CRASH LANDING
Chapter 2
(Leia)
Every school and workday morning at the Solo home begins in the same fashion: the kids' chrono goes off and they don't get out of bed. It takes Han and/or myself at least two times going back to scream at them to move. Inevitably, Anakin can't find his shoes, Jacen 'forgets' to do some of his homework, Jaina can never find what she wants to wear and she's only nine and a half; I can hardly wait till she's a teenager. Backpacks, datapads, writing implements, you name it, it's where it's not supposed to be.
Today is no different. Jaina can't find the denims she wants to wear. They're probably in the laundry. The kids know how to do their own laundry but getting them to keep on top of it has been an epic fail, right up there with keeping their room clean.
One thing is for certain: we need a bigger home. We've lived here since we became engaged, and it's overflowing with memories, but also overflowing with Stuff. Five people in this apartment is akin to living in a very small spacecraft. We'd talked about this before, but we never seemed to get around to doing the actual work of contacting a realtor.
"Han, we need to get a larger place," I say to him. He's staggered out of the shower and grabs a large mug of kaf. His hair is still slicked back and wet, his voice thick with sleepiness.
"Tell me about it," he mutters as he takes a gulp of kaf.
"Jaina needs her own room. Jacen, too. And we need room for this little one," I say as I lay my hand on top of my baby bump, which is growing by leaps and bounds.
"I'll give Lando a call - "
Okay, stop! "I like Lando. I even consider him a friend. But do I trust him? You've got to be kidding. Especially if real estate is involved."
"Honey, I'm only calling Lando to see who he knows. He's got this gentrification thing going on the lower city levels - "
"Which is probably a complete scam."
"No doubt. But he might know someone legit. It could happen."
"When I grow to 3 meters tall," I mutter. "Aren't you on a cargo detail tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but 48 hours tops. Today I'm done at 1500. I'll get the kids."
"Thanks."
"Anakin, shoes!" What is it that this kid never knows where his shoes are? Of course, one look at the kids' room could explain a lot. I've urged him to put his shoes by the dining table on a daily basis, and somehow, his hearing becomes selective.
"I can't find my datapad!" Jacen yells.
"Didn't you put it in your backpack?" I call back. I'm trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
"I forgot!"
Jaina emerges, at long last, fully dressed. "I want my beret! I can't find it!"
"You look fine without it," Han informs her.
"Daddy, you don't know what you're talking about!" Jaina snaps at Han.
"Apparently not." Han's filling his takeaway mug with kaf. I have to say that I miss kaf a lot; as soon as this little guy is delivered, I'm treating myself to a giant kaf beverage with the works. "Guys!" he yells out. "Two minute warning!"
"I've gotta get," I say to Han, and we kiss. "If you get the urge to kill the kids, I fully understand, and no jury will convict you."
"Don't tempt me. Have a good day, sweetheart."
"You, too. I'm leaving!" I announced to the children, loudly.
"Bye Mom!" Anakin calls out. The other two are wrapped up in their own issues. Han will get them out the door, one way or another.
I've been feeling pretty good for a while now, but today, I'm feeling a little off. Not unexpected; I'm seven months along, and my medic feels that the pregnancy is progressing well. Our little guy is an active one. Pretty soon Han and I will have to think of a name for him. So far, we're way behind on that one.
My office is almost next door to where we live. That's another thing; I'd like to stay in the same area. It's expensive, yes, but the local schools are excellent - and free - and the kids have a lot of friends here. I like being close to work and to the kids in the event of an emergency. Han's at the spaceport when he's teaching and when he takes off and returns from a cargo run. It's a bit of a drive but it's not in an area where I'd really like to live. A number of pilots have gone legit, now that they don't have to hide from the late and unlamented Empire, but there's still various criminal elements, mostly in the form of drugs and weapons running. We can create a better world but while Coruscant is a great place to live, it's not utopia, especially on the lowest levels of the city.
Urban planning is but one of the many groups I sit in with. We discuss generally and specifically how to improve cities across the galaxy. Some planets, such as Haaridan, have clean and prosperous cities in place, but they are in the minority. Cities pretty much went to hell under the Empire and many worlds are still struggling. The black market was about the only thing that thrived during the reign of the Empire. We're trying to develop cities that are livable, with clean water and air, have healthy economies, and affordable housing.
It's a long way from fighting a war to trying to achieve intergalactic peace and prosperity. Han says the war is always the easy part, and he couldn't be more correct. I spent a lot of sleepless nights during the early days of the provisional government, and not just because meetings went well into the night. (They did. But insomnia was my constant companion for way too long.) Things are far better now. But it takes time. True and lasting stability takes a generation.
The short walk wears me out. I really am in late pregnancy, and tiredness takes over. But I've got three meetings and a mountain of work on my desk. I'll try to catch a nap during lunch.
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(Han)
I've got a bad feeling about this.
I know that seven months is around the time that Leia gets tired all the time, but she just seemed somehow, I don't know, off this morning. Maybe it's just my imagination playing tricks on me. In the meantime, there are flight dynamics exams to give to students and real estate to find.
While watching over exam taking (yeah, most of 'em don't cheat but there's usually someone trying to, despite being told to turn off the transmit function on their datapads), I take advantage of the time and text comm Lando, asking who he knows selling properties in our part of town. He voice comms me back.
"I told you never to call me here!" I stage whisper, annoyed.
"Sorry. I'll text back. It just sounded urgent."
Just because it's in text doesn't mean it's not important. Lando doesn't like text comm; he knows the power of smooth speech. I'm used to this and don't need to be sold. Yet.
(What are you looking for?) he texts back.
(Three or four bedrooms, plenty of space in the living areas, same neighborhood we live in now.)
(You don't ask for much, do you?)
(Didn't seem unreasonable to me.)
(Better open your credit account wide.)
(I'm aware of this.)
(How's Leia?)
(She's fine.) I don't want to elaborate at this point. I've still got that weird bad feeling in the back of my head.
(Let me get back to you.)
(Thanks. And tell them to text comm!)
(Copy that. Calrissian out.)
About twenty minutes later, I have an incoming. It's from a Ronx Kuro, a realtor who said that Lando referred him.
(Good morning, Mr. Solo)
(Han will do fine, thanks.)
(Han, Mr. Calrissian gave me your name and said you are in need of larger living quarters and that you wish to stay in the government district.)
(You're not kidding.)
(How soon do you need it?)
(Yesterday would have been good.)
(Got it. Let me take a look at the MLS and see what we have here.) Radio silence for a few minutes. I stroll through the room and make sure everyone's doing his or her own work.
(I have one here that might just fit your needs, Mr. Solo.)
(It's Han. Tell me what it has.)
(Four bedrooms, 2 'freshers, small but well built kitchen large eating area, large conversation pit living room. When can you see it?)
(I pick up my kids at 15:20.)
(And your wife?)
(I'll ask her to meet us.)
(I must make full disclosure before we see it. There was a sabacc game held there and unfortunately, one of the players was intoxicated and armed, and made a mess of the other three players. But the carpet has been replaced. And the walls have fresh paint.)
(Talk about a sore loser.)
(So this is not a problem for you?)
(Only if they left body parts in the freezer.)
(I assure you they have not.)
He gives me the address. (What do you look like?)
(I'm Rodian and I have a long purple cape.)
(I'll be the middle aged guy with three kids. Oh, and by the way? About fifteen years ago, I killed a Rodian bounty hunter, since we're talking disclosure here.)
(I assure you that I have nothing to do with such scum.)
(Happy to hear it.)
(We'll meet at 15:45.)
(Thanks.)
(Kuro out.)
There's a delicious irony in all this, what with our realtor being Rodian and a sabacc game gone bad. I suspect this might turn other people off, but the romantic in me likes it a lot.
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