DAY 2:

"Do you think it's wise having Threepio manning the cockpit?" Leia entered the galley. Her hair was meticulously braided around her head, and she wore Han's grey sweater which complimented her green combat pants.

Han put down his cup of kaffe, "First of all, he's not 'manning' the cockpit since he's not even a man." Han looked to his co-pilot and they both broke out into a fit of laughter.

The princess was not amused, "You know what I mean." She folded her arms across her chest to emphasize her point, "And don't encourage him, Chewie."

Chewbacca's eyes whirled to the bulkhead as he brought his cup to his mouth. Despite his attempts at consuming his kaffe, he couldn't contain his amusement. Han reached up in the cupboard and pulled out another cup. He poured some kaffe into it and held it out to Leia, "Relax. He can't mess anything up."

Leia took the cup but didn't drink it, "This is Threepio we're talking about."

"Well," Han glanced at Chewbacca. "Couldn't ask you to 'man' the cockpit, since you aren't a man either," his eyes roamed her body.

Chewie fell off of the bench he was sitting on and whooped uncontrollably. Leia placed her free hand on her hip and narrowed her dark eyes on the Wookie, "Since Chewie isn't a 'man' either, I suppose you've banned him from the cockpit as well?"

Chewbacca sat up and growled. Leia's lips stretched into a triumphant smirk. Han's eyes shifted from the Wookie to the girl, "I wouldn't go around challengin' a Wookie's manhood, Princess."

Leia blinked her eyes a couple of times before recovering her earlier bravado, "It seems to me that I'm not the one challenging it."

Han picked up his cup and took a sip of his kaffe as Chewbacca's steely blue eyes focused on him. Leia's earlier smirk shifted into smugness. "Hey, pal," he held his right hand out, "She's the one who brought up the subject, not me."

The princess rolled her eyes, "I'm just surprised that you'd let Threepio anywhere near the controls of this piece of junk!"

"Hey, Your Worship!" Han's brow creased, "This 'piece of junk' saved your ass once again!"

"That's not entirely accurate, Captain," Leia countered. "After all, we aren't anywhere near the rendezvous point, and we're still in danger of being discovered by the Empire."

"If you think your little alliance is safe from the Imperials at that rendezvous point, you're more naïve than I thought," Han put down his cup.

Leia pressed her lips together before taking a sip of her kaffe. She grimaced and placed her cup next to his, "If you trust Threepio alone in the cockpit, then you're more idiotic than I thought."

"Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bunk today, Chewie," Han bumped into her as he left the galley.

The princess' cheeks reddened as she was left standing under the scrutiny of the Wookie. Chewbacca tilted his head and warbled, but she had only a vague idea of what he was saying. Chewie rose, walked over to her, and patted her head. He then reached a hairy paw to the wall, depressed a blue button and directed his voice toward it.

"No, Chewbacca" Threepio's voice crackled. "Nothing has transpired since Captain Solo inquired fifteen standard minutes ago."

Leia cringed, "Oh." She looked up at Chewie, "I suppose I should go apologize." Leia glanced toward the galley exit. Chewbacca sighed, grabbed the girl by the shoulders, and pointed her in the right direction. He gave her a gentle shove before returning to his cup of kaffe.

Princess Leia ambled out of the galley and headed toward the main hold where she could hear Han cursing.

"Can't you for once get along?" Han yelled as he hit the navigation computer with a wrench.

"Who?" Leia asked, and Han jumped with a start.

He turned to the princess and grimaced, "If you're here to insult my ship—"

"I'm not," Leia folded her hands in front of her as if she were facing the Senate. "I was just wondering if there's anything I can do to help."

"Keep your mouth shut for once," Han muttered as he slammed the wrench against the console again.

Leia jumped, "Obviously beating the navigation computer isn't getting you anywhere."

Han scowled at her, "I thought you wanted to help?"

Leia sighed, "I do."

"Then," he spoke as if he was talking to a child, "shut your mouth!"

The princess opened her mouth and narrowed her eyes, "You're impossible!"

"Me?" Solo pointed the wrench to his chest.

"Here I am trying to apologize—"

"Apologize?" Han's eyes widened. "I ne'er heard any apology come outa your mouth."

Leia folded her arms across her chest, "That's because you told me, what was it? 'Shut my mouth'!" She leaned forward at the waist, "It's humanly impossible to apologize if my mouth is shut."

Han's continence softened, "Hum…"

"What?"

"There are ways to apologize that don't require the use of your mouth," he stepped closer to her, "Well, ways that don't require words."

Her large brown eyes stared into his as she decided whether to fight or flee. Although his face remained cool and confident, his hazel eyes told a different story. What was that she was seeing? Uncertainty? Timidity? She pressed her lips together and coyly tilted her head, "Really, Captain?"

Solo's eyebrows froze as he attempted to control his surprise. "Uh-huh," he managed.

"Oh," Leia nodded, her eyes never leaving his. She could feel the heat rise into her cheeks, but she wasn't going to back down, especially when she had the upper hand. "Is this way of making amends a Corellian tradition?"

Han smiled, but Leia didn't give him a chance to respond. "Couldn't be," she stepped closer to the navigation computer and touched her finger to her lip. "Corellians don't know the meaning of the word 'apologize'."

His smile dropped, and the princess could barely contain her delight, "So tell me, Captain. What is this way of apologizing without words?"

This time Han had no control over the actions of his eyebrows. They peaked and he licked his lips as gathered his composure, "Would you like me to show you?"

The girl slowly inhaled. Was she ready for this? Is this what she wanted? She swallowed in an attempt to clear the lump in her throat, "If you think it is something that I should know…"

Han stepped close to her, forcing her against the nav computer, "Oh, it's something you should know."

He reached down and gently lifted her chin, his eyes never leaving hers. He leaned in, expecting her to pull away. But she didn't. Her eyes closed as he was millimeters away from her lips, and Han took a moment to savor her beauty. She was actually going to let him kiss her. Just as she opened her eyes, Han pressed his lips to hers and curled the fingers of his free hand around hers.

Solo pulled away first, hoping to catch her candid reaction before the "senator" took over. She slowly exhaled and opened her eyes to find Han's own eyes intently focused on her. She lifted her chin, "Apology accepted."

"What?" Han's face scrunched in confusion. "You're the one who's supposed to be apologizing!"

Leia flashed him a coquettish smile, "I think you've done enough apologizing for the both of us." She released his hand and turned toward the navigation computer before Han had a chance to respond. "So what's the problem?"

Han sighed, "The droid brains can be temperamental at times."

Leia rolled her eyes, "Why doesn't that surprise me?" She examined the terminal.

"Hey," Han lightly tapped her head with the wrench. "I think that comment deserves an apology, Your Worship."

The princess froze. Then she slowly turned to face him, her hands tightly clutching the edge of the navigation console behind her. She raised her chin and stared defiantly up at him, "Hmm…that only seems fair." She stretched up on her toes, "I think I'll need a little help."

"No problem," Han laced his arms through hers and leaned down. She pressed her lips to his. He pulled her closer to him, and although her hands clung to the console, she allowed him to manipulate her body. They parted, and Han couldn't contain his smile.

Leia returned his smile, "Apology accepted, Captain." She then faced the console to hide her own amusement at his expense.

"Hey—"

"What are they arguing about?" she interrupted.

Han expelled a forceful breath, "They're fighting over the most direct route to Bespin."

"Should I be worried?"

"Nah," Han waved his hand with the wrench toward the console. "They do this all the time."

Leia rolled her eyes but refrained from comment.

"They're a little pissed off because of the whole hyperdrive thing," he explained. "They hate traveling at sub-light speed."

"Let me see if I can fix it."

Han burst out into laughter, "Sweetheart, I doubt---"

"What?" Leia narrowed her eyes on him. "Don't think I can do it?"

"If I can't, and it is my ship," Han folded his arms over his chest, "what makes you think you can?"

"Well, for one, you don't see a wrench in my hand," the princess mimicked his pose. "Tell me, does beating your navigation terminal work?"

Han opened him mouth before snapping it shut. He glanced at the tool in his hand. He bent over in an exaggerated mock bow, "Be my guess, Your—"

Han withered under her icy glare, but to his surprise, Leia pushed him aside and began examining the controls of the navigation computer. Han folded his arms and peeked over her shoulder. She worked away, pressing various buttons and twisting dials. Han took a step closer, stretching his neck farther over her shoulder. Leia's fingers froze, and Han held his breath. His lips melted into a smile of delight when she continued working.

Han reached an arm underneath hers, "I think it'll help if you use this one." He twisted a yellow button.

"Thank you, Captain," Leia's voice was soft.

"And maybe this one?" Han's breath tickled Leia's ear as he tweaked another button on the console.

"Are you sure?" she exhaled. "Because my instincts say this one over here," and she shifted her body so that she had to lean over Han's outstretched arm to reach it, "is a much better choice."

"Nah," Han shook his head, his chin brushing the top of her braided hair. "This one's way better—"

"Han!" Leia screamed as she clutched his arms.

He held her tight, "That wasn't supposed to happen!"