Star Wars: The Price of Redemption

Chapter 21 - Surprising News, Part 2

Author's Note: Alright, so who has seen The Rise of Skywalker yet? I did last Thursday night… and I certainly had fun watching it! Was it my favorite Star Wars movie? No, but I genuinely enjoyed it, and it definitely got me thinking on how I want to move forward with this story… like, for example - when you finish reading this chapter, let me know if you think I should do a timeskip to when it's time for Leia to have the baby (aka Ben Solo). I don't mind doing so, 'specially how long it's been since I've done updates to this story.

Also, as always, I'd like to point out that if the characters ever seem OOC, I do apologize... as well as the shortness of this chapter.

Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to Disney and Lucasfilm. I just own this story.

While Han and Leia were getting ready to deal with what would come from telling her parents about Leia's expectancy, Jyn had just asked Luke if he'd ever plan to or had already done any sort of Jedi training with his sister.

"I actually did kind of try doing a little something with her a few days before we'd discovered our Father in Coruscant," replied Luke, with Artoo beeping in agreement. "But after everything that has happened since then, there hasn't been much of an opportunity for us to continue… so probably once she's recovered from having a child, we can get back to it. Maybe you'd like to work alongside her at that point?"

"Let's just wait and see 'till then, Skywalker," said the former criminal, as they were beginning to approach the transport that Luke had used to bring them to the lake area. "In the meantime, perhaps we should go and see if any harm will come to your Solo friend."

A momentary look of disbelief appeared on Luke's face, followed by simple amusement as he shook his head before saying, "Han? Oh, he's gone up against stuff a lot more worse than just having a conversation with mine and Leia's parents. It'll be fine... just as long as Leia does most of the talking."

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"Well, this is certainly a surprise. I thought you two would be out on a mission with Luke or something."

While Padmé was currently assisting Threepio inside with his oil bath, Anakin was talking with Han and Leia outside near the balcony, and just as the Jedi Knight was about to offer them something to eat, Leia politely shook her head before saying, "In a little bit, but for right now… there's actually something we'd like to talk to you about."

"Oh? Is everything alright?" wondered Anakin, showing a small sign of curiosity. "I know I've always said I'm not much of a meeting guy, but if-"

Han shook his head before Leia could answer her father's question. "No, nothing boring and long like that, Skywalker… um, sir… it's just Leia and I thought it was - gah!"

"The right time to tell me about my daughter expecting?" finished Anakin, just as Leia elbowed her loved one's side so that she could continue talking, and Han quickly found himself speechless.

"Alright, this may come as a surprise to… wait…" Leia paused, and a slightly confused frown appeared on her face once she realized what Anakin had just said to them. "You… I… how did you know?"

The middle-aged Jedi gave the surprised couple a small shrug before saying his explanation. "Well, I didn't completely at first… but after I saw how you were that day when returning with Luke from Hoth, I had a sense that there was something troubling you. I talked about with Padmé, and she-"

"You, um…" Once Han felt ready to speak again, he cleared his throat before taking a small step forward. "Now that you, ah, know about Leia and… the, uh, pregnancy… you aren't going to, like, bring out your lightsaber on me or something?"

Leia held in a groan and the urge to roll her eyes while Anakin simply chuckled a little bit. "I mean, I could go inside and retrieve it from-"

"No, no, it's okay," replied Han, quickly shaking his head and waving his hands. "Just… well, I might have been just a little bit nervous about trying to tell you and, uh, Mrs. Skywalker that you're going to be grandparents in about four months."

"Well, uh, maybe you shouldn't really mention that to Padmé when she's done taking care of Threepio," suggested Anakin, and he then proceeded with offering a handshake to Han, which the former smuggler accepted. "But congrats to the two of you."

"Heh, alright, then! I'm glad it work… thanks," said Han, wanting to say more, but after feeling Anakin's hand give a rather quick and unexpectedly hard squeeze, the Falcon pilot decided to cut it short for the moment.

This is going to be an interesting four months, thought Leia, unable to stop herself from smirking just a little bit.

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Later that evening, Luke was standing outside his own home, having a conversation with Leia about how it had went in telling their father the news of her pregnancy.

"You still probably think I told him somehow, don't you?" teased Luke, crossing his arms and chuckling in amusement while his sister rolled her eyes. "Well, glad to hear that everything worked out for the most part… and since we're still talking, I wanted to ask if you were interested in continuing your Jedi training once you'd recovered enough after having your child."

"Really?" A surprised Leia said, remembering that she had spent a little time with her brother doing some training prior to finding Anakin on Coruscant. "You know that I won't be expecting you to go easy on me or anything just because we're siblings and I'll be a mother at that point."

"No, of course not… and you don't have to confirm with me right now, but…" Luke gestured to his home behind him. "It'll be ready for you to use on the day you want to continue using it."

Knowing exactly what the young Jedi was talking about, Leia gave her brother a small nod, and she replied, "Thank you, Luke… I'll let you know when I'm ready."