This chapter is dedicated to MrsScruffyLookingNerfherder! She has been a loyal reader, but more than that, she made me aware of her true gratitude and enjoyment of this story. That alone has inspired me to finish writing this fic. The next few chapters are dedicated to all of you readers who have done the same and even to my few guest readers - you also make it worthwhile. There have been many times when I have had to catch hell from people because they thought it was too far on the 'rated M' scale for them (of course, now that everybody is doing it, it somehow makes it okay?) So, to all of you who have stayed, read, and let me know you are there and enjoying... I present Chapter 21 and in the next week or so, 3-4 more to finish before year end. Cool?

Chapter 21: The End of the Beginning

Video from the Falcon's external security cameras later showed Fett surprising Solo as he entered the docking bay. Leia knew Han was too smart and cautious as a general rule for him to let someone get the jump on him so close to the Falcon. If it had been anywhere outside of the spaceport's docking bay, she seriously doubted he would've led anyone back to her and his ship even at blasterpoint. He must've been distracted and she knew exactly what that distraction probably was. It had plagued her own self for enough years for her not to recognize the same thing in Han. He had their romantic connection on his mind. He was thinking about her.

The footage just cinched the idea that Leia had to undo what had been done between them. She was not going to put Han in jeopardy because of being romantically linked to her ever again. It had been the Captain's Corellian Luck that had kept him alive to this point. Luck and his innate stubbornness.

After a day, the monitors had shown a slight improvement. After another day, there was enough improvement to declare Solo out of the woods and on his way to recovery. Meanwhile, the Hoth base was busy setting itself up. The Command Center and the Med Center had been first on the list. Leave it to Solo to make the first use of Med Center. Thankfully, Colonel Rieekan was handling the day-to-day operations while Leia directed the overall operations and strategy. She and Rieekan made a good team, but as a member of the High Council, she had the final say. Despite her never ending long hours of work, she had been spending what time she could next to Han's bedside.

She tried to time it for when Chewie and Luke weren't there, lest they get the wrong idea. Leia would sneak in late at night or the off hours when Chewie would leave to grab something to eat or nap. Admittedly, it was difficult finding a time when the Wookiee wasn't there or Luke or even the droids, for that matter. Say what you will, but their tight knit little group watched out for one another. Even so, she didn't want to raise any suspicions.

So there she sat, sick at heart and grief-stricken anguished to her core watching him lie there. All she could do was stare and hold his hand. And pray. Yes, she had been known to do that on occasion. The Princess was not of a particular religious ilk and had no idea if they had any power whatsoever, but it was something she could contribute other than stare in concern and worry. Occasions just like these when nobody was around to hear, she would speak just above the quiet in Alderaanian. It was the only time she ever used the language anymore. Alderaanian prayers remembered from and erstwhile childhood and it only seemed fitting she whisper them softly that way.

This time, at the end of the prayer, she raised his hand and kissed it. It was meant as a farewell. Not to his life, but to him and to their relationship.

She could see no other way. She was out of hope for them. She had become a more dangerous distraction to him than he was to her.

Of course, it was the very moment Han opened his eyes.

"Han?"

He tried to talk, but there was a tube preventing that.

"Don't try to talk yet." She turned and called out in what seemed an inordinately loud voice for the late quietness of the Med Center, "Two-Onebee! Come quickly! He's awake!"

The droid came immediately and began disengaging Han's tubes from his mouth. "Captain Solo. Hold still. I need to remove your breathing apparatus. Do not attempt to talk."

Even in his weakened state, Han was able to roll his eyes at the obvious and his displeasure with having to allow the medical droid to work on him.

"Be patient, Han. Two-Onebee is trying to help you."

Solo flicked his gaze down and then up to her eyes. Leia hadn't realized until that moment how hard she was clutching his hand in hers. She loosened her hold intending to let go entirely, but Solo squeezed with a weakened grip and held onto her.

Leia left her hand in his for the time being. He was clearly in distress, after all, and it was easily seen as a friendly gesture in this situation. Nonetheless, he was not the only one in distress. With no plan of how to interact with him now that she had essentially dismissed their relationship, the Princess was in a panic.

The breathing apparatus was removed and Han roughly swallowed the lubricating liquid that would ease his vocal chords. Two-Onebee made his final assessments. "Captain Solo, you are recovering from serious blaster injuries to your flank and thigh. Your condition is currently stable. You're prognosis is guarded. Please do not overexert yourself and continue to rest as quietly as possible."

The droid rolled away leaving Han and Leia in privacy once again.

"Hiya, Princess," Han croaked tentatively trying out his voice.

"It's good to see you awake." She smiled. She wanted to stroke her hand through his hair, but she didn't dare. As it was, her mind raced for a graceful way to be released from his hand.

"Did you get hurt?"

True to form, his first concern was always with her safety. She really didn't feel like getting into the particulars of how she had catatonically beared down on what she guessed was a bounty hunter in a repeated rapport of laser blasts while she thought Han was dead. "No. I was able to chase him off after he shot you."

"Chase him off?" His expression was incredulous and he choked a little as he chuckled.

"Yes. Why? Who was that?"

"His name's Boba Fett. He's considered one of the galaxy's best bounty hunters."

Leia thought about that for a second and was glad she wasn't aware of Fett's reputation at the time. All she truly remembered about it was that she was reacting to the situation more than anything else.

Han turned quiet. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. It was sheer luck he didn't kill you."

Leia's eyes turned very serious and she made no effort to mask her feelings for a few moments because they were simply too overwhelming. Later she would control them, but seeing Han alive and talking about what happened brought a tidal wave of her former emotions washing over her.

"I thought he did kill you," she whispered.

"I'm guessin' he would have if it weren't for you." He squeezed her hand.

Leia dipped her head away from his eyes and fought for control. This needed to stop. She was slipping into deep caring and loving mode. Briefly, thoughts of where this started drifted through her mind.

"I should call Chewie and Luke."

"They can wait a minute. I want to spend some time with you." He tugged on her hand in encouragement for her to lean in for a kiss.

No matter how good that sounded, she would not be deterred. As far as she was concerned, it was a bet and now it's over. She would convince her heart and desires later. She had played with fire in hopes of controlling the outcome and lost.

Instead of leaning in, she pulled her hand away from his. "They would want to know right away."

"What's going on?" Han looked taken aback by her obvious intent to brush him off.

"Nothing is going on."

"Then why are you pulling away?" His voice was warily accusatory as if he knew what she was getting at, but didn't want to hear it – again.

"You're obviously misreading an act of friendship."

"Friendship? Friendship? After everything that's happened?"

"It was a bet and now it's over." Her mask of bravado was firmly in place and there it would decidedly stay.

"I don't buy that for a second, Sweetheart."

"Believe whatever delusion you want, Solo. It's not going to change anything."

Han went from incredulity to a frown. "Leia…" He saw her resolve and knew it too well to think she would give in – at least for now.

"I'll go call Chewie and Luke."

He nodded sullenly. Leia's heart broke a little more, but it had to be done. She wasn't going to be the reason Han Solo lost his focus and maybe his life. Besides, the Rebellion needed all of her as well. It needed everyone it could get and it couldn't afford to have a leader that was busy swooning instead of strategy planning. She just had to maintain her control of her emotions and the situation. She knew Han wouldn't and she secretly loved him for that, but it still had to be done.

She walked towards the door and stopped. She took one last look at the incredibly handsome smuggler that would have her heart until the end of her days. "You should get some rest. I'm sure they'll be here in a few minutes."

He had watched her every move, but made no effort to answer her.

"We were all very worried about you." With one last look into his eyes, she turned and left.

How did it come to this?