Leia sneaked quietly again through the ship. Bundled in her arms were several flasks of water and some ration bars. She made sure to use the 'fresher before the others returned and had flipped on the intercom switch. Here she was taking a risk. If Han or Chewie noticed the indicator light, she might be undone. But it would help her to know if anyone were coming near, or stars forbid, even to enter her cabin. Quickly she set her bundle down and pinched the little bulb with her finger. It would unscrew if she could just get a good grip on it…. She cast her eyes around, peering to see if Han stowed tools somewhere in the cockpit. Things happened so often on this ship he usually had a small set of tools nearby. There! In the pocket of the captain's chair. She smiled at Han's organization. She never would have thought it of him, but necessity often caused a character trait. Quickly she found the tool that would open the bulb covering and removed it.

She would have to be very careful if she wanted to avoid discovery before they landed on Coruscant. It wasn't just a matter of her physical presence, but her Force presence as well. Two Jedi Masters were on board, and these were the two she definitely needed to keep unawares.

Hearing noises outside the ship, she scurried into place, stowing her food in a drawer under her bunk and sitting on the floor where she could quickly disappear and remain undetected. Hopefully.

Yoda stomped angrily up the ramp of the Falcon. "Know it was you," he accused Han. "Wasted, my time was. Told you I did," Yoda pointed his walking stick at Han's chest, "avail yourself not of others."

Han failed to look guilty. "It's not my fault," he said. "It slipped out."

"Now spins does Mothma's head about the Jedi. Resurrect the Order would she like," Yoda muttered.

Luke started to follow Yoda up the ramp. "I'd like to talk to you about that some, too."

"Someone hail Leia,"Han ordered, lingering on the hangar floor. "We lift in thirty."

"You do it," Luke said, turning around.

"I don't have a comm," Han told him.

Luke sighed. "You never do."

"That's not true," Han retorted. "Sometimes it's just off."

"I'll try and get her," Luke let Yoda disappear inside but turned around to rejoin Han.

My comm! Leia dove for her comm in a panic. She managed to shut it off before Luke's call signal made any noise. She gave a sigh of relief. I'm getting more and more like Han. Now I'm shutting off the comm.

A small crowd was collecting before the freighter to say their goodbyes. Doc Brack came down with Maranya to see them off. "I heard of your departure," Doc Brack told Han and Chewie. "I wanted to wish you clear skies and good luck."

Han shook the proffered hand. "To you, too. Settling in?"

The medic beamed with happiness. "Oh, yes. I'm made new." He shook his head in wonder. "I can't thank you enough," he said, his voice husking with emotion. "Really. I know, I know, to you it was just giving us a ride. But," his voice trailed away. Finally he seemed to be able to sum up his feelings, his eyes happy again. "But it was the most important trip I could ever take." He moved to Luke, shaking hands again.

"We'll be returning," Chewie warned. "Don't let me smell Spice on you. A Wookiee can smell it on skin long after the high has passed."

"Chewie says stay away from Spice," Han translated for him. "He says he'll know."

The medic held up his hands in protest. "Don't even put the thought in my head," he said. "I don't want to go back to that life."

"I will not hesitate to leave your sorry ass walking that desert the rest of your pitiful days," Chewie threatened, showing claws and baring his fangs.

Doc Brack looked alarmed. He did not yet understand Shyriiwook, but he certainly read the Wookiee's body language.

"Don't relapse," Han summarized.

"Are you sure that's what he said?" Doc Brack asked, eyebrows up in surprise.

Han laughed. "You got the idea."

"I think Chewie's saying he'd be really disappointed if you did return to that life," Luke told the medic. He looked to Han for affirmation, suddenly feeling self-conscious of his language ability. It was a shift form their normal dynamic, where Han spoke for Chewie. Luke wondered if he were overstepping his role, but Han seemed as if he were only halfheartedly following the conversation anyway.

Chewie stepped towards Maranya. "Take care, Simple Girl," he said, touching her jaw lightly with his huge hand before giving her a hug.

Maranya pressed her cheek against the soft fur of the Wookiee's belly. When she looked up there were tears in her eyes, though she said nothing.

"I know," Chewie said. "You will miss me. That is what your tears mean. Don't worry, it will get better. Sometimes the vine will swing you in a different direction than you intended."

Maranya looked between Han and Luke for an explanation. "Get 3PO down here, too, while you're at it," Han told Luke, who still held the comm in his hand.

Luke gave Han a fleeing nod but spoke to Maranya. "I'm not good with Wookiee sayings. But, he said to go along for whatever ride Life is sending you on. That good Han?"

Han gave a disdainful shrug. "Something like that." Luke suddenly sensed something from his friend, almost like a rejection or a finality. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was like a door shutting.

"We better get going," Luke told Doc Brack and Maranya apologetically. He shook the medic's hand again and rubbed Maranya's shoulder reassuringly before following Han up the ramp. "What do you need 3PO for? Is he coming along?"

"Gods' forbid," Han groaned. "He's got the new ship's reg. Port Authority checks hard copies, and ones filled out by hand raise red flags."

They waited in silence a few minutes before the shuffling form of the golden droid tottered into view. His posture indicated hurry but his pace was agonizingly slow.

"Where's the Princess?" Han demanded when C-3PO reached them.

"I am unaware of the Princess' whereabouts, Captain Solo. She set me a task which involved downloading a great deal of information, though how categorizing age, sex and species of our personnel will help the war effort is beyond me." The droid handed Han a document. "Here you are, Captain Solo. I only just got this printed out. I do wish you, Chewbacca, Masters Luke and Yoda success on your endeavor. Although, if I may venture my opinion, it seems a most foolhard-"

"Yeah, thanks. See ya around, 3PO." Han ignored the droid. "Where the hells is Leia?" he wondered. "Thought it was important to her to say goodbye."

The intercom was working well. Leia could hear their voices clearly from the cockpit. Sorry, Han. I'll clear this up soon, don't worry.

"She's not answering the comm. Maybe she's stuck in a meeting," Luke commented.

"Maybe," Han agreed. "Shall we pull her out?"

"We can't do that, Han," Luke chided.

What kind of renegade are you, observing military protocol? Leia thought.

"You're such an officer," Han said snidely. Bingo.

"Shut up," Luke said.

"She has been upset," Chewie observed. "Perhaps she is in hiding - "

Crap! He always has known me too well.

" - trying to avoid dealing with what you face."

"We haven't got much of a window," Han said. "We miss this clearance we're likely to be stuck waiting around until the next day."

It's OK, Flyboy; just take off.

"Chewie could be right," Luke said thoughtfully.

"Leave, we should," Yoda offered his opinion.

"You're not, you know," Han made circles with his hands,"sensing her?"

Yoda and Luke exchanged glances. "No," Luke said, untroubled. "Everything seems fine."

"Seems." Han frowned. "I'm not buying it."

I love you, too.

Luke sensed how Leia's nonappearance was bothering Han. "This is just like when you left us."

Han looked at Luke in disbelief for a moment. "No, it isn't," Han snapped. "Not at all."

"Yes, it is," Luke gently argued. "You were a part of us, and then all of a sudden you weren't. And we had no idea what happened. It hurt, when we couldn't find you, when there wasn't a clear explanation. All we could come up with was that you had taken off, but we didn't figure anything like repaying Jabba. We figured gambling or something."

"Thanks a lot," Han grumbled.

Luke smiled. "I know. Sorry. But it did hurt our feelings. Even when we figured it out finally, but that was long after."

Han made no comment.

"We would have helped you, you know," Luke reproached.

Han shook his head.

"Yes. We would have. When are you going to learn that?"

"You took that hit -"

"I took that hit to help you. Don't you see that?"

"You're not helping much if you get killed."

Luke was struck with a strong sense of deja vu. "I've said that about you."

Han," Chewie interrupted. "We're clear."

"Damn," Han said sorrowfully. He took his seat and with mechanical reluctance began the lift off sequence. He activated the communications board, and his voice was amplified in Leia's cabin as the intercom magnified the microphone. "Hey, Control. Be sure and tell Princess Leia the crew of the Millennium Falcon said – you tell it, Chewie." Chewie roared into the mic. "Dja get that, Control?"

"Uh, copy that, Millennium Falcon," Control answered. "Except, we have no idea what that was?"

Han smiled. "She'll know it, don't worry."

Inside her cabin, Leia fought a desire to rush out and reveal herself. Chewie's departing message was heartfelt and touching. Wish you were here.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well, we're underway," Luke observed needlessly.

Brother, you always state the obvious. Although they had moved into the lounge, they were closer to her cabin. Leia still had the intercom keyed on, which picked up their voices distantly, but if she stood near her door she was also able to eavesdrop.

"We're taking it in steps," Han told them. "Need to leave a trail for Coruscant Port Authority. Leia was right – "

Thank you for giving me some credit.

" - any YT freighter is going to attract some attention as maybe being the Falcon, so we gotta set up a trail."

"I thought your forged reg lists a history of owners," Luke said.

"Yeah, it does," Han countered, "and I'm faking logs, but we need to show she's docked at ports. We'll layover at a few Imperial outposts."

Luke frowned. "Won't we attract attention there?"

Han wasn't too concerned. "We'll hit the backwater ones. I got stuff we can unload. And we can pick something up." He waved a hand. "Just whatever."

"Nothing illegal," Luke warned.

"We'll see," Han grinned devilishly.

Leia frowned. The trip was going to be longer than she thought. She looked around the cabin, mentally assessing the food supplies she had smuggled in.

"Yoda, where do you want to sleep? You want to take the cabin Leia used?"

No! No! Leia panicked, then forced herself to calm. You will not need special accommodations.

"Suitable before was the couch," she heard Yoda answer. "No special needs have I."

Leia let out a delighted breath. Did I do that? Probably not. He's a Master; not weak minded at all. Sheer coincidence.

"Just the four of us," Luke observed. "Going to be quiet."

"Even more so that we left the mechanical behind," Chewie said.

"Come on," Luke said, a hint of a smile in his voice, "he's not that bad. He can be useful."

"He was a waste of time on Tatooine," Han stated flatly. "There's three of us now that understand Chewie. We didn't need him to translate for the other two."

"I was glad Doc Brack and Maranya came down to see us off," Luke said thoughtfully. "I'm happy for them."

"Perished, they would have, with Jabba," Yoda said. "Fortunate, are they, their destinies with you collided."

"You mean with Han's destiny," Luke said, looking at Han, who remained stone-faced. "He was the link in between."

"Present, is he," Yoda intoned.

Not again, Leia thought.

"Not again," Han said, and Luke laughed.

"What do you mean by that, Master Yoda?" Luke asked. "You've said that a few times."

"Aren't we all?" Han asked.

"In one way, yes," Yoda answered. "In others, not."

Luke connected with Han's eyes in a conspiratorial glance. He shrugged slightly. "Doc Brack's got a job," he announced. The others nodded. "And Maranya looked good."

Chewie agreed.

"Don't you think, Han?" Luke pressed.

Han's nod was almost imperceptible. What are you thinking, Flyboy?

"You mean a lot to her," Luke told Han.

Han snorted. "No I don't."

"Yeah, you do. Somehow."

You want her to die.

"It's complicated, but you do," Luke continued. "She watches you; I can tell she thinks about you, trying to figure you out."

"She knows there's nothing to figure out," Han said, his voice so low that Leia almost didn't hear it.

"I think she doesn't know now. Back at Jabba's, she knew. But now that you are both out, and you have your lives back, she's really uncertain about everything, including you. Where she fits with you."

"She doesn't fit with me," Han said adamantly. "Ever again. That was one…. Jabba's was …. it was a time. It's done now. Just 'cause I knew her then doesn't mean I need to keep knowing her."

"Moving on," Luke said, his voice gentle and thoughtful. "Like you always do."

"That's right, Junior." Han's voice was decisive, closing the discussion.

Luke ignored him. "She needs to figure out where she fits with you, though. Because then she can figure out where she fits in this world. You're that bridge for her. She won't be able to move on like you do."

Even though you never really move on. Leia could tell Luke was thinking the same thing. You just push it so far down.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Millennium Falcon's forged registration was under the name Feathered Sands. It was a name they had bandied about on the flight back to Sullust, and Luke had won the argument. "The Falcon's got a bird in her name" he had insisted. "And on Tatooine, there's actually a flying avian called the Feathered Sand. Because it's camouflaged really well. And it's a fitting reference for what we've been through."

C-3PO had liked the moniker and congratulated Luke on the symbolism. He kept endorsing it to the group, until they finally agreed to it to keep him quiet.

Han ended the first leg of the journey on Naboo, docking in Kwilaan. He and Chewie registered the Feathered Sands, Han not without some embarrassment, and then he and Chewie prepared to look for "work" in the port city.

"Just stay here," he advised Luke and Yoda. Leia's heart sank, because she really would have loved an outing out of her cabin unbeknownst to the others. Specifically, to the 'fresher for a shower and to deposit the contents of a flask she had filled instead of being able to use the toilet. It was beginning to smell rather strong.

"What are you going to do?" Luke wondered, with just a little worry.

"Same thing we always do," Han answered with a wicked grin. "Hit a cantina and make some money."

"Maybe I should come along," Luke said.

Yes, go.

"No, don't worry. With a stupid name like Feathered Sands I'm not looking to attract any more undo attention. Just a quickie. I even have credits, so no trade."

"And no Sabacc."

Han scowled. "I can handle myself, kid. Be back in a few."

And he was good to his word. He and Chewie returned in four hours, unloading a small bag of credits and six bottles of Rikothian liqueur from his hold in exchange for four dozen Imperial Navy uniforms.

"Uniforms?" Luke had questioned. "Clothing? How is this of any value? Can't we go into a used surplus store and buy the same thing?"

"It's very useful," Han said hotly. "These are current. We're going to Coruscant, remember? We're not going to find the Emperor dining at the local burger joint. We need a cover. Besides, maybe the Alliance can use the rest on other missions."

Not a bad haul, Hotshot.

"Alright," Luke conceded. "I'll bow to your criminal instincts."

"Yes, you will."

The next stop was Corellia. Chewie had pushed for this. Han was reluctant to return to his home world, but Chewie's point was that a Corellian freighter would be common on the world that manufactured it, and would raise less suspicion when it landed on Coruscant. Han reluctantly relented.

Luke was excited to see some of his friend's home world, as if walking on the same earth would help him gain some understanding. "I'm disembarking," he declared stubbornly. "Yoda and I have been ship board so long we need to stretch our legs."

"We take a passenger shuttle dirt-side," Han explained. "If we take on cargo we'll need to arrange for a cargo shuttle."

"Will you take me around where you grew up? Luke asked.

Yes. And take your time.

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's not a homecoming, kid; it's a business trip, remember?"

"Still-"

"No."

Leia heard the noise of the top hatch as Luke, Han, Yoda and Chewie exited to enter the orbital port. She ran to the view port and stared down at the planet from the cockpit.

Because so much of the manufacturing took place in orbit the planet was relatively untouched by human engineering. There were wide expanses of green mixed with yellows and reds and lots of blue. The city of Coronet loomed below, visible from orbit by its network grid of streets and gray-brown coloring.

The first thing Leia did was empty the contents of her chamber pot. Then she went to where Han kept cleaning supplies and did her best to freshen the air. She ran her clothes through the auto valet, stealing a shirt from Han while hers laundered. She jogged in place and tired quickly of being constantly on edge, anxious in case they returned early. She didn't see how it was possible, but just the fact that it was possible did not let her relax.

Once her clothes were clean she tried to enjoy the spaciousness of the lounge, though she was still on eggshells. She sat in her favorite seat and pulled up the holoweb, just to keep abreast of current events. She risked heating some of the stew that was in the cooler, ladling out a small portion and smoothing over the dent her spoon made. She ate hurriedly, washed her bowl, and set it back in the cabinet. Then she walked through the ship, sniffing the air. Did it have a lingering odor of stew? Of urine? She decided it wasn't too noticeable, though Chewie might sense it.

She sat back in her chair, weary. It had been difficult, trying to mask her presence from Luke and Yoda. She made sure to sleep only after they'd both been asleep a few hours, and she woke much earlier than they did. So far, they had no idea a stowaway was on board.

"I don't belong here," Maranya commented to Leia as they navigated the Sullustan base corridors.

"Why not?" Leia questioned. When she looked at Maranya she didn't really recognize her as the girl she knew from Tatooine. Maranya's hair was a lighter color; straighter and longer. Her voice was different. Sundaria. That's who she was, Leia's very good friend from school on Alderaan. Sundaria had transferred out of their school in the second year and Leia had lost touch with her, but she often thought of her. Now Sundaria was most likely dead, along with the other Alderaanians from the Death Star blast.

"I just," Maranya shrugged, "don't know what to do. Like it's all foreign."

"Well, sure it is," Leia said. "But it's got to be better than Jabba's."

"I know Jabba's," Maranya said.

"But you can't have been happy there. You just need time to adjust."

"He can't be happy here, either," Maranya said. Leia knew without being told or shown she meant Han. And suddenly there Han was, at an X-wing. He was on the ladder, descending from the cockpit, but somehow at the same time he was supposed to climb in while he climbed out. Leia watched him struggle for a bit. Luke appeared, bearing a helmet under his arm.

"I'll get you," Luke called to Han.

"He knows to make himself fit here," Leia told Maranya, still watching Han, and now Luke, who had clambered up the ladder. "He won't go back to Jabba's."

"But I need him to."

"No," Leia contradicted her. "You don't. Leave him alone. You'll find yourself on your own."

"I'll get it, Han!" Luke called, his voice so loud it was like he was in the room with her.

Leia woke with a gasp. The lift! They were back and she had stupidly fallen asleep out in the open. She was on her feet before she was entirely awake, her heart beating fast and a sick feeling in her stomach. She heard the rumbles of voices, Luke's the clearest.

"It's been a long time for you," Luke was saying casually.

"Still," Han's voice was more distant. "Should carry it with me. It's in the cockpit."

"I know. Be up in a sec."

Leia whirled from side to side in a panic. He was coming. Luke was coming! She needed to hide. Her mind went through the conversation. 'Cockpit.' He would have to walk straight through here from the lift to get to the cockpit. She rushed to get out of the lounge. His steps came just as she was passing the 'fresher. Still panicked, she palmed the nearest of the crew cabins. It didn't matter where, just hide, hide, somewhere, now!

"OK, I got it," she heard Luke say. "Coming back up."

"Not venture out again, will I," Master Yoda's voice came.

Damn. Now she was stuck in this cabin, with no food, no chamber pot. Was it used? Yes, it was Luke's. Her heart sank. Exposure was imminent.

"How about a holochess match?" Chewie challenged. "Those two can handle it."

"The light, I shall be," Yoda accepted.

When he comes back, I'm doomed. Leia sighed. Now I sound like 3PO. What will they do with me? Take me back to Sullust? Has Sullust missed me? She looked at Luke's bunk. He didn't bother straightening the blankets as she did every morning. And he tossed his dirty clothes in the corner. Surely, Leia peered closer, he didn't have that many clothes? We usually pack light for missions. It was a large mound of clothes, something very dark-colored underneath his pile. What is that? Gingerly, almost as if it was a monster, Leia lifted a corner of the laundry pile to see. She gasped.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leia sat on the floor of Luke's cabin cross legged, her fist on her cheek. Gloomily, she followed the conversation between Yoda and Chewie. Yoda was still complaining about Mon Mothma and her ideas for a new Jedi Order.

"Wouldn't you like to see that, though?" Chewie asked.

"Mm, yes," Yoda answered. "Not the one to bring that about, am I."

"You mean Luke?"

"Possibly. Ideas, has he. Wise, is he."

"Yes, I find that too, for one so young."

"Open, is he. All that is needed, that is."

He is wonderful. Keeps a very messy cabin, but he's wonderful.

"There's more that are Force sensitive, aren't there? They can't be the only ones."

"Many more, there are," Yoda said. "Know not, they are. Trained they must be."

"They probably just feel like they are different."

"Yes. Change must there be, for this new Order. Aware, are you, of a Jedi's reputation?"

"Of course," Chewie answered calmly. "The good and the bad. Han doesn't like them."

He's coming around, Chewie. His best friends are Force sensitive.

Yoda sighed. "Palpatine's doing, that was. A master is he, at public relations. Old enough, is your partner, to have learned the prejudice."

Leia heard Chewie grunt in amusement. "And Luke is young enough to not know anything about them."

"Interesting, is it not?"

Dim voices came from above. Leia's lips screwed with her dilemma. Time's up.

"….well, I just figured you'd show me around a bit more," Luke complained.

"I did," came Han's answering voice. "You saw it."

"All we did was walk the streets."

"That's what I'm saying." Leia heard the 'fresher door close. Might as well act."You saw it."

Luke waited until Han exited the 'fresher. "I did? You're saying I saw your home."

"The streets," Han pronounced clearly. "I grew up on the streets."

Oh, Han.

"Oh," Luke said soberly. "I didn't know that." He fell quiet, thinking. "What about the weather? It was kind of chilly."

"Yeah, and it snows, too. Not like Hoth, but it gets cold. Gets hot, too."

"Why were you on the streets?"

Han glared at him. "Why do you think?"

"But, if you were an orphan – were you? - then, why didn't they place you with someone? Or," Luke could tell by the darkening of Han's face that there had been no one, "don't they have group homes here?"

"There's few regulations for 'em. And they're not monitored. Leia would say Corellia has lots of societal ills."

Yes, I would. And it does.

Luke decided not to ask anymore questions. He would accept what Han offered and not push. "Like Tatooine and slavery. You'd think a Core World would have its act together."

"You'd think."

"That's how you know how to pick pockets," Luke observed. "I wondered why you were so good at that."

Han gave a small smile. "I'll take that as a compliment. Early job training. Chewie," now his voice was muffled, and Leia wondered what he was doing, "you eat all that stew?"

Ah, Leia smiled. Head in the cooler.

"Yes. We figured you two would eat in town."

"Well, that was hours ago. I'm starving."

"My turn to cook." Luke offered.

Piece by piece, Leia got ready. It took some practice moving around, so she waited until their meal was finished and all four would be at the lounge table.

Then she made her entrance.

It got exactly the desired effect she was hoping for.

Chewie hissed and spat. Luke stood in surprise before he recovered himself, shouting, "what the hells?" Han exclaimed, "thought you said he was dead?" and Yoda calmly introduced her as she let her shields drop. "Short, are you not, for Darth Vader to be?"

Leia took off Darth Vader's helmet and took a big breath of fresh air. It smelled inside it, but she smiled broadly. "Hello," she announced herself.