AN: Welcome to this story. This is my AU TFA Fix-It Fiction. It will be helpful if you read my story "Unravelling" (which was written to set up the holes I saw in TFA) before you read this one but I believe this story is strong enough to stand on its own.
For the purposes of this AU Fix it fic - Rey (Breha) is a Solo. If you would like to see my thoughts on this please check out my other story - Unravelling. Thanks.
My Time Line Within the Film Universe leading to TFA and my stories
Original Trilogy - movies
Han and Leia married; have Ben; happy for 8 years – assumed backstory
Unravelling – my story
Ben at Home with Han and Leia for 3 years – my backstory
Ben goes to train with Luke/Han races (seems like something Han would do for a time so I'll go with it) and Leia gets more involved in building the New Republic – assumed backstory
Ben goes dark kills Luke's students/Han and Leia can't stop fighting and separate for a time -assumed backstory
Leia builds a new resistance/Han smuggles – assumed backstory
TFA happens - movie
Unfinished Business – my AU Post TFA fix-it fiction - story
And, sadly, Star Wars does not in any way, shape, or form belong to me…
And if you like Unfinished Business please let me know; I could probably be convinced to do a few more stories within my reset post TFA universe.
Summary: Devastated by Han's death Leia has trouble functioning; so much so that she starts to hear voices, starts to imagine he is still around – but how could he be? Always one to beat the odds, Han Solo still has some unfinished business to take care of…
An AU TFA fix it fic; it's a fun ride - as Han says, "trust me."
Chapter 1
The flight to the D'Qar rebel took much longer than Han expected it to take, not because it was any longer than normal, but because he was anxious to be there, to get out of the Falcon and see Leia again. Immediately after they were down, he left Chewie to lock down his ship, and tried his best to collect himself before he lowered the ramp which would let him out onto the planet, onto the same ground where Leia now walked. He mentally scolded himself for being not only a fool, but an old fool as well.
The D'Qar base bustled with activity as Han stood on the Falcon's ramp and surveyed the familiar sight before him. This was a different rebel base in a different time, but the atmosphere was the same and it instilled an unexpected level of comfort in him, made him remember the 'good old days' with a nostalgic fondness he hadn't expected.
Don't trip over your feet on the way out, Chewie warbled at Han.
Han scowled at him and Chewie only laughed as Han rubbed his jaw in consternation.
"Chewie, it's been so long…Sith! What if she won't take me back?"
Do you still love her?
"Like you need to ask," he muttered.
Then talk to her. Or mate, the Wookie shrugged, whatever works.
"Mate? Mate? Are you crazy? We've barely said hello."
Chewbacca stopped in front of the man who he had looked after for most of his life, and surprised Han by pulling him into a firm hug for a minute before releasing him.
"What the hells was that for?" Han blustered in confusion.
I am much older than you and very wise. You love her and she loves you. It does not make sense for you to waste more time. He nodded as his sage advice, ruffled Han's grey hair and flashed a smile at him.
Han glared at him.
You need to be appropriately scruffy looking if you are to see the Princess again.
"Who said I was gonna?"
The Wookie gave him 'the look' but remained silent, crossing his arms in front of him.
"All right, yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna do."
You will be fine, Cub. Now go see her. I will take care of the Falcon.
"Okay, yeah, sure." Han licked his lips. "I can do that. I know I can."
With a shake of his shaggy head, Chewbacca pushed him down the ramp.
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It was where he now stood, breathing in the cool, fresh air, and trying to control the unwanted thumping of his heart. Krist! I'm acting like a teenager instead of an old man. It's because she owns your heart, Solo, she always has.
For a long time her name had been Leia Organa Solo until their lives fell apart a few years ago, but with Ben's turn to the dark side he couldn't blame her for dropping his name from hers. What he didn't really understand was that despite their separation, despite their need of distance from one another in order to heal, she had never asked for a divorce. He couldn't really blame her if she wanted one, he had after all, walked out on her.
That had been a horrible day, one he never, ever thought would happen in the course of his lifetime. He loved Leia and didn't think there was anything in the galaxy that would make him leave her, but apparently he was wrong. He still didn't understand what happened between them. Ben and all of the awful things he did broke them apart, but something else changed many years before that, a gradual shifting of Leia's openness he hadn't even been aware of at the time.
After the rebellion victory at Endor they had committed to each other both privately and publicly, marrying each other at the site of the Rebel victory over the Empire. Perhaps not the most romantic, nor planned of weddings, but it was legal and they were happy to become husband and wife. Their relationship continued to improve every year they were married, despite any obstacles that were in their way, and somehow due to Leia's force abilities they shared a bond within the force which kept them close, tethered to one another, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Like everything else that bond had disappeared, or at least shifted when they had lost Breha, their beloved daughter. Once they had accepted her death as best they could, they had managed to resurrect a decent family life with themselves and their teenaged son which lasted many years. When Ben had left to train with Luke, Han took up racing and spent a great deal of time away from Leia, which worked with her schedule as she was always busy in the senate.
Then after several years, the dark side claimed Ben, his dark alter ego Kylo overtook him and Luke's teachings in the ways of the Jedi didn't matter, Ben's life without the stability of a trained psychiatrist to help him with his mental illness allowed Kylo to emerge and bury Ben. At least that's how Han saw it.
Leia believed the best course of action for Ben was to train with Luke, to learn the ways of the force and how to control his power, but Han had the opposite point of view.
It would have been easy to say, 'I told you so," but he didn't. He didn't because in this completely screwed up universe he figured it was some messed up combination of needing both and not getting enough of either, but he knew Leia blamed herself for making the wrong choice at the wrong time.
That's when the significant fights began. They had always bickered, it was second nature to them and the way their relationship had always worked because they were two strong willed, stubborn individuals. But this wasn't bickering. After Ben's fall their fights turned defensive and nasty, often ending in a bitter stalemate.
They had been through so much together why couldn't they get through that too? But it was a rhetorical question and he knew the answer. This wound cut too deep and was too painful, and neither one of them knew how to stop the bleeding Ben had inflicted on them, so they turned on each other. The child created from such great love had turned into a monster. It was bad enough on a personal level, but the crimes he was committing, the heinous acts he was part of on a galactic level was beyond comprehension. How could this be their son Ben?
Han gathered in a shuddering breath and drew himself up and shook himself out of the memories, wanting nothing more than to put everything behind him. Ben was out there and he had seen him just yesterday, his heart ached from seeing the destruction Kylo was causing, knowing that Ben, his Ben was trapped somewhere beneath the dominant personality of Kylo Ren. And there was also the fact that Kylo had taken Rey, the young woman he had grown attached to in a very short amount of time. Rey needed to be saved, but first things first, and which meant he had to see Leia.
He blew out an anxious breath, ran his hand through his hair and gathered up his courage once again. No point in letting all the kids see what a soft hearted old man he had turned into over the years. He walked up to the nearest flight tech, a kid with such a baby face that Han wondered how it he could even be involved in the rebellion, and tapped him on the shoulder
"Yes?" the young man of color asked.
"Could you tell me where the Command Center is?"
"The Command Center? Do you have clearance, sir?"
Han smirked, just a little. "I'm a personal friend of Princess…General Organa."
The younger man frowned as he studied Han but shrugged. "All right, sir. Follow me."
With a snort for the young man's protocol, Han did exactly that. They stopped inside the door and the young man marched him over to Leia, stopping properly before her. Unable to help himself, Han shot her an amused look and was surprised to see a matching twinkle in her eyes.
"General, this…man has requested to speak with you, sir. Will you speak with him or should I have him set up an appointment?" The young man saluted Leia with great reverence.
"An appointment?" Han's voice was incredulous. "Look, Junior…"
"Han." Leia held her hand up, silencing him and regarded the Lieutenant. "Thank you for your time, Lieutenant Anders. I will speak with this pilot."
"This pilot?" Han began, and Leia shushed him.
"Thank you, General." The Lieutenant gave her a crisp salute and turned and departed the way he came.
Han chuckled as the boy disappeared and turned back to Leia. "You have them trained well. Are they all so young and eager?"
She looked at the door thoughtfully before turning back to Han. "Mostly. They like to serve under me."
"I used to serve under you too," Han said, attempting a joke that came out sounding much more serious than he meant it to be.
They locked their gaze for several long moments until Leia cleared her throat. "But things have changed, haven't they?"
Han nodded sadly. "This is the worse part, right?"
"What do you mean?" Leia was genuinely puzzled.
"I promised you for better or for worse, I would be by your side. Clearly this is the 'worse' part of things and I didn't honor my vows." His remorseful hazel eyes searched hers. "Leia, I'm sorry. I never should have left."
She gave him a look filled with longing and despair which broke his heart. "It's not your fault, Han. I have to shoulder more of the blame than you for what happened to us."
He frowned, not understanding her statement. "Leia?"
She shook her head. "Not here."
"We need to talk…don't you think?" He stated cautiously.
She studied the floor longer than he felt necessary and gave him a short, tense nod. Then she turned and went over to the crew in the Command Center, gave them orders, and bid them goodnight.
Han waited for her but he wasn't sure why. He didn't know if she wanted to talk, if she was going to dismiss him, if they were going to fight….
Leia stopped in front of him and a small sigh escaped his lips. Though she had aged, she was still his Leia and would always be beautiful to him.
The amused look was back in her eyes as she regarded him. "Come on, Han. Time to reconnect."
What in the hell did she mean? "Where are we going?" he asked as they exited the Command Center.
"To the Falcon."
"My ship?" Han stopped dead in his tracks and blinked at her. "Why would we do that?"
"Because we need to talk…in private."
"But your quarters…" he gestured to the area he knew the personnel were housed in.
"The walls have ears. What's between us should be private, don't you think?"
"Yes, but…the Falcon?"
Leia rolled her eyes and he couldn't help but grin at the familiar and endearing gesture. She took his hand in hers.
"Come on, Hotshot."
"Okay." His smile was filled with trepidation. This was much more the Leia he was familiar with and had been married to all of these years, compared to the bereaved, antagonistic woman who had driven him away. He had no idea what awaited him but helpless to do anything else, he trailed after her.
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They entered the Falcon and found Chewie sitting in the Galley finishing his kaffe. He saw them enter and stood up, warbling a tender greeting to Leia before he pulled her into his arms for a joyful wookie embrace.
"Oh, Chewie, I've missed you too."
And I've missed you Princess. I am happy to see you again.
"Have you managed to keep my husband out of trouble?"
Han gaped like a fish out of water for a moment at the fact that she had referred to him as her husband. He exchanged a shocked look with Chewie who gave him a happy Wookie grin.
Most of the time, though he is a lost soul without you.
"Chewie!" Han objected, he didn't want Leia knowing how bad things had gotten for him.
What? She should know how deeply she hurt you.
Leia stared into the Wookie's kind eyes and then over to Han before she dropped her head.
"Aww, Chewie, now look what you've done."
I have told the truth. She hurt you deeply. Just as you hurt her. I am sure our Princess had a difficult time of things too.
He paused a moment before he was able to find his voice. "Did you Leia? Did you have a tough time of things without me?"
He waited for her to look at him and when she did he saw the tears in her eyes. Unable to speak, she nodded.
Chewie nodded and looked from one to the other. You two have had time apart, now you need to heal together. Princess?
Through teary eyes Leia regarded Chewbacca. "Yes?"
You must tell him your secret, he needs to know and you must release the burden you have carried all these years.
"Chewie?" She cocked her head at him as she rifled through her memory at hyper speed, and finally found a memory she shared with Chewie. When he had overheard the conversation about the devastating secret she and Luke shared about Breha.
She regarded Chewbacca with sad eyes and reluctantly nodded.
Han watched the interplay between the two and was at a loss. "Secret? What secret?" He scowled. "What in the seven hells does that mean?"
Leia collapsed against the Wookie who held her tight, uttering soft growls of comfort to the small woman in his arms. At last she pulled away from Chewie and nodded again.
"You're right, it's time."
And you have to share too, he nodded at Han.
"Share? Share what? I don't have any secrets."
Chewie laughed. I know better. She will release her burden but you must release yours as well. Only then will you find peace. He looked from one to the other. And you both deserve peace.
"How did you get so wise?" Leia asked Chewie, wiping away a tear.
Han snorted and tried to ignore his co-pilot.
I have lived a long life and taken care of my cub for a great deal of it. I know what is best for him and his mate.
Leia couldn't help himself, she laughed.
"Chewie, it's not like that now…" Han said embarrassed, he was afraid Chewie was going to ruin his chance with Leia.
It can be if you let it, if you both want it. I have seen many things in my lifetime, and you are soulmates in the true meaning of the phrase. You need to get back to that and stop wasting time.
"Enough philosophy already, get out of here," Han said, pushing the Wookie towards the door.
Be wise, Chewie said, offering some parting advice. Talk, then mate.
"Chewie!"
Or mate then talk!
"Get out ya big hairball!" Han bellowed as Chewie departed, chortling loudly as he left.
"Damn Wookie!" he muttered to himself before he turned back to face Leia. "Leia, I'm sorry. I had no idea he would say any of that."
"It's okay, Han. I'm not offended." She shook her head. "I think he is wiser than we are."
She walked past Han to the ramp mechanism, frowned for a moment, and punched in a code. She was pleased when the ramp closed and locked, allowing them the privacy she knew they needed.
"You didn't change the code?"
He shrugged. "Never got around to it. I was always hoping you'd need it again someday," he mumbled.
Leia studied Han, and realized he had aged well. Some twelve years her senior, his age had never mattered to her, what had mattered was the man within. He was still as tall as ever, and was in remarkably good shape. He was still as handsome as ever too, even if his hair was now grey and there were more lines in his face, it was still the face of the man she had fallen in love with.
"Leia?" he queried, uncertainty written on his face.
She walked over to him, and without a word wrapped her arms around him. After a moment, he dropped his head and pulled her close, happy to have her there within his arms. Happy to feel something he had lost forever. He never wanted to move again.
"Gods, I've missed you!" He said at last, squeezing her tight.
Leia laughed and reached up to touch her fingers to his cheeks, staring into the hazel eyes she hadn't seen in such a long time. Surprising him, with both her action, and strength, she pulled his head down and kissed him fiercely.
"Leia? What?" He pulled back in alarm and stepped away from her.
"Come one, Hotshot. You know what a kiss is." She batted her eyes at him and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
"Yes, I do, your worshipfulness, but…don't you think we need to talk first? Start to work out some issues?" The amused twinkle faded from his eyes as they darkened with his somber words.
Leia sighed and stepped back into his space, resting her hands on his chest and looking up at him. "Han, I've missed you. Probably more than you will ever know. I know we have a lot to work out because we both said some hurtful things to each other, and we often shut each other out." She regarded him with sad eyes. "And I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you."
"Leia….I never meant to hurt you…to leave you…I didn't know what else to do." He dropped his head and refused to look at her.
"It was hard at first, but when…Ben…was away with Luke and you were racing we had a long-distance relationship. At first I, could pretend you were just…away…for a while. But when you never came home..."
He heard the pain in her voice and couldn't bring his eyes up to meet hers. "It seemed for the best," he whispered at last.
She nodded. "I was at the point of asking you to leave because all we were doing was hurting each other. But then you left and I didn't have to." She paused. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Han."
"My fault," Han mumbled.
"Hey, Nerfherder! Look at me."
It took a few moments but he finally lifted his eyes to hers and she saw the pain he tried to hide from her, saw the brightness of his eyes as he swallowed again.
"I think it will take more than one night to work through this, don't you?"
Han nodded.
"How about just for tonight, we table the discussion until after we reacquaint ourselves with one another."
"Leia, are you sure?" Han could hardly believe what she was saying.
She stared at the bulkhead as if in thought but then turned back to him and nodded. "I'm sure." She offered him a playful smile. "It's not the first time you asked me that question on this ship, is it?"
He grinned, remembering the first time they had made love on the Falcon. "It seems to be a recurring theme. Though you have a bit more experience now."
"Han, the ship is locked, Chewie is gone for the night…"
"He is?" Han was surprised.
"He is. I offered him a perfectly good place to sleep and he took me up on the offer."
"He didn't tell me," he groused.
"The point is that we are here all alone without any interruptions."
"Except for your comm link."
"Which I will only answer in an extreme emergency." She paused and ran her hands over his chest. "We need this, Han, both of us do."
Han tensed and hesitated.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly.
"Leia, don't get me wrong, honey, cause I want you. In fact I'm rather surprised by how much I want you right now…"
"But?"
"But we've been apart a while and I don't want to screw this up by doing the wrong thing at the wrong time." His tortured hazel eyes searched her for an answer.
"Han, this is what I want, this is what will make me happy. I promise."
"Leia, you don't get it." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I want to come home. I can't do this with you if I can't come home. I barely hold myself together without you…" He looked back at her and gave her a grim smile, tension tightening his frame. "Home is with you, Leia, wherever you are. You are my home."
Han's words touched her, reached her in a way only he was capable of doing. "I'm your home?" She whispered, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
"You always have been. You gotta know that." He paused, and studied her, tension in his every movement as if he was dreading her answer. "Can I come home?"
His pleading hazel eyes touched her soul, and like a flower suddenly finding the sunlight, she opened up her heart and mind to him as she hadn't in years. "Come home, Han, it's time."
He grabbed her and pulled her to him in a possessive kiss as they both tried to fit their bodies in the same exact space at the same exact time.
"Leia, you're still so beautiful," he whispered and leaned forward to gently kiss her.
The spark between them was instantaneous and proved to both of them that time and distance hadn't changed their love, or desire for one another. When he gave her a questioning gaze, she pulled his head back down for a less than gentle kiss.
After that she wasn't sure when they made it to the bed, or even how it was they didn't completely get out of their clothes, but she was spread beneath him and he was thrusting into her almost desperately. Her need of him was no less urgent and she bit into his shoulder as she felt herself climax around him, crying out his name. A few more frenzied thrusts and he was spilling into her, the mantra of her name falling from his lips in a reverent voice. Panting and sweaty, they lie together for a few moments until he reluctantly withdrew from her, and their long awaited reunion. Then he rolled out of her bed, finished undressing as she did the same. He brought them a cloth from the fresher and once they had both cleaned up, he slid into bed behind her, pulling her into his arms.
Happier than she had been in a long time, Leia listened as Han's breathing evened out as he drifted into sleep. The comforting sound and his proximately lulled her into a secure warmth she never thought she would experience again, and content, she followed her husband into the waiting arms of sleep.
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AN: Thanks for reading – reviews are awesome!