SO WHERE WERE YOU?
Han and Leia flopped on to the sofa, exhausted from the daily business of living, both familial and occupational. Between raising three children and attending to demanding jobs, peaceful moments were few and far between.
"You're not putting the game on?" Leia asked Han. She knew that the Corellian Dreadnoughts were playing that night; betting pools at the office abounded. Of course, the bets favored the Coruscant team, and by a large margin. While gambling on government grounds was technically illegal, there was no one who was going to enforce the ban, especially not Leia. One had to prioritize.
"I'll get the scores from the massacre tomorrow," Han said, trying to stifle a yawn, draping his arm loosely over Leia's shoulders.
"You'd think after all this time, they'd know how to pick a better roster."
"I think it's tradition."
Leia murmured contentedly as she leaned into Han. "Are you thinking about going to bed soon?"
He smiled softly. "I could easily be talked into it. At least I don't have to ship out for two days. I'm actually thinking about hiring some help."
"But I assume they have to have their own ships," Leia said.
"Hey, no one drives the Falcon but Chewie and me."
"Lando's piloted."
"In emergency situations. Besides, he's got that space yacht now, and we all know how much Lando loves the finer things in life."
"I've flown it, too," Leia added. "Just in case you've forgotten."
"And you're totally hot when you do." Han winked at her and gathered her into his arms. He smiled at her. "We have the most wonderful family anyone could ask for, don't we?"
"Most of the time," Leia laughed.
They were starting to rise from the sofa when the chimes went off. Han frowned. "This better not be your brother."
"He's getting better about comm'g ahead," Leia said.
"What?" Han demanded, as he answered the comm. "Don't you know what time it is?"
It was one of the Barabelian guards. "There's someone here to see you."
"Tell 'em to come back tomorrow." Han walked away from the intercom and it went off again promptly.
"Let me try the diplomatic approach," Leia said to him. She pressed the talk button. "We don't accept visitors at this hour." She was following Han to the bedroom, and the chimes rang again. She stomped back towards the intercom. "I think we need some more aggressive negotiations. "Get lost! If it's that important, it'll wait till morning!" And possibly forever, she said to herself.
Whoever was there was not about to give up. "If you're the media, check with Mon Mothma!" That was usually enough to send the holorazzi lowlifes running.
This time, the Barabel pressed the talk button. "Madam, I beg your pardon, but we have a gentleman who claims to be a one Jonash Solo."
Leia stopped, blinking in disbelief. "I think you'd better talk to Han about that." She wandered over to the bedroom. "Han, you need to take this one."
Han rolled his eyes. "I'll take it, all right. With a blaster." He stomped irritably towards the comm. "This had better be good. I've got a blaster and I'm not afraid to use it."
The response was not one of the Barabelian guards. "Han Solo?" Leia was standing in the doorway of the bedroom and could hear the exchange.
The voice sounded eerily like Han. Older, but same timbre. Leia thought the claim might be legitimate.
"Who wants to know?"
"Han, my name is Jonash Solo and -"
"Jonash Solo's dead, left me for the same," Han snapped bitterly. "Only I didn't die. Whoever you are, you're not welcome here."
"Han," Leia intervened. "Han!"
Han ignored her. "So get the kriff outta here -"
Now I need to be a real diplomat, Leia thought. She pushed past Han. "Let me handle this." It would annoy Han in a major way, but she sensed that perhaps this person might have a claim. She pressed the talk button. "Sir, I understand that you might be a relation, but I'd be more comfortable if we could meet in a more public place in the morning."
"I can appreciate that, but I've used what few credits I had."
Leia and Han looked at each other. "What should we do?" Leia asked softly.
Han rolled his eyes. "I'll go down, but not without my blaster." He headed for the gun safe that he and Leia had hidden in the back of their closet and pulled his blaster out and popped it into his thigh holster. "I'll be back. Alone."
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Han went down the lift. His humor was foul and he was pretty sure this was an imposter. "At least Jarik Solo earned the surname," Han muttered crossly. He was sure that this was another con man. Admittedly, no one had ever tried this particular con with him, but he wasn't giving points for originality.
Two drednoughts flanked the person claiming to be Jonash Solo. Han was itching to put a blast in him...
Until he looked at the face. It was a face much older than his own...but it was as if he was looking at himself. He was a tall man, and extremely thin, stooped over from age and gods knew what else.
Han stared at him. The person had green-gold eyes not unlike his own.
"You won't need your blaster," the older man said to Han. "I assure you I'm not hear to cause any harm."
"And I'm supposed to believe you just because you say so?"
"It's good to see you, my son."
Han glared at him. "I have no idea who you are and I'm not sure I want to."
"You're married to a princess, and you have three beautiful children."
"If there's anyone in galaxy who doesn't know that, I'd like to meet him and shake his hand, because living in the public eye's not really something I like." He gazed hard at the older man. "What is it that you want?"
"To meet the son I left behind nearly thirty-nine years ago. Now THAT is not common knowledge."
"I never talk about any family but the one I've created with Leia because I don't have any other I care to acknowledge."
"Aren't you even curious as to whether or not I'm related to you?"
"Not particularly, no." Han rolled his eyes. But his curiosity had been piqued. However, Han was against showing one's hand first. "What do you want?"
"A bed for the night would be nice," the old man told him. "And some food."
Han reached into his wallet and pulled out several credit chits. "Here, get a room and order some dinner."
"I'd really like to meet your wife and children."
"My kids are in bed and my wife and I are just about to crash out. Get a room and get lost."
The old man watched Han's face carefully. He could remember that once upon a time, he looked very much like the younger man standing before him.
"I'm willing to have a DNA test."
Han studied him. He still didn't trust the guy, but was becoming more unsure of what was happening.
"Fine. Go to the Manarai for the night. They have a decent restaurant. I'll meet you there at 0900."
"I do hope to meet my daughter-in-law and granchildren."
"That depends a on lot of things. The DNA's just a start. Good night."
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Leia was in the 'fresher that she and Han shared, removing her braids, brushing her teeth and removing her makeup. Han had always told her she didn't need it, but as a diplomat, she felt more confident when she was hiding behind some powder and paint.
Han entered the bedroom, an expression of complete confusion crossing his features. Leia emerged from the fresher, clad in one of Han's threadbare and very soft shirts, which barely covered her bottom. Now that was a look Han had always liked. Tonight, however, it was clear to Leia that he was preoccupied.
Han flopped on to the bed, staring at the ceiling. Leia sat down next to him and stroked his hair.
"An imposter?" she asked softly.
Han looked lost. "I have no idea. He's offered DNA. I don't believe him, but maybe I just don't want to."
"I'll admit it's something of a surprise. What does he look like?"
"He's totally grey, tall but kind of bent over, same color eyes I have although none of those things is the least bit significant."
"I see you didn't invite him in."
"Until I know him better, I don't think I should. What if he's some whackjob who wants to kidnap or kill you and the kids? I'm not good with that being a possibility."
"Was he armed?"
"Who knows? He wasn't making it obvious if he was."
Leia laid down on the bed with him, snuggling close.
Han turned to face her. Leia leaned in and they kissed tenderly.
"What if he turns out to be your father?" she asks softly.
"I have no idea."
Leia, a practical person, smiled gently at him. "I think it's bedtime for flyboys. Go on, get ready for bed."
A few minutes later, Han joined her in bed, clad in only a pair of sleep pants made of soft fabric. He climbed in, and Leia snuggled up to him.
He absently put his arm around his wife, again staring at the ceiling.
Leia moved in to kiss him again. "We can't do anything more about it tonight. Let's get some sleep, my love."
Han reached for her and held her tightly.
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The next morning proceeded as nearly every morning at the Solo household did: in a stare of chaos. Han served the three kids some flatbread with forest honey; his most recent delivery port always had plenty of it and prices were reasonable. He'd always loved it; it had been a real treat growing up and one of the few sweets he really enjoyed. It was best gotten directly from Kashyyyk, Chewie's home planet, but the last port was a planet that had a strong reciprocal trade agreement with Kashyyyk. Leia raced out the door with a mug of kaf, and he drank one as he transported the kids to their school.
Getting the kids out was always a challenge, especially when both he and Leia had to be on the job, but Han had two days left before his next delivery and no cadets to instruct that day.
"Daddy, who came to see us last night?" Jaina piped up.
"Nobody came over," Han said tightly
"I heard the bells," Jaina continued.
"That doesn't mean we had company."
"But you did! I heard you tell Mommy you were gonna take your blaster!"
"You were supposed to be asleep."
"I was reading!"
"You weren't supposed to be listening, then."
"Who was it?" Jacen chimed in.
Han pulled into the causeway that served as a parking lot at the kids' school. "Nobody," Han said, trying not to show that he was irritable and more than a little nervous, and the nervousness annoyed him.
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Han headed to the Maranai. He probably should have insisted on sending the stranger to a cheaper place, but Maranai had the advantage of being down the block on which they lived.
He was thinking that the old man had gotten what he wanted: a night of good food and sleep and then, he'd move on.
However, when Han entered the lobby of the hotel, the putative Jonash Solo was sitting there, waiting for him.
"I was wondering if you were coming back," the older man said to Han.
"I wasn't sure if I was," Han answered. "But they serve a pretty good breakfast here, so I decided I would."
"Have you always been this much of a smartass?" Jonash asked him, his tone dry.
"No, sometimes I'm much worse."
The two were given menus and asked for kafs. Both men took theirs the same way, without creams or flavoring.
After scanning the menu, the presumed Solo senior ordered pancakes and fresh fruit, which was also what Han always ordered.
This, Han said to himself, was a little creepy.
"Is that what you always order?" Han demanded.
"When I have enough credits, yes."
"I'm starting to feel like you've been stalking me," Han proclaimed.
That made the old man laugh. "I don't stalk. But I have tried to keep up with your over the years. I remember trying to get Shrike to release you -"
"Waitwaitwait slow down," Han said, putting up his hand. "How'd you know I was with Shrike?"
"Same way you know things. Word gets around. I wanted to come sooner, but I was serving a twelve year prison sentence on Kessel."
Han scanned his hands. There were definitely line networks of keloid scarring across the hands. He also noticed that the presumptive Jonash Solo's hands were about the same size as his, and had a slight tremor that was noticeable.
"You think I'm lying."
"I don't know what I'm thinking."
"I told you I wanted to do a paternity test."
Han almost burst out laughing. "Is this one of those daytime holoshows where they try to find the real father and then everyone beats each other up?"
"I'd find that more amusing than the alternative, but I'm willing to do it without an audience."
Han was becoming more unnerved by the minute. He was wondering if he preferred this guy to be his father or an imposter.
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"And you are here for?" the droid receptionist at the medicenter's DNA lab said to the two.
"Paternity test," Jonash said.
The droid observed them. "You look very much alike."
"No, I'm a lot better looking," Han said, a wry smile on his feature.
"I WAS better looking," Jonash said, with an almost identical smile.
"Take a seat and wait to be called."
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