"But Mr. Palpatine I don't understand," Leia Organa indignantly states. Her tone is calm yet firm, just like her mother taught her. "I'm a model student, I've never once been sent to detention and all my other grades are exemplary! How can you give me a C in Spanish?"
Leia held her head high. Mr. Palpatine was a tough teacher but she could wind anyone around her little finger. She had an air about her; she came across older than her age and almost regal. Mr. Palpatine flashed a sympathetic smile.
"I agree with you entirely Miss. Organa. Your brother and yourself are two of my most valued students. If I could I would always provide you with an A but your oral let you down tremendously." He paused and rooted through the papers in front of him. "However there is a way we can rectify the situation."
Leia smiled knowingly. For her there was always a way. Mr. Palpatine finally stopped flicking through the papers and pulled a small sheet out.
"Ah, here we are!" His face lit up. "If you agree to partake in 38 hours of voluntary work, you will earn enough credit to pass Spanish with straight-A's."
Leia stared open mouthed for a few moments.
"38 hours? Volunteering? Where would I even volunteer?" She was confused to say the least. It wasn't that she wouldn't volunteer; she was always up for helping others out. It was just that she'd expected Mr. Palpatine to just raise her grade no questions asked.
"The 38 hours earns the same amount as the oral does and you'll have enough to pass." He explained, "Besides, Volunteer work always looks good on college applications. As for where…" More shuffling. "There is an animal shelter not far from here that have inquired about a volunteer from this school." He looked up and smiled widely at Leia. "So…interested?"
She thought about it. Harvard was the school she'd been working towards going her whole life. She needed to pass all her classes to get in so what was 38 hours of playing with animals? Easy as pie.
"When do I start?"
…
Leia glared at her brother as he threw back his head in laughter.
"It's not funny Luke." She folded her arms trying to look serious but it only made him laugh harder.
When his cackling subsided he managed to spit out: "But you don't even like animals." And her expression of annoyance set him off again.
"Honestly," Leia despaired. "You'd think you were a banshee. That sound you make…"
Luke grinned. "C'mon Lei lighten up, soon enough it'll all be over and your 'Harvard Grand Plan' will be game, set, match." He flicked her nose playfully and she rolled her eyes at him.
"I suppose you can look at it that way." Her face lit up as she remembered something.
"Speaking of college... have you heard from Stanford yet?" She asked as casually as she could.
But the corners of her mouth twitched into a knowing smile. She'd heard from Luke's uncle that he'd got in but was too shy to tell even Leia about it. She didn't blame him, they had only been reunited a year ago and although they were close, they weren't like twins who grew up together. There was still so much to learn about one another.
Luke smiled modestly, ducking his head down. "Owen filled you in huh?"
"Yes!" Leia squealed excitedly and pulled Luke in to a hug. "I'm so proud of you baby brother."
Luke rolled his eyes. "I'm not a baby. We're twins Leia. And plus Ben said I was born first."
This was true but Leia was extremely protective of her brother. Luke had such innocence about him and she was naturally very mothering towards him.
Leia leaned back to rustle Luke's hair. She smiled at him fondly. "You're still my baby brother."
…..
'The Falcon Animal Center' wasn't much to look at. The paint on the walls was peeling in several places and had faded from what presumably had been silver, to a dirty grey color. The sign was missing a letter so it read 'The Falcon Anima Center'. Leia looked back at her adopted father, who was beginning to drive away. He flashed her a reassuring smile and a small wave. She returned it grimly. It was too late to go back and besides, she needed to do this.
Taking a deep breath she stepped into the building. If it was even possible, it was colder inside than out and Leia wrapped her arms around herself shivering. There was no one in sight the reception room was pretty bare. There were a few hard looking wooden chairs in the corner that she supposed were for the waiting room, a front desk strewn with papers and files but no receptionist. She wasn't entirely sure what to do and almost considered leaving again when a tall man stepped out of a door right beside her.
He was a handsome man in a rugged, scruffy way. He was dressed in the dirtiest shirt she'd ever laid eyes on and wore a cocky smile on his face when he saw her. She'd jumped when he'd stepped out and he seemed to enjoy the fact. She realized already he was going to be a difficult man.
"You must be Leia." He stated simply as he looked her up and down.
"Yes, that's right." She replied coldly. She didn't appreciate his wandering eyes.
He shook his head slightly. "I was expecting you'd look different princess."
Leia scowled. "Don't call me that. And what were you expecting?"
His cocky smile grew. "The way Mr. Palpatine described you I expected someone a lot plainer." He gave her a wink and her cheeks heated up. With rage of course. The nerve of this man.
"I'll thank you not to comment on my appearance. Who's in charge here?" She stood straight trying to remain composed but the way he was eyeing her amusedly made her shiver.
"I'm in charge here your worship." He replied looking vaguely offended. He extended an arm for her to shake. She ignored it so he bowed mockingly. "Han Solo at your service."
….
Han was single-handedly the most arrogant man Leia had ever had the displeasure of meeting. Leia was not down to 28 hours and the 10 hours she'd spent with Han, were ones she would never get back again. Han seemed pleased at her attitude towards him and took every opportunity to tease of flirt with her. It drove her crazy and the more it drove her crazy the more he did it.
"Han why are the lights off?" Leia asked as she entered the gloomy staff room.
"Felt like giving the place a little romantic atmosphere for you princess." He winked at her hoping to lighten her up but when her stern face didn't change he added, "Well that and the bulb burst."
"Why don't you fix it?" She said plainly, frowning.
"I was just about to your highness." He held up a lightbulb that was far too small to be of any use to anyone.
"Sure." She smirked to herself at the bulb in his hand. "You do know that's the wrong sort for that lamp."
Han felt a familiar rage build up inside him. She was always acting like he was incapable of doing anything. He attempted to fit the bulb into the lamp, but sure enough it didn't fit even slightly. When he turned Leia's eyes were glinting with amusement. He rolled his eyes and handed her the bulb. "You fix it is you're so high and mighty."
"I may well do that." Han marched to the other side of the room where Chewbacca the white Persian cat lay. He picked him up like he was holding a baby and he struggled in Han's arms.
"You're not supposed to handle a cat like that." Leia scolded, because of course she would! Was there anything this woman didn't criticize?
"Your worship am I mistaken or is it me who runs this place? I know how Chewie likes to be held." He began to tickle the cat's stomach and he meowed, unimpressed.
Leia walked towards him with a concerned sigh. "He's gonna scratch you if you hold him like that! Hold him upright." She tried to take Chewbacca from Han but he moved away crossly.
"Aw Chewie would never hurt me would ya old buddy?" He began to tickle his tummy again, when Chewie hissed and batted Han's hand hard with his paw, leaving a long red mark. Han dropped Chewie in surprise. "Ow! He scratched me!"
Leia couldn't help but laugh at the hilarity of the situation. It was a light laugh; almost a giggle and Han's heart would have warmed at it's beautiful sound had his arm not hurt so damn bad. Chewie purred gleefully and rubbed himself against Leia's legs.
To Chewie Han said, "Oh laugh it up fuzzball."
"I told you so." Leia said with a smug smile.
"Do me a favor and go to hell princess." Han snapped, too proud to admit she was right.
Leia wasn't at all fazed by his tone. "Gladly."
On her way out she grabbed something from a drawer and fixed it into the lamp, no trouble and it lit the room up. Han stared after her a while after she was gone in astonishment. She may have been frustrating and self-righteous but she certainly was something.
He turned to Chewie who was now proudly cleaning his fur.
"Either I'm going to kill that girl or I'm starting to like her."
….
Leia didn't believe in homicide but she was very close to contemplating it today.
"How dare you Han!"
"Relax princess it's just a bit of mud."
Leia glared with a look she hoped said 'be afraid, be very afraid.' The intolerable man had decided that throwing a mud covered Labradoodle at her was funny. He soon discovered that Leia didn't think this was the case.
"Just a bit? Han my shirt is covered in the stuff. Oh and quit calling me that." She hated his pet names for her. Deep down she knew he used them to get a rise out of her and she should just ignore him, but there was something about him that riled her up inside. He brought out the worst in her.
"Calling you what?" Han took a step closer to her as she took a step back.
"Princess." She cursed herself for allowing her voice to tremble. He was just getting so close to her and had this wild look in his eye. He was irritatingly handsome and that drove her crazier than anything. Though she would never admit that.
"Sure Leia." He replied and somehow hearing the man say her real name riled her up even more. It was how he said it, savoring each letter like they belonged to him.
"You make it difficult sometimes." She sighed and looked him in the eye.
"I do. I really do." He agreed sincerely, but as always there was a glint of mischief in his eye. He leaned in closer and she stepped back, now right against the wall. After a few seconds of staring into those eyes, Leia realized who she was and stood up straight.
"I have to go change." She stated bluntly and pushed past him, making her way towards the bathroom.
"Mind if I-" he called after her but she cut him off almost immediatly.
"NO!"
Han's bellowing laughter followed her all the way down the corridor.
….
"Oh and Luke the names he has for me!" Leia was relaying today's events to Luke on the phone. She put on a deep gravelly voice. "'Your worship, princess, your highnessness' He's worse than a child Luke, I swear."
Luke smiled to himself, he couldn't see her but he was sure she was pacing. "Leia you realize you've talked about this man non-stop for the past hour?"
Leia looked at her watch and realized he was right. She blushed slightly, grateful Luke wasn't able to see her.
"Well he just makes me so mad! The nerve of that man! I could just…"
"I think you like him really. " Luke interrupted.
"Do not." Leia argued resentfully. How could Luke even suggest she liked that stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking….
"Do too." Luke interrupted her thoughts with his smug tone causing Leia to sigh in exasperation.
"What are we 5? He's insufferable." She hoped her brother would let up soon but there was no chance of that.
"Leia. Come on I know you. I know when you like someone and you my friend," She imagined his knowing expression. "Are in deep."
"I'm hanging up the phone now." She said abruptly.
"Are no-" She cut him off.
Leia huffed to herself. Her? Like Han Solo? Not in a million years.
…
Leia entered the center to find it uncommonly quiet. Usually the sounds of Han cursing as he tried to feed the exotic birds, who hated him and regularly tried to peck his eyes out, filled the building, but today nothing. She slipped silently into the animal room and Han was nowhere to be seen.
"Han? She called out nervously. Nothing.
When she at last found him, he was sitting alone at the far end of the staff room hunched over looking at something. When she drew closer Leia could see the tear stains on his cheeks.
"Han, are you ok?" She took him by surprise and he quickly hid the object he'd been so intently staring at into his pocket.
"I'm just fine princess." He mumbled sadly. Usually Leia would just leave him be, but he seemed so out of character, she just couldn't.
"You don't look fine." She sat gently beside him. His eyes remained on the table in front of him. This didn't stop Leia, she leaned forward trying to catch his eye.
"What's on your mind?"
"You wouldn't understand." He snapped suddenly, but for once Leia didn't snap back. She simply raised her eyebrows.
"Try me." This made Han look up at her expression, she looked concerned but not pitying and this he was glad of. She looked as if nothing would faze her and maybe it wouldn't. She was a strong woman and she must have become that way somehow, so he decided to trust her. He took the photo he had hidden in his pocket out and showed it to her. It was a photo of a middle-aged couple with stern expressions on their faces. Leia immediately placed who they were from the similarities in their appearance to Han. They were his parents.
"Today is the anniversary of their death's." He explained making eye contact briefly. "They died four years ago today."
"Oh I'm sorry." She really was. She gently put a hand on his shoulder and he smiled at her gratefully.
"It's alright. It's not like we were close. I'm pretty sure Pap couldn't stand me…but I still miss em'." His voice cracked and he had to pause to stop himself from crying again. He refused to cry in front of Leia. He looked back at her and shrugged. "I dunno it's stupid."
"It isn't stupid!" Leia insisted. "It's far from it. You may not have guessed this but my father- my birth father-wasn't exactly a piece of cake." She laughed. That was an understatement. Her father was a sociopath. "But I miss him everyday."
"Is he dead?" Han wondered aloud. After he said it he worried that it was too invasive but Leia just shook her head.
"No but he may as well be." Han nodded, he didn't know quite why but he knew exactly what she meant. He sniffed and realized the tears were coming again.
He ducked his head in embarrassment but she lifted his chin up with her hand and looked him in the eye. Han felt his chest tighten, his heart thudded so fast against his ribs he was surprised she couldn't hear it. She wiped a stray tear from his face and smiled at him. The most genuine smile he'd ever seen from her.
"Don't worry, I wont judge you." She said finally after a long silence. She was referring to his tears and his face reddened. She suddenly laughed and said lightheartedly. "Not for this anyway. I will however judge you for the god awful paintwork in this place."
Han couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped his mouth but he still tried to look angry.
"Hey! Your worship, it's not that bad." He felt a real smile cross his lips in spite of himself and realized she had successfully cheered him up. Many had tried and failed to distract
Han from the sadness he always felt on this day. Yet this frustrating, difficult, stubborn woman had managed without uttering the dreaded 'they'll always be in your heart.' He found himself staring at her perhaps too long.
"Yes it is." She answered him with a gleam in her beautiful brown eyes.
"Hey, Leia." He said shyly. "Thanks."
The way she smiled at him made Han realize he was a goner
….
"Who's this pretty young thing?"
Leia looked away from tending the birds and saw Han and another good looking man enter the room. They walked in the same way and had similar half smiles and Leia guessed that this was the friend he'd once told her about who was like a brother to Han.
"Lando this is Leia. Leia, Lando." Han confirmed her suspicion. He gave her a small wink, which she returned with a modest smile. Ever since the talk they'd had the other day Han had become almost tolerable. In fact she felt like she'd never actually disliked him at all. He was still irritating at times but they got along quite well. Lando stepped forward and extended a hand. Leia shook it once.
"Ah the volunteer you don't stop talking about." Lando said teasingly to Han nudging him in the ribs. Han's mouth dropped open and his face turned visibly red.
"I don't-" He began to protest but Leia decided to save him trouble and cut him off.
"Nice to meet you Lando." She said kindly.
"The pleasure is all mine." Lando took her hand and kissed it. Leia felt slightly uncomfortable and met Han's eyes. His face was cold and jealous and Leia found herself laughing when he stepped in between them.
"Alright you old smoothie. You gonna help me out back or what?" Han pulled Lando out by his shoulder before he could protest further. Leia watched them walk away, a fond smile still on her face and wondered how she had grown to like the scruffy scoundrel.
…..
"Leia! Leia!" Luke stepped into the staff room and Leia gasped pulling him into a hug.
"Luke? What are you doing here?" She said laughing. Luke had been away for days now and she hadn't seen him in person for ages. When he was gone it was as if she were missing an arm.
"I was passing by and wanted to see the animals. And perhaps see the infamous guy I've been dying to meet." Luke pulled away from their hug to give her a wink and nudge, she mock hit him in the ribs and he laughed. Suddenly the door burst open and Han was talking even before he entered the room.
"Hey princess Chewie escaped the- Oh who is this?" He frowned at Luke who was beaming ear to ear. He'd heard Leia describe Han about a thousand times, he knew exactly who this was.
Leia tried to ignore her brother. "Luke this is Han, Han this is Luke."
"Han! I've heard so much about you." Luke stepped forward and shook Han's hand. Han looked grim.
"Hmm funny, I've never heard of you." He said bluntly and Leia rolled her eyes. Trust Han to jump to conclusions about their relationship.
"Sure you have Han! I always talk about my stupid baby brother." She elbowed Luke who glared at her like a 4 year old.
"Hey! I'm not a baby! We're twins. Tell him we're twins." Luke turned to Han to explain but he was frowning at the floor. Then his eyes opened wide with realization.
"Brother huh?" Han's face relaxed considerably, something that didn't go unnoticed by either twin. He grinned suddenly and patted Luke's back enthusiastically. "Well it's great to finally meet you Luke…We have an animal crisis that I need your sister for but feel free to tag along."
"Yes!" Luke yelled and Leia turned to Han.
"Luke would own a hundred animals if he could but his uncle is allergic to pretty much anything so he has to wait." She explained and Han laughed.
"Wait till you meet Chewie. You're gonna love him."
Leia was surprised when Han linked his arm with hers and led her out, Luke in tow.
When Leia looked back at Luke he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and she half wanted to flip him off but she was too much of a lady for that so settled for a warning look.
Beside her Han smiled to himself. He couldn't help but be jealous when a cutesy young boy was in Leia's arms. He was filled with relief when he found out they were siblings. Perhaps he had a chance after all.
…
It was the end of the last day of volunteering and Leia was finishing cleaning up the floor. Han had been unusually quiet today; in fact she'd barely seen him at all. This was good because perhaps she could bury her feelings, set them aside if he wasn't there to distract her. It would be so much easier to leave him then.
Suddenly the door burst open and there he was. He looked the same as when she first saw him, tall and scruffy and dirty. But now his face was soft and sad looking and he tried for a smile. Her heart thudded in her chest; she didn't think she could face this. He walked over to where she was standing.
"I guess this is it princess." He said mournfully with his typical mischievous smile.
"I guess so." She hadn't meant to sound so disinterested and regretted her use of words immediatly.
I'll miss you more than anything.
A flash of hurt crossed the man's face and then anger.
"Well don't get sentimental on me. Bye Leia." He barked and began to turn away from her and she couldn't stand it.
"Han!" she grabbed his shoulder to turn him around. She had to make it clear she cared, even if it meant sacrificing her pride, even if it meant facing her deepest fear.
"What?" Han muttered as he turned to face her, but he looked hopeful and Leia decided to be brave, to do something crazy.
Leia grabbed Han's face without warning and pressed her lips to his. He was so dazed he almost forgot to kiss her back. But after a moment he wound his arms tightly around her as if she was going somewhere, which she supposed she was. He had wanted this since he met her. He needed her. Han reveled in the feeling of her lips as he kissed her and kissed her. Leia opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. She could hardly believe she'd actually kissed Han Solo, but she was so happy she felt her heart might burst. Han let out a low moan when her tongue stroked his and held her tighter still. They broke away only when Han's smiling got in the way of actual kissing.
Leia looked up at him breathlessly, her lips swollen, her eyes dark and diluted. Han thought she had never looked more beautiful. Her arms were still wound around his neck, his rested on her waist.
"Is that better?" She asked when she finally managed to form words.
"No." He said, and her worried expression only lasted a second as he lifted her up and whirled her around. She wound her legs around his waist and he leaned in. "This is." he whispered against her lips before he got lost in her again.
….
Later Leia 's head rested against Han's chest, her arms wound around his waist. She could feel his heart against her ear and it was comforting. It reminded her that he was real and alive and hers. They were lying on the floor of the staff room still and Han couldn't stop the goofy grin that had graced his face for the past few hours.
"I knew it." He said grinning down at Leia. Her brow furrowed and he thought she might have been the most adorable person to ever live.
"Knew what?"
"I knew you liked me back." He gloated with an arrogant smile.
Leia snorted, remembering his reaction to Luke. "You so did not."
"Yes I did. Even when you told me you couldn't stand me and looked at me like I was the devil." He leaned down and kissed her smiling mouth. "I knew you wanted me."
Leia pulled his head down for a tender kiss and then another, he sighed against her lips. He was completely happy.
"I guess I always knew too." She said after a while, tracing patterns on his bare chest.
"Oh?" He said, surprised at her confession. Though he supposed he shouldn't be. Leia was full of surprises today.
"Mhmm." Leia hummed. She watched Han like she hadn't been able to before. She looked at the scar on his chin, the brown flecks in his green eyes, the lines across his forehead when he frowned. Han leaned down and kissed her forehead gently and she smiled warmly. "You weren't all bad you know." She tittered.
Han raised his eyebrows, trying to look offended to no avail. His telltale mouth turned upwards again. He didn't care.
"I know." He said against her lips. He felt her smile into their kiss and Han wondered what good deed he ever did to deserve this.
