Sailing Little Boats

Chapter 6

With a lurching *thump*, the turbo-lift came to a sudden jolting halt, throwing Aubé unceremoniously into Luke's arms.

"Are you all right?" Luke asked as he steadied her. "Sorry about that, it'll start up again in a moment…"

"Yes, thanks," Aubé murmured with a sigh, settling comfortably into his embrace. "Been a while since you've held me like this."

"Been a while since you've let me ," Luke mumbled, then immediately added, "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that –"

"Yes I did," Aubé corrected him, casting her eyes downward. "I've been unforgivably… selfish."

"You've had a lot to cope with, and on your own for the most part," Luke replied, absently reaching for the control panel, even as the lift began it's steady climb upward once again. "I should have been there…"

"They needed you," Aubé reminded him gently. "The Republic, the Galaxy… they always will. I knew that from the start, Luke…"

"Pem needed me, Tam needed me…" Luke said hoarsely. "My family needs me, Aubé…" At least I hope they do…

"Of course we do, Luke," Aubé replied gently, then burst into a fit of giggles.

Luke arched an eyebrow, puzzled but momentarily bemused. "What is it?"

Aubé put a protective hand over her belly. "Speaking of need…"

"Again? We stopped at a fresher just before we entered the turbo-lift!"

She shrugged, and giggled again, a light hearted, giddy sound. "Sorry, Luke, I guess it's something we'll just have to get used to for the next few weeks. Didn't Leia tell you?"

Luke's expression darkened, and Aubé realized that she and Pem weren't the only family that Luke had been absent from.

"We're here," Luke said abruptly, as the lift doors opened. "Come on, I promise this won't take long…"

**

Leia, his Leia was in pain, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Han could hear the low murmurs of those around him. Young Toa was making odd gestures that the Healer Kay'leb followed blindly.

I am his eyes, Master Solo, Toa's gentle voice echoed through his consciousness. Your family is fine…

He had to look – he wanted to look – he wanted to turn away, and yet he had to, but he couldn't…

"I can't... Please..." Leia's voice seemed to come from far away, a different dimension maybe. "Oh, Goddess!" She cried.

"Just a little more, Princess," he heard himself say drowsily. "Just hang in there, sweetheart…"

He felt giddy, the world was going grey around him, and in that terrible instant, Han Solo realized he was about to faint.

**

Watching out of the window from what once was, and would soon again would be the Jedi Council chamber, Luke for himself growing, for want of a better word, anxious.

Aubé had retired to the fresher, and despite her assurances that she wouldn't be long, she'd actually been in the confines of the room for a considerable amount of time.

You're over-reacting, Skywalker, he chastised himself inwardly. Making a krayt dragon out of a sand worm. She's been through this all before and comes from a family of Healers, after all…

"Uh, Luke?" her voice called from the refresher with a decidedly un-Aubé-like quaver. "I think we have a little problem here…"

**

Oh by the Gods and the seven hells, Han thought. This can't be happening! I won't faint like a girl! I won't! I can't!

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a hand shoot out and grab his arm, and in that instant, he felt a rush of sensation surge through his body. He felt strong, powerful. It was better than the strongest Glitterryll, better than anything he had ever felt. He could be strong for Leia! The Healer Kay'leb would see to that.

Brown eyes met milky white, and Han felt another surge of sensation. His jaw slackened and his eyes glazed as he felt himself falling into them.

This is what it's like, really feeling the Force, he thought dreamily. This man, this Healer… I can… I will… anything… just don't let it stop…

Suddenly, Toa's voice – clear and harsh broke the connection broke with an almost electric shock.

"Kay'sa! Enough!" Toa said sharply. "Please…"

Han stood there for a moment, blinking stupidly as the Healer returned to his ministrations as if nothing had happened. He no longer felt light headed in the slightest, and yet…

"Quickly, General," Kay'leb snapped. Your daughter is coming now….

**

Aubé was milk pale as she staggered unceremoniously out of the fresher, her leggings half heartedly pulled up, and soaked to the bone.

"Luke?" she whimpered, "We seemed to have had a misfire…"

He stared at her, momentarily stupefied at the sight. "Bé? Is it… Is it the baby?"

"No! Of course not!" she snapped back irritably. "I hit the wrong leaver and got a front full of swamp water! What the hell do you think it is?"

Luke stood there, rooted to the spot. "Here? Now?"

"Apparently so," Aubé replied before doubling over with a groan, followed by a string of colourful Corellian curses. "Oh by the stars!"

In an instant, Luke was by her side, gently guiding her to one of the cushioned backless chairs and helping her to lie down. "It's all right Bé," he murmured. "Just relax…"

"Relax?" Aubé cried, grabbing the front of Luke's shirt, her eyes as wide as saucers. "Luke, I don't think you get it! He's coming – now!" She grimaced as a contraction seized her. "He's going to drop faster than a Stormtrooper at Corellian Lifeday party!"

"Bé…" Luke repeated soothingly. "It'll all right. We'll go back down the turbo-lift –"

"I'm not going in there!" Aubé snapped. "The damn thing would probably stop midway down and –"

"OK, OK, so no turbo-lift," Luke said soothingly. "Let me have your com, and I'll have them come to us…" Here he paused, grimacing slightly. "Bé? Love?"

"What?"

"You're crushing my hand…"

"I could crush something else, you know! Right now, almost happily…"

"Where's your com-link?" Luke said, suddenly changing the subject. "Mine's temporarily water-logged."

"How?" Aubé asked, with another grimace. "Mine should be in my pocket…"

"Pem," Luke replied easily. "She was practicing a simple levitation when she saw you, and it fell into the fountain."

"So it's my fault that you don't have a working com? No! Try the other pocket, Luke!"

"I didn't say that!" came the frustrated reply. "Bé, it's not in here!"

"Of course it is!" Aubé cried, frightened, yet knowing he spoke the truth. "It has to be!"

"Aubé… Bé…" Luke soothed. "It's not. I can use the emergency com in the turbo lift…"

"Who will you call?"

"I don't know – anyone who answers I guess."

"But that could be anyone! Or worse, no one!"

"Someone will, eventually…"

"And if they don't?"

Luke slowly leaned down, and stroking an errant hair away from her fore-head, he whispered in her ear. "Then, we just have to do it ourselves…"

**
"Han…" Leia called wearily. "The baby, Jaina…"

"She's fine, Sweetheart!" Han gibbered joyfully. "She's perfect! Just like her mother!"

It had happened so quickly, almost the moment the Healer had released him from that strange… event, Jaina had arrived, a small, squalling precious bundle. As Toa had instructed, Han had tipped her head down while a surprisingly gentle finger scooped a small mass out of her mouth. Now, lightly washed and wrapped in a soft blanket, Han found himself holding her in hands that seemed enormous.

"Can I see her?"

Slowly and carefully, Han made his way to Leia's side. "Just don't…" he gasped, feeling foolish. "She's so small…"

Tenderly, Kampher helped Leia sit up, and helped her position the baby for her first meal while Kay'leb and Toa prepared for the coming on the second twin.

"How long…" Han began only to have Toa interrupt.

"You should rest while you can, M'lady," he said gently. "It may be a while…"

"A while?" Han asked, incredulous. "What do you mean by 'a while'?"

"A child is not like a droid assembly line, General," Kay'leb said dryly. "It may be hours before the second twin arrives!"

A gentle Kampher broke in. "We'll leave you all to get acquainted," she said. "We won't be far, just in the next room…"

"Sure, sure," Han replied absently. "Next room and all… We'll be fine, won't we Leia?"

"All right," Kam agreed. "In the mean time, I want to see if I can raise Aubé and Luke. To be honest, I'm a little concerned, we haven't heard from them in hours…"

**