Stars & Myth - A Rey Solo origins choose your own adventure story

by ThePandoraRose

What if? What if Rey was a Skywalker-Organa-Solo? Or maybe it was just a myth. If it happened. Maybe it happened like this. Or maybe it never happened at all. It is hard for Finn to believe legends like Han Solo & General Organa were once as young as he was, but then they must have been. (Han/Leia POV) General Organa looks back on life & love. What really happened?

1. The Beginning

Stars & Myth

A Rey Solo choose your own adventure origins Story (Han/Leia POV)

Notes: This is a choose your own adventure story. Meaning the beginning and the end are the same, but you have your choice of there middle stories A, B or C. You can also read all the stories and find your favorite. These stories are written as parallel universes, so you may find a scene alluded to in one chapter and the become a full fledged scene in another. You may find a scene familiar only to find based on circumstances and age the moment ends very different. Or maybe none of it every happened at all? Each story is based on actual theories from the Rey Solo tumblr fans. Also based on the in canon comics, novels (as much as possible) the novelization, and Paul Hidalgo and his TFA visual dictionary. If you don't believe in Rey Solo I respect that. We are all just having fun. I hope everyone's theories come true.

THANK YOU - to those who encouraged me to finish this or it would still be two scenes left abandoned on my computer

Characters: Han/Leia, Luke, Ben Solo, Lando, Rey(?). Cameos from: Finn, Poe and Lor San Tekka.

Please Review it helps the writer for feedback after much time and blood is spent. ;)

---

"Life is like a poem: all too brief. Like a star, it burns brightly - then gone. Abruptly. It is mixed with sadness, happiness, love and beauty... And you. The myth of you." Unknown

---

Present, 1am.

Finn woke up to find General Organa sitting at his bed side. He was more than surprised and very groggy. She looked to be reading some kind of briefing book, she took off her reading glasses as Finn stirred and tried to rise.

"No, don't get up, you've been out for three days," the General said softly and stood up, setting her glasses and the book filled with data strips down on the chair behind her.

Finn propped himself up slowly, he was surprised by how much pain he was in. "Where's Rey?" he gritted out.

Leia smiled at his loyalty. "I've sent her on an important mission for me, she'll be fine. She's with friends. I promised her I would look after you. You should rest."

Finn didn't have much energy to protest. He saw the light crew outside and the darkness. "Where is everyone?" he asked softly.

"Sleeping. Second crew is on." She sat on the corner of his bed.

"And you?"

"I don't sleep." She half smiled, but then her voice became serious. "Finn, I have to ask you - may I call you Finn?"

He nodded his head, why was a General of The Resistance asking him permission for anything - but he felt respected. Leia still had old tricks from her politician days, but it was more than a trick for she did have respect for the young man, and she knew expressing it would let her into the boy's confidence.

"Rey told me you saw…" She paused and her emotion almost got the better of her. "What happened to Han."

"I'm so sorry, we -" he spurted out with sad concern.

"Noo nooo -" she soothed him. "There was nothing you could have done. I just wanted to know if you could hear what they were saying. Anything."

"No." He tried to comprehend that the famous Han Solo had died in front of his eyes, when, like Rey had said of Luke, he was nothing more than a myth to him a few days before. "We were too far away."

Leia nodded her head and disappointment filled her face, her entire body seemed to shrink.

Finn had only known the man they discussed for a short time, but by the reaction on the General's face he could tell she had perhaps known him longer. "You fought with him in The Rebellion? You knew him, back then."

"Yes." She nodded her head and remembered a better time. "For almost forty years. I wasn't that much younger than you and your friend Rey. When we met..." She shook her head and sat up from the bed, her body appearing heavy from holding back tears. "I'll tell the nurse you're awake," her voice was hoarse.

"I'm sorry," Finn said with wide eyes. "You knew him well, then, you were close? I didn't know. "

Leia turned in the doorway and smiled. "Yes, I knew him well." Her smiled turned bittersweet. "He was my husband," her voice filled with a melancholy for the word she hadn't used in years.

"Husband?" Finn was shocked.

"Rest. I'll get the nurse." Her eyes glowed with memories, she nodded her head. As always, Leia had to be strong for the greater good, for those around her and under her command.

Finn was left more confused than before. They had never mentioned in his training that Han Solo had a wife or that General Organa had a husband. He wondered to himself, what was myth and what was truth. What was real and what was revisionist history. And it was hard for him to imagine that people like General Organa and Han Solo were ever as young as he and Rey - yet of course once… they had to have been.

---

About 30 Years Ago

3 Months and About 4 Weeks After The Battle Of Endor

& 86 days After The Raid on The Wretch of Treyon

---

Han Solo looked over at Leia Organa with a concerned and odd look on face, not odd for Han, just odd in general. And what he saw on Leia's face and in her behavior was beginning to distract him from his work.

Leia didn't look good. She looked pale, paler than usual, and she felt sick, but there was work to do and a new Republic to build. They were moving in large boxes to the base, parts, clothes, computer equipment, food, etc - putting together a headquarters to start The New Republic Leia had dreamed of, that her father had dreamed of, but would not live to see. And maybe soon the war would officially be over and the words "peace time" would flow from rebel lips. Everything was new. Han deciding to stay in one place for example, and meaning it, being with Leia, not that they were being too public about it on Leia's wishes. Or had much time for public pronouncements during the throngs of war. Therefore, Han always made sure that no one noticed him sneaking in and out of Leia's quarters at night, which was easy since she always left the door open for him. This didn't mean a few people couldn't guess what was going on between them beyond the front of a chased flirtation. It didn't help that Han wasn't very good at hiding a look in his eyes when she barked commands, longing glances, and the causal touch that lasted just a little longer than most. Han tried, but he was the worse culprit of it all, Leia was better at hiding it, except to Han. Leia wasn't sure if that was due to Han's love for her or a sense of lust and pride. This was after all the start of their relationship. She would soon learn the difference. She would quickly learn what she already knew in her heart, that this was a man of deep affection. That under all that bravado he wore his heart firmly planted on his sleeve. Han also liked staring at Leia during the day and reminiscing about their previous night's activities.

"You should go before the sun comes up and someone sees you," Leia nudged Han the night before, as she laid in his arms.

"At some point we're gonna have to stop all this sneaking around. People know. "

"Let them talk. It's just talk…." her voice drifted off, her eyes closed.

"I'm just sayin' -" he had a slight sound of disappointment in his voice, yet held in the real amount of disappointment he felt.

Leia opened her eyes and made sure he looked at her. "I'm sorry, Han - but right now I can't be seen like this…"

"With some fly boy…moon jockey…" he said, with disgust and sat up in bed.

Leia took his chin in her fingers and moved his face toward her. "With any man." Her eyes had compassion in them. "I know you don't understand it, or care to, but I come from a world with certain rules and traditions, which I am the figurehead for and an unmarried woman doesn't keep company or share a bed with a man. We're trying to start a new Republic here and I can't have my authority or respect undermined. Believe me, I believe it's an archaic notion, but until we get things up and going with this new Republic I'm just going to have to go along with it for the time being. I know it is hard for you to believe, Han, but this has nothing to do with you."

"Then why did you let me on Endor…." He spoke in a concerned way, but Leia cut him off - she was good at that.

"Because I honestly don't care what they think and I think I should do whatever I damn well please." She patted his chest warmly.

He grinned large at her, there was the girl he loved. Loved. That word had weight to him.

"And that's me," he said with his cocky tone and an even larger grin.

Leia couldn't help but smile at his sense of humor. "Yeah, that's you, hotshot," she said in her usual casual tone. "For now…" she smirked.

"Hey!" he almost shoved his finger in her face.

"Oh, come here…" She kissed him hard and Han kissed back, pushing Leia slowing down onto the bed.

"Time, " she said sternly, trying not to lose her composure.

"Oh, Sweetheart, I have a good sense of time," he raised his eyebrows and smirked large. "I have the internal clock of a pilot, remember - timing is my strong suit." Han hovered over her, blocking her from leaving her bed.

Leia tried her hardest not to smile. "Nothing in life gets done by staying in bed, Captain Solo." And she snatched her robe and motioned with her free hand for Han to let her exit the bed, and Han begrudgingly obliged. "And I didn't let you do anything on Endor, that was all me," she teased him.

"I beg to differ." Han said with a brash smile, resting on his elbow, propping his head up with his hand - watching her walk away.

"Pants! Now!" Leia demanded and threw Han's pants at him, hitting him right in the face.

---

Leia paused in the corner of the bay dock and turned her back to the group. Han again noticed this was strange behavior on Leia's part, not that he had been able to take his eyes off her since he first noticed her demeanor. Han was more than concerned.

Han nodded his head at Chewie, who was now taking notice of what Han had been staring at, and he took the box in Han's hand. It was a silent gesture of understanding between friends that Han needed to check on the Princess.

Once Han got close enough to Leia he leaned in and spoke to her in an almost whisper, "You don't look so good." He put his hands on his hips.

Leia seemed to jump for a moment. "I'm fine," she said in that testy voice Han knew well.

"Hey, I'm just concerned about your well-being. Can't I do that? As your friend. I don't think that blows your cover?!" He noticed her take a deep breath in and her eyes looked funny. "You don't look fine." Han was even more concerned now.

"Looks can be deceiving." She took a step away from him, but lost her footing, she held one hand to stomach and her face grimaced.

"Whoa, okay…" Han took her by the shoulders and helped her lower down to a sitting position onto a box near a small command center in the corner of the dock.

"I just need some sleep…" she said calmly.

"Yeah, I guess I haven't been so good in helping you with that, have I?" He smirked.

She caught his eyes. "I think I'm pregnant," she blurted out softly, in a strong yet angry voice.

Han looked like he had been hit in the face with a frying pan as his large grin melted from his face and he lost the power of speech.

And then Luke showed up. "What's going on over here?"

"Excuse me," Leia said curtly and walked off as fast as she could.

"Great timing as usual, Luke," Han said with a biting smirk while at the same time patting Luke on the arm sarcastically.

Han caught up with Leia down a crowded hallway and took her gently by the arm.

"'Excuse us," Han said to the people around them, with a tinge of fright and frustration in his voice.

He slowly guided Leia into an empty room filled with boxes waiting to be setup as an office, in fact it had yet to have a door installed. Once in the room, Han checked the doorway outside for anyone lurking about and then walked further in the office towards Leia and away from the door.

"Are you sure?" Han's voice was filled with concern and fear. Concern for her and fear for himself.

Leia slowly lowered herself onto a box. "Not sure." She looked down at her fingers. "Pretty sure."

Han took in some silent breaths as if laughing it off in his nervousness. "Look… I mean I've been doing this for a while now, I mean a lot longer than you… NOT that I'm saying - let me rephrase that - " He put his finger up to notate he would start over. "...of all the times I've been…" he insinuated with his head. "I've never once…." He gestured towards her.

Leia looked up with him with those brown eyes that made him melt. "Hit the bullseye…"

"Well, yeah…" Han took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair, he looked terrified. Then something seemed to come over him and he took a deep breath and knelt in front of her, taking her hands. "So, if you're really…."

"Pregnant."

"Yeah... that," he said awkwardly.

"You can't say the word, can you?" She shook her head at what a man child he was.

"Yeah, so, if you are. I mean I'll do the right thing. I'll marry you," he said stiffly, but he meant it.

"Han…"

"Listen, I love you, you love me and I'm gonna love this kid until the day I die. Those are facts."

"Who said it's yours…" she smirked.

"Hey! Not funny." He shoved his finger in her face.

"You don't have to marry me, Han. I would never want that." She stood up for a moment and got her footing.

Han rose quickly to her side to be sure she didn't fall over, which Leia did not like at first, but then seemed to resign herself to his help. When Han was sure Leia was able to stand she walked slowly over to a small window and looked out.

"I wouldn't marry you because I had to…"

Han as usual wasn't great with feelings all the time, but he tried.

Leia turned to him and seemed to look right into his soul. "I'd marry you because I'd want to." He had a sincere awkward look on his face.

"If I tried to tie you down, Han, I think you'd just fly away again - maybe I - maybe we shouldn't get so attached." She looked back towards the window again.

"Well, I'm attached…already." Han walked over to her, took her by the arms, and turned Leia so that she was looking him in the eyes. "So, you can't run away from me." He took her in a hug and she fell into his chest. "You're stuck with me."

"I'm scared, Han." she finally confessed.

"I know." He nodded his head and tightened his arms around her. "We'll do this together… It's gonna be fine."

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Lie." She looked him in the eye. "Don't lie to me." There was one thing Leia Organa would never tolerate from loved ones or strangers and that was comfort through lies; truth was her only medicine.

"I could never." Han raised his eyebrows at her.

She looked at him with a terrible expression. "You just did."

"I mean I can't -" he corrected himself in frustration. "You always know."

He took her into a hug again against his chest. The only true comfort Leia would accept from Han - human touch.

"If Kes and Shara can do it with Poe, so can we," Han retorted.

"They retired to do what we're about to - could be doing."

"Small detail…" he said in a kind, joking, tone.

There was a silence and Han rubbed his hands over Leia's back and then laid one hand over her head.

"Do I really want to bring a child into this world? This unfinished word. Knowing where I come from."

Han quickly lifted up from their hug so he could talk to her straight in the eye. "That's not you, Leia. I know you. I know Luke. I believe what I can see in front of me. And you're not Vader. I think it's me you need to worry about. I never wanted to do anything for anyone but myself 'til I met you and Luke."

"I don't believe that."

Han took a breath and nodded his head. Here was a woman who believed in him, he had never had that, he kissed the top of her head. What Leia couldn't see was the concern on Han's face: Could an ex-smuggler without a father know how to be one for his own child?

---

Han paced uncomfortably outside the infirmary and he couldn't tell anymore why. Well, he told Chewie, who was waiting impatiently with him. Leia exited through the curtains blocking the entrance with a stern look on her face. She took in Han's eyes, her lips pursed, and then just kept on walking.

"Hey!?" he yelled after her and then followed her down the hallway as they zigzagged past people. Finally, he caught Leia as she was about to enter a meeting room.

"And…." he whispered hard, as people moved past them into the room.

"I have a budget meeting." She eyed the people around her.

"I think that can wait one second, don't you?" He looked confused and wanted to say more if not for the people around. Leia said nothing. "Seriously!?"

Leia's eyes narrowed and her lips tightened to speak just one word. "Bullseye."

Han's face changed from cocksure anger to the look of a man scared out of his mind.

"Okay…. yeah… okay…" He nodded his head and averted her eyes. "I need some…." he started to walk.

"Air?" Leia answered sternly.

"Yeah. That…." And Han walked off and for once Leia didn't scold him or shake her head at him disapprovingly - somehow she understood. She understood, yet wasn't sure he would return. It was only at the start and the end of their time together that she would ever feel that way.

---

Han threw the last of the few things he hadn't kept in the Falcon into a well-worn bag and flung it over his shoulder.

"Hey! I never signed up for this!" he shouted at Chewie and made his way out of his quarters for what he thought would be the last time.

Chewie shouted back.

"Responsibilities? Responsibilities? A family man? C'mon?! Not gonna happen." They now had cleared the living area of the base and had made their way into the belly of the garage that housed the Falcon. "No responsibilities, that's what we do best."

"General Solo?" A young man asked Han. "Will you and Commander Chewbacca be taking the Falcon out today?"

"Yeah, kid, be sure we have the space to take off."

The young man nodded his head and ran off.

"What kind of father would I be, with my past," Han grumbled, but there was a sense of sadness in the words, a longing for something he desired, but felt he didn't deserve. Han paused at the foot of the Falcon's entrance, but then without a beat continued up the ramp and into the soul of the ship. "C'mon!" he called after his best friend.

Chewie roared, but followed.

"A good father?I Me?" He pointed both hands toward his chest. "I don't know the first thing about being a father. There's only one thing I'm good at and we both know what that is. And it ain't this." Han threw the bag in his hand onto the floor of the galley and then made his way into the cockpit. "Any kid of mine would do better off without a father than with me in the picture." He flipped a few switches and toggles, checking a few things to be sure his baby was ready to fly.

Chewie roared with a great rage, the kind that jarred Han. He turned and looked at his friend with shock and dismay.

"What you do mean you're not coming with me then? Hey!? What happened to that Wookie code of honor? That life debt you owe me, huh, bud?"

He roared again and whimpered.

"I know... I know…. " He paused and shuttered slightly. "Don't look at me like that?" Han lowered his head and ran his hand through his hair in a weakened moment, but then seemed to pull at his resolve and make his way into the pilot seat. "Well…" Han held in his true emotions and set his sights on the hyperdrive switch. "Who said you had to come with me."

Han suddenly couldn't move from his position - a chair that was the only true home he had ever known suddenly felt cold. He would later tell Leia the story, how his emotions came over him and he couldn't make himself start the Falcon. He couldn't move.

"Leia…" he said softly, as if it was the saddest word he had ever spoken. And for the first time he didn't feel foolish or weak for feelings other people felt were natural and human. For the first time Han Solo was able to admit to himself what he had known in his heart for years - he needed someone and he wanted to be needed in return.

---

Han appeared in Leia's doorway, looking worn and tired. He saw Leia sitting on the bed looking as if she had been crying. The moment he cleared the threshold she knew he was there, she felt him, and she rose and turned to face him. He dropped his bag with an awed look on his face, fell at Leia's feet, and nestled his head against her stomach.

---

Han was ecstatic when he and Leia told Luke in her quarters. The fear the two expectant parents shared was in this moment washed away and the grin on the young couple's faces said it all. The three of them hugged like they are done at previous victories. The family bond the three of them shared was now made officially a family. Luke, Leia and Han would now be bonded through DNA the way they had been bounded through battle and friendship - even before Leia knew Luke was her real family. Han felt part of something bigger than himself for the first time. He would recount it as one of the happiest times of his life.

Leia suddenly become overcome at the trio's embrace. After losing her family, her people, so much death, the idea of a new family and life was overwhelming to Leia. What Leia, Han and Luke had not realized was that one of them had left Leia's bedroom door open and that only moments before C3PO had entered Leia's suite and was now standing in the threshold overhearing them.

"Captain Solo, did my circuits hear Master Luke correctly. You and the Princess are having a child. Together."

"That's right," Han said with pride and put his arm around Leia, but soon her smile changed to a stoic distress.

"No that's not what - " Leia stepped between Han and the Droid.

"Hey, hang on here - I thought no more hiding -" Han protested.

"And you are not married?" C3PO asked.

"Han…" Luke put his hand out to quiet his friend.

Han walked in front of Leia toward C3PO. "Don't worry your circuits in a bunch were gonna get married."

"Han..." Leia protested harder. She and her brother shared a look.

"What?" Han looked at them. "You think i'm not gonna give this kid of ours a name - " he gestured toward himself as he spoke to Luke and Leia and then back to the droid.

"Han!" Luke and Leia shouted together.

"What?!" He turned to look at the siblings.

"Shut up!" Luke and Leia said at the top of their voices.

"Ya know…." He pointed his finger at Luke. "You better be nicer to me if I'm gonna be your brother-in-law. Her I understand."

"Han Solo," came a booming voice from the doorway.

"Yeah..." Han turned with a cocky eyed grin on his face to see two guards coming towards him and putting his arms and hands in shackles.

"You are under arrest," said one of the guards he barely recognized, but wore Rebellion symbols on their uniforms.

"Whoa whoa - what for?" he asked, taken by complete surprise.

"Han stop talking," Leia said to him softly, a concerned look on her face.

Luke shook his head at his friend and tried not to laugh. When Leia saw her brother was slightly cracking a smile, she softly waked him in the stomach.

"Hey, I can talk my way out of anything…" He assured them before the two men dragged him off.

"Or into anything." Luke smirked as he and Leia swiftly followed the father of her child towards the door.

"And that's how you got here," Leia smirked at him and folded her arms.

"Hey, watch it - what is going on here?" Han was more than confused. "Guys!?" Han yelled out for some help from his soon-to-be-wife and brother-in-law behind him. Once he and the guards hit the doorway Han used his feet to stop the men from taking him through the threshold. "Hey, you." Han motioned with his head to one of the guards. "I have the right to know what I'm being arrested for."

"He has no idea, does he…." Luke said under his breath, but Han heard.

"I tried to warn him," Leia said softly.

The guard to Han's left spoke what Luke and Leia already figured out. "You are under arrest for the corruption of the last princess of Alderaan."

"Ah, you're kidding me!" Han rolled his head from side to side and the guards took him through Leia's suite. "Listen, she's the last Princess of Alderaan - last, last -I'm sorry to inform you, but the planet is gone." He caught site of C3PO, who was now beside Han as he was taken into the hallway. "I have you to blame for this, goldenrod, don't I?" Han snared.

C3PO followed Han and the guards into the hallway. "I believe you only have yourself to blame, Sir. I am quite familiar with how human anatomy works, Captain Solo. I am a protocol, droid after all."

As they disappeared into the hallway Luke and Leia walked quickly behind them through her quarters.

Luke leaned in towards his sister. "I'm surprised it took Threepio this long to catch on."

"I just turned him off at night," Leia answered dryly and then exited her quarters with her brother into the base hallway.

"Luke, Leia!" Han caught sight of the siblings as they caught up with Han, the Guards and C3PO. "A little help here?"

"I told you - " Leia demanded from behind him.

"Ya know, specifics would've been nice."

Leia huffed.

Han's face got serious and he had a horrible thought. "I mean what could a guy get for this kinda a thing… I mean this isn't an eye for an eye type thing here, is it?" All the blood drained from Han's face and he swallowed hard at the possibilities running through his head. "Hey, you gotta get me out of this!" His eyes bulged out and he gritted his teeth at Luke and Leia.

Han and the guards paused and waited for the next lift to arrive.

Leia narrowed her eyes at Han. "Why don't you keep talking - perhaps something will kick in," Leia said with as much sarcasm as she could muster.

The lift doors opened and the guards put themselves and Han on what was nothing more than a cave with nerf wire around it.

"The punishment if convicted is death, Captain Solo." C3PO explained, as he walked into the lift and positioned himself next to one of the guards. "I am truly sorry."

Han got a surprised look on his face that was not the first assumption he had made about the punishment. "Okay, not what I thought, but still, pretty bad." He looked at Luke and Leia for more assistance.

Luke started to laugh.

Han breathed large through his nose. "Nice, kid, laugh it up, why don't ya."

Leia tried to walk onto the lift, but one of the guards pointed their blasters at her and she stepped back surprised. Maybe this wasn't funny anymore.

Han gave Leia a 'come on, help me look', as the lift door closed.

Luke turned to Leia. "Stairs," he said before grabbing his sister's hand and running off toward their left.

---

Luke and Leia were just able to meet the lift as it opened on the landing bay hanger.

"Han, we're here!" Leia shouted in a lovely tone, as they approached Han and the group, who had just exited on the tarmac.

Luke sprang into action, "Threepio, don't you think to start a new world we need to get rid of the shackles of old traditions and build new ones in their place."

C3PO had his answer ready. "My understanding, Master Luke, is until the new government of The Republic is in effect, all old laws and traditions are to be fully honored and carried out or there will be chaos. What is a new world without a foundation? This is my programming it cannot be deleted."

"Be careful what you say!" Han growled.

"Shut up!" Luke and Leia again spoke together.

"You two need to stop that, it's getting creepy! Seriously! And why is anyone listened to this talking trash can?"

Luke spoke up. "Half the people in this base are Alderaan sympathizers or previous rebel fighters, you know that Han. You didn't notice about ninety-nine percent of the people here still call her "Your highness?"

Han glared at the stoic guards. "You guys don't talk much, do you? You must be a hit at parties."

Leia pleaded with the guards. "Come on now, this is just ridiculous. I'm the last Princess of Alderaan, there is no... Alderaan… I'm not a Princess of anything. Now let him go." The guards silently continued their march. "I command you to let him go!" She huffed in frustration.

"Threepio, where are they taking him?" Luke inquired.

"Since The New Republic has yet to form any type of penal system they are currently using the Dathomir Imperial Prison. Until a trial date is set for Captain Solo…"

Leia was more than concerned, "Luke, that planet is a death zone, he'll be dead within days."

Luke corrected her, "Half the rubes he swindled are on that planet. Not days, minutes."

"Thanks a lot kid. You encouragement is doing me wonders!" Han snarled. "How long until I get my day in court?" He looked at Leia. "Princess," he said her name in in the most sarcastic way he could. "How's that justice system rebuilding going, your worship?"

"We're working on it." She pursed her lips at him.

RD-2D had now joined them and he voiced his concerns.

"Yes, R2," Luke answered him. "We're trying to do that."

C3PO spoke up. "Based on the current calculations a justice system should be up and running in approximately five years."

Han's eyes spoke volumes about that little tidbit of information. He then batted his eyes at Leia sarcastically, if that was at all possible, but then for Han sarcasm was like a phantom limb.

Leia defended herself. "I've been working on important things like running water and keeping your sorry ass out of trouble. One of those is a full time job."

Luke had an idea. "Threepio you said if they were married. If Han and Leia were married he wouldn't be taken away, right?"

The droid turned to Luke, "Yes, Master Luke, if The Princess and The Captain were married that would be different."

Luke's body sprouted up. "I'll be back." And he ran off. "I have an idea!"

"Luke!? Luke!? Where ya goin', buddy!?" Han voice sounded hoarse and desperate. He looked at Leia. "Where's he going?" Han then felt his body yanked backwards onto the edge of the ramp to a ship. "Hey, hey, don't! Not yet. Not yet." Han thought for a moment they had listened, when they stopped dragging him, but then he saw they were just waiting in a queue. Han looked at Leia and his tone changed. "Listen, if I don't come back." Han got serious, leaning as close to Leia as he could.

"Don't say that." She touched the side of his head with her hand and leaned in.

"Take care of yourself and our kid. I mean this is gonna be a pretty memorable kid." He was so proud of that fact. "He should have a father. Not like I did. Kids need fathers."

"You're his... or her father."

"I just want you to know." He was overcome with emotion. "If I don't come back."

"I know." She nodded her head trying to show him how concerned she was.

"Good." He nodded his head and got his bravado back. "Remember that, 'cause one day I'm comin' back."

Han couldn't help himself and he lead in to kiss Leia, only to be pulled away, and off her lips by one of his guards. The jolt looked like it hurt Han as it caused his head to snap back. Which induced Leia to run to him and place a concerned hand on his chest. This gesture only made one of the guards push Leia away from Han and onto the ground.

"Don't you touch her!" Han shouted, but could do nothing to protect the woman he loved, as he was pulled away from her and closer to the ship. "Leia?!" he bellowed.

"I'm fine. I'm fine," Leia assured him, not thinking of herself, but for the fact that his further protest would only cause him harm.

"You all right?!" Han still needed reassurance.

Leia got closer to Han and nodded her head.

"She's pregnant, do you understand that!?" Han began to protest and the guards hit Han in the stomach.

"Han!" Leia yelled, covering her mouth with her hand for a moment. "Don't!"

Han took two deep breaths, bent over, before he recovered and lifted his torso to an upright position. That was when he saw Luke, Chewie and a man he didn't recognize fast approaching them. Chewie saw his friend was hurt and charged toward Han and the guards.

"No, Chewie, no! I need you to be here with Leia, don't be a hero for me. I need you alive. ALIVE!"

Luke and the man Han didn't know caught up with him and the guards just as they were about to reach the ramp into the belly of the ship. Why they always cut things so close, Han thought

"Who's this?" Han asked.

"He's a holy man in the Jedi temple. He can marry you and Leia."

Leia smirked. "Well I've heard of quickie weddings before…"

Han's eyes changed. "Wait? Whoa." He shook his head no. "Marry us? Here?" His eyes got large.

Leia gave Han a terrible look. "You have another plan, hot shot?

"Noooo, not like this!" Han was again pulled away and Leia, Luke and the holy man had to catch up with him, standing on either side of the ramp that Han was now positioned on. "Come on, Luke." He leaned his body toward his future brother-in-law. "There has to be another plan?" He greeted his teeth and gave Luke a signal with his eyes, a signal Luke didn't seem to understand.

"Prepare Captain Solo for carbonite," was heard from inside the plane. Han's magic word.

"Okay, do it! Do it now." Han nodded his head in fright. Han yelled to Chewie, "Chewie! There's a ring. In my quarters."

Chewie nodded his head and ran off.

"You have a ring?" Leia said to him sweetly and climbed onto the ramp next to Han.

"Of course, baby." Han grinned large and Leia grinned back.

Luke almost rolled his eyes. "We don't have much time here, you two."

The holy man chimed up. "I can do it without rings if we have to."

"Can we hurry this up?" Han urged the group and checked behind him how far in the line he was now.

"How about this lug nut," Luke took the piece of metal out of his pocket.

"I'd call that appropriate," Leia said dryly. She put her hand out and Luke put the lug nut in her palm.

Han began his descent, more like drag, up the ramp. "Jokes? Really? Now!? Running out of time here." He motioned with his head. "Quick. You. Marry us."

The holy man and Leia followed Han further up the ramp. "Do you take -" The Holy man started but Han interrupted as he was losing distance between him and Leia on the ramp.

"Quicker." Han motioned with his head as he knew the end was coming near.

"Do you?"

Han pulled away from the guards and fell to his knees and Leia knelt down with him. "I do." The guards tried to pull Han away, but he pulled against them.

"Do you?" the Holy man said as fast as he could.

"Yes!" Leia said quickly, right before Han was hit in the stomach with the blunt of a blaster, lifted to his feet and pulled away again from almost kissing his future and present wife, through the doorway of the ship.

"We're married now. STOP!" Leia and Han bellowed at the same time. Leia quickly put the lug nut onto her slender fingers, it still took some work.

"They're married now!" Luke yelled and walked up the ramp. "You can let him go now." He put his hand lightly on his lightsaber at his waist belt to show he meant business.

The guards looked at C3PO, who nodded his head, and the guards let Han out of his restraints.

Leia ran up the ramp and kissed Han hard. Once free Han wrapped his arms around Leia and they hugged. He was more than relieved. They lifted up from their kiss for air, half believing what had just happened.

"A lug nut, huh?"

"I have a ring," he said as if to say he wasn't lying.

"I meant you." She smiled. "But I guess you're my lug nut now."

Han smiled at his new bride and rubbed his hand along the side of her cheek. Luke patted Han on the back and then let his sister and her new husband have their time alone. Leia put Han's arm over her shoulder and helped him down the ramp.

When they got to the bottom of the ramp Han took a deep breath. He winced and held his free hand to his stomach.

"So, you think marrying me is a fate worse than death, huh?"

"No. nooo." He took his arm off her shoulder and held her face with the look of a little boy. "I didn't want…" He leaned his head from side to side, looking for the right words, struggling almost with expressing himself. "You didn't deserve to be married in a… in a ….dirty ship hangar." He motioned around. "I'm just sayin' you deserve more. That's all."

"I'm not looking for stars and poetry, Han. Just you." She said with a nod of her eyes, she knew whom she married.

"Hey, the stars I can provide." He raised his eyebrows and put both his arms around her. "The other. I might surprise you."

"I like surprises…" She smirked.

"No, you don't," he said with an arch of his eyebrow and a half smirk, before he kissed her again. He lifted up and took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers together.

"Come on, " Leia nodded her head and slightly pulled Han's hand to walk with her and they returned back to their quarters.

---

Almost 6 Months Later

---

Han ran into his and Leia's room dressed in snow gear, white flakes covered his blue coat and the blaster in his hand. It wasn't as cold as Hoth outside the base, but it was winter and Han hated the cold. His very pregnant wife was already in her overcoat.

"C'mon!" He put his hand out. "It's an ambush. I called the evacuation signal. We're getting outta here."

"We can't leave everyone, you have men and woman counting on you. On us."

"Half of them are already on ships and I'm gettin' you out of here before it's too late." He took her hand. "We stay here we lose too many good people. I don't do suicide missions. C'mon!."

"Wait." Leia let go of Han's hand and grabbed her blaster off the bed. Han nodded his head at her and they made a bee-line out of their quarters and down the hall.

"Where's Luke?" Leia asked.

Han tried to take her hand and Leia wouldn't take it. "I sent him and Chewie to the Falcon. I want our escape plan in one piece once we get there."

Suddenly, a group of armed figures came down the hall, causing Han to thrust his entire body in front of Leia and blast the three hooded figures down, one by one. Leia wasn't very happy and she had to adjust herself with the baby pushing down on most of her organs.

"This way," Han growled and the two of them walked at a quick pace down the adjacent hallway.

"Han, I can't walk that fast." He was getting ahead of her - her extra weight was making things difficult.

Han stopped and turned causing Leia to catch up. "Then let me take your hand," he grunted and took her fingers in his, to which Leia begrudgingly relented. "Thank you!" he growled, sarcastically.

Just then they saw Luke running down the hall after them. "Don't come this way, they're right behind me..."

"Our end too, kid. "

"There too many for me to push back, I did my best, but they're be here any moment, we need to get out of these closed spaces and onto the Falcon."

"How?!" Leia exclaimed, feeling like a trapped rancor.

Han looked around trying to find an idea and then stopped in front of a door. Still holding Leia's hand he positioned half of his body in front of Leia and with his blaster hand shot open a door in front of them. Luke and Leia flinched; Han did not. "Luke, that closet has a few blaster cannons should pack a bigger punch and give us the biggest window to run. The ones in the back have the larger charge." Leia had never seen Han so focused - she felt scared and concerned for him and his actions. "Grab a couple 'a A280s while you're at it for the way out."

Luke nodded to Han and exited into the room. Leia tried to follow Luke, but she wasn't able to take more than two step when she felt Han's firm grip on her arm pulling her in the opposite direction towards him.

"What's this?" Han barked, taking Leia with him to a small closet in a corner of the hallway.

"A utility closet," she said with a grit of her teeth, what was this man doing.

Han let go of Leia's hand using his now free hand to punch in a code on a touch pad on the wall. The door made a noise and opened. "Is it blaster proof?"

"Of course?" Leia still had no idea where he was going with this. "Every covering in his sector is blaster, bomb proof - within reason. You should know this!?"

Han sent three blaster shots into the middle of the door.

"What are you doing!?" Leia yelled.

"Testing." He looked at Leia with a serious face

"You're acting crazy! What's gotten into you!?

"You trust me?" Han asked her and took her hand and pulled her close.

"I'm not sure most of the time, but yes." Her voice sounded half sure and half uneasy.

"Good."

And Han with enough amount force to not hurt her shoved Leia into the closet and closed the door. The door made a loud noise and automatically locked behind her. It was then that Luke exited back into the doorway with two cannon blasters just about the size of his sister, and two A280 blaster rifles slung over his shoulders.

"Han!" came Leia's muffled screams and banging through the door. "You let me out of here!"

Luke looked around for Leia and her screaming, as he handed Han one of the two cannons he had in his hand. It only took a quick moment to figure out where the banging was coming from.

"I found one A280 rifle, the rest were all cleaned out. "Luke smirked. "You locked her in the closet?" He shook his head as he positioned the gun towards one hallway while Han set his blaster cannon to kill.

"Yeah, I did," Han said gruffly and then positioned his blaster toward the hallway in front of him, while at the same time being sure his body was blocking the door that encased his pregnant wife.

"You really don't know how to be married, do you?" Luke joked setting the blaster rifles for later against a wall.

"She can be mad at me until the end of time, I really could care less, just as long as she and that kid are breathing." Han caught the brigade coming. "Luke!" Han got Luke's attention as he saw the figures coming toward them.

"My end too." Luke saw the same on his end.

Han and Luke let off three large blasts knocking off at least ten men each.

"Better than a lightsaber, any day, huh, Luke! Whoo!" Han's adrenaline was at its peak.

"Blasters have their moments - especially in closed corners."

The men dropped their new heavy weapons and Han motioned toward their exit. "Go do your magic down that way and get us a clean line to the Falcon - there might be stragglers and these rifles are spent."

"It's not magic."

"It's a figure of speech, Kid. Go." Han pointed down the hallway.

Leia could still be heard banging on the inside of her doored prison.

"Your wife's calling," Luke teased. "Han, be easy on her, she just feels she's missing out on all the fun being pregnant." Luke took out his lightsaber.

"Fun?!" Han growled. "Parenthood isn't supposed to be fun. Now go!" He pointed down the hallway with more passion than before.

Luke smiled at his friend and ran down the hallway.

Han pulled his blaster out of the holster he had left it in and then opened the door to the disapproving look of his wife.

"You locked me in a closet! A closet!? Why did you think this would ever make me speak to you again!?" She huffed and walking out.

"Screaming. Yelling. Breathing. Yeah. That's the idea. C'mon." He took her hand, slung the A280 over his shoulder, and then followed after Luke.

"You and your half-brained ideas. How is this helping?" Leia yelled a step behind her husband.

"Hey, my half-brained idea helped destroy The Death Star, didn't it?"

"This is gonna be our entire marriage isn't it? You bringing up The Death Star."

Once Han and Leia reached the loading bay they could see the Falcon waiting for them in a now empty hangar. Chewie and Luke were at the door of the Falcon waiting for them as they reached the skirts of the ship. Just then a blaster shot hit the Falcon, barely hitting Han's head.

"We got company!" Han let go of Leia's hand, almost throwing her behind him. "Leia, get inside!" He put his hand blaster back in its holster and started using the blaster rifle for more power.

Luke took out his lightsaber and started toward the figures approaching.

Han put his hand out to stop Luke. "No, Kid, there's too many of 'em."

"I got this." Luke smirked.

Han then watched as Luke used his lightsaber to deflect back the group's blaster shots striking down the men and women who had sent them towards him.

"I thought the point of winning the war meant you didn't get shot at anymore." Han said with just a bit of sarcasm, as he held the ambush in front of them at bay. Each time slowly inching back towards the door of their get-a-way ride

"Winning means you're the main target." Leia shot back to Han while drawing her blaster to take aim.

"Yeah, well let's be a running target, shall we." Han took two full steps backwards towards their escape when he saw laser fire coming from Leia's direction.

"Get inside! What are you doing!?" Han used his body to shield Leia from the blaster fire coming their way. "You do understand people tend to shoot towards where they see blaster fire comin' from, right?!" Han moved Leia back further under the Falcon's cover.

Leia protested. "I'm trying to help save our skins. To help. But you won't let me." She tilted her head and raised her eyebrows at him, she was not happy.

"Listen!" Han voice growled in a way she had never heard before. "I know I can't stop you from putting yourself in danger for what you believe in without a thought to who it might affect if you die. But right now while you're responsible for more than yourself -"

There was a barrage of laser fire and without a thought Han threw his entire body over Leia. Once the coast seemed clear Han raised his head.

"All right? You all right?" He saw a sour look on Leia's face - he knew that face. "Did you get hit?" He was more than concerned for her and he tighten his grip on her shoulders, scanning her face for recognition of what was wrong.

Luke felt something wasn't right with his sister and turned his head slightly towards them. "Han, is Leia all right?"

Leia took in a heavy breath and Han could tell by her eyes what was happening. Her terrified eyes reflected back in his own. "Now?" Leia nodded her head yes. "Luke!?" Han bellowed, never taking his eyes off Leia. "Get over here!"

Luke ran over to his family. "Take your sister inside, she's in labor."

Luke, concerned, nodded his head and helped Leia inside the ship.

"Chewie cover 'um!" Han told his friend, as he forged in front and shot at what he could see.

---

"Chewie, start her up!" Han could be heard yelling as he made his way in the main galley. Chewie ran in the through the hull of the ship first and made a beeline right to the cockpit, followed by Han who ran over to Luke and Leia. Han's face said it all without words, so Leia spoke for him.

"Don't worry about me, get us outta here!" Her voice was calm and sweet for him, but her face showed the pain she was in.

Han nodded his head and kissed her large. "Stars and poetry, sweetheart!" He nodded his head and ran towards the cockpit. "Luke, stay with her!

Luke looked confused, "Leia, I can fly the Falcon, Han should be with you."

"No," Leia said with about half of her usual strength. "He needs this." She put her hand on Luke's chest. "If he doesn't feel like he's helping he'll be beside himself." She suddenly grabbed the edge of Luke's shirt and gripped it, her eyes squinted closed. The pain of childbirth was coming faster.

Han flew into his pilot's seat filled with an overdose of adrenaline from the fire fight, his impending fatherhood, and the fear of danger his new family was about to be in if he didn't think fast.

"Punch it, Chewie." Han motioned to Chewie. "Angle the shields."

"Where's the droids?" Leia asked Luke, trying to deal with the pain running through her, this was nothing like a blaster burn.

"On a safe, ship. They were at the other end of the base, it made more sense for them to get on the closest ship." Luke looked at Leia and could feel something else was happening. "What's wrong?"

"Luke, I can feel the baby's presence." Leia let out a small scream as a contraction came, she held tight to her brother's hand.

"So do I."

"Luke?!" Han yelled back into the galley, without taking his eyes off the space in front of him. "Update! ETA? I can't get the damn hyperdrive going."

Chewie roared.

"What's the use of having a backup hyperdrive if it's never working?" He hang the panel as hard as he could without breaking his hand.

Chewie roared in agreement.

"We need to find a safe place to land, Han, this kid isn't wasting anytime."

Leia was breathing heavy, sweat running down her face - she let out a scream that ran through Han like a knife. He didn't need the force to feel his wife's pain.

"Damn it, we got company!" Han nodded to Chewie who knew just what to do. "Chewie, go check on that hyperdrive, will ya." And Chewie disappeared. "Hang on, Sweetheart, we're almost clear of 'um."

Han was if nothing a cunning pilot and he was doing his best, but whoever was following them was just as talented and just as cunning. Leia screaming in the back of his ear didn't help matters much, but it reminded him how this was the most important flight of his life.

"Breathe, baby, breathe!" Han yelled to Leia.

"You talking to me or the ship!?" Leia bellowed at him. "Fly the damn, thing!" She let out a big breath as the baby began to crown.

Han laughed, man how he loved that woman. "Luke, how's she doing?"

Leia let out a large yell and grunted, she was too tired and spent to yell back at Han, but the look she gave Luke, said it all.

"Luke!?" Han yelled again.

"Almost there, Han." Luke squeezed his sister's hand.

It was after a few close calls that Han noticed the silence in the cabin.

"Luke!?" Han suddenly got a bad feeling. There was no answer. "LUKE!?" Han was more frightened than he had ever been and would be in his entire life.

And then suddenly the falcon went into Hyperspace, Chewie had fixed it. Han was jolted into surprise by the sudden blast into hyperspace, but he was safe - the ship, his family.

Chewie bolted into the cockpit and Han patted him on the arm. "Good job, buddy."

And then… there was a baby's cry.

"Leia…" Han ran into the galley.

---

"Do you feel that?" Leia said to Luke, she felt weak, as Luke held her son and she lightly grabbed the child's index finger to touch.

"It's a disturbance, yes…" He looked down at the baby and then at his sister - he was worried for it didn't feel like an awakening.

"Someone is … a darkness around my son - it's so strong…I can't stop it." And then Leia's eyes started to flicker and her body went limp.

"Leia, Leia!?" Luke yelled trying to shake her with his free hand and hold the baby with his other.

Han ran into the galley at a frantic pace. The first thing he saw was Luke holding his child and Leia passed out in front of him - his son crying and Han almost in tears himself at the sight of him. For the first time Han felt his loyalties divided. Who did he go to first? But it was the look Luke gave Han that scared him half the death.

"Leia!?" He felt his legs again and ran to her side. "What happened? Leia… can you hear me?" He ran his hands over her forehead and then held her head on his hands. He looked at his son again and he thought his heart would explode, his face looking like a frightened child himself. He took in a close up look at his son for the first time and lovingly put his hand on the side of his son's cheek and forehead.

"Han...she's in a coma." Luke ran his hand over his sister's head, devastated.

"A coma!?" Han panting. "What do we do?" He looked at Leia and caressed her face. "Leia, wake up, damn it, wake up." It looked like Han Solo might lose his emotions in front of Luke, but he didn't. "She had a baby! What's so dangerous about having a baby!?" The terror in his voice was palpable. "I should'a been here." He put one hand on his son and the other on Leia's forehead.

"Han, look at me." He got Han's attention. "I believe she's in a Force coma. We need to get her help."

"A what?!" Han was so lost. "Get her out of it, then!" he demanded gruffly.

"I don't know how. But I know a man in The Outer Rim. We need to take her to him right away. He's been feeding me and the New Republic with lost information about the Jedi." Luke noticed Han wasn't moving. "I don't know how much time we have."

Han shook his head that he understood. He ran back to the cockpit and told Chewie to punch it.

---

Han carried Leia and Chewie carried Han and Leia's child as they exited the Falcon. Luke met a man on the tarmac, he was in his fifties, looking dashing and important - Han would know him later as Lor San Tekka.

"Luke." Lor shook Luke's hand. He saw Leia in Han's arms. "Come with me." He motioned to Han with concern.

"What is this place?" Han asked as they walked into the outpost.

"A research facility." Lor answered.

"Excuse me!?" Han wasn't happy. "Luke, she needs medical attention."

"Lor San Tekka has traveled far and wide finding and keeping safe the Jedi lore that the Empire tried to suppress," Luke said in a soft calm voice.

Lor continued Luke's thought. "If your wife is indeed in a force coma, as Luke surmises about his sister, this is the only place and the best place to save her, believe me."

Han put Leia on a bed and knelt at her side. "What can you do for her?"

Lor walked to Han's side and without words, kindly let him know he needed to move so he could see her. Lor kindly put his hand on Leia's head and checked her pulse.

"Did she say anything before she slipped away?" Lor looked at Luke.

"No," Luke lied.

Lor sensed Luke was lying. A nurse walked in and up to Chewie and the baby, Chewie roared. Han sprouted up with his own paternal protest.

"No, no," Lor spoke to the men. "This is one of our nurses from our clinic, Zev - the baby should be checked out. Bathed."

Chewie looked at Han who felt awkward and unsure what to say, a fatherly concern on his face, but ended up shaking his head to let Chewie hand off the child. Han, overwhelmed with what was happening, watched longingly as his son was taken out of the room. Han felt very much out of his element and Lor and Luke could sense it. Han didn't take his eyes off the door where his son had been taken out of the room.

Lor put his hand on Han's shoulder. "Go with them. There is nothing more you can do here. Let Luke and I confer. Be with your son"

"I can't leave her." He took Leia's hand and lovingly ran his palms against hers.

"It is best we are alone." Lor spoke to Han, but to Han the stranger was just white noise.

Luke nodded to Lor and moved closer to Han. "Please, Han."

Han looked at Luke and Luke nodded back. Still unsure, Han turned to Leia, leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, and then apprehensive left the room to be with his son.

As soon as Han was gone, Lor turned to Luke. "She said something, didn't she? Something you didn't want to say in front of the husband."

"Han." Luke reminded Lor of Han's name. "I didn't want to upset him any further."

"It's about the boy?"

"Leia told me she could feel something - I'm not sure, taking over her son or surrendering him.. She said it was very powerful and then she passed out.

"What did you feel?" Lor asked.

"I don't know..."

"But you felt something?"

"For a short time, yes, I did." He shook his head. "I don't understand it. She's always been so strong with The Force, as strong as me. How could this happen?" He looked down at his sister with deep concern.

"Her body is weak from childbirth, trying to push back the darkness from her child - it was too much for her." He put his hand to Leia's cheeks and her head. "She'll be fine. I feared it could be a virus... or something more advanced I've read about in the files. We are lucky. She will be fine. But now I know how to help her."

Luke felt relieved. "I knew of all the people in the universe, you would know."

He put his hands out. "Take my hand." Luke took his head. "You can feel your sister's presence?"

"Yes..."

"Good. Close your eyes. We can together bring her back. Your powers and my voice."

Luke closed his eyes and took his new friend's hand.

"Use the light of The Force that is all around us to take her out of the darkness. Bring about the great men and woman from your past and future, the ghosts that you always carry with you."

Luke closed his eyes, he felt Ben and his father's presence and then after a moment, they heard a very familiar voice.

"Where's…. my son?" Leia asked groggily.

"Ah," Lor exasperated sweetly. "Our Princess has returned to us." He opened his eyes, as did Luke.

"Don't call me that," Leia retorted through a weary stiff voice.

"Leia….." Luke knelt at her bedside and took her hand.

Lor smiled. "Old habits die hard. My apologies, Senator." He smiled at Luke. "I'll go get the husband."

"You felt it too, didn't you?" Leia said to Luke softly.

"Yes."

"Does Han know?"

"No. I didn't want to worry him." Luke put both his hands on Leia's hands. "I wanted you to tell him yourself. You don't want to, do you?"

"Not yet, not now. He doesn't understand…"

"He will. He can. He will believe. A part of him already does - he's grown so much since we met him -."

"Believing and understanding are two different things, Luke."

"You're concerned how he'll react?"

"I'm concerned with his concern… his reaction, under that bravado he cares. Deeply." Leia took two deep breaths, she still felt weak. "And he hurts deeply. I won't be a party to that. He won't know how to handle it. You saw him this morning."

"He was trying to protect you and his unborn child."

"Exactly." Leia was getting irritated.

"You should conserve your strength," he calmed her.

"We don't even know what just happened, it could never happen again, it might not be what we think."

The notion that someone was already trying to take her son down the path of her father was too scary for Leia to believe at that moment.

Luke was silent and Leia knew he was conflicted. "Promise me, Luke."

"I can't lie to him."

"Please…" she pleaded. "Leave it up to me." She took a breath. "And I want more training."

"You don't need it - you're as strong as me. Unless you're saying..."

"No. You know how I feel about continuing training as a Jedi. I've made my choice and that choice is The Republic. I can't do both. And now...my son needs me."

Luke nodded his head. "I will be here for you, Han and your son, in any way I can,"

"Leia!?" Han broke through the room with his voice and his tall frame. "You're all right?" He sat on her bed and took her hands in his, he kissed her on her forehead and looked at Lor and Luke with worry. "She's all right?"

"She's fine." Luke smiled.

"What happened?" Han asked Leia with deep distress. He turned and looked at Luke for answers.

Leia took in a breath.

"We don't know," Luke answered and Leia let out her breath. She could feel and see in Luke's eyes the pain of what he had done. "But she's safe now."

"Where's our son?" Leia asked, as Luke disappeared from her view.

"Here," Luke said with pride, as he took Han and Leia's child from one of Lor's assistants.

Han and Leia beamed as Luke brought the boy over to them. Leia was overcome with emotion gazing on her son again. Han watched in awe, as Luke handed off his nephew to his sister. Han leaned down and kissed Leia big and fast on the lips and then laid his lips on his son forehead, lingering there for a moment.

"Don't cry...or I'll cry." Leia couldn't look Han in the eye.

Lor spoke up from the back of the room. "Have you decided on a name? We have the ability to give the child birth papers right here."

Han and Leia looked at Lor taken aback, Leia spoke first. "No. We thought we had more time." The truth was Leia had been fearful of naming her child before he arrived, picking out names in case he did not come. She feared investment only to be disappointed and subconsciously Han felt the same. They were two orphans starting a family neither had planned on, but once it happened so desperately wanted. War was a time of uncertainty in all matters.

Lor walked closer to Leia's bed. "Names are important - that shouldn't be thought of lightly."

Leia looked down at her son. "Maybe he will tell us." She took hold of his hand and kissed it.

"Well…" Luke spoke up "I know from my sister you're for sure not calling him Falcon."

"That was a joke," Han answered and pointed a finger at Luke defensively.

Lor was now close enough to smile over the child. "He deserves a name befitting a Prince."

"He won't be a Prince -" Leia cut off Lor quickly.

Han looked over his son. "He deserves to be."

Leia was firm. "The New Republic is about new beginnings, I don't want my son saddled with a lineage that doesn't exist anymore."

"Still, a name he deserves." Lor nodded his head.

Leia looked at her son and stroked his face. "A name to watch over him…"

"Ben…" Luke spoke up.

"Ben?" Han asked.

"... Yes…." Leia sighed and never took her eyes off her son. "Ben…"

"Like Kenobi?" Han questioned.

"Obi Wan, yes." Luke said firmly.

"He was a dear family friend," Leia answered.

"Who you never met and I hardly knew." Han pointed at his own chest. "We're not naming our kid, Obi Wan." Han wasn't hearing it.

Luke snickered. "I didn't think you would, Han. I'm suggestion, Ben."

"You don't like the name?" Leia asked graciously.

"No. I'm not saying that…." he said sweetly and gestured his hand toward Leia.

"He watched over and took care of Luke and me... and if it weren't for him we would have never have met." She put her free hand on Han's cheek. "It means more than you know, Han." She smiled. "Named for a hero of The New Republic. And after my father, Bail."

"Ben. Ben Solo." Han nodded his head. "Has a nice ring to it."

"Organa-Solo," Leia corrected him.

"Yeah." He kissed his wife, lifted up and then kissed her again.

Leia smiled.

"Skywalker," Luke said with authority.

"Oh, Luke…" Leia looked at her brother sourly. "That's lot of pressure to put on a young boy."

"Are you saying this is something you want to keep from your son?"

"No. Everyone should know where they come from, Luke. But he has the right to make his own choices, not be saddled by them."

Han adjusted himself on the bed to look at Luke. "Kid, isn't that more advertising than were doin' - no offence here, Luke, but I don't want a target on my kid's back. I thought this Vader thing was something we weren't talking about outside closed Jedi circles." He looked at Lor. "No, offence, old man."

"None taken, youngish man," Lor smirked.

Luke spoke up, "Only a select people even know my father was Vader, the public record general is that Anakin Skywalker died right before Leia and I were born."

Leia's voice was kind and nurturing toward her brother. "We haven't been hiding we're siblings…and I have no desire to go back in the shadows." She motioned toward Han as well. "As his godfather, perhaps? His name would then be on the birth papers."

"Yeah - he should be…" Han nodded his head. "How's that sound, Kid?"

"No - " Luke spoke up. "Leia's right. Skywalker is too much of a burden on any child. Vader or no."

"You're still his godfather to us. His uncle. Always." Leia smiled.

"Family." Luke looked at both Han and Leia when he said it.

Han was sincere as he looked upon one of the only four great friends he had ever had. "There's no one more than you and Chewie I want to look after my kid after I'm gone, buddy."

Luke walked over to Han, as he stood, and the two men hugged. Luke leaned down and hugged his sister before leaning down and kissing his nephew on the forehead.

Lor spoke up. "Luke, I have some new things to show you, we should leave the new family alone. Come?"

Luke nodded his head, smiled at Luke and Leia and the excited with Lor and his assistant.

Han took a breath and sat back down on the bed, this time closer to Leia and their child.

"Ben…" Han said, touching his son's cheek and then taking the child's hand in his finger.

"You're all right with the name?" Leia questioned

"More than. It's perfect." Han kissed her. "You're both perfect." He raised his eyebrows at Leia and put both his legs on the bed and his arm around her. "I talked to Kes and Shara, they offered for us to stay with them and Poe on Yavin 4 until you're well enough."

"I'd like that," Leia smiled. "I miss them."

"Yeah…" Han smiled at her. Kes and Shara were the first couple Han had met on the battlefield who had a child, maybe Kes could teach him some pointers.

"The base? Did everyone get out all right?" Leia asked.

"Mostly. I was sent a report, but I've been too occupied to read most of it. When you're well, we can meet up and regroup with the others. I'm told a few more outposts were attacked." Leia looked worried and Han knew what piece of info he should skip to. "All Senators accounted for. And something happening above, Jakku, but I think I heard it wrong 'cause -"

"Han..." Leia wanted to say something.

"Yeah…?" He could tell something was on her mind.

Leia started to caress his cheek and Han took her hand in his, he felt she was about to say something important.

"Something's wrong? What's wrong? I know that look."

"Nothing…" Leia never took her eyes off his. "Back in the hanger….what you said."

"What'd I say?"

"You said I put myself in danger without thinking of the people that it affects, you meant you, didn't you?"

Han avoided her gaze and Leia moved his chin towards her so he couldn't. "You meant you, Han, didn't you?" she asked sincerely. "That I don't think about how it would affect you?"

Han took in a breath and softly confessed. "Yes….."

Leia nodded her head, feeling his pain.

"You can't fault me for wanting you alive," Han's voice was loving and pointed.

"I don't," she responded sweetly.

"I respect what's important to you, Leia, and I know you would never ask me to give up what's important to me. And you know and I know what that is. You said you know what you married. Well, so do I. I'm not an idiot. When I married you I married your ideals… and the new Republic along with it."

"I know you believe in this Republic, Han. You're a natural leader -"

"I believe in you." He stopped her short. "Both of you. That makes me believe it."

"I don't want our child to grow up without their parents like we did. Or lose them the way I did. You can't think -"

"I don't," he said soft and kind, nodding his head to her, she didn't need to say this to him.

"Let me finish, Han." She took a breath. "I just want you to know... I promise to be more mindful of your feelings. From now on."

Leia was making a promise to Han, her son and to herself. Only it had more meaning than Han knew. It was the start of the secrets she would keep and the secrets that would in the end tear them apart.

"Oh." Han smiled with recognition, nodding his head. "I like that. I like that a lot." He looked down at Ben. "I guess having a kid, changes your perspective. More than ships or politics. "

"Our Ben." Leia leaned in and kissed her son's head again and then leaned into Han's shoulder. Han then leaned his arm fully around Leia's shoulder, holding her close. Leia felt at peace, Han took a real breath for the first time in two days. It would be the last of many full deep breaths for both of them. In that moment their son represented their reckless behavior coming to a meaningful point, but he was really the symbol of a darker future. A darker future for everyone involved in the young boy's birth and conception. And Snoke watched.

---

Four Years Later

---

The New Republic Galactic Senate was in session for the final day of the year, after which the Senators would all return to their home planets or for those without home planets, like Senator Organa, the places in the Hosnian System they called home for the last four years. And for Senator Organa "home" was anywhere her husband and son Ben where. Over the last four years protocol for the Republic Senate was as follows: The Senate would meet for three consecutive months at a time as a universal body, hash out their issues, and then return home to deal with more local issues and pursuits. Once a year Han would drop off Leia and Ben in the Hosnian System and a transport would drop them back home when they were done. During this time Han and Leia saw little of each other, as Han having business for The New Republic closer to home - after all people were counting on him. This meant during these months Han spent only his weekends with his family. It was one of many sacrifices Leia and Han made for each other and their son. Han would mark off those three months with bated breath in his head, waiting for the day when he could be with his Leia and Ben 24/7. The end of these three months was Han's favorite time of year. Even more so this time around, as Han had finished his trade run early and decided to surprise his family to take them home.

"I'm sorry, sir, but blasters aren't allowed in the gallery," one of the ushers told Han as he tried to enter the empty gallery from the back of the balcony. "You will have to check your blaster in the front."

"Eh, Kid, I don't check my blaster with anyone," Han said with a glint in his eyes and his hand on the base of the gun in his side holster.

"It's all right," said an older man in grey and tan robes. "Let General Solo through, he is the husband of one of our most prominent Senators."

"Please," Han smiled and looked at the man. "We're not at war, Captain Solo will do." He put his hand out. "Han even, if you're friendly." He smiled sideways.

"I am." The men shook his hand. "Senator from Naboo. I work with your wife."

"Oh, yeah…" Han nodded his head. "Leia's mentioned you." But Han was lying, he did not remember the Senator's name. He nodded his head and made his way into the galley.

Han walked down a few steps into the almost empty balcony and took a seat two rows from the front. The room was large, quiet, and Han looked on in awe as for the first time he watched Leia speak in front of the general assembly. He opened his mouth slightly in wonder, almost like a little boy, he was amazed that he was seeing this side of her for the first time. Sure he had seen her command men and women at war, give victory speeches and verses of encouragement to bands of brothers and sisters during the war. But there was something about her making the crowd of four hundred odd people raptured to silence that took his breath away. The scope of who he had married seemed to really set in. And how this amazing woman had agreed to spend the rest of her life with him, or the rest of his life with her.

---

Leia walked towards the transport dock, holding her four year old son Ben's hand. She was flanked by C3PO and two aids to her left, while to her right a fellow older Senator hurried to keep up, his aides and associates following him at a quicken pace. They were in mid discussion, their footsteps echoing on the marble walkway.

"Senator, if your friend Luke Skywalker is re-starting the Jedi order I can't express enough that my colleagues and I in my party strongly feel there needs to be a vote on the floor."

"I don't see why. The Jedi would be nothing but a asset to The New Republic. Nor would they be a government or political faction under our jurisdiction."

"And that is our fear. Like any new body they must be regulated."

"Weren't you the one who stated on the floor last session that not all bodies should be under the body politic." She smirked and then looked down at Ben and lowered her head to give the boy a smile - knowing all this talking was sure to bore the small child. The boy smiled back and Leia squeezed his hand before putting her attention back to her fellow Senator.

"That's not what I meant, and you know that, Senator."

"Well, I disagree with you Senator - and as unofficial majority leader once I pass the threshold of this tarmac session will be closed for the year… and I assure you, Senator, our colleagues will be less than amused if you call us all back for a special session... to vote on an act many here believe is just the next stage in bringing balance and peace to the galaxy. And who but the last Jedi is the best man for the job."

Ben suddenly let go of Leia's hand with a jerk and it took her attention as he ran from her side.

Leia's eyes chased her son, her body about to pounce after him, when she saw the sight of Han standing a few feet away smiling and waiting for them. Leia and Han smiled at each other, what a wonderful surprise.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Ben yelled running towards his father.

"Master Ben!" C3PO shouted and ran after the young boy. "Do not run. This is a sacred place."

As Ben approached his father, Han leaned down and took the boy up in his arms and set him on his hip. "You miss me, Kid." Han bounced his son for a moment while he made his way towards Leia.

"Aren't you full of surprises? I didn't think you were picking us up."

"Well, hello, Captain Solo. This is an unscheduled event. You are not expected," C3PO mused.

The Senator with Leia looked Han over, he didn't seem impressed.

"Hey, surprise is my wheelhouse." Han was about to lean in and kiss Leia, when they were interrupted.

"Senator Organa, I didn't know you had a bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?" Han said with offence. "Husband." He took her hand. "I'm the husband." He raised his eyebrows and insinuated with his head.

"Ohhhh," The Senator seemed to say with disdain. "You're the boy's father. The smuggler."

"Former." Han corrected him with his own disdain.

Leia put her arm on Han's arm to quiet him. "My husband is a very important ship captain for our trade routes as well as a decorated war vet."

"I see," The Senator hissed.

Han didn't like the look of this man.

"Now, If you'll excuse us…." Leia smiled at Han and the family began walking again.

The Senator still would not let up and called after Leia as she crossed the threshold of the tarmac, "I will call a special session if I need to, Senator, but I also need you on my side."

Leia paused and turned to the Senator, raising an eyebrow at him. "I will be not be on your side, Senator, when you're opinion has merit. The Jedi are a peaceful group and resurrecting The Jedi Order will only be a force toward a positive future. The kind of future I want for my son and for all the children of the galaxy. And on that I think we both agree."

"I think you are looking at this in far too black and white circles, Senator."

"Then present me with a plan that isn't. And perhaps you will have my vote." Leia looked at Han and smiled, she had missed him. He smiled back.

"Your youth clouds you," the Senator said under his breath, yet with every intention for Leia to hear him.

Leia pursed her lips and held in that famous anger. Han felt her hand grip his to let out the tension she couldn't show on her face.

Suddenly, a female guard approached the group. "Senators, the Senate is on lock down and we need to get you to a secure location."

"What's the reason?" Han asked, concerned, gripping Leia's hand tighter.

"We believe someone is trying to invade the premises. It is best we take you all to one of the bunkers."

Both Senators and their aids, Han, little Ben, and C3PO were all led by the guard into a small circular room and told to wait. The door was locked and Han and Leia didn't seem to like that.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Han exclaimed, his son Ben resting on his shoulder, adjusting the balance of the boy's weight against him.

"Me too." Leia concurred. "They just locked us in."

The Senator spoke up, "For our own safety of course."

"Yes," C3PO concurred. "It is standard protocol."

"Yeah, I don't know about that…" Han ran the inside his palm over the walls. "This material isn't actually blaster proof. I wouldn't call this a bunker..." He looked at Leia. "In fact, I've had jail cells cozier than this." He handed off Ben, who now looked to be sleeping, to one of Leia's aids.

Leia took her comlink out and tapped it. "My comlink's out."

Han nodded his head. They both were in agreement as to what was happening. Leia pulled apart two buttons on her skirt, that made part of the dress break away, to reveal she had her blaster strapped to her thigh.

"I thought blasters aren't allowed in the gallery…." Han's voice had a sarcastic lilt to it.

Leia raised her eyebrow at Han and Han smiled back - man did he love this woman.

Leia lifted her blaster into a ready position.

"What are you doing?!" The Senator scolded them. "I am writing you up Senator Organa. A weapon! Disgraceful!"

Han made his way to the entrance keypad and took it in, looking for any weakness. "Yeah, write her up, right after she saves your life." He nodded his head to Leia. "This looks like a basic entry pad, but what am I missing?" He pushed a few buttons and nothing seemed to work.

"It's basic plus…"

"Basic plus?" That sounded ridiculous to Han.

"Daily personalized codes. It's basic, but it recycles. Basic. Plus."

Han continued to dislike what he was hearing. "Credit pinching with my tax dollars, I get it. I'm guessing this system stops recycling out once you're off campus."

"You think this was planned for when I was leaving?"

"Try yours." Han stepped back.

Leia walked forward and punched in her code.

"Access denied. Senator Organa is off-world. Access denied."

Han and Leia looked at each other.

Han shook his head. "Nice little fail safe you got there, what if you left something on your desk, you'd be locked in this place for the next nine months."

Leia frowned and Han put his arm out to block Leia, which Leia knew meant to step back.

Han casually blasted the face off the keypad.

Leia frowned. "We have five other perfectly good government employees with access codes we could try."

Han leaned in to her. "We may not have that kind of time and I trust our skills with electronics more than I trust fifty present of this room," he glared a bit of side eye toward the only other Senator in the room.

Leia smiled. "Well, with your history with doors you better let me take the lead on this one."

Han frowned and then nodded his head, because she was right. Han turned to the group as he put his blaster back in its holster. "We'll get everyone out of here in -'

One of the Senator's aids jumped up agitated. "We are in here for our own safety. We should do what we're told."

"Look, buddy, if I did what I was told I'd be dead a hundred times over. You can stay in here all you like, but I'm gettin' my family outta here."

The Senator stood up to defend his aid. "I think we all trust the walls of The Republic over the actions of a mercenary with questionable morals, 'war vet" or not!"

Han didn't like the sound of that, but before he could defend himself, Leia shot the wall with her blaster causing a burn mark that led all but Han in the room to gasp.

"You trust these walls now." Leia faced the room. "Whomever put us in here is extremely stupid or has an agenda I don't care to wait to learn about first hand, nor Senator do my husband and I have the desire to wait and find out which one of us is right. You weren't in the war - you didn't fight in it. Experience isn't always about age, Senator, sometimes experience trumps age. So if you want to get out here alive and in one piece I think a mercenary is just what the Doctor ordered." She lifted her gun into the Senator's view.

The Senator swallowed hard and looked at Han. "She know how to use that thing?" he whispered.

Han laughed and Leia rolled her eyes before getting back to work on the door.

Han leaned in. "If she didn't know how to use that thing you'd be calling The Empire home right about now." He raised his eyebrows.

Suddenly, the door opened and Leia called to Han who came to her side.

Leia commanded the room. "Everyone stay here, keep the door locked, we'll see what's going on." Leia heard Ben start to stir. She walked over to Ben and kissed him on the head. "Stay with him," she told her aid who nodded back.

Han looked at his son in the woman's arms and he knew what he was fighting for. And there was no one he would rather do it beside than Leia.

Han and Leia walked with caution out of the cylinder and let the door slide close behind them. She typed in a new code she had programed in herself through the mainframe and let the door lock behind them, but still left the door the ability to be opened from the inside.

It was oddly silent. No alarms, no people, and no guards. That was when Han noticed two guards in New Republic uniforms slumped against a pillar. Han motioned with his blaster to Leia to take in the sight of the men. Han took the guards wrists and shook his head in despair. "Dead."

"No sign of our protector…" Leia said sarcastically, regarding the guard who had lead them into the room.

Han suddenly noticed something. "I think we have another sign to deal with." He motioned toward five figures in makeshift masks, holding smoke bombs and not dressed in any particular uniform Han recognized. "Identify, yourself!" Han shouted and Leia and Han positioned their blasters in unison forward toward the group.

The group continued their forward march with no signs of hesitation. Han and Leia weren't sure what to do. Firing first without being fired upon initially could get them both in a serious amount of trouble, if this was not what they thought it was, even thought they were sure it was just that... an attack. Now the real question was who were the targets? The Senate itself? Any of the people ushered into the fake "bunker"? All Han knew was his unexpected presence at The Senate that day was proof positive who the target couldn't possibly be, himself. And that fact, scared Han more than any of the million possibilities going through his and Leia's heads.

The group was now over the official line of demarcation from the tarmac to The Galactic Senate lobby and the smoke bombs in their hand were now airborne, coming straight toward the couple. Han and Leia ducked behind a pillar.

"You recognize any of those people?" Han asked Leia, keeping an eye out to be sure they weren't surprised by anything and anyone.

"No," Leia told him.

"Okay…" Han took a breath. "I really thought I was done with this crap."

"You and me both." She smirked and raised her blaster.

And together husband and wife began to defend themselves against the cloaked group of men and woman. At one point Han noticed a new figure, with a black mask, going straight towards the door that housed his son, and the door's keypad.

"Hey!" Han yelled. This did just what Han had wanted it to do and distracted the man from his task. Han then fired a blaster charge right into the man's arm. The man fled off up the winding stairs toward the Senate Floor. Han saw a group of reinforcements in New Republic police uniforms take arms alongside Leia, about twenty of them, Leia would be fine, and so Han Solo followed the black-clad intruder alone.

---

Han had followed the masked man into the balcony tier of the gallery with his blaster in position. He had only taken two steps into the space when he felt the cold hard edge of a blaster hilt against his neck and skull, throwing him to the ground and his blaster from his fingers. Han flipped over instantly to see the masked man in front of him; his blaster in Han's face. The hunter was now the prey. Han raised his hands out and to the side to show the man he wasn't armed. Han had always figured this would be how he would go. And the last face he would see wasn't even a face at all, but a black blob with red hair and two red stripes down either side his black boots.

"Well, the famous Han Solo," said the masked man, sarcastically. "Isn't this my lucky day…" The masked man positioned the trigger. Han braced for death when suddenly he heard the distinct sound of blaster fire, followed by the masked figure falling forward and over a seat cushion to reveal the shape of Leia in the entryway, holding the trigger.

Han took a revealed breath out and smiled - that was too close.

"What would you do without me?" She put the blaster back in its holster under her dress and walked toward Han to put her hand out.

Han grabbed his blaster and stood up. "I ask myself that every day, Sweetheart." He kissed her fast on the mouth. "C'mon." And he waved for his wife to follow him.

---

Leia, Han and the New Republic infantry made their way through the onslaught of fire and people still trying to enter and protect the unbroken seal of the Senate chambers

The Senator and his aids started to hear the noise outside and wanted to see what was happening, much to the protest of C3PO. Soon, Leia's aids had also entered the doorframe to watch the spectacle like spectators at a sporting event. So distracted by the events unfolding in front of them no one noticed young Ben Organa Solo, who peaked his head out between their legs blocking the front of the door. Watching first hand, and for the first time, his parents killing and striking down men and women, bodies on the ground, blaster fire everywhere - participating in the art of war Ben had only heard stories about from his father. He wanted to see more, he wanted to see it all up close, and so he ran out into the melee.

Han caught site of Ben running towards the battle and screamed so loud his entire face turned bright red, "Ben, no!"

This made Leia turn toward Han's voice, the urgency at which he called their son's name scared her half to death, but her distraction was her enemies' win and Leia took blaster fire to her left arm and went down hard onto the marble floor. Han saw Leia and like most of his life felt conflicted loyalists as he held his son firmly by the shoulders.

"We're all clear. Blasters down. Those are our people!" a voice was heard and cheering filled the lobby.

"Don't you ever do that!" Han screeched at his son. "Do you understand what kind of danger you put yourself in? Do you!? Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me!?"

Leia ran to her family's side, holding her arm. "Han, be easy on him," she scolded, as she reached them.

The boy was crying.

"Do you understand what kind of danger you put yourself in!?" Han was terrified for the safety of his son.

"Han! Enough!" Leia went for her son and he instinctively ran to her and grabbed hold of her leg tightly, she soothed the boy by stroking his hair.

"I'm sorry…" Han took deep breaths and came to his feet. He turned to Leia and his son. "He scared me. He scared the hell out of me." Han took a step towards Ben and Leia. "Let's go home." He put his hand out and Ben recoiled and his grip tightened on Leia's leg. Han had a devastated look on his face, it was the first time his son had rejected him.

Leia looked at her husband with compassion for she understood why he had done it, but she also wished Han had handled it better. Han walked towards her and ran his hand through Ben's hair, which was a relief to Han that he let him.

He's sensitive, Han," Leia said softly, as if it wasn't the first time she had reminded her husband of that fact.

"I know…" Han ran his hands again through his son's hair, feeling lost on what to do next. He cared so much for this little family he never thought he would ever have or often felt he deserved.

"I know." He noticed Leia's hand covering her blaster wound. "Come on, let's get you a medic."

---

That night, safe back in their own home, a home they had not shared together for three months, made Han feel safe and Leia secure. The events of that afternoon had only strengthen Leia's commitment to help Luke revive the Jedi order alongside The New Republic she helped build and was continuing to help flourish. Han thought of nothing but his family and his lifelong commitment that bonded him to keeping them safe. Holding his wife in his arms, caught in her embrace and most of her hair, Han worried for their future, only hoping the future didn't hold more events like that afternoon. Leia could feel her husband's pain and it pained her in return. Luke would remark jokingly that Leia was the heart and the brains of the outfit, but Leia would correct him with a retort that Han Solo had enough heart for both of them ten folds. She often wondered if that was what had first attracted her Han, not just his good looks, his talent for leading, his sense of humor, his charm, but the heart underneath all the subterfuge. The heart that took her years to get out of him, but that perhaps The Force had keyed her into. Had Obi Wan felt it also when he chose Han to pilot that plane to Alderaan, as reluctant as he had been at first. Yes, her reluctant hero was now the father of her child and he would risk everything to protect them, to make her happy. And she would do everything she could to protect him. To protect both her boys. She still had no idea she would pay the price for her good-intentioned folly.

Han was asleep when he felt Leia stir from the bed. The warmth of her body giving way to the room's tepid air. He opened his eyes to see Leia's shadow getting dressed in the darkness.

"Don't do that…" he hissed, in a sleepy stupor. He tried to reach out to her but he couldn't reach that far.

"Ben's been having nightmares. I need to be dressed-"

"Nightmares? Since when? Why didn't you tell me?" Han leaned back on his elbows and tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness of the room.

Leia pulled over the covers and got back into bed. "You've been away. It's only recent."

"I haven't been gone all the time. I'm his father, I should know."

"I'm handling it."

"Hey," he took her by the shoulders. "We're part of a team now, you don't have to do everything yourself. That's why I'm here. I'm half that kid too."

Leia nodded her head in the dark and then realized Han couldn't really see her. "I know." She kissed him. "I'm his only parent when I'm in session, sometimes I forget."

"This again…."

"What?"

"I have people who are counting on me… we agreed. We wouldn't mess with what's important to us. Besides, you know how much I hate it there." He got out of bed and turned the light on.

"If you would just give it a chance…"

"Oh, like that Senator guy gave me a chance."

"They're not all like that. Besides what does it matter what they think."

"You think I care what they think. Those moof milkers. I could care less. I'm not a party person and I sure as hell don't care to be nice to people who aren't nice to me. I married a politician, lady, I ain't one."

"You could give it a chance…" She paused and Han knew something was coming. "I was going to wait until the morning, but…"

"Ohhh nooo."

"There is a ruling on the floor when we reconvene in the fall for a longer work year..."

"Yeah…." Han lowered his head calmly. "I should have seen that comin'." He looked at her.

"Are you asking me to quit my job?"

"We miss you, Han. And I'm not saying you don't miss us."

"I miss you both terribly when we're separated."

"Han…" Leia took his hand from the side of the bed. "I'm not saying you don't. I see the look in your eyes every time we say good-bye. I think some way down the line we thought this was a compromise we were making, but the only thing it's comprising is us…" She then smirked. "Not that I'm saying I don't enjoy the re-connecting part..."

Han smirked and tilted his head. "It does add an extra kick, doesn't it, huh?" He crawled onto the bed to be closer to her.

"I've spoken to the trade ambassador and he says he is happy to make you the head of the Hosnian System detail. I know we looked into it before. You and Chewie would have a bigger crew, less runs also means you can enter the Falcon in a few more races a year. More alone time for you and Ben. We both knew once he started school you wouldn't be able to take him with you as much anyway."

Han didn't respond, it looked like he was listening and thinking.

"Chewie's decided to go home. He's leaving next week... to go back to his family."

Leia smiled. "Good. Good. I'm glad." She rested her hand on his forearm and stared into at his eyes for a moment with compassion. She knew this was hard for Han. "For Chewie."

Han nodded his head at Leia and she nodded back.

"You could always run security in the Senate, obviously it needs an overhaul."

"I'd hate that," he softly grumbled.

"I know you would." She smiled. There was a pause. "It's time we were a real family Han. And I know you want that too."

Han took a breath. "No one loses their job, so I can get moved around. I don't want someone else being separated from his or her family because of me."

"Of course not."

And then out of nowhere, Han and Leia heard the blood curdling scream of their son. Han was expecting it, but he jerked at the fear it filled him with.

"Ben…" Leia's heart leapt from her skin. Even though she was used to it his screams, she never would be, the sight or sound of one of her children in peril, real or imagined, rocked her.

Leia ran into the room first and took hold of her son failing about and screaming, his eyes closed. Han was caught in the doorway at the state of Ben. He was in a state of shock.

"Ben…" Leia said sweetly hugging him to her chest. "Shussssh,"

"What do I do?" Han asked helpless in the door.

"Come here," Leia called to him "There's a cold compress next to the bed."

Han nodded took the compress off the night stand and handed it to Leia.

"It's gonna be okay, Kid - it's just a dream." Han took hold of their son from the opposite side of Leia. He was confused and his chest burned, feeling the pain of his own son's pain. Leia put the cold compress on Ben's head and he slowly opened his eyes and his screams turned to tears.

"There you are…" Han said softly.

"You're safe…" Leia told him. "You're home. Home is safe."

"Home?" Ben said with his soft voice.

"No more monsters." Leia assured him. "Home."

Ben looked over at Han and Han shook his head yes - his face fallen - still unsure what to do.

"It's all right," Han told her son. "It's okay…."

If Han hadn't already decided he spent too much time away from his family this moment for sure sealed his fate. He would die for his son. Leia felt a darkness she couldn't explain in the room. And Snoke watched. Snoke watched from afar.

---

Later that night Han had fallen asleep in a rocking chair by the door, a storybook on his lap. Leia sat in bed hugging her son and waiting for him to drift off to sleep, lightly stroking the top of his head and forehead.

"Tell me The Force story…" Ben said with his small hoarse voice.

"Again? Ben, you've heard that a million times…time to sleep"

"Tell me, again."

"Okay…" She adjusted herself in her position and looked her son straight in the eye.

"The Force is an energy field that connects all living things. It surrounds us. Penetrates us. Connects the universe. You have it, your uncle has it..."

"And you have it"

Yes, I do. And I have passed that on to you… and like… my…" Leia was caught at a thought she had never added to the story before. "My father passed it on to me and Luke."

"Papa…?"

"Not your father, no, but I can still feel him - feel your father when he's not around, because we all share a bond. You are both a part of my heart." She took his little hand and put it on her heart. "Forever."

"And you can feel me? In The Force?"

"From the moment you were born."

"No matter where I go, no matter how far…" Ben said as if finishing a story he knew by heart.

"Well, you would have to go very, very far away for me to not feel you."

"Like where Master Obi Wan took Luke - that far away."

"Took Luke?" She paused. "You mean when we were born? Yes, Luke and I were hidden from the Empire. Luke in The Outer Rim." The idea seemed to penetrate her thoughts in the simple way her son had presented it. Why had she been hidden in plain sight and Luke taken so far away?

"If I was hidden in The Outer Rim you wouldn't be able to find me?"

"I would find you. Always. I would never stop looking until I found you. Your father and I would never stop looking for you, Ben. Until the end of our days."

"Even if I wasn't connected to The Force? If… If I...I forget….would, would you still be able to find me?"

"I suppose yes, if you forgot who you were, where you came from. Your training. That could sever you from the Force, I suppose, yes. Maybe…?" Leia now remembered Luke had told her a story like this once, but she decided not to share it with her son. "But forgot your training - the awakening within you? Never. It is a part of who we are. You can feel it. What we talked about."

"Yes…"

"We have this shared bond, Ben. And with time we will be able to use it together." Leia raised her hand and the blanket from the foot of the bed and lifted it over the entire bed landing over her son. "Good night, my sweet, Prince." She kissed his forehead and lingered her lips there for a moment, with a mother's love that could never

Han opened his eyes and seemed surprised at where he had fallen asleep. He looked over at his family and Leia smiled back. Here, he thought, all those years ago he had saved the princess, but the truth was she had saved him.

---

Present, 2am

---

Leia stood on the balcony of her quarters, looking out over The Resistance base; she had a lot think about. She was once again alone, something that was hard for her to deal with, something like always she would have to deal with it. That was her plight in life, but she would not let it crush her like it did her mother, she couldn't - there was more at stake, there was too much hope now among the ruins of her life.

"General…"

Leia heard the distinct voice behind her. She smirked a bit. "Poe, don't tell me they sent you to give my two a.m. briefing." She turned to him. "Seems a little over your pay grade, Commander Dameron."

Poe lowered his head and smiled. "Well, since I don't get much pay around her, sounds like a promotion to me."

"They sent you," she raised an eyebrow.

"I volunteered."

"Oh," She mouthed the shape of the sound. "You are very good at that."

Poe took a step forward. "It helps to be recruited by the best."

"Oh, not this again," Leia waved him off. "You're lucky you're the best pilot around here or I'd kick some sense in you for all this hero worship. It's beneath you."

"I'm offering you a compliment." He put his hands behind his back and held them together in a military position.

"I no longer have an ego that needs compliment. I left that long behind me, along with my youth." She put her hand out. "What do you have for me?"

"Not much," Poe handed her the datapad in his hand and Leia took out her reading glasses. "The night shift hasn't radioed in anything unusual, all quiet. We're working with a few planets with relocating any refugees from the planets -"

"I have experience with that. Have Threepio retrieve the records, we can -" She paused. "I don't see Rey on here." She took off her glasses and looked at Poe. "The girl - she's not on this report sheet."

"She's not Resistance personnel."

"She is on a mission for The Resistance. For me. I want her on my report."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Don't Ma'am me I've known you since you were two." She put on her reading glasses and continued reading. "General is fine. You can even call me Leia in private," she almost mumbled and then sighed as it occurred to Leia that there was no one around anymore that called her by her given name and the only one left living was Luke.

"She hasn't come down yet."

"I'm sorry?" Leia looked up at Poe. "Commander Chewbacca checked in an hour ago, she's still with your brother, she hasn't come back to the ship yet."

"Oh…" Leia said softly. "Well, I suppose it will take time." She smiled. "That's what I'm told." She sat down on a chair and let out a breath, her body felt heavy.

"What does?" Poe asked.

"Hummm?" Leia asked distracted for a moment. "Time." She paused and seemed to wait for Poe to answer. "To convince Luke to return."

Poe didn't look convinced that was where The General was leading. "Wait? Is that girl gonna be trained by Luke Skywalker?" He asked like a little kid asking about a movie star.

"You ask too many questions, Poe." She stared at him as if that was an insult, but her tone revealed her real feelings on the matter. "Your mother loved that about you." Leia paused and became melancholy. "Han and I just adored your mother, Poe. She saved my life many times. Both your parents were very special to us. And to Luke."

"I know…" Poe took that in and felt a pang for his lost parents. "My father told me stories about him and General Solo at the battle of Endor and The Raid at the Wretch of Tayron. And I've read my mother's files."

"Do you remember your mother, Poe?"

"Yes."

"You were so young when she died. Eight? "

"I wish I remembered her more, but yes, I remember her. She taught me to fly. I feel lucky I had the time with her that I did, if I had been younger, say four or five, I might not have remember her at all."

This seemed to hit The General in an emotional way that surprised Poe and she nodded her head yes. He wasn't sure if she was sad or moved by his statement. "She would be so proud of what you've done with us here, Poe."

"Thank you, General. I know how close you and Han were with my parents and that's why I'm here.

"Ah… so they did send you?" Leia leaned back. "I shouldn't underestimate my crew and their ingenuity… and desperation." She raised an eyebrow.

"I'm told you're not sleeping…" he said as delicately as possible considering his position

"Ah…." Leia stood up and turned her back to Poe, looking over the fleet again. "I'll sleep when I'm dead." It appeared to be a joke, but her tone and manner was all but serious.

"General, If I may... speak out of turn, but you are the biggest asset the Resistance has at the moment, as our leader and figurehead, and without sleep you will be no use to us or yourself." He cleared his throat. "And that isn't hero worship, that's common sense."

Leia turned to Poe and he could see her eyes were filled with tears, she shook her head at him, to show she agreed. Poe was taken aback to see this woman he admired in such a vulnerable state - a woman known for her regal composure.

He walked closer to her until he stood right next to her at the balcony edge. "I've been talking with the some of the crew and I think we should have a memorial -"

"Nooo -"

"Service…"

"He'd hate it…" She tilted and slightly shook her head to the side.

"It's not for him."

Leia understood and was grateful, she took Poe's hand. "That is very kind, Poe, but no one here remembers, enough for it to make any kind of impact. He's a ghost to them…. a story their parents told them."

"I remember him, and a few of the kids here - and nooo…" Poe shook his head. "That's why we should do it. So the people here, these kids, know who Han Solo was and never forget him. Listen to our stories, even if they are second hand. That's how we keep him alive. Let them know who died for us this week."

"Poe, he didn't die for us. He died for me," her voice broke and she took Poe's hand to her heart.

Poe didn't know what that meant.

"No…" She kindly let go of Poe's hand. "But thank you for the gesture." Leia ran her fingers over her ring and it caught Poe's attention.

"I always meant to ask you - that ring. It must have extreme sentimental value - i'm always surprised you wear it in uniform. It sticks out."

Leia ran her fingers over the ring again and looked off for a moment before she took Poe's gaze. "Let's just say it's the last vestige of my past…. and leave it at that." she looked off. "It reminds me of the fallen."

Leia caught site of a nurse from the medic bay appear in her peripheral view. She knew what that meant. Poe saw that Leia had noticed their new visitor as well and noticed her entire body almost shorten in front of him, like a heavy weight was taken off her shoulders.

"I see you have reinforcements." She folded her glasses and put them in her pocket.

"I told them to hold off, I wanted to talk to you first."

"Okay…" she said softly, but with a sarcastic tone.

"The nurse is gonna come in here and administer the shot, it will take about two minutes, your eyes will become heavy -"

Leia put her hand on Poe's arm and nodded her head. "I've done this once before," she said with a deep voice that dripped with a melancholy despair. She looked up at him. "You'll stay with me, until I'm out."

"Yes, General."

"You can call me Leia, here. I said it was all right," she grumbled.

He put his arm out for her to take and she paused. She saw Han for a moment. The lovely gesture. The first time he had offered her up his arm to her, it reminded her of the men back home, it felt so natural.

"I'm afraid I'll see him," her voice cracked.

Poe looked at her confused. "Han?"

"If I sleep I'll have Force visions. Of the past… maybe of the future, but I know I'll see the past and he'll be here again. Flesh and blood in front of me. Force visions… you don't know, they're so vivid, more than life, more than dreams. They smell, feel - real. And when I wake up he'll be gone and it will all feel so real, again. That he's gone. That Ben killed him. That Luke may never come back - that…." she couldn't finish her thought.

Poe took her hand. "I still remember what you told me when my mother died, General." He paused and caught himself. "Leia."

"I don't remember…" she mumbled in a groggy stair.

"There is always tomorrow, when there is hope."

Leia nodded her head at Poe and regained her strength. "Your mother would be so proud of you, Poe." She patted his arm. "A mother knows these things." Leia rubbed her ring and took a breath. "Okay," her voice gained its full power again. "I'm ready." and Poe took Leia inside to meet the Nurse.

Continue the story three different ways...

Myth Theory A

Rey is thought dead in the Jedi Massacre

Myth Theory B

Rey is thought dead in a "profound tragedy" after Ben is sent away

Myth Theory C

Rey is thought dead in a "profound tragedy" involving Ben and he is sent away