Thank you everyone for the reviews - I apologize for my prior hiatus. I don't really have an excuse... R&R please!
AN: This week is a heavy one - but I hope to have chapter 8 up by Saturday. :)


Leia sighed and propped her chin up on Han's chest.

"This is far more comfortable than I expected," she mused.

"It's not bad." he agreed, eyes still closed. "Better than the forward hold on the Falcon, that's for damn sure. My knees ached for days after that."

"Well, grated steel decking isn't exactly built for comfort." she smiled, before adding "that was fun though."

"Completely worth it."

"Not to ruin the moment-" Leia said after another moment of contented silence, pushing up slightly so she could see his face more clearly.

"But you're going to."

"I suppose I am." She paused for a split second. "Have you decided what you're going to do."

"You mean, do I want to continue chasing after random warlords for months at a time while I leave you - where? On Kashyyyk with Malla? - so you can wait for me to hopefully come back? Do all of that so you and I can have - by contract - two weeks together before they ship me off somewhere else?"

"...yes?"

"No."

"'No' you haven't thought about it? Or 'no' you've decided you don't want to do that anymore?"

"Leia," He sat up, forcing her to do the same so they ended up sitting nose to nose. "I did it for you."

"Not all for me-"

"Yes. All of it. All for you."

"Oh."

"So, to answer your question: yes. I have thought about it. I have thought about every single day for the last 5 years. I want us. That's all. I don't give a damn about the rest. But you do, and I love you," he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So before we move on this, before we call them out, we need to draw a solid plan. This won't end today, Leia. Or tomorrow."

"But I resigned."

"I know. But I haven't." She looked down and he continued, voice softer. "All I'm saying is; this could end up being messy. Especially with the Hapens involved - we embarrassed them - all of them. They all thought you would cave and I would run. We proved them wrong, they won't like that. And I doubt they will let us walk out of here with a friendly smile and a 'Thanks for all the hard work and bloodshed - have a nice life'."

"True. When?"

"It has to be today. We can't wait any longer."

Leia sprang up and pulled her sweater over her head, "Okay, Flyboy. Let's move."

xXx

"I'm coming with you."

Han sighed. While he actually selfishly wanted her there, he didn't think it was the best idea. He did, however, make the rookie mistake of telling her that and had been trying - unsuccessfully to get her to come around on the notion for the last hour.

"This might not be pretty, Sweetheart. You don't have to go back there." Han watched her fight with her soft travel boots while neatly hopping over the piles of clothing and other personal items they had quickly thrown together. "They've been waiting for a chance to cut me down for years." Ackbar might not be so bad - but Madine, Mothma or worse - that waste of skin, Fey'lya. He didn't want Leia there, fresh from her fight with them yesterday, to watch them rip him apart. Gods knew what they would hurl at him. They would try to have him leave without her. Bully her or perhaps even try to buy him off. The whole thing made his skin crawl, becuase without him, Leia would likely go back to them, and - by extension - accept the Hapen offer. He knew all of that going in. But he had a hard cynical side that Leia didn't, and he loved that about her. Soft-hearted and fragile - but only to half a dozen people who she had let in.

"I highly doubt they are going to 'cut you down'. But yes, I am coming with you." She punctuated each word precisely, as if proper grammar made her completely correct. But then, Han sighed and he watched her chin go up slightly, there was probably not going to be any arguing with her - and what good would that do anyway. "Besides, I can always sit dejected outside the boardroom and look pathetic for a photo-op if they deny me access - which they won't."

"Hardly your style."

"Correction. It never used to be my style. I'm new and improved Leia. Spacer-Leia. Mercenary-Leia. Gods know what she's capably of." She was teasing him, but she was also calling his bluff. He really did want her there beside him. Not tucked away alone and worried for what would likely take hours.

"You're funny." he replied dryly, side-stepping the Spacer-Mercenary comment - she may end up not being too far from the mark.

"I'm coming with you." She stood, finally dressed in front of him, and he knew, with that look in her eyes, there was no arguing. Fine. Together.

"You look ready for war." He murmured, standing from the bed and meeting her at the bedroom door.

"Good. I am."

xXx

"Leia." The surprised face of Mon Mothma met them as they rounded the corner outside the large boardroom. Leia said nothing, only watched the older woman with narrowed calculated eyes.

"General Solo." Mon turned her head slightly to acknowledge Han's presence, face stoic, eyes shifting carefully between him and Leia, taking in her causal appearance. Leia's hair - while still braided as was customary - now instead of being pinned up, hung loosely, almost, wantonly in one thick plait down the middle of her back. She stood in this place, for the first time since the Liberation ground mission, dressed ready for combat in dark green leggings, black flat leather boots which hugged her calves and a tight fitting black tunic. She looked small. Compact.

Clever, really, Mon thought taking stock of the two people standing in front of her. Han was dressed just as simply, red Bloodstripes blazing down his black trousers, white dress-shirt open one button too many to be appropriate - as usual, she noted, annoyed - and a black leather jacket finishing the look. He towered over Leia's petite 5 foot stature, menacing and protective; blaster strapped to his thigh.

Well played. The media, who had been camped out in front of the senate foyer for the last two days, would love this. She had to concede, they made a handsome couple. An inappropriate and ridiculous couple, Mon hissed to herself, but; still attractive none-the-less.

"Mon." Leia replied, waiting for her would-be-use-to-be friend and mentor, to come to whatever conclusion she wanted.

They were powerful, Leia had made sure of that. Dressed this way, striding carefully through the halls she used to hurry down daily. She matched Han's causal walk as best she could. The walk that use to infuriate her. Like the easy way he handled expensive glassware, or ordered a drink at a fancy bar - as if he alone owned the world and it rotated and existed to suit his every need. She had hated and loved that about him from the first time she witnessed it. Years ago now, on an outer rim world, he has sat back in the bar of the best hotel on the planet, twirling a crystal cut tumbler with little care between his fingers. It had annoyed her; his air of disinterestedness. But she also envied it. She could never been that relaxed. That free.

He had proven that wrong though. Over the years, he had rubbed off on her. Taught her. And she thrived.

So now, here she stood. Ready and unhurried. Gazing at the woman who tried to sell her off not 30 standard hours ago. Casual. Leia reminded herself. Calm and casual.

"Can I help you two find someone?"

"No. Thank you." Han drifted a hand to the low sway on Leia's back, moving her forward but not controlling her. They had perfected that as well over the years. That tricky social dance of balanced sexual power. The issue of appearing together, equally, without diminishing either's position.

"I really should insist that I escort you - this is highly irregular. I don't approve." Mon said, flustered.

"Well, don't then." Leia replied, a little more snippy than she intended. It didn't matter, after a moment of stunned silence, Mon Mothma fell into step behind them as they traveled into the large back offices - heading straight for Admiral Ackbar's circular office.

Leia breathed in, lightly touching the space around her as Luke had taught her to do. She could hear him in her head - a nice change from the angst and rage which had taken up residence with her soul over the last two days. 'Feel them out, Leia. Know what they are feeling before they do. Anticipate action. You'll always be one step ahead of them.' Well. No. Leia argued with her brother's voice. It wasn't entirely as easy as all that.

xXx

"Leia, my dear. Do you mind giving us a moment?" She didn't answer the large Mon Calamari male in front of her, glancing at Han instead, watching for the small tug at the corner of his month. His tell. Nothing. She nodded and slipped passed him, lightly touching the broad plain of his back as she went.

The door slipped closed quietly behind her and she was left momentarily adrift. Lighting touching back into the room, feeling Han, unhurried and steady, sitting before the large Mon Cal Admiral, Admiral Drayson, General Madine and General Rieekan. They were clearly waiting for a few more members, Han was right - this was going to take hours.

She stood unsure of how exactly to act. Royal manners screamed at her to simple sit and wait. But she had had enough of her 'royal manners' this week, she was too angry for that anyway. Anger was better, she decided and took up a slightly defensive stance to the left of the office entrance. She didn't know what else they might have in reserve, but she was prepared to fight her way out if need be.

xXx

Her feet ached. Tension radiated from her. Aides had approached her, familiar faces - even a few friends - and has asked her if she required anything. She would smile and shake her head. She just wanted to go home.

The room on the other side of the door was quiet. Was that good? Surely if no shouting had started and no shots been fired - things were progressing better than Han had predicted.

A shadow moved in front of her.

"Leia. Good afternoon." She didn't trust her voice, so she smiled tightly and nodded.

"I didn't expect to you, again, so soon." Leia tightened her posture, the dark cloud bloomed again in her chest, small, but there.

"Well," she cleared her throat quietly, "Lucky you." She smiled sweetly. Borsk Fey'lya had never liked her. And he outright hated Han. That wasn't going to change today, she decided. No matter how this all played out.

"General Solo is with the Admiral and other members of the military council at the moment, an unscheduled visit." Mon's voice came from Leia's left, placing emphasis on 'unscheduled' - as if Han should have known to book an appointment to resign his commission today. They must have been expecting it - either way.

"Ah, yes. Good, we're right on time then. Please excuse us, Princess," he snarled her title at her with a slightly curled lip. "But we have important issues to table."

We?

And suddenly, there he was.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Princess. You look... lovely."

"Isolder," she nodded politely. Shit. Shit. Shit. "Thank you."

"I had hope of running in to you once more before our departure."

"You're leaving? Now?"

"Oh," he let out a controlled laugh, a fake nice laugh, it made her skin crawl - darkness creeping slightly forward, fingers itching for... something. "No, not yet. There are still a few, small matters to attend to." And with that, Borsk moved passed her and triggered the office door open. Leia caught sight of Han, facing the large window, thumbs looped into the pockets of his trousers. Casual. She had forgotten - out of practice and still far too raw. His head turned at the movement and he caught her eye, her face white; eyes wide. Then the two men pushed passed her and the door snapped closed.

xXx

There was yelling after all.

It hadn't taken long, and it made her even more nervous. What if? She wasn't entirely sure what she was worried about - everything? - but she had started pacing when they started shouting.

One standard quarter-hour later, the door hissed open again. She spun around as two men she didn't recognize came out, tailing an angry Hapen prince. The two men continued walking down the long hall - aides most likely, off to gossip about the drama which they had just been privy to - but Isolder stopped less then ten paces from her.

He was slightly taller than Han, and although they were both broad, well built; Han's physique was work earned and hard. Isolder's - while impressive - was privileged, gym derived. It wasn't the same. Leia quickly glimpsed Han and Carlist near the door, Han defensive and angry. Carlist calm and collected. The rest of the council were still all seated, all irritated. The door shut again.

One deep breath and suddenly he was upon her. Launching himself at her, angry and red-faced.

"You're a fool. This is the path you choose?" He bellowed, towering above her.

Leia thought, hoped, that his royal training would rein in any outstanding misplaced rejection. But, standing there, looming over her, intimidating - she quickly decided it would not.

Size had never scared her, but his anger was shocking. She didn't know him - didn't owe him anything. It was hugely misplaced.

"Of course." She refused to be scared. This was her choice, a choice she should have made years ago when Han first suggested it. they should have done it, left one night on board the Falcon, left and never looked back. But here they were - better late than never.

"You could have had anything! Anything! Jewels, palaces, status, power. Anything!" He stepped closer to her a grabbed her quite suddenly, hard and angry around the tops of her shoulders. She gasped. Fright starting to seep through.

"That's not enough for me." She answered calmly.

"You would rather be his whore?" He was yelling now, inches from her face. "Trailing around after that space-rat? You disgust me." He shook her once, and she tried to shove him away from her. He wouldn't budge. "Debasing yourself with someone like him. You know, you really aren't any better than a common port-slut." With that, he threw her back, she fell half a step and let the cloud wrap around her, masking her fright. His anger fed into her, swirling around inside her heart. Bold and slightly terrifying. She was about to respond, but all at once, three things happened:

She hadn't heard the office suite's door open.

Two large, familiar hands settled quickly on her shoulders, moving her aside.

And quite suddenly, she was looking down at the surprised, bloodied face of the Hapan Prince, belatedly raising his arms up to block the fresh assault levied at him by he owner of those two, strong hands.

Leia watched, rooted to the spot, unable to do anything more than watch the drama unfolding in front of her.

xXx

Han hissed as she gently pressed the cold compress to his right eyebrow.

It wasn't bad, a grazing blow at best, but punctuated by a ring or perhaps a loose fastening on a jacket, it was hard to say for sure.

She had been silent as they were escorted out of the Senate building, giving a small sideways smile to the reporters and holo-drones as they went by. She had stayed silent through the entire taxi-ride back to their apartment. And had yet to say anything still, as she held the soft wet bundle to the side of his face. Han set his jaw stubbornly. He wasn't going to apologize for that, he regretted not killing the bastard. Port-slut. He balled his fists again, the skin on them slightly agitated. It had been years since he was in a good fight.

"Thank you." She murmured quietly. Han's good left eye opened, surprised, lost in his own head. Usually, fighting was one of Leia's strict no-no's. "For getting us thrown out? Nah, you don't need to. I'm good at that."

She smiled at his attempt to lighten the situation. The afternoon had disintegrated very quickly after Han had landed a good dozen blows. Security called and words exchanged. It was heated and surreal. No one had ever physically fought for her before, not in the lower-level, back-alley brawl kind of way Han had just done.

"For defending me. Thank you."

He didn't say anything, he simply reached out and traced her cheekbone softly.

"I've never had anyone actually fight for my honour before." She teased lightly, leaning into his touch.

"Well, not right in front of you, you haven't." He corrected. Leia tilted her head at him, questioning. "I have been fighting for you for years, Leia. I'll never stop." This was news. She never expected or even considered that to be a possibility. Of course he had hated the backstabbing and underhanded comments leveled at her - and himself - but actually coming to blows over it? No, she hadn't considered that.

"But, on the brightside," he pulled the compress away and tossed it on the side table where it made a distinctive slopping sound. "I did manage to resign before they tossed us out. That's gotta count for somethin'."