Fame and Fortune

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Later that evening

Han leaned back in his chair and waited until the server droid removed his dinner plate before moving back forward. "Dinner okay?"

Mara nodded. "Yes, it was excellent. I'm sure you employ top-notch chefs."

"Actually," Han informed her, "I don't. I have a Chandrillan, Nai Trium, that oversees the housekeeping droids and sometimes she'll fix a meal for me. Her husband, Peir, oversees the droids taking care of the estate grounds. They live in one of the town homes."

"So Nai Trium made this dinner?" Mara asked. "She's very good, considering she's not a professional."

"Uh, no," Han said, shifting in his seat. "I, um, made it. While you an' Luke were resting and getting unpacked."

Luke bit his lower lip to keep from grinning. He knew from the days he'd spent flying around in the Falcon that Han could cook, but his fiancée wouldn't have known that. "Thanks, Evin. Great grub you threw together. Almost better than a ration bar," he teased.

Mara said mockingly, "Is there nothing the multi-talented Evin Daysun can't do?"

"He can't wield a lightsaber or lift objects with his mind," Luke shot back, trying to get a rise out of Han.

It didn't work. "I can shoot a blaster straight and true, and that's better than a 'saber any day of the week."

Mara cleared her throat. "Luke told me about your offer to build the Academy. That's very charitable and generous."

Another thing that hadn't changed in Han, Luke thought, was his discomfort over sincere compliments." "I was thinking," Luke put in, seeing Han was getting embarrassed, "that maybe Mara and I could use that Groom's House, out by the equinoid barn, until the Academy building is finished. If that's okay with you, of course."

The request set Han back. "The Groom's House?"

"It's not being used, is it?"

"No..." Han said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his tone and his expression. It was harder, much harder, to keep it out of his emotions. "I guess you can use it."

Luke immediately could tell something was bothering Han. "You don't want us to use it."

"Well," Han said, flushing and suddenly studying his kaf cup like it was an expensive antique in a museum. "I was just thinkin', assuming, I guess, that you an' Mara would live here." With me. "In this house. It's so big, and it has so many bedrooms, and the Groom's House only has one..." he trailed off, rubbing his thumb on the rim of the cup.

"We only need one," Mara said, noting the look Luke shot her after she spoke.

Han's lonely. Luke realized his friend longed for company. He lives in this huge house, all alone, with no one but cleaning droids to talk to and interact with. He was hoping... "I don't see a reason we can't move in here."

Mara looked startled and Han looked up, his expression that of happiness and relief. "That's great, Luke! You can have the entire east wing. Four entire bedrooms all to yourself."

"We only need one," Luke repeated with a grin.

"For right now," Han put in. "But you'll have kids someday."

"Wait a second," Mara interrupted. "Don't I have any say in this? Where we live? If we have..." she glared at Luke, "...have kids?" She whipped her head to face Solo. "And how long do you expect us to live here with you, anyway?"