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Author	Topic: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Star Wars Trivia Hostess Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 7/9/06 11:03pm Subject: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Note: This is kind of like a sequel to "Empty." The dialogue in italics is from that or flashback. *** "I survived for us. I survived it for a child, for a future of Alderaan. I survived for nothing!" "The child you love doesn't have to be the one you carried." "It's all I've thought about today. Every child I saw on the streets, every report I heard from Dantooine or Seleucami of the war refugees and the orphans..." "You're finally thinking the way I do." "I should have known better, but I wanted her...so badly..." "She will be loved with us." The words of comfort that had given both of them so much hope should not have forced Breha from sleep or robbed her of breath. Nevertheless, she awoke with the feeling that she had been drowning and her lungs strained for air that flowed easily into them. Her hands clawed at the air, but found nothing to defend herself against. She felt as if she had every reason to panic, but she could not find a single reason why. With that realization, others came. Her first instinct after such a rush of emotion was to reach for Bail, both to reassure him that she knew he was there and to confirm that he had not left her to her own vulnerabilities. Tonight, however, she fully intended to turn in to his embrace and found herself staring at the blankets that he had thrown back. Her hands found the sheets to be cool beneath her touch. A glance at the chronometer confirmed that it had been a mere two hours since they had retired to bed. In any other circumstances, she’d have assumed that he needed to arise early for the sake of their people, but resigning himself to less than an hour of sleep was a criminal act in the Organa household. Instead of waiting for him to return, she peeled back the blankets as well and turned to reach for her dressing gown. It was not really necessary, since what even the Tatooins would call a Tusken Summer was lingering for a while this year. Bail had even permitted her to keep the windows ajar tonight so that the warm breezes coming off of the sea could fill the room. She preferred to wear it, though, because it felt like an embrace until Bail could render it unnecessary by giving her one of his own. It was two hours past midnight, so there could be only one place that she would find him. In fact, when she opened the balcony door that adjoined Leia’s room, he gave her a rather sheepish smile that might have convinced her of his well-being at any other time, but for now admitted that she had caught him in the act of needing some specialized comfort. She could see past the familiar grin, however, to the lines around his eyes that seemed to multiply in the time between each time she looked at him. She knew that when she pulled him into her arms, there were new knots in his back muscles and there were too many things that he seemed to withhold from the words he said to her. It was an immensely difficult task not to resent the secret that his tension suggested, but she had enough experience with fear and danger in her life. He had forced her to give voice to those fears from the first day of their marriage simply because they had promised in that marriage ceremony to bear one another’s burdens in all times, in all things and in all places. He had demanded to share her pain through the illness that had nearly taken her life four years ago as well as the despair that ensued when they learned that it would forever deny her the opportunity of carrying a child of her own. He had demanded to feel her anguish, but seemed to not trust her to do the same for him. “What’s haunting you?” she asked quietly, moving to sit on the padded bench next to him Their familiar retort was out of his mouth in an instant, an instinct and a defense. “Everything and nothing at all,” he insisted. Leia was curled comfortably in his lap, her head tucked perfectly beneath his chin. They seemed to grow in proportion to each other, so that they never outgrew the strength of that embrace. He shifted her in the circle of his arms, still not rousing their daughter from her comfortable sleep, then reached out with his right arm to draw the last member of their family in as well. At some unspoken signal, he let Leia slide in his embrace so that her dark-tressed head rested comfortably in Breha’s lap. She would always feel like that, as if she were a welcome visitor to the understanding that Bail had with Leia. It was not to say that she would ever love Leia less, but the High Princess of Alderaan was very remarkably her father’s daughter. He drew in a deep breath when she did not press the issue and, naturally, attempted to change the subject. “It’s time to return to Aldera,” he observed. “The Council will be reconvening by the end of the month and I can’t afford to keep them on anything but a very short leash.” She had to press a fist to her mouth to stifle the laugh that threatened to erupt from her. “I think they can take care of themselves more than you think,” she chided. “Besides, Leia loves it here.” Of course Leia loved it here. The palace at Antibes, where they spent their summers, was the seat of the crown-princess and every person in this city knew it. This balcony overlooked the port and the sea beyond and Leia would always be begging to walk the streets by the end of breakfast. She simply loved the people at Antibes in the same way that they loved her. They had adopted each other, both because they had no other choice and because they could find no fault with each other. Breha envied that kind of innocent admiration. “She does,” Bail agreed. “Sometimes, I wish we could keep her here forever.” Breha wasn’t sure whether he wished that for his beloved daughter’s sake or for his own. Perhaps it was because this was also the one place that they could escape the place where her sickness had confined her too many times for their own good. That didn’t seem to be the extent of his distress, however and no amount of rumination or nostalgia could make her forget that they were huddled together at 0200, hoping that their three-year-old daughter could give them something to hope in. Something was innately wrong about that. “What’s haunting you?” she asked once more. This time, he did not avoid the question, but he did not quite answer it either. Instead, he passed over a datapad and waited for her to understand. She hated this sort of report. It was the kind of form letter from Intelligence that explained little but cold facts and the main players. She read it, though, because he always seemed to consider that it told a more complete tale than what he could speak. She read in silence for a long minute, her breath quickening at the mention of the rising crime rates. It was hardly surprising, since Alderaan was pacifist by principle and practice, but no amount of pacifism could convince some of the dissenting citizens. Offworlders would see it differently. They would look at the same report and see the percentage of crimes committed by non-humans and refugees. Breha could not attribute all lack of compassion to offworlders alone, but those who were not Taia’s children would not understand that Alderaan would not hold a refugee population responsible for the actions of a few individuals. “It’s bad enough that it’s happening here,” Bail stated, “but I don’t know how to keep this from the Empire.” “We have to,” she said sharply without bothering to quiet her voice. Leia stirred abruptly and Bail held a finger to his lips. “M’mi,” Leia muttered. Breha stroked her hair lightly, lulling her back into sleep, but her apologetic gaze went to Bail instead. “I know,” he said once Leia’s breath had steadied once more. “I wish there were a way to make sure that the Empire will stay out of this, but you know the new laws on alien activities.” “I know,” she agreed. The Empire would know simply because they automatically assumed that all aliens were criminals. By the new laws, Alderaan’s government was responsible for the criminal activity simply because it thought differently. It was not a complete explanation, but she was beginning to understand what had kept Bail awake tonight. “We need to contain it,” he thought out loud, “but we cannot allow the Empire to help with that or they will have a reason to believe that we need a more permanent solution. We can’t stop the flow of refugees because they have so few places to go, but we can’t afford this kind of activity.” She had to smile slightly at his familiar litany, but it felt like an automatic and pre-fabricated gesture and she hated it for being as much of a reflex as Bail’s deceptive sense of well-being. “It’s time to go back to Aldera,” she echoed his earlier statement. “The Council will not let us bear this burden alone.” *** From that late-night meeting, she began counting the days in a kind of apprehensive fear. She hoped that, soon enough, her mind would allow her to think of the days of peace rather than the time since the last crisis, but it seemed as if even that was impossible. At three days, the crisis was contained both with the help of the refugees themselves and the Constabulary. At five days, the Council passed a law to set up a militia that would leave the power of guarding the peace in the hands of the citizens as well as those who made a career of protection. At seven days, however, she was awakened in the early hours by the announcement that an Imperial Star Destroyer was in orbit. “Identification?” Bail asked immediately. “The Devastator,” Breha guessed without waiting for an answer. The comms officer nodded. “They’re ‘asking’ for a landing permit,” he explained. “I don’t think there’s an option to say no.” That went without saying, since Lord Vader was showing a remarkable amount of patience just in asking for a landing permit in the first place. Actually waiting for that permit would be unheard of. “They’ll be touching down in ten minutes,” Bail said, his fingers closing around her wrist as if she needed to be restrained. “Give them the landing permit and we will receive Lord Vader in the Grand Audience Chamber.” Breha wasn’t sure at all that it was a wise idea. On the one hand, the Chamber would be ‘appropriate’ for the visit of such an important figure in the Empire. On the other, he might prefer privacy and the Chamber would blatantly refuse him that. They were both in the traditionally formal robes that their stations required, but not the full regalia of royalty, so when Bail guided her towards their quarters, she began running through a catalogue of what would be appropriate for the situation. The first words out of his mouth, however, had nothing to do with keeping up appearances. “We cannot let him know about Leia.” Her brow wrinkled at the illogical statement, since a three-year-old girl with a head full of ringlets and a mind full of fairy tales would not pose a threat to the Dark Lord. “She is no Jedi,” Breha protested, pulling away. “You said that her tests proved that having Jedi parents had not, in fact, made her an heir to that legacy.” “I know,” he said urgently, keeping her arm in his grip, “but that is not what I am speaking of.” The strain in his voice that matched every sign of tension that he had so carefully concealed stopped her dead in her tracks and she turned to face him. “You lied,” she whispered. “She is no Jedi,” he promised, “and everything that I have told you is true.” “You lied,” she repeated, her voice shrilling. “Not about her powers, but by what you left out.” He did not argue with that and she yanked her arm free, shrinking away from him as if the omission were a physical threat. “What in the name of Taia did you leave out?” she demanded. He said nothing. “Tell me,” she keened. “You said she was a war orphan, like so many of the others here and that her mother had died. What part of that story was a lie?” For a long moment, he was absolutely silence and she knew that he had moved from the need to conceal details to the urgency of telling her what would protect them all. “She is a war orphan,” he promised. “I watched, helpless, as her mother died.” “Who?” she hissed. “Padmé,” he confessed. The Senator she had known too briefly, who had come here expecting nothing more than an emotional haven and who had been one of their kindred spirits. Bail had given her a place in Alderaan’s roll of martyrs, but had never explained why. Because of the woman she had been, Breha had felt that no explanation was necessary. “And the father?” His voice trembled just as much as hers as he finally spoke the truth he had feared for three years and when the words came out, they were finally not a surprise. “He will be in the Chamber in eight minutes’ time.” She was not a violent woman, but at that moment, her fists lashed out, pounding against his chest and flailing against him as she tried to drive him and the truth out of the room. “He can’t have her!” was the only thing she could howl by way of protest and condemnation. TBC in vignette 1 -----signature----- "I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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MiaTieska Title: Provo, UT FanForce CR Registered: Jan '03	Date Posted: 7/9/06 11:16pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Oh kriff so brilliant. So beautiful and so lovely and I love Bail and I love Bail/Breha stuff. he gave her a rather sheepish smile that might have convinced her of his well-being at any other time, but for now admitted that she had caught him in the act of needing some specialized comfort. That's so Bail... “You lied,” she whispered. “She is no Jedi,” he promised, “and everything that I have told you is true.” Ohhhh dear. Ohh dear. You write them so well. Just... even the very cultured way they say things, it's so them, it's so Alderaanian, I love it. I love this vignette so much. I can't wait for the second part!! I keep feeling like he shouldn't have told Breha... Ooh, this is so lovely and beautiful. You capture the essence and the atmosphere...the ambience of Alderaan and its culture. And of course, I love Bail anyways. -Mia -----signature----- "I have mutated bread! Come see!" "The Bank of Jedi Skills is... empty. We're overdrawn." It's Just Pretend, K/J: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=22720801 Provo FanForce: http://boards.theforce.net/board.asp?brd=10138
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Katana_Geldar Title: Former CR Tasmania, AU Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 7/9/06 11:27pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Nice work Ish, always thought it was a bit fishy that Breha accepted Leia without question. -----signature----- Jacen and the two Vergeres http://swfanon.wikia.com/wiki/User:Katana_Geldar/Jacen_Solo%2C_Vergere_and_the_Force "They press some bum button and out comes the beams." - Excellence Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent. SWC Senator for Alderaan
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SpiritofEowyn Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 7/9/06 11:52pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	â€œHe will be in the Chamber in eight minutesâ€™ time.â€ Poor Breha! That would be scary! And I thought Leia was a jedi, why wouldn't the tests show that? Good vig Ish, I'm loving the Breha/Bail dynamic. -----signature----- Suddenly Single Other Half: Force Twins Index : http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=22314061 "Stop the Skywalker Stupidity Cycle"
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DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Star Wars Trivia Hostess Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 7/10/06 1:50am Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	MiaTieska--awww, a first postie from my favorite CR. Glad you liked the B/B vig. I can't really see Bail looking sheepish, but then again, you usually don't as a politician. LOL, Ohhhhh dear pretty much sums it up. I always have thought of the cultured accent as coming from my idea that there is a native language on Alderaan and they learn Basic through diplomatic ties for the most part, so they are very erudite. I hope you like the second part as much as the first! There will be consequences to his having told Breha. I liked trying to set up the family dynamic and atmosphere in this way. Thanks, thanks! Katana_Geldar--Well, we only see her for five seconds. I've always figured that Bail gave her an explanation. And like I said, this is a sequel to Empty. Thanks! SpiritofEowyn--I'd be pretty freaked out by that. And don't worry, there's an ample explanation coming up for that whole mess. Thanks! -----signature----- "I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 7/10/06 3:01am Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Holy... Vader's coming. Loved this, Ish. Great little cliffie. Bail/Breha was cool, too. Awesome convo. She didn't know it was Padme's daughter? Whoa... Can't wait for the final viggie! -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Kelli_LB Registered: Jun '06	Date Posted: 7/10/06 3:11am Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Excellent vignette as always Ish. Breha is going to have this shocking revelation on her mind during her meeting with Vader and I hope that he doesn't pick up on her thoughts. -----signature----- Winner of the 2007 Saga Fanfic Awards for Best Villain. The Legacy: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/248894 "I'm babbling on about galactic prostitution...and that's not why you're here! You're here for battle." --The Knudson Menace
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Yorkshire-Gal Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 7/10/06 12:24pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Oh wow , that was brilliant. Cant wait for the next chapter! -----signature----- " I wasn’t elected as Queen, chosen as Senator, and married to a Jedi Knight for nothing"-Padme'Warm Breeze in the Snow Storm' If you havent read that story, pull that finger out of your ass and do it!
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Noelie Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 7/10/06 5:54pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	It is taking me forever to get to things I want to comment on today! This is as beautiful and powerful as I thought it would be when you talked to me about it yesterday. The agony of knowing her father was coming and this father knew no boundries would be horrible The need to remain independent and yet do things Alderaan's ways and yet keep the Empire happy would be... frightening. Great vig.. I can't wait to see the rest! -----signature----- The relationship that has been created in this unique universe is so memorable, and so beautiful. It makes the heart ache. As far as I'm concerned, it's canon.~Ratna on the Noelaverse Proud member of the UPR
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darthzeppo Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 7/10/06 7:02pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	Wow that last bit was chilling -----signature----- "If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you; but if you really make them think, they’ll hate you." —Don Marquis Padawan to Ryoo Naberrie Darthzeppo's greatest hits & misses http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25090645/p1/?0
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DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Star Wars Trivia Hostess Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 7/10/06 11:04pm Subject: RE: A Time of Confession--Bail/Breha AU vignette, 3 years post-ROTS--Vig 2
	RK_Striker_JK_5--Indeed he is. Thanks! B/B is my favorite unknown 'ship. I always figured she knew, but then I had the evil idea if she didn't... Kelli_LB--THanks, Kelli. The shocking revelation is going to be a bit of a major problem. I'd have smacked Bail upside the head for mentioning it. Yorkshire-Gal--Thanks, Yorkshire! Noelie--Poor baby. Thanks for finding it beautiful and powerful as you thought it would be. Yes, the agony would be pretty darn horrific. You'll see the frightening aspect of what you mentioned in the last vig. darthzeppo--Thanks! Yes, it was chilling. I loved getting to that part. -----signature----- "I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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