Title - The Truth (1/?)

Author -Char Priolo Liesner

E-Mail address -danakr@v...

Archive: Anywhere and everywhere, just let me know

Rating -PG

Category -A (Angst), R (Romance-LM)

Disclaimers: None of these characters belong to me. I'm just borrowing them
and I promise to return them in good or excellent condition to their
original owners.

Summary - Leia's past comes back to haunt her

Set: 25 Years after ANH. About a year after Union, but before the Vong war

CHAPTER 1

The rain started as a fine mist as Cassie Rolands walked towards her goal.
The cold hand of fear spread though her chest as she thought to herself

*Am I doing the right thing?* This is not the first time she questioned
herself after finding the name of her birth mother. *I've been waiting for
this day all my life* She thought as she rounded the corner not far from
the meeting hall. Her mind started to race though the last few weeks.

"Mom, what are you saying? Your not my real mother?" Cassie said softly as
her mother sat down a cup of something that smelled and looked like caf,
but her mother called it coffee.

"Honey of course I'm your mother, in every way that counts, but yes I did
not give birth to you." She said as she took a sip of the coffee.

"What happened?" The mousey brown haired young woman asked her mother

"I've just lost another child and your father wanted to help me, so he knew
some people in the rebellion who could help us." Charlotte Rolands didn't
want to have this talk with her only child, but she knew it was time to
tell Cassie who her birth mother is. She walked over to the window in their
apartment over looking the night skyline of Coruscant. "Honey I know who
your birth mother is, but before I tell you, please remember I am your
mother. Your real mother. I raised you, loved you, I cared for you when
your were sick. I don't want to lose you, please." Charlotte pleaded with
her daughter.

"I know mom and you will always be my mommy." Cassie walked over to her
mother and hugged her from behind. "I love you and I can't not thank you
enough for what you did for me." She whispered as she laid her head on her
mom's shoulder.

"Your birth mother was young, she was thought into the war with the Empire
and she couldn't have a child. I met with her a few days after we adopted
you. She wanted to see you one last time. The rebels were getting ready to
move to Hoth and she was afraid she would never get another chance to say
goodbye. I asked her about your father, she looked sad when she said he was
very special to her. But that's all she would say, she never told me his
name, I'm sorry honey. But here is your birth mother's name." She gave her
daughter a data card with her original birth record on it.

"Thank you mom. This means a lot to me."

"I know and I'm sorry I waited until your 21st birthday to give you this."
They hugged as if it was the last time.

*I'm sorry mom, but I have to meet her.* Cassie said to herself as she
broke her daydream. 'It's time'

She sighed as the meeting was called to a close.

"Thank the gods, I'm ready to go home." Leia said to herself as she started
to pack up her stuff and headed out of the hall.

"Ms. Solo?"

Leia turned to find a young woman standing a few feet from her.

"Yes, can I help you?" Leia asked as she walked over to the young woman,
who looked familiar to her. "Do I know you?

"It's been a long time, but I'm your daughter. My name is Cassie Rolands."
Cassie said in one breath. Leia dropped her things and turned white as a
ghost. Cassie held Leia's arm to help her before she fell to the floor.

"I'm sorry Cassie, I can't deal with this right now, I'm sorry." Leia
said as she stared down the hallway towards the lift that would take her to
her apartment.

"Please wait." Cassie ran to keep up with Leia. "I just want to talk,
that's all. I just have a few questions. Please?"

"Ok a few, nothing personal. I can not tell you who your father is, I
can't, and I won't." Leia said as they took the lift to a small out of the
way dinner.

"So tell me about yourself?" Leia said as she sipped her caf.

"Well as you know I just turned 21 two months ago. My mom, Charlotte, told
me about you on my birthday. I'm a year away from getting my degree in
bioengineering; I attend the university here on Coruscant. I'm on the honor
roll and in the top 5 in my class. That's really about it. Please tell me
how I can about? Why will you not talk about my father?" Cassie said as she
sips her hot coco, it's become all the rage at school a few years ago.

"Man, you don't waste time do you? Cassie, I'm sorry but I will not talk
about him, please understand." Leia whispered as the fear and shame showed
on her face.

"Did he do something to you? That's why you will not talk about it? He
forced himself on you then you found out you were going to have me?" She
asked as the shock that she could be a product of rape.

"NO, no nothing like that I assure you. It was one of the beautiful moments
of my life, I love, loved your father. But it couldn't have worked with the
war and all." Leia couldn't even look at the girl; the shame was just
eating away at her. How could this be happening? 'It happened Leia, there
is nothing you can do about it, it happened and now you have to deal with
it.' She said to herself.

"You were good friends then? Darning the war? Was he a war hero, just like
your brother and hubby?" Cassie asked, to think her father a war hero.

Leia just looked at her white as a ghost, "Yes." She whispered. "I can not
tell you anymore. Please Cassie, I don't want to sound hurtful, but please
go home and forget about this. Go home to your mother and father who love
you, they are your parents in everyway that matters." Leia stood and
preparing to leave, she placed a few credits on the table for this bill and
turned to leave. She nearly plowed into her brother as he walked towards
the table he saw her at.

"Hey what's the hurry?" Luke said as he held her back to stop her from
mowing him down.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you coming." She said staring at her feet.

"Come, sit. Let's order a drink, it's been awhile since we talked." He said
not noticing the other person at the table. "Oh hello." He said as soon as
he noticed Cassie.

"Hello." Cassie said as she gathered up her coat to leave. "I'm Cassie.
It's a honor to meet you sir." She held out her hand to shake his. As he
took her hand he felt a surge from the force that shocked him.

"Cassie is writing a report on the rebellion for school as she asked me for
a interview." Leia said as she saw what pasted between her brother and the
girl.

"Oh really, I can tell you things Leia doesn't know about." He winked at her.

"No I told her all she needs to know. Good luck Cassie and remember what I
said." She hugged her daughter for the first time since give her away.

"Thank you for everything and your right." Cassie said as she turned and
left the dinner.

TBC...

Char Priolo Liesner(danakr@verizon or cliesner@r...)