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They left Chandrila that night. Mon Mothma had been understanding, but cold in a way she had never been towards Leia. She told them it would be best if they left the Core Worlds at least until the pregnancy was over. It would be safest for everyone involved, she'd said.

Luke left with them, accompanying them in the Falcon, after making a hasty goodbye to Stella. She told them the news was already spreading, a wave of gossip that they could only hope to outrun. It didn't take them long to decide where to go. Han placed a call to Taadoh and the little man was only too happy to arrange accommodations for them. He said the Naberries were in residence, but that it wouldn't be hard to procure them some place else along the lake.

He chose Naboo partly because they'd been so happy there and partly because it was so far removed from the Core. It wasn't too far out to be dangerous, but it was definitely out of the spotlight.

Leia was inconsolable during the journey. She couldn't believe Kyrell's betrayal and Mon Mothma's dismissal. She was ashamed of it all - the accidental mind control, her hasty public admission, and the fact that she'd manipulated Han right in front of everybody.

They tried to calm her, tried to assure her that they understood, but Luke finally asked her if he could make her sleep. She needed to calm down, if only so she didn't accidentally blow up the ship. She finally agreed, and had lay passed out peacefully in the crew quarters ever since.

Luke was sitting up front with Han now. Han knew he didn't have to be here, the hyperdrive was getting them to Naboo without his help, but it calmed him to be in the cockpit, in his old captain's chair.

Luke sighed, still having yet to break the silence.

Finally he said, "Welcome to the family."

It took Han a moment to process this, and then he let out a tired laugh.

"Kid, I joined this family a long time ago."

Luke smiled at him then his face grew more serious.

"She didn't mean to, you know."

Han looked away, out at the swirling spacetime outside.

"I know."

"She was cornered and scared, and then she saw you going after him. You really looked like your were going to kill him."

"I was," Han said. Luke frowned. "I might have," he conceded.

"Han, you can't lose control like that."

Han let out a bark of derisive laughter, "You were in that room and you're talking about me losing control."

It was the closest he'd come to admitting that he was upset with Leia. He could barely admit it to himself, but she had gone off the rails. They hadn't felt like a team in there.

"You know what I mean," Luke continued. "Leia's not in her right mind, she's overcome with the regular hormones and also with a power she doesn't understand. But, you lost it just as much. If you had killed him, on purpose or by accident, it would have brought a world of trouble down on you. On all of us," he corrected.

"She needs you to be there with her, not rotting in some prison cell or dogged by bounty hunters. Again. You have to think about your wife and child, before you go off like that."

Han wanted to be annoyed with him. After all, what did he know? He was just a kid who'd had some crazy experiences. But he knew he was right.

"When did you get so wise? Is it really just the Jedi stuff?"

Luke smiled sadly.

"Believe me, sometimes I wish I could be less…wise."

"Stella wish that too?" Han didn't often ask him about his personal life, but he needed a subject change and badly.

It was Luke's turn to look out the window. "Yeah, Stella would be happy if I was a normal guy."

Han felt for him a little but then hit him on the back.

"Bullshit. Then you'd just be boring."

They laughed a little and returned to companionable silence. Chewie showed up at the door with a bottle of Corellian whiskey and they passed it around, all desperately needing a stiff drink.

Han flew the Falcon straight to the Lake Country. Taadoh had arranged clearance at a starport for him and met them there with a shuttle. Leia was drowsy, from Luke's Force-induced sleep or sheer overstimulation, he didn't know. Taadoh looked surprised and concerned when he took in her pregnant figure and haggard appearance.

"Don't worry about a thing, my dear." He said gently, helping her into the shuttle.

She laid against Han's side as they made the short trip to their destination. Han felt his hurt disperse as they flew through the quiet night. She was doing the best she could. They all were. Nobody had been prepared for this. As he felt himself warm to her again, he could feel her body relax. Was she really that sensitive, that attuned to him? Was it his unspoken pique that had kept her from calming down?

He remembered Luke's words and felt the truth of them even more. He had to think about her and their child before he did anything rash. They had to be his biggest concern. Not his pride, not his own needs or insecurities. He had to put them first.

When he thought about it like that, it made a lot more sense. And he silently forgave his young wife for her startling display on Chandrila. She was protecting him against himself, knowing that he was far more important as the head of their family than as her hotheaded avenger.

Why was it that these two kids were always one step ahead of him (or a few)? Was it the Force? Was it a Skywalker thing? He hoped his child would inherit that, the intuition that allowed them to see beyond the past and the present into some unknowable future.

They arrived in a little clearing and he carried Leia down the walkway and across the threshold into a beautifully inviting room. It was obviously the center of the house. The floors were lined with warm gold tiles and gigantic redwood beams cut across the ceiling making the space seem homey and dramatic at the same time. Leia opened her eyes just a bit and made a sound of admiration.

"Where are we?" she said, sleepily.

"We're home, sweetheart." He didn't know why he said it except that that's what this place felt like.

"Oh," she said, before drifting off again.

Taadoh led him to a bedroom off the main landing and he laid his precious cargo on the bed. Her hand immediately came to cradle her belly, even in sleep. He laid his hand over hers remembering a night long ago when he'd longingly measured that hand against his.

So much had changed since then, and so much was going to change in the coming years. He was thankful he'd plunged into that ocean of love. Otherwise, he worried that the battering waves would be too strong. He wanted to crawl into bed with her, to forget this awful day, but he could hear the voices filtering in from the great room and made his way back out.

He wasn't sure what to tell Taadoh, but the little man didn't press. They had met in the underworld, and people who made it out of there never got too curious. The man showed them around, pointing out places for Luke and Chewie to hole up. It was a much more modest chateau than the Varykino. That place had almost seemed like a palace. This one was cozier, but still had the airy, open quality of the Lake Country style. It was built of the same worn, gold stone that its neighbors were made from.

"You can stay as long as you like, my friend. You can buy it if you want," Taadoh seemed to sense that they wouldn't be returning to Chandrila anytime soon. Han had no idea how long they would be here, but it was comforting to know they wouldn't have to clear out anytime soon.

"I will see you in the morning and we can set up everything you need," Taadoh assured him. Then he left them, spiriting away into the night. Han didn't know whether he left by boat or shuttle.

Without much ceremony, the men called it a night and Han rejoined Leia in what he supposed would be their bedroom. He shed his clothing and then eased her out of hers, coaxing her under a blanket. There wouldn't be an early morning tomorrow. She could sleep as late as she wanted. That, he supposed, was a silver lining.

He slipped underneath the sheets and pulled her to him, relieved to feel her warm skin against his own. Everything seemed simpler when they were together like this. She stirred and moved even closer, reaching back to bring his hand to her breast. He felt exhaustion pulling at him but the feel of her against him was too much to resist. He gently kneaded her breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers.

She arched against him, mewling in wordless desire. He felt his own answering want, pushing against her naked bottom. He moved slowly, lowering his head to her neck, drawing a map of wet, open-mouthed kisses that spanned her shoulder up to her ear.

"Han," she said, urgently, suddenly awake and vital under his lips.

He adjusted himself at her entrance and slowly plunged home. She sighed as if in relief and began moving against him in wave after wave of rocking motion. He could feel his mind begin to fragment, to detangle itself from this complicated galaxy and suddenly he didn't know if he was in reality or the dream plane, the two virtually indistinguishable in this haze of pleasure.

Were they awake or sleeping? Did it even matter?

He reached down her body, sliding his hand over her growing swell and in between her legs. Palm resting against her soft hair, he rubbed her between his thumb and forefinger, urging her along. She was almost humming, a tuneless song of love, and then let out a final cry as she started clenching around him. He attached his mouth to her neck, sucking with an abandon he usually cuffed and spilled himself into her in one jerking thrust after another.

As the aftershocks receded, so did he, off into the blissful nothing of dreamless sleep.

It was Leia's 25th birthday. And of course, her brother's as well. She was as pregnant as pregnant could be, her due date two short weeks away. Tonight would be her final hurrah, as movement and staying awake were becoming increasingly difficult for the expectant mother.

What had seemed to be the worst day of their new life together, had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Life on Naboo was more delightful and fulfilling than anything either had experienced. Leia had fully retreated from the universe at large, devoting herself to her new environment. Of course it hadn't been an easy transition, not at first. She was used to so much activity and life in the Lake Country was slower and much simpler.

But, those same instincts that had demanded she create their child eventually took over as she started to nest in earnest. They had purchased the chateau almost immediately. Neither had ever had a home of their own and suddenly Hanna City had lost its luster. Nobody knew how long they would have to stay away from the Core Worlds. The gossip was on the decline, but new worries sprang up every day.

When would their child be able to control his powers? Would Leia's own abilities stay so volatile and enhanced? Even if they determined that it was safe to return, would she be welcome in the circles she'd always run in? Would he?

At first, Han had stayed on their new home planet, content to leave the rest of the universe behind. But General Rieekan had reached out to them and urged the young General to return to his troops. Of course, Han was off of the Council. Good riddance. He never wanted to see any of their ugly mugs again. But, he did care about his men and women, and eventually his nascent sense of duty took over. Besides, he had to make money somehow and he doubted Leia would want him to go back to smuggling.

So, they'd settled into another new routine, but one they came to cherish. He would leave for missions when he had to, but otherwise, their days blurred into a happy haze of domesticity. The Lake Country was truly secluded, removed from any real dangers to Leia or her growing baby. Eventually Leia felt comfortable enough to venture out and make new friends. The first and most important people she met were the Naberries.

They were the family that owned the original chateau they had stayed in on their honeymoon, and they turned out to be the most warm and affable people Han had ever met. He had figured the people that owned the Varykino would be snobs of the highest degree, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Now he understood why Taadoh had been so eager to return to his cherished family.

The main Naberries were here tonight, milling about the great room before they all sat down to dinner. There was Sola, the grand matron, who had taken to Leia the moment she met her. She claimed Leia reminded her of her sister, the mysterious Padme that no one seemed too keen to talk to about. But every so often, Sola would unravel a story, when Leia did something especially like her.

The younger Naberries were closer to Leia's age. Pooja was a politician on Naboo and Ryoo owned the shop they had visited on their honeymoon. Both Sola and Ryoo designed the dresses and tonight Ryoo had made one especially for Leia. It was gold, shimmering in the light like sparkling champagne. It had short cap sleeves and hugged her just below her breasts, which were gloriously ample now that she was so close to term.

Her hair was up in two buns at the back of her head. It reminded him of the way she'd worn it when he first met her and made him smile uncontrollably. She was adorable, as ripe as a summer peach and just as sweet.

Luke had flown in for the occasion with Stella at his side. He had made a point to be more present in their lives after the scare on Chandrila, and he often included the aide in his visits. Stella still worked for Mon Mothma and would fill them in on any important information as it applied. But, for the most part they talked of other things. Everyone was happy to forget the capital planet for a while.

The party was rounded out by Chewie, Taadoh, and Joshua Amstant, who had been promoted to Colonel after a particularly impressive maneuver on one of their more dangerous missions. He was one of the few people Han trusted in the wider galaxy now, continuing to serve as Han's other right hand (or his left?). General Rieekan had been invited, but the older man was tied up on Chandrila. He'd sent another gift to Leia, a beautiful rocking chair that matched the bassinet carved from Alderaanian spruce.

Han had a gift for her as well, a turquoise jewel that reminded him of Naboo from outer space. He had snatched it up the moment he'd seen it, feeling drawn to it the way he always felt drawn to the approaching orb of his new home world. It was for her ring, the first jewel for their first child. He planned to give it to her tonight, after the party when they were alone together once again.

The soon-to-be father was a little tipsy already, having just returned from a mission in the Outer Rim. He had chosen to let loose tonight, deciding that he'd want to be ever vigilant during the next two weeks. He stood behind Leia, a hand on the the back of her neck, listening while she talked with Sola.

"We're pretty sure it's a boy…" she was saying to the older woman.

By pretty sure, Leia meant that she and Luke were certain. They claimed they could feel it with their Force sensibilities. Han wasn't so sure. No matter how much they tried to convince him, he claimed he wouldn't believe it until the baby was born. He wasn't sure why he was so adamant. Maybe he just wanted to feel like there was something beyond the twins' ken.

"But if it's a girl…" Sola said, as stubborn as Leia, maybe even more so.

"If it's a girl," he could hear the placating smile in Leia's voice, "maybe Padme," she said.

It wasn't just pretty words. Leia had loved the name since she'd heard it, and her resemblance to the long lost woman had been what had bonded her to Sola in the first place.

Sola's face broke out in a beautiful smile.

"You don't have to do that…" she said, even as she rubbed Leia's bare arms affectionately.

Han laughed and shook his head, "Don't worry, Sola. She would never do anything she didn't want to."

Leia elbowed him playfully but laughed along with them.

"But we'll probably have to wait on that name," she assured them. "He's going to be Ben."

They had chosen the name in honor of the wise old Jedi who had brought them all together. As Han thought about him, he drew Leia closer wrapping his arm around her swollen belly. Fate sure worked in mysterious ways.

As if on cue, Leia let out a little yelp and Han heard a terrific splash against the tile.

He looked down confused by the lack of broken glass.

Sola clapped her hands and looked at them joyfully.

"The baby is coming!"

Han's brain suddenly felt sluggish. "Excuse me?"

Leia sighed, looking around the party in a wistful sort of way.

"My water just broke," she said, plucking up her skirts and moving away from the mess.

Han's heart kicked into hyperdrive as his brain fought to clear itself of the haze of champagne.

"But he's not supposed to be here for another two weeks!" He knew he sounded ridiculous, but he felt utterly betrayed. He had wanted to be prepared for this, not pounced on out of the blue.

Sola was already rushing Leia away towards the bedroom and Luke appeared at Han's side.

"Unfortunately, I don't think it works that way, buddy. He's gonna come out whenever he likes."

Han stared in mute shock as Stella started cleaning up the floor in front of him. Witnessing the helpful mundanity of the task, his mind finally kicked into gear. He gripped Luke by the arm and rushed them towards his and Leia's room. She was already on the bed, hands gripped across her middle in what he assumed was her first contraction.

Sola had a comlink in her hand and was talking to someone, a doctor presumably.

The Lake Country had no medical center, the closest one being in Theed. Instead, the families that lived around the lake had private doctors who would answer their calls as they came.

Han sat down next to his wife, suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands. She made the decision for him by grabbing one with a crushing intensity. He let his other hand skim over her belly and land on her neck, supporting her while she writhed against the pain in her center.

It seemed to pass and he lowered her against the pillows. She was breathing deeply, sucking in gulps of air.

"I ruined the party," she whimpered, the sanguine composure of a few minutes ago suddenly gone.

Han shook his head and gently kissed her.

"This party's a lot more important," he said.

She let out a short laugh and then cringed as it reached her sore muscles.

The labor lasted all evening and into the night. Sola assured him that everything was normal, but Han could feel his patience unraveling all the same. The contractions were constant, only growing in intensity as the ordeal progressed. Leia was exhausted and touchy, as if her raw nerve endings were exposed more with each episode. She alternated between clinging to him like a limpet and pushing him away as she retreated into a painful place he couldn't follow.

He felt desperate to soothe her, to take away the pain. And he also had a growing sense of unease as the hours crawled by. It was almost midnight, the guests long cleared out, leaving only him, Sola, and the Naberrie family doctor in the room with Leia. Luke, Stella, and Chewie waited in the great room. The doctor seemed capable enough, but Han didn't understand what he was stalling for. Why couldn't he deliver the damn thing already?

Han took a deep breath as he tried not to think of his child that way. But, the longer it took, the more he resented the little creature that seemed intent on breaking its mother from the inside out. Leia was covered in sweat, her beautiful dress completely ruined and bunched around her, damp and rumpled. They had tried to get her out of it, but she refused, claiming it hurt too much to even think about. At least the fabric was soft, not scratching or stiffening against her.

As she let out another gut-wrenching moan, he felt an accompanying pain in his temples. His head was throbbing whether from dehydration or sympathy he didn't know.

"The baby's coming! It's time, Mrs. Solo," the doctor said, uttering the first words in last tense few minutes.

Han looked at the doctor in disbelief. He couldn't have heard that right. Was this interminable purgatory almost over?

Sola was at the doctor's side, narrating for the beleaguered couple as Han continued to hold onto Leia, murmuring comforting, encouraging nonsense.

"Keep going, Leia," Sola called, "The shoulders are almost out. Push! Push, my dear!"

Leia yelled, like a soldier charging into battle and tensed against his hands with all her might. He wished he could lend her some of his strength, but all he could do was hold her up and hope to keep her from falling.

Suddenly with a strange squelching whoosh, the child appeared. Han could see the little blob, in the doctor's hands, squirming in silent terror at this cold new world. The doctor wiped his hand over the infant's face and gently smacked him causing the little thing to let out a piercing howl. He could give his mother a run for her money in that department.

Leia was gasping and pushing against his hands trying to see the screaming fruit of her labor.

He helped her sit up, and she let out a little cry, shoulders shaking in what he determined to be tearful joy.

"It's a boy," the doctor said with a gentle smile.

He handed the baby to Sola, who wiped it lovingly with a fresh towel and wrapped it loosely in a blanket. She came around to the head of the bed, showing the baby to his parents.

Leia reached for him, but then bucked back, cringing at some new sensation.

"The afterbirth is coming. Just hang in there, Leia," the doctor said, dispensing with titles for the moment.

Sola turned toward Han and gently handed the infant to him. Leia laid against his side, focusing on the next part of her harrowing journey while he tried to wrap his head around the sight before his eyes.

The little thing was tiny, scrunched and purple-colored, miniature hands gripping uselessly at nothing. By no conscious choice of his own, Han extended a finger to it, allowing the baby to latch onto his pointer. It's little hands didn't even clear the length of the digit. But it clung on, with surprising strength and settled just a bit against his other arm.

Something was shifting inside him, like a continent mass rolling and grinding and sliding into place. He felt sudden eruptions within filling his head and heart with so much love, he didn't know what to do. It burned through him, reshaping the terrain, making mountains where there were none, filling empty valleys with vast new seas.

It suddenly occurred to him that he had lied. He hadn't meant to, he hadn't even known it was possible. But, looking down at his son, at the little life clinging to him with such trusting ferocity, he realized that he could love someone more than his wife. He could love someone more than his own life. He knew with an intuition already hardening into certainty that he would never love anyone more than this boy they had created with their love, their son, their beautiful Ben.