Leia rose from the swaying deck and tottered to Breha who whimpered in Naluma's arms. "Luke, what was that?"

"Ship of some kind."

"They've found us!" Leia clutched Breha to her chest before turning to run. 

Luke stretched forth his hands and closed his eyes. "No, Leia, wait. It'll be all right."

"Luke, if Snoke finds Breha—"

"Relax. Be at peace. It's not Snoke. There is no darkness. We're safe here." He took Breha from Leia's arms and set her on the planks before pulling his sister into a deep hug. "Nothing's going to happen to Breha. I promise."

Leia sighed in her brother's embrace. Even though they had disagreed about things in the past, he was her guiding light. Nothing could ever go too wrong when he was around.

When they finally separated, Leia sat beside Naluma and wrapped her arms around her in a half hug. Breha snuggled up on the other side of her aunt and traced designs on her stomach.

"How are you feeling, Naluma?" Leia asked.

"Better now." The young woman smiled in serenity.

Naluma exuded a tranquility Leia craved. Pregnancy was never marked by anything close to peace for her.

"You couldn't have paid me to climb those stairs when I was eight months pregnant." The senator's voice trailed off as she grasped Naluma's arm. "Thanks for coming."

Naluma winked at her sister-in-law while she rubbed Breha back. "That's what family does."

Leia sighed. Not every family member is here, but maybe that's for the best. Glad Ben's not here. No way I could hide who Breha really is with him. If we can just get through tomorrow . . .

Now the restless girl crawled all over the bench, sharing secrets with Anakin and listening for a reply.

The breeze picked up, clanging the wind chimes that dangled in the trees. Naluma grinned. "Besides, I'm glad I finally got to meet this lit—"

A large roar cut her off, followed by growls and moans from an approaching party. 

Leia's heart raced, but Luke grinned at her. She narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Wipe that grin off your face."

"You're jumping at shadows. Just breathe." He chuckled.

"Stop laughing. This isn't funny."

Another roar and Ewokese babbles drew their attention to the far catwalk. A shaggy Wookiee pounded into the square with Ewok scouts climbing on the giant. The almost three-meter tall furry humanoid slurred his growls as he shoved delectable barbecued meats into his maw.

"Great, Chewie! Always thinking with your stomach."

With a lurch from behind, the Wookiee staggered to the side. A familiar figure burst through the hordes of Ewoks marauding their favorite mascot. Han Solo halted at the edge of the Village Square. "Leia!"

Her heart skipped a beat, but she was not going to let him get off that easily. Not after the last time. She rested her hands on her hips and glared at the scoundrel she called her husband. "Look what the Wookiee dragged in."

Han Solo lowered his jaw. "Haven't seen you in that dress in some ..."

"Sixteen years, Han, and don't think that just because I'm wearing it I don't regret what happened the last time."

The bodice ties of the brown suede dress flapped in the breeze. The two braids that crowned her brow kept her long hair out of her flushed face.

She crossed the planks to the tall man with dark hair and a grizzled chin. Her eyes glistened as her mouth broke into an impudent frown. Rising on her tip toes, she reached for his neck and pulled his lips to hers.

He tasted like salt and Corellian rum. He smelled of rocket fuel and an earthy musk that drove Leia wild. She inhaled deeply as she brushed her lips against his.

He lifted her by the waist and wrapped his arms under her shoulders as his tongue explored her mouth. He ran his lips down the back of her neck around the front to the notch in her collarbone.

Leia pushed away from his grasp. "Still scruffy-looking."

"You like me that way." The trademark lopsided grin reduced her to a flame of desire.

"No, Han."

"What?" He stepped back with his arm extended toward her. "You get me all revved up like this and just walk away?"

The tiny princess smiled demurely at him. "Not yet." She turned on her heel and headed toward Breha and Naluma. "And not here."

Han followed her. "You mean?" His eyes widened.

She swiveled her head and winked before slinking away across the square. When she reached 

Breha and Naluma, she found the girl playing with her aunt's straight black hair. 

The little girl had undone Naluma's chignon and had tried to braid the thick, long tresses. She knelt on the bench and held up the twined hair. Bits and pieces stuck out everywhere with one strand much thinner than the rest.

Leia caught Wicket beckoning her from across the square. She knelt and whispered to her daughter. Pulling Rey's hood up and securing it under the girl's chin, Leia whispered, "Remember what I told you at home?"

Rey nodded. "I'm Rey Naberrie of Naboo." The girl scrunched her face. "But I'm not a Naberrie."

Leia put her finger to the girl's lips. "Today you are." 

"Yes, Mo— Yes, Auntie Leia." 

Raising her voice so everyone could hear, Leia announced, "Rey, Wicket needs you. Time for the ceremony." She held out her hand to the girl.

The girl jumped from the bench, leaving Naluma's hair a mess.

Leia grimaced. "Sorry about that, Naluma."

Naluma was already smoothing out the kinks. "It's okay."

"Wait!" Rey ran back to Naluma. "Bye, bye, Anakin." When she kissed her aunt's belly, Rey jumped. "What was that?"

"He's kicking. He likes you." Naluma smiled at her. "Here, give me your hand." She took the girl's hand and placed it on her abdomen.

Rey's eyes widened. "Auntie Leia, he's kicking. He's really kicking."

"Babies do that."  Leia smiled and held out her hand. "Come. The chief is waiting for us."

"Yes, Auntie."

Granny Eepra stopped her drumming. A hush blanketed the square with only the slight jangle of wind chimes disturbing the serenity.

Shaman Logray stepped to the fire and tossed a handful of flakes into it. The flames billowed three meters and morphed into blues, greens, and purples. He shook his head, the dead animal skin and feathers on his headdress bouncing with each movement. A trio of drummers stepped forward, beating a steady pace on their leather instruments.

"Wataana lau choa." The shaman waved his medicine stick over the fire and around the gathered tribal members. The packed square groaned under the weight of the assembly. Little ones pushed in and climbed on top of larger Ewoks, while the adults in the back row hopped for a better view.

C-3PO presided over the proceedings as the Ewok Divinity from his wooden throne. "Dearest guests. Welcome." He continued in Ewokese. "Tav-tai-ee morlino. Chragshwa alcha." 

Matronly Ewoks escorted their small children forward. Some were still babes in arms while others toddled on their stubby legs to their spots. Rey raced forward, sliding between the furry legs until she reached the center and lined up with the Ewoks.

"Bidda eneeeder yenda."

C-3PO continued, "We are gathered here today to declare our newest tribal members."

While the shaman and chief continued the ceremony with the assistance of the protocol droid, Han shifted behind Leia. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, "Who's the girl?"

Leia tensed. Do I tell him now? No, Han would blow up in the middle of the ceremony and ruin it all. There'll be a better time ... I hope. "She's a Naberrie. I'm taking care of her."

"What? Did you adopt her or something?"

"Something like that. She's family—on my mother's side."

"What happened to her parents?"

"It's complicated." Leia's bit her lip to hold back her tears.

"Where's Ben?"

"In the shuttle."

Han sighed and lowered his head. "I don't know why Luke puts up with that nonsense."

"Han." Leia rested her hand on his arm. "Ben's still in the hover chair."

"He was doing just fine when he left the med center."

Leia shook her head. "I know. Just give him time. It'll be all right." She leaned back against him and ran her hand over his arm.

The tension released from his back as he pulled her against his chest. She leaned her head against his white shirt and inhaled that musky scent as he wrapped his arms around her.

Han whispered, "Where are you staying tonight?"

She tilted her head up to catch the wicked smile on his lips. "The Falcon?"

As she dragged her fingernail down his cheek, he grabbed her hand and kissed her fingertips. She hung her head down and smiled.

A few meters away, Chief Wicket and Shaman Logray passed in front of each new Ewok and Rey, tossing yellow ceremonial powder on each as they chanted the tribal greeting.

"Achana wahloa. Tedna ovgeena."

"Wonderful! They are now members of Bright Tree Village. May their trees grow tall and their needles never fall." 3PO was in his element today. "Let the festivities begin."

Wicket stepped forward and moved his staff parallel to the deck. "Chimeegueh! Chimeegueh!"

The group settled down once more.

"Nyeg eschlol."

The female Ewoks gathered around Naluma and extracted her from Luke's protective grasp. They dragged her to the ceremonial plaza and sat her on an upturned stump. The women placed their hands on her extended abdomen and traced patterns with their hands across her belly.

One laughed. "Ter shigleseneh!"

The golden droid exclaimed, "He kicks."

This ritual continued for thirty passes until the shaman brought a wooden cup to Naluma. He lifted the cup to her mouth and tipped it. With a cough, she spit out some of the liquid.

A wise woman brought a chain of herbs and draped them around her neck. The ceremony concluded with the shaman tossing powder on the pregnant Jedi Master and anointing her hair with oil.

As the drums transitioned from a steady beating to a frenzied call to dance, Ewoks and humans drank toasts to the newest members and celebrated the new life in Naluma's womb.

Did you know ...

• Han does not know that Breha/Rey is his daughter, because if he knew, then Ben would know. The subterfuge is not directed against Han but protection Breha from her conflicted brother Ben. 

• Leia kicked Han out when he took Ben to the academy when Ben was 10. The last time Leia saw Han was five months earlier when Ben was at the med center for treatment. Before that, it had been six years since they had seen each other.

• Leia has been living in seclusion on Naboo with Lor San Tekka and Breha/Rey (the elderly gentleman Kylo Ren kills on Jakku at the beginning of The Force Awakens). Luke and Leia have both visited their mother's tomb and know their family history at this point. They have met their Naberrie grandparents, too. (You can read about this in The Jedi Reborn.) Han has no clue who the Naberries are.

• I am a complete Soloist—I believe Rey was intended to be Leia and Han's long-lost daughter they thought was dead. I have believed this since the moment I saw The Force Awakens and read the novel. I have an entire book with supporting evidence posted on Wattpad devoted to this theory: The Father You Never Had. 

Tell me what you think ...

• What do you think Han is going to do when he figures out Breha/Rey is his daughter?

• Do you think Leia and Han are going to reunite tonight?