Han's Birthday Challenge: Submission #1 by StatsGrandma

 The following story was submitted by StatsGrandma in response to Han's birthday challenge.

Surprise!  You're 50!

"Thanks, Mrs. Solo, that was like the best party ever!"  The last of the guests for the twins' birthday party said as she departed. 

"That was the most fun ever,"  Jaina said to her mother.  "You give great birthday party, Mom.  Oh, thanks, Daddy."  She planted a kiss on her father's cheek. 

"I think this little one's toast,"  Han said, picking up four year old Jarik.  "I'm taking him upstairs."

"You just wanna get out of cleaning," Jacen remarked.  The party had been held at their apartment complex's recreation area. The two large swimming pools had been the site of much of the day time activity, and later on, karaoke had been the highlight of the night, much silliness and laughter everywhere.

"You're right."  Han exited with the little one over his shoulder.

"I'm tired, too.  I should go with Dad."  Anakin made his move.

Han was close enough to hear that.  "Not even, kiddo!  Get cracking!"

"Nice try,"  Leia said, ruffling the twelve year old's hair.  "Just grab a trash holder and throw stuff in."  Anything that Leia could purchase as disposable, she did.  It simplified cleanup and there was no breakage, two qualities that were important when it came to a horde of teenagers and a minimal number of adults.  A few had stuck around, allegedly to help chaperone and more specifically to drink. 

"We should give Daddy a birthday party,"  Jaina said as she emptied the beverage containers.  "A surprise party."

"I don't think Dad likes surprises,"  Jacen said skeptically. 

"It depends upon the surprise,"  Leia said. 

"But he's gonna be 50," Jaina said.  "I mean, he's getting old.  We should have something special for him before he gets real old."

"I want you to call your father old to his face and see what happens,"  Leia challenged her.

"Well, I mean, not like he's real old or anything like that,"  Jaina backpedaled.  "But before he does."

"His birthday's in two weeks.  That's not a lot of planning time,"  Leia reminded her.

"But it'd be cool,"  Jacen said.

"Yeah!  A birthday party for Dad!  Can I invite all my friends?"  Anakin said, bouncing up and down. 

"You can invite some friends. But it has to be mostly Daddy's friends,"  Jaina explained

"We'd have to invite the band,"  Jacen said. 

"And we could get Uncle Chewie to do something with him so when they get here everyone can yell 'surprise!'" Jaina added eagerly.  "And what about all his work friends, like Uncle Wedge and Uncle Biggs?"

Leia eyed the kids skeptically.  "You really think your father wants this?"

"Course he does," Jacen added confidently.  "It'll be great."

"You know that I have a three day conferene I have to attend on Selonia this week,"  Leia reminded them.  "I'm not going to be able to help you as much as I should."

"That's okay, Mom, we got it covered!"  Anakin said cheerfully. 

"What about Daddy's smuggling buddies?"  Jaina added. 

"We gotta have them,"  Jacen agreed.

"Our birthday cake was good.  Where'd you get it?"  Jacen asked Leia.

"Greatest Galactic Bakery." 

"Yeah, we could do that,"  Jacen said.

"You'll need credits,"  Leia reminded them. 

"We were hoping you'd give us some,"  Jaina said, smiling.

"I can give you some.  But none of you are old enough to buy intoxicants."

"Uncle Chewie can do it,"  Jacen said. 

"Make sure you ask Uncle Chewie first,"  Leia warned them.  "I'm sure he'd help, but make sure you ask.  It's not nice to assume."

"Cause when you assume, you make an ass outta you and me,"  Anakin finished.

"And you heard that where?"  Leia demanded.

"Dad, of course," Anakin answered, all innocence.

"We need food,"  Jacen reminded them.  Jacen was currently eating them out of house and home and Anakin was starting to offer competition. 

"Well, it seems as if you three have thought about this a lot,"  Leia remarked.

"At least for half an hour,"  Jaina told her.

For them, Leia reminded herself, that is long term thinking.

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The three kids proposed their idea to Chewie, who was remarkably enthusiastic about it.  He promised to order the food and intoxicants.

"We need games,"  Anakin said.

{Sabacc is always good}, Chewie told them.

"No, something really fun and silly,"  Jaina insisted.

{Hmm.  How about pin the blaster on the bounty hunter?}

"I like it,"  Jacen said.  "Or we could use the people that write for those horrible holotabloids."

{That works, too, but you have to get the adults really drunk.}

"That's going to be a problem?"  Jaina asked skeptically.

{I think your bigger problem will be them passing out all over the place.}

"Works for me," Jacen said. 

{Did you forget about your dad's students?}

"Yeah, let's invite them, too,"  Anakin said.  "More is better."

"But we have to do something to keep Daddy out of here on the day of the party," Jaina said to Chewie.

{I can arrange a short emergency run to someplace nearby.}

"Wow, this is great!"  The three hugged Chewie enthusiastically.

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Leia was amazed when she arrived back home; the kids and Chewie had done a remarkable job of planning the event.  They'd gotten Lando to help out, and Sapphire, one of Han's old smuggling buddies, had helped them out as well. 

"This is gonna be the best party ever,"  Jaina told her mother.

"And we're gonna put datapads everywhere with Smugglers' Run.  That was my idea,"  Anakin said proudly.

"It sounds like it.  You guys really planned this well." 

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The morning of Han's birthday arrived.  "Happy fiftieth,"  Leia said, kissing him while they were still in bed.

"Don't remind me,"  Han muttered grumpily. 

At that point, as in the plans, Han's comm signaled an incoming.

"Ah fuck.  Chewie, you bastard," Han hissed.

"What's wrong?"  Leia asked, trying not to smile.

"We've gotta do an emergency medical supply run to Coronet City," Han complained.  "That's gonna take all day."

"Well, don't worry, Hotshot.  You'll be home in plenty of time for the romantic evening I have planned for us."  She kissed him again. 

"What are you doing with the kids?"

"They'll be taken care of, I promise."

Han went to the 'fresher for a shower, and Leia smiled slyly. He really has no idea, she said to herself.

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Han had been in an irritable mood all day.  Doing a medical delivery, even to somewhere as close as Coronet City, annoyed him.  It also annoyed him that he'd just added another decade to his life. 

{Leia has a nice evening all planned for you}, Chewie reminded him.

"Yeah, I know."  He was sure Leia would do something very special for him, at least between the sheets.  Maybe then, he told himself, I'd stop feeling so old.

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"I hope Dad'll be here soon,"  Jacen said nervously.  The crowd had gathered and was on their way to being in their cups. 

"He's here,"  Jaina said, looking at Leia's comm.  "Mom, go get him."

"I'll be right back."

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"Welcome home, Flyboy,"  Leia said, her smile enticing. 

"I see you got rid of the kids."

"I did.  Would you mind coming downstairs with me?  Chewie has something he's been wanting to show you."

Han had been looking forward to something along the lines of seduction by his wife, but agreed to go with her.

They took the lift down to the recreation areas.  "It's in here,"  Leia told him, and opened the door to a darkened room.

All of a sudden, the lights went up, and the large crowd screamed "SURPRISE!"

Han was almost knocked off his feet.

The four kids were standing in front of the crowd.  "Happy birthday, Dad!"  Anakin shouted.

"Happy birthday,"  Jaina said, giving her very startled father a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Jarik ran over and hugged Han around the legs, and Jacen followed him over.  "Happy birthday, Dad. Whaddya think?  We kids and Chewie planned this."

"It's...uh...amazing!"  Finally, a smile spread across Han's face.  Everyone breathed an audible sigh of relief that Han wasn't going to pull out his blaster.

"It was the kids' idea,"  Leia said.  "They did all the planning.  Chewie did all the purchasing, and I provided the credits.  A nice group effort."

Han kissed Leia.  "This is great, honey." 

"Your kids know how to throw a party.  Maybe I'll hire them out for Luke's 40th,"  Mara said, giving her brother in law a peck on the cheek."

"Hey, that's Leia's 40th, too.  What say we get back at them?"  Han whispered conspiratorily.

"You're on."

"Happy Birthday, you old pirate!  Wait'll you see the cake,"  Lando grinned.

He led Leia and Han over to the cake table, which bore a large cake that was an incredible replica of the Falcon.  "Lando's contribution,"  Leia told him. 

"Well, don't just stand there!"  Sapphire, an old smuggling buddy, said loudly. "We have to toast him and then get him drunk.  Get him a Corellian rum already!"

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After many hours of sabacc, drinking, games, karaoke, being thrown in the swimming pool (twice) and eating, the guests filed out.  The kids offered to finish the cleanup. Jarik had gone to bed hours earlier; Chewie and Luke and Mara had alternated child care duties once it was clear the small one had had enough. 

"We've got the cleanup covered,"  Jaina announced. 

"She sounds just like you,"  Han said to Leia.

"Yeah, we'll make it look like no one was ever here,"  Jacen promised.

Han and Leia left the kids to the chores at hand. 

"Thanks for a great party, guys." He turned to Leia and grinned wickedly. "Now what about that romantic evening you promised me?"

"Oh, that comes as part of the package,"  Leia winked at him. 

Father's Day Challenge #7, by Blamey77

(I'm pretty sure this is Carrie Fisher on the left but this photo came up in a search for "Han and baby Jaina".  Again, hard to find images of the Solo kids that we haven't already seen.)

This story is submitted by Blamey77 for the Father's Day Challenge. 

Thanks for the submission!  And Enjoy!!

Han had just started working on the hyper drive of the Falcon in his dream when a loud, static-y noise jolted him out of his sleep. The noise was coming from the baby monitor on the bedside table.

One of the babies is awake, thought Han. The noise then increased as another presence made their unhappiness known.

Two babies are awake, thought Han wearily. He picked up the monitor and quickly turned the volume down before it woke up Leia. His wife shuffled a little but didn't wake up for which Han was grateful. It was the end of her first week back at work since her maternity leave. She had come home very exhausted and Han was determined to let her sleep.

He slipped out of their bed quietly and tiptoed into the hallway, closing the door gently behind him. Opening the door of the babies' room, he saw that Jacen had stopped crying and was lying there peacefully but Jaina was still giving it everything she had. Han rushed to his daughter's crib and lifted her out of it as gently as one might lift a porcelain doll. He cradled her against his chest and slightly rested his chin on her head, hoping that the warmth of his skin might comfort her. Jaina's cries lessened. Han swayed in what he hoped was a soothing motion. He stepped on a stuffed animal, resulting in a jerky movement but was quick to return to gentle swaying. Jaina appeared not to have noticed the interruption as her crying had completely faded away. Han's heart swelled, his thumb rubbing circles on his daughter's back. He looked up to check on his other baby only to find that Jacen had drifted back to sleep, his father's presence apparently enough to satisfy him.

That indefinable baby smell filled Han's nose as he shifted Jaina a little higher so that his shoulder was supporting her head. He continued to move slightly in a swaying motion, checking every now and then that Jaina remained calm. Han smiled as he realised that he was unconsciously following the steps of a dance that Leia had taught him.

As Han swayed with his baby daughter, he closed his eyes and imagined them doing this in the future. Him dancing with his daughter, a young woman, looking remarkably like her mother as she followed his lead in a grand reception hall. Time had changed his appearance, too. Grey hair had mixed with his brown hair, still unruly, and lines had crept into his face. Yet Han could only feel happiness as he imagined the picture.

Han opened his eyes when he heard the floor creaking. He looked towards the door to find his wife watching him from the doorway. She tiptoed towards him and peered over his shoulder.

"She's asleep," Leia whispered. Han turned towards the crib and slowly, carefully, placed Jaina back in her crib. When he turned around, he found his wife smiling at him.

"What?" Han asked, softly. Leia's arms slid around him. She laid her head on his chest with a contented sigh.

Han returned his wife's embrace. They stayed like that for awhile before she finally answered him:  "Happy Father's Day, Han."

Happy Birthday, Harrison!

Ok, no, he doesn't look like that anymore.  The man turns 71 today.  If it makes you feel any better, in the books Han Solo is about 75 now so it could be worse.  Also, in spite of being the oldest by quite a bit he is actually the only one of the "big three" who has not been requested to hire a trainer and get into shape for Episode VII.  And that is not because he won't be in the movie, but because he doesn't need it.  Well, really he's already doing what he needs to do to be in shape.  I'm hoping for some news on that front next weekend since he, Carrie and Mark will all be at Comic Con but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

So, just because things have been slow, I'll throw out a little challenge.  How about a Han Solo's birthday challenge?  Or maybe not even just his birthday if that is too confining for you, but rather having Leia or the kids or someone giving him something or doing something just for him.  There are so many stories about Han getting Leia some great present or going out of his way to do nice things for her but very few in which she goes out of her way to do something for him.  I know, not a very exciting challenge but it's something and if you don't come up with anything for us, that's ok, too.  It's summer.  You should all be outside instead of on your computers, anyway.  Except you, StonedRose.  You get back to work on that story you've been neglecting for ten years.

Happy 71st, Harrison!

Father's Day Challenge: Submission #6 by CCP

This was written several years ago for a longer story much in the future of that particular story. Given my current inability to update said story I thought I would put this out there and see what people thought and it might get me inspired again.  This is set during the Yuzhan Vong War at the time when both Solo boys were believed dead.  I know it is a little late for the Fathers day challenge but I thought this kinda fit because it is fatherly.  I also know that Tahiri is not really one of Han and Leia’s children but I think that she probably would have been through marriage. I also think that they would have always treated Tahiri as a fourth child and I thought it odd that for some books of the NJO they very much took on that role but for others she was shoved off on Luke and Mara.  I would have seen Han and Leia closing ranks on Tahiri especially after the loss of their sons.

Thanks.

Ccp

No title but I’ve always thought of this as: 

Han and Tahiri’s Talk

Han felt haggard it had been six months since he had lost both of his boys.  He walked down the corridors of the Falcon trying to find the comfort that once came so naturally from her round corridors and battered bulkheads.   His thoughts were interrupted by sobbing from what had been the boys’ room once Jaina had gotten old enough to insist on her own.  Tahiri had occupied that cabin since Borleias.  Han paused for a moment to gather his nerve then palmed open the door. She was sitting on Anakin’s bunk with her back against the bulkhead her arms hugging her legs tightly to her chest.  She had her head buried in a pillow that was in turn crushed into her knees.  Han faltered for a moment then realizing that he had already put this conversation off for too long he charged forward. “Hey,” he spoke and nearly stepped back at the anguish in her eyes when she looked up.  The tight walls he had built to shore up his heart crumbled and he found himself falling into the bunk and pulling what was to him his youngest daughter into his arms. He let his own tears fall for a while grieving with her then gently pushed her back to where he could look her in the eye “Tahiri,” he started again, “I came in here to tell you a story.” She looked at him confused but waited for him to continue. “You see, I do know what you’re going through and I know exactly how you feel.”

“You know how it feels,” she looked on him testily, “to have your heart ripped in two because the love of your life is dead, I’m getting real tired of hearing that Han.”

“I don’t doubt it,” a whisper of the trademark smirk graced his face, “but in this particular instance it happens to be true.”

“I don’t recall a time when Leia died,” she was doing her best to make it known she was tired of people trying to make it better.

“That,” Han exhaled loudly attempting to maintain the courage it would take to get all of this out, “is because I’m not talking about Leia.” He looked up and her shocked and curious expression urged him on, “This all started about a year before I entered the Academy, I was working for some Hutts on Yelsia and she was one of the slaves.”

“I’ve heard about Bria Tharen before,” Tahiri interrupted, “it’s in like all of the history books.”

“That is Rebel Intelligence’s version, not mine,” he shot back, “the only other person who knows my version died a long time ago. You see,” Han started his story wrapping an arm around her and pulling her to lean against him, “I was young maybe a year or two older than you and I fell, hard.”  He proceeded to tell the story of his and Bria’s love affair before finally getting to the part her betrayal at Yelsia and ending with Boba Fett telling him of her death.”

“But then you met Leia right,” Tahiri reasoned looking up from Han’s shoulder, “kinda helped you get over it I would guess.”

“Well, yes and no,” Han chuckle remembering some of his own statements from that time, “you see a wave had gone out over the news channels about the Princess of Alderaan dying in a ships malfunction. When we were about half way to Yavin it dawned on me that if she was really alive then Bria could be too.  I told myself that I would take it all back and join the rebellion and we would spend the rest of our lives making it up to each other. I was crushed when they confirmed her death at Yavin, and it made me mad at them.” He shook his head ruefully, “I spent a lot of time thinking that I had wasted my chance, and although the attraction was there I often pushed Leia away feeling that I was betraying Bria.”

“Han, I’m Force sensitive I can feel what you feel for Leia,” she was again looking up into his eyes, “it’s so powerful, I just can’t help but wonder why you’re telling me all of this.”

“I’m getting to it, didn’t Luke teach you kids’ patience,” Han bit back at her before continuing, “it was about a year before Chewie slapped me around one day and explained what I was doing or rather what I was trying very hard to throw away. It was like a revelation of course by that time it was nearly too late.”

“So you’re saying that I have to let him go,” she looked aghast at what he suggested.

“Not exactly,” Han answered, “and not that you could if you wanted to. Bria has always had a place in my heart, just as I’m sure Leia’s first love still holds a place in hers. What I’m trying to say is that it is entirely possible for a person to have two loves in one life.”

“Why are you telling me all of this,” she asked somewhat confused.

“I was watching you and Valin tonight,” she moved to interrupt him but he continued anyway, “and you had let go and started to enjoy yourself until you realized it.  Then you shutoff pulled back in on yourself, I don’t think anyone else noticed but I did and I thought that it was time for me to tell this story.”

“I just can’t imagine my life without him,” she replied tears starting afresh.

“I know, and when you find yourself not thinking about him,” He spoke softly, “it tears you up because you’ve lost something so special that surely life can’t go on and you should consider that. It won’t come easily and it won’t happen overnight but eventually it doesn’t hurt so badly and then one morning you will wake up and realize that you’ve been living without him for quite some time and it turns out that life didn’t stop and there is someone else that can love you just as much if not more than the one you lost and vice versa.”  She nodded and he could tell she was letting it sink in a little bit, “Now I’m not saying you should start dating or anything like that I’m just asking that you don’t immediately dismiss the idea, eventually, moving on is not betrayal, remember that.”

“I will,” she said feeling just a little bit better than she had since Mykr.

“Good,” he once again pulled her into a fierce hug, “I love you kid, Now,” he gently laid her back on the bunk, “get some sleep for a change and maybe we’ll make Leia go do something tomorrow.” He stood and was out the door about to palm it closed when her voice stopped him.

“Han,”

“Yeah kid,” he turned back to her with a warm smile.

“Thanks”

“Anytime Tahiri” with a last smile he closed the door and started back down the corridor to lay his weary body next to his wife and get some sleep himself. 

“You’re a good man, Han Solo,” Leia’s voice startled him as he passed the game table; “despite all efforts to the contrary, you are a good man.”

“Leia, I” Han found himself stumbling over his words wondering how much she had heard.

“It’s okay Han,” he could just make out her smile in the dark room, “I never held any illusions that you were innocent when we met, and perhaps I wasn’t so innocent myself.” Han smiled as he slid into the booth beside her slinking an arm over her shoulder.

“I always suspected as much,” he pulled her close and she giggled, “but I didn’t want to hurt your reputation.”  She could feel his body tighten next to her as he asked, “do you think she’ll be alright?”

“I don’t know,” she answered solemly, “all we can do is be there for her. I think your story will help although I am curious as to why I’ve never heard it before now. Did you really love her that much?”

“I think I did,” he answered honestly, “it’s been so long now that sometimes I’m not so sure but it seems like that’s the way it was. If Chewie was here I’m sure we would get a much more accurate description of the way it was.” He ended with a laugh and she joined him it was first time he had been able to laugh at his friend’s memory.

“Take me to bed Han,” he answered her request by sliding them both to the edge of the booth and picking her up in his arms with a slight grunt.