EPILOGUE:

Leia loosely crossed her arms over her chest and lazily paced in large circles, stopping occasionally to look out of the canopy. Her hair hung down in ringlet curls, and she donned a flight suit that fit her like a glove. She had returned from Goloth several hours ago and should have headed straight to the Command Center to brief the High Command on her mission. But her mind cradled just one thought, and the dull details of a smooth and somewhat unnecessary mission could wait until another time.

Princess Leia stopped and chewed on her finger as she focused on her auditory senses. She was certain she heard a transporter docking in the hangar. It definitely wasn't an X-wing. Besides, Luke and the Rogue Squadron weren't due to return until two more standard days. No, it had to be the Sebian II. It was the only ship due back this day. She inhaled slowly, hoping that all had gone well on a mission she should have led.

If something went wrong…Leia supposed she should be down in the hangar at the base of that Sebian II ready to greet the captain and co-pilot of that ship. She walked into the cockpit and slipped into the pilot's seat. No, she couldn't. Mercy missions were highly dangerous during these times, and if anything happened…It should have been she who led that mission. After all, that was her area of expertise before…before Alderaan, before she went into hiding. Hiding like a coward.

Leia pounded her fist once against the console and then regretted it. She grimaced as she examined the console. With the way things were on this broken-down ship, she most likely damaged something. She wiped her hand over the spot she hit. She'll just keep that to herself unless something goes wrong. Scratch that. She'd come clean if anything goes wrong pertaining to the console. Everything else was not her responsibility.

The princess pulled up her legs and rested her feet against the edge of the console. Her eyes scanned the hangar outside the canopy, but she saw nothing of interest. She activated her commlink and listened, but she heard nothing that interested her. Maybe she should go out and check the status of the Sebian II's crew.

Her body refused to move, and her mind didn't motivate her to take any action. Leia pressed her thumb to her teeth and chewed on the corner of skin. If she stepped into the hangar, she would have to be "Princess Leia Organa", and she had no energy for such airs. No, she was worn from her own mission, however dull, and she was wrought with worry and guilt for not being the one to lead that mercy mission. A death warrant for treason shouldn't keep her from doing what needed to be done. Han continued running around the galaxy with bounty hunters on his tail, and that didn't stop him.

So why did she let Han stop her from leading the mercy mission?

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Han's smile faded as he and Chewie politely pushed their way through the welcoming committee. A few of the High Command tried to stop him for an unofficial recap of the mission, though Han knew they wanted to know whether or not Han had urged the civilians to join the Alliance. Of course he hadn't. It wasn't even as if the Alliance donated the medical supplies. However, he didn't advertise that these supplies were provided by an Imperial Commander either.

Han pressed his lips together. Jeleof, or whoever he was, was definitely an Imperial. Han never thought he'd come across an Imperial with a heart. But, then he once served the Empire, and he had a good heart. Han snorted and shook his head. His heart definitely wasn't good.

Chewbacca ruffed, pulling Han from his musings. Han looked up at his best friend, "Huh? Just thinking that's all."

Chewie's tone turned lyrical.

"What? No, I'm not thinking of the princess."

As they approached the Falcon, Han and Chewbacca slowed. The ramp was down, but inside it was quiet. Han's hand hovered over his blaster, but then he relaxed as he glanced at the security pad. A tiny print marred the screen. Chewbacca grumbled and headed up the ramp. Han followed. Chewie mumbled something unintelligible and headed to his cabin.

Solo looked down both corridors. There was a hint of a floral perfume in the air, and he paused to take a moment to appreciate the sweet scent. He was certain he wouldn't find her in his cabin, no matter how hard he wished, and she didn't like the closed in feel of the lounge. No, he knew exactly where to find her.

"Hijacking ships your new hobby, Princess?"

Leia put weight on one foot and swiveled the chair so she could see Han. He was leaning against the doorway of the cockpit, one foot crossed over the other, and his arms folded against his chest.

"If I was hijacking your ship," she drawled, "then it wouldn't still be here, would it?"

"I dunno," Han crossed the cockpit and stood next to her, "maybe you're not so good at it."

"I wouldn't bet on it," she challenged.

Han shoved his hands in his pockets, "I know better than to take that bet." His hazel eyes gazed upon her copper ringlets. "I expected a big sloppy kiss upon my return or at least a tearfully grateful hug when I set foot on the ground."

"You know better than to expect that."

Han sat down in Chewie's seat, "So why you hidin' out?"

"Who says I'm hiding out?"

"Come on," Han's tone was less light-hearted. "I know you."

Leia's large dark eyes narrowed as they snapped up to attention, "You do?"

"Yes," Han didn't back down. "Well enough to know that you're hidin' out."

Leia turned her attention to the bustling activity outside the canopy, "How did the mission go?"

"Piece of cake," Han grinned.

"So that's why you have a black eye and a badly dressed head wound," Leia countered. She looked at him, "Tell me, what happened?"

"Are you asking me as a member of the High Command?" Han scowled.

"No. I'm asking you as your friend," she matched his scowl.

Han's eyebrows raised in unison, "My friend?"

"Don't mock me!"

"Never," Han whispered. He saw the pain in her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"I should have been the one to lead that mission," Leia crossed her arms over her chest and swiveled away from Han, "instead of acting as a figurehead on Goloth."

"That's where the Alliance needed you most."

"Don't patronize me," she snapped. Leia dropped her feet, leaned toward her companion, and stabbed her chest with her forefinger, "I ran mercy missions from the age of sixteen. I excelled in getting supplies where they were needed and was a master circumventing Imperials."

Han sagged against his seat, "I'm sure you were the best at it."

"I…" Leia's lungs deflated.

"Kinda hard to run mercy missions when you have a death warrant for treason hangin' over your head," Han said quietly.

"You have a price on your head, and that doesn't stop you."

"I'm not on the top of the Emperor's most wanted list," Han shrugged. "It would have been too dangerous for you--"

Leia's mouth flew open, but Han stopped her by raising his hand and voice, "And for those who needed those supplies. You know that."

Leia dropped her chin, "I…I feel useless hiding."

"Hiding?" Han curled a ringlet of her hair around his finger. "You can do, have done, more good being underground than you did as a Senator."

Her large dark eyes sought out his, "You believe that?"

He held her eyes for a moment before he gave her a small nod, "Yeah."

She favored him with a slim smile, "So are you going to tell me what happened to your head at least?"

"I took on a whole garrison of stormtroopers with my bare hands," Han explained. "You should see what they look like."

Leia shook her head and stifled a giggle. She tilted her head to the right, "Are you going to tell me? The truth this time?"

Han rolled his eyes, "Alright. I got distracted when Chewie was handin' me a crate from above."

"Mmm…must've been some distraction," Leia arched her right brow.

Han's eyes pierced hers, "It was."

Leia held his unnerving gaze. There was something in his eyes, something that both thrilled her and scared her. She broke their connection, focusing her gaze on her lap.

"A tall beautiful blonde?"

"No," Han grinned. "More like a short brunette with ringlet curls."

Leia's head popped up, and her mouth formed a small 'o'.

"The mission was boring without you," Han admitted. "No one to rescue."

Her brow lowered, "I think you've needed more rescuing than I have!"

Han's hazel eyes rolled up to the right and he tapped his finger against his chin as if he was counting, "No, you beat me by three."

"I think you just made that up."

Han shook his head sided to side but answered "yes".

Leia reached out and tentatively touched the bandage on Han's right temple, "Does it hurt?"

Han pulled back and caught her hand, "When you touch it like that it does."

"Sorry. I guess that means I can't kiss it to make it better," she coyly dropped her chin.

Han's eyes widened, but he caught himself before he could give anymore signs of his surprise away. He leaned forward, "Maybe if you kiss me here it'll make my head all better."

Leia pursed her lips as she considered his suggestion, "I don't know. Your lips are pretty far away from your injury."

"Well, you never know. It might work."

Leia shifted forward and pressed her lips against his. It was a soft, delicate kiss that lingered for what seemed like minutes to Han. His eyes were still closed as he absorbed the warm pleasure incited by her touch when she pulled away.

"Better?" she asked.

Han opened his eyes, "I think I'm healed."

Leia pushed herself to her feet, "I should get going. The High Command expected my report hours ago."

As she stood up for the first time, Han noticed her snug flight suit, "They finally find you something that fits?"

Leia smoothed her flight suit, running her hands over her breasts and down to her hips, and Han swallowed hard.

"You like it?"

"I think I'm in love," Han's smile was large and goofy.

Leia smiled and shook her head, "I think you better get your head checked out."

Han still wore that goofy smile as he intently watched her hips sway as she exited the cockpit. The haughty, smart-mouthed, tiny princess was stealing his heart, and Han knew there was nothing he could do to stop her.

But that seemed perfectly fine for Han.