Name: In the Arms of Love

Timeframe: Throughout ESB

Summary: Han and Leia's feelings for each other have begun to grow, spilling out in ways that sparks are noticeable, even during arguments. But what is really going through their minds as the scenes go by?

Notes: While reading Millennium Falcon there is a part where Han credits his ship for allowing him to find his way into Leia's heart. That made me want to watch ESB & the argument on Hoth between Han and Leia sparked this fic. If you're only a watcher of the movies, some of this might seem "wrong" to you. I've gone back into the book (by Donald F. Glut) to use the "real" scenes, though some are a mixture of both book and movie. All of the actual dialogue is from the book. Some of the feelings are also mentioned in the book, but I embellished on them.

Disclaimer: Any and all things of Star Wars belongs to The Man, George Lucas. The dialogue from the ESB book is from Donald Glut. I am neither man, nor am I getting anything out of this other than fuzzy feelings and [hopefully] nice reviews.

Part 1/6

I wanted her to tell me to stay, but it was the complete opposite. Maybe it was because Rieekan was there, or maybe it was because I was almost making a big deal about saying goodbye to her. Whatever it was, she responded with a cold, "That's right," making my decision to leave a much more permanent one.

I couldn't believe that I actually wanted her to ask me not to go, that I was setting my sights on only one woman even after all the grief they had given me over the years. But here I was, forcing my heart to harden as the old pain started to creep back and I turned and walked from her.

"Han!...I thought you had decided to stay."

I did want to stay, but only if you wanted me to stay. But that's not what I told her. Instead I gave her all the old arguments, the bounty hunters we had run into over the past few months, needing to pay Jabba back, and getting this price on my head destroyed once and for all. I was very tempted to walk away from the unreadable look she was giving me and never look back when she said something that made my head spin.

"But we still need you."

Women! The gods and goddesses of all the galaxy's religions must have found it hysterical to hardwire something into females that drove men insane. I couldn't tolerate these mixed signals she was giving me; I knew she had some sort of feelings for me; I just had to use my Solo skills to get her to admit it.

"What about you?" I looked right into those wide brown eyes of her and only saw confusion. Why do women need men to spell everything out for them?

"You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me."

And there was the idiotic Rebellion excuse again. I swear, this Princess has a one-track mind. Of course she didn't fully understand until I just came out and said it.

"I think you were afraid I was going to leave you without even a…kiss." All thoughts of leaving left as my eyes flickered to her lips and I took an involuntary step forward. I knew women well enough to understand some of the signs they were giving me, and I saw in her eyes the desire for me to push her against the ice wall and to kiss her with all the passion I held inside.

But then she started laughing, and I squashed down the hurt and confusion, forcing my face to remain blank. "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."

I found myself talking before my brain even processed the words. "I can arrange that." Stupid! I stepped even closer to her, knowing just how easy I could give into temptation, and wishing for her to see reason.

"Believe me, you could use a good kiss. You've been so busy giving orders, you've forgotten how to be a woman."

And I could help you, let you realize that there's more out there than just the Rebellion. I all but said it to her…but of course it was only another yelling match between us. Why in the nine Corellian hells couldn't I have pulled her aside to some place more private than this hallway and talked to her in a way she would know I was sincere?

And what was I doing, turning into such a sap? I never believed there could be a future between us, but I knew it'd be more than a fling. Yet I was all but ready to ignore my past debts and stay with her. I needed to get off this planet and find a woman who could really understand me and my desires.

Even though my only desire right now was to turn back and kiss Leia, only kiss her.