3Snow was falling like it always did this time of year on Alderaan, blanketing the mountains and ground with the thick, white, and fluffy substance. Children would be greeted to a picturesque sight the next morning and rush out to go sledding and ice skating, their faces flush from excitement and the cold. But that thrill would have to wait till morning when it was light out, until then the many children of Alderaan kept their faces pressed up against the cool glass windows of their homes, willing for morning to come faster, and Princess Lelila was no exception. The young princess was situated in her little nook against the window of her bedroom, hair up in two buns on the side of her head and donning a white nightgown as she watched the snow come down softly outside. So distracted by the heavenly vision infront of her window she almost didn't hear her bedroom door open. Almost.
Whipping her head around at the whine of her door Leia was greeted by the sight of one of her favorite persons, her uncle.
"Uncle Bail!" exclaimed the little girl as she scampered on down from her perch and ran across the hardwood floors to meet the aforementioned man who had just stepped into the room and was now in a crouched position with open arms. Lelila barrelled into Bail, the latter emitting a grunt from the collision.
"My, my, my, look at you, you look more and more like your mother everyday," Bail crooned as he stroked Lelila's cheeks before drawing himself up.
"Does that mean I can go with you to see Coruscant now?"
Oh how I wish my sweet girl, Bail's heart ached at the thought of being able to bring his niece on a trip to Coruscant with him, knowing that it would never be allowed as long her father had a say in it. He would try to change that tonight.
"I'm sorry Lelila, you know your father and mother want you to stay here on Alderaan, you're a bit too young to go on trips without them."
Lelila rolled her eyes making Bail chuckle, she's definitely her mother's daughter.
"It's not fair, Dad lets Luke leave with Uncle Obi-Wan off planet all the time without him and mom."
Oh I bet he does, Bail thought darkly to himself but instead said, "Well Luke is a few years older than you my dear."
Lelila scoffed in an adorable way that only kids can pull off, "But Luke has been off-planet without mom and dad before he was eight, this is sexism!"
Bail let out a big laugh at that remark, "Now where did you learn that word?"
Putting her hands on her hips Lelila simply responded, "From mommy."
"I'm not surprised your mom is the smartest woman I've ever met," and the most beautiful too.
"She is isn't she?" The new voice drew Bail's attention away from thoughts of Breha to Anakin.
"Daddy!" Lelila shouted before running over to her father, but before she could get to him she felt herself being lifted into the air from some invisible force.
"Daddy!" the young girl shrieked happily, "put me down!"
"Hmmm I don't know, maybe I should keep you up there for a few more minutes."
"Uncle Bail! Tell daddy to put me down! He'll listen to you, you're the oldest"
"Oldest doesn't mean better Lelila," Anakin retorted, his mood turned sour at the mention of his brother, it was as if he had forgotten Bail was in the room with him. Gently he lowered Lelila back to the ground and she ran up to take his hand.
"Bail, you're back early, Winter Fete doesn't start till next week."
Bail didn't miss the pointed glare his younger brother gave him as he said those words. "Well the Senate adjourned early for the holidays so I thought I'd surprise my niece and nephew by coming here."
"How thoughtful," Anakin bit out.
Ignoring the tone in the younger man's voice Bail questioned, "Speaking of my nephew, where's Luke?"
Lelila rolled her eyes, "He's with that creepy Palpatine."
Bail almost laughed at the remark but covered it up with a cough.
"Lelila," Anakin admonished, "Palpatine is a great teacher of the Force, and will help your brother learn how to make the most of his potential.
The young girl sighed before nodding to her father, but when Anakin wasn't looking, she mouthed "creepy" to her Uncle Bail who had to cover up another laugh.
"Daddy, when can I go see Coruscant with Uncle Bail? You always keep telling me when I'm older but I keep getting older and you still say no!"
Anakin glared at Bail, the latter giving the former an incredulous look as if to say she's the one who brought it up. "Princess, why do you even want to go to Coruscant, it's a dirty city, overcrowded, and the people are rude."
"Becauseeeeeee," Lelila dragged out, "I want to be a Senator when I grow up, just like Uncle Bail!" Lelila beamed at her uncle who smiled in response.
"And you'll be a wonderful Senator someday my dear."
"Yes, well" Anakin interrupted, "we'll discuss it with your mother later," in a tone Leia was smart enough to realize meant not to challenge.
"Now it's time for you to go to bed."
"Daaaaad no," came the groaned response.
"Dad yes, it's past your bedtime.
"But I want to talk more with Uncle Bail!"
Bail could see his brother was about to lose his temper and decided to quickly intervene, "Lelila if you go to bed now the closer you are to tomorrow morning and you can go ice skating and sledding."
Lelila nodded her head as if considering her options, "Okay, but I want you to tuck me in tonight. Is that okay daddy?"
It most certainly is not okay Anakin thought to himself but simply said, "if that's what you want princess." And with that he placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead and whispered his goodnights before exiting the room.
"Alright missy, get on up to bed," Bail gestured to the four-poster monstrosity in Lelila's room, the young girl had to use a step stool to climb on top. He got her settled under the covers before sitting on the edge of the bed to say goodnight.
"How long will you be here for?"
"Two weeks, and then I'll have to go back to Coruscant."
"Take me with you" the young girl pleaded with him.
Bail reached out to stroke her face again, "Wherever I go you'll always be with me."
Lelila pouted, "It's not the same."
Bail hummed in thought before remembering he had brought his bags into Lelila's room in his rush to see her. "I have something that might make you feel better. Would you like to open one of your Winter Fete presents early?
Lelila's head vigorously bobbed up and down in response, "Alright I'll take that as a yes," Bail laughed going over to his bag and taking out a small box. Box in hand, he settled himself on the bed before handing over the present to his niece, "Happy Winter Fete Lelila."
Grinning excitedly Lelila ripped open the wrapping paper with enthusiasm before coming in contact with a cube shaped velvet box, and looked up questionably to her uncle.
"Go ahead and open it, just be gentle," cautioned Bail.
Lelila nodded again before carefully pulling the top part of the box up to reveal a beautifully decorated circular shaped music-box. It was a dark green decorated with golden accents.
"In order to open it you'll need this," and with that Bail pulled out the other part of Lelila's present from his pocket. It was a necklace with a golden chain and what looked like a green gem in the shape of a flower with petals, also in green with gold lettering.
"For me? Oh Uncle Bail I love it!"
"This necklace works as a key to open the music box, there's a slot at the bottom that you can twist to open. But read what the necklace says first."
Lelila brought the flowered part of the necklace to her eyes and sounded out the words, "Together...in...Coruscant...Oh Uncle Bail really?"
Bail chuckled, "Yes really, I've talked with your mother and she thinks you're old enough to go with me for a trip. The two of us think we can persuade your father to let you go! But don't tell your father about the gift yet, we haven't had a chance to convince him."
"I won't say anything! It'll be our little secret!" And with that Lelila threw her arms around her uncle, with Bail savoring the moment, he knew he would remember this exchange for the rest of his life.
"Now why don't you open the music box before bed so you can hear what it plays before you go to sleep."
Lelila nodded before taking the necklace and inserting one of the petals into the slot of the music box and winding it up, and as it opened a familiar tune began to play, as Bail began to sing:
"On the wind, Across the sea
Hear this song and remember
Soon you'll be here with me
Once upon a December."
Lelila gasped, "It plays our lullaby!"
"When you miss me, you can play the music box and pretend it's me singing to you."
"Thank you Uncle Bail! I love it so much, and I love you."
"I love you too Lelila. Now you go to sleep and have pleasant dreams."
"Goodnight," Lelila whispered out before she felt her eyelids grow heavy and succumbed to sleep.
Bail gently took the music box and necklace out of Lelila's hands and placed them on her nightstand. Looking again down at his niece Bail felt bittersweet for reasons he didn't like to acknowledge but they plagued his mind anyway. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the crown of Lelila's head before standing up to grab his bag and leave the room, closing the door softly behind him.