Just wrote something quick (and a thus pretty crappy) in loo of mother's day. Enjoy I guess!
Through the clear glass of the falcon's windows, the princess of the once-existent Alderaan peered at the scattered asteroids that used to be her beloved planet. Why she had insisted Captain Solo (and not one of the other eligible pilots) take her here, Leia did not know. It may have simply been the desire to get here as quickly as possible, and she knew the captain would not bother to go through protocol to leave the base, but then again her permission was the only protocol needed . Or, it may have been the need for someone who knew her to be with her, yet then she could have always relied on Luke to have done that. The truth she dared not to admit was that she shared some kind of connection to the smuggler, and she felt safe in his presence. What kind of connection, was another great question she dared not answer to herself, despite knowing the answer.
Another question she pondered was why for Sith's sake she had thought it was a civil notion to come to the remains of her home planet. Was there something she was searching for? Again she didn't know. All she knew was that today was the celebration of Mothers across the galaxy, and thus she wanted to share it with her mother. Originally it had made perfect sense, that bringing her to the remains of her mother would make her feel closer to her, but evidently that was not the case. The only memory this brought to her was the memories of her time on the death-star. She shifted once more in the co-pilot's chair, longing desperately for any sign of Alderaan to pop up.
"There's nothing here sweetheart. I've told you that before. Now tell me again, why did you make me bring you here?" After a while, the silence was broken by her escort, who was currently sitting in the pilot's chair beside her, fiddling with the controls of his ship.
"I don't know." Trying to act casual, the princess attempted to snap back at the pilot, yet her voice was strained and hoarse, lacking it's usual spunk.
"Well you better come with a substantial reason, your worshipfulness, or you owe me a tank of wasted fuel, along with my payment for bringing you here that is."
"Could you ever feel for someone other than yourself?" Of course he wanted money. The princess hated herself for even slightly believing otherwise. He didn't care about anyone else, why would she be any different? Yet, she hoped she could strike a nerve somewhere in his heartless chest by admitting to him the reason.
"I guess...I was hoping to feel something. Something that would remind me of my mother." Saying it aloud made the idea seem even more crazy. Then again, everything she did these days seemed to be crazy, her sanity and reason died with the rest of Alderaan.
A noticeable transformation occurred in Han's usual emotionless features.
"I get it. I spent who knows how long I spent trying to search for any sign of my mother. I don't even know what the hell was her name!" He laughed, but it was solemn, almost understanding.
Leia adjusted her chair to look towards him and almost missed his next words, so lost in his gorgeous hazel eyes. Gods he's breath-taking. Damn Leia pay attention! This is not the time to be admiring him, not when he is actually showing some kind of emotion.
"How's about you talk about her? Maybe telling me something will help trigger some memories. "
Oh great, talking about it, great idea! Ever since that krithin award ceremony people had been telling her to talk about it. They even assigned a god damn psychiatrist to help her "cope" with her loss, and all the lady kept telling her was to talk about it. That if she let it out it would all be better, that they could help her make sense of it. But they couldn't understand, they could never understand.
"Fine." He continued, using that voice that erupted some inappropriate feelings in the princess's heart. "So don't let anyone in. I guess there's a reason why they nicknamed you the ice princess." The last part he muttered quietly, yet it hit Leia with the most impact.
The tears were hot, welting, and she couldn't stop them from spilling from her large brown eyes. The funny thing was however, they didn't seem to hurt. She was tired, tired of Luke, of Mon Mothma, of everyone treating her like some fragile, delicate child, and Han, here was finally someone who saw her for who she was. As an equal. Perhaps, she had eventually found someone who understood. Who could give her what she needed to her, to help her "cope" as Dr. Quinn would say.
The princess decided it was maybe the time to talk, and anyway there "She was wonderful. Always caring. Always put my father in place. " She chuckled lightly at her last comment, wiping away her tears and turning back to face the pilot.
"Sounds nice." The captain now had his hand on her knee, but again it weirdly did not frighten her, rather made her feel safe.
"Yeah she was." The sniffling was deafening. "And I guess there is this one memory that stands out. My sixteenth birthday. "
"Well she got me this absolutely breath-taking diamond necklace. It uh wrapped around my neck four times. She said it was to signal the four rings of the galaxy, and that no matter where she was, she would always be with me. She was always smart like that." It was relieving, to a long last find someone who understood. He actually seemed to be right (for once) in the fact that she should talk about it. There was something mollifying about letting him take some of burden she had been carrying for such a damn long time.
"But what about you, mercenary?" The typical devious smile reappeared on her face. "Are you sure you don't know anything about your mother?"
"Trust me sweetheart, if I did you'd be the first to know." He gave her a heart-throbbing wink to follow his statement, one that they were both sure would make her forget to try to get any more information from the handsome hero.
"Someday I'll help you find out flyboy." Grinning widely, she left the cockpit, and made her way to the fresher to wash away the smeared make-up-well what was left of it. "But truly, thank you Han. I needed this."
Yet another question popped into her head : What had she needed? To see the remains of her planet, or to talk to someone? Was there the possible answer of both? What hit her the hardest was that all the people she could have opened up to, it had to be Han freaking Solo. Who knows how damn long he would hold this over her head. I mean she hated the guy, right? There was never a reason to like him, he hadn't done anything for her to deserve her adoration, but there was a glimmer of craving for every part of him. A glimmer that (she would deny for the next year and a half) would eventually infect every single part of her heart. Though for now, she was content in telling herself there was absolutely no reason to give him any piece of mind.
But a week later, there was a question that anyone with a brain could plainly tell you the answer to. A question that no matter how many times Leia wanted to deny the feeling she got from the answer, she couldn't.
That question being : Who had left that stunning diamond necklace at the princess' door?