"That better little one?" Han asked of Lei. The little girl dribbled bubbles and chuckled as her grandfather carried her back to the sofa. Resettling them both down, he said. "Now, let's see what else your grandma's been writing about."
He thumbed the padd on again, selected a page at random and grinned.
"Might need to close your ears in this chapter sweetheart, looks like your nana and me are getting it on." He told Lei, letting her gum his finger while he read his wife's words. "The hardest thing about those early days of our romance was finding time to be together."
"She's not wrong there kiddo!" He told the baby. "Can't tell ya how..frustrating..it was too!"
Han's mind wandered, back as he read his wife's memoirs. The period Leia was describing stood out in Han's memory too. Though perhaps for different reasons.
"Thank you Winter." Leia smiled and waited for her aide to leave. "Was there something else?"
"I'm here to offer assistance, should it be required." Winter replied sweetly.
"Thank you Winter. I think we have it from here." Leia said, her suggestion clear.
She and Han were seated on a sofa, Han's arm draped casually yet uncompromisingly across the sofa rear.
"Are you sure?" Winter queried, a wary eye glancing briefly toward Han before returning to Leia's.
"Quite sure." Leia confirmed with a reassuring smile.
"Your Highness..." Winter started, her voice similar to one explaining something obvious to an innocent child.
"You may go Winter." Leia stated.
Winter's expression clearly indicated she wasn't happy, however, she inclined her head graciously and after indicating that the Princess' diary was open for her approval, made her exit.
"That told her." Han drawled after Leia's aide and close personal friend had left.
"She means well..." Leia began.
"She doesn't like me. An' she doesn't like you hangin' around with me." He concluded.
"Who I choose to spend my down-time with is my own business, nobody else's." Leia declared.
"Great. 'Cos we got all weekend! Where first?" Han grinned. Leia knew what he meant, but decided to disregard the question.
"First, I need to attend to my diary." Leia pointed a finger at her padd, teeth nibbling her bottom lip. Han rolled his eyes and removed the arm from across the back of the sofa. "It'll just take a minute. Why don't you go get yourself a drink and I'll be done." She promised.
Han pushed to his feet and she heard him rummaging in the kitchenette while she scanned her diary, yess-ing and politely no-ing those appointments she could, couldn't, would or wouldn't make.
"You want something sweetheart?" He called to her from the small annex.
"No, I'm fine." Leia called back, frowning at her padd. Damn! How did that happen!
"How come you only ever got one bottle of whiskey an' it aint even Corellian!" Han moaned, returning to his place by her side. "You done?"
"All done." She smiled.
"Good. 'Cos I can't imagine anything more boring than watching you work on that thing all night. Not when there's something a whole lot better lookin' you could be working on instead." He took a healthy slug of whiskey then slid the glass across a table beside the sofa. His arm returned briefly to the sofa back before slipping to circle her shoulders. "C'Mere." He commanded, drawing her toward him.
Leia's hand pressing to his chest stayed her progress.
"What?" He questioned.
Leia looked up into his soft hazel eyes. There was disappointment there, a little annoyance too.
"Nothing. Just whiskey breath." She offered, apologetically.
"You don't get that with Corellian whiskey." He told her huskily. "It's the..."
"Best in the galaxy." She finished for him. "I know. You've told me. I'll ask Winter to add it as our preferred brand supplier. Again."
His face descended again, closer, until her hand pressed to his lips. "Should I maybe go brush my teeth?" He queried, eyebrows raised.
"Sorry. It's just...it's been a long day." She apologised.
Han straightened. "All right Leia, what's really going on here?"
"Nothing. Really. I'm sorry." She repeated to his clearly confused expression. "I'm...I guess I'm just not used to letting someone else take control."
"You wanna take the lead, go ahead." Han told her, lacing his fingers behind his head and eyeing her from the corner of his eyes.
Leia rolled her eyes at herself, she was being childish.
"Look." Han said, dropping his arms and softening his demeanour. "I know we're not exactly on a level when it comes to experience here, but you also gotta know I'm not gonna ask for more than you're ready or able to give."
Leia relaxed, her smile soft and inviting. "C'Mere." She said.
Han didn't need telling twice, his mouth curling as he folded her into his embrace and sought her lips with his. One hand slid about her shoulders, the other slipped to her waist, then her hip, then her thigh, gradually gliding lower as he leaned into her, pressing her back.
Leia's mind whirled. She wanted to submit to this man. Her body ached to feel the tenderness she felt sure he could share with her. But...
His hand was beneath her skirts now, caressing her knee. His lips left her mouth to find the spot beneath her ear he knew she found intoxicating.
Her breathing increased, a gasp and slight tremble confirming he had located the area he was seeking. Her fingers sank into his hair, torn between holding him in place and dragging him away. Han took the opportunity to shift position, his hand roaming her thigh appreciatively.
Leia's eyes flew open. Han's lips ceased their exploration of her earlobe and he lifted his head to look at her, lips turned into a smirk. "Skimpies? Seriously?" He asked.
"I like them." She answered with a shrug.
"Then I like 'em too." He told her, intending to return to his task. Her hand against his shoulder stopped him.
"Han. There's something I need to tell you first." She admitted.
"S'okay. I got protection." He drawled. His mouth reconnected with her neck, his hand now in search of her undergarment's waistband.
"No, Han. That's not it." She told him, her voice wavering.
"Oh." He nodded against her neck and removed his hand. "That's..er..didn't you just have your cycle like last week?"
"That's not it either." She said, her blush warming his face until he leaned back to look at her.
"Then, what?" He asked, concerned.
"I have to be somewhere. A supper invitation." She explained, hurriedly adding. "I hadn't even realised until I checked my diary."
Han righted himself, the mood not so much broken as obliterated.
"I'm sorry Han. I know I promised us this weekend together, but I honestly hadn't noticed the diary entry until tonight." She apologised.
Han shoved to his feet, grabbed his whiskey glass and strode through to the kitchenette. Leia took a moment to gather her thoughts then, her own temper rising, followed him.
"You can't keep doing this to me Leia! You got any idea what it does to a man's body having his...his hopes dashed all the time?" He cursed, body turned half away from her.
"I am sorry Han." She repeated. "But I do have responsibilities..obligations..and you knew that when we got together."
It wasn't something he hadn't heard before. But it was something guaranteed to deflate his ego before the words were completely out of her mouth. He leaned against a worktop and crossed an ankle over the other.
"I just..." He started, running a hand through his hair.
"I'll leave early." She promised, slipping her hands into his. "You could maybe wait. You know, wait for me. Here."
"Who's the supper with?" He asked.
"Mon Mothma. But it is only supper." She replied.
Han considered, then shook his head. "Nah. She'll want to discuss some up and coming mission an' I'll be waitin' for you an' you'll be worryin' an'...better just call it a night now an' I'll stop by tomorrow. Maybe take you away from all o' this." He drew her fingers to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
"Promises!" She smiled and leaned in for another kiss, her body pressed to his.
Han extracted his finger from Lei's mouth and closed the padd again.
"You can't still be hungry." He stated, gripping Lei beneath her arms and hoisting her high above his head. The little girl squealed in delight as Han dropped and caught her, lifting her again before dropping and catching her again and again. He pulled the infant down to his chest and grinned at her. "Don't tell me your mama and papa don't play this with you? Your mama used to love it as a little girl."
Lei rubbed her head into Han's chest and smacked her lips, repeatedly.
"Maybe you are hungry." He mumbled. "Let's go see what your mama's left for lunch shall we?"
Tucking her into his side, he strode through to the kitchen to check Jaina's very specific instructions regarding her daughter's meal.
"Hmm." Han sighed. "Seems there's a puree in the warmer for you."
He flicked the warmer to the appropriate setting and waited for the indication that lunch was ready, then carried Lei and her food back to the sofa.
"According to your Mom's directive I'm supposed to seat you in your chair. But what say we live dangerously, huh?" Han queried and perched the puree bowl on the sofa and Lei over one knee. Careful not to overfill the spoon, he guided it toward her open mouth. "Open wide, Falcon's coming in for landing."
Lei's lips smacked, puree dribbling from the corners of her mouth. Han cleaned up her cheeks and licked the spoon.
"Not bad. For puree." He grinned as Lei opened her mouth for another spoonful. "Just wait 'til your ol' grandpa makes you nerf though!"
Han continued to feed Lei, clearing the debris from her cheeks and chin, until the bowl was empty. A frown of understanding crossed Lei's forehead, her eyes appealing up at Han.
"What can I tell ya? It's all gone sweetheart, an' I daren't pull another from stores. You can just betcha Ma's got 'em tagged or something." He told her, raising her to his shoulder and patting her back. "Come on baby, big burp and we can get back to grandma's book."
Lei belched loud and long down Han's ear, making him grin again.
"Atta girl!" He told her, replacing his pat with a soft rub. "You 'bout ready for another chapter now?"
Lei burped again.
"I'll take that as a yes too." He commented and resettled her against his side, reopening the padd. "Let's see what happened after I left her to go eat with Mon Mothma."
Leia described her supper and how, as Han had suggested, conversation turned to pressing New Republic matters. In her heart, Leia had known Han would be right. Mon Mothma, both good friend and mentor, had made it as much her mission to secure a safe and stable future for the Galaxy as Leia had herself.
Leia's thoughts, however, were with Han. This wasn't how she had expected her life to turn. He wasn't where she expected her life to turn.
But she had chosen her path with her eyes wide open, only to find that path blocked seemingly at every opportunity.
"And then..." Mon Mothma continued, eyeing her young guest. "I wondered if Master Skywalker might consider purging the remaining Jedi he feels so certain still exist."
Leia nodded as though in consideration, looking up at Mon Mothma in consternation as the words sank in.
"What is it my child? You've barely listened to a word I've said for the past hour at least." Mon Mothma spoke softly.
"I apologise Mon Mothma. I inadvertently overlooked your supper invitation and found myself with a regrettable diary clash." Leia offered with contrition.
"Something eminently more appealing than I?" Mon Mothma asked with amusement. "Or someone more appealing?"
"I..." Leia flushed with embarrassment.
Mon Mothma laid her cutlery aside. "Your Captain Solo?" She enquired.
"I doubt Captain Solo is anyone's but his own." Leia corrected, blushing. "Or more likely the Falcon's. Possibly Chewie's."
After a moment's reflection Mon Mothma glided from the table to move to more comfortable seating and patted the sofa beside her. Leia took a calming breath and crossed to sit beside the New Replublic's Leader.
"Is he making unreasonable demands of you?" Mon Mothma asked.
"No. No, no, not at all. Han's not a bit like that. I know many paint him that way, but he's really very considerate. Almost too considerate." Leia answered, hurriedly.
"Too considerate?" The Leader asked.
Leia blushed again. "I promised him this weekend. The two of us. And just us." She said, pointedly.
"And I interrupted that." Mon Mothma understood, whilst Leia averted her gaze. "Let me ask you this, my child. Do you see yourself building a life with this man?"
"Perhaps. Possibly...yes. I don't know. I think it's too soon to know for sure what our future might hold." Leia replied.
"Though not too soon to spend a weekend together." The older woman stated.
"Han is Corellian." Leia said as though that should be answer enough. "Corellian's have a 'certain' reputation."
"If he's as considerate as you say, then I'm sure he would wait." Mothma suggested.
Leia blushed once more and whispered. "He knows the worst of me and he doesn't shy away. I don't know if I could hope to meet another man like that."
Mon Mothma laid a comforting hand against Leia's cheek, tilting her face toward hers. "Whatever it is you think makes you less worthy, let me assure you, you could never be more wrong." Her soft smile intended providing some reassurance.
For a moment Leia considered telling her friend her deepest, darkest secret. Then the moment passed when the fears she had only ever previously shared with Han resurfaced.
"You're right, of course. Han would wait." Leia smiled, the blush finally fading from her cheeks.
"I have no right to ask this Leia, but I have watched you grow from a small child into a beautiful young woman and I would consider myself remiss if I let the opportunity pass." Mothma let her hand fall to cover Leia's. "Is there anything an older, if no wiser, woman might offer by way of advice?"
"In the absence of a mother, my aunts ensured I was..prepared.." Leia admitted.
"The Captain would be your..first..encounter?" Mon Mothma gently probed, the blush returning to Leia's cheeks. "Virginity is nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not." Leia insisted. "Just..a little unnerved. Han is, as I mentioned, Corellian."
Mon Mothma laughed lightly. "He's a man Leia. The first rule of engagement is merely turning up." The older woman smiled.
"I suppose, like most women, I hope my first time will be..special. Yet, I know, it almost certainly won't be." Leia confessed.
Mon Mothma again cupped Leia's cheek to turn the girl's face to hers. "Do you love this man?"
"Yes, Mon Mothma. I believe I do." Leia replied.
"And do you also believe he loves you?" The older woman then asked.
"I hope so. Yes. Yes, I truly believe he does." Leia responded.
"Then it will be special Leia. And you must treasure that, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time."
Mon Mothma raised her chin. "Now. I really must talk to you about an important New Republic issue."
Leia relaxed; this was far more familiar territory.
"We have been asked to deploy a task force to Bakura." Mothma explained.
"Bakura! Now we're getting to the juicy stuff." Han grinned. He looked down at Lei, nestled in his arms, eyes somewhere between awake and asleep.
"According to your Mom's childrearing manual, I'm supposed to put you down and let you self- soothe for a full five standard minutes while you go to sleep. But you know what sweetheart? I think you're just about comfortable right where you are, so what say you and me agree to keep a secret, and gran-pappy here'll just rock you to sleep." Han rocked softly from side to side, watching his grand-daughter's eyelids close while he stroked her hair and whispered an old Corellian lullabye.
"Like I need advice on how to raise a family." He whispered, leaning down to kiss Lei's sweet forehead. "Raised a whole bunch of 'em as good a single-handed an' just look how great they all turned out!"