AN: I was watching ESB the other day. One of my favorite scenes is when Han and Leia are in the Falcon and Leia falls into his arms and she's trying to get Han to let her go. I was thinking, what if Leia didn't throw such a fit about it?
She landed in his arms. That realization startled her and it seemed to happen so fast. How was she supposed to respond? What was she supposed to do? Yet, at once, her mind was filled with white static and she couldn't think at all.
As Han peered around the cockpit, he held her in his arms, his arms hooked under hers and his hands bound against her stomach. Her stomach did flips at the sight and she let her own gloved hands hang near his.
There ought to be an appropriate response, she thought, but, at first, nothing came to mind.
Han seemed to be in his own world for a moment as he glanced around the cockpit. But his hold on her remained steady. And warm.
Gently and softly, Leia said, "Let go."
Still peering about, Han held up one finger in front of her. "Shh," he hushed her.
Leia obeyed.
Han's arms remained tied about her waist. Leia swore she was getting lightheaded. What was it about this simple gesture that sent Leia to the far reaches of space, lost in Han's embrace? What about it was so overwhelming that Leia's thoughts became unintelligible to her? What about Han turned his presence into an automatic call for help whenever Leia merely thought about him? And why couldn't she get him out of her head!
How did he free her spirits in a few words? How did he crush her ghosts when she'd been aching for so long? How did he manage to see right through the veneers she'd so carefully crafted and so easily topple the walls she'd spent so long building?
What about his behavior seemed so warm to Leia that she longed for casual moments like these with him? What would it take to satisfy her cravings? Why was it so hard for her to talk openly to him? What about him twisted with Leia's heart and made surrendering so much harder and scarier? How long until she would be able to tell him these things . . .
And, just like that, Han let her go.
When his arms released her, Leia nearly fell forward. Behind her, Han reached out a hand to steady her, but Leia found her balance so he quickly turned. He chuckled, amused. "Well, don't get excited."
"Oh," Leia gasped for a breath, hugging her arms to herself. "I couldn't possibly."