Across fictive worlds

by Haxong

Bella Swan had always been a Star Wars fan. Her life in Phoenix was boring in comparison to the exciting galaxy far away and all the wonderful drama of the dysfunctional Skywalker family. Leia Organa had always been a Twilight fan. Eternal vampire soul bonds were so much better than arranged marriages and avoiding the evil Empire. One day, the two girls end up switching bodies.

1. Chapter 1

Summary:

Bella Swan had always been a fan of the Star Wars movies. Her own life in Phoenix was bland and boring in comparison to the exciting galaxy far, far away and all the wonderful drama of the dysfunctional Skywalker family.

Leia Organa had always been a fan of the popular holo novel series Twilight. All she could see in her own future was an arranged marriage to fulfill her diplomatic duties as an heiress to the throne of Alderaan. On top of that, her life could be cut short any time during to her secret work supporting the rebellion. Compared to that, the eternal love of magical vampire soul bonds looked like a wonderful dream to her.

One day, the two girls mysteriously end up switching bodies and get a chance to live their dreams.

The two fictive worlds will never be the same.

AN:There's a lot of stories out there were people replace some key figure in Twilight or Star Wars who have read the books/seen the movies. However, I thought it would be fun if that person wasn't from our world but was actually from another fictive world, bringing with her her own set of powers and foreign convictions. So this fanfic was born!

I'm going to switch between Bella's and Leia's journey, sometimes giving the one or the other more attention depending on how interesting the things they get up to are. I'll largely ignore the actual Twilight timeline compared to when the Star Wars movies came out in 'our' world. Bella has seen the main 9 movies, even though she technically switches galaxy a decade before the 7th came out in 2015.

This is a work in progress and I can't promise 100% that it'll be completed but I'm already more than 40.000 words in so I thought why not post it.

Also, I haven't gotten around to edit/proof read everything. Might do that later if I end up completing this fanfic. If anyone wants to be a beta reader and read chapters early, let me know in a review.

Enjoy and please review - it keeps me writing!

---

Chapter 1

Bella Swan had always been a Star Wars fan.

It was the one thing she had in common with her father, Charlie, the one thing she could bond over with him when they had little else in common. She could take or leave the 'wars' aspect of it all - the battles in the movies were pretty exciting but less because of the ships or special effects and more because of the story behind it. The world building was just grand and the whole family drama behind it all regularly drew her in. The main characters in Star Wars were strong and brave and yet also relatably imperfect. Bella was fascinated by the main antagonist's backstory revealed in the prequels, though she found the movies themselves a bit too kiddie and the dialogues in the romance part absolutely horrible. And the less said about the sequels the better. But the Original Three? They were a masterpiece.

Bella was not a particularly social person but she liked to go out. She liked Phoenix and the variety of things one could do in a city that big. She liked to explore new places and dreamed of traveling to see more. But in the Star Wars universe... All those different planets, different species, Force-related mysteries - what wouldn't she give to get even a glimpse of that!

Bella had a habit to drift off and get lost in her own thoughts. She didn't have much of a talent as an author but she would often imagine stories, exciting stories, taking place in the Star Wars universe or what-if stories on how things could've gone differently. Often, she imagined what she herself would do if put in one of the character's shoes, like, Leia Organa for example.

Leia was great, of course, but Bella often thought that with a bit of foreknowledge (ask the Force) and a bit less of a temper, she could've prevented or turned around many of the tragedies in her story. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful Sith Lords of all time but she never learned how to use the Force. The romance she had with Han Solo aided the viewer to remain invested in their fate but they really didn't fit together and all. Not only was their marriage doomed but they also sired the most horrible person in the universe, in Bella's opinion. She had a bond with Luke, true, but she only ever seemed to be his weakness instead of giving him strength.

When her mother Rene told her that Phil got a new job and the whole discussion started about whether Bella should come with them or Rene stay with her, Bella found the only really viable option was for her to move to small-town rainy Forks where nothing exiting ever happened. She felt like it was the beginning of the end. Having to spend her last year of school in a new place, where she knew nobody, would be the odd one out, never see the sun again, stuck with her father who she loved but had no idea how to talk to, only to graduate from a school so mundane even with top grades she probably wouldn't make it to more than community college... Her future life looked bleak and boring to her.

That night she lost herself, as she did often, in her own fantasies of what her life would look like if she were someone important instead, in a world much more wondrous than the one she lived in. Bella would love to have a chance to see the Star Wars universe, to meet its crew, to see the effects of the Force and have a chance to change the story.

That night, when she made a wish on a shooting star, her wish became true.

XxX

Leia Organa had always been a Twilight fan.

She'd loved to read holo novels from a young age and she dreamed of the perfect romance with the perfect prince who would love her unconditionally, forever.

As the only child of the highest ranking politician of her planet, Leia had been groomed and trained to succeed her mother in the diplomatic sphere. She wasn't bad at it but it wasn't something she particularly enjoyed. Leia knew she had a temper; she was more prone to arguing and shouting at someone than to smile and nod and find compromises like her father. She was afraid that she'd be a total failure as a senator and even worse as a queen and let her whole planet down. At the same time she often thought diplomatic work to be so pointless. The senate had no true power. Everyone either did exactly what the Empire wanted or they died. She never had the feeling that she could truly change something.

So the princess often found herself wishing she was just an ordinary girl, allowed to live and love as she liked. As a princess, she was guaranteed to be pressured into an arranged marriage eventually. Her opinion of the male sex already wasn't very high when she looked at the candidates but comparing them to the main character of the universe' most successful romance novel of the decade probably wasn't helping.

Leia sighed. Bella Swan had it so good. No responsibilities that the fate of her planet depended on. No impossible expectations to live up to. A damn sexy boyfriend, later husband, that she would have a perfect little baby with before she got to live forever with riches and comfort and a family that welcomed her with open arms. It was almost frustrating, sometimes, to read how the heroine nearly messed up her own happiness on multiple occasions. Why was it that she argued so much with the vampire who worshiped the ground she walked on? Why was she always moping and feeling unworthy? Why did she have such a problem accepting generosity? Wasn't that a bit ungrateful? Why was she so weak, getting depressed and near suicidal when he left her instead of getting off her ass to go look for him? If Leia had a boyfriend like that, she would fight tooth and nail to keep him.

Leia grew up with whispered stories and rumors of the Force, a mysterious energy, maybe sentient maybe not, that gave the Jedi their ancient powers and now strengthened the Empire. She would've never taken it seriously except her parents firmly believed in it. They taught her the Force was dangerous and fickle and absolutely should not be used without proper training, even by the few people that had an affinity for it - and all the proper trainers were dead. So Leia had never given all that much thought to the little tell-tell signs of her own gift. The strange gut feelings that always ran true, her innate talent to make people listen to her and take her seriously or that little float-the-feather game she'd played as a little child before her patents caught her and forbid it.

But when the rebellion assembled for the attack on Scarif and her father sent her on an important mission to transport the Death Star plans, she was deadly afraid. When her ship got caught by Imperials and she had to put her only hope into a pair of mismatched droids, she was terrified. When she was dragged into a prison cell and one of the Stormtroopers smugly told her Lord Vader himself would oversee her interrogation, she completely lost it. At least, that was the only way to explain what she saw after begging the Force to help her.

---

XxX

Bella Swan stared at the translucent form of one Leia Organa standing in her room in Phoenix just as Leia stared at the apparition in her cell.

There was a moment of incoherent mumbles and eye rubbing and talking at the same time before the girls got their bearings back.

"What is going on?"

"Are you real?"

"How is this possible?"

"I must be going mad."

The girls quieted, staring, then broke into slightly hysterical chuckles simultaneously.

"I wished upon a shooting star to see your world."

"I tried to ask the Force for help, to be anywhere else."

"Your life is a book in my world."

Both girls stared at each other again, surprised. Then:

"I wish I were you."

Leia shook her head incredulously. "Why would you possibly wish to be me? I'm about to get tortured, my planet will probably be destroyed to set an example for the rebellion and if I don't break under pressure I'll be dead in less than a day!"

"But you won't!" Bella burst out. "Someone will come to save you and the rebellion will destroy the Death Star and eventually the Empire and you'll find great friends and travel places and help to save the galaxy!"

Leia looked at her hopefully. "What about my planet? My parents? Will those saviors come before Vader does?"

Bella winced. "Well..."

Leia's face fell. "Then what does it even matter? It's too late."

"There are other people who need you. People you have yet to meet", Bella tried.

"I don't care about people I have yet to meet", Leia muttered. "From when are you anyway? Have you moved to Forks yet?"

"I'm supposed to tomorrow", Bella replied quietly. "I really don't want to but it's the only way to keep my parents happy. Can't imagine why someone would write a book about that though. Forks is the most boring place in my world."

Leia chucked humorlessly. "It's really not though. Forks gets regularly overrun by vampires."

Bella's eyes widened. "Vampires?"

Leia nodded. "You're going to date, marry and found a family with one of them, actually, one of the animal drinkers. Your life is a romance story, complete with a love triangle with a werewolf. There are a few accidents and external vampire threats to look out for but in the end, you'll be very happy. You and Edward are meant for each other. I think there's some soul bonding going on but I'm not sure, the fan community is split on it. Your vampire hybrid baby definitely gets a soul bond with your werewolf love interest at the end of the last book though."

Bella blanched. "Soul bonds? Fan community?"

"It's a very popular series", Leia said. She found a perverse kind of pleasure in seeing Bella flounder. It distracted her from her own horrible situation, at least.

Bello looked affronted and shot back: "W-Well Star Wars is really big in my world too. Teenage guys all over the world admire pictures of you in your slave bikini from when you were Jabba the Hutt's captive!" she shot back, pointing at her.

Leia looked horrified. "I get enslaved by a Hutt?!"

"Well, uh, it's only for a short time... I think?"

"Why would you possibly want my life?" Leia asked aghast. "Yours is way better!"

"Your life is meaningful and exciting!" Bella stressed. "What did you say the highlight of my life was? Marriage and childbirth?" Bella's shoulders sagged disappointingly. "Vampires and werewolves are real and it still only boils down to that?"

"Well", Leia made, flustered by Bella's lack of enthusiasm. "There's still battles between vampire covens and you do almost get eaten a few times... if that makes you feel better?"

"Not really", Bella replied unenthused.

"You get to live for eternity once you turn?" she tried again.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Great, an eternity stuck on the same boring planet. You have the entire galaxy in front of you! Honestly, now that I know that you're real, sort of, if I'm not hallucinating this, that makes my life look even more gray."

An idea dawned on Leia. A horrible, selfish, crazy idea.

"So... if you could be me... if you could live my life... You would want that?" she asked. "You would give up a husband that loves you so much he can't be without you, and eternal life and an immortal perfect daughter, on a planet that is at absolutely no threat at being destroyed by an evil Empire - to be me?"

Bella met her gaze with the same calculating glint in them. "Do you think that's possible?"

"It was what we wished for", Leia mused. "Both of us. But... Bella, I have to stress this, you life was really good, in the end. There's no telling what would happen if we switched. Will you become me or will there be an unfamiliar person stuck in this cell? You could get shot the moment the troopers see you."

"I don't think that whatever power allowed us to meet like this would screw us over this much", Bella disagreed. "I'm more concerned in how I might fail to change your story if I did become you. I mean, there were nine movies - the first three play in the past, the second three in the near present and the last three in the far future. I can probably stop a lot of bad things just by not sleeping with a certain pirate and siring the next Emperor - you don't want to know", she told Leia, who looked horrified again. "But I would really like to at least make sure we get those twenty years of peace between the fall of this Empire and the rise of the next. I'm not you. I don't know if I can aid the rebellion and the Jedi as you have. What if Vader comes in here and plucks all of that future knowledge right out of my head? I mean, he's supposed to die when he eventually turns against the Emperor three years from now on. It's way too early for him to realize he's on the wrong path."

"I wouldn't worry about Vader's crazy Force powers", Leia said. "You actually have your own superpower that protects your mind. Edward is a mind reader and he can read anyone but you."

Bella made a face. "Really? That sounds like the most boring superpower ever."

Leia smiled. "For you maybe, but here it would be crucial. It would help you get past the interrogation. Actually, you'd probably do a way better job than I to hide any sensitive information. The Empire does use physical torture if the usual means don't work though. I don't know how much time they're going to spend on you or when this supposed rescue team arrives."

"Uhm, they arrive shortly after...Well... There is no way to say this gently, I am so sorry. They arrive shortly after Alderaan is destroyed. Which is supposedly the last stage of the psychological torture when you don't give them what they want."

Leia closed her eyes, a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach. She had suspected that her planet would be one of the first to bear the brunt of the Empire's cruelty but to hear it confirmed like this... Her parents, her people, everyone... They would be gone soon.

"Is there no way to stop that? Any at all?" she begged Bella.

Bella thought about that. "Well... There is a very, very small chance you could convince Vader to convince Tarkin to spare Alderaan. It's..." She huffed, frustrated. "It's tiny, I'd say. It's really way too early. But you could pretend to... join his side or something, if he showed mercy, which might give you enough time until the Death Star is no threat any longer. I know something that could make him interested in that kind of deal. But then he'd definitely go to any lengths to make sure you keep up your end of the bargain. You'll be a fugitive until he's dead. He might just destroy Alderaan using the Imperial fleet even if the Death Star is gone. He might just transfer you to his own ship immediately and then you won't be here when the rescue team comes and you might be Force-manipulated into actually joining his side and then there'll be no peace at all."

"You said Vader eventually realized he's on the wrong path?" Leia wondered. "Are you sure about that? Because... He's kind of a monster", she said skeptically. "I'm not sure if he's even human."

"Oh, he is. And I'm sure", Bella replied confidently. "I just don't know when he'll decide to turn."

Leia nodded. A plan was forming in her head. It was a crazy plan but it was the best chance for her people.

"Then let's do it, let's switch. With your future knowledge and your protected mind, you can at least make sure this day doesn't spell the end for the rebellion. If the worst does happen and you become a prisoner of Vader's, at least he won't be able to easily manipulate you into joining him. And even if he did, you're such a kind, soft person, he'd have his work cut out for him." Bella chuckled weakly and Leia continued: "Please try and save my planet. I am apparently doomed to fail and with the knowledge you gave me now, I could make everything worse if I get captured. And even if I succeeded, I wouldn't know how to keep my planet save through two Empires. Plus I apparently make terrible love choices. But you could do it. You could save the galaxy in my stead." She smiled, feeling real hope for the first time. "And I will gladly take your super attractive husband off your hands."

Bella's eyes gleamed with unshed tears. "You really think I could do it? You really think I could succeed?"

"I do. But even if you don't, Bella, you only have to try not to be worse than me - and that's apparently a very low bar, considering I sired the next Emperor, I mean, what the fuck!?"

Bella laughed then, still a bit hysterical and Leia chuckled with her.

"Okay", she said, "I'll do it. But you have to say it." She grinned mischievously and Leia looked at her confused.

"Say what?"

"Say what you said to Obi-Wan! Please, it's like one of the most famous lines in the movies!" Bella begged.

Leia gave another half choked up chuckle.

"Please Bella. You're my only hope."

"I'll do it!" Bella squealed and lunged forward to hug her. But instead of touching the two girls merged with each other for just a moment.

And when Bella blinked and opened her eyes she was sitting in a gray and white prison cell, wearing a pure white dress.

And when Leia opened her eyes she was laying on a soft bed, staring up at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room in Phoenix, Earth.

---

XxX

Leia POV

Leia woke up in Isabella Swan's body, complete with a really annoying klutziness. Her 'mother' René of course didn't suspect Force-powered replacement. She was just positively surprised that her daughter had changed her mind overnight and became really eager to move to Forks and be with her Dad.

Charlie Swan noticed and commented on her changed behavior but not in a bad way. He actually had tears in his eyes when Leia called him 'Dad'. She'd always found it weird and a bit mean that Bella didn't. Charlie was such a great character and he wouldn't get to see his daughter for a long while after she turned. He deserved to be showered with all the love of a daughter in the little time they had together. So she hugged him fiercely when he picked her up from the airport (ugh, this planet was so backwards with its huge machines and fossil fuels!) and again when he showed her the car he brought her. Leia of course had no idea how to drive an Earth vehicle. Using the age of the truck as an excuse, she roped Charlie into showing her how it worked until she had all the differences to the controls of a hover car figured out and was confident she wouldn't kill herself in it. The lessons served as additional bonding time with Charlie, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Her first day at school was pretty similar to the books. Edward was gorgeous of course but had the same adverse reaction to her scent as he did to Bella's and they barely exchanged a word. Leia was actually a bit curious on just how similar the day was. She didn't take over Bella's in-build mental shield, did she? That would be very bad - she needed it against Vader! Unfortunately she had no opportunity to ask as Edward left the classroom as if followed by a bunch of shifters the moment the bell rang.

Leia made some loose friendships with the other students of the school and that too was an enjoyable experience. It was so normal, she loved it. Although she could do without Mike constantly staring at her boobs. One day she actually told him that, in the middle of lunch break in the cafeteria too. The boy flamed red and didn't speak a word to her for three days. Jessica became her new best friend after that.

Leia thoroughly enjoyed the high school experience. For once she didn't have to worry about war or politics and it was like a vacation. In the evenings she often lay awake and worried how Bella was doing. She hoped her plan had worked. Leia actually did find some movies called 'Star Wars' in Bella's collection and she was tempted to watch them. But she didn't think she could take seeing her planet destroyed or any of the other horrible things Bella talked about so she stayed clear of them.

When Leia almost fell down the stairs and broke her neck three days in a row, she had enough of Bella's constant clumsiness. That couldn't possibly be normal. So she drove to the hospital and demanded to see a specialist to inspect what to her came pretty damn close to a disability. She was used to hitting the bullseye nine out of ten with a blaster and now she couldn't even hit a volleyball, her hand-to-eye coordination was that bad. Unsurprisingly, her doctor turned out to be Carlisle Cullen. He was really friendly, treating her warmly and was eager to help. One week later she got the results - she had a vitamin deficiency that affected her balance and coordination. Leia came home with a complete dietary overhaul all planned out for her. Apparently Bella taking care of her parents in the cooking department had really not been healthy at all.

Leia had a long talk with Charlie at the end of which they threw away all the pizza coupons and booked themselves a cooking course. More Daddy-daughter bonding time for them.

It was only a slight surprise that said course was being offered by Esme Cullen.

Just what the heck had Alice seen?

Whatever it was, it must've been something good because Esme was being an absolute angel all thorough the first meeting they held on Friday together with a few older women.

When the time Edward was supposed to spend in Denali came to an end, Leia was both looking forward to meeting him for what she considered the official first time but also a bit worried on whether he could read her mind and if so, what he'd think about what he saw. By coming here, Leia had essentially replaced his MFM - his magical forever mate. She didn't know if whatever power brought her here would give them the same kind of love. What if he hated her? What if he blamed her for taking away his one chance in his immortal life to find happiness?

Sunday night though she was having a dream that put all her doubts to rest.

She dreamed of Bella.

XxX

---

Bella POV

Bella Swan was carefully optimistic when she looked down at herself. White dress, check. Weird hairdo, check. A body too mature to be her meager seventeen, check. The small prison cell held no mirror but she was as sure as she could be that she was in Leia's body, which was kinda important for her plan to work.

She didn't get shot by stormtroopers when they came to open her door, which was also a good sign. Then Darth Vader entered her cell, delivering his line just like in the movie as he allowed the round interrogation droid to pass.

Bella was torn between being afraid whether she could pull this off and hysterically laughing because she just remembered Dr. Ball from Spaceballs and wondered if the droid was actually just here to give her her flu shot.

She shouldn't have watched so much Star Wars parody. This was a serious situation.

It was not a flu shot. It was a truth serum they put in her and it made her head go all fuzzy. Vader ordered the troopers to leave once she was drugged, which was just what Bella had been waiting for.

"You don't... You don't want to do that", she mumbled, trying to think past the hazy mist.

"Tell me where the plans of the Death Star are", Vader said in his deep mechanical voice. Bella tried not to fangirl.

"I don't know", she said, "but the Death Star is a horrible invention and a... a technological terror!" She was very proud for remembering that line with her addled brain. It was what Vader had called the Death Star in front of all the Moffs. "And it's not going to work anyway, the more worlds are destroyed the more will rise up against the Empire!"

"Where are the plans?" Vader repeated. He had his hand held up in front of her face but if he was trying to use a Jedi mind trick, she couldn't feel a thing.

"Please... I have nothing to do with any plans", she begged him, determined to do her best for Leia. "You can do with me whatever you want - I'll do anything - but please don't let this fall back on Alderaan! My people are innocent. If there's anything left of your heart, please don't allow Tarkin to use this monstrosity."

"You think your begging will move me?" Vader scoffed.

Bella thought she felt... something press against her head, something that wasn't quite physical. It was really weak though and easy to ignore.

Vader shifted as if frustrated.

Bella decided to pull out her trump card.

"If not for me", she said, "then do it for the memory of my mother."

"I have never even met Queen Breha, Princess", Vader dismissed her.

"I'm not talking about my adoptive mother", she whispered, staring at the black lenses of his helmet intensely. "I'm talking about my blood mother. Padmé Amidala."

Vader gave absolutely no outward reaction to her words but Bella knew she had him when she saw one of the lights on his suit's control panel blink furiously.

"That's no possible", he rasped out.

Bella was living her dream.

"Search your feelings, Lord Vader. You know it to be true."

The pressure against Bella's head increased minutely for a few moments, then vanished completely. Vader dropped his hand and just stared at her for the longest five seconds of her life. Bella held her breath, knowing the fate of an entire planet was on the line.

Then Vader abruptly turned around. In a whirl of black fabric (so cool!) he was suddenly gone, the cell door closing behind him with a swish. Bella had just enough time to let out her breath before the screaming started. A terrible noise of creaking metal sounded from outside, coupled with the tell-tale snap-hiss of a lightsaber. Her heart beat furiously as she waited... and waited... The screams stopped eventually. So did the other noise. She could faintly make out a single pair of footsteps. Then that too was gone.

Bella sunk back on what served as a bed to her and let out another huge breath of relief. If Vader let out whatever emotions her declaration had woken in him on stormtroopers instead of her, that had to mean that one, the Force was confirming her genetic status (which she hadn't at all been sure about) and two, he cared enough to not want to see her harmed without taking the time to make any plans. That was perfect. Time was all she needed.

It was the longest couple days of her life as Bella waited in her cell. The time that went by was hard to measure. The first time a trooper came to bring her food, she caught a glance into the corridor beyond. It looked like... well, like a Sith Lord had rampaged through it. There were scorch marks on the walls and walls that were dented and peeled off and loose wires hanging around and really, the damage was massive. The trooper actually took her out of the cell and lead her down another corridor into an undamaged part of the station. Bella's pleas for information went ignored though.

Vader didn't return, not to continue the interrogation and not to take her to Tarkin. Bella didn't know if that was a good or bad sign and she couldn't remember how much time had passed in the movies before the A team arrived. So she had nothing left to do but wait.

Eventually, the day came. Her door opened with a swish and Bella sat up, surprised because she'd eaten only recently. Then she saw the trooper in the doorway and smiled brilliantly.

"Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"

Luke Skywalker removed his helmet, revealing a blushing farmboy.

"We're here to rescue you, Princess! Let's go!" he urged her.

Bella jumped down from her bed, feeling light as a feather. Princess. She was a princess now. Why, since Disney had brought Lucas Films, she was even a Disney princess.

Luke floundered around when he suddenly had his arms full of said princess as she tried to hug the life out of him.

"Thank you. Thank you so much", she whispered and meant more than just the rescue. Luke was her hero.

"Oh, uhm, you're welcome?" Luke made awkwardly and patted her back. "I'm Luke Skywalker by the way." He offered her a blaster, which Bella took with an excited giggle. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be Leia and quickly asked:

"What happened to Alderaan? It - They said they might use the Death Star on my home planet if I didn't give them what they wanted and I never told, so...!"

Luke scowled darkly. "Alderaan still stands but I don't know for how much longer. Ben is trying to reach the control room to sabotage the tractor beam so we can flee and he'll sabotage the laser too if he can. I don't think it will give us more than a couple of days though, maybe only hours."

Bella let out a sigh of relief. "That's okay. A lot can happen in a few days."

Shouting could be heard in the distance and Luke urged her to hurry.

A wild chase followed in which Bella found that surprisingly, she wasn't too bad a shot and she didn't stumble even once, despite the long dress. They met up with Han (who was rude to her) and Chewie (who was super cute). Together they got stuck in a corridor in a shoot out and Bella was giddy as she slid down the garbage chute, falling down into a disgusting pit of - she really didn't want to know.

Han and Luke cursed as they too were dunked in shit.

"Watch out for the tentacles!" Bella laughed.

"What tenta - aargh!"

Luke was pulled under and Bella dived down, eyes closed, not breathing, feeling around until she found his arm and tugged, hard. She pulled her brother (squeal!) out and held him close, then used her other hand to shot at a waving appendage.

"Tentacle monsters", she whispered, eyes wide. "I love it!"

"Wow, of all the princesses in the universe, we get stuck with the kinky one", Han commented with a leer.

Bela blushed scarlet and let go of Luke to wave her blaster at him. "That's not what I meant! It's just so fascinating, I mean, who has a tentacle monster in their garbage pit!?"

That's when the walls started to move in on them and they had other things to worry about.

Their escape off the Death Star followed the movies pretty close and Bella was absolutely elated. When they ran up to the ship (The Millenium Falcon! Oh my god, now was not the time to fangirl!) though, they were met with a slightly different scene than what she knew of the movies.

Vader and Obi-Wan were supposed to have the slowest lightsaber duel of all time and the group was supposed to only catch the tail end of it, when Obi-Wan got cut down. But when they ran through the hall, Obi-Wan was still alive, if barely. He was being held up by nothing visible at all, choking, unarmed, Vader standing in front of him with a hand raised to his throat.

"Tell me!" he growled at him, continuing a conversation Bella had not heard but could make a pretty good guess as to its contents.

"BEN!" Luke shouted when he saw the same scene. He started running towards Vader and Han started shooting at the door. Obi-Wan looked ahead and gave a tiny flick with his hand. Behind Vader, something small rose from the ground and hit the Sith Lord in the back of his head. It was the Jedi's lightsaber and the small action, coupled with Han's attack, was enough to let his concentration slip for a moment. Obi-Wan coughed as he fell to the ground but turned his fall into a roll and ended up on the other side just as the door controls failed and a wall of metal snapped into place between him and Vader.

The Force was with them.

"Hurry up!" Bella hissed and gestured them all inside the ship. Han was the first on board. Luke helped up Obi-Wan who was limping after him and Bella kept fretting and telling them to hurry until the ramp pulled up behind them.

They shot off into space and Bella could finally breathe again. She'd done it. She'd brought Alderaan enough time to survive the Death Star. Her actions had even, somehow, lead to Obi-Wan's survival. She wondered how that would affect things.

Han didn't want to land on Alderaan, which had been their original destination to transport the plans to. Leia told them about the base on Yavin 4 and was very glad that Obi-Wan was actually able to provide the coordinates for that planet because she knew absolutely nothing about space navigation.

While in hyperspace, the old Jedi sat next to her in a quiet moment. He asked her how she was faring and if she was hurt. When she replied in the negative he said:

"When I fought with Vader, he said something most curious. He seemed to think there was some kind of connection between you and a name of the past. Padmé Amidala. Do you know what that was about?"

Bella sighed. She looked around to see if anyone was listening. Then she replied: "Yes, I told him that. It was the only thing I could think of that might make him convince Tarkin to spare my planet. At least long enough for the rebellion to blow this monstrosity of a station to bits."

"That is a a very dangerous bargaining ship you used there", Obi-Wan said gravely. "Why did you use that name? What exactly have your parents told you?"

She hesitated. Bail and Breha Organa would be alive, hopefully, during to her changes and would deny ever having told her anything. If they even knew that Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader, it was a secret they were fully prepared to take to their graves.

"Not much", she replied vaguely. "My father sometimes spoke fondly of her. When I found out I was adopted I started looking into where I came from and I... I just had a feeling that it was her, that she was my biological mother. I looked her up on the holonet and her deathday is my birthday. It would fit. I tried to find out who my biological father was but I had no luck in that regard. But I..." When in doubt, blame the Force. "I kept having these dreams. About Vader, whenever I spend a lot of time researching. Nightmares, really. I though maybe he'd killed my father. But when I saw him in person, a few days ago... I just knew. I can't explain it. It seems so unlikely. It was really a shot in the dark. But it worked."

Bella was not proud to say that she was actually not half bad at lying. Obi-Wan kept nodding along as if that all made perfect sense to him.

"Vader used to be quite different, before the Empire", he said gently. "I am very sorry that you had to go through that. It's important that you know that it doesn't matter whose blood you share, Leia. You are your own person. You are Leia, the daughter of Bail and Breha Organa."

Except she wasn't. She was the daughter of small town police chief Charlie Swan and René.

Bella smiled sadly, playing her role easily because even if she wasn't Leia, she'd spend enough time imagining to be her.

"It's true then? Is he really my father?"

"Your father was a different man, one who is long dead. What is walking around in that suit is just a shell", he said quietly.

"If that were true", she said, "then I would be dead now. But it's okay. I know I'm my own person. And I'm not afraid of him."

"Yes", Obi-wan made with a bit of wonder. "I can sense that. It's like you have no fear at all in you."

She shrugged and smiled. "I just saved two billion people on my planet, escaped an evil Empire and will probably get a first row seat to getting the Death Star destroyed. I'd say the future has never looked more hopeful."

They made good time on their way to the rebellion's base. Their welcome was warm but the peace was short lived when the Death Star turned up in the sky. Nobody knew how the Empire had found them. Bella had completely forgotten about the tracking device on the Falcon, though she told Han to check for any later. Even if she had remembered though, she might not have told them. The destruction of the Death Star was too important to allow the rebellion to waste time in squabbling. Alderaan didn't have time.

As it turned out, Bella did get a first row seat, quite literally, when she convinced Han with a couple of very awkward flirts to be her ride by the time Yavin 4 was getting evacuated and then again when he was about to turn tail and she put pressure on him until he turned around to help Luke get rid of the Sith Lord tailing him in his X-wing.

Luke made the shot just like in the movie and they had a celebration on Yavin 4 where they all got medals and Bella couldn't get the grin off her face the whole time.

That night, with all the excitement over, Bella dreamed of Leia.

She greeted the other girl happily and enthusiastically recounted the events of the past couple of days. She left out the bit about using Leia's parentage on Vader though. It had hit Luke pretty hard and though Leia had taken it better, she had her bond with Luke at that time to soften the blow. There really was no reason for Leia to ever know if she didn't want to and if she did, she could always watch the movies.

Leia was crying in relief when she learned about her planet's averted fate. She almost hugged Bella in thanks but hesitated in the last moment.

"Do you... Do you want to switch back?" Bella asked hesitantly.

"I... I don't know. You did so much for me and I'm glad... I haven't officially met Edward yet. If you want to return, you still can", she offered.

"I don't want to... I have so much I still want to see and do", Bella said. "But this is your life. If you want it back..."

Leia shook her head. "Bella, it sounds like you live my life much better than I ever did. The danger is far from over. My galaxy still needs you. And I would love to spend more time in Forks. Your father is really great, we get along wonderfully and I already met my, I mean your, future in-laws and they're great too. I really like it here. So if you don't mind..."

"I don't mind it at all!" Bella hurried to say. "If you don't... I would love to stay."

"Me to." Leia smiled. "I hope to see you again. And I wish you all the luck in the world."

"May the Force be with you."

---

xXx

Leia POV

When Leia woke up Monday morning she was filled with so much peace and relief, she didn't even have the capacity to worry about her first meeting with Edward. Her planet was safe. Her parents were safe. Even if Edward hated her, even if he killed her, it would still be totally worth it just for that.

She stepped out of the house to the sight of first snow and snow chains around the wheels of her truck. Remembering what that meant for her entrance, Leia spend the drive to school contemplating how to deal with the Tyler situation. Getting saved from a car accident in an obviously supernatural way had given Bella an excuse to start nagging Edward. But Leia thought that one, that was very rude and ungrateful and two, she wasn't quite ready to risk her life to kick start a romance that she had no idea yet if it would even carry over to her.

But there was no telling where on the whole parking lot she would be safe and with Bella's stupid clumsiness there was no way she could get out of the way fast enough. The safest thing to do then, Leia decided when she neared the school, was to park right next to the Cullen's or wherever Edward was standing. He was supposed to start out really far away from the accident side. Leia spotted the volvo at the edge of the parking lot and as it was still early, there was enough space around it. Rosalie and Emmet where in the middle of crossing the lot towards the school. Edward, Alice and Jasper were still at the car, talking. Perfect.

Leia started steering her truck towards them. Even if Tyler came near her here, between the three vampire's gifts they would definitely notice in time. They'd be almost obligated to help her or risk getting her delicious yummy blood all over the pavement. With her being so close nobody would question it either if she was quickly pushed aside.

Leia left the truck and slowly set the first foot on the ice. She looked up briefly to see all three Cullens staring at her.

"Good morning!" she greeted them with a smile. Edward gave no reaction, Jasper gave a stiff nod and Alice chirped: "Hi!"

The two boys both looked like someone had punched them in the throat. Leia tried not to take it personal.

She turned to Edward. "I heard you called in sick last week. Are you feeling better now?" Well that was half true. She had heard he'd called in sick but knew of course that wasn't the reason he'd left.

"Yes", Edward said stiffly.

"Then I'll see you in first period, biology", she said, waited for him to nod again and turned around. Still no van in sight. Damn, she needed more time. Leia made three steps on the ice, then stopped.

"I think I forgot something in my truck", she muttered and turned around.

"I can help you look", Alice offered kindly. Leia turned to her surprised just as Jasper hissed and put a hand on his mate's shoulder as if to stop her.

"Thanks, that's nice of-"

She heard the sound of wheels skidding over ice then and turned around so fast she almost slipped. There was the van, completely out of control, turning this way and that... Until it eventually came to a stand far, far away from Leia.

She sighed in relief and turned back to Alice. "Actually, I just remembered I left it in my locker. But thanks for the offer."

Alice gave a little wave, looking a bit confused and Leia turned around again. She had successfully evaded death by car. Now she only had to cross the entire, iced over parking lot without getting a scraped knee or a bloody nose.

Leia had barely made five steps almost in slow motion when suddenly something cold grabbed her arm. She looked up to see Edward holding her steady and giving her a pained smile. "You look like you're about to fall over. Allow me to help?"

"Thank you", she said relieved. "I swear I'm working on this stupid clumsiness. I actually went to the hospital to get a checkup. Your father gave gave me a new diet plan to follow, that should help fix my vitamin deficiency and thereby my balance issues."

"Yes, he told me he met you", Edward replied curtly, probably saving his breath.

"I met your mother too", Leia continued, raising a brow. "She's hosting the cooking course my father and I applied for after I got my diagnosis. It's so fortunate that she suddenly decided to start one at just the right time. She's great at it too. By the way, how did you manage to get adopted by two angels? And how is it you're the last of your family I've met?"

"We met a week ago", he replied confused.

"I'm not counting that", Leia decided as if the mere notion was ridiculous.

"I suppose I was rather rude to you. I apologize for that. It had nothing to do with you personally."

"You're forgiven", Leia said graciously, even though she couldn't come up with anything more personal than him wanting to drain every drop of her blood.

Edward stiffened next to her and looked away. Had he heard that? By the stars, he had, hadn't he? That was... Actually really good because it meant her... Yeah let's call her her sister and her secrets were safe. It would take some getting used to to try and always control her thoughts around Edward but she knew him to be generally a discreet person. She wasn't too bothered by the lack of privacy. Although she did wonder what he thought about the fact that she so obviously knew what he was and could do.

"I think I can take it from here", she said once they reached the entrance. "Thanks for your help." He still looked like he was in pain and she wanted to give him a reprieve before they would be stuck in class together for a whole hour.

"Are you sure? I don't mind taking you the rest of the way."

"I'm sure. I'll take a detour to the ladies room", she claimed even though she didn't need to. There you go, one excuse served on a silver plate. You're welcome, dear.

Edward made a frustrated sound and drew his hand through his hair, which made him look like a runaway model.

"Look, I won't..." He broke off and just looked at Leia as if she had wronged him somehow.

"No, you're right", he said at last. "You should avoid me. Stay away from me."

Leia raised a brow at him. She was giving him space because it was his first day back and she didn't want to bother him too much. That didn't mean she planned on treating him like he was contagious forever. In fact, she had every intention of making the most out of every second they where together.

Edward grimaced. "We shouldn't... We shouldn't be friends, Bella."

Classic Edward line, that one.

Leia grinned smugly and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Well if you don't want to be friends, all you have to do is be really rude to me. All the time. And since you're already off to a bad start, what with helping me across the ice, I'd say you have to step up your game. It could be fun to see you try. I'm told I'm a very charming person. Everyone will think you a jerk."

Edward gave a little sad chuckle at that.

"It would be a small price to pay to see you safe", he said quietly.

Leia knew in that moment that he was not going to make it. She grinned winningly, gave him a cheerful "See you later!" and left him to his breather.

Leia was convinced to have made the right decision. Later in biology Edward appeared more confident. He kept asking her questions, though he didn't say much himself.

"How do you like Forks?"

"I love it! It has such a cozy small town feeling to it. It's so peaceful. Charlie, my Dad, is really great and the students here are nice too."

"You don't mind all the rain?"

"I'm not a hiking person so no, it doesn't bother me so much", she said.

"Where did you live before you came here?"

"In Phoenix, with my Mum", she lied easily. Her situation made it simple to fall into her role. "She has a new partner, Phil, who is playing professional sports and recently got a chance to go on tour. By coming here", she smiled at the double meaning, "I could save my parent's happiness." She missed her home, her real home, especially since the chances were high she'd never get to see it again. She was determined to make this her new home though.

"Is it really worth it?", Edward wondered sadly. "Forks is not exactly the... safest place. I'm sure your parents would want you to be happy too."

"Honestly, I don't think I've ever been happier", she returned with a chuckle. "It was a win on all sides. And I hate to break it to you but the dangers of Forks are nothing compared to some of the other things out there." Leia resolutely slammed down on any thoughts of just what kind of situation she'd come from and changed the subject.

"What about you, do you like it here? You lived in different places before. How does Forks compare?"

"Forks is... convenient. That's really all that matters." He shrugged.

"But do you like it?" she stressed. Leia could imagine immortality to get old pretty fast if you were forced to live in places you didn't like just because it was convenient.

Edward gave her a wide eyed look. He fiddled with the onion slides they were supposed to analyze under the microscope and which they'd both completely ignored.

"I like that there's little traffic around", he said at last. "I can drive faster on the roads here. The people here are content enough, there's not much animosity around. They are glad to have Carlisle at the hospital and treat us well. It's... quiet here." He gave that lopsided smile Leia had waited for for the whole day. "Honestly, if it were up to me I'd probably pick a town even smaller. But this is... fine."

It was the most he'd said all day, though he stopped in between to take very conscious breaths, always tilting his head away from her towards the slightly opened window when he did. She applauded him for the effort, this was going great.

"What do you do in your free time if it's not hiking?" he asked.

Leia really wasn't used to having much free time. She was always busy with studying or taking trips with her parents. But in the little time she had...

"I like to read." The cover of the Twilight series flashed before her eyes and she blushed a bit. "I go to movies, when I have the time. Musicals are even greater, theater is alright but operas are no fun." Again she tried to stop any memories of Alderiani entertainment shows to actually pop up in her mind. She chanted a little folk song in her head instead.

"What about you?" she shot back to distract herself.

"I play music on the piano. Sometimes I compose", he revealed. "I read too and play games with my brothers. I swear Emmet is addicted to video games."

Leia had never played a video game in her life. Not even anything similar. She hardly knew any games at all.

Leia felt sad suddenly. She was almost all grown up. Where had her childhood gone?

"Are you okay?" Edward asked concerned. She opened her mouth to tell him all was fine but in that moment the teacher stopped by their table to check why they weren't working.

Even though they had wasted half the allotted time with talking, they still finished the exercise quickly together, though they weren't the fastest. When the bell was about to ring, Leia asked:

"Edward, would you do me a favor?"

"Of course", he replied without thinking.

"The decision to come to Forks was made rather suddenly and I didn't actually have all that many clothes that fit this weather", she said, which was true, for once. "I need to go on a shopping trip but I'd hate to do it alone. Your sister Alice is easily the best-dressed person in the whole school - could you ask her if she'd like to accompany me to help me pick out some outfits?"

"You'll never get rid of her if you do that", Edward warned her.

That's exactly what Leia was counting on. She ripped off a piece of paper from a notebook and scribbled Bella's - no, her phone number on it. "You can give this to her if she agrees so we can check later which time works. I still have to confirm with Charlie."

Leia really hoped that she would. Her sister's style was not at all like her own and she would love to throw out even the little warm clothing she had. But she also needed help to fit in and didn't trust in her own ability to pick the right clothing that she liked and still accomplished that.

"I'm sure she'd love to help you out", Edward said softly.

Somehow, Leia managed to suppress her mental squeal at having successfully slipped Edward Cullen her phone number until he was gone.

Edward was right. Later during lunch break, Alice Cullen danced over to where Leia was sitting with her human friends. She greeted her with a hug and a high pitched squeal as if they'd been friends for years, plopped down on the seat next to her uninvited and started talking about all the stores she wanted to visit with her. In Seattle.

"I'm so glad you agree to come with me, Alice, but I was thinking about something a little closer - like Port Angeles?", she tried to reign in the storm that was Alice.

But the little vampire resolutely shook her head. "No way, we won't be able to find a proper dress for the upcoming school dance there! It has to be Seattle."

"Alice, I'm still struggling with my coordination problem", Leia protested. "Can you assure me that I'll have it fixed till then? Because I'm not stepping on the dance floor with that big of a risk to break a leg."

Alice considered that for a moment.

"It will be better but not entirely gone. You'll be fine with a good dance partner though."

Leia raised a brow at her. "And will I have a good dance partner?"

"The best!" the little pixie assured her.

"Well in that case, we better plan a weekend in Seattle!" Leia grinned. She was actually looking forward to the dance and Alice' prediction filled her with confidence.

Alice launched into a whole avalanche of ideas and plans, complete with booking a hotel for the night AND a spa treatment.

"Neither of us is of age, will we even get a room? Please remember my father is chief of the police", she reminded her.

But Alice had considered that too. "It's fine, Jasper already agreed to come and chaperone us and he's 18." She winked at her and Leia grinned.

"Sounds like you have it all figured out! I look forward to it."

As Alice and Leia kept talking, one after another the other humans left the table. By the time they were done and Alice returned to her table, only Angela and Jessica remained.

"That was kind of weird", Jessica complained, clearly having waited for an opportunity to cut in.

"Do you know the Cullens or something?"

"I do, actually. And I think Alice is lovely", Leia returned with a warning glance.

"It's just that, you're normal but they are..."

Leia had a sudden case of melancholy. She was everything but normal. She was trying her very best and maybe she was more successful but her attempts to fit in at Forks were just as much based on acting as they were for the Cullen's.

They were all aliens in a strange world.

"Just because people are different doesn't mean they can't be friends. Sometimes we have more in common than we realize", she told Jessica quietly.

"I think it's great that Bella is making friends with them", Angela said. "Nobody ever tries that. They shouldn't be forced to be outsiders forever just because they look good."

"It's not just that", Jessica protested. "It's everything! How they talk and walk and never seem to bother with anyone outside their family. How they're all together despite being siblings - yeah, I know they're adopted but it's still weird. Then their clothes, their car, they're obviously rich. What the hell are they doing here?!"

Leia looked at Jessica surprised. She'd always thought the girl was just jealous or mad about being rejected by one of the boys. But that was a surprisingly accurate summary of everything the vampires still had to work on to perfect their human charade. Then again nothing about having money, fashion sense and good looks immediately screamed vampire.

"What's your theory on what they're doing here?" she wanted to know.

"I don't know... Maybe one of the boys messed up in their old school. Like Emmet or Jasper, they look like trouble. Their dad could pay off anyone who really wanted to do something but think about it. The parents are also way too young to have earned so much money already."

Leia raised a brow, a bit worried. It wasn't a good sign when people immediately assumed something criminal about the group of vampires. Then she got an idea and grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially.

"Hey, you want to have some inside knowledge?" she asked. Jessica and even Angela leaned forward too. Leia saw the Cullen's heads snap in her direction from the corner of her eyes. Alice pulled her mate back down into his chair when he made motions to stand up.

"Well, as you know my father is chief of the police", she stage-whispered to them and the girl's eyes began to gleam, realizing what kind of juicy details that could possibly make her privy to.

"He's suspiciously fond of the Cullen's", she continued with a grin. "Like, way too much, telling me how Forks General is so lucky to have a doctor as skilled as Carlisle Cullen and how the kids never cause any trouble. I think", she said just as Jessica started to look disappointed, "he knows something. Doctor Cullen obviously comes from a long family of doctors, how else could he be practicing so young? But do any of his relatives ever visit? No. I'm saying all that money comes from a huge inheritance. And then we have the Hales - they're the children of Esme Cullen's deceased sister, aren't they? So we have a doctor with dead parents and his wife with a dead sister, the whole family super rich and moving to a small town where the police is welcoming them - it's obvious what's going on."

Angela caught on to what she was saying first.

"Witness protection", she breathed out as if that solved everything.

"Exactly", Leia confirmed. "It all makes sense. Maybe the doc uncovered an illegal organ trade at his last hospital or something. The parents are spoiling the kids with shiny cars and fancy clothes and everything to make them forget how much their family has lost recently."

"Oh my god, that does make sense", Jessica said, brimming with excitement.

Leia held up a finger. "Now you can't tell anybody about this. Obviously nobody who knows about it will confirm it but if it gets out, it could become really dangerous for them."

The two girls nodded eagerly and Leia knew by this evening the whole school would know of the new rumor.

Later that same day, after the last class was over, Leia slammed her locker shut only to come face to face with Edward. She flinched back, surprised, but quickly collected herself.

"You made my sister's day, you know that? I haven't seen her this excited in... Well, a long time", he said with that lopsided smile of his.

"I got that feeling, yeah. But I'm really looking forward to it too", Leia replied.

"The strangest thing happened after lunch though", he continued. "Random students started to come up to us and express their condolences for our deceased relatives and welcoming us to town as if we haven't lived here for years already. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Leia started to fiddle with a lock of her hair innocently. "I thought it would be nicer than to have people assume you're all part of a drug gang or something. Was I wrong?"

"No but you gave us all quite the scare for a moment." He leaned in a bit closer and Leia's heart started beating faster.

"You know you can't tell anyone about your actual theory, don't you?"

"Of course", she said automatically. She wasn't stupid but more importantly, she was on their side. It was actually a little bit offensive that he even felt the need to say it.

Edward drew back again with an unreadable expression. He seemed to have much less of a problem with her scent already.

"I can't make sense of you, Bella Swan. Why are you not afraid?"

"I have my reasons", she merely said vaguely.

Edward hesitated for a moment. Then he asked: "Are you... Are you like Alice?"

Leia blinked, surprised that that was the conclusion he came to. She supposed it made sense though and from a certain point of view, her case wasn't so dissimilar to Alice'. She might not know exactly what the future held but the one possible, already messed up beyond recognition future she had seen had given her a deep understanding of the world she lived in and the Cullen's in particular. And then there were her dreams and her stronger than normal instincts. She knew that powerful vampiric gifts sometimes manifested as a weaker version in the human already. She had no idea how Alice had been as a human but it was entirely possible that she had started out similar to Leia.

"I see", Edward said quietly even though Leia hadn't said a single word.

"Just out of curiosity, what has Alice seen about me? From what I understand she's a lot more accurate than me", Leia asked.

Edward looked at her for a moment. Then, very seriously, he said: "She saw your death."

For a moment Leia stopped breathing. Her death. She'd walked straight to her death. Wrong. She'd tried to get away from it but it would catch up to her - but even if it did, that was fine, wasn't it, because she had already accomplished everything she - wrong.

"You're lying", she realized.

He scowled at her. "I'm not."

"Yes you are!" Leia accused him angrily and poked his chest with her finger. "Stop trying to scare me like that!"

"I am not lying", Edward stressed.

"You are trying to deceive me." Leia was sure of that, as sure as she'd ever been about anything. "I can tell. I'll ask her myself." She turned around to do just that but Edward grabbed her shoulder, gently, holding her back.

"Wait! I... I will tell you. But not here", he added quietly. She looked into his eyes, judging whether he was serious. His eyes were golden so he probably wasn't trying to lure her away to make sure she did indeed die. Edward winced as he read that thought and let go of her. She decided to give him a chance.

"Okay. Behind the school then." Leia adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and left the school.

Edward followed her at some distance and a certain scene from the holo drama that Twilight was turned into flashed before Leia's eyes. Everything was different now and yet some things seemed to repeat.

The two stepped into the forested area behind the school and Leia turned to face Edward, waiting for him to spill the beans.

Edward looked frustrated and yet resigned.

"You know what we are", he said. It wasn't a question.

Leia nodded. "You're vampires, but only in the broadest sense of the word. The sun doesn't harm you, most of the religious myths are false and you only drink the blood of animals."

Edward gave a curt nod. "In essence, that's true. You know about our gifts too?"

"Your mind reading and Alice' visions. Jasper's empathy too, the others are talented in less obvious ways." Leia smirked. "Your mum is an amazing cook. Especially for someone who can't taste it."

Edward shook his head incredulously. "I still can't understand why you aren't scared. Anyone else in your position would be. And I did not lie, Alice did see your death. Quite prominently so on the first day we met. As you seem to be aware, your blood is a special... temptation for me. That future may have been averted but that doesn't mean the danger for you is over."

"Does she still see me dying?" Leia asked testingly. She was convinced that was not the case.

"Yes she does", Edward stressed. "In some visions you die and... and become like us. And other times she just sees nothing at all when she looks into your future. This cannot end good for you, Bella."

That at least, Leia felt, was the truth. But Edward was missing one important detail.

"We seem to have different definitions of the word death then. Did your sister ever see me actually dying, as in getting my neck snapped or be hit by a car or any other means of actual, final deaths?"

"Not since that fist day but..."

"And did you know", Leia continued, "that there are certain creatures, such as the Quileute wolves living nearby, whose mere presence block out Alice' visions?" She made a grand effort to think only about the wolves and not about the other kind of creatures that could be a reason for those holes.

"Just because my future sometimes exists and sometimes does not, does not necessarily mean that I've died. And no, I do not count becoming a vampire as dying. As long as I think and feel and have wishes and ambitions and a will of my own, I am alive."

And just like that, she'd destroyed the main conflict of New Moon. Because she knew that Edward hadn't known that about Alice' visions. But now he did.

"How do you know that? Any of that?" Edward wanted to know.

She shrugged. "I've got my own gift, I suppose. How do you read minds? I don't know, it's just how I am. I'm not questioning it anymore. It saved my life too many times." There was more to it than that of course. Her sister played a big role in it but the power that brought her here, that enabled her to experience all this? She knew what that was and it was something she was born with. She just hadn't ever been permitted to put a label on it, much less put it to use.

"Becoming a vampire cannot possibly be what you want", Edward tried again. "Many would consider it a fate worse than death."

"Your family obviously doesn't, or you would've found a way to end your lives. And of course I would prefer it if you didn't take a sip out of my neck and turned me anytime soon. But in a situation where it could save my life? That's a different story. Maybe I'm fated to die in a car accident next weekend on my shopping trip with Alice. Or maybe I'll get cancer five years from now and Carlisle just happens to be my doctor. Maybe I slip and break my neck on a freshly wiped kitchen floor during Esme's course. You think I'm in danger because I'm getting close with your family. But maybe it's the other way around? Maybe that proximity will save me one day. Nothing about the future is ever certain and unchangeable. Nothing at all ", she said with conviction, thinking back of the tiny white cell and the utter certainty that had filled her back then about her impending death. A death that never came.

"What happened to you?", Edward asked, sounding faintly horrified.

Leia stiffened. "I know you can't help your gift but please don't bring up any thoughts you read from me unless they're obviously meant for you. My past is my own and I don't know you well enough yet to share it willingly."

"I... I am sorry but..." Edward sighed and turned away. A few moments passed in which he gathered himself. Leia wasn't sure what he'd seen that had unsettled him so much.

At last he addressed her again.

"I only wanted to talk to you to make sure you hadn't told anyone of our secret and to warn you to be careful and stay away from us, for your own good. But I think I'm starting to see what the others already did. You have more in common with us than any other human I've met. I won't pry into your past but... If anyone is giving you trouble about your gift, you can tell us. We might be able to help. Even if... Even if it's your family. You can be yourself with us."

Leia's breath caught. She fought down a wave of conflicting emotions. There was indignation that Edward would accuse her parents of anything. It was hardly her mother's fault that...She slammed down a mental wall on memories of death and disaster, aftermaths of the purge her father had shown her to make it clear to her that she must never...

But Leia was in Forks now. She was safe, she was unreachable and hidden and Edward was right. She could be herself now.

"I... I think I have to go now", Leia whispered. She was white in the face and fighting tears and she needed to be alone, she needed to think.

"Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I'm sorry", Edward made helplessly.

Great now she was crying.

"Shut up", she muttered and turned away from him. This was so embarrassing and not at all how she had imagined her first meeting with Edward alone to go.

Edward reached out for her but Leia pushed him away, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

I'm sorry, she thought to him directly because she didn't trust her voice not to waver. This isn't about you, I just... I need to go.

Leia turned and walked away as fast as she could without running. She focused all her mind on Charlie's face. A kind and loving father who would do anything for his daughter. Who would accept that daughter even if she was sick or crazy or a vampire.

She'd taken that daughter from him.

Leia drove back home as fast as she could, then stormed into her room, slamming the door shut and threw herself on her bed for a good cry like... Like a perfectly normal teenager.

Leia had always known that she was adopted. Her mother, the queen of Alderaan, couldn't have children of her own but the crown was inherited in the matriarchal line. So she'd adopted her. Then Leia had proven herself to be Force-sensitive.

Stars, she hadn't ever even allowed herself to think that word. It was like a dirty little secret. Her parents had made sure to hammer into her brain that she must never let anyone know. She mustn't talk about knowing things because of a feeling. She mustn't be great at trying out a new skill for the very first time, she needed training to justify perfection. She must keep her thoughts in check around strangers. And she must never, ever allow her temper to get the best of her. She must control her anger and hide her sadness and try to understand people, even the despicable ones, instead of hating them for what they did. Yes, even the Imperials.

It was only in the safety of her own room at home, there and only there she may let out her feelings if it became to much. There, nobody would see it if everything that wasn't nailed down suddenly shot to the ceiling around her.

In Leia's room on Alderaan, all the furniture was nailed to the ground.

The Empire didn't kill all the Force-sensitives. Only the lucky ones. But despite the danger that put her whole family in, her parents had never even considered abandoning her or adopting another child. They hadn't been surprised that she was gifted. Leia suspected that at least one of her biological parents had had similar abilities. They'd died in the purge and her parents had taken her in because she'd been an innocent baby in need of protection. And because every Force-sensitive that was kept out of the hands of the Empire meant one less Inquisitor in the enemy's elite forces. Maybe Leia had even been saved straight from the creché of the Jedi temple or, what was more likely, maybe a Jedi who had collected her from her blood family to bring her to the temple had been caught in the purge and hid her on Alderaan before leading the Empire away.

She'd never asked her parents about her blood family, not since she was very little. It had seemed ungrateful to her because she knew how much she owed them.

But now Leia was in Forks. Nobody hunted her here for being a rebel. Sure, the Volturi might keep a look out for gifts, she'd have to make sure to avoid them. But they were nothing against the overwhelming might of the Empire. They didn't have eyes in every city and even in her own home. They couldn't force her to join them, even if they learned about her, not so long as she continued to make friends with the Cullens.

Leia was free. She was free to use and explore her gifts and free to be who she was meant to be.

She was free to ask questions.

Leia's gaze fell onto a small box set of DVDs. It was part of a small storm of books and loose paper and dirty clothes that hovered all around her. As the girl was gripped by a sense of calm determination, all the objects slowly lowered themselves down to the ground. All but the movies, who came straight to her, pressing themselves into her open hand like a dog that returned to its owner.

Star Wars.

If she truly wanted to understand her gift, that's where she needed to start.

Leia opened the box and scanned the contents. It was unnerving to see her own face, surrounded by unfamiliar ones, look back at her from the cover. Somewhere out there on this planet was an actress that looked exactly like her... There were nine movies in total, sorted chronologically. Leia sighed in relief when she read the description of the first movie. It seemed to take place several decades ago, before the Empire was even founded and it followed the journey of two Jedi, one of which was the same her father had sent her to to deliver the plans of the Death Star. Obi-Wan Kenobi. That was perfect. If she watched this, the could learn more about the Force and yet wouldn't need to confront the terrible fate Bella had described that she had so narrowly evaded.

Fortunately Bella's PC could play the DVD so after some fiddling to familiarize herself with the ancient technology, she put in A Phantom Menace and settled down watch.

It wasn't a particularly good movie, as far as she was concerned. But the world it showed, albeit flawed, a world where gifted people didn't have to hide and were treasured instead, was a very welcome sight. This was what the rebellion fought to restore.

The jarring difference she witnessed when the group arrived on Tatooine though, where slavery of sentient beings was entirely normal and nobody, not even the Jedi tried to do anything about it, was a blow to the idealized image of the Republic Leia had been raised with that she didn't expect.

There was a Force-sensitive child that crossed the path of the two Jedi who expressed many of the same symptoms Leia herself had when she'd been that age. She felt with the little boy, Anakin Skywalker, from the very beginning. In fact the sheer number of similarities she saw between herself as a child and that boy was startling. They came from such different backgrounds. That little boy was fierce and stubborn and had an unyielding sense of justice. He cared about his mother deeply and connected quickly with the rest of the party. When in the end freedom was offered to him at the price of leaving his mother, Leia even shed a tear for him.

Between the mother's calm acceptance of an unfair fate, the Jedi's unconcerned attitude and the Queen's well constructed mask, that boy at times appeared to be the only truly human being to her.

The tattooed Zabrak they encountered and fought reminded Leia strongly of the most horrible elite the Empire had to offer. When the group reached Coruscant and talked to Senator Palpatine, who she knew would eventually be elected Emperor and misuse his power terribly, the connection that the Jedi were still musing over immediately became clear to her. Of course the Empire only provided a very much redacted biography of their tyrannical leader. But even Leia had learned in history lessons about the man's rise to power. She knew how he'd been hailed as a heroic representative of democracy who rose from the conflict and the suffering of his home planet Naboo under the greed and corruption of the Galactic Trade Federation. A conflict which, she now suspected, might've been entirely fabricated. Leia moaned out loud in frustration when the Queen called for a vote of no confidence, opening up the path to the position of Chancellor and thus more power for the manipulative tyrant.

Anakin was rejected by the Jedi Council, which Leia could not comprehend. Of course the boy was afraid and lonely. Leia knew emotional control was important for a Force-sensitive. It was the one thing her parents had always insisted on when they knew little else about the Force. But surely if the boy's lack of control was a problem, that only meant he was in even more need of training? Leia looked at that sad boy's face and listened to Qui-Gon's promise to teach him anyway and she realized with unease the logical conclusion a child like that in a situation like that must come to: If he was rejected by the Jedi, he would go straight back to slavery. Surely that wouldn't be what would actually happen. Coruscant had all kinds of programs for orphaned children and the Jedi had the connections to find the best one. But nobody even so much as made a mention of that, least of all to the boy.

The movie came to a climax, the Zabrak was defeated, the planet saved and the boy ended up playing a pivotal role in it. Leia was happy for him because surely now that he was a Naboo planetary hero, he would be well taken care of. Even with no Jedi training, this was still an era where he wouldn't need to hide his talents. She even thought that with his background and the special needs that came with it, he might be in better hands with the Naboo. But the Jedi took him in in the end, speaking of some mysterious prophecy that, knowing what the future held for the order, was probably a load of crap.

Leia took a break from the movie to greet Charlie who'd come home and have some dinner with him. She felt a little better already but Bella's father still commented on her red eyes, asking her if everything was alright. She claimed that yes, everything was, she was just doing a Star Wars re-watch and had been touched by something sad in the plot. Charlie chuckled and went all nostalgic about how he'd been the one to introduce her (Bella) to the movies. He wished her fun but warned her not to stay up too late.

After dinner Leia put in the second movie, hoping to get some insights into actual Jedi training. The movie still followed Anakin and Obi-Wan and it was obviously leading up to the beginnings of the Clone Wars. And yet, most of the movie seemed to revolve around the romance between the young Jedi knight and Naboo's former queen, now Senator, Padmé Amidala. Leia was surprised to learn that such relationships were forbidden in the order. Weren't they taking the whole emotional control bit a bit too far with that? Anakin was obviously struggling. In any other movie Leia would've blamed a case of bad acting for the strange mood swings she saw him do. Except the face on the cover of 'New hope' was not just the face of an actress, it was Leia's face. She had no idea how that worked, how an author could think up that kind of plot and pick actors to fit the role and yet people who looked exactly like that in a different world lived through that reality.

Twilight was a story penned by Stephanie Meyers, a human native to Alderaan. Her story played on a fictional pre-space-faring planet with fictional mythological creatures thrown into the mix. Everything about it was obviously made up - and yet Forks was real.

The political tensions in the movie rose, as did the passion of the two lovers. Their back and forth reminded Leia a bit of Bella and Edward and she had to smile because as cheesy as it was, it was the kind of romance she herself had always wished for. She was completely invested in the story by now, despite knowing it could only have a bad ending. Despite their important roles in the movies, none of the main character's names were at all familiar to Leia. She really only knew of Obi-Wan because of her father. This must mean their contributions had been swallowed by the Empire's propaganda, which in turn meant the couple likely hadn't survived the rise of the Empire. Leia would've known them as heroes of the rebellion at most and wanted criminals at the very least if they had. Padmé Amidala obviously valued democracy highly and even if Anakin Skywalker didn't share her faith in the system, he was so smitten with her Leia doubted he'd be parted from her for long. The movie ended with a secret wedding and the start of a galactic war and Leia contemplated whether or not to stop here.

The movies had given her more insight into how the Jedi worked and acted but little in terms of actual advice on how to use the Force. She doubted that the third movie, which had to depict the founding of the Empire and the destruction of the Jedi, would help her much in that regard either. But she was curious what happened to the main protagonists and she knew these movies were the most accurate and honest description of what actually happened back then she'd ever get. That galaxy might no longer be her home but she was still a child of its culture. Wasn't it almost her duty to learn more?

Yet something (and she knew by now exactly what it was) warned her that if she continued, if she threw in that DVD, she would like nothing she saw. Only death and suffering lay on that path. That history didn't concern her anymore. At one point it would've been incredibly helpful and she'd have taken valuable lessons from that history. The Republic had been idealized by many enemies of the Empire but if they succeeded, if the Empire really fell, they'd have to build up a new galaxy. And they couldn't repeat old mistakes when they did so. But Leia no longer lived in that galaxy. She would never help to build a New Republic. Bella would do that, if all went well, and she already knew what to look out for. There was no reason for Leia to know, not for that purpose.

Leia threw in the DVD. She might not need to know but she wanted to.

She should've listened to her inner voice.

But the longer the movie played, the more invested she got until she literally couldn't stop watching.

Anakin Skywalker's life was no heroic story. It was a cautionary tale.

Leia still felt with him when he had his visions of his wife's death, so similar to those of his mother. But his mood swings got worse and worse, bordering on an disorder. Yes he was under pressure from the war and yes, Palpatine was egging him on and yes, she saw why he wouldn't trust the Jedi anymore. But then he went and turned on Mace Windu and bend the knee to Palpatine and took on that name and Leia just froze in horror.

That little boy she'd cried for, that one human representation she felt really close to in a series of unfeeling people, that romantic lover and heroic Jedi - that was Darth Vader!?

She watched him march into the temple and kill those younglings and she could just sit there and stare, uncomprehending. Her father was there, Bail Organa, witnessing a Jedi padawan get shot down by troopers when Order 66 was enacted and Leia understood now better than ever why he and her mother had taught her to hide so well. Leia watched Skwalker's pregnant wife's tears as she saw footage of the father of her child kill other children and she could only tremble and cry silently. She watched two brothers in heart fight to the death and listened to Vader's expressions of paranoia and delusions of grandeur. Leia couldn't understand if that had always been there or if this mysterious dark side could really turn a person around so utterly in such a short time. Vader attacked his pregnant wife, utterly ruining the perfect cliche love they'd had and she could only grieve because it was so tragic. Then Vader burned and Leia incredibly still felt for him because he deserved death but even he, after everything, didn't deserve to hurt like that and survive, as she knew he must have, mutilated and crippled beyond recognition.

Obi-Wan managed to get the wife to a med center at least and she was dying but she still managed to give birth and that was something, Leia supposed, a tiny little light in a horrible story.

And then Padmé named the babies.

Luke.

And Leia.

And her world fell apart.