Chapter Text
Hoth, 2 ABY
There was very little to celebrate these days.
So, when C-3PO shuffled into the command center with his latest announcement, Leia Organa allowed herself a small smile. She thanked the golden protocol droid and decided that she needed a break from the strategic planning and debriefings for a few moments.
Leia wound her way through the icy halls of the Rebellion base. Hoth had been their “home” for the last two years, ever since the Empire had discovered their last one on Yavin IV. The ice world had been picked because it was probably the last place the Empire believed the rebels would have fled too. The outside conditions were dangerous, if one was out in the elements for too long, they would die from exposure. This wasn’t the ideal place to live; it certainly wasn’t the ideal place to bring a new baby into the galaxy.
The doctors and nurses stepped aside when Leia entered the medbay. She might be small, but she carried a large air of authority when she entered a room. Leia took a deep breath and smiled at the group, “I’m here to see Lieutenant Bey. I assume that everything went well with her labor and delivery?”
“Yes, Princess,” the doctor replied. “Lieutenant Bey is resting and I’m happy to report that both mother and baby are doing well.”
“Good work, doctor,” Leia said, inching closer to where she could see Shara Bey resting, a tiny bundle in her arms.
“Princess,” the doctor called, stopping her. “I’m afraid that the conditions on Hoth are not ideal for an infant that small. I have him wrapped in the warmest blankets I could find…”
It’s not just the elements that make this a dangerous place to live, Leia thought as she nodded in agreement with the doctor. She stepped into Shara’s room, noticing that the other woman was half asleep, while the baby snuggled close to her chest. In the corner, Kes Dameron dozed, but immediately snapped to attention when he saw Leia. She held a hand up to stop him from jumping up and saluting her. “Don’t bother, Sergeant Dameron, I know you must be exhausted. I just wanted to come welcome the little guy to the base.”
Kes heaved a large sigh of relief and slumped back in his chair. “Exhaustion is a good way to put it, Princess.”
Leia smiled and went to the other side of the bed. The baby’s big brown eyes peered up at her underneath a crop of wavy, dark curls, and she reached a finger out to stroke his cheek. His little face pulled into a reactionary smile, but she felt her heart warm at the sight.
“Would you like to hold him?” Shara asked, sleepily.
“Are you…are you sure?” Leia asked back, uncertainly.
“Yes. My arms are falling asleep,” the pilot teased. She shifted and eased her baby into Leia’s arms.
He whimpered a little, stretching his tiny body, and then he settled, snuggled against Leia’s best and heaved a sigh.
Leia smiled at how natural and comfortable it felt to hold a baby. Maybe someday, when this whole conflict was over, she would have children of her own. For now, she was content to hold the babies of her friends. “What’s his name?”
Shara returned her smile, love and affectionate in her eyes for her newborn. “Poe. We called him Poe.”
Peeking out from underneath the blanket, was a soft, sweet, face. “Poe,” Leia repeated softly at him. His brown eyes blinked open, looking at her, filled with curiosity. She continued to smile at the tiny little baby in her arms. "Welcome to the Rebellion."