Chapter 3: Too Old To Put Up A Fight
"Base, this is Battle Fleet Liberty…we are in formation…what are our orders?"
"Battle Fleet Liberty, this is base…hold formation…your orders will be transmitted to you shortly. Please use the encryption code provided to you at the rendezvous point."
Leia Organa Solo put down the communicator and relayed the orders to the fleet. Her husband, Han Solo, left his station and headed over, rubbing her shoulders reassuringly to put her mind at ease.
"Who said we were too old to put up a fight?" he asked, pulling his trademark lop-sided Solo grin. Leia smiled, but didn't really put much effort into making it believable. She knew Han was only trying to help, and deep down she loved him for it, but right now she was too tired, anxious and upset to care. She was tired because for years all anyone in the second rebellion had been doing was planning the war; anxious, because even though they joked about it often, she and Han were not as lithe as they used to be, and were getting older and slower every day; and upset, because in a few hours, they would be in a battle with their sole surviving son – their own flesh and blood!
Han was still rubbing her shoulders, waiting for Leia to respond, and when she still hadn't said anything a few minutes later, he put his arms around her in a wookie-style hug and squeezed.
Leia sighed and relaxed her aching muscles, melting into her husband's warm embrace, if only for a moment. Tears welled in her eyes as her mind rested, and she began to think about the direction their lives had taken over the past few years…the rifts in their family, Jacen's new allegiance…
"Han-" Leia began, cutting herself off, as the tears threatening to fall earlier spilled over her cheeks.
Although he wasn't force-sensitive, Han had been married to Leia long enough to know what she was thinking. "I know, Princess…I know," he soothed.
Leia was a strong woman – stronger than most – a fierce warrior, and a skilled Jedi, but sometimes, like when their youngest son, Anakin, had been killed in action, Leia needed Han to be strong for them both. He had a feeling that this was going to be one of those times.