Also, a little reminder that I haven't changed the rating on this story since my first update. This chapter is one of the reasons why. And George, please don't sue me. I know I've taken your characters to places they never would have gone with you, but they're still yours. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.
And thanks to everyone whose taken some time out of their day to send me a note to keep me going.
Unexpected Detours, part 9
Several weeks passed after Leia's revelation and the pair hadn't yet told anyone of the upcoming change to their dynamic. Han had struggled with his conscience, but yielded to Leia's wishes and had agreed to keep their news from everyone, including Chewie. He still thought that she was being unreasonable. After all, they wouldn't be able to keep their secret for much longer and then, there would be those, like Chewie and Luke, that would be hurt because they hadn't been told sooner. But he enjoyed their current truce more than he worried about the impending disappointment of their friends, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
The threat of a traitor amongst them had eased somewhat and the ban on outgoing flights had been lifted. When the news had been delivered by the general that Han had been cleared to leave, he thanked him and told him that he had changed his mind. The general, in turn, continued to increase the responsibilities that he doled out to the pair of smugglers who were quickly becoming rebels.
Existent or non-existent traitorous threats soon were upstaged by the imminent decline of a budgetary surplus for their small faction of the rebellion. Leia frequently worked late into the night, coaxing funds and supplies out of the few contacts that the group had deemed trustworthy. Unfortunately, the list of their trustworthy allies was diminishing as quickly as were their supplies. The problem had become so prominent that Leia had taken to spending most evenings at her desk in the command centre, pouring over reports and supply lists in an effort to find a solution.
Han, for his part, had taken to delivering her dinner on those nights and was working his way over to the command centre, a covered plate in his hand. His own supply of foodstuffs was quickly dwindling as well, but his ability to season even the simplest of dishes still managed to draw a few longing glances as he made his way to Leia's 'office'. She didn't have an office so much as a corner of the command centre, a corner that offered little storage and less privacy.
"Han, I've told you before that you don't have to bring me dinner." Her voice was lowered when she spoke to him and he knew that she disliked the attention that this new ritual drew.
"If I don't bring you something to eat, then you usually forget to eat," he countered. Lowering his voice to slightly more than a whisper, he added: "And, in your condition, you can't afford not to eat."
"I know, but I've just got so much work to do."
He cleared enough of her work area to create room for the plate and placed it before her, uncovering it and replacing the data pad she held with a fork. "You can't think clearly on an empty stomach. So why don't you take a short break and you'll probably get more work done after you've finished."
"You know," she answered around a mouthful of food, "that people are talking about us. You can't keep doing this."
"Well, maybe it's not such a bad thing. Then they won't have to guess who's responsible when they figure out that you're pregnant."
She smirked in response and continued to eat. Satisfied that he had made a point, he scanned the data pad that she had been working on when he had first arrived. He winced visibly when he read the columns that totalled the credits currently at their disposal. Something would have to be done soon or the Imperials wouldn't have to worry about the rebellion any longer. They will have frozen to death or starved to death long before Vader found them. He and Chewie had stopped accepting funds for any work they performed, but that really didn't have much of an impact. It was one less expense, but what the rebellion really needed was an income.
"I know," Leia answered his silent expression. "But I might have found something. I'm going to meet with the general in the morning once I've sorted out all the details."
"Oh yeah? What d'ya find?"
"I can't really go over it all now. I've still got a few details to sort out and then I want to discuss the possibility with Rieekan. I'll tell you all about it then."
After she had finished eating, Han left and returned to the Falcon. He tried not to let it bother him that she had dismissed his inquiry so easily. She had been very busy and if she had found something to alleviate the current situation, the rebels needed her to devote as much time and energy necessary to see that plan to fruition. The feeling in the pit of his stomach was very difficult to ignore though and he spent most of the night tossing and turning, finally admitting defeat and climbing quietly from their bed so as to not disturb her slumber. He left the Falcon and strolled out into the hanger, searching for a peaceful place where he could be alone with his thoughts.
'I miss going outside, too,' he thought. On a night like this, there was nothing better than a walk in the crisp night air to clear your mind and sort through your thoughts. 'Crisp' wasn't exactly the word that he would use to describe the night air on Hoth. Bitter, icy, freezing, deadly - all of those words would easily describe an evening stroll on Hoth and neither of those were what he was seeking as he wandered through the base.
In a few standard months, his whole life was going to change and he wasn't the least bit prepared for it. Neither of them were and he would wager that Leia was even less prepared than him. After the night that she had told him that he was going to be a father, they had discussed the baby very little. She spent every night on the Falcon, but maintained her quarters on the base. And she hadn't taken well to his suggestion that, since she was in charge of supplies, she should work on requisitioning something for their baby to sleep in. Knowing now how dire the rebellion's financial position was at the time of his comment, he understood a little better her reaction to his comment. That knowledge didn't change their reality though and their reality was a tiny baby that was going to make an entrance in their lives in a short time.
'Well, maybe this plan that Leia seems to have come up with will pan out. Then we both can devote a little more time and energy to our own lives.'
His meandering thoughts had led him on a circuitous path and he found himself back at the Falcon. He headed up the ramp, feeling better and more settled even though he hadn't settled anything. She sat up as he opened the door to their cabin and he immediately regretted his disruption of her sleep.
"Sorry, I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you, so I went for a walk." He closed the door behind him and stood at the entrance, allowing his eyes time to adjust to the dark.
"It's okay. I'm having a hard time sleeping, too."
He stripped down to his underwear, tossing his clothes in a pile at his feet. "Can't sleep, huh? Maybe I can help you with that."
She smiled as he removed his boxers and slid beneath the sheets beside her. He left a trail of kisses up her leg, pausing to bestow several kisses on her slightly rounded abdomen. She had taken to sleeping in an old shirt of his and he quickly removed it as well. He ran his hand down her back, pulling it around to cup her recently enlarged breast, admiring the changes in her body and loving that they were only evident to him.
Their lips met and tongues danced and he shifted to allow her to straddle him. He sat up so her chest pressed against his and his arms were wrapped firmly around her back. She moaned as he trailed kisses along her jaw line and down the curve of her neck to nip at her collarbone. She tilted her head and arched back against his arms, granting him further access as he kissed a path from her collarbone to an eager nipple. Alternating between laving and nipping at it, he quickly had her squirming against his hard shaft. Shifting his attention to her other breast, he groaned deeply as she ground her slick folds against him.
"Leia," he rasped, "much as I love what you're doing, you're gonna wish you hadn't very soon."
"Really," she purred and reached a hand down to stroke his manhood.
Groaning, almost growling, he sucked fiercely on her nipple and used his arms to pull her back upright. Releasing her breast, he collapsed against the pillow and grasped her hips with his hands, lifting her until he felt the head of his penis poised at her wet core. She sank down on him and he nearly came as he felt her tight walls pull in his shaft. She rocked slowly against him and he found some measure of control. Control that threatened to disappear the moment he opened his eyes and took in the woman above him. Her face was flushed and her eyes were glazed with desire. Her breasts moved with her rocking and her long hair flowed down her back and danced against his thighs. He hurried her then, lifting her up and down with more speed and more force until he slammed within her steadily. As she caught his rhythm and her breaths became less steady, he reached between them and danced his fingers in her folds until she came. She slowed with her orgasm, but her grabbed her hips again, lifting her and driving her until she finally rode him through his own ecstasy.
She collapsed against him and he held her as the scent of their lovemaking mingled with their sweat. He had driven all of his worries from his mind and could barely find the energy to pull the covers over them. 'Maybe I don't need to go outside after all,' he thought and then followed Leia into dreamless sleep.
A/N: A little fluff and a little… ahem… to hold you over for the time being. I should have the next chapter posted soon. In the meantime, please read and review. Scarlet.