Han and Leia visit New Alderaan toward the end of their honeymoon, where Han meets the remaining members of Leia’s family for the first time.
“Kayo was on Alderaan when it was destroyed,” Leia said softly, her eyes large and her expression wistful, as it always was when she mentioned her lost world. “Celly passed away last year, making Niano the Duke.” She was speaking of her aunt and uncle and cousin, the only immediate family she had left.
Of course, Han knew that they weren’t her real family, that she and Luke had been separated as newborns, with Leia being raised by Queen Breha of the House of Organa and her husband, Senator Bail Organa. Han was still trying to figure out the dynamics of the Elder houses, even if Leia once told him she considered most of them obsolete, including her own. Thanks to the war, most of the families had been decimated; the Rebellion had been financed by a great many of them, and even the ones who attempted to stay out of the conflict had been on the Empire’s hit list. Only the fact that the remaining members of the House of Organa (other than Leia herself, of course) had remained hidden on Pastoria after the destruction of Alderaan ensured their survival.
Niano Organa was a few years older than his cousin Leia, and he and his new wife had just welcomed a son a few months ago. Though they had not lived on Alderaan at the time of its destruction, he and his wife had settled in New Alderaan immediately after the war. It was through the other survivors, many of whom Leia had kept in contact with throughout the war, that she had learned of Niano’s new family and became determined to meet them.
“Niano and I never really got along,” Leia continued as Han directed the Falcon down toward their assigned landing pad. “But we haven’t spoken since before…” she didn’t continue, but Han knew what she meant. Before Alderaan was turned into space dust.
“How come he didn’t join up with the Rebellion after what happened to you and Alderaan?” Han asked. While Leia might have not gotten along with her cousin, it seemed that after watching the Empire destroy an entire world that he was attached to would make one want to fight, not hide.
Leia snorted and shook her head. “Niano?” she scoffed. “Fight? Yeah, no. You’ll understand when you meet him.” She shrugged. “He, like most of the Elder Houses, did support us financially, though. In fact, he was very generous in that respect, so he did his part.”
Han nodded, more curious than ever to meet his new cousin-in-law.
Several hours later, after they had settled in a posh apartment on the top floor of the Organa’s private condo, Han understood what she had been talking about.
Niano Organa was an unassuming man, not much taller than Leia herself, and though his countenance was pleasant, even attractive, his pale skin and languid brown eyes disclosed a certain lack of interest in almost everything around him. His ever so subtle look of distaste as Leia introduced Han would have been easy to miss if Han hadn’t been looking for it. Niano’s wife, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Taller than her husband by at least four inches, Duchess Alethia Organa was bright and talkative and very friendly. How Niano had caught her, Han had not a clue.
Like he was one to talk.
As he watched Leia chat with her cousin and his wife while bouncing their new baby in her arms, Han was filled with incredulity once more. How in the galaxy had she become his? It wasn’t the first time in the last several weeks Han had felt this sense of wonderment when he looked at his wife. She was, undoubtedly, the most amazing woman he had ever known, and he had known a lot of incredible women. Why she had chosen him he still couldn’t fathom. But he was more and more determined to ensure she never regretted it.
The conversation around him swirled, and he mostly let it go over his head, totally not caring about who was doing what now that the war was over and why. Until Niamo mentioned the coronation ceremony.
"Absolutely not!” Leia said sharply.
“But it’s only appropriate,” Niamo argued. “You are queen, now.”
“No!” Leia snapped. “I am not queen. The queen died with Alderaan.” Her voice was firm and her expression resolute. Even Han knew not to argue with her when she looked like that. Ice Princess. It had been her nickname among most of the enlisted members of the Rebellion, and even Han had used it once or twice in those early days. Until he learned how to thaw her out, of course.
Her cousin was smarter than Han had initially gave him credit for and did not argue. But later in the evening, while they were walking in the beautiful gardens after dinner, Han brought it up again.
“Queen?” he asked. “You mean I might have been king?”
Leia rolled her eyes and laughed. “Even if I had taken the title, you wouldn’t have been king,” she explained. “You would have been a prince.”
“Wait, you still carry the title Princess,” he said suddenly, stopping.
She stopped as well and faced him, closing her eyes. “I don’t want that title anymore, either,” she griped.
“Yeah, but you got it,” he told her. “Does that mean I have a title?”
“Legally, among the Houses, you are the Princess Consort.”
“Hmmmm…” Han hummed.
Leia tilted her head at him. “What does that mean?” she grumbled.
Han gave her a smirk. “I’d rather be king. King Han Solo,” he said, raising his chin.
Trying not to laugh, Leia corrected him. “King Han Organa, you mean,” she said. “Once you marry into the House of Organa, you take that name.”
Han thought for a moment, the pursed his lips and nodded. “I can live with that.”
She finally gave in and laughed while Han let a smile break free. She stepped into him, placing her hands on his chest. “I think General Solo suits you just fine.”
He shook his head. “You mean Captain Solo, former General in the Alliance to Restore the Republic and now husband to the most amazing woman in the galaxy.”
Smiling softly, Leia raised her face. “I like the sound of that word,” she whispered. “Husband."
Han cupped her cheek and dipped his head toward her. “I do, too, wife.” Bringing his lips to hers, he mumbled, “I love you, Leia.”
“I love you, Han.”
******
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