Things are heating up again! Enjoy and feel free to send me a comment with your reactions!
Love keeps on beating when you're gone.
Leia was 9 weeks along when they went for her first ultrasound. Han went with her and saw the screen showing their little bean in perfect health with a strong heartbeat. It was finally a reality, she was pregnant and they were having a baby.
Plans had to be made, now that their child was far enough along, they needed to tell Qi'ra. Isolder could wait. He had already sold the apartment and moved back to Hapes. He cut his ties, burned his bridges.
The ever-present Qi'ra was a different story. She needed to know.
And so one evening, Han called her and asked that they meet for kaff that next afternoon. Qi'ra agreed, it happened to be a time when both children would be at a friend's birthday party.
Leia sent Han off with a kiss and her steady, direct demeanor. He channeled all she gave in to the next, sure to be, trying hours.
It seemed as though all Leia's strength and confidence left with him and she was now a worrying mess. No sooner had he left than she decided to pop in at Luke's and alleviate some of her burdens.
"Han's meeting with her today. He's going to tell her…" Leia exhaled as she paced the Skywalker's living room.
"Nervous?" Luke said rhetorically as he sat in the corner chair.
"Incredibly," Leia answered pausing a moment to take a breath.
Luke leaned back and crossed his arms. "You should be. She's not gonna react well."
Leia felt Luke's disapproval shot through the room. She was hoping for some support and not another lecture. Squaring her shoulders, she faced her friend. "Luke, you know I care about how this whole mess is resolved. I want Qi'ra to be happy too and I wish her the best."
Luke waved a hand at her to calm Leia's defenses. "I know you do. I'm still processing." He gave her a more understanding glance. "Give me time and I'm sure I'll eventually come around."
Leia felt better with someone in her corner. "We are planning to move further into the city soon, make our relationship public."
Luke nodded. "You told me that last week." He sighed. "You gotta have everything in place for when you run again."
Leia, tired from pacing, slunk into the sofa. "I haven't made a final decision yet…"
"You're running again!" Luke interrupted, extremely sure of his analysis.
"Maybe," Leia relented.
Luke gave her a look.
"Probably." She had to chuckle at their back and forth.
Luke gave her a smile and moved to get up from his seat. "That reminds me. I have something for you." He disappeared around the corner and emerged a moment later with something behind his back.
"Just because I'm still processing all these changes doesn't mean I am not thrilled that you are pregnant and that I'm going to be an Uncle."
They told Luke and Mara about their happy news right after the ultrasound.
They all sat in Luke and Mara's living area.
Mara sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. "So what brings you to this part of town and led you to drop in unexpectedly on your two boring friends?"
"Boring? The two of you?" Han questioned playfully.
"That's right," Luke agreed. "Neither of us is recently divorced and moved in with our significant other of 10 years ago."
Han smirked, "You should try it!" He looked at Leia with all the awe and love he could muster.
She stared back and knew this was her cue. "Actually we do have some news to share." She was hesitant. She knew Luke was still being protective of her and wasn't 100% on board with their situation, but she longed for his support in this next chapter.
"Are you getting married?" was Mara's first guess.
"Soon, but that's not the news," Han answered for them.
"Did you tell Qi'ra or Isolder?" Second guess.
"Han's telling Qi'ra next week and Isolder can wait," Leia shared. "But if you just hold on, I'll tell you…"
"Are you pregnant?" Third guess was a charm.
Luke could tell from Leia's face that he got it right. "Oh my gods! Leia!" He stood up and rushed over to his sister, practically falling in her lap. "Oh, Leia!"
And that was the Luke who knew her silent wishes for a child years ago and supported her then and would support her now.
"Congratulations!" Luke exclaimed presenting her with a wrapped box.
Leia smiled, remembering her brother's hysterical reaction when they told him. "Luke! You are shaping up to be the favorite Uncle!"
"I'm the only Uncle."
The package was wrapped in yellow paper with little flowers all over it. She was guessing that Mara has something to do with the paper and wrap job.
"You know this is only the first of a slew of gifts you should expect from us!" Luke was beaming while he watched Leia tear the paper. "I went with a neutral pattern until you find out if it's a boy or girl."
"It's adorable!" Leia gushed at the little green onesie with matching striped socks. "I haven't even fully comprehended what will happen in a few months, let alone started buying anything!"
"That's why you have me, sis. Mara and I will make sure you're set." Luke raised his eyebrows and clasped his hands together. He really was delighted.
Leia held up her first baby gift again and began giggling in sheer delight.
"Luke?"
Their giggling stopped abruptly when a new voice came from the front door. The unlocked door opened to another female.
"Qi'ra! Well… We weren't expecting you today." Luke began, trying to hide how uncomfortable this was.
"Well, I just dropped the boys off at a birthday party and thought I'd pop over to see Mara. I'm glad I did too." She turned to the other female in the room. "Leia! It's been ages!" Qi'ra moved to give Leia a big hug from her spot on the sofa. "Tell me, what have you been doing for these past few months?"
She had no choice but to return the embrace. "I'm… not sure my life has been all that eventful," Leia stammered.
Qi'ra shook her head, playing the role of comforting friend. "Trust me dear, you and I are in similar situations. I know you've been busy." Qi'ra patted her arm. "We should get together, just us and Mara. A girls' night! No men!" She turned back to Leia. "You should be delighted. I won't have to bribe you to be nice to Han anymore."
Before Leia could process anything else, Luke stepped in. "Ladies, how about we have some kaff. Mara will be home soon…" He gestured to the kitchen.
"Thank you Luke, but I'm meeting Han in a few minutes I just wanted to stop by." Qi'ra moved to step back, but stopped when she saw what Leia had sitting beside her. "What are you doing with baby clothes?"
Luke jumped in too fast. "It's a gift for someone."
"I can see that," Qi'ra replied sarcastically. "And it's been opened." She gestured to the ripped paper on the floor.
The dots connected all too easily. Qi'ra's mouth opened "Leia! You're not!"
Leia's mouth matched Qi'ra's. Fear and uncertainty coursed through her veins. She didn't even have to answer. Qi'ra kept going.
"Oh Leia! Congratulations!" She pulled her into another embrace. "How far along are you? It can't be too far, you're not showing yet."
Leia swallowed, trying to bring some saliva back into her dry mouth. "9 weeks."
"Oh my gods! Leia! I'm so happy for you." Qi'ra took Leia's hands in hers, her voice suddenly turning deeper. "Does Isolder know yet?"
"No!" she immediately shook her head before realizing Qi'ra's understanding of her current situation.
Qi'ra seemed surprised. "I see. So you're not getting back together with him? Even for the child's sake?"
Nothing could be said to make this any more awkward and uncomfortable. "No," Leia said. "We're not getting back together.
Qi'ra gave her a pitying look. "Well, you need to tell him! The child has to grow up knowing who his or her father is."
Leia remained silent.
"My children will still know their father…" Leia could see Qi'ra's eyes roll to the side and twist from her natural state to an emotive state. "As long as Han commits to his part."
Leia had seen that look before. Qi'ra's mind was working double time. Leia's eyes unconsciously narrowed, wondering what she was thinking and what she meant by that.
She didn't have to wait long. Qi'ra shared. "I called Han last week and asked that he meet with me today."
She's lying. Leia thought. She happened to be on the other end of the line when Han called Qi'ra to set up their time.
Qi'ra let out a subdued sigh "He missed his evening last week with the boys."
Liar! Qi'ra told Han they had a sleepover at a friend's house Friday night!
"Frankly, I'm worried Fernik and Vinn are feeling the effects of their father not being there for them."
"I'm sure he will do what he can," Luke assured her, not knowing the whopper of a lie she was spewing.
"Thanks, Luke," Qi'ra basked in the comfort. She craved attention, and she knew how to get it. "I'll see you two later." She backed out to the front door. "Congratulations again Leia! We'll talk soon!"
As soon as the front door shut behind her, Leia whipped out her comm and dialed Han.
"I'm sorry, Leia." Luke whispered from his seat in the corner, lost as to how to handle this.
While the comm rang, Leia watched from the window as Qi'ra slid into her speeder and drove away.
"Han!" Leia yelled into the phone thanking gods he picked up. "I'm at Luke's and Qi'ra was here. She knows about the baby…"