The Fourth Time

Leia was waiting for him when he got back, one day that felt like one year later. This time she was alone, without the crowd that had surrounded them at his departure, but she supposed that was what happened when you were willing to wait for someone well into the middle of the night.

Han didn't ask her if she was waiting for him, and so she didn't deny it. She didn't ask him about the money he wasn't going to be paid and so he didn't deny anything either. There was a moment, an odd hesitation, and then he opened his arms and she went into them quietly, naturally. As she clung to him it occurred to her that they could probably really get along, if only they didn't have to talk to one another.

Of course he chose then to open his mouth, pushing back slightly to give her a grin that could only be described as wicked.

"Miss me, sweetheart?" he quipped, their argument from before the mission forgotten or at least forgiven. Even though a part of her didn't want to she played her part, rolled her eyes, quipped back,

"In your dreams, flyboy," but there were no harsh edges to her words, none of the old bite. She could tell by the way that he looked at her, half surprised and half something that could almost be hopeful that he knew it, even if he didn't know why.

The next thing Leia knew, their arms went around one another's waists easily, as if they'd done this countless times before. She wondered what in the Force they were doing as they walked together toward the base entrance, but found she didn't have it in her to spoil the moment.

"We're happy you're back," she finally said. "There's even going to be a party tonight to celebrate your success-"

Her words cut off as he stopped walking, looking less than enthusiastic about the idea. As if from nowhere she was hit by the realization that Han Solo, the kind of person she'd always thought of as up for a good party- the reason she herself had suggested throwing the party- was tired. For a crazy moment she thought about being honest with him and telling him that she was exhausted too, about suggesting that they skip the party and play some sabacc instead. Of course, Han himself was sure to win, even though afterwards she'd pretend she had let him and he would let her pretend-

But then he smiled, a smile that she knew him well enough to realize was forced, and the moment passed as he nodded. "Great. That sounds great."

Leia supposed she shouldn't be surprised when Han was almost 2 hours late for his own party, or annoyed when he was immediately surrounded by throngs of people eager to hear about his adventures. It was clear that he was shaping up to be a natural leader- the Resistance members valued his opinions and stories, and in turn he seemed to go out of his way to make them feel important. After over an hour had passed and he showed no signs of coming over to her and Luke she decided that was for the best and tried to put him from her mind.

And so, it came out of nowhere when he thrust a hand out in front of her, adding, a few moments later, "Wanna dance,princess?"

Leia looked at his outstretched hand and then up into his eyes, feeling that something very very dangerous was happening.

"No, thank you," she said after a long moment, trying to ignore the way his face fell, and more importantly that, unbelievably, she was capable of making his face fall.

He turned away, she could only assume to go back to his adoring fans, and she sighed before taking another sip of her beer and wishing she were drunker. "Aw, Han, don't give up so easily!" Luke laughed from beside her, evidently much drunker than she was, and she glared at him as Han turned back.

"It's okay, kid, I can take no for an answer."

Luke suddenly looked serious, and Leia wondered if he might be sober after all as he said quietly but firmly, "Of course you can, but she wanted to say yes."

"I- I wanted no such thing-" Leia sputtered, but she went silent as Luke met her eye and she felt that he might actually have read her mind- that he might even be reading her mind at this very moment-

Han hesitated before taking a step forward and holding out his hand again. "Sure you don't want to dance?" he inquired, and she wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the hopeful expression on his face, or if it was simply her, finally losing her mind, but she stood and pushed away from the table. After another beat she took his outstretched hand and smiled, trying not to focus on how right his hand felt surrounding hers.

"Okay then, hot shot, let's see what you've got, " she drawled, and she heard the flirty note in her voice and decided not to bother to hide it as he swept her away.

Over two hours later, Leia laughed in delight as Han picked her up and spun her around, a new song beginning to play.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked, sounding eager. "This is a Corellian dance!"

She didn't hesitate. "Show me!"

He pulled her even closer to him, placing one hand firmly on her waist, taking the other in his own. "Don't worry, it's so simple even a princess could do it," he murmured teasingly, and instead of taking offense she found herself laughing as she let him lead her, quickly discovering that the main feature of a Corellian dance for the woman was accepting you were going to get picked up and twirled in a circle, seemingly at random. By the end she felt dizzy, lightheaded, delightful. He set her down for the last time and she leaned into him, smiling.

"Did you like it?" he asked, sounding uncertain, and she briefly considered a variety of snappy retorts she could give before settling on the truth.

"It was wonderful." She hesitated as she looked up at him. "I'd like to teach you some from Alderaan some time. They're very different but fun too, I think." She thought for a moment, then decided to ask what she actually wanted to know. "Do you ever miss it?"

Han looked at her blankly, clearly not having followed the train of her thought. "Miss what?"

"Corellia."

It was his turn to hesitate, and somehow she knew he was lying when he finally scoffed, "That rainy swampland? Nah."

She smiled, skeptical. "I don't think that I've ever heard Corellia called a swampland before- I heard that it has some very nice-"

"Yeah, well, have you ever been there?" he cut her off. "Sure there's-"

"No," she interrupted softly, her smile fading. "I haven't been there. But I'd like to see it. Maybe you'll take me sometime." She looked down, shaking her head at her own idiocy before adding, belatedly, "When this is over."

He looked hesitant, and she had the uncomfortable feeling that for the first time since she'd met him, Han Solo truly had no idea what to say. As the silence stretched on she began to feel stupid, and as though it would have been better to say nothing at all, but just at that moment Han gave her a smile, different than the smiles he usually gave her- bigger, and so heartbreakingly sincere that she almost had to look away as her stomach fluttered.

"Sure. I mean, I'd like to take you. When this is over."

Leia smiled back as his hand found hers and squeezed, just once.

Thank you so much everyone for continuing to read- you guys are the best! I truly appreciate and treasure every review, they mean so much to me!