Playlist:

❶ "The Battle of Hoth Medley" 0.01-0.44—The Empire Strikes Back Extended ST

❷ "Han Solo and the Princess"—The Empire Strikes Back OST

⊘ Silence

❸ "Luke and Leia"—Return of the Jedi OST

❶ After a year at home following the Battle of Jakku, when all the parades and congratulations had subsided, Han found himself at his wits' ends—no action, no excitement, no purpose. No longer an official part of the Republic, he had nothing to do with himself on Hosnian Prime.

Bored with local shipments, he found the action he desired at the gaming tables in the dark cantinas that had sprung up across Republic City in the last two years.

During this year of peace and prosperity, many things changed in Republic City. Restaurants opened, shops selling goods from all over the galaxy sprung up, and entertainment of every sort became available. Whether you were looking for a good time with another being or a good laugh at a theatrical presentation, Republic City had become the premiere spot in the galaxy to find diversions to suit almost all tastes.

Sabacc lounges peppered both the tourist regions as well as the seedier parts of town. The owners of them all knew Han—unfortunately for Han, as his gambling debts had caught up with him.

Leia bounded into their suite while he packed. "Han, where are you going?"

"Um, I have some debts to pay, Leia. Need to make some cash," he said while glancing at her. "Hey, don't look at me that way. I'll be back. I just have a few shipping jobs lined up."

"How much have you lost this time?" Leia asked with her hands on her hips.

"You don't want to know," Han said as he shoved a few things into his duffel. After checking his blaster for a full charge, he said, "And, no, I don't want your money, Leia. Look, I need a break." He grabbed a few more blaster charges and threw them into his bag.

"A break from what? Me? Your son?"

"A break from all of it. Leia, you know it. I'm not cut out for this domestic life. I haven't traveled in hyperspace in over six rotations. It's beginning to affect me."

Leia crossed her arms. "Well, if you're planning on taking the Falcon, it might be even longer."

Han pointed at her. "Hey, Chewie and me fixed the hyperdrive right after Jakku."

❷ She grabbed him by the waist and straightened his lapel. "I hate it when you leave, Han. I need you. Your son needs you."

"You don't need me, Leia. You have your career in the Senate. And as for Ben, he doesn't even know if I'm here or not." Han broke away from her. "Look, I'll be back in a few weeks. I promise." He lifted his pack onto his back and kissed her on the forehead. "Just need to clear my head, earn some credits."

Leia grabbed him and hugged him, before kissing him. "Hurry back."

⊘ The weeks turned into month and then years. Many times throughout the years Leia dipped to depression. Juggling the rambunctious Senators was almost as difficult as handling a Force-sensitive toddler on her own. Yet she could never bring herself to file for divorce. She knew Han would return ... one day.

Even though she was grateful to have her son to occupy her time, she struggled to control Ben as his cognitive skills developed. Every night ended in a temper tantrum. Every day she was met by upset nursery workers, and only her diplomatic skills and position kept them from declining her future services. She knew it was worse than the terrible-twos-and-threes. Yet, she could also feel the good in him.

She despaired that she would ever turn him to the light until the day Luke showed up when Ben was three. Before the comm unit chimed, she felt her brother's presence through the Force. Leia grabbed Ben by the hand and ran down the corridors to the landing bay to greet him.

As Luke hopped down from the cockpit of his X-wing, Leia ran to meet him. They hugged for a long time, just enjoying each other's presence.

"Luke, I'm so glad you're here," Leia said. "You should have told me you were coming."

"I wanted to surprise you," Luke said with a smile as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

As the electromagnet deposited Artoo underneath the X-wing, Threepio chugged in. "Artoo-Deetoo, it is you. It is you."

Artoo beeped at his friend with cheer.

Luke bent down to greet three-year-old Ben. He had not seen him since he was an infant. "Hello, Ben. I'm your Uncle Luke."

He opened his arms for a hug, but Ben turned his back on him and said, "You're not my daddy."

Leia looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. He's like this with everyone. It's just a stage."

He nodded as he opened the cargo bay and grabbed his kit bag. "Come on, Ben. I brought you a present." He extended an X-wing model with a pilot action figure to the boy.

The toddler crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouted, and turned his back to Luke.

Luke shoved the toy under his arm and closed the hatch without a word.

Ignoring Ben's bad manners, Leia averted her eyes from Luke and led him to her suite. "Come, tell me all about the academy and what brings you here."

❸ When they arrived at the suite, Leia sent Ben to play with his toys in his room. Luke poured some water from the cooling unit and slipped out onto the terrace.

Leia came up behind him and wormed herself under his arm. As they watched the sun set over Republic City, she asked, "How long can you stay? Is it official business or a social call?"

Gazing into the distance, Luke said, "A little of both. Beautiful sunset. Sometimes our lives just don't allow us to appreciate the small things in life."

"No wonder, you're carrying the establishment of the Jedi Order on your shoulders. Not an easy task."

Luke looked at her. Leia felt his intense scrutiny searching for something, but he stopped short of pushing himself into her mind.

Leia broke his concentration with another question. "How were you able to get away?"

"You mean, who's minding the shop while I'm gone? Don't worry, Naluma's at the academy."

"How's she doing?" Leia asked with a wink. "Anything I should know?"

"I don't know what you're hinting at."

"Oh, Luke," Leia said while punching him in the stomach in play. "Don't be such a fuddy-duddy. I know how you feel about her."

"Well, then don't tease me about it, Leia."

"I'm sorry." After a moment, she asked, "So, how serious is it?"

Luke opened his mouth but nothing came out. He lowered his shields and let Leia read his feelings, including his frustration with the Jedi Mandate.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize. I thought you guys could just get married."

Luke shook his head and sat down on the lounge on the terrace.

Leia sat beside him and ran her fingers through his hair. "She's your first love, isn't she?"

"Unless you want to count yourself, yeah," Luke said with a sigh, tilting his head and looking at her.

Leia twittered with unease at the reminder of their almost-relationship. She was glad it had gone no further than meaningless kisses designed to make Han jealous back on Hoth.

She could feel her brother's pain, though. She could even feel Naluma's pain through Luke's Force-bond.

"I never realized how hard this would be for you." Leia squeezed his hand in friendship.

"I just wish I hadn't fallen in love. It would be so much easier if we both had remained just friends," Luke said while gazing back at the sunset.

"Luke, is that really what you wish? Because that's not what I see," Leia said holding onto his arm.

As he turned to face her, she said, "Luke, use your insight. The Force brought you two together, and not just to make Naluma a Jedi Knight. She has made you stronger, as you have made her stronger. When you two are together, your Force-signatures shine like the binary suns of Tatooine. Haven't you noticed?"

"It's all I can do to maintain control sometimes, Leia. She drives me crazy," Luke said with a sheepish look. "And we have to maintain a virtuous reputation for the Padawan, and I'm afraid one day—"

"You mean you two haven't ..."

Luke shook his head. "We can't afford to damage the reputation of the Order with a scandal, Leia. Safeguards are in place to make sure that doesn't happen. It just doesn't make it any easier."

Leia hugged her brother, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "I'll see what I can do."

"What? There's no answer to this, Leia."

"I don't know. I could arrange for you two to have a clandestine meeting off-world somewhere, like maybe this apartment. No one else would have to know," Leia said while tapping his nose in fun. "Ben and I could take a vacation—"

"I'm not going to violate my vows."

"Then maybe we'll just have to change those, too."

Luke looked back at her with a look of intrigue.

"So, why did Naluma let you out of her sight?"

"She insisted I take some time to investigate a stirring in the Force."

"The abductions?" She creased her brow as her heartrate elevated.

Luke nodded. "And something else."

"Oh, Luke, I don't know what would happen if the First Order came here and took Ben, took all our children." Her voice strained. "We've increased security everywhere, especially the nurseries and the schools, but ..."

It seemed like he almost ignored the threat, the very real threat that the First Order was coming after the children, enslaving entire planets.

"Leia, where's Han?"

"How should I know? Somewhere in the galaxy with Chewie and the Falcon," she said with an edge of bitterness shading her voice. "Last I heard they were flying shipments in the Outer Rim."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry they're not here, but I can guarantee you Ben is safe here."

"You're sure?"

Luke nodded. "I've seen it. He'll be safe here. Don't worry. Hosnian is safe." He stretched his arm around his sister's shoulders, comforting her through her heartache.

She dropped her walls of defense and sobbed on his shoulder. He held her until long after the sun had set, wiping her tears and surrounding her in the peace of the Force.

Did you know ...

● Han is a man in motion. He always needs action. (Probably has a touch of ADD.)

● This is another scene contrasting the two relationships: one that can be fulfilled and is not and another that cannot be fulfilled. Both relationships stir longings in the twins' hearts but in different manners.

Tell me what you think ...

● Do you think Leia is right, that the Force brought Luke and Naluma together? Why?

● What foreshadowing can you catch in this chapter? (There's a lot of it.)