Playlist:

❶ "Rogue One"—Rogue One OST

⊘ Silence

❷"Han and Leia" 0.01-1.09—The Force Awakens OST

⊘ Silence

❸ "Han Solo and the Princess" 0.01-1.30 — The Empire Strikes Back OST

⊘ Silence

❹ "Princess Leia's Theme" — A New Hope OST

A few days later, Luke had recovered enough to be transported back to Hosnian Prime on the Falcon. As he staggered to the cockpit, Naluma supported him and gingerly lowered him into the navigator's seat behind Han.

Luke gazed into her eyes while he said, "Thanks."

Naluma smiled back, her heart beating a little faster. She sat at the communication station next to him.

Han and Chewie finished Falcon's warm-up sequence. After receiving authorization, they lifted off and traveled to the safest jump point for Hosnian Prime.

❶ Luke followed the scope data at his seat. "Han, I don't believe it, but we've got a squadron of TIE fighters coming in at mark five one."

"They must have been waiting for us all week. Chewie, jam their transmissions." Han flipped a switch behind him.

The Wookiee roared as blaster fire hit the shields, shaking the freighter.

"Yeah, I know. Time to alter the ID beacon again. We'll worry about that when we get back to Hosnian Prime. Naluma, I could use you on the cannons."

"On it," she said as Luke stood to join her. "That seat won't do your back any good, master. Stay here."

He frowned at her. "All right, but I thought I was the one who was supposed to be giving the orders."

"As soon as you heal up, you can," she said with a wink and ran down the corridor to the lower cannon. She slid down the rails to the cannon and put on her headset.

Han said, "Here they come."

"I see them." Naluma fired the quads at a TIE. As her seat slammed to the right, she said, "Ah! This seat keeps moving back and forth. And, boy, do these cannons have a kick."

"Use the Force. It will stabilize you," Luke said over the headset.

"Yes, master."

Han zoomed between space traffic and looped to avoid the fighters. More blasts exploded on the forward shield, bathing the cockpit canopy in bright light. The Falcon shuddered, and the cabin lights flickered.

"Chewie, angle the deflector shields. We're almost at the jump point."

At the last minute, the Wookiee growled.

Han punched the hyperdrive, and the space around them turned from black to bright blue.

⊘ Naluma climbed out of the gun turret and returned to the cockpit. "That was some flying."

Han grinned. "Not so bad yourself on that gun. Great job." He slapped her on the shoulder.

Luke rested his hand on her arm and spoke into her head, Proud of you.

Naluma lowered her eyes, afraid she was smiling too much at him. Surely, he knows. Control yourself, Naluma, or he's going to send you away.

❷ When the Falcon landed, Han rushed off the ship into the arms of his expectant wife.

Leia glowed in her sixth month. She reached up and dragged his head down to hers, kissing him with fervor. "Oh, Han, you're back."

He uttered with a throaty growl, "Leia."

The Senator looked at her brother as he lumbered down the ramp, supported by his Padawan. "Luke, you're all right," the senator said with relief. "When I heard about the accident, I feared the worst."

"Not quite a hundred percent yet but getting there." He hugged his sister and kissed her on the forehead.

Leia scrutinized her brother, noticing something different about him. She read his aura the way he had taught her.

He was more at peace. The vibrations were no longer on edge but humming along smoothly.

Then she looked at Naluma. Their auras were resonating in harmony. Something had happened to the two of them during this trip—something the Padawan had failed to report back to the Senate. 

Leia shot Luke a knowing smile and arched her eyebrows. "Come home with us," Leia said with a toss of her head.

"Gladly," Luke said with a grin. "At least for a few days."

Leia recognized fear in the Padawan's eyes, but fear of what she couldn't tell. The senator extended her hand to her. "Naluma, you're welcome, too, unless you would prefer the shuttle."

"Thank you for the invitation, Senator," Naluma said with a polite nod. "It would be my pleasure." Her back relaxed as the tension drained from her.

"Now that that's settled," Han said as he wrapped arm around his pregnant wife's shoulders, "let's go home."

"How about Chewie?" Leia asked as they walked off.

"He's checking out the damage. Deflector shields need some work."

⊘ Threepio showed Luke to the nursery, which held a crib, rocker, changing table, and day bed. He grimaced and held his hands out in question. "Naluma?"

"No worries, master. I'll take the couch. Why don't you do your stretches the doctor ordered while I grab our things from the shuttle?"

"Thanks, Naluma," Luke said with a warm smile, staring into her eyes again.

She returned the gaze and smiled slightly back at him, her heart rate increasing as she left.

Naluma's feet seemed light as a zered feather as she walked past the kitchen. She tensed, nearly called up the Force against the hands tugging at the pilot's hair, softly moaning, until she realized the intimate moment. Embarrassed, she hurried out the door.

❸ Han lifted Leia onto the kitchen counter so they were at eye level. He kissed her neck and then her mouth. She jumped a bit as the baby moved.

"What is it?" Han asked, pulling back.

She took his hand and placed it on her belly. "Your son. Feel him. He's a strong kicker."

"Hey, is this safe and all?" he asked with a sly grin.

"Yeah, but let's take this into the bedroom before someone finds us in a compromising position."

Han grinned at her. "Yeah, don't tell me that doesn't turn you on more."

She batted his shoulder. "Oh, you—"

"Ha. Told you so." He carried her into the bedroom like a bride.

The next morning, Leia looked at Han softly as the sun pierced through the blinds and hit his hair. She caressed his face as he slept.

As he started to awake, his eyelids snapped shut as the bright sunlight stabbed his irises. "Hmm," he muttered. "Leia." His mouth broke into his delightful warm smile. "Good morning," he said before kissing her.

"It is," she said, running her fingers through his hair. "Please, let's not fight ever again."

Han laughed. "You know that's never gonna happen. Besides, we'd miss all the fun of making up." He held her in his arms and nuzzled her hair.

"So, I'm afraid to ask, but how long can you stay?"

"Not long," he said as he rolled back on his pillow. "This was an unplanned trip. Leia, I've got this cargo that will spoil if I don't offload it somewhere. I've got to find someone who'll take it and then pay off my original customers back on Telti before I get another bounty on my head."

"Really, Han?" Leia said with frustration. "We never get a break. You were supposed to be taking short, local shipments."

"Yeah, but the real money is in the long-distance hauls. You know that." Han said as he looked at the ceiling. "Leia, I wish I could stay here more often, but I need to be out there, among the stars, doing what I do best."

"Smuggling?"

"Yes, and some other things. Fighting the Empire, fighting the injustice in this galaxy."

"Now you sound like Luke," she teased, running her finger across his chest.

Han rolled to face her. "Well, I've been thinking about those things you said the last time. We have a kid. I need to protect him. I don't want him growing up in a galaxy like this. I want to make it safe for him, for you." He touched his finger to her nose.

"One man against the Empire? Now who's having the delusions of grandeur?"

"The Empire's not the only thing out there. Once we defeat it, we'll still have the crime syndicates, the Hutts, Crimson Dawn, Black Sun, the Pykes."

Leia shuddered when he mentioned the Hutts.

"What do you think you'll be able to do that the entire Republic can't?"

"Infiltrate them. Take them down from within."

She stared at the ceiling. "I don't know, Han. Sounds more dangerous than letting them be. Besides, you take one out, another will rise in its place." She turned to him. "I don't want that to be you."

"I wouldn't."

She arched her eyebrows. "Yeah, right."

"I might build a shipping magnate, but I'd never—" Han pursed his lips together in thought before kissing her. "Look, I need to be able to respect myself, Leia. I can't do that sitting here living off your income the rest of my life."

Leia whispered, "Could you at least try? I need you, Han."

He held her closely and tried to banish the thoughts of what the future held for both of them.

⊘ The next few days were great. While Chewie was repairing the Falcon, Han spent time with Leia. Reminiscing about the good times. Recalling the bad times. Remembering the carbonite.

Han waited until the next time she was in session in the Senate to leave. He sent Chewie to the Falcon to prepare for launch, as he sneaked into the Senate for one last glimpse of the woman who had changed his life.

Han eased his way into the back of the Visitors' Gallery before the session was called to order. When Leia spotted him, he fled the Senate Hall and headed for the landing bay.

Leia followed and caught him in the corridor, her eyes wide with anger. "Han! You were going to leave without saying good-bye?"

❹ He stopped and then turned to look at her. After a long sigh, Han crossed to her and hugged her. "Too hard."

"Wish you didn't have to go," Leia said as he held her to his chest.

"Me, too."

"Hurry back," she begged as she pulled away. He reached down and pressed his lips firmly against hers one more time.

Did you know ...

● Han actually loves Leia a lot, but other than bedroom performance he is unsure how to show it. 

Tell me what you think ...

● How much tension do you think there'll be with Luke and Naluma staying at Han and Leia's together—now that they're both trying to follow the Jedi Mandate and deny their feelings?

● What do you think Han's future goals are?