The fork scraped along the almost empty plate. Kyp hadn't been hungry but he'd made himself eat. Han had cooked. That was a miracle in itself and Kyp didn't want to ruin it by seeming ungrateful.

They sat opposite one another in the dining room, alone. Leia was out on a political mission and the kids were asleep – or pretending to be. Kyp could sense them in their rooms.

"So how'd it go?"

He'd been dreading the question ever since he'd gotten back. Gorden Kayle's voice still jumped around in his mind. Kyp sighed and shrugged, his eyes glued to the plate in front of him.

"Okay I guess."

Let's start from the beginning.

"It's a nice place." Kyp shoved a piece of nerf steak into his mouth, chewed and then took a sip of cool water. The silence was unnerving and peaceful all together. "I mean, as far as Doctor practices go."

The beginning of what?

"When's your next appointment?"

Kyp wanted to sigh, wanted to tell Han that he didn't want to see the Doctor anymore. He felt uncomfortable spilling out his soul to a complete stranger – to anyone, in fact. But Kyp couldn't bear seeing disappointment in Han's eyes.

Not again.

"Tomorrow."

"So soon?"

Tell me about your family.

Kyp forced an awkward crooked smile. "Yeah. I'm a special case." He hoped his voice sounded lighthearted. He felt sick to his stomach.

"Do you need me to take –"

"No."

Kyp winced. He didn't want the word to come out as forcefully. He cleared his throat. "I mean, I want to do this on my own. It's not a big deal."

Han gave him a smile. It didn't quite reach his eyes.

Kyp felt heartbroken.

He laid the silverware onto the plate, neatly side by side, drank up his water and pushed away from the table. "Food was good, Han. Thank you." He paused for a moment, searching for words. "I'm going to head to bed."

"Already?"

"It's been a long day."

Tell me about your family.

He gathered the plate and his cup but didn't look back at Han when he headed to the kitchen. It was just too awkward. Kyp saw too many unasked questions in the older man's eyes, questions he wasn't ready to answer yet.

He ate the last few bites of his food while standing at the sink, then he rinsed off the plate and drank the rest of his water. He was full, almost to the bursting point but he would never waste food. It was too valuable, in his opinion.

The room Han had given him was nice and comfortable. He'd heard the kids whining how small it was but Kyp didn't mind. He'd known only a bunk with inmates for years and years – this was pure luxury. A soft bed with an equally soft pillow and blanket. It always smelled like flowers.

Jaina had given him a stuffed bantha toy. Right now it sat on his pillow, grinning broadly. Kyp smiled when he saw it.

He undressed slowly, trying to calm his turbulent thoughts. He used a little trick Luke Skywalker had taught him before –

Kyp slumped and closed his eyes.

He'd messed up. He really had messed up.

He threw his clothes over a recliner standing in the far corner, hurried into the fresher and stared at his reflection in the mirror.

Tell me about your family.

"I look like my Dad." Kyp whispered while looking at himself. He was of average height, of slender built, still too skinny.

He washed himself, enjoying the feel of cold water running along his wrists. The simplest things in life made him smile.

As he walked back into his room and cuddled underneath the covers – making sure to grab the stuffed bantha – he didn't dare close his eyes.

Not yet anyway.

Because all he could think about was his family.

They were all dead.

Tell me about your family.

He'd given a simple answer.

No.