Thank you to my reviewers, replies have been sent, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9

Four standard years and three months later...

Piles of junk were strewn all over the expansive sleeping quarters, which otherwise looked well kept and rather expensive, suggesting that perhaps whomever was making muttering noises in the room was searching for something very thoroughly.

Not being able to see over the top of the up turned mattress lying on its side, R2-D2 beeped loudly as his little, silver swivel dome glanced about the room, and he attempted to trundle over the top of some holo-vid cases.

"Blast it to smithereens!" An adolescent voice exclaimed from nearby. The astromech droid beeped in response and a tussled head peered over the top of the mattress. "Oh, heya short-circuit," the hazel-eyed boy greeted the droid distractedly.

Artoo beeped as he rolled around the mattress and over towards the teenager.

Han had changed much in the four years since the blue-domed droid had first encountered him, which had been just before the twins had been born. At an average height for his age and lanky, the brown haired foster son of Padmé was becoming far more laid back and argumentative.

No doubt due to a feeling of confinement, the droid reasoned to himself.

Soon after Luke and Leia had been born a funeral for the former Senator Amidala was held with great pomp and morning on her home planet of Naboo.

The elaborate hoax had been concocted with relative ease. Padmé had been made up to seem still pregnant, and, in a Force induced coma Obi-Wan and Yoda administered, appeared to be no longer amongst the living.

Padmé remained in the tomb placed in comatose, (to Han's immense dismay,) for two standard Naboo days, until the Jedi could slip in passed the guards, and replace her with a deceased body. A stand in for Padmé had been found in one of her former handmaidens.

The long dead Cordé, (whom had been buried simply in the traditional Naboo manner which forbade cremation,) was exhumed from the cryogenic crypt in which her will had asked for.

Even in death, the young woman had wished to be of service to Padmé if the need arose.

Having no immediate family alive, there was no-one to ask questions, or leave flowers or mementos for the brave young Cordé. Padmé had quelled her own feelings of reservation with the knowledge that this would change.

And that many a great personage would now leave flowers at the tomb of her valiant friend, abet in her guise, but it was a small consolation, nevertheless.

The new mother was then taken to be reunited with her infant twins and foster son on Alderaan, the joyous reunion was postponed when Imperial forces arrived soon after.

Padmé and her family had to be hidden in a large casing trunk at the last minute, with Leia in her arms and Luke being carefully cradled by Han. The babies had been so good and quiet in that darkness. Padmé had pulled Han into a one armed embrace, and they all huddled together until it was safe for them to come out.

Obi-Wan, along with Yoda and Zett, had suggested that it was better for them not to stay on Alderaan, they would take some of the elder younglings before they could be fostered out, and set up a small refugee training sanctuary on Kashyyyk.

Yoda's good relations with the Wookiees meant that they would provide the best of protection for the exiled Jedi.

Han had been sad to see his new found friend go, but one day he promised to visit Padawan Jukassa, once he had his YT-1300, of course.

Before that, Kenobi had stayed with the young family as Padmé was given a new identity, with her curly hair straightened before it was dyed a dark blonde, and then cut short in a pixie style framed about her ears.

Padmé's eye retina was falsified with a new identic-kit. It wasn't the best kit which was only available underground, but it was enough to fool the Imperial system, and to finish the illusion she wore dark blue coloured lenses to cover up her dark brown eyes. A temporary facial adjustment made her features appear less strikingly elfin, broader and less memorable.

Han had baulked at the sight, not finding humour in it the same way his foster mother tried to, but had put up even more of a protest when Obi-Wan innocently suggested that he had the same thing done.

Young Solo had shaken his head, but still Han's hazel eyes were outfitted with a false retina scan, and then lenses to make them a dark blue like Padmé's. Han's hair was cut in a close crop, but he had luckily avoided having to have his features temporarily altered. Being a child and still growing had its advantages.

Padmé took the name Jaina Drago, letting Han pick the name Vyyk-Han, Han being a common enough name on Corellia. And that's where the Dragos would hail from.

Meaning that Han's 'nickname' would be benign enough.

Jaina was also a common Corellian name, (later in his life, Han would discover his biological mother had also been called Jaina.)

The twins were perfectly fine and safe with their first names. Not really having a concept of a last name yet, as they were either called by their first, or nicknames, Luke and Leia were thriving in the Alderaan palace and court.

Bail had, with his clever wife Breha, invented a back story for the Dragos.

The father had died, leaving Jaina and her children without an income, luckily Jaina had been trained as a child carer before she had settled down to raise her children. The children of the Alderaan court needed an official overseer, and Jaina Drago was perfect for the role.

Jaina brought her son Vyyk-Han and her newborn children with her, and the court had been bemused and quite taken with the petite widow and her family.

The children of the Alderaan court were usually in numerous amount. But, more recently, there were many in the court that were appalled by the Imperialistic Gothic regime that were disrupting their most cherished traditions.

And as a result, the amount of children Padmé helped to take care of over four years, had dropped from over twenty to eleven. Five were the children of minor courtiers who lived within the palace, and two of them were the children of Bail's sister, Tia.

Lady Tia's daughter, (scandalously conceived with one of Alderaan's greatest Clone War heroes,) Kalani. (Who was a year older then Han.) And Tia's son, with her newly divorced husband, Nial. (Who was two years older than Luke and Leia.)

There was also Winter Kaddor, (whose mother, Sheltay Retrac, and father, Ob Kaddor, had been killed by the Empire. Winter was subsequently fostered by Bail and Breha,) and of course, Padmé's own children.

The small family had settled quite happily into the beautiful palace. Han, true to Padmé's prediction years ago, loved the rolling fields of Aldera, and the company of many of the people that lived in the palace.

But, being constrained to within the palace grounds whenever he wasn't at the expensive Aldera private school, or being on an official excursion, was beginning to take its toll on the fourteen-year-old Han, and the teenager grew more unhappy at his restricted freedom.

But at the moment, Han was more preoccupied with finding the talisman Padmé had given him years ago.

When Han had wanted to give it back soon after her false funeral, Padmé had decided that it was better that her foster son hold onto it, in case the memory of what it was slipped one day.

Yet another reason young Solo was worried that it was missing.

"Yeah, Artoo, I know I told Kalani I had to ask her something. But it's more important that I find Mom's talisman, where do you think—Leia!" He smacked his forehead. "Of course. C'mon tin bucket," Han motioned to the squat droid as he leapt over the mattress.

Artoo beeped in dismay, as he trundled out of the room after the jogging boy. Tooting and whistling again as he caught up with Han as he rushed down the hallway.

The wide halls of Alderaan's palace were white and furnished in lighter grey and cream mostly. There were ancient paintings lining the walls, crafted from around the galaxy, the most beautiful of these paintings lined the way to the nursery and gardens of the palace.

At this time of day the children would be running around in the gardens, beautifully laid out by the late Queen Breha Organa, who had died a little over a year ago. Leaving the planet in mourning for many months. Han had been deeply saddened by the lovely queen's passing.

Breha had been so kind and helpful to his family, and in her last days had spent her time in the gardens with the children, laughing, talking with and inventing games for them.

Han worried that the strain of losing the Alderaan Queen might have upset his mother even more, than Padmé let show.

As Han stepped outside onto the stairway that lead down to the garden path, the teenager allowed himself to gaze out at the huge mountains that surrounded the caldera the Palace of Aldera was built on. Having once been an ancient volcano, there was a lake that served as a moat around the island palace.

Han shook his head in the memory of learning to swim in the cool water, having to learn along with the two-year-old twins and the four-year-old Winter, it had been tolerable, though, as Bail took the time to teach them himself.

The Prince of Alderaan had become a father to Han, Luke and Leia. If Han was ever in need of advice, Bail was always there to help him in any way he could. And as the years went by, Han was more grateful for the wise council and guidance of the kindly Senator, than he could ever express.

But, still, there was a gap in Han's life where Anakin had been for only days.

Luke and Leia, however, seemed quite content to call the tall, dark haired Prince, (who loved them as much as they adored him,) "Daddy," from Leia, and "Father Organa," from the ever observant Luke.

Han had to repress a smile. Luke was already showing Anakin's tenacity even through his sweet nature. If, as Han had found out from his mother, Obi-Wan hoped that Luke would be a Jedi one day, Han was pretty sure he would be one of the best.

Even though Han secretly hoped that Luke would never have to be in a position to be trained as a Jedi, because Padmé had muttered once when she was having an attack that Obi-Wan wanted her:"...little boy to save his father…"

Sweet, gentle Luke a warrior that could turn Anakin back to the light?

Han wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. They were safer here on Alderaan away from the conflict. Let Obi-Wan and Yoda work out some way to bring Anakin back.

Let Luke and Leia grow up in peace, and without the hardships Han had suffered in his formative years in the galaxy.

Han's foster brother and sister were a bright spot in his life. As they grew older and more aware of everything around them, Han was amazed to see how both Padmé and Anakin were reflected in Luke and Leia.

The elder of the Skywalker twins looked so much like Anakin, to the point of distraction almost. But little Luke's core personality was sweet and gentle like Padmé, with a shyness that endeared himself from the earliest of ages to everyone.

Leia seemed to be Luke's direct opposite. Dark haired and like a small image of her mother, the little girl was loud, already opinionated, (if that were possible for a four year old,) and seemingly went out of her way to annoy Han.

Especially since Leia had recently found out that her foster brother liked Princess Tia's eldest child, Grand Duchess Kalani Remon.

A little too young to be particularly aware of why Han went out of his way to sit next to the slightly older girl at gatherings, and why he never left Kalani's side when they left for school trips, all Leia knew was that the complete attention she wanted from her, 'Hannie,' was being taken away by the teenage girl.

Not happy at all, Leia would purposely sit between Kalani and Han whenever she could, and would often jump around to get Han's attention. And, more recently, steal something of her foster brother's from his room.

The fact was, Leia was right. Han did like Grand Duchess Remon immensely, in fact he was sure he more than liked her, he was falling in love with her. Their strong friendship had turned into a huge crush for Han.

Maybe it had to do with the fact Kalani had been as lonely at court as Han had been when he had arrived. The girl spent most of her time obsessed with the battles of the Clone Wars, in which her father, Franc Remon, had perished.

Han had likewise become interested in the wars his foster father had fought in as well.

It wasn't usual to find the two of them sitting in the library or the gardens with a data-book on the Clone Wars, or even with mechanical books, which Kalani had initially just pretended to be interested in for her friend's sake. But, the Grand Duchess would later help Han out with his skyhopper repairs, whenever she could find the time escape from her controlling mother and aunts that was.

Lately, however, they had seen less of each other, as the young girl was being trained as an aide, and eventually co-senator, for her Uncle Bail. At only fifteen, the Grand Duchess of Alderaan was already attracting suitors, mostly from the nobility and monarchies of the inner and outer rim.

Kalani was very sensible in the midst of the attention and gossip. She knew that her position in the Organa family, was bound to bring wealth hunters and power seekers.

Not as classically beautiful as her mother, Tia Organa, Kalani wasn't as elegant as her mother and aunts either. But there was something mysterious about her, like the rest of the Organa women, with her eloquent way of speaking and her deep brown eyes.

Han felt like he had run a marathon whenever Kalani would smile at him. There were other girls that caught his eye at the Aldera school, but first crushes were a powerful thing, and he knew that he wanted Kalani to be his girlfriend.

Han felt a pair of chubby arms around his waist, distracting him from his thoughts, and looked down to see wide, blue eyes staring back up at him.

"Hi big brother!"

The cute freckles across Luke's little nose even seemed to glow whenever the fair haired boy smiled, the teenager smiled back down at his foster brother.

"Heya kid, is little sis around?" Han asked, hoisting the boy, barefoot and dressed simply in a light blue jump-suit, into a piggy-back.

Luke nodded as he wrapped his arms around Han's neck. "Yep, she's in the maze courtyard with Winter and Kalani. Did she do something bad?" The little boy asked as they started to walk into the flower filled gardens.

Han shrugged and looked over his shoulder at Luke carefully, "If I asked you if she had a little piece of wood on a chain, would you say yes or no?" He had learnt long ago that Luke was very protective of his twin, and did on occasion lie to help her avoid getting into trouble.

However, this time a nod came from the shaggy haired four-year-old.

"Yup, she was thrown' it, an' catchin' it. It fell into the pond, but I rescued it!" The little boy informed him gleefully. Han tried to keep his worry down so, Luke wouldn't sense that Leia was in a lot of trouble for not only stealing the talisman, but throwing it around like a toy.

"Oh yeah, really?" Han replied in a vexed jumble, Luke giggled and twisted his fingers in glee. "What?"

"Your voice sounds real funny," the little boy replied, Han rolled his eyes with a grin. "Is that what happens to all big boys? Mamma said it's 'cause of that you're growing up. I'm growing up too, and Leia is too, will her voice break one day as well?" Little Skywalker demanded.

Han chuckled at the peculiar look on Luke's face, "Well no, it seems to be a special privilege left to us guys, so we have a deep voice. It would be a bit funny to see a pretty young lady with a voice like Father Organa, huh?" He teased his foster brother, eliciting more giggles from the blue-eyed boy.

"Yes, it would be really funny," Luke peered over Han's head. "I can see Leia from here, can we run up and scare her?" He asked gleefully.

The teenage boy shrugged with a chuckle, "Okay, hold on tight," Han ordered, Skywalker whooping in glee as they set off at a fast-pace.

-:-:-:-

Leia looked up from where she was watching Winter picking flowers for Kalani to wreath.

Little Leia Skywalker had deemed the idea of wreathing: "stupid flowers into a stupid wreath!" not worth her time, and instead was playing with the YT-1300 model she'd taken from Han's room, along with the necklace.

The youngest of the Skywalker twins became distracted and let out a little scream of surprise as her aforementioned, lanky, teenager foster brother, with Leia's twin on his back, came barrelling up to her on the courtyard grass. Leia jumped up as they came crashing on the ground, Luke rolling around and laughing as he leapt off his brother's back.

Han jumped to his feet and staring down at his foster sister with a small frown. "Leia," he said sternly, the little girl gulped.

When Han called her 'Leia' instead of 'little sis' she knew she was in trouble, but the brown haired nymph was not going to give in that easily.

"Have you got something of mine you'd like to give back?" Han inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"No," Leia lied instantly in response.

Han narrowed his eyes, as they locked on the chain and starship toy, clenched in Leia's chubby fists, he noted that the four-year-old was quickly looking around for an escape...

Her quick glance to the left saw 'Cousin Kalani,' sitting docilely under a tree, flowers resting in the folds of her long blue dress, and Winter tucked under her arm, helping her to weave the flowers.

Leia looked down at her dirty hands and brushed the still clenched fists against her dark green jump suit, frowning in annoyance. "Cousin Kalani!" She called loudly.

Han turned his head away from his foster sister, and a slight blush came into his cheeks as the dark haired girl got to her feet, and glided over to them. Six-year-old Winter Kaddor, trailed behind the Grand Duchess, wearing a wreath of gold coloured flowers in her white-blond tresses.

The teenage girl smiled over at Han, before kneeling down beside the younger of the Skywalker twins.

"What is it Leia?" Kalani asked curiously, reaching up with hand to brush back the unruly brown hair from the little girl's equally dark eyes.

Leia smiled sweetly back up at Kalani. "I've got something for you," she handed over the starship toy and the necklace into the older girl's hands. Han rolled his eyes and Luke pointed with a scowl.

"Those are Han's, Leilia! You can't give them away!" The blond haired boy exclaimed.

Kalani gave Han an understanding smile, and turned back to the frowning little girl, "Is that true, Leia?" The voice of Kalani was perfectly trained to be non-committal, and even Leia was forced to stop being stubborn.

The younger Skywalker twin kicked the dirt and looked down at the ground, "Yes." She mulishly admitted, tears building up in her eyes.

Han knelt beside Kalani, and looked over at his foster sister in kind exasperation, as Grand Duchess Remon passed him over the items, Han pocketed the starship toy and put the Japor snippet back around his neck.

"This necklace is actually a special talisman, Leia. Mom gave it to me for safe keeping," Han lifted up Leia's chin.

"I tell you what, I'll take you and Luke for a walk anywhere you want in the palace and I'll tell you the story about this talisman. Would you like that?"

The brown haired girl wiped the tears off her chubby cheeks with the back of her hand, "Ah huh," Leia agreed, holding out her hand as Han got to his feet and grasped it firmly, also taking Luke's hand in his left.

Kalani gracefully stood up as well and Han hesitantly smiled down at her. He'd been shyly observing that over the past two years he'd all ready grown to be a few inches taller than the petite Grand Duchess, where as they were almost the same height when they'd first met.

"Thanks for that. Would you and Winter like to come with us?" Han ventured.

The dark haired girl gave him a small shake of her head in response.

"I wouldn't like to impose, I have some legislative youth training, and I promised Winter I'd take her with me," Kalani patted Winter's shoulder. "She already seems interested in politics and has a quick memory for it. But Artoo mentioned that you wanted to talk to me?"

Kalani looked up at Solo, and the teenage boy stammered.

"Oh yeah, right...after dinner tonight? The Queen's balcony?" Han managed to ask before his tongue tripped up in his mouth.

The dark-haired girl nodded, much to Han's great relief. "Sure, I'll meet you there," Kalani smiled down at Luke and Leia. "Don't cause too much trouble for your brother, you two."

Leia grinned, "Us cause trouble? C'mon Hannie, I want to go past Killik Twilight," the little girl begged. Han rolled his eyes painfully again, as Leia pulled him and Luke along, while Grand Duchess Remon walked Winter away in the opposite direction.

"The bugs? Why always the bugs?" Han questioned irksomely, he hated insects almost as much as he hated snakes, and other things he deemed creepy. Leia and Luke giggled.

That's probably why they like it, Han thought wryly as he was dragged up the path.

"That's not why," the twins chorused, much to Solo chagrin.

Their unknowing use of the Force was getting stronger.

It didn't seem as bad when they were apart, but together, it was bordering on being uncanny.

The Killiks had been the first species to inhabit Alderaan, they were the ones who built the great mound structures in the plains of Alderaan. The Alderaani called it the Castle Lands.

Personally, Han found both the structures and the exoskeletons the ancient beings had left behind, high on the level of disgust.

Despite this the twins, (especially Leia,) had a great interest in the aboriginal race that had mysteriously left, (or been exiled,) long before the humans arrived on Alderaan.

"Winter's daddy made it," Leia informed him.

Han remembered meeting Ob Kaddor when he'd first came to Alderaan. Sheltay and her husband had been two of the only people, outside of the Organa-Antilles family, that had known whom Jaina Drago and her children really were.

"I don't mind the paint job, sweetheart. I have a problem with the Killik being bugs—"

"Actually, Master Han," a shrill voice interrupted, the children turned to see the gold-plated C-3PO following them into the palace.

"The latest report from the Alderaani scientists, suggest that the Killiks were coleopteran and hymenoptera hybrids."

Han rolled his eyes, "I couldn't care less, Threepio. Artoo is out in the gardens, why don't you go annoy him instead?" He suggested.

The gold droid tilted his head slightly, as his glowing receptors gazed down into Han's narrowed hazel eyes. "But young sir! Your mother has tasked me to keep an eye on you, and Master Luke and Mistress Leia!" Threepio whinnied.

The teenage boy sighed and reached up to the protocol droid's neck, "Good-night, Goldenrod."

"Oh please don't turn me off again, Master Ha—" Threepio vocal whining was cut short, as Han neatly switched him off.

Luke stared up at the gold droid, "Is Tee-pio sleeping again?" He asked inquisitively, the concept of droids still eluded the twins, and Leia tapped Threepio's metal covered leg.

"Yep, he's a'sleep. Can you teach me and Lukie how to put Tee-pio to sleep one day, Hannie?"

The memory of Anakin saying that he didn't want his future daughter learning about hot-wiring from Han came back suddenly, the boy squeezed Leia's chubby hand. "Absolutely little sis. But first let's get started on the story, and visiting the creepy bug painting."

The twins steps were two to every stride their foster brother took, but they stayed looking up at him in rapt attention, as Han began telling them the story of the Japor snippet.

"Do you know that this little piece of Japor played a part in you two being alive?"

Luke was wide eyed, "Really, big brother?"

Han loved being called big brother by Luke. Being a responsible figure in the twin's life was something he had fought hard for, and he loved them and Padmé more than anything he'd ever known in the universe.

"Definitely, kid. You see, Dad is the one that gave it to Mom the first time they met. He gave it to her only a few days before he had to leave again. They didn't see each other for ten years after that."

Leia's eyes were even wider then her twins, "Ten years? That's a really long time!"

"It sure is," Han agreed. "But you see that's when Mom and Dad fell in love, and then they got married, fostered me and then had you two. Which was very special, because you came together, because you were twins."

Luke beamed over at his sister, "Does that mean we were a real special surprise?" He demanded, his foster brother nodded. "What did our Dad say?"

It wasn't the first time Luke had demanded knowledge about Anakin, Han bit his tongue. He'd tried to be as truthful as possible with his foster brother, it hadn't been easy.

"He didn't know. He passed away before you and Leia were born," Han said quietly. Leia and Luke both nodded gravely.

The twins understood 'passed away'. A few months ago one of their Aunt Tia's pittens had died, and Bail had explained to the tearful Skywalker children about dying. Telling them the traditional Alderaani belief, that when a mortal being passes on, their soul becomes part of the universe, part of the bright blue day sky and the starry night sky.

Part of the Force.

"We still love him though. Tell us again what he looked like, Hannie," Leia's sweet brown eyes gazed up at him, the teenager smiled slowly.

"He was very tall, almost as tall as Father Bail. He had blue eyes, just like Luke's, and blond hair as well."

Leia nodded firmly again, "Oh. If our real Daddy looked like Lukie, how comes I don't look like Mamma?" She demanded.

Han looked around and saw the vacant hall, where the Killik Twilight painting hung, he stopped suddenly and knelt in front of the twins. "Can you two keep a secret?" He asked softly, they both nodded.

"It's a really big one, so you have to double promise?" Han insisted.

Luke and Leia nodded vigorously.

"Okay, not even Mom knows about this. Look," Han flicked the side of the talisman, and the almost invisible crease opened it up like a locket.

There was a small buzz, and a small, glowing hologram formed from the two reflectors on either side.

Leia's eyes became wide with amazement at the sight, "Who is that? She's real pretty."

Han grinned, "That's Mom, before we came to live here. See? She looked just like you, only with curlier hair," he assured the little girl, who clapped her hands in delight.

"I made this a few years ago, nobody can know."

Leia just kept gazing at it, Luke reached out a hand to touch the hologram. Han bit the inside of his cheek as he suddenly realised something. He had memories of Anakin and Padmé, but all the twins had were stories and a distorted image of what their mother had once been.

Han took off the talisman. When he'd had made the hologram, he'd split the long chain into two sections so it wasn't so long, and it doubled up when shut.

"I tell you what, I'm going to let you two share this secret, okay?" Han pulled out a pair of small pliers from his back pocket, and snapped the locket in half. Quickly twisting each chain end into a hook and eye, he placed one half of the talisman, the half with Anakin's carving, around Luke's neck, and the smooth sided half around Leia's neck.

"Now you two will always have this special secret," Han pulled both of them into a hug.

"And no matter what happens, you can come to me with this necklace and I'll join it together. It's like one big secret we can all share."

The twins giggled as they pulled back, "That means we'll always be together, right?" Luke demanded to know, Han ruffled his foster brother's fair hair.

"Absolutely, kid," Han grabbed their hands. "C'mon, let's go see the bugs. The quicker we get there, the sooner we can leave," he commented with a grimace, making Luke and Leia giggle even harder at the expression on his face.

-:-:-:-

The sun was just starting to disappear over the horizon, throwing it's last rays of light over the caldera, that lent itself to the name of the cityscape sprawling out below the high, Queen's turret of the Aldera Palace.

Han gripped the balustrade of its wide balcony, as he gazed out over the horizon with frustration on his face. The light played over his just strengthening features, as if to spite his angry expression, and the teenage boy sighed deeply.

"Mom," Han whispered. I wish I knew what I could do to help you, Han thought sadly.

The dinner they had had that night was meant to be a private affair, with the twins, Padmé and himself, but when Han had arrived at the door to his mother's quarters, Elle answered. Her dark eyes were firm as she shook her head. Padmé had suffered a terrible attack a week ago, and was still recovering.

Han demanded to see Padmé, but the former handmaiden refused on behalf of making the teenager even more upset at the sight of his ailing foster mother.

Biting back tears, Han had gone back to his brother and sister, helping Threepio make a simple meal and brightly telling the twins that:

"Mamma's sleeping. She's really tired again today."

Closing his eyes, Han sighed deeply. It was getting harder every day, but they were still together and that's all that mattered.

"Han?" A soft voice questioned.

The teenage boy turned and saw Kalani Remon, in a simple, pale draped yellow gown, and her black hair in looped braids, staring at him kindly from only a metre away. Han hadn't heard the approach of her slippered feet, and he had almost tipped right off the balcony.

Kalani folded her arms across her chest, "I thought I was going to have to wait for you."

"Hi," Han breathed as he tried to cover up his surprise. Kalani chuckled at the peculiar expression on her friend's face and Han looked back at her nervously. "You look really nice," he smacked himself mentally.

Really nice? Oh real suave, Solo…

The girl raised an eyebrow, "Thanks, I think?" Kalani teased. Han chewed his lower lip and kicked the floor. "So, what's on your mind, Han?" Kalani motioned to a bench, and she waited for the lanky young boy to sit down before she followed, turning slightly to face Han, who was fidgeting terribly.

They sat in silence before Han cleared his throat, "So...the sunset is really beautiful tonight," he awkwardly mentioned.

The Grand Duchess peered around the boy and over at the setting sun. "Yes, I can see. What is it Han? You know we're friends, you can tell me anything," she tried to set him at ease.

Han furrowed his brow. "Well, we've known each other a while now, right?" He began, the girl nodded. "Yeah, well you're my best friend, you know that?" Kalani nodded again. Han suddenly jumped to his feet, and started pacing, as the girl watched him with a confused raise of her eyebrows.

"I don't know how to ask you this, but I'm going to give it a shot."

Han turned and grabbed Remon's tanned hands, "Kalani, I really like you and I wish I could ask you as well as those stupid pretty boy suitors. But, I want to know if—if you'll be my girlfriend," he said all in a jumble. Closing his eyes with a wince, waiting for the Grand Duchess to laugh, or turn him down flat.

But Han opened one eye when he felt her hands slip out from his, and Kalani placed them on his shoulders.

"I've been waiting for you to ask me that," Kalani responded with a docile smile.

Han's eyes both snapped open and went wide. "You mean yes?" He demanded.

Kalani nodded again and Han whooped, grabbing the girl in a hug and spinning her off the bench in his enthusiasm. The Grand Duchess giggled as they spun. Han placed her feet back on the ground, gazing down at Kalani shyly.

"Could I kiss you?"

The girl saved Han the trouble of asking twice by planting a small, sweet kiss on the boy's lips.

Han's entire body, from head to toe, tingled from the new sensation. He pulled back with an amazed smile and Kalani smirked at him.

"Yes, you can kiss me."

Han laughed along with Kalani, as a loud humming sound suddenly interrupted their reverie. They both turned to see the shuttle that was approaching the private, Aldera Palace landing platform, just below the Queen's turret.

"Now, who do you suppose that could be?" Han invoked curiously.

Kalani studied the small ship. "I don't know, someone from the Senate coming to discuss something with Uncle Bail?" She narrowed her dark eyes. "Then again, that ship looks old enough to be from a museum, rather than newly from a lot. I don't know any current senator flying a relic from the Clone Wars. It looks like it could be a T-3400 class."

"Yeah," Han nodded in agreement, "You're right. That's even just before the Clone Wars, definitely not a Senator. Maybe he or she's a rich eccentric ship collector, come to leave me all their money?" He joked.

Kalani smacked his arm. "Not likely," she watched the shuttle start its landing cycle. "Whomever they are, they got clearance to land. So, c'mon, let's go check it out."

The teenage girl grabbed Han's hand, and the young couple rushed across the balcony over to the winding, artificially painted dark blue durasteel steps, that led to the landing platform. Han's low boot heals making a dull clicking sound as they galloped down.

As they approached the just landing ship, the after-thrusters blasted out making Kalani's sleek dress whip to the side, and Han's newly grown back hair likewise blow to the right.

While they waited for the ship to finish its landing cycle, and the ramp to lower, Han glanced over at Kalani, and lifted up the back of her hand to kiss it.

Kalani giggled, "What was that for?!" She shouted over the noise.

"I don't know, being my beautiful girlfriend!" Han shot back cheekily.

The teenage girl rolled her eyes, as they both turned back to the shuttle as the boarding ramp finally lowered, they waited as two hooded figures strolled down the ramp. The two figures both pushed back their hoods, and Han rushed over with a loud exclaim of happiness.

"Uncle Ben! Zett! Hey!" Han rushed over, and pulled his surprised, older friend into a back-slapping hug.

"It's been such a long time!"

Jukassa pulled back, "It sure has been a while, Han. I nearly didn't recognise you." The slightly taller boy admitted, glancing briefly over at the teenage girl beside Han. "And Grand Duchess Remon," Zett stared at her with admiration not usually seen in a Jedi.

Kalani blushed and inclined her head in greeting.

Obi-Wan placed a hand on Zett's arm. "My young Padawan, it is not polite to stare. Good evening, Grand Duchess. And hello there, Han, you've certainly grown since I last saw you," Master Kenobi succinctly shook the boy's hand.

Han nodded at the middle-aged Jedi Master politely. "So, what are you two doing here? Did you feel Mom's last attack?" Han inquired briefly. Kalani linked her arm through Han's and Zett looked mildly jealous, before turning to look at Kenobi, who was shaking his head, his hair was closely cropped and streaked with grey.

"I did not. But we will certainly do anything to help her. No Han," Obi-Wan looked carefully down at the teenage boy.

"I fear you're not going to like my answer. I'm here for Luke."

Thank you for reading. The next chapter will be up soon.