DOWNHILL RACES AND WINNING HANDS

Chapter 1

Han and Chewie were piloting the Falcon towards Hoth, with Leia sitting behind them. She'd left the lounge for some peace and quiet as it was occupied by four noisy children.

"So Princess," Han asked, licking his lips in a most salacious manner, "you didn't happen to bring the white snowsuit, did you?"

"What white snowsuit?" Leia demanded.

"The one you wore on Hoth the last time." Han couldn't keep the leer from his voice.

"Are you serious? I've had four kids since then! I'd never get into it!"

"But you still have it, don't you?"

"Han, unlike you, I believe in getting rid of some things that have no purpose anymore." Han had shirts that were left over from the Galactic Civil War hanging in his section of the walk in closet they shared. Some of them were threadbare. He still refused to part with them. Not that Leia minded completely; she'd borrow one to sleep in at times.

"Damn. You looked so sexy in it," Han said to her.

"I think that was your hormones talking," Leia informed him.

"My hormones are still yelling loud and clear." He turned briefly to wink at her.

"I believe I'm aware of that." But she had to laugh. Chewie, of course, found the exchange hilarious.

"Hey, I got my title of 'walking erection' the old fashioned way. I earned it." Han was gleeful about teasing his beloved wife.

{Get a room}, Chewie told them, shaking his shaggy mane in both disgust and amusement.

"We have one. Unfortunately, an alien species has taken it over," Leia said, in reference to the kids.

"What alien species?" It was the voice of Jaina. Han and Leia gave each other a quick glance, wondering how much of their previous exchanges she'd heard. Jaina was not inclined to miss much, especially when she wasn't supposed to be listening.

"The alien species in question is you guys," Han told her.

"Oh, thanks, Daddy." Then, her tone sweetening, she asked, "Can I pilot for a while?"

Han groaned inwardly. Jaina was not experienced enough to give a smooth ride. On the other hand, she was extremely eager to be a good pilot, and where they were at the present didn't have much in the way of hazards.

"Sure, c'mon on over and sit down." Han stood up and stretched. He'd healed over from his injuries but his joints did stiffen up more easily than they used to.

"I think I'll start some lunch," Leia said, joining him as they headed towards the kitchen area.

"What, no dessert first?" Han kidded.

"How much privacy do you think we'd have?" Leia said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah. That. Well, we at least have our own room in our suite."

"And we can only hope that they don't destroy the rest of it."

"Has anything been invented that they can't?"

"I'd remember if there was."

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Jaina managed to actually provide a reasonably smooth ride, and Anakin was given a shot in the left hand seat for a while with Jaina coaching him. Han used the technique when training pilots of learning from their peers; he knew from experience that peers were a lot more demanding than the instructor. Anakin, like his older sister, had a lot of innate talent for piloting. Jacen simply wasn't interested. He preferred more peaceful activities, such as playing with his menagerie of animals and composing and playing music with Han.

"I hope the Gelida Deserti is everything Lando said it would be," Leia said as she and Han pulled out flatbread and a redfish salad to make sandwiches with.

"You know that Lando only goes to top shelf joints," Han told her. "That may be the only thing he can be trusted with."

"Well, he has to find expensive women somewhere," Leia agreed. "I don't think he'll find them in Chalmun's Cantina."

"Life tends to be pretty cheap there. But sometimes there's nothing like a good fistfight."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't get involved in one on this trip. You're finally mended. Let's keep it that way."

The intercom went off. It was Anakin.

"Dad, we're like coming up on the Hoth system, can you come up?"

"Sure, be right there."

"I wanna try it!" Jaina said unhappily.

"What, landing? Not yet," Han said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because we'd all like to be in one piece when we get there."

"Daddy!"

"If you can do a smooth takeoff when we leave, I'll let you start the landing cycle. But you let me finish it off."

"All right, all right, I get it!" Jaina remarked irritably. She then looked to her mother. "I bet you can do a double black diamond!"

"Honey, I haven't done this since before I became a senator. And that was a long time ago, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away."