Title: Just Between Us

Author: Hermione Eveningfall

Fandom: Star Wars

Disclaimer: The character's names and places do not belong to me. They belong to George Lucas, and I am merely borrowing them for my own amusement. ;o) I promise to return them!

Summary: The Harvest holiday have arrived, which means another trip to the Jedi Acadamy on Yavin 4 for Han, Leia and their children.

Chapter 1

"I see it, I see it, I see it!" Six year old Jacen Solo cried, peering through the front window of the Millenium Falcon. Chewbacca gave a roar of satisfaction, glancing at Han, who worked the controls. Leia sat with four year old Anakin on her lap, bouncing him gently, while her Jaina sat beside her, clutching her duffle bag tightly in her hands.

"Yep, that's it…Yavin 4." Han blew out his breath…it had been a long journey from Coruscant, one he was glad they only took for special occasions. Luke, after all, was rarely free as it is...he was currently a master at the brand new Jedi temple. "Slow her down, Chewie…we don't want to make a crash landing."

Anakin squealed, clapping his chubby hands together, and Leia shushed him. "Ani, Daddy is trying to concentrate, all right? I know you're excited to see Uncle Luke."

Jaina sighed happily, and watched as her twin brother came to sit beside her, taking the lizard she held from her lap. "Thanks," he said with a grin, and Jaina rolled her eyes, nodding. Eventually, they descended to the platform set up for them, and everyone felt the familiar thud as the Falcon came to a stop.

"This is your captain speaking," Han began, cupping his hands over his mouth so his voice sounded muffled. The twins and Anakin began giggling, and helped their mother gather their luggage. "Please watch your step on the way down the ramp. Single file, and no funny business."

Chewbacca gave another roar, and Han went to Leia. "I'll take him," he offered, and Leia shook her head, handing over her suitcase.

"You can take this, Han." She winked, giving him a kiss, and followed the rest of the group towards the exit ramp. They could already feel the intense heat and humidity of the jungle planet as they descended, and the first thing Jaina saw when they reached the platform was: "Uncle Luke!" she flew into her Uncle's arms, laughing as he lifted her and spun her around, placing a kiss on her cheek. Luke Skywalker, a Jedi Knight and a hero of the Republic, dressed in his simple black hooded robes. His hands were folded in front of him, and he wore the tired smile Jaina grew used to seeing on him via all of their holo messages.

"How are you feeling?" Leia whispered, once she set Anakin on the ground with his siblings, and embraced Luke tightly. The twins glanced at one another quizzically, not quite sure what their mother meant by the statement. Luke did, however, appear more exhausted than they remembered.

"All right," he practically whispered, kneeling down so he could embrace Jacen and Anakin. "How are you?" he asked, and Anakin held up four fingers.

"I'm four and a HALF!" he exclaimed, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"That you are," Luke replied, ruffling the head of light brown hair. "And you're getting to be almost as big as Jacen here." He winked at the elder Solo son, and gave him a hug.

"It's good to see you again, kid," Han greeted, and the Solo family followed Luke through the front doors of the temple. It was then the twins first heard the bad cough their Uncle produced, and Leia placed her hand on his back, rubbing cautiously.

"I'm fine," he gasped, and Jaina felt her heart racing as she stumbled after her brother, gazing upwards at the high domed celings.

They passed a familiar protocol droid, who stopped short at their arrival. "How wonderful to see you all again! This is certainly a surprise!"

"Threepio!" the twins exclaimed, surrounding him, and Anakin stood a few inches behind.

"Mistress Jaina, Master Jacen, and of course…young Master Anakin! I will show you all to your rooms, if you'll come with me, please."

Leia and Han gave their children encouraging smiles, and Han placed a hand firmly on Jacen's shoulder. "Take Anakin with you, all right? Make sure you keep a very close watch on him. Your mother and I want to have a talk with Uncle Luke in private."

Jacen and Jaina nodded obediently, and Jaina lifted Anakin into her arms, bouncing him as she carried him off. When they were gone, Luke turned to his old friends, his eyes staring into Leia's. "Let's go into my office, where we'll have more privacy," he told them, coughing into a fist again, and led the way. They could here Threepio chatting in the distance, the sound of his feet clanking along the tile floor.

"That cough sounds pretty bad, Luke. It's been with you for years now. I really think you should see a healer about it," Leia sighed, walking beside her brother.

"When did it start exactly?" Han asked, once they were all sitting in the comfortable room, filled with soft, light brown couches, a long desk, and a wonderful view of the jungle from the window. Luke sat down on the couch next to Leia, and folded his hands on his lap again.

"I never wanted to tell you, because it was too painful," Luke replied. "I couldn't bring it up, not when you and the children wanted to spend a pleasant time here." He coughed again, and Leia cocked her head to one side.

"Is it bad?" she asked, bracing herself for the worst. Every visit, no doubt, Luke seemed to grow weaker, but clearly he used his Jedi powers to protect his body during the long weeks of teaching.

"I'm not sure, but I…" he lowered his head. "When I went to confront Darth Vader while you two were still fighting on Endor, the Emperor electoructed me for at least ten minutes. He used his Force lightening, which penetrated my skin."

Leia's mouth opened and closed; it was true, Luke never did tell her or Han about the confrontation…they'd always kept mum about it. "Oh Luke…" she breathed, and he took her hand, squeezing it firmly.

"So I'm thinking that's the reason for this cough. I can put my shield up and kind of ignore it during the week, because of course, I don't want to sound like I'm dying in front of my students."

Han rubbed his chin, and Leia felt as though a fist slammed into her stomach. "You're dying?" she asked, and Luke shook his head with a laugh.

"No, that's not what I meant. But the cough is getting a little worse, I think, every year."

"Why don't you take something for it, Luke? I'm sure the medical droids have plenty of options for you.

"I've been so busy," Luke told them, and Han snorted.

"Well, then, this week we'll just have to drag you there. Luke, I don't get why you haven't said anything about this to us before. If you're sick, it's pretty darn important that we know about it!"

Leia hugged her brother, kissing the top of his head, and gave Han a look. "Well, the important thing is we know," she added. "I'm sure they have medicine you could take for it. Have you experienced any other signs of illness besides the cough after the electrocutions?"

Luke shook his head, coughing hard into his fist again. This time, it went on for almost a minute, and Han went to get a glass of water from the dispenser in the corner. Luke gratefully accepted the liquid, chugging it down in a couple of gulps. "Leia, right now, I want to enjoy the holidays with you. I promise I'll go to the healer as soon as vacation is over."

Leia hesitated to agree, but she finally sighed, resting against the back of the couch. "All right, kid, but if you pass out on us, we're dragging you there." Han stood, and rubbed his fingers through his dark hair. "Let's go check on the kids, and make sure they found their rooms."

Leia aided Luke to his feet, supporting him with her arm around his waist.

"Don't tell them," Luke begged, and she smiled.

"We wont, Luke. Just between us." She winked, and they made their way towards the guest rooms.