So sorry for the long delay! Thank you to those who reached out with concern and/or to say you missed my stories :) All is well, just busier than anticipated lately.
Hope you enjoy this new/old story!
Too Soon, The Morning
by Dant Solo
Han leaned over the small beds to kiss each of his three children on the forehead. The last kiss went to Anakin, who grabbed his father playfully by the ears.
"Ouch!" Han yelped, trying not to laugh. Anakin giggled. Han brought his hands up to gently tug on his youngest son's tiny ears, eliciting another giggle.
"Thtop!" Anakin protested with a little boy lisp. His bouts of silliness were not frequent, but Han thoroughly enjoyed them when they did surface.
Han forced a comical frown, furrowing his brow in exaggeration. "Make me," he demanded.
For a moment, Anakin's face took on a far-away look, and Han wondered what he might be thinking of so seriously. All of a sudden, Han was pummeled by two small bodies and he ended up on his back beside Anakin. Jaina was straddling his chest, with Jacen sitting with all of his slight weight on Han's legs. Calling for reinforcements, Han realized. Sneaky...just like his old man. Han grinned.
"What's this?" Han asked in an innocent tone.
"We rescued Anakin," Jaina announced with a proud smile that lit up her face, making the resemblance to her mother even more apparent.
"Oh, is that what you did?" In a study of relaxation, Han casually placed his hands behind his head.
"Yep." Jacen grinned devilishly.
"Well, I'm not sure how good a job you did," Han began, noting the confusion on all three tiny faces. "Cause, now I'm just gonna have to...tickle you!" He sat up quickly, tossing Jaina and Jacen onto their backs, tickling each one on turn, delighting in their unbridled shrieks. Not one to be left out, Anakin was soon lying next to Jacen, his expression begging to be tickled. Han shot one hand from child to child, receiving more laughter with each touch to a belly, neck, underarm.
"Stop!" Jaina howled. Almost before the word left her mouth, Jacen accompanied her with, "Get off!"
Anakin merely exploded with laughter, unable to form words. Han was laughing with almost as much glee when he heard Leia's voice intrude upon their mirth.
"I just love it when you get the children all riled up at bedtime, darling," she said dryly.
Han ceased the tortuous tickling, breathing almost as hard as the kids were. He smiled up at his wife, aware that she was not nearly as annoyed as she sounded. He leaned down and whispered loudly, "Watch it, your mother's here. You wouldn't want to get me in trouble, would you?"
Jaina sat up quickly and regarded her mother with serious eyes. "Daddy started it," she tattled.
Leia raised an eyebrow for Han's benefit. "Why am I not surprised?"
Han reached out and hooked one arm around his daughter, drawing her close. "Always getting me in hot water with your mother," he said, shaking his head with false sternness. He squeezed her gently and she turned around in his arms and gave him a huge hug. Jacen and Anakin then wormed their way into his arms, along with their sister. Han couldn't suppress the gentle smile that graced his lips. Over the children's heads, his eyes met Leia's, and a deep, sentimental emotion flowed between them, warming his heart further. A sudden gratefulness surged through him, for this life he would never have expected to have. This wife, these children...they were more than one petty smuggler deserved. He gave the kids one last squeeze, then rose from Anakin's bed.
"Okay, time for bed."
There was assorted grumbling as Jacen and Jaina returned to their respective beds.
"Night, guys." He decided to leave Leia alone with the kids. He knew that when she was home, since duty often took her away from them, she liked to spend as much time as possible with her children. He wanted to allow her that time. Plus, he had other ideas involving time alone...
As he passed Leia, he breathed in her ear, "Meet me on the terrace, Sweetheart." She glanced at him with a raised brow, but he could see the sparkle in her eyes.
As he strode to the long stairs leading from the tower room, he heard Leia settling down to tell the kids a story. Han smiled contentedly as he ambled down the stairs, a spring to his step.
"...and then the little Ewok brought the Princess back to his village. It was a lovely village made up of small huts, and lit with torches. She met all the furry Ewoks, and they gave her a lovely dress to wear. They were very nice to the Princess until her friends arrived. The Ewoks invited them all to stay and they had a big party to celebrate. The end." Leia smiled, gazing down at Anakin and Jacen, who were fast asleep. She looked to the other bed, at her sleepy daughter, who struggled valiantly to stay awake.
Leia sat beside her and leaned over to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
"Mommy, can you lay down with me? Please?" the little girl asked, rubbing her eyes.
She couldn't say no. She knew Han would be waiting for her, but how could she deny such a simple request? She already felt guilty that she would be leaving in the morning. "Of course, I will, Jaina," she said softly. She placed her head next to her daughter's on the tiny pillow and swung her legs up onto the bed. Jaina yawned, and Leia had to stifle a yawn of her own. She wrapped her arms around Jaina, and relaxed. Unintentionally, she began to drift off...