Leia's words seemed to hang in the air, and it took Han a moment to even register what she had said. "Your father?" He was confused, "What about him?"

The princess sucked in a breath. There was something about her stricken expression that made his blood run cold. "Well, it's complicated," she managed, "and it may be hard for you to...to take."

Han forced another smile, but this time he found it even harder to make it convincing. "Ah, come on, Princess." He made an effort to keep his tone light, but it was betrayed by the slight tremor in his voice. "After the last couple of days, I think I can handle anything."

Leia gave him a steady look, and every breath seemed deliberate. "Maybe we should sit down."

Han shook his head, all pretense dissolving. "Just tell me." He felt his guard rising. What could be so bad about her father that she would need him to sit down? Bail Organa was a fine leader, and by all accounts, a good man. //Why does she suddenly look so scared?//

"Really," she insisted, "I think we should sit. This is going to come as a bit of a shock for you and..." Leia's gaze flickered for a moment before she continued, "and it involves Luke, too."

//Luke?// Now, Han was *real* nervous. Just what had he missed when he was away? He managed to keep his voice calm, "Luke?" He swallowed, "what about him?"

Leia reached out and to grasp his hand, a small encouraging smile almost straining her lips. "There's something you should know about us."

Us.

The smuggler almost stopped breathing. And he had to consciously halt the barrage of horrific fantasies that threatened to take over his mind. He and Leia had been over this. She had told him that nothing had gone on with Luke. And he believed her. //Then why are you so nervous?//

Han gazed meaningfully at the princess, as if through his eyes, he could share his strength. Prove that he was not afraid of what she might tell him. While in reality, he was torn between wanting Leia to hurry up and answer his questions, and begging her not to go any further. Finally he asked softly, "what do I need to know?" His brow furrowed slightly as a thought suddenly occurred to him, "and what could Luke possibly have to do with Bail Organa?"

Leia winced lightly. "No," she replied carefully, "not with Bail."

Han opened his mouth to respond, but then let it snap shut. "Oh," he mumbled softly. He knew the princess was adopted, she had told him as much during the flight to Cloud City. But Han still didn't understand what could possibly be so horrible that she would be afraid to tell *him*. Leia shouldn't be afraid to tell him anything. He cleared his throat. "Well," he finally asked, "what about him?"

Leia opened her mouth to answer, her eyes straying to the floor in a vain attempt to search for answers. "I suppose I should start back on Bespin ..." But at the sound of steps shuffling up the boarding ramp, her mouth snapped shut. The princess' shoulders sagged in visible relief. She was being awarded a reprieve.

Han, however, was frustrated by their interruption, and he tensed. He was not in the mood for another bitter confrontation with Simon. His jaw tightened. He was just about to grumble something to the princess about how they should've sealed the ramp, but his complaints were silenced when the form took shape in the entranceway. Leia watched as Han's expression lightened noticeably as he took in the familar figure. The tension seemed to burst from his body in the form of an excited gasp, "Chewie!"

****

Chewbacca froze at the top of the ramp, and Lando had to dig in his heels to keep from plowing straight into the wookiee's back. The gambler placed a hand lightly on his friend's shoulder, as if to prod him foward, but Chewie stood where he was. It was as if the air had momentarily escaped the large wookiee's lungs.

Lando could hear the enthusiastic greeting from Solo that rang from inside the ship, and there was only one more moment of silence before Chewbacca snapped out of his marvelling stupor and into action. The wookiee strode towards his long lost friend at lightning speed, his speech so rapid and bubbling with excitement, that even Lando had trouble understanding him.

Han didn't even try to fight the goofy grin that was taking over his face. "I've been looking all over for you, pal. Where have ya been hiding?"

Chewie let out an incredulous roar as he swooped up the smuggler in a rib cracking hug.

Han felt his boots leave the floor, and let out a startled 'oof!' as the wookiee's ferocious embrace tighened in enthusiasm. "Ow, okay, Chewie. I'm thrilled to see you, too, but if you don't ease up I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon in the med center."

The wookiee released the smuggler and stepped away, a sheepish expression on his face.

Han shook him off with a wave of his hand. "Aww, don't get all motherly on me, Chewie. I'm fine, I didn't mean it like that."

Lando beamed from his position at Chewbacca's shoulder. "You'll have to forgive Chewie, Han. Ever since I told him what happened, he's been jumping out of his skin trying to track you down."

The princess, who had been watching the wookiee with amusement, seemed to turn with a start at the sound of his voice. Calrissian offered her a guarded smile, pretending not to notice when her expression faltered slightly. He turned towards the smuggler, his grin broadening as he took in the sudden rumpled appearance of his friend. "Well, buddy, you've certainly seen better days."

Han smiled ruefully, "you don't know the half of it."

Leia placed a knowing hand on the smuggler's shoulder, momentarily forgetting her slight discomfort at Lando's appearance. She opened her mouth to say something, but was suddenly thrown off guard when an excited wookiee decided to lavish some of his pent up enthusiasm on her. She let out a startled laugh as Chewbacca wrapped a massive arm around her, and gave her a hearty swing.

Chewie set a glowing princess back on her feet. "It's a miracle," Leia agreed, , "I don't think anyone can really believe it." She surprised the gambler by suddenly turning on him an offering him a smile. This one heartfelt. "And thank you, Lando." She reached out to give his hand a friendly squeeze. "Han told me the part you played in all this. We are eternally grateful."

Calrissian felt an enormous weight lift off him at her words. It was like suddenly being released from a vice that had been pressing down on him for seven years. The relief was immeasurable. He returned the princess' smile in kind. "It was my pleasure," he answered sincerely, before allowing Leia to drop his hand.

"All right, all right," Han anounced loudly, clearly trying to break the mood. "Let's not get all mushy here."

Leia leaned into the smuggler's shoulder and gave him a wry smile. "Yes, gods forbid we do that, huh, Han?"

"Well?" Han said almost defensively, "this should be more like a party than a funeral service." He wrapped an arm around Leia's shoulder and turned to the others for support. "Am I right?"

The wookiee whuffed in agreement and Lando nodded eagerly. "Absolutely."

Leia rolled her eyes good naturedly, "men."

"Well, since we're all in agreement," Han continued, giving Chewbacca a knowing grin. "Tell me you still keep whiskey stowed in the usual place and you'll make my afternoon."

"Han," Leia admonished, "it's barely lunch time."

The smuggler raised his brow in his best impression of feigned innocence. "What? I'm not saying we should get drunk," he looked to Lando and Chewie, as if they would at least see his reasoning. "I'm just suggesting we have a few drinks with our friends, and I could be filled in on *their* version of the past seven years."

Lando cocked an eyebrow at this. "You're sure you want to count me in that group, Han?"

Solo shot him a baffled look, clearly forgetting what he had just said. "What group?"

"Your friends."

"Aww, will you get over that," Han said dismissively, eager to not allow anything put a damper on the rapidly improving morning. "You got me out of there, didn't you? I'd say that's at least worth a drink." The smuggler slid into a seat at the holochess table and motioned for Calrissian to join him. Lando grinned in understanding and took a seat across from him. "Besides," he added ruefully, "I promised I'd start playing nice with others."

Leia gave the smuggler an appreciative look, and Lando had to suppress a chuckle. "Don't tell me," he replied with a knowing smirk, "you're trying to act respectable."

Han's mouth curled up in a small grin, "yeah, something like that." He turned to the princess, and noted that she was still standing. "Aren't you joining us?"

"I should check on Bailey."

"Oh," He seemed to consider this a moment, "should I go with you?" Han began to stand up, but Leia placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"No, it's all right." She gave it a light squeeze, "You stay and begin to catch up. I'll be right back."

She offered the Han a brief tender smile and turned towards the back cabin, leaving the enamored smuggler in her wake. Their earlier unfinished conversation suddenly seeming a million miles removed from his mind.

Han turned back to Lando, unable to mask the expression of adoration that still colored his features. "Wow..."

Chewie shuffled to the table, the bottle in his right hand proving that the hunt had been successful. The pilot continued to shake his head thoughtfully, as the wookiee placed the bottle on the table. Han didn't even seem to see it. "I don't know, life's funny," he said wistfully, "one second you're a third class smuggler, dodging Imps on the outer rim, and the next..." he made a vague motion with his hand, "and the next thing you know, you got all this."

Chewbacca nodded, he agreed.

Lando scratched his beard uncomfortablly, suddenly feeling slightly out of place. Maybe he was jealous. He was beyond thrilled to have Han back, that was true, but he had pretty much made a mess of everything else the past few years. He wasn't feeling very fortunate. Lando cleared his throat awkwardly and forced a grin onto his features. "How 'bout one of those drinks now," he said in his best jovial voice.

Han looked over at him with a start, as if suddenly remembering himself. "Oh, right," he said, clearing his throat as he lined up some glasses.

Calrissian studied Han's expression for a moment, still almost unable to comprehend the look of complete tenderness that had taken over it a few moments earlier. He had always imagined Han capable of it, but it was another thing to actually see it happen. //Yup, life *is* funny....// "Who would've thought it," he couldn't resist observing out loud, "Han Solo, turned softie."

The smuggler seemed almost offended at the suggestion, "No, I havent." He answered stubbornly.

Chewbacca whuffed in amusement as he began filling the glasses, and Han motioned him with his hand. "Better only make mine a half though, Chewie."

Lando chuckled and shook his head knowingly. Han was instantly defensive, "hey, it *is* early, you know..."

"Uh, huh." The gambler's grin was almost blinding now.

"Ah, forget you." He waved his hand dismissively and leaned back in his seat. "So, who wants to go first?" He asked, grabbing the glass that was set infront of him. "I already heard Leia's story, so now I want to hear one of yours." Han gave them a knowing smirk, "And one of you better start talking," he said good naturedly, "because I guarantee, when it comes to the last seven years, your stories are going to be a lot more interesting than mine."

*****