a/n: i tried to include some sibling fun, and some family fun - very light-hearted, as this outtake takes place days before the wedding and after Leia's major breakthrough with the Force.
Outtake 5: Leia, Malla, and Lumpy (+ Luke, Han, and Chewie)
Reference: Identity, Chapter Thirty-One (31)
Luke tilted his head at the flickering holo screen mounted on the living room wall, sort of lazily paying attention to the news stories flickering across it. Leia often kept it on the channel that displayed four major Media options, and that made it very easy for her brother to keep up in a succinct, no-nonsense way – except the Media was entirely nonsense, lately, because the entire establishment seemed to have forgotten that a Constitution had recently been ratified and instead chosen to present the Princess of Alderaan's impending wedding as the most significant event of the – century?
That was what a female newscaster on Holo Eleven was saying – "the biggest event of the century" – and Luke tilted his head curiously, thinking…was the defeat of Imperial tyranny not a big deal…?
He shook his head, bemused; Leia said the Media was angry because she had refused to authorize a live broadcast of the wedding and had nixed issuing any press invites – the only images released would be specifically selected by Leia and Rouge and would be produced by Alderaanian photographers whose education Rouge had funded.
Luke was starting to believe she was right, considering their pettiness about the issue – they had started taking particular pleasure in harassing Bail about ceremony details instead of letting him do his duties –
"And what colour will the Princess's wedding dress be, Viceroy? Not white? Why is that?"
"Well, customarily, Alderaanian women do not wear – "
"Yes sir, but on Corellia, women wear white unless – "
"Princess Leia isn't Corellian, is she?" – Luke grinned, leaning forward, and a second reporter shoved a microphone at Bail –
"Luke," Leia said sharply, marching past the sitting room doorway. "Turn that drivel off."
Gleefully, he held out his hand in protest.
"But, sis! I want to see what's happening with the royal wedding!"
"You are in the royal wedding," she growled, darting back past the door.
Luke heard a door slam, and Han came into the room grinning vaguely rubbing his forehead. He held up his hand, three fingers wriggling pointedly.
"Outfit change number three," he whispered, moving around a decorative table and collapsing in an armchair with a fond look on his face. "I think when I told her Malla was a housewife she somehow translated it to 'intergalactic fashion critic'," he joked.
Luke arched his brows. He glanced around as if to check if Leia was anywhere near.
"Why's she acting like this?" he asked, smiling.
Han slouched down and put his hands behind his head casually, propping his boots up on the table.
"Eh? Like what?" he asked absently, as if he hadn't just poked fun at her.
Luke gave him a look.
"This," he said, waving his hand wildly. "She's running around like a half-drunk, half-blind womp rat, changing clothes, cleaning things," he listed.
Han snorted.
"She rinsed a dirty mug in the sink; that's not cleaning," he remarked. Then, he tilted his head and thought about it – "Actually, it is Leia's idea of cleaning. She thinks fairies clean the dishes." Han glared at Luke, and pointed to his chest. "The cleaning fairies are me," he elaborated darkly.
Luke shrugged.
"I'm sure your fairy wings are very manly," he said seriously.
Han rolled his eyes, and then turned a little, craning his head to look down the hall and shrugging.
"She's not really acting that weird," he muttered. "She always does this."
"Leia?" Luke clarified, eyes wide in disbelief. He snorted skeptically. "No, I've never seen Leia act – uh, frazzled? – about meeting anyone."
"Well, you don't live with her."
Luke frowned.
"She's always put together," he pointed out.
"In public," Han said flippantly.
Luke snickered.
"She's acting like a girl," he pointed out – Leia had been trying to decide what to wear to meet Chewie's family for two hours, and Luke had been taking it in with bemused side-ways glances, while Han had sort of trailed her around the apartment alternately teasing her and trying to help.
Han feigned a troubled look and blinked at Luke.
"You mean to tell me…I'm marrying…a bona fide…woman?" he asked, deadpan.
Luke rolled his eyes.
"I just mean – " he started.
Han grinned.
"Yeah, kid, I know," he said. He glanced around again, and then sat forward, bringing his hands down to his knees. "She was like this before I met Winter, too," he said simply. He tilted his head. "I keep tellin' her Malla is going to like her," he said. "She just ignores me."
"Sounds about right," Luke said, and Han glared at him.
He tilted his head thoughtfully.
"I wonder what she's thinking," he mused.
"You stay out of her head!" Han said, sticking a finger out and pointing at Luke narrowly – "Don't do it, kid! You'll piss her off!"
Luke grinned wickedly – he closed his eyes, and after a moment, he winced, but started laughing –
"Stop it, Luke!" Leia yelled from the back of the apartment, sounding exactly like an irritated little sister ought to sound at her pesky brother – and Luke slumped down, clutching his ribs, nearly choking on his laughter –
"She's just – she's just," he gasped, "over and over again, she's just thinking the names of your – your ex-girlfriends – "
Han sat up straight, alarmed. Luke covered his mouth, sobering up a little at the look on Han's face, and shook his head –
"No, Han, I don't think she's upset – " he started.
Han got up anyway, striding out of the room quickly and marching directly into he back bedroom. He found Leia tying the sash of a loose, casual summer dress. It was a soft, earthy green, and draped off one shoulder fetchingly. The skirt fell to her knees, and it was a significant change from the fitted white slacks and red blouse she'd been wearing ten minutes ago.
"Leia," he said gruffly, kicking the door half-shut as he entered. "What's the problem?"
She looked up, smoothing out the sash, and turned to show him the bow she'd tied in the back.
"Does it look okay?"
"Looks like a bow. Nice. Why're you thinking about Jess and Bria?"
"Luke," she snarled, somehow managing to make his name sound like a completely different word.
She whirled around and put a hand to her face, sitting back with a sigh, her hip perched against the bedside table. She lowered the hand to her hip and shrugged vaguely, giving him an annoyed look.
"That's who I'll be compared to, is it not?" she asked, matter-of-fact. "Let's see, they were tall, leggy redheads who were well-known to Malla, and here I am, about to marry you, and I haven't even made an effort to meet her – "
Han came forward and sat on the bed at an angle towards her. He leaned forward and shook his head, smiling.
"Kriff," he muttered, almost affectionately. "Uh, we were kind of busy for a while there, Sweetheart, couldn't just hop off to Kashyyyk like I did when I was bumming around with them," he pointed out. He shook his head. "Malla's not pissed you've never met her. I told you, she's been waitin' for this."
Leia sighed. She looked up at the ceiling.
"Precisely," she agreed after a moment. "I'm suddenly remembering that I come off in the Media as a bitch." She looked back at him. "That may be all she's seen."
"You don't come off as a bitch," Han said.
Leia cocked a brow, and he hastily moved on – "You think Chewie has told her anything but good things?" he asked. He leaned forward and squeezed her knee. "C'mon, Leia," he soothed. "You're marryin' me," he said, flashing a smirk, "that's enough to recommend you to 'em."
Leia looked up at him through her lashes.
"This is possibly the closest I'll get to – it's like meeting your mother," she tried to explain.
Han blinked, taken aback.
"Ahhhh," he sighed hesitantly. "Malla's not my mother," he muttered.
"They're your family," Leia said softly – perceptively. "I want her approval."
Han looked down at his hands. He scrubbed his thumb against his palm, tilting his head back and forth slowly – she was right, he reckoned; Chewie, and Chewie's mate and son, were likely the closest thing he had to family – technically, they were the only guests at the wedding who were purely his invites.
He looked up at her, figuring out something encouraging to say, but he felt like he'd already said everything he could, so he just looked her over thoughtfully.
"You look beautiful," he said simply.
She smiled faintly.
The door chimes rang, and Leia straightened, looking towards the door. Han arched his brows and stood up, holding out his hand.
"Hey," Luke yelled, his voice muffled. "Do I get the door?"
Leia laughed a little.
"Yeah, grab it," Han yelled back, pausing for a moment to lean forward and kiss her forehead.
He ran his hand over her shoulder, suddenly feeling very – humbled that she was so earnest to make a good impression on his side. She was…an ambassador, a senator, the Princess of Alderaan, likely the future Chief of State of the whole goddamn New Republic, and here she stood, worried about her outfit for meeting his best friend's wife.
He smiled, and kissed her forehead again, squeezing her hand and beckoning her.
"I think this dress screams that I'm trying to hard," she hissed as he lead her down the hall.
"What?" he snorted.
"It's green. Kashyyyk is green."
"Leia," Han laughed. "Calm down."
He stepped into the living room with her, where Luke was standing and chatting amiably with Chewie and Malla, polite, small conversation – he had just finished shaking Lumpy's hand when Chewie spotted Han and gave a roar of greeting.
"Hey, pal," Han said brightly, striding forward with Leia at his heels. He scratched Chewie behind the ears and then turned to Malla. "How was the – argh!" His question was interrupted as he found himself dragged into an aggressive embrace, Malla ruffling his hair until it stood up and greeting him enthusiastically.
He went obediently limp, submitting to the affection, and Luke shared a grin with Leia, which she returned earnestly.
[Ma,] Lumpy griped quietly, [Let him go! His mate's watching!]
Han muffled something in agreement, and Malla released him, touching his shoulders. She gave a series of reprimanding growls, and then turned to glance at Leia surreptitiously, murmuring – [I have waited long enough, Cub].
Han nodded, and Leia stepped closer. Han put his hands on her shoulders, stepping back to better introduce her.
"Yeah," he said. "So," he began gruffly, "this is – "
[The Princess of Alderaan!] Lumpy interrupted proudly, his eyes wide.
Han glared at him, but it was nothing compared to the ferocious look his mother turned on him, which quailed him instantly.
"I just call her Leia, though," he said pointedly.
"Sometimes you still call her Princess," Luke piped up obnoxiously.
"Well, that's Luke, he's got no social skills," Han introduced brightly, fixing his eyes on Malla and moving back to Leia with purpose. "Malla," he said, more seriously. "This is Leia," he said, and then gestured at the tall Wookiee woman at Chewbacca's side, "Leia, Chewie's Mate, Mallatobuck."
He pointed next to her.
"Their son, Lumpawarrump."
[Malla,] Chewie supplied, [and Lumpy – I expect you will have as much trouble with my son's full name as Han does].
Han gave Chewie and annoyed look.
Malla inclined her head forward, and then put her large paws together and bent forward at the waist, which Lumpy mimicked immediately. Leia looked startled, and shook her head, leaning forward and, without thinking, placing her hands on Malla's shoulders.
"Oh no, please don't," she said quickly. "I'm not – no ceremony," she said. "I'm just Leia – Chewie is family; you mustn't bow."
Malla looked up at her, startled, and Leia felt insecure suddenly, like she shouldn't have laid hands on the Wookiee without permission – she wracked her head for cultural customs; was that considered offensive in theirs? Before she could remember, Malla had let out a soft, kind growl, and reached forward to drag Leia into the same kind of hug she'd greeted Han with.
Han winced, and stepped forward, afraid the force of the hug might make Leia uncomfortable, but he saw her burst into a delighted smile, reaching up hesitantly to touch the hair behind Malla's ear, just as she sometimes did to Chewie.
Malla roared, pleased, and after a moment, released Leia.
[You are much lovelier than you are on the holos,] she said, stepping back with a kind inclination of her head. She cocked it to the side curiously. [And much tinier.]
[Malla!] Chewbacca growled. [She understands Shriyywook!]
Leia's face flushed, but she laughed.
"Well," she said breathlessly, "I have the holos film me at an angle that makes me look taller," she confessed.
Lumpy stepped forward and held out his paws; Leia took them and clasped them kindly – not fully grown, he was still taller than her, but only a bit. He pulled his lips back in a smile, and bent to kiss her hand politely.
[Ma's wanted to meet you for ages,] he said nicely. [She couldn't decide what gifts to bring, so she brought everything we own.] It was a wry joke, and Leia blushed - -but Chewbacca gestured to the table, where a woven basket was, and Malla picked it up seriously, having Lumpy remove the lid.
[It is tradition that we bear gifts,] she said.
Han sat down on the arm of a sofa, leaning towards Luke to watch as Leia was presented with the customary sort of thing Wookiee's did for a member of their honor family.
[This is – it is a robe, woven from some of the wools native to my planet,] Malla explained, holding out a beautifully sewn concoction that was a few shades darker than Leia's dress. [I thought of weaving a dress, but I was not sure of human fashions, and then I was afraid you would not like the colour of this robe, but I see,] she trailed off, gesturing to Leia's outfit, and Leia took the garment in her hands.
"This is gorgeous," she breathed. "You—wove this yourself?"
Malla inclined her head very demurely, and Leia sighed over the talent of it.
"You must have spent so much time," she began.
[It was no trouble at all,] Malla said. [I wanted to bring you very meaningful things. It is very important to us that Han is happy.]
Leia flushed – and she was presented with more of the famous teas Chewie always brought her back from Kashyyyk visits, seeds to plant vines native to the planet, herbal medicines, and a fragile, wicker-bead bracelet that she knew must have also been made by Malla herself.
She swallowed hard, her eyes stinging, and placed the things in the basket – save for the bracelet, which she slipped on before she stepped forward to reach up and scratch Malla behind the ears again.
"Thank you," she said.
She took a deep breath, and looked among all three of them.
"Thank you all for taking care of Han," she said.
Han gave a protracted groan from behind her.
[Shut up,] growled Chewbacca sternly.
Han gave him an outraged look; Luke laughed.
"Malla, I know how difficult it must be to live without Chewie," Leia said, and turned soft eyes on Lumpy, "and I know it's hard to miss your father," she said. She smiled at them both. "Chewie has kept Han alive more – more than a few times," she laughed, and she heard Luke mutter something mocking at Han, which earned him a smack in the back of the head – "He's kept me alive, too," she said, "so – thank you. For your strength," she finished, "for letting us have him, and for taking Han in instead of resenting him."
Malla bowed her head. She reached forward and hugged Leia again, turning her head in close to Leia's ear – she spoke low enough for a fellow Wookiee to hear her, and maybe for Han and Luke to make out a few words, but low, for Leia only –
[He is a very good man, Leia,] Malla murmured, and Leia was both surprised, and delighted, that she actually did not use her title; most beings did, even when asked not to, and Leia felt it was a clear indication that Malla viewed her as a person, an equal – she didn't care if Leia was a princess, she cared if – [You must treat him well. You must be good to him. You seem to be his grandest accomplishment,] she complimented, [and it would be so unforgiveable if he were hurt.]
Chewbacca gave an alarmed little growl, and Lumpy tilted his head, arching his eyebrows – but Leia was unfazed; in fact, she was glad Han had someone to look out for him, because – throughout all of this, so much concern had been about Leia's feelings, Leia's well-being, whether or not Han was good to Leia, good enough for Leia – and not a single person had worried that Leia might hurt Han.
Leia pulled back and nodded, her face a picture of honesty.
"You can trust me, Malla," she assured her.
She turned and looked at Han for a moment, smiling, and then turned back to Chewbacca's wife proudly, her head held high –
"Han's sort of like my life debt," she said, putting it into perspective.
Malla grinned at her fondly, and Han stood up, coming up to put his arm around Leia.
"You don't owe me your life," he said hastily, shaking his head.
[I understand what she is trying to say,] Malla said placidly. [Han, do not correct your woman in front of company; who raised you?]
Han drew his hand off Leia, offended, and shot a look at Chewie – Chewie shrugged blandly. Luke stood back up and came forward, beaming, and held out his hands –
"How does everyone feel about dinner?" he asked.
Malla looked at him as if she had just noticed him, and then gave a delighted roar for him, as well – [You are the little Jedi who is like Han's brother!]
She pulled Luke into a bone-crushing hug, and Leia leaned into Han's side, laughing smugly at the look of shock on her brother's face – she was marring Han in two days, two days! – and it felt like she'd earned the final blessing she needed.
The End
ah, and thus we end our outtakes!
my new star wars tattoo and i can buckle down and get on The Naberries.
-alexandra