Lots of fluff in here, Luke and Aeris being cute and their Force bond growing and helping her.

Also Han acting like a worried mother hen hehe. Enjoy!

Chapter 3- Catching Cold

When Aeris wasn't working on the T-47 Airspeeders or going out on scouting missions, she was helping Han work on the Falcon and learning how to fix it. That was something she'd been wanting for a long time. That, and the occasional side snowball fight she'd get into with Luke or Han, even Leia. She was a warm light in the midst of all the cold and grey, as Leia would say when they'd have their spontaneous fun moments. She'd almost always end her days with grease on her hands and sometimes on her cheek or neck, but she'd be smiling despite it all. Aeris really enjoyed the time she got to spend with her Rogue Squad and fellow Rebels, but especially the time she spent with Han and Chewie, bonding with them and learning all that she could. She was truly where she belonged, with her family.

However, as time passed and a couple more weeks piled on top, Aeris wasn't adjusting to the cold as well as she thought she would. She had been climatized to hot planets. Nar Shaddaa was humid and she was always out in the heat of Grakkus' stadium, whether it be training or actual fighting. Then, she spent two and a half years on Tatooine which only climatized her more. She was always cold, even in the base and in her quarters, she just couldn't seem to get warm enough.

Luke seemed to be handling it rather well and so was Han and Leia, and Chewie of course. The droids seemed to be having some problems, and Aeris soon felt like she was the only human having problems. When she was working or on a mission she wouldn't allow herself to be aware of it but when she wasn't busy, even when she was trying to have fun, the chill would grip her and make her miserable.

"Think you've got it kiddo?" Han asked from beside her. Both of them were on top of the Falcon, Han showing her how to work on one of the sections that needed a tune up. Everyone was in the base for the evening and the shield doors had been closed to keep the dangerously icy weather out.

"Yeah, yeah I think so," Aeris said. She still had her white scarf around her and her insulated jacket on but she'd taken off her gloves so she could work better. Han looked at her a moment and she tried to send a reassuring smile.

"Just let me know if you're ready to turn in," he patted her shoulder and she nodded. Han seemed satisfied, then stood up and walked to the other side to give Chewie a hand.

Aeris breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she needed was Han worrying over her. A chill clawed down her back and sunk into her bones, and she clenched her jaw and tried to shake it off. She had to focus on her work. Aeris leaned down on her stomach and reached down into the hole before her. She had her tools she was working with and was doing fine for a few minutes. She'd managed to tighten up some parts that had been knocked loose, but her hands kept shaking. She was shivering.

A frustrated sigh escaped her as she leaned back up and sat the tool down. She cupped her hands over her mouth and breathed on them, trying to get the feeling back in them. The cold metal of the ship wasn't really helping her either. Maybe being constantly cold was all in her head? Maybe she was letting it get to her? Her thoughts were interrupted, however, as she saw her tool start to slide off the Falcon.

"Shit!" She cursed and dove forward to catch it, but she ended up sliding along with it. "Han!" She yelped as she went over, grasping at the edge before she fell completely off. It was still a long way down and she could hurt herself.

"Aeris!" Han yelled, Chewie roaring loudly behind him.

"Aeris? Hold on!" Another voice sounded from below. She looked down to see Luke running towards them. Some of the other Rebels had jogged over as well to see if they could help.

"I can't really hold on! My grip is slipping!" Her eyes went back up and she saw Han and Chewie right above her. Han bent down and grabbed her hand, while Chewie grabbed the other and they hauled her back up to safety. Aeris sighed in relief and held onto Han for a moment. He rubbed her back and Chewie ruffled her hair a bit.

"Alright sweetheart, I think it's time you turned in," Han said, looking down at her. Aeris leaned back and nodded. He was still concerned. "You're shivering. Do you feel alright?" He put his hand up to her forehead and checked her temperature. There was no fever, but she felt like ice.

"Han is she ok?" Luke called up to them. Chewie shook his head and made a little worried noise.

"I don't know, kid," Han responded. "Her skin is cold as ice and she's shivering. I'm sending her back down! Make sure she gets to her room and gets warm!" He called to him.

"Come on, don't fuss over me," Aeris said, her teeth chattering a bit as she shivered again. "I-I've been dealing with it…"

"Oh I'm sorry, this has been an ongoing thing?" Han sassed. "And you didn't tell me?" He shook his head. "Damn stubborn thing. Come on. You're going straight to bed." He led her over to the ladder and helped her climb down a little ways. "And make sure you give her some extra blankets or something. She's not adapting too well and apparently she's been hiding it."

"I'll take care of her, Han, you know I will," Luke said as he met her at the bottom and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Han come on…" Aeris whined, not really having the energy to argue but being upset that he was telling everyone her business, especially Luke. She looked up at him and shook her head. "I'm fine, really. I've been dealing with it. I'll be alright! It'll pass," she tried. Luke scoffed a bit and shook his head.

"Nice try," he gave a soft smile down at her. "Look I know you're strong and independent, Aeris, everyone here knows it. But allow yourself to be taken care of too, alright? Let me take care of you." His brow furrowed in worry as he actually felt her start to shiver in his arms.

"A-alright Luke… I'm sorry I've been so stubborn. You and Han are right."

"It's alright, come on." Luke pulled her closer and looked up at Han, giving him a wave. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. I'll be by to check on you first thing in the morning, Aeris!" Han called to her.

"Alright," she called back, giving a thumbs up. She held onto Luke and turned her attention back to him. "It's funny when he turns into a mother," she had a tired grin on her lips. They looked at each other and shared a laugh as they headed back to Aeris' quarters.

"Why didn't you tell us you weren't handling it so good?" Luke asked her as they walked. "You seemed fine at the hangout the other night."

"Well when I was sitting next to you I was warm, but when I got back into my room I started to get cold again." Aeris sighed in frustration. "I mean what good would it have done, Luke? Unless you can change my body temperature," Aeris scoffed.

"Apparently I can if you were warm next to me," Luke pointed out.

"Don't get cocky!"

"Alright! Alright, calm down," he said with a laugh in his voice. "I'll make sure everything is working in your room to keep you warm."

"I still wouldn't mind more blankets either…" Aeris admitted softly, pouting a bit now. Luke smiled.

"I'll get your blankets," he assured.

Once they'd made it back to her room, Luke checked to make sure the heater was working properly. When he was satisfied, he walked back over to where she sat on the bed. He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. Aeris sighed and leaned into him.

"It should start getting a little more warm in here for you," he rubbed her arms. "Change into something comfortable while I go get a couple more blankets and look at me, Aeris," he looked down at her. Aeris leaned up and looked in his eyes.

"What is it? Am I in trouble?" She smirked. Luke shook his head.

"You're not in trouble, I just want you to be honest with me. Tell me if you're still cold, tell me what I can do to make it better." He laced their hands together and squeezed hers gently. "Get changed and get in bed. I'll be right back," he promised before standing up. He walked over to the door, but looked back at her. Aeris only smiled at him.

"Go on! I'll do as you say Commander," she waved her hand playfully. Luke chuckled and left, the door sliding shut behind him. Aeris immediately set into changing, knowing she just had to go ahead and get it over with. As she stripped, the cold bit at her skin. She pulled on comfortable pants and a shirt to sleep in then hopped into bed immediately, pulling the covers up to her chin and balling up.

Every muscle in her body was tense and she still shivered, only a little worse now because of the new clothes and loss of warmth from the old ones… And loss of warmth from Luke. She noticed it as soon as he stood up and moved away from her. For that brief moment she was leaning against him, she was starting to feel better, feel warm. Maybe he was right?

Aeris sighed and snuggled down a little further. She shut her eyes and tried to focus on getting warm but then she heard her door open again.

"It's just me," Luke said as he walked in, the door sliding shut behind him.

"I'm still cold…" Aeris muttered.

"Well hopefully these will help," Luke spread out the two large blankets across her bed. Aeris snuggled up more and enjoyed the weight the blankets offered. Once Luke had made her comfortable, he cut the room lights off. There was only one small light coming from the corner, casting the room in a soft glow. Aeris had to have at least one light on, both so she could see and so she wouldn't wake up to pitch blackness and panic. Luke sat down on the edge of her bed and began to take his jacket and boots off. Aeris blinked.

"What are you doing?"

"I told Han I'd take care of you, that's what I'm doing."

"Oh…" Aeris blushed a bit, or felt like she did. The only heat she felt in her body at the moment was apparently in her cheeks. Luke gave a soft laugh.

"Don't worry, I'll only stay until I know you're warm and have stopped shivering."

"I'm not worried," Aeris assured, "quite the opposite in fact," she admitted. Luke turned to look at her, then. His eyes ran over her face and he smirked.

"Well it's good to know you can still blush when you're freezing."

Aeris leaned up and lightly smacked him on his upper arm. "Don't make me Force push you off the bed because I'll do it."

"Can you use the Force for that? I don't think you can," Luke said playfully.

"We can certainly find out."

"Good to know it hasn't hindered your spirit either," he found that endearing. Luke had finally made himself comfortable, removing his unnecessary layers. He leaned over her and Aeris tensed a bit, but when she felt his hand on her forehead she relaxed. "No fever, but Han was right. Your skin is cold as ice," Luke confirmed. He shook his head and sighed. "I don't like this. Maybe we should take you to the medbay."

"No don't," her voice was more pleading than demanding this time. She took his hand. "I don't want to spend the night in there." Luke squeezed her hand in return.

"Alright. I'm not going to make you, but we're going to have to get you warmed up somehow and quick. If you stay cold or your body temperature drops more, you'll go into hypothermia."

"Oh come on, I don't think it's that serious."

"No? How do you feel right now? Explain it to me," Luke raised a brow at her, looking more serious now. Aeris bit her lip and looked down.

"I'm shivering, I have a chill in my bones… I'm also tired and sluggish."

"That's what I thought. Move over, make some room."

"Wait, what?"

"Move over," Luke repeated, as if it were obvious what he was about to do. Aeris tilted her head in confusion and began to move over. Luke pulled back the covers and she realized what was happening.

"Luke!" She hissed in surprise. "You can't just climb into bed with me, what do you think Han will say when he comes to check on me in the morning?"

"If you can keep your hands to yourself, we should be fine," he grinned at her. Aeris drew back in surprise.

"Oh hell you've spent way too much time around him."

"Come on, it was just a joke!" He had a laugh in his voice. "In all seriousness this is the quickest way to get you warm. You can focus on resting and I'll stay here with you all night if I have to. By the time he gets here tomorrow I'll probably be sleeping on the floor from you pushing me out," he grinned at her and shrugged. Aeris rolled her eyes.

"Oh shut up I would never do that to you. Not intentionally," she huffed and moved over more. Luke's grin widened and he climbed under the covers with her. He made himself comfortable and laid down, then held his arms out. Aeris stared at him. "What? Do I need to move more?"

"No," Luke said carefully, suddenly remembering Aeris was a bit of a stranger to this. "Get close to me. You have to be close to get warm," he explained gently. Aeris blinked in realization.

"Oh, right of course…" She felt the heat rise to her face again but there was no way she could hide it. She eased down into Luke's arms, letting her head rest on his chest. Luke wrapped his arms around Aeris and pulled her close against him. Aeris sighed in content, almost immediately feeling the change. He was so warm, like the warmth of the two suns had clung to him throughout all of this, and she could hear his heartbeat. It eased her.

"Are you comfortable?" Luke asked softly. Aeris nodded.

"Very much… I'm starting to feel better," she admitted.

"Good. That's what we want," he rubbed her back gently. "Rest, relax. No one will bother us and if they do-"

"I'll Force push them through the wall," Aeris finished. Luke chuckled and pulled the covers closer over them.

"Took the words right out of my mouth." He smiled softly and glanced down at her, then kissed the top of her head. "Sleep well, Aeris."

"Thank you for everything, Luke. Especially for staying with me…" She nuzzled a little closer to him and then went still.

"Always, Aeris," he whispered before closing his own eyes and sighing in content.