Section Two - Quickening Chapter Seven Han circled the Imperial Palace once, twice, tipped the Falcon on her side in solemn tribute to his brother- in-law, barely visible at the edge of the platform far below. Han's stomach twisted with the memory of Luke's haunted expression as they said their goodbyes. He had nothing against the kid, really, he thought guiltily. Was it so wrong for a man to want to have his wife and children to himself for a change? Han had long since reached the limits of his patience, and his forced acceptance of the numerous outside influences pulling his wife in so many directions was at an end. They had devoted enough of their lives to serving the New Republic. Now it was time to live for each other, and the children they had created from their love. Han smiled tightly to himself; finally, finally, he had the helm. Enormously confident in his ability to provide for his family, he could hardly wait to get to Endor. Their journey would take longer than a normal hyperspace trip because of precautions he wanted to take due to Leia's delicate condition. It was known that some women, when exposed to prolonged periods of hyperspace travel during pregnancy, were at greater risk of complications during the delivery. He would take no chances with Leia, and had charted a course that would take them on a circuitous route to the forest moon, thereby easing the strain of the trip on her. He glanced over his shoulder at her and frowned at the strain evident in her face. Her eyes were tightly closed, her cheeks damp with tears, despite her efforts to hold them back. He tapped the intercom and called back to the lounge. "Okay, Goldenrod, we're ready to make our first jump. Are the kids strapped in?" "The children are sufficiently secured," returned the prissy metallic voice, strained as always when forced to submit to space travel. Han took a perverse pleasure in annoying the droid and secretly delighted in Threepio's anxiety. Grinning sideways at Chewbacca, quietly urf-urf-urfing beside him, the captain reached for the hyperdrive levers and called to his passengers: "Here we go. On three: one, two, three!" He pulled the levers gently back, felt himself pressed against his seat, and Han heaved a massive sigh of relief as the stars outside the canopy evolved into brilliant starlines. Once he was sure that the ship had settled into the groove for their first transit through hyperspace, Han stole another glance at Leia, who had not made a sound since they boarded the ship. Checking his control board one last time, and finding the readings satisfactory, he unbuckled his restraints and called softly over to the Wookiee. "Take over, huh, partner?" He swiveled in his seat to face Leia and took her hands in both of his. "You okay, Princess?" he asked quietly. She nodded and opened her eyes to meet his. "I'm just tired," she said softly. "I'm so very tired." The enormous strain of the past few days, the emotional peaks and valleys that had occurred in rapid succession, and the major, life changing decisions she had been forced to make in an amazingly short period of time, had suddenly caught up with her, tapping her on the shoulder, and reminding her of the necessity to monitor her condition. She rubbed her abdomen absently, automatically thinking soothing thoughts to ease the turmoil she sensed in the tiny mind within her. //We're okay,// she soothed. //We just need to get some rest.// Han released her seatbelt and gently pulled her to her feet. "Come on," he urged, leading her out of the cockpit, down the corridor and to the lounge where the children waited for permission to get up. "Can we unstrap now, Dad?" Jacen called, unbuckling himself before Han had a chance to answer. "All right," Han agreed, seating Leia in one of the lounge chairs and moving to set the controls for the holo board. "But I want you guys to stay here and play - quietly - while your mother takes a nap." He did a double take as he caught sight of Jaina's restraints unbuckling of their own accord, noting the tell-tale signs of his daughter manipulating the Force to do her will. She bounded out of her seat and over to her mother. "What's the matter, Mama?" she asked, her dark eyes looking up at Leia seriously. "Are you sick?" Even at her young age she was able to pick up on her mother's Sense with amazing acuity. Leia smiled tenderly at her daughter, running her hand affectionately down one of the little girl's soft, dark braids, rubbing the silky ends with her fingers. "I'm just a little tired, sweetie," she said. "Mama didn't get much sleep last night." She looked up at Han, her face warm at the memory of his rather unconventional, but oh-so-convincing tactics, the catalyst to convincing her to run away with him, though there had been less need for convincing than he'd probably thought. Han winked at her across the holo board. "Can't imagine why," he teased, and activated the controls for the hologame. Instantly the table was alive with three-dimensional holocreatures, fantastic mythological images that inspired the already active imaginations of the three gifted children. They would be happily entertained for hours. His children occupied, Han turned to his wife and took her hand, squeezing her fingers. She rose and crossed the lounge, bending to kiss each child as they sat enraptured with their game, and extended a gentle Force-suggestion of good behavior. She stood for a moment, she and Han looking down at their children, and the enormity of the life change washed over her, astounding in its magnitude. Leia had yearned for her family to be together, just this way for so many years, had always nurtured it as her own private fantasy, never daring to dream that it could be a happy reality. But now it was happening. Han had made it happen. Turning to him, she impulsively kissed his cheek, inciting giggles from the children, whose amusement escalated into out right belly laughs as they watched their father swoop their mother off her feet and carry her down the corridor, the sound of the children's laughter tinkling in their wake. In their cabin, Han deposited Leia onto the bunk modified for two and she sat docilely, smiling down on him as he removed her half-boots. She allowed him to ease her down onto her back, bringing her legs up to rest on the bunk and tucking a blanket around them. He sat beside her, his fingers playing in the wispy hair that caressed her forehead. "Now," he said firmly. "Get some rest." He grinned wickedly. "I promise I'll leave you alone tonight." Leia blushed for a moment, then took his hand and pressed it against her cheek. "I wouldn't trade last night for anything," she murmured. "Look what we now have to look forward to." Han pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it in response, turning serious. "Do you still feel good about what we're doing?" he asked, his eyes searching her face. It was essential that they be in complete accord on this matter. "Absolutely," Leia answered with conviction. Their eyes met in an intimate caress and she suddenly realized how much she yearned for the feel of his arms around her, for the warmth and security of his embrace. "Would you please hold me for a few minutes?" she asked quietly. Han flashed his lopsided grin. "Absolutely, your Worship," he quipped, and hoisted himself into the bunk, gathering her into his arms. She settled her head comfortably against him, closing her eyes. "I love you, Han," she sighed wearily, and moments later surrendered to the inexorable pull of sleep. He felt her relax against him and tightened his arms around her possessively, protectively. At this moment Han Solo felt more in control than ever before. He vowed to do justice to the miraculous change their lives were undergoing - and to the woman who, by some freak of nature, seemed to love him as much as he loved her. They would do well on Endor, he thought, deeply content. He would see to it. Han held his wife quietly, listening to the comforting song of the Falcon's purring engines as his ship carried them toward a new life; and he was a happy man indeed. ********************** It took them two standard weeks to reach Endor via the convoluted route Han had chosen. They had not encountered any problems along the way, and as the days wore on, the family fell into a sort of routine aboard the cramped confines of the Falcon. The twins discovered the wonders of the huge main cargo bay and spent much of their time playing there, leaping from crate to crate, perfecting their somersaults and in general expending copious amounts of their considerable energy, which thankfully translated into early bedtimes for them. Anakin's disturbing dreams magically seemed to vanish, and he resumed his normal regular sleeping patterns. Quite often during the trip, Han and Leia found themselves with a blessed abundance of time together, and they enjoyed each other's company as never before. One evening Leia found Han alone in the dimly lit confines of the cockpit, seated in his captain's chair, an illuminated datapad on his lap. Working with great concentration, he didn't notice her presence, and she eased up behind him and kissed his neck. Han jumped, immediately switching off the datapad and grinning innocently at her, though obviously caught red-handed with something he wanted to conceal. Curious as to the nature of that something, Leia moved around in front of him, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "What do you have there, Captain?" Han quickly stashed the datapad in the cushions of his seat, just as her hand shot forward and made an unsuccessful grab at it. "Uh-uh-uh!" he admonished her. "It's a surprise." "Oh, come on," she begged. "You know you can't keep secrets from me." She leaned against him. "I know you too well," she whispered against his ear. With a feather-like touch of her lips she felt the wave of his instantaneous reaction, and used that momentary advantage to snatch the datapad from its hiding place within the confines of the chair. Beaten, Han caught her in his arms, pulled her down to sit in his lap, and sighed in defeat as she switched on the controls. Her breath caught in her throat as a holographic image projected itself before her. The hologram presented several different views of an elaborate house perched amidst enormous trees and surrounded by a lovely, rustic verandah. As she scrolled through the files of the program, she found accompanying designs for repulsorlift technology to support the dwelling, as well as emergency safety fields that would trigger at the first accidental movement over the confines of the verandah's railing. Rather roomy, too, she thought, counting no fewer than six bedrooms, all on the perimeter and each opening onto the verandah through separate doors. The large main living chambers dominated the central portion of the house, and its design included an old-fashioned fireplace, as well as an adjoining study that could double as a classroom for the children. The most impressive feature about the house was an enormous master bedroom, with bathing chambers almost as large as the main room itself. Leia studied the hologram with delight, switching various controls to enhance the field of the particular area she was interested in, and growing more excited with each image she viewed. Finally, the program at an end, she looked over her shoulder at her husband, her eyes shining. "So this is what you've been up to," she breathed, obviously impressed. "You never cease to amaze me, Captain." "So what do you think?" Han asked, his cheek resting against hers, his arms snug about her. "Can you go from the grandeur of the Palace to the simplicity of a treehouse?" Leia relaxed against him, hugging his arms around her expanding middle. "I can go anywhere, so long as you go with me," she purred, and turned her face to kiss his scratchy chin. She felt a tremendous bump in the lower quadrants of her stomach, precisely at the spot where Han's hand was resting, and she laughed as they made the simultaneous realization that Arcadia had favored her father with an initial greeting. "She likes it, too," Leia murmured into Han's ear. He smiled broadly, clearly elated, and rubbed her belly again, filled with an indescribable sense of well-being. She felt his wonder at the movement, and was tremendously gratified that he could finally experience with her the physical reality of their coming child. Leia now felt as if yet another burden had been lifted from her shoulders. At long last they were free to be together, with each other and for each other, and with the children they had brought forth. Destiny was now in their hands. Leia snuggled into Han's arms with a happy sigh, and he hugged her to him, his cheek against her silky hair. Together they gazed out the canopy, admiring the wash of starlines as their ship carried them home. ******************** Four days later Han assembled his family in the cockpit and announced that they were approaching the Endorian sector. The twins were treated to front row seats, Jacen riding his father's knee and Jaina buried in the mass of silky hair that was Chewbacca. Leia relaxed in her high-backed seat behind Han, with Anakin in the port-side passenger seat beside her. Leia caught her breath as Han slowly pulled the Millennium Falcon out of hyperspace and dropped them into a gentle orbit around the brilliant green sphere, wondering what it was about Endor that affected her so deeply. Looking out onto the world that would be their new home, she suddenly realized that an explanation of the condition didn't really matter to her, only the recognition of its existence, much as she accepted the depths of her passion for the man who now flew their ship, which would bring them down to paradise. The Falcon descended to the sanctuary moon, dropping power to sublight engines and finally skimming over the ancient treetops. Han flew them effortlessly between a break in the greenery and brought the freighter to rest on the surface with the barest of bumps. The family sat for a moment, peering out the canopy at the majestic grandeur of nature awaiting them. With a happy whoop and a flash of bright orange jumpsuits, the twins scrambled down and raced back to the hatch. Anakin quickly slid from the seat beside Leia and followed, and a moment later all three of the children had reached the hatch and were calling impatiently for their parents to follow. As Chewbacca took over the final procedures for powering down the Falcon, Han turned to Leia and extended his hand. "Ready, sweetheart?" he asked. With a happy nod she took his hand and they rose together, walking down the corridor to where three excited little Jedi were literally hopping with excitement. Han palmed the release and the hatch hissed open, flooding the interior of the ship with brilliant sunlight. Their senses were bombarded with a plethora of new aromas and assorted other sensory delights from the lush outdoors. Jacen was first to bound down the ramp and step onto the surface, rushing to embrace his new home, arms outflung, whirling about with joyful abandon. Jaina and Anakin joined him a moment later, all of them dancing about, craning their necks to exclaim at the infinity of the treetops overhead, clearly overjoyed with the beauty all around them. Han slipped an arm around Leia, pulling her to him in a gentle hug. "Welcome home, Princess," he murmured, kissing her softly. "Welcome to Endor, kids," he called to his children. Jacen stopped twirling, and looked back at his father with a face-splitting grin. "Oh, no, Dad," he said, gesturing at the majesty that surrounded them. "This isn't Endor...this is Outdoor!" **************** The Solo children were enthralled with their new world. Aside from the considerable wonders of the ancient trees in their midst, they soon became convinced that the furry little Ewoks indigenous to their new home had been provided solely for their benefit, live teddy bears just waiting to be played with. The family had touched down in the early morning hours, and it was immediately obvious to Han and Leia that the only way to cope with their lively brood in their initial excitement was to take them all on a hike. Chewbacca, anxious to see his furry little friends, had suggested they make the short trip to the Ewok village, and they had concurred, leaving the golden protocol droid on board the Falcon with his newly assembled counterpart. Threepio was only too happy to stay behind, pointing out that the deplorable conditions of Endor's woody terrain would do terrible things to his motivators. They walked along the familiar forest paths, the twins bounding ahead of them, effortlessly somersaulting over fallen logs along the path, leaping into the air to grab at dangling vines and swinging from tree to tree as if born to the environment. Anakin laughed at them as they capered, but preferred to walk beside his parents, one small hand tucked into Leia's, and one into Han's. Chewbacca raced ahead of the party, wanting to be first to greet the little creatures he had befriended so many years ago. As they approached the section of forest that they remembered as the entrance to the native village, they were suddenly besieged. Scores of Ewoks in various shapes and sizes dropped in multiple pairs from the trees, chirping and hooting and exclaiming excitedly. Leia recognized Wicket, the little Ewok who had come to her aid after she crashed her speeder bike on their first trip to Endor. Wicket, now fully grown, waddled up to them and hugged first her and then Han about the legs, chattering happily in his native language. Han and Leia exchanged amused looks; though neither of them had a clue as to what the little fellow was saying, the general feeling of welcome was perfectly clear. Jacen and Jaina exploded with delighted laughter at first sight of the swarming Ewoks, and Anakin quickly joined his brother and sister in greeting the diminutive creatures. The natives appeared to feed off the little ones' merriment, pressing against the children, sniffing inquisitively with cold, wet noses and sending the young ones off into new peals of mirth. Anakin abruptly embraced the nearest Ewok, wrapping his arms around the soft little body, squeezing him like a toy. "Look, Daddy!" he called. "I've got a real live teddy bear!" Han grinned as the Ewok patiently endured the boy's too-tight embrace. Now was as good a time as any to teach his children that their neighbors were, in fact, living creatures, not playthings to use and discard, which had been the fate of so many of their toys back in the Imperial Palace. "Watch it, sport," he called to his youngest. "They're awfully cuddly, I know, but they don't always like to be hugged, especially so tightly. Give the fuzzy guy some air, huh?" Anakin obediently loosened his grip and stood patting the soft fur of the creature's back instead. Han could have sworn he heard the Ewok purring. Jaina had set her sights on an Ewok of her own and was chasing him between the trees, anticipating where he was going to turn up and making sure that she was waiting for him when he got there. Eventually the Ewok grew weary of avoiding her and grudgingly permitted the little girl to shower it with hugs and kisses. Jacen, always the first of the children to befriend any creature, big or small, had already bonded with two young Ewoks. Han grinned at his son and his new friends. It was obvious that these guys were going to be pals. Han glanced at Leia, and immediately noted the high color in her cheeks, the tell-tale signs of elevated Force-awareness that she had exhibited on Endor in the past. His pulse quickened at the stirring memories, and Han thought of the coming night with joyful anticipation. He had his own plans for a suitably romantic evening with his wife, one sure to do justice to their first night on the moon they now called home. Han reached to touch her cheek, running the back of a finger along the line of her jaw, tracing the contours of that finely chiseled face. She turned her Sense to him and her already colored cheeks darkened to a rosy glow as his touch whipped her increased Force-awareness. Looking at him helplessly, her dark eyes smoldered, projecting the feelings she was not at liberty to voice. "I know," he told her huskily. "Me too." With forced self-control, they turned their attention to greeting their neighbors, each making note of the early hour, thinking of the eternity to pass before they could be alone together on the surface of their magical sanctuary moon. ****************** To their parent's delight, all three of the children succumbed to sleep just after a spectacular Endorian sunset. The family had dined in a woody grove just over the crest of a small hill not far from the spot where the Falcon had touched down. They had spread thiir blankets on the soft ground already cushioned with the fallen leaves of the changing season. Anakin was the first to drift off, followed shortly by his older siblings, all of them in a state of happy exhaustion, all of them down for the count. Han and Leia exchanged meaningful looks, and neither had trouble reading the other's mind. "Hey, Goldenrod!" Han snapped, bringing the protocol droid to his side in a rush. "How may I be of service, Master Han?" he asked primly. "The kids are down for the night," Han said, nodding toward the snoring children. "I'm gonna carry them to bed and I want you to keep an eye on them." He looked again at his wife, catching his breath at the awakening passion he read in her eyes. "Your mistress and I are gonna go see a man about a tauntaun," he murmured. "I beg your pardon, Master Han," Threepio objected. "You must be mistaken. There are no tauntauns on Endor." "There will be tonight," Han growled, and Leia couldn't suppress a throaty chuckle, nor the delicious thrill that ran the course of her body and exploded in the receptive centers of her brain. "Chewie is staying in the Ewok village," Han continued, reminding Threepio of his duty, "so you're in charge. We'll be on up in a little while." "As you wish, sir," Threepio answered. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go prepare the children's beds to receive them." "Yeah, you do that," Han agreed absently, not taking his eyes from Leia's face. Even in the fading light of the dying day he could see her color heighten, could almost feel the quickening of her pulse as he imagined pressing his lips against the warm, smooth skin of her neck. He stood abruptly, moved to Anakin and lifted the child into his arms. "I'll be right back," he said to her huskily, then hurried to deposit the child in his bunk, returning for Jaina, and again for Jacen. As he left, with Jacen draped across his shoulder, oblivious to the sexual tension that permeated the very air about them, Leia craned her neck and looked up at the endless canopy of trees surrounding her. She saw the first flickering of stars far above. She felt the hint of moisture in the atmosphere, the earthy smell of the woods and leaves and dirt upon which she reclined. Closing her eyes, she opened her senses to the wealth of sensations, welcoming the heightening of her awareness, embracing it with all of her being. She reached with her mind for Han's heady essence, felt his rapid approach and opened her eyes, searching for him anxiously. In the dusk that had settled over the forest she finally saw him as he crested the hill, almost at a trot, trailing a blanket behind him like a cape, a pillow under each arm. Impatiently, she sat up and extended her arms toward him, every sense she possessed craving his touch, and Han ran the last few meters toward her, sharing her hunger. Finally reaching her, he threw the cumbersome pillows on the blanket, dropped to his knees, and swept her into his arms, his mouth consuming hers with an intimate familiarity that left her breathless. Han lowered them smoothly to the ground and they surrendered to the inexorable calling of their need for each other, now heightened to a fevered pitch by the seductive forest habitat. Never had they been more in tune, more fully aware of each other's wants, needs, and desires. And later, as they lay together beneath the brilliance of the Endorian starlight, they reveled in the validation of their decision to return to Endor. ***************** "You are an endlessly patient man," Leia murmured against Han's chest, her fingers playing in the dusting of fine light hair that danced across it. She shivered as the night breezes swept over them, and Han reached with his free hand for the blanket he had brought with him from the Falcon, drawing it up and over her shoulders, tightening his arms around her. "I wasn't very patient tonight," he reminded her, kissing her ear. He never ceased to be amazed by the woman, and by the feelings she inspired. "I don't mean that," Leia smiled, playfully poking him in the ribs. "Over the long run you have been the patient one. When you asked me to marry you all those years ago, you asked me to share your life, and build a new one, together. At the time, I had every intention of doing just that, but as it turned out I didn't keep that promise." "You married me, didn't you?" Han asked her, smoothing the hair from her temple and resting his lips lightly against it. He breathed deeply of her scent and closed his eyes, content beyond words. "Yes," she conceded. "But I didn't share your life. You and Chewie virtually ceased to exist as a team once we got together. You never really operated again the way you did before you met me. And for a very long time you and I didn't make a new life together. We just plodded along in my old one. Everything was Rebellion this or New Republic that, our lives were consumed by diplomacy and governmental affairs and galactic crises, one on top of another. We never had the chance to create anything new that would be just for us." "What about those three kids up there in the Falcon?" he reminded her, sliding his warm hand down to caress her rounded stomach. "And what about this new life right here?" As if in answer to his question, he felt the gentle nudging from his child within her, and again absorbed the wondrous thrill that movement evoked. She covered his hand with her own, smiling softly. "Yes, we did give new life. But even they were subjected to my old one. Everything revolved around the New Republic. When it came right down to it, the only reason we couldn't be with the twins and Anakin during their isolation was because I had to be on Coruscant, helping Mon Mothma govern. And we put together a good, viable republic. But look at the price we paid." Han nodded, quietly digesting her words, finally smiled happily into the stars above him. "Maybe so," he granted. "But now we're getting our just desserts." He tightened his arms about her and spoke against her ear, his breath tickling the wispy hair against her neck. "Can you imagine a more generous reward? Look up there, sweetheart." He nodded at the brilliant multitude that shone down upon them. "Look at that sea of stars. Feel the warmth of the ground we're lying on, hear the rustling of leaves in the trees around us." His hand caressed her stomach again, lovingly. "Feel this little baby moving around inside of you. Think of those three young scoundrels asleep up there in the Falcon." He turned her in his arms, kissed her long and tenderly. "Think of what we just experienced together. This, sweetheart," he pronounced with the authority of one who knows, "is the meat!" Leia burst into her unique, delicious, throaty laugh, something he had heard far too rarely of late, something he was determined he would hear more of from now on. "The meat?" she finally choked. "The meat?" She stroked the stubble on his chin, pinched it gently between her thumb and forefinger. "I suppose it's a good thing we aren't vegetarians, then, isn't it?" "We wouldn't be on Endor if we were, sweetheart," Han assured her, nuzzling the place behind her ear that belonged solely to him. "We wouldn't be on Endor." Leia arched her neck, wholeheartedly succumbing to the ecstasy of his lips against her skin. Her heightened senses magnified the quickened rhythm of their hearts, and the blood thundered in her ears. She lay back in his arms and heartily agreed. [End Chapter]