Beyond - Legends The Parents (Han/Leia vignette on Bail/Breha)

Title: The Parents
Author: Briannakin
Timeframe: Shortly after Courtship of Princess Leia (or ROTJ)
Characters: Leia/Han (mentions of Breha/Bail)
Categorization: I guess this can either be Legends or New-Canon, pick what one you want.

Notes: This was just one of those fics that I started but never finished. I found it again and thought it was worthy of brushing up, finishing, and posting (while I am trying to hold off major bunnies for when I can spend time on them).



“Does it ever bother you?” Han’s low voice rumbled his chest. Leia could feel it as she had her head on her husband as they cuddled in bed. He was on his back and she was on her side. He had the sheets closely wrapped around their bodies

“Huh?” she asked, looking up him. Her brown hair cascaded around her like dark water. “Your snoring, your nicknames, your remarks? Yes, yes, and yes,” she said with a short laugh. Her features could barely be made out in the blackness of night.

“Good to know you appreciate me,” he swallowed dryly. “No, the age difference. Ten years is… a lot. I mean, we just got married, but many men my age already have kids.”

“Han,” she said, delicately returning to her pillow so she could face him. “Are you saying you want kids?”

“Well, not right now. But I would like to have them before I’m old enough to be their grandfather. But you aren’t ready, and I respect that. It’s not just kids. I’m going to be old and grumpy eventually, and you are still going to be running the galaxy.”

“Han, you do know my parents, the Queen and Prince of Alderaan, were 17-years apart in age. My mother was 24 when she married my father, who was 41 at the time.”

“Wow. Bail Organa was a vornskr,” he said with a low chuckle. “It was an arranged marriage, right?”

“Kinda. His mother - Queen Mazicia - was dying and my mom was the only real suitable and willing replacement for queen. But she and my dad fell in love and had one of the most healthiest relationships I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Whenever my dad was on Alderaan, my mom would tease him about one thing or another, but he gave it right back. But when they needed to be, when my mom was ill or when my dad had his cardiac seizure, they would simply be there for each other.”

“Your mom had that brittle bone disease.”

“Yes, that’s why they could never have kids of their own.” Leia continued. “Sometimes, I’d catch Dad sneaking behind Mom to give her a kiss. And they were always holding hands.”

Han listened with a smile as she went on about her parents. “I wish I could have met them.” He reached forward and brushed hair out of her face. His hands were so large, but so warm and tender.

“Oh, my dad would have hated you. Mom would have understood our love, but would have probably let my dad have his fun with you,” she said with a laugh. She then grew somber. “Part of me is glad they went together. My dad never prepared himself for the possibility of my mom dying before him. He loved her so damn much. I think he was glad he was so many years older than her, he never wanted to have life without her. But for those last few months, my mother was growing ill. She hid it well, but I knew she was breaking bones every few weeks. She was in pain. She was dying. People with her disease often do not live many years past middle age and she had been considered lucky to have had such a long and full life. But her final decline in health was killing him.” Leia closed her eyes and let out a breath, shaking her head softy.

Han leaned forward and kissed her shoulder where her light blue nightgown strap had slipped down her arm. “I think I would have understood your dad.”

“Huh?”

“He loved his wife so much, the thought of being so much older probably didn’t bother him. It simply was a comfort to know she would always be there. That she would outlive him. I take so much comfort in that.”

“Han,” she said, softly. Before she could speak further, he folded her small body in a tight embrace. He murmured something to which she replied, “I know.”

 

Oh, Bri..... Beautiful reminiscing and sharing!!! The teasing and honesty. And recollections of the marvel of Bail and Breha. I did so very much enjoy reading their story in "Fairytales" and "Butterfly..

 

That was a very touching pillow talk you shared with us, your readers. Thank you! I wish Leia would have shared such memories of her foster-parents with Ben/ Kylo Ren, too.

 

Very nice look into the private life and thoughts of this couple. Enjoyed reading it.
Lynda V.

 

Her brown hair cascaded around her like dark water.

I...I see what you did there. Even if you don't.

“Han, you do know my parents, the Queen and Prince of Alderaan, were 17-years apart in age. My mother was 24 when she married my father, who was 41 at the time.”

Totally not surprised to see this here. Love the idea of there being an expression for an older man in relationship with a young woman, too!

And then, the ending gets...very dark. And touching. A nice bedtime read, though it may give me apocalyptic nightmares, just like all the other Alderaan fics.

 

Very beautiful scene between them.

 

I laughed at that a good bit...AND THEN YOU GO AND RIP MY HEART OUT!!!

That's it. I need you to....warn me or something! Also, pretty much tag me in whatever you post so I don't keep missing it. Sheesh. I'm a horrible Evil Twin Seriously though. This was so beautiful, that Leia could find something to be thankful for in the horribleness of her home being blown up. That her parents were never without each other. Just gorgeous.

 

This is such a sweet accompanying story to your wonderful "Fairytales" set. I love how Bail treasures Breha and how that is reflected in the way that Han treasures Leia. Although there's the age difference, it doesn't stop them from falling in love.
It makes me think of how lost my own dad was when my mom died, and he was eight years older than her. I think he never considered that he would be the one to be widowed. It must have devastated Bail to watch Breha deteriorate into the final stages of her disease and know that he would have to be alone.

 

I enjoy fics that are short and sweet. Doing more with fewer words. This one certainly does. It's a pity that Han can't tell stories about his parents, and I imagine that telling stories about living on the streets wouldn't be very romantic.