Perhaps, it was his mind trying to find something else to dwell on, but the oddest, smallest things were bothering Han. As he returned from the refresher, pulling on a fresh shirt and watching Leia prepare them tea, he tried to remember her age. Even throughout his first year with the Rebellion, he always forgot how young she'd been. When he'd first learned from General Carlist Rieekan that the princess had been only nineteen at the time, he hadn't believed it. Such strength, such ferocity, such wisdom and power for a young thing. Though some systems had a higher adult age, Han had never thought of her as a girl. From her, he'd learned that age wasn't what differentiated a girl from a woman or a lady; such measures were rendered inaccurate for Leia.

Twenty-two. Leia was a mere twenty-two years old, which Han didn't suppose was so young– especially when he often forgot she was that young. At twenty-two, Leia Organa was a veteran of war, a seasoned commander and leader of a rebellion against the galaxy's most influential government. And she'd experienced more tragedy and trauma than most of the Alliance's elders who had lived through the Clone Wars.

She deserved something happy, something good, and Han had been trying his kriffing hardest to give her reasons to smile longer than he'd loved her.

How 'bout this, Princess? I definitely didn't try, but looks like we've got something else to smile about. It you want to smile about it …

As if it punctualize her announcement, Leia had been making tea for the two of them so they could sit together and talk when the nausea hit. Now, Han was sitting on the floor of the refresher, rubbing Leia's back as she emptied her stomach in the sani. He traced long strokes up and down her back, every now and then planting soft kisses on her head. When it finally passed, she lied back in his arms, closed her eyes. He gave her a moment, waited for her to sit up on her own and let him know she was feeling better. Perhaps, it hadn't even been a moment yet when Han ran out of patience, and he stroked her thigh, asking, "Are you okay?"

Han didn't know how to feel when Leia finally pushed up on her own weight, face pale but a gentle smile floating across her lips. "You want to know how I feel about this?"

He could only nod.

"I've been thinking about these last few months. Just the two of us, far from the rebellion, from war. I haven't felt this good in so long. I haven't felt so– content, or even as close to happy as I have since we left Hoth. Even that first month on the Falcon. Stars, Han! Things have been so simple and normal. I didn't think that was possible. At least, not for me. But you make me feel normal, and this little retreat from the not normal … I can't tell if I'm thinking clearly, but I'm thinking– I'm wondering if, maybe, we should try out this normal life for a bit longer."

When his gaze flashed down to Leia, a shot of alarm shooting up his spine, there were her calm, sure eyes staring back up at him.

"What are you saying, Leia?"

Calm, yet confused and afraid and anxious. To most, Leia was always a perfect picture of calm, but Han had always had a knack for seeing the storms brewing deep within her.

This isn't just on you, I know, Han tried to convey to Leia as he wrapped her up in his arms, stroked her hair. I'm here, too, Princess. It took both of us to get into this mess.

Beautiful mess.

He couldn't help the thought.

Instead, however, he told her, "You look exhausted, sweetheart. I think you need to sleep first."

Leia was startled, and Han could see it in her eyes alone. She quickly sat up, gathering her wits about her and putting space between the two of them. "Sleep? Han, I just told you that I'm pregnant and I'm trying to have a conversation about this-"

"Which I agree we should have! But don't you think both of us are pretty emotional right now, and maybe it'd be better if we slept on it first."

Her eyes grew wider than sensor dishes, and she choked out a humorless laugh. "You know, you're starting to sound like me. I wasn't expecting you to approach this with a level mind and insist we do our homework first."

"You sayin' I don't normally- what? Think clearly?"

"Han," her eyes softened. "I didn't mean it like that. I just- I meant to say that- you know the way you are! You don't like to take all the time in the world to think things through. You don't like to sit and weigh all your options like I do. I just … I thought you'd be easier to read than this. I didn't think I would have to fish you for a response. I figured you'd tell me exactly how you feel."

"Maybe, I don't know how I feel."

"That's a lie, Han. I can read that much from you."

"Well, I guess I just don't know how to say what I'm thinkin'."

"Han, just tell me. You're not going to offend me or hurt me either way. If you don't want a baby, just tell me so that we can get that out there and deal with it."

"See, that's the thing, Leia. What if I do want it?"

Leia shifted how she sat, but otherwise showed no change in expression.

"Now, I'm not saying I've been thinking about this. Kriff! The thought of having a baby right now never crossed my mind. Not now. Not when … when we just got– here. To a place where we're comfortable with each other and we can finally say that we love each other. … But I already know I love you enough to go on this crazy adventure with you. You say you like this? You like this break, this small piece of normal we've found. What the heck, Princess? I've always wanted a family."

Family. As soon as the word slipped off his tongue, something about it felt just right. Still, Han was consumed with fear, but also elation; he feared what Leia had to say, but when his focus returned solely to her as he tried to read her for a hint, something in her eyes seemed to agree.