Sorry it has taken so long to update, had a long week. Hope it was worth the wait!

###

"What's the verdict, Sweetheart?" Han's voice boomed behind Leia and she swiveled her chair away from the computer console to face him with a grim expression.

She bowed her head and answered in a somber tone. "Unfortunately, we've determined that Vinteera did not survive." It pained her every time there was a loss of life. Being surrounded by death for years did not make it any easier. She returned her eyes to his. "What we need to find out is what she discovered that made her such a threat. And what their intentions are towards the Rebellion." She folded her hands in her lap, feeling the stirrings of a headache coming on as she wracked her brain for the best way to handle this.

Han was silent, hands on hips, thinking. Finally, his head came up with a start.

"You wanna know what really goes on behind the scenes at a company? Talk to the people at the bottom."

Her head tipped to one side, questioning. "And how do we manage that?"

One side of his mouth sprung upwards. "Ever heard of Happy Hour?"

"Getting drinks?"

He smirked. "Guess you wouldn't really know. It's not like you've ever had a real job."

Irked, she opened her mouth with a retort, but he spoke hastily before she could get a word out.

"Don't go gettin' all pissed off," he grunted. "I didn't mean it that way. I just meant, like a job in an office or something."

She raised a brow, unsmiling. "And you have?"

"I've had a few jobs in my time," he answered defensively.

"Like what?"

"That's not important right now. The point is, people who work in those places tend to go out for drinks at Happy Hour, after work."

His line of thinking clicked into place. "I like it. How do we find out where?"

He shrugged. "It's usually some dive close to the job. We'll just go bar hopping."

She nodded, the beginnings of a smile brewing. "Let's do it."

He grinned back, and she stood. As they walked out of the hold, Han spoke casually. "You should wear that dress you had on last night."

She turned startled eyes on him and thought he looked a bit self-conscious.

He gestured towards her with his chin. "You know. To blend in." He strode into the access corridor without looking back.

The smile overtook her countenance. Perhaps he had been impressed after all.

###

A waist-high, circular, blue-topped maze guided the patrons to the round tables that spiraled throughout the maze. It was a bit dizzying at first, but once Leia and Han had navigated to a small table, she felt a bit better oriented.

Han had chosen that particular table after standing at the bar and observing the rowdy bunch seated around the larger table next to it. This was the third bar they had visited, and Han had decided that the group of five Humans, one Durosian, and one Togruta was who they were looking for.

Han had donned a more generic jacket and left his holster and blaster behind. At the moment, he was carrying only the holdout blaster in his boot and the vibroblade sheathed under his arm. Leia was clad in the dress from the night before. After Han's suggestion, she couldn't resist. She wished she didn't crave his attention so much.

A red robo bartender rolled through the maze to their table. "What may I get you?" asked the mechanical voice.

"Corellian ale," Han said shortly, looking at Leia expectantly.

"I'll have the same."

"Very well." The droid rolled away to fetch their drinks.

Han scooted closer to her on the round bench, leaning back to eavesdrop on the other table.

By the time the droid returned with their drinks, the beings in the group behind them had mentioned working at Intessia three times. At each comment, Han had smiled with smug satisfaction. Halfway through his ale, there was a fourth mention of Intessia, and Han turned and spoke casually to the group over his shoulder.

"Hey, you guys work at Intessia Tech?"

All eyes rose to gaze at his open, friendly expression, one Leia had never seen him affect with strangers before.

"Sure do," a male human in his twenties answered.

Han continued to speak in an easy tone. "I interviewed there a few months ago. Never got contacted, though." He sighed with disappointment.

A female human spoke up from beside the male. "Consider yourself lucky." She laughed slightly, and Leia could tell she had been drinking for quite a while before they arrived.

"You don't like it there?" Han asked.

"Eh," the woman replied. "Could be worse, I suppose."

"Seems like they pay pretty good," said Han.

The male Togruta spoke from close behind Han's seat. "That is the only reason we work there." He threw back the last of his drink and his head-tails seemed to shiver.

"Hey," called the first male. "Why don't you come over and join us." He gestured with the wave of a hand.

"Hey, thanks." With a dismissive glance at the maze that was meant as a pathway, Han stood on his seat and stepped over the blue plank separating the two booths. He dropped to his knees and offered Leia his hand.

Leia glanced around, feeling suddenly conspicuous. She handed him her ale with a roll of her eyes, stood and sat on the plank. Taking Han's proffered hand, she spun in one graceful movement and slid into the booth as the beings moved over to make room.

"I'm Jak," Han said, smiling. "This is Talor." He gestured towards Leia.

She smiled. "Hi."

They introduced themselves in one, quick round, but the names did not stick in Leia's mind.

The group began regaling them with stories about the workplace, none of which were relevant. Eventually, Han got to his point.

"Met this woman when I interviewed there, months ago. What was her name? Uhh…Fallen, that was it. She said she'd put in a good word for me. I was hoping that would help me get the job."

Several snickers rounded the table. As they died down, one of the human males responded. "She did have a lot of, ahh…influence." More sneering laughter ensued.

Leia smiled, questioningly. "What does that mean?"

A woman snorted. "It means, when you're sleeping with the boss, you have a little extra…pull."

Leia laughed lightly with the rest of them, even though she was not the least bit amused. She was mildly distracted a moment later when Han placed an arm around her shoulders and shifted closer to her.

"She still work there?" he asked.

"No," answered the first human male. "She kind of just disappeared." He shrugged and looked to his companions, who all had expressions that suggested they never gave much thought as to what had happened to her.

"My guess," said the woman, "Is that old man Intessia got tired of her and fired her from his bed. And from work."

Han shrugged. "She seemed nice." He finished his ale and waved to the serving droid, who began circling towards their table.

"I don't know," said the Togruta. "She wasn't very friendly."

Nods and murmurs of agreement went around the group as the droid arrived at the booth.

Han ordered a round on him and they all thanked him with sincere appreciation.

"Where are you from?" asked one of the women, nodding towards Han and herself.

"My girl and I moved here from Commenor six months ago," Han replied.

My girl…Leia's stomach somersaulted. How did this man manage to make her feel like a love-sick sixteen-year-old again? She didn't like it.

Questions about Commenor followed and, fortunately, they had both visited the planet and were able to answer them to the group's satisfaction. As the night wore on, Han's arm tightened around her, eventually traveling to catch her around the waist.

He leaned close to her and Leia could feel his warm breath whisper against her ear, sending a thrill staggering through her. "You want another drink, Sweetheart?"

"Sure." She shivered slightly.

"You cold?"

"No, I'm fine."

Han procured them each another ale and just as Leia began a conversation about the Empire with the man seated on the other side of her, she became aware of the woman seated directly across from Han. She was leaning towards him, giving him her full attention, and smiling flirtatiously. Taking a mental deep breath, she turned back to the conversation at hand, trying to ignore the irrational feelings of jealousy that spiked inside her.

She was able to glean that no one was fond of the Empire but felt as if nothing could be done about it. They simply accepted the fact that they worked for a company that held contracts with Imperials.

A shrieking laugh jarred her attention and she looked to her right to see that the woman speaking to Han had reached across to touch his hand, or possibly his arm, and was now withdrawing it. Han's face held his usual, cocky half-grin, giving away nothing.

Trying to ignore the sudden burning in her chest, Leia leaned into Han and placed a hand over the one that sat on the table top.

"Darling," she said loudly, laying her head on his shoulder and snuggling closely. "I'm getting tired. We should go."

Amidst protests from their newfound 'friends,' they slid from the booth and said their good nights with insincere promises to meet them there again soon.

Outside, the night air was slightly cool, and Leia hugged her arms around herself. The low smolder in her chest refused to go away. She realized suddenly that Han had stopped walking and she halted to look back at him.

He was removing his jacket and came forward to drape it over her shoulders. The burning sensation was quickly replaced by an ache that had become familiar to her, and all jealous thoughts vanished.

"You'll be cold," she said softly.

"I'll be fine."

She smiled back, the ache coalescing to a feeling of melting warmth. "Thank you."

He nodded shortly, and they began walking again. Leia forced her mind to business matters.

"So, we have confirmation that Vinteera was there."

"Yeah," he answered grimly. "But, still no idea what Intessia's game is. Whadda you wanna do next?"

Leia was a bit surprised that Han was deferring to her. He had a tendency to take the lead, making her feel as if he still considered her a child. "I'm going to tell them we wish to acquire the technology and ask them how they would like to proceed. Hopefully, their response will give us some insight." She glanced at him surreptitiously for a response.

Han nodded, lip jutting out in consideration. "Seems like the best way to go."

Hiding a pleased smile, she agreed to Han's suggestion that they catch a tram back to the hostel.

Once in the tram, Leia laid her head on his shoulder. Tiredness was a perfect excuse to be close to him. It always seemed as if she needed an excuse. He never pulled away, but he rarely encouraged her. This time, however, he leaned his head down to hers, resting it there. It made Leia smile.

Tilting her head up so that her mouth was close to his, she whispered, "Do you want your jacket back?" If he turned his head and bent it down just a bit, their lips would almost be touching. Her heart began to pound with longing.

His head moved side to side ever-so-slightly. "Nah, keep it."

It would surely be a mistake for anything to happen between them, Leia knew this. She would end up hurt, there was no doubt. So, why did she still want him so damned much? Why did no other man ever attract her?

###

Standing at the comm terminal in the main room, Han watched as Leia hung his jacket in the closet of his bedroom, something he never would have bothered with. He allowed his eyes to roam over her, unobserved.

Had she grown more beautiful in the past two and a half years? In that dress, with her hair down, she was stunning. When she stepped out wearing it for the first time, he had been left speechless. Pretending not to be affected, he had mumbled something and focused way too hard on adjusting his holster.

She was more woman now than ever, the roundness of girlhood having completely fled her visage. She had grown into a competent soldier and leader, and she wore it well. It irked him that she had never been given an official rank. Known still as 'the Princess,' it seemed an insult in some ways; she was so much more.

Her eyes met his before she strode from the room, headed straight towards him. For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine her falling into his arms, how wonderful it would feel, and his heart started to pound that familiar song that seemed to play only for her.

When they stood face-to-face, she favored him with a small smile, hands clasped behind her back. Han forced his eyes from straying to the enticing skin of her shoulders.

"I wonder what would have happened if we had never met on Alderaan," she said wistfully. "You know, if we had no history. Do you think we would be friends? Or…?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to remain focused on her words. "Or what?"

"Or…well, what do you think?"

He thought for a moment. "I think you'd probably hate me."

"Why would I hate you?"

"You hated me at first on Alderaan."

Her expression turned disbelieving. "I didn't hate you."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't. I resented you."

"Same thing," he chided.

"No, it isn't. It had nothing to do with you. I resented the fact that I had to have a bodyguard. But, I never hated you."

"Coulda fooled me," he snorted. At least the conversation had once again grounded him in reality.

"So, what do you think?" she asked eagerly. "If we had met on the Death Star for the first time?"

He allowed one half of his mouth to raise. "I suppose your attitude would've annoyed me just as much as the first time we met."

She rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated. His grin broadened.

He turned the question back on her. "Whadda you think? You think we would've been friends?"

"Yes, we would have been friends, at the very least." The teasing curve of her lips seemed coy.

At the very least? He almost asked her to clarify, but something in her expression held him back. It would be best not to go down a road that was a dead end. "I suppose since we both hang around Luke, we would have to be friends." He grinned. "Whether we liked it or not."

She nodded but seemed preoccupied. "Han, why do you still think of me as a kid?"

He blinked at the sudden shift in topics then his eyebrows rose. "When did I say I think of you as a kid?"

She raised a knowing eyebrow. "You've never said it. You just make it obvious."

Perplexed, he ran through the events of the day, trying to decide what had put this thought into her head. Coming up empty, he replied, "How do I make it obvious?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "It's obvious all the time, in the way you treat me, like some little girl who can't take care of herself. Just like you treated me when I was a girl."

Still confused, he shook his head. "That's not how I see you at all."

Hostility began to seep into her tone. "It seems that way to me. As if you're still honoring someone's request to guard their child."

Instinctively, Han knew she did not want to mention her father directly. It was too painful for her. He took a step closer. Her arms were still crossed but he took her by the shoulders and spoke in a softer tone. "Leia, I don't think of you as a child. You're stronger than anyone I've ever known. You walk in a room and take it over. Everything you've managed to do for the Alliance…I knew the second I saw you on the Death Star that you'd grown up." He smiled in memory of her ripping the blast rifle from Luke's hands. "So, no, I don't think of you as a kid. I think of you as a very capable woman who can do pretty much whatever she sets her mind to."

She was staring up at him, eyes wide and luminous. Han felt suddenly self-conscious of all he had said. He dropped his hands from her shoulders and her own fell to her sides.

"Thank you." Her lips barely moved as the words breathed softly from her mouth.

Lost for a response, now, Han was about to say good night, when Leia launched herself into his arms, hugging him tight around the waist. It took him by surprise and for a moment, he simply stood in her embrace. Then, slowly, he placed both arms around her in return. His heart was beating double time and he wondered if she could feel it beneath her cheek.

It hit him then that Leia must see him as a replacement father-figure. Why else would she be so concerned with his view of her as child or adult? She had been very close to her father, Han had seen it first-hand. A bit of dismay wallowed through him at the thought. The last thing he wanted her to see him as was a paternal presence in her life.

But, it made sense. He was a link to her former life. The only others were in the upper echelons of the Alliance, and although these were people she spent a great deal of time with, they did not seem to be her friends. And, he was always protective of her, much like a parent might be. If she only knew how much I don't view her as a child. Boy, would she be surprised.

"Do you still plan on leaving?" she whispered beneath his chin.

Feelings of obligation that he spent much time pushing from his mind suddenly piled on him. "Eventually." He had made plans to leave many times over, yet here he still was.

She was silent but remained in his embrace.

"We better get some sleep," he finally said. "Gotta be ready for whatever Intessia throws at us tomorrow." He loosened his arms around her.

With a sigh, she moved her body away from his and gazed up at him with pensive eyes. Han couldn't imagine what was going through her mind.

"Good night, Han." She made no move to leave, only kept her steady gaze on his.

"G'night." They stared at each other for a long, somber moment before he turned and headed for bed. He laid for a long time in the darkness, Leia dancing through his thoughts.