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Chapter 10

Leia eyed the Wookiee that stood indifferently on the other side of the war room during yet another meeting. In the last few weeks Chewie was her companion to her meetings because Han had been banned from attending them on Mon Mothma's insistence. Unlike Han, Chewie knew when to keep his opinions to himself and when he did voice it, nobody understood him anyways.

It had happened a few weeks before: the council decided to cut back on security due to the rising cost and the fact that everything seemed secure, since Leia's return to Courscant there had been no more kidnapping attempts and the Imperial Star Destroyer that had held her captive had not been seen since. Han was livid. In his experience once you dropped your defense that is when the enemy attacks, and he let the council know, a little too loudly. While Leia knew that Han was right, there was no way she could justify keeping the security beefed up for just one person. Even though she had felt safer since her return, the extra security was draining the resources of the New Republic.

When the meeting adjourned the eight-foot tall Wookiee joined Leia's side and he escorted her out of the room. Immediately upon exiting they were greeted by her husband. "Han you know you're not supposed to be here." Chewie growled in agreement.

"Hey I was only barred from that room; nobody said anything about meeting my wife on the other side of the door." He offered his arm to his wife. Rolling her eyes she took his arm.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you."

"Can I help it since they toned down the security that I feel that you're safer with both me and Chewie around?" Han was slowly increasing his pace. Leia in her current condition and the fact that she was a full foot shorter than her husband, she was having trouble keeping up with him. She could feel the uneasy feeling coming off of Han.

"Han, could you please slow down," She stretched out into the Force trying to feel what was causing her husband's unease. "What is wrong?"

"I need to talk to you in private," he said as he continued his pace. He led her to her office after greeting Winter, Han went about checking her office.

Leia sat down on her bench, putting her hand on her over-sized belly and took several deep breaths, "Han what were you trying to do back there, put me into early labor?"

After Han was satisfied that his wife's office was secure he looked at her, "I'm sorry sweetheart, it's just I heard some rumors that some of those gray-skinned creatures had been seen in the underworlds."

"Why hasn't the council said anything…" she started and Han cut her off.

"The council doesn't know everything sweetheart." He knelt down next to his wife. "Even if these are just rumors, I don't want to take any chances, with the security down to practically nothing."

Han took her hand in his and was drawing circles with his thumb and he gave her a worried look. "I haven't felt any danger, unless they have those ysalamir with them, then I wouldn't sense them." Leia's comm Chirped, it was Mon Mothma calling her to the next meeting. "I'll let Mon know what you heard, but I doubt she'll do anything about the security."

"I think you should put in a request to start your leave early, I'd feel a lot better if you stayed closer to the safe room," he told her, "Even with your Jedi reflexes and lightsaber, you have slowed down a lot."

"There are too many important things going on right now for me to quit right now."

"Leia, you've had Winter take your place several times in the past, I see no difference if she takes your place now."On the way back to the war room Han stayed on high alert, but he kept his pace with Leia, she gave him a kiss before disappearing behind the door with Chewie.

Leia lay awake in her husband's arms; he was spooned behind her with his hand resting on her belly. In the past days their son hand become increasingly active causing her to lay awake many nights she should have been sleeping. Tonight it seemed that he was playing smashball with her bladder. She shifted trying to get out of Han's embrace miffed that he tightened his hold on her. "Han," she whispered, "I need to get up." His muffled reply sounded something like aww c'mon honey just give me five more minutes and I'll be up. Leia shifted again trying to release herself but he just held on tight and started to kiss the back of her neck. "Han really, I need to go."

She had no choice; she decided to draw upon the Force to push Han just a little to get loose from her husband's embrace. She pushed just a little too hard, and Han found himself on the floor. "Leia, what the hell just happened?"

"Oh, Han, I'm so sorry. I have to pee." She shuffled off to the 'fresher as fast as her feet could carry her; she would face her husband after she relieved herself.

He followed her into the 'fresher, "Yah know your worship, you could have just woken me."

Leia rolled her eyes, "I tried, and I didn't mean to push you that hard. I've been having a little problem controlling my abilities lately." She stood and wrapped her arms around him and he returned the embrace, they let go of each other when they felt their son kicking them.

"He's been keeping you up again, hasn't he?" He put his hand on her belly and he could see an outline of a foot poking out. He then bent down to her belly level gave kissed her belly and spoke to his son, "Now listen son, your mamma's a very busy woman and she needs her sleep, why don't you settle down in there." He kissed her belly again and the baby kicked where Han's lips had just been."

Leia laughed, "I don't think he's going to listen to you, he is half Corellian."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, just that Corellian's aren't known for taking orders." She poked him in the ribs.

"Oh and I suppose a certain Alderannian Princess does everything she's told to do?" Leia had a look of concentration on her face and she seemed like she hadn't heard her husband's remark.

Han started to ramble something else but Leia quickly cut him off, "Han shut up!"

"Now, princess, there really is no need…" She put her hand over his mouth.

"I said be quiet." After a few moments she released her husband's mouth. "Han, go get our weapons, and activate the silent alarms." Han did as told and reentered the 'fresher as soon as he entered, Leia activated the door locks to their safe room. "They're on our floor," she told him, "I'm sure of it." Leia put her arms around her husband's waist and rested her head on his chest.

"I guess we're gonna find out if this thing is worth what we paid for it." Han released his wife and went to activate the comm center; he switched on the apartment's cameras. Within minutes they watched their front door slide open. Leia felt her stomach tighten. Just as promised the bedroom alarms went off when an unrecognizable handprint tried to open the bedroom doors, after considerable effort the aliens had yet to break through the bedroom doors when the building security arrived. They watched as the creatures battled the security. Once again Leia's stomach tightened.

The third time she felt her stomach tighten Leia realized what was happening. "Han!" He swung around in his chair and when he saw her pained expression he knew that Leia was in labor.