Following on from 'Gone', it's been seven months since Jacen and Tilly's baby daughter, Rey, was snatched without a trace from the Solo homestead. During those months, as well as searching for their missing child, the couple found themselves the perfect property in which to lay down roots and start their own business.
As Han and Leia had discovered years before on losing their baby daughter, Hannay, life does go on for Jacen and Tilly - whilst the whereabouts of little Rey may forever remain a mystery.
(To lighten the mood, and probably because I didn't know where I was going to go with the abduction storyline, I set about writing a number of conversations shared with, about, and around my Star Wars favourites. Though not all conversations are of the verbal kind!)
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Jorj was quiet. Way too quiet in Han's opinion.
The only reason Jorj was ever this quiet was when he was either playing with his whisperkits or playing with himself.
Han couldn't help but smile at the latter.
Leia had been mortified the first time she had found him, squatting on his bedroom floor tinkering with his little pecker for all it was worth.
Han had been unconcerned about it; he was a young boy experiencing the changes in his body and anxious to explore those changes for himself.
Leia had cringed at him for suggesting that they most probably did exactly the same thing at their son's age, which made Han's smile broaden as he recalled her blosoming cheeks and horrified expression at the very idea.
The owner of those cheeks and that expression was currently lying pressed to his side, a tangle of naked arms and legs still cooling from their earlier exertions. As pleasurable as holding her in his protective embrace was, Han kind of wished Leia would wake. He had a hankering to make love with her one more time before the chrono reminded him he had classes in the morning and needed to sleep. Plus, he had yet to find the enthusiasm to jot down the few notes he intended to use as his inspiration in those lectures.
Leia heaved in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. For a moment, Han thought her stirring might have been the answer to his prayers but she merely settled herself more comfortably against him and continued to sleep.
Careful not to wake his slumbering princess Han carefully drew a sheet over them, trapping any remaining heat as well as the sweet aroma from their endeavours. Leia would wrinkle her nose when she finally did wake, but until then Han would find comfort in the scent that was all theirs.
The evening had begun with the way-too-quiet Jorj being repeatedly reassured by his way-too-worried mother that she and his apparently not-caring-enough father wouldn't be gone long; that Aunt Winter and Uncle Tycho would take very good care of him and how very much their adopted son Jarik, who Jorj liked greatly, was looking forward to hearing all about his pets and to being able to play with Jorj's whisperkits and to help feed his fish.
All of that was true, of course, except for the not caring part. Han cared desperately for his son, he simply felt that at times Leia coddled him, which could only serve to further limit his already stunted emotional growth.
A tense stand-off had ensued involving much glaring and fists on hips and even more verbal volleying before Han and Leia had accepted that each, in their own way, had been right and further discussion was unnecessary.
They had left their home then with Aunt Winter, Uncle Tycho and Jarik sitting the way-too-quiet Jorj while Han and Leia attended the grand opening of their eldest son's newly acquired and recently renovated restaurant.
Seven months earlier, Jacen and Tilly's newborn daughter had been abducted from her crib in the brief moment her exhausted mother had closed her eyes whilst caring for the missing baby, her twin brother and Jacen's toddler daughter Anais.
In those seven months no trace of the babe could be found. No unusual traffic had been tracked entering or leaving the system, no infant's body could be located nor was there motive for any homicide.
It was as though the girl had been spirited away into the night.
The local community had rallied, searching every outbuilding or abandoned property, as well as fields, wells and streams in the hope of finding some trace as to the baby's fate.
All, though, had proved fruitless.
In those early days Leia had thought this evening might never happen. In the days that followed the loss of their infant daughter, Jacen and Tilly had been so consumed by remorse that they had barely been able to function. Little by little they had found the courage to go on; to continue to search but also to continue to build a life for the two remaining children in their care.
There was no doubt their lives had been affected. No doubt that their relationship suffered, each blaming themselves for their misfortune until hope intervened and reminded them that as long as there was hope, there was the belief their child would be found safe. One day.
The couple dared to dream and set about finding, buying and restoring a property that would serve as both home and business; and they called it Rey's, so that their child might always be by their side and their inspiration.
The evening had gone exactly as planned. Invited guests, mostly those who had showered the couple with their faith and their love in the aftermath of losing their daughter, were treated to a seven course taster menu cooked and prepared by Jacen and Tilly and served by waiter droids in order that the two might be able to mingle. And, as opening night drew to a close, it was declared a resounding success by all.
Once the other guests had left, Leia held onto her son in the kind of embrace even he considered embarrassing and only let him go after Han had insisted if they didn't get home soon their youngest would think they had abandoned him.
There were promises of many more such evenings to come before Han finally managed to lead Leia back to their landspeeder then home, where their stubborn ten-year-old was waiting, well past his bedtime, to see for himself that his parents had indeed returned to his side.
Jorj's difficult birth, his medical and emotional difficulties, had left him dependent upon the unconditional love so readily offered by his parents, Something else, at times, Han found himself at odds with his beloved wife over.
Winter, Tycho and Jarik had been offered rooms in the house. Winter had thanked them for their kindness but insisted since Tycho had business in town it made better sense for them to take lodgings there during their all-too-brief visit. The compromise agreed upon was dinner at the Solos expense before the Celchus departure for Coruscant which would be, naturally, at Rey's.
Having waved the family on their way, Han and Leia re-entered their home and turned the simple snick used to secure their door.
This was nothing like the life they had left behind. There was no army of drones crowding their existence, no political intrique, no busybody neighbours selling tales of late night arguments – or rampant sex!
Here, they were alone. Alone and free. Well, relatively free, with a growing son presumably asleep upstairs in the bedroom opposite their own.
Leia had breathed in the scent of their home. Han had breathed in the scent of his wife as he slipped the wrap from her shoulders, leaning close enough to nuzzle her earlobe and offer one querying word. "Nightcap?" Leia had closed her eyes, smiled and nodded.
While Han had taken her wrap for hanging and checked Jorj's status, Leia had made herself comfortable in the lounge, illuminated by the soft shimmer of two glowlamps. When he returned, he had dispensed with the jacket she had insisted he wear along with the necktie he said reminded him of the stuffy diplomatic dinners he had endured for her sake during the earliest days of the New Republic. His shirt was untucked which served to amplify his long, lean look and his boots had been discarded, she noted; stockinged feet padding quietly toward her.
The ice in her whiskey chinked against the side of the glass he offered her as he sat, one arm held wide. She accepted the unspoken invitation, leaning into his embrace. Han sank deeper into the sofa's cushions, shifting position to cradle her more comfortably.
"Our boy done good." He drawled and swallowed a mouthful of the mellow liquor.
"Hmm." Leia agreed, too filled with fatique and contentment for any deeper discussion. Han let his fingertips draw lazy circles against her upperarm and the couple gazed at the immitation fire dancing in the fireplace.
"I love firelight." They announced together, laughing softly at one another's simultaneous admission. The mantle clock, a home-welcoming present from Winter and Tycho, chimed the hour as Han finished his whiskey.
"You want another?" He asked, indicating her almost empty glass.
Leia shook her head and drank the last of the rye, licking her lips in appreciation. Han had long ago told her that Corellian whiskey, much like Corellians in general, was the best in the Galaxy. She had taken some convincing, on both subjects, however having acquired the taste she preferred to enjoy it in moderation.
Han examined his empty glass. "Nah. Me either." He agreed, taking her glass and sliding them both onto a table. "'Sides, I still got notes to write for tomorrow's lecture." He didn't miss her amused smile. "Yeah! Laugh it up!" He hissed.
"I could help you with those if you want." She offered, playfully.
"You write one half decent book..." He complained, good naturedly.
"Plus most of your reports during the Rebellion." She reminded.
"Hey, they were my words. You just helped me get 'em in the right order." He pointed out.
"They were your words all right, especially the one's that inflated how much we paid you." She teased.
"Those figures accurately reflected the inestimable value of my time and expertise." He countered, untangling himself, rising and grabbing their empty glasses between two fingers and a thumb.
"For something 'inestimable' you sure managed to calculate them well enough." She argued, light heartedly and rose also. "You set the cleansing cycle and I'll dim the lights."
"I got a better idea." He suggested, crossing and placing the glasses on the mantle. "Let's leave the glasses 'til morning. I got a yen to enjoy this firelight a little while longer."
Leia watched him drop to the floor in front of the fireplace. "'Yen'?" She quoted, sinking to the floor by his side.
"See? I was payin' attention during all those long, prosaic lessons in basic you gave me." He said, drawing one leg high so he could rest his arm upon his knee.
"'Prosaic'. My, my, you really were listening." She smiled.
"I was tryin' to figure out how to shut you up. In the end, turned out it was easier than I thought." He said.
Her mouth began to form the question 'oh?' when his lips descended on hers. The kiss was so reminiscent of the one they had first shared on the Falcon it stopped Leia in her tracks, made her stomach flutter and took her breath away.
Han's lips had never failed to surprise her. Considering the level of profanity that could so easily eminate from between them, they could be undeniably soft and tender at times too.
When he broke the kiss, he drew back a little to watch the firelight frolic about her features.
"Took you three years to work that out?" She queried, breathlessly.
Han's grin meandered along his jawline. "I figured that out straight away. It was finding the right moment that eluded me." He drawled.
"Took you three years to..." She started then stopped, grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to meet her in another breathtaking kiss. She could feel his grin against her lips. Yeah, he knew how to shut her up all right!
When the kiss ended the couple simply looked at one another, eyes searching for the answer to the question neither needed to ask.
"You wanna take this upstairs, or..." Han eyed the rug they were sitting on.
"You know how much this thing cost?" Leia asked.
"Do I wanna know how much it cost?" He queried. Leia narrowed her eyes. "More importantly though, you're worth every last credit of any specialist cleaning bill." He offered.
Leia's light laugh echoed around the living room. "It was a reclaim, don't you remember? We were in that little artsy antique place in town and you said it would go perfectly with the décor I'd chosen for this room." She reminded, proding him in the ribs.
"I said that?" He questioned, a frown creasing his forehead.
"I know. I thought you were just trying to sound highbrow in front of that frightfully obnoxious shop owner." She said.
"Oh, I remember now." He clicked his fingers. "The jerk who thought I was 'trade'."
"That's the one." She smiled.
"Yeah! Let's do it here. I'd just love to take it back and tell him it was all mussed up when we got around to unwrapping it!" He decided.
Leia laughed again. "Scoundrel!"
"Worship!" He shot back. Leia's eyes rose to the ceiling above them, her thoughts turning to the room where their son slept. "He's asleep." Han confirmed.
"How asleep?" She queried.
"Very asleep." He promised, studying her features with a critical eye.
"What?" She eventually asked.
"You talk too much." He told her.
"I'm a politician." She remined him. "It's in the rules."
"Shut up." He told her, playfully.
Leia let her tongue flick briefly against her top lip. "Make me." She challenged.
With a grin, he made her.