It was time to awaken. The pain and sickness were gone. Eyes wanted to open, arms and legs wanted to move, stomach wanted something more substantial. Every part of Leia welcomed what was finally coming after almost a week of hazy memories and feverish dreams.
Only her heart was reluctant. Waking meant she could no longer put off all the worries and fears still plaguing her mind. That was why, as full consciousness returned, Leia put off opening her eyes just a few seconds longer. Instead she took a deep breath and used the Force to get a sense of her surroundings...like dipping a toe into a body of water to test the temperature.
The Force was indeed there, no longer a confusing jumble but a quiet and comforting companion. It spoke of peace and refreshment and told her that Luke was somewhere very close...alive and not in any pain, though she could not sense any more. Best of all, her husband sat at her bedside. Leia knew it was Han because she knew his touch on her arm, recognized the rhythm of his breathing, and sensed his presence, though in a very different way than she sensed Luke's. Han did not have the Force abilities Luke did, but he was still connected to Leia by more than simple words and emotion. He knew her in a way that no one else did. They were bonded, both physically and spiritually.
Finally satisfied that everything was as it should be, Leia relaxed and opened her eyes. The sticky film of many days' sleep was blinked away as the loving face of her husband came into focus. "Han," she breathed in relief.
Han smiled, cupping her cheek in his hand and stroking it with his thumb. "Hey, sweetheart. How you feelin'?"
Leia took another deep breath and felt strength returning. She inched carefully onto her elbows, settling into a half-upright position. "Much better." Putting down her hands to rise further, they flared with fresh pain. She winced and lifted them in confusion. They were swathed in moist bacta bandages, with thin protective gloves over the dressings.
Han's smile faded. "They're burned, sweetheart. Don't use 'em. They'd be healed by now if they hadn't gotten infected."
Leia frowned at both the memory and the new information. "Infected? How badly?" She wanted to know, steeling herself for the worst. Images of gangrene and nerve damage danced in her head.
Han's hand moved to stroke her forearm. "It's all right. The infection's gone now. 'Nother week or so, you'll be back to normal." His gentle smile returned.
Good. Leia's relief was short-lived. Then she frowned in concern. "Luke...where is he? Is he all right? I mean, I know he's here, but-" she bit her lip. Haunting images of his mangled leg returned to her as if in a nightmare.
Han nodded. "He's here, and he's in the best hands in the galaxy. He's gonna be all right."
While the Force had told her as much, it was still a comfort to hear the words. Leia let out a shuddering breath. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. "How is he? Is his leg...they didn't-" She choked on the words.
Gently Han took her shoulders. "Shh, it's all right. He's got his leg. Luke's pretty beat up, but he's got his leg." He moved his hand back to her cheek and met her eyes even as his own misted. "Too-One-Be says he's gonna be fine."
Tears of gratitude and relief flowed freely, and Leia closed her eyes. The emotions were overwhelming and made her weep.
Han pulled her into a soft embrace, rocking her from side to side. For a time he said nothing and just let her cry. In the process he had to wipe his eyes once or twice himself.
"Oh, Han," said Leia through her tears. "I was so afraid...his leg...it was...there was so little left!"
"I know, I know. Wasn't easy, even for Too-One-Be. He had Luke in surgery almost fifteen hours fixin' that leg. His shinbone was a lost cause, so they had to replace it. They put a rod and some screws in the other bone. The kid had three blood transfusions and marinated in bacta for 'bout half a day 'fore he was outta the woods, and he's still not done. It's gonna be pretty rough gettin back on his feet." Han pulled back and forced a smile. "But you know how strong he is. 'Fore you know it he'll be runnin' circles around us."
"Is he awake yet?" Asked Leia, wiping her eyes. While happy to hear that Luke would be able to eventually walk again, she was already dreading the long physical therapy sessions. He was going to be in pain for a long time.
"Nah, he's out like a glowrod. He'll wake up when he's ready."
Leia took a deep breath and nodded. Luke needed all the rest he could get. "I want to see him," she said, rising fully vertical.
Han frowned and had to hold her back. "Slow down, sweetheart. You're not goin' anywhere...at least not today. You been fightin' off that infection for days, and you need to get your strength back first."
Her heart dipped back into her stomach. "I'm all right," she protested, trying to rise from the bed. A sudden wave of dizziness and nausea assaulted her, forcing her to sit back down. "Oh...maybe not."
Han took her arm. "Easy. I know you wanna see Luke. You will, just not right now. 'Sides, I got somethin' to tell you."
Leia frowned in confusion. "What? Is something wrong."
A wistful little lopsided grin appeared on Han's face. "Wrong? Nah, not really. You been feelin' sick and dizzy lately, and I mean before your hands got infected?"
"A little. I still am. Why?"
"Well, they found out why."
The young woman sighed impatiently. "You're not making any sense. If there's nothing wrong, then why would I still be nauseous?"
He nodded. "Yeah, well the good thing is, it ain't gonna last forever." His grin widened.
Leia groaned. "Han, just tell me!"
Han sighed with frustration and reached for her arm. "Sorry. I never thought I'd be the one tellin' you. I thought it'd be the other way around. Well anyway..." he took a deep breath and broke into another grin. "You, uh...you got a little hitchhiker in there, sweetheart." He gave Leia's middle a pointed glance.
First shock, then wistful denial rose as Leia grasped his meaning. "No...no, that's-" The word 'impossible' died on her lips. She and Han had been apart a mere two weeks after marrying, but the needed event had already taken place. Their last chance had been more than a month ago, making the timing right. But other than symptoms that could have easily been stress-related, there was no evidence. She bit her lip and felt her eyes sting. "I suppose I could have been, but with everything that happened-" Her voice broke and she shook her head. Between her injuries and everything else she had been through, the chances of anything surviving were very small.
Sadness came into Han's eyes, but he didn't retract his story. "Yeah, the medics are pretty stumped on that. Either way, it's alive and kickin'." He let out a short, nervous laugh.
Leia knew Han would never lie to her, especially about something like this. Denial evolved into worry. "But...oh, no. What about the lightning and the infection? Is it all right?" For some reason she couldn't bring herself to say 'baby'.
Han sighed and leaned in close to look his wife in the eye. "Everythin's fine. They found a nice strong heartbeat." A watery grin returned. "Tough little bugger."
The full impact of the conversation finally hit Leia and her eyes widened. She was pregnant...somehow, the little one had survived...and somehow, everything Leia had gone through had not done harm. Just to be sure, she rested a tentative hand on her suspiciously flat middle and reached out through the Force. It took time, but she did sense something...a tiny, undeveloped life deep within. Thoughts and even sensations were not yet present, but it was undeniable that there was life...a strong, healthy life, if Leia trusted her senses. The tears in her eyes overflowed as she returned her gaze to Han. "I think we're going to need larger quarters," she murmured with the slightest smile.
Han chuckled and wrapped his arms around his wife. He was taken aback when she began to cry. "Hey. Whassa matter? You're all right...the kid's all right...Luke's gonna be fine, the Empire's history...thought you'd be happy."
"I am happy, you nerfherder," said Leia, trying to smile. "It's just...I didn't expect it so soon."
"Yeah, the timing ain't the best. But as long as you're happy, so am I." Han brushed his cheek against hers and gave her a gentle kiss.
Leia nodded. "I am. We'll just have to figure things out as we go along."
Han grinned yet again. "Hey, we're used to that. C'mere, beautiful," he said, turning to face her. The kiss he gave her was soft and thoughtful. "I love you."
"I know. I love you." Leia sank back with a contented sigh. A distant thought then returned and made her frown.
While her time aboard the Falcon traveling back from Korriban held only vague memories, several stood out. She remembered Han and how worried he had been, speaking comforting words and losing sleep over both her and Luke. But she also remembered Anakin...her fear in his presence and how he responded with hurt and sadness...his tireless work over Luke...even how gentle he had been when trying to bring down her fever. Without even noticing it, Leia's anger and hatred had faded, replaced only by fear. "Where's Anakin?" She asked cautiously.
Han flinched, then shrugged. "He's in a cell somewhere planet side with about four dozen guards. Why?"
"Does he..." Leia moistened her lips. "Who knows about the baby?"
"Just you, me, and the medical droid for now. What? You wanna tell Anakin?" Han asked with no shortage of surprise.
"No!" Leia's sharpness surprised even her.
"Well, don't bite my head off." Han cringed and showed her his palms.
"I'm not. I just...don't want him to know."
"Now?"
"Ever, if I could help it."
Han pursed his lips. "Look. I know you don't want anything to do with the guy. But if it wasn't for him, Luke probably wouldn't be around. Maybe not you, either. He's the one who helped me find you in the first place. He helped any way he could, flyin' the Falcon, lookin' after you and Luke...heck, he even donated blood when he found out Luke needed it!"
Leia clamped down on her lip and shook her head. The mental image of Anakin killing Padme would not leave. "That may be, but it doesn't undo what he's done in the past."
Han threw up his hands. "Hey, c'mon. He saved Luke's life, and yours...and probably the kid's, too," he added with another pointed glance toward Leia's middle. "Doesn't that mean anything?"
Leia flinched at the insinuation. "Of course it does. But nothing will make me trust him. If he's acting this way around Luke and I, imagine how he'd be around our child."
"Leia, I don't trust him much, either, but I really don't think he'd hurt anybody."
"I'm not going to give him the chance."
Han turned away, frowning. After all Anakin had done, he couldn't understand how Leia could completely write him off. Finally the man sighed and look at her yet again. "You're not gonna he able to keep it a secret forever. Whaddya gonna do when he finds out?"
Helplessly she shrugged. "I don't know. I'll worry about that when the time comes. In the meantime, please don't tell him."
Slowly Han nodded. "All right. I won't. What about Luke?"
Leia was taken aback. "Of course. Just let me tell him. I want to see the look on his face when he hears he's going to be an uncle."
Han's smile returned. "Sure, sweetheart." He leaned in and gave her another quick kiss.
Leia settled into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. With as wrong as everything had gone since that terrible day on Bespin, finally things were going right. The Empire had fallen. Luke was home with the Rebellion and, while his recovery would be long and painful, his strength of will made it inevitable. She had married the man she loved and was now expecting a child with him, which hardly seemed real.
All that remained was something that could be put off no longer. As soon as the Republic had been reasonably settled, Anakin would have to answer for the crimes of Darth Vader by going on trial.