Han and Leia – Holding Hands

"May I have this dance, mi'lady?" Han gave his wife an exaggerated bow as he offered his hand to his wife.

Leia snickered as she took his hand. "Why of course, my sweet nerfherder."

He led her out into the center of the ballroom with strides as long as his uncomfortably tight dress pants would allow. Senate balls would be torture if it weren't for Leia's presence and the dancing. Well, and the food – the food was usually good, if they weren't trying to impress someone from a planet with a bizarre taste in food. He could still taste the giant bug steaks that Leia had dared him to eat at a particularly memorable ball.

The husband and wife faced each other, clasping hands as the band started up a slow waltz. Something faster might have been more fun to dance to, but this pace let Han admire his wife. Tonight she was wearing a bright red gown with a matching band in her hair, both of which highlighted her skin and hair. Han especially appreciated the fact that the dress was low enough to let him appreciate her cleavage.

"Han," Leia suddenly said.

"What?"

"Are you staring again?"

Han put on the most innocent face he could muster. "Staring? Me? What makes you think I'd do that?"

"You say that like we haven't been married for six years." She gave him a knowing grin as they swayed in tune to the music. "It's not very professional for a senator's husband to be staring at her breasts at a formal dance, you know that?"

"Hey, it means you've got breasts worth lookin' at." Han grinned back at her.

Leia only shook her head in response, though she was still grinning.

"Sides," Han continued, "you're the only one here who's actually interesting."

"Don't let the ambassadors hear you say that."

"Ambassadors? Is that what this party's about?"

"Don't tell me you forgot!"

"Hey, it's hard to keep track." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "There, am I allowed to do that at a fancy-schmancy party?"

Leia nodded. "Han, believe it or not, you can be a gentleman sometimes."

"Hey, don't go around tellin' people that – I gotta reputation to hold up."

They both snickered at that, hardly noticing that the music's pace was increasing. "Han," said Leia, shaking her head again, "what am I ever going to do with you?"

"Besides love me, cuddle me, and let me be a scoundrel?" Han kissed her forehead again. "So how do you think Ben's doin'?"

"Way to change the subject, but hopefully he's in bed by now."

"Sure he is," said Han. "Chewie always makes sure he gets to bed on time." Han's grip on his wife's hand suddenly tightened as the image of their little boy danced in his mind. "I just hope he ain't havin' nightmares."

That last word silenced them both and suddenly Han felt guilty for being here. If Ben woke up from a nightmare, neither of his parents would be there to comfort him. Chewie might have been a responsible babysitter, but he wasn't Daddy.

"I shouldn't have come," he suddenly muttered.

"What?"

"I shouldn't have come," Han repeated. "I know you like me comin' to these parties, but Ben needs me when he gets his nightmares."

"Han . . ."

"You ain't there with him all the time like I am," Han blurted, hearing his son's little voice in his mind. "When you work late, I'm the one he runs to when he gets nightmares."

Neither parent noticed that they had stopped dancing in the middle of the ballroom floor, all the other couples whirling around them, some of the more important guests whispering about why did Senator Organa and her husband just stop dancing.

"We can go home," Leia said.

"What? No, this is an important event for . . . some ambassador or other, you shouldn't leave. What'll your senate pals think?"

"Is what they think more important than our son?" asked Leia, squeezing her husband's hand. "Come on, I'll say I'm not feeling well or something."

"That's a pretty flimsy excuse."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that – senators use that excuse all the time when they get bored."

Han couldn't help but laugh as Leia led him by the hand, weaving around the throngs of dancers. "Sorry, sorry," Leia was muttering, gripping her head with her free head. "I have a headache, sorry, I'll have to leave early, sorry."

When they were safely outside and in their speeder, Han took a long breath of night air as he drove them away. "I'm sorry, Leia."

"Sorry? For what?"

"For makin' us leave."

"Oh Han," Leia reached over and stroked his shoulder. "You didn't make us leave – I wanted us to be there for Ben."

"Yeah, I did too." Han sighed. "Still, it might've been nice to finish the dance."

"Well who says we can't? The living room's got enough space, doesn't it?"

Han felt himself starting to grin again. "Yeah, it does." He reached over and squeezed his wife's hand again as they headed towards home.