He'd had to leave Qi'ra behind, back on Corellia, where they'd both led a toxic existence. It had been impossible to get her back then? She was right. They would have killed him. They hadn't killed her, but she'd been changed, somehow. Han couldn't understand. Had no explanation for what had changed her. All she would own up to was that she'd been forced to do impossible, unimaginable things. Good, or bad? She wouldn't elaborate, wouldn't let him get beneath her walled-off surface. And now what? Now that she'd chosen to stay behind on the yacht once owned by the defunct Dryden Vos?
Chewie and Han stood together as one, staring up at the dead crime lord's lavish ship, The First Light pass them by in the azure sky. Han wanted to believe that she would have a change of heart and lower the ship. Take him and Chewie aboard; they'd form a trio of three adventurous souls, primed to visit wherever they chose to go in the galaxy. Helping others who needed their help against the forces of evil and madness in this topsy-turvy galaxy overrun with crime syndicates and Imperial scum. Han's heart raced as he clung to that hope as the yacht slipped farther and farther away. Why didn't she want what he wanted? Incredible. Why didn't she love him as he loved her? Hers were the only lips he would ever long to kiss. Her smile lit up his life. Holding her in his arms, feeling her body mesh with his as their lips melded was worth all the credits in this galaxy filled to the brim with mercenaries, rogues and thieves.
Couldn't she feel how much he needed to be with her while she continued to widen the gap separating them? A melee of feelings and emotions for her tangled within him. Pity he hadn't been able to get back to Corellia for her more quickly. Too many years had intervened. Too much time had passed which had changed her. Had changed him too, but not how he felt about her, he reassured himself.
The Wookiee set a mighty paw gently upon his new friend's shoulder, speaking words softly in earnest.
"Yeah, Chewie. You're right. I did. Kinda. Guess I was wrong. A lot has happened since I was with her last. She's been through more than she was willing to tell me."
Nodding and grunting with snuffling sounds, Chewbacca pulled the ex-Imperial flunky into a strong hug. He assured Han that he would see Qi'ra again. That was just the way the universe worked. Long lost friends and loves had a way of turning up again when one least expected to ever see them again.
Han's brow knitted, feeling the dryness in his throat scratch at it. About to sigh, he said instead, "Wherever she's off too, I hope she makes it there safely. And...whatever it is she needs, she gets." In his mind, the thought rested: I need to believe we will be together again, someday...never to part...
Clearing his throat, Solo infused resolve into it and declared, "C'mon, Chewie, this ain't over yet."
That hadn't been a signal for the Wookiee to hug him even harder, but Chewbacca must have thought so. "Uuuuoooow! Ywwwwuuu!"
Han struggled against his good-natured might, gasping, "Chewie, I get it. I get it. Friends for life! Yeah-yeah! Okay, pal. Okay!" He patted the gargantuan paws, the touch light and reassuring.
That was all it took for the Wookiee to get the message, releasing the young human instantly. He cupped Han's head with a paw and his contented howl sailed out over the sea.