Aftermath

by Let-The-Wookiee-Win

Loss can do strange things to a man, even to a man such as Han Solo. But losing Chewie, Han's truest and dearest friend, at Sernpidal, is only the beginning. With his finger firmly pressed to the self-destruct button, Han risks losing far more than just his one, true friend. (Still rubbish at summaries!)

4. Chapter 4

Jaina's smile was broad and she walked with a spring to her step that said it all as she got the all clear from the medic on duty.

"I told everyone it was only temporary." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"So, we're good to go?" Han asked.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here." Jaina confirmed.

"You want me to call Mom first?" He checked.

"She's made her decision." Jaina said, her voice icy.

"Yeah. I guess she has." He mumbled sadly, followed his children to the hangar and boarded the Falcon, Jaina automatically taking the co-pilot seat.

"You're...you're in my seat." Jacen told her.

"Think again flyboy." She settled into the seat, adjusting it to her contours. "Eldest child's prerogative."

"Just because technically you're a few minutes older than me doesn't give you the right..." He started to argue.

"Maybe the fact that I fly for Rogue gives me that right." She stated, swivelling the chair to face him.

"I've flown with Dad for over a year. That gives me an even greater right." Jacen countered.

"What're you two arguing about?" Han asked, entering the cockpit.

"She thinks she's gonna co-pilot the Falcon." Jacen sneered.

"So let her." Han said, slipping past his son and into the pilot's chair.

"What!" Jacen exploded.

"About time she learned how to fly a decent ship." Han said, checking instruments and winking at her.

Jaina just grinned smugly at her brother who glared back at her.

"Fine." He spat. "I guess I'll go check the galley for stores now that we have an extra mouth to feed."

"Make that two extra mouths to feed." Leia announced from behind them.

Both Jacen and Han swung to face her, their smiles beaming. The smile from Jaina's face, meanwhile, faded.

"Mom!" Jacen exclaimed and flew into her hug.

"So..." Han rose and cautiously approached her. "What happened to all those responsibilities?"

"Well." Leia draped a loose arm around Jacen's waist and gave it a squeeze. "I have a fine son I gave birth to that I'm responsible for. A beautiful daughter born a few minutes before her brother that I'm responsible for. Another son...somewhere...who I haven't seen in what feels like forever that I'm responsible for. And, among others, a man I am proud to call my husband. A man I promised to love, honour and cherish until death part us. So, you see, I'm being very considerate of my responsibilities. From a certain point of view."

"Jacen. See if you can't find somewhere that sells some half decent Champagne. I feel like a celebration supper tonight." Han said without taking his eyes from Leia's.

With a joyful grin and a light kiss to his mother's cheek, Jacen set off in search of additional supplies.

"Permission to come aboard Captain?" Leia asked, staring intently into Han's eyes.

"Permission very definitely granted." Han grinned, staring as intently back. "What changed your mind?"

"I..." Leia's glance flicked briefly at Jaina. "I had my mind changed for me."

Han didn't miss the look but decided that for the moment, prudence was probably called for.

"But..." Leia continued. "I do need an hour."

"Hell! Take two." His grin widened and he stepped forward to take her in his arms.

"Just make sure you come on back to me...to us." He corrected, speaking into her ear.

Leia explained what she needed to do and Han listened, paying only half as much attention as he knew he really should. For the rest of his time he drank in her small frame, her delicate features, the gold band he himself had placed on the fourth finger of her left hand.

When Leia departed the Falcon, Han retook his seat beside Jaina, still smiling.

"Still got it!" He crowed.

"Dad! Seriously! You never had it in the first place." Jaina corrected.

"Get outta here!" He quipped. "She never could get enough of me. If I told you some of the times and places we'd made out, it'd turn you greyer 'n a Famian Fisherman."

"And yet the best part was always afterwards." She reminded him.

"You'll understand one day." He told her, turning to admire her profile. "And whoever he is, he's gonna be one lucky son of a Sith. Or a dead one if he hurts you." He added under his breath.

"That's great Dad." Jaina said, not listening. "Where did Mom say she was going?"

"Some meeting with some Scientists before a final handover with Cara. Why?" He asked.

"Because her determined little walk is heading in the direction of a certain Hapan Prince over there." Jaina answered, pointing out of the viewport.

Father and daughter watched as an angry stride took Leia to halt at Prince Isolder's back.

"I thought you should know," Leia said to him, "I'm leaving."

"You're what?" Isolder spun on his heels.

"Leaving." She repeated. "I just have a couple of loose ends to tie up and then Han, the kids and I are out of here."

"But...why?" He asked.

"I would have thought that was obvious. I brush aside your every advance, so you decide to try to seduce my teenage daughter. How classy! Han always said you were a low life, but I can't believe you'd stoop quite so low."

"Now hang on!" He countered. "I explained all that."

"You did." She said, big brown eyes growing bigger. "Or at least your version. Did you think Jaina wouldn't tell me what really happened. Or did you think I'd be so blinded by you're ever present kind assistance to not see what was really going on."

"She came on to me!" He insisted.

"Oh really. And I suppose she forced her breast into your mouth also. Damnit Isolder her camisole's still damp from your saliva!" Leia stuck a hand on one hip, accentuating it's shape.

"All right." He finally conceded. "It was a moment of weakness. But I swear to you, the moment I came to my senses I got out of there before we ended up going too far."

"You'd already gone too far!" She exclaimed.

"I...I am but flesh and blood!" He explained.

"Yeah? Me too!" She hissed and, gritting her teeth, slammed a sharp knee forcefully into Isolder's groin.

Isolder clutched his screaming loins and collapsed to his knees, groaning.

"And if you ever come near me or my family again, it will be the tip of my lightsaber connecting with your genitals and not just my kneecap!" Leia spat, turning on her heels and marching off to her next appointment.

From their vantage point in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, Han winced whilst Jaina's mouth dropped open.

"Way to go Mom!" She stated in awe.

"That's gotta hurt!" Han muttered.

"Has anyone ever done that to you?" Jaina asked.

"Oh yeah!" Han answered, his own lower abdomen tightening in response to what he'd just seen.

"Mom?" Jaina queried.

"No. Not your Mom." Han told her. "Not yet anyway."

"So who?" Jaina asked.

"Well, you wouldn't remember it. You were just a little kid at the time." Han replied. "You came racing into our bedroom because the tooth fairy had taken the baby tooth from under your pillow, left you a credit chip in it's place and you wanted to buy a whisperkit with it. You bounced up onto the bed and caught me a good one, right in the tenderloins! Couldn't make love to your mother for a week after that."

"Oh. Sorry Dad." Jaina apologised.

"Don't be." He grinned at her. "That's when I found out what incredibly soft, healing hands your Mom has."

"Ew! Gross!" Jaina's nose wrinkled as he waggled his eyebrows at her. "But I think it was Jacen who wanted the whisperkit. I wanted to buy power converters."

"Oh yeah." He recalled, his grin widening.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

If there was one thing Leia couldn't abide, it was being kept waiting. Especially when she had been kept waiting for over half an hour.

Finally, with her patience ready to snap, she left her office and headed over to the laboratory where her team of Scientists were hard at work developing a new crop of genetically engineered vegetables that could resist even the harshest of weather conditions.

Not finding the Scientists there, or in the Mess Hall, or their quarters, she angrily made her way back to her office with the intention of publicly shaming them into appearing by calling for them one by one over the compound communication system. However, she was thwarted when on palming her office door open she found four of the six Scientists waiting for her.

"I've been looking all over." She told them, exasperated.

"We were...indisposed." Dr Corel said, carefully choosing his words.

Leia glanced around at the four men and felt an immediate unease. Something was wrong here.

Something was very wrong here.

"Where's Oud and K'Tish?" She asked, warily.

"They'll be here momentarily." Corel smiled insincerely. "Rumour has it, you're leaving us."

He reached out and gently took her hand, guiding her over to a chair.

"We will miss you." He said. "But we understand your reasons. Your family are very dear to you, that much is obvious. However, before you go, we wanted to share something with you. A parting gift, you might call it."

Oud and K'Tish entered the office, each carrying a metre long, hand crafted wooden box.

"A leaving present? You shouldn't have." She smiled nervously, refusing the offered seat.

"How else could we explain?" Corel shrugged, his face deadly serious.

With the briefest of flicks to their ooglith masquers, all six Scientists revealed themselves to be Yuuzhan Vong.

"You will kneel before us. And you will bend to our will." He commanded as two 'scientists' forced Leia to her knees before Corel, while Oud and K'Tish removed amphistaffs and handed them around.

Corel bent low, his hideous features pressed close to Leia's face and he hissed at her "Jeedai!"

Leia heard nothing more, just that one word chanted at her over and over. And the sounds of her own stifled sobs as time after time their amphistaffs tore into her flesh, each 'bite' followed by a sizzle and burn.

She would not cry out.

She would not give them the satisfaction of hearing her agony.

She promised herself this as she slumped forward onto the floor, fingers curled into the hardwood.

She repeated the promise as she prayed for the pain to stop.

And she promised it a third time when she begged for death to take her.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Jace, go find your Mom would ya Son?" Han asked, his arms folded across his chest. "She's not answering my hail."

With a sigh, Jacen vacated his seat behind the co-pilot's chair currently occupied by his twin sister, Jaina.

"Tell her she's got thirty minutes and then we're outta here!" He called after his departing son.

Then Jaina felt it. Like a scream in the stillness of night.

"Mom." She mumbled.

"What was that sweetie?" Han asked.

"Mom's in trouble." Jaina told him.

"She sure as Hell will be if she doesn't get here in the next half hour!" He grumbled.

"No. I mean she's really in trouble." Jaina's breathing increased. "Pain. She's in so much pain."

"Where is she?" Han sat forward in his seat, giving Jaina his full attention.

"I don't know. Not far. I...I don't think." Jaina turned her pale face to her father. "But Dad, she's in real serious trouble!"

"Okay." Han swung into action. "We gotta think this through. We can't waste time charging all over this encampment. Where was she heading after she'd given Isolder a piece of her mind?"

"To meet some scientists..." Jaina closed her eyes trying to focus on her mother's signature. "Dad, we gotta help her..."

"But where?" He growled.

"Sshh! I'm concentrating." Jaina focussed on her mother's surroundings. Dark wood...no, dark panels of wood. Another sting of pain. Feet in front of her, beside her. She was on the floor...and that bitter sting again. And again.

"Well?" Han pushed.

"Dad please!" Jaina shushed him again.

Come on Mom, help me find you. Jaina thought.

As if in response, and with a supreme effort, Leia rolled onto her back.

Jaina gasped as the scene before her cleared.

"What? What is it?" Han demanded.

"The Vong! Mom's being attacked by the Yuuzhan Vong. She's in her office." Jaina gasped.

"All right!" Han hit the communication system. "Jacen, you got your ears on buddy?"

"Give me a chance Dad, I've only been gone five minutes!" Jacen complained into his comm.

"Your Mom's in her office." Han said.

"I was just going to try there. I'm only a minute away." Jacen replied and switched his comm to silent.

"Negative Jace! Your Mom's being attacked by the Yuuzhan Vong. Do not go in there." Han punched buttons furiously. "You hear me Jace? Jacen?"

"What is it?" Jaina queried.

"Damn that kid! He's turned his comm off." Han settled into his seat. "Strap in sweetheart, we're taking off."

"Without them?" Jaina sounded distraught.

"Falcon's faster than feet." Han's fingers flew across his control panel. "Besides, we'll need her for a fast getaway."

"Oh no!" Jaina exclaimed and grasped the co-pilot's controls, knuckles white with exertion.

"What?" Han glanced briefly at her before growling again. "What?"

"Jacen!" Was all Jaina could say.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Jacen!" Leia cried. "No...Jacen."

"You didn't think to lock the door?" Corel asked his colleagues in astonishment.

"Go! Jacen please go!" Leia pleaded

"He's another Jeedai." Oud advised.

"He's just a boy." Corel scoffed.

"But the male may be stronger than the female." Oud suggested. "We should endeavour to find out."

Corel paused for the briefest moment to consider.

And that was his mistake.

Because in that moment of hesitation, Jacen made his move. The instant Jacen had entered the room, he'd realised he was going to be no match against six. Not on his own at least. However, with the Force as his ally, he stood a fairer chance.

Reaching out through the Force, Jacen called his mother's lightsaber from her desk to his right hand and ignited it.

Corel turned his misshapen lips into a sneer and turned his attention on Jacen.

Corel's colleagues, returned to their attack on Leia who was rapidly losing consciousness as well as the will to live.

Jacen could feel his mother's resolve slipping away and at the same time felt his anger rising. And anger was not something a Jedi was supposed to feel.

The room began to crackle with electricity and from nowhere a wind began to swirl, growing in intensity until the six Yuuzhan Vong found it impossible to remain upright. One by one they tumbled, thrown back against wall and desk, window and furniture.

When Jacen was assured they were all incapacitated, he extinguished the lightsaber and attached it to his belt before rushing to his mother.

"Mom? Can you hear me, Mom?" He leaned close to her mouth but heard nothing. "Hang on in there, I'm gonna get you to safety."

Slipping an arm under her shoulders and knees, Jacen was surprised by how light his mother felt in his arms. Light though she may have been, she was still a dead weight and it was a struggle for him to carry her at speed.

Using the Force, he commanded the door aside to allow their exit and jammed the lock shut when they were safely on the other side. He was confident his mother's attackers would not be in any position to follow any time soon, but better to err on the side of caution.

With his mother sprawled in his arms, Jacen hurried along corridor after corridor until he finally burst out into the bright afternoon sunshine.

An involuntary smile broke across his lips at the sight of the Falcon settling on the ground before him, his breathing was rapid but in spite of the adrenaline rush he was feeling, his knees buckled and he crumpled to the ground still clutching his mother in his arms.

In seconds Han was in front of them both, replacing his son's arms with his own.

"I got her Jacen." he yelled over the sound of the Falcon. "Go. GO!"

With enormous effort, Jacen staggered to his feet and set off for the Falcon's boarding ramp.

Han knew time was of the essence, however, he paused long enough to take in Leia's injuries.

Her legs were a bloody pulp, so much so that Han found it impossible to distinguish between torn flesh and torn fabric.

Han swallowed back his fear and anger, pushed to his feet and followed Jacen up the boarding ramp and into the ship's single medical bunk.

Placing Leia gently on the bunk, he stepped back a moment to try and assess her mutilated legs.

"How..." He started.

"I'll look after her. You need to fly the Falcon." Jacen stated.

"Fly...yeah, fly..." Han breathed.

"Dad!" Jacen shook his father's shoulders. "We have to get her to a Medical Facility. Fast!"

"You...you look after her." He said, nodding. "I'm gonna get us outta here."

Han turned and raced to the cockpit, throwing himself into the pilot's chair.

"You been keeping her warm for me?" Han asked Jaina. "'Cos I need you to find us a Medical Facility. A real good one. And real fast."

"Is she...she gonna be all right?" Jaina asked, stealing a sidelong glance and taking in her father's blood-soaked clothing.

"She is if I have any say in it!" He answered. "You got those co-ordinates yet?"

"I'm checking." She returned to scanning for somewhere suitable.

"Come on, come on!" He snapped.

"There's only...Coruscant." She finally told him.

"Coruscant's too far. Look again!" He growled.

"I'm not an idiot Dad, I know how to read a starchart!" She angrily answered back. "Coruscant has the best Medical Facility and it's the closest. That's why they put the refugees out here in the first place, because there's nothing around here for the Yuuzhan Vong to want."

"But..." He angrily ran a hand through his hair. "Coruscant's ten hours away. There's gotta be somewhere closer."

"Why aren't we moving?" Jacen called, racing into the cockpit.

"We're ten hours from anywhere." Jaina answered sullenly.

"Ten hours!" Jacen swallowed, thinking. "There's nothing closer?"

"Hey! I earned my place in Rogue, they didn't give it to me because of my name." Jaina exploded. "I checked the starcharts and there is nothing closer. But you go ahead, feel free to look for yourself."

"We're taking a medic." Han announced. "Jace, contact the Med Centre and tell them we want a medic."

"Dad, they're not gonna..." He started.

"We're taking a medic and they're gonna give us one." He barked. "And you tell them that from me."

Jaina and Jacen exchanged a quick glance before Jacen turned to his communication system and contacted the Refugee Medical Centre. Meanwhile, Han piloted the Falcon as close as he could in order to pick up the medic while Jaina set Coruscant's co-ordinates into the navicomputer.

"Okay." Jacen breathed. "I got them to agree to let us have a medic...of sorts."

"I don't care if he's an intern, just go get him aboard." Han grumbled.

"It's not really a 'he' Dad. It's..." Jacen started.

"Her then. What do I care? Just get her on board so we can get under way." He told his son.

Jacen opened his mouth to correct him. Decided against it and headed for the boarding ramp whilst Han slipped to the Med Bunk to see how Leia was doing.

Jacen had wrapped her legs in clean dressings, administered a sedative and a host of other stabilising meds. A breath mask covered her face feeding oxygen to her lungs.

"Hang on in there sweetheart. Just hang on in there." Han told her, dropping to his knees beside the bunk.

A clatter of feet behind him confirmed the arrival of the medic and Han rose to his feet to greet her.

"You have got to be kidding me!" He cursed.

"Sorry Dad, they said he was all they could spare." Jacen apologised. "The rest are involved in the evacuation of the planet."

"Fine!" Han spat. "Just keep out from under my feet. You got that Goldenrod?"

Han pushed past Jacen and Threepio and hastened to the cockpit.

"What did I do?" Threepio wailed.

"Don't sweat it Threeps." Jacen soothed and guided him into the tiny medical bay.

In the cockpit, Han retook his seat and splayed his fingers across the control panel.

"Dad?" Jaina prompted when he didn't move. "Dad? You okay? Is...is it Mom?"

"I need you to listen to me. It's supposed to be a ten hour flight to Coruscant. I want you to get us there in under nine. Well under nine." He spoke softly.

"Nine!" Jaina exclaimed.

"I know I don't say it nearly often enough, but I love Leia. And you like her too, you know you do." He continued.

"Dad?" Jaina queried.

"So, you listening to me baby? We get there in less than nine hours. My wife makes a full recovery. I don't get to tell our kids their Mom won't be there for any of those life-changing moments they still have to experience and you..." He took a deep breath. "You get that new calibration system I been promising you for the past seven years. So whaddya say, huh honey?"

He skilfully manoeuvred the Falcon from the planet surface and as soon as they were at the co-ordinates, punched her into hyperspace.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Han Solo figured a brand new calibration system would set him back a pretty credit or two, but as he watched his wife being rushed into Coruscant's premiere Medical Centre he didn't care a jot.

All he cared about was that she was finally receiving the medical attention she so desperately needed.

Jacen and, though it grieved him to admit it, Threepio had taken exceptional care of Leia on the journey from the Duro system. And the Falcon had, probably for the first time since Han had become her Captain, positively powered her way home.

It was only after their arrival on Coruscant that Jaina was able to see how badly her Mother had been injured. And it was only then that she feared she might not have chance to tell her how sorry she was for all that she had said.

"What in the name of all that's Holy happened to her?" Mon Mothma asked, aghast as they all swept into the Med Centre.

"No offence." Han snarled, knowing he was about to offend. "But not right now, okay?"

"Was it some kind of animal attack?" She persisted.

"Look!" Han scratched at a non-existent itch on his brow. "When I know she's out of danger, we'll answer all o' your questions. But until then, stay out of my way!"

"Captain, this is important!" She snapped.

"No!" He angrily turned on her. "What is important lady, the only thing that's important, is lying in that room without her family around her. Now we can go on debating this or me and my children can be by her bedside, because know this, if she di...if she doesn't make it and we are not with her I will never...never...forgive you!"

"We'll talk later." Mon Mothma nodded and left.

"Wow! Dad!" Jaina smiled in awe. "You really kicked her butt."

"Yeah. Well that Huttspit never approved of me. Thought I was 'below' your Mom. She was instrumental in her support of Isolder's proposal of marriage and her condemnation of mine." Han told her as they trailed into the Medical Centre.

"Captain Solo?" A medical droid asked.

"Where's my wife?" He answered.

"Are you Captain Solo?" the droid requested.

"Where's my wife?" He repeated.

"Captain Solo?" A female medic called.

"Is there an echo in here?" He asked.

"I'm Dr Ziel." She held out her hand to him, which he ignored.

"Where's my wife?" He asked her.

"She's being well cared for, I assure you." She motioned for him to sit, which he also ignored. "It would really help if we knew what happened to her."

"I guess...I guess I can help you with that." Jacen stepped forward.

"My son, Jacen." Han introduced.

"Jaina." Jaina said, when Ziel glanced in her direction. "Jacen's sister. Can I see Mom?"

"Not right now, I'm sorry Jaina." Ziel said with a smile and turned her attention to Jacen. "Right young man, I need to know what happened. In as much details as possible."

Jacen took a breath and started to recount all the events in his Mother's office a little over nine hours before.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Han, Jacen and Jaina Solo entered their apartment on Coruscant in stunned silence.

Dr Ziel and her team had taken the information supplied by Jacen and formulated a care plan which they felt optimistically would dramatically improve their chances of at least saving Leia's life. Whether they could save her legs, would be for another day.

Inside the apartment Luke and his wife Mara Jade Skywalker and the remaining Solo child, Anakin, waited anxiously for news.

"What are they saying?" Luke asked, with a man-hug for Han and Jacen and a more prolonged embrace of Jaina.

"Not much." Han grumbled. "The usual medical-psycho-babble. They didn't give much away."

"How are you holding up?" Mara asked. "You all look exhausted."

"We made stew. It's not much, but I don't suppose you've eaten in forever either." Luke smiled weakly.

"I'm not very hungry." Han said, trying not to sound ungrateful.

"Me either." Jaina and Jacen said at the same time, then looked at one another as their stomachs growled.

"That settles it," Mara confirmed, "I'm not letting Skywalker here slave over a hot burner and have his hard work go down the garbage chute. Sit. Skywalker will dish up."

"Yes Ma'am." Luke whispered in her ear, a sparkle lighting his blue eyes.

Han took the seat at the head of the table, Jaina to his right with Jacen beside her. Anakin took the seat opposite his father at the dining table, Mara to Anakin's right leaving the seat to Han's left for Luke, which he took after placing a bowl of steaming stew in the middle of the table.

"Are we serving ourselves?" Mara teased her husband.

You're pushing it. He thought at her with equal torment.

They sat, the six of them, in virtual silence but for the occasional sound of a spoon against a dish.

Luke and Mara exchanged nervous glances.

"She's going to die." Jaina finally stated.

"Mom's gonna die?" Anakin asked, shocked.

"No she's not! Nobody's saying that Anakin." Han growled and glowered at Jaina.

"They're not saying she's not going to die." Jaina added.

"Nobody is saying that!" Han repeated forcefully and looking pointedly at Jaina.

"Jacen, maybe you could tell us what happened back there." Luke suggested, hoping to divert attention.

"Do I gotta?" Jacen asked.

"Yes you gotta." Han snapped. "Telling your Uncle Luke might help him come up with something to help your Mom's Doctors."

"I already went through it with you. And the Medics. And Mon Mothma! And tomorrow she wants me to talk to a whole bunch of Generals about it." Jacen slumped back in his seat.

"It's okay Jacen, it can wait." Luke reassured the sullen boy.

"No, it's not okay." Han barked. "You tell your Uncle what happened."

"What's the point. She's going to die anyway. I know she is." Jaina said, her voice quiet.

"She is not going to die!" Han dropped his spoon on the table. "What has gotten into you Jaina?"

"I said some stuff. Stuff I should never have said." She swallowed back her emotions. "And I can't even tell her how sorry I am."

"They wouldn't let us see her." Anakin spoke to his father. "When we arrived, we contacted the Medical Centre, but they wouldn't let us see her."

"They wouldn't let us see her either Son." Han told him sadly.

Beneath the table Mara gently squeezed Luke's hand as each of the Solo's sat, their heads bowed.

"They have her in a bacta tank though, right?" Mara asked, trying to lighten the mood. "That stuff'll soon get her back on her feet again."

Great choice of words Sweetheart. Luke thought at her.

"Figuratively speaking at least." Mara added.

"She's..um..she's not breathing by herself, so they got her on this respirator thing." Han explained. "They said they can't put her in bacta until she can breathe unaided."

"You did well to get here as quickly as you did." Luke commented.

"Yeah. I owe the Falcon big time." Han managed a brief glimpse of his quirky smile. "You know, this stew's real good."

Luke wanted to point out that he hadn't touched even a mouthful but knew his brother-in-law was just making conversation.

"Amazing what you can do with some leftovers." Luke explained.

"I've lost count of the number of times she's scolded me over the years for flying too fast or too close to comets or with just vapours for fuel." Han stared into his bowl. "Never figured it'd be her..."

"Hey!" Mara admonished. "Leia's not going anywhere. Let's keep a little optimism around the table shall we?"

"It's just..." Han sighed. "It feels so wrong, you know? I'm older, it should be me to go first."

"And who's to say it still won't be?" Mara asked. "You fly too fast, too close to comets and with only vapours for fuel. You're a walking disaster area."

Mara gave him a heartfelt smile.

"I know what they wanted!" Jacen said suddenly, sitting upright.

"Jacen?" Luke asked.

"The Vong! I know what they wanted." He blurted.

"Okay honey, slow down and tell us." Mara said softly.

"I knew Mom was in trouble even before I got to her office. I could feel through the Force that there was something wrong." He took a breath and licked his lips before continuing. "Soon as I got to the door I could hear her. I thought she was just upset at first, had another row with Dad or something."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence!" Han said reproachfully.

"In the office Mom was on the floor and they were kind of hitting her...no, more like just touching her with these amphistaffs." Jacen fell quiet.

"I know it's painful Jacen." Mara spoke softly. "But you'll feel better for doing this."

"She was in so much pain..." He told her. "She wanted me to go, but...but I couldn't have just left her there."

Han's lips twitched, remembering how he couldn't have just left her to her fate on Hoth.

"They were kind of chanting at her." Jacen said. "Same word, over and over."

"What was the word?" Luke wanted to know.

"Jedi. Only they pronounced it Jeed-eye." Jacen answered.

"Yeah, they do that." Luke nodded. "I don't know why."

"Because they hate us." Jaina suggested.

"They don't hate us Jaina. They just don't understand us." Mara corrected.

"They do now. Kind of." Jacen said. "I've been puzzling over something they said. After Mom told me to go, one of them suggested I might be stronger than her and that they should find out."

"Hmm." Jaina grunted. "They picked on the wrong Solo when it comes to physical strength."

"Leave your brother alone." Han chided.

"They weren't talking about physical strength. They were talking about Jedi strength." Jacen advised.

"Yeah, well they still picked on the wrong Solo!" Jaina countered.

"I said to leave your brother alone!" Han growled, scowling at his daughter.

"So...you think they were testing your Mother's Jedi strength. Why?" Mara queried.

"Mom said she'd got to meet with some Scientists. When I got to her office she was surrounded by Yuuzhan Vong, who I guess had been undercover as those scientists." Jacen started unravelling the pieces of the puzzle in his head. "They knew her as a Jedi, but they didn't know her well enough to know she wasn't fully trained. They just thought Leia Organa Solo, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker's sister, so she must be a Jedi too."

He looked around the table at his family.

"Don't you see? They were looking for the Jedi's weakness." He continued. "They must have figured if their amphistaffs could kill her then they could kill all of us."

"Leaving the rest of the Galaxy defenceless." Luke nodded.

"But...it's not like they're gonna be telling anyone. I mean, you killed them right?" Anakin put in.

"You'd think that Anakin wouldn't you." Jaina said sarcastically.

"That's enough Jaina." Han barked.

"But no, our brother is too compassionate for that. He just 'incapacitated' them, then turned tail and ran." She folded her arms, smugly.

"With our Mother in my arms!" Jacen argued.

"I said that's enough!" Han slammed his fist onto the table. "Both of you stop it. Stop it right now!"

The room fell silent.

Luke hated seeing his family so torn apart. It had started with Chewbacca's death and now, if Leia didn't survive, he wasn't sure if the rest of his family would either.

Under the table, Mara gave her husband another knowing and reassuring squeeze.

"You don't understand." Jacen finally stated, unable to keep quiet a moment longer. "I had to use the Force to get Mom out of there."

"Oh well whoopie for you!" Jaina exclaimed.

"I will not tell you again Jaina." Han said through clenched teeth, the calmness in his voice belying the anger he was feeling.

Jaina sullenly prodded her now lukewarm stew, before looking over at Mara.

"Aunt Mara, can I ask you something?" Jaina asked.

"Of course sweetie. Anything." Mara smiled at her.

"When will your baby come?" Jaina queried.

"Okay, that does it!" Han shot out of his chair, toppling it to the floor behind him before yanking Jaina from her seat and hauling her halfway across the room. "Now you listen to me young lady. You wanna be angry with me for hurting your Mom, that's fine, you be angry with me. But you don't take it out on your Mom, you don't take it out on your brothers and you sure as Hell do not take it out on your Aunt Mara. Now you apologise to her. You hear me?"

"But...I didn't do anything." Jaina confronted.

Han's face contorted and his nostrils flared. "You know how sick your Aunt has been. And you know damn well that she can't..." He lowered his voice and his body to look Jaina straight in the eye. "You know she can't have kids."

Mara felt her husband stiffen beside her, felt her own stomach knot. The atmosphere here was intolerable. And it was time she changed that.

"Well...actually..." Mara said softly, her hand covering Luke's.

They had agreed their pregnancy should remain secret, not only in view of Mara's delicate state of health, but also because they were only just digesting the news themselves. She should have guessed Jaina would uncover the truth.

Han turned slowly to look over at them.

Mara, smiling sweetly. Luke, the colour of Tamarrian Blood Oranges.

"You're..." He pointed from Mara to Luke and back. "You're on the nest?"

"Spoken as only Han Solo knows how." Luke commented. "Yes. We're 'on the nest' as you put it."

"But, it's not common knowledge." Mara jumped in. "Not yet. Not until we're sure..."

She looked nervously at Luke.

They'd also agreed to remain positive.

To not think how her illness might affect their unborn child.

To not consider that their joy might be short lived.

"We just wanted to wait a while. You understand?" Luke said, placing a protective arm around his spouse.

"Well sure." Han answered. "But...well...Hell, come here!"

Han tightly hugged Mara to him, pressing a congratulatory kiss to her cheek and vigorously pumped Luke's artificial hand up and down.

"Now this calls for a celebration!" He grabbed a bottle of brandy from the side.

"I can't." Mara told him, her hand against her abdomen.

"And I don't." Luke said.

"Yeah. Well I guess I shouldn't." Han grumbled, eyeing the bottle disappointedly.

Then he righted his chair and sat back at the table.

"Aw, this is such great news. I'm thrilled for you. Really I am." He beamed. "You wait 'til Leia hears this, she'll be so pleased. She's been rooting for you two all along. I mean, I said to her, Honey I said, that kid's lucky to get his lightsaber up let alone anything else."

Luke gave Mara an embarrassed smile.

"Looks like I was wrong." Han added.

"Looks like you were." A quiet, female Solo voice said as she retook her seat.

Han felt himself shrink in his chair.

Leaning over he squeezed his daughter's hand.

"Looks like I owe you a massive apology." He said to Jaina.

"Save it!" She told him, brushing his hand away. "Save your apologies for..."

"Mom!" All three Solo's children blurted in unison.

Han looked puzzled for only an instant as he first felt, then heard the communicator in his pocket.

"Do I wanna get that?" He mumbled, fishing in his pocket.

"She's not dead. We'd know if she was dead. Wouldn't we?" Anakin asked.

"I don't feel her!" Jaina exclaimed and sucked back a sob.

"Solo here." Han announced, pushing to his feet and striding into the secure communication room to take the conversation.

"Jaina." Luke spoke softly. "Clear your mind. You're clouding the Force with your feelings."

She nodded, trying to stay calm.

When Han returned slowly to the living area, looking shaken, everyone rose, looking to him for news.

"She's...she's awake." He reported to a chorused sigh of relief.

He caught Jaina's briefest of glances toward the apartment door and anticipated her exit.

Jaina was slender and lithe and moved quickly, but Han's long strides and strong arms soon gripped hers blocking her way.

"I have to see her!" Jaina gasped. "I have to tell her that I'm sorry."

"You're not the only one with things to apologise for." He told her, pulling her into his embrace.

"Please Dad!" She sobbed into his chest.

"We'll all go." He told her, looking to the rest of his family for confirmation. "But you can't just go racing at her. She's still very sick and you can't go smothering her. You hear me Jaina?"

He felt her nod against his chest, felt the heave of her body as she fought back her emotions.

"Okay then." He said and curled an arm around her shoulders. "Let's go."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Taking a hovercab to the Medical Centre, they all waited nervously for Dr Ziel to come to them.

Han's patience was starting to wear thin when she finally arrived. The smile only a doctor ever wore, pasted to her face.

"Where is she?" Han asked.

"Captain Solo, sorry for keeping you waiting." Ziel said, again offering him her hand.

"Where is she?" He repeated.

"Captain, please." Ziel said and made a point of showing him her hand again.

With an intake of breath, Han gave her hand one firm shake.

"Now. Where is she?" He asked.

Ziel glanced around the group and inwardly sighed.

"I'm not trying to obstruct you Captain. Really I'm not." She continued to smile.

"Good. Then you can tell us where she is." Han snapped.

"It's just that I think I should explain a few things before you go in." She went on.

"Ma'am, no offence, but if you don't move your ass out of my way I am going to knock it clear into another Galaxy." He stated.

"I'm simply thinking of your children Captain." Ziel explained pointedly. "The intensive therapy centre can look a little scary, but I want to reassure you there's nothing to be afraid of."

Han bit back his anger and nodded his understanding.

"I know. I'm sorry." He offered her his hand. "Captain Solo. And you must be Doctor Ziel."

Ziel took his hand, shook it firmly and smiled.

"Pleased to meet you. Though obviously I wish it was under different circumstances." Ziel said and turned her attention to the rest of the group.

"Luke Skywalker, Leia's brother." Luke introduced himself and indicated Mara. "My wife, Mara."

Ziel smiled again and then turned to the Solo children.

"Jaina and Jacen I know." She said. "But this handsome young man is?"

"My youngest, Anakin." Han told her and leaned close to her ear. "Don't flatter him, he's at that age."

"Ah!" She acknowledged before speaking to them. "Now I know none of you are babies, but let me explain what it is you're going to see in the centre. Your mother is now breathing for herself, which is good news. It means, we may be able to move her to a bacta tank shortly which will start to heal those awful wounds to her legs. As it is, she's covered from her waist to her feet by a protective cage. This isn't nearly as worrying as it may appear, it's just so we can keep her legs elevated and at the same time stop anything from accidentally knocking into them. The cage is covered, so that we can maintain a sterile environment and that means you're not going to actually see her legs. In addition, she has monitors attached and, even though she is breathing for herself, we're keeping her airways open and augmenting her oxygen intake." Ziel looked at the faces of the Solo children then their father and finally the Skywalkers. "And I have to ask you finally, to please remember that Leia is still very, very unwell. I'm asking that you stay just for just a few minutes. Everybody okay with that?"

"We get it." Han told her. "We just want...we need to see her."

"I understand." Ziel said. "Follow me."

Han gave Jaina a loving squeeze.

"Come on, sweetheart. Let's go show your Mom how much she means to us." He said to her with a wink.

Dr Ziel guided them into Leia's room where Han was stunned at the sight of his wife.

Supported by two shallow pillows, she was paler than he'd ever seen her. Even paler than in the early days of their establishment of Hoth as a fully active Rebel base.

Ashen. That was the colour he'd heard used to describe someone who looked like Leia.

Her eyes, red rimmed and shadowed by dark circles, just added to the sorry look she gave them as her head flopped weakly in their direction.

And that moment of pause gave Jaina her opportunity. Slipping from her father's arm, she flew to her mother's side, sobbing as she tried desperately to grab onto her mother.

"I'm so sorry Mom." Jaina gasped between sobs. "I'm sorry for everything. I never meant anything I said. Not a word of it, not one single word."

"Jaina." Han chided, tugging at her to release her mother.

"You know that don't you?" Jaina continued, clinging on. "You know I never meant it. I love you Mom. I love you so much!"

"Jaina, come on." He gently pulled her away. "Give her some space honey."

"I'm so, so sorry Mom. Please, please don't die." Jaina continued as Han pulled her away and once more into his embrace.

"H...Han..." Leia rasped.

Jaina reluctantly let him step to her mother's side. He leaned down to Leia, taking her hand in his and curling his arm over her head to stroke her hair.

"Hey beautiful." He said to her, with his usual crooked smile.

Her eyes fluttered, her breath coming in short gasps.

"H...Han...the...children..." She whispered.

"They're all here honey." He told her, releasing her hand long enough to wave their children forward before gripping it again. "See? Jaina and Jacen are here, along with Anakin. You were only saying the other day you couldn't remember the last time you'd seen him. Remember? Look how tall he's grown. Long legs too, just like his Dad."

"H...Han..." She breathed, her eyes rolling as she tried to focus on Jaina beside her father, Anakin beside Jaina and Jacen at the foot of her bed.

"Luke and Mara are here too." He continued, exuberantly. "And guess what. No, there's no point, you'll never guess. So I'm just gonna have to tell you. They're having a baby."

"H...an..." Her hand tugged at him.

"Yeah, I know, never thought it was gonna happen did ya!" He grinned.

"Need...need you to p...to promise me...something..." She wheezed.

He released her hand again to gently sweep his palm around her brow and caress her cheek.

"Anything." He agreed, placing a warm, tender kiss to her forehead.

"Promise..." She took a breath and placed her hand lightly against his cheek. "That you...that you'll take care...take good care of the...of them for me."

Her hand slid from his cheek and he caught it, drawing her fingers to his lips to kiss them.

"What are talking about? We'll look after them together sweetheart." He soothed. "Same as we always have."

"Dad..." Jaina started tugging his arm.

A monitor beeped. Then beeped again.

"Dad!" Jaina sounded more urgent.

"What?" He turned to his daughter, her face stricken.

And then the monitor sounded a continuous alarm as Jaina couldn't hold back her cries a moment longer.

Han swung back to Leia, her eyes closed, her breathing laboured and becoming more and more shallow.

"Leia?" He queried to the sound of Jaina crying behind him.

Dr Ziel raced around the bed to the monitor, checking it's readout and ordering everyone to leave.

"Leia?" Han repeated as comprehension dawned. "NO! No, no, no, no, no."

His hands cupped her cheeks, his face pressed to hers, his nose rubbing hers as it so often had in a silent Corellian declaration of love.

Then he turned angrily.

"Luke? Mara?" He looked from one shocked face to the other. "Can't you do something? I mean, what is the point of you people if you can't do anything!"

He swung back to his wife.

"Come on Ley! You're stronger than this. You know you are." Taking her face again, he pleaded with her motionless body, his usual Corellian strength and resolve crumbling as his own tears flowed. "Please. You're stronger than this!"

And then somehow, everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Anakin stepped backwards from the bed, straight into his Aunt Mara's waiting arms, burying himself in her comforting embrace.

Dr Ziel dropped Leia's bed horizontal, depressed an alarm calling for assistance.

Han, for the first time in his entire life, cried openly until the anguished sobs of his daughter reminded him that there were others who needed his strength.

Then he released his wife in order to pull their daughter to him, to let her cry uncontrollably in his arms.

And at the end of the bed, Jacen stood watching the scene unfold before him having replayed his mother's attack over and over in his mind.

The amphistaffs, with their snake-like heads, slicing into her legs.

The flesh torn ragged, the blood oozing forth, the sound of his mother's muffled cries.

He focussed on the amphistaffs some more.

Slowed down their movements in his mind.

Observed that the heads were more than just snake-like. They actually transformed in the instant they touched his mother's skin, from an inanimate open snake-like mouth, to a very animate orifice from which something akin to a tongue flicked forward spewing a liquid into the open wound. In his head, he replayed those moments, observing them closely.

Listening intently.

The amphistaff dipped.

The flesh ripped apart.

The split tongue dripping venom.

His mother's stifled cry.

And suddenly his confusion was replaced by understanding.

As he gazed down at the life draining from his mother's body, his understanding deepened.

Her pain had been accentuated when the tongue of the 'staffs slavered her wounds with...with...with what?

With poison!

Poison which was now invading the rest of her body.

Destroying her organs.

Stealing her life.

And, he reasoned with himself, if he could see what was happening then he could reverse it.

To his left, Luke stood by Mara's side his head bowed.

Mara held Anakin to her chest.

Close by the bed, Han rocked Jaina in his arms, a comfort both for himself and for her.

To Jacen's right, Dr Ziel was ordering medical staff to her side and repeating her request to clear the room.

Before him, Leia Organa Solo tenaciously, if barely, clung to her life.

And Jacen believed he could change that.

Summoning the same support from the Force he had sought on first finding his Mother under attack, seemingly from nowhere a swirling wind began to surround the bed encasing both Leia and Jacen inside.

Luke felt the stir in the Force first.

It took him a moment to recognise it, thinking it emanated from Leia initially. Then he realised it was Jacen not Leia and it puzzled him.

"Jacen?" He queried.

The wind continued to whip around her bed as Leia's breathing slowed further. Though this was not caused by any effects of the poison invading her body, this was as a result of Jacen slowing her system.

"Jacen?" Luke queried again until the boy glanced over in his direction before returning his intense stare to his mother.

In that moment, Luke glimpsed a vision of the future. A lightsaber. A scream. A sense of loss, of pain unparalleled. Just as he had felt when Jacen and Jaina were still babies within their mother's womb.

In the next instant the wind became a raging cyclone, twisting and circling around the room. It's speed and ferocity forcing Dr Ziel to the floor. Luke instinctively turned his body to protect Mara, despite the voice in his head telling him she was doing just fine, and guided her and Anakin to the floor. Making them as compact as his could. Han called Jacen's name and curled Jaina tighter into the safety of his embrace.

As the wind continued to howl, Han drew his frightened child further into his protection and similarly to Luke forced his daughter to the floor so that he almost entirely covered her body with his own.

Anything that was not secured was being tossed around the room.

Something sharp and very heavy struck Han's shoulder. He cried out with pain but determined to keep his daughter safe no matter what the cost to himself.

And all the time, Jacen was focused on his mother.

Seeing the path of the poison within her, halting it's progress, reversing it's course.

Jacen became only vaguely aware of his surroundings. It was as if he was no longer in the same dimension as everyone or everything else.

Luke, protecting his wife, nephew and unborn child and Han likewise protecting his daughter shouted queries to one another but neither could hear the other clearly, nor truly explain what was happening.

Jacen leaned forward and gripped the edge of the bed, exhaustion threatening to overtake him. But he was not about to give up.

He compelled the Force to expel the poison from his mother's body through any and every available pore, cavity or outlet.

He could see it leeching from her, just a trickle at first and then in a gush.

Jacen was panting, his strength nearly spent.

His eyes glazed, he was beginning to weaken. But he was so close, he could feel it. Could feel that the toxins were all but eliminated.

Finally, when his mother gulped back a rasping lungful of air he knew she would be all right. Then, and only then, he allowed himself to collapse to the floor barely conscious.

As the torrent had begun, so it abated.

The howling wind died to nothing and as Han and Jaina, Luke, Anakin and Mara and Doctor Ziel started to untangle themselves and rise from their crouched positions, Leia's monitor beeped a steady sinus rhythm.

With some considerable effort, Dr Ziel cleared the room and again called for her medical team to assist her.

In the corridor, Han had suggested Luke take Mara back to the apartment to rest. Mara had argued she was feeling absolutely fine, but Han had insisted.

Accepting that their presence was not required, Luke and Mara returned to the apartment as suggested.

"You have any idea what just happened." Mara asked of Luke.

"No." He said, unconvincingly. "No idea at all."

"I don't believe you." She stated.

"Mara..." He started.

"No Luke. I won't be coddled!" She told him.

"Until I talk to Jacen, I don't want to speculate." He explained.

"Very well." She said. "We'll talk about it after you have spoken to Jacen. But don't think this is over Skywalker. For now, I'm going to bed. Care to join me?"

She extended her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"You know, if you don't mind, I think I'd rather stay up a while. Think things through." He said.

She smiled her understanding and went to bed alone.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

At the Medical Centre, the Solo's waited for Dr Ziel to allow them back into Leia's room.

Han sat silently staring at the floor. Anakin had curled onto the seat beside him, his head resting on his father's thigh. Jaina lay the other side of him, her arms held tightly around his torso, her head uncomfortably crooked against his chest. Occasionally she would gulp back a sob, at which times Han would turn his face and kiss her head tenderly. Jacen, now recovered, stood against the wall opposite sensing his brother's weariness; his sister's upset; his father's fears and through it all his mother's continued discomfort. Not the agony she'd felt previously, but she was still in some pain. But there was nothing more he could do, he knew that.

After what felt like an eternity, Dr Ziel appeared before them and they all stood to hear her verdict.

"Well, don't ask me how, but she's improving." She reported to sighs and joyous laughter.

"Can we see her?" Jaina asked excitedly.

"She's sedated, she won't know you're there. But I see no reason why you can't sit with her." She agreed. "However, we have had to move her to an adjoining room. Her previous room was too badly damaged to keep her there."

Dr Ziel indicated the way for them and Jaina would have been first through the door if Han had not pulled her back.

"Now we know she's all right, I think you and your brothers should go home. Get some rest." He told her.

"I want to see her." Jaina said.

"And you will. Soon as she wakes up." He confirmed. "But you heard what the Doctor said, she's sedated. She doesn't need us all to be there."

"But..." Jaina started.

"I'll call you when she wakes." He interrupted. "Hell, you'll probably know before I do. But right now, I need to be with her." He gently caressed his girl's cheek. "Understand?"

"You tell her you love her, you hear me?" She whispered in his ear as she strained upward to hug him.

He smiled and tipped her a wink before pushing into Leia's new room. She looked marginally better than she had when he'd seen her last. Propped up in bed and her face covered by a breath mask, Leia's waist and legs remained encased inside a protective cage.

Han circled her bed, pulled out one of it's fixed swivel stools and sat, watching her chest rise and fall with each measured breath. Her face was turned a little towards him and he tried to take in her features. Even in her present state, she was still the most beautiful woman in his eyes. She had given him three incredible children and twenty years of memories.

And he had come so very close to throwing it all away.

Chewie would have been furious with him.

He took her hand, drew her fingers to his lips and kissed them closing his eyes as he did so.

"I love you Leia." He told her. "Jaina wanted me to be sure to tell you. But you know that already don't you sweetheart. You've always known it."

He sat forward, held her hand to his cheek. "And I will love you until the day I die. But, of course, you already know that too, don't you?"

He sighed. "So here's the deal. You get through this. And I swear to you, I sear to you, we will come though this and we will be strong again."

Han sat with Leia throughout the night, soothing her, reflecting on their memories both good and bad.

He'd been unaware of drifting off to sleep but asleep he must have been, he realised, as he could feel the sunlight warming his cheeks and Leia's fingers toying with the hair at the nape of his neck. On their all too brief honeymoon, he and Leia had laid together luxuriating in the warm evening sunshine and the knowledge of an utterly unobserved holiday apartment.

He had persuaded her to skinny-dip with him with a mischievous waggle of his eyebrows.

She'd initially resisted, but after he had repeatedly assured her that their apartment was secure she had finally relented and agreed.

They'd gone swimming together, naked. Kissed each other, tenderly. Explored one another, intimately. Laid by the pool, in the warm sunshine to dry. And they had made love.

Oh, how they had made love!

But what he remembered most, was the feeling of her fingers in his hair. Did she know, he wondered, how deliciously sexy that sensation was.

He didn't want to wake up, didn't want to break the spell. But slowly he started to open his eyes. His neck was twisted awkwardly and he could feel as well as hear the crunching of tendons as he tried to straighten.

He also felt Leia's hand on his neck. Not in a dream this time. He could feel it for real.

Blinking himself awake, he sat upright and looked down on his now awake wife.

A smile spread rapidly across his face and he grabbed hold of her hand once more.

"Morning Princess!" He greeted her. "Sleep well?"

Her eyelids flickered at his familiar tone.

"Know something?" He asked. "You don't look so bad to me."

She reached up and pulled her breath mask to the side.

"Strong enough...strong enough to pull...pull the ears...off a gundark!" She answered him.

"That's my girl." He replaced her mask. "But you gotta keep that thing on."

"Where're...where're the kids?" She asked, moving the mask again.

"Out picking berries." He told her.

"Huh?" She queried, a puzzled frown creasing her brow.

"Just checking you could hear me all right." He put the mask back over her face. "Because I told you already, you gotta keep that thing on."

"Whe..." She started.

"They're home. Luke and Mara are looking after them." He assured her. "I promised I'd call the moment you woke up. Didn't expect them to have to wait for me to wake up first though."

"What happened?" She asked.

"Hey! You just concentrate on getting yourself strong." He chided. "And we can figure the rest out later, okay?"

As always, Han disregarded medical protocol and moved to perch himself on the edge of her bed.

"For now, that's all that matters sweetheart." He whispered, leaning down to move her mask aside and gently press his lips to hers.

She accepted his kiss but as he withdrew, before he had chance to replace her mask, she touched her lips with her fingertips.

"Oh hey." He said. "There's some iced water here for your lips, Doc said they'd feel dry."

"No." She stopped him reaching for it and instead tugged at his whiskers. "This has got to go!"

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Entering his apartment on Coruscant Han found his senses assaulted by the aroma of a well cooked nerf.

"You have got to be kidding me!" He said amazed.

"We figured you might be hungry." Jaina smiled.

"So we made nerf." Anakin added.

"For breakfast!" Han stated.

"Never too early or too late for a good slice of nerf, you always say." Jaina quoted.

"You know, when you're right you're right." He winked as his stomach grumbled. "But there's something I have to do first."

He headed into the bedroom's en suite 'fresher, opened the cabinet and pulled out the big, bold shaving brush Jaina had bought him what felt like a lifetime ago.

He swiped a hand over his beard, reflecting on the changes in his life so far. And the changes that lay ahead. Then he started soaping the brush.

"Everything okay?" Jaina asked from behind him.

"Everything..." He started soaping his face. "Is just fine."

"Mom?" She asked.

"She's awake."

"And?" She pressed.

"And..." He turned to look at her. "She looks good."

"Dad!" She exclaimed.

"Honey, I'm about to shave this beard." He held his cut-throat razor to the light. "You don't want me to slip 'cos I'm answering your questions, now do ya?"

"You couldn't do it could you?" She sighed. "Three little words Dad. You couldn't say just three little words to her."

"Your Mom knows how I feel about her." He returned to his reflection in the cabinet mirror. "But, seeing as it means so much to you, I did tell her that I loved her."

"What did she say?" Jaina asked excitedly.

"Well..." He started shaving his left cheek. "Nothing."

"Nothing!" She exclaimed.

"She wasn't awake when I said it."

"You're impossible!" She strutted over and jabbed him in the arm. "You don't deserve to get her back."

"Hey! I could have lost an ear just then." He growled.

"Good." She spat. "You never listen anyway."

"For your information, I do." He shook his razor at her. "And for your information also, she heard me too."

"Oh yeah." She said sceptically. "How would you know?"

"Because she told me." He answered. "Just not in words."

Jaina frowned in puzzlement.

"When you've known someone as long as your Mom and I have known each another. And when you've loved someone as long as your Mom and I have loved each other, you don't need to say 'I love you' for the other one to know it." He smudged her nose with shaving soap. "First time she said it to me, I already knew. We'd been to Hell and back in the three years between our first meeting and Leia saying those 'three little words'. Even if she'd never found her voice, I would still have known."

"How?" She asked quietly.

"When you fall in love Jaina." He told her. "You'll find out."

Shaved, showered, changed and fed, Han and his children joined by Luke and Mara headed back to the Medical Centre.

Leia looked brighter even than a couple of hours earlier and an eager smile spread across her face as she saw her children, holding out her arms to them.

Jaina, of course, flew into the cradle of her mother's arms first.

"Jaina...Sweetheart..." Leia held Jaina close.

"Oh Mom! I was so scared." Jaina told her, fighting back her tears.

"Come on Jaina." Han chided and gently tugged her free. "Let the woman breathe!"

Jaina stepped back, grudgingly releasing her mother's hand.

"Anakin." Leia observed with an outstretched hand. "Don't look so worried, I'm not going to faint or anything this time."

Anakin nervously closed in on Leia's bedside and took her hand.

"Look how tall you are!" She said. "Would've been nice if just one of you could've inherited my genes."

"We did." Jaina confirmed. "We got the looks."

"What's wrong with the way I look?" Han queried, sounding irked.

"Nothing Dad." Jaina giggled up at him. "Just that Mom looks better."

"Not gonna argue with you there, honey." Han gave Leia his lopsided grin.

Leia rolled her eyes, her view landing on Jacen.

"I owe you my life." She said to him.

"I just knew what I had to do and did it." He shrugged.

"Well. Thank you." She gave him a weak smile. "Hardly seems enough."

"Everyone deserves a second chance. You probably more than most for all the second chances you've given other people." He answered.

"Yeah. Well, we're trying to put the past in the past." Han said. "Aren't we sweetheart?"

"Luke!" Leia exclaimed, ignoring Han's comment Jaina noted.

"Leia. How are you feeling?" Luke smiled and joined the Solo's around Leia's bed.

"Me?" She chuckled, Luke had been the only one to ask. "Well, my legs hurt like Hell but at least it doesn't feel like my whole body's on fire any more. Thank you for asking."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek tenderly. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Thanks. But the Doctor here is very capable." She assured him.

"I don't doubt. I just wondered if a healing trance might help to ease the pain at least." He replied.

"Enough about me." She arched her eyebrow. "Don't you and Mara have some news for me? Something about the pitter patter of tiny Jedi feet?"

Luke glanced over his shoulder to Mara and beckoned her to him.

"Is it true?" Leia asked of Mara.

"You tell me." Mara challenged.

Leia exhaled and concentrated before finally breaking into a grin.

"Six...no seven weeks I estimate." She confirmed. "Strong heartbeat. And if he's anything like any of mine, he'll probably have an even stronger pair of lungs!"

"He?" Luke looked at Mara.

"Maybe." She smiled, non-committally.

"Maybe?" He pressed. "What kind of answer is maybe?"

"The only one you're going to get." She answered him.

Dr Ziel entered the room and, with a breezy smile, checked Leia's chart.

"So, what's the verdict Doc? How's she doing?" Han asked with his usual crooked grin.

"Pretty well. However, I think my star patient needs a little time to herself." Ziel replied. "Or, more accurately, a little time with the medical droid who's about to change her dressings. Perhaps, the Captain wouldn't mind sparing me a moment in my office."

"Sure." He said. "Come on kids, we'll all see your Mom later."

Everyone gave Leia their love, kisses and hugs before filing out of the medical suite. Everyone except Jaina. She lingered by her mother's bedside as the others, led by Luke, headed out of the door.

"Dad was here all night Mom." Jaina told her. "All night."

"I know." Leia assured her. "I felt he was close by."

Han noticing Jaina's reluctance to leave waited for her in the doorway.

"Come on Jay. Leave your Mom alone why don't ya?" He called.

Jaina glanced in his direction then turned back to her mother.

"Just give him a chance Mom. That's all I'm saying." Jaina continued.

"Jaina..." Leia sighed.

"Jaina, I won't tell you again." Han growled.

"That's all I'm saying." She repeated.

"Now!" Han barked.

"Just think about it." Jaina said as she turned and exited past her father who was shaking his head in annoyance at her.

He paused and gave Leia a gentle smile which she returned without hesitation. Then, with a wink, he was gone.

Luke excused himself, explaining that having heard of another Yuuzhan Vong attack the night before he should check for casualties and the news from Rogue.

Mara offered to escort the children back to the apartment, however, they declined opting to remain with their father.

"You know, it's probably only going to be pretty boring medical stuff." Han tried to tell them.

"Dad!" Jaina planted a fist on her hip in a perfect imitation of her mother. "We're staying."

"Okay. But don't say I didn't warn you." He advised and guided them into Dr Ziel's office where they all took a seat across from the physician.

Ziel looked around their anxious faces and gave them a reassuring smile.

"So. Doc. She really doing okay, or was that just for her benefit?" Han asked.

"Her recovery is nothing short of miraculous." Ziel reported. "Whatever it was you did, young man, it saved her life."

"I didn't do anything, really." Jacen shrugged.

"What's this spike here?" Han asked, scanning Leia's medical chart.

"That's the extent of the poison's progress through Leia's system." Ziel explained.

"And this, here?" He pointed to another part of the screen. "Right, before it all goes squiggly."

"At that point,your wife was technically dead." Ziel pointed at the zig zag line. "Briefly. Until she somehow managed to find a strong sinus rhythm."

Jaina and Anakin exchanged a look.

"Any idea how that could have happened?" Ziel pressed Jacen.

He shrugged again. "I saw the toxins. I saw them, right from the moment they entered Mom's body and I saw that if I reversed their path that I could force them back out of her. So, that's what I did."

Ziel listened, observing Jacen's nervous mannerisms.

"Well, the good news is, all of our tests show zero trace of any toxins." Ziel smiled. "Her recovery, however, is a long way from being over."

"Whatever she needs, whenever she needs it, we'll be here for her." Han confirmed.

"Well, medically, there's still a way to go for her. Without the poison attacking her system we're able to concentrate on repairing the damage to her legs. We're regularly applying bacta bandages and we're seeing some small improvement already." Ziel hesitated before continuing, carefully. "But the fact remains that she lost a considerable amount of blood before she was admitted. Her lacerations were deep, in some places almost to the bone. She's lost muscle tone; there are nerves which have been irreparably damaged and tendons that have been shredded. She's going to need a period of very extensive and very intensive physical therapy once she has received all of the medical treatment we have available here."

"But, she's going to be okay right?" Jaina asked.

"Jaina..." Ziel leaned across the desk. "I wish I could give you a durasteel guarantee that your Mother is going to make a full recovery. But the reality is, I have no such guarantee. You all need to understand, there is a possibility that she may not regain full mobility."

"You're...you're saying she could be paralysed?" Han queried.

"No, I'm not saying that at all." Ziel tried to sound reassuring. "We'll continue to apply the bacta bandages. We'll monitor her progress. And in a month, possibly two, we should know more with regard to her abilities. In the short term, she is going to need considerable care whilst undertaking physical therapy. She'll need someone to help her dress, to tend to her bathing and comfort calls for starters. And...there are likely to be some...um...physical limitations with regard to...uh...marital matters."

She blushed as she gave Han a brief apologetic smile. Han managed a weak smile in return.

"Have you spoken to Leia about this?" He asked her.

"Not yet." Ziel answered. "I wanted to discuss it initially with you in order to establish that she can receive the appropriate support from her family."

"Well of course she'll have our support!" Jaina exclaimed.

"Jaina..." Han interrupted.

"I don't understand why she'd even ask that." Jaina snapped furiously at her father.

"Jaina, could you and the boys wait outside please." He asked her.

"No!" She told him angrily. "We're not children, we have a right to hear..."

"Please Jaina." Han pleaded staring her down until, tutting she, Jacen and Anakin left the office.

Han gathered his thoughts a moment and cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Doctor, I love my wife more than I tend to be comfortable admitting. Even to myself, most of the time." He told her. "For reasons I'd rather not discuss, we recently experienced a period of personal difficulty. We have been working toward a reconciliation and I can assure you I'm far from making unfair demands on her."

"Actually, that wasn't what I was concerned about." She told him. "I believe I recognise a considerate man when I meet one. No, I was rather hoping you might consider being the one to explain the situation to her."

"Me?" He laughed.

"I have found it can be a comfort to some patients when difficult news is delivered by someone they love and trust." She smiled softly. "I think you can reassure her better than I that her family are supporting her every step of the way."

"No pun intended, huh?" He arched a sarcastic eyebrow at her.

"No, of course not." She blushed again.

"So how the Hell am I supposed to tell her she may never walk again?" He growled.

"Well, firstly I wouldn't recommend you tell her that at all." Ziel said. "I can brief you on what to say, and also on what to avoid. And, of course, I wouldn't ask you to speak to her alone. I'll be right by your side."

"Ma'am, no offence, but I think I know how best to handle my own wife." Han told her.

"Somehow Captain, I don't doubt that!" She agreed.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Han excused himself long enough to encourage his children to go back to the apartment and succeeded without even a murmur of the argument he'd expected from Jaina then rejoined Dr Ziel for a full and frank discussion regarding the approach he should take with Leia.

For much of their journey home, Jaina glared at her twin until finally he turned to her.

"Just what is your problem?" He asked.

"My problem? You wanna know what my problem is?" She glowered.

"Come on you two, don't start." Anakin interceded.

"I thought you had given up on the Force!" She accused Jacen.

"So what? You think I should have just left Mom in her office?" He answered her.

"No, of course not!" She snapped.

"Or maybe I should have just stood by and watched her die in the Med Centre like you and Anakin were happy to do?" He countered.

"Can you even hear yourself?" Anakin asked and lowered his voice. "You're sounding like a Sith."

"A Sith!" Jacen mocked. "Can you even hear yourself?"

"Jedi's can neither take nor give life." Jaina reasoned.

"Jedi's take life all the time." Jacen argued. "Or do you think that being in the cockpit of an X-Wing means it doesn't count?"

"It's not the same Jacen. I fly and fight with Rogue in defence of the New Republic." Jaina told him. "The same New Republic our parents fought so hard to create and build."

"And that's what you think makes it all right is it?" Jacen asked sarcastically.

"I'm not having this argument with you again Jacen." She tutted.

"Just what the Hell happened in there Jace?" Anakin asked, his face creased with concern.

"Okay. You wanna know? You really wanna know?" Jacen leaned in toward his siblings eager faces. "I took her death. And I can give it right back. Any time I want."

He leaned back smugly looking at their horrified faces.

"So, what do you know? I do sound like a Sith. Maybe I am one." He smiled tauntingly. "Better not piss me off. I might give her death back to you!"

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Meanwhile, Han had entered his wife's medical suite and sat patiently beside her while she slept.

How long had it been, he wondered, since he had last simply watched her sleep.

In the early days of their relationship, he had watched her all the time.

Before they were married. Before they had even accepted their true feelings for one another, there were times when he was entrusted with her care on trade or diplomatic missions when he had taken the opportunity to observe her in her slumbers.

Of course, way back then he never would have admitted to it.

And he certainly wouldn't have admitted to what he had observed. How young she had been back then. How young and innocent and vulnerable and mature all at the same time.

Then, as they had grown closer, he'd watched her grow in other ways too. Her chubby youthful features, ripened into gaunt haunted trepidation.

And after Yavin and Hoth and Endor, especially after Endor, she had blossomed in so many ways.

The nightmares that had plagued her began to diminish. The dark hollows that had become her eyes were replaced by luscious pools of thirsty exuberance.

Han smiled at the memory of the morning after their marriage.

Waking before her, he had laid on his side watching her as she still dozed. He had been tempted to focus on the rise and fall of her breasts but although he spared them more than just a fleeting glance his eyes soaked up every pore, every nuance, every crease and curve of her countenance.

And when she sucked in a deep breath and her eyes had fluttered open, he had favoured her with the lopsided grin he knew scorched her very soul and he showed her no mercy in doing so.

"Morning Mr Solo." She had purred.

"Morning Mrs Solo." He had returned her greeting.

In a fluid motion she had slithered to his side, her mouth before his, her breath tickling his face.

"Organa Solo." She had corrected him, her eyes hooded with passion.

His smile deepened at the memory of their shared kiss...and at the love making that had followed.

"You back again?" Leia asked him.

"Huh?" Han returned from his reverie.

"I said, you're back again." She smiled. "Or haven't you even been home yet?"

"You still think of it as my home too?" He asked, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Han, after all of this, can't we just agree to put the past behind us?"

"Nothing would make me happier." He told her.

"Maybe you could ask them how long it'll be before I get outta here too. I've tried, but they just fob me off. I'm beginning to get the feeling I'm not going anywhere in a hurry." She sighed.

"Well, you see the thing is sweetheart, they're a bit worried about your legs." He said, holding her hand tightly.

"How bad are they? I've asked, but they won't let me see them." She regarded him carefully.

"You remember anything of what happened?" He asked.

"Not much." She replied. "I felt there was something wrong as soon as I entered my office. I remember being pushed to my knees and then just pain...and Jacen. I remember Jacen being there. Nothing more than that though. Why, what did happen?"

"They hurt you pretty bad honey." He tried to sound soft as he said it. "Cut your legs up real bad. And they're gonna take a while to heal."

"What aren't you telling me?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"No hiding the truth from you is there?" His lopsided grin threatened to melt her, he could see that, but he could also see that she was resisting. He sighed. "Truth is, they don't know just how bad you were hurt. And they won't know the full extent for a little while yet."

She studied him further until he struggled to return her gaze.

"Okay. I'm not going to lie to you." He said accepting that he had to explain the situation more fully. "Worse case, you may not regain full mobility."

She opened her mouth to speak but he held up a hand.

"Let me finish." He told her. "Because that's not going to happen. I promise you."

"You have the power to heal the lame now do you?" She scoffed. "You always did have a high opinion of yourself."

She turned her head away, fought desperately not to show him her emotions. But he knew her better than that.

"Leia." He chided. "Leia, look at me."

She sniffed but made no move to look in his direction.

"Leia." he repeated more forcefully, then softened his voice. "Lelila. Look at me."

Her childhood nickname, one she had told to him and only him and one which after his initial teasing he had only used a handful of times in their life together. His use now made her turn her dewy eyes back to his.

"I promise you, that will not happen." He told her.

"Is it vain? To be afraid?" She asked. "I mean, I figured there was something they weren't telling me when they wouldn't let me see my legs."

"Your legs are gorgeous. They always have been." He reassured her. "Could have been a bit longer, maybe..."

He shrugged slightly and she laughed.

"Ever think maybe you were unnaturally tall?" She asked.

"I'll have you know, I'm in perfect proportion." He grinned. "And size isn't everything."

"Not when you've got it, it isn't!" She countered.

"I haven't had any complaints so far." His grin turned mischievous.

Leia pursed her lips in an attempt to hide her smile.

"Oh Han!" She raised a hand to wipe at a tear she hadn't been able to prevent from falling. "What kind of Mother...what kind of Grandmother will I be if I can't keep up with them or their children?"

"Now hold on a minute here!" He rose and perched on the side of her bed. "Firstly, can you seriously see either of our boys settling down and starting a family any time soon? I mean, take Anakin, if it doesn't have a cockpit or it's not a lightsabre he's not interested in it. And as for Jacen, he's a great kid...He's a really great kid..."

She laughed.

"I mean it. He is." He continued. "If he wasn't mine already I'd adopt him. But if a girl so much as blinks in his direction he breaks out in a sweat."

"We have a daughter too." She reminded him.

"And very beautiful she as well. Just like her Mom." He told her. "And granted, she is a good deal higher up the sexual evolutionary scale than her brothers, but she's also a career girl. I just don't see her risking that right now. She and Jag have cooled things and somehow I don't think Isolder's gonna be chasing that particular piece of skirt in a hurry."

"There's also Luke and Mara." She pointed out.

"Nah!" He scoffed. "You worry too much. Soon enough Mara's gonna be too fat to run very fast and if you recall it was Luke who was always chasing after you, not the other way around."

"I was talking about their baby!" She said.

"You need more faith." He leaned forward, his arms braced either side of her. "For one, he's not due for what, seven months. For two, he's not gonna come out either running around or even crawling on all fours. And for three, I already told you, what you're thinking is not going to happen."

"But what if it does?" She whispered.

"It won't." He repeated. "The bacta's healing the lesions, it's only a matter of time before you start physical therapy and then..." He shrugged. "You'll be just like new. Except..."

"Except what?" Her brow furrowed.

"Except, you'll still be short." He said, his eyes twinkling as he mused. "Wonder if they could give you a couple of inches. I'm getting kind of neck sore from leaning down to do this."

He bent forward, careful not to knock her anywhere it might hurt and gently pressed his lips to hers.

"Captain Solo!" Dr Ziel hissed from behind them.

"How'd I know that was going to happen?" He mumbled into Leia's smile.

"This is supposed to be a sterile environment!" The Doctor admonished him.

"Well I should hope so, it's a medical centre." Han winked at Leia as he stepped from her side.

"I meant you're not supposed to sit on the bed." Ziel tutted.

"I know. I'm sorry." Han said sounding contrite. "I was comforting my wife."

"I know. I saw." She straightened Leia's covers, leaning close to her ear. "Was it as good as it looked?"

"Better." Leia whispered back.

"Figures. Good one's are always taken." She commented. "But...we need to change your bandages again."

"You want me to go?" Han asked.

"Stay!" Leia said quickly and reached out her hand to him. "Please. I'd like you to stay."

Ziel nodded her approval and called for the medical droid to replace Leia's bacta bandages.

Han watched as the protective cage retracted and the droid began unwrapping first Leia's left, then her right leg. He felt Leia's hand tighten, heard her little gasps of discomfort, glanced often enough to see her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her teeth nibbling on her lower lip.

And then his eyes returned to her legs.

The first time he had seen her bare legs had been on the Falcon after his rescue from Jabba's Palace.

His eyesight had still been a little blurry, but he had seen her well enough.

She'd looked thinner than he had remembered her being and, if he was honest, thinner than he liked her looking.

On the Falcon he had been verbal in his fury with her for putting herself in such danger. Of course, he hadn't been nearly as furious as he had been relieved. Relieved that they were together and safe on the Falcon. More relieved still that Jabba's only humiliation of her had been to force her to strip and dress in one of his degrading slave outfits. Han was all too aware that his level of humiliation stretched far beyond such limitations.

His words had been harsh, they had been intended to wound and wound they had. As her emotions had threatened to overtake her, he had pulled her into his arms. He had held her tightly and caressed her and kissed her and told her he would rather die than ever have to see her as she was before him at that moment.

Reflecting on that time, he wanted so badly to hold her now and to never let her go.

"How do they look?" Leia asked, her breathing slowing as a freshly applied bacta bandage relieved the pain.

"Gorgeous." He told her. "Just like I told you."

He hoped he sounded convincing. He hoped his face wasn't revealing the lie behind his words. Her legs were mottled shades of pink and purple. Scars criss-crossed her flesh and there were worrying patches of darker tissue not just on Leia's legs but adhered to the recently removed bandages also. And though he pretended not to notice, there was a definite odour he could only associate with decaying flesh.

He felt her relax into her pillows, a soft smile curving the corners of her lips as she rested.

With the bandages replaced and a fresh intravenous bag fitted, he could feel her falling to sleep beside him so with a light kiss to her forehead he left her to her dreams and followed Dr Ziel to her office.

"She tends to sleep quite quickly after the bandages have been changed." Ziel advised. "We're hoping that will stop over then next couple of weeks and that we might be able to start physical therapy."

"You're not concerned about...anything?" He asked.

"You mean the necrosis." Ziel nodded. "I wondered if you'd recognise it."

"It doesn't worry you?"

"I can understand how it must look. But let me reassure you, we are closely monitoring it's progress and it is absolutely no cause for concern." She shook her head gently. "Her scars are improving and as soon as any remaining necrosis has been eliminated we'll apply synthflesh to the affected areas."

"You're not afraid it might spread?" He pressed.

"Captain, I promise you we are keeping a very close eye on your wife's progress." She told him, trying to allay his fears. "She'll sleep now for an hour, maybe two. Perhaps I could let you know when she wakes so that you and your family might come in to see her."

He accepted her dismissal and was about to make his way home when he spotted Luke exiting another of the medical centre bays.

They nodded to one another, meeting part way to return to the apartment together.

"How's Leia?" Luke enquired.

"She's asleep right now." Han ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know Luke. I look at her and I wonder how the Hell she's gonna get through this."

"She's a lot stronger than you give her credit for. You should have seen her after you'd been taken by that Bounty Hunter. She was like a woman possessed!"

Han gave Luke a half smile that told him it was really no comparison.

"Well...anyway...like I said. She's a lot stronger than..." Luke started to repeat.

"You said something about another incursion." Han interrupted, changing the subject.

"Yeah." Luke answered, understanding. "Bad one. Rogue suffered quite a few casualties. Three fatalities too. I'm on my way to speak to their families now."

"Tough break." Han mumbled.

"Is Jaina home?" Luke asked casually.

"I guess. Unless she's snuck out to..." Han turned to study Luke. "Why? Why d'you need to talk to Jaina?"

Luke looked slightly embarrassed.

"Jagged Fel is among the injured." He finally told Han. "I know he and Jaina are involved and I thought she should hear it from me before anyone else told her. You know what Rogue are like."

"Yeah. The only thing to travel faster than gossip is bad news!" Han sighed.

"There's more." Luke continued.

"Gossip or bad news?" Han asked.

"There's been a call to arms." Luke spoke softly and Han's sigh deepened. "I'm sorry Han. I know the timing's lousy!"

"I'll talk to the kids and square it with Leia. But Luke, I can't be part of this. I have to be here for her. For as long as it takes." Han said.

"I understand." Luke smiled. "My thoughts will be with you. With you both."

They smiled their appreciation for one another and went their separate ways. Luke to inform three families that their loved one's would not be returning and Han to advise his children that their lives were about to follow an unexpected path.