"I don't, Amalia. I mentioned Binks because he helped me so much. You did the tangent making."

Amalia was swiftly moving the conversation along, however, and Leia paused to dwell on her next question, though only for a moment.

"Me...? Stubborn. Definitely stubborn."

An eyebrow raised inquisitively, classic Leia gesture.

"What about you?"

Leia had misunderstood her comment, she was not refering to Binks at all, but of herself. She decided however that it wouldn't really help matters to continue with that matter, and concentrated on what was being discussed now.

In her mind, she secretly thought of what Leia's answer would be, to Amalia's surprise, Leia's answer was not at all what she thought it would be. She had actually thought of many answers, but the one she was sure Leia would say, she did not say.

Amalia smiled faintly, knowing full well the question would be asked of her. However, she could not come up with an answer. Her smile grew a little as she came up with an answer.

"Critical."

Her smile faded, her face growing expressionless.

....too critical..And I'd give anything...not to be that way...anymore..

That was the thought that ran through her mind as she diverted her gaze from Leia and onto the white cloth that adorned their table.

She slowly looked back up, her face troubled. Yet the troubled expression that crossed her face seemed to vanish after a few seconds, her expression being replaced with emptiness.

Amalia set her elbows onto the table, entwining her hands together, resting them underneath her chin. She could not think of anything to say as silence came again. She was trying to get with it though, the silence was not because she did not wish to talk, just that words escaped her.

"Anything you'd like to ask me? There are still some other things I know I wanted to ask you, but they escape my mind at the moment. So, I figured maybe I should give you the chance to ask me something...that is, if you want to..."

It was Leia's turn to behold the blank expression.

"No... I've never really thought about what I'd ask if I were going to. Only on the fact that I really only know as much of you, as you me. Sure, I know things my Masterness has made or allowed me to pick up, but.. we're actually pretty equal."

Meanwhile Leia had picked up a paper wrapped straw and had ripped one end off of it. She blew the paper off of the straw like a rocket at Amalia, and it bounced off of her nose. Leia grinned innocently.

So what have you been doing for fun these days? I certainly haven't had time, or have been too tired to care, but I'm sure you've found time, you're a lot more laid back than I am..."

"Your Masterness?..."

Amalia's left eyebrow rose slightly.

"It does not take your abilitiy as a Master to know who I truly am. Jedi or not, your observing, mine as well, our talks, and our time together has helped us to know one another better..."

She lowered her hands onto the table, clasping them together before her. Her face softened.

"...But yes, I suppose you being my Master is a justified reason for you knowing me as well as you do..."

Amalia rested back into her chair now, moving a few strands that had got in her view, back behind her ear.

"...Fun?..."

She seemed a little startled now, thinking, her eyebrows narrowing as she thought.

"Hmm, I can't think of anything, not in the last few months, really."

She shrugged.

"..I've been a little busy, I guess, or just really did not end up doing anything."

She smirked, half frowning.

"...I've spent a lot of my free time reading, learning about the different species within our galaxy, the planets, just learning, really."

Amalia leaned toward the table, flicking the small piece of paper straw wrapper toward Leia's direction, hitting her right between the eyes. Amalia smiled, pleased with her aim.

"..Lucky shot..."

They both knew it had been more than just a lucky shot though, and that it had taken more than just aim too.

Leia smiled, returning to the earlier train of thought as the straw escapade ended.

"Stubborn... critical. Oh yes, that's definitely us."

They were served dinner, and Leia began to pick overly daintily at her food.

"All the different things out there huh... somehow I already feel like I've made a long, adventurous trip all the way across the universe, reached the end, and now am turning to do it all over again, going the other way."

Now she picked up a knife and with a mock air of superiority, she tactfully cut a small bite of whatever meat was on her plate and placed it in her mouth. It was her eyes that bombarded Amalia with wry humor as she did this, and not any of the rest of her composue.

Amalia set the main part of her meal aside, replacing it with her side dish, potato rice. She took a small bite, swallowing after a moment. She set her utensil down after she caught Leia's gaze. Leia's words had caught Amalia off guard and she did not know what to make of them. In fact, it was more like she was trying to decipher Leia's words, the look she was giving Amalia did not help much either.

Amalia just sat there for a time, Leia's words running through her mind over and over again, finally, having no luck at deciphering her words....

She tried to speak, opening her mouth, but everytime she did, nothing would come out. So she gave up on that, narrowing her eyes, locking her eyes on Leia.

I don't know what you mean...

"Sure you do" Leia said softly at first.

"I've changed the course of history in my lifetime, I've traveled afar to countless planets, I cannot even name them all anymore. I've seen who knows how many different species, know about many more than I'm sure you could ever imagine, and now I am a Jedi Master.

You'd think, maybe, 'Leia Organa, what more could she possibly accomplish, do in her lifetime?'"

A slow smile took Leia's face.

"The answer? Everything. Sure, I've done all of that. But now it's time to do it again. Just different. If you think about it a while later, you'll understand the analogy. Took me a long time to get it."

Amalia silently wondered why Leia was bring up all this. Why here, why now?

In her own way, Amalia knew what Leia was talking about, though not fully. It puzzled her why Leia was speaking of such things, out of the blue. Amalia often did that, but it really did not seem like Leia to do such a thing.

She shook her head, a symathetic look crossing her face.

"I'm sorry, Leia, but I don't really understand. I don't really understand this...This is out of the blue, I don't get it."

She didn't understand if Leia was trying to tell her something or if it was just conversation. They had been talking about one thing, and now the conversation had transpired into something else, something Amalia just did not understand.

"What are you trying to say?"

Leia smiled, sat back in her chair to drop a long look at Amalia.

"You are too used to my words being either a lesson, advice, counsel, an order, or whatever else means there is a manner with a point to it.

This is just conversation, it's just... me."

Her brow arched quizzically.

"Does that... disturb you?"

Amalia bit down on her lower lip softly, shrugging. It was true, Amalia did believe that and she was used to it. She was now caught off balance.

She nodded to Leia, a hint of sadness crossing her face.

"Yes, but I'm not just disturbed...I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed because I know there is much more to you than all that, yet I can never seem to see it for myself. I see what I allow myself to see, I believe. I see what I am used to."

She looked down at her hands quickly, and then looked back up at Leia.

"What about you? Are you used to certain things from me, I think you are....maybe?..."