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Warm water came crashing down on her hair and naked form, washing off the green flower scented shampoo placed on the top of her head. Leia stood in the shower of the shuttle that her friend Lando had landed on the swamp planet with. The shuttle where it was planned that she and Han would soon be starting their first real date soon.
Leia could feel the apples of her cheeks burn red and her heart flutter as she thought back on how Han had behaved earlier, when he had carried her off so sweetly and romantically away and with such concern on his face when she hadn't been able to walk.
And to think at one point for a while I couldn't stand being in the same room with him!
Leia giggled to herself at the thought, applying pink conditioner to her hair.
He was so cocky and arrogant..
Ha!
As if I was any better! She thought and gave a snort, rolling her eyes.
He was afraid like I was probably ..
To open up to each other..
To face the possible rejection.
Her thoughts went silent for a little while, enjoying the heat of the water after having been not too long ago in the cold dark sided land. Her arms still felt chilled to the touch.
She found her mind after some time had passed under the stream of water, replaying repeatedly the moment when she had struck the cave wall.
Slowly she placed her hand softly on her back where she had been hit, feeling the bit of residue of the jelly-like medicine that had been placed on there by Luke that hadn't yet washed off.
It had worked instantly as expected when he had applied it.
No more pain and all the swelling had faded away, along with it a nasty bruise that had been forming there that Luke had told her about.
Silently with eyes closed she uttered her gratitude to the Force that nothing had been broken.
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Han held in his breath, giving the place a once over.
Will she like it? He asked himself, releasing the breath.
He had just finished covering the dining table with an elegant white tablecloth he had found and had put on a holofilm on pause, ready for them to watch. A bouquet of small blue flowers were held in a tiny vase and had been placed by him in the middle of the dining table.
Dinner was cooking in the oven and dessert too was cooking, but in the freezer.
Don't be stupid! She's royalty! Whispered his heart.
After all the fancy weddings and feasts she's seen and been to, you think THIS is going to amaze her? Or that she'll even like it?
"Better watch what you think." Threatened a voice.
At the sound of her voice Han turned, facing her. He hadn't expected her to be done so soon.
His heart thumped loudly in his ears from the sudden rush of anxiety filling him with worry of what her reaction was going to be, but soon the fear dwindled when his hazel orbs set on her.
As always, he found her to be the most beautiful thing his eyes ever seen. Wearing an amazing dark red dress, she had her hair down loose in it's natural curly state, wisps of her dark strands framed her ivory face magnificently.
She belongs in a painting. Han thought starstruck
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Han had told her before she had gone away to wash up that he was going fix up the place to make it more spruced up for the occasion.
And as the princess had walked out from the room where she had dressed and put on make up she could hear Han's thoughts, not that she had intended to. He was just projecting so loud thanks to his such strong negative feelings about the place.
It would have been impossible for her not to have heard him.
With crossed arms, Leia frowned at Han.
"Honestly you don't really think of me to be that way, do you? ..Do you really not understand that I'd treasure any second with you, no matter where it's spent?" She softly asked, her voice betraying her with just how much of her sadness could be heard in it.
"Han, when it comes to pleasant surroundings and nice things, I was raised to be thankful for the littlest things in life."
Han winced, guilt-ridden.
"No. I know you're better than that, Sunshine. I was just beating myself up. It's just I'm not all that happy with the place, wish I I could take you to a fancy restaurant on a tropical planet or something real special. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. " He murmured sorrowfully, approaching her.
Leia's eyes and face softened and she slowly nodded.
"I understand." She replied, looking into his eyes. "I forgive you."
Han, then without warning paused from moving to her, being still, as if he had become a statue.
"What?" Leia asked curiously.
"Hey! I just got to thinking!" Han's brows came together and he slowly raised a finger at her accusingly.
"Uh..Yes?." Asked Leia, shifting uncomfortably where she stood, confused by his words and actions.
"You read my mind!" Han exclaimed darkly, jabbing a finger in her direction. "Without my permission!"
Leia's mouth fell open, embarrassment covering her and shame, her heart began to pound in her throat.
"Han, really I didn't mean t-" Quickly she started.
"I think another apology is in order here, Missy!" Han interrupted, but this time with obvious playfulness in his voice and with his trademark sly smirk on his face.
He crossed his arms slowly.
"...You really fell for it, didn't ya? Really had you fooled."
UGH!
He got me! That evil little!-
Leia felt her cheeks burn ten times more red than they had before in the shower.
"Oh, I hate you, Han! " Leia cried out in laughter, her hands covering her blushing cheeks.
Loudly Han erupted into laughter at her words, walking the rest of the way to her with open arms, he then reached down and pulled her close to him in an embrace.
"I know. I can be a real pain sometimes...and I know you didn't do it on purpose, read my mind that is." Han smiled. "Strong feelings: loud thoughts. Learned that personally from hanging out with Luke for so long."
Leia smiled against his chest.
"You know, I'm gonna get you back for that? For that wicked little prank you pulled just now."
Han looked down at her and she looked up at him.
"I thought Jedi don't believe in revenge?" He teased with a raised brow.
Leia smiled at him and grabbed him by the collar of what he was wearing. "I'm not a Jedi yet, Mister." She grinned as she slowly pulled his head down nearer to her level and then sweetly placed a kiss on his lips.
The couple relaxed into the tender kiss, both cherishing and appreciating the moment.
Finally.
They were alone, hovering around five hundred feet off the planet's land.
They were not being guarded by enemies keeping watch and they would not be disturbed by anyone, including in particular a certain mostly golden droid.
Once they had finally broken away from the kiss, they in a daze looked fondly at each other. A few seconds past and Leia noticed something she hadn't yet noticed before until right then.
Han was dressed nicely, in a pretty costly outfit and his hair was styled nicely too.
To say that he cleaned up great would be an understatement.
Lando must have filled another room's closet in this shuttle with clothing for him too and he managed to get finished getting all put together before me. And from the smell of it, Lando left him some cologne too.
"Han, you look spectacular!" Leia said in awe. "I must of been too focused on your feelings earlier to see what was right in front of my face!"
The former space pirate blushed briefly, yet deeply. Ears turning pink.
"You really think so?" He asked, feeling self conscious and vulnerable.
"Think so? No! I know so! You look very handsome." Leia insisted kindly while softly and lovingly caressing the side of his face. "The most handsome man I've ever seen."
Han beamed in response and then smirked. "Well, what do you say Your Majesty? Not bad for the scruffy nerf herder, huh?"
The princess laughed at that and then he soon followed after, laughing too.
All of a sudden a couple different annoying melodies started to loudly play, coming from the kitchen area.
"Food's done, Your Highness." Han smiled, his laughter starting to fade.
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When Leia had sat down at the table to wait patiently for her meal, she finally took in the scene around her.
"Han, the place looks fantastic!" Leia exclaimed. "Is that a Holofilm on pause waiting for us?"
She could see a large floating screen next to the couch.
Han's heart soared at her praise of the place.
"Sure is, Princess." He answered as he carefully dished up their plates.
Leia's mouth began to water at once when Han had placed the dishes he had prepared for them down on the table. Tender rafula meatloaf smothered in gravy and with mashed blue potatoes.
"My favorite dish!" Leia exclaimed in shock and covered her mouth with her hands.
Simple as the dish was, it really was her favorite. Ever since she was a small child, it was a real simple tasty comfort meal. She just loved the tender rafula meat.
"I know." Replied Han sweetly, with a smirk.
Leia's mind went to wondering how he could have known that, until after a brief amount of time had past a forgotten memory resurfaced.
Leia's brows came together.
"Han, I only remember telling you once that this was my favorite meal. That wasn't long after the Death Star was destroyed.. How could you have possibly remembered that? It was such a long time ago."
"Don't let appearances fool ya, Princess. I started really having a crush on you back then around that time. The second I found out it was your favorite meal I thought one day I'd either buy you the meal or make it myself. Thought I could try to impress you, so the memory of what you said stuck with me."
Leia's eyes misted over.
"You made all this happen." She gestured with her hand concerning their surroundings and then at their dinner. "Yet, I don't have anything to give in return."
The corellian's eyes twinkled. "There's something I have in mind, Hon. And I don't want you to feel pressured in saying yes. Don't you feel you can't say no to me."
"What is it that you want?" Leia asked, earnestly desiring to gift him in return after that he had managed to do.
"You'll find out what it is before the date is over, Sweetcake. I promise. Just now is not the time."
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They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally sipping from their fancy glasses of the tasty alcoholic beverage they were both drinking.
Leia's brown eyes peeked up briefly at Han who based on appearance alone was happily enjoying his meal and their time together.
A want that came as a painful ache shot in Leia's heart and quickly she buried the desire away as she gazed upon him.
It's much too soon!
An unbeckoned image flashed in the princess's mind: Han placing a ring on her finger as they stood together in front of a large crowd. She was wearing a splendid white dress and he was wearing a suit for a groom: they were about to be married. A band was playing.
Leia swallowed hard the lump in her throat. The thought of marriage between them hadn't left her since she had thought about it during the time they had reunited under the Empire's imprisonment by her father's authority.
"Leia?"
His concerned voice freed her from her thoughts.
Leia looked up at him, startled.
"You stopped eating and you look like something is bothering you. Something wrong? Is it the food?" He asked, worried.
Leia forced herself to smile. " No, no. The food is delicious. I'm okay. Just... Just wishing for some things to happen, that's all."
"Wishing, hm? Care to share? Maybe I can help make those wishes come true.." He offered kindly. "..Is it about your old man?"
And risk you laughing at the idea? it being so soon in our relationship?..
Or I might scare you away from me.
Or both could happen.
"Don't be afraid." Han comforted, placing a hand of his on hers. "Please, trust me."
His words made her eyes widen and she wondered if he had actually read her own mind just then, but then understood that her fear must of been clearly seen on her face.
Leia bit her lip nervously.
You'd trust him with your life! Why not with this? She scolded herself.
He didn't leave you did he when he found out Darth Vader was your father? Would he really leave you because of this? Trust him!
and then an idea came to her.
"It wasn't about my father, no...
Han, how about we agree that after you tell me what it is you want of me.. Then I'll share? That way I got some time to prepare myself with telling you."
Han considered the idea briefly to himself while crossing his arms.
"It's a deal, sweetheart." He finally answered with a smile and he stretched out a hand for her to shake.
Leia smiled back and shook his hand.
"A deal indeed, Darling." She grinned. "Thank you."
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As he stood, carefully icing their small desserts, Han solo briefly peered over at the jedi weapon on the kitchen counter near by that the princess had laid there earlier upon entering the ship.
Her purple bladed lightsaber.
Leia watched him from afar, sitting at the dining table with her elbows on the table and her head resting in the palms of her hands.
"So, uh.. Something happened with uh.. Me and the Force today.. While you were being tested."
Leia furrowed her brows and blinked from shock.
"What do you mean?"
"Luke." Han answered, sprinkling decorative sweets on their cakes. "He used the Force on me. And I..really felt something."
"Peace..and trust? Like.. you could just trust the Force with whatever would happen to me?" She asked slowly.
Han's eyes grew big.
He turned a bit and looked at her.
"How did you know?" He asked, as his mind figured it out.
"The Force." The couple both then answered together.
Afterwards they both smiled at each other.
Han turned back, still smiling and getting back to working on their desserts.
"So, it was really something, was it?" Leia asked. "That whole experience?"
Han thought on the question as he lightly sprinkled some nuts on the cakes.
"It was great while it lasted. Soon as I saw that you were injured..all that peace and trust melted away. Must be because I can't hold on and manipulate the Force like you Force users can."
"Yes, I agree. Your theory sounds about right." Leia answered. "From what I've learned about the Force so far."
Han stared seriously at their beautiful and scrumptious looking cakes.
Everything was nearly done. Just needed two cherries, one for each cake and then grab what he had told Lando to place hidden behind the jar of cherries.
"Leia, you want a cherry on your cake too, right?"
"Of course." Leia smiled. "How can you have a eirios cake without one?" She asked humorously.
"Right, just didn't know if you like cherries." Han smiled bashfully
Han opened the shelf in front of him and he quickly grabbed what he needed, seeing that now was the time to gather it, as the princess's eyes were occupied, looking at the starry night sky out of one of the windows. He placed the sealed jar of cherries on the counter and hid the secret item with his body in front of him on the counter.
"Sweetheart, when I was frozen.. I didn't exactly lose my consciousness."
Here it goes.. Han thought to himself nervously.
He opened the jar and then placed a cherry on each individual cake.
The random confession almost caused her to spill the drink in her hand that she was sipping from.
Leia stared at him aghast, turning a shade whiter, meanwhile he quickly grabbed the secret item on the counter in his hand.
"W-what are you saying?.. Han, Are you telling me you were awake in your mind the whole time you were frozen?" She asked horrified and heartbroken at the idea.
"I would come in and out of consciousness.. When I would lose consciousness.. I'd dream. Dream about Chewie, Luke, the droids.., but mostly about you. Us. When I would regain consciousness I'd ask myself how long had it been? How long had I been frozen for? Where was everyone? Were you all ok? Were you all still alive? Had I been frozen for years?
Sometimes I'd hear things, music:which I know now was from Jabba's live band playing in earshot. And I even think that sometimes I heard that blob's laughter." He breathed, a chill running down his spine.
"I'd have nightmares when I was like frozen of being rescued and unfrozen, then finding out the gang was all dead and a hundred or thousands of years had passed. "
Han felt something then rest on his shoulder, the feeling jolted him. He looked and there she was, the princess standing behind him, her hand on his shoulder.
Han turned around, facing her.
"I-I had no idea." She murmured sadly, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
She hugged him tightly and Han gladly returned the hug.
"Don't be." Han replied, rubbing her back in circular motions.
Leia blinked in shock and looked up at him.
Han placed a finger of his on her lip before she could protest what he had said.
"Some good actually came out of the whole ordeal. It got me to really think about you. About us. Life. And it made me realize something."
"What?" She asked curiously.
"Do me a favor? Before I answer.. Will you close your eyes?"
Confusion went to Leia's face, along with a hint of amusement. "Have a surprise up your sleeve? Han, after all you've done tonight, I don't need anything else." She murmured warmly.
"Nuh uh, Missy. You're getting no answer from me about what I'm about to do. Now, please. Do me this favor and close your eyes."
Smiling, Leia surrendered with a sighed and then obeyed, shutting her eyes.
"Now, take a step back... Thank you. Okay. Now, open your eyes."
Leia's eyes fluttered open and confusion hit her when she could no longer see her beloved.
"Down here, Beautiful." Han said affectionately.
The sight instantly made Leia audibly gasp.
Han was on one knee in front of her, holding out a ring to her.
"I realized during the time I was frozen just how special you are and how much I loved you. I want to share the rest of my life with you, Leia. Will you marry me, princess?"
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Author's note: Reviews are appreciated. Thank you to those who have reviewed followed and favorited.