Her husband always seemed to be a content man, but ever since they'd left that pawn shop a few hours earlier Leia couldn't help but notice that there had consistently been a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of Han's lips. He'd held her hand as they rode back to the resort, seemed especially happy and affectionate towards Jacen, Jaina and Anakin when they stopped to have lunch and again once they had made it back to the suite.
Han had always been a wonderful father and husband, but at the moment it was apparent that their encounter earlier that afternoon had reminded him yet again of a parentless childhood and gave him even more of a desire to give their children what he never had and provide them with a lifetime of happy memories. She liked to think that both of them had done just that and would continue to do so. And that smile that had been on Han's face all day had become contagious.
They had another dinner in as a family after Han told them he didn't want anyone to get too tired before what he had planned for tomorrow – whatever it was. He promised to tell them as soon as the kids were all in their pajamas with their teeth brushed and ready for bed. This particular task had historically gone much quicker when there was bribery involved.
Staying true to tradition, it didn't take long after they had disappeared before three little brown-haired heads came bounding out of their bedroom to sit on the couch in the lounge with their bare feet dangling and not quite reaching the ground. Leia had to admit to herself she was probably just as curious as they were what Han had planned for the day. His birthday, in fact, as they had only so recently discovered.
"What are we doing tomorrow, Daddy?" Anakin asked impatiently, his siblings appearing just as curious.
"Have you guys been having fun on our trip?"
Three little heads nodded enthusiastically. "Are we going back to the beach?" Jacen asked.
"Not tomorrow, buddy, but we'll have time to go again before it's time to go home. How'd you guys like to go on a boat?"
The children looked at each other excitedly and Leia smiled at them. "I never been on a boat before. Have you, Daddy?" Jaina asked.
He shook his head. "I've been on all kinds of starships all over the galaxy but I've never been on a boat before and I thought you guys might want to come with me."
"Mommy, have you been on a boat?" Jaina asked.
Leia nodded. "I went on a few boat rides over the years, some with my own parents when I was little. And some when I was a bit older. It's a lot of fun. And do you guys know what else tomorrow is?"
They looked almost as though their heads might explode at the thought of even more fun surprises.
"Tomorrow is Daddy's birthday."
They all smiled and looked at Han, who grinned back at them before Jaina's face scrunched up in thought. "Wait a minute. Me and Jacen had a birthday before Daddy's last birthday when we had that really good chocolate cake. But our birthday isn't for a while."
"You're right, honey," Han said. "You know that necklace Jacen found?" They all nodded. "Well, it used to be my mother's, and it's got my birthday on it, which is tomorrow, and not that other day we always celebrated. So from now on, tomorrow is my birthday."
"How come you didn't know when your real birthday was?" Jacen asked.
"Nobody told me and I didn't remember, so I just picked a day."
"Did you get birthday cakes and presents?"
Han had been standing and then went to sit on the couch next to the kids. He shook his head. "No, not for a long time. Not really until I met Mommy and Uncle Luke and they made me tell them when my birthday was, and I just guessed."
Anakin crawled up into his father's lap. "Can we give you cake and presents tomorrow?"
Han laughed and kissed his son's forehead. "You bet, buddy. When we come back from our boat ride. Tomorrow's a big day, so why don't you guys run in there and get in bed and I'll be in to tuck you in."
The three young Solos ran off into their bedroom and Leia came and sat down next to Han on the couch. "A boat ride, huh? What made you think of that?"
Han shrugged. "I'd never been on one, and since we've been spending some time on the ocean it seems like a nice way to spend an afternoon. They are nice, right?"
Leia nodded. "Definitely. We went out on boats a couple of times during vacations when I was younger and I always enjoyed it. But whatever you want to do on your birthday is fine with me, as long as I get to spend it with you."
A smirk crossed Han's lips before he answered her. "I think that's a deal I can hold up my end of, sweetheart," and he leaned in and kissed her gently. "Why don't you go get in that big tub while I tuck the kids in and I'll be in in a few minutes."
Her eyes widened. "Oooh, that sounds nice. But what about you?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
He leaned down to nibble at the soft skin on her neck. "Maybe I'll just hop in and join you."
She felt a shiver run down her spine at the feel of his lips and warm breath against her skin. "Don't take too long," she said before reluctantly standing and heading for their bedroom.
Han smiled and headed off to the children's room to find all three of them already snuggled into their beds. He kissed each of them goodnight, ending on Jaina but noticing a concerned look on her face that made him pause. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
"Daddy, did you really not have a Mommy and Daddy?"
Han sighed and sat down on his daughter's bed before brushing the hair off her forehead. "I did have a Mommy and Daddy for a little while, but sometimes things can happen."
"Do a lot of kids not have them?"
Han felt his heart aching at the thought of his daughter already concerning herself about such things. She certainly had her mother's tendency to consistently think of the needs of others.
His hand was still absently smoothing the hair on her head in a soothing manner. "Some kids don't, sweetie. It's not fair, but it's just the way it is."
She didn't look particularly satisfied with the answer and even though Han had learned a lot of hard truths at far too young an age he knew how difficult it could be for a child to learn about some of the less pleasant aspects of life. "Well," she said, "I'm glad that we have you and Mommy."
Han had to check himself before he let his daughter see tears in her eyes, so he reached down and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm glad we have you guys, too, sweetie."
He kissed her cheek and held her tight, her own little arms squeezing around his neck. After a few moments she spoke again, her voice a bit muffled as she was pressed into his shoulder. "Daddy? Can I go to sleep now?"
Not having realized how long he held her, Han laughed and released his daughter, lowering her back to the bed and pulling the blankets up tightly under her chin. "I think I can let you do that," he said, glancing at his sons to see that they were already asleep. He leaned down and kissed Jaina one more time. "Goodnight. I love you."
She grinned at him. "I love you, too, Daddy."
Shutting the door, Han headed back to his own bedroom, taking a moment once again to wonder how he'd gotten so lucky. That thought continued to linger when he went into the 'fresher to find his wife relaxing in the large tub. "Room for one more in there?" he asked, already pulling his boots off.
"Why don't you try it and find out?"
After removing his clothes at impressive speed, Han stepped into the warm water, sitting behind Leia and pulling her back to press against his chest as she settled into his arms. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to go home after this trip," Han said.
"Oh, sure you will. You'd just get sick of having me around all the time," Leia replied.
Han rested his chin on her shoulder and pulled her closer. "Not likely."
"How are you doing after today?" Leia asked, and Han knew she was referring to meeting the old woman that morning.
"I'm good," he said truthfully. "I gotta admit, I don't have a whole lot of good memories of growing up, but I do remember how nice that woman was to me. And it's a little strange to see a picture of me when I was so young. It's amazing how much Jacen looks like me. I'd forgotten."
Leia reached her hand up to stroke her husband's cheek. "I love being able to see so much of you in the kids."
"Why, so you don't have to wonder if they're mine or that other guy's?"
Leia playfully slapped his cheek. After brief laughter and a few moments of silence, Leia spoke up again. "Do you think you want to try and find out who your parents were, Han? What happened to them?"
He took a deep breath, having been wondering the same thing. "I don't know if it's something that would ever make me feel any better about what happened. And I don't need anyone new to be angry with. I kinda like the things I remember about my mom just as they are."
She turned in his arms then, resting her legs outside of his and placing her warm hands on his shoulders. "I can certainly understand that. Finding out who my real parents were wasn't exactly the greatest news I'd ever heard."
He brought his hands out of the water and started gently stroking her back. "It also didn't change who you were," he said.
Her fingers had started playing with his ears and he was rapidly losing interest in sharing this bath with his wife simply for bathing. He almost didn't hear her when she replied. "And who's that?"
"The kindest," he leaned in and kissed her shoulder before continuing, "most intelligent," another kiss on the opposite shoulder. "Most amazing," he moved his lips to the side of her neck, "strongest," his lips moved across her neck, "and most beautiful woman I've ever known."
His lips worked against her warm skin and he felt her hands running through his hair. "You know, your birthday isn't until tomorrow," she said in a teasing manner, and he could hear her breath coming faster as her body started moving against his.
He pulled her face to his and kissed her deeply, and she returned it just as hungrily before he broke away. "Then we'll just have to take it slow so we don't wear ourselves out."
She grabbed his face and kissed him again, and neither one of them remembered anything about taking it slow.