"So, you do like it here?" Sola suddenly asked Sabé, glancing at her over her cup.

Sabé flashed a smile her way. "Of course, I do. I've been fortunate enough to spend the last twenty-something years watching over my queen's daughter. I love it here."

Though Sola smiled, she didn't seem quite satisfied enough with that answer. She shared a look with her mother before crossing her legs all lady-like and looking to Memily. So, Sabé looked to Memily too. The poor woman looked so bewildered that the Naberrie woman might speak to her, a mere servant. "Memily, right?" Sola asked. Memily nodded. "Well, Memily, I don't suppose there've been any handsome men around here that might work well for our Sabé?"

Sabé froze. Knowing Memily, her secret was no longer safe and her friend would be spilling every fine detail in seconds to the Naberries. Still, though, Sabé prayed. In vain.

Memily's face lit up and, immediately, Sola and Jobal leaned forward. "Are you saying there is someone?" And yet, Memily hadn't spoken a word. She sat back in her seat, smiling excitedly as she began to gather the perfect words. Sabé's breath caught. "No, Memily," she begged quietly. Memily beamed at her. "No, Memily, I'm begging you."

"Don't worry, dear," Jobal spoke to Memily, touching the woman's shoulder. "We won't let her hurt you. Now, spill."

"His name is Ducchi."

"Memily!"

"Sabé!"

Never had Sabé seen Sola smile brighter. She leaned in closer yet and asked, "Tell us everything!"

"There's nothing to tell!" Sabé quickly interjected. She'd imagined telling the Naberries about Ducchi plenty before. She had run several different settings through her head, planned every word. Sabé had imagined herself excitedly talking to them about him. After all, the Naberries were her family and she could only have imagined this as a friendly conversation that Jobal, Sola, and Sola's daughters would have taken much excitement in. But it wasn't going to go that way. No, this was going to be as uncomfortable as the parents of a teenager asking their child about some kid at school. That was how this would unfold. Thanks, Memily! What Sabé had been hoping for was time; time to think, time to recollect herself, time to figure out what exactly was going on with her and Ducchi. But that time apparently didn't exist. "Really-"

Memily shook her head, saying, "I'll spare you by interrupting you at this very moment because whatever response you could come up with to defend yourself is a lie. They're dating now."

Sola's eyes practically popped out of her head "What?!"

"It's not really . . . dating." Sabé tried to explain, simultaneously not sure how to explain. What stage exactly were she and Ducchi at, anyway?

"True," Memily said, considering it. "They're courting."

"We're not courting!" Sabé quickly jumped back in, but the Naberrie women were past listening to her.

"Since when?!"

"Oh, this is somewhat new. They've had a romantic friendship going for about twenty years now."

Jobal gaped.

"Memily, I swear I am going to kill you!" The Alderaanian just laughed. "Mm-hm. Yeah. Sure."

Recovering from their initial shock, Sola and Jobal now turned to Sabé. "No, no, no! Tell us about him! Who is this guy? How long have you known him?"

Quietly, but just loud enough, Memily answered for her, "About twenty years."

"Sabé!" Sola and Jobal gasped. Kill me, please, Sabé silently begged.

"Sabé!" Someone else was shouting her name now, but it wasn't Jobal or Sola or even Memily. Sabé turned to see Freneá running in, a panicked look on her face. Her eyes wide, she cried again, "Sabé! It's Leia! She needs you! Something's wrong! I think she's in pain-!"

"Freneá, where is she?"

"Aryn and Pooja helped her into the refresher-"

Say no more, she and Memily were off. Sabé could hear Memily at her heels, could somehow sense her rush and the adrenaline rushing through her veins. The two of them, her and Memily, they practically lived to serve Leia. Their niece.

Sabé practically ran into the door as she skidded to a stop and the crowd of guests took a step back. "Leia," she called, rapping her knuckles against the door. "Leia, is everything alright?"

On the other side, Sabé heard her moan before answering. "Sabé? It hurts."

"Hurts?"

Memily tapped Sabé's shoulder, telling her, "She was complaining of braxton hicks earlier, remember?"

"They weren't braxton hicks." Sabé turned back to the door and asked, "Leia? Can I come in?"

"Please!" First, though, she looked back to the surrounding crowd. Catching her look, Aryn jumped in. "Miss Kaulley," she said to a nearby servant. "Why don't you take Princess Freneá home?"

"Of course, my Queen."

Tia followed her lead, grabbing other guests and leading them back to their speeders. Sabé nodded her thanks quickly before she burst into the refresher. Leia was doubled over on the floor, kneeling on all fours. Her face was twisted with pain and tear tracks running down her face testified her fear. Sabé fell to a knee at her side. "Leia, talk to me, honey. How often are you feeling these pains now?"

Instead of answering, though, Leia repeated, "It hurts. Sabé, it hurts."

"I know, honey. I know it does. Here. Sit back." Memily helped position Leia so she was sitting and propped her up against one wall of the refresher. Sabé pulled her skirt up, checking Leia's labor progress. "She's dilating," she confirmed to Memily. "I think it's time we get her to the hospital." Squeezing one of Leia's hands, Memily nodded. Sabé smiled encouragingly at Leia. "You're going to be a mommy real soon." Then, she laughed because she could pick out both the fear and excitement in Leia's responding expression.

"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Leia confided to her. "I'm terrified."

"I know. But Han's going to be right there the whole time. Everything's going to be okay, Leia. You two will do just fine." She left a kiss on her niece's forehead before she turned back to Aryn who was still there, awaiting instruction. "Call Han," Sabé told her. "Call Han and tell him to meet us at the hospital. Also. Tell him he's going to be a father very soon."

True to his word to Leia, Han hadn't had a single drink. Of course, the guys had taken this as a challenge, bringing Han to a bar while Leia had her baby shower. At first, this had been a get-together so Han could get some parenting advice. Bail had invited Bornan and, with the Naberrie women at Leia's baby shower meeting Leia for the first time, Ruwee and Darred, Leia's grandfather and uncle. Bail had also invited Luke, Chewie, and Ducchi along more as Han's close friends.

All night, Han had taken in every word of Bail's, Bornan's, and the Naberrie men as if he were extremely thirsty. With three little ones on the way, he knew he needed all the advice he could get. Lucky for him, these fathers had plenty of advice. "You're going to mess up every once in a while," Ruwee was telling him. "That's just how you learn. Just make sure you never make the same mistake again."

"Never give permission to the kids for anything without Mommy's permission. Ever."

"No late nights when there's school the next day. That never settles well with Mom either."

"Mostly," Darred said, shaking his hand to hush the others. "Just beware of Mother Bear." Bornan chuckled, reaching into his pocket as his comm rang.

Han was trying process all this information and understand it. From every tip on girls to warnings about boys, Han wanted to know everything he could. He wanted to be the very best father to his and Leia's children. He wanted them to love him as much as he loved them; he wanted them to understand how much he loved all three of them. He wanted to show Leia how great a father he could be. Above all, though, Han wanted to give them all the happiness he had. With weeks passing by and his precious children growing, preparing to make their entrance, Han was starting to realize how soon things were going to happen.

Before Han had met Leia, he'd never imagined having such a beautiful life. He'd never imagined he'd be as lucky as to win the heart of someone like Leia. And now, they were preparing to become parents to three precious babies. How had Han gotten so lucky?

His anxiety and fears still remained, though. Han understood fully well just how huge this was. He doubted he'd be so anxious if he didn't. For the past several months, he'd managed to keep himself calm to better help Leia, but it was all hitting him. Was he really ready to become a father?

"Aryn? What's . . . wait, what? You're kidding. Of course! I'll send him over right away. Han?"

Han looked up to see Bornan beaming at him. "Aryn just called me. Leia's in labor."

She was scared and panicked and exhausted all at once, but, above all else, Han thought she was beautiful. Even the beads of sweat gleaming across her face couldn't diminish the beauty to what Han saw. She was the mother of his children and the two of them were going to become parents very soon.

Han held Leia's hand tightly in both of his and kept his mouth resting in her sweaty hair, whispering comforts to her, encouraging her. She moaned into his chest as the pain became stronger and more frequent. Earlier, Bail, Luke, and Sabé had stopped by in their room to see Leia before no one was allowed in. Her body victim to the worst physical pain she'd ever felt, Leia could hardly even focus on talking to them and they'd left shortly after, leaving their well-wishes with Han. Now, it was just the two of them together and Han was thankful for the time alone with his wife before it was really time for the babies to come. He had a feeling that they were both as excited and terrified as each other. That was how Han found his confidence again. Freeing one hand from Leia's solid grasp, he caressed her cheek and she leaned into the touch, moaning. "I'm so proud of you," he told her softly. "You've been so strong even though it's been so tough. I wish I could be that strong too."

Leia shook her head, moving one hand to cover his. "I couldn't be this strong if you weren't," she corrected him.

Han smiled. "I've been running on the thrill." Han's comment managed to crack the faintest of smiles on Leia's face. She moaned in response, "Same. Partially." She didn't say anything more because a second later, she grimaced and grunted in pain, a fresh contraction slamming her. "Han!" she cried and he was instantly there, stroking her cheek, holding her hand just as tightly as she was. "It's okay. I'm here, Princess. I'm here still. Listen to me. Focus on me. I'm here, Leia. It's alright."

"Oh, Han!"

"Remember deep breaths, sweetheart."

"Haaan!"

"Hey, it's okay."

"Han, I want to push!"

"I know, sweetheart. We still have to hear from the doctor, though. He has to decide if you even can do this naturally." Han didn't add that he was already pretty sure there was no way that was happening.

After a few more seconds, the contraction eased somewhat; just enough that Leia's grip loosened slightly and she opened her eyes to look up at him, tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Princess," a voice spoke up and Han turned to see Leia's doctor entering. "I hear a few new nobles are going to be born today. Is it true?" She smiled at Leia.

"I hope so," she managed to respond, letting go of Han's hand to caress her belly.

"Well, good news for you, then. You're fully dilated and I wouldn't wish to make you endure this any longer than you must." The calamarian doctor approached and folded her hands in front of her. Bad news coming, Han could tell. "Here's the thing. I took into deep consideration your wish to deliver naturally, but . . ."

"That's not happening, is it?" Leia asked.

"I'm sorry. Removing the triplets by surgery will be much safer and easier. I hate to have to do this, but, all things considered, this is what needs to be done."

Leia nodded, reaching for Han's hand again. She looked to him and he nodded, showing her all the comfort he could in his look. More tears spilled from her eyes, but she didn't cry out. She just nodded, turning her head to nod to the doctor. As she did, she gasped, another contraction sweeping over her. Han held her tight. Glancing up at the doctor, he said, "I think we're ready."

Now numbed from the belly down and an oxygen mask strapped over her mouth, Leia found herself lying flat on her back in a room much bigger than the one she'd been in not long ago. Dozens of different machines were either strapped to her or standing nearby; one proclaimed the racing beats of her heart while another was separately measuring the beats of her children's hearts. There were a few doctors in the room. They worked together as they hung a curtain over her belly to shield her view for while they operated on her. Han stood at her side, clad in his own paper-like, blue and green scrubs and mouth mask. She used his soft gaze as an anchor and held onto his dark brown eyes with hers. She pushed her own mask down. "This is really happening," she marveled, tears of disbelief pouring from her eyes. "Han, we're really going to be parents."

Han nodded. He took both of her hands in his and kissed the temple they made. "Only everything we've wanted for the last two years," he agreed. "I love you so much, Princess. I love you so much for doing this."

Leia gave him her best smile. "I love you for sticking with me these past several months. Even when I was tired and cranky and hungry, you never left my side."

"Never, Princess," Han assured her as if she needed it. He shook his head and kissed her forehead. "Never ever, sweetheart. You're stuck with me."

"Good. That's the way I like my life."

Han glanced around the curtain, watching the doctors. He told his wife, "Only a couple more minutes until they're ready, I think. Our little ones are coming soon."

"Do you still remember the names or are you so nervous you've already forgotten?"

Han chuckled with her. "No, I still remember. I think you might have forgotten, though."

"Never, Han Solo. Not my babies' names."

"But which ones are we going to get to use?"

"You tell me, flyboy."

"Alright, Princess," one of the doctors spoke. "We're going to begin now."