Chapter Six

No one could ever accuse Han Solo of not planning ahead, Leia thought as
she gazed about the Falcon's immense main cargo hold, stacked from floor
to ceiling with crates and boxes of every size and shape imaginable. 
They'd left their bed in the wee hours of the morning, slipping up to
the docked Falcon, where Han had proudly showed her the preparations he
had been making in secret.

Leia wandered among the boxes, running her fingers along their sides,
taking note of their contents.  Each box had been carefully labeled in
Han's own somewhat ragged but legible script, sorted according to
category, then secondarily sorted by the family member that particular
box was meant to accommodate.

She arched an eyebrow at Han as he came to a stop beside her, inclining
her head toward the gleaming metal parts of the partially assembled
medical droid.  "You have plans for this guy?" she asked, a hint of
laughter in her voice.

"You have plans for this guy," he corrected.  "Chewie has orders to have
him assembled and up and running before takeoff.  It's been downloaded
with the most recent data on midwifery, infant care and basic
pediatrics."  He paused for effect.  "And I've got all our medical
records on data chips, duplicated and separately stored."  He smiled
smugly at the impression his organization was making on her.  She nodded
admiringly, continued her tour of the hold and paused beside another
group of boxes.

"Baby formula?" she called over her shoulder, fixing him with a
disdainful look.  "You know better than that." 

He joined her at the box, embracing her from behind.  "I always have a
back-up," he whispered in her ear.  "Can't be getting cocky, now, can
we?  I don't want to have to leave Endor for any reason once we get
there."  He hugged her tightly, one hand slipping down to caress the
roundness that was their baby.  "We're doing the right thing, you know,"
he said against her hair.

She nodded into his shoulder.  "I know," she whispered, suddenly anxious
to be off Coruscant and on their way to their new life.  She had been
blocking the touch of Luke's mind all morning, and doubted she could
keep him at bay if they actually came face to face with each other.  It
was essential that their departure come as a complete surprise.  At all
costs, she wanted to avoid another confrontation like the one they had
experienced last night.  Last night...she shuddered at the painful
memory, and Han tightened his arms around her. 

"We're gonna be okay, sweetheart," he assured her.  "Trust me."  He had
been laying the foundation for months, had taken into account every
possible contingency.  The entire operation had been planned down to the
smallest detail, with the precision of one of his former military or
smuggling forays.  The only detail that had been missing was how he was
going to be able to convince her to leave.

Last night, that, too, had somehow taken care of itself. Han was
enormously pleased with the turn of events of the past twenty-four
hours.  He felt a warm glow of satisfaction:  this time tomorrow he and
Leia and their children would be on their way to Endor.  He smiled at
the thought, basking in his happiness.

Chewbacca appeared at the door, growling a question in their direction.

"Yeah, Threepio's coming with us," Han answered over his shoulder.  His
contingencies included the uncomfortable necessity of including the
droid on the trip, for the dual purpose of talking to the Falcon in case
of mechanical difficulties, and of keeping an eye on the children.  The
prissy protocol droid had proven surprisingly capable of keeping up with
the rambunctious twins, as well as a cunning little Anakin.  Han had
figured that he and Leia would need all the help they could get with
their brood and had forced himself to override his initial misgivings
and include See-Threepio in the group.  Besides, it had made Leia happy
and that was the name of the game these days.

Chewbacca barked a succinct opinion of the droid's inclusion, and Han
calmly looked at the Wookiee over his shoulder.  "In case you missed
something, pal, Leia and I are going to be a little busy in a few
months.  We're gonna need a hand with the kids while that's going on." 
He paused meaningfully.  "Unless, of course you think you can handle the
twins on your own?" he asked, trying hard not to smirk at his buddy. 
"And Anakin?" he added, driving his point home.

"Anakin's no trouble at all," Leia defended.  "He doesn't have the
twins' penchant for mischief." 

"Or else he's just too busy with his own agenda to allow himself to be
misled by his big brother," Han snorted.  "Give Jacen time.  That boy
could charm the ears off a Gundark."

"He gets it honestly," Leia quipped.  She turned in his arms, stood on
tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss before reluctantly disentangling
herself from his embrace.  "If we're going to pull this off, I guess
we'd better get busy.  I've got a resignation to write so I'm going on
back.  You coming?"

Han shook his head.  "I want to run the Falcon through a few last minute
checks, make sure we're all set, make sure Chewie takes care of Emdee
here."  He captured her face in his hands, kissed her long and
tenderly.  "I'll meet you back home in two hours.  Have you figured out
what we're going to tell the kids?"

"The truth," she answered matter-of-factly.  "That we're going home." 
She gave him another quick peck and left them.  Han's eyes followed her
as she walked across the cargo hold and came to a stop at the main door,
turning to blow him another kiss before disappearing down the corridor.

Han exhaled with a satisfaction he'd never known, his face splittin into
an enormous grin.  Home.  He was taking his family home.

****************

"Where are we going, Dad?" Jacen whispered as he and Anakin helped their
father carry an assortment of baggage to load onto the Falcon.  Han led
the way down the corridor that would exit onto the landing platform atop
the Tower, having sought their assistance in expediting the family's
departure.  He'd first cautioned them of the need for security in
carrying out this operation, and all three children had responded with
characteristic enthusiasm, swelling with pride that they had been asked
to take part in a secret mission.

"Family vacation, sport," Han told him quietly, ever watchful for the
approach of foreign eyes.  If they could just speed up the loading
process, then chances were very good that he could get his family out of
here before anyone on Coruscant was wise to their departure - or before
Leia's innate sense of guilt got in the way of her intention to resign
as Chief of State.
  
"Is Mom coming with us?" Jacen asked.

Han glanced back at his son to find him looking hopefully up at him with
Leia's dark eyes, and he felt a tug at his heart.  She had missed out on
so many of their so-called family vacations, tied to the never-ending
demands of office.  Time and time again he'd seen her swallow her
disappointment as she sent her family off on their own.  Though she had
always smiled bravely as she bade them farewell, Leia had never been
able to hide her dejection from her husband.  Han had found the forced
separations as hard to bear as she had.

The happy thought struck him that now those lonely days were finally at
an end, and he winked at his son.  "You bet she's coming," he assured
the boy.  "And we're never going to have to leave her behind again."

Jacen flashed a bright smile and they walked on in silence for several
minutes.  As they reached the door that would open into the accessway to
the landing platform, Han felt a tentative touch on his arm and turned
to see Anakin at his elbow, confusion in his clear blue eyes.  "What is
it, buddy?" he asked his son.

"Why are you and Mama mad at Uncle Luke?"  Han's insides twisted
guiltily, and he wondered how in the cosmos he could explain a thing
like petty jealousy to an eight-year-old boy.  Han opened the door and
held it for the boys as they stepped out onto the permacrete of the
platform.

"We're not really mad at Uncle Luke," he began, assuming the man-to-man
tone of voice that seemed to work best with his sons.  "It's just that
your mother and I want to take us all on a long vacation, a really neat
place where we can all be together, and you guys can run around and play
and not have to worry about getting into trouble."  He followed the boys
through the door and took the point as they filed across to the waiting
ship.   "Your Uncle Luke is afraid that trouble will find us."

Jacen and Anakin looked up at their father, both of them excited at the
impending journey, yet a little disquieted at the thought of leaving all
that they'd known as home.  Their father had told them only that they
were leaving Coruscant, revealing nothing about their destination.  Han
patted each boy's shoulder, man-to-man.  "But we're not going to let
that happen, are we?"

Confidence won the battle for Jacen's frame of mind and he scoffed at
the absurdity.  "Not on your life!"  The possibilities were endless. 
"We're going to a whole new life, aren't we, Dad?"

Han smiled at the thought, picturing his children frolicking among the
trees, free to run and play and experience life to the fullest, while
protected from the darkness that lurked around every corner in the
reality they knew on Coruscant.  On Endor they would know only light and
happiness and visions of a bright, beautiful future.  "You bet, sport. 
We're going to a whole new life.  We're all gonna be together and we're
gonna be very happy.  Everything's gonna be fine.  Trust me."

They continued toward the Falcon, and neither Han nor Jacen noticed the
disquiet in young Anakin's face and Sense.

*****************

Leia moved about the family's living quarters, gathering precious
mementos, storing them lovingly in a padded travel bag.  She had already
wrapped and packed her treasured "Remembrances of Alderaan" images from
the children's bedroom, and now felt a painful stab of regret as she
gazed up at the ceiling, sad that they could not somehow transport Han's
masterpiece as well.  But soon their children would have a new star
system to look upon, she thought with a smile, the splendors of an
Endorian evening sky, the wonders of nature at its very best.

Leia rubbed her gently rounding stomach lightly with one hand, eyes
dreamily unfocused.  Han slipped into the room, catching her mid-reverie
and embracing her from behind.  She reached her free hand up to stroke
his cheek.
 
"What are you thinking about?" he asked against her ear. 

"Our last trip to Endor," she murmured, turning her cheek into his
chest.  "And the one before that..."  She rotated in his arms and put
her hands on his shoulders, looking up at him, full of support.  "This
is the right thing to do," she said with conviction.  "I know it, I feel
it.  And I love you for making it happen."

Leia looked around the room one last time, and found that she was too
excited to feel any sentiment toward the home she was leaving. 
Coruscant had never really felt like home for her; to her mind, the
Imperial Palace was government, and she had lived in the government
building for far too long.  In fact, the realization dawned on her that
she had not lived anywhere that felt like home since her last visit to
Alderaan, not long before Grand Moff Tarkin had blown it apart.  Leia
had begun to feel that she would never again know the warmth of a real
home.

But Endor...now they were returning to Endor.  A sense of peace settled
over her and she relaxed, allowing her feelings to flow.  She had
enormous confidence in their venture.  It felt right.

The three children bounded into the room, literally hopping with
excitement, and Leia looked up at her husband, taking a deep breath and
exhaling in a mighty rush.  "Well, Captain," she announced.  "I'm ready
if you are." 

****************

The early morning sun was illuminating the spiraling glass structures
that dominated the skyline of Imperial City as the family exited the
lift that serviced the Tower.  They moved toward their waiting ship, Han
and Leia walking in tandem, Anakin riding on his father's back, the
twins dashing here and there as they made their excited way across the
platform.

Chewbacca and See-Threepio were waiting for them just outside the
Falcon's ramp, and the Wookiee motioned for them to hurry, looking
around nervously.  His black-tipped nose crinkled in suspicion, sensing
the arrival of an outsider.
 
Leia felt her brother's presence just as Chewbacca growled a warning,
and turned to see Luke approaching them from the other side of the
platform.  Reflexively she tensed, reaching for Han's hand.  He shot her
a warning look, nodding his head fractionally in the direction of the
twins.  Jacen and Jaina had run for their uncle immediately, descending
upon him with all the vigor of a pack of swarming mynocks.

"It's okay," Han murmured, squeezing her fingers reassuringly.  "He
can't do anything to stop us."

"Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke!" Jacen called excitedly.  "We're going on a
vacation, a nice long vacation!"  He turned and pointed at Leia.  "And
this time Mom's coming with us!"

Leia closed her eyes, sighing.  That boy was too open for his own good. 
She was going to have to teach him something about blocking once they
got on board the Falcon, or their destination would be an open book for
Luke to read.  She squared her shoulders, stood a little straighter, set
her jaw in determination.  Defiance gleaming in her eye, she met his
gaze from across the platform, her eyes daring him to object.

The emotions she read in Luke's Sense were entirely unexpected.  There
was no hint of resistance in him, only an aching sadness at their
conflict, a longing to put those negative feelings behind them. 
Wordlessly, she and Han approached him, and as they did Anakin aroused
to call a greeting from his father's back, hopping down and running for
Luke before Han could restrain the child.

Luke caught the little boy as he leaped into his arms, and the Jedi
Master held his young nephew lightly and lovingly.  He turned his
attention to his sister, looking at her gravely.

"It's okay," he said gently, quietly.  "I know you are leaving; I won't
try to stop you."  He mussed Anakin's soft curly hair, looked fondly at
the dark-eyed twins dancing around his legs.  "At least you're taking
the children away from the Palace.  Perhaps I'll be able to uncover this
dark influence after you're safely away from here."  He looked back up
at them, his voice and his Sense tight with emotion.  "Just be careful. 
Take care of each other.  You'll do fine."

The Jedi Master looked at his family with loving eyes, indelibly
imprinting upon his mind the picture of them all together, perhaps for
the last time in a very great while.  He felt a painful squeeze on his
heart at the thought of being isolated from those he loved so much.  So
this was how Leia had felt, he thought suddenly, all those times she'd
had to be separated from her loved ones.  No wonder she couldn't bear
the thought of going through it again.

Luke ached for them, ached for them all; but most prevalent was the ache
he felt for himself.  His thoughts shuddered from the reality of
carrying on day after endless day, without the nearness of his loved
ones, their collective, loving presence far away and unreachable.

He gave Anakin a final hug and kissed the top of the child's head as he
set him on his feet.  Extending his hand to his brother-in-law, they
locked hands in an iron grip, and Luke could feel Han's confidence in
his ability to care for his family, and was somewhat comforted by the
deep inner knowledge that Han was up to the task.

The two men stared at each other for a long moment, memories from past
exploits flashing before their eyes, healing memories of times when they
had fought a common foe, rather than each other.  Perhaps now was the
time for a truce.  "May the Force be with you, kid," Han offered, his
words themselves a concession. 

Luke smiled, nodding his thanks.  "And also with you," he said quietly. 
He knelt to the twins' level and swept them into his arms in one
gigantic hug.  "You two take care of each other," he instructed
gravely.  "The Force is strong within you.  Mind what you have learned."

He kissed each child in turn, then rose to face his sister.  Feeling his
heart constrict at the pain visible in her eyes, he extended his arms. 
"Leia?" he began tentatively.

With a wordless sob, she came into his embrace, shaking with the
struggle to contain her tears.  "Thank you for understanding," she
choked against his shoulder.  They stood closely together, brother and
sister, linking for perhaps the final time, and each wanted the other to
carry with him a loving memory of their parting.  Finally, Leia pulled
away from her twin, brushed the tears from her cheeks and turned to Han.

Taking his proffered arm, she seemed to draw strength up into herself. 
"We'd better be going," she said a trifle unsteadily, dashing at her
eyes with an impatient hand.  Standing proudly erect, she gripped Han's
arm firmly and allowed him to lead them toward the Falcon, stubbornly
refusing to look back as they walked together up the ramp.  Ushering the
children into the corridor, she heard the quiet hiss of the hatch as it
sealed behind them.

She went through the motions of strapping the children into their seats,
insured that Threepio was secured near them, and walked mechanically to
the cockpit, seating herself in the passenger seat behind Han, watching
quietly as he and Chewbacca began the pre-flight sequence.  Her eyes
caught sight of her brother out the canopy window, standing alone at the
edge of the landing platform, the brilliance of the morning sun behind
him, his brown Jedi cape billowing about him in silhouette.

//Leia?//  She felt the touch of his mind and opened herself to him one
last time.  //I love you.  I love you all.//

She closed her eyes against her tears, but they squeezed through anyway,
splashing on the hands she clenched tightly in her lap.  //We love you,
too,// she told him with her Sense.  //May the Force be with you -
always.//

Han fired the repulsorlifts, smoothly lifting the freighter from the
platform, and hovered above the Tower for a timeless moment.  Luke
watched as the Falcon circled the Tower twice, before bursting into the
upper atmosphere, leaving one lonely Jedi in its wake.

Following the glow from her engines until the ship was out of sight,
Luke finally turned and began the long walk back to his solitary
quarters in the Palace.  Jedi, brother, uncle and friend, now one half
of a whole, facing a destiny dominated by Darkness - and he dreaded the
coming conflict


* * * * * * * * * * *
END PART I - BECKONING