Hello, everyone! Thank you for checking out my latest fic :) Happy 4th to those of you here in the U.S.! Han and Leia are about to make some fireworks of their own...

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A Night to Remember

By Dant Solo

Part One: Source

From his spot on the stone steps, Han Solo's eyes rolled over the Great Hall of the Massassi Temple. Just a few hours ago, it had been all pomp and circumstance, order and formality, as Luke, Chewie, and he had strode down the middle to receive their medals from Princess Leia. Now, it was pure chaos.

After the ceremony, chairs and tables were brought into the Hall and refreshments were served. Now, the majority of the celebrants were intoxicated to some degree. A large number of those, including Luke, were stumbling around, having a grand old time. Han got a kick out of watching the Kid. Had he ever been drunk before?

He spotted Chewie laughing in a loud bark over something one of the pilots had just said. The big Wookiee clapped him on the back, sending him sprawling, then laughed even harder.

They would have been on their way by now had the Princess not asked him, with a beaming grin on her face, to stay for the ceremony. She had hailed him a hero and told him he should receive what he was due.

With her smiling like that, he found it hard to say no. And as he approached the dais where she stood, waiting for the heroes to arrive, the vision she presented had proven more than worth it.

At first sight, she was attractive. When she opened her mouth, she was irritating, yet her sharp wit sent a certain rush through him. And when she grabbed Luke's blast rifle and began picking off Stormtroopers, she had been downright hot.

Her little speech on the way to Yavin had turned him off a bit. But, the second he saw her standing at the end of their path, in a form-fitting gown, hair piled atop her head…he had been momentarily struck dumb by her angelic beauty.

He recovered quickly, but was unable to take his eyes off her. After placing the medals around their necks, she had given them such a radiant smile. It combined her beauty and grace with the fierce spirit she had displayed on the Death Star.

Han was intrigued, in spite of himself. He had kept an eye on her all evening. She was not difficult to spot in her white gown. He scanned the crowd now but had lost sight of her. Perhaps she had turned in for the night. She had the right idea. He, too, was tiring of the merriment. He had little in common with these young pilots and soldiers.

It was a bit disappointing that he hadn't the chance to chat up the Princess. She had been monopolized most of the night by the commanding officers. He had tried to approach her at one point, but the crowd surrounding her had effectively blocked his way. And he wasn't going to work too hard for it.

Han pushed himself up off the steps and meandered from the Great Hall into the corridor towards the only real home he knew, the Millennium Falcon. The hangar was empty and quiet but as he made his way to his ship, movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. His head swiveled to find the Princess sitting alone on a cargo sled, head lowered.

In the vastness of the huge hangar, she looked tiny sitting there. A wine bottle was beside her on the seat.

"Hey, Your Worship!" he called jovially.

Her head snapped up as he approached and her eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was loud and sharp in the silence of the hangar.

His eyebrows raised and as he arrived to stand five feet from her, he realized her cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes were red. Blast, just my luck. Crying women made Han very uncomfortable.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, knowing the answer was obvious.

Her large, dark eyes narrowed further. "Okay?" She gave a strangled laugh. "Of course, I'm just fine."

He took few steps closer and glanced down at the bottle of wine beside her. It was empty. "How much have you had to drink, Your Highness?"

Now, she smiled. "Just the right amount."

"Yeah, I bet," he muttered under his breath. He moved to stand next to the sled. "You didn't strike me as much of a drinker."

"I'm just full of surprises." Her tone was bitter. Then her eyes went wide. "Just like you!" Her words were slightly slurred now.

"Like me?"

"Yes, like you. I thought you had taken off without looking back, dismisss…" She struggled with the word and Han held back a chuckle. She tried again, saying the word slowly and carefully. "Dis-misssing what we were about to do. I didn't give you a second thought. Then all of a sudden." She paused and her hand rose to pantomime a ship flying. "There you were, saving the day."

He grinned, finding this side of her endearing somehow. He climbed aboard the sled and sat next to her. She gazed up at him, her face close to his, and Han was once again struck by just how beautiful she was.

"Do you have anything else to drink?" she asked suddenly.

"No, and I think you've had enough."

"Oh, come on." She placed a hand on his arm and Han's heart rate increased slightly. "You must have something to drink on your ship. A man like you."

He grinned. "A man like me? What does that mean?"

She frowned and tilted her head to one side. "I don't know."

Now he laughed out loud. She was really quite adorable in this state. "You really want something to drink?"

"Yes, please." Her smile bordered on silly.

Sitting so close, her arm pressed against his, face upturned, she was sending a furious rush through him. "All right, Princess." He stood and offered his hand to help her down. She moved to follow and her foot caught on the edge of the sled. She tripped and fell forward into Solo's arms; he caught her with ease, the heat inside him intensifying at the feel of her body against him. "Easy, Your Worship." His voice came out low and hoarse.

Her palms had reflexively landed against his chest and her eyes fell to the floor. "Sorry," she mumbled self-consciously.

"No problem." He steadied her and took a breath. The sudden, intense flood of attraction startled him slightly. He offered his arm in a formal gesture he hadn't used in a long time. She took it, seemingly grateful for the support. He led her across the hangar and up the boarding ramp of the Falcon.

They entered the galley and Han gestured for her to sit. Primly, she took a seat on one of the stools at the counter then swayed slightly. He watched her for a moment to make sure she wasn't about to face plant right there. Turning her stool towards the counter, she seemed steady enough. Without comment, he turned to the kaffe machine and began to prepare a cup for her.

"For a piece of junk, your ship is quite fast."

He wasn't sure if he was complimented or insulted. "Yeah, well, I've made a lot of modifications," he called over his shoulder.

"You're an amazing pilot."

He smiled at the machine before him. He doubted she would have given him such a compliment had she been sober. "I know." He grabbed a mug from the cabinet, poured the kaffe, added cream then turned and placed it in front of her on the counter.

She blinked down at it. "Kaffe?"

He smiled to himself. "Yeah, kaffe." He sat on the stool next to her, swiveling to face her.

Her eyes met his and she frowned. "This wasn't the drink I had in mind."

"I think you've had enough. The kaffe will do you good."

"Are you afraid to get the proper Princesss drunk?" She still slurred slightly.

"You're already drunk."

"I am not drunk." The haughty tone had returned for the first time that night.

He suppressed a laugh. "Humor me."

She tossed him a dirty look, jumped down from the stool with a slight wobble, and crossed the small space to the cooling unit. After examining the contents, she removed a Corellian ale from inside, closed the unit, and turned to face him. She held the bottle up triumphantly.

"Do you always just help yourself in someone else's home?" he asked with the raise of an eyebrow.

The Princess frowned as she struggled to remove the top from the bottle. "Was that rude?" She answered her own question before Han could open his mouth. "Yes, it was. I'm sorry." Her battle with the bottle continued until Han stood and took it from her. He opened it with ease before handing it back to her. She smiled up at him and he had the strongest urge to kiss her. "Thank you." She took a long sip.

Han stared down at her, gathering his self-control. She was drunk and vulnerable and not the type of woman to fall enthusiastically into his bed. "How old are you, anyway?"

She grimaced. "Nineteen."

Gods, she was practically a child. He had just assumed she looked younger than her age. She was a Senator so he naturally assumed she was in her mid-twenties, in spite of her youthful appearance. "You're as much of a kid as Luke," he said without thinking.

She stood a bit taller, chin rising regally. "I am not a kid!" She swigged from the bottle.

"You're still a teenager," he grinned.

She slammed the bottle on the counter and her fists balled at her sides. "I am a Senator in the Galactic Senate!" Her face fell suddenly and she looked to the deck. "Or…I was a Senator." Her chin began to tremble and Han cursed silently. Her eyes swept shut and a tear slipped past.

She was crying in earnest now and Han didn't know what to do, so he stepped close to her and placed his arms around her. Her head nestled under his chin and she sobbed delicately onto his shirt. He felt a tear drop at his open collar and roll down his chest. It was a strange and intimate feeling. He simply didn't know what else to do so he continued to hold her.

After a few minutes that felt like hours, the Princess' sobs had died down to sniffles. "I'm sorry," she whispered hoarsely from below his chin.

Han wished he had some encouraging words. "It's okay," was all that came to mind. What did one say to someone whose entire planet had been blown up?

She remained in his embrace, still and silent and Han couldn't deny that she felt good in his arms. Maybe a little too good.

Her head rose but she didn't move away from him. Arms still around her, faces a scant few inches apart, he could feel her breath against his chin. Everything seemed to slow down then stop as she gazed into his eyes. The vulnerability he saw there made his stomach flutter with nerves. It was always a sign of trouble when a woman looked at him that way. He knew he should disengage from the embrace but he couldn't seem to move. He was trapped in her presence.

Her gaze travelled from his eyes to his lips and his arms tightened reflexively around her. She was inviting him to kiss her, he knew this. And he wanted to. Gods, he wanted to. But, he hesitated, even though the desire was mind-numbing. She was young and drunk and a Princess to boot.

But she was beautiful and felt so soft and yielding against him. Her hands moved to his shoulders, she brought her mouth closer to his and he was lost. He leaned down slowly and closed the distance between their lips.

She didn't kiss him back, not at first. Her mouth was supple and inviting and after a moment, she began to respond with soft, slow movements that immediately made Han hard and hot. He ran his tongue along her lower lip and her soft, moaning response made him want to plunge inside her. He reminded himself that she was young; and although he doubted that a young woman in her position was a virgin, it was possible that her sexual experience was limited. He couldn't move too fast or be too bold.

His tongue thrust gently past her lips and found hers. He was rewarded with the tight press of her entire body against his. Her mouth was timid at first and he kept his passion restrained. Then her tongue was sliding against his, twirling and slick in his mouth. His hands ran along her spine to encircle her waist through the thin fabric of her dress.

One hand glided from his shoulder, up his neck, to land at the back of his head; the soft caress inflamed him. Had he ever wanted anyone this much? He doubted it.

Languidly, on guard to respond to any movement in protest, he allowed his hands to slip sensuously down her hips to caress her buttocks in slow, lazy movements. She moaned into his mouth and all control fled him. He pushed his hips against her, felt her start slightly at the sudden hardness of him.

She tore her mouth from his and disappointment flooded him. For a moment, she just stared up at him, eyes dark with passion, lips parted and moist; Han felt his breath leave him in a rush.

"Take me to bed," she whispered hastily. Her eyes lowered momentarily then returned to his unflinchingly. "Make me stop thinking. Make me feel something besides pain."

Her words sent an odd ache to his chest. It made him want to be careful and gentle with her. The feelings were unfamiliar and a bit unsettling to him. His brow tensed a bit before he forced it smooth.

Bending at the knees, he picked her up, one arm cradling her back, the other beneath the backs of her knees. Her arms encircled his shoulders. It occurred to him that it was a romantic gesture by nature but he quickly shoved the thought aside.

In his cabin, he placed her gently on the bunk. It crossed his mind that his small bunk might be the least comfortable place she had ever rested her head. He laid down beside her and they turned towards each other. She sighed, seeming suddenly nervous.

"You okay?" he asked in a low tone.

"Yes," she answered quickly.

Her youth tugged at his conscience. "You sure you wanna do this?"

With serious eyes, she searched his face before answering. Han wondered what she saw there and what she was looking for. Lashes lowered, her words were a soft exhalation. "I'm sure."

He pushed all doubts aside and vowed to give her a night to remember. He brushed his lips against hers briefly then moved his mouth to her neck, finding her skin silky smooth against his lips and tongue. His mouth danced across her throat to caress the lobe of her ear and he heard her sharp intake of breath. As he slowly outlined the rim of her ear with his tongue, she began to moan in soft gasps.

He dappled her jawline with kisses, leading back to her mouth then blazed a hot trail down her throat, her chest, to lap at her cleavage. He pulled the shoulders of her dress down to allow his tongue to circle around her nipple, teasing before taking it in his mouth to gently suck.

Her deep, throaty response set his blood pounding. He sat back, took the bottom of her long dress in his hands, and she raised her arms as he pulled it gently over her head. His eyes rounded the curves of her body and he noticed the way she blushed and averted her eyes.

He smiled at her shyness. "Hey, Princess," he called softly. Her eyes met his and he saw her hesitation. He lowered his voice to a deep whisper. "You're beautiful." After he said it, he realized how deeply he meant his words.

She blushed more darkly around a pleased smile. Han's grin only grew broader. He quickly shed his own clothes and moved to cover her body with his. At the contact of their skin, all thought fled from Han's mind. He could only feel the intense pleasure of her body against his. He kissed her deeply, his hands brushing her arms, her breasts, her hips. He rolled to his side, pulling her with him. His fingers found the mound of soft curls between her thighs and he stroked, slowly and lightly. Gasps of pleasure flew from her throat, arousing him more with each new sound. His tongue found her nipple as his fingers explored her velvety folds, finding her wet and ardent.

One finger moved slickly, up and down, drawing the most exciting, lusty moans from her. He struggled to take his time, to make sure it was as good for her as it was for him, when he wanted nothing more than to plunge inside her and pump furiously until he was spent.

Finding the most sensitive nub at her apex, his finger stroked with excruciating slowness. She squirmed beneath his touch, body tensed and begging for release. When he felt her nearing the edge, he placed himself between her legs and entered her haltingly. He slid inside her, slowly, and Gods, she was so hot and tight, he stilled for a moment and breathed harshly, trying not to finish before he had truly begun.

His entire body tensed as he pushed slightly deeper and she cried out and angled her hips up, urging him further inside. With a low, loud growl, he plunged inside her, felt something resist then give way, and she grunted a sound that he dimly registered as pain. He froze inside her, his mind reeling in shock.

Blast all, she was a virgin. Hell, had he known that…well, he probably would've sent her off with a chaste kiss to the forehead. And now, he had been far too rough and had hurt her. Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

Breath coming in gasps, he asked, "Sweetheart, do you want me to stop?"

She looked up at him, brow furrowed, face flushed. "No. Why would I want you to stop now?"

He looked into her eyes and saw nothing but confusion. A sudden wave of affection washed over him. He kissed her tenderly on the lips, slowly, remaining still inside her. His hands grazed her body and when he felt her relax against him, he moved himself slightly deeper inside her heat, his movements slow and sensuous. Her hips tilted to take him more fully inside and her moans took on a melodic rhythm. He thrust faster within the blissfully wet sheath of her heat; she was so tight, pulsing around him, and when she cried out, long and deep, hips and legs shaking, squeezing tight around him, he felt an excruciating spasm overtake him. Every nerve ending in his body screamed in pleasure, tensed for an endless moment; then he was spilling furiously inside her, hot and liquid, like molten lava pouring from him.

For the longest time afterwards, Han was beyond coherent thought. When he came back to himself, he had the presence of mind to be amazed by the intensity of what he had just experienced. Arms and legs weak with exertion, he rolled to his back and bundled the Princess to lie against his chest. She felt boneless, like a rag doll, but he could hear her breathing begin to slow with his.

He pulled her closer and placed a gentle kiss by her eyebrow then settled back, dimly aware that she fit quite well in his arms. He opted not to dwell on it and before long, he had fallen into a deep, satiated sleep.