The Millennium Falcon smelled. Old as it was, one could expect the smell of musk and the occasional fried circuit, but this smell was neither. The Millennium Falcon smelled…sterile. Leia claimed not to notice, but Han knew the Falcon better than anyone. Under his wife's care, his precious ship had become….clean.
That was not the only change. There were differences not so subtle. The considerable pile of medications on Han's bedside table was strange to the dynamic man who used to keep empty ale bottles one his bed stand. That was long ago…before Leia….barely. He imagined he had such things on his bed stand the moment when an old man and a young farmer stepped aboard his ship. Ah, the good old days.
"Han, are you awake?" Leia asked from above him.
"My eyes are closed, my breathing is slow…only you, Leia, would be able to see through my brilliant rouse to tell that I was indeed awake." Han rolled over on his back and opened his eyes "What is it, sweetheart?"
"We're getting close to the Eclipse" Leia said, smiling at his sarcasm, no matter how old, he was still Han. "Would you like to help me bring the Falcon in?"
"Help?" Han laughed, he had never 'helped' anyone bring the Falcon anywhere. Other people helped him. "I would love to help."
Han Solo got up and moved slowly as to keep pressure off his back. When he realized what set his pace, he sped up. As he entered the cockpit, he took the co-pilots seat. "Have you spoken to Luke recently?" He asked his wife.
"No, why?" Leia asked.
"I imagine Luke will want to speak with us about Jacen." Han said. "I imagine he'll want to know how we stand."
"Jacen is endangering the jedi. If the republic feels threatened, there's no telling what they'll do to the order." Leia mused. "As far as Luke wondering where we stand…Where do we stand?"
"With the republic, where else?"
"You're right" Leia said quietly "With the republic indeed."
"Luke, come to bed" Mara Jade Skywalker requested into her pillow. "You're keeping me up."
"I'm not making any noise, how on earth could I be keeping you up"
"Physically, yes, your quiet." Mara sighed. "But that doesn't mean I'm not troubled by what you're thinking."
"I'll be right to bed, I think I'll send a message to Leia first" Luke got up from where he had been sitting on the bed he shared with his wife aboard her ship and walked over to the holo recorder.
"That's a good idea" Mara said, sitting up in bed. "I'd like to know if they made it to the Eclipse yet."
"I don't understand why they chose the Eclipse for some time alone" Luke mused "It's been almost completely abandoned.
"If they want to be alone, there's no place better."
"Even so, perhaps they would like some company."
"What are you thinking?"
Luke flipped on the holo recorder.