Leia stared at the tea in front of her as the women in front of her chattered on.
"Lelia, how is your…new living arrangement?" The one woman asks, Leia looks up at her Aunt Celly.
"It's fine, it is a good place to live." Leia responds.
"I have to say Lelia, I don't know if I can support you living with two unmarried men." Rogue comments.
"One unmarried man." Leia corrects, taking a sip of her tea.
"What's that dear?"
"One unmarried man. Chewie is married, Han is not." Leia repeats.
"Oh, yes well. Even so, I would've been much more comfortable if you came and lived with us." Rogue says, reaching across the table and grabbing the younger woman's hands.
"I appreciate the sentiment Aunt Rogue. But I would rather not move to the city."
"Well dear, how do you expect to make anything of yourself while you're here. Living with an unmarried man. If you came to Baltimore, you could make next season for your coming out. I mean your slightly older, but 19 isn't too late."
"Yes, and we could make a trip to Manhattan for your dress and get Veronica to style your hair." Celly interjects.
"We could get a dress specially made." Tia adds. All of Leia's aunts squeal in delight at the thought of their first indulgence since the war.
"Mother hated debutante balls. She used to say that those balls are old fashioned and have no place in our society."
"Yes, she did. Your lovely mother, the suffragette." Rogue sighs, knowing her niece would not permit a coming out.
"I am fine where I am. Han and Chewie have been very generous."
"Lelia, we are just worried what people will say about you living with…Han." Celly comments, hesitating to name him.
"What people are saying about you and Han." Rogue adds, emphasizing the 'are'. Leia coughs, her tea catching in her throat.
"What?" She asks, her heart pounding. The three women look at each other, unsure if they should respond.
"There have been several rumors in town that Han and you are having an…illicit affair." Tia responds. Leia's flushes a light pink, thinking about her and Han's interaction the other night.
"Well you don't have to worry about that. Han is the most insufferable man I've ever met." Leia takes a sip of her tea, hoping that the flush went unnoticed.
...
Han watched as Leia talked with Winter at the bar, the brunette laughing at her friend's words. He couldn't help but smirk when she smiled, a rare occurrence but whenever she did the room always seemed a little brighter.
She wore her hair in loose curls, the front part up in victory rolls. She wore a simple floral beige a line dress that stopped at her knees. Her smile drops as she looks over to the table, staring at him. Winter hits Leia's arm, stealing her attention back.
Han stands abruptly from the table, her chugs the rest of his beer and slams the empty glass down on the table. He walks over to the bar towards the two women. Winter notices Han walking towards them, and taps Leia on her bicep before pointing to the man walking towards them. Leia turns briefly to see him before turning back to her friend and whispers something to her.
"Hi Han." Winter says sweetly as he comes to stand next to Leia. Han smiles at Winter before turning to Leia.
"Are you leaving?" Leia asks, staring down at her drink.
"Yeah, I was thinkin' of it. You gonna come?"
"I might as well." Leia finishes the last of her wine, placing the empty glass on the bar.
"Okay, I'll see you later darling." Winter leans forward, giving Leia a half hug and a kiss on her cheek.
"Yes, I'll be in touch this week about that job." Leia says. She breaks away, walking with Han out of the bar. He holds the door open for her. she stops to look at the man before shuffling out of the door, Han following closely behind her.
"You gettin' a job?" Han asks, rushing forward to catch up the short brunette.
"Yeah, Winter has a friend who is leaving her job as a secretary. Winter thinks I'd be a good fit."
"Yeah, if bookkeeping requires an uppity nymph to do the job." Han shrugs his shoulders, slipping his hands into his pockets. Leia stops, falling behind him.
"I'm uppity? You clearly need to re-evaluate yourself flyboy." She shakes her head, catching back up to the man.
"Who you calling flyboy? I was a marine."
"Oh pardon me." She says insincerely, a smile breaking out across her face. Han smirks in response, finding her smile contagious. Leia catches his gaze, her smile not leaving her face. "Where were you stationed?"
Han's smiles drops slightly, slightly surprised at the question.
"I went all over the place. I'm not fully convinced I wasn't in hell."
"Han, be serious."
"I am. One moment it'd be hot as hell and the next it would pour rain for five days. You couldn't keep anything dry." Han says, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket to light it. "And you, where were you stationed?"
"I was in England for a few months, then France and finally Germany before I was…. Before I was sent home."
"And you clearly didn't handle explosives."
"Of course not. I was a translator."
"A translator? I didn't realize women were given those positions."
"They typically are not. No one in the division spoke German, when it came to their attention that I was fluent they took the chance and so I spent most of the war questioning prisoners of war and generals." Leia explains, running her hand through her curled hair. "And you? You clearly weren't a medic."
"I was a mortar man. It was a little less relaxing than translating." Han jokes. "You had to move fast. If you were slow you'd get yourself and your squad killed."
"Now flyboy, I told you where I was. Where were you stationed?" Leia asks again, curious if she would get an answer. Han chuckles, shaking his head.
"All over, I was with the first Marines from Guadalcanal, New Britan, Peleliu, and I finished my service in Okinawa."
"I know nothing about the pacific. Luke used to write me when he landed in Normandy and while he was in Belgium." Leia says, Han stiffens at the mention of the other man.
"Yeah? Used to write ya a lot?"
"Yeah he did. Had to keep himself occupied while he froze in a foxhole." Leia shrugs her shoulders.
"It used to rain a lot. I figure it rained for two weeks straight while we were on Cape Gloucester."
"Did it really?"
"Well, don't know about two weeks but between the rain and humidity it felt like you were wet all the god damn time." Han says, scratching the back of his head. Leia smiles, looking down to the pavement.
Han opens the apartment door for them, allowing her to lead in.
"Hey Chewie. We're home." Han calls as he follows her in. The two stop, waiting for the response from the man. "He must've gone out."
"Well no matter. I'm off to bed anyhow."
"You want some company." Han asks, raising his eyebrow suggestively. Leia pauses and rolls her eyes, leaving to her room. Han watches her slam the door behind her. Chuckling he settles down on the couch, grabbing the paper that lay on the coffee table.