"Goodnight, Princess," Han whispered one night as he and Leia were settling down to sleep. He kissed his wife on her forehead. Leia hiked up her nightgown to pull it over and reveal her humongous, swollen belly. "Where are they?" Han asked and Leia pointed to three spots around the surface. "Those are the heads. I think." Han nodded and kissed each spot Leia had indicated. "Goodnight, Solo One, Two, and Three." Han sat back and pulled the blankets over himself.

Leia still had her dress pulled up; her hands were gently stroking each stretch mark, offering comfort to the babies. She moved one hand to the bottom of her belly while the other went to the top, starting there and stroking her stretched skin partway down. "I still can't believe we're having triplets, Han," she said. Her gaze was focused on her protruding belly. "It doesn't seem entirely real."

"And we've known this for a month already, sweetheart."

Leia nodded. "I know. That part of it, too . . . it seems like some dream, like that isn't really happening."

Watching her, so engrossed by her belly and the babies within, Han smiled. He had noticed she'd been doing this more often lately, slowly losing her focus in matters of the real time and drew her own attention to herself, her body, their children. Often, Han envied her while she had these moments. Not that he envied the aching body, outrageous cravings, or any other part of the "fun" that came with her condition, but Leia had developed something of a connection to their unborn babies and that was what Han envied. They weren't even born and Leia already had a relationship with them. Han didn't want to ruin their moment, but at the same time, he longed to join them, wrap Leia up in his arms and talk to the babies as he often did. It took all his self-control to stay put.

She looked so happy and calm and serene. Han didn't dare say a word to interrupt her. Then, as she also often did, Leia started to sing. Softly and quietly, the song was meant for the triplets, a lullaby Breha had always sung to Leia. Actually, it was more than often that Leia sang this song. It had been a nightly routine since the day they'd found out she was pregnant. Han loved to just sit and listen. When she was finished, Leia looked to Han, smiling. "Everything alright?"

Han was startled. "Yeah. Of course. Why would you ask that-?"

"Because you've been staring at me for a few minutes now."

"I'm sorry. Is there something wrong with that?"

"There is when you kind of look upset."

Han shook his head. He got on all fours and leaned over her. "I'm not upset. I was just thinking about how sexy I think you look-"

Leia abruptly raised a hand in front of his face. "I'm going to stop you right there-"

Han careened his head around her hand and kissed Leia. "I think you look beautiful-"

"Mm. Han, stop it. What's bothering you?"

Han obeyed her, slowly edging back. As he sat back against the frame of their bed, he caressed Leia's stomach. His hand had found a hard spot and Han knew one of their babies was resting there. Leia's hand met his; her hold was soft and comforting, her gaze the same. She was listening. "I can't wait for our little ones. Seems you've already got a bond with them."

Leia laughed shortly. "Han Solo, are you jealous?"

Leia caught Han's gaze and he fell deep into the pools of her rich, mesmerizing, dark eyes. He lifted his head to shower her neck and jawline with soft kisses. "Maybe," he admitted, hesitantly. "Just a little." He planted a harder kiss on her lips and Leia began to relax. Han felt her muscles lose their usual tension and she shifted her position to look at him better.

Leia started to surrender to his caress and kisses, her own passion growing. She held his face in her hands and stared into his eyes, studying the swirls of faint green and overwhelming brown that mixed to get the lively hazel that they were. She left a quick peck on his cheek, watching him carefully. "You're going to be a wonderful father, Han. You know that?"

Han sighed, tracing a finger along Leia's cheek. "I don't know how to explain it to you-"

"But I think I know what you mean. Already."

Han blinked. "You're pretty impressive."

Leia laughed. She pulled herself into Han's arms and he got her into his lap. She sat back, melted into his embrace and pulled his hands down to rest on her belly. "They're kicking a lot right now. Do you feel that?" Leia went silent, moving his hands to different areas. Han could feel it. Like a rather odd, unsteady rhythm of a drum, Han felt little feet kick up against his hands, begging for their daddy's attention and letting him know they were well. Han smiled. "I don't think they want to go to bed anytime soon."

Leia shook her head, laughing. "They've been like this all day. I don't understand how they can't be tired. I know I'm tired." She uttered a small sigh, shifting her position before locking gaze with Han and telling him, "You're jealous because you think I have some special connection to our children. Han, you have as much a link to them as I do. You're always talking to them, telling them how much you love them. Han, the other day when you were talking to them, they were going crazy! Kicking and moving and . . . they love you, Han," Leia said simply, assuring him, smiling pleasantly. "They know who their daddy is, Han. Somehow. they know when you're around and they love you so much. I think they almost love you as much as I do." Leia kissed his mouth, using the Force to send him what she could only explain as "warm vibes". It was one of the few things she knew how to do with the Jedi power. Han relaxed, smiling with her. "You really think they know?" he asked her.

"Would now be a bad time to back up my claim with what Obi-Wan and Ferus told me about how our children are Force-strong?"

Han considered. "You know, it might have been nice if you just said 'yes' quickly before launching into that."

Leia grimaced. "Sorry, Daddy. But doesn't that make you feel special? They know who you are and they trust you. When we finally get to meet them, like physically hold them and meet them, I bet they won't let anyone else hold them but the two of us. They're already attuned to us."

Han nodded. "That is pretty special."

"See, flyboy? Now, don't ever do this to me again. You're supposed to be supporting me when I have emotional outbursts."