Chapter 5
"Is anything wrong, Sir?" A cultured voice asked, startling Han Solo.
"Shouldn't I be asking that?"
"Maybe. But that is not the case, it seems..."
The former smuggler sighed. "Can't you tell, Toa?"
The Dathomirian shrugged. "As you requested, Sir, no more Jedi whammies..."
The older man snorted, trying to disguise his amusement, and invited the healer to sit on the couch next to him with a gesture. "Ya're hopeless, Kid..."
"I know that, Sir," the young Jedi answered with a bright smile that faded slowly as he tackled the issue that had brought him out of the delivery room. "May I ask why are you not with Milady, Sir?"
Solo left the cold cup of caf on the counter and shook his head. "You wouldn't understand, Toa."
"You would be surprised."
There was so much certainty in the Jedi's calm words that Han lifted his eyes, startled. He dropped them again immediately and noticed for the first time the strange scar the man had on his left forearm. Toa had changed the traditional Jedi robes he usually wore for a disposable sterile outfit that left his arms exposed. The angry mark of a deep burning that had never been treated with bacta could not completely hide the fact that there had been a Dathomirian tribal tattoo in that place once.
"She doesn't need me in there," he blurted, to his own surprise.
"You are wrong, Han." Toa said gently. "You will see. Very soon, I think..."
A double shout from the other room startled both men.
"HAN!" Leia screamed.
"Toa, now!" Kay'leb's voice called urgently.
**
"Luke," Aubé called softly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you." The smile that had greeted her became a look of concern as she visibly grimaced. "It's all right," she continued with more bravado than she felt. "He's been hammering away since Kay and I stepped into the Temple…"
"Do you need a Healer?" Luke said without preamble. "There are a few of them here already, trying to get things in order." He sighed, turning his sights to the distance. "I can't believe how much damage was done, especially there…" His voice was oddly cool, as if he were trying to distance himself or ready himself for an emotional blow, but Aubé could feel, if not hear his very thoughts.
Is this it, Aubé? Have you come to say goodbye in person this time? That you want to take Pem and our son back to Corellia, and to a normal, sane life? I'm sorry it hasn't turned out the way we'd hoped, I'm sorry I disappointed you and Master Kampher, and Leia… I'm sorry for everything…
She wanted to scream, and cry. She wanted to scoop Pemberian into her arms and run far away. She wanted to throw herself upon him – whether with fist flying or into a passionate embrace, she wasn't sure which – but something, anything to stop the feelings and thoughts from becoming words. From becoming… there.
In that instant, perhaps only moments before what was said or done could be un-done, she embraced her true heritage, and reacted as generations before her had, not thinking, only acting…
As a Jedi…
**
The first thing Han noticed was the sheer absence of people in the room. What had been a teeming mass of technicians, medics (both droid and human) had been reduced to three. Leia, laying prone with Master Kampher at her head, wiping her face and gently whispering words of encouragement, and her son the Healer, Kay'leb, leaning in between his wife's legs.
Where in the seven Hells... Han thought only to have the thought shrivel away under the cool sightless stare of the Healer.
"This is a birth, General Solo," the Healer said dryly, "not a circus. I dismissed them. If you would be so kind as to wash you hands, your daughter's arrival is imminent..."
"But I thought you were the damned Healer!" Han snapped, and only Toa's gentle restraining touch kept him from leaping forward. "What do you want me to do?"
"Unless you want a blind man to guide your daughter's entrance into the world, General, I want you to stand where I am, so I can concentrate on your son – "
Leia broke in, anxiously. "Healer Kay'leb? Is there something wrong?" she gasped. "Please don't let anything happen to my babies!"
"Relax, Milady," Kay'leb called soothingly, waving his hand in her direction. "Everything is fine...
"Everything's fine..." Leia echoed dreamily, sinking back into the cushions. "Everything's.... fine..."
An angry retort died on Han's lips, as out of the corner of his eye, he saw Toa shaking his head. Not now, the gesture seemed to say. With thin lips and a curt nod, Han turned his attention back to the Healer.
"Whadd'ya want me to do?"
"Come here and get ready," Kay'leb said, a wry smile crossing his face. "Toa will guide you."
"Ready? Ready for what?"
The smile became a grin. "Anything..."
**
Among the few being that witness the reunion, one of the elder Jedi sniffed inwardly. Such outward displays were unbecoming of the self styled Master of the New Order and his student-come-companion, but others among them knew that they were witnessing a very private, eventful turn of fate.
She had kissed him.
One simple kiss that allayed a thousand of Luke's fears and doubts and that conveyed more than assurance and love. It said in more way than words would allow, I am here, always…
**
Watching from a distance, Pemberian absently took Nico's hand.
"My Ma-mere and Pay-Pa need to be alone for a while I think," she whispered to him shyly. "Do you think Master Gi will let you show me around some more?"
"Master Gi is very busy," Nico replied in a voice that Pemberian would hear in her dreams for many years. "I'm sure that she will not mind at all."
He smiled at her now, really and fully, making Pem blush ever so slightly. "In fact, I'd like that too."
Pemberian waved to her parents, and then held up three fingers, effectively asking for three hours, and wrinkled her nose as Aubé mouthed back one.
She turned her silent attention with pleading eyes to her father, who grinned and shook his head. Not my call, the gesture said. Back to her mother…
Two and a half?
Aubé conversed quietly with Luke, and remembering her promise not to 'peek' anymore, Pem shifted from foot to foot anxiously.
At last, the answer came.
Knowing she had been utterly manipulated, Aubé bit back a smile and held up two fingers, then drew them across her neck. Two, take it or leave it.
"Come on," Pem whispered to Nico. "Before Ma-mere changes her mind!"
She threw her parents a quick 'thumbs up'
"Lead the way, Miss Skywalker," Nico replied shyly. Her hand felt warm and soft in his, and he found that he suddenly had jumble-bugs in his stomach. He felt decidedly uncomfortable.
But he didn't want to take his hand away… at least, not quite yet…
"You'd better just call me Pem," she corrected him gently, and carefully shielding her thoughts, she added inwardly, if you want to be my boyfriend someday, that is…
"Let's go…"
**
"Han is going to be jealous," Aubé murmured as she rested her head in the crook of Luke's throat as his hand rested on her belly. "Our little girl is growing up..."
Luke grunted non- commitedly, pretending to be more focused on the thrumming activity beneath his fingertips. He didn't want to talk about Han or Leia – not just yet, anyway. "How long has he been this busy?" he asked.
"Since we stepped foot on the steps," Aubé sighed. "Let's go for a walk, I'm feeling restless…"
Luke arched an inquisitive eyebrow as he rose. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Aubé grunted. "Pem will be fine, and to be honest, I sure could use a drink and a 'fresher..."
Luke bowed deeply, and when he rose, his blue eyes now sparkling with bemusement, locked on hers. "As you wish, M'lady," he said with a smile that lit up his face. "A drink, and walk and a 'fresher for my lovely wife and son…"
"Fresher first," Aubé corrected him. "By the Force, I need to find one!"
Smiling now, Luke took her hand and helping her up, he pulled her close. "I'm sure I can help you with that," he whispered, nuzzling her ear affectionately. "And maybe a few other things…"
"Foot rubs?" Aubé asked playfully. "Are you telling me there's a place in here where I can get a foot rub?"
He laughed, genuinely and heartily. "From a genuine Master," he promised.
She joined in his laughter as they walked away, and so intent were they on each other, that neither of them noticed the fact that Aubé's comm had fallen out of her pocket, and was blinking urgently…