Geesh! I can't believe how long it's been since I updated! I'm so sorry! I hope you're all still reading!
SailorLeia - Thank you so much! Wow! I didn't realize how funny it was! blushes You're so kind!
GreatOne - Thank you! It's my favorite chapter too.
Mousewolf - Yup. Random is my middle name. Um, sort of.
lolegolas - Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
Dovasary - 1. Ooh, congrats on your niece! Is she here already? I must admit that I wanted my sister to have a girl, but I love my nephew anyway! And thank you for saying that my characterizations were right on. That's what an author likes to hear! And I realize that you are both Dove and Dovasary - I was just kind of flighty when I wrote the responses, I think.
2. Thank you so much! Yup, I wanted to harm that book when I was reading it as well. Thank you for choosing my story as one of your faves!
CowgirlBlondie - Oh, wow! Congratulations on getting engaged! That's so exciting! And thank you so much for your review - I'm glad that you find it funny!
TheRealLeia - Yup, Han definitely looks quite intelligent in comparison to Prince Fabio. Sorry it's been so long in between chapters - I'll try to get better! And good luck with school! Rock on, Garth!
HannahSolo - Yeah, it's pretty mushy there for the first few chapters. But it gets funnier, or so I've been told.
Chapter 63
The next day (or the next morning…or the same morning)…
Han got out of bed and stretched his arms high above his head, attempting to loosen tired muscles. He felt worn-out and achy, and instantly wondered when he had become so out-of-shape. He didn't even remember doing any activity that could have caused such discomfort. He paused, and then recalled that he had carried a very pregnant Leia to the delivery room the day before. That wasn't exactly what one would call an ordinary occurrence.
Smiling, he looked to the bassinette and saw that Alden was still asleep, just like his mother. He saw the resemblance in their soft features, highlighted by the utter peace that sleep imposed. He assumed that most people would comment on the similarities between father and son in the future, but he knew that his son would always remind him of Leia.
He also recalled the bizarre occurrences of earlier that morning, and for a brief moment believed the whole mess to be a dream. It was not a dream this time, though, however he wished it had been. He shook his head and tried to block the assailing images of "Prince Fabio" from entering his consciousness, but the image was so strange and prevalent that it was an impossible feat. Hopefully either Leia or Alden would wake up soon and provide a much-appreciated distraction.
Han tiptoed out of the bedroom, carefully maneuvering around the bassinette, and released a sigh as he safely made it out of the room. He moved to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of kaffe, something that would be necessary in order to survive the day. He was about to take a swig of the beverage when someone knocked at the door. He jumped back, startled, and some of the hot liquid splashed on his shirt, causing considerable pain.
"Arrrghhh!" Han shouted, grabbing a towel and futilely trying to wipe the kaffe off. "Who the Sith is that? It'd better not be Fabio again!" he shouted at the mysterious figure outside the door.
"Who's Fabio?" the familiar voice of Luke returned.
"Oh, Luke!" Han said, relieved that it was his brother-in-law and not a self-absorbed, purple cape-wearing prince from an imaginary planet. He was still angry about the spilled kaffe, though.
He walked to the door, opened it, and was greeted with the excited face of his best (human) friend. Luke came forward and hugged Han, grinning.
"So, how was your first night as a father, Han?" Luke eagerly asked.
"Interesting is the best word to describe it, I guess."
"Interesting, huh?" Luke repeated. "Did you get any sleep?"
"Not really. The little guy woke up just after we went to bed. And then there was Fabio…"
"Who is Fabio?"
"It's a long story, and I don't know if I was hallucinating or not."
"You can tell me. I can listen as long as you want me to, and then I can decide whether you were 'hallucinating or not.'"
"No, you'll definitely think I was hallucinating after I tell you the story. Just wait until Leia wakes up, and then you can ask her who Fabio is."
Luke considered Han's words, and then nodded in agreement. He then tried to change the subject. "Is Alden awake?" he asked.
"No, not yet," Han replied. "Why did you come here so early, anyway? You didn't even tell us you were coming over."
"I wanted to see my new nephew, of course. And I wanted to surprise you guys. I assumed that you would all be awake by now."
"Well, you have no such luck, kid. You're stuck with me for a while."
Luke sighed dramatically. "That's too bad, since you know I hate you so much."
"I know. We just have to act nice to each other until Leia and Alden wake up. We don't want to wake them up with all our shouting, ya know," Han replied with a wink.
The two men went and sat on the couches and discussed their lives, focusing primarily on the subjects of Jedi matters and fatherhood. They did a remarkably good job pretending that they didn't hate each other. They talked for almost an hour before a radiant Leia entered the room with Alden.
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting to see this when I woke up," Leia commented, appraising the two chatting men seated on the couches.
Han and Luke turned their gazes up and smiled at her. Luke stood up and hugged her awkwardly, then looked down at his tiny nephew.
"Can you believe that he's actually here?" Luke asked, moving his forefinger across his nephew's cheek.
"No," she responded, focusing on her son's eyes, which he was valiantly trying to keep open. "I keep on forgetting that he's not inside me anymore. That I can't protect him by protecting myself."
"Don't worry, Leia. He'll be well protected. He's got his tough Jedi uncle," Luke replied.
Han snorted.
Luke turned around and glared at his brother-in-law. "What was that for?"
"Nothing, nothing," Han said, putting his hands up.
Luke rolled his eyes, trying to ignore his wisecracking friend, and looked for a new subject to discuss. "So Leia," he began, "who exactly was this Fabio?"
