THE CRIES OF A BABY FILLED THE STERILE WHITE ROOM. On the bed in the center, Leia Organa Solo lay, glistening with sweat, her eyes fixed on the small figure in the nurse droid's arms.
Out in the hall, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca were pacing back and forth, each not speaking. Han looked like he was about to tear the building apart piece by piece.
The door opened, and the three men swung around. A droid stood in the doorway. "You can come in now," it said. Han sprinted towards the door, Chewbacca and Luke following close behind.
When Leia saw them enter, she sat up slowly, pulling her sheets around her body. Han immediately ran to his wife and kissed her. She reached up and kissed him back, her body sagging with exhaustion.
When they broke apart, Leia's eyes were shining. "It's a boy," she whispered. Han's mouth opened, and he turned towards the droid. "Oh, sweetie," he whispered, for once at a loss for words.
The droid gently placed the baby in Han's arms, and he immediately stopped crying, opting instead to insert his thumb into his mouth. The child sucked solemnly, brown eyes fixed on Han's face.
Han's eyes lit up, and he stroked his son's head proudly. Luke and Chewbacca exchanged glances, each grinning widely. Leia reached out and squeezed her brother's hand, and Luke stroked her hair softly.
Han walked over to the bed. "We have a full family now!" he said. Chewbacca roared his agreement.
Han couldn't stop staring down at his son, a proud grin stretched across his face. Leia looked up at Luke. "He's Force-sensitive," she said softly.
Luke nodded. He could feel his nephew's presence like a beacon the moment he had entered the room. Han, who couldn't care less about the Force didn't comment, but merely stared down into his son's eyes.
Chewbacca reached out a massive paw, and gingerly rubbed the top of the baby's head, nearly enveloping it in his massive paw. The solicited a hoot of laughter from Han and Leia.
"What's his name?" Leia asked.
"Ben," Han answered without hesitation. "Ben Solo."
Leia's eyes sparkled, and Luke grinned. "It's perfect," Luke said. "Ben Solo."
"No matter what happens," Leia said, "we'll always have this family."
Han reached down, and softly handed Ben to Leia. She made small crooning noises as she softly massaged his hands, and suddenly Ben began to coo. Startled, all four adults laughed. "Congratulations," Luke grinned. Chewbacca patted Leia's shoulder, and she held up her son to Luke.
Luke reached down, and scooped his tiny nephew up. As soon as Ben saw Luke's face, he became silent, his startlingly clear brown eyes locked on Luke's blue ones. They were both silent for a moment, and then Ben reached out and grabbed Luke's thumb, latching onto it, and biting down hard. Han roared with laughter, and Luke laughed too, both men staring down at Ben.
"He's perfect, Leia," Luke commented, not looking away from Ben's eyes. "Absolutely perfect."
"Ben Solo," Leia said, trying out the name. "Han, we have a son!"