January 26, 1925

"Don't forget to pack the extra booties for the dogs, you don't want their paws to freeze in the middle of the trip," Leia called down the hall to her husband.

It was a needless reminder. They both knew that Han was always well prepared when he took the dogs out on long journeys. But Han humored his wife, "Thanks for the reminder sweetheart."

The pair were both at home, a rare occurrence these days. Winter had shooed them away from the hospital, offering to stay with Jaina for the night as Han was set to leave for the town of Nulato the next day and Winter wanted Han and Leia to have a proper goodbye. Han walked down the hall to his and Leia's bedroom, pausing before the slightly open door that led to Jaina's room. Taking a deep breath, Han gently pushed open the door and let his eyes glance over the quiet room. It looked the same as it did when him and Leia had taken Jaina from her bed to the hospital a few days ago, except now it was missing a very important occupant. Walking over to Jaina's bed, Han found himself drawn to her stuffed animal, a husky that the little girl had named Chewie, in honor of Han's lead dog. Han felt his cheeks get damp as tears rolled down his face, thinking of his daughter, looking so tiny in that big hospital bed. Lost in his thoughts, Han didn't hear his wife softly pad her way into the room. He only registered her presence when he felt her arms wrap around his middle as she laid her cheek against his back.

"I wish she was at home with us too," Leia whispered out, knowing exactly how her husband was feeling because she was feeling it too, the constant ache in her heart.

Taking his wife's hands he gently pulled out of her embrace and led her over to sit on their daughter's bed, a forlorn expression on Han's face. Leia felt like her heart was being split in two when she saw that in one of his hands he was holding Jaina's stuffed toy.

"We'll have to bring that to Jaina when we go back to the hospital tomorrow morning."

Han hummed in reply.

"You're still thinking about it aren't you?"

"Hard to forget," came the gruff reply.

They were both referring to Jaina's reaction when Han had told her that he would be leaving to get the medicine to help make her feel better. He had prepared himself for the tears, for her to be upset. Instead, she just blinked at him and whispered out, "Okay Daddy," before falling asleep.

Han wasn't used to seeing his daughter so weak and seeing her barely put up a fight to his departure was too much for him to take. It was another reminder of just how sick Jaina was.

"I know," Leia's voice drew Han out of his thoughts, "It was hard for me to see her like that too, she's always so lively."

"She will be again," Han's voice was confident, refusing to think of any other outcome.

Leia hummed in agreement, rubbing her belly as she felt little movements from within, a reminder that their family would be expanding in a few months' time.

"That shipment of antitoxin will be in Nulato by tomorrow evening, right?"

Han nodded, "If everything goes according to plan.

300,000 units of antitoxin had been found in a hospital at Anchorage and was packed away for shipment by rail to Nenana. While it wasn't sufficient to beat the epidemic, it would hold it off until more medicine arrived. The U.S. Public Health Service had located 1.1 million units of antitoxin from hospitals on the west coast. They were being shipped to Seattle, but would not arrive until January 31, from there the medicine would be shipped to Alaska on the steamship Alameda, which would arrive in the port town of Seward the following week.

"It'll be fine, it has to be."

Taking a deep breath, Leia stood up in front of her husband, "Come on hotshot, let's go to bed, you've got a busy day tomorrow and an early start so you can say goodbye to Jaina before you leave."

Han stood up and gently placed Chewie back on the bed, taking Leia's much smaller hand in his own, and the two of them walked to their own room, getting ready for bed.

Han had finished up in the bathroom that was adjacent to where the couple slept and walked into the bedroom to a sight he never tired of seeing, Leia completely naked. He let his eyes wander over his wife, drinking in her beauty. Seeing she was about to pull her nightgown on Han simply said, "Don't."

Leia looked over to where her husband was leaning against the bathroom door frame and was about to ask what he meant when she finally noticed the smoldering look on his face, lust radiating off of his body and threatening to consume her. They hadn't made love in a few days, unusual as the Solos had an active sex life, and Leia was starting to feel the absence of Han's physical attention as she took notice of an ache forming between her legs. Dropping her nightgown back on the bed, Leia proudly strutted to stand infront of her husband, "Well Han, I'm all yours."

Answering with a growl, Han scooped up Leia, the latter giggling as her husband laid her gently down on the bed. Quickly ridding himself of his sleep pants and underwear, Han climbed up on the bed and Leia saw his cock standing at full attention against his stomach and smirked to herself, she hadn't been the only one that missed this. Crawling over his wife, Han checked to see if Leia was ready for him and slipped his hands inbetween her folds. Leia hissed in reaction and bucked her hips against his hand. Han was surprised when his hand was practically covered in her arousal.

"Is this all for me sweetheart?"

"Always," Leia purred out, "Han please, I can't wait anymore, I need you inside of me now."

Grinning wickedly, Han was about to gesture for her to get on top of him before he changed his mind, "Leia, turn around."

Leia shot him a sultry look, "You haven't been up for this position in awhile," but complied and turned over to get on her hands and knees. Han had been reluctant to use this position since Leia told him she was pregnant, didn't want to hurt her in case he got too rough.

"I think we both need this." Han replied, and Leia knew what he meant. They both needed to really feel each other, to take a quick refuge in themselves.

Positioning himself behind Leia, took a hold of her hips, "Hang on sweetheart, this isn't going to be gentle."

Turning to look behind her, Leia shot back, "I like it rough," with a wink.

That statement only drove Han's arousal further as he felt his cock throb in response and gripped her hips with his hands sliding into her, both groaning loudly at their union, it had been too long for both of them. Han began to thrust in and out of Leia, hitting her sweet spot on each stroke which was propelling her faster to that delicious high.

Despite the intense pleasure Han still had enough blood flowing to his brain to ask, "This isn't too rough right? I don't want to hurt you or the baby."

Leia felt her heart melt at his words, "Don't worry Han, I'm more than okay." Her husband was definitely tough but underneath all of that he was very sweet and would never do anything to hurt her or their family.

Leia adjusted her position to rest her weight on her forearms which angled her backside up higher, allowing Han deeper access. The pleasure was surging inside her and she found herself grasping at the sheets, needing something to hold onto as lust consumed her body. The room was soon filled with their moans and the sound of skin slapping on skin. Leia was so close but she needed a little more, as if reading her mind Han brought one of his hands from her hips and moved it around her front below the swell of her stomach to find that bundle of nerves that was begging to be rubbed. Han quickly began rubbing tight circles around her clit, and that did it for Leia. She tightened her inner muscles around his cock and came with a shout of his name. Feeling the flutter of her walls clench around him sent Han over the edge as well, and he came with a loud groan as his orgasm washed over him. Han kept thrusting into her, softly this time, as the two of them rode out the afershocks of their pleasure. Afraid that he would collapse on top of her, Han reluctantly pulled out and laid down on the bed, bringing Leia down to his side. She immediately sidled up to him, placing her head between his shoulder and chest.

Still catching his breath, Han managed to say, "Well that should ensure you'll miss me when I'm gone."

Leia chuckled softly, "I always miss you when you're away Han."

Han brought his hands to Leia's stomach, which had been starting to swell, showing the proof of the little life they had created together out of their love. He didn't want to be away from them, from Leia, Jaina, or his unborn child. But if he stayed he was practically condemning Jaina and all of the other children to death. It was a double edged sword, Han thought to himself, If I leave I'll suffer and if I stay I'll suffer. He wanted to be selfish and just say that Luke or Wedge, or someone else who raced dogs could go and get the medicine but he knew that he was the best one to do the job, and it wasn't his ego talking. He knew out of all of them he had the most experience doing this, especially in the severe weather that Alaska was known for this time of year. And despite his outward confidence of Jaina's recovery, which he couldn't tell if it was for Leia's or for his own sake, deep within himself he was beyond terrified that Jaina would die when he was away. He knew if it happened he would never forgive himself for not being there for Jaina or Leia if the unthinkable were to occur. So he made himself not consider it, not allow himself to dwell on it, because if he went down that dark path he wouldn't have the strength it would take to complete this journey.

"Leia are you still awake?"

"Mhm."

"Promise me when I'm gone that you'll take it easy."

"Oh Han, I-"

"Please promine me, I can't worry about you overexerting yourself when I'm not there to take care of you," knowing full well that he would worry anyway despite his words.

"Han I'm fully capable of taking care of myself."

"I know you are I just-"

Leaning up on her elbow she cupped Han's left cheek with her hand, "Listen to me, I plan to sit by Jaina's side the whole time, although I'm sure Winter, Luke, and Carlist will rotate shifts with me. Don't worry about me when you're out there, I need you focused so you can return to us safely."

"Not worry about you? Sweetheart that's about all I do."

Smiling softly Leia leaned forward and caught Han's lips in a kiss, allowing herself to get lost in the sensations and Han brought his arms around her in an embrace. Breaking apart Leia pressed her forehead against his, "I promise I'll look after myself and Jaina when you're gone. And you have to promise me that you'll take care of yourself and all of those dogs."

As if hearing what she had said, Chewie and Millenia both walked into their room, dog tags jingling with each step as both stretched before laying down on the dog beds placed near the end of the bed. Chuckling to himself Han replied, "I promise, although I think they might end up taking care of me."

"That sounds about right hotshot."

Letting out a yawn Leia turned to face her husband, "Come on Han, let's go to bed."

Leia had shifted over so she was laying on her right side and she felt Han come up behind her, his left arm coming to rest over her stomach.

"I love you Leia."

"I love you too Han, so much."

With that the pair drifted off in a dreamless sleep, hearts filled with worry for the days to come.