Although the Healer seems unconcerned that they were going to Luke's new home, seemingly uninvited, Leia found it difficult to hide her nervousness. Indeed, although she and Luke had exchanged a few precious words over the com, the conversation had felt forced and stilted, and it saddened her.

Unconsciously, she gripped the blind Healer's arm as he rang the door chime, and she suppressed the urge to turn and run even as the door opened. To her surprise, it wasn't Luke who opened the door, but a little girl.

"Oh, hello Uncle Kay…" Pemberian said, trying to hide her obvious disappointment. "I thought you were Uncle Chewie! He was gonna take me out on the Falcon today!"

"Pem, don't leave our guests waiting," Luke's soft voice called from the sitting room. "Bring them in…"


The first thing Leia noticed was how tired her brother looked, the second was the absence of his new wife, Aubé.

"Captain Solo," Kay'leb said, turning his attention to Han. "My associate, Tao, is expecting you at the Healer's center. Perhaps you would be so good as to see him now? I wish to attened to my sister…" Not waiting for an answer, and with a swift nod, Kay'leb made his way to the main bedroom.

"Huh, wha?" Han looked momentarily confused, "But I'm not…" Suddenly casting a glance at Luke and Leia, he understood. "Oh yeah… Gotcha… Well, I'll be seein' ya then – "

"Han!" both Luke and Leia called out together, Leia perhaps more forcefully so, but Han only shook his head.

"Say, Button," he said, picking up Pemberian. "Why don't I take you down to the Falcon myself, save Chewie a trip?"

"That would be wizard, Uncle Han!" Pem cried, delighted. "Can I Pay-pa? Please?"

Luke smiled, and took Leia's hand in his own. "Only if you say hello to your Aunt Leia, first…"

"Hi Auntie Leia!" she giggled from Han's arms, and Leia was struck by how much she must have looked like her mother. Her dark, curly hair and up turned nose… but her eyes were purely Luke's. Her heart melted, and she momentarily wondered who her own children would favor, herself or Han…

"Nice to meet you, Pemberian," she said, a smile breaking out on her face at last. "Are you going to be a pilot like your father some day?"

"Like my Ma-mere, too!" she giggled. "I wanna tell you all about it soon, but right now I can't wait to ride on the Falcon! You'll be here when I get back, won't you Auntie?"

Leia turned to Luke, who's smile now matched her own. "I'm sure I will…"


"There was a time I would have dropped a dagobian frog in your bed to wake you, sis…" Kay'leb said gently. "But perhaps another day…"

Aubé pulled the covers over her head. "Must you always be such a turd, Kay?" she sighed. "What do you want?"

Kay'leb sat down on the bed next to her, and gently patted her hip. "Just checking to see if you intend to sleep the entire afternoon away. You have company, after all."

Another sigh as she slowly removed the covers from her head. "Luke has company," she mumbled. "As for sleeping all day, well, between your potions and Luke's little acts of persuasion, I'd be surprised if I didn't sleep through my son's wedding day!"

Kay'leb lay down next to her on top of the covers, and gently put his arm around her. "It's for your own good, sis," he said. "None of us like seeing you in pain."

"I'm all right," she replied, cuddling up close to him. "It's just… just…"

"You worry too much," he said softly, stroking her hair. "Things will be all right…"

They lay together in silence for a while, but Kay'leb knew that she hadn't gone back to sleep. At last, Aubé spoke again. "I'm afraid, Kay," she admitted at last. "I'm just afraid…"

"Afraid of what, you silly grasser?" Kay'leb asked, swatting her rear playfully. "Afraid the baby's going to turn out like you? Or maybe look like Toa?"

"Kay'leb Canaille, you are horrible!" she giggled, flipping herself over to face him. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"Ah yes," Kay'leb replied, shrinking away from tickling fingers. "The two headed fangor beast that is your sister-in-law!"

"She is not a two headed fangor beast!" Aubé replied indignantly, sitting up. Her voice lowered. "But she is Luke's sister…"

"And?" Kay'leb arched an eyebrow. "You and Captain Solo seem to get along all right…"

"But she's his sister…" Aubé repeated, as if this explained everything. "That makes it different…"

"How?" he asked, once again encircling her in his arms. "How does that make it different?"

"It just does, Kay," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "It just does…"


TBC