She put her hand on Luke's arm. "Let's go for a walk."
"Sure." Luke said, after looking to make sure Laureena was fine with Han.
Luke and Leia walked for a bit in silence. Leia broke the silence. "Luke, what are your plans for Laureena."
"She'll stay with me on the academy of course." Luke said.
Leia shook her head. "No, for her education."
Luke sighed. "I haven't thought that far." He admitted a moment later.
Leia heard the unspoken, I can only work on a moment to moment basis.
Leia stopped walking and put her arms around her brother. Luke leaned his head onto his sister's shoulder, but kept a rein on his tears. "It is ok, you know, to cry. Everyone would understand."
"I have cried enough. Now it is time for me to be strong." Luke said, not entirely believing it even as he said it.
Leia sighed. "Luke, this pain is only going to go away if you let it out. Remember release, but don't release. Release it to let it evaporate but don't release it to let it take you over."
Luke just remained silent. Leia sighed. "Luke, I hope you can talk to me about this soon. I will be on Yavin for at least another week, I will help you set up stuff for Laureena, and get plans for her education."
"All right." Luke said. "So, what's
new with you since the last time we talked."
Leia chuckled; the last time
they'd talked about her life had been only 2 weeks ago. "Nothing much, watching
over the kids, both here and in the senate. Keeping Han out of trouble, the
same old stuff."
"Yea sounds fun fun fun."
"Yea, well its my life." Leia said.
"That it is." Luke said.
Luke paused for a moment, gathering strength to say something he'd wanted to say for a long time, then continued, the look on his face now a little pleading. "Leia, I know I am being a little difficult, and have been for a while. I am trying though. I need you all. I know I am being a bit hard to be around, I can't help it." He repeated. "Don't leave me."
Leia grabbed her brother in a hug. "It's ok, Luke. We understand you've lost people you love. Gosh, Luke, we are NOT going to leave you, and I don't know where you even got that idea."
Luke just leaned in to his sister. There, he'd said it, he thought, he'd wanted to say it for so long, to tell his sister how much he appreciated her help even when he kind of pushed her and Han away and built a wall around himself.
"Luke, remember me after Alderaan? I did the same thing you are doing, sorry Luke but you just admitted you did it, push everyone who loved me away. But you stood by me, remember that. Remember when everyone called me the Ice princess, you were the one who glared down anybody who called me that and where there, over and over. Even though this isn't a payback, you did it, and now you need it."
Luke remembered what she was talking about, the base before Hoth, a lot of people had started calling Leia ice princess because of how she pushed everyone away.
"Remember the time two drunk Rogue Squadron members called me that to my face and you were there and you punched them out?" Leia asked.
Luke laughed. "Yes. I was so mad at them for days."
The rest of the walk they talked about the old rebel days. It was therapeutic for Luke's heart because he connected with someone completely without being wary, and it was good for Leia because she got to spend time with her brother without being the 'watchdog'.
As they got close to where everyone else was they heard a baby's wail. Luke started walking faster. "She's been crying for you Uncle Luke." Jaina said.
"Come here, Laureena." Luke said. "Don't cry, little one. Don't cry." Luke took Laureena from Han.
It only took Luke a few minutes to calm her down. "Looks like she wanted Luke." Kyp observed.
"I agree." Leia said noticing how comfortable Laureena was with Luke.
Tionne thought of something. "Leia, I should go set up a sleeping area for Laureena in Luke's room."
"Good idea." Han said. "I will help."
Leia shook her head though. "I think Luke will want to that on his own, otherwise he'll ask."
Han and Chewbacca, who had heard, exchanged a look, had Leia finally figured out that sometimes people didn't want to be babied.
"I see that look you two are exchanging." Leia said crossly.
Han had no intention of sleeping on the Falcon that night. "Sorry." He apologized.
Leia frowned and was about to say something when she saw a little face squealing right by her. Her face broke out into a smile. "Hi, Laureena." She cooed.
"Saved." Han said under his breath. "I owe ya kid."
"Master Skywalker," Kyp said tentatively "are you teaching the class today, or should I or Tionne take over."
Luke put his hand on his forehead. "I had forgotten, thank you Kyp, I shall take it. Han, Leia, Chewie, will you watch Laureena."
"Of course." Leia said, taking Laureena.
Laureena started wailing. Luke looked very pained. "Uh, maybe I should stay." He started.
Han waved him off. "We'll take care of it, kid."
Luke looked unsure, but he still went, Anakin, Jacen, Jaina, and the others who had to attend the class following.
Luke taught the classes well, as usual, though in the back of his mind were the events that had taken place, and Laureena.
That night, on Leia's coaxing, Luke did something he usually never did, he had a private dinner, just with Leia, Han, the kids, Chewie, and Laureena.
They had set up a great bed and chair for Laureena. "Luke, you have some pathetic food processing droids here." Han complained.
"No, it is just my personal food processing units. The good ones service the main mess hall." Luke said.
"Uncle Luke." Jaina said. "I am going to go get us some real food. Sorry, but this is pathetic."
"All right." Luke said, even he agreed about that.
"Leia, we know what to get the kid for a present now." Han said.
Chewie agreed loudly, drowning Leia's answer.
Jaina came in a moment later with food from the mess hall, she passed it out.
"Ah." Han said, eating it. "Much better." A moment later he turned serious. "Kid, what are you planning for Laureena's education? I know it is a bit early, but you should think about these things."
Luke looked at Leia for support. She gave him an encouraging nod. "I… am going to play it by year for now. I… I can't think that far ahead. I might get some tutor droids to teach her. Or I might send her to an Academy."
"Yea." Han looked like he was going to ask more, but Leia's kick to his leg stopped him.
Anakin joined in the conversation, and along with his brothers and sisters made sure the topics stayed light. All in all, though, it was a great evening. The entire family ate together, conversed together, and got to know one another again.
Soon Laureena started to cry. "I think it is Laureena's bedtime." Luke said talking in baby talk to the baby. "I will be right back." He mouthed to everyone else.
Leia followed him at a slight distance, she watched as he played with Laureena while getting her into her night clothes, and tucked her in tight. As she watched, tears came to her eyes, Luke had wanted this for so long, a family, and now he got one… but through the death of 2 family-like friends.
Leia walked back to everyone else. "Where did you go?" Han asked.
"I needed to see something." Leia said.
"See what?"
"Drop it, Han." Leia said, her voicing dripping with threat.
Han knew what was good for him He dropped it. A few minutes later Luke came back. "Sorry." He said. "It took awhile."
"No problem." Han said. "So, kid, I will arm wrestle you."
Everyone else groaned, but Luke said. "Sure."
Han and Luke arm wrestled, and Luke won without really breaking a sweat.
"You cheated." Han complained.
"My brother in law's a sore loser." Luke responded.
"I am not."
"Yes you are." Everyone chorused, enjoying the light banter.