This is the very first fic I wrote, back before TFA was even a twinkle in Disney's eye and back when I fancied myself an actual writer. And back before I read a whole sh** load of Fan Fiction and realised I was just a poor imitation of an amateur.
So here it is, first chapter at least, after the destruction of the 2nd Death Star...straight after, in fact...
It seemed as though the euphoria might never abate such was the atmosphere that night. The air was filled with an intoxicating mix of joy and anticipation. But for one lone figure, the night bore as much sadness as it did happiness. The Empire was all but crushed and in the final battle Luke had been forced to once again face his father. It felt rather odd to Luke that in his defeat, Vader had also won. Won back his freedom from the dark side, from the shadow of the Emperor and died a hero...at least in his Son's eyes.
Whilst his comrades celebrated their success, Luke gazed once more into the darkness of the forest hoping for one more glimpse of the father he had never really known. Anakin Skywalker had appeared there briefly alongside Yoda and Ben Kenobi before Luke was once more drawn into the circle of his friends. Anakin had been a young man. Probably younger than Luke was now. What, Luke wondered, could possibly have tormented his father so that he should seek solace in such a lonely place as the dark side of the force. And in that moment, Luke resolved to learn more of his ancestry. For himself yes, but more for his newly found sister, Leia, for whom the burden of her true heritage threatened to weigh far more heavily than on Luke himself. Leia, so strong, so determined to right the wrongs of the Empire and now so unequivocally linked to that which she had fought so hard to destroy.
In a clearing in the forest, Han Solo was inspecting every last inch of his beloved ship, the Millennium Falcon. The craft had been on temporary loan to his occasional friend Lando Calrissian on the understanding that she come to no harm. Han was far from convinced that Lando had fully understood the ramifications of his recent actions in the battle above Endor. But he would, once Han had shown him the damage and demanded appropriate compensation. Not that any amount of financial consideration would make up for the dints and dents, or the burned out cabling, but it was important Lando understood the trust Han had placed in him. And the respect he clearly failed to show Han's first true love.
She'd been watching him for several minutes scowling at one dent or another. It never failed to impress Leia that Han could even spot a new indentation over the rust and pit marked surface of his ship. The Millennium Falcon had always seemed to her held together more by luck than good maintenance, but hold together she did. And for that, on more than one occasion, Leia had always been grateful. Smiling as he tut-tutted at another deep depression in his ship's hull, Leia climbed the ramp to join him in the Falcon's hatch.
"Would you like me to leave you two alone?" She enquired, leaning against the door frame, her hands resting in the small of her back, her head tilted seductively up at him.
Han feigned disinterest as he casually traced a crack in the Falcon's substructure from above Leia's head, past her face and down until his hand came to rest against her hip.
"Just giving the old girl the once over, seeing how much damage has been done. And how much Lando owes me to fix her up." He said, leaning in toward her.
Leia sighed. "It's always about the financial reward with you, isn't it Solo?"
Han shook his head. "Not always, Princess." He said, his arm snaking around her waist.
Dipping his head, they kissed. A kiss filled with warmth and passion and the promise of oh so very much more. He felt Leia's hand against his cheek, her slight tremble as he pulled her to him and then the sound of rustling through the grasses and Threepio calling "Mistress Leia, oh Mistress Leia".
The moment passed, their kiss broken, Leia straightened herself, dusting down her clothes and fussing with her hair.
"I don't believe this!" Han complained as he stepped aside, hands on hips.
"What is it Threepio?" Leia asked, starting to descend the ramp.
"Mistress Leia" Threepio said, fanning his golden hands in front of his face. "Mon Mothma seeks an audience with you."
"Thank you Threepio" Leia replied. "Can you transfer her call through to the Falcon?"
She turned for approval from Han who merely shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
"Oh Mistress Leia" Threepio warbled, clearly flustered. "I cannot. She is here!"
Leia stepped forward. "Here!" She said. "On Endor?"
Now Han started forward down the ramp. "What's wrong with that?" He asked, puzzled.
Leia turned to face him. "Mon Mothma hasn't gone planet-side in..." She shook her head. "Well, I don't think I've ever heard of her going planet-side." She thought for a moment, wondering what could be so wrong that Mon Mothma would decide she needed to be here in person. "Take me to her Threepio."
"Of course Mistress Leia" Threepio replied and started back in the direction he had just come.
"You all right?" Han asked, concerned.
Leia smiled up at him. "I'm fine. The Emperor is dead and the Death Star destroyed, how could I possibly be anything but fine. Finish what you're doing here then come and join us."
With that she was gone. Han watched her hurry after Threepio. There had been a look on her face, just for a moment, but a look he had seen before. One that she wore on very rare occasions when she allowed her mask to slip and reveal the fears that most haunted her. The Falcon could wait. He'd secure her hatches and see what it was that Mon Mothma wanted. And why it brought such worry to the woman he loved.
By the time Han Solo had returned to the Ewok village the area was filled with both military and civilian personnel. From his vantage point he could see Mon Mothma, Leia knelt at her feet, Mon Mothma's hands pressed to Leia's forehead. He had seen the greeting many times before and he always felt a strange pang to see Leia so humbled, though he could not explain his reasons why. Perhaps it was as simple as a built in, age old belief that as a Princess it should be Leia receiving the salutation, not giving it.
Mon Mothma smiled serenely at Leia. "Rise my child" She said, her voice soft and gentle in the night air. "I greet you as your equal not as your Leader." As she spoke she turned slowly to take in the gathered crowd, speaking to all and to no one in particular. "I greet you all, members of the Alliance and those who choose now to join us." Her gaze fell on a group of former stormtroopers, helmets no longer worn, who appeared more than a little intimidated by her presence. Finally, she saw Luke standing as he so often did, in plain sight but somehow hidden in the shadows.
"Is is true the Emperor is dead?" She asked.
Luke bowed his head in affirmation. "It is Ma'am."
"And you were responsible for his demise?" She queried.
Luke shook his head. "No Ma'am, I was not. It was the Emperor's plan that I serve by his side or die. It was Darth Vader who intervened and took the Emperor's life thereby preventing my death at the Emperor's hands."
Mon Mothma seemed to consider this before asking. "Then you defeated Darth Vader to prevent his taking the Emperor's place?"
Luke allowed a tiny smile to cross his lips. "Again Ma'am, no. Vader was fatally injured in his battle with the Emperor, he died as a result of his injuries. But..." he added, "Not before he renounced the dark side of the force. I had always believed there was good in him." Luke glanced momentarily at Leia to ensure she could hear him. "And I was right."
Mon Mothma nodded slowly, assimilating the information before taking a deep breath.
"Do you have any plans for the future Commander Skywalker?" she asked.
"For now, I'd just like to take a decent bath." Luke said, to which Mon Mothma laughed. "But, ultimately, I'd like to establish a Jedi Academy. There are Force-Sensitives spread across the galaxy and I should like to train them. To harness their abilities and to show that there is nothing to fear in the Force".
Mon Mothma again nodded slowly, allowing the information to settle somewhere in her subconscious before turning back to Leia.
"And you my child?" Mon Mothma asked, placing her arm through Leia's and guiding her away from the group.
Han strained to try to hear what they were saying, but the gathered throng had already begun to chatter. The news of how the Emperor had died was being passed from one to another. The myth that Luke Skywalker, farm-boy turned Jedi, had killed both Master and Servant being corrected. He'd merely been a bystander, an observer as the Master was destroyed by his faithful servant, that faithful servant dying in the process.
But this was all wrong Han thought. Luke was just being characteristically modest. He had told Leia that he was going to face Vader, that it was his destiny to try to turn him back from the dark side or to die in the attempt. At least...that was what Leia had told him Luke had told her.
Han focussed all his attention on Leia, on her movements, her expressions, her reactions, trying to establish whatever it was Mon Mothma was saying.
Lando shoulder nudged him and, grinning, said "What's with the face?"
"Huh?" Han grunted.
"Oh, sorry." Lando chuckled. "I forgot, it's the one you were born with!"
"Funny!" Han said. "What brings you down here, shouldn't you be putting my ship back the way I left her?"
"Heard a rumpus." Lando replied. "Thought I'd take a look. You?"
"Mon Mothma. She's talking to Leia." Han answered.
"Oh that. Yeah, heard it all. I was over with Chewie when she arrived. Big surprise seeing her here, I can tell you. Then I saw you and thought I better get over here and say, well, thanks. Thanks for letting me use the Falcon. I know how much she means to you, ole buddy." Lando grinned.
"But what did she say to Leia?" Han asked.
Lando wrinkled his face, fingers absent-mindedly rubbing his earlobe. "Same as she said to Luke, pretty much. Plans for the future...something about Coruscant...yada, yada. Like I said, I saw you and thought I better get over here. Hey, where are you going? I hadn't gotten to the best part yet."
But Han Solo was already on the move. He didn't need a map to see where this was going. Coruscant had been the political home of the Empire. It was likely to become the political home of the Alliance.
Leia had been a political leader before the Empire had destroyed her homeworld and forced her into a more permanent role in the Rebellion. Mon Mothma wanted her to be a political leader again and had come here to discuss it with her.
And Han Solo would not be welcome in that world.
XXXXXXXXXX
If there was one thing Han was good at, really, really good at, it was fixing up his ship.
To the untrained eye the Millennium Falcon was no more than a bucket of rust, held together by spit and splinters. But Han knew her better than that. Knew her every crevice, her every nuance. He knew what made her tick...which was a whole lot more than he knew about any other female he had ever encountered.
And he had encountered a few in his lifetime.
Pretty ones, intelligent ones and even downright drop to your knees and beg for mercy beautiful ones.
But for reasons he couldn't explain even to himself, let alone to anyone else, the female stood before him now brought forward a rush of feelings in him he found impossible to control.
Leia Organa gazed up at him quizzically. "I asked you a question." she said.
"I know." he said, removing his gloves. "I heard."
Leia's tongue lightly licked her perfect pink lips. "Well, it's customary to answer a question when it's asked."
There were a hundred things Han wanted to say to her. He could have told her not to go, to stay with him and be his lover and they would have adventures she could only ever dream about.
He chose however to say "Did you give her your answer?"
"Are you answering my question with your own to avoid answering my question to begin with?" Leia asked, unable to hide her irritation.
"I'm just wondering if you told her yes, why you would come asking my opinion when it clearly makes no difference to your decision." He responded, gloomily.
Leia stepped closer and took his hands in hers.
"Han." She spoke softly, his name more a whisper than a word. "What did you think would happen when the Empire was defeated? Did you think I would just walk away, job done? I have a responsibility now to help rebuild the Republic. To bring unity, peace and prosperity to all those Worlds who showed such faith in us. What would you have me do, fly off as what, your co-pilot to smuggle spices from Kessel?"
Han flinched, hurt by her words. Turning his back on her, he ran his hands through his hair and glared a warning at Chewbacca who had been watching the exchange through an open hatch. Chewie took the hint and headed back to his work.
"Of course I'm not saying that." Han retorted angrily. "For one thing the Falcon already has a first mate, and nobody...not even you Princess...is going to bump Chewie out of his chair."
Feeling calmer for his outburst, Han turned back to Leia.
Of course he would support her, be there for her, Hell he'd follow her to the ends of the Galaxy if she asked him to.
"I guess..." He continued. "I never really imagined that the Empire would be defeated. At least not in our lifetimes." He moved toward her again, his temper now abated. "And I guess I just figured if it did that we'd have some time for us, you know, for each other. No Council meetings to attend. No state visits to out-lying Worlds. And definitely no Golden Rod interrupting us."
Leia grasped his hands again, interlacing her fingers with his. "We'll find time, I promise."
Her smile radiated up at him. He couldn't deny her even if he wanted to. She had him so completely captivated to lose her now would destroy him.
He smiled back and nodded his approval.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Join me on Coruscant." She said.
"Sure." He replied.
"I have to go." She told him, quickly pulling away. "Mon Mothma wants to be under way as soon as possible."
"Before I can change your mind?" Han quipped.
"And besides," Leia said as if she had not heard him. "We wouldn't want Threepio interrupting us again, would we?" She blew him a kiss and hurried back toward the village.
Han followed her to the exit, first physically then just visually as she disappeared into the distance.
Lando appeared suddenly behind him, seemingly from nowhere.
"Now if you ask me," He said over Han's shoulder. "I would have ditched Chewie and installed that little sweetie in his place."
"Nobody's asking you!" Han retorted, annoyed that his private life had played out in front of his sometime friend.
"I'm just saying..." Lando continued, wiping at an oily rag. "All those hotshot Senators and Councillors she's going to be sharing long lunches and private functions with, could easily turn a pretty girl's head."
Han had the urge to show Lando how far his friend's head could turn, except that would just delay the repairs to the Falcon. And Han needed her fixed up and quick if he was to be by Leia's side on Coruscant. Instead he grabbed Lando by the shirt and spoke slowly into his face. "Just. Get. My. Ship. Fixed. We're flying out of here at first light."
"Yes boss." Lando replied, grinning as he watched his friend stomp off. Han had always been fairly easy to wind up, but now it was even easier. Love did crazy things to people, which was why Lando was never falling into that trap. One look at Han Solo showed him just how messed up a man in love could be.
