Chapter 10 wooo!
Aquick warning: This chapter has descriptions of depression, if you would like to skip it, it starts when Leia says "Are you still in the military?" and ends with "but it was too soon for that."
Enjoy!
"Okay, what can I help with?" Luke sat in the seat opposite Ezra. They had come to Dex's for breakfast after Luke had received his message the night before.
"How much do you know about lawyer's?" Ezra asked, digging into his pancakes. Luke thought for a moment; he knew quite a bit, with his mother being in the Senate.
"Uhhh, I know a few things. Why?"
Ezra leaned in slightly before saying, "We need a lawyer for my dad. Whoever did this needs to be caught and… He's ruined my dad's life. He can't even see his own son." His voice went quiet. Family was a big thing in the Jarrus household, that much Luke knew for sure. The fact that Kanan won't be able to physically see Jacen grow up broke his heart.
"Okay, there are a few things you should know. It will be a lot of work, not just for the lawyer but for you guys as well. A ton of trials and different court dates." He saw Ezra thinking and nodding.
"Okay, what else?"
Luke thought for a moment, wondering if he should tell his boyfriend about the harsh reality. He decided that Ezra needed to know and continued.
"One more thing. Keep in mind that not all lawyers will be in it for your dad. Some of them just want to get paid, they don't care about their clients. Unfortunately, there's quite a few of these in New York, so just make sure you know who to trust."
Luke's heart sunk at the crestfallen look on Ezra's face, both of them falling into silence as they finished their food.
"I just don't know what to do. Mom told me not to get involved, that we can't afford it. Maybe she was right… Maybe there's nothing we can do." The dark-haired boy looked out of the window, out into New York City's bustling streets.
"Luke?"
Luke looked around for the voice and saw Korkie walking towards them.
"Korkie! Hi. What are you doing here? I thought you were working?" He said, smiling as the man walked over to the booth he and Ezra were sat at.
"I'm off this morning. You're Ezra, right?" Korkie turned his head towards the other teen, smiling at him.
"Yep, that's me."
"So, how's the job?" Luke asked, finishing his drink.
"It's great! I think your mum is getting fed up with me thanking her every time I see her." Korkie rubbed the back of his neck.
Luke laughed quietly, before saying "It's mom."
Ever since they were young, the twins and Korkie would argue over whether it was 'mom' or 'mum', Korkie's British accent confusing Luke and Leia.
"Shut up." Korkie pretended to be annoyed but Luke could see the smile on his face. "I've gotta go, I promised Ahsoka I'd help her with something for work."
The boys said their goodbyes and when Korkie had gone, Ezra turned to Luke.
"He knows Ahsoka?" He questioned.
"Oh yeah, they met when they were teenagers. Ahsoka had been sent to Korkie's school in Britain to do a presentation with some other students. They stayed in contact, not realising they both knew my dad."
Ezra laughed at the story and finished his drink. After arguing over who would pay, the two left the café and walked through the park.
"Hey, this is the park where I first kissed you." Luke mused, looking at the birds in the trees.
"Uhh, no. I kissed you." Ezra said, bumping his shoulder into Luke's.
"What? When?"
Ezra grabbed Luke's jacket and turned him towards him, and he kissed him. He kissed him like he never had before.
"Right now."
Luke tried to say something in response, something witty or clever, but his brain had just gone to mush. As he tried to form a coherent sentence, Ezra just laughed at him.
"You're adorable. Come on, it's cold."
It was nearing the end of November and the snow had started falling a few days before. The usually dark streets now covered in a white layer. Luke wasn't the biggest fan of the cold, neither was Ezra. But Leia, she loved it. They used to go out to Alaska to see Bail and Breha; they would go skiing, and laugh at each other falling over.
"It's too cold." Luke said, trying to stop himself shivering. Ezra went to take his jacket off to give to the other boy, but Luke stopped him. "No. You'll be cold and then you'll get sick and I don't want that happening."
Ezra smiled at him as they walked through the park. After a moment he turned and smirked at his boyfriend.
"Hey, I know how to warm up. Race you to the lake." And he sprinted off.
"Hey! No fair." Luke shouted, laughing as he ran to keep up with Ezra. They finally reached the rink, the ice packed with people skating around.
"Why'd you run of- Oh no." Luke pulled Ezra behind a tree, a bit too roughly.
"Oof. What was that for?!" Ezra whispered, wondering what had gotten Luke in such a fuss. The blond teen pointed to the lake, which was being used as an ice-skating rink, directly at-
"Is that Leia?" Ezra asked.
"Yeah."
"Okay? Then why are we hiding? She's your sister. Twin sister."
"Look!" The boys both looked around the tree to see Leia with someone else.
"That's Han." A smirk came across Luke's face as he had an idea. "Come on, let's go skating." He pulled Ezra towards the skating rink.
"Luke Skywalker, if you are insisting we go skating just to annoy your sister while she's on a date, I'm in."
Leia had no idea what possessed her to ring Han that morning and see if he wanted to go skating, yet here she was, laughing at him as he slipped over. Again.
"Awh, can the poor nerf herder not skate?" She said, laughing as he tried to get up, but fell again.
"Oh shut up, just because you're like a princess on ice." His voice was teasing, but she could see the smile on his face. She finally grabbed his hands and helped him up. He stood to his full height and Leia realised just how small she was compared to him. He did have more than a foot on her.
"Hi." She said quietly. Han laughed quietly.
"Hi." He said.
"Well if it isn't sister dearest!" Luke seemed to appear out of nowhere, skating around the two. He laughed as Han tried to move but just slipped over again.
"Don't worry Leia, we can have boyfriends that can't skate together. Ezra! Come on!" He looked over to the other side of the rink and Leia followed his gaze to see Ezra slowly sliding on the ice. Luke skated over to him, but he didn't stop quick enough and collided straight into the other boy. They both fell down on the ice in a heap, laughing like a pair of idiots.
"Come on, while they're distracted. Let's go get a drink or something." Leia ushered Han off the ice. He seemed happy to leave the rink, returning their skates as soon as possible.
"So, I've been meaning to ask you something? Since yesterday when we saw you in the field?" Leia asked as they walked down the street, hot chocolate in both of their hands.
"What's up?"
"Are you still in the military?"
Han stopped for a second. He looked like he was remembering something. They walked for a little longer before he spoke up.
"No, I'm not. I was a cadet in Chicago, which you knew from your dad. I was struggling really bad at the time, no money, no friends, no family. I felt that there was nothing for me in this world. I got medically discharged a few months after I graduated. I was based in D.C but they explained that I wasn't in the right mind for the job."
Leia looked at him, he was looking down at their feet as they walked. It was quiet for a few moments before Han continued.
"I ended up in New York, running a few shitty jobs wherever I could. I should have saved up my money, buy I didn't. I would go out every night or spend it on alcohol. I just wanted to forget it. Forget everything."
Leia turned and looked at him, grabbing his hand and squeezing. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"Hey, it's okay. I don't mind. I trust you. I've never told anyone, well, except Chewie." He laughed and Leia remembered the giant newfoundland jumping on her.
"How long have you had Chewie?" She asked him. Han smiled fondly; the dog clearly meant a lot to him.
"About four years. He saved my life. I know that sounds cliché, but he did. I found him on the streets, all malnourished and thin. I barely had enough money to keep myself alive, but I just thought, he's mine now."
"That's what my dad did with Threepio. Was Chewie chipped?"
"No, when I rounded up enough money to take him to the vets, there was no chip or owner. So, I kept him."
Leia smiled at the story, and she thought for a moment before asking, "How are things now?"
"They're better. A lot better. I don't drink as much anymore, only if I go out with my friends or something. I've got a stable job, not the dream but it brings in a good amount of money."
Leia looked at him and her heart melted at how proud he seemed of himself. He'd come a long way and she could see how hard he had worked.
Leia really did like Han. Hell, maybe she even loved him. But it was too soon for that.
As Ezra entered the house, he was met with the lovely sound of a screaming new-born. Not the most uncommon noise in the Jarrus house.
"Jacen please. What do you want? I've fed you, changed you, everything." Ezra walked into the kitchen and saw Hera, looking close to tears, rocking the baby back and forth.
"I've got his blanket, where are you?" Kanan appeared from the stairs and tried to navigate towards his wife.
"By here love, Ez, help your father."
Ezra took Kanan's arm and led him over to Hera, knowing better than to try to take the blanket from him. He showed him to the table and once Kanan was sat down, Hera passed him the baby. Jacen quietened immediately, as if just being held by his father was all he wanted.
"Unbelievable." Hera muttered. "Are you two okay by there while I quickly take a shower?"
Ezra nodded and looked at his father and brother. Jacen had grabbed his dad's finger with his little hand and a smile broke across Kanan's face.
"He feels heavier, he must be growing fast." He said quietly, and Ezra hummed in response. In his short time in the world, Jacen had grown quickly which was good, he was very small. The midwives had assured them that his size was normal for a baby born so early, but it was still scary.
"Yeah, he's definitely getting bigger. Me, Zeb and Beanie were talking earlier about what colour he will see first. I said green because of mom's hair, but Zeb reckons it will be orange." Ezra retold the conversation with his siblings earlier that morning.
"It could be green, mom's face is the only one he can truly recognise at the moment so he will be focused on anything to do with her." Kanan's voice was low, as if not to wake Jacen who had finally drifted off to sleep.
"Hey, Ez? Do me a favour please?"
"Yeah sure."
"Can you take him up to his bassinet please? I don't want to risk it. I might drop him."
Ezra's heart broke. His father was too scared to even put his son to bed because he couldn't see.
"Yeah. Of course." He took the sleeping baby from Kanan, trying his best not to wake him. As he walked up the stairs, Jacen started to stir but quickly settled back down. Ezra placed him in his cot, hoping he'd sleep long enough for his parents to get some rest.
"Sleep tight Jacen. We all love you so much."
Korkie swore under his breath as another email came through. He just wanted to go home and sleep. It was nearing nine o'clock at night and he still hadn't left his office. True, he had only been in for half of the day, but that half day was dragging.
He answered the final email and as he was packing up his laptop to head home, the receptionist knocked on his door.
"Mr Kenobi?"
"Hey, what's up Sophie?"
"There's someone here to see you."
Korkie sighed and nodded, "Tell them to come in." He sat back at his desk, whoever this person was must have been waiting for him to leave before they decided to come see him.
"Well well, I thought I would find you here."
Korkie snapped his head up and locked eyes with the woman leaning against the door jam.
"Auntie Bo."
Dun dun dunnnnn. I rewrote the Han and Leia chapter about 12 times, I feel like I can't get Han's character right. Hopefully, it will get better as I write him into the story more.
Hope you enjoyed!