Disclaimer: I'm not George, so not mine.

Han shook Karrde's hand. "I don't know how I can repay you for all your help. Sorry that we put you a little behind schedule."

"Don't worry about it, Solo. You just take care of that kid. Something tells me that our paths will cross again someday." Karrde gave a nod.

Han, Leia, and Chewie walked down the ship's loading ramp. They had finally made it back to Alderaan. The group exited the space port and got into a transport. "Where to?" Asked the transport driver.

"The royal palace!" Leia said excitably. She couldn't wait to see her daddy. She knew that it was going to be different from when she left. Her mother would no longer be there, Leia cast her eyes down and tried to hold back the tears. After the day in Han's cabin when they looked up the news on her father, she had tried not to think of her mother's death and how she couldn't be with her father at that time. Now that she was home the reality was beginning to set in. The speeder came to a stop in the area where they usually dropped off tourists. Han paid the man and the group stepped out of the speeder.

Leia ran in front of her companions to the gate. The guard at the gate looked at the three. "I'm sorry but there are no tours today."

Leia tugged on the uniform of the guard. "We're not here to take a tour; we're here to see my daddy." For the first time the guard took a good look at the little girl and his eyes widened.

"By all the stars of Alderaan! Princess Leia? Your Highness!" The guard bowed down to the little girl. "Please forgive me." The guard grabbed his commlink and contacted the guards in the palace to escort the princess to her father.

Never in his life had Han seen such a grand building. He doubted that he'd see anything that could measure up to it. He and Chewie followed behind the guards while Leia lead the way to her father's study. They passed through the gardens and over the reflecting pool. Soon they made their way through the massive hallway which at the end was the door to the study. When Leia saw her father's door she broke into a run, she didn't bother to knock on the door, she just went through the door.

Bail Organa's thought was interrupted by his door suddenly slamming open. "What is the mea---." Before he could finish his sentence, he could have sworn a ghost walked through the door. "Leia?" His hand went to his mouth. "My gods!" Leia ran to her father and wrapped her arms around his neck. Bail had a hard time holding back the tears. The guards ushered Han and Chewie into the study.

"My lord," Bail switched his attention to his guard, "this is the man and Wookiee that saw to it that the Princess was brought home safely."

Still holding on to his little girl, Bail made his way over to the Corellian and Wookiee. "How can I ever repay you? Young man I am forever in your debt. Leia is my life." He took their hands in his.

Bail offered for Han and Chewie to stay at the palace as long as he liked. He listened to the young man as he told of his past and how he had come in to the service of the Empire and his dreams of being a pilot. Bail smiled, he had the perfect plan for the Corellian. Knowing the Imperials, this young man had a price on his head for his acts. Bail would call in a favor from his friend Garm Bel Iblis, the Corellian senator owed him a few.

A few days later Han and Chewie were leaving for Corellia. As he was packing his things, Leia came into his room and bounced on his bed. "Hey, kid."

"I'm going to miss you."

"You know I think I'll miss you too." Han picked up his bag and Leia took him by the hand as they walked out into the hall. "You better keep that little nose of yours out of trouble." He knelt down to eye level with the girl. "I mean it." She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

As he walked down the path to take him off the place grounds, Leia ran after him. "Will I ever see you again?"

"Dunno, maybe one day." Han gave one last look at the little girl. Her hair was once again tied up into double buns, and she was once again wearing a white gown. He left the palace grounds and would be leaving for his home planet of Corellia. Bail had arranged for Han to train as a pilot in the Corellian Military. For his bravery during his rescue of the princess and Chewbacca he would be awarded the yellow second class Corellian bloodstripe, an award he'd wear proudly. He would also become one of the few to be awarded the prestigious red first class bloodstripe.