"Are you sure Finn's all right? He's very welcome to join us." Leia asked.
"He's fine. He's going to go through the recording so far, while we eat. He prefers his own lunch. Allergies." Opi explained. They had moved through to the kitchen, sitting across from one another at the table. "So, you've been through counselling." She noted, plucking a meat canape from a plate and popping it in her mouth. "Can't say I'm surprised."
"Oh, I think you might be." Leia mumbled.
"I know it's been said already, but it must have been a huge shock to you discovering who your birth father was." Opi said, selecting another canape, examining it then slipping it between her lips.
"Han raped me." Leia said simply.
Opi's mouth stopped moving, the canape poised between her back molars, waiting to be crushed. Eyelids raised until Opi's dark irises focused on the petite woman opposite. "I'm sorry..." Opi spluttered a half-laugh. "I thought you said..."
"Han raped me." Leia repeated.
Opi straightened, gaped, then shook her head. "Wow! I was not expecting that." She admitted.
"Me either." Leia stated, then inhaled and smiled. "You want a drink?" Without waiting for a reply Leia went to the refrigeration unit and returned with a bottle of what Opi recognised as an expensive vintage. Leia poured them a liberal glass each before Opi could protest too strongly.
"I don't usually. Not at lunchtime at least, and never during an interview." Opi commented.
"Me either." Leia said, chinking her glass against Opi's. "Your health." Leia let the wine linger around every crevice of her mouth before she swallowed and exhaled, her eyes closed appreciatively. When her eyes opened, Opi staring at her. "Corellian courage!" Leia said, tilting her glass toward Opi.
"He raped you." Opi checked, still unsure she'd heard correctly.
"Han's not given to violence against women, sexual or otherwise. But things had been spiralling downwards for a while before it culminated in that incident." Leia clarified.
"But he..." Opi repeated, looking confused. Leia's smile was sympathetic.
"The children were growing into young adults, the New Republic was stable and Han and I felt we were at a place in our lives where we might be able to love and care for another child. Han would never admit to it but he longed for a 'normal' kid, one who wasn't force-sensitive, one he could relate to. Although we had no guarantee another pregnancy would result in a straight forward, non-force-sensitive infant, we started trying for a baby." Leia licked her lips and took another sip of her wine. "Hannay was premature at seven months and stillborn. Losing her was where things started to unravel for us. I know he'd deny it, but I'm certain he felt I should have realised something was wrong. I mean, I'm a woman. And it's not like I didn't know what having a baby was like."
Opi was nodding slowly. "I remember the newscasts covering the...accident I seem to remember it being called."
"Hannay was the catalyst. Her loss opened the door and we walked straight through, though not necessarily in the same direction." Leia explained. "We threw ourselves into our respective work, avoided talking about the stillbirth of our daughter and without really knowing it, started drifting apart. By the time the Yuuzhan Vong had a foot-hold in our quadrant of the Galaxy we were already sleep-walking toward our own personal disaster. Then, came Sernpidal."
"Sernpidal. Planet in the Outer Rim. Destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong." Opi recalled from the news reports of the time.
"Han, his co-pilot Chewbacca and our youngest son set out to evacuate as many inhabitants as possible. Chewbacca died. Saving our son." Leia told Opi, her tone turning sombre. "Han and Chewie were...inseparable. Their relationship went deeper than friendship, deeper than love even. Losing him...for Han it was like losing a part of himself." Leia topped up their wine glasses and took another drink. "We endured weeks, months, of his descent. I did what I could to protect the children, even sending them to train with Luke just to get them out from under his drunken rages. Well, except for Jacen." Leia smiled, in spite of her memories. "Dear, sweet, loving Jacen wouldn't give up on his father, nor would he leave me to face Han's wrath alone. He remained at home, acting as Han's co-pilot and protecting us both as best he could. One night Han came home, drunk almost out of his mind. And that's when it happened. That's when he raped me."
Leia took another drink, a small one, then pushed the glass aside. She enjoyed the odd glass of wine, she couldn't deny the fact. But drinking just so the words didn't taste like bile in her mouth wasn't really her style. "He didn't remember a thing about it in the morning of course. After that, he as good as moved out. He took one charter after another, each one longer than the last. I thought it was best to let him go, and figured he'd come back to me when he was ready. It never occurred to me that it was probably the worst thing I could have done. Then the Vong incursions spread into the Core and my role took me to work with the Refugee Council in the Duro System."
"That's where you were attacked. Came close to losing your life as I recall." Opi said.
"You have no idea." Leia agreed. "But to conclude the story, I recovered thanks to Han's considerable help. We reconciled, but in order for us to move forward I felt we needed to seek professional guidance."
"A counsellor." Opi realised.
"A sex therapist, according to Han. Can you imagine the humiliation? For a Corellian!" Leia asked with a wry grin. "You think Jorge Lukash could make a holomovie out of that little nugget from the Organa-Solo vault?"
"I doubt it's really his style." Opi laughed, then took another canape. "Do you ever...you and Han, do you...talk about that night?"
"It stayed between us for a long time. But no, we don't dwell on it any more." Leia replied.
Opi studied the woman sat across from her. The woman who had once led the Galaxy; the woman who had just revealed possibly the most intensely personal piece of her history to someone who amounted to a perfect stranger. "May I ask you something Leia?" She queried, waiting for Leia's light nod before continuing. "Why did you tell me all of that?"
"You asked if life was good and for the most part it has been. But I just wanted you to know, it wasn't always like that. We've had as many 'downs' as we've had 'ups' and we've come through them because of one thing: Love." Leia stated.
"Maybe that's where we pick up; I'll ask you if life is good." Opi suggested.
Leia shook her head. "I don't want it recorded. I won't have Han seen in that light."
"I'm only going to ask the question Leia. How you choose to answer is up to you." Opi stated.
xxxxxxxxxx
After a suitable break, Leia and Opi returned to the living room and resettled themselves while Finn checked he was receiving an appropriate level of feedback. Holding his thumb and forefinger in a wide 'O', he indicated they were good to recommence the interview. Taking a steadying breath, Leia acknowledged Finn with a smile.
"You spoke of ups and downs Leia, I suppose the majority of my viewers imagine you to have lived a life of luxury." Opi said.
"Actually, Han and I have mostly lived a fairly simple life." Leia replied. "There were official dinners of course, all of which Han hated attending, but as a couple we lived between an apartment close to the Senate Hall and the Falcon. I had little in the way of possessions and the Falcon was pretty much the only thing Han owned outright."
"Surely you still had your father's fortune." Opi said.
"A great deal was accessed to fund first the Alliance and then the New Republic but yes, there was still some in the coffers. Most of which we placed in trust for our childrens' futures." Leia replied.
"You funded the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic?" Opi questioned.
"Well, not I alone." Leia explained. "During the Rebellion I relied upon sympathetic bankers to find ways of accessing Royal accounts. Additionally, I'd canvas support from wealthy benefactors prepared to finance our efforts whilst remaining anonymous. After the fall of the Empire, I was able to legitimately claim the Organa 'fortune', or what was left of it."
"What was the first thing you bought with it?" Opi asked, mischievously.
"Our own apartment." Leia replied. "Our first land-based home on Coruscant was inside the Senate Building and allocated by the Housing Committee. It suited our purpose, but it wasn't really our own. After father's legacy came through we searched for and found an apartment that was close to the Senate for me, and near enough to the port for Han."
"No new starship for Han?" Opi queried.
Leia laughed. "Han Solo wouldn't part with the Falcon if his life depended on it! He's more in love with that ship than he ever was with me. I'm under no illusions there!"
"And married life, that suited you?" Opi asked.
"I think...I think it did, yes." Leia agreed. "Han and I were looking for different things from our relationship. Han, I think, wanted a firm commitment. He'd..well, he'd been let down in the past and most of his relationships after that were somewhat fleeting."
Well that's one way to describe them. Leia thought.
"While I was used to being a part of the whole, for Han it took a little adjustment. Quite a little adjustment. But he's not a man to give in easily. That's another of his Corellian traits." Leia said.
"You settle into married life. You have your work." Opi edged back toward her point. "Then along came your children."
"Ahuh." Leia agreed. "Caught us both napping I'm afraid. The twins weren't a conscious effort, neither was their brother. I had two pregnancies, both technically unplanned, and three children under the age of one. There were times when I did not feel like I was living the dream." Leia laughed, then turned reflective. "The children grew so quickly. Before I had chance to take a breath they'd turned one and then two, then three. I was working flat out with Mon Mothma and others to re-establish a New Republic. Han, bless him, took to fatherhood like a Tandrill to water. The children were, oh I don't know, nine maybe when we decided we'd like another child. Of course, we argued over the timing of that until I guess fate stepped in once again. All three children and Han came down with pierpox and had to be quarantined." Leia shook her head. "I thought Han was going to go stir-crazy being cooped up in the apartment. Turned out he was actually quite good at being the patient, especially when it came to me mopping his fevered brow. I'm pretty sure that's when I conceived for the third time."
"There were no residual effects from the infection?" Opi asked.
"None. All my tests were clear and...and the pregnancy continued normally. Whatever normal is since every pregnancy is different." Leia said, swallowing. "I was around seven months when I went into slow labour. I'd had a few twinges, nothing different from my previous pregnancies however. Some spotting, though again, nothing I hadn't experienced before. By the time I went to seek medical advice I was past the point of no return. All they could do was make me as comfortable as possible while I delivered my baby stillborn."
Leia sat quietly, recalling the birth through every painful moment only to be left cradling her dead baby and insisting that she..and everything..was going to be all right.
"We knew we were having a girl. We also knew she wasn't force-sensitive. Han..." Leia smiled weakly, her eyes watery. "Han was over the moon at the prospect of having another daughter to dote on. Knowing the sex meant we could plan ahead. We'd decorated the baby's room, picked and kitted out her crib, we'd even settled on a name; Hannay."
"Take a moment if you want." Opi suggested.
Leia shook her head again, her smile brightening. "You asked earlier if life was good. Well, I can honestly say that if I had to list the good things and the bad things side by side, the good would be longer. But that day, holding our baby that was never going to be, that was closest to the darkest we'd ever known. I learned early on to be strong. I've always felt the tiniest recollection of my birth mother; nothing physical, it's not like I could describe her, but I always had a sense of the woman she was. My adoptive mother, Breha, died when I was just an infant but I remember every aching moment of father's grief and the strength I had to show in his times of deep anguish. I lost Alderaan, my people, my friends, my family. I lost countless comrades and good, good friends during the Rebellion. I know pain, both physical and emotional. But nothing compares to the empty vacuum left by the loss of a child..." Leia gasped, her lower lip trembling. "I'm sorry...I'm...I just need a minute." Leia stated, struggling to regain her composure.
"It's okay honey." Opi soothed, caressing Leia's hand. "Take as much time as you need. Then, what say we change the subject."
"No. No, I want to go on." Leia insisted. "I need for people to understand..."
"Understand what honey?" Opi asked.
What indeed. Leia thought.
"That I'm only flesh and blood, same as them." Leia confessed. "After the 'big reveal' of my birth father's identity, I was stripped of all dignity. Everything I'd done, everything I'd worked for was swept aside and I was simply Darth Vader's daughter. I moved here not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Because to remain on Coruscant would be untenable. And I've made a good life here. Mostly, like so much of my life, because of Han. Because through it all, he's been there by my side, holding me aloft." Leia breathed through her distress. "Han and I, we started to lose ourselves after Hannay. Then there was the Yuuzhan Vong and the Hell it brought to our doors. The bitter irony is, that was what brought us back together."
"Do you want to talk about that time?" Opi asked.
Did she? Leia wondered.
"A lot happened." Leia answered. "I'm sure you won't mind if I paraphrase."
Opi's smile acknowledged her understanding and Leia described in detail all of her injuries following the Yuuzhan Vong attack on her, and the treatment regime she had to endure to reach a point where her physicians could be confident she would not lose her legs.
She went on to recount the extended period of physical therapy she had to face and how Han had been by her side throughout. "If it hadn't been for Han's continuous encouragement, I would have given up." Leia said, shaking her head. "The pain was excruciating. The lack of progress seemed endless. I hit rock bottom more times in that period than at any time in my life before."
"But you fought on." Opi pointed out.
"I had no choice. I had Han in my ear day and night and without working legs I had no way to get away from him!" Leia smiled through her pursed lips. "Han...Han was more than just my rock. He was my wings too."
The memory came back instantly.
Physical therapy had left Leia achingly exhausted and foul-tempered with it. Han had tightened the brace at her left ankle where it had come loose and was encouraging her to take hold of the walker to aide her in the exercises he was helping her complete each and every night.
….. "Whenever you're ready. No rush. The Dreadnaughts ain't playin' 'til late tonight." He said.
Dark eyes, beneath dark lashes looked up at him darkly. "I already told you, no." She declared through gritted teeth.
Her nostrils were flaring. Han liked it when they did that. It meant she'd still got that fighting spirit.
"You can take them off." She spoke again through her teeth, head bobbing towards the callipers she wore.
Han bent and tightened the right brace a little also. "There. How's that?" He asked.
"I said. Take. Them. Off!" She glared.
From his place perched on one knee at her feet he visually examined the callipers. "They look about right. Whatcha say honey? To the 'fresher an' back?" He queried.
Leia exhaled. "I'm not doing this tonight Han. I don't have the strength."
"Ya givin' up on me Princess? Thought you were stronger than that." He goaded.
Her hand, when it struck his cheek, was hard and forceful and every bit as sweet as he had expected it to be. "You have no idea how strong I am!" She snarled.
"I know how strong you used to be. Back before you let the Vong drain the life outta ya." He said. He knew he was pushing her, too far possibly, but he also knew he had to try.
She slapped his face again just as hard as the last time, his cheek stinging from the blow.
"You do that one more time sweetheart..." He threatened. "And so help me, I swear..." Her hand connected with his cheek a third time, every bit as hard as the first two.
Han shot instantly to his feet. Leia may have expected him to lash out at her, she may have thought he would strike her as she had struck him. Whatever it was she considered his reaction might be, her chin remained jutting angrily and defiantly in his direction.
Han simply exhaled, all appearance of fury gone. Slowly, he stepped to Leia's side and sank onto the bed next to her. Staring off into the distance he could hear Leia's deep breathing, her attempts to calm her temper. The bed shook from her tremble.
"You tired sweetheart? I know I am." He drawled. "I'm tired of all the effort for next to no return. Tired o' getting you up an' bathed an' dressed. Tired o' getting you to your physical therapy an' back. Tired o' watchin' you clang about in those braces that're s'posed to be helpin' but let's face it, they're just a waste o' time too. Tired, tired, tired." Han let his forearms drop to rest against his thighs, head drooping in surrender.
Leia continued to breathe, continued to control her frame of mind until she was calm enough to speak. "I'm tired of hurting all of the time. I'm tired of waking up spent from whatever sleep I do manage and not feeling like I rested at all. I'm tired of relying on someone to do something for me all of the time and feeling like that is never going to end. I'm tired of waiting for news of our children, fighting a war we should be fighting but we're not because we can't because I'm stuck here like some miserable invalid and you're stuck here being the miserable invalid's primary care giver!" Han chuckled at that. "And I'm tired of feeling scared." Leia admitted softly.
"Scared of what sweetheart?" Han asked, equally softly.
"That I really don't have the strength." She finally confessed. "That the Vong really did drain all the life out of me.." She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "..and that knowing the pain of the last few months would be nothing compared to the pain of losing you." There. She'd said it. Laid her soul bare before him to do with as he saw fit.
Han heard the words, letting them sink in before sitting upright and looking at her. "Why the kriff would you think you were going to lose me?" He asked eventually.
"I..I haven't been the easiest to get along with recently." She admitted.
Han bellowed a laugh. "You ain't been the easiest to get along with period!" He exclaimed.
"Great choice of words!" Leia said, trying without success to sniff back a tear. Her eyes glanced his way, nervously. "My cycle, it came during physical therapy." She sniffed.
"Well, that's good, isn't it? First one since you were attacked, must mean your insides are recovering." He said, jovially.
"Means one more thing for you to have to deal with. As if I don't give you enough already." She scoffed.
"Heck, I already wipe your ass for you, you think a little sanitary-wear is gonna send me into a tail-spin?" He said. Tentatively, he reached out to take her hand and lay it between both of his. "Honey, tell me what it is you want."
"I want this to be over." She said, sweeping her free hand in an arc indicating their current situation. "I want to feel..'normal'..again."
"You know, one of the ways of makin' that happen is by doin' your exercises." He pointed out.
"I know." She closed her eyes, accepting the inevitable.
"But, you know what else? I don't think one night is going to make that much difference." He decided. Releasing her hand he dropped to his knees to release the clips on her braces and, carefully easing them from her aching limbs, kicked them aside.
"Thank you." She breathed, relief etched across her face.
"You feel up to a bath?" He asked, that quirky smile on his face. "'Cos I was thinkin', maybe a soak might be nice. I could wash your hair, you know, like I used to when we were first married. Then I could help you get dry, change your..you know, your sanitary-wear..and you could put on that nice fluffy robe Jaina bought you when you got outta the medical centre. We could share a take-out while the Dreadnaughts get slaughtered again. Some nice comfort food might even make the defeat taste sweeter. Whatcha say?"
"A bath would be nice. The robe too." She agreed. "But if you want to know the truth, when it comes to comfort food I find your eggs are just about the best in the Galaxy."
"Well all-right!" He grinned. "I'll go run the water."
Leia watched him go to the en suite 'fresher. It hurt to lean too far but if she was careful how she placed her weight she could just about make out his shape, standing over the bathtub, rubbing an exhausted hand over his equally exhausted eyes. They were both bone-weary from the relentless round of physical therapy, medical appointments and home exercises. Sometimes, she wished she'd been allowed to die and relieve him of this burden.
"Hey, you know what?" She called. "That take-out might be a better plan. I mean, your eggs, they are the best, but if we call it through after the bath, it'll be delivered about the time we're both ready to eat."
"You're sure now? 'Cos I don't mind makin' you eggs?" He called back. His shadow was upright, hands planted on hips. Was he mad she'd changed her mind? Or glad he wasn't going to have to cook?
"I'm sure. No cooking. No washing up. Of course, I'm sure." She called back.
"Take-out it is." He agreed. She watched him bend and set the water running before he returned to the bedroom. "You want those smelly noodles? I know you like 'em." He said.
"It's Semelie." She laughed. "And they'd be great, but only if you want them too."
"I want what you want." He replied.
"Han..." Leia reached a desperate hand in his direction.
"Hon! What is it? What's wrong?" Han flew to her side, grasping her hand urgently.
She was shaking her head at him. "There's nothing wrong. I just wanted you to stop a minute." She said.
"There's water running, you know." He reminded her.
"This won't take a moment." Leia said, tugging him to sit beside her. "I just wanted you to know, I'm sorry, and I'm not giving up. I can't promise I won't feel like this again, but I'll do my best not to drag you along in my wake."
Han's smile crawled his cheek and hugged it. "What say we ditch the repulsor chair tonight. I got arms, I can carry you, huh?" He suggested …..
"So we did." Leia told Opi. "Han carried me to the 'fresher, helped me bathe and then dress as he had promised. He called through our order and carried me to the living room to watch his team lose at smashball. Again. They always lose and Han always watches them while they do it. It was the last time I fought with him over my exercises and also the last cycle I had for three more months. But Han was right, it was a sign that my insides were recovering which is why, when we were least expecting it, I conceived Jorj."
"I know that wasn't without its tragedies, but would you like to tell us about Jorj?" Opi asked. This was going to be the end of her interview. There was much more she wanted to discuss, but this meeting had intended to delve into Leia as a woman, not as a leader of either the Rebellion or the New Republic.
"Jorj..." Leia chuckled. "Ah...he is like a breath of fresh air in our lives..."
Opi arched an eyebrow in enquiry.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Shot you!" Opi exclaimed.
"By accident." Leia clarified. "Long story short, it probably precipitated Jorj's birth. After the best part of seven months of discussions and debates we finally managed to find an apartment we both agreed on and were in the process of moving. Everything was packed and en route to the new apartment, Han went to bring the 'speeder around while I sort of said goodbye to the apartment. It was such an emotional journey. That apartment had been ours, although Han always thought of it as mine to start with, for twenty years. Through all the fights and all the making up. Through three children's births and one child's loss. And being force-sensitive I could feel it all, in every room I walked through there were memories and oh so much more. Then, in what had been Anakin's room, I felt this searing pain. A couple of hours later, I was at the medical centre watching our baby boy through the an incu-crib."
"And they told you, right off, that he might not make it through the night." Opi queried.
Leia nodded, adding. "If he survived the night, there was a chance he'd survive another. Then maybe a week, a month..a year.. I maintained my faith that Jorj was meant to be in the same way that Hannay hadn't. He's twelve now, with the body of a twelve year old boy edging toward manhood. He has his loves; his whisperkits, glowfish and more recently a gossimer. He hopes to have a family of his own one day, though whilst his body continues to grow and mature, his mind will remain pre-pubescent forever. I worry, how he'll find someone to love him when outwardly he appears to be a man but inwardly he's no more than a child. And I fear for his future, when Han and I are no longer here to care for or protect him. But for now...I love every moment he's with us; every time he cuddles me just because he knows sometimes I need a cuddle or encourages me to pet his 'kits or his gossimer because he knows they give me comfort."
"He also bakes pretty good cookies." Opi laughed.
"A little too often!" Leia laughed, patting her stomach and sucking in a deep breath as an airspeeder sputtered noisily to a stop out front. "Han's teaching Jorj to fly." Leia explained, with a wry smile. "He's not quite got the hang of a smooth stop yet."
"I guess we should wrap things up here." Opi suggested. "You know what I'm going to say."
Another interview. Leia thought. "Yes, I know. I'll contact your studio." She agreed.
Opi called Finn to cease his recording and start packing away his equipment as an excited Jorj skipped into the living room, his face lit by a huge grin.
"What have you been up to Jorj Bailey Solo?" Leia asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"I got something. Wanna guess?" Jorj beamed.
"I'd rather you just told me." Leia said. His grin never wavering, Jorj shifted his jacket aside and pulled a snowy white gossimer kitten from inside. "Jorj!" Leia exclaimed and scowled at Han who was entering the living room whilst rubbing at the back of his neck.
"I need ya to work on that throttle son." Han groaned.
"I thought we agreed, no more pets! He's supposed to be starting school again next week." Leia admonished Han.
"Tell him, not me." Han countered and Leia turned her glare from her husband to her son.
"You wanna hold her?" Jorj asked, thrusting the gossimer into his mother's arms. Leia sighed as she accepted the ball of fluff which mewled at her touch. There was no doubt, the gossimer had an instant calming effect. While Leia was stroking the feline, Han leaned forward to whisper something in Jorj's ear. The boy giggled causing Leia to look up with a wary eye.
"What's going on?" She demanded.
Han nudged Jorj. "She's not for me." Jorj continued to giggle. "I bought her for Tilly."
"You..." Leia started, looking from Jorj to Han and back again.
"I figured she needed cheering up. Plus she's gonna be a real good mouser!" Jorj shrugged a shoulder. Han laughed at that. So did Opi.
"Better not let their customers hear you say that." Leia muttered, admiring the creature in her arms.
"You think she'll like her?" Jorj asked.
"I should say so." Leia agreed, patting the sofa by her side. "Jorj, come here." Jorj did as he was asked and accepted the gossimer back from his mother. "Sweetheart, that was very beautiful thing you did, buying the pet for Tilly. I'm so proud of you."
"Yeah, I said he should wait and ask you if it was all right first, but he insisted. Said he'd seen Tilly go all gooey-eyed at Miloe, plus he'd got his chore money to spend." Han pointed out. Leia understood. They tried to teach their son financial responsibility but as soon as he had enough money to buy something he wanted, he'd buy it.
"Does she have a name?" Leia asked, ticking the gossimer under her chin.
"I thought Tilly could name her. But I like 'snowbelle', an' if Tilly does too that'd be a great name." Jorj offered.
Leia glanced a smile at Han. "It would indeed." She agreed.
"I got her a cage an' a collar too." Jorj offered.
"Who got her a cage and a collar?" Han prompted.
"Well...I woulda, but I ran outta credits." Jorj admitted. "I said I'd pay you back!"
"S'okay sport." Han said with a wink.
"Why don't you go get her ready and we'll take her on over to Tilly. We could maybe have dinner with them before the evening's service." Leia suggested, arching an eyebrow at Han for his approval while Jorj went to put the gossimer in her cage. "Would you and Finn care to join us?" Leia asked Opi, ignoring the slight scowl that crossed Han's features.
Opi opened her mouth to reply as Han answered for her. "Oh, I'm sure Opi would rather just be getting back to wherever it is she came from." He said, wearing an expression of certainty.
"Why don't we let Opi speak for herself." Leia commented.
"Well, I was going to suggest Finn and I eat in town..." Opi said.
"Perfect, our son's restaurant is in town." Leia told her.
"Yeah, but honey, that doesn't mean Opi and her little friend want to eat there." Han said through a fake smile.
Leia ignored Han and turned to Opi. "Opi, would you and Finn like to join us for an early dinner in our eldest son's restaurant in town?"
"I..er.." Opi started.
"See? She doesn't want to." Han decided.
Leia gasped out a sigh. "What is wrong with you?" She asked of Han.
"All ready." Jorj declared. "Have ya told her?"
"Told me what?" Leia ground between her teeth and glared up at Han. Han waved a hand at Jorj to shut up.
"Daddy got a free pass from Jacen tonight. 'Cos he's on a promise!" Jorj twittered and Opi tried without success to stifle a light laugh.
"That's not what I said." Han proclaimed.
"That's exactly what you said." Leia accused. "He repeats everything we say, you know he does."
"Well, it's not what I meant...exactly." Han defended.
Jorj just looked puzzled at why his parents were arguing over having a night off. "We going or what?" He asked.
Leia dragged her narrowed eyes and pursed lips from her husband to her son. "Are you washed up?" She asked, eyes accusingly wide. Jorj's shoulders slumped and he lumbered off toward the downstairs 'fresher.
"I just meant...we'd got the night to ourselves, so..." Han struggled.
"You know, Finn and I.." Opi began. Leia hushed her with a firm, flat hand.
"I know you Han Solo." Leia said rising. "You don't trust Opi because in your head she's never off duty." She glared at him as she strode toward the staircase. "Well, you're wrong!"
Han waited until Leia was out of earshot. "Menopausal." He apologised.
"Ordinarily, you'd make a fair observation about me. However, I like Leia. I like you. I'm not here to trick you into revealing some facet you'd rather the Galaxy didn't know." Opi pointed out.
Han's head rotated in the direction Leia had gone before returning to Opi. "She's had a lot of pain in her life. I just want her to be happy." He said.
"Understood. But I have no desire to cause her any further anguish." Opi told him.
"Keep it that way." Han ordered, his tone indicating she might regret not following his demand.