AN: Thanks everyone! Glad you like - R&R please. Have a good week!

"I had to." She added quietly, staring down again at her tea. He took the mug from her - her hands cold despite the hot ceramic. "Why?" He knew why, or at least, he was pretty sure he did. But he wanted to hear it, wanted to watch her say it was for him. For them.

"This isn't the government I helped build." She said simply.

They had sat looking at each other for a long while, when Leia suddenly stood and stalked towards the window.

"I will not represent something which barters so openly with peoples lives. I spend the first twenty-odd years of my life planning to pull that type of government down. I refuse to sit back and participate in one which is simply newer and shinier."

Han pushed himself up and went to her, leaning a hand on the glass over her shoulder and staring out at the city around them, he said nothing. There was so much to say. But where to start?

"So, anyway," she was quieter now, anger seeping from her as he rested a large hand on her small back. "I resigned."

"You're sure that's what you want? I know how important it is to you, Leia."

She tuned, and leaned back against the window - something she never did, it always made her feel like she was about to fall - but, she mused, watching his face. She had already fallen a few times today, the thought wasn't so scary anymore.

"You're important to me." she said simply and that made him smile. "And, I won't let them throw you away. Or me, for that matter - which is exactly what they are doing. Trying to ship me off to a closed up society, keep me safely tucked away in their back pocket. After everything we've been through, all we've done for them? This is their next move? No."

She was so cute when she got all fired up over something, he thought, watching her get more and more animated as she spoke. Her small hands moving too in agitation. He was used to watching her talk like this, he had sat across from her in enough closed room meetings and beside her at too many formals dinners to be surprised by her outburst, or the calculated way she used words. But, it was always nice when it was about him, not shipping schedules or strategic troop maneuvers.

"I wont let them throw you away. And certainly I won't let them ignore who I am. This is political posturing and I won't stand for it. We've been together for four years, and they think I would even consider- it's insulting."

"Well... yeah. It is."

"I'm sorry though. I should have spoken to you about it before I did it. It was rash and selfish. I'm sorry."

"Hey-"

"No, it was. I was just so mad."

"It's okay, shhh. Hey, listen. I've been trying to pull you away from them for seven years. I don't love you because of what you do. Most of the time, I love you in spite of that." This made her smile, which had been his intention. And he was right. He had tried, over and over again - mostly to annoy her - to convince her that she should pack it in and come live with him on the Falcon, she was a good shot, and the company was always welcome. He continued more gently, running a hand down her arm. "I just don't want you to regret it."

"I won't."

"Listen to me, Leia. I love you, but I don't want you to give this up for me - for us," he quickly corrected as she opened her mouth to interrupt him. "and hate me for it in a few years, because you could have done more."

"Never. I promise. This is my choice. And they made it for me."

"Come on. Let's go to bed. I'm dead on my feet. And tomorrow, we'll figure out what else we need to do."

She let him lead her down the long hallway towards their bedroom and watched him pull his clothes off as she sat on the bed.

"What did you mean 'what else'?" She asked as he disappeared into the fresher.

"Well, the last time I checked, I was still a high ranked New Republic General."

"Yeah."

"And you're no longer a member of the Council."

"You catch on quick." She quipped and pulled his shirt over her head, crawling under the covers.

"Okay, so then what happens when I'm dispatched again?"

"Oh."

"I'm planet-side for at a minimum of two standard weeks - I read my contract," he winked at her, climbing under the cold sheets with her. "But, after that - I have no idea where I'll be or for how long. Where does that leave you?"

"I don't know." She hadn't thought of that, and said as much. He laughed quietly, pulling her next to him and sighed.

"Yeah, I know." She was too tired to argue with him, or even to pretend to be offended by the way he knew her all too well sometimes. So instead, she relaxed and let the sound of his breathing next to her lull to her sleep.

xXx

"This is weird."

"It would be less weird if you were still naked." He pointed out, striding slowly across the bedroom.

She rolled her eyes at him and leaned back against the headboard.

"It's weird," she continued, giving him a rather pointed look. "Because I have no where to be this morning. Oh, thank you." She took the cup of caf from him. "On on that note, you're wearing pants. How is it weird for me to wear this?" She gestured to the over-sized sweater which hung from her small frame. It had originally been his - where he had gotten it he had no idea. The letter was faded and the hem was coming apart, but she loved it. He had angrily given it to her years ago on their trip to Bespin after a fight; she had kept it ever since. He kicked the pants off and leered at her.

"Only to the kitchen and back, Sweetheart. That caf machine splatters too much for my liking. But, I suppose we wont have to worry about that for too much longer." He sighed happily and grabbed his datapad from beside him.

"What do you mean?"

"We can't stay here. These are your appointed quarters and you resigned."

"Oh! I hadn't thought of that either. I did not think this through. Well, I guess we'll have to move." He nodded, staring down at the pad.

"Shit."

"What?"

"We're homeless! And it's all my fault."

"We're not homeless."

"Well, we have no home. Last time I checked, Flyboy, that meant you were homeless."

"Relax."

"You would think I would be used to it, I haven't had a home in, what? Nearly seven years."

"Stop it. We're fine. And don't be ridiculous. You have a home. You have me and I have the Falcon. We have the Falcon."

She made an 'aww' face and snuggled up next to him. "I hate packing."

"Then it's a good thing we don't actually own much. None of this horrible furniture is ours. The only things we have are clothes, really."

"And the glasses from the bar. And my art." She smiled. He smiled back at her. They had traveled down several levels to an underground auction house the last time he was on leave, they hadn't gone for anything in particular, but had come home with an odd-ball collection of hand crafted glassware for their bar. It was the first unnecessary thing they had ever bought as a couple, and it had given them both a sense of grounding. The glasses signified a future neither of them had ever spoke of before. And, small as they were, those glasses had given them both hope.

"Okay then, see. Nothing to worry about. You could always come and live with me in the Officer's Barracks."

"Mmm. Tempting, but... no thanks." She smirked.

"Oh come on. Lot's of guys have their girlfriends staying with them."

"You're making fun of me."

"Maybe, here, what about this place?" He handed her the datapad, pictures of a beautiful two level apartment swooshed across the screen. The rooms were bright and open, friendly and welcoming. There was a large staircase which swept up from the living area. "Does that go to the master suite?" Han nodded.

"It's lovely." He nodded again. "This isn't a rental unit."

"No, it's not." He shook his head slowly, watching her. A flutter of excited worry shot through her.

"Can we afford something like that?" She handed the pad back to him.

"Depends." He edged, dropping the battered device onto the floor.

"On?"

"Whether I stay or not."