Adelyn - 13 Twins-5
Chapter Eleven
Corellia, Leia could see it from her spot behind Han. It was both refreshing and worrying as they came up on the planet. This was a new start for her, for her family, but still Leia was worried. After several discussions, they'd finally decided and started the process of moving to Han's home planet. They'd agreed it would be best for their family now, a new start. While Leia would still travel to Coruscant on occasion, and they were keeping their apartment there, it was still a new beginning. Glancing her eyes over, Leia stared at her daughter. Adelyn was helping to land the ship, and Leia hoped it would help to improve her mood. To say her oldest was not excited for their families move would be an understatement. Swallowing hard, Leia remembered how badly she had reacted when they'd told her about the move. Closing her eyes Leia thought back…
"We've decided Corellia would be a great place for our family," Leia had explained to her, as they sat around the dining room table. Adelyn had looked back and fourth between her parents, trying to understand if they were serious. Her heart was beating so fast against her chest, as her body started to go into panic mode.
"But we live here…" She'd muttered.
"We do, and we'll visit but for now we're gonna get a new house on Corellia," Han added with a bright smile, pleased at the idea of leaving Coruscant at least for a while. The idea of raising his kids on Corellia was exciting to him, and he'd never cared for the busy planet that was Coruscant. Adelyn's face however fell, and a shock filled her expression.
"You're serious?" She questioned, looking back to her mother.
"Adelyn, it will be alright," Leia had tried to soothe her, but as she reached her arm out to touch her daughters hand, Adelyn quickly pulled back.
"I don't want to move!" She added. "I'm not moving!"
"Adelyn," Han tried, but she interrupted him when she stood from her chair.
"Why are you doing this?" She had asked, even more emotion filling her eyes now.
"You like Corellia…" Han told her, confused by her reaction. She'd always loved their trips to his home planet. Han tried to catch her attention, but her eyes were focused on Leia.
"Mom, this is my home!"
"Adelyn, I know, but…"
"You don't know…" She quickly said, pausing for a moment. Adelyn looked down at her feet, and swallowed hard.
"What is it? You can tell us," Han had assured his daughter. But the girl stayed quiet and didn't answer. Leia swallowed hard as she looked across the table at her daughter., knowing she was hiding some sort of feeling from them. "I have friends here…. Coruscant has been my home!""
"Adelyn…Sweetheart I would never do this if I didn't think it would be a good idea for us. You will be able to continue all your classes on Corellia and if you truly want to continue into a government position or anything relating to it. I promise you I will help you…But we don't have to be on this planet any more. We have the option to live elsewhere," Leia tried to explain but her daughter was shaking her head over and over again.
"Then wait! Wait until I can stay on my own! In a few years…"
"We are not leaving you!" Leia had quickly bit out, outraged at even the idea of being away from her oldest.
"So I get no say in this?"
"Adelyn, come on. You're being hard about this and, you're still a kid. You gotta trust us…" Han tried.
"I'm doing well in school! I'm getting into the programs that took me years to prepare for! I can't leave now!" Adelyn protested, hoping her mother would understand.
"Nothing will prevent you from continuing that work, I know how much effort it's taken, I promise you…" Leia noted.
"Leave me here!"
"We are not leaving you here!" Han cut in.
"I don't want to go!" She argued back and fourth. "I can't go!"
"You will adjust, so will Cora and Caleb."
"They're babies!" Adelyn had bit out. "Of course they will!"
"They are hardly babies anymore," Leia added. Leia could feel the twist in her chest and she wasn't sure if it was coming from her own worry, or her daughters pain, but she didn't like how it felt. She tried to catch Adelyn's eyes, but the distance only continued to grow between them. "Look at me," Leia practically begged now. The girl didn't respond at first, but ever so slowly she lifted her head. Catching her daughters eye she watched as a single tear fell down her cheek. "Adelyn," Leia breathed out, her heart breaking at the sight of her. Leia tried to stand up and walk towards her daughter, but Adelyn quickly stepped away from her. This was not what they had expected. An adjustment yes! But they didn't think she would take it this hard. They'd thought Adelyn would be excited.
"Honey, we've talked about this before, the idea of maybe moving one day. Nothing is keeping us here, and while some of the memories are good, some of them are bad too. Sweetheart I love you so much, we love you! Try and see how this could be a good thing," Leia tried to explain, but she wasn't sure Adelyn was understanding.
"Can I go to my room now?" Adelyn asked quietly, looking away from her parents.
"Yeah…if you want to," Han said softly. Without another word, Adelyn stood up and left her parents alone in silence.
And it had remained like that for so much of their time together. In the weeks after their decision, Adelyn had been quiet and distant. And Leia hated it, she'd always been so close with her daughter, and this feeling of a wall between them was killing her. She knew she needed to give her time to adjust, time to get used to the idea of their new home. But in the mean time, her heart was heavy. Neither Han or Leia wanted their children to be in any sort of pain, they only hoped they were making the right choices. Caleb and Cora, had been so excited, they assumed it would be like a long vacation moving to Corellia. Being the good big sister that she was, Adelyn didn't dismiss their excitement, she nodded and smiled with them as they talked about their new bedrooms and their new house. But behind her eyes she held a bit of pain and anger. Han's attempts to open her back up to them had failed, and she had ended up ignoring all of his suggestions or effort.
As Leia had promised, Adelyn would remain in every group and program she had worked so hard for. Being so young they only met monthly, and Leia had made sure to arrange and make sure they would visit Coruscant on those select days. But it didn't seem to matter. The fact still was, Adelyn was leaving her school that she loved so much, her friends and in her mind her home.
"You're doing great!" Han praised his daughter, as they slowly landed the ship and started to shut her down.
"Thanks…" Adelyn said quietly, looking down at the controls. She enjoyed flying with her father, and liked when he let her land, but she also knew it was an attempt at a distraction.
"You'll be flying on your own soon enough," Han added with a smile. Adelyn stayed quiet, a tight smile gracing her lips. Nodding slowly, she stood and moved to leave the cockpit.
"Will you check on the twins?" Leia asked her and Adelyn nodded. Never missing an opportunity to be around her siblings. Not to mention they were safely buckled in, in the back, and would give her a chance to get away from her parents. Leaving Han and Leia alone, Leia stared after her daughter. She wanted to say something, take her discomfort away, but it seemed lately every time she tried to make things better, she only made them worse. And so the wall grew between her and her daughter.
"She's not getting any better," Leia acknowledged, turning to face Han and he sighed, standing beside his wife, and pulling her into a hug.
"Give her some time to settle in."
"I don't want this to be the wrong choice for her."
"It's not, she's young. She doesn't understand why we want away from that planet for a bit."
"She wants all Coruscant can offer her."
"I know, but even you didn't grow up there. You had time to grow on your own on Alderaan."
"I was a Princess, I was hardly on my own…"
"I know," Han laughed. "I didn't forget. I just mean…theres a pressure that comes with Coruscant. It won't be bad for her to be away from that. If she wants to be there when she grows up, that's different, but for now she could I don't know…be a kid?" Han smiled and Leia nodded. She knew he was right.
"We're not taking away any of the programs from her," Leia reminded herself and Han nodded in agreement, kissing her forehead.
"She loves it here, she'll remember that when she calms down."
"What if she doesn't calm down?" Leia questioned, a bit more panic coming across her face.
"Maybe you should calm down? She's a teenager Leia, this was bound to happen eventually," Han suggested with a smirk, moving his hands up to massage against her shoulders. They could hear the twins giggling, no doubt at their older sister. "They'll be alright Leia," He whispered to her, leaning in and kissing her. She kissed him back, holding him close. She wanted this so bad, a fresh start and a chance to feel a little normal for once in her life. No war to fight, or baby to raise on her own. No searching the galaxy for him, and telling their daughter stories about her father, or bringing him back into the world and being the center of attention for all of it. Just simple time with her family, doing work that she was pleased to do, to help the galaxy or her people, and not work she was pressured into doing on Coruscant. Just that simple idea of being able to actually breathe for once in her life.
—-
Leia looked around their new home and smiled to herself. Some how she was immediately able to relax and breathe freely. They were home. She felt Han's arms around her waist before she saw him. Resting her head back against his chest, Han kissed her temple.
"What do you think?" He questioned.
"It's perfect, I really love it Han."
"Me too," He nodded, dropping his face to her neck and resting his forehead there. Leia smiled again, relaxing further into his hold, feeling his hot breath against her shoulder.
"Caleb and Cora?" She questioned.
"Out back with Chewie," Han mumbled against her neck.
"Adelyn?" Leia asked with hesitance.
"Her room…." Han sighed, lifting his head up. "Want me to talk to her?" Han asked.
"No…I will," She said, turning in his arms and dropping a kiss to his chin. The walk to her daughters room was short, but she stalled outside the door. She felt a nervous feeling in her stomach. She wondered if it was coming from Adelyn, or if it was her own worry taking over. Knocking on the door softly, it slid open.
"Can I come in?" Leia asked, and Adelyn only shrugged. "It's a nice room," Leia noted, coming to sit beside her daughter.
"What do you want?" Adelyn questioned.
"Just wanted to talk to you. We usually talk…" Leia tried, but Adelyn quickly cut her off.
"I don't want to talk."
"You're going to have to talk to me eventually."
Adelyn stayed quiet, looking down at her lap. Her data pad was in her lap, and she was tapping through the pages so fast, Leia could barely see what flashed over the screen.
"Sweetheart…we've always been open…open with each other, You need to talk to me," Leia insisted, reaching up and brushing her daughters hair back behind her ear. For a moment, Adelyn almost relaxed against her mothers touch, but quickly turned away and moved her eyes to the far wall.
"Maybe we won't be like that anymore," The young girl suggested and Leia swallowed hard.
"I really want you to talk to me."
"I didn't want to leave, you and dad made me…what else is there to talk about?"
"Being away from Coruscant for a few years will be good for you. You'll still be studying…"
"I know all this," Adelyn bit out. "You've told me all this!"
"Being exposed to more cultures will only help you. You're going to love being here, but you have to give it a chance."
"I don't get to see any of my friends!"
"You will…"
Silence surrounded them, and Leia reached out to grab her daughters hand, but Adelyn's voice stopped her.
"I don't want to talk…"
"We're worried about you," Leia told her softly.
"You don't care…" She muttered.
"Don't say that."
"You want me to be open…honest? You and Dad don't care about what I want."
"Adelyn…"
The girl stayed quiet this time, laying back against her pillow.
"You have to trust us, your father and I…we believe this is a good choice for all of us. You'll see that. Sweetheart you love Corellia."
"Should have left me behind…"
"I am not leaving you behind! You are my daughter and I love you."
"Only a few years left…" Adelyn muttered.
"Until?" Leia questioned.
"Until I can legally move to where ever I want, without you," Adelyn bit out and Leia couldn't help but flinch. She could almost feel her mothers pain as the words left her lips, and swallowed hard at the idea of hurting her like that, but at the same time her heart felt so broken. She didn't know what to say or do anymore. Even as her parents tried to speak with her, tried to remind her of how good this would be for her, Adelyn couldn't get passed her hurt and her pain.
"I suppose that's true. I want to enjoy this time with you Adelyn, you're growing up so fast…"
"Just leave me alone!" Adelyn quickly yelled out.
"Fine!" Leia bit back, standing up and turning away from her daughter. She'd hoped the conversation would ease the tension, but she was pretty sure it had only made things worse. She felt this horrible hole in her chest, something she'd never felt with Adelyn before, and she had the worst feeling that it was distance. Adelyn was distancing herself from her. That hole had started weeks ago, and now it was only growing and growing more and more.
Leia walked out of the room and almost immediately into her husbands chest. She tried to compose herself, but Han caught her expression faster then she could hide it.
"Hey, how'd it go?" He asked, looking down at her face. She blinked away tears and tried to place a pleasant smile on her face. But Han noticed the tears and cupped her face. "Leia?"
"I'm fine, Han," She mumbled, But Han shook his head quickly, stepped around Leia and into Adelyn's room.
"Alright, let's talk," He told his daughter. Adelyn rolled her eyes and looked up to her father. She sat up and looked from where Han stood in her room, and where her mother stood in the doorway.
"I told mom, I don't want to talk."
"But you need to. I don't like you like this."
"Well this is the new me!" She said pointing to her chest, before flopping back on her bed.
"It's not. I know you, and this is not you. I know this is hard, but you gotta talk to us. We love you."
"Stop saying that!" She groaned.
"Hate to break it to you Princess, but we're always going to love you. No matter how you're acting."
"How I'm acting!" She said quickly jumping to her feet. "I'm not a little girl anymore!"
"We know that…" Han started, but Adelyn cut him off.
"Do you? Because sometimes it seems like you think I'm that little girl I was when you came out of the carbonite!"
"Adelyn…" Leia tried, but their daughter once again spoke up.
"Just leave me alone! Please…." She begged, her voice catching.
"Talk to me Adelyn," Han insisted.
"I can't…" She muttered out, and Leia immediately felt her shove emotion down. Whatever pain Adelyn was feeling, was quickly shoved down the second it tried to surface.
"Han…She needs time," Leia agreed. Han looked from his daughter to his wife and sighed.
"We love you kid…" Han told Adelyn one last time before leaving her alone. Pulling the covers up over her body, Adelyn focused on hiding away, and pushing those feelings far from the surface. She even tried to hold back the tears that were so close to spilling over.
—
The house was set, things were moved in and it was really starting to feel like a home. The change had been quick, with both Luke and Chewie's help the Solo family was fully settled into their new house very quickly. And Leia finally felt a weight leave her shoulders. As they set up the last room, her office, she truly felt the difference. The work would still be there, her need to help the galaxy was still there, but her life was put first. Just like Han had told his wife all those months ago, he had no trouble moving his business to Corellia, if anything it helped the routes a little more. The twins loved the open space that was their new home, and spent much of their time running back and fourth through the hallways. Everyone was becoming very accustom to the sound of their pitter pattering feet running up and down the hall.
"Calm down you two," Han laughed as he scooped Cora up and into his arms. The little girl giggled and wiggled around as she tried to cry out to her twin for help.
"Caleb! Caleb! Daddy gots me!" She yelled over to him. Caleb quickly turned around and ran back to his father's side. His little arms reached up, as he tried to jump and reach his sister nestled in their fathers arms.
"Nah she's mine now," Han shrugged, walking down the hall and to the kitchen. Cora giggled as Caleb followed quickly behind them. Leia sipped her morning caf, and looked out at the view around their new home. Her eyes flickered over as Han walked into the kitchen, their daughter in his arms.
"Momma! Daddy took my twin!" Caleb told her, and Leia smiled.
"How dare you take the twin!" Leia scolded, with a mock glare. Han smirked and rocked Cora gently.
"When did you get so big kid?" He asked her, and the young girl shrugged.
"Mine!" Caleb reminded his father, as he tugged on Han's pant leg, clearly wanting his sister back.
"Alright, go run," Han agreed, setting Cora back down. In a flash the twins were gone, and back to their running game. Leia smiled, taking another sip of her caf before offering it to Han. He smiled and quickly took a drink of the hot liquid, pulling Leia into his embrace.
"Morning," He mumbled against the top of her head, kissing her softly.
"Morning…They have so much energy," Leia noted, listening to the twins running.
"They're getting big, we need to have another one," Han smirked, and Leia slapped his chest.
"No," She warned, with a glare that twisted into a smile when she looked up at his pouting eyes. "Those twins forever changed my body," Leia reminded him, and Han only shrugged.
"Nothing I don't like," He mumbled, leaning in and kissing her fully on her lips. Leia sighed against his mouth, tugging him closer.
"Keep talking like that hot shot…" She whispered against his mouth, and Han smirked.
"I'm going for a walk…" They both suddenly heard from behind them. Looking over they found Adelyn dressed for her day, and walking towards the front door.
"Hey!" Han called to her, turning away from Leia.
"What?" She asked with a bit of an eye roll and Han gave her a warning look.
"Stay and have breakfast," Han suggested, and Adelyn quickly shook her head no.
"I need some fresh air. Isn't that why we left Coruscant to get fresh air and enjoy this planet?" She bit out. Leia sighed from behind Han, leaning her face in and resting her forehead against Han's spine.
"Adelyn…" Han started. "You can have breakfast with us."
Their oldest didn't reply, she only made her way over to the counter and sat down on one of the stools. Han stared at her, waiting for her to say something, anything! Something short and or a sarcastic word, but she didn't. Instead she stared down at the counter, avoiding her parents gazes. Leia stepped forward and Han's arm immediately wrapped around her waist, pull her closer. Hoping it would offer her some sort of comfort, he knew this was hard on Leia. She didn't want Adelyn to feel like this, neither did he.
"Adelyn…" Leia started, reaching out for her daughters hand. She once again pulled away, and the distance continued to grow between them.
"Quit being so hard on your mom…This was both of our choices!" Han reminded her. Adelyn's eyes went back to her fathers, for a brief moment before they settled back to her lap. She was feeling too many emotions to clearly think, and the last thing she wanted to do was have this conversation again.
"It was her idea. You would have stayed on Coruscant," Adelyn shot back.
"What is the issue? You like Corellia, don't tell me you don't! You are still going to all of your classes and groups. Nothing has to be sacrificed for you. Your mom deserves a break from that shitty planet…"
"Han…" Leia sighed, but the twins interrupted.
"Sissy sissy!" Cora said running up to her sister, and crawling up into her lap. Caleb stood beside them, staring up at his sisters.
"Dad's going to make breakfast," Adelyn told her sister. Cora's big eyes stared up to her sister's. Her small hand reaching up and touching along Adelyn's face. There was a moment of silence before Cora's small voice sounded.
"Sissy you so sad," She told everyone in the room. Han and Leia watched the interaction, waiting to see Adelyn's reaction. She closed her eyes, and swallowed hard. When she opened them they were filled with tears. Quickly standing up, she sat her sister in her spot on the stool and turned away from them all.
"Adelyn?" Cora asked, staring at her sister. "What wrong?"
"Have breakfast with mom and dad Cora," Adelyn insisted, quickly leaving the room and escaping outside. Leia pulled away from Han, and swiftly followed her daughter outside. She hadn't made it very far, still walking in the backyard towards the side gate.
"Adelyn!" Leia called out.
"I don't want to talk about it!" She quickly yelled out, turning to look at her mother. The tears were fully streaming her face now, and Leia swallowed hard.
"Baby…" Leia tried, but Adelyn grimaced.
"I'm not a baby! I'm much closer to being an adult then you want to accept!"
"Are you? Adults have civilized conversations," Leia told her flatly, folding her arms over her chest.
"What more do you want to talk about?"
"I need you to talk to me!"
"Why? You don't care about what I want!"
"Adelyn!"
"You didn't even ask me…you just told me we were leaving! All of my friends, everything I'm used to!"
"We made a choice that was best for our family."
"You made a choice."
"If you want to make me the bad guy, thats fine. But your father wanted off Coruscant more then I did! He was only staying for us Adelyn."
The young girl stayed quiet, and Leia slowly stepped forward.
"Look at me," Leia pleaded with her, Her fingertip slowly lifting her daughters chin. "Talk to me sweetheart,"
"I don't want to start all over," She admitted, a tear falling down her cheek. "I won't know anyone…I'll have to prove myself all over again?"
"Prove yourself to who?" Leia asked cupping her daughters face.
"Everyone…I'll be judged all over again."
"No one will judge you…"
"You don't know that…" She stared off in the distance before looking back to Leia. "…You're Alderanian Mom, even with Alderaan gone…that's who you are…" She trailed off. "And Dad's Corellian! He's at home! But I'm…I feel like nothing sometimes, Coruscant is the closest thing I have. You brought me there when I was young, I've grown up there and that is where I want to be! Even if I wasn't born there…Everyone has a place to call theirs, a true home. I don't have a planet, not really…I'm just a war bastard, Bespin bastard…"
"Don't call yourself that," Leia quickly said, reaching up to pull her daughter into a hug.
"Why? It's what I am. I get told enough! And I've been working hard to prove what I'm good at, and now you want me to start all over?" Adelyn questioned, her eyes looked wet, as tears threatened to spill.
"If anyone understands not having a planet…it's me…" Leia said, almost rasping out the words.
"I know mom," She said, a flash of guilt crossing over her face.
"You will still have Coruscant, and Corellia. You're half Corellian you know," Leia reminded her. "And pieces of Alderaan that I can give you. No one is taking that from you. There will be an adjustment for you, but you are such a strong girl. You are so strong Adelyn, you were my strength for so many years. I know you can do this sweetheart. I know that this is right for you, for me and our family. Can you maybe trust me on this? And give it a shot?" Leia questioned, praying to the gods she took her words to heart and gave this move a chance. Adelyn stared at her, before suddenly moving fully into her mothers arms and hiding her face in her chest. Leia's hand ran up and down Adelyn's spine, working to do nothing but sooth her daughter.
"I love you so much Adelyn."
"I love you too, Mom….but mom…It's more then that."
"Then tell me all of it, you know you can tell me anything."
"It will make you feel bad," She sighed.
"I'm tough, I can take it," Leia said with a nod.
"I'll have to start over."
"You said that," Leia nodded.
"I have to start over, and everyone compares me to you…"
"I suppose that's to be expected?"
"I'm not gonna be as good as you, Mom."
"You don't know that."
"I know I won't."
"Adelyn Organa Solo…" Leia said cupping her daughters face. "You want so badly to follow in my foot steps?…but you don't think you'll measure up? I love you honey, but your being silly. Anyone that would judge you for where you come from is not worth your time. So many people tested me when I was young, would I be as good as my parents were? Everyone loved them. And when I was older, everyone judged me for a different reason. I was judged because of what Anakin Skywalker became…I proved them all wrong. And if you want to prove them wrong, you can. I know you can."
"But mom…"
"No, buts…If anything, you're my daughter and they should know you're a force to be reckoned with."
"What if I don't live up to it…?"
"You will live up to your own destiny, your own life. By becoming your own person. That doesn't have to do with me, or your father. I might pass some strength on to you, but your life is your own, you are your own person."
"So I can choose to go back to Coruscant?" Adelyn suddenly teased with a familiar Solo smirk. Leia smiled and hugged her daughter close. Tension fading away…
"Nice try…"
"I'm scared mom." She muttered against Leia's chest.
"I'm right here…We're all here right by your side. Change is scary sometimes, but it can be worth it in the long run."
"I…I'm sorry mom," She whispered out, her voice cracking a bit as some fresh tears slid down her face. Leia wiped them away, and stared into her daughters eyes.
"You have to know every choice I make is to keep you, your brother and sister safe, loved and protected."
"I know…"
"You have to remember that Adelyn. I would never make a choice to hurt you."
"I know, I'm sorry…"
"Shhh, come here…" Leia held her again, and Adelyn didn't move to pull away, instead for the first time in weeks, she fully relaxed into her mothers arms. "See what happens when you talk to me," Leia said with a small smile.
—-
"You think she'll be better now?" Han asked, as they both got ready for bed that night. Leia nodded, stepping back from the sink, and looking over at where Han sat on their bed.
"She seemed better, doesn't hate me anymore."
"She never hated you!" Han laughed with a snort. "You two are always going to have something special Leia," He reminded her, standing up and moving behind her. His arms circled her middle, and his face hid against her neck.
"I hope so, I hope to have a connection with all three of them."
"You're such a good mom, Leia," He promised her. She smiled, easing into his hold. Slowly turning her body, she kissed his bare chest, dragging her lips up his collar bone and to his chin.
"I really like it here…"
"Good," He said brushing her hair back behind her ear.
"This will be good for us, for me."
"All good things," Han smirked, leaning in to kiss her. Leia hummed, her fingers dancing over his bare skin, and slowly pushing him back towards their bed. "Door?" He asked against their kiss.
"Already locked," Leia smiled.
"Hmm, I knew I loved you," Han laughed, and Leia joined him. They fell back against their bed, that hollow hole in Leia's chest completely fading away.
Wow! A new Chapter! I know it's been forever. This year has been a crazy one, family deaths, new jobs & Crazy life! So sorry for the delay in this chapter. I think I rewrote this chapter about 4 times! So please let me know what you think!