Thanks so much for your support!

She was standing on the floor of the hanger as the Falcon expertly put its landing gear down, precisely on their plot. She was glad he commed her earlier that afternoon to let her know their landing time. It was later than expected but not too late that she could convince herself to let Rayah stay up an hour longer than usual as they drove down to the hanger to pick up her family.

"Al-con," Rayah repeated a few times as she pointed to the familiar hunk of junk from her mother's arms. Leia was half afraid her adventurous daughter would run right to the ship if she had her way, so Leia held her to avoid any potential injury from falling Falcon debris.

There was still much activity around the hanger. Lots of droids there working on ships and a few sentient beings tinkering with this or that. Some of them gave her a curious nod as she stood and waited for the ramp to lower.

She didn't have to wait too long for the familiar hiss of the beams lowering and she didn't have to wait at all for the two figures to strut down the ally way and make their way towards her.

"Look!" Leia pointed to the familiar face. "It's Dada and Chewie."

Rayah spotted them without a problem. "Dada!" She cried as she wiggled her way down from Leia's arms and made her way, waddling towards the man.

The excited father reached for her and tossed the giggling girl into the air once, and then again to even more boisterous laughter. He pulled her into his arms and gave her an audible kiss on the cheek.

"Hey little princess!" He greeted, happy as a clam. "And Princess." He nodded to Leia as she joined her family, wrapping her arms around both of them.

Her head turned to the side to nuzzle into his shoulder and arm. Taking in an inhale, she was greeted with the sweet aroma that immediately felt like home. It was a strange mix of engine grease, aftershave, and a musk that was so deliciously Han. She didn't realize his scent was so distinguishable until this very moment. But now, she didn't know how she went these long days without it. She realized that even her body was rejecting the fact that he wasn't there; the stomach bug she felt that morning was completely gone by the time they left to bring him home.

She raised her head as their furry friend came into view. "You took care of him, Chewie." She pulled herself from Han as she gave the Wookie his own hug in greeting.

[As best as I know how,] he responded. [I kept him fed and watered.]

That made Han chuckle. "The exact conditions I need to grow."

She found herself giggling as well, humored by his wit and happy he was here.

"Hey, Rayah!" He exclaimed, excitement in his voice. "I got you somethin'!"

She saw his hand reach for his back pocket and pull out a furry purple thing that had been hanging out. He held it up to the inquisitive girl who immediately grabbed onto it and started touching the little glass eyeballs.

"It's like a little loth cat but it moves when you turn it on."

Now that Han named it, she could tell that's what it was. Rayah was currently fascinated with the fur and the smoothness of the little eyes.

"It should probably go on the floor," Han shared as he let Rayah play in her own way. "We can turn it on when we get home."

"Shall I chauffeur you, gentlemen?" She asked as her hand swept to her waiting speeder.

"If you think you can handle my backseat driving?" Han warned.

Han's threat turned out to be partly true. Han did sit in the backseat. Leia drove with Chewie in the seat with more leg room beside her. Instead of commenting on her steering, Han was happy to babble in the back with Rayah. They talked about her new loth cat toy, what she did in child care, how her space station was functioning. It was mainly a one sided conversation with Rayah adding little 'al-con' and 'aun-aun' here and there.

It turned into a completely one sided conversation when they were almost home and two little eyes shut for the night, her loth cat held loosely under her arm.

Leia parked in their spot beside their apartment building and turned the speeder lights off, sending them into darkness except for the periodic lights that lined the parking area.

"She's asleep," Leia noted as she turned her head to look at the backseat.

"I can't believe she went out that quickly," Han added as he stayed in his seat and let his hand cup her head as his thumb brushed against her forehead. "We didn't even get to play with the loth cat."

Leia was out of the vehicle and standing beside his door. "You'll have time to play with your toys tomorrow," she assured the man-child.

Chewie already had Rayah's door opened and her seatbelt unbuckled. With a practiced ease, he reached his big paws under her head and bottom and lifted her to his chest without a mew of protest from her silent lips.

They made their way quietly up the turbo lift and into their apartment.

Leia flicked on the dimmer lights so they weren't harsh behind her daughter's eyes.

[I'll take her in,] their friend offered.

Leia was oh so grateful for his help. "Thank you Chewie." She stepped up beside them to press a sweet kiss on Rayah's cheek as her hand stroked a lock of hair. "Good night, my little love."

"Night night, little princess." Han took her place a moment later, giving her his own kiss and goodnight.

Chewie made his way as quietly as a Wookie could down the hall and back into the nursery, leaving the two of them alone.

She knew what she wanted to do, what she'd been yearning for ever since he stepped off that hunk of junk. From the look she saw in his drunken eyes, he was waiting in anticipation too. She made them wait no more.

With more desperation than she wanted to project, she stepped up to him and flung her arms around his neck, straining up at the same time he bent down.

His mouth was so warm on hers, exactly like she remembered and even more perfect than she anticipated. He pulled her close with his arms wrapping tightly around her waist. Their kiss intensified, mirroring the locking embrace they found themselves reveling in. His mouth moved against hers, and nothing in her life prepared her for her own reaction to him. She heard a moan that sounded strangely like her own voice as her body completely melted into him. What was this force that seemed to hold complete control over her entire being? Her soul danced with happiness at this moment she found herself in.

He broke off first, and she was grateful for that. A second or two more and she would be completely useless in speech and mobility.

"What a welcome." His head looked like it was swirling in space. And his hair was completely mussed up. She wondered how it got that way. "Maybe I'll go out and come back in again."

He dived back in for another glorious kiss, but she begrudgingly held him off. "Wait," she pleaded with a hand against his chest and the other still in his hair. "Before Chewie leaves, I need to ask you something."

"What?" He asked half concerned. He kept his arms loosely at her waist as he awaited her question.

She took another steadying breath as her other hand joined her first one on his chest. "The Hosnian Prime embassy is throwing a banquet during their governor's upcoming visit," she brought her eyes to his. "And I've been invited."

"Sounds fancy."

She nodded at that. "It will be. It's a smaller dinner than some and I feel comfortable interacting with the people named on the attendance list." Her fingers found themselves toying with a button in the center of his shirt, the one keeping her from seeing any more of his gloriously tanned skin. "So my question is, would you like to go with me?"

He was clearly taken aback. She was right in her strategy to mention this while he was in a good mood. "To the fancy event…"

"Yes," she nodded with confident confirmation.

"With you?"

She nodded again. "As my date."

His mouth opened as his eyes shifted to the wall opposite him. "I like the sound of half of that."

"Don't feel pressured to go if you don't want to," she said while continuing to play with that button. "I just thought it might be a good first event to go to together."

"When is it?"

"This weekend."

That seemed like the wrong answer as she guessed he mentally calculated the few days until the contingency. "What do I have to wear?"

"One of your nicer jackets is fine, and no blaster." She said the second part of that as a nonnegotiable.

"And you'll wear…"

This is where she held some power. Her sly grin swept across her face as her lashed fluttered. "Something fancy and backless."

Now it was his turn to let out a strange sound, this one more high pitched and whiney. "You should have started with that." She watched as his eyes widened and his hands came off her hips. "Which reminds me. I have something for you too."

She balked. "Han… you didn't…"

He shuffled around in his pockets as he interrupted her. "But I wanted to. Here."

From his left inside pocket, he produced a yellow wooden box shaped like a perfect sphere. Her eyes went to his.

"I found an Alderaanian artist on Naboo."

That was his explanation as he opened to box to reveal a sparkling piece of jewelry. The pendant caught her eye immediately, in the beautiful amber color of the stone she could see swirling lines and detailing. The chain was just as intricate with its silver etchings circling the stone and around the chain.

"Oh Han…" she uttered, not finding the words to express herself. Her fingers stretched out to touch the smooth stone.

"The amber is from some trees on Alderaan."

"The Isatabithan trees," she whispered, knowing exactly what he meant. The significance of the piece just became that much heavier.

"Yeah, those." He spoke quickly with the last information he had to share. "And she used Alderaanian tools to make the rest."

She reverently lifted the piece from the box, palming it in her hand and adjusting it so it caught the light. She had spent weeks panning through the exquisite jewels and fine clothes in her closet, but she would easily admit that it meant nothing to her. She didn't remember picking these pieces out or the thrill of someone thinking of her as they picked it out. But this was different.

"It's… beautiful and… so special."

He must have been watching her reaction, gauging how she felt. "It reminds you of your home."

Home. That was one word for it. "Yes, Alderaan… and you." Her free hand moved to his shoulder as her toes took her back to his lips for a satisfying caress. "Thank you."

She came back down to her heels and took in his euphoric expression. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

With her hand still on his shoulder, she brought him back to her original question. "So Mr. Solo, if I promise to wear my new necklace, will you be my date for the banquet?"

His arms gratefully wrapped back around her waist as he pretended to be reluctant. "Okay, no need to beg. I'll go."

She was happy with his answer. This was a dinner that Mon strongly encouraged her to go to if she could and she decided she would feel much more comfortable with a partner to talk with. Plus, she was looking forward to having him on her arm.

She nodded at him and stated their next move. "We'll see if Chewie can stay the night with Rayah." She again looked towards her new piece of jewelry. "Then I'll sweep you away on our first official date."

Han seemed to have another burst of energy as he stepped back and pointed towards her, his eyes brimming with anticipation. "Don't you worry. I'll convince him." He turned down the hallway, his whispered voice projecting. "Hey Chewie!"