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Love gives you pleasure and love brings you pain.
They spent their first weekend scrubbing the rooms to perfection and repainting the walls, all new skills for the Princess. She used her limited decorating skills to liven it up with some lamps, rugs, and blankets. They chose some wall art together and bought a few extra pillows to bring in some color. Her favorite new buy was a comforter for their bed that was pure white and very fluffy.
They settled into a daily routine. She worked on weekdays, leaving the house around 7:30 and returning home around 6:00. He took mostly short trips that would have him away overnight at the longest and then home for a few days after that. They fell right in place, maneuvering around each other to get ready in the mornings. After she came home from work, they took turns cooking a meal and often worked together to muddle through the kitchen. Surprisingly, they did alright together as was evident by the juicy meat they managed to cook to perfection.
"Qi'ra commed me today." Han scooped up another mouthful of his dinner. "We're meeting with our lawyers tomorrow in the late afternoon."
"Don't you have a run to make tomorrow?" she asked wiping some of the sauce off her mouth.
"Well I'm glad to see someone notices I have a work schedule that should be taken into consideration." He was frustrated with Qi'ra. "She seemed to overlook that fact."
Leia sighed. Qi'ra never seemed to notice anything when it came to her husband, that is soon to be ex-husband. "Don't let her ruffle you. She can be so oblivious."
"I won't. It gives me the opportunity to take a full day off and spend the morning with you." He smiled over at her. "If you can manage a day off?"
She nodded. "Well that turned out well for me!" This was a first for her. Someone taking extra time off to spend with her. "What are we going to do?"
"You pick, Sweetheart." He cleared their plates from the table. "I'm happy if you're happy. Is there a project we can do together?"
She thought. "Now that you mention it, we really need to pick out a new set of dishes. That would save us from killing a forest with all the paper and plastic we've been using."
He smiled, currently throwing out their dirty paper plates. "Kay. And we better start stockin' up some more kitchen stuff and home stuff. We probably won't be gettin' any of that from other sources." He was alluding to the fact that both Qi'ra and Isolder would get their houses and everything in it.
She nodded her head. There were times when their situation seemed almost unreal. Shopping for new house supplies when she had already done it once. But she was growing more and more comfortable with her new situation by the minute.
"Before I forget, Luke asked me over for kaff and dessert tonight at 7:00." Leia stood to help him clean up.
Han froze. "But when Qi'ra phoned today she told me to meet her over at Luke and Mara's tonight. She thought it would be a good time to tell them about our divorce."
Leia sighed. "Well, you were going to have to tell them at some point." Leia already informed Luke about her separation from Isolder, though she dodged admitting where she was living.
"I hoped Qi'ra would talk to them alone first and then I could come in after the dust settled."
"I'm not sure if you'd want that. If I remember correctly, Qi'ra has a way of twisting the truth to make herself look all the better."
He rolled his eyes, knowing she was right. "I kinda feel bad for Luke and Mara, caught in the middle of two divorcing couples." Han finished washing the last of their utensils.
"You know Luke lives for drama. Heaven help us if he ever found out about this." She gestured between the two of them. "I don't think I could revive him from the shock. Everyone still thinks we're sworn enemies."
He dried his hands and pulled her back to his chest. "Little do they know our battle flags have been surrendered in favor of more pleasant activities." He leaned his chin down to her shoulder and nibbled her right ear lobe.
She reclined against his frame. "That may be, but we don't have time for activities right now. We are due there in half an hour."
He kissed her cheek before backing off. "Right, you leave first and I'll follow in a few minutes."
She went to the 'fresher, fixed her hair, and added a bit of lip color before grabbing her purse.
"I'll see you later tonight, Sweetheart." He kissed the side of her mouth, as not to transfer the lip color.
"Later tonight? Han you'll see me in less than 15 minutes." She kissed him lightly on the lips, lipstick be damned.
"I know. S'not the same." He nuzzled her nose gently. "Love you."
"And I love you." She pulled away and gave him a last look as she went out the door.
Luke greeted her with sympathetic enthusiasm and asked her how she was. For some reason, Luke expected her to be broken up about this separation when in fact Leia was the one who started it.
"Are you alright, Leia?"
"Yes brother, dear. How many times do I have to reassure you? I'm fine."
"Well, what do you expect from me?" He said defensively. "You've blocked me out. I can't tap into you."
That's right. She did keep her Force presence blocked. At this point, she didn't want anything about her and Han to slip, even to her brother. "Thank you for your concern Luke, but really I am fine."
"Really Leia are you?" He was starting to get frustrated. "Because I know for a fact Isolder will try and take everything. You'll be left to deal with a lot of political fall-out. And you're not telling me where you are staying!"
"Luke, please drop it! I am in no mood to argue with you! I'm staying with a friend, that's all you need to know."
He saw that he was getting nowhere this way. "Well I'll drop it for now. Besides, you'll need to save your lungs for later. Han and Qi'ra are coming."
Leia tried her best to act surprised. "What?"
"Qi'ra called, said they have some news to share. It better be good news." He sat on the sofa beside her. "Maybe Fernik was accepted into the academy at the ripe age of 5 and a half."
Leia couldn't help but giggle at Luke's quip.
"Hello!" Han called from the hall.
"In here Han!" Luke called back standing back to his feet and turning back to his sister. "Leia, please don't start any wars will him tonight, hum."
"I promise," she assured her brother. She was so nervous about how this evening would play out that she doubted she would even be able to look at him.
He walked in the room with Mara following behind him.
"Hey, kid." Han acknowledged with a grin and a nod. "Leia," he said with less excitement.
"Han," she nodded back. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard.
"Where's Qi'ra?" Luke asked looking for her to enter after them.
Han sighed, preparing himself for the questions. "Should be here soon. We drove separately."
Luckily, Luke dismissed that fact and they continued with conversation. Qi'ra arrived minutes later.
"Sorry I'm late Luke, Mara, Leia. But I just had a meeting with Fernik's teacher and she is such a dream."
"What?" Han jumped in. "You met with his teacher?"
She nodded. "It was parent night. She had nothing but praise for Fernik and how well he got along with the other children." Qi'ra's enthusiasm reached the ceiling.
"Qi'ra," Han stated more than slightly dejected and frustrated. "Why didn't you tell me? I would've been there."
"There was no need, Han," she dismissed him. "I could handle it myself."
"That's not the point…" He stopped himself from launching into this private discussion in front of others.
"Have a seat, Han." And with that, Qi'ra sat down on the last free chair leaving Han to sit on the couch beside Leia.
She scooted over to give him more room, though their legs were still touching when he sat down.
"So what is this news you two have to share with us?" Mara asked, sitting on the arm of Luke's chair. "Your not pregnant are you?"
"No!" Han shouted quicker than he should have. He tried to cover for his outburst. "That's actually the opposite of our news."
"Han, you don't need to put it like that," Qi'ra corrected.
"Well how would ya put it?" Han asked.
Qi'ra looked to Luke, Mara, and Leia and calmly spoke the truth. "Han and I are getting a divorce."
"What?" Luke erupted. "A divorce!"
Han continued, sure that Qi'ra would send Luke into a state if he didn't explain things. "Qi'ra and I… It's not working. We both agreed it's best if we split."
Luke's mouth was hanging open as he was searching for the right words. "Kriff, what is happening? First Leia and Isolder and now you two! I can't believe it!"
Mara stepped in. "What about the children?"
Qi'ra answered calmly and in her own rational way. "I talked everything through with them. They are fine with it."
Han never heard this before. "Wait, you told them without me? Qi'ra, I should have been there for that talk!"
Qi'ra stared at him calmly. "The opportune moment presented itself, so I told them. As long as they stay in their own home they'll be fine."
"Qi'ra! What are you saying?" Han couldn't believe he was hearing this. He felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him. Though semi-estranged, he loved his kids and his relationship with them was paramount in this whole thing working out.
"What do you mean?" She questioned in her oh so level headed voice that made any conversation partner feel inadequate. "We already said I was to get full custody."
"Yea, but we also said I'd get visiting rights and they could spend the night with me once in a while!" He moved to the edge of the sofa to stay alert.
"You told me you were living in a box of an apartment with only one room. How can you care for them properly?"
"I'll buy a bigger place after things settle. Besides the apartment is the perfect size for…"
"Han!" Leia interrupted, afraid of him taking the conversation too far.
Everyone stopped and turned their attention to Leia. Somehow her hand made it's way to his shoulder. She quickly slapped it and took her hand back.
"Han, don't be so loud!"
The interruption brought Han back from his fume and Leia's veiled support calmed him.
He sat back in his seat. He saw Leia leaning forward beside him, certainly downcast.
She was distressed for Han's sake. She hated to see him so cast aside without a second thought. She knew Qi'ra would be alright, she had her children. But Han, he had some self esteem issues that needed help. And she planned on giving him the support he needed.
Luke interrupted Leia's thoughts. "Leia what do you think about all this? You don't seem too shocked."
She popped her head up. "Oh… of course I'm surprised… I just relate to what they're going through, that is all." She decided to get out of there. "Luke, I'm going to head out? I've got a headache starting."
"Sure, Leia. Anything I can do?" Luke stood up.
She shook her head as she stood from the sofa
Han sat up, alert again, naturally concerned for her well being. He stuttered trying to save appearances. "Hope you feel better."
She turned back to address the room, but her meaning only reached one person. "I'm just a bit distracted. If anyone needs me I'll be home in my pajamas with a glass of wine."
Han held back a smile. She was going to be there for him when he got home.
Luke walked her to the door. "Wanna do lunch tomorrow? I'll pick you up. Where're you living again?"
Leia smirked at her. "It's no good. I'm not that stupid."
Luke sighed. "Leia I am worried about all of you! So many changes in such a short time. It's like an epidemic!"
Leia regretted having to put Luke through all this and keep him in the dark. "I'm fine. How about we meet for a late lunch tomorrow. I'm taking the day off. We can catch up then, around 1:30?"
"I guess you'll meet me here."
Leia hugged her brother goodbye and set off for home.
Han left about an hour later, after having another trying discussion with his wife. He was beat and so tired of being pushed out.
He was just about ready to palm the door to their apartment when the door opened for him.
Leia stood there in her robe and drew him in quickly. Before he could greet her, she stepped in front of him and pressed her lips against his. There was no urgency, only a slow comforting feeling of belonging.
Leia pulled her head back slowly and met his eyes. "Hey, Honey."
He let out a few breaths before he replied. "Thank gods for you, Sweetheart. Truly." He pulled her head to his chest and inhaled her scent. His eyes scanned the apartment. She lit candles around the entire room and turned all the lights off. The apartment looked perfectly neat with everything in its place. She put some of his favorite cherry desserts on the end table along with a bottle of wine and two glasses. She knew exactly what he needed. She always had.