I couldn't resist writing one final chapter ...

Two Rebel generals faced each other on the floor of the main docking bay of the Headquarters Frigate, right in front of the Millennium Falcon. The one wearing a gaudy cape placed his hand on the other's shoulder, shaking his head. "I had no idea, old buddy."

Han shrugged off his touch. "It's only temporary." Even admitting that much was painful to Han. In reality, he had no idea if the lingering symptoms of post-hibernation syndrome would ever abate. But that wasn't something he wanted to discuss with Lando, the man who had turned him over to bounty hunters in the first place. If he thought too hard about what Lando had done, he couldn't work with the man. So Han gave a curt nod and turned to board the Imperial cruiser.

But Lando just stood there, staring a hole in the floor of the big hangar. "It's from the carbonite sickness, isn't it?" He raised his eyes slowly and Han, reluctantly, turned and nodded. "Damn!" The flamboyant man began to pace, waving his hands in frustration. "I'm so sorry, Han. I regret that decision every day. I'd have never turned you over to Vader if I'd known. Never." Lando stopped pacing, crossed his arms, and stared at the floor again. "Damn." The eyes he turned to Han were shadowed with regret. "We could have really used you out there today, too."

Something in Lando's posture - the slight slump of his shoulders or the awkward angle of his head - told Han that Lando wasn't bluffing. He knew the gambler too well. The tremors in Lando's hands weren't from carbonite sickness, either. The man was genuinely upset. It was as if he had finally realized the full extent of what he'd put Han - and his Rebel friends - through.

And this, Han realized, was terrible. Lando's sudden attack of conscience couldn't have come at a worse time. He can't lead a squadron to battle a Death Star while full of doubt and self-loathing, Han thought. His mission will fail.

Impulsively, Han drew deep and extended a hand. "Stop beating yourself up over it, Lando. What's done is done." He took a breath to steady his voice. After a long pause, he added, "I forgive you."

The effect on Lando Calrissian was immediate. He turned a wide smile on Han. "You mean it?"

"Yeah." Han smiled back, surprised to realize that he really did mean it. "And just to prove it, I'm gonna let you borrow my ship." As Lando's eyes widened, Han grew stern and shook a finger at him. "Now, remember, this is just temporary, until I get my pilot's license back."

Lando looked dubious. "Han, are you sure?"

"Look. I want you to take her. I mean it. Take her. You need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet." Han tried his best to lay a sincere expression on Lando.

It seemed to work, because Lando replied, "All right, old buddy. I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her. She won't get a scratch, all right?"

Han nodded, trying not to think too hard about his baby going into battle without him. "Right. I got your promise now. Not a scratch."

The two men looked at each other appraisingly. Finally, Lando broke the spell. "Look, would you get going, you old pirate?"

Han looked longingly at his ship. But if I can't fly her, there's no reason she should miss the fun, he thought. Raising his hand, he intended to give Lando a mock salute, but by the time that Lando had followed his lead, the salute they exchanged was genuine.

"Good luck," Lando said.

"You too," Han offered, but he was still thinking, take care of my girl. Not certain if he could bear to watch Lando walk up the entry ramp of the Falcon, Han left the docking bay first.

Upon entering the Imperial cruiser, Han looked at Luke sitting in the co-pilot's seat and bit down hard on the urge to tell the kid to move. "You got her warmed?" He took a seat behind his pilots, arms crossed, and carefully studied his friends as they prepared to take the ship to Endor's moon.

"Yeah, she's comin' up," Luke said, flipping a switch. Chewie growled in frustration from the pilot's chair.

Han rolled his eyes. "No, I don't think the Empire had Wookiees in mind when they designed her, Chewie." Movement in the hangar below caught his eye and he leaned forward to get a better view. The Millennium Falcon was also undergoing preflight.

Han didn't realize that Leia had entered from the hold until she poked him. "Hey, are you awake?" Her gaze followed past his to the neighboring ship.

"Yeah. I've just got a funny feeling," Han admitted. "Like I'm not gonna see her again."

For a moment, movement ceased in the cockpit of the Imperial cruiser. Then Leia put a gentle hand on Han's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Softly, she said, "Come on, General, let's move."

Han snapped to attention. "Right. Chewie, let's see what this piece of junk can do. Ready, everybody?"

Luke glanced over at him and smiled. "All set."

Han returned the smile. "All right," he said to his pilots. "Let's do it."

END

My thanks to everyone who reviewed and favorited this story. It's been nice to have the encouragement. And a tip of the hat goes to the Star Wars fanfic writers who came before me and the fine folks at Wookieepedia for helping me to fill in the gaps. Thanks for reading!