A few hours and a very distracting shower later, Han and Leia were headed to Luke's for dinner. While they enjoyed their time with Luke and Chewie, Han in particular was already planning their escape for shortly after dinner.
For what seemed like the millionth time that day, Han asked, "Now, you're sure that Luke isn't cooking?"
Leia sighed slightly, "Han, I told you, I have no idea. You were the one who spoke with him."
"Can't you just use that force-thingy the two of you have?" He wiggled his eye brows at her.
She sighed again, "I truly do not think it's necessary to utilize my 'force-thingy' in such trivial matters, Han, I-"
Han cut her off, "'Trivial matters' sweetheart? Trivial matters my ass. The last time Luke cooked I was sick for a week."
"You could have just had the flu."
"Did you just have the flu? Did Chewie? Did Luke?"
"Well, I suppose that was oddly coincidental, but we do all spend a lot of time together, so yes we could have just had the flu."
"Whatever. Eat at your own risk. We should have just offered him Threepio for the night. Scratch that, we should just give him Threepio forever."
"I think you would secretly miss Threepio if he weren't around."
Han just grimaced at her.
After a few minutes of driving in silence, Leia spoke again.
"Anyways, I do think that he would order out. The real question is, why is Luke having us over for dinner? He didn't say anything to you earlier?"
Han frowned in thought. "Nope, nothing. He just asked us to come. I said 'sure,' and then he left."
"And he wasn't acting strangely? Nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Well, to be honest sweetheart, I may have been a little distracted at the moment, but I don't recall him acting any differently. Again though, you would know better than me."
"I didn't feel anything different, but it's just unusual that he would ask us so formally with such short notice."
"Hey, don't look at me. I stopped trying to figure out your brother a long time ago now."
Leia frowned but did not offer any argument.
A few minutes silence passed when Han pulled into Luke's apartment.
They held hands as they walked through the lobby.
Leia broke the silence and asked, "It may be too late now, but I assume Chewie is meeting us here."
"Oh yeah," he didn't sound convincing. "Yeah, Chewie's probably already up there."
"Mmmhmm."
They reached Luke's door and Leia reached up to knock. Rather than wait, Han pushed the door open.
"Luke? We're here."
Luke came through the doorway to the kitchen and Leia gave him an apologetic look.
"Hey! What are you doing in there? Step away from the kitchen!"
Luke smiled. "Calm down, Han. I'm not cooking. I'm just getting some stuff together. If you guys want to sit down it will be ready in a minute. Chewie's already in there."
Han and Leia walked into the dining room.
"See? I told ya he was here."
Leia didn't respond, but made her way to sit down at the table.
In the kitchen, Luke was finishing up with dinner. He had put the food in his own dishes to at least give off the impression that he had put some preparation into dinner.
While Luke tried not to involve himself uninvitingly into Han and Leia's business, he had the sense that there was some tension going on, and it didn't take a lot to figure out what it was. He had noticed more frequently how both Han and Leia have been interested in having kids. His purpose for dinner was to try and broach the topic a bit, so the two would realize how prevalent it was on their minds, and actually talk to one another about it.
It was confusing though because he knew they both wanted children, but something was obviously holding them up. He figured it was Han's lack of previous interest that was a factor, but there was also something deeper to it.
He knew that Leia still held a lot of anger and resentment towards their father, that much had always been very clear to him. However, Luke suspected that there was also much fear on Leia's part, of her birth family and what her father had become.
There was only so much Luke himself could do for the two of them. He figured that by at least identifying the issue, the two would be able to discuss it further. Once it was out in the open, he knew that if anyone would be able to convince Leia of something it was Han.
So Luke formulated a plan to have them over for dinner. He was relying on Chewie, who had a son, to bring it up, so that they could smoothly evolve the conversation.
As a Jedi, there were very few things that could make him nervous, but facing such a sensitive topic with two very stubborn people, was one of them. He took a deep breath and stepped into the dining room.
The group ate in comfortable silence, with a random comment here and there. Once they were in the living room enjoying after dinner kaffe, Luke figured now was as good a time as any to start the conversation.
Luke waited for a break in the conversation. "Chewie, I heard a news-holo the other day on Kashyyyk and I thought of you. How long has it been since you've visited?"
Chewie smiled at the change in conversation. "It has been too long since I've been there, but I'm hoping to go again soon."
"And everyone at home is ok?"
"Yes, yes they are doing well. My son is getting so big now."
They both casually looked at Han and Leia who had gone unusually quiet.
Han cleared his throat, but Leia continued to look uncomfortable.
"Well, actually Chewie, I was thinking that maybe we could go visit them real soon, like next weekend maybe?"
Leia looked up in surprise at Han's words. Usually only Chewie went so that he could have time private time with his family. Leia herself had never actually visited.
She asked him, "You're going to leave again next weekend?"
"Well, actually sweetheart, I was thinking we both could."
"Han, I think you should have asked Chewie first before bringing it up-"
Chewie interrupted, "It would be an honor to have you visit. I'm sure they would be very excited. It has been awhile since they've seen you."
Though she flushed slightly, Leia accepted.
An hour later, the night had come to an end, and Leia and Han were on their way home.
They were both quiet, and Leia startled slightly when Han broke the silence.
"Leia?"
"Yes, Han?" He looked so thoughtful, Leia reached over to gently sweep his hair out of his face.
"Do you, um, think about having children?"
She knew he had been thinking about it, but she wasn't prepared for him to actually answer the question.
But before she could answer, Han continued.
"I mean, it's not a big deal or anything, it's just that sometimes, well lately, the idea has been on my mind."
She waited to see if he would continue.
"I had never thought about it before. But I also never thought I'd get married and then I met you and suddenly it just made sense. And it's not like I'm unhappy or anything, it's just something that I've been thinking more about lately, and I didn't know if you were too."
He spoke quickly, as though trying to show her how important it was to him without trying to seem pushy.
His sheepishness was endearing and she couldn't help but kiss his cheek.
"Yes, I've thought about it."
He looked at her expectantly.
"I guess it's something that we should probably discuss further together now that your mind has changed about it. But unfortunately, I'm not sure if I'll want children. But I won't rule it out. Not until we talk about it more."
Han simply nodded.
They were silent the rest of the way. As they walked into the apartment, Leia braced herself for an awkward night and intense conversation, but it didn't come.
Instead, Han pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Leia looked confused. "I thought you'd want to talk more?"
"That can wait till tomorrow." His voice came out in a gruff whisper.
They kissed again, and Leia couldn't help but feel a brief respite from her worries.
