Please see chapter one for disclaimer and other info

A/N: Here we go for another round. Recently having watched ESB on TV. and just watching part of the bonus disc for RotS gave me inspiration to post. I don't have any new chapters stashed away in my folder after this one so you will have to wait a little.

I've been thinking about what direction to take the story in and I am considering a particularly evil road to embark on. But who knows/LVB smiles cheekily/. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and dont' forget to let me know much you love or hate (preferably love!) it!


Chapter Eight: The Plan

Nobody thought twice about getting out of Leia's room as soon as possible. She had Padmé's stubborn tone and Anakin's loud and obnoxious way of dealing with things. Without as much as a sorry, all four men sheepishly left her room.

"She threw us out!" said Luke, looking at the now closed door.

"What did you expect?" snapped the Prince, eyeing Han. "I was in there to negotiate a marriage contract when this waste of space walked in!"

"You'd better watch your mouth!" Han retorted, moving towards the Prince. Luke immediately placed himself in between the two men.

"Now, now, let's not do anything rash," he reasoned, gesturing towards Han's hand which was firmly planted on his blaster. "If both of you are dead, nobody will get Leia,"

The Prince straightened his clothing out. "Very well Solo. If this is how you would like to play the game, so be it. I shall see you tonight at the welcoming dinner. Try not to be too late, I wouldn't want you to miss anything," he snapped and stormed down the hallway. Anakin took a deep breath of relief.

"You really want Leia to marry that jerk?" Han asked; his voice suddenly serious. Luke looked at Anakin expectantly, even though he could probably guess his answer. But Anakin surprisingly did not lose his temper. He simply sighed.

"Solo, I do not want Leia to marry anyone. I want to send Leia up in space in a Republic cruiser and get her to orbit Coruscant for the rest of her life, if it meant no males would be able to get to her. However, this decision is out of my hands. It is up to Leia,"

"He's right, Han," Luke offered, placing a hand on his back. Han ignored Luke and looked Anakin straight in the eye.

"Would you choose me?" he asked, quite seriously. Anakin was taken aback. His relationship with Han was strained, but they did have some good times together. Sabacc games, drinking Obi-Wan's secret stash of Corellian Whiskey (which to this day he says was never his) and flying on the Millennium Falcon.

But then again, they've had less friendly times too. That whole fiasco a while back which involved a rescue mission, not to mention catching them in the act of making smoochies a few days ago, couldn't be ignored.

It came down to it- who did Anakin want as a son-in-law more: the overgrown excuse of a blonde gundark or the extremely annoying space pirate? There was only one answer.

"I approve of whoever makes Leia happy. And despite all those big, flashing, warning signs that say 'Keep Solo away from Leia', I'm afraid that seems to be you."

Anakin grimaced thinking of the disgustingly emotional words coming out of his mouth that were directed at Solo. Big strong, manly men like him (okay, even Solo fell under that category) didn't often give such words of kindness. Anakin Skywalker gave up the ridiculous holodrama mush after his first pitch to Padmé. He was sure glad Solo wasn't around to hear that fodder about sand being course and Padmé being smooth. It would surely damage his tough Jedi reputation.

Instead of hurling an insult at him, Solo simply grinned. "That's all I needed to hear. Now excuse me, Jedi Skywalker. I have some getting ready to do for tonight's welcoming dinner. I won't woo the lovely lady resembling a scruffy-looking nerf herder, will I?"

Luke raised his eyebrow slightly and Anakin shook his head. If anything, tonight was sure going to be a heck of a party.


Han's quarters were thankfully in the furthest opposite direction to that of the Prince. Han liked to think it was because nobody wanted the two to accidentally meet in the hallways when in truth, it was the fact that the Prince was well…a Prince. He entered the room and saw that Chewie was out exploring the Alderaan Palace. Good. Chewie's constant roars of disapproval were not needed right now.

Han wasn't really going to get ready for the ball. He looked fine, positively gorgeous actually. He happened to know Leia secretly liked the scruffy look. It was sure better than flowing, blonde hair. No, this time was going to be used for some careful planning.

He began rummaging through his stuff, coming across a lot of useful elements (junk) won in Sabacc games although why they had been packed he had no idea. Finally he reached the bottom and felt for his secret weapon. A smile crossed his face. Oh yes, this plan would work well. There was just one more thing that needed to be done.

He picked up his commlink and connected to the quarters two over from his.

Solo, you are a genius.

As the receiver picked up, Han straightened himself out. "Goldenrod, I need you to get your ass down here right now. There's something I need you to do for me…"


Leia sighed as she paced her room. Her make-up was done, her hair was done and all she needed was to put on her gown. Her white gown.

And there I go again! I think I must be the laser brain here!

Every few moments her mind would go back to that horrendous event that had taken place in this very room what felt like seconds before. She had two men fighting for her hand in marriage. Not one, but two. She couldn't believe it. Most girls dreamed about this moment. Not Leia, though. She was a politician. She was too young to get married. She was too young to choose between doing what was right and what was needed.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. "Are you decent?" asked her father from the other side. Pulling her robe tighter, she opened the door herself.

Anakin looked handsome, dressed in his formal Jedi robes. He had even brushed his hair, though she suspected her mother could have had something to do with that. "Not ready?" he asked, eyeing her clothing choice.

She rolled her eyes. "Hardly ready for anything it seems these days. Take this afternoon for example. Here I was, thinking about what to wear tonight when the twin banthas came stampeding in here!"

Anakin truly felt sorry for his daughter. It was not easy being a single, galactic senator with such a famous family. He wished he'd had that sort of exposure at her age. It would have sent the ladies right to his doorstep at the temple. Then there was always the problem of Obi-Wan stealing them with his smooth moves.

Anakin cleared his throat. "What I came in here to say was that whatever…whomever you choose, it is okay with me." There it was. Permission. Not like she needed it but he felt better saying it.

Leia raised her eyebrows. "Whoever?" she pressed, knowing it may very well anger her father but not caring.

Anakin cleared his throat. "Yes, Leia," he said, pulling a painful expression. "Both of them are fine young…" Scoundrels? Losers? Idiots? "men. Choose wisely."

She squeezed his hand and then gestured for him to leave. Anakin felt a lump rise in his throat as he closed the door. There went his only opportunity to lock Leia away for good. Since that was no longer an option, Anakin decided it was time for Plan B.

Plan B: The next course of action. The decision that is to be implemented when 'Plan A' fails. Often the act of doing something drastic, such as siding with an enemy for the common good. In this instance, siding with pirates over princes. Shaggy hair over long, blonde hair. Millenium Falcon over Hapan Fleet. Plan B also entails being quite sneaky as to not alert the women of its existence, as it would annoy them. Prince included.