Hey all, sorry it took so long to update. Been so busy lately. Not a very long chap, but at least it gives a little update.

Chapter 8

"Now, I want to make sure that my granddaughter is well taken care of," Jobal said to the tailor who was fitting Leia's dress. She then turned to Leia and showed her the silk material that she was holding. "What do you think of this material?"

"Oh it's very beautiful."Leia ran her fingers across it. It had been a while since she had been fitted for anything; she stood as the tailor took her measurements. "Would you mind dying some of it green?"

"Why green, ma'am?" The tailor asked.

"My husband to be is Corellian, and it's tradition for the bride to wear green," Leia told him.

"Very well, then when we're done here, I'll show you samples of dyes. Now, I believe an empire waist would be best suited for a woman in, well your condition," the tailor said. "It'll do best to hide your…"

"I'm not ashamed to show off my belly," Leia said. "Did my aunt suggest this?" She glared at Celly.

"Leia," Celly said, "it's just there will be holos taken and most of the galaxy doesn't know about the baby. Of course whatever you choose will be ok."

After several hours Leia had finally decided on a gown, so the women decided to head back to Jobal's home. Leia smiled at the boys as they sat around the kitchen table deep in concentration over a Sabaac game. She walked up behind Han and ruffled his hair.

"Hey sweetheart," Han said smiling at her, "Did you get things arranged?"

"Yeah, just about everything is planned," Leia told her Husband to be. "Did you boys go out and get your suits?"

Han and Luke just looked at each other.

"Han, Luke…"

"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll have them in time."

"You better. Tomorrow I want to go into Theed and pick out our rings, Ryoo told me about a shop we should check out," Leia said.

Later that night Han and Leia sat out in the gardens, Han was tracing small circles along her belly. He could now feel his child's tiny movements and it amazed him. Never in his life had he dreamed that he would soon be a father. He never thought he was the fathering type. But being with Leia had changed that; she brought out desires in him that he never had with any other woman. He was ready to settle down; he hoped that his duties as a general wouldn't take him away from Leia too often.

With her head in Han's lap, Leia smiled up at him. She could feel the happiness radiating off of him.

Celly stood looking out the back door at her niece and husband to be. She had no idea how her well-bred nice could fall for such a scoundrel. Her brother had raised her better, of course Bail would have probably accepted the former smuggler; he had wanted nothing but happiness for his daughter.

"She does love him."

Celly turned to see Winter standing behind her. "Yes she does."

"Be happy for her, then. Not everyone finds their soul mate," Winter told her.

"I know, it's just hard; I have a difficult time imaging Leia with a man like him."

"Celly, Han's a good man. You would see that if you'd get to know him. He may have had a rough beginning and has a questionable past, but he truly does want what's best for her."

"It's that questionable past that bothers me. What if he has someone out there that wants to cause him harm and it affects Leia," Celly said.

"And Leia is any better off. She has the Empire to worry about. Her position in the New Republic puts her in just as much danger," Winter stated. "I think Han is the only one who'd offer her the protection she needs, I'm sure you've noticed the Wookiee that has been following her around lately."

Celly chuckled, she had noticed since Chewbacca joined Leia at the base several months ago he had been a shadow to her. She knew the Wookiee would protect Leia with his life. Celly looked back out at Leia and Han. His hand was resting on her belly and the two were chatting about something. Perhaps Han was what Leia needed.

Later that night Celly made a comm call.

The next morning Han and Leia headed out early. It was a cool morning and Han had draped his blue jacket over her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder as they walked down the streets of Theed. To everyone they looked like a couple in love, except one man whose eyes burned with fury as the couple walked the streets.

Daarik Aldrete stood in the shadows of the streets of Theed. He looked at the woman who was promised to him in the arms of the man who stole her heart. Leia Organa was supposed to be his wife, not some smuggler who in no way deserved a princess, especially the last princess of Alderaan. He made a motion to a woman on the other side of the street to indicate that was who he was looking for. The woman started trailing the couple looking for the perfect opportunity to strike. Darrik didn't care that Celly had called him and told him to leave her niece alone, he was determined to make Leia his.

Knowing that the man, Han Solo, was quick with a blaster he knew he only had one shot at this. He watched as the couple entered a jewelry store. The woman that he had hired to do the deed had proved to be a quick shot, and knew that she'd be perfect for the job. Where the redheaded woman came from he didn't know and he didn't care, he just wanted Solo out of the picture.

Leia looked at the jewelry in the cases before her, the lady behind the counter smiled at her. Leia smiled back, sensing something vaguely familiar about her. Han came up behind her and placed his hand on the small of her back. "Do you see anything that you like sweetheart?"

"There are so many beautiful things here; I don't know how I could choose the one that I want to wear the rest of my life."

Han smiled at his soon to be wife. "Take your time; I want you to be happy." He continued to check out the jewelry and would join Leia when she asked the lady to view a particular piece. He eyed the lady behind the counter several times giving Leia strange looks. He shrugged it off, but he couldn't help to think there was something up with the lady.

Darrik joined redhead. "It's not going to be easy to get them from here." The redhead said.

"Look, red, I don't care how you do it just get Solo out of the picture."

"I'm just sayin' that we'd be too easy to spot here. Look if she does pick out rings in this shop they'll be back in a few hours to pick them up," Red said. "It'll be easier to strike when the sun is in their eyes as they come out of the shop."

"You're the expert; just shoot Solo so I can grab the princess."

After looking at several different rings, Leia had finally decided on what she wanted. The lady smiled at her and told them to come back in a few hours to pick them up after they've been resized. Han and Leia stepped out of the shop and Leia suddenly felt uneasy. Something made her look up into the hills and she thought she saw a redheaded woman watching them.

"Something doesn't feel right Han."

"The baby? Is he alright?" Han asked.

"No Han, she is fine. It's just something else." Leia looked back to the hills and saw no one. "Let's just go and get something to eat. We're starved."