I do not own any of these characters and most of these situations
DAY 1:
"You do have your moments," Leia marveled as she watched the Imperial garbage floating outside of the canopy of the cockpit. "Not many of them, but you do have them."
She leaned over and placed a light kiss on Han's cheek. Han restrained the smile she incited with her gentle touch. Leia's hands left his shoulders, but her heat lingered there for several seconds. He touched his shoulder, his fingers falling over her phantom hand. Leia's thigh brushed against his as she squeezed passed him and claimed the large co-pilot's seat. Han's eyebrows rose, but he refrained from any comment. He took slow, careful breaths to contain his delight. Was it possible that stolen kiss had finally melted away any doubts she had about him?
"How long until we reach Bespin?"
"Huh?" Han swiveled around to face her.
"How long will it take?" Leia asked again.
Han glanced up at the ceiling, "I'm guessing about…forty standard days, give or take."
"Oh," her eyes fell to her hands which lied upon her lap.
Oh. Han faced the canopy again and set the Falcon into motion. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to gulp down the influx of foreign emotions her brief response fomented. Fear? Disappointment? Anger? When could such a small sound cause such turmoil inside him?
"What?" He let a little of his anger seep into his voice. "Is spending that much time with me that horrible?"
Leia's toes barely touched the ground, but she managed to rotate Chewie's oversized chair back and forth as she smiled at him, "Not at all."
Her smile, sweetened by her tone, soothed his growing fears, and the tense muscles in Han's stomach relaxed. His fingers balled into a fist before they uncurled and reached out. He lightly brushed the back of his hand against her cheek and waited for her to react.
Leia gazed into his hazel eyes, and though she warmly smiled at him, her mind was somewhere else, "It's just that…" her eyes found the stars beyond the canopy. "I just wonder how long the Alliance will wait at the rendezvous point."
"Well, don't worry," Han stood and pinched her tiny nose between his first and middle fingers, "I won't just drop you off with any ol' band of ships that might be in that area."
"Thanks," she rolled her eyes. "I appreciate that."
"Can't say I'm not a nice guy," he spread his arms out wide and smiled down at her mock-scowl. Han turned toward the cockpit door and his tone sobered, "I'm gonna go see if what the damage is."
The princess nodded, but Han had already left. She leaned back in Chewie's chair and stared up at the frozen droid. The right thing to do at the moment would be to re-activate C-3PO, but her mind was wrapped around the forty days. She ran her bottom lip between her teeth. Forty days could be another lifetime when it came to the chronology of the rebels' struggle. Their might not be an alliance to rendezvous within forty days. Or the war could be over…
Leia mirthlessly smiled to herself as she stood. With the way things have been going, there was little chance of victory. She swallowed down the uneasy nausea that accompanied any thoughts associate with Hoth and defeat. Leia glanced at the open door wishing Han hadn't left the cockpit. She felt so…alone. She looked into Threepio's dead eyes and reached up behind his neck. But then she dropped her hand, leaving the golden droid frozen in suspended animation. Leia squeezed passed the droid and exited the cockpit.
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Han slammed his fist against the navigation console for the fifth time, all hope of fixing the hyperdrive before they reached Bespin gone. He dropped into the chair and sagged against the worn leather. Why can't things ever be easy? All he wanted to do was get Leia to a safe place. Han massaged his temple with his fingers. Safely hidden in the bosom of the rebellion was an oxymoron. The flash of white armor, the swirl of a black cloak burned his retinas. Han's eyes snapped open. The way the Imperials were dogging the rebels insured Leia would never be safe. If only he could convince her to stay with him and…
And what? Accompany him and Chewie when the go to pay of Jabba the Hutt? Han dropped his hands and stared up at the bulkhead. She was much safer with the rebels even if they were captured by the Imperials.
Han sat upright when Chewbacca entered the lounge, "Doesn't look like we can fix it in-flight." Chewbacca jutted out one hip and rested his furry paw on it. Han rolled his eyes, "I just wanted to make certain myself."
Chewie muttered to himself and plopped down at the holotable. Han sighed and then joined him, "What is it with you and this game?"
The Wookie ignored him as he arranged his holographic pieces on the board. Han did the same, but his mind was definitely not on the game. "Why didn't we check the hyperdrive before we left?"
Chewbacca tilted his head to the right and growled before moving one of his pieces.
"If we weren't messin' around with all the little things—" Han made his move.
Chewbacca grumbled as his piece lifted his over its head and dropped Han's on the checkered board.
Han made another move that resulted in the same fatal ending, but he didn't seem to notice, "Sure, they were important. But don't you think the hyperdrive should've taken precedence?"
The Wookie emitted a low whine and flicked off the game. Han rested his elbows on the table and buried his head in his hands, "I know." He shook his head, "Is taking her to Bespin the smartest thing?"
Chewie grimaced before he answered. Han looked at his long time friend, "I'm afraid I'm endangering her." Han stood up, unwilling to face Chewbacca's words, "Yeah, the understatement of the millennium." Han slammed the bulkhead while Chewbacca grumbled. Han shook an angry finger at him, "You can't tell me you're not just as worried about her." Chewie concurred, but the princess was more than competent in finding her own perilous situations without Han's assistance. Han grunted and stood up, "Yeah, whatever. I think I've had enough of this conversation."
Han stomped out of the lounge with full intent of heading to the cockpit, but something made him stop. He hadn't seen or heard Threepio or Leia in at least a standard hour. As much as he reveled in the silence of the droid, Leia's biting remarks and quick wit were well-missed. Han quickened his step and glanced into the quiet cockpit. Threepio was the only occupant, and the poor droid wasn't even aware of it.
So where was the princess? Han returned to the lounge, "You see Leia?"
Chewbacca looked up from the hologame and shook his head. Han rolled his eyes, "I know she's not lost. I just was asking—aw, never mind."
Chewbacca's holo piece was smashed by the computer's piece, and the large Wookie shook his arms at his friend as he reprimanded Han for the interruption.
Han scowled at Chewie and went to the nearest intercom, "Leia?" No answer. "Hey Your Worship! Care to grace us with your royal presence?" Han clicked the intercom and took a seat across from Chewbacca. Chewie's mind wandered from the princess to their current predicament.
"You don't have to tell me forty days is long," Han propped his legs up on the bench across from him and examined his blaster. He glanced up at Chewbacca, "How's our supplies?"
Chewbacca wortled and Han grimaced, "Guess that'll have to do. You're just gonna have to survive on human portions."
Chewie slammed his fists down and growled at Han, "Look! I didn't expect an extra passenger either. She does have to eat!"
The Wookie muttered to himself, and Han absently scratched his finger nail against the table, "Where is she anyway?"
Chewbacca waved a hand as he began setting up another game. Ignoring the sarcasm of his companion, Han rose and began roaming the corridors of the Falcon in search of the diminutive princess. When she wanted to be alone, Leia had the habit of finding small alcoves that even he didn't know existed on his own ship.
Han bit his lip. Was she hiding out from him? Was it that kiss? He may have initiated it, but she seemed to have enjoyed it just as much as he did. Didn't she? She even seemed to be warming up to him. Maybe she changed her mind like she always did. Damn! Maybe he screwed up again. What was he doing? Well, if she didn't want to be found then he wasn't going to find her.
Han shoved his hands in his pockets and headed to his cabin to do some hiding out of his own. He stepped into his room and activated the lights.
"Oh! Sorry," Han involuntarily jumped when his eyes fell upon the princess lying in the middle of his cabin on the cold grated floor. He stood in the doorway, shifting his weight from right to left as he decided what to do, "You okay?"
Leia's arms and legs were spread out just as they were when Han taught her how to make snow angels on Hoth. Her snow suit was unzipped down to her waist and her undershirt-clad torso and arms were free from the insulated material. Her eyes remained focused on the bulkhead.
"I'd ask you if you wanted to be alone," Han walked around her and sat down on the bed, "but since this is my cabin…"
Still, she didn't acknowledge his presence. Han leaned back on his hands and stared down at the girl, "A little warm for you?" He grimaced when she said nothing. "I could help you the rest of the way out of that snow suit," Han smirked, but Leia didn't respond. He sat there scratching the back of his head, completely devoid of words. His face scrunched up in frustration. Why did he even try?
"I screwed up," she quietly confessed, her large brown eyes never leaving the ceiling.
"Huh?" Solo held his breath, unsure he wanted to know the answer to his question.
"We should have evacuated sooner," she whispered. "How many died because of my decision to continue fighting?"
Han sighed, "You did what needed to be done to get as many transports out as possible."
"We didn't make it to my transport," Leia pointed out. "How many others were trapped there?"
Han swallowed down his dread. He couldn't decide what was worse: being trapped on that ice hell or being captured by the Imperials. He studied the slight figure of the girl lying on his floor, and he was overcome with relief. She escaped, and that was all that really mattered to him.
"What if Luke didn't make it?" her voice wavered, and Han's relief over her escape melted away.
"Now don't go borrowing trouble," Han chided. "Thinking the worse won't help anything." He rubbed his hand over his face as he tried to push down his own fears for his young friend. "Let's keep a little optimism here."
"There's nothing to be optimistic about," the princess closed her eyes and sighed. "I should have called the evacuation code when the command center had been hit," she reprimanded herself. "Maybe the staff would have gotten away."
"You don't know that they didn't, Leia," Han reasoned.
Leia fell silent; Han fell in sync. He knew no words would bring her comfort. Hoth was her operation once Reeiken left on the first transport. She'd have to live with her choices whether they were the right ones or not. Han rested his head in his hands as he was overcome with the desire to rid her of every ounce of pain she ever felt. But his desire was futile; he couldn't even shed his own pain.
Leia abruptly sat up, "Why did you come back for me?"
Han lifted his head, and his countenance twisted up in confusion, "Whaddya mean?"
"You could have left. You should have left well before things got that bad," she pointed out.
Han opened his mouth and stared into those large, questioning eyes. He wasn't sure how to answer her. Or rather, he wasn't certain he was ready to answer that question aloud. "And just leave you there?" He growled.
"You were planning to leave m--," Leia snapped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes before she found her voice again. "You were planning to leave, anyway!"
Han's neck flushed with heat that rose to his cheeks. He didn't realize how personal she had taken his threats of departure until that moment. He suddenly felt sick. He wanted her to not want him to leave, but…what was he doing? He never meant to hurt her. Wasn't that the reason he was leaving? Han looked away from her accusatory eyes, "I wasn't going to leave you to Vader."
Leia shuddered at the thought of being captured by Vader. Just the sight of his black cloak against the bluish ice… she slowly inhaled and eased away her fears. "I could have already escaped. You didn't know I would still be there," she challenged.
"Yes, I did," Han folded his arms across his chest.
"You couldn't—"
"I know you," Han said quietly. "I knew you wouldn't leave until the job was finished."
Leia looked down and contemplated how right his words were. And her actions may have been detrimental not only to the staff manning the command center but to Han as well. Then she turned her attention back to Han, "If you didn't come back for me, you would have gotten away."
"You don't know that," the right side of Han's mouth quirked up.
Leia's eyes momentarily dropped to the floor. "Yes, I do," her whisper barely audible.
"What?" Han's volume contrasted Leia's and her eyes widened. "You have Jedi powers, too?"
The princess didn't smile, "No. I just have the feeling you would have been better off if you didn't waste time coming after me."
Better off without her? Han slipped off the bed so that he was seated next to Leia. He held her chin in his hand, "I doubt that."
Leia's large brown eyes welled up with tears, but she was careful not to let a single one escape. Han favored her with a small smile, and he let go of her chin. She turned away from him, her hands twisting upon her lap. The girl inhaled and then whispered, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Han scooted closer to her so that he was behind her.
"For…I…" Leia closed her eyes and lifted her head to the ceiling. "For everything."
Han's hands hovered over her head before he worked up the courage to smooth them over the tightly wound braids, "Nobody makes me do nothin' I don't wanna. Not even royalty. Han Solo lives by his own rules."
Her spine tingled under his fingers, "It's a wonder you're still alive."
Han smiled and placed kiss atop her head, "Whaddya say we find you some more comfortable clothes?"
"Anything would be better than this snow suit and thermals," she flipped the sleeves of the soiled suit.
Han let go of her and stood up, and Leia felt a sudden rush of cold. She pulled her knees to her body and wrapped her arms around them as Han rummaged through his drawers. She watched him, and her emotions churned uncomfortably in her stomach. Here he was again, being nice to her when all she did was cause him more trouble. His care made her want to cry, to grab him and hang on to him forever, and to run away as far as she could on this small ship all at the same time.
Han pulled out a white button-down shirt and held it up for her inspection, "I bet you'll look great in this." He tossed it to her before returning his attention back to his drawers.
The princess held the shirt up against her self as Han pulled out another treasure, "Ah! I know you've always thought I looked good in this sweater," and he emphasized "good" with a waggle of his eyebrows.
"In your dreams," Leia rolled her eyes.
"Or yours?" he smirked. She opened her mouth, but Han stifled her retort by tossing the grey sweater at her. "I think you'll look better in it." He then moved to his slim closet and rifled through his clothes piled in there. "Here," he held up a pair of combat pants. "These don't fit me anymore," he looked at her and then back to the pants before throwing them her way, "They probably won't fit you either, but you can give it a try." He salvaged a few more articles of clothing and turned to her wearing a huge smile, "Chewie!"
"Chewie has some clothes I can borrow?" the princess raised her right brow.
Han's face screwed up, "Chewie doesn't even have any clothes I can borrow." Leia shook her head, waiting for Han to explain, "He can do some tailorin', make things fit a little better."
Leia sat among the pile of Han's hand-me-downs, her shoulders sagging. "Thank you," she whispered.
The right side of Han's mouth curled up, but he stifled his urge to irk her. "You're welcome, Princess," he simply said.
Her large dark eyes met his, and Han's heart stopped for the briefest of seconds. He bit his lip as he tried to figure out what more he could do for her, "I'll be right back." He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Leia called out, her chest rising and falling in fear that he'd leave again.
But she had nothing to fear. Han froze upon her command, "What's wrong?" The princess looked down his clothes upon her lap. Han's brow lowered, "My clothes not good enough for royalty?"
Leia's eyebrows peaked and Han knew he had said the wrong thing. His mind fumbled with words to right the situation, but she didn't give him a chance to apologize.
"Can...Can you help me take my boots off?" she bit her lip and clicked her toes together.
"Sure, Leia," Han walked over to her and knelt down before her. She leaned back on her hands and entrusted her left foot to his care.