In the morning Han woke first, slipped from his sleeping wife's side and let the cool water of the shower slowly wake him. Two small hands made their way around his torso to cover his chest as a soft pair of lips kissed along his spinal column. Han smiled and removing her hands, turned to look at her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He cupped her face in his hands and smiled down at her.
"Well, you did promise if I gave you eight hours straight sleep you'd be all mine." She murmured.
"Technically, it was a little under seven hours but I'm willing to let that pass." He drew her lips to his and they kissed, water cascading down his back and splashing them both.
"Dad, you in the shower?" Jaina called.
"Yep." He called back and kissed the tip of his wife's nose and then her eyelids.
"Mom, you in the shower too?" Jaina called again.
"We're having sex. Go away!" Leia called back.
"Okay then." Jaina called out with a snigger.
"Don't tell her that!" Han chided.
"Why not? You're not trying to wriggle out of your promise to me are you flyboy?" Leia teased, her lips puckering his nipples.
Han growled something and wrapped her in his arms, crushing her to him.
"I'm sorry, our parents can't answer your comm at the moment..." Jaina reported to her brother Anakin across subspace. "They're having sex in the shower."
"But I need to speak to one of them!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Sorry. What's so urgent?"
"A bunch of the guys want to go up to the abandoned Mining Outpost. I need permission to go with them." Anakin explained.
"Which guys?" Jaina pressed, sensing Anakin wasn't being entirely truthful.
"Does it matter?"
"It does if it's just Tahiri Veila and you're going there on a scouting mission." Jaina eyed her brother suspiciously. "Cos you know Dad'll freak and that's nothing to what Mom'll do."
"Will you just tell them I called and ask them to get back to me?" Anakin scowled.
"What's Uncle Luke say about it?" Jaina pressed.
"He's fine with it so long as I get the okay from Mom or Dad." Anakin confirmed.
"Hold on..." Jaina went back to the corridor outside her parent's bedroom and called to them. "You two still at it?"
"Yes." Her mother answered, though clearly no longer in the shower.
It had proven more difficult than Leia had imagined with her still weakened legs, so Han had carried her back to their bed where they now continued with their lovemaking.
"Anakin wants to go study at the Mining Outpost. Uncle Luke's cool so long as you guys are. Can I tell him okay and you'll confirm with Uncle Luke when you're...um...done?" She called.
"Yes!" Leia answered.
"That 'yes' to me or 'yessss' to Dad?" Jaina sniggered.
"Just tell him okay!" Han barked and returned to complete his task.
"I just spoke to them," Jaina told Anakin on her return, "They say 'yes' and 'okay' and they'll talk to Uncle Luke later."
"Thank you." Anakin rolled his eyes, then wrinkled his nose. "You didn't see them, you know, doing it did you?"
"Do I look like a Gundark?" She arched her eyebrow at her brother. "Solo out."
She closed the link and smiled to herself. She liked Tahiri. Liked how she fit into their family as though she was meant to be part of it. She kind of liked Tenel Ka too, although the Warrior Princess could be somewhat abrasive given the chance. But more, she liked that her family was a family once more. And she especially liked that her parents were back to their old, sexy ways with one another.
Meanwhile, Han and Leia lay in a tangle of damp bedsheets and hot, sweaty arms and legs, breathing hard.
"Of course," Han said, his arm holding Leia's naked form to his. "You know I'm gonna have to have another shower now. And I'm gonna be late for the pickup. The trade link's gonna be rammed. I'll probably get clobbered in taxes for missing my delivery slot. And I'll be so late home I'll miss the Dreadnaughts getting hammered again." He mumbled, trying not to fall asleep. "At least that's one positive!"
"Listen to you! You sound like a responsible businessman." Leia chuckled. "You should go."
"I know. I know I should. But, I got a problem with that honey. I got a big problem with that." He said.
"Oh?" Leia too was fighting sleep.
"Jace? Hey Jacen?" He shouted. "Can you go get the Falcon warmed up and I'll be with you in five."
His son shouted back his affirmative.
"So, where's the big problem?" Leia asked.
"Right here..." Han rolled her onto her back and pressed himself between her legs.
"Oh!" She sighed. "That is a big problem! Let's see if we can't fix that between us."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
After drawing a protracted and somewhat vocal climax from them both, Han and Leia showered, dressed and started their day's routine.
On the Falcon, Han clamped a fatherly arm around Jacen's shoulders and pulled the young man into a bear hug.
"Daaadd!" Jacen squirmed from his father's hold.
"Son, I gotta contact your Uncle Luke so how about you go get that trinket for that little lady of yours and meet back here in, say, a half hour?" Han suggested.
Jacen readily agreed and sprinted off to collect his love token. Han smiled as he watched his boy go before putting in his call to Luke on Yavin IV. It took several minutes for Luke to appear on the screen before him.
"Hey Luke, what's this about Anakin going to the Mining Outpost to study?" Han asked.
Luke laughed. "Study? Is that what he told you?"
"He's not there studying?" Han asked.
"The only thing my students study at the Mining Outpost is their own naval, or somebody else's!"
"Why that...cunning...little...chip off the old block!" Han grinned.
"He's a great kid Han. You and Leia should be very proud of him." Luke said.
"I'm proud of all of my kids." Han told him.
"I'm sure. So, how is everything?" Luke asked.
"Leia's getting stronger every day. Not looking forward to having the last of the stimulators removed though." Han answered. "And Jaina's mostly recovered, I think. She still sheds a few tears now and then but I'm not sure whether that's her hormones or her relationship."
"She'll get there Han. Just keep doing what you're doing for her and she'll be fine." Luke nodded.
"Thanks." Han smiled again. "How's Ben and Mara?"
"Ben is..." Luke thought hard. "He's incredible! Changes every day, you know?"
"Enjoy it while you can kid. Before you know it, he'll be all grown up and forging his own way in life." Han advised.
"Nah! I'm gonna keep him so he never grows up." Luke chuckled.
"Yeah. Right. If only." Han could see Jacen returning. "Gotta go. Number One Son is coming back with his love token for Tenel Ka. Need to get my 'disapproving face' on me."
Luke shook his head. He may have aged, his hair thinner and greyer than it was when they met, but Han Solo was Han Solo. And he always would be.
"I'll be sure to give Anakin your 'stern face' when he and Tahiri return." Luke smiled. "Skywalker out."
Han swung his chair about as Jacen entered the cockpit, personal marker outstretched for Han to retrieve.
"You get it son?" Han asked, holding his hand out for the box.
"I got it." Jacen sounded relieved. "But it's supposed to be bad luck for anyone but the recipient to see it."
"Have you seen it?" Han queried.
"Obviously." Jacen shrugged and Han raised an eyebrow in query. "Okay, but remember it's a girl gift."
"I do know what girl gifts look like! I married a girl, remember?" Han chided, looking down at the small gold locket with the tiny central diamond on a fine golden chain.
"You think she'll like it?" Jacen asked, trying to gauge his father's expression.
"Is it from the heart?" Han posed his own question.
"Yeah." Jacen readily agreed.
"Then she'll love it. Or she's not worthy of receiving it in the first place!" Han handed the box back.
"Daaadd!" Jacen repeated and tutted, sliding the box into his pants pocket.
Han swung his seat back to the viewscreen while Jacen buckled into the co-pilot's chair. He had a feeling he knew someone else who would love it, or at least one like it, and promised himself he'd get one on order for when they renewed their vows. He'd have it inscribed with something suitable and get it delivered to Yavin IV. Yeah, that'd be a great idea. He smiled to himself. Didn't hurt to let the soft-hearted scoundrel out of his box from time to time.
So long as he didn't make a habit of it!
Han's business prediction proved partially right. He was late for the pick up and the trade link was busy. However on arriving late at his destination, he encountered only sympathetic understanding and was not charged extra for missing his slot. Once their drop was accepted and signed for, Han and Jacen embarked on their journey back to Coruscant.
"You know, I been thinking." Han said, after putting the Falcon into hyperspace. "After your Mom's op she's gonna need me home to help her. So I figured, if you're up for it, you could take over the day to day running of the business. Just until she's on her feet again. No pun intended, obviously."
"You...you'd trust me? On my own with the Falcon?" Jacen eyed the controls nervously.
"Well...you wouldn't be on your own. I'd getcha some help." Han explained. "But, yeah. I trust ya. The old girl likes you. She wouldn't let you finger her controls the way you do if she didn't!"
Han gave Jacen a knowing look and his lopsided grin while Jacen glowed. Almost physically.
"Wow! Yeah! I mean, wow! I won't let you down Dad." The boy stammered.
"I know you won't son. Wouldn't have asked you if I didn't think you were up to it." Han ruffled Jacen's hair affectionately.
The boy had inherited his father's unruly hair to a degree and it didn't relax easily after being fussed with. Not that Jacen seemed to notice, he was too busy taking in the enormity of the responsibility as well as soaking up the look and feel of the controls he'd only had partial control over previously.
Han smiled again inwardly and reflected on just how his life had changed over the past couple of decades. Furtively glancing to his side he watched his son puzzle over a control panel, then saw recognition dawn. If it hadn't been for the crazy old man and that dopey naïve kid...although, it could be argued if it hadn't been for needing the money to pay Jabba...in fact, what it came down to was if the Empire hadn't made him dump his shipment...so in truth, this was all down to the Emperor. Who was a Sith. With an apprentice, waiting in the wings. Who turned out to be Leia's father. So, in fact, this was all Leia's fault. From a certain point of view.
Han's smile broadened. He'd have to find a way of thanking her for the best years of his life a little later.
"Hey Dad, what's this button do?" Jacen asked, a deep frown across his brow.
"Son," Han said, his tone very serious. "Don't ever, ever, touch that button. Okay?"
"Why? What's it do?" Jacen's eyes were like saucers, his voice low and trembling.
Han slid his finger over the button, hovered a moment, then depressed it as Jacen gasped.
"It plays your Mom's favourite tunes!" Han grinned as an Alderaanian lullabye burst through shipwide static.
Jacen sat back in his chair and sighed. Sometimes his Dad could be such an asshole. And sometimes, times like now, he could just be his Dad.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
When they arrived back at their docking bay, Han sent Jacen off home while he secured the Falcon and arranged a little business with a well respected Jeweller. He grabbed a beer and something quick, fried and full of fat before heading home himself immensely pleased with the design the Jeweller had shown him and the ideas he had set in motion.
Leia's beaming smile was a welcome sight as he entered their apartment. Equally welcome was her warm embrace.
"You smell incredible!" He wantonly growled at her.
"You smell of beer and grease." She told him, wiping the corner of her lips. "You taste of beer and grease too."
"A little stodge never killed nobody." Han grumbled.
"Not wholly true, but a little of what one fancies does one good. Or so I'm told." Leia said.
Han grinned lasciviously.
"We have company." Leia explained through a smile and nodded toward the balcony.
Han looked and could see Jaina chatting with Jagged Fel. His grin faded rapidly.
"What's he doing here?" He asked.
"Jaina invited him for dinner." She lowered her voice. "I think because she knew you were going to be late."
"Looks like he's had dinner, so he can go now." Han half-snarled.
"Han! Be nice. He's been by Jaina's side throughout...well, you know...throughout everything."
"I'll try." Han tried to sound convincing. "But I'm makin' no promises!"
"Take him a beer out and ask Jaina to help me a moment would you?" Leia smiled up at her husband.
"Eight hours." Han groaned, before explaining for Leia's puzzled look. "You're supposed to be eight hours clear, bottle to throttle. So if he's drinking, he can't fly. If he can't fly, I suppose he's staying here the night. An' if he's staying here the night, he sure as Hell better be sleepin' in Anakin's room!"
"See? It's not so hard is it?" Leia grinned and patted her husband's chest. She thrust two open bottles of Corellian Ale in his hands and indicated the way.
"The good stuff?" Han exclaimed, looking at the bottles. Leia's expression told him to shut up and walk away now, while the bottle was still in his hand and not inserted in an orifice.
"Er...sorry to interrupt but, Jaina, your Mom wants you." Han said, stepping onto the balcony.
"Did she say what for?" Jaina queried.
"Dishes or pots or something. I don't know, whatever it is you women need each other for I guess." He shrugged.
"Back in a moment." Jaina assured Jag and kissed his cheek lightly. Something Han noted through narrowed eyes.
"You wanna beer?" Han asked, sounding like the right answer might be no but Jag took his chances.
"Thanks." He accepted the offered bottle and took a swig. "Great beer."
"Corellian. The best." Han growled and took three very long swallows of the golden liquid.
"Great daughter." Jag said, trying to maintain a neutral smile.
"Part Corellian. Also the best." Han told him and the two men fell silent.
"You have a lovely apartment. Really great location too." Jag said after a while.
"We like it. Grew our family here." Han answered.
Han took another three gulps of beer.
"Sir, if I may..." Jag cleared his throat.
Han immediately interrupted. "Look son. My wife likes you. My daughter likes you. All my kids think you're great."
"Why, thank you Sir." Jag interceded.
"I, however, am Jaina's father. That means, I don't have to like you. All I have to do is tolerate you and do my damnedest not to kill you." Han told him.
"I understand Sir. But if I may..." Jag swallowed.
"You may not." Han continued. "I'm gonna tell you the way it's gonna be. I will tolerate you. And I will do my damnedest not to kill you. But, son, you overstep the mark and all bets are off. Got it?"
"What, may I ask, constitutes overstepping the mark?" Jag queried.
"What!" Han angrily barked.
"Well, are you saying I can kiss her, so long as there are no tongues involved? That I can hold her hand, but not put my arm around her waist?" Jag wondered if he was about to push his luck, but continued anyway. "Or that we can make out, just not make love?"
"Are you challenging me boy?" Han seemed to tower over Jag with his hands clamped to his hips as he glared down at the young man.
"I...er...yes, I...I guess I am." Jag fronted up to the man he hoped one day he might call 'Dad'.
Han regarded the young man. And slowly his eyes, his face and his whole body softened.
"Good for you son." Han gave him his lopsided smile. "Any man who's prepared to stand up to his girl's father is prepared to stand up to others for her too."
Han clapped an arm around Jag shoulders. "You want another beer? We still got some of the good stuff."
"I shouldn't Sir. Eight hours and all that." Jag said.
"You gotta be somewhere son?" Han asked.
"Well, no Sir. But I don't like to fly, not even an airspeeder, if I'm even technically under the influence." Jag explained.
"Responsible. I like that in a young man. Especially a young man who's seeing my daughter." Han eyed the boy again. "So, why not stay the night."
"Here Sir?" Jag sounded surprised. "You have a guest suite?"
"We have a vacant bedroom with Anakin away." Han scratched the back of his neck, nervously. "Unless you and Jaina want to...you know...share?"
"I don't think we're at that stage in our relationship yet Sir." Jag assured him.
"Didn't seem to stop you last time." Han observed, then held up a hand in apology. "Sorry. That was then, I know."
"Sir..." Jag shuffled his feet. "I don't expect you, or Jaina for that matter, to fall in love with me overnight. But...if you agree...I'd at least like the opportunity to see where things take us."
"You're asking the wrong Solo." Han grinned. "Since she was six Jaina has known her own mind. If you want to see where you and she might go, you gotta talk to her son. Not me."
"Understood Sir. Wish me luck?" Jag smiled at Han.
The two chinked bottles.
"Let's go get those beers." Han held Jag around the shoulders again. "There's a game on too, if you're into Smashball."
"It can be a little violent, but I enjoy the odd game." Jag said, worrying he might offend his host. "The Dreadnaughts suck!"
Jaina and Leia froze on hearing the words as Han and Jag stepped back into the living area.
"Tell me he didn't just say Dad's team sucks!" Jaina whispered to her Mother.
"I'm afraid he did sweetheart." Leia had to admit as her daughter sighed beside her.
"The Corellian Dreadnaughts?" Han drew himself up to his full height again.
"Yeah. They so suck this season." Jag shook his head. "I got this theory that they're laying bets on their opponents and throwing every game to win the bet."
"But that's cheating." Jacen exclaimed from the sofa, whilst searching through the sports channels.
"Corellians don't cheat!" Han insisted. "They play the odds." He added with a grin and indicated Jag should sit. "You ladies done?"
Han slid into the sofa between the two young men, arms spread across the back cushions.
"We were just saying, there's a fascinating documentary about to start over on Seven Eighty." Leia said and receiving three incredulous stares in response. "But you boys enjoy the game. The Dreadnaughts are sure to win sometime."
"Don't count on it!" Han spat. "Three beers would be good though."
He flashed Leia his 'and I'll thank you in person later' grin that she knew and loved. She returned with an ice cooler and six beers.
"And don't even think of slobbering over me when you come to bed if you get drunk flyboy!" She reminded Han.
"No Ma'am." He winked at her and leered at her rear as she and Jaina left the room. Twenty five years and three kids. And she was still the hotest woman he'd ever had the pleasure with.
"You think Jag'll be all right?" Jaina asked as Leia increased the lighting in her bedroom.
"Your Dad's sharing his beer with him, it's like he's already part of the family." Leia confirmed.
"So, what is it you wanted to show me?" Jaina enquired.
"Your Dad and I have been talking and we're thinking about renewing our vows before they remove the rest of the stimulators. While I can still put one foot in front of the other." Leia withdrew a large box from the back of a wardrobe. "So, I wanted your opinion on this."
She pulled a long white silk gown from the box, holding it against her frame.
"That's...gorgeous!" Jaina gaped. "I mean, it's plain, but plain's good. Simple. Elegant. Says, I am what I am, take me or leave me. But..."
Jaina narrowed her eyes, considering.
"But? But what?" Leia wanted to know.
"Maybe just a little sparkle? You know, around the trim..." Her eyes lit up. "I know, we could have it embroidered with a message. Something that means something just to you and Dad and no one else."
"I know the very thing!" Leia beamed. Mother and daughter, once so at odds now completely in agreement, smiled at one another.
Jaina felt it first. Like a cold wind blowing through her soul, chilling her to the very core and resulting in tiny goosebumps rising across her body.
The Force.
The Force was speaking to her.
No. Not speaking. Crying out to her.
Her breath caught, her gasp inaudible.
Something was wrong.
Something was terribly wrong with someone.
And Jaina's senses were straining to understand what and who.
In the living quarters Jacen was next, turning silent and paler than even his mother had ever been, as an overpowering sense of urgency swept over him.
"Mom." He mouthed, unable to vocalise the word.
"Can't hold his liquor!" Han chuckled to Jag who was trying to read Jacen's expression.
Back in her bedroom, Leia let her gown fall and crumple at her feet. Her heart had stopped. She was sure of it. The pit of her stomach was ice cold and one word screamed at her, over and over.
"Anakin!" She whispered.
"Mom?" Jaina finally spoke. "There's something wrong. I can't feel Anakin. Why can't I feel Anakin?"
"I don't know..." Leia breathed. "I can't tell if he's blocking us."
"He's not blocking us...Mom..." Jaina squealed. "He's not there!"
Leia grasped Jaina's hand and hurried into the living quarters where Jacen was breathing rapidly.
"Han." Leia was calling.
"Already on it!" Han called back from the secure transmission centre.
It took a few minutes for the connection to the Temple on Yavin IV where Han was greeted by an anxious looking Luke.
"I don't know what to tell you Han. I have no definite information." Luke was explaining. "I had the same sensations that Jacen had and I've had calls from across the students here...hold on...I may have something. I need to take this."
Luke placed Han on hold while he took another call. Han fumed silently and less than patiently waiting for Luke to come back to him. Meanwhile, Leia gathered her children in her arms soothing them in both words and deeds with Jagged Fel watching nervously.
"So...er...so, this is what it's like. Being a Jedi?" He asked. "Feeling each other and stuff?"
"Technically it's what it's like being Force Sensitive." Leia replied. "But it's not like we feel everything all of the time. It's really only when the feelings are unexpected. Or intense."
"Or not there!" Jaina added, becoming distressed. "And Anakin's not there Mom! He's not there!"
"Could he be hurt?" Jag asked.
"Don't you get it?" Jaina turned on Jag, glaring and shouting at him. "If he was hurt, we'd feel that. We don't feel that. We don't feel anything. He's not hurt. He's. Not. There!"
"He could be in a trance." Jacen suggested. "A Jedi healing trance."
Jaina glared disbelievingly at her twin.
"If he was hurt..." Jacen elaborated. "He could be protecting himself by falling into a healing trance."
"That's crazy and you know it!" Jaina snarled.
"Fine! Then you explain it!" Jacen barked back.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Leia pleaded. "I won't have you shouting at one another."
"Honey." Han's quiet voice broke through the verbal melee.
Leia turned, her husband's mournful expression confirming what she already knew.
"No!" She faltered, shaking her head. "Please, no!"
Han's mouth moved, but no sound came out.
Jaina's hand flew to her mouth, stifling her cry as Jag grabbed hold of her shoulders and pulled her into his tight, protective embrace.
Han was by his wife's side in three long strides, pulling her into his arms, holding her to him as their emotions overwhelmed them both.
Jacen stood trembling, his eyes downcast until his mother's small, soft hand reached out and tugged him into hers and his father's hug.
They stood, holding one another, feeling the pain and the hurt and the unrelenting sense of loss for what seemed like an eternity.