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A/N: The long-overdue chapter three. Thanks for the reviews, they are very much appreciated.

Luke was distracted as he guided his X-Wing into the belly of one the waning Rebel fleet's largest remaining ships

Luke was distracted as he guided his X-Wing into the belly of one the waning Rebel fleet's largest remaining ships. The few days he had spent with Vader had bestowed upon him a new sense of clarity. He knew more about the Force now the Yoda ever could have taught him. Luke did not have to follow the will of the Force, he could use the Force as a tool. Manipulate it to help him achieve his personal goals. Luke knew that if his plans for that night were to work, he would have to use this information.

As Luke disembarked from his fighter, he was quickly greeted by a frantic princess of the former Alderaan. Luke accepted her embrace eagerly, hugging her close to him. He smelled Leia's hair, and was assaulted by a beautiful scent. Luke inhaled deeply, as the dragon in his chest sighed contentedly. Mine, Luke thought.

"I was so worried," Leia sobbed, and pressed her face into Luke's shoulder. "First Han…and then when we heard you'd been captured…"

"It's okay," Luke comforted Leia, rubbing slow circles on her back, "I'm here now."

After a while, Leia composed herself. Luke reluctantly let her pull back. "Are you alright? What did Vader do to you?" Leia asked fearfully.

Luke sighed, as if he was thinking about how to respond. "Honestly, Leia, they didn't do anything. They were actually civil…they said that they were saving me for the Emperor."

"Oh Luke, you must have been terrified," Leia breathed, then pulled Luke to her again. Luke did not make any attempt to pull away, and merely held Leia tighter.

Luke put a bashful smile onto his lips. "I was okay. I thought of you the whole time. You kept me strong," Luke whispered into Leia's ear.

Leia pulled away slightly, taken aback. She looked at Luke, and opened her mouth to respond, when General Rieekan's voice rang out through the overhead com-link.

"Princess Organa and Commander Skywalker to the command centre immediately."

Leia looked at Luke questionably and disengaged from him, although she kept a hold of his hand. She hurried towards the command centre, pulling Luke behind her.

Luke reveled in the feel of Leia's hand against his. He didn't bother paying attention to the Rebels who were greeting him, thankful for his safe return. All he could focus on were Leia's soft fingers intertwined with his, and how those fingers would feel on other parts of his body. The dragon in Luke's chest cooed, and Luke was pleased at how well everything was turning out for him.

All too soon they were in the command centre, and Leia let go of Luke's hand. Chewbacca was there, and Leia smiled at him briefly before turning towards General Rieekan. "What's going on?" she asked.

"We just received a message from the Imperials," Rieekan said. "I have no idea how they received the co-ordinates for our rendezvous point."

"Oh no!" Luke moaned, playing the part of clumsy farm-boy that he had been known for. "They must have tracked my X-Wing! It's the only way to explain how I escaped so easily." He hung his head in his hands. "How could I have been so stupid?"

Leia put a comforting arm around his shoulders. "It's alright, Luke. They would have found us eventually anyways. The important thing is that you're safe." Luke smiled from beneath his hands.

"Yes, Luke, don't worry," Rieekan agreed. "The reason why I've called you here is that the Imperials implicitly stated that they wanted you three," Rieekan gestured at Chewbacca, Leia and Luke, "to hear it."

"What does it say?" Leia asked desperately.

"We'll find out now," Rieekan said, playing the message on the holo-screen.

The dark, haunting mask of Darth Vader appeared. Leia moved slightly closer to Luke, who put a possessive arm around her waist. The sound of Vader's raspy breathing filled the command centre. Then he spoke.

"Congratulations, Skywalker, you have slipped through the Emperor's grasp once again. He will not be deterred, however. If you do not contact the Imperials sometime within the next standard week, you and the rest of your Rebel fleet will be destroyed." Vader paused, his mechanical breathing filling the command centre once again. Leia looked at Luke fearfully. Before she could say anything, however, the Dark Lord resumed speaking.

"My message contains some other news, however. It seems that Boba Fett was not as skillful of pilot as he was bounty hunter. He crashed his ship on Tatooine. He did not survive, nor did his cargo. I am telling you this, Rebels -" The holo abruptly ended, and the screen was blank.

The command centre was silent, until Chewie howled mournfully. The sound seemed to wake Leia from a trance, and she let out a harsh, loud sob. Luke pulled her to him, and she cried into his shoulder.

Luke, however, remained silent. He was focusing, using all of his recently obtained training to try and uncover Leia's emotions. He sensed sadness, which, as much as Luke did not like it, was to be expected. But Luke also sensed something else, a desperation. Luke knew that that feeling would allow him to fully execute his plan.

"Don't do this, Luke," Leia cried, for what must have been the fifth time that night.

Luke sighed, looking up from his work on his X-Wing. "I have to. If I don't find Han's remains, he'll never have a proper funeral. No matter what he did, he still deserves a respectful resting place."

Leia ignore Luke's obscure comment and continued her attempts to dissuade him. "Luke, what if the Imperials get you. They won't let you escape this time."

Luke stepped down from his fighter, and moved towards Leia. "Don't worry, if they get me again, which they won't, I have a plan."

"Just don't, Luke, please," Leia whispered, on the verge of tears. "Stay here. I couldn't take it if I lost you-"

Luke put a finger to her lips, stopping her before she could say the inevitable 'too'. He wanted Leia to forget about Han as soon as possible, and the more she talked about him, the more time that would take. "You won't lose me, Leia," he pledged, pulling Leia to him. "Let's get away from here, somewhere we can talk," he suggested.

Leia agreed and followed Luke. Surprisingly, he led her to her sleeping quarters. She looked at him.

Luke smiled softly, and answered her unasked question, "I just thought it would be quiet."

They sat on Leia's bed in silence for a while. Leia's head was hung low, and her shoulders were shaking slightly. When she finally looked at Luke, tears were running down her face. "I just feel so lost," she whispered, almost as if she was ashamed of it. "I feel so alone, now. Even more then after…" she broke off and sobbed, unable to finish her sentence.

Luke looked at Leia solemnly. Then he spoke, waving a hand in front of her face, "You're afraid and alone," Luke said lowly.

Leia nodded, "I am afraid and alone," she repeated.

If Leia had been less distressed at the moment, she would have noticed the small smile appear on Luke's lips. She did, however, notice his hand wave in front of her face again as he said, "You just want to feel loved."

The suggestion suddenly sounded very good to Leia. If she had been in a calmer state of mind, she would have realized that she'd only ever felt truly loved by Han. But here, with Han dead, and Luke's calm suggestion ringing in here ears, that thought never even occurred to her. "I do just want to feel loved," Leia whispered.

That was all Luke needed. He pulled Leia towards him, and kissed her. Leia didn't respond at first, but after several seconds Luke coaxed a reaction out of her. Luke then lowered her to the bed, and turned off the lights without even having to touch the switch.