Leia swallowed, and tried to calm her racing heart. They had managed to dodge the fighters, and had entered the trench. Speed was their defense. They hoped to make the run before enemy fighters could pull in. Luke had assumed command of their small force. He lead followed by Leia, and Biggs took the rear.

The walls of the trench blurred into a solid gray streak as she accelerated. Every meter her targeting computer counted down, her pulse accelerated. "Enemy fighters coming up." Biggs reported.

Leia looked down and saw three ships on her screen. "All power to rear deflector shields." Luke ordered.

Even with the deflector shields, Leia felt helpless. There was no way to return fire, and their fighters could only take so many hits.

"I'M HIT!" Biggs yelled. Leia glanced back only to see her friend's x-wing disintegrate. "Biggs!" Leia froze. No, please. Not another one. Not Biggs! For a second Leia was transported back to being twelve again. Leia could hear his soft laugh. She could remember his face covered in grease trying to "fix" her uncle's T-16. She saw him sitting at her family's table eating. He'd even eat the jerked bantha meat, which he hated. She could see his dark eyes gleaming when he silently laughed.

"It's to late for him, Leia, focus on the mission." Luke's command brought her back. She only allowed one tear escape. Later there would be time for grieving.

For now three ominously black ships were closing in.

******************

Darth Vader was feeling victorious. Almost all of the rebel starfighters had been destroyed. He would finish this by killing the last two pilots. Killing had become a habit for him. A way to let his anger and frustration out. It was a way to stifle the ever crushing pain in the vacant spot were his heart used to be. Remorse was a thing long done away with.

He had the second x-wing in his scopes now, but he couldn't lock onto it. Also he felt an aura of the Force. Reaching out he could feel it in the lead pilot as well. Strange.

His patience was wearing out so he fired without locking in. His shot scored a hit on the x-wing, but it did not destroy it. It simply fried the R2 unit.

He could feel the pilot's fear. He would prey on that. Let him make a mistake. He couldn't wait to long though, the thermal exhaust port was coming up.

There! He finally had it locked in. He began to squeeze the trigger.

**************************

Leia knew she was dead. Strangely enough, it didn't frighten her more. She felt only regret. She would have given anything to see Han one more time.

But the moment she felt the shot was coming, one of the black ships exploded and wrecked. What in the worlds?

"Wahoooo!" Han's triumphant whoop came through. Han! Unbelievable relief coursed through her. He came. He came back.

The TIE fighter on the opposite side over-corrected and ran into the Tie Advanced. The fighter and the middle ship were sent spinning off into space.

"You're clear." Han reported.

Luke's targeting computer was almost there. Use the force. It sounded like Obi-Wan. Let go. With sudden determination, Luke shut off his targeting computer.

"Luke, Leia, you've shut off your targeting computers." the base stated. Leia heard him too?

"It's all right." Luke assured them. "We're fine." Feel, that's what Obi-Wan said. Feel.

Leia could see the hole coming up. Luke was going to make his shots first, but she'd follow him. Luke and Leia shut their eyes brief seconds before they fired.

Four shots. All went in. Leia's eyes shot open. "Hey, that was beautiful!" Han congratulated. "But let's get the mynock spit out of here!"

Leia pulled up and they sped away. Subconsciously, Leia was counting down to the chain reaction. Anytime now. Even in the vacuum of space, she felt the explosion. The most powerful weapon in the universe was now a cloud of glittering dust.

Back on Yavin 4, Leia leaped down her ladder. A rousing cheer rang out. Luke greeted her first with a hug, "Great job!"

As much as she appreciated the cheers going around, there was one person she needed to see. One person she needed to be held by to stop her shaking. And there he was coming through the crowd. Like usual there was a smirk plastered on his face.

Unwilling to wait till he reached her, Leia pushed her way through the throng. With a running leap, she threw her arms around his neck. He laughed and swung her around. He didn't let go when her feet were back on the ground. His arms were warm around her waist, and Leia blocked out the noise around them. "You came back." she whispered.

He pulled back so he could see her face, "I had too. You forgot something." He reached into his pocket and pulled out her necklace. "Good job black mailing me."

Leia gave a smug smile, "Well, if it works."

Han grinned at that, and he started bend his face down toward hers. Luke came up and tapped him on the shoulder, "Thanks, Han, we couldn't have done it without you."

Han and Leia pulled away from each other. Keen disappointment flowed through her. He was going to kiss her. She smiled to hide her frustration. Luke put his arms around Han and Leia's shoulders and led them away.

******************

Much later, Leia had found solace on the top of the Great Temple. It was an amazing view being so high up. Leia sat on the ancient stone wathcing the gas giant slip below the horizon. It was so peaceful up here. One could almost forget about the death and destruction they'd seen. Almost.

The ceremony had been beautiful, and Leia was proud of the metal she was awarded. But she needed this quiet.

It was time to process the things she'd lost. People. Friends. Her Family. Leia began to weep. But it didn't matter up here, no one could see. She cried for the mother she'd never known, for the father she knew so little about, for her uncle and aunt, for Ben, for Biggs, for the men she'd only known a few hours. She bottled sorrow inside her for eight years. It was time to get rid of it, or break under the emotion.

Finally, her wells were dry. She wiped the tracks from tears off her face. A hand rested on her shoulder. Leia's eyes followed the arm up to the face. Han. "How did you find me?"

"It wasn't easy. I got stuck on a repulsor lift, walked in on a meeting, ended up back down in the hanger. Anyway- I got here. Are you ok?"

His gentle question almost started her crying again. "Han, I don't know if I can do this."

Han plopped down next to her. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know if I can be a part of this. I know I should, but after today-" her voice faded.

Han nodded. His eyes were watching something far in the distance, "War is a terrible thing, Leia. There's nothing romantic about it. People die, and a lot more will before this is over."

"That's what I don't think I can handle, Han. I'm not afraid to die, but I don't think I can handle losing people."

"Letting go is a part of life." Han said softly. "You're strong, Leia, you can do this. But anytime you can't handle it anymore, we'll leave."

"Thank you." Leia stood up. "I guess we should get back. I missed supper." She turned to leave, but her hand was grasped. She turned back to Han.

"We got interrupted downstairs." he whispered. Her cheeks flushed thinking about their almost kiss. "We should really go." she insisted, suddenly nervous.

"What are you afraid of?" he asked roguishly.

Memories of Boeman bubbled up, but she squelched them. This was Han; he'd never hurt her. "Afraid?"

"You're trembling." He pulled her closer. "Maybe it's because I'm a scoundrel?"

"No, you're a nice man." she said confidently.

He lowered his face slowly, watching for her to pull away, but she didn't. Finally, his mouth covered hers. Leia couldn't think about anything else. A battle could have been going on around them, and she wouldn't have noticed.

Something bumped into her, and she pulled away. It was only a whisper bird that had gotten to close, but her heart was pounding and her ears were ringing. Suddenly feeling awkward, she jerked away from Han like she was singed. Without saying another word, she rushed away.

But that night her dreams were centered around a certain dark-haired smuggler.


A/N Yeaaaaa!!! First kiss! I'm sure some of you are thinking it's about time. I agree. But Han and Leia will still have a lot of bumps in their road. Thanks for all the reviews! If you review this chapter, I'll let you have some of my sugar cookies.