Decisions

Chapter 1

Han Solo wandered aimlessly around corridors of the Millennium Falcon on day three of a three day binge. When he returned to Coruscant after five months aboard the Mon Remonda searching for the warlord Zsinji's Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist, Han wanted nothing more than to spend every available moment with Ambassador Leia Organa. But upon his return, he was summoned to the Grand Reception Hall and witnessed the marriage proposal from Prince Isolder of the Hapes system. Since then, Han has been offered a bribe from the Prince to fly far away, told by Leia that she needed time to herself to think, which in Han's mind translated into her telling him to have a nice life and finally his new orders came through. He was to ship out to the Roche system by the end of the week for an indefinite length of time.

Han had spent the last three days trying to figure out his next move. He was ordered to move the Millennium Falcon off of the Leia's ship, Rebel Dream to a berth planet side. He considered trying to win his own planet in a high stakes game of sabacc but something told him that would never turn out right. He thought about resigning his commission, kidnapping Leia and taking her away from all this; away to a place where she could fall in love with him all over again. Endor was a possibility but actually kidnapping her? Han was a risk taker but the odds of that working out in his favor were too high even for him.

As Han wandered through the Falcon, he stopped in the circuitry bay. This was where it all began, Han and Leia's first kiss. A small smile crept ono Han's face as he remembered that damn Threepio interrupting them but it was great nonetheless; a moment three years in the making and the beginning of the best years of his life.

And now?

Was it all over?

Was there something he could have done differently?

He retained his commission because he knew it made Leia happy.

Was he gone too long? No, that was impossible. Leia knew what it was like to be sent away on assignments and there had been times when she was away.

Could that be it? Did Leia get lonely? Did she find comfort in another man's arms?

Han sighed, griping the bottle of Corellian whiskey tighter. He raised the bottle to his lips, only to find the bottle dry, another casualty. Then it hit him full force as a wave of despair washed over him.

He slid down to the floor and, resting his elbows on bended knees, buried his face in his hands. He could feel the heavy stubble of a beard, having found no reason to shave the past few days.

His eyes burned but there were no tears. Han Solo did NOT cry. The burning must be from lack of sleep as Han couldn't find a reason to sleep anymore either. Actually, he began searching for reasons not to sleep. His cabin and bunk reminded him of Leia and she always came to visit him in his dreams, dreams that always turned into nightmares.

Han rubbed his eyes and tilted his head back to rest it against the wall. His eyelids were heavy and soon, no matter how hard he tried to fight, he succumbed to sleep.

It took a moment to register but Han Solo soon recognized his surroundings, he was in the Great Hall on Yavin IV. This time he was waiting at the foot of the steps and he was wearing his New Republic dress uniform. A fanfare began and all those assembled turned to face the far end. Han looked to see Luke Skywalker, dressed in his Jedi robes, escorting Leia down the aisle. Leia was wearing the same gown from the medal ceremony so many years ago but something was different. As they came closer to Han, he could see that Leia was positively glowing. She was smiling that smile that lit up her whole face; that smile that Han could not resist. It all became very clear. This was a wedding and Leia was heading right to him. A large smile broke across Han's face and an intense warmth washed over him. As Leia reached Han, he moved to take a step forward but a large furry hand grabbed his shoulder and stopped him. He heard Chewbacca's low growl behind him, reminding him that he promised to behave. Although he was confused, Han realized that something was suddenly wrong. Leia turned her head to look at him, her beautiful smile had faded and she looked at him with that all too familiar look of disgust. Han's own smile faded and his heart sank as Leia turned away and she and Luke began to ascend the steps. Han's gaze followed them up the steps and then he saw him, standing at the top of the steps, awaiting his bride in all his golden glory, Prince Isolder. Han tried to call Leia's name but nothing came out. Instead, he felt Chewie's hand on his shoulder again, shaking him and growling his name.

Han woke with a start as Chewbacca knelt next to him. "What?" Han mumbled.

Chewie howled.

"Company? What company? I don't want to see anyone."

Then Han heard a familiar voice calling from the main hold, "Han! C'mon, you old pirate, get out here!"

Lando Calrissian was waiting in the main hold of the Millennium Falcon as Chewbacca dragged in a clearly exhausted and mildly inebriated Han Solo.

"Han, how ya…what the hell happened to you?"

Solo slumped into the chair at the engineering station while Chewbacca motioned for Lando to have a seat at the Dejarik table.

"Good to see you too," Han answered dryly, eying Lando's dress uniform. "What are you overdressed for?"

"I'm on my way to the gala," Lando answered.

When neither Han nor Chewbacca responded, Lando continued, "Aren't you two going?"

Han played with the label on his empty bottle of Corellian whiskey, "No idea what you're talking about."

Calrissian raised his eyebrows. "I was on my way back to Crouscant when I got a transmission from High Command. It was an invitation to a gala tonight at the Grand Reception Hall."

Still no recognition.

"It's in honor of Leia," he continued.

Han shrugged his shoulders, "That's all?"

"No, it's to honor Leia and some prince."

That got Han's attention as his head snapped up and he glared at Lando. "What exactly did the invitation say?"

Troubled by Han's reaction, Lando cautiously answered, "It's a reception to honor Leia and a prince from the Hapes Consortium."

Han took a deep breath and looked at Chewbacca, "I guess she made her decision."

Chewie growled softly.

"Well, why the hell else would they have a reception in their honor?"

Lando looked from Chewie to Han, "What's going on?"

Han went back to playing with the bottle's label. "When I got back from chasing Zsinji around the galaxy, I found out that Leia was negotiating a deal with the Hapes to join the New Republic. They agreed to join if…if Leia marries the prince."

Lando began to laugh until he saw the look on Han's face, "You can't possibly believe she's going to do it."

Han leaned his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes.

"Well, since I've been back, the Falcon was thrown off of the Rebel Dream, the prince offered me a Hapes Nova-class battle cruiser to fly far away, command has ordered me to the Roche system and Leia told me that she needed time to herself to think."

Lando groaned, "Ah, the old have a nice life line."

Han nodded as he stood up. "You would have thought she could have told me herself."

He flung the bottle against the bulkhead with all his strength and fell back into the chair as the shattered glass fell to the floor.

There was a moment of silence before Lando finally spoke, "Look, why don't you get cleaned-up and throw on your dress uniform and come with me?"

Han leaned forward with this head in his hands for a moment before snarling, "'Cause I wasn't invited."

Lando chuckled, "My invitation was for me and a guest."

Han looked at Chewbacca, "What do you think?"

The Wookiee shrugged and warbled.

"Yeah, it could be a big mistake," Han sighed. "But…maybe it's better if I go and see for myself. What's the worst they can do? Throw me out?"

Han jumped out of his seat and hurried to his cabin.

Lando and Chewbacca sat in silence until Chewbacca growled softly.

Lando nodded. "Maybe you should come along. If this goes bad, I'm going need help with him."