The Path Forward

Chapter Four: Pressing the Issue

On this their last day on Yavin, Han and Leia made their way back to the clearing by the stream, recently dubbed their new favorite spot. They both seemed eager to enjoy its charm to the fullest before they left. Luke had joined them for breakfast and Han was relieved that yesterday's uneasiness had not remained between the two siblings. Leaving Han and Leia on their own, Luke promised to join them after he attended to some obligations.

And, so it seemed, before they knew it, it was nearly midday and Han was lying on a blanket watching Leia pick berries out of a nearby bush when Luke walked up.

"Hey guys," Luke called as he approached their little sanctuary. "I'm going to have to name this spot after you."

Leia walked up with her small basket of berries and said, "I do just absolutely love it here."

"I'm sorry you can't stay longer," Luke offered and then added with a smile, "this place definitely agrees with you."

"It does," she answered almost dreamily and then as if catching herself she added, "But I'm happy on Coruscant as well."

"Are you really?" Luke asked her, the two of them now facing each other, Leia's basket and a small distance in between them. "I think before you leave it would do you well to search your feelings about your life on Coruscant."

"I am very happy with my life…our life on Coruscant," Leia answered coolly as she took a step away from Luke and towards Han. Han straightened up, took the basket from Leia and set it down beside him.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to imply anything about you and Han. I was speaking more along the lines of…" Luke hesitated and then said, "Do you find that you've become…disenchanted with your role in the New Republic?"

Leia looked at Han who looked down at the blanket below him. What the hell was the kid doing? Han could feel the tension radiating off of Leia in reaction, but she remained silent while she kept her eyes on Luke.

"Leia, I'm not saying that I would train you to become a crusading Jedi. I just think that you need to learn how to recognize the gift you have been given and to control it and use it to your advantage. The Force may be able to help you find that balance you seem to be missing, especially if you're not finding satisfaction with the New Republic."

"I don't want to ruin this visit, Luke," Leia shook her head as she answered him in a soft voice. "So, I'm not going to repeat all the things that I have already said to you about this." She took a moment to look down at Han and then back at her brother as she added, "I will say that I certainly don't appreciate being discussed by the two of you behind my back like I'm some sort of ignorant child that cannot make her own decisions."

Han watched Leia walk away from the two of them and back up towards the temple. Looking at Luke, Han asked, "What the hell are you doing to me, Luke?"

"I'm sorry, Han. I had to try."

"No," Han replied as he stood up, gathered up their blanket and Leia's basket of berries and then added, "No, you didn't," as he walked away, following in Leia's footsteps.

As he followed Leia to the temple, Han's initial anger at Luke slowly turned inward and morphed into self-doubt. Han knew that Luke saw in Leia the same things that he did, but instead of patiently waiting for Leia to come forward with her feelings as Han had been doing, Luke had approached her with a gentle nudge, broaching the topic that if left alone, she may never bring up on her own.

Although the last year had been filled with long conversations regarding her time on the Death Star, her heritage and her doubts surrounding Bail Organa, Han had never pressed her on this underlying issue of her overall happiness. Not that he didn't have his reasons.

For one thing, pushing Leia had never worked well for him or for anybody else as far as he could tell. Just like their separation following Endor, when Han had been sure that he had made the right decision in not pushing her into a corner, but giving her the time and space she needed to adjust and absorb the news of Darth Vader. For another, Han felt that her overall well-being would gradually come on-line on its own, as she dealt with her issues one by one.

As Han approached the temple, he reluctantly admitted that for whatever progress he had made with her, he still felt that he was missing something fairly substantial. Some significant breakthrough or advice or healing that just wasn't coming naturally. Maybe Luke had the right idea and it was time that he pushed her more than he had been doing. Maybe she needed more direction and encouragement the further she delved into these issues. Running his fingers through his hair, he let out a deep breath. He was no psychologist. How would he ever know if what he was doing was the right thing?

When Han reached their quarters, Leia was packing their bags. He fell into the routine silently alongside of her and Leia seemed content in not discussing recent events. They were set to leave within the next couple of hours anyway, so he felt no need to press her before they left.

Luke was waiting for them when they exited their quarters and entered the main living area. Following some exchanged pleasantries with all of his students, Luke followed the couple out to the Falcon to say their final goodbyes in private.

Standing in front of the lowered gangway, Luke was the first to speak when he said, "I'm sorry, Leia."

Leia shook her head and responded, "We've talked about this, Luke."

"I know, but I don't think you are dealing with things as well as you…"

"You know what, Luke? You might be right," Leia interrupted him and taking a step towards her brother, she said, "I may have a long way to go with figuring all of this out. But that doesn't mean that you have it all figured out in contrast." A gentle breeze whipped around the three of them as they stood there in a brief silence. Leia's hair, pulled back in a loose pony tail, danced behind her in the wind and Han watched them without saying a word. Finally she continued to speak to Luke, her words becoming terse and cool, "You were so quick to forgive him. To embrace this…life of his. Have you really and truly worked out all of your feelings, Luke? Have you faced all of your demons? Or have you just befriended them? Stuck them out in the pasture like they're your pets? All the while never sure if they will ever turn on their master?"

Luke just stared at her. Han shuffled a little on his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. Leia certainly had the ability to slice someone open with her words when she wanted to, but she rarely ever used that ability on her close friends and family. She practiced a loving restraint, most of the time.

Leia continued on into Luke's silence, "It's dangerous to trust someone so blindly. Someone that you truly know nothing about, Luke. He's our father. I have accepted him as that. But that doesn't mean I understand him. Or trust him. Or embrace him as my protector and friend." She stepped back towards Han, before she added, "Paternity does not beget love, Luke."

Luke looked at her for awhile and then said again, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too."

Han watched the twins stare at each other for awhile and then he watched Leia step away from him and move towards Luke as the two siblings fell into a tight embrace. The loud, metallic pings of heavy rain drops falling on the Falcon was the first sign of the typical afternoon shower coming up from behind them. Han took a few steps back and stood under the cover of his ship as the rain began to fall down around them.

Luke and Leia finally pulled away from each other and Han watched their eyes meet in silent acceptance. And as Leia walked towards him, Han raised his hand and waved goodbye to Luke as he started to climb up the Falcon's gangway.

"Leia?" Luke called, causing both Han and Leia to turn around towards him.

Han was already at the top of the ship's gangway, he could see Leia standing below him but he had lost sight of Luke completely. He heard the Jedi's words carry up to him as he called out to his sister.

"Don't be mad at Han. He had nothing to do with it."

He watched Leia give her brother an affirmative nod and then turn towards him and head up the ramp. As Han pressed the buttons to close the ship up, Leia brushed past him without a word. Shaking his head, he silently thanked Luke for his last ditch effort. But somehow the Corellian knew he had his own music to face.