"Still sore?" Jaina asked of Jacen who was repeatedly clearing his throat.
"Stings a little, yeah." He rasped.
"Guess that's what you get for dipping your finger in the Hapan Honey." She smirked.
The medics, when they arrived, had transferred Leia to her bed for further examination. It was established that she was indeed suffering from the effects of having been stunned and would recover quite naturally in less than an hour.
Of greater concern was the condition of her baby and whilst Han remained at Leia's side annoying the Hell out of the one live human and three android medical staff, Jaina, Jacen and Jag sat patiently in the living area waiting for news.
"What were you thinking of anyway? She was way outta your league." Jaina teased.
"You don't know the first thing about it Jaina, so why don't you just keep your snout out." Jacen countered.
"So, where do you think he's taken her?" She persisted.
"Probably back to Hapes." Jacen shrugged. "It's the one place in the Galaxy where men are generally made to feel unwelcome. Doesn't really matter does it? I'm never going to see her again!"
He pushed himself to his feet and lumbered off to the kitchen. Jaina sighed and smiled up at Jag who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I love how devoted your Dad is to your Mom. They seem to be over whatever it was that came between them." He said.
"It's not only that. Mom was pregnant a few years back." Jaina explained. "The first time they actually planned to have a baby."
Jag gave her a puzzled expression.
"What I meant is that Jacen and I were a bit of a surprise." She elaborated. "Anakin, even more so. After Mom'd been Minister of State and Chief of State and after all that they'd both done for the Rebellion and then later the New Republic they found themselves at a point when they could really devote time to one another, their home and their family. So they decided to have another child. It took them a couple of years, of course, to actually go from talking about it to the pregnancy stage but they were really looking forward to having another baby."
She sighed again and turned sad brown eyes upto Jag.
"Mom'd been unwell pretty much all the way through." She continued. "Then suddenly at seven months she went into labour and the baby was stillborn. It was a little girl, they called her Hannay. Every now and then they'll talk about her. But not often. I think the memory's just too painful for them."
"And here they are. Pregnant again." He noted.
"And at seven months." She inhaled deeply and rose as the medical droids hovered their way through the living room, followed by the single human doctor and her Father.
"Well. Thank you again, Doc." Han extended his hand which the doctor shook warmly. When they were all gone, Han looked down at the flimsie the doctor had left in his hand and smirked.
It was an invoice.
"How's Mom?" Jaina asked nervously.
"Judging by the amount of Alderaanian expletives out of her mouth, she's gonna be just fine. Not so sure about me though!" He held out his arms for Jaina, who rushed into his embrace.
"And the baby?" Jaina pressed tentatively.
"According to your Mom, he'll be the next Maur Howins. Only faster." Han smiled. "Where's your brother?"
"Kitchen." She replied. "I heard the clink of a bottle so I'm guessing he's trying to get toasted on Uncle Luke's non alcoholic beer, since that's all there is in the refrigeration unit."
"Speaking of your Uncle Luke..." Han started.
"I called him. He and Aunt Mara are going to stop by before they leave in the morning." She told him, receiving a kiss to the top of her head in thanks.
"You two better get some sleep. We still got that early start tomorrow." Han said.
"I'm very glad all seems to be well with your wife, and with your baby." Jag offered his hand which Han looked at before dismissing it and pulling the boy into his arms for an old fashioned Han man-hug.
Jaina slipped her hand into Jag's and they headed off toward her bedroom, Jaina sending Jag ahead and returning quickly to her father's side.
"Just so you know." She whispered up to him. "Jag and I have an understanding. Nothing...you know...intimate until we're both ready for it. And I'm not ready for it, not yet at least."
She kissed her father's cheek and skipped off to bed.
Han breathed sigh of relief.
He liked Jagged Fel. Liked him on a man-to-man level.
He just wasn't sure he could ever like any man who did with his daughter what he himself did with his daughter's Mother!
It wasn't right to like a man who did that. Probably wasn't even right thinking about it.
He wiped the thought from his mind and went in search of his Son who he found without any degree of difficulty, propped against a kitchen cabinet staring into space. Han considered what it was he thought he could say to make his Son feel any better.
"Is there any more of those in the cooler?" Han asked indicating the beer and opting for companionship over judgement. Jacen grabbed a bottle, flipped the lid and offered it to his Father who took a long drink.
"Yep. Still like Wookiee Piss!" He grumbled, observing a brief smile tug at the corner of Jacen's lips. "You know..."
"Dad. No offence. But please don't tell me I'll get over her or that there are more girls out there or any your other stupid ex-smuggler, Correlian crap..."
"Hey!" Han snapped. "I didn't come in here to be snarled at by a pup!"
"Then what did you come in here for?" Jacen challenged. "I'm not a complete idiot Dad. I know Jaina's the one who got the brains an' I know what you think of me. But I'm still not a complete idiot."
"I don't think you're an idiot Jacen. You wanna know what I do think? I think you have your Mother's quiet, brooding nature that makes you hard to read sometimes. I think you have a great capacity to love and to be loved and I think Isolder's an asshole if he thinks his precious daughter could find herself a better friend, a better lover, maybe even in time a better husband, than you. That's what I think."
A calm quiet fell between them, until Jacen eventually broke the silence.
"Is Mom and the baby okay?" Jacen asked, blushing.
"They're gonna be fine. No thanks to me." Han slung his arm around Jacen's neck, pulling him into a neck hug. "You learn anything from that lesson Son?"
"Yeah. Shoot the Hapan Prince, not the Alderaanian Princess." Jacen laughed as he struggled out of his Father's neck hold.
"And don't make assumptions." Han chastised him. "I know how much she meant to you. And if you want to go looking for her, well, I'm right beside you. You should know that."
"Really?" Jacen asked, astonished.
"Isolder tried to steal my girl. Now he's come back to try to steal my Son's." Han tutted. "It's about time that asshole learnt his lesson."
"And you wouldn't mind being the one to teach it to him, right Dad?" Jacen asked.
"That, would just be a bonus." Han clinked his bottle to Jacen's, tipped it to his lips and thought better of it. "Tell you what. How about we dump this drizzle and get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow and I was thinking, tomorrow night I could take you, Jaina and your Mom out for dinner. Somewhere nice. Somewhere with decent beer."
Han raised an eyebrow in query and got a grin and a nod in agreement. They tossed their half-drunk beers and dropped the bottles in the recycling unit before going their separate ways. Creeping toward the bed, Han tried to see through the dim lighting if Leia's eyes were closed.
"You asleep Honey?" He whispered. Getting no answer he slid gently in beside her and leaned lightly in her direction. "Sweetheart? You awake?" He asked quietly.
With still no replay, Han exhaled and lay softly close but not touching his wife. And relaxed.
"You shot me!" She accused.
"That's not...entirely...true Sweetheart." Han responded.
"No?" Leia's eyes were clearly glaring at him, he could see now even in the muted light.
"Isolder was trying to get the blaster away from me and it just went off." He explained. "Buuut...at least it was only set to stun."
"Well that's a comfort." She said sarcastically. "What was he doing here anyway?"
"Trying to strangle our Son. After he'd told him not to see his daughter again and before telling him he had her hidden away somewhere Jacen'd never find her anyway." Han told her. "Sweet of him, wouldn't you say?"
"I'd say he was either being over-protective or acting out of spite." She argued. "And I'd say you were not so dissimilar."
"Now just a minute..." He rolled onto his side to look at her smirking at him. "Hmm...very funny!"
"Not from where I'm lying!" She said, scowling. "Our baby thinks he's in a podrace. Without the pod! One minute it's an elbow under my ribs and the next it's a foot or a knee or something. He's changed position twenty times in the past half hour. He can't keep still and all because of you stunning him!"
"I'm sorry sweetheart." He edged closer, kissing her forehead and laying a hand against her stomach. "Wow! He really is active."
"No kidding!" She cursed.
"I am truly sorry. You know, just for a moment out there, I thought you were dead. And I wanted to die with you." He slid an arm beneath her and cuddled her to him. "And then, when I realised you were only stunned but that I couldn't feel the baby moving...I wanted us both to die, rather than have to go through that again."
He kissed her forehead again, his lips lingering against her flesh.
"You know something?" She said, resting against him. "If this little one doesn't settle and if I don't get some sleep, you might wanna be careful what you wish for flyboy!"
Leia closed her eyes, felt the warmth of her husband's embrace, sensed the honest-to-goodness regret and fear in his heart. It had been an accident, obviously, one for which she and their little one was currently paying the price.
She could feel Han drifting into his slumbers by the deepening of his breath and the mumbling from his lips. She couldn't help but smile as he muttered about Jag's looks and blushed as he intimated that the boy ogled his wife.
Whilst sleep alluded her, Han snored contentedly into her hair and their baby continued to flip again and again. And as daylight approached, something gripped her lower abdomen and twisted like a knife.
Leia groaned, tugging sharply on Han's chest hair and in the same instant, the pain ceased.
"Wha...!" He gasped, sitting up sharply before flopping back and gripping his chest. "Might not be much but it's all I got Honey! Try not to rip it out by the fistful will ya?"
His grin faded rapidly at her pale, frightened face. "What is it Leia?"
"Nothing." She breathed. "It's nothing. Really. Just a twinge."
"Leia?" He pressed, not believing her.
"I think the little beast bit me!" She replied, a weak smile crossing her lips. "He's settling now though. Finally."
Their chronometer bleeped, indicating it was time for them to rise.
Leia groaned with disappointment rather than discomfort.
"You know what? You stay put, I'll get the kids galvanised and bring you something for breakfast in a little while," he smoothed her hair and smiled lovingly. "What do you say?"
"I should be helping." She insisted.
"An hour won't hurt." He assured her.
"I don't know..." She told him.
"An hour. I promise you." He repeated. "Besides, I should do your share of the morning chores since I shot you."
"Okay. One hour. But Han..." She looked at him pointedly. "Please don't mention the shooting thing to the removal guys."
He gave her an 'as if' smile and kissed her cheek lightly before going to the kitchen to prepare one last breakfast and finding Jaina, Jacen and Jag already getting something together.
"You spoiled the surprise!" Jaina said. "We were going to bring you both breakfast in bed."
"I'm pretty sure your Mom would appreciate the gesture." Han said, before turning to Jacen. "Er … you got the removal confirmation Son?"
"You made all the arrangements Dad." He replied puzzled.
"Hmm. I figured you might say that, just hoped you'd have kept a copy." Han scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Don't suppose you know where I might have kept a copy?"
"You said you didn't need a copy. That it was all up here." Jacen tapped his head in demonstration.
"Hmm. I figured you might say that too." Han frowned.
"You were right. Mom loved her breakfast in bed." Jaina smiled as she returned.
"Right on cue!" Han grumbled as the door chimed.
He made his way to the door and stepped aside to allow Luke and Mara access with a sweeping hand gesture.
"So go on. Let's get it over with." Han said, wincing.
"Dunno what you mean." Luke wore a look of pure innocence.
"Sure you do. So go ahead. Get it off your chest." Han told him.
"Go on Luke." Mara grinned. "Give it your best shot."
The two Skywalkers tried to stifle their amusement.
"And there it is!" Han groaned.
"Seriously. Han." Luke laid his hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. "I'm just glad Leia and the baby are going to be all right. Admittedly though, when Jaina first called, I was just as stunned as Leia was."
Han nodded, accepting he was probably going to be the butt of a good few jokes before they were through. The chime sounded again, much to Han's merciful relief.
"Blast!" Mara half-heartedly cursed. "And we had a whole host of puns rehearsed. Slugger!"
She punched Han lightly on the arm as he passed her, rolling his eyes, en route to the door.
"We'll go on through to see Leia, if that's okay with you?" Luke spoke to Han's back, a wave of his hand indicating he was fine with it.
"Horgon Solo?" The man at the door asked.
"It's Han Solo." Han corrected.
"I got Horgon on my manifest." The man repeated.
"I don't care if you got crickets on your crotch. The name's still Han Solo." Han barked.
"Someone needs to rise from the right side of the matrimonial." The man mumbled and drew a line through the name on his sheet then passed it to Han for approval, pointing out. "Needs your signature."
Han took his time reading the document.
"I'm not signing this." Han handed the tablet back to the man. "It's wrong."
"Look. I'm sorry about the name Sir, but if you wanna be outta here today you gotta sign the docket. Got it?" He passed the schedule back to Han.
"It's nothing to do with the name." Han shoved the deed back at the man. "But it's not what I agreed to and I'm not signing it."
The man sighed.
"Let me guess." The man said. "You booked two transports but you forgot to book removal droids, right Sir?"
"No. I booked two transports and six droids." Han insisted.
"I don't suppose Sir has a copy of his booking to hand, does he?" The man queried.
"Must have packed it." Han drawled.
"Aint that a shame." The man said unsympathetically.
"Han?" Leia called as, assisted by Luke, she appeared in the living quarters. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Man here thinks he's gonna cheat me...us." Han answered, moving to look over at her.
Dressed in a casual pantsuit she looked pale and a little shaky, but none the worse for the ordeal at his hands.
"P...Princess?" The man at the door first peered into the room, before pushing past Han to enter the apartment. "Princess Org..."
The man grinned, looked down at his computer log, laughed and turned a knowing look on Han.
"Not Horgon Solo!" The man tapped the paperwork in his hand. "Organa Solo!"
"Selsby?" Leia puzzled over at the man before her, a beaming smile spreading across her face. "It is you!"
"A pleasure Your Highness. An absolute pleasure." Selsby took her hand and kissed it's back, bowing. "I followed your career, obviously, but I never thought I'd be the one moving you."
"Selsby was an aide when I was first appointed Minister of State." Leia explained to a puzzled Han. "How long have you been in removals?"
"Long enough, Your Highness, to know you should be resting." Selsby took to her side and guided her into a chair. "Whatever is your husband thinking, moving with you in your condition."
Selsby glared at Han who glared right on back at him.
"Well, it's great seeing that you're all right. But we better get back to relieve Threepio before he starts grumbling about child minding duties again." Luke kissed Leia's cheek and smiled down at her. "Take it easy."
"I will." She smiled back.
"And you look after her." Luke slapped Han on the shoulder.
"What? No parting shot?" Mara chuckled.
"Nah!" Luke chuckled back. "Han always shoots first."
Han closed his eyes and sighed. This is getting tedious now! He thought, as he showed Luke and Mara to the door.
"Okay. So this is how we're going to handle things." Selsby said, checking his commpad. "I'm gonna call the office and get six of my finest removal droids over as fast as their little servomotors can move them. Then, while..." He glanced at Han. "...Sir slips himself into something more suitable, I will establish which rooms to move first."
"Oh my goodness!" Leia exclaimed, suddenly realising Han was in his nightwear.
"Kitchen's clear." Jaina announced, entering the living quarters along with Jacen and Jag.
"This..." Selsby admired the young lady before him. "This cannot be the little Princess?"
"Sure is." Leia confirmed. "Of course, she's grown some since you last saw her. Jaina, Jacen, this is Selsby, he was one of my aides when you were just toddlers."
"You gave us pink iced chips when Mom was stuck in Council." Jacen recalled, offering his hand.
"Fancy you remembering that!" Selsby observed, shaking hands.
"I liked 'em." Jacen shrugged and grinned.
"Jagged Fel." Jag stretched a hand forward. Selsby nodded and shook Jag's hand.
"What say now we're all acquainted, we get a wriggle on." Han asked, his arms folded. "Only, I was kinda hoping to get my wife settled in our new home before she drops our latest arrival."
"You going like that?" Leia's eyes travelled from his head to toe and back again.
"Two minutes." He told her, demonstrating with two fingers and blowing her a kiss as he headed back toward their bedroom.
"I never could understand his appeal." Selsby sighed. "He always seemed too...uncouth for you, Your Highness."
"Maybe that was just what I needed." Leia suggested. "Someone to keep my feet on the ground."
"Not my place to comment, Your Highness." Selsby pulled his commlink from his pocket. "If you'll excuse me, I'll make that call to the office."
He stepped away, informing his office assistant that he required her help and that 'no' was not an option. Leia meanwhile sat forward, breathing deeply.
"You okay Mom?" Jaina asked, kneeling beside her Mother's chair.
"Guess he's awake." Leia rolled her eyes. "Again."
"Mind if I...?" Jaina held her hand out and Leia, smiling, guided it to a particularly active place on her abdomen. "Wow! It...it's weird, feeling him moving about like that."
"What's up?" Han asked, returning now dressed in some of his favourite old pants and a casual shirt.
"Just trying to get a sense of something from the baby." Jaina said, rising.
"Oh yeah. What's he say?" Han teased.
"That he's really looking forward to meeting the sharpest shooter in town." She giggled, as her father groaned. "And that you're on two am feeds as a punishment."
"And diaper duty. Don't forget he told you that too." Leia added with a smile.
"Droids will be here in no more than thirty standard minutes." Selsby advised and turned his attention to Jaina and Jacen. "According to my instructions, some of the furniture is being left for the new owners when they move in. Perhaps you wouldn't mind showing me?"
The twins agreed readily and lead Selsby through to their rooms, Jag following.
"So." Han dropped to kneel beside Leia. "You really all right?"
"I feel like I have a five am hangover without having imbibed the alcohol to deserve it." She answered honestly. "But I will be fine. We both will."
She interlaced her fingers between his and drew his hand to her lips, kissing it tenderly.
"Next scan." He said. "Maybe we should find out the sex. Stop us keep calling him 'he' if he's a 'she'. And I could make a start on decorating the nursery."
Leia smiled, her eyes drooping. She was tired, no doubt about that. But it helped her too, in hiding from Han the growing pains in her abdomen.
Boy or girl, their baby was still suffering the effects of the stun blast. If it could give Leia the hangover from all the nine Hells of Corellian, she could only begin to imagine what their tiny child must be experiencing. Han leaned forward and lovingly rubbed his nose against Leia's.
"I love you Mrs Solo." He whispered.
"I know." She told him.
"Get a room!" Jaina groaned as she led everyone across the living area. "You should know something about my parents Mr Selsby, they're very affectionate. Sometimes, it can be a little nauseating."
Han shook his head and whispered something in Leia's ear, causing her to laugh. Jaina didn't know what it was her father had said, but she suspected it had something to do with her and Jag. And she didn't think she liked it.
"Jacen's going to walk Mr Selsby through the kitchen, storage areas and the balcony." Jaina advised, indicating Jag should go as well. And once they were out of earshot, with hands on hips, she turned to her parents. "I don't know what that was about, but I suppose I was the butt of your joke."
"I was just reminding your Mother that she was just like you, until I managed to draw a less uptight side out of her." Han replied smugly.
Jaina regarded him through narrowed eyes. "Hmm. Well, I'm going to strip your bed and shove everything in a bag. You can put it in the recycler when you get to the new place." She announced, huffed and stalked off toward their bedroom.
"Glad you didn't tell her what you really said." Leia stifled a coy smile.
"Sooner that Fel kid gets in her panties, the better for all of us!" Han mumbled.
"Han! Not everything's about sex." She chided.
"She's half Corellian, remember? So it's at least halfways about sex."
"He's on my bladder again." Leia said with a grimace.
"Okay Sweetheart." Han rose, helping Leia to her feet. "Let's get you to the 'fresher before we test the stain resistant carpet to it's fullest capacity."