You Have My Eyes, You Have Your Father's Name

Leia closed her eyes for a moment as the front door slid closed behind her, and gave herself a moment to just be home. She could smell dinner cooking - Alderaanian food for the end of the work week. She could hear the holo blaring with children's programs. Every light in the house seemed to be unnecessarily switched on, and there was a tottering pile of coats, shoes, hats and socks by the doorway. She smiled and made her way down the hall, slipping her shoes off and neatly putting them away before hanging her coat up.

Stepping into the kitchen, she wrapped her arms around Han's middle from behind as he stood at the stove.

Han jumped a little, then said, "Hey," as smoothly as he could manage. "Didn't hear you come in."

She hummed and pressed a kiss between his shoulders. "Didn't mean to scare you. Is Ben watching the holo?"

"I think so. He's been kinda quiet. Didn't want to talk about his day. I asked a few questions but…" he shrugged. "No luck."

Leia sighed. It had been happening a bit. Ben would come home from school in a mood, but wouldn't tell anyone, not even Chewie, what was wrong. He'd keep to himself, hide in his room, pick at his dinner, and refuse to talk.

It wasn't all that surprising. Both of his parents had proved to be verifiable durasteel traps under interrogation, Imperial or otherwise, so there was no reason Ben would be any different.

"I'll give it a go."

Han nodded and dipped a spoon into the pan, holding it up to her. "Taste this first. It's a new one."

Leia smiled, moving around his side and leaning into him. She took the spoon into her mouth and hummed, closing her eyes. "My Gramma used to make this, Han. It tastes the same."

Han grinned. "I made flatbread to go with it but I think I did it a bit Kashyyykian," he said, a little sheepish.

Leia leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Don't tell my constituents. But I prefer Kashyyykian flatbread."

Han laughed and kissed her, cradling her face with his free hand for a moment. "Go talk to the kid."

Leia nodded, standing on her toes to give him one last kiss before heading to the living room. The couch was empty, as was Ben's favourite spot on the rug in front of the holo screen.

She frowned slightly, and turned the holo off, slowly making her way down the hallway and eventually finding their six-year-old in the 'fresher.

He was standing up on a small footstool so he could see his reflection in the mirror above the sink.

"Hi, honey," Leia said, leaning in the doorway. "Daddy's making Alderaanian for dinner. You getting hungry?"

Ben shrugged, not looking away from his reflection.

"Is everything okay?" Leia asked softly, making her way over to him and touching his shoulder.

Ben nodded stiffly, clenching his little fists by his sides.

"Ben," Leia said softly, combing her fingers through his hair. "You know you can tell me and Dad anything at all. We won't be mad or upset. We just want to help you."

The little boy bit his lip. "Why are my ears so big?" He asked quietly, still staring at them in the mirror.

Leia frowned. "What do you mean?" She couldn't pretend she didn't know. Han had been light-heartedly joking about it for years. But they'd never said anything to Ben about them, and they really loved them. They were adorable.

"They're big and they stick out, Mama. Ronar at school says I look like a gundark," he said, tugging at his ears.

Leia sighed. "You don't look like a gundark, baby. Your ears are just one part of you. They go with all the other parts to make you Ben."

Ben frowned. "I hate them."

"Oh, love, don't say that," Leia said, pulling him to her chest. "I love every single part of you. I love your beautiful curly hair, and your hands that are so good at drawing and fixing things, and your ears that sometimes forget to listen to me, and your clever mind that's always thinking about flying even when it should be thinking about school."

Ben cracked a smile and let her hold him.

"I love your eyes the best," Han said from the doorway.

"Why?" Ben asked, looking at his reflection and squinting a little.

"Cause they're just like your Ma's. They say you're not gonna let anyone push you around, and you're gonna love people real hard."

Ben smiled brightly, looking at Leia's eyes, then back at his own in the mirror. "They are the same. What do I have of yours, Dad?"

"You've got my whole face, kid," Han chuckled, but Ben looked unconvinced, so he thought for a moment. "You've got my name," he said, wrapping an arm around him. "I never thought anyone would have my name."

"Solo," Ben smiled.

Han nodded and held him close.

"You've got your Daddy's heart too," Leia said, slipping herself into their cuddle and kissing the top of Ben's head. "I love that about you both."