"Are you all worn out, precious boy?" Leia whispered, cradling her tiny son in her arms. She kissed his little nose and looked up at Han, passed out in a chair beside her bed. His gangly legs sprawled in front of him, his head tipped over the back of the chair in a way that would only make his entire back ache for a week.

She briefly considered waking him up just for something to do, but thought better of it and turned back to their little boy.

Ben wasn't quite asleep, but his eyes were shut tight against the harsh lights of the medcentre, one fist wrapped firmly around Leia's finger. He sucked happily on the soother in his mouth, making occasional soft cooing sounds.

As the door slid open and Doctor Kolonia stepped into the room, Ben squeaked and squirmed unhappily.

"You're okay, Ben," Leia sighed, holding him a little closer.

"I will need to take him off you," Harter said gently, pulling the small bassinet close to the bed and reaching for the baby.

He squawked angrily as she pulled him from Leia's arms and set him in the bassinet to examine him.

"Try not to take it personally, Harter," Leia chuckled as Ben started to cry. "He did the same thing to Han."

The medic smiled and quickly examined Ben. "It's good to hear him crying," she said as Ben wailed. "And his skin's a brilliant colour now. Must be all those cuddles he's getting."

Leia nodded silently, watching Harter examine him, trying not to think back six hours when, after a day of labour, the baby had suddenly gone into distress and they'd had to whisk her into an operating room to remove him surgically.

Despite the screen they'd put halfway down her body, she could see the oddly grey, oxygen-deprived colour of his skin as they moved him away from her. And even if she couldn't, the terror on Han's face as he gripped her hand and said, "It's okay, you're okay," told her all she needed to know.

"Be with him," she said desperately, pushing weakly at Han.

He nodded and squeezed her hand one last time before hurrying over to the small exam table they'd put the baby on as they tried to get his little lungs working.

"Come hold his hand, Dad," the only nurse who wasn't a droid said, clearing a space for him.

Han reached a hand in and took hold of the baby's own. It weakly gripped at his finger. "You're okay, big guy," he whispered. "I'm right here. You need to start breathin' so we can go meet your Ma, okay?"

As if he'd heard him, the baby choked, spluttered, coughed, gasped, and started to cry.

"There he is," the nurse said, rubbing the baby's chest. "Let's get you to your Mama." She lifted him up and carefully carried him back over to Leia.

She'd been watching silently while they'd worked on the baby. As always, where Han panicked, Leia simply found herself filled with dread. She'd hardly noticed the droid stitching her back up. It was as if time had stopped.

Leia squeezed her eyes shut, and would have jerked upright if not for the waist-down paralytic they'd given her. A tiny Force presence had reached out to her, grasping desperately for anything to take hold of. She took a deep breath, focused herself, and tried her best to communicate.

It's okay.

You're safe.

We're right here waiting for you, precious one.

She was pulled out of her focus by a baby's screaming, coming closer and closer to her. She opened her eyes and smiled in relief as the nurse carefully placed their small son on her chest.

Han was instantly back at her side, helping her get a little more comfortable and asking her inane questions like, "Are you okay?" and "Does it hurt?" and "Can I help?"

How did any of that matter when she held in her arms their child? A tiny being all of his own that they had made together, that she had carried and grown and loved.

"It's okay, Han. He's here. We're okay."

"How is Dad coping?" Dr. Kolonia asked, glancing over at Han, still snoring away in his chair.

Leia smiled fondly. "He'll be okay. It was a lot for him."

Harter smiled. "It was a lot for you too, you know. How are you feeling?"

Leia shrugged. "I feel good. Sore, but… I'm glad he's okay."

"Good. It was a traumatic day for you three yesterday. You'll all need to take time to process it properly."

Sick of being poked and prodded, Ben ramped his screaming up a few notches, kicking his feet and flailing his arms for good measure.

Han jerked awake with a snort and frowned. "What's wrong with him?" he asked quickly, starting to get up.

"Han, nothing's wrong," Leia said firmly. "He's just mad that he's not getting cuddled right now. You need to relax."

"I'm relaxed," he said stubbornly, moving over to Harter's side and peering at Ben.

"I'm just examining him, Han," Harter said, very used to his fussing by now. "Making sure he's picked up since birth. Why don't you hold his hand?"

Han nodded very seriously, as if this were the most important job in the galaxy, and reached over for Ben's tiny hand. The baby wriggled and looked up at him, grasping at his finger when Han touched his hand. "Hey, big guy. You're okay. Is he okay?" He asked.

Harter nodded. "He's perfect," she said with a smile, scooping him out of the bassinet and handing him to Leia. "Comm me if you need anything," she said as she left.

Leia cradled Ben close, gently tracing his tiny features with one finger. "You look like your Daddy, little one."

Ben smacked his lips and fussed half-heartedly until Leia unbuttoned her top and started to feed him.

"You're amazing," Han said softly, sitting beside her on the bed and carefully pushing her hair back from her face. "Can I do your hair?"

Leia beamed at him. "I'd love that. I do feel a bit disgusting."

Han eagerly grabbed a brush and some pins from the bag they'd brought along and, careful not to jostle her, started to gently brush and braid her hair.

He was halfway done with a new braid he'd learned, just for today, when the comm on the door buzzed, and Luke's voice sounded through. "It's just me and Chewie."

Leia smiled brightly and elbowed Han in the ribs so he'd let them in. The door slid open and their two brothers - one small, blonde and beaming, the other huge, hairy and growling excitedly - hurried into the room.

"He's just eating," Leia said. "You can hold him when he's done."

"And you're okay?" Luke asked softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

She nodded. "I feel fine, Luke. Really. I… we have a very strong connection."

Luke smiled and reached a hand over to gently touch Ben's foot. "He's strong with the Force," he whispered.

Leia kissed Ben's forehead as he finished eating, and she carefully passed him to her brother. "Pat his back so he burps," she instructed, pulling her shirt closed as Luke anxiously took the baby and gently patted his back. "Harder than that, Luke. You won't break him."

Luke frowned and patted a bit harder, busy staring at Ben's little face. "He looks like you, Han."

Han smiled brightly as Chewie growled in agreement and ruffled Han's hair.

"I'm so glad he's okay," Luke said, looking up at Leia.

She nodded. "Me too," she said softly, holding Ben's hand.

"Here," Luke said. Ben cooed and kicked his feet as he was carefully passed to Chewie. "Say hi to your other Uncle, kiddo," he said.

Chewie held Ben close, leaning over to carefully rub his forehead against Ben's, a Wookiee sign of deep affection he rarely even bestowed on Han. Ben grasped at clumps of Chewie's fur, staring up at him. Chewie growled at Han, who looked offended.

"He's big for a human baby," he said defensively. "Real big."

Chewie looked dubious, but nuzzled Ben's face again. The baby hummed and cooed and promptly fell asleep.

"Done," Han said, taking his hands away from Leia's hair, a little embarrassed now they weren't alone.

"What did you do?" Leia asked curiously, taking the mirror he offered her and beaming, her eyes bright with tears. "It's a maternal braid," she whispered.

Han nodded and smirked. "Yeah. Figured it was fitting for today."

Leia kissed him and smiled at Luke and Chewie, who had moved over to their own chairs to give them some space, and were fawning over the baby. "He's got a proper Royal Guard," she said softly, nodding towards them.

"Nobody's ever gonna get through all of us. He'll be the safest kid in the galaxy," Han grinned.

"I hope so," Leia said softly. "Stars, I hope so."