Playlist:
❶ "The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral"—The Phantom Menace OST
Han and Chewie spent the next three months searching for a buyer of their perishable cargo. The short shelf life increased their worry, as each day brought them closer to losing the shipment and the thousands of credits they owed the seller.
Within days of the expiration date, the magistrate of Toydaria struck a shrewd deal. The duo would take a small loss on the cargo, but at least they wouldn't lose everything.
Han was already reviewing a few contract offers for their next haul when a sub-light communication beckoned them home.
After a few growls of Shyriiwook, Han asked without looking up from his screen, "What is it, Chewie?"
Chewie rumbled again in Shyriiwook.
Han picked up the headset with a smile. "Leia? Bring it up." When the hologram came to life, the smuggler sighed.
Leia looked more radiant than ever, even though she was thirty-five weeks pregnant. She wore a dark blue dress that concealed her girth, and her hair flowed down her back. "Han, they want to induce me. He's getting too big. Come home."
Chewie barked his agreement with Leia.
"You don't understand, Chewie. If we don't get these credits back to Dahlesh Kohn, we're going to have a death mark on us again. Leia's going to have to wait."
Chewie growled a few more choice words.
"Yes, I'm sure. Plot a jump to Telti."
Chewie roared before turning in the co-pilot's chair and firing up the Falcon. He punched in the coordinates for the Hosnian system.
"What do you think you're doing? This can't wait, Chewie."
He roared back, baring his teeth at his friend.
"Chewie! Now you wait." Han pointed his finger in the face of the massive, hairy co-pilot.
The Wookiee argued with Han with growls and rumbles and even a few roars.
After a few tense moments of staring each other down, Han gave in and climbed into the pilot's seat, course heading set for Hosnian.
The next day when the sub-light beacon activated, Han and Chewie shut down the Dejarik game and climbed into the cockpit to prepare for the return to sub-light space.
Before the stars had returned to normal, Han spoke into the transmitter. "Hosnian Prime Air Control, this is the Millennium Falcon requesting authorization to land."
The controller responded crisply over the intercom. "Millennium Falcon, authorization to land at the med center has been granted—Landing Bay Five. Please do not deviate from this course."
❶ Once they had docked, Han ran down the ramp before it was even fully extended while Chewie shut down the engines. He was annoyed to see C-3PO chugging toward him.
"Oh, Captain Solo, you have arrived not a moment too soon. Princess Leia—I mean Sen—"
Han cut him off and strode right past him into the med center. "Where's my wife?" he asked the first technician he saw as he grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Oh, General Solo. Senator Organa is in Birthing Room Twenty Four. Follow me," Med Tech Dorkin said. Before they would let him enter the birthing room, the lanky med tech tied a mask around Han's neck.
The freighter captain asked while pushing the med tech away, "Is this really necessary?"
Dorkin attempted to tie the upper mask to Solo's face. "Yes. Who knows what you've picked up."
Mask hanging half-tied around his neck, Han broke free from his ministrations and burst into the birthing room.
Leia let out an incredible howl of pain as he barged in.
He rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. "Leia."
The writhing princess clenched his fingers hard as yet another contraction overcame her. Her furrowed brow glistened with perspiration as she screamed once again.
Han stroked her forehead. "Are you okay?"
Panting for breath, she screamed at him, "Do I look okay?"
He tried to calm her down by stroking her forehead again.
"And ... STOP ... TOUCH ... ING ... ME! This is all your fault!"
"My fault?"
Medical warning devices beeped an elevation in Leia's heartrate and respirations.
Med Tech Dorkin came behind Han and tried to lead him out of the room. "Captain Solo, you are upsetting the senator. Perhaps it would be better for you to wait outside."
Han shook off the med tech's grip. "If you think I traveled all this way just to wait outside while my son is being born, you've got another thing coming. And if you don't get your hands off of me, you're the one who's going to need a med tech."
Chewie then burst into the room and offered his agreement, manhandling the med tech away from Han.
The delivery doctor then interrupted the histrionics as Leia screamed in agony. "Senator, push. He's almost here. Give us one more push."
The loud cries of Han and Leia's baby boy summoned the attention of everyone in the room. After cutting the umbilical cord, the doctor handed the child to Leia.
Han stood beside her, admiring his son. He had never seen anything so wonderful in his life before. He smiled at Leia and kissed her on the forehead. "You've never looked more beautiful than right now."
Leia smiled. "Chewie, did he hit his head on the way in or something?"
Chewie responded with an unclear moan and tilt of his head.
Han said, "No, I mean it. You are absolutely beautiful." After smiling at her and his son for a few minutes, having a tender moment together, he asked, "Can I hold him?"
When Leia handed the newborn to Han, he cradled him gently, nervous about dropping him, nervous about all the things that could go wrong in this boy's life. He inspected his son, recognizing the shock of dark hair matted to his head. He had Leia's dark eyes, Han's lopsided smirk, and a few birthmarks on his face.
Leia interrupted Han's thoughts. "What are we going to name him, Han?"
"I haven't really thought about it. You got anything?"
Leia said with a dreamy smile on her face, "I was thinking about naming him after the man who brought us together."
"Luke?"
"No—Obi-Wan."
Han thought about it and twisted his face a bit before suggesting, "How about just 'Ben'?"
Leia said, "Welcome to the galaxy, Ben Chewbacca Solo."
Chewie roared in pride and love.
Han gazed at his son, wishing the best life for him.
Did you know ...
● Ben was born three weeks early. In my backstory, Leia was induced due to her petite frame and the ten-pound baby boy she was carrying.
● This is the nine-month mark after the Battle of Endor. Leia conceived quite soon after the wedding, while they were flying around the galaxy on the Falcon on their honeymoon.
● The middle name isn't canon. However, I've seen so many comics that claim it as truth, I had to put it in. Who wouldn't want a Wookiee middle name?
● It's been almost three months since Luke's back injury. He's recovering still, but he is now back on the shuttle with Naluma.
Tell me what you think ...
● Now that Han's back and Ben has arrived, how will things change for the family?