WE NEED A VACATION
Chapter 10
One of the advantages of being on vacation, Han and Leia discovered, was that the combination of water park plus swimming pool plus beach equaled very tired children. This directly yielded in the ability to take their time making love, talking, and just being silent together.
"I wasn't sure I was going to like this vacation," Leia murmured at long last.
"You got off to a pretty rough start," Han said, kissing the top of her head.
"Today turned out to be great."
"And it's not over yet."
"I can take the kids to the park tomorrow. You and Chewie deserve a break."
"Nah. I'm having a great time with 'em. Chewie might feel otherwise, but I'm all over it. This is the kind of fun I never had as a kid."
"When I was growing up, activities like this were rare, but the times my parents did take me to places geared to kids, I have great memories of those times. I wish I'd taken more photos with me when I went into the Alliance."
"Hey, you're way ahead of me there. But it's fine. I don't think I'd want my early life graphically documented. In any event, I've taken over a hundred of the kids and Chewie and me in various permutations."
"More for the Solo Wall of Fame." Both laughed. The hallway that led to the two bedrooms was covered in holofilms of their family. "Honestly, Hotshot, I can't remember when I was this relaxed."
"Our anniversary trips come to mind."
"When we've been able to take them."
"I think we have to make it a point to go every year. We're taking these two weeks off and the galaxy doesn't appear to be crumbling."
"I don't care whether it is or not," Leia told him. "And yes, we will, from now on, regardless of what Mon Mothma considers an emergency, at least take an anniversary trip. And a trip with the kids. I expected to be a little overwhelmed, but I haven't had this much fun with them in ages."
"By the way, you make a scary sea monster."
Leia laughed. "Kind of nice to have a chance at childhood, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but right now, I have more adult activities in mind."
"Do you now."
"Did you think I was finished?"
"I was hoping you weren't."
"Well, then," Han said, pulling her close and ever so gently kissed her.
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Morning dawned on the third day of vacation as it had on the previous two, with three children bouncing all over their parents.
"Come on, kids, let's get some breakfast going," Leia laughed gently as she picked Anakin up. "Han?"
Han looked up at her, and with a pained expression told her, "I feel terrible."
Han did not complain of physical pain very much. "What happened?"
"You know how I said I felt something go out on my back when I picked up Ani from the tub?"
"Yes, but you said you were fine."
"Well, I actually pulled it out the first day we were here, but it wasn't bothering me."
"Considering the number of times you've heaved the kids into the water, I'm not surprised."
"Apparently, it reached critical mass," Han groaned. "I'll get up in a few. A shower should take care of it."
"Why don't you take the day off? You and Chewie can watch sports all day here or head to one of the cantinas, but if you go to a cantina, promise me there'll be no fistfights. We have no budget for bail credits."
"Honey, if someone took a punch at me right now, it'd be their prime opportunity to kick my ass."
"Just rest. Besides, I haven't been to the park yet. And aside from swimwear, I really don't own vacation clothes."
"That's because whenever we've gone on vacation, clothes are the least important part." Han managed to wink at her.
"Speaking of which, you need to rest up if you expect anything like last night."
"Hmm. I think you've persuaded me. Did we bring any Flexcor?" It was a common muscle relaxer/pain reliever.
"I don't think so. I'll go to the pharmacy - "
"Send Chewie to the pharmacy. He loves it."
"I doubt that very much."
"He knows his way around."
"I hate to keep asking him, but I will. I want him to have a nice vacation, too."
Leia located Chewie drinking a kaf. Wookiees didn't ordinarily consume kaf, but there were stimulant beverages on Kashyyyk and kaf was something he'd become accustomed to consuming while hanging out with humans.
"Chewie, I hate to ask you to do this - "
{Just ask}.
"Han's thrown out his back."
{I warned him. But he's not always the best listener}.
"Ya think?" Leia said. "Can you grab some Flexcor at the pharmacy?"
{Of course}.
"You don't mind?"
{I like the pharmacy. It's where all the action is}. Both Leia and Chewie laughed.
"Thank you. Why don't you take the day and watch sports and relax?"
{You mean babysit Han}? Chewie laughed.
"Call it what you like, but I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the park."
{Ani gets sleepy. So I come back early}.
"As long as you don't mind."
{I'm having a great time. It's a wonderful vacation. I'm going to take Malla and Lumpy here}.
"Thanks, Chewie. I don't know what we'd do without you."
{You'd be fine. Han, on the other hand}...
Leia handed him her credit card as she laughed.
{I'd better get more beer, too}.
"Just for Han. I've got plenty left."
"Can you get us tubes, Uncle Chewie?" Jaina asked. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"You can buy them tubes," Leia assured him. "Actually, Chewie, I need to do some shopping. I don't have much in the way of resort wear. Do you mind keeping an eye on these guys for a couple hours?"
{How about we meet at the park? I can take the little ones. I'll take my comm and you just ping me when you're ready}.
"You sure you don't mind?"
{I've put up with your husband for seventeen years. This is nothing}.
"Mommy, I wanna go shopping with you!" Jaina said to her mother. "Can I go?"
"Uncle Chewie's taking you to the park once you're ready."
"I wanna go with you!"
"That's fine, honey. We'll have a girls' day out and go to the park later." Leia rarely had time to spend alone with her only daughter and she relished the opportunity.
"I'll help you pick out clofes!" Jaina said excitedly. "I helped Daddy!"
"I don't wanna go t't' park today," Jacen whined. "I just wanna go t't' pool and t'beach!"
{I'm good with that}, Chewie assured her.
Leia really did want to go to the park, but the kids had gone every day for sustained periods of time, ridden nearly every attraction, and were probably sick of waiting in line. The pool and the beach could make a nice day. Han could even join them - provided he didn't toss children.
{I'll get the medicine and the tubes. I'll be back in a flash}.
"Thanks, Chewie." She turned to her kids. They were eating their cereal and drinking their milk.
"I like t'park," Jacen said. "But I don' wanna stand in line today."
"I can understand that," Leia assured him. She poured another cup of kaf so to take to Han.
Han stiffly sat up with some assistance from Leia. "Mmm, breakfast in bed."
"I think that'll have to wait till tomorrow," Leia told him. "The kids don't want to go to the park today. Jaina wants to go clothes shopping with me and Jacen wants to go to the beach and the pool. Chewie's getting tubes for the kids and some muscle relaxers for you. If you want to go to the beach and or the pool, that's fine. But no throwing kids around."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya."
"Think you can behave yourself?"
Han pretended to think about that. "What's the penalty if I don't?"
"I'll have to think about it," Leia said. "I could buy a one piece swimsuit."
"That's awfully harsh."
"Jaina and I are going shopping when Chewie gets back."
"Don't let her pick out your clothes," Han warned.
"I've seen the shirts," Leia told him, laughing. Han had hung up the new shirts the previous evening. It looked as if the kids had chosen the loudest colors and patterns available.
"Buy something that shows off lots of cleavage," Han advised her. "Legs, too."
"You really are a naughty boy," Leia said, leaning over to kiss him.
"And proud of it."