Hi!

Thanks for reviews, you guys are just the best. Here it is a new chapter as promised :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. What a shocker.

CHAPTER 2

When Leia entered the living room Han and Kyp were talking.

"Kids are just taking their afternoon nap, which means they'll be monsters in the evening. You'll get the chance to meet them later" said Han, but no matter how much Kyp tried his eyes always escaped from Corellian to his surroundings.

The furniture was either dark brown, or beige or white. It looked modern, but at the same time comfortable and not too luxurious. The apartment was overall nice, but the thing Kyp liked the most was how very light it was. There was a wide window covering most of the largest leaving room wall and right beside it was a door, which seemed to lead to balcony.

Han spotted Kyp's gaze and asked: "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful" spoke Kyp astonished.

Han understood him completely. In many ways he was much like Kyp when he was his age. They were both orphans with nowhere to go. But now it was different, Han had a place to call home and a family, loving wife and three beautiful children. He was grateful for all of this, especially because he didn't think he deserved any of it, but at that moment it made him slightly embarrassed.

"Listen Kid, you hungry?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"A bit" admitted Kyp.

"Do you like nerf steaks?"

"I don't know" the boy shrugged. "I don't think I've ever had them before, but I'm not squeamish about my food so…"

While they were talking Leia noticed how unnatural Kyp looked against mostly white background. His clothes were dirty and ragged and his face was still covered in dust and dirt from the mines. It was the perfect time to interrupt their conversation. "First of all" she said "let's get you cleaned up before dinner."

Kyp looked at Han, who only shrugged: "She made me do it too."

Kyp followed Leia into the bathroom. That room was mostly white as well and as soon as Kyp caught a glance of his reflection in the large mirror above the stone counter with a sink, he felt like he didn't belong there.

"I didn't mean to bother you" he said apologizing.

"Oh don't be silly" spoke Leia with a warm smile, while gathering everything Kyp might need. "You saved my husband's life and I will be for ever in your debt for doing that. You see, whenever there's trouble, it's a safe bet Han Solo is right in the middle of it."

Kyp wasn't convinced despite her cheerfulness. "I really don't want to be any trouble" he said quietly.

"I'm sorry if I gave the impression that you're not welcome in our home. I'll admit I was a bit stressed out those past few days, with Han missing and everything." Kyp's unsure expression didn't fade and Leia noticed it. "You are welcome to stay for as long as you like."

This time Kyp knew, the Force told him, that she was being sincere. "Thank you" he said truly grateful to his hostess.

"Now" said Leia handing him a towel, a toothbrush and soap "get yourself cleaned up and don't be thrifty with the soap." After visually inspecting Kyp's clothing once again she added: "I suppose we'll have to get you some new clothes. What size do you wear?"

"Don't know" replied Kyp somehow embarrassed.

"I'll figure something out"

She was just about to leave when Kyp uttered: "Thank you Mrs. Solo"

"Please it's Leia" she said warmly, not bothering to correct him that it was actually Organa Solo. Then she left, closing the door behind her.

Kyp undressed and stepped into the shower stall. Closing its non-transparent door he thought how the whole thing really looked advanced and weirdly enough futuristic. He struggled with controls for a while and then jumped when the real water started pouring on his body. He couldn't quite remember the last time he had a proper shower. In mines where he had spent most of his life, the workers got to use sonic showers once every couple of days. According to boss of Kessel spice mines the personal hygiene of the workers didn't contribute to their working abilities, which was as far as Kyp was concerned highly debatable.

The feeling of warm water drops dripping from his neck to his back and downward was most pleasant. Kyp couldn't quite point out what, but something about it strongly reminded him of those occasional moments when he touched the Force.

The water flowing from boy's body was grayish due to all the dust he was exposed to on Kessel. Obeying his hostess, Kyp used huge amount of soap, paying special attention to his hair. Half an hour of soaping, scrubbing and not to mention removing dirt from behind his fingernails, Kyp was clean at last. Somewhere in between Han came into the bathroom, telling him that he brought him some clothes. Han's voice made Kyp jump in surprise, before he remembered that it was impossible to see through the walls of the shower stall.

Stepping out of the shower Kyp indeed found a neatly folded pile of completely new clothes. He put them on, reluctantly at first, but when he saw they fit him well he became more confident. He was just putting on a pair of boots, which Han must have brought together with clothes, when he heard Leia's voice: "Are you done? May I come in?"

"Yeah" Kyp replied loudly, finishing with the boots.

"That's better" spoke Leia at the sight of a young man. She walked around him once, examining his work. Then she gently ruffled his hair and added: "Your hair is a bit long, but I think it suits you." She ignored the fact that Kyp's ears turned dark red and continued: "As a Jedi learner you will have to wear your hair really short and you'll have to wear a Padawan braid."

"What's that?" asked Kyp curiously.

"That's a braid that goes from behind your right ear. A Jedi grows it from the time he or she becomes an apprentice until he or she gains a rank of a Jedi Knight. Then it is symbolically cut of. Traditionally a Master would be the one to cut his student's hair and make his brad, but from personal and not very pleasant experience, I know Luke isn't very skilled when it comes to hair and you would most likely end up with a dreadlock instead of a braid.

Kyp smirked and Leia continued: "I'll ask him tomorrow if I can be the one to braid your hair. I'm sure, he won't mind."

Reentering the living room, Leia and Kyp found Han sitting on the floor with two children beside him. He was talking with them or at least trying to get them to talk.

"You still like animals don't you Jacen?" asked Han.

Boy reluctantly nodded.

"Which one's your favorite?" tried Han once again.

Boy shrugged, but said nothing.

Leia stopped nearby sighing and taking a deep breath before saying: "Children, this is Kyp Durron, Uncle Luke's student. And these are our twins, Jacen and Jaina."

Kyp wasn't used to being around small children, but seeing two bright faces beaming at him, he had to admit they were terribly cute.

"Hi there" said Kyp.

"Are you a Jedi?" asked Jaina.

"Not yet" Kyp responded patiently. "But I hope I'm going to become one."

"I'm going to be a Jedi when I grow up" spoke girl enthusiastically and proudly.

Leia smiled, but it was done in a sad kind of way and Han stood up and led her a few steps away.

"You okay?" he asked, whispering.

Leia wanted to say yes, her brain told her to say yes, but she couldn't. She shook her head slowly. Han hugged her and held her tightly against his body.

"Yeah, me neither" he exhaled not letting her go. "They don't even remember me" he spoke, despair filling both his heart and his voice.

Leia gently withdrew from Han's embrace. "They didn't know me either, when they arrived two days ago and they still don't trust me completely." Seeing that Han's expression became even more desperate she added: "But that will change Honey, I promise."

"It's so unfair that we missed so much of their lives." complained Han

"Yes" agreed Leia. "But you know as well as anybody that it was for their own protection."

"I don't care" he replied angrily. "I could've protected them just fine myself."

Leia gently brushed a scar on his chin. "I know Honey, I know."

"I'm sorry" spoke Han quietly again, after realizing that he had unintentionally raised his voice. Then he quickly glanced to Kyp and the twins. Jaina and Kyp hadn't noticed what happened, because they were so entangled in the conversation about Jedi and lightsabers. Jacen on the other hand looked surprised, even scared. When Han caught his gaze, boy quickly turned away.

"Well now I've done it" said Han grumpily. "I miss Anakin" he exhaled after a while.

"Just a few more months and we'll be a family at last" spoke Leia reassuringly at the same time as she tried to keep her voice from breaking. "I missed you Han, I missed you so much" she said staring straight into his hazel eyes. She stepped on her toes pulling him closer and kissed him. It was a tender kiss, but far too short for Han's taste.

"That's all I get?" he asked, only partly faking his annoyance. "This, after missing me so much?"

"I'm sorry, Flyboy" she said with a mischievous glee in her eyes "we don't have time for anything else."

For a brief second Han remained slightly agape and he kept staring after Leia, who was heading for the kitchen. Then however, his expression formed into a wide smile as he remembered how that very same line, made Leia mad while they were travelling to Bespin.

"Dinner's ready" called Leia from the dining room and Han was drawn from his memories to reality he never believed he could have.

Next chapter is already written and will be up soon. Does dinner with the Solos sound inocent and perfectly safe? Of course not :D