Chapter Eight

He didn't really know why he was here or what he was doing, but something told Han Solo that he should go out shopping today. It was the Holiday season, perhaps he could pick up an item for Chewie, or maybe even Leia. She had been civil with him and he even dared to call them friends. Even after Luke's warning, Han couldn't help himself. He wondered if his Leia, his wife from his world would find him silly in this life. Would she find him desperate to find any version of her, or would she understand how much his heart ached and begged to be with Leia again. It was all very confusing. Thinking of two different Leia's gave him a headache, and he debated if he should try and forget what Leia and him had once had, worlds away.

Stepping inside the next shop, Han was rushed by a swarm of people. It seemed that this was the shop to be in. Everyone was screaming and grabbing at items, while Han casually walked the aisle's, not sure what he was really looking for. Stepping up to the jewelry section. Han's eyes caught sight of a bright crystal. It reminded Han of the wedding ring he had given Leia. The one she had loved so much, she couldn't stop staring at if for days. The ring Han kissed across every chance he got. It reminded him of his wife. He wanted to buy that necklace for Leia, but tried to remind himself how inappropriate that would be in this odd world.

"Shopping for Jewelry now?" He heard from beside him. Quickly looking over he was surprised to see Leia standing before him. Leia looked beautiful as always, clearly bundled up for the cold weather. Her hair was tucked behind her ears and her face looked flushed from the cold weather. Her eyes held warmth, which Han gladly welcomed. She smiled and nodded towards the necklace. "It's beautiful…She's a lucky girl."

"What?" Han asked, his eyes flickering back to the necklace before moving to Leia. He was confused, before he suddenly understood what Leia meant. "No! No, there's no girl. I was just looking around."

"Are you sure?" Leia smiled, stepping forward and looking at the necklace. Her fingers traced over the cold strand, moving down to ghost her finger tips over the crystal.

"I'm pretty sure…" Han said, mesmerized by her movements.

"It is beautiful, the light hits the crystal just right." Leia noted, her deep chocolate eyes staring down at the piece of jewelry.

"It is nice." Han agreed.

"You have that look in your eyes." Leia said with a smirk, glancing towards him.

"What look in my eyes?' Han asked with a small laugh. Leia's face suddenly paled and she looked back to the necklace. "Leia?"

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything…" She said dismissing her words. Han stared at her confused, as she slowly finished her thoughts. "I was just thinking of something from years ago." Leia admitted

"You can tell me." Han smiled, wanting her to continue. "I…I was just going to say I used to see you look at me like that…I'm sorry." Leia quickly said with a sigh. "It was my mistake. I didn't mean anything by it." She said, her face turning red.

"I did look at you like that…" Han agreed, knowing very well he still looked at her like that. He stared at her with love and want, like she was the most beautiful girl in the entire galaxy.

"I just thought you were shopping for your girlfriend. I'm sorry I made this weird." Leia said with a nervous laugh.

"No girlfriend." Han assured her, shaking his head. He'd love to tell her how much he still looked at her like that, or how much he wanted to buy that necklace for her. To see it hanging around her beautiful neck, against her pale skin. "So what brings you out?" Han asked.

"Well I still haven't gotten Luke a gift, and now that I know he'll be around for the holiday."

"Right, better get your brother something." Han nodded.

"He's so hard to shop for, he doesn't usually care for material possessions. I suppose It's a Jedi thing…" Leia explained.

"You'll find something for him."

"I haven't seen him the last few holiday's. I wasn't planning to get him a gift." Leia smiled softly, happy her brother would in fact be around, but stressed that she hadn't thought a head.

"I can help you find something?" Han offered quickly, any reason to spend more time with her.

"I'm sure I'll manage, I was tempted to send my assistant out but that's a little insensitive. What about you? Buying for Chewie?"

"I'm not sure yet…Just looking around." Han said, running his fingers through his hair. "So is Luke staying at your place?" Han asked, changing the subject back to them.

"Oh no, he has his own place for when he is around."

"Well that's nice to have your own space." Han suggested.

"It is, I suppose. It's a comforting quiet, I guess."

"It is a big place though." Han noted, thinking back to how large her apartment had looked. It was way bigger the the home he had shared with his wife in his world. He wasn't sure why such a small Princess needed such a large home.

"I didn't pick it." She added, looking back to some of the other items on the aisle they were on. She wasn't a fan of her apartment, Han was right it was large and didn't hold any feeling of home.

"Big for one person."

"I guess so, I don't know if I notice." Leia shrugged. Deep down, she knew very well that she noticed just how big her apartment was. And how lonely it felt living their alone. Being by herself was hard on her, but she had to manage. She forced herself to manage. An awkward silence surrounded them, neither knowing what to do or to say.

"Weird that fate keeps bringing us together." Really solo that's what you came up with? Han asked himself.

"Ummm…" Leia tried to laugh, but it stuck in her throat. Now wasn't the time to fight about Han, about how fate didn't exist. "We both just needed to shop for gifts." Leia corrected.

"Right…"

"Listen Han, I don't want you to get the wrong idea…' Leia started when she was interrupted.

"Excuse me young man." Turning Han and Leia faced a little old lady. She smiled up at Han.

"Yes?" Han asked her.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation you two, but I can't reach this top shelf, would you mind dear?" She asked Han, pointing to one of the nearby shelves. Han quickly nodded and reached up, grabbing the box down for her. "Oh you sweet boy!" She cheered, giving Han a quick hug. Leia smiled as she watched Han hug the tiny woman, who was shorter then even Leia.

"Anytime Ma'am." Han smirked.

"You two are adorable, you better buy her that necklace." She told Han, pointing to the crystal hanging next to Leia. "It would be a wonderful gift for the Mrs." She nodded towards Leia with a warm smile. Leia's heart dropped and she quickly opened her mouth to correct the old woman.

"You know we were discussing it." Han said stopping Leia's words and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Leia tensed, but slowly relaxed into his hold. She forgot how wonderful it felt to be in Han's arms. "I figure it would be a good gift for my wife, but she doesn't like to be spoiled." Han teased, completely missing how uncomfortable Leia looked or the pain that flashed across her face.

"Oh my dear! Let your husband spoil you. It is a beautiful gift."

"Yes it is Ma'm." Leia nodded her voice coming out tight.

"Oh my dear, you two remind me of my late husband and I. I can see it in your eyes, how much you two love each other. Now you hold on to her boy! You wouldn't want someone like that slipping away from you." She told Han and he quickly nodded. He knew all about losing Leia and he had no intention of doing it again. He needed her, wanted her, had to win her back. He couldn't stop dreaming about making her his wife again in this world. So they could get back to what they were in the world he missed and longed for.

"Have a good holiday Ma'am." Leia said with a smile for the woman. She thanked Han once more, before the old woman walked away and waved to Han and Leia. Han smirked as he watched her walk away. He stayed planted in his spot beside Leia, feeling so relaxed with his arm around her and her rested against his side. It felt like home.

Turning back to Leia, he watched as she pulled away from his embrace. He smiled down at her red face and decided to change the subject.

"Leia, how about we grab some hot caf, it would boost our shopping energy and it's freezing out." Han said with a light hearted laugh. Leia stayed quiet, looking down between them. "Leia?"

"Why would you tell her that?" She bit out, her eyes flashing up to meet his. He quickly caught on to her anger and moved to quickly fix the mess he had just created.

"I…I didn't want to disappoint her." He tried to explain, but Leia took another step away from him.

"You shouldn't have said that."

"Leia…" He tried, but she interrupted him.

"I should really be going Han." She said moving to walk past him, without thinking he grabbed her wrist and turned her towards him. Her skin was so warm as he held her wrist. Leia looked down to his hand grasping her arm and frowned.

"Leia?' He questioned, looking up into her eyes. The warmth was gone and all he saw was cold annoyance with a hint of pain.

"I have to go Han, good luck with your shopping." She said, shrugging out of his hold and stepping back.

"How about that caf? Just a quick cup, maybe we can brainstorm what to get Luke?" Han suggested once more. His mind chanted over and over, please say yes please say yes!

"No. I can't get caf with you." She said quickly and without a second glance, she turned and walked out of the store. Leaving Han alone with his thoughts.


Little short chapter but something that needed to be added in! aww Leia trying to deny those feels ;) Thanks for reading! I'm actually excited for you guys to read the next Chapter!