A/N: I know that being all hyped up isn't in Han or Leia's style, but we have to admit, they must act as normal people, if not on screen, then behind the scenes.

Please read and review! :)


VIII

After everything that had happened in the past few days, Solo wished there was more time to spend with Leia on the Rebellion frigate. He wished they could talk…there was so much he wanted to talk about. He wished they weren't continuously interrupted, but…

A knock on the door of Solo's quarters suddenly interfered. Han grunted in annoyance and broke off the kiss he was sharing with Leia.

"Han, don't-" Leia began.

"Easy, Princess," Han whispered back. "I'm not going too far away." He gave her another quick peck, then pushed himself off of the bunk.

"I was telling you not to forget your shirt, hot shot," Leia snapped, wrapping herself up with the blanket from the bunk.

Han winked at the girl on his bunk as he strode to the door. His appearance was less than appropriate, but he didn't care. This was supposed to be his resting time.

They're lucky I'm even answering, Solo thought as he ran a hand through his messed up hair.

The doorbell had interrupted he and Leia, leaving Leia's top just in her undergarments and Han shirtless. Solo took his belt and blaster holster off and his boots were in the corner. His pants felt loose – Leia had unbuttoned them, but that was all. This was the first time he had such little clothing on in front of anyone besides Chewie or his old one night stands.

"What?" Solo shouted as he allowed his door to slide open.

"Captain – excuse me, General – Solo, sir," a baffled Nera Dantels struggled to get out.

Nera had been an ally and friend to Leia prior to the last year's events. Han had seen the two talking from time to time, but didn't think much of her until now.

She observed Han's appearance, piecing it all together. Glancing back at Leia, who was trying to disguise herself in Solo's bed, she raised an eyebrow. "Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar are looking for Princess Leia. Shall I tell them you've seen her?" she asked innocently.

Han pulled in a deep breath and towered over her, trying to seem threatening. "I don't know what you're talking about," he growled. Then, he glanced back at Leia, then back to Nera, and whispered. "She'll be out in ten minutes."

The door wooshed closed in Nera's face and Solo sighed. He buttoned up his pants again and turned to face the Princess.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Han told Leia, cocking his head and wrinkling his forehead. "Looks like that's all we've got time for."

Leia easily got out of the bed and slipped back into her – Han's – old clothing. "I think I'll manage," she spat. Suddenly, her blood was boiling. Han had turned into his old, cocky self again.

"Hey!" Solo's face was full of concern. He watched as Leia picked up he boots and carried them out the door with her. "Come on, your Worship, hang on a second!" he called after her down the hall.


Leia continued to storm out of the crew quarters, leaving Han back in his bunk. She knew he'd quickly get dressed and chase after her. If she was lucky, he'd have the decency to put a shirt on, anyway. Lucky for her, the medical center was on her way to the briefing room, so she'd have them check on the General. That would buy her some time.

When Leia finally reached the main docking bay of the Rebellion Star Cruiser, Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar were waiting for her outside of the Millennium Falcon. Mon Mothma stood tall, elegant as ever, and bowed her head a little, acknowledging Leia's arrival.

"Princess," she greeted once Leia advanced to them. "I hope we had not interrupted anything."

Out of the corner of her eye, Leia spotted Nera prepping to jump into an A-wing. She must have alerted the leaders of her findings.

Turning red, Leia was forced to reply with as much dignity as she could. "Not at all," she lied.

"Good," the Alliance leader answered. Then, she turned towards the Falcon. "Chewbacca has alerted us that General Solo's ship is in need of repairs."

"Yes, she does need some work."

She went on. "General Calrissian needs a ship."

Horror flooded Leia's body. She knew Han had to pilot the Imperial ship the Alliance had gotten their hands on – it was the only way to land on Endor and ambush the Imperial guards. But she did not know that the Alliance intended on gifting him Han's ship to take into battle.

Admiral Ackbar broke into her thoughts. "With proper repairs, would General Solo be willing to aid us his freighter?"

"Wouldn't it be best to take a ship meant for fighting out to battle?" Leia asked, trying to protect Han's piece of junk. "Something less recognizable," she added.

"Possibly," Ackbar agreed. "But Calrissian once owned the Millennium Falcon and will know how to pilot it already."

Leia couldn't argue his point. Han had gotten the freighter from Corellia, but only after winning her from a bet against Lando.

"We know Solo will be hesitant," Mon told her, as though she read the Princess's thoughts. "We need you to convince the General to give her up for the use of this attack."

Leia took in a breath and looked around. She had no idea what to do. Han would be devastated.

Mon must have understood why she was quiet, because she quickly added, "Surely personal issues won't be a problem here, Princess?"

Leia shook her head instantly, reminding herself that she was a Senator, a Princess, and somewhat of a leader under Mothma and Ackbar. She felt embarrassed, but pushed it aside; the whole Rebel fleet must be gossiping about her relationship with Solo. "No, not at all," she forced out.

"Good, we'll make necessary repairs while you are finishing your rest. I trust you may speak to him right away?" Mothma pried. "We must leave in no less than two hours standard time."

Two hours, Leia thought. That was barely enough time to prepare her bunk, prep her fleet, and convince Han to give up the Falcon. It would be a rough end of the day.


General Solo paraded through the corridors of the Rebel frigate, urgently trying to track down the Princess. Her stunt with the medical team had left him on order to take medication to help internal healing that he did not know he had to deal with. The carbonization had left a lot of scaring, inside and out, mental and physical.

Finally, he made his way out of the medical wing and located the briefing room. The small fighters, piloting the Gold, Green, and Red squadron, were all awaiting orders. Their leaders had them in groups, giving details on the plans for the attack on the Empire.

Solo scanned the room. No one he recognized besides Wedge. Luke must have finally been resting.

Han made his way through the crowded interior of the space and approached Antilles. "Wedge!" he called as he approached.

"General!" Antilles replied, calling Han by his new title with pride. Even though they weren't close friends, he knew Luke valued him, so that was enough to be friendly to the pilot.

"Yeah, yeah." Han dismissed the title as soon as it was said. "Listen, have you seen Leia anywhere?"

"Leia?" Wedge repeated. "Haven't seen her, but we've heard all about it. Good job, Solo!" he congratulated.

"For what?" Han asked, looking around the room as Wedge's squadron whistled him on. He was clearly confused.

"A smuggler getting the Princess." Antilles slapped Han on the back. "Who would've thought?"

Suddenly, Han felt anger burn through his veins. He had not been after Leia for a game, nor had anything more than a kiss happened between them. Sure, they had come close, but assuring Leia was okay was his first priority right now, not some sex scene the squadron seemed to believe had happened.

Solo didn't reply. It wasn't worth the argument. Turning, he decided to check the bunk again, in case Leia had returned from her meeting with the leaders while he was out searching for her.

Then, he was stopped by a familiar face and his heart plummeted into his feet. She had overheard the whole ordeal.

"Leia!" Solo called, attempting to make her stay.

The Princess was backtracking almost immediately, though. Calling after her was no use. Han jogged out of the briefing room to follow her, hoping if he caught up she would listen.

She didn't go far – Leia stood just outside, hiding her face from anyone inside the room.

"Leia, listen," Han began, placing his hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at him with tears beginning to flood her eyes. She fought them – he could tell when she was resisting the urge to cry. As much as she wanted to portray herself as someone strong, no one could stay hard as a rock at all times of their life. Something, they broke down for a few minutes, and that was okay with him.

"I didn't tell them a thing," Han swore, scanning her eyes with her own to attempt to tell her he was being serious.

"Of course not," Leia snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "Nothing happened."

"I know nothing happened."

Leia stared up at Solo, wanting to hurt him and hug him at the same time. Her eyes must have shown the confusion, for Han pulled her into a soft embrace, even though she refused to hug him back.

"Leia," he whispered, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I love you, remember?"

"I know," she told him softly, mocking his infamous words.

Then, Leia felt a sway in Han's core. He wasn't frantic anymore – he was depressed. She studied his heartbeat for a moment, as Luke had shown her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew there was something he wasn't telling her. Some fear deep inside that he hadn't yet voiced.

"Han?" she questioned into his chest.

"It's nothing, Leia," he lied, knowing what she was trying to do. Then, he changed the subject. "Just forgive me, okay?"

Leia hesitated, but then accepted. "Okay, fly boy," she murmured.

Relieved, Han kissed her forehead and broke away from their hug. Leia could sense his happiness, but the thing she couldn't pinpoint was still there, hidden underneath. She would let it go for now, just as she had with Luke. Her eyes must have given her away, for Solo asked her what was on her mind.

"The Falcon," Leia whispered, almost afraid to ask.

Thankfully, Han was one step ahead of her. "Yeah, I was thinkin' about her," he told her. "Maybe I should let Lando take her. You know, to make sure she's safe and everything."

"You trust him that much?" Leia asked, stunned.

Han shrugged. "Rather give her to someone I know than have Mon Mothma dish her out for rental while we're gone."

Leia knew he was not all right, but he had motive behind his decision. She was proud of his ability to make sacrifices. Once again, he was showing her that he was doing this all for something besides the money, now.

For a moment she smiled, but that moment ended quickly as the doors to the briefing room flew open and the entire flight unit paraded out.

"Early attack!" Wedge called from inside the stampede of his own squadron as they passed the two in the hallway. "Loading up, then we're outta here!"