Chapter 3: A Tiresome Journey
After receiving clearance from Leia's doctor, Han Solo found himself being hustled into an awaiting air speeder; bags packed and ready to go on holiday. Soon after, and his wife clambered into the open-topped speeder then shuffled up and snuggled up beside him.
She looked up at him with a wide and beaming smile on her face. "I love you, you know?"
"I know. But why do you say it now?"
She rested her head against his shoulder then replied affectionately, "Well, you went to all the trouble of booking us a holiday, and I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate it!"
"Well." He leaned in towards her, the times when she thought he looked the most handsome. "I know one way you can show your affection to me."
Their lips met in a gentle, playful kiss, which was rudely interrupted by a crude comment, "Eew! Mum, Dad, please don't do that in public! It's yucky!"
The pair looked behind them to see their, recently returned from the Jedi Academy, daughter who was currently heavily pregnant with her first baby, the first Solo grand child!
"Oh come on, Nikkotia, grow up. Anyway, how's our first grand child doing?"
"Fine thanks, Dad. But it would be better if she didn't have to feel you two all over each other through the Force!"
"So, you're certain she's Force-Sensitive?" Leia asked, peering over her husband's shoulder.
"Yep. Uncle Luke certainly thinks so." She shuddered slightly, and then caught a glance from her dad as she felt his eyes burning upon her. "Yes, Dad. Don't worry you can meet the baby's father soon."
He pulled on a startled expression and innocently mouthed "Me?" as he pointed at himself, which only caused him to receive a swot on the shoulder from Leia.
He turned himself back around and noticed that the rest of his family were now entering the air-taxi.
Luke, Mara and Ben entered first, filling up the back row of seats. Then secondly, his youngest son, Anakin Solo took the seats next to Leia and himself with his new girlfriend, Myri Antilles. With all of the available seats now filled, as Jag Fel and Jaina were quick to fill up the last two in the spacious passenger compartment, Jacen was forced to sit next to the driver. He was reluctant to do so, but did so without complaint.
Swivelling back around, he found Leia giving him a warm smile. He raised an eyebrow. "What have I done now?!"
"Nothing. Well, nothing bad anyway!" She linked her arm through his. "I just wanted to thank you for doing this, arranging a holiday. I really appreciate it! All that stuff with the Senate just got to my head.
"And it's nice to see you have a caring side!"
"Thanks, Sweetheart," he replied, a little too sardonically. "Thanks for the compliment, I do try you know."
"I know you do; most of the time." She kissed him on the cheek. "And that's why I wanted to say thanks!"
She leaned her head against his shoulder once more, and he rested his head atop hers. He gazed over at his eldest son, Jacen, who was trying to show the driver, a Mon Calamari, a shorter route to the spaceport on a holo-map on the piloting console. The driver turned a half-gaze towards him, after getting extremely frustrated with the young man trying to talk to him, he swatted his hand away and muttered a deep growl in a language that Han did not speak, but he could tell it was a threat. Jacen yelped in pain in unison with his twin-sister Jaina. They still hadn't grown out of their strong connection yet, which Han had to admit he was glad to see.
In the following commotion that ensued, Han took a deep breath and leaned back against his chair. Too tired to bother to sort it out, he allowed himself to drift off into a deep sleep. After all, it was a long way to the spaceport!
