Sorry it took a while to get this up, work has been hectic and I haven't had time to work on this. Plus it has gone thought several rewrites.

Chapter 5

At first when she discovered that she was having a baby she was terrified. When she was younger she had thought about having children, even as recently as when she realized that she had fallen in love with Han Solo. She always thought that he had nice eyes and would have liked her children to have those eyes. All this changed when she discovered who her biological father was.

Over the months, the ghost of Anakin Skywalker often visited Leia. Gradually she would allow him to tell his story. Leia lay on her bed with her hand resting on her belly. She smiled as she felt the tiny flutters of her unborn child. She looked down at her belly; she was beginning to get the bump. She knew it wouldn't be long before she would have to tell someone about the baby. She wanted Han to know first, but as her baby grew, she knew that wouldn't happen. While their strike on Coruscant was going well, Leia didn't know when she would ever see him again. They weren't married so she and Han cold be separated for a long time.

Leia was playing with her commitment ring, something that she never took off, when she heard her father's voice.

"Leia."

"Father."

"How are you tonight, my daughter?"

"I guess, I'm doing alright," she replied.

"You're thinking about the baby's father."

"Yes, I just wish I could tell him."

"Your mother was almost five months pregnant with you and Luke, before she got to tell me about you."

It was a rare moment that Anakin would mention her mother. He would never tell her who she was; she could tell that it was a painful subject for him.

"Father, can you tell me more about her?"

Anakin looked away from her.

"I really want to know."

"Some other time, daughter," Anakin then faded away.

Han Solo stood on the bridge of Home One next to Admiral Ackbar. The pair looked out at the planet of Coruscant. It had been nearly three weeks since there had been any disturbances from the Empire. After the news that Vader and the Emperor were dead many of the citizens broke into celebration. The Empire had tried to control the crowds, but since the citizens were no longer afraid of what might happen if they had a riot they ignored them.

The first thing the Alliance did was to join the crowds fighting against the Imperial troops, which brought the citizens to their side. Soon afterwards the space battle began, with the infighting and lack of proper leadership, the Imperials were defeated.

Admiral Ackbar looked to Han, "I have been in contact with Mon Mothma, she will make her move to establish our government soon."

"That's great," Han said, "the sooner we establish the government the sooner we can begin the clean up." Secretly Han was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Leia again. For the past two and a half months he looked forward to the day he would see her again. He was glad that Luke was along with him. Luke had a connection with Leia and constantly assured Han that she was doing well. It took all of his discipline not to board the Falcon and fly to her side.

Han boarded the Falcon and found Chewbacca working on one of the many modifications that they had installed. "Hey Chewie."

["Hey Han, I really appreciate you allowing me to take the Falcon to visit my mate and cub on my leave."]

"At least one of us gets to leave, hey do me a favor, stop by the base that Leia is on and check on her for me, will ya?"

["You're worried about her? I'm sure that she's alright."]

"I would just feel better if I had someone I could trust to be with her, I know it won't be long before she and the high command will be coming here, but until then…"

["I would be honored to look after your life-mate."]

"Thanks pal."

Leia and Winter were sitting outside of the base when Leia saw the familiar disk shape of the Millennium Falcon. "Han? Oh gods, Winter, it's Han," she said excitedly as she pointed at the familiar shape.

Leia started running through the trees that separated her from the base; she arrived as the ship sat down. Leia waited for the ramp to be lowered, hoping to see the man she loved come down. Chewbacca was the first and only one to exit.

"Chewie!" Leia wrapped her arms around her favorite 'walking carpet.' "Where's Han, is he still on board?" Leia started up the ramp.

Chewie growled.

"What?" She wasn't sure of what Chewbacca had said.

Chewbacca slowed his speech so that the princess could understand. ["Han is still at Coruscant, they will not grant him leave yet."]

Leia wanted to cry but held the tears back. When she had seen the Falcon she thought that finally she would see the man she loved again. Knowing that he sent Chewbacca to her, told her that he was worried about her. "I miss him so much Chewie," Leia told him.

["He misses you too, he loves you very much.]

"I know." Leia smiled as Winter caught up with them. Leia introduced them to one another.

Later Leia, Winter, and Chewbacca sat in the mess hall eating when they saw Darrik heading their way. "Oh great, just what I need now," Leia muttered.

Chewbacca growled a question.

"I'll tell you later, Chewie. "

Darrik bowed to Leia as he approached. "Ah, my princess, how are you this fine afternoon?" He looked to Chewbacca, "Who is your friend?"

"This is Chewbacca the Wookiee. He is my fiancé's best friend and co-pilot."

"Now princess, you know the Alderaanians will never allow you to marry him. The sooner you accept this, the better…" He stepped back as Chewbacca stood and growled at him.

Leia stood and placed her hand on Chewbacca's arm. "It's alright Chewie, we'll discuss this later. Darrik, I will marry Han, no one will dictate who I'm going to spend my life with."

"Princess, you are bound to your duty to your people…." He stepped back again as Chewbacca bared his teeth at him.

Later in her quarters, Chewbacca wanted answers.

"Chewie, the Alderaanians and my Aunt Celly, want me to marry him. They feel that he is best suited for me."

["What about Han?"]

"I've told them all about Han; they don't even want to give him a chance." Leia felt her baby move, and she smiled slightly. "But I have a guaranteed situation that they're going to have to allow Han to marry me."

["How's that?"]

Leia smiled again, and then placed her hand on her belly. "I'm pregnant with his child."

["You're having a cub?"] Chewbacca wrapped his arms around the princess, ["I am so happy for you. It is a good thing Han sent me to you. I now know I must stay with you."]

"But your life-debt is to Han, not me."

["Wookiee's often extend their debts to the family. I have extended mine to his life-mate and cub. Han will be fine without me for a while; you need my protection more than he does."]

Leia didn't know what to say. She had done nothing to earn Chewbacca's protection, but nonetheless he was always there for her. She also knew that Han had sent Chewbacca to her; it was another gesture that showed Leia how much he loved her. Leia laid her head on Chewbacca's hairy arm; she knew that she and her unborn child would be safe as long as he was here.

It had been two weeks since Chewbacca had left to watch over Leia. Han and Luke sat in his quarters playing a friendly hand of Sabaac.

"So when is Chewie coming back?"

Han looked at the younger man, who he viewed as his younger brother. "He's not. I sent him to watch over Leia. He won't leave her if he feels that she needs his protection."

"Makes you wonder what kind of danger could be lurking in the High Command," Luke said.

Han leaned back on the lounge, "Yeah, it does."

The time of establishing the New Republic was drawing near, several planets had already agreed to join. The Alliance fleet had control of the Imperial center and Mon Mothma was now counting down the days that they would be leaving to officially establish the government. Leia was glad the days were counting down, when she and the rest of the High Command arrive on Coruscant; she would be one step closer to seeing Han again.

Tonight the High Command was hosting a banquet with the governors of the planets that agreed to join the New Republic. Winter was helping Leia dress for the evening. She tugged on the straps on the back of her ceremonial gown.

"Your highness, forgive me, but have you gained weight?" She continued to tug on the straps to give them the proper look. "I can't seem to get these straps just right."

Leia grunted as Winter once again tugged hard on the straps. "Well I haven't worn this style of gown since I was eighteen, my body has just changed."

"Leia…" Winter said. She knew when her friend was lying. "You shouldn't be ashamed of gaining a little weight." Truthfully Winter had noticed the bump in Leia's stomach and had long ago guessed what caused it, she was just trying to get a confession out of her long-time friend.

"I-I haven't gained weight."

"Mmm huh," Winter mumbled as she adjusted the straps in a suitable pattern, then began working on Leia's hair.

Leia could sense something in her friend, and suddenly realized, she knew. "How long..."

"Have I known?" Winter concluded for her. She smiled, "for a couple of weeks now. I've just needed confirmation."

"Please don't let Aunt Celly know, her opinion of Han isn't too high, and this will probably just lower it."

"Yes, but she'll have no choice to allow you to marry him, and I may not have to tell her; it won't be long before you'll be showing through any outfit you wear," Winter told her. "What are you about three months now?"

"Yes."

"Does Han know about it?"

"I didn't even know the last time I saw him, and all communication I've had with him is through council meetings. So I haven't been able to tell him, Chewbacca knows."

"I wondered why they Wookiee refused to leave the base," Winter said, "They're very loyal when they owe a life-debt to someone, they're even more loyal to their children, since they are the future generation that they'll be protecting."

Leia placed her hand on her stomach, and smiled. "And if this kid is anything like his or her father, then it'll need all the protection it can get."

Winter started on Leia's intricate hairstyle, "I think it'll be quite interesting to meet this man, he must be quite a man to win your heart."

Leia was just finishing up her makeup when the chime to her door sounded. She went into her living quarters and found that Chewbacca had arrived and was immaculately groomed. A moment later the chime sounded again and Winter opened the door to allow Celly and Darrik in. Chewbacca bared his teeth at the man.

"Leia if he cannot behave himself he will not be allowed to come to the party," Celly said.

Leia placed her hand on Chewbacca's arm, "It's alright Chewie."

Chewbacca growled a response.

"I know, but we've just have to bear it for an evening," Leia said as she reached up to scratch his neck, "Everything will be alright."

["I can't help it princess; I have a bad feeling about tonight."]

The entire night Chewbacca never let Leia out of his sight. He also kept an eye on Darrik, he did not trust that man around Leia. He could also sense that Leia was not comfortable around him. He watched as Leia made her way around the room, greeting various people. He chuckled to himself, while Leia was fully in her element here; he knew that if Han were here he'd be really uncomfortable. The night wasn't even half over and he knew that by now Han would be begging to leave. They were truly a mismatched couple, but their love for each other ran very deeply.

He was pulled from his musings when Winter approached him. "Are you enjoying yourself Chewbacca?"

Although she didn't understand his response she got his meaning. "Yeah, this is what she was raised to do, although she has never truly enjoyed it. But she has learned to mask her displeasure during diplomatic meetings." She grabbed a drink of the tray of a passing waiter, "From what she's told me about Solo, he would never enjoy himself."

Chewbacca gave the Wookiee equivalent of a chuckle. "I like you Chewbacca, and I can tell you're a good friend to Leia."

Leia reluctantly took Darrik's had as he led her to the dance floor. "You know princess, eventually you're going to come around to me."

"That's never going to happen," She said as he put his arm around her. "You better keep a respectable distance, or else you'll find yourself short of two arms."

Darrik eyed the Wookiee who was standing across the room, "That animal doesn't scare me," he said as he spun Leia around. He then pulled her close to him and lowered his mouth to her ear, "I'd doubt he'd be so loyal to you if you weren't fucking that Solo guy."

Leia pushed him back and started to move away from him but he caught her by the arm. "Let me go."

"I'm right then, you are fucking that low class smuggler." He pulled her close to him again, Leia could tell that he had been drinking, he was about to say something else but found Chewbacca hovering over him with his teeth showing. He let go of Leia's arm.

Leia held tight to Chewbacca as he led her off the dance floor. ["Are you alright princess."]

"Yes. Thank you Chewie." Leia sat on a stool at the bar. She put her hand on her stomach when a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She then saw her aunt coming towards her. "Oh great."

"Leia Organa, what was that all about?" Celly didn't look too happy, she looked at Chewbacca, "Why did you interrupt the dance?"

"Chewbacca felt I was in danger."

"Darrik is a very respectable man, and may I remind you, the man who you will be marrying. You better straighten up young lady."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I refuse to marry him," Leia was having a hard time keeping her voice down and guests were starting to stare. "And if he was a respectable man, he wouldn't be here drinking himself into a stupor and saying disrespectable things to me."

"Leia, you are starting to cause a scene."

"I don't care; I'm not a puppet that you can control. I can't marry him."

"How can you turn your back on your people, he is who your people chose for you, the people that you are duty bound to."

"You don't think I know of my duty to my people? I love and cherish each and every one of my people. I can serve my duty to my people with the man that I chose."

"But his background…"

"You know nothing about him," Leia said as she got up from the stool. "You know I don't need to take this, I'm going to retire for the evening." She then walked towards the door with Chewbacca following close behind her.

Winter looked at Celly, "You should really give this Solo guy a chance, he just might turn out to more than you expect."

"I don't want her to be with the wrong type of guy, I've heard all about this Solo guy's reputation with women."

"When you think someone is wrong for someone you love, sometimes you have to trust their judgment," Winter said, "Maybe who you think is right for her is the wrong one for her."

Leia lay in Han's bunk on the Falcon, after she left the party she chose to come to the freighter because she knew that the first place her aunt would come looking for her was her quarters. Her eyes were closed and she rested her hand on her belly. Chewbacca then came into the bunk room carrying a mug of kaffe for Leia.

"Thanks Chewie," she said as she accepted the mug. "I shouldn't really be drinking this stuff, but after tonight, I need it."

["I think maybe you need to tell your aunt about the cub, she'll be angry but then she'll understand why you can't marry that other man."]

"You're probably right Chewie, I'm so afraid of what she's going to think," she then took a sip of the kaffe. She made a face from the bitter taste. "I know that she'll say that I shamed my family."

["Do you feel that you shamed your family?"]

"No, I don't."

["Then you didn't shame them."]

Leia smiled at her friend then got off the bed, "I will go talk to her."

["Do you want me to go with you?"]

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you Chewie."

Leia hesitated before she pressed the buzzer to the door. She finally worked up the courage to press the button. The door slid open. Leia smiled at the person on the other side.

"Carlist."

"Leia, what brings you here so late?" He motioned Leia to come into h is quarters, "Where did you go off to after your shouting match with your aunt?"

"I have to talk to someone, and I feel that you're the only one that I can really talk to now." She took a seat on his couch. "After my fight I went to the Falcon and did a lot of thinking."

"You feel the most comfortable on the Falcon don't you."

"Yes, it's the only real home I have now. With all the bad memories that I have, the Falcon has a lot of good ones." Leia slumped in the seat. Rieekan sat next to her and put his hand on her back.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Rieekan leaned over so that he could see her face. He noticed the tears forming in her eyes. "Is it something bad?"

Leia looked at him as the first tears fell, "No, I don't think it is, in fact I think it's something wonderful. Aunt Celly isn't going to think so, I just know she won't"

"What is it?"

More tears fell, and Leia slid her bottom lip between her teeth, "I'm pregnant."

Rieekan had a look of pure shock on his face; this was the last thing he expected her to say. He wrapped his arms around Leia as she broke down. "Oh, gods Leia."

"I don't know what to do."

Rieekan smiled at her, "You're going to have a baby is what you're going to do. I think Han will be very happy when you tell him."

"What about Aunt Celly?"

"Why don't we go talk to her," he said as he stood, "I'll be there with you."

When Leia and Rieekan arrived at Celly's quarters, the older woman was relieved to see Leia.

"Oh, Carlist, thank gods you found her," Celly put her arms around Leia. "I was so worried about you, Leia."

"Actually, Celly she came to me. She's been on the Falcon all this time," Rieekan told her.

"Aunt Celly, I think it's time that we have a serious talk," Leia said.

"Yes it is, I need to understand why you've been acting like you have been. You're not the same girl I knew, on Alderaan."

"No, I'm not."

"Was it Alderaan that changed you?"

"Part of it, being forced to watch Alderaan's destruction, was probably the most difficult moment of my life. When the Imperials tagged me for death, I was ready for it. I felt that I should have died with our planet," Leia told them. "I was waiting for it when Luke busted into my cell. That moment renewed my hope.

"But it was the other man in the rescue party that really rescued me," Leia told them. She then laughed, "I hated him at first."

Rieekan laughed, "Those two never stopped fighting while we were on Hoth. Rogue Squadron used to make bets on what would happen if they ever stopped for two seconds."

"You know Han had credits in those pools, he really was such a nerfherder," Leia said. She smiled at the memory of when she found out about his bets on their love life.

"I think everyone on the base had bets in on your love life, except you, Leia."

"You too, Carlist?"

"Guilty," He then got serious, "It really was after you two returned from Ord Mantell that I knew how much he really cared for you."

"His decision to leave the Alliance showed you how much he cared for me?"

"He came to me, while you were in the medward. He said that he would never be able to forgive himself for allowing you to get hurt."

Celly looked at them, "What happened to you Leia?"

"The mission was going well, but unexpectedly we ran into a bounty hunter, whose full intention was to bring Han to Jabba the Hutt. When he realized who I was, he thought he could collect double bounty. Han was willing to go with no fight as long as I could go free," Leia told her. "But I was worth too much for the bounty hunter to allow me to go."

"So what happened?"

"Well I can tell you that the man that I love is famous for acting rashly. I don't remember much of what happened, I just remember wakening back up on Hoth, with a blaster wound on my foot and a concussion," Leia said. "He later 'fessed up that he caused the blaster wound, although my foot wasn't the intended target."

Celly listened to more stories from both Rieekan and Leia about Han, and slowly she was realizing that there was more to Solo than just a smuggler. Leia soon stopped the stories, ready to tell her aunt what she had come to tell her, she saw how Rieekan took Leia's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, telling her that it'd be okay.

"Aunt Celly," Leia said taking a deep breath, "I'm pregnant with his child."

"Leia, you've got to be kidding me," Celly said. "If this is some sick joke you and Carlist are playing on me..."

"Aunt Celly, it's true, I'm three months pregnant."

"You lost your virginity to a man that you are not married to, your father would be so disappointed in you," Celly stood and glared at her niece, "Thank all the gods of Alderaan that your father is dead, because this would have killed him."

"I think my father would have stood by my decision, Bail Organa would have wanted me to be happy," Leia told her aunt, "I'm not ashamed of my decision, I know that Han and I are destined to be married. By knowing that, it didn't matter to me if I were a virgin on my wedding night or not, because Han would be the only man that I'd know."

"Leia you're a disgrace to the Organa name," Celly spat at her before leaving the room.

Leia put her head in her hands and began to sob as Rieekan took her in his arms. "It'll be alright, princess, just give her time."

"I wish Han were here, or even Luke," Leia looked at Rieekan with her tear stained face, and he wiped the tears. "Thank you so much for being on my side Carlist, lately I've been feeling so alone."

"You're like a daughter to me Leia, I just want you to be happy," he told her, "and when I see you with Solo, you are."