“Everything that’s alive can feel what happens to it, ” said Leia. “That’s an important truth to remember. Anakin? Jacen? What about you? “
Anakin laced his fingers behind his neck as a pillow.
“I don’t know if I learned something or made it up. “
“Tell us. “
“Well-I was looking at the clouds. And I thought I could feel the grass looking at them, too. Like they were wondering if it was going to rain. “
“I’m sure the grass is aware of the weather, ” Leia said. “But wondering is something conscious beings are blessed with. “
“Or cursed, ” said Han.
“I learned that the grass thinks Jaina smells bad, ” Jacen said impishly, giving his twin a push and rolling away from her. “Can we go in the pool, Mother? “
“All right, ” she said, accepting that the exercise was over. Three small bodies scrambled up from the grass and ran fleet-footedly toward the courtyard and the vortex pool.
“I can go watch them, ” Han said, sitting up.
“Stay. They’ll be all right, ” Leia said, shielding her eyes. “Chewie, you look even taller than usual from down here. I hope your mate is bigger than me. Did you have as hard a time as my dear husband did, letting someone else work on his jalopy? “
Chewbacca crouched down, sitting on his heels with an easy balance that reminded Han that his friend came from an arboreal planet. Lifting his face to the sky, he growled proudly.
“Oh, right, fine, you’re the practical one, and I’m the hot-tempered one, ” Han said. “Have you ever heard such character assassination? “
“Don’t worry, dear, ” Leia said, patting his hand. “I won’t let him change how I feel about you. “
The Wookiee’s first grunt was a retort, the second a question.
“Of course-go ahead, ” said Leia.
Rolling his head from side to side on his neck, Chewbacca loosed a long, well-modulated growl. Before it was over, Han sat up with a start, staring at Chewbacca.
“Go home? ” he demanded. “Go home? “
“Of course, ” Leia said to Chewbacca. “You have a family of your own, a mate and a child. Your responsibility to them is every bit as important as the obligations you feel toward us. Tell him, Han. “
“Huh? Look, who’s going to help me put the Falcon out of order again? “
Leia poked him in the ribs.
“Ow! “
“Try again, ” she said.
“I guess it’s been a long time, pal, ” Han said, wearing a rueful expression. “Family won’t recognize you if you don’t get back there soon and spend more time hanging around the home tree. “
Chewbacca shook his head up and down as he answered.
“Of course we understand, ” Leia said. “You’ve been here taking care of our kids instead of on Kashyyyk with your own. You really should be there for Lumpawaroo’s coming-of-age. We insist you go. I feel bad that we’ve been so selfish. “
The Wookiee answered with an uncharacteristically tentative growl.
“No, we’ll manage just fine, ” Leia said. “The kids are safe here, and we’re not going to be running all over the galaxy. And Luke is on Coruscant-“
“Leia-“
“-and he’ll be helping us with the children. No, don’t give it a second thought. You should leave as soon as you can pack. Tell him, Han. “
Han nodded. “Leia’s right, old buddy. It’s a good time. Things are quiet. We’ll miss ya, but you’ve been standing watch on our bridge long enough. “
Subtle movements. of muscles under fur marked Chewbacca’s relief and gratitude. “Rrargrarg? ” he asked, cocking his head.
“Shoot, pal, ” said Han, showing an easy grin. But his face paled and his eyes widened as Chewbacca asked his second favor. “Oh, no-oh, no. You can’t ask me that. I just got her back after a hundred and sixty-seven days on the hook. “
Chewbacca’s grunt was terse and snide.
“I don’t care if I said I hated new boots, ” Han said. “I hate having someone else’s feet in my boots even more. Friendship only goes so far. “
“What are you talking about? ” Leia demanded.
“Aw, he’s just trying to hold me to my own words. I don’t have to be consistent if I don’t want to. “
With a peevish growl, Chewbacca stood and started to turn away.
“Don’t you move, Chewie, ” Leia said sharply. “Han, come on! You should lend him the Falcon. “
“Well, I don’t want to, ” Han said, getting to his feet and pacing nervously. “I don’t want her bouncing around hyperspace without me. I want her where I know the worst thing that can happen is that some overeager mechanic with a torque wrench will come along and tighten all the connectors to spec. And you know how Wookiees fly-he’ll redline it the whole way there and back. “