A FORSHADOWING? (Leia gives birth to Ben)

Leia Organa Solo gave another grimace, the birth pain marring her beautiful face, as the next contraction

swept her body, small beads of sweat dotting above her eyebrows, which Han gently wiped away with a

cool cloth, an action he'd done many times for the last six base hours.

When it had passed, she loosen her grasp on the bed rail as well as her husband's hand. Giving a small

laugh she commented. "That was a bad one."

"It won't be long now." The nurse comforted as she checked the instrument attached to Leia's right arm;

assessing her vital signs.

Han took a deep breath, never taking his eyes off his wife; he'd never sat so still in any one place for so

long.

The nurse looked up at the Corellian; "How's Father doing?"

Han gave a wry, cocky smile, saying nothing.

Leia shifted her body in the med center bed…"Could I have some water?" Immediately, Han

jerked around to get a glass and knocked the tray, with the glasses, to the floor, the resulting shattering, the

sound drawing another nurse to the room, peering through the subdued lighting of the makeshift, private

birthing room.

"Everything alright in here?"

The attending nurse smiled. "Fine…we just need another tray of glasses and some fresh ice water."

Han looked up sheepishly at the nurse, an unspoken apology in his eyes. He was tired, why did

babies have to be born in the middle of the 'base night'. He'd been watching Leia constantly for the last

three days, after she'd smilingly told him, "It could be any time now."

"Here comes another one." Leia said as she braced for the assault, grabbing Han's hand once again,

squeezing.

The nurse stepped to the foot of the bed, checking the progress. She smiled.

"You two will be parents any moment now."

Leia labored…struggling to bring their child into their world. True pain etched on her face now and

Han inwardly cursed himself…he'd done this to her…..right in the middle of a rebellion…*

they would have no stable place to care for their child…an uncertain future for it and everyone else….

Leia gave a final yell, her body arching…then….settling back down on the bed.

The nurse caught the child as a low 'mew' escaped it's lips…it wriggled in her arms.. active and letting

letting everyone know it's presence.

"You have a fine boy." The nurse declared while performing after birth care to Leia, then whisking away

the child to ready it to be held by his parents.

Leia's tired eyes looked up at Han…she smiled…..Han smiled back. Things had changed now….

While they were busy creating a new, safe galaxy with their activities in the Rebellion, they had

created a new life that would be a part of those hoped for peaceful planets.

The nurse entered with glasses and water and Han quickly filled one and gave it to Leia, brushing back

a sweat soaked tendril of hair from her forehead…an action he'd done many times after their sessions

of love.

The birthing nurse brought the blanket wrapped infant and place him in Leia's arms. A joyful tear

slid down Leia's cheek as she unfolded the cloth from her son's face….then she laughed..

Standing by the bedside, Han gave her a quizzical look…

The baby had a head full of thick, longish, dark brown hair…completely askew.

"He's already scruffy looking." Leia giggled.

"Guess he's got a nickname." Han quipped as he looked down at his son…his son….

"You'll need to sign the birth certificate." The nurse told Han and he moved from Leia's bedside

to the desk.

Leia continued to gaze at her son…the wonder of it all….

A shadow passed over the child and Leia looked to see why the light had dimmed…it hadn't…

she looked back at the face of her son…his piercing black eyes were open and looking directly

into hers ..an unbidden, un-understood, inward shutter passed through her…the look in his eyes….a look

more ancient than age itself.

The babe's eyelids closed gently and the shadow faded. Leia blinked her eyes and shook her head…it was

imagination….

Han moved to his wife's bedside again. "We'll call him Ben."

"That's what we'd agreed on if the baby was a boy." Leia commented, still looking into the face

of her newborn son. She vowed with her heart that nothing would ever harm this child. When he

was older, she would entrust him to Luke..for the Jedi training…for now, they would concentrate

on building a family and she would enjoy this day. The happiest day of her life..the day

she gave birth to their son.

* Slightly alluded to in my story published here: A ROMANTIC RESPITE