Four parts, this story will definitely be four parts! Thanks to everyone who's read, reviewed and following this story. As always, thanks to StatsGrandma57 for her ideas, suggestions and corrections. Thanks, too, to jeanmarie3 for inspiring this chapter.
The Proposal
Part Two
Han Solo docked the Millennium Falcon in the main spaceport of Coronet City. Closing the hatch and setting the security controls against both curious passers-by and possible thieves, he made his way through the busy port area and out into the capital of his homeworld. It felt kind of strange to not be in fear of his life—either from Imperial troops or from CorSec. Not that he was complaining about that, of course, but it was still an unusual sensation.
Corellia's capital city was every bit as busy—and noisy—as Coruscant, Han thought, but it was also different somehow. Maybe it was the fact that when he took a deep breath he didn't feel like he was choking, and when he looked up past the fantastic spires of the office and residential buildings, he could actually see the blue of the sky, and a few white puffy clouds. Inexplicably, Han always felt a strong affection for the planet he barely remembered living on. It was the perfect place to get Leia's ring!
He tugged his vest more tightly against his body, making sure the credit chit—and the bag of actual credits—that he carried in an inside pocket were secure. He also checked to make sure his blaster would slip freely from its holster, should the need arise. Han was all too aware that this area was swarming with young pickpockets and their older companions, the smash-and-grabbers. A lopsided grin—half fond, half sheepish—spread across his face. Of course he knew about them, he'd been one of those little miscreants once, a long time ago!
After checking a city directory, Han moved with long, loose strides toward Coronet City's high-end shopping district. As he moved, throngs of beings eddied and swirled around him. It all looked so different from this vantage point, he thought, even as a smile slanted across his face. No longer was he a malnourished child begging and stealing; he was a grown man with money in his pocket. Hells, he was marrying a princess! That was, assuming she didn't kill him first for leaving her with all the wedding details.
The door chimed discretely as Han walked into Dunqeel's Jewelry. Well-lit and strongly secured transparsteel display cases were interspersed with artfully arranged groupings of cushy sofas, low tables, and delicate armchairs. In one such cluster, a soft-looking young man sat with one arm stretched across the back of a sofa, a glass of sparkling purple wine clutched in his opposite hand. Across from him, a salesperson displayed a tray of sparkling gems. Easy marks, Han thought.
He had just located the cases containing women's rings when another salesperson approached him.
"May I help you, sir?"
Han bristled at the note of disdain in the tall, skeletal looking Corellian's voice; he'd heard it often enough before in his life. This wasn't the time or the place to pick a fight, though, he reminded himself. He was here for Leia.
"I'm looking for a ring for my fiancée," he responded with a steady voice, "but I don't really see anything in here that would suit her." Han looked over the trays of rings, not one of the flashy baubles seemed appropriate for Leia's subtle, dignified beauty. Most seemed too gaudy, others were just plain ugly. Obviously this store catered to customers with more money than taste!
"No, I imagine there is nothing here that would suit you," was the scathing reply from the clerk.
Han's hazel eyes shot up from the case and locked onto the clerk. Those eyes narrowed dangerously as the salesperson looked from Han's scuffed spacer boots, up past the low-slung blaster to the vest, and finally to his face. He heard the clerk's quick intake of breath, and saw his eyes widen slightly. Han tried to relax the snarl on his features; he hadn't meant to scare the man quite that much. Just a little.
"Sir, if you could just excuse me for a minute," the salesperson stammered out. "Let me get someone more, er, appropriate, to help you." The man scurried away through a doorway into the back part of the store.
Disgusted, Han was half-tempted to walk out before security came to throw him out, but he decided not to. No, Solo, he told himself, let's see how this plays out!
Instead of the security guard Han was expecting, the man who returned with the flustered salesclerk was obviously a person of some importance, at least in Dunqeels Jewelry. He was older than the clerk, as short and round as the clerk was tall and thin. His head was bald, his cheeks florid, and his eyes were as shrewd as any Han had seen.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir," the man gushed. "Truly an honor!" He clasped Han's hand between both of his own. They were soft and pudgy, and made Han feel vaguely uncomfortable.
"Please bring us some refreshment," he continued, ordering the clerk. "Oh, this is such an honor for my little establishment." The round little man beamed. "I am Jeron Dungeel, at your service."
Han's eyebrows soared—the owner himself? He said nothing; he really didn't know what to say.
"Captain Solo, no, General Solo! You have no idea what a privilege it is for my shop to be your choice for a ring for your beautiful bride to be, Princess Leia Organa!" the jeweler continued.
Kriff! KRIFF! So that was what this was all about. He wasn't worth helping until they realized who he was! His eyes darted around the shop. The few customers in the store had looked up when they heard the flowery accolades from Master Dungeel, now they were staring curiously at Han. He felt an uncomfortable heat start at the back of his neck; he rubbed absently at it.
"Yeah, well, uh, I didn't see anything that was really what I was looking for," Han stumbled out.
Master Dungeel looked horrified. "Please, general, sir. Just sit here." The jeweler placed a hand in the middle of Han's back, trying to guide him to one of the seating areas. "I'm sure we can find something for you." He offered an insincere, sycophantic smile. "I would be most honored to be able to say that the princess's ring was purchased here!"
Han unseated Dungeel's hand from his back with a quick twitch of his shoulders. That was it; he was done here! He was not going to let Leia's ring become a marketing point for this irritating little man. There were already too many people using the wedding for their own purposes. The ring, and the proposal, were supposed to be about Leia and him alone!
"Listen, buddy," Han snarled as he headed toward the exit, "I said I didn't see anything I wanted. I am not going to take any second-rate ring just so your store can look good!" On that particularly undiplomatic note, he stepped out of the store and out into the scurrying crowds of people beyond its door.
####
A standard hour later, Han sat in a dingy cantina just beyond the Treasure Ship Row bazaar, staring morosely into his second glass of Corellian whiskey. He thought that it was too bad he wasn't enjoying the drink, since he'd opted to pop for the good stuff! His trips to Druban's Jewels and Nalon's Fine Gems had pretty much followed the same pattern as at Dungeels, leaving him tired, irritated, and without a ring. Sith! With the luck he was having here, he could have stayed on Coruscant.
Coruscant. Leia was going to have his head when he got back! Somewhere between Druban's and Nalon's he'd remembered the kriffing list of guests that had to be at the security office tomorrow morning! If he left now, he would be back in time to give her some last minute help, but he wouldn't have a ring—and what was the point of a proposal without a ring! If he kept searching for a ring here, he wouldn't be back in time to meet the 0900 deadline. In that case he might have a ring, but he might not have a bride-to-be!
Disgusted with the whole situation, he tossed back the rest of his whiskey and groaned aloud. Flipping a few coins onto the table, he rose. He'd head back to Coruscant tonight. Maybe he could find a ring there, if there was still going to be a wedding.
"Hey!"
Han turned around at the sound of a small voice, but he didn't see anything.
"Hey!" he heard again, this time with a tug at his vest.
Lowering one hand to his blaster, Han looked around again, and then down. His breath caught in his throat. The dirty face looking up at him was like looking at himself 30 years ago. He eased his hand away from the blaster.
"Let go, kid!" he said ungraciously.
The small hand didn't loosen its grip; Han loosened it for him.
"Do you need some money?" he asked the boy. He reached into his pocket to pull out a few credits—and to make sure the rest of his money was still there. It was.
The dirty fingers snatched the money from Han with a speed the pilot could only admire. He grinned reluctantly.
"You know, kid, in a few years you ought to look for another line of work. You won't be so cute then." Han aimed himself for the cantina's exit while the boy tried to puzzle out what Han had just told him.
Han was out on the street when he heard the footsteps pattering behind him.
"Wait!" the boy called breathlessly. Han slowed his steps so the boy could catch up, but he didn't stop or turn around.
"I can help you," the child panted.
"Sure you can," Han said sourly, recognizing the start of a con.
"You need a ring; I know where you can get a good one!"
Han stopped dead in his tracks.
"What? How do you know that?"
Big, golden-brown eyes looked into Han's face. "I saw you before, in the fancy shops, looking for a ring." The child paused and smiled smartly. "For a princess, you said," he continued. His grin was just a little cheeky.
Han was pretty sure the kid didn't watch the news holos, so he'd obviously been following him—and paying attention. He had to give him credit for that.
"Yeah, okay. So?"
"I know where you can get a good ring, really good. Better than at those snooty stores." Now his smile was one friend to another, equal to equal. The kid was good. Real good.
"Listen," Han laid a hand on one bony shoulder. "I've been where you are, I understand having to do some things that aren't quite right." He smiled encouragingly at the boy. "You gotta eat. But this ring—it can't be stolen, you understand? It's for a princess, a real princess."
The small face that looked up at his was solemn, older suddenly, than it should be. "I understand," the child said. "And this ring isn't stolen." He tugged at Han's hand "C'mon."
This is a bad idea, Han thought. I know this is a bad idea. A wry smile tugged his lips up. But it can't be any worse than any of the other places I've been. And maybe it won't even be stolen!
"Okay, kid, lead the way."
####
Traversing the narrow, twisting streets of Old Coronet City brought back memories Han wasn't sure he wanted to remember. They looked just as bad now as they had then. The kid, Han figured he couldn't be any more than eight, navigated with a surety that confirmed what he already knew—this boy was not going home to mom and dad at the end of the day. Still, he didn't seem to be living in fear. That made Han feel a little better, maybe after Shrike was gone, nobody new had moved in to take his place.
They stopped in front of a nondescript door in a nondescript building. Han noted that this building appeared to be in good condition, even if it was old, and that the door and one small window appeared to be clean and well kept.
The boy reached up to open the door, but Han stopped him with a gentle hand.
"Wait a minute, kid."
The boy looked curiously at him. "We're here," he said.
"Yeah, I figured." Han paused for a heartbeat. "What's your name? You never told me."
"Hagan"
"Listen, Hagan. I came with you because…I don't actually know why." Of course Han knew why he'd come with the kid, but he wasn't about to explain his past to an eight year old. "But you have to understand; just because I'm here doesn't mean I'm going to buy this ring."
Hagan nodded, then smiled. "You will," he said, opening the door. "It's the best ring ever!"
The room they walked into was cluttered, but clean. All around them were stacks of datapads and holos. There were also piles of clothing of all different sizes and styles, some cookware and dinnerware, even some baby things. In the far back was a small, old-fashioned safe. It still even had a keypad on it instead of one of the newer, fancier force field and repulsor locks.
Just coming into the front from some sort of back room, was a man. He was neatly, if cheaply dressed, and had hair so blonde it was almost white. His eyes, however, were such a dark blue they almost looked black. He smiled at Hagan, then looked curiously at Han. His brow furrowed, as if he were trying to solve a particularly vexing riddle.
"Jerdan!" Hagan called out. "I brought a buyer."
"So I see," Jerdan said. He continued to stare at Han.
Han was starting to feel more than a little uneasy under Jerdan's unblinking gaze.
"He needs a ring for his princess," Hagan piped out.
"Listen, I just came along for the kid," Han began. "I guess this is some sort of mistake."
"I know you," Jerdan said suddenly.
Sith! Not here too!
"Yeah, I know, the holonews," Han let out a gusty sigh.
"No! You were with Shrike. So was I."
For several moments, Han was too stunned to speak.
"What?" he asked stupidly. Weaving through the piles of datapads and clothing, Han drew closer to Jerdan, his eyes narrowed. "I don't recognize you," he continued in an accusing tone. "When?"
Jerdan pulled his slight form up to its full height, calmly meeting Han's glare head on. "You might not ever have seen me. I was only six when I joined Shrike's crew, right before," Jerdan paused and swallowed, "right before Dewlanna was killed and you disappeared." He smiled wryly at the painful memory. "Shrike was really, really mad!"
Yup, definitely things he didn't want to remember!
"So, what do you do here?" Han asked him instead, indicating the odd collection surrounding them.
"He gives us stuff!" Hagan chirped from his perch atop a stack of shirts.
"Hagan, if you knock those over, you have to refold every single one of them!" Jerdan warned the dark-haired boy. "Hagan helps me out here sometimes," he explained, catching a stack of pants before they toppled. Then he raised his dark eyes back to Han's face. "I look for stuff people need," he went on. "Some are donations, some I buy on the cheap. I sell some of this stuff, if the person can afford to pay. If they can't; then 'I give them stuff,'" he concluded with a smile. "I remember what it was like to have nothing," he concluded.
Han nodded wordlessly; he remembered what it felt like, too. Gods, you're a lucky man, Solo!
"So what's this about a ring?" he asked Jerdan.
"The kid said you had one." Han smiled. "I really do need one."
"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, Captain Solo," Jerdan said formally. "You have traveled a long way from Shrike's crew."
Han nodded. "Though there may not be a wedding if I don't get back to Coruscant," he stated glumly. "Leia's not going to be too happy with me if I don't get back there quick-like."
"The princess has a temper?" Jerdan asked with a smile.
"You have no idea!"
"Well, I'm pretty sure she'll like this." The blond man turned to the safe and keyed in a code.
"You really are going to marry a princess? A real princess?" Hagan looked up at Han, his eyes wide.
"I sure am, kid." He reached over to ruffle the kids brown curls. "Who knows, maybe someday you will, too."
"How's this?" Jerdan asked, handing over the small velvet bag he'd removed from the safe.
Han pulled out a smallish ring with his thumb and forefinger.
It was amazing. Delicate twists of gold wire supported a Keral fire gem that must have been ¾ of a carat. The multi-faceted gem shot sparks around the small, dark room. It was perfect: subtle, yet elegant, the most beautiful thing Han had ever seen. Just like Leia. This was it, Han knew.
"And you know for a fact that it's not stolen?"
"Well, I didn't steal it!" Jerdan exclaimed. "Before that…" he let the thought hang there.
"How much?" he asked Jerdan. Obviously the man wasn't able to accept his credit chit. Han pulled out his comm and checked the time on the display. If he gave him all his cash as a down payment, then found someplace he could cash in the chit, Han reckoned he could pay for the ring and still make it back to Coruscant before that kriffing guest list had to be turned in. It would be tight, but the Falcon could do it!
"I can't take your money for this," Jerdan said.
Han's mental calculations ground to a halt. "What?" he shouted. "Are you crazy?"
Jerdan laid his hand on Han's shoulder. "I should explain where I found this. After Shrike was killed, we were kind of at loose ends. A lot of us didn't know what we were going to do without him."
Han's stomach clenched. When he'd killed Shrike, he'd only been thinking of himself, and Dewlanna. He'd never given a thought to all the kids Shrike had in his crew, and what might happen to them.
"A bunch of us went through the ship, looking for what might be valuable." Jerdan smiled, and his dark eyes sparkled. "Shrike had quite the stash, but Dewlanna had a stash, too," he explained to Han. "Credits, some jewelry, lots of stuff. I think she must have lifted some of the stuff from Shrike, just in case we needed a little extra."
Han's eyes goggled. "She always said she didn't have very much."
"Like I said, I think it was 'just in case.' I know she'd want you to have this for your bride. We all knew how much she cared for you."
Han stared at the ring in his hand. Then his eyes traveled around the crowded shop, and finally to Jerdan's sincere face.
"Okay, I'll take it," he acquiesced. "But only if you take this." Han handed over all the cash he had; it was quite a bit. "Use it to help out with the shop. Leia would like that," he said.
"I think you would, too," Jerdan said, taking the credits. "Happy future, Han Solo!"
"You too, Jerdan! You, too."
Han put the ring back in the bag, and stowed the bag in the inside pocket of his vest. With a two-fingered salute, he pelted out the door and back toward the spaceport. He might just make it in time! A broad grin lit his face; now Dewlanna would be a part of the wedding, too!