Leia stormed out of the hanger, ignoring all the looks she received from the pilots.
That impossible man! I knew it only meant trouble if he stayed. And that thing with the soup, who does he think he is? I've told him to stay out of my life and yet he interferes all the time. Who does he think he is?
Coming around a corner, she suddenly ran into a man in uniform, almost losing her balance.
"I'm sorry!" Was all she said, before keeping up her pace. "Leia?"
A familiar voice called after her. Turning around, she was surprised to see an old friend of the Organa family.
"Carlist!" She almost gasped, running into his arms. The older man put his arms around her, holding her close. "I'm so glad you're okay princess."
Leia stepped back to look at the man.
"I'm better now seeing you. Do you know about any other survivors?"
She asked all excited to see a familiar face from her home world.
"I'm afraid not. I was on my way to Naboo, when I've heard about Alderaa. I turned back around to see it for myself. I'm sorry princess." Leia took a deep breath to gain some control.
"Are you staying now?" She tried to change the subject.
"I just signed in. Mon Montha told me you needed all the help you could get."
"That we can. I'm so glad to you're here."
She gave him one more hug, before leading him to her office.
…..
"You're sure you want to take on this mission, Leia?"
Riekaan asked, sitting across the table from her.
"To be honest I can't stand staying here and do nothing. I need something to do."
"Alright. I've already talked to Mon about it and we think Captain Solo should accompany you."
"What? Why him? I can take of myself!" She blurred out.
Riekaan had to suppress a smile. Knowing her all her life, he knew when something was bothering her. It didn't take long to figure out it had something to do with a certain Captain. The looks they exchanged when they crossed paths not to mention their arguments was all he needed to realize.
He liked the Captain. He seemed like a good pilot and a decent guy, despite his troubled past. And most important of all, he seemed to trigger something inside the princess that made her live through the demons she had to face, since surviving the Death Star.
"Carlist, why are you smiling?" Leia asked the only father figure she had left.
"Leia, he is a very good pilot and a great shot. Please forget your pride for a moment and think about it. You can't take on this mission by yourself. It will be too dangerous."
Leia looked down to her hands, thinking about what the man in front of her just said.
"Besides he already volunteered before any other could." He mentioned.
She looked up in surprise. "He volunteered?"
"In an instant." Riekaan smiled at her reaction.
"You're smiling again Carlist." She said annoyed.
"So will you take on the mission even if Captain Solo will accompany you?"
He asked not holding back his smile.
"Well, Captain Solo will certainly not be the reason for me to back down from my duties. I've said I will go, so I go. Like you've said he is a good pilot." Was all she said, before getting up from her chair. "You have to excuse me now; I have a mission to prepare and to tell the famous Captain Solo to do the same." She didn't bother to hide her sarcasm.
"I will see you before we take off again, don't I?" Leia asked.
"Actually, Captain Solo invited me and some of the pilots over for dinner tonight. Not having a decent meal in a while I couldn't say no."
Leia sat back down in shock. "He invited you to dinner?"
"He asked me to bring you with me actually. Since he hadn't had a chance to ask you yet."
"You can tell him Thank you but no!" She stormed out of the roof, ignoring the odd feeling creeping up inside her.
….
It was late at night and she was still awake going through the details of her next mission for the hundredth time. At least that's what it felt like. Laying on her bed, she couldn't stop to think about the Corellian. It became a very annoying habit ever since he and Luke rescued her from the Death Star. Why did he volunteer? Going on a mission with him and just imagining being alone with him for over a week, brought a smile to her face but at the same time scared her like nothing else recently. She decided to get ready for the night and to take a shower, before going to bed. When she came out of the shower someone knocked on the door. Grapping her robe she looked through the peek hole. Seeing none other than Han standing in front of her door, she pulled the robe tide around herself. "What do you want?"
She asked through the door. "I brought you some dinner."
Not hearing any response, he tried again. "Since you weren't able to come by tonight."
He felt foolish talking to her through the door like this and even more foolish to be standing in front of her door at all. He had hoped that when he invited some others, she might would come. Feeling disappointed after Riekaan had told him that she couldn't make it, he caught himself not being able to enjoy the evening. Even though they managed to get Luke drunk and give the other men a good time for a change, he just couldn't stop thinking about a certain princess. So, that's what brought him here after everybody else had left his ship or passed out on it.
"Leia come on. You gotta eat something." He tried once again.
"Riekaan told me it is your favorite." When he was met with silence again, he decided to leave the tray of food in front of her door and just leave. I need a drink. He thought never remembering being this disappointed about something.
"I just leave it here. Okay?" He tried again, but received no response, so he just left.
When he got around the corner, he heard the door open and couldn't help to peek back around the corner to get a glimpse at her. She was only glad in her robe; her long hair was down and still damp. She was checking the corridor to see if anyone was watching her before bending down to pick up the tray of food. At this moment, he couldn't help to think that he never had seen such a beautiful sight in his life. Smiling to himself, he turned to leave before she would catch him staring.
Stepping back into her quarters she put the tray on her desk and closed the door, having to wipe some tears off her face. I'm so mean to him and he still cares. She sat down at the desk taking a bite of the golden beans. He probably does it for a reason. He probably has a bet with the other pilots going on. Why would he be so nice to me? He could have any woman he wants to. Gods know how many of the women on base are lusting after him already. Come on Leia, he is only nice to you to make money. The Rebellion is probably paying him more than any other low life he would usual work for. No reason to read something into it. He is just doing it for the money.
