Gathering up all her strength, Leia followed Han and Rieekan into the room containing Wedge and the children. The two older children smiled when they saw her.
Anakin though, slowly dismounted his perch and started shuffling towards her. What he said almost brought a tear to her eye. "Mommy, I'm sorry I made you fall down asleep. Are you better now?"
Straining to find her voice she bent down to his level, "It wasn't your fault, Anakin. I just had a bit of a shock, that's all. No harm done." She tried a reassuring smile, which seemed to work if the beam she received back from him was anything to go by. Although pleased with herself for getting this far she was relieved when Han took the lead.
"Right, we need to talk to you guys because to be honest with you, we don't know what the kriff is going on here!"
"Han, watch your language," she admonished. Usually his foul language went straight over her head; it was different when there were children present. It only seemed to cause the young siblings to start giggling, though.
"We should have brought your swear jar with us," laughed Jaina, who was quickly joined by Jacen.
"Yeah, it's nearly full, and Mom says you have to take us somewhere fun with it when it's full to the top! Jaya and Ani want to go to the hover park again, but I'd rather go to the zoo."
To Leia, Han sounded as exasperated as she felt when he spoke.
"Alright, c'mon kids. That's enough messing around now. It's getting late and we need to know exactly who you are and where we can find your parents."
Leia held her breath and watched as the children looked at each other as if electing one of them to speak. It appeared that Jaina had won the campaign.
"We aren't playing any games. You are our parents. Uncle Luke sent us back from 18ABY in a Force time portal thing. He said there was something that had to be taken care of and we would be safe with you here for a while. I don't think we came to the right place or time though. We were supposed to be on a forest moon with Ewoks!"
The silence that followed was painful. Surprisingly, it was Wedge who spoke up. "If you don't mind me saying, there is a simple way to prove if you are in fact their parents; take a DNA test."
"No! Mommy doesn't like needles!" Cried out Anakin.
Leia gasped. It was true, ever since her internment on the Death Star she couldn't even think about needles without feeling nauseous. How does he know? It can't be true. It just can't, she thought to herself furiously. It was just too farfetched.
"It's okay little man; it's a non-invasive swab. Which means a droid will get a little bit of your saliva and compare it to Han and Leia's to see if there is a genetic match," reasoned the General.
"Eeeewwww, that's gross!" Added Jaina for good measure.
The results took no time at all to confirm; it did, however, take Leia a long time to regain consciousness.
"Wow, twice in as many hours, Princess, is this a record?" Han tried to keep the teasing in his voice but all he could think of was how this woman would one day be the mother of his children.
"Han, is it...are the results?"
"Yeah, we ran them again to confirm, on three separate droids. Each one came up a perfect match."
"So, what do we do now?"
"All I know is there are three children with our genes. So, either they are telling the truth and they come from the future, or someone has created them to really mess with our heads. Honestly, I don't know which is scarier. Whichever way you look at it, we're gonna have to look after them until we figure out where the hell they came from."
"I can't look after children, I have too much work to do and...and..."
"Typical! Work, work, work! That's all you..."
"I'M SCARED, HAN!" Leia all but shouted. She then carried on in a much softer voice, "I don't know anything about looking after children."
"You think I do? I have no clue; at least you can draw upon your childhood experiences. How Bail raised you. I can't even do that."
"I loved my father dearly, but I don't remember ever having a childhood, and I don't think me preparing these children to be politicians is going to cut it!"
"Well then, we are both going to have to wing it, aren't we? Plus, Rieekan said he'll put us both on minimal duty for the time being."
"Where are they going to stay?"
"I've been thinking while you were out of it and I think the most obvious solution would be for them to stay on the Falcon. I have spare bunks, and it's safer...well, somewhat safer than having them running around the base. Plus I have heating; also I think you should move in with me."
The last bit sounded so matter of fact that Leia almost missed it, "WHAT! Are you crazy?"
"Calm down, I'm just talking 'bout while the kids are staying. I can't take care of them by myself, whether we like it or not we are in this together."
"Yes, I suppose that does make sense. Where are they now?"
"Wedge took them to the conference room for something to eat; Rieekan is fine with them staying on base. Under the circumstances there isn't really any other option."
On the way to relieve Wedge of their children, they had stopped by Leia's quarters to pack some things. Now, Leia found herself walking towards the famed Falcon with three sleepy children in tow. Han, she amusedly realised, was doing an uncanny impression of a Tauntaun with the three children's rucksacks on his back and her bag over one arm. She had to admit, he did smell a lot better than a Tauntaun, not that she had noticed his particular scent or anything.
As they walked, panic gradually started to sweep through her body. Her legs felt numb; it was only sheer will power that kept her conscious and walking. I can't do this! This is too much.
"Mom." Jacen's voice travelled towards Leia.
The word sounded foreign to her ears. This wasn't how people became parents. Two people fall in love, maybe get married, decide they want and are ready for children, and then they try to get pregnant. If they are successful then both partners get nine months to prepare. Is that what's going to happen with me and Han?
"Moooommmmm," Jacen tried again.
"Sorry, Jacen, I was miles away."
"Can we build a snow creature tomorrow?"
"I don't see why not. We'll have to see about finding you some better thermals first though," Leia was immensely proud of herself for adding that last bit. It sounded responsible, like she knew what she was doing.
"Will you help us build it, Mom?" Continued Jacen.
"Well, I don't know if I'll have time, I have a few meetings to attend."
"Leia, can I have a word with you, please?" Asked Han through clenched teeth. Leia had a feeling she knew what was coming and mentally braced herself as she quickened her pace to catch up as Han walked further forward, out of ear shot of the children.
"What are you doing telling him you'll be busy? We are on minimal duty which means we don't attend meetings unless they specifically ask for us!"
"Yes, thank you Captain, I am well aware of what it means but-"
"No, no buts! If we are looking after these kids, then we are sure-as-hell doing it properly!"
Leia felt taken aback by the emotion in Han's voice. Although surprising at first, she had to admit that considering his own difficult childhood – well, what little he had shared – that it made sense he would want them to take care of the children to the best of their ability.
"Okay," Leia conceded.
Rounding the last bend, the Falcon came into view in all its glory. A sudden thought struck Leia, "Han, what about Chewie?"
"He'll be fine, plus he doesn't have a choice as it's my ship!"
"As nice as it is that you place such high regard on your friend's opinion, that's not what I meant. He might scare them; I mean Wookiees generally look pretty intimidating when you're not used to them."
As if he knew he was currently the topic of conversation, Chewbacca appeared at the bottom of the ramp. What happened next shocked everyone.
"Chewie!" Three voices chorused. Han and Leia found themselves overtaken by the children who had previously been lagging behind. Anakin practically jumped into the confused Wookiee's arms, whilst Jacen and Jaina each attached themselves to one of his legs.
Han turned to Leia with a smug grin, "Well, I guess that answers your question."
There was a moment of awkwardness once everyone was inside the Falcon, with Han and Leia collectively realising that they had to figure this out, fast. Looking after children was something a parent should progressively learn, starting at their child's birth. It should not be thrust upon them when their child is nearing ten years old.
Looking after others people's children for a while would not have been so difficult; they would merely have to learn the basics of how to look after children. The fact that these children already recognised them as their parents meant that there were certain expectations they had to live up to. They had to be more than just someone to take care of their basic needs. In short, they had almost a decade's worth of parenting skills to catch up on.
It was very unsettling for Han to listen to the children talk amongst themselves about the modifications yet to be made to the Falcon. The amount of times he heard, "That's where such and such should be!" or, "I don't remember that being there!" was starting to make him doubt his initial reaction to them being from the future. The way they all marched onboard and headed straight for the main hold, then seated themselves around the Holochess table was just eerie.
Answering the confused expression on his father's face, Jacen explained, "We always have to sit here when we first come on board, so we can get strapped in straight away for takeoff, or so that you can check the ship is safe. Mom insists after Jaina nearly fell into an open smuggling compartment!"
Jaina nodded to corroborate the story.
Leia was incensed, this being the first time she had heard of such compartments on the Falcon, "You have smuggling compartments? Where are they?"
"Of course I do, how else do you think I smuggle? They came in pretty handy when we rescued you, too." Han countered while outlining with his foot where they were situated.
"It's where you always hide our birthday presents too," said Anakin around a yawn.
Noticing that it was far later than any child should probably be up, Han decided he better go get the bunks ready. After letting Leia know what he was doing, he sauntered into the crew cabins. Belatedly realising he had made a slight error in calculations. The crew cabin that once housed five bunks, now only contained his double-bunk and three single bunks. I can't imagine the Princess wanting to share. Damn it, looks like I'm out in the main hold.
Setting up the bunks only took five minutes. When Han went back out into the main hold, what he saw warmed his heart. This, he would admit, didn't happen very often. Leia sat, eyes closed, with Anakin's head pillowed in her lap. Jacen and Jaina appeared to have fallen asleep propping each other up.
"I'm not asleep; I'm just resting my eyes," Leia announced unprompted.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
Opening her eyes, Leia surveyed the children, "Should we wake them?"
"Nah, they look pretty out of it. I'll carry them through and we can just take their overcoats off and put them in the bunks." As he spoke, Han stepped forward and gently scooped Anakin into his arms. The boy didn't even stir as he was carried into the crew cabin. Laying him softly on the bed he went back to retrieve the other two. Leia, who had followed Han into the room, set about untangling Anakin from his overcoat without waking him. She then did the same for Jaina, while Han sorted out Jacen.
With all three children in bed, sleeping soundly, Han spoke quietly to Leia, "I forgot I don't have as many bunks as I used to. You take mine and I'll sleep out in the main hold."
"No, that's fine, it's your bed. Plus, you'll freeze out there."
"Well, I'm not having you sleep out there, either."
An awkward silence followed. Han figured he could see the obvious solution. He also suspected Leia had come to the same conclusion. Whether she would trust him, though, was another matter. There's only one way to find out.
"Look, my bunk is big enough for the both of us. And you can trust me; I promise I'll be good!"
"Well, I wouldn't have thought that even you would-"
Her sentence remained incomplete as Han, in a harsh whisper, interrupted, "Fine, I don't know why I bother sometimes! You're never going to trust me, are you?"
Fully expecting Leia to unleash her venomous tongue in retort, he was somewhat shocked when his outburst was met by silence. This isn't how it usually works. She bites, and I bite back. The cycle repeats itself until one of us goes too far. I'm quick with my comebacks, but she's always quicker. Have I finally managed to knock her down a peg or two?
Leia didn't keep him waiting much longer. Glancing, first to the children and then bringing her eyes back to his, she sighed, then spoke softly, "I was only saying that, I wouldn't have thought that even you would try anything untoward with three children sleeping in the same room."
Her tone held no accusation, only disappointment. Somehow, Han figured he would have preferred the former. Nice going, hotshot. You're supposed to be the older, more mature one here. Too used to being on the defensive around her, that's the problem.
"Sorry, Leia, I just...Well, I thought-"
Leia interrupted Han this time, "Well, you thought wrong." She paused in contemplation, before carrying on, "I don't mind sharing your bunk, on two conditions. Firstly, you stick to your side. If I awake at any point to find any of your anatomy touching any of mine..."
Han had to fight to keep his face straight, my anatomy touching your anatomy, ay? Now that has possibilities.
"...you will find yourself in the med centre so fast you won't know what happened!"
"Got it, Princess; no touching. What's the second condition?"
"Not a word of this to anyone! I mean it, explaining the children is going to be hard enough without..." Leia stopped midsentence, as if just realising that they really had no plausible explanation for any of this. How could they explain something they weren't even sure about themselves?
"It's okay," Han placated, "We will figure this out, but right now we need to sleep. You can go get washed up if you want. I'll keep an eye on the kids."
"Thank you." Reassured for the time being, Leia retrieved her bag from the floor and headed for the 'fresher.
Han was left alone with his thoughts. Sitting on his bunk, he looked at the three sleeping children. There seemed to be too much evidence to suggest that they were in fact from the future. But could he believe that? Han was a guy who preferred cold, hard facts as opposed to blind faith. He would also admit that there was a small measure of cynicism mixed up in there too.
Even if it is true, do I really want this future, me and Leia having children? It just doesn't seem plausible, we couldn't be together. It just wouldn't work. Not that she isn't beautiful and smart and well, all the things any guy would dream of in a wife. But it's me. Why would she want a guy like me? What could I possibly offer her? Unless, maybe we don't actually end up together, perhaps it was a drunken mistake on her part, although, that sort of thing doesn't usually result in three children. The way the children spoke though, as if we are a happy family. Perhaps we should just ask them. But will knowing effect the future? Surely this will change things between me and Leia. His thoughts were interrupted as Leia walked back into the room, now dressed in her Alliance issue sleepwear. Han couldn't help but admire what he saw in front of him.
A plain white, fitted T-shirt with the Rebellion logo in the top right corner clung to her form, revealing a shapely body that Han decided had been unfairly hidden under thick snowsuits or drowned in combat fatigues designed to fit much larger women. Her lower half was covered by dark grey sleep pants. The material around the top was scrunched up where she had obviously tightened the drawstring in an attempt to hold them in place around her narrow hips. Although she had narrow hips, Han noticed that her waist was so tiny that it gave her an hour-glass figure that he couldn't help but find alluring.
Noticing that he had essentially just sat staring for a while, Han attempted to speak, "You, err, you can pick what side of the bunk you'd like. I don't mind."
After watching Han leave through the 'fresher door, Leia went to sit on his bunk. Anakin rolled over and mumbled something about furry Ewoks and then fell silent once more. Unbidden, her mind wandered back to the way Han had just looked at her. It could have just been the fact that he had never seen her in so little clothing before, but nobody had ever looked at her like that. What frightened her most was that she liked it, felt as though she had gained some measure of approval from him. Quickly, she shook that thought off. I don't need anyone's approval, least of all his, that scruffy, arrogant man...that will one day be the father of my children. Leia didn't want to admit this to him but she was starting to believe they were from the future. They knew too much. Coincidence only goes so far.
Mrs. Han Solo or will we not get married? We evidently have children but that doesn't mean we definitely get married. No, it just doesn't seem believable. Why would Han Solo want me as his wife? He's tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome with a quick wit, he could have anybody he wanted. Probably already has, she added cynically.
Although, the way he just looked at me...ahh grow up, Leia. Face it, you have very little experience in this area. Don't pretend you could see something there that wasn't. Plus, I don't want him anyway!
Perhaps we both wanted children and he just well...donated. I've heard people do that. Those children, our children, make us sound like a happy family though.
"Is there a blue shirt behind you, Leia?"
Before her stood a scantily clad Han Solo, dressed in sleep pants with a bare torso revealing the muscular plains of his chest. Coating his sternum was a patch of coarse-looking hair that tapered down to the slight ridges defining his abdomen. Leia sincerely hoped that what she was thinking wasn't written across her face. She couldn't control where her thoughts went, a large part of her wanted to run her hands across his chest, test the texture of those coarse looking hairs, trace the clearly defined muscles in his stomach. However, the more innocent part of her recoiled away from these new emotions she was experiencing. Leaning across the bunk, she retrieved the shirt and handed it to its owner.
"Thanks," was Han's muffled reply as he slipped the garment over his head.
Leia felt a small measure of relief now that Han was fully clothed, out of sight, out of mind.
"I figured you'd already be asleep when I came out."
"Oh, I was just sat thinking," replied Leia, hoping that was enough to satisfy his curiosity. To her relief, it was.
"Yeah, I know the feeling." He said while glancing at the sleeping children.
They both climbed into bed, each sticking to their side; leaving about enough room for an adult Wookiee in the middle.
"Night, Leia."
"Goodnight."
As the room was cloaked in darkness, Leia found her thoughts would not give her rest. I'm in bed with Han Solo, I have children with Han Solo; whose body is...well, so much for out of sight, out of mind!
