This piece is set during RoTJ, not long after Han's rescue from Jabba's palace. Although I am trying to follow the movie's basic timeline, some scenes don't quite match up. So, be forewarned that this is AU.

This story is a work of fan-fiction. Star Wars and its related characters were conceived by George Lucas and are now owned by Disney. I don't own any of this.

My thanks to my husband & sons for beta-reading this one for me. However, we are all new to the rather extensive online Star Wars universe so if you see something that's wrong in canon or could be better explained using the EU, please drop me a line.

My thanks to Jedi1952 for providing me with some tips to better keep the story in line with the Star Wars universe.

Thanks for reading!

"There's been no change."

As the older man let his words sink in, he pretended to ponder his empty caf mug. After a protracted silence, he looked up. The dark-haired man seated opposite still looked shell-shocked. The lanky pilot recrossed his arms and nervously tapped one foot, as if sending for reinforcements using some sort of code. The older man quickly scanned the nearest corridor for any sign of Wookiee activity before adding, "You know I have to report this, Captain Solo. I'm sorry."

Han managed a curt nod before standing. Turning on his heel, he left the room and stormed down the hall. His long, deliberate strides left a wake of confused Rebels in his path.

"Leia, we need to talk."

Leia Organa, the fierce and feisty princess of the Rebel Alliance, scarcely looked up from her datapad. "Can't it wait?" She spoke around a writing stylus. "I've got a meeting with Mon Mothma in an hour."

"No."

The tone of Luke's voice and his uncharacteristic lack of elaboration caused her to look up. She withdrew the stylus from her mouth, tucked it behind her ear, and set aside her datapad to frown at him. "What's wrong?"

"Have you seen Han today?" Luke shifted his body weight from one foot to the other as he studied her.

Princess Leia tried to stifle a blush as she remembered the glorious evening two nights ago aboard the Millennium Falcon. After six months of separation, she had wanted nothing more than to spend every waking moment with Han. Since arriving back on the Headquarters Frigate, however, she'd been swept up in meetings and timetables. They had managed to meet for dinner once in the canteen. But not until their tryst aboard the Falcon had they been able to reignite each other's passion, and even that marvelous interlude had been cut short by an emergency briefing.

She tried to clear her head before replying. "Not since the day before last. Why?"

"He was supposed to attend a pilot's planning meeting today." Luke chewed his lip.

Leia frowned. "I'm not following."

"Han took his name off the pilot's roster, Leia. Lando's taking his place as squadron leader."

"What?" As she leapt up, Leia felt her heart drop to her boots. We talked about this, she thought. Han promised me that he would formally join the Rebel Alliance. He knows how important this is to me. Was it all just pillow talk? With Jabba dead, there's nothing left for him to run from. Except me, she realized with a start.

Eyes narrowing, she glared at Luke. "Is the Millennium Falcon still onboard?"

Luke nodded. "We need to talk to him."

"Oh, yes, we do," Leia fumed. She followed Luke out the door.