Tea Party:

15 ABY

Luke Skywalker made his steady way from his apartment to the Solo residence, looking forward to watching his niece Jaina while her parents and brothers went to a sporting event. Jaina was ill, and therefore unable to attend. Luke had volunteered to watch his niece upon hearing that Han and Leia were planning to cancel the trip.

Leia had agreed fervently, thanking Luke for saving a rare family outing. Han answered the door with a wide smile when Luke arrived.

"Luke!" Han clapped him on the back. "Come in! Thank you for doing this!"

"Of course. I love spending time with the children." Luke replied.

"Luke!" Leia appeared from the hallway and embraced her twin brother tightly. "I owe you one!"

Luke chuckled. "Normally I hear that from Han."

"Well, after years of marriage, I've rubbed off on her." Han quipped good-naturedly.

The adults shared a laugh before two boys ran into the living room.

"Uncle Luke!" they both cried excitedly as they barreled into him.

Luke staggered back a few steps, but managed to stay on his feet, engulfing his nephews in his own bear-hug.

"Hey you guys!" he greeted them happily.

"Boys, are you ready to go?" Leia asked her sons as they released Luke.

"Yes Mom." Jacen answered.

Anakin lifted his feet. "I got my shoes on all by myself!" he crowed.

"Great job, little man!" Han cheered him. "Let's get going."

Leia turned to her twin. "Jaina's medicine is in the cooler. Give her the dose before she goes to bed please."

"I'll take care of it." Luke promised. "Is she in her room?"

"Yes." Leia glanced at the door. "Threepio is in there with her at the moment. And if you need anything, he can run an errand for you."

"Got it." Luke then grimaced. "You left her in there with Threepio?"

Han chuckled knowingly at Luke's remark. "Yeah, you'd better go rescue her."

Luke smiled and waved them all out the door. "Go on, have fun and be safe."

"Thank you again, Luke!" Leia called as they exited.

Luke waved and then shut the door, turning around to see Jaina standing in the room just outside the hallway. She had the saddest look on her face, and he could hear her sniffling.

Concern flooded him, and Luke went to her, kneeling before his niece.

"Jaina? Sweetheart, are you okay?" Luke asked, touching her forehead to check for fever. "Are you hurting?"

Jaina shook her head, her eyes quietly spilling moisture.

"Then what's the matter?" Luke pressed gently as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.

"I… I really wanted to go with them." Jaina's voice trembled.

Luke's heart went out to her. "Oh, sweetie…" he gathered her into his loving embrace, and his six-year-old niece cried into his shoulder.

"Mistress Jaina!" Threepio's voice sounded from behind them. "You told me you would be right back…"

He trailed off as he caught sight of the humans huddled together.

"Oh dear." He murmured.

A thought struck Luke when he laid eyes on Threepio, and he remembered Leia telling him the droid was free to run errands.

"Jaina, why don't you go sit in your room for a moment." Luke said, standing up.

Turning to Threepio, he motioned the droid over as Jaina exited the room. "I need you to go to the children's clothing store down the street and buy Jaina a dress-up gown."

Threepio managed to look startled. "Me, Master Luke?"

"Yes. Take Artoo with you, he knows which dress I mean." Luke instructed. "And make it quick, please."

"Very well, Sir." The golden protocol droid tottered off.

Luke went to the kitchen to check for the rest of his needed supplies. He quickly found Leia's tea set that she used when she had company over, and began heating water.

He opened the cooler to read Jaina's medicine bottle for the dosage for later. Then he perused the cabinets for snacks to go with the tea. Soon he had a small collection of food stuffs on the counter.

Nodding in satisfaction, Luke went in to check on Jaina. She was lying on her bed, staring out the window, her face sad.

Luke joined her on the bed, sitting beside her.

"Hey, cheer up little one, it's not that bad." He soothed, running his fingers through her hair soothingly.

Jaina closed her eyes at his touch, and sighed resignedly. "But I'm going to miss out on all the fun."

"Says who?" Luke asked sagely.

Jaina turned her head to stare at him, her eyes searching his face. "What?"

Luke smirked. "Just because you have to stay home doesn't mean you have to be bored or lonely."

Jaina cocked her head now, her curiosity evident. "What do you mean, Uncle Luke?"

"Why don't we settle onto the couch to watch a holovid while Threepio runs his errand, and then the real fun can begin?"

She considered this, looking out the window again, before she nodded her consent.

"Alright." She didn't look any happier though, so Luke pursed his lips.

"Hmm… I think someone needs a little extra motivation."

Jaina narrowed her eyes when Luke leaned down suspiciously toward her. He pounced with cat-like reflexes, tickling her in earnest. Jaina burst into fits of giggles, squirming on the bed until she pleaded for him to stop.

Luke relented, when she began to cough, and hand in hand they retreated to the living room. Luke allowed Jaina to select a cartoon about a bantha family living in the city. Halfway through the show the tea-kettle shrieked its readiness, and Luke excused himself to take the pot off the heat.

He glanced at the chrono on the wall, wondering how long the droids were going to be. He was saved checking in on them when Threepio sauntered through the front door, a bag in his hands as he conversed with Artoo-Detoo.

"Here you are, Master Luke." Threepio handed him the bag.

"Thanks Threepio." Luke noticed Jaina's gaze settled curiously on the bag. "Come here, Jaina."

Jaina got off the couch, a cough escaping her as she came to him. Luke held the bag out to her.

"Your official attire for our grand event, Madame." He said grandly.

Jaina's arm disappeared into the bag and came back out holding a blue and silver princess dress. She gasped, holding it up to her body.

"This is for me?" she squeaked around another cough.

"It is." Luke answered, surreptitiously checking her with the Force.

"Thank you!" Jaina hugged him warmly, and then pulled away with a frown. "But… what 'grand event' are you talking about?"

"Why, our tea party of course." Luke replied, gesturing to the set-up in the kitchen. "Go get changed, while I find my own outfit."

Jaina trundled off as Luke disappeared into the master bedroom. He raided Han's closet for a white shirt, and a pair of his pants with the Corellian blood-stripe. He then found a fancy vest and a pair of shiny boots. He also combed his hair neatly to complete the image.

Han's gear was a bit large for Luke, but he managed to make everything look good before he re-entered the rest of the house. Jaina was waiting for him, and gasped when she saw him.

"You look just like the prince in my book, Uncle Luke!" she giggled.

"And you look lovely too." Luke bowed formally. "Shall we set the table, Lady Jaina?"

"Yes, my fine Prince!" Jaina beamed.

They brought the food and tea to Jaina's room where Luke pulled out her desk and placed a table-cloth over it. They set the table and then seated themselves around it.

"Would the Lady like some biscuits to go with her tea?" Luke asked in his best princely voice.

"Why, yes, thank you."

Luke filled a small plate with an assortment of snacks and then poured her a small portion of tea.

All sense of time was lost as they spent the evening together, eating their snacks and drinking their tea. They shared stories and jokes until Luke spotted a music player in her room and turned it on with the Force.

He stood and offered his elbow. "May I have this dance, Milady?"

Jaina's eyes twinkled with delight, her cough forgotten, and took his arm. Luke led her to an open space of the bedroom and led her gently in a dance. Jaina's body—weakened from being sick—eventually gave in, and she began coughing again.

Luke patted her back gently, and decided to call it a night.

"Let's not overdue it, okay sweetheart?"

Jaina nodded around her coughing fit, and Luke felt her forehead.

"You feel kind of warm." He murmured. "Why don't you go lie down, and I'll get your medicine?"

"'Kay." Jaina yawned.

Luke retrieved her dose and returned to give it to her. Jaina accepted it without fuss, but caught his hand when he turned to leave.

"Uncle Luke?"

"Yes, Jaina?"

"Please…," she coughed. "Please stay with me."

"Okay." Luke agreed. "Would you like me to read you a story?"

Jaina smiled softly, and nodded.

Luke found her new princess book that Han had purchased for her sixth lifeday. He settled onto the bed with her, and she snuggled against him. Luke smiled, and kissed her head.

Opening the book, he began to read aloud. He missed when she finally drifted off to sleep, but when he noticed he smiled warmly at her.

Reaching out with the Force again, Luke soothed her temperature, easing her discomfort the best he could so she could rest well. When he moved to leave the bed, however, she tightened her hold on him.

Luke decided to stay with her, and he placed the book on the bedside table before he shifted into a more comfortable position, Jaina still cradled in his embrace.

00000

Han and Leia each carried a son in their arms as they stepped through the front door of their home. Glancing around the still-lit but empty sitting room, Leia and Han shared a glance.

Han shrugged and took Anakin from Leia, then carried both boys to their bedroom. Leia searched for Luke, wondering why he hadn't greeted them when they'd arrived.

He should have sensed them coming, or at least come out to see them by now.

Her answer came when on a whim she poked her head into her daughter's room. She took in the set-up on the table, surprised to see her tea set along with an assortment of food. But the thing that really caught her eye was Jaina lying trustingly in the embrace of her sleeping uncle.

A small lump formed in her throat at the sight, and she leaned into Han when his strong arms encircled her waist. At his soft chuckle, she turned her head.

"What?" she whispered.

"Is the Kid wearing my clothes?" Han snickered softly.

Leia's head shot back around, and her eyes widened. Luke was indeed wearing one of Han's outfits… and Jaina was clad in a new dress-up gown.

"I hadn't noticed before." Leia admitted.

"Well, it looks like they made their own fun." Han nodded to the table.

Leia smiled warmly. "Oh, my dear, sweet brother."

"He really will do anything for that girl, won't he?" Han remarked. "Guess I can't give him grief about his attire after he made Jaina's day."

"You'd better not." Leia warned. "Come on, it's time for bed."

"Aye Princess."