Ah, Cloud City...you just never know what could happen...

###

Flanked by Han and Chewie, with Threepio in tow, Leia smiled to herself, feeling triumphant. The meeting had been successful and the Alliance now had the support of the entire Rallorin system.

Father would be proud, she thought, a mix of gratification and sorrow combining inside her. Somehow, her guilt had lessened after her talk with Han the night before.

So many things had come up between them. He had begun to open up to her…it left her in a slightly dreamy state. Today was one of the best days she had experienced in a very long time.

Gliding through the corridors of Cloud City, she glanced out the large viewports at the wonder of the bright, fleecy clouds that surrounded them, creating a peaceful, light ambiance that added to her buoyant mood.

Her eyes rose to gaze at Han, so tall and handsome, striding beside her. She caught his eye and he grinned with a wink and took her hand. A peaceful emotion flowed between them; it swelled inside Leia and filled her with hope.

A sudden, loud snarl bellowed from Chewie, and Han's blaster was instantly in his hand before she could even register the threat.

"Oh dear!" Threepio cried.

Amidst gasps and whispers from the beings rushing past, Lando Calrissian stood, both palms facing forward at chest height.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy," the man said breezily.

Chewie snarled again, more aggressively, bowcaster aimed and ready.

"You're not gettin' the drop on me this time, Lando," Han said steadily.

"I'm not trying to this time," Lando claimed. "The little lady here got me fair and square last time. I've resigned myself, Solo. The Falcon is yours."

Leia eyed him suspiciously then glanced at Han. He looked equally dubious.

"I mean it. I've let it go." He offered Han his hand.

Chewie growled suspiciously.

"Why should I buy that?" Han asked. Lando was forced to lower his hand, as Han did not take it.

Lando turned his gaze to Leia. "Thank your lady friend here. I always honor what transpires with a beautiful woman." He grinned at her, clearly used to women falling for his charm. He reached out, took her hand, and raised it up near his face. "Your Highness," he said quietly, obviously aware of the need for discretion. "The last time we met, I was unaware of your identity. It is a pleasure to meet you again." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, all the while maintaining eye contact.

She raised an eyebrow yet said nothing as he lowered her hand, still smiling entreatingly.

A glance at Han showed his lips scrunched together in displeasure. The reaction made Leia smile.

"All right, Calrissian," he said tightly. "Back off." He holstered his blaster, removed Leia's hand from his former friend's grasp, and clasped it possessively in his own.

Leia suppressed a giggle. Chewie had lowered his weapon but kept it at the ready.

Lando smiled at Han. "All's fair in love and war, huh, Solo?"

Han didn't answer, only stared at him skeptically.

"Are you here for the tournament?" Lando asked.

Leia cast a questioning look at Han.

"Nah, we're here on business."

"What tournament?" she asked.

Lando turned to her with a flourish and she mentally rolled her eyes. "Sabaac, My Dear."

Leia's gaze returned to Han. She was surprised he hadn't mentioned it. In the past, he had always been anxious for any diversion from their mundane dealings for the Rebellion. Then again, they had kept themselves rather busy. She smiled to herself.

"You should attend tonight," Lando told Han.

"Too risky," Han replied.

"That's a shame. I was hoping for a chance to win the Falcon back." He smiled at Leia. "And perhaps have a chance to get to know your companions better."

Chewbacca grumbled something under his breath. Leia couldn't make it out but had a pretty good idea of what he might be saying.

"I bet you were," Han countered. He seemed more at ease.

Lando snapped his fingers suddenly. "I know! Join me in my suite this evening. Let's have a private game. For old time's sake."

Han seemed to bristle. "I don't think so."

"Oh, come on, Han. Food, drinks, a friendly game…whadda you say?"

"I'm gonna have to say no."

"Oh, I see." Lando's expression was smug and knowing. "You know you'll lose. Not worth the risk, eh?"

Leia watched as Han's expression went from mild disinterest to defensiveness. Calrissian was a good manipulator…and men's egos were ridiculously predictable.

"In your dreams, Pal," Han retorted.

He raised an eyebrow at Han. "Care to put your credits where your mouth is?"

Leia could see the gears turning in Han's head as he stood hesitantly, battling himself internally. She rolled her eyes and shook her head but no one was paying her any mind.

Finally, Han stuck his hand out. "Okay, Lando, you've got a deal."

Leia had a bad feeling about this.

###

Leia sipped at her glass of wine, an excellent vintage. Calrissian had certainly gone all out in an attempt to impress. Chewie sat beside her on the long, white sofa, wolfing down a huge plate of the snacks provided. Han and Lando had just sat down to begin their game of sabaac.

"So, hold on a minute," Han said to Lando from across the table. "If I'm putting up the Falcon, what're you putting up? What's in this for me?"

Lando leaned back speculatively. "What would you like?"

Leia carefully watched Han's calculative expression. As the silence drew out, something tingled at the back of Leia's brain and her quiet voice broke the silence before she realized she was saying the words.

"One year's service with the Rebellion."

All eyes turned to her and she felt suddenly sheepish. It wasn't her game, her ship, or her call for terms. She met Han's gaze, uncertain of what she saw there.

"That what you want?" he asked, eyes boring into hers.

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. She didn't know what had compelled her to say it; it had just seemed right. Chewie growled softly from beside her, a curious sound she could not translate.

Han turned back to Lando. "You heard the lady. Whadda ya say?"

Lando's eyes shifted from Han to Leia and back again, his uncertainty apparent. "All right," he finally said. "But, I deal."

"Knock yourself out," Han said breezily, with an offhand gesture towards the pile of cards on the table.

The air was somber yet charged with an electric tension as Lando dealt each of them two cards. Han turned on the randomizer and Leia suddenly felt a blaze of apprehension. She knew what the Falcon meant to him and worried over how hard he would take it if he lost.

Stop, she told herself. You didn't ask him to play. And you've seen first-hand how good he is at this. She forced her nerves to steel.

Each player examined their cards, and Han threw some credits into the Sabaac Pot. Lando matched his ante.

"Deal me one," Han told Lando. Han received his single card then threw more credits into the Pot.

"Dealer takes two."

Leia noticed how closely Han watched Lando deal himself the two cards. She assumed he would be adept at detecting a skifter.

With an electronic tone, the randomizer shifted and both men examined their hands again. She could detect nothing from either's expression. With an impassive glance at Han, Lando tossed more credits into the Pot. With a smirk that she assumed was carefully calculated, Han added the same amount.

"I raise another one hundred credits," Han declared, placing them on top of the growing pile.

With a casual hand, Lando tossed a card into the Interference Field. Chewie whined low beside her, which Leia thought translated as "Risky." Her mouth went suddenly dry and she wondered why Han had agreed to this to begin with.

"I see your one hundred and raise two hundred," Lando said steadily.

People actually did this for fun? She couldn't imagine. The suspense had her on edge and she realized she was digging her nails into her palms. Relaxing her hands, she glanced up at Chewie. Sensing her tension, he didn't look at her, but placed a light arm around her shoulders and patted her gently.

Without a word, Han dropped his credits into the Pot. Leia continued to watch him carefully for any signs of how he was doing, but he was mysteriously impassive.

That sudden, jolting electronic tone sounded again, changing the value of the cards one more time. The sound made her tense up further, but none of the males, Human or Wookiee, showed a reaction.

"Call," Han said in a stolid, steady voice.

Leia took a long, deep breath. Han and Lando both laid down their cards at the same time and Chewie quickly stood to see. Leia immediately followed at his side.

As she mentally added the cards, she heard the Wookiee's startled grunt.

"Twenty-one," the two men said in surprised unison.

"A tie," Leia observed with some relief.

"Sudden Demise," Lando said gravely.

"What's Sudden Demise?" Leia asked.

Han answered in a cool, unaffected voice. "We each get one more card. Whoever doesn't go over twenty-three wins."

"What if you both go over twenty-three?"

"We play another hand."

She didn't think she could possibly make it through another hand. The stress was draining.

With a sober demeanor, Lando dealt them each a card. Leia licked her lips in nervous anticipation, while Han remained unreadable.

"Moment of truth," Lando said solemnly.

"On three," said Han. "One…two…three."

Both cards were placed face-up on the table and Leia's eyes were first drawn to Lando's. A five of sabers. Which put him at 26. Time seemed to stop as her eyes found Han's card.

Two of cups.

Twenty-three!

She released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, just as Chewbacca let out a whoop of joy.

Han relaxed visibly, stood, and gathered Leia into his arms, hugging her close as Chewie clapped him on the back.

"Wheeew," Han sighed in relief. She could feel the tension drain from him and marveled at how well he hid it.

He drew away from her but kept an arm around her shoulders. Lando sagged in his chair with a sigh. "Well, Solo, a deal is a deal." He stood and faced the happy trio, eyes targeting Leia with a sudden twinkle. "At least it will give me an opportunity to get to know the Princess better."

She rolled her eyes but it had no effect on him.

Han placed his arm more possessively about her waist and pulled her closer. "Don't count on it, Pal."