Never before had it really hit Han how fast his life had been moving this last year. He found himself just moving along with it, figuring out his steps as he went. He'd hardly had the time to consider how much his life had changed until he returned from his trip to Obroa-skai to a little place he now called home. Back home, where he'd left his pregnant girlfriend for a two-week smuggling job. Though, 'girlfriend' sounded juvenile and rang all too hollow when Han considered the depth of his feelings for Leia. But their relationship too had suddenly rocketed from playful lovers trying to figure out how deep their feelings ran to— well, to be honest, Han wasn't sure what to call this new stage of their relationship.

Before they had found out they were pregnant, things were intimate physically and emotionally, but a roadblock had fallen between them when Han had realized how much he loved Leia. He wanted to stay with her, stay with the Rebellion if that's what it meant— but he had a bounty to take care of first, and he'd sworn to himself then that he wouldn't jeopardize Leia's safety and well-being just to be with her. Han's plan had consisted of him delivering Leia back to the Rebellion, then going to Tatooine by himself to deal with Jabba. Of course, Leia hadn't been as enthusiastic about this idea, and the fight started. He'd known he had to take care of things with Jabba first. He knew the hutt was past just hunting him for the money, but that was all the more reason to leave Leia and take care of the bounty. He couldn't stay with the Rebellion- with Leia— while Jabba was so determined to get to him. If they hurt Leia ...

But then ... then, Leia gave him the greatest shock of his life. She was pregnant. The game flipped on him, and he knew— Han just knew he couldn't leave her. She couldn't go back to the Rebellion, she couldn't just race across the galaxy by herself. No, there wasn't time anymore. He had to stay with her, protect her—

Initially, Leia had been furious that everything suddenly changed once there was a baby in the picture, but she had come to understand Han's perspective and his genuine desire to do whatever was best for her; and he had come to understand her point, the loneliness and emptiness Leia had felt when he'd been teasing her with one foot out the door.

Now, they were here. There were still plenty of kinks to work out, obstacles to overcome, mutual understandings about their odd relationship to reach, but it was coming together. They were starting a new life from the very first brick, but it was all coming together piece by piece.

While it was a mighty jump to make from teasing Leia just to get her attention to worrying over her and their unborn child, Han thought he was facing it like a champ. He took it in stride, casually adjusted himself as the reality of their situation grew more apparent and— real. He'd never fancied himself quite the fatherly doting type, but Han still found himself returning home with just about every one of his thoughts on the baby. Well, every one that wasn't on Leia.

Han and Leia's home consisted of two levels, the higher one of which was some feet above ground and housed their bedroom. Han shrugged his pack off his shoulder, left it by the door, and crept up the stairs to their room. The door was wide open and the curtains were pulled back from the window, letting in the night's cool air and a shadow of moonlight. Usually, Leia got cold so easily, she'd have all the windows covered once the temperature started to settle in the evening. Han crossed the room to Leia's side of the bed, but found the covers thrown aside and her spot bare. It was late ...

Before he could consider it further, Han heard the click of a blaster's safety setting behind him, and he whirled on his heel, reaching for his own trusty DL-44 where it rested at his hip. He took one step forward and—

"Oh, god, Han! You terrified me!" Han could make out Leia's silhouette sagging against the doorway as she exhaled in relief, blaster dangling from two fingers.

"Leia, what in the hells are you doing up this early?"

"I was just grabbing a snack."

"In the middle of the night?"

There was an audible sigh, and Leia's shoulders fell. "I couldn't sleep. You've spoiled me, Solo. I've gotten too used to your snoring. Without it …"

Han smirked. "You hate my snoring. Wasn't that long ago you threatened to make me sleep in the cockpit if I didn't figure something out."

Leia merely smirked, feigning innocence. "What can I say— I've had a change of heart."

"Hmph! Yeah, alright, sweetheart." He could tell from the glowing flicker of mischief in Leia's eyes that she was in a playful mood; he just wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her into oblivion as he'd spent all of his last two weeks imagining. But Leia wouldn't be so easy tonight— she was going to make him work for it. "Now, why don't you welcome me back properly, and then you can tell me why you're really up."

"What? A woman can't stay up late and wait for her lover to return home?"

"Maybe," Han allowed. "If you knew for sure I was coming home tonight."

Leia tossed her shoulders. "I had a feeling."

"Oh, yeah? That's pretty impressive. You'll have to tell Luke you're a Jedi too." Even as he said it, Han caught himself chuckling quietly at the thought, and Leia seemed to agree with his assessment that the idea was quite funny as she erupted into wild laughter. "Unfortunately," she began as soon as she calmed enough to speak, "I am very normal in that way. No creepy magic powers."

"No? You even have a normal life now!"

That thought seemed to perturb Leia more than amuse her. She blinked once, muscles tensing, then quickly shook it off as she responded, "About as normal as it could get. But you're back to all the old adventures. How did your trip go?"

Han shrugged. "Uneventful. No big scares with Imperials or anything."

"Good."

"But I missed you."

"Did you, now?"

"C'mon, Leia. Please don't do this to me tonight. I haven't seen you in two weeks and I just want—"

But before he could further express how trying the past couple weeks had been or how close he'd been to dropping his load and racing back for home, Leia was in his arms, fingers tugging at the collar of his spacer jacket to pull his face down to hers. At that compromised height which they'd worked out over the long flight to Veridian— where Leia stood her tallest on her toes and Han bent his neck before he could get sore— their mouths met in passionate reunion, Leia's mouth working feverishly and hungrily. Han helped her out by lifting her from the ground, giving her a better advantage to work from. Her lips tangled with his for a moment longer before they broke apart for air. Leia's breath was warm against his neck as she laughed, "Must have been pretty bad for you to start using manners."

"Enjoy it, 'cause it's probably not happening again."

"Lucky you, I won't need a lot of convincing tonight."

"Is that so?"

Leia reached to touch the floor again, looped her finger on his belt, and turned for the bed, taking Han with her. "I really missed you. I missed sleeping with you. And not sleeping with you."

"I can tell."

"In fact, I don't think I want to sleep tonight."

"Except that you still haven't told me why you were already up."

"It's nothing. We don't need to talk about it right now."

"Okay." Han abruptly separated himself from Leia and reached to put out the candle at his bedside.

"Han," she sighed.

"You said there's nothing to talk about …"

"Fine! I had a nightmare! Now, please don't put it out!"

The flame went on burning. The bed creaked in the silence of the room when Han moved to settle into the sheets beside Leia. She refused to look at him, hiding her face behind her hands. "Han, I'm really tired, so could we just please save this for another time and go to sleep?"

"You just told me you've been up all night because you were having nightmares."

"It's nothing I haven't dealt with."

"Well, I think that's a lame excuse for not wanting to talk about it. Have you been having these nightmares since I left?"

"Han," her words fell out with a grieved sigh. "Please— "

"No, I want to help you. How am I supposed to help when you won't tell me what's wrong?"

"I don't need help. I don't need you to take this onto yourself. What I battle with isn't for you to cope with."

"Seems like you don't understand how a relationship works."

She blinked again.

"This is a relationship, right? Where we both care about each other, so you tell me about your nightmares and I comfort you." When she only stared back, an unnamed sorrow haunting her eyes, not a ray of hope visible— that look! She didn't understand, couldn't see how far they had come— she didn't get it, didn't get how deeply rooted his devotion was, exactly how far into the depths Leia had dragged him. That woman— she drove him mad. Han was certain she would be the death of him.

"Leia," he shook his head as if to wake himself from a nightmare. "This isn't Hoth anymore. I thought you realized."

"What do you mean?" She already knew. Han could tell because her eyes were already watering, and she was pulling on the inside of her cheek between her teeth. She knew— she just wouldn't let herself finish the thought.

"I don't have a foot out the door anymore. I'm stuck. I'm stuck right here, right next to you, and it's gonna' take all nine of Corellia's hells to get rid of me. And maybe Mustafar too. But I'm not leaving you on my will. I'm not letting you hide from me or fight me anymore."

Leia's nose twitched in her effort to resist tears, but she was losing that battle, and Han smiled because it made him so relieved. "I love you, Leia Organa. You hear me? I love you. I'm crazy about you. So, now you don't have to hurt alone anymore 'cause I love you and I'm gonna' take care of you. That's what a relationship is. That's what's happened to us. It isn't just you, Princess. I'm carrying everything you're carrying."

It was the most intimate assurance he could have given her. Ever since Alderaan, Leia had insisted on carrying everything around her on her shoulders. Though, she hadn't had anyone else then to help her carry her grief and pain. But she had him now, and Han would make damn well sure she knew it. She would never have to carry anything on her own because he outright refused to let her.

He found her hand beneath the blankets, pulled it out into the open with his. Han threaded their fingers together and squeezed. He promised her, "We share everything now," and left a gentle kiss atop her head.

Leia raised their clasped hands to her lips and kissed his. From between trembling lips, she murmured, "I love you."

Han kissed away each salty tear, resolving to let things go for now. He was tired, she was tired, and he just wanted to hold her while he was home. So, he left it at that, promising her, "I know, Princess. Fierfek, I know."