I'm Still Here(#Wattys2016)

Chapter 1: The Nightmare

Disclaimer: I don't own either Star Wars or Treasure Planet. They both belong to Disney. This is a purely fan-made story. It was written just for fun, NOT profit. No copyright infringement is intended.

"Han, I'm pregnant. You're going to be a father," Leia had told Han.

"Father." That one word kept repeating itself over and over again in Han Solo's mind. He felt like it was taunting him. All he could do was stare at Leia with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"What's the matter?" Leia asked. "Aren't you happy?"

"Uh, of course I'm happy," Han said at last. He hoped the words didn't come out sounding as forced as they had in his head. "This is a happy moment. The happiest moment of my life. Well, probably only second to the day I married you." Han flashed one of this famous lopsided grins. Or rather, he attempted to do this. Because he knew this smile was not as confident as the ones he usually displayed.

"Then why are you acting so nervous?" asked Leia. "This is really uncharacteristic for you."

"Don't all fathers-to-be experience feelings of nervousness?" asked Han.

"I guess so," said Leia. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Han was hiding something from her.

Later that night, both Han and Leia were asleep in bed. Despite all the nervousness he's been feeling earlier, Han had fallen asleep rather quickly. But just when he had begun to relax, that's when the nightmare started. This particular dream was more like a memory. And it was a memory of something Han had been trying to forget ever since the day it had actually happened.

In the dream, Han saw himself as an eight-year-old boy. The sun was streaming into his bedroom from the open window. The boy groggily opened his eyes as the sun's rays danced across his face. The sound of the front door being slammed shut was what woke him fully. Han looked out his bedroom window. He saw a man waking down the path toward the docks in front of the house. A merchant ship with a shimmering solar sail was waiting for him there. This man was Han's father. At first, Han tried not to panic. His father often left to go on big, long voyages. He was a merchant spacer, after all. But he had  always come back. Why should this time be any different?

But that's when Han heard a new sound. It was the sound of a woman crying. Han raced downstairs, not caring that he was still in his pajamas. What he saw jolted him. His mother was sitting at the dinning table, and she was crying.

"I have a bad feeling about this," thought Han. What was going on? His mom never cried when his dad had to go away. He knew it made her sad, of course. It made Han sad, too, especially given how long his father could be gone for. But he had never seen his mother cry in response to his father's absences. She always remained strong and brave for her son.

Before he even really knew what he was doing, Han had run out the front door, following his father. He stood on the step of the house. He shook his head, and felt tears forming in his eyes. Han then jumped off the step, and ran after his father. With each beat of his heart, Han's fear that this would be the last time he ever saw his father again increased.