Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I just make them do stuff. I do not make any money off of this in any way, shape or form.

Author's note: This is a work in progress. I figured I'd at least get the story started for you, but the rest of it is currently limping around like the Falcon without hyper drive. I have a hard time writing things in order so I tend to write a bunch of chunks of things and then have to go back and piece them all together. So bare with me on this one, I will be trying to update as soon as I finish things. Also, the Bakura situation is borrowed, but I'm going to go in another direction once I get to the point of them getting there. Just giving credit to where credit is due.

Feedback and reviews are always welcome!

Chapter 1

Han woke up, the bunk dim and quiet around him. He didn't feel Leia's body next to him in bed. He rolled to his back and looked blankly up at the ceiling. She's already left for work. Another morning without waking up with her in his arms, another day he would spend without seeing her, another night where he would long be asleep before she even returned back to the ship.

This had been going on for over a week now. He understood that the Republic needed her and was in a time of drastic changes. He knew that she needed to rebuild, to organize, to figure everything out. He thought after Endor that she would at least have a little time to relax for a bit. He was wrong. She jumped right into work again, her celebration of their victory contained to the night on the forest moon. Even with the few spare moments she had, she seemed disinterested in spending much time with him. She would return to the Falcon to him every night but usually was too exhausted to say much to him. He would try to ask her what was going on and she would either give him short one word answers or already be fast asleep in his arms. He wasn't looking for a fight with her, he's had his fair share of those over the years. He was concerned for her. What could possibly be bothering her so much? he questioned to himself. His mind raced thru the past few days, trying to think of anything he might had said or done to piss her off. No, nothing came to mind. How could I have done something wrong if I've barely even seen her?

He got out of bed and pulled a pair of wrinkled blood stripes over his legs. He ran his fingers thru his hair and walked out of the bunk and into the galley. The ship was quiet. He wondered to himself where Chewie could have possibly gone this morning. He was thankful that the Wookiee had found something to do, leaving him to his own thoughts and troubles in peace. He started the caf machine and opened a cabinet. He stared at the shelves for a moment. He decided he wasn't in the mood to eat anything and closed the cabinet. His caf was ready and he poured it into a mug and decided to go to the cockpit to sit for awhile.


Han sat in his pilot chair pulling a foot onto the chair and resting his caf mug on his knee. He absent-mindly watched the steam rise from the mug and curl into the air. He raised the mug to his lips and took a long sip. He was feeling apathetic, his eyes stared out of the window of the cock pit to the hanger below him, his mind still lost in his thoughts.

He watched the hanger below him. It was busy with activity. The morale of the base was high after the fall of the Empire, pilots talking and laughing in groups, joyous expressions on their faces as they retold stories of battle and the celebrations that followed. Han was overjoyed that the Empire was defeated, but he was troubled by Leia's distancing from him. She was so happy that night on Endor, even the few days that followed as they traveled back to the base. She laughed and joked with him, kissed him repeatedly. Once she was called back for her first meeting, her smiled faded as the days passed and the meetings grew to be more frequent and consumed more and more of her time. He drew another sip of his caf. Maybe this is all too good to be true, maybe a princess and a guy like me just wasn't supposed to be. He set the mug back to his knee and shook away his last thought. No, Solo, she loves you and you love her. She's the only thing you've ever stuck around for and never ran from. You have been thru too much just to fly off on her because she's been preoccupied by work.

What was left of his caf had gone cold at this point. Han shifted in his seat, stretching his legs out in front of him. I should do something with my day he sighed to himself. There was still plenty of repairs to be done on the Falcon. He stood up and walked out of the cockpit and returned to the galley draining the last of the cold caf before placing the mug on the counter. He walked to the bunk and found a rumpled work shirt on the floor and pulled it over his head. He glanced at the comm sitting besides the bed and thought for a moment about sending Leia a message. No, if she wants to talk to me, she could comm me herself. He exited the bunk and found his tool box, gathering what he needed for the days repairs.


Leia sat in the meeting room and looked down the long table. Mon Mothma stood at the head of the table leading the meeting, droning on about something or another. Leia couldn't focus on anything at the moment, her mind filled with thoughts about Han. She felt guilty about barely having time for him of late. She tried to excuse herself from meetings early to make it back to the Falcon before it was too late. She usually rushed up the ramp and into the bunk to find him fast asleep already, always kissing his cheek before slipping into bed next to him. He would stir in his sleep, but does he even notice I'm there? she thought. Rebuilding a government wasn't going to happen overnight and deep inside of her, she worried it would destroy the relationship they had overcome so much to finally have together. Maybe today I'll get back early enough to spend some time with him she thought to herself.

Her attention quickly snapped back to the meeting when Mon Mothma addressed her directly.

"Princess Leia, I would like to hear your thoughts on the situation currently happening on Bakura".

Leia fumbled with her data pad, her thoughts crashing back to reality as she began to process Mon's question.

"It is difficult situation" she began, attempting to put on her best diplomatic face as she tried to regain her train of thought. She took a deep breath to regain her composure. "I understand that the planet had been under control of the Empire and now is faced with an invasion by the Ssi-ruuk. I also understand that a small ban of rebels stationed on a nearby moon have assisted resistance fighters against the invaders".

"That is what we've known so far, yes" Mon replied, Leia breathing a sigh of relief that her knowledge was enough to appease Mon's question.

"We have received messages from our troops that they have interrupted communications that the Ssi-ruuk are planning further attacks. We have enough intel to believe this is a serious threat" Mon continued. "We must rid Bakura of these invaders and free them of Imperial control and return the Prime minister to his rightful position of power".

Mon Mothma looked directly at Leia. "I would like for you to go to Bakura to assist in this process. I believe you have the diplomatic skills to negotiate a fair truce between parties once the invaders have been eradicated as well as assisting the prime minister once power has been rightfully restored to him".

Leia's head raced with thoughts. A mission to an outer rim planet so soon? More time away from Han? What about her involvement here on base in rebuilding the government, putting the Galaxy back together after years of war?

She redirected herself back to Mon Mothma. "Will I be accompanied by anyone else to Bakura? I trust I will not be negotiating this truce alone?".

"We have arranged a task force led by Luke Skywalker to depart as soon as possible to assist in the defense of the planet. We will arrange your travel once we have further information on the situation back from Luke".

She barely thought before the words came out of her mouth. "General Solo is currently not assigned to any missions". Oh gods, why did I just say that out loud?

Mon's lips pursed slightly at the mention of Han, her old feelings about his shadowed past crossing her mind briefly. She knew that he could be trusted to protect her and had more then proven his allegiance to the republic by this point.

Mon continued "I believe that General Solo will be a great asset to this mission. I trust you will alert him to his orders of attendance for this matter?".

"Of course" she replied.

The meeting dragged on another hour, no further mention of her and Han's upcoming mission mentioned, Mon instead reviewing base protocol about various things. Leia found herself growing bored and slightly worried about breaking the news about the trip to Bakura to Han.

She was growing restless, wanting the meeting to be dismissed. Right as her patience had almost worn thin, Mon stood from her chair and addressed the room one last time.

"I believe that about wraps things up for now. Meeting dismissed" she stated.

Leia rose from her chair, switching her data pad off and quickly shoving it into her bag as she threw the strap over her shoulder. Leia had almost turned completely on her heel to leave when Mon's voice came from behind her.

"Just wanted to clarify with you that you will let General Solo about our meeting as soon as possible?"

"Yes, Mon. I will let him know".

"This is a developing situation but I have a feeling that things will go smoothly once the task force arrives. We still must organize for your part in this so I would like to meet with you and General Solo privately today if at all possible?"

Today she thought? The one day she finally gives me a moment to breathe, finally see Han, possibly have a minute to ourselves and she wants another meeting? She couldn't say no, her assignment already given to her.

She let out a weak smile towards Mon. "Today is fine".

"Let's say 17:30 in the secondary meeting room?

"Of course, Mon, we will see you then".

Damn, Leia muttered to herself as she exited the room.


Leia made her way back to hanger. She walked quickly, excited to finally see her handsome Corellian. I have to tell him about this mission though, that I basically threw him into, she thought, a knot beginning to form in her stomach.

She reached the Falcon and saw him working on top of the ship.

"Han!" She shouted out, hoping he would hear her over the surrounding noise of the hanger. He looked up and was surprised to see Leia standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

"Got a break from work for a bit, do you think you could take one from yours?" Leia quipped.

"Gimme a second, I'll be right down".

All of his apathy and frustration from the morning seemed to melt away as he looked at her waiting for him.

He climbed down from the Falcon and wiped his hands against his blood stripes. He wrapped his arms around her, slightly lifting her off her feet as he spun her around. He set her down and kissed her.

"I've missed you, sweetheart".

"I know, I'm sorry, I've missed you too. Want to go inside and get cleaned up? There's some stuff I need to talk to you about".

"After you, princess" he said as they walked towards the ramp to the Falcon.


Leia sat on Han's lap. She missed being this close to him. She wished that everything could just stop for a moment and they could just be together in peace and quiet.

"How was your meeting this morning? Galaxy back in order so I can have my princess back yet?" Han laughed.

She smiled back at him. She kissed him on the cheek before diving into her answer to his question.

"Not exactly. There's been some issues in the outer rim, Bakura has been invaded by outsiders".

She continued to explain the whole situation in detail to him and how Mon had given her orders to travel to the planet once Luke had sent word that she was needed. She paused, glancing at him, his face processing all of the information she had just said.

"So you are going to be leaving? Do you even know how long you'll be gone for?" Han asked.

"No, not yet. I have another meeting with Mon in private this afternoon to go over details. There's still a lot we don't know about the situation and won't know until we hear from Luke".

"That woman sure loves her meetings". He half smiled, trying to suppress the growing sadness in him that she would be halfway across the Galaxy in a matter of time.

"Well, actually" she paused. "You'll be attending this meeting too".

Han's smile faded. He looked into Leia's deep brown eyes. "Huh?"

"I, um, it came up in the meeting that you weren't currently assigned to anything and...well...I thought it would be good if you came to Bakura with me"

Han shifted his weight. She could feel him tense under her, his lap no longer a place she wanted to be. He was angry. She stood and turned towards him. She noticed his brow had furrowed, his smile completely faded now. He stood up and pointed towards her. The infamous solo point she thought. He's really pissed at me for this.

"You threw me into this? I'm not your taxi service, Leia!"

Despite his obvious height above her, she had been in this position before, glaring at the tip of his finger as he threw words at her. Her throat was dry, her mind swirling, but she stood her ground.

"I didn't suggest you as a pilot. I...I wasn't thinking and it slipped out that you weren't assigned to anything at the moment and..."

"And what? You felt bad that you've been so wrapped up in your work the past few weeks I've barely seen you that you decided that I need to be dragged into this whole situation along with you?"

"Han, no, I.."

"You know, Leia, most couples who want to spend time together go on vacation, not into battle!"

Her face was hot with anger. She wanted to yell something back at him, but no words came to her. She turned and stomped towards their bunk, locking the door behind her. She sat on the bed and looked at the floor. What was thinking? I had gotten so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't think before speaking. Why did I go and open my big mouth to Mon Mothma? She glanced at the clock. Three hours until the meeting with Mon. Three hours until Han and I are supposed to be there...together.


Leia continued to sit by herself locked in the bunk, her mind still racing. She heard Han's heavy boot steps outside of the door. He attempted to open the door, the mechanic clicking telling him she had locked it from the inside. He knocked his fist against the door. Leia looked up towards the door, but didn't respond right away. He leaned his head against the door letting out a long sigh.

"Leia, open the door".

She sighed and rose from the bed, disengaging the lock as the door hissed open. She couldn't hide from him forever, the situation needed resolution. Han stepped into the room and took a deep breath.

"Look, I'm sorry for blowing up at you"

Leia felt a slight relief come over her as she heard his words.

"It's fine, I should have thought before speaking. I didn't think that Mon would jump at the idea so quickly for you to accompany me".

"I've got so much to do with the Falcon and then you came and put all this on me".

"I'm sure there are plenty of people on this base who would be willing to assist you in repairs"

Han's brow furrowed once again as he shook his head, trying to quell a small rising of anger at what she had suggested.

"No one touches the Falcon expect Chewie and I, especially when it comes to repairing her!"

"Well I thought since you let Lando...". He cut her off, his anger almost fully returning for a moment.

"And look what he did to her! No one is touching my ship, Leia!".

He sighed again. He was still annoyed at her and the whole situation but as he looked at her standing in front of him, he softened a bit. He knew she was just trying to help. He pulled her close and embraced her.

"I will figure out how to get everything done before we need to leave" he said as he kissed the top of her braids. Leia wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest, relieved that Han's anger had subsided. At least he can't be mad at me now that we aren't spending any time together…