Chapter Thirty Six

Family Time

Leia's eyes flickered back and fourth over the screen. She had read over these notes and files several times. Still she was determined to find something, anything to point her in the right direction. Pooja had hesitantly sent her the files, making Leia promise to be careful. Leia appreciated her cousin's trust in her and hoped she could find some sort of answer. Reaching for her caf, Leia slowly sipped the hot liquid. She had been up for hours and with Han on the other side of the planet, there was no one to tell her she should be resting.

She had spent the day with Ben. The fun boy had insisted they walk down to the beach. Like his mother it was his favorite place, and they both felt calm near the waves. They played in the sand together and watched the waves move in and out. Ben had enjoyed splashing his mother with the warm water from the ocean around them. After walking and walking, Ben's energy had died down. His little legs had given out and Leia had carried him home. The small boy passed out on the walk back and had been silent ever since. Turning to look out the window, Leia sighed. Watching the moonlight cast over the waves seemed to be relaxing. Gods knew her eyes needed a break from all this reading.

She briefly missed her husband, but knew he would be back tomorrow. She had insisted he pick up a new part for his ship, after Ben had almost fallen against the broken pieces a board the Falcon. Her mind went over each detail from her data pad. The locations, all of which were too far out to know much. The suspected members of this so called group. Pooja had been right, there wasn't enough information to draw any sort of conclusion. She wanted so bad to find something, something that could soothe her cousin's worry. Maybe it was good she hadn't found anything. Her family didn't need that, Han and Ben didn't need this. Hearing a noise from down the hall, Leia quickly turned to face the doorway. She hadn't heard the door open but she could hear foot steps coming down the hall. Quickly her fingers reached for her bottom desk drawer. Palming the lock open, the drawer slid out revealing her blaster.

Grabbing hold of it, Leia slowly and quietly stood up. Her eyes staying on the doorway. Holding her breath she listened, she no longer heard the footsteps, but knew she needed to be cautious. Ben's room was across the hall, and all she needed to do was get there. Her heart was beating fast, as she tried to listen to the sound of her house. The footsteps started again, sounding as if they were coming from the living room. Glancing across her desk, Leia wondered if she had left her comlink in the other room. Sighing, she couldn't remember where she had left it. She was too tired and her eyes were playing tricks on her. She wouldn't be able to com anyone if things went down hill. She'd have to handle things on her own, with out any help.

The sound of glass breaking made her jump. She needed to get to her son, that is all she cared about. She'd have to handle everything else on her own. Closing her eyes she briefly reached out. Her mind swirled around her house, as she remembered back to her lessons with her brother. She felt a presence but her mind wasn't focusing. Her thoughts and feelings seemed to be scattered and she couldn't pin point the strangers thoughts or emotions. Taking a deep breath, Leia peered down the hall. Finding it clear, she slowly stepped out. Keeping her blaster raised, she tip toed down the hall towards Ben's room. Looking in to his open door, she found him fast asleep. Pressing her thoughts forward she pushed and pulled at her mind, trying to control her heart beat enough to calm herself. Luke had warned her of emotions clouding her new skills within the force, but this was the first time she had experienced it.

Closing Ben's door, she hoped the sound was quiet and didn't alert anyone to her presence. Stepping softly she looked into the living room. Finding it empty, Leia sighed. She must be going crazy, after all the stress in her life she had finally cracked under the pressure of it all. What the hell was going on? She asked herself. Looking to the front door, she saw a broken vase laying across the floor. Knowing that had been the sound she had heard, she knew her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. Someone was in the house. Calming herself further, Leia tried to focus on finding that control Luke had told her about.

She didn't have time to react, before a shadow crossed her face and someone stepped into the hallway. Without thinking Leia raised her hand up and the figure went flying across the room. She heard a crash as their body slammed into the wall in the living room. Briefly surprised by the strength of her force push, Leia lowered her blaster and looked down to her hand. I guess I didn't need the blaster. She thought to herself, her footsteps carrying her closer to the darkened living room.

"Leia?' She heard a voice groan from across the room. Immediately recognizing it, Leia quickly flipped on the lights. She gasped as she looked down and found Han sunk against the floor, beneath the wall she had just thrown him into.

"Han!" She shouted, running as fast as she could to his side.

"Happy to see me I see." Han groaned, trying to sit up from his fall.

"What the hell are you doing here!?" She asked, grabbing his shoulders and helping him to sit up. Her eyes moved over his form, looking for any obvious injuries.

"We finished early." Han explained, his face grimacing as he moved.

"I could have shot you!" She said shock evident in her voice. She could have shot him, Leia reminded herself quietly.

"Nah, you just threw me into a wall instead." Han sighed. "You're really getting the hang of this force stuff."

"I'm so sorry…" She apologized, running her hands over his face. Noticing a cut across his forehead Leia sighed. "You're bleeding."

"What the hell are you doing up?" Han asked, ignoring his injury.

"I..I've been working and I heard noises out here."

"Gods Leia."

"I'm so sorry." She said again.

"What happened to you sensing me or your little force connection shit."

"I..I was distracted. I couldn't feel anything except my own emotions and I heard the glass break." She explained, helping her husband to stand now. "Come sit on the couch." She said helping him across the room. "I'll be right back." She said, quickly making her way to the fresher, hoping to find something to clean up his cut. She felt horrible, her husband was hurt and it was all her fault.

"Mommy?" She heard Ben's voice call as she ran down the hallway.

"What is it sweetie?" She asked, finding him standing in his bedroom doorway.

"I heard noises."

"It's just Daddy. He came home early." Leia explained.

"Can I see Daddy?"

"Daddy doesn't feel good right now…" Leia tried to explain, before Han's voice cut her off.

"If's fine Leia. Come here Ben." Ben ran down the hall and to his father. Leia moved back to her task at hand, grabbing several bacta's and gels to hopefully help her husband. Running back down the hall, Leia heard her husband whispering to their son.

"No, Mommy beat me up."

"Han!'

"What? It's true." He said offering a smirk. The guilt settled back into her stomach.

"Ben…Can you go back to bed please." Leia told him.

"But I wants to stay with Daddy."

"Daddy needs medicine right now. Go to bed Ben."

"But I no wants to." The child huffed.

"Ben…" Han warned.

"Back to bed Ben." Leia told him.

"Why do I have to go to beds? You and daddy get to stay awakes!?' He shouted, clearly still grumpy from his interrupted sleep.

"Ben Organa Solo. You will march your little butt back into that bedroom. You are tired and Mommy needs to help fix Daddy's face."

"Listen to your mother." Han agreed. Ben frowned, his glare landing on Leia as he ran back to his room. Sighing, Leia sat down beside her husband.

"He was fine today." She commented.

"He's just tired." Han told her.

"I'm so sorry Han." She said apologizing once more.

"You didn't know it was me." He offered.

"I still shouldn't have…"

"Hey, you were protecting the house while your man was away." Han teased, taking hold of her hand and kissing over her wedding ring.

"I'm so glad I didn't shoot you." She added, as she started to wipe the blood from his forehead.

"You and I both. Anything got you worried?' He asked, knowing the answer already. She sighed and looked down to the bandages.

"I was stressing over the files Pooja sent." She admitted.

"I told you this was a bad idea."

"I know you did."

"Leia, you can't let things like this get to you."

"I know. I'm so sorry."

"Stop apologizing." He told her, making her look into his eyes instead of at his cut. "I still love you." He smirked. Leia's face fell, it didn't matter what he said she still felt horrible.

"I love you too." Leia said leaning in and kissing his forehead. "How's your back?" She asked, her fingers circling up to massage his tense shoulders. She wondered just how hard his back had hit against the wall.

"I'll be fine."

"I can start a bath?' She suggested, thinking the warm water would feel great on his muscles.

"How about a shower for two?" He whispered back.

"You shouldn't be standing, you should rest."

"Trust me, some time with my naked wife is just what the medic ordered." He smirked. Leia smiled up at him, always appreciating how he could change her mood so quickly. Leia ran her fingers through his hair, brushing it away from his now healing cut. She smiled softly at him, still feeling the effects of no sleep but loving this quiet moment with her husband. Looking over his face and down his neck, she wanted to be sure nothing else was hurt.

"Do you think you broke anything?" She asked, moving his arms.

"Leia I'm fine, I didn't hit that hard."

"You did." she disagreed, hearing the sound of him hitting the wall echo in her mind.

"Sweetheart I'm all good."

"I can't believe I did that to you." She said still in shock.

"Hey it will be a great story to tell Luke next time we see him. I'll give him shit for training my wife to beat me up." Han smirked, desperate to make Leia feel a bit better.

"I need to go check on Ben." She told him, changing the subject and leaning in to kiss him. His hands ran across her thighs, silently asking her to stay. "I'll meet you in the fresher?' She asked pulling away from him.

"You got it." He smirked, moving to stand up. His sore muscles tensed and Leia quickly helped him up.

"I'm so sorry." she said yet again. Her eyes darted to the wall behind them, surprised to see that there wasn't a Han shaped hole in the wall. "Do you need help walking" she asked.

"Nah I got it. So rough with me woman."

"I'm so…" Han's finger silenced her.

"I know, I'm kidding Leia."

"I'll just check on Ben." Her eyes casting down. She still felt so horrible. She could have killed her husband. Shaking her head she tried to ignore the sad feelings entering her heart. Han was always understanding of her struggles. Hell she had just flown him into a wall and he was making jokes.

Walking into Ben's room, Leia was pleased to find him fast asleep. Silly boy didn't believe his parents when he was tired. Sitting on the side of his bed, Leia sighed. She knew Han was waiting for her, but she couldn't pull her eyes away from Ben. Anytime something new happened with her force ability she silently wondered if her son would experience the same thing. She didn't want that for him. Hearing the water come on from down the hall pulled Leia from her thoughts and she gently stood up and left Ben to sleep. Her feet slowly carried her down the hallway and towards their bedroom. Entering the fresher, she could see Han's outline through the glass. Stripping off her clothes, Leia quickly joined her husband in the hot steam. Her hands ran down his back, his sigh echoing off the small walls.

'How do you feel?" She whispered, her fingers running up and down his spine.

"Better now." He smiled, looking over his shoulder at her. Leaning in she placed a soft kiss to his skin.

"What if I would have shot you?" She asked, saying what her mind was thinking.

"You're a good shot. You'd be a widow right now." Han chuckled

"Damn it, Han. I'm serious!" She said, slapping his back. Han jumped at his sore muscles.

"Calm down Leia." He tried, turning around and pulling her into his arms.

"This isn't funny. I'm so sorry."

"Leia you didn't know it was me, I should have called your com."

"It shouldn't have happened."

"You thought someone was in the house?" He asked.

"Yes…but I should have known…."

"But you didn't know…You were protecting our son, why would I be mad at you for that?'

"Because your wife threw you into a wall. A wife that is much smaller then you, might I add." Han laughed again, kissing her forehead.

"I love you."

Leia only sighed, pressing her head to his chest. Breathing in the steam around them, Han still smelled like the Falcon. Kissing over his heart, Leia let a smile grace her features.

"I'm glad I didn't shoot you. I kinda like you."

"I kinda like you too." He said, lifting her chin and meeting her eyes.

"I don't know where my mind is at." She admitted.

"I do…"

"Do tell."

"It's in your office with all those files your cousin sent over. You forget I've known you for a while now Leia. I remember what you were like during the war. This is all very familiar." He explained.

"But I didn't have the force back then. Just makes all this so much worse."

"Shhh." Han whispered down to her.

"Should I go back to pretending I don't have feelings for you then?" She asked, trying to lighten the mood, even if her heart still felt heavy.

"No…None of that, Princess." Han smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her chest pressed into his, as he turned and pulled her into the stream of hot water. Their lips met and danced across one another. Holding her close, Han's fingers dug into her hips. While Leia's fingers brushed across his warm skin and up around his neck. Pulling his face down closer to hers, she linked her fingers around his neck holding him in place. He'd only been gone a day or so, but she had missed him. This wasn't exactly how she thought his home coming would go.

"Did you miss me?" Leia whispered against his lips, feeling his evident arousal pressed against her stomach.

"Always miss you when I'm away." He mumbled back.

"Stop going away…" She told him, reaching her fingers between them and brushing her finger tips against his length.

"You told me to get the parts…" Han argued, grabbing at her hips.

"Less talk, more kissing." She told him pushing her lips to his, her tongue trailing along his mouth. The water pounded down around them, the heat warming their embrace. His finger tips dug into her side, she wondered if there would be bruises in the morning, but she didn't care. Gasping into their kiss, Han's hands moved down lifting Leia up and into his arms.

"Your back?" She protested.

"Don't care…" He told her, pressing her back to the wall. She tried to argue but his lips pushing to hers silenced her words. Moaning into their kiss, her fingers laced behind his neck tugging his face down closer to hers. Her legs locked around his waist, feeling his hardness pressed against her center. Reaching between them, Leia's finger trips graced the length of him. His fingers followed hers, moving to ease himself inside her. Leia's head fell back against the tiles. She'd never tire of this moment with him. His eyes met hers, her smile forming against her lips. Han's mouth traveled down her face and sucked the skin against her neck. She sighed against his movements and the feel of his warm mouth on her skin. Her fingers tugged at his scalp, traveling and diving into his dark hair.

"How's your back." She managed to whisper out after a throaty moan left her lips. Her mind trying to focus on her husbands well being and not what he was currently doing to her body.

"Don't give a damn." He mumbled back, his face hidden against her shoulder. Her back arched against the cold tile, her shoulder blades slamming against the wall with each thrust of her husbands hips. She laughed at the thought of her own back being sore in the morning. But like her husband she couldn't give a damn right now, she was too lost in their steady rhythm against each other. Leia felt time drag on with each and every sound that left her lips. The water chilled against their skin, both their hips pressing forward, moving to move harder and deeper. Trailing his lips back up her skin, Han's lips found Leia's once more. Their breaths heated each others skin, both ignoring the shiver they felt from the cold water around them.

"Han…" She whimpered out, his skilled hands touching her just how she liked. Her nails dug into his shoulders, as they both neared their end. The pressure of his fingers pushed her further, until finally sending her over the edge. Hiding her face into his neck, she hoped her moans didn't wake their son. Han's final thrusts shook her body, before he followed her into a blissful pleasure. Leia felt numb, but a good numb. A numb that only Han knew how to create within her. Her whole body felt like jelly and she wondered if she could stand. She felt Han's hand reach over and shut off the water beside them. Their shivers much more noticeable now. Leia smiled, leaning in and placing a small kiss against his chin.

"How was the less talk?" Han chuckled against her.

"Hmm Amazing." Leia hummed, still feeling foggy from her own pleasure.

"We should probably move, or at least warm up."

"You're probably right." Leia sighed. Han gently set her down, her feet a bit wobbly. Looking up she found Han smirking at her, as they both grabbed for their robes and made their way into their bedroom. Leia walked to the closet, in search of something warm for her small body. Han didn't bother after shutting their bedroom door, he made his way to their bed and stripped the robe off, before crawling into the covers. He watched as Leia sorted through night gowns. Loving the cute expression of concentration against her features. Finally settling on one of Han's over sized shirts, she slowly made her way to where her husband lay. Smiling, she watched him from the side of the bed.

"You gonna stare, or join me?" He asked, moving the covers up and inviting her in. She quickly slid in next to his his naked form. His body heat already heating their bed.

"How are you feeling?'

"When are you going to stop asking me that?' He asked.

"When I stop feeling guilty."

"So never?' He questioned, knowing her far to well.

"A little less then never." She suggested, her head resting against the space between Han's shoulder. Her fingers reached out to draw circles across his chest. A moment that had been very comfortable to them, after years of after bliss.

Leia's body still numb, but she smiled at the comfortable feeling. She felt Han's hands run up his shirt against her skin, he skimmed her back and held her tightly to him. Han looked down at his wife, her hair still wet from the fresher. Offering a sweet kiss on her forehead, he'd never tire of calm and sweet moments between them. The silence around them was relaxing, both quietly thankful that Ben hadn't woke back up after his little fit. The room was dark, but Leia's ring seemed to catch the light from outside their windows. Han's fingers brushed against the cool metal, Leia had said it several times since their engagement and she wasn't wrong, Han loved that ring more then she did. Squeezing her hand, Han was pulled out of his thoughts when Leia's voice whispered up to him.

"Han?"

"What is it sweetheart?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Always."

"Do you still think about us having more kids?" She asked, surprising Han. While Leia had never objected to having more children, Han was always the one to bring it up. Looking down at her, her eyes fluttered to meet his.

"You know I do…Are you thinking about it?" Han asked with a smirk. Most days when he suggested they add a new solo to their family, Leia would brush it off. "Ben's too young." "Later, Han. Just not right now." "I don't think now's a good time." Anything she could to change the subject.

"I was thinking about Ben today on the beach. He's such a good boy. We make cute babies." She offered.

"We do make cute babies." Han agreed.

"I think I might be more ready then I have been in the past. Ben's older now, he might enjoy a little brother or sister. I didn't like being an only child, I felt like there was something missing when I was growing up." Leia rambled.

"Yeah, you had a twin living on Tatooine."

"I know that now, but I always wished my parents would have adopted another child. So I didn't feel so alone. We have so much to think about. Ben is already showing force ability and a new baby would be no different. It's just something I've been thinking about and I wondered how you felt about it."

"I think you're right." Han said rolling to his side so he could fully face her. Running his hands over her face, he smiled.

"Are we going to try for another baby?' He whispered.

"Gods I don't even think we'd have to try." Leia laughed, remembering how protected they had been when she got pregnant with Ben. Han chuckled, running his finger tips through her hair.

"Hmm, you might be right."

"I think we should just see what happens?" Leia suggested.

"You gonna tell me this time around?' Han asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes, I'll tell you." She smiled.

"Do we need to practice?' Han asked, rolling over on top of her. Leia giggled, as his body covered hers.

"Didn't we just do that?'

"That was different, I'll be focused now."

"Focussed on what?" Knocking me up?' Leia laughed again.

"Of course." Han smirked, leaning down to press his lips to hers.

The next mornings light woke the couple. Leia groaned and rolled closer to Han, hiding her face against his chest.

"Too early." Han mumbled.

"Maybe if we stay quiet the little boy who just woke up won't come and find us." Leia suggested, her mind attuned to her son's now awake state.

"No….why does that kid have your sleeping schedule?"

"I don't know hot shot."

Quieting their voices they both listened for footsteps.

"He's outside the door." Leia whispered to her husband. "He's wondering if we're awake."

Han quickly slid out of bed and pulled on his boxers, tossing Leia his borrowed shirt from the night before. Making his way to the door, Han slowly leaned down. Silently he waited for his perfect opportunity. Reaching his hand up he palmed the door open and reached forward to grab his son.

"Got you!" Han called, wrapping his arms around Ben's small form. Ben jumped at first, but quickly started giggling.

"Daddy!"

"Ben!" Han repeated.

"Daddy put me down! Mommy! Daddy getting me!"

"I know, he's a big nasty Daddy." Leia laughed, Han setting Ben down at the foot of their bed. The boy crawled up and found his mothers embrace. Leia held him softly, loving the feel of her baby boy in her arms.

"I like him." Ben whispered to her. Leia smiled to her husband.

"I'll let you know a secret Ben." Leia started. "I like him too."

Han smiled down at his family, curled up together and both wearing similar smiles. Their dark brown eyes found his. He laughed looking down at them. While Ben's hair was much darker then Leia's, right now they looked very similar tangled and messy from sleep.

"Any room for me?" Han asked, sliding on the other side of his son. Ben moved from his mothers arms and to his father.

"Daddy can we go to the beach?"

"You went yesterday." Leia reminded her son.

"I knows…" Ben trailed off. "I likes the waves.' Ben said moving his hand up and down like the water. His parents chuckled at him, beaming towards him.

"We'll see Ben." Han smiled, slowly looking to his wife. Leia leaned over, resting her forehead against Ben's back.

"Mommy?'

"Yes, baby?"

"You love me and Daddy?'

"Very much." Leia said, leaning up and kissing her son's forehead.

"We love you too." Ben told her.

"You make me happy Ben Solo." Leia smiled warmly.

"Organa Solo…" Ben corrected with his own smirk.

"Mommy makes us happy too. Right Ben?" Han asked his son.

"Of course we Love Mommy!" Ben giggled.

"Alright my boys, we better find some breakfast…" Leia suggested, moving out of the bed and grabbing her robe. Han smirked at his wife, as both boys made no move to get out of bed. "Come on lazy boys." She called as she walked down the hallway.

"Should we go?' Han asked his son.

"Your bed is soft." Ben said, ignoring his fathers question. Han smiled at his son, running his hands through his messy hair.

"Let's go little solo." Han said, lifting him up into his arms.

The day trailed on and some how the small boy had convinced his parents to go down to the beach. The Solo family enjoyed the bright sun and the warm water against their skin. Ben splashed through the waves, as Han continued to pick Leia up and toss her into the water. Han and Leia stole kisses, when Ben wasn't there to tell them how gross they were. The family laughed and giggled together, enjoying the day. Ben insisted on riding on Han's back as they swam deeper into the waves. Leia watched her boys with loving eyes, feeling blessed and happy on this bright and sunny day.

As the sun set and the warmth disappeared the Solo family quickly made their way home. Ben's legs tired from all the swimming and running, Han carried him home. The couple wondering if Ben would be asleep by the time they made it back to the house. The family entered the house quietly, everyone very tired after such a fun day. Eating a quick dinner together, Ben practically passed out against the dining room table. Han laughed and moved to put his son to bed, while Leia disappeared into her office. After a few silent minutes, Leia heard Han walking towards her office.

"Ben's asleep." Han told her, entering her office.

"Good. He had a good day." she smiled.

"We all did."

"We did." she nodded.

"You coming to bed?" Han asked.

"I just need to look over these files here and then I'll be in." She explained.

"Leia, how many times have you read that?"

"A few." She admitted.

"You really need to read it again?"

"Yes." She sighed. Han nodded, not wanting to argue with his wife after such a great day. Stepping over he kissed her forehead.

"I'll wait for you." He whispered down to her.

"Thank you, I love you."

"I love you too."

Moving into their bedroom, Han fell back against their pillows. Ben was right, their bed was really soft. Closing his eyes, he promised he would only rest for a few moments while he waited for Leia. His mind had other plans. Fairly quickly his mind drifted to darkness, his dreams flashing images of his family smiling against the waves and walking through the sand.

Quickly sitting up, Han glanced at the chrono.

"Damn it." He cursed, noting that several hours had passed. Looking to the side of the bed, Han sighed when he found it empty. Moving to stand up, he padded down the hallway and to Leia's office. So much for a quick read, he thought to himself. Peering inside her office, he smirked. He watched her for a moment before stepping inside the room. There sat his Princess, her face resting against her folded arms on her desk. Her eyes shut and her breathing slow and even. Han briefly wondered how long she had been sleeping like that.

Without missing a beat, Han slipped his hands around her and lifted her into his arms. Her eyes fluttered, as she looked up at her surroundings.

"Han?"

"Shhh, I've got you sweetheart."

"Hmm I fell asleep?'

"You did, time for bed." Han told her, walking her into their room.

"Hmm I love you." Leia mumbled out, her eyes falling shut again and her head snuggling into his chest.

"I love you too Princess."

Thanks for reading! More coming soon. Review for a sneak peek to the next chapter.