A/n: A ton-ton is the animal that Luke and Han rode in the beginning of Empire Strikes Back. Both of theirs died. And Winter is Leia's handmaid of sorts from the books.

Clandestine Moments---

VIII: The Before-Time

Behind the closed door a little boy sat with his hands over his eyes. His chubby little fingers twitched involuntarily as the suspense got to him. A grin brightened his face as he giggled at everything and nothing really at all.

"Where's my Anakin?"

A blue eye peeked out from behind his coverage and then shut itself tight.

"No see Ani!" he screeched happily. "No see Ani, Mama!"

Leia smiled at her son's playful games. Hiding was his favorite, though she couldn't bring herself to tell him that just because he couldn't see her, she could still see him. His toddler mind wasn't that developed yet.

Grabbing his hands, she pulled his fingers away from his face. Immediately his eyes opened and he laughed loudly at his mother.

"Got you!" Leia reached for Anakin and picked him up, holding him at arm's length above her body as she fell back against the soft mattress.

"Fly, Mama, fly!"

She gently swayed the boy around in the air until her arms were tired, and then she gently landed him on the bed. His face was red with giggles and smiles, and his eyes were bright with happiness.

"If only things could stay just like this," she sighed.

Anakin pounded his hands on the bed, bored with the lack of amusement.

"Play, Mama!"

"Baby, I'm tired now," she grinned. "Mama needs rest."

"Now I won't take that as an excuse later," Han said as he entered the room.

"I wasn't expecting you back until later this afternoon," Leia said as Han threw himself face first down beside her.

"Da!" Anakin wailed excitedly. He then began to climb onto his father's back like he was a pack animal.

"Ton!" he shouted, bouncing up and down. Han gave Leia a questioning look.

"Luke's been showing the kids picture stories again," she explained. "He must think you're a ton-ton."

"I'm gonna have to have a talk with your brother," he murmured.

"Let the kids have their fun," Leia said. "It won't be long before before they're be putting together their own lightsabers and rushing off to defend the galaxy."

"Let's get them through primary school first."

"Where are the twins, anyway?"

"Winter took them up to the terrace for a walk," Han yawned. "Shoulda sent Anakin with them."

"He's getting tired," Leia noticed.

Anakin's eyes had begun to droop and his actions had slowed. Instead of the bouncing child, he sat on his father's back, drawing little circles with his fingers. Leia pulled him down and laid him on the bed. He fussed at being moved, but closed his eyes and resigned himself to sleep.

"My sleepy little Jedi," Leia said, running her fingers through his soft hair.

"And my sleepy pilot," she chuckled, leaning over to kiss Han's forehead.

And then there was a sleepy Alderaanian princess and a sleepy afternoon spent quietly napping together.

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a/n: It's been a while since I've written a chapter for this story, but the idea came to me while in class. I thought it was cute.

And now, a word if you don't mind. I just don't think it's fair that I get let's say a hundred hits for a story and only five reviews. What's the deal? If you're reading this then it's your duty! You're gonna find yourself out of stuff to read if you guys don't pick up the good comments on stories that are deserving (and not deserving) of the reviews.

Humor me and clicky clicky that little button at the bottom. We'll all be a lot happier if you do.

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