in her new apartment. Amidala couldn't help wondering how much she had missed. Her thoughts were interrupted when she rounded a corner to find the walls, or at least the bottom of the walls, covered with drawings. She slowly took in the sight following the engineer's marker to an almost two year old Crosby Jixton, his shorts, shirt and face all covered in marker. Amidala marched down the hall, the simple but well tailored pant suit she wore for traveling not making a sound, to stand behind the oblivious child as he continued to mark up the corridor. "Crosby," she spoke looking down at the toddler, who jumped around and smiled.

"Dada," the child cried out the closest rendering to Amidala he had yet been able to manage, then pointed at the wall, "make it pretty." She knelt down to his level.

"Yes," she smiled warmly at him, while thinking about how horrified the protocol droid in charge of the cleaning droids would be, "very pretty. Can Dada try?" she asked holding out a hand for the marker. Crosby contemplated this for a moment before dutifully handing over the marker. He watched her closely as she got fully on her knees and scooted over to the wall. She proceeded to draw two stick figures one tall and one short, both drawing on a wall that she also drew in. "Do you know who that is?" she questioned pointing to the shorter figure.

"Me," the child answered pensively.

"That's right," Amidala spoke with pride before pointing to the other figure, "and who is that?"

"Dada," he jumped up as he practically shouted the answer.

"Very good," she spoke as she opened her arms for a hug which the child practically leapt into wrapping his small arms around her neck. "Now, where is your father?"

"With mama," child answered as if it were the most natural thing. Amidala for her part assumed he meant Breanna.

"Well," she said disengaging Crosby's arms from her neck and standing, "why don't we go find them." He took her hand and started down the hallway at a very brisk pace. Several minutes and a few wrong turns later Crosby led her into Wrenga's suite of rooms to find Wrenga and Breanna entwined on the couch sound asleep. A huge notepad with some of Crosby's scribbles lay discarded on the floor. Amidala cleared her throat loudly and was satisfied to see them jump awake and move away from each other. "I take it the date went well?"

"How?" Wrenga questioned his face puzzled, Breanna merely turned bright red.

"I know all," Amidala said imperiously crossing her arms over her chest. Crosby struck an identical pose beside her.

Thanks for reading.

ccp