"Family was important on Alderaan. Most of my mother's staff had families of their own. One of her handmaidens— she and her husband wanted a big family. They were going to move out of the palace once she could find new work. But they had most of their children before they left. Lots of kids. It was hard for my mother to watch. She loved children, was always happy when someone she knew was going to have a child. But Racha— that was her handmaiden's name— she never had any trouble conceiving. And it started to eat at my mother. She had been trying for years to have one of their own. Until it almost killed her. So, she and Bail Organa adopted me."

Rewa nodded in understanding as she continued her check-up, feeling around Leia's swollen abdomen. "For the most natural thing in the world, it isn't always the easiest thing to achieve."

"I never thought much about starting a family before I'd left home, but I always thought I would share this with her. Maybe, I could let her finally live that experience through me."

"She is," Rewa promised firmly. "She's up in the heavens, one of the stars twinkling up there every night. She's watching over you."

Leia smiled contently. "Only problem is Mama always wanted to hear a heartbeat. She never made it far enough to hear one."

There was a subtle jest in that statement, and Rewa responded accordingly, a stab of guilt flashing across her face. "It is unfortunate," she agreed. "We have gone to great measures in attempts to acquire the tools and machines for our medward, but that technology is expensive," Rewa explained, her voice thick with remorse. "To purchase an ultrasound machine and fetal monitor would raise too many alarms. Even to smuggle such supplies has proven dangerous in previous attempts. The Empire keeps the most detailed record. Any unregistered births—"

Leia nodded. "Alderaan sheltered a lot of mothers who came from the Rebellion. Not all of them made it." It wasn't until she said that when Leia remembered Han's gentle, reassuring grip on her hand. He squeezed once, as if to promise that he wouldn't let anything happen to her or their baby. She could read all that in a squeeze. She gave him a small smile, squeezing back.

Rewa took Leia's freehand and pulled her into a seated position. "Well, all your vitals are checking out normal. From the best I can tell, baby is still healthy and growing."

That was the best answer they would get without access to fetal monitors or sonogram machines. The only promise they had was the steadily growing swell of Leia's belly.

"In the coming weeks, you should start to feel the baby moving some. Maybe kicking. Even better than a heartbeat."

That was a matter of opinion, but the circumstances weren't Rewa's fault, so Leia smiled and nodded, sliding off the low bunk.

She gave Han her arm, and they started the short walk to their home.

Leia watched him from behind, watched the muscles in his back work as he moved about the small cooking space, chopping up vegetables and adding them to a small pack. She'd let him do the talking since they'd gotten home and merely stood watch, but it was all she could do to hold herself together and push past the fear.

Han paused. "What can I do for you, Princess?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Yeah, but I can hear what you're thinking," he turned around to look at her, grinning. "Like Luke. I've got that weird Force power."

Leia bit her cheek in a vain attempt to hide her good-humored smile.

With no concern as to delicately broaching the topic, Han said, "I know you're worried." Leia rolled her head, avoiding his gaze. She knew that if she met his eyes, he would be able to see into the depths of her soul and pick out her every thought word for word; and she was still hanging onto hope that maybe he didn't have this one all quite figured out yet. "About the baby," he added as if just to spite her and prove her wrong.

Leia shrugged. "I know it isn't Rewa's fault or anyone else's, but … it puts me on edge to think that we don't have all the tools we could have in case something goes wrong."

"Who said something's gonna' go wrong?"

"Han, things happen all the time. Something could happen tomorrow or even right before the baby is born. Something might be wrong with the baby right now and we don't know—"

"And you didn't think you had a maternal side!"

"Han!"

"Alright, hey, I'm sorry. Relax."

"You aren't worried at all that something could go wrong—?"

"Sweetheart, we've had this conversation, too. I'm just as worried as you are about all the same stuff. I'm up all night trying to plan for the worst and figure out what we're going to do. But what good will it do if both of us are hysterical, huh? Yeah, things could go wrong. You don't have to remind me, Princess, but things could also go really right. All we can do is hope for the best and keep planning. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out."

She couldn't take it anymore and crossed the kitchen to wrap her arms around him, resting her head on his strong chest. "Just let me cling to you like this until you have to leave."

He returned the hold, clung to her just as desperately. "You're worrying too much. You gotta' pick just one thing to worry about at a time."

Leia jabbed him in the ribs, but Han just laughed. "Hey, I won't be gone long. A week. Two weeks max, and you'll have me back to yourself."

"Has Booster told you where you're going?"

"Obroa-skai. Picking up a hyperdrive there, dropping it off on Carest with my contact, then I'm headed straight home."

"No side trips."

"Promise."

"No glitterstim, no deals with hutts—"

Han rolled his eyes. "Not even cantina strippers?"

"Hey," Leia smiled, raising her arms in surrender. "I'm not telling you 'no'. Go ahead and try it. See how that works for you."

"Alright, alright, Princess. Straight home back to you."

"Good choice, flyboy. You'll be handsomely rewarded when you get back."

A sensuous growl escaped Han's throat, and Leia smirked slyly, watching his gaze follow her.

"You kill me, sweetheart."

Unable to walk away, she drew his arms back around her and stood on her toes to reach his mouth for a kiss.

"I'm gonna' miss you," he murmured against her lips. "But I'll be back before you know it."

"I'll miss you too." Leia took Han's face between her hands and pulled him down to her. Their lips met gently, soft strokes as they held onto each other, savoring each second. Then, their tone turned hungry as limbs became entangled, and Leia pulled him across the kitchen space until she hit a counter and Han was bending even closer. One hand traced her hip, thumb stroking her belly before following her trail of ribs. While his hand hovered near her abdomen, however, something in her belly bubbled like carbonated elba water, and she grunted against Han's mouth.

"What was that about?"

Leia dropped a hand to her middle, mouth agape. "I'm not sure if that was breakfast or the baby."

Chuckling, Han dropped to his haunches, so his face was level with Leia's abdomen. He caressed her curve, and he imagined he was holding their child in that hand. Small thing, he thought with a wry smile. Leia was so small, so petite— their baby would be so small when they finally got to meet it, he just knew.

Leia's breath caught, and Han's gaze flew to meet hers and see her eyes dilate in shock. "It happened again," was all she said.

He grinned. "Still think it could be breakfast?"

Leia was oblivious to the jest, however, now enraptured entirely in this physical sensation occurring just beneath her skin.

"I take it our cub is okay. What does it feel like?" Han asked.

"Like flutterflies. Flapping wings, trying to fly free. It feels so strange. Han, it's making me nervous."

"Hey, baby. Baby flutterfly. I wish I could feel you like Mommy can."

"Stars, Han! Don't call me that!"

"Mommy?" His smile was big, yet soft, thrilled, yet gentle. "You're gonna' be a great mom. We'll be great parents. I got a good feeling about this."