One-time teenage senator, feisty princess, Alliance leader and Face of the Rebellion...now adding motherhood to the list soon. She has a lot on her plate - I'm getting stressed just thinking about it. Can you say multi-task? And Han recognizes he needs to step up to the plate...
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The liquor had lowered Han's inhibitions...or maybe that was just an excuse for allowing him to open the door to a list of questions nagging him all evening. He traced Leia's cheekbone, breaking the silence between them and asking without any presumption or judgment, "Are you as excited about having a baby as you are about our bonding celebration?"
The princess lowered her gaze, retrieving the bacta tube from Han's hand to place the salve on the nearest table. Turning away, Leia inhaled a deep breath while pondering the answer to his question – the same question she had asked herself a number of times throughout the day. She needed to be completely honest with him. Wrapping her arms around herself, she faintly offered, "I don't know, Han."
He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, mentally willing that she return to his side instead of hovering near the portal with her back to him - retreating inwardly and isolating herself - something she tended to do when facing emotional conflict.
Leia moved to stand between his parted legs, looking at her toes for a few moments before meeting his stare and quipping, "Maybe it's hormones. One moment I'm excited about having a baby, then the next I'm overwhelmed at the thought of becoming a mother before my Majority," she confessed, her voice unusually faint and her eyes brimming with moisture. "It's not that I'm unhappy...I guess this just wasn't how or when I'd imagined we'd be welcoming our first child; we aren't even married yet." She grinned with a touch of embarrassment before a few large tears rolled down her cheeks.
"We will be in a few days, or so," Han quietly reminded, wiping the wetness from Leia's pale skin with his thumbs, studying the moisture fusing her long lashes together. "So things happened a little 'out of order' for us. We've always been unconventional - it keeps life interesting." That brought an abbreviated giggle from the princess, and he tried to further reassure her with a lopsided smile. "I'm looking forward to tackling parenthood with you, and we're both pretty fast learners. We'll be just fine. Remember, I was the oldest of seven, so at least I know how to change a diaper."
The princess clasped her fingers together behind his neck, and grinned, grateful for his uncanny ability to bring a smile to her face. She rested her forehead softly against Han's while his hands rubbed up and down the length of her spine, un-knotting her tense back muscles and causing her to lean into his solid form. After a few moments, Leia shifted in his arms and settled all of her weight – which wasn't much – against Han, conflicting thoughts returning to weigh down her mind.
Risking her own life in the fight against the Empire was one thing, risking her child's life was something both entirely different and irresponsible, Leia recognized. And yet, the concept of sitting on the sidelines or being tucked away somewhere like a porcelain doll would be shirking her duties to The Cause, she reasoned.
What would Han's opinion be on this matter? She bit her lower lip in turmoil. Despite his likely objections, she wanted to remain actively involved in the Rebellion for as long as physically possible. And once Han officially joined the Alliance - with his leadership skills and sharp intelligence - he would undoubtedly be thrown into the most dangerous military campaigns, Leia silently acknowledged, her stomach clenching at the thought. First, though, the bounty on his head had to be dealt with.
She looked at Han, eyes filling with renewed tears. "There's still so much hanging over us. The war against the Empire, bounty hunters... even if we manage to pay off Jabba, he doesn't exactly have the reputation of being the forgiving type," Leia croaked, her anxiety for Han's well-being seeping into her voice. Pressing her fingers to her lips, the princess stifled a sob. She couldn't lose him. She was strong, but not that strong.
Han reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from Leia's face, cradling her cheeks tenderly in his palms. This was not the confident, headstrong young woman he'd battled wits with over the past few years; in her place was an unsure, frightened girl, dismayed at an unknown future that awaited them.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, determined to be the face of stalwart strength for her, but knowing the only thing he could truthfully guarantee was his love. "One day at a time, Leia. Everything will turn out all right," he insisted confidently. Han watched as she tried not to crumble in front of him. "Hormones or not, don't keep things bottled up – just let it out," he encouraged, pulling her closer, his arms enveloping her tiny frame.
The princess gave up the fight as burning tears flooded her eyes, weeping her recurring fears of losing him into his chest. He stroked Leia's tresses and held her tight while whispering his love into her tousled hair.
She eventually calmed under the comfort of Han's secure embrace, wiping away residual tears with the back of her hand and chastising her own emotional unravelling. "I need to keep it together and stop falling apart like this. There's too much at stake for me to turn into a sniveling wreck," she said in self derision.
Han disagreed with a sympathetic chuckle. "It's okay to be human, Sweetheart - your secret is safe with me." He kissed her forehead before taking her again in his arms. "And I'll always be here for you - I won't let anything or anyone come between us. I promise."
Leia buried her face into the crook of his neck, Han's positive outlook quelling her fears. Gods, she loved him, with her entire being. Inexplicably, he comforted and completed her in a way that was difficult to comprehend or put into words. "I hope our baby has your eyes," she grinned against the stubbly skin of his cheek.
"Or at least has my height," Han countered, standing up while keeping his hands around the princess' slim waist. He was relieved that Leia's darkened mood seemed to have lifted. She was smiling at him, despite the fact that she looked drained and fragile, as if the act of blinking her swollen eyes required too much effort. His heart squeezed at the sight. He needed to learn - and quickly - how to take better care of her.
With innocent intentions, Han's fingers carefully undid the remaining ribbons of the princess' bodice, pulling the crumpled dress down past her hips to pool around her feet, leaving her physically - as well as emotionally - bare in front of him.
The recycled air circulating in their quarters nipped at her aching breasts, courtesy of Han's earlier voracious suckling - and her vulva was even sorer than her love-bitten skin. Resting her hands against his chest, Leia pleaded with an almost shy grin, "Han, I don't think my body can take another round of lovemaking tonight."
"I kinda figured that already," Han rumbled with a tender smile spreading across his face. He took one step toward the storage chest, extending an arm and pulling out one of her modest nightgowns from the top drawer. "Thought it was about time to tuck you in, Princess. You've had a busy day." He draped the flowery material over Leia's mildly astonished face, his fingers fumbling a bit with the delicate buttons as she rearranged the material over her form. Han caught her still surprised countenance and shook his head, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "Give me a little more credit than that - I'm not always thinking with my cock," he snorted.
She conceded with a sleepy smile. "Just ninety percent of the time," Leia muttered before pursing her lips to him. Han kissed her with a low chuckle rumbling from his mouth, while still managing to give her curvy rump an appreciative caress.
"Are you thirsty for some water, or maybe milk?" he inquired. Leia shook her head and fought a yawn while loosely braiding her hair back into a single plait. "You'll be needing extra sleep from now on. And we can't forget to pick up a good prenatal vitamin tomorrow when we're in Pragada. It's important for your health and the baby's."
Despite being thoroughly exhausted, she still had enough energy to needle him;this was too good of an opportunity for Leia to pass up. A single eyebrow raised as she inquired with an impish grin, "Since when did you become an expert about prenatal and obstetric care, Captain Solo?"
"You're not the only one who has access to medical files. I can read, ya know." Han grumbled, his cheeks coloring slightly from her amused expression, realizing he had provided her a decent amount of teasing ammunition. The princess' smile grew as he tucked one arm underneath the back of her knees, carrying her around to her side of the bed and gently depositing her on the mattress.
"You're a softie under all of that swagger and boasting. If this gets around, it might tarnish your roguish reputation," Leia giggled sleepily as he slid next to her under the sheets.
Han screwed up his face at her, but didn't argue the point. "Something else to keep just between you and me," Han drawled against Leia's cheek with a soft kiss. He jammed a pillow underneath his head, then gathered her in his arms before pulling a blanket over them. "G'night Princess."
She settled against him, her breathing immediately becoming shallow and light. "G'night Softie."
He squeezed her a little tighter against his chest before they both drifted off.
