Hey, everyone! Thank you all for your well-wishing; I had a very good time on my trip, thank you. Sorry for the delay - I just got a new computer, and I've been pretty busy, but you guys are wonderful and inspired me to figure out how in the heck to use the new programs and post more chapters. Sorry about not getting responses up, but all your comments are very, very much appreciated, and if any of you had questions I'll get to them as soon as possible. Enjoy this sappy chapter!

Chapter 59

A nurse cleaned the baby off, and proceeded to place the baby boy in his mother's arms. His parents looked at him with all the wonderment attached to the sight of their first, newborn child. They could not believe how small his fingers were, the lightness of his weight, or the perplexity of his features that they had not before believed possible. He seemed so fragile yet so strong, a paradox that they would probably never quite comprehend. And he looked so beautiful that the two of them had a hard time keeping tears from escaping their eyes and trailing down their cheeks. Their efforts proved futile, and wetness appeared on the faces of the two tough warriors. They did not care, however, as they gazed upon the remarkable features of the life that they had created.

Leia cradled her son close to her, reveling in the feeling of holding in her arms the life she had sheltered in her body for over nine months. She could not speak; words seemed meaningless at this moment. She stared at her son, barely blinking, and then looked over at Han with wide eyes. She saw the dampness on his cheeks, and the intensity of the stare that he was directing upon their child. She turned his chin toward her, and she saw that none of the intensity left his stare as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you," he stated simply, and kissed her. She gave in to the kiss, barely having enough strength left inside of her to respond in kind. The kiss was unlike any they had shared before. It was as if a piece that neither of them had known was missing was now in place, and they were complete.

Han pulled away so they could both return their attentions to their son. The passion lingered in his gaze. Before Leia would turn the whole of her attentions to her baby, however, she had to speak her thoughts.

"I know you love me, Han. And of course I love you too. Seeing our baby just…" she began, but stopped as her feelings became too strong to communicate.

"I know exactly how you feel, Leia," he replied.

Leia met his gaze again, and knew that he needed to hold their baby just as much as she did. She tenderly and carefully placed their son in Han's arms. Han looked unsure as she made the motion, but as soon as the baby was in his arms he felt more at peace, more at home in the galaxy than he had ever felt. He remembered his past, his days of living in the streets and smuggling, and thanked the Force, the Corellian Gods, everything for the good fortune that had so graciously been bestowed upon him. He vowed from that moment forth that his son would never be like he had been. His son would never grow up feeling unwanted, would never shut himself out from the world, and would never have to hide his feelings. His son would appreciate the life that had been given to him, and would be free to do whatever he wanted to with it. Han vowed to do everything in his power to protect, care for, and love his son. He would show his son the galaxy, and would be the man that his son could look up to - the man who had never been there for him. As these self-avowals and thoughts danced through his head, Han held his son to his chest and felt the soft heartbeat that beat so rhythmically. This was his son, and the thought filled his soul with gratitude and love.

"What should we name him?" Han asked suddenly.

"I have no idea. None of the names we thought of seem to fit him. I'm sure it will come to us eventually, though."

"I sure hope so. Otherwise he might end up being 'Han Solo Jr.' and I'm sure the galaxy wouldn't want that."

"No. I don't think the galaxy's ready for two Han Solos. Not that it would be a bad thing, though."

"I dunno. I don't want him to be like me. Maybe he could be 'Leio Solo' in the hopes that he'll turn out to be like his mother."

"I really hope you're kidding."

"Of course. No son of mine is going to have the name 'Leio.' I do want him to be like you, though."

Leia merely smiled at him, not wanting the conversation to turn into a contest over who could flatter the other more. She decided to change the subject.

"Why don't we have Luke and the others come in?"

Han nodded, and cautiously gave his son back to Leia. With a quick look back at Leia and their son, he proceeded to the waiting room to get their friends and family and tell them the wonderful news.