Sorry I haven't updated for a really long time--i just started secondary school, my holiday was more than a week long, and i had orientation, which really rocked!

Thanks to all my reviewers once again, you all are so encouraging. unlike some people...(hint hint)


This is great! Everything is going perfectly well. Han is angry at Leia; Leia is despondent because no matter how hard she tries, Han will not believe her; Ivan is delighted. The only problem is Han's soon departure. Halley frowned for a moment. But that doesn't matter, it's just a tiny detail. Before long, Han will probably with me! Halley laughed out loud as she gloated inwardly. Now that she had finally achieved something, she flopped onto the sofa, relaxed, and flicked on the holo-tv.

As a new recruit, she had no duties as yet, just a piloting test with someone called General Riekkan which was five hours later. Not to worry though, she told herself, her piloting skills were anything but mediocre. In fact, she had been the best pilot in her homeworld, so she just had to fly like she normally did, and she would probably ace it.

Halley focused her attention on the screen. It was some kind of romantic drama, she presumed. A lady with long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and a petite frame was crying as she turned around, walking towards the door. The camera turned to zoom in on a tall man with dark hair and fine, chiseled features watching indifferently, his fingers intertwined with that of another woman standing beside him. That woman was pretty too, with short auburn hair, dressed in a revealing outfit. She was smirking as she watched the scene unfold in front of her.

Suddenly, the soundtrack changed as a look of realization passed over the man's face and he dropped the woman's hand and rushed towards the other. What followed was muffled apologies, relieved tears and passionate kisses as the philandering man 'atoned for his sins'.

Halley scowled. It's not supposed to end like that, it never does! She jabbed at the remote control, changing the channel. This time it was some kind of soap opera, and the two leads were kissing passionately. Halley leaned back on the plush cushions, her face relaxing into a smile. If the female is me, then the male is Han. She said dreamily.

A sharp knock on the door startled her out of her stupor. Hurriedly, she switched off the holo-tv and rushed to the door, cursing under her breath. Did the person outside hear me?

It was Jeri, smiling brightly. Relief coursed through her. At least it isn't Han or Leia. "Hi Halley!" Jeri greeted her. "How are you?"

"Good, really great! It's awesome here!" Halley gushed, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Would you like to come in and have a drink?"

Both of them walked in. "General Riekkan told me to inform you that the test is moved forward by one hour, and that you'll be flying an x-wing fighter." Jeri spoke. At Halley's alarmed look, she grinned and assured her. "It's quite easy, actually. And Riekkan is very nice. Quite charismatic. So you don't have to worry at all."

"Thanks. What would you like to drink?" Halley asked, heading to the kitchen.

"Do you have coffee?" Jeri asked. Halley nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Once she was out of sight, Jeri rushed to the sofa and seized the control, switching it on. A couple were kissing ardently. A frown marring her face, she switched it off and sat down at the dining table. What did she mean, when she said if the guy was Han, she was the girl? she fancies Han?

As Halley came back in, she forced a genial smile back on her face. Her mind though, was in turmoil. Han is with Leia! How can she like Han? And does this have anything to do with what's happening now?

They chatter for a while, then Jeri asked casually, " so how are you finding this place? Enjoying yourself?" before Halley had a chance to speak, Jeri winked slyly at her. "Do you like any guy?"

Halley looked startled, then blushed deeply. "Er…"

"Who?" Jeri prompted eagerly, leaning forward. Is she going to admit it?

"Some of them are quite…hunky, but I don't actually like any specific guy." Halley said shortly, sipping some of her drink. Jeri was disappointed, but tried not to show it. They continued chatting, but Jeri's heart was not in it.

Han woke up cantankerous and miffed. He reckoned it must be some kind of cycle. Regret, grief, and now anger. What would be next? Suicidal thoughts? He thought cynically.

Resisting the urge to throw his things across the room, he dressed, then heaved his luggage out of the door. At the doorway he paused, his hand resting on the edge, then with a modicum of dread he looked back. His lingering glance took in every minute detail of the room. He felt peeved again, and slammed his hand against the pad fractiously and pulled the bags in an almost vicious manner to the Falcon.

Chewie was nowhere to be seen. He chucked his stuff on his bed, then as an afterthought grabbed his towel and a clean shirt. There's a gym somewhere with a punching bag…I think I'll go and try that out before I hit someone.

The girl outside the room had a broad, winning smile plastered on her face as she sang, "Good morning, Captain Solo. How are you? Where's Leia?" as soon as she blurted those words out, she clapped her hand over her mouth in horror. "I'm so sorry, I forgot about that! Here's the card, go in if you want."

Han leaned over the counter. "What is 'that'?" he asked slowly, in a manner that seemed menacing to the girl. she shrank back in fright.

Her voice came out as a squeak. "About Leia going out with Ivan…"

Han grabbed the card and headed inside, his expression stony. Now the whole base knows about this. Absolutely brilliant. Now everyone is going to think that Leia chose Ivan over me or something, or that I had tried to take advantage of her or something. He squeezed his eyes shut as he vented his anger on the bag, pummeling it with all his might. Briefly, he remembered his thoughts the day before, remembered how he hated and loved her at the same time, if that was even possible. Then he shut his thoughts out.

He continued punching it for almost an hour, he wasn't sure, having lost track of time. He yanked off his shirt and sank onto the floor, exhausted, drinking from one of the bottles provided.

"Han." A voice called out calmly.

He lifted his head. It was Luke. Get the hell outta here! He was just about to voice his thoughts aloud when Luke spoke again. "Han, you really need to think this over. Leia was not going out with Ivan. They had been at an arranged meeting by Mon MOthma. Nothing happened between them at all, and never will. Leia…"

"Forget it, Luke," Han cut in shortly. "I'm not changing my mind."

"Leia loves you, Han. Why don't you believe you?" Luke continued, unpertubed.

"Did she send you here?"

"No! Look Han, she's my sister. I just want to help her." He sat down on the floor beside Han. "You need to understand that Leia is the same person you met last time, the one you fell in love with. She did not go out with Ivan."

"No!" Han yelled vehemently, startling Luke. "I don't want to talk to you about this to you, okay? How can you say it's nothing when it bloody well isn't? I wasn't even that intimate with Leia." He looked away, hurt in his hazel eyes.

Luke opened his mouth to protest, found nothing to say, then closed it again.

"You're wrong, Han, you really are." He finally said. "You know Leia, she wouldn't do that to you, she…"

"Luke, shut up!" Han shouted, seething with unbridled fury. "Look, I stayed behind for your sister, okay? I sacrificed a lot of things, I didn't even stay in the Falcon, I wanted to be closer to her! Last time, I didn't even care about other girls, but this was different. At least I thought it was. Do you even know how hard it was for me to get close to her, to confess that I love her? Do you even understand?"

Luke looked stunned at his diatribe. "Han, if you're not going to trust anyone, this will never be resolved." He said quietly, turning to leave.

Who the hell does he think he is? This thing is already resolved, I'm leaving here for good, Leia can go and make love with Ivan if she wants, I don't give a damn. Does he think he's a freaking sage or what? Han glanced at his towel in disdain, then flung it across the room.

Leia paced back and forth in front of her bed, wringing her hands in anxiety. Luke had said that he would try to persuade Han to stay, but one hour had passed and he hadn't materialized yet.

"It's okay, Leia, I'm sure it'll be. You know Luke. If anything, he'll use his Jedi brainwashing techniques, right?" Jeri said from the couch, in a dismal attempt to cheer her up. Leia forced a tiny smile on her face, inhaling and exhaling slowly, trying to calm herself down. Han is just so stubborn at times. If he won't believe me, will he believe Luke?

At that moment, the door slid open and Luke sank onto the couch next to Jeri. Leia hurried over. "How was it?" she inquired, taking in the subtle nuances on his face with growing despair. Granted, she was not as close to him as she was with Han, but they were twins, after all, an invisible bond existed between them. And Leia knew the news was not good.

"I can't." he said flatly, touching the back of his neck, a gesture Leia knew he used in frustration and weariness.

"what happened?" Leia asked, her mind reeling. It was not like she had expected any other outcome, but there had been a shred of hope in her. Pinpricks appeared behind her eyes and it was all she could do not to break down.

"I went to the Falcon first, but he wasn't there, and Chewie said that he went in the general direction of the gym." Luke shook his head as he remembered Han punching his bag. He could almost see Han"s anger flowing, like a viscous liquid, from Han to the burgundy bag. "He was punching the bag…he was so angry…" Leia turned away, not wanting Luke to see the tears that pooled in her eyes.

"Anyway, it was obvious that he won't listen to me. He seems really sure that you were going out with Ivan."

"But I was not!" Leia cried out indignantly, as if it would make a difference. What does Han take me for? Some slut that would go out with any guy that walks past?

"I'm sorry, Leia." Luke said softly. He wrapped her in a brief embrace, then strode out.

Jeri turned to her, chagrined. "I don't know why Han doesn't believe you, Leia." She paused for a moment, almost thoughtfully. "Maybe you should try talking to him again. After all, he is your boyfriend."

"He was." Leia corrected her morosely.

"You can't think like that, Leia!" Jeri turned to her, speaking desperately, an urgency in her voice. "You know that you still love him, so you can't be so pessimistic! You can't give up no matter what, Leia!"

Leia faced her, a lone tear sliding down her cheek. "How can I not, when he already has?"


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