"Sorry to have abandoned you there." J'tyra shouldered in next to him at the table, a drink in her hand. Han Solo leaned his shoulder against hers and gave her an easy smile.

"I can look after myself."

"Yes, you're very self-sufficient," she said with a returning smile. "Which is good, because I see at least four more people that I need to speak with."

"Hey, you do your thing. I'm good." She was easy to track around the room, with her bright auburn hair and her posh Coruscanti accent. She didn't look like the kind of being one might expect to be part of the Outer Rim Coalition, but after ten years piloting among the stars in the farthest reaches of the galaxy, J'tyra was a passionate advocate for the freedom of the outer rim systems. It didn't hurt that her parent were Separatists during the Clone War, and instilled in her a healthy distrust of centralized, core-based governance.

"One of those people, I hope, will be your ex-girlfriend," she told him, her eyes drifting over to the other side of the room. "Would it be terribly awkward to ask for an introduction?"

Han followed her gaze to where Leia was standing in the midst of a crowd. She wore simple clothing and heavy boots, a bright green shawl draped around her and held at the shoulder with a yellow shoulder plate. A few hours ago she had given her report from the Mandalore system, smiling and confident as she stood behind the podium and talked about the new starfighters they were developing in Keldabe.

Her presentation ended with a demonstration. Two Mandalorian pilots showed off the speed, precision and tracking capacity of the fighters. It was impressive stuff, but Han found his eyes kept returning to Leia. Thunderous applause greeting the fighters as they landed, and she nodded graciously, nearly glowing with pride and delight. "Thank you. A round of applause please for our pilots, Fenn Shysa and Boba Fett."

"Han?" J'tyra prompted.

"What? Oh, yeah. Of course I'll introduce you."

Two young boys laughing and darting around among the adults brushed past them, and J'tyra laughed too. "What fun. You know, I remember going to Corporate Alliance meetings with my dad."

"Is this drink taken?" A gloved hand reached across the table and stole her cup. The Mandalorian pilot, a tall blond man, lifted it to his lips and drank the contents without pausing.

"It was," J'tyra said, amused. "But clearly you need it more than I do."

"You're as perceptive as ya are beautiful. Not tryin' to step on your toes, buddy," he added, offering Han a quick grin. "Just an observation."

"I very much enjoyed your demonstration," she continued. "You're quite a pilot."

"That's kind of ya to say." He motioned to a serving droid and picked up two drinks off the tray. "Here's a fresh replacement for ya. Oya." He raised his glass. "To new allies. I'm Fenn Shysa, by the way."

"I'm J'tyra Holibaan, and this is Han Solo."

"Pleasure." The table wobbled precariously, and Fenn quickly lifted his drink out harm's way.

"Haar'chak! What are you rapscallions doin'?" He lifted the long cloth and looked down at the two boys concealed beneath.

"Uncle Fenn, put it down! We're hiding!"

"Well, try not to spill my drink," he said with mock sternness dropped the cloth back in place. He took a long sip and squinted slightly at Han. "Han Solo. Now I'm embarrassed, because I'm sure I know that name. Have we met before?"

"Pretty sure we haven't. But you work with Leia, right?"

"I do whatever she says, like all sensible folk. Friend of hers, are ya?"

"Old friend."

Fenn clearly caught the implication. "Ha. No kidding? Wait a minute. Han Solo." He snapped his fingers. "You're that smuggler that got froze in a slab of carbonite!"

"I'm sorry?" J'tyra said. "I don't think I've heard that story."

"It was a long time ago," Han said dismissively.

"Oh yeah," Fenn agreed. "Still, I oughta thank you. If she wasn't chasing Fett to get to you back, I might never of met Le'ika. Look here." He gestured for J'tyra's attention and then pointed. "See that follow over there, back along the wall? That's Fett. Leia's husband."

"He looks a bit bored," J'tyra noted. Han couldn't disagree. Like, Fenn, he had removed his helmet, but his complete lack of expression made it only a token gesture.

"Bein' social ain't really his thing," Fenn offered dryly. "Hey, ya plannin' to drink that?" J'tyra surrendered her cup, and the tall Mandalorian drained it. "My guess is he'd rather be anywhere but here. But Leia says she needs him to fly, and that's that."

"That's sweet," J'tyra offered. Fenn just nodded emphatically and kept talking.

"I've seen plenty of men gone over a woman, mind you. Hell, I been gone a few times myself. But Fett...I think he'd gut himself with a rusty hook if Leia asked him to. In fact, I'm damn sure he would. Ya know what we say on Mandalore? No, I guess ya wouldn't. 'The only thing a Mandalorian man should be afraid of is a Mandalorian woman!'" He laughed heartily, and Han nodded toward his empty cup.

"How many of those have you had?"

"Good question." Fett appeared at the tall Mandalorian's side. Fenn affected a look of shock.

"Oh, ready to be social now are ya?"

"You're drunk and talking about me. That never ends well."

"Ha." Fenn grinned at him. "I reckon that's so, now that I think about it. This lovely lady is J'tyra. I guess I don't have to introduce you to her friend."

Fett met Han's gaze coolly. "No, we've met."

"Nice of you to join us," Han deadpanned in response.

J'tyra's eyes flitted between them, and then she cleared her throat. "I was just telling Fenn how impressed I was with your fighters."

"They're beautiful little machines," Fenn enthused without giving the bounty hunter a chance to respond. "Of course, to really fly 'em you gotta have a Mando pilot."

Han straightened slightly. "Is that a fact?"

"Well, I don't think-" J'tyra stopped and stared at him. "Oh gods, you're serious."

"I'm just saying...if you want to test that theory I'm game." Han's eyes returned to Fett. "You up for it?"

There was a bright spark of interest in the bounty hunter's eyes, but in a second it was gone. "Some other time."

"Osik, do it," Fenn urged. "Why not?"

Fett turned to face him. "Because Leia is occupied and you're drunk. Someone has to watch the boys."

"Oh, you brought your children?" J'tyra was clearly aiming for a change in subject. "That's wonderful. Where are they?"

"Under the table."

The table wobbled again, and the cloth was jerked up from the inside. "Did Uncle Fenn tell you?"

"I been standin' right here and I ain't said a word," Fenn protested.

"Come out, both of you."

They obediently scrambled out, and Fett made curt introductions. "Mistress J'tyra, Captain Han Solo. My sons, Jonah and Kyd."

Jonah had dark hair and tan skin like his father, but Kyd was fair-skinned with red hair and freckles. Han deliberately looked from Fett to the boy and back at Fett again. "Huh. So...you guys do this a lot? Hang out and have fun with your dad while your mom works?"

Jonah gave a disbelieving snort. "Dad doesn't have fun."

"Is that so?" J'tyra questioned, amused. "No fun at all?"

"But we have fun," Kyd asserted. His brother nodded his agreement. Fett excused them with the slightest tilt of his head. Both boys were clearly eager to be off.

"Wait a second." Fenn bent over and put an arm around each boy's shoulder. "I might not see ya for bit, so how about a hug for Uncle Fenn?"

"You're not flying back with us?" Jonah asked with a frown.

"No, I got some business to take care of. Be good." As soon as Fenn released them they took off, weaving through the clusters of adults. They did look like they were having fun. When Han's attention returned to the table, Fenn was gazing wistfully into his empty cup.

Fett's eyes shifted toward him. "Something going on, Shysa?"

"No...nothing I can't handle." Fenn took just a second too long to long to raise his eyes. If they were sitting at a sabacc table right now, Han would bet big that tall Mandalorian had a shit hand. "I just- Might be gone for while. Keep an eye on things, will ya? Don't let anybody declare war while I'm gone." Fenn lifted his hand as if he was going to put it on Fett's shoulder and then seemed to reconsider. "Pleasure meeting the both of you," he said to Han and J'tyra, and then turned to walk away. Fett watched him leave, his face inscrutable.

"He's in trouble," Han said evenly. "You got that, right?"

The bounty hunter's cool gaze came back to him. "Leia is coming this way."

Leia's approach was diverted by a few more system representatives. She smiled and held out her hand in greeting, her shawl falling back enough to reveal the high swell of her belly under her tunic. J'tyra gave a soft laugh. She lifted a fresh drink off of a nearby tray and glanced at Fett as she raised it to her lips. "Your son wasn't quite right. Apparently you do have some fun now and then."

The bounty hunter turned his head toward her, one side of his mouth curling up in a fleeting gesture of acknowledgement that was unexpectedly shocking to Han. It was a human response, evidence of a person that he couldn't even imagine, but must exist in order for Leia to love him and stay with him all these years.

"Han!" And there she was, with a warm smile and outstretched hand. She barely looked older than the first time he met her, but maybe that was her hair, braided and wrapped over her ears.

"Leia." He took her hand. "Good to see you. This is J'tyra Holibaan, she's with the Commercial Pilot Guild."

"Senator," J'tyra said. "I'm very impressed with your work."

"Likewise, Captain Holibaan," Leia returned sincerely. They shook hands, smiling and sizing each other up. "I was just speaking with your co-chair about attending a meeting in Keldabe next month. We're developing a flight training program for our new fighters, and we would love to have your support."

"After that demonstration it's a very tempting offer. Do you see this as a future military branch of the Republic, like the X-Wing squadrons?"

"I expect our fighters to be invaluable to the Republic, but the base of training and operations will belong to the Mandalore system. Many of our potential pilots would be Mandalorians, and their allegiance is to the Mand'alor first." Her eyes scanned the room. "Speaking of, where is Fenn?"

"He left," Fett reported shortly.

"I thought he was riding back with us."

"No." Their eyes met, a silent message telegraphed between them.

"Where are the boys?"

Fett pushed a button twice of his armored gauntlet and small holo field blinked and vanished. "Observation room."

"You're tracking them," J'ytra said, amused.

Han leaned his elbows on the table. "You know, someday they're going to figure out that you're cheating at hide and seek. Then what?"

Fett shrugged. "If I trained them right, they'll try to misdirect or jam the signal. But they won't be able to, because it's hardwired." He glanced at Leia. "Then I guess we'll find out how good they are with soldering tools. Excuse me." He nodded once and walked away in the direction of the observation room.

Han waited until he was out of earshot before leaning towards Leia and speaking in stage whisper. "I still don't like him."

"Stop it." She gave him a wry look.

"Nice kids, though."

"Very nice boys," J'tyra agreed.

"Thank you." She rested her arms on the table, mirroring Han's posture. "Now I want to hear how you've been. How's Chewie?"