SUMMER DAYS, SUMMER NIGHTS

Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER: Disney owns everything and I own nothing. Glad we got that straight :)

For once, Leia left the negotiations table happy and satisfied. Corellia never promised to be the easiest world to negotiate with; like her handsome husband, the Corellians were strongly opinionated and independent minded. But they also valued peace, a strong economy, trade, and rights for all of its residents. The negotiations had taken nearly two weeks, but in the end, there was celebrating all around.

Leia was grateful for the events that had transpired, and wondered if the fact that she was married to a man who'd inadvertently become Corellia's favorite son had influenced the negotiations. She could be as cynical as the next politician, but she wasn't so jaded that she couldn't enjoy what was a win for everyone involved. There was still so much work to be done - most of their industry had revolved around military spending by the Imperials and some needed to be converted to civilian products and the military products would require modification. Leia felt strongly that it could be accomplished; Corellia had more than its share of its share of the galaxy's engineering and scientific talent. They had an outstanding system of higher education.

And most of the main planet of the Corellian system, where Coronet City was located, had amazing forests, beaches, grasslands, flora and fauna. The skies were sapphire blue, the oceans a deep turquoise and the temperatures were mild for most of the year.

There was a farewell luncheon, and while Leia wasn't overly fond of strongly spiced foods, the fare was delicious and plentiful. Native fruits and grains were abundant.

The transport was due to arrive early in the evening; it meant that they would have a chance to sleep overnight and arrive home fresh. The members of the delegations were free to enjoy the rest of their day at leisure and Corellia offered every kind of activity.

One of the clerical droids approached Leia with a holocube. "An urgent message for you, Madam, and it's a private message."

"Thank you," Leia said, examining the holocube. She opened it and there was an image of her handsome and terribly sexy smuggler. He had a wicked grin. "Hey Princess, meet you at the palace at 1700. Don't go away." Leia was puzzled; he had been overloaded with shipments as of late. In fact, she figured that she would be home before him by at least a day or two. She'd been missing Han terribly and nearly ached from his absence. She was now as giddy as a schoolgirl, nearly bouncing on her heels at the thought of seeing her husband in just a few hours.

Mon Mothma looked surprisingly relaxed. "Leia, what are you going to do with your time?"

Leia smiled. "I won't be going back on the transport."

"Oh?" Mon raised her eyebrow ever so slightly.

"I've got a date." Leia grinned and returned to her suite to pack.

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At 1700 hours, the familiar figure of Han Solo appeared in the antechamber of the palace. Leia, having changed out of her work dress and replaced it with a sundress in a deep blue green print, had been reading a romance novel while waiting. No one knew she read these, and she felt that it was her own private if guilty pleasure. Han had his smashball and smugglers' blogs and gambling sites. She felt that she was entitled to one private hobby.

"Hey Minister of State," Han called to her. He was walking towards her slowly, seductively, with a wicked smile on his face.

Leia jumped up exuberantly to meet him and he picked her up off the ground and spun her around, their kisses energetic and passionate.

"Miss me much?" Han asked slyly.

"Don't flatter yourself," Leia said, laughing. "How'd you get the time off?"

"It's called finishing your deliveries early," Han explained as he grabbed her duffel with one hand and placed his other arm over her shoulder, leading her out of the palace. "I haven't been here in a while, and I wanted you to have a proper introduction to the planet." Han had been born on Tralus into impoverished circumstances. His cousin and aunt remained there, neither of whom Han was willing to acknowledge as family. He'd married Leia eight months earlier, and as far as he was concerned, he now had a real family.

"So where are we going?" Leia asked, her dark eyes glittering with excitement as they stepped into the brilliant late afternoon sun.

Han pretended to contemplate that. "Hmm. I was thinking of taking you to Pearl Beach."

"And where is Pearl Beach?"

"About twenty kilometers away. I rented a speeder, so we can save walking for the beach." He flung Leia's bag into the back and the two situated themselves. "I'd open the door but there's no door."

"Why, Flyboy, are you actually acquiring some manners?" Leia asked archly.

"My wife is having a bad influence on me," Han said as he revved the engine on the speeder. "She hangs with the wrong crowd."

Leia burst into laughter. "It doesn't get much sleazier than politicians, does it?"

"I do know from sleaze." He gave her a wink.

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Han was addicted to speed and was fond of maneuvers that occasionally frightened the faint of heart. Leia had been shot at, pounded by asteroids, almost devoured by a giant space slug, and gods only knew what else while he was in the driver's seat, and she (mostly) enjoyed it. It felt good to take her braids out and let her long chestnut hair fly in the wind.

It became obvious immediately why it was named Pearl Beach; the sand was pearl like in consistency and was a muted blue-grey. It was shockingly soft as well.

"Did you ever visit here when you were younger?" Leia asked Han as they slipped off their footwear. Han tossed off his vest and pulled the tails of his shirt out.

"Nope. Shrike wasn't big on the help taking vacations. But I always wanted to go here." He took Leia's hand as they walked to the waterline. "I'm not big on fate, but maybe I wasn't meant to go here till I found the girl of my dreams."

"And who is she?" Leia teased.

"I met this princess once."

Hand in hand they walked along the shoreline, just enjoying the smell and feel of the clear water against soft sand and the tenderness of each other's company. It was hard to have been married for such a short time and not be with each other nearly as much as they both wanted.

"It's beautiful here. It reminds me a little of Alderaan," Leia said, but without sorrow in her voice. "We went to the shore when my parents could get away, meaning not very often. I always loved it. I would spend every minute swimming and playing in the sand with Winter. My father would build sandcastles that were amazing."

"I didn't learn to swim till I was in the Academy," Han confessed. "It was a requirement. But it was for survival, not fun."

"Well, water will swallow you up like space if you don't respect it, but I love swimming for fun. And here I didn't bring any swimwear with me."

"It's not something I think about keeping around," Han said.

The two walked further, silent for a time. Sea birds landed gracefully on the water or glided through the air.

"Do we have to go back tonight?" Leia asked Han.

"As a matter of fact, we don't. I got us a room nearby. I figured that unless there's a galactic crisis that no one else can resolve but you, we'd stay tonight and tomorrow night, go back for the start of the work week."

"I love it," Leia said happily.

The two watched as the sun slipped beneath the ocean, Leia standing before Han, he embracing her closely, resting his chin atop her head.

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