THE BIRTHDAY FROM HELL

Chapter 1

Leia was exhausted. All three babies had been sick with respiratory infections, most likely picked up at the nursery. Leia was astonished to learn that children were not only messy, noisy, and demanding; they were little disease breeders as well.

Han was normally helpful, but the Falcon hyperdrive began to misbehave for the n + ith time, and he and Chewie had detoured to Tralus for repairs, meaning that he'd be delayed another day.

Threepio, despite his best intentions, had been unsuccessful in his attempts to care for the children; if he tried to comfort one, he or she would burst into yet another round of crying.

"Mistress Leia," Threepio said, "is there anything I can do?"

"How are you at laundry and dishes?" she asked wearily. She was holding a fussy Jacen against her shoulder as she kicked a laundry basket along the floor. The children had developed gastrointestinal issues as a result of their illnesses. Diapers were not something the protocol droid was capable of dealing with; he'd never been programmed to do so and despite having no sense of smell, he seemed to find it revolting.

"I'm afraid I'm not programmed for such things. Artoo is quite good at serving food and drinks, but I'm not even good for that." Threepio sounded as if he was upset that he had disappointed her.

"Can you make a cup of stim-tea?" Leia asked as she took one last kick at the laundry basket and began a bouncy gait in hopes of comforting her inconsolable older son.

"That I can do, madame. I shall fix some immediately." The droid seemed far too happy to be able to do something, but at this point, Leia was going to accept any help she could.

"Thank you." She rhythmically paced with Jacen on her shoulder, singing the Alderaanian lullabye her mother had sung to her as a small child. Finally, he calmed sufficiently that Leia tiptoed into the bedroom and laid her first son as gently as possible into his crib. As she crept out of the room, Threepio called that the stim-tea was ready.

Her throat hurt and her eyes felt as if there was sand in them, but she had barely managed any sleep at all in the last day. The long, thick braid she'd put in her hair two days prior was coming apart, strands of hair flying everywhere, her hair clips somewhere that she couldn't even remember and at the moment she could have not cared less about, never mind that they'd been an anniversary gift from Han and she cherished them. She'd gotten out of her work clothes when she'd taken the kids out of nursery two days back, but the soft black pants and the comfortable shirt the color of a turquoise sky had taken a beating since then; dried drool, mucus and vomit covered them. If the babies would only sleep long enough so that she could get in the shower, she swore she'd feel like a new woman.

No sooner had Threepio served her the tea, with some honey and citrus juice on the side, than a wail came out of the bedroom. Leia identified it as Anakin. Leia had hoped that between still being a nursing baby and only two months old he'd have gotten a reprieve, but he was ailing as well.

"Let me know when to warm the tea," Threepio said to her as she headed for the babies' room.

"Don't hold your breath," was Leia's weary, muttered response.

Leia cradled two month old Anakin in her arms, hoping he would eat. He'd been refusing the breast the last day; he would take some sips of water, but one of the symptoms of the virus that had taken them was an extremely sore throat. Just getting the twins, now eighteen months old, to sip juice or water was a challenge. The fever was not supposed to be damaging to young children, but the dehydration could. And in children, bacta was useless. The one thing Threepio did have to coordination for was to dropper feed the children and this was yet another opportunity to hone his skills.

Leia put Anakin on her breast and he began to suck eagerly, but moments later, he withdrew and began screaming again.

"Perhaps I should order some electrolytic fluid?" Threepio asked solicitously.

"I think we have to."

"Leave it to me, madame," Threepio said graciously.

"Threepio, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I only wish I was able to assist you more," the golden protocol droid said wistfully as he filled a syringe with a fruit flavored liquid. "I'll order the electrolytics from the chemist forthwith."

"Here's hoping they have some left in stock." This particular virus was slamming Coruscant like a giant asteroid. "Oh, and Mistress Leia, I don't mean to fuss, but you are looking somewhat pale."

"Threepio, I'm always pale," Leia said. "I'm going to try to drink some stim-tea."

"I'll warm it for you."

She held Anakin while he fussed. Threepio was adding drops very slowly so that Anakin wouldn't choke or cry. Leia had called the chemist the previous day to get some anesthetic spray but there was none in stock - at twenty different chemists.'

Her comm chimed gently; it was probably Han. Threepio took a momentary break from getting fluid into Anakin to retrieve it. Leia tried to nurse her baby again.

"It's Captain Solo," Threepio announced, handing Leia the comm. Despite all their years together, Threepio continued to refer to Han as Captain Solo and Leia as madame or Mistress Leia. The formality seemed to suit Threepio and neither complained.

"Sweetheart, I think we can make it by tonight," Han said to her. "But me and Chewie are gonna be there tonight. How're our babies?"

"Not well. As you can see, they're all still sick and I can't get Anakin to nurse."

"You look exhausted," Han said gently. "You feeling okay?"

"I just need some sleep," Leia said.

"Any chance of Luke helping out?"

"It's hit Yavin, too. Mara has it, and I can't ask him to leave her."

"The way it's going, he's probably got it, too. Everyone we've been in contact with either has it or has someone they know with it."

Despite her exhaustion, she noted that Han looked as weary as she felt.

"Are you all right?" Leia asked him.

"I'm fine." It occurred to Leia that he wasn't looking or sounding great, but then again, he and Chewie paid little attention to things like food and sleep while on a marathon Outer Rim delivery run.

"Hurry home," Leia pleaded.

"That's the idea. Besides, I don't wanna miss your birthday."

Leia had forgotten all about that. And right now, celebrating was the last thing on her mind.

The perfect present, she thought, would be a night of uninterrupted sleep. Based on the present situation, it looked as if that might happen - when their kids turned eighteen.