First off I apologize for the delay. Life does interfere from time to time. Thanks once again to all those who have taken an interest in this story. I've also got to say I love Bloodlines. With all the fan fic of late and now this novel a lot of Han/Leia fans were not happy about TFA.
I had intended this chapter to reunite Han, Leia and Luke, but I just couldn't leave Han and Leia alone. We needed playful banter. We will reunite with Rey and Luke soon. I hope you all enjoy
The Millennium Falcon made it's way through space at light speed, with it's rightful pilot Han Solo and trusted co pilot Chewbecca at the helm controls. Leia sat behind Chewie so she could watch her scoundrel in action. She had missed little things like this, watching Han pilot his trusted ship. She remembered when it was stolen, she sighed, for years both had tried to find it. Leia had known how much the ship had meant to Han, and had come to mean to her, it was a part of them and something they wanted to pass along to their son. However, as time had moved on and sightings of the Falcon became less and less, she and Han started to look less and less, as life needed their attention. She wondered if that was why Ben had lost interest in piloting, as a little one he had loved to sit on daddy's knee and play. Even as a baby, Han would bring Ben up to the cockpit and carefully explain every control, switch and panel to the youngster. Leia would tease him saying no way would Ben understand, he was just a baby, but Han had smiled and said Ben was never too young to start learning if the Falcon was going to be his someday.
However, when the Falcon was lost, so too had been a dream. There was no Falcon and no other ship could take the it's place. Han had piloted other craft but Leia knew he missed his beloved freighter. Ben also didn't seem interested at all in other ships. It was around this time that he had started to pull away. He had always been a bit of a loner, not understanding his developing powers and why they made him so different from others; but Ben had always found solace in his family, especially his father and mother. However, as an adolescent Ben pulled away from them, more so from Han than her. She and Han never had a conventional marriage, and they did spend a lot of time a part but they never neglected Ben. When they were not together they split the boys time between the two, at times Han would take him either on shipping trips or to races; Leia when she knew her duties would keep her planet side. As Ben became more withdrawn he started to travel with his father less and less, and lose more interest in his father's activities. Leia recalled how upset this had made Han and how one night he had confessed to Leia that maybe if he were more like her and Luke, then his son would love him more. Leia had admonished him, telling him how much Ben loved him and he was just a teenager trying to establish his own identity, that he had even pulled away from her. However, during those days Leia was so sure it was just a phase that would pass.
She was wrong. The older he became the more moodier and darker he had become. It had frightened her at times and worse was the dark presence she sensed underneath the surface of her son, it called to him and had haunted her. That's why she had sent Ben to Luke, he was a great Jedi Master, Ben need guidance in more ways than what she and Han could provide. She had hoped Luke could keep him in the light. It was unfair to put that burden onto Luke. She should have tried more, harder to keep the contact between her and her son. She should have realized sooner, when Luke told her that Ben was even withdrawn from him, that something wasn't right. However, a part of her couldn't believe that her baby boy was turning away from all that his parents had fought for. When Ben renounced his name and took on the mantle of darkness, sealing the deed in the massacre of his fellow students, Leia had felt more guilt then than at the time of Alderaan's destruction. Ben was her son, entrusted to her by the Force, and she had felt she had failed. What was worse was how Luke had simply left, without no traces to be found, blaming himself for Ben's downfall.
So now her she was with her husband, flying towards her brother to once and for all be reunited as a family, as it should be. Lando had passed a long as much information as he could. There had been rumors of a Jedi sighting on the planet Dunbar, mostly known for it's underground. A mystical old man with his young apprentice, taking on a local warlord. Leia didn't need the Force to know it was Luke. She also held a soft spot in her heart for young Rey, the girl had done in a matter of months what Leia had failed to do in years, bring Luke Skywalker back. She had yet to make contact with the Resistance, she knew that most likely the base would have moved once again. Lando did pass on that Poe had taken up the mantle of leadership in her absence; and Lando had made reference to a determined young fighter Finn. It gave Leia great joy that her life's work had mattered and there was a new young force out there ready to take up the call to make a difference and fight against the spread of tyranny. It also meant she wouldn't be needed much longer, and she was just quite fine with that. She had been ready to step aside and run off with Han, she didn't want to deal with it anymore, she was ready to let Luke be and just let the fight go on with out her. It was Han who reminded her who she was; and now here they were, headed into another fight. However, this would be the last one. She would find Luke, help him take down the First Order and then it was off to the outer edges of the galaxy to bask in the adoration of her husband. She had lost her son, but she still had Han, and this time nothing would come between them to keep them apart.
"Whatcha, thinking about back there sweetheart?" Han asked, while preparing to drop out of light speed.
"Just how I'm ready for all this to end," she replied. "Find Luke, do what we have to, and just get out of here."
"It'll be over soon," he replied, "Then you can spend your days yelling at me."
"It is what I do best," she replied, given him a grin.
"Still the sexiest woman this side of the Comerosia Nebula," Han said with his side ways grin. "Strap in, we are nearly there, I'm going to take us out of light speed then we'll start our approach,"
Leia made sure her crash netting was secure as Han brought the Falcon out of light speed. The stars shimmered back to normal and Leia watched completely entranced by her husband as he powered up the sub light engines and headed toward the green and black plant in the distance.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you look piloting this ole' girl?" Leia asked.
"It's been a while," he said, winking back at her, "usually led to an intense session of love making, last time was right here in this chair."
Chewie growled at Han, clearly annoyed at the turn of the conversation.
"I am paying attention," Han growled back. "I can do more than one thing at a time."
Chewie muttered his response.
"He's right you know," Leia replied, having become completely adapt in Shyriiwook over the years, "You did nearly crash into the palace on Naboo because you were thinking of a certain blue dress of mine."
"Not my fault, as you were standing behind me nibbling my ear wearing that certain dress," Han replied. "Blood was quickly running south."
Han and Leia shared a smile and she was glad that he not only remembered the good times but held onto them, as she had done.
She looked up to see the planet getting closer as Han started his approach.
"So, do we have a plan?" Han directed at Leia.
"I just thought we'd wing it," replied Leia.
"Imagine that, after 38 years, I'm starting to wear off on you," he said laughing. "What all did Lando's contact say?"
"The activity had been mostly on the southwest portion of the planet," Leia replied.
"What do you know about this place?" he asked.
"It's a shady planet, independent, rumor is they supply weapons to the highest bidder, no matter who," Leia said. "the heaviest population portion dwells on the southwest hemisphere, that seems to be the main hub of activity."
Chewie muttered.
"Yeah, it does take me back," Han replied. "Ok I recommend a low key port, Lando didn't happen to have a suggestion did he?"
"Tartas," replied Leia. "The incident didn't happen far from there, and there is a much bigger port, Weschella located just south of there."
"Alright, we're going in," Han said.
The Falcon descended into the planet's atmosphere and was then picked up on the planets scanners. He passed along his credentials, Leia raised her eyebrows, as they were fake one's that he hadn't used since the days the Empire ended. One can never be too cautious. They made their approach to the port and Han made a smooth landing as always.
"Alright Chewie, let's get her grounded," Han stated.
Leia stood and walked back to the galley. Laying on the table were a few items of clothing to use as disguises. She started donning a hooded robe as Han entered the galley, having finished is post landing checks.
"Hey, what's all this?" he asked.
"Disguises," she replied. "I don't know how recognizable I'll be here."
"Well now, I don't think it's such a good idea that you looking around," said Han. "We don't know who may be lurking."
"I don't sense any darkness here," began Leia. "Just a lot of loose morals."
"Yeah sweetheart, I'm very familiar with places like this," stated Han. "Which is why it's best if you stay back and let Chewie and I do the leg work."
Leia turned and looked at him sharply.
"Han," her tone warned. "You are not leaving me on this ship to go fuddling around, it's just a dangerous for you as it is me, maybe more so."
"What makes you think that," he said.
"Your Han Solo, ex pirate, turned rebellion hero, turned general, turned private business man, turned racer," she named the list of occupations he had held over the years, "Honestly, your more famous here than I would be, and you just came back from the dead."
"I seriously doubt the news of my demise has traveled that fast, plus I was never that famous," he stated. "Leia, I just would feel better if you would stay behind."
"I know you would," she said, "But I'm not staying behind, you are."
"WHAT!" he bellowed, "Listen sweetheart, letting you tag along is one thing, but letting you go out alone is another all together, you've lost it if you think I'm going to sit around waiting while my wife walks into danger."
At that moment Chewie entered the galley having completed the Falcon shut down process and regard the two.
"I'm not going to be alone," she replied walking over to Chewie. "I'll have my wookie guardian looking out for me."
"Oh yes, because the famous Chewbecca walking around with a diminutive cloaked figure isn't going to look suspicious at all," Han stated.
Chewie growled his arms waving as he muttered off.
"See, he agrees with me," said Leia. "Your face is too recognizable, you held a race here just a few years ago, you will attract attention," Leia reasoned. "Plus Rey is here with Luke, she thinks your dead, her reaction to you being alive will drew even more attention."
Chewie muttered softly again.
"I know pal," replied Han. "I just don't like it, promise me you won't take any unnecessary risks, I just got you back."
"Promise," she said stepping up to kiss him. "I plan to be around for a long time, giving you grief."
"I think I might like that," Han said with a smile pulling her closer and kissing her again.
Chewie muttered again an walked off, not wanting to be the third wheel.
"And I do not fuddle," said Han with a pout when they separated. "I just have a unique way of doing things."
"I know flyboy, it's what makes you famous," Leia replied. "Right now I need subtle."
"I could do subtle," Han replied.
Leia just looked at him deadpanned.
"Your right, besides subtle isn't fun," said Han.
"I'm glad you see this my way," she teased.
"Go get the kid," began Han. "If he wont' see reason just have Chewie carry his sorry hide back here, I have a few things to say to him when he gets here anyway."
"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise," she said with one more parting kiss.
"I'll keep an eye out," he replied. Watching her walk down the gang way and not liking it one bit. "I'm sure there is something to fix, there is always something to fix on this ship."
