Another day, another chapter! Thanks so much to all who leave a note. How do you think Hoth Han and Leia will each react to this revelation? I love to hear your thoughts!

"Da-da!"

The person being referred to as 'Dada' was too far gone for any coherent response. He just stared agape, eyes blank, mouth in a perfect oval, arms limp at his sides, and complexion turning a scary white.

Leia was still holding a child, so she knew she couldn't faint, but the man in front of her was coming very close to executing that action.

"Chewie," she said, focusing on something other than the bundle in her arms. "Help him sit down, please."

The Wookie obliged, his concern for his friend evident. [Come sit, cub. You don't look well.]

Leia watched Chewie handle Han like a rag doll, guiding his limp frame to walk backwards to the nearest seat which happened to be the living room sofa. His eyes glazed over and were obviously not able to focus on anything, yet his head remained angled towards the pair of women now walking closer to them.

Han had to breath sometime, and when he did it came out in the form of a water logged gasp. "Chewie…" he inhaled again heavily. "There's gotta be some mistake." Something about seeing his old friend, something that so grounded him in reality, holding this foreign child calling him 'Dada' had thrown him, really thrown him.

Leia, momentarily ignoring the girl sitting on her hip, swung her arm, catching the Wookie's elbow as she drilled him with questions. "Chewie. What year is it?"

[Seven years after the battle of Yavin.] If it was an unexpected question, Chewie didn't acknowledge it. He simply continued scanning the stoic man on the sofa for injuries.

"And who's in power?"

[The New Republic.] He held the back of Han's head as he felt for a temperature. [Is there something seriously wrong with, Cub?]

She ignored his question and, with a fierce determination in her eyes, she continued her questioning. "And where are we?"

[Chandrila, Hanna City. In your home.]

She wasn't sure if she was relieved or even further frightened that his answers matched what Mon already shared.

"Oh kriff!" Han finally spoke, also not sure if that swear was from relief or disappointment.

[Cub! Not in front of the kid.] Chewie pounded his friend's shoulder in admonition before flipping his head between the two of them. [Are you both okay?]

Han answered, his exhausted head coming to rest in his palms. "No, we're not okay."

Chewbacca took that as hard as they were. He growled out a worried sound as he rolled his upper body in distress.

Leia waited for Chewie to finish before she spoke. "It appears that Han and I have a mild case of amnesia."

Han's head shot up at her choice of words. "Mild case!"

Ignoring his response, Leia continued, focused on updating their friend. "The last thing we remember is being on Hoth years after the battle of Yavin. And the next thing we know, we're in a medical ward in Chandrila."

It was silent for a moment while the Wookie took that in. He glanced between them to judge their physical demeanor. [Both of you.] He stated in disbelief. [Kriff.]

"Not in front of the kid!" Han snapped.

Chewie also chose to ignore Han's response. [So, you remember nothing?]

"Well," Han shrugged as his eyes went to the biggest memory gap in the room. "We've figured out a few things in the past two minutes."

[You don't remember Rayah.]

Leia's breath left her as the name reached her ears. "Rayah…" She almost didn't realize the name escaped from her lips. Her eyes dropped to the dark curls cuddling under her chin. Her arms both tightened and relaxed in the same moment; tightening their grasp, but becoming less rigid. "Our daughter?"

[Yes.] Chewie captured all the emotion in the room as he uttered the affirmative.

Han's eyes met Leia's. His gaze slowly recognizing their true reality. "This just got a whole lot more serious."

The little girl started to whine, twisting out of Leia's hold as she pushed herself backwards with her arms stretched. "Da-da!"

Leia wasn't used to holding a moving child and quickly shifted her back arm to adjust to the weight as Rayah leaned. "I think she wants to go to you."

Han, on the other hand, was not so ready. "Really?" He questioned, sitting up as he swallowed his anxieties. "I don't know about…"

But he was too late to think anything else. Leia let the girl slide from her hip and land sitting across Han's legs. The little hands went straight to his cheeks as she pressed into his soft flesh. "Da-da," she said again as her toes curled in her little boots.

He stared at her, not sure what to make of this little body before him. Gods, she looked so much like… "Hey, kid," he said in his lowest, softest voice. His one hand seemed to naturally come behind her to support her back and his other hand rested gently on her knees, covering almost half her legs in his large palm.

His moment was cut short by another, different buzzing sound coming from the front door. Han and Leia's heads turned, but it was Chewie who calmed their on-edge minds.

[Doorbell,] he said simply, informing them about the sounds of their own house.

"That's probably Mon," Leia informed as the tension, again, left her body.

[The Chancellor's coming?]

Leia was almost at her limit for keeping her sanity for the day and that annoyance came out in her terse response. "Well, if Mon Mothma is the Chancellor in this world, then yes."

Han stepped in, gesturing the kid in his lap. "Hey Chewie, can you stay and watch her while we talk?"

Chewie didn't acknowledge Leia's terse response, but did what Han asked him. [Certainly, Cub.]

Both parents, if they could call themselves that, watched the big fur-ball, looking as if he swallowed the tot in his arms and went back through the hallway that probably led to more rooms.

With no time to talk or even decompress from what they just learned, Leia and Han steeled themselves for their next visitor.

Leia made it to the front door first. She palmed the side security panel and made sure she recognized the blue holo that emerged before sliding it open.

"Mon…" she began before halting her greeting, thinking better of the informal greeting during these uncertain times. "Chancellor Mothma."

The cropped ginger cut woman smiled tightly as she corrected. "It's just Mon to you Leia."

Leia nodded in acknowledgement as she stepped to the side and let the chancellor's familiar white robes and golden sash pass through. She hadn't aged much to Leia's calculation. Although she saw Mon here and there during her time in the Alliance, Mon was usually directing things from afar in an even more secure hideaway.

Han was there in the foyer to greet her as well. "Madame Chancellor," he began, clearly uncomfortable and yet beveling his knee with his hands on his hips that tried to project confidence.

"It's just Mon to you too, Han." Her eyes turned from hesitant to worry in the first 30 seconds she was here. "But I guess you don't remember that," she sighed, now recognizing the actual feat this incident was.

Han grinned as he shrugged his shoulders and lifted his palms. "I don't remember you at all, if that makes you feel any better."

"It doesn't," the chancellor answered simply. She turned back to her protégée. "This is a challenge, Leia, I won't candy coat anything."

The younger woman nodded. Any hope that Mon would have all the answers for them, snap her fingers, and all would be well was dashed. "Please, come in."

Leia directed them back into the sitting room. She estimated that Mon had been here before, judging from how comfortable she looked walking in and sitting herself on the far chair. Leia quickly followed, sitting on the couch and Han lugged himself beside her.

"Neurologically, I can't explain it," Leia began, her weight was focused on the edge of the sofa where she sat upright. "Hoth is the last thing I can remember."

"We can consult with further medics at another time," Mon shared, her voice tense as she got right to business. "What I'm most concerned about right now is your recovery." She was looking directly at Leia and then she acknowledge the other person in the room. "Both of your recoveries."

"I get it." Han, compared to Leia, chose a casual recumbent position against the back of the sofa with his ankle resting on his knee and his arms stretched across the couch. "I remember enough from my years with your crew to know she's more important than I am."

Mon didn't deny it. "I'm not trying to diminish your status General Solo. Your service in targeted military operations has been critical through our recovery efforts over the past few years. Especially during the Battle of Jakku."

Well this was new information to them. While Han felt a swell of accomplishment grow in his chest, Leia was more focused on the pieces of this recovery effort she didn't know. "Jakku?"

"Yes," Mon sighed, clearly not wanting to go into whatever happened on Jakku right now. "I see we have a lot to review. But that can wait until later. Right now I want to answer any questions you have and create a plan for moving forward."

Leia nodded. She liked plans. Plans were visual and accomplishable and steady. She stepped in with her first inquiry. "Well, you mentioned I was a Senator again."

"Yes, representing the Alderaanian disporia." Mon elaborated, pride in her inflection. "Numerous settlements of Alderaanian natives have solidified themselves on a few planets since the fall of the Empire as well as the Flotilla. You represent them and are invaluable as one of my top advisors and ambassadors."

"And Luke?" Han asked, curious about the fourth member of their crew.

"Luke is…" She hesitated, not because she didn't know but clearly because she was choosing her words carefully, hiding something. "He's not working on behalf of the government."

Leia and Han both had questions on the tip of their tongue, but Mon held up a hand to ward them off.

"I would rather he share his story when we can get through to him. I have my people looking into where he is, but we can't get through to his comm." She let her lip raise, presenting a calm assessment to her battle heavy listeners. "Nothing to worry about. His travels often take him out of range. We'll hear from him soon."

That statement was enough to placate any uneasiness about their friend. "What else can you tell us?"

Mon took a pause. What else? "There is much to tell. There were several initiatives you have been working on us with that you will need to be read up on."

Leia nodded. Yes, there she would need to do a lot more studying to catch herself back up.

"This can wait, Leia." Maybe Mon could see Leia's mechanical brain calculating how fast she could get herself back into conversations. Because she took a breath, eyes flickering between the two amnesiacs as her voice took on a concerned tone. "I realized on my way over here the personal side of this new life you find yourself in." She paused again. "I know you already know Han well by this point in your history. But Rayah…"

There was that name again. It sounded so familiar and yet so foreign. Their child. Their daughter.

"You need time," the chancellor concluded.

Is that what she needed? Leia wasn't so sure. Leia Organa knew how to do two things very well: form political alliances and form a rebellion. And she could exercise neither of those skills in this household.

She swallowed, her eyes sweeping down as she gathered her thoughts. "Mon, I'm eager to get back up to speed. I've been fighting for this republic we now get to build for my entire adult life." She felt her true devotion and passion for this work leaking through every word. "I'll take tomorrow to readjust. Can I plan to be at work the next day?"

If she saw Han's curious gaze on her, she didn't acknowledge it. She kept her focus on the Chancellor's answer.

"We can," she hesitated. "But only if you feel ready."

The young, ambitious woman nodded with certainty. "I will."

"We can talk more tomorrow before you decide." Mon nodded back with more skepticism. "For the time being, I think it's best if we keep your conditions between a limited number of people. Han, I will speak with your commander and explain."

"I agree." Leia was glad that Mon thought of that. Han nodded in seeming agreement.

He figured he would ask who in this damn galaxy his commander was another day.

"And you'll tell me if there's anything I can help you with." Mon rose from her seat as her genuine care reflected in her voice. "Anything you need."

Leia rose to see their visitor out. "Thank you, Mon. That's very kind."

As a wistful grin formed on her face, Mon took Leia's arm in her hand. "You are Bail and Breha's daughter. I owe your family so much."

Leia blinked, three flutters. That was the only hint of raw emotion she let through at hearing her parents' names.

They started for the door.

"Mon…" Han started as he finally rose from his seat. "Uh, if I can call you that."

"I already said you could." The woman turned back around to address the normally talkative man.

"How did we win? How did the Emperor die?"

A good question. Leia wondered why she didn't think to ask that.

"Endor." Mon shared that system's name again. "The Empire was halfway through construction of a second Death Star. Luke Skywalker infiltrated it and personally saw the Emperor fall to his death. You," she gestured the man before her. "General Solo and Leia led the ground troops to disable the shields while the air operation to take out the station was led by General Calrissian."

And to think he was believing her until her last word. "Calrissian? Lando?" He said it with such bewilderment it was as if that was the very last name he ever expected. "Now I know you're talkin' crazy."

"I don't talk crazy, Han."

And with that, the calm and collected Chancellor of the New Republic took her leave. "I'll leave you be."

Leia followed her to the door. "Goodnight Mon and thank you."

The door shut softly and a hush fell over the apartment.

It was now deep into the evening. The sky over the city completely black. Chewie must have turned on some of the lights for them because she didn't remember herself or Han doing it. Looking outside through the glass pane she could see the reflection of the apartment, her apartment, mixed in with the city lights. When was the last time she saw a city scape at night like this? It must have been since her last time on Coruscant, before the Imperial Senate fell, before Alderaan.

Then another thought came to her. This would be the first night in over three years that she didn't need to worry about being woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of a blaster or an emergency alert. The galaxy was stable. Sleep was a peaceful rejuvenation, not a reprieve from worrying. And yet, she doubted she would be getting any sleep that night.

"Now what, your highness?"

Han broke the silence, his entire countenance showing how tired he was. He now sat on the corner of the sofa, elbows against his knees and his weary head sagging forward. She felt her own exhaustion double just looking at him.

Her arms spread wide on a heavy exhale. "I have no idea."

She watched his head tilt. A smug look that promised to annoy her came over him. "You're going back to work…"

Defensive. That's the best way to describe her retort. "It's what I know how to do, Han. It's what I've been doing my entire adult life." She shook her head in exasperation. "I'll be fine."

His eyebrows crossed, his own annoyance dripping from his words as he stuck a finger in the center of his chest. "What about me?"

"I assumed you'd find someway to entertain yourself while I'm out. I don't think that's my job…"

He interrupted, speaking again with more volume and force. "What about the kid? Our kid."

It wasn't that she forgot, necessarily. This was certainly something future Leia would have planned for, right? "We must have some child care arrangement. A droid or something." Something suitable. "We'll ask Chewie."

As if on cue, the Wookie entered the living space. It seemed odd to view him without his bow cast or cross ammunition. But she thought this looked agreed with him better. He was more relaxed, less tension throughout his muscles. Even through all the hair she could tell the difference.

[She's sleeping,] he growled in his quietest growl. [She had some dinner on our way here, so I put her to bed.]

Food, yes that was a good idea. It's good he thought of that.

"Thanks, pal," Han uttered from his seated position.

Chewie continued. [You two have enough to worry about right now. I'll stay for the night.]

Han vocalized her exact thoughts. "We have a guest room. Good."

"I think we could all use a good rest," Leia said, deciding that even if she couldn't sleep, having time alone sounded like a good idea right now.

Chewie agreed with a nod and a hand across his chest as he addressed both of them. [Sleep well, Princess. Cub. We'll talk more tomorrow.]

"Night, pal." Han finally stood from his position and let out a groan as he made to stand and stretch his aching muscles.

Leia heard his grunts behind her as she followed Chewie back down the inner hallway. Chewie stopped at a door at the far end of the hall, closing it behind him. Leia stopped at the door she now knew was the master bedroom. Doing the math, she walked in and grabbed the first pillow her hands reached for and the blanket at the edge of the bed.

Back at the doorframe, Han was just turning the corner before he found a pillow and blanket shoved into his chest.

Her eyes narrowed as the sliding door sealed him out on the other side. "Find your own bed, hotshot."