I do not own any of these characters or anything. I am just using them to amuse others and myself. So, if someone wants to sue me, then go right ahead. I am a poor college student with about $60 in my bank account. It's not worth the waste of time.
A continuation of my first fanfic "Never the Same Again: Part One." I really hope you guys like my stories!!
Never the Same Again: Part Two
By Jessika Solo
Four whole weeks had passed since Han and Leia had gone their separate ways. Luke and Lando were constantly looking after Han, trying to keep him active to keep him from slipping into a deep depression. Sleeping in hotels on Tatooine, the four guys spent their nights in bars listening to horrible lounge singers. "I never got the hang of Huttese," Lando whispered to Luke one night as they listened to a female green thing sing a love song in a bar near Boonta Eve. Han had been drinking heavily that night and was attempting to drown his sorrows with a bottle of very strong Corelliean whisky. Chewie was holding on to Han to keep him from picking a fight with a man in an all black Bantha leather outfit. "He's lookin' at me funny, Chewie!" Han slurred, almost falling to the ground. Lando shook his head and said, "Time for a certain General to get to bed and sleep his alcohol off." Chewie laughed and picked Han up off the ground and slung him over his shoulder like a bag of sand.
"Get off me, stupid!" Han yelled at Luke, who was using a Jedi trance to sober up his friend. "Han, just relax," Luke said, closing his eyes again. Minutes later, Han was sitting up in a chair rubbing his throbbing head. "Damn, kid. I've got the worst hangover I ever had!" Han said. Luke smiled and said, "Han, we need to talk…"
"Yes ma'am," Leia said to Mon Mothma as she left for her sleeping quarters in the Couriscant home of Senator Blink from Yavin. The work had been tough, and the nights had been long, but The New Republic was starting to come together. Citizens all over the galaxy had flocked to the planet that never sleeps to join in on the forming of a new government, and Leia was right in the middle of it. Yet, something was missing. She had been doing the things that meant the most to her in previous years, but now her life was a dull, repetitive mess of sorrow and regret. Staring in the mirror at herself, she unwound her long, brown hair. Sighing, she closed her eyes. I wonder if this will really work. Luke said I have Jedi powers too, she thought, needing to talk to her brother. Luke? Luke?! Can you hear me? she called to him, not believing she would get a response.
"Han…" Luke began, pausing for some reason. Han stared at him and said, "What, kid?" Luke closed his eyes and concentrated. Someone was trying to find him. Someone was saying his name. Luke? Are you there? he heard, his eyes popping wide open in surprise. Leia! You can do this too? he asked her, amazed. "What, kid?" Han asked, getting angry at Luke's sudden silence. Luke held up his hand, indicating for Han to wait a second. Luke, I need someone to talk to. Please come back to Couriscant, Leia begged him. Luke smiled and said, "Han, I think our vacation needs to include a trip to Couriscant." Han sighed, "Sure kid, whatever, as long as she is not there." Luke smiled to himself and winked at Lando, who squinted his eyes at the skinny young man.
That next morning, Luke sent Leia a holo message from the Falcon. "I will be there soon," he said, smiling at his sister. She smiled, looking a bit older than she should. "He's not coming, is he?" she asked, resting her chin in her hand. Luke smiled, not answering her question, and said, "So, how is Wedge? Have you talked to him lately?"
The guys were not plagued with any mechanical troubles, so they arrived ahead of schedule. They checked into their hotel rooms and then went out for a drink. It was early in the afternoon, but that was never too early for Han and Lando. "I have some business I have to attend to, but I will meet you guys in the hotel bar in a few hours," Luke said, straightening his shirt and pants. "Whatever, kid. See ya later," Han said, eager to get rid of his hangover with a drink or two.
After seven shots, Han was talking Lando's ear off about Leia. "You know, buddy, she messed my life up real bad. Gave me a conscience, and that is not a good thing for a smuggler to have. Things will never be the same now, and I can't even be with her. Real great, this whole Rebellion thing. I'm a General and I got nothin' to show for it besides a few scars, some visible, some not," Han said, leaning heavily on the bar. Lando just nodded as Han talked and talked. Chewie was playing some game with a diplomat-type man, and Lando heard the occasional Wookie growl.
Arriving at the house in a taxi speeder, Luke walked into the front room of the house where Leia was staying. She hugged him and led him into the formal room to meet everyone. "This is my brother, Luke," she said proudly to everyone. Senator Blink and his wife rose from their seats to shake his hand. "My, my, the famous Luke Skywalker! My daughter has pictures of you all over her wall!" Mrs. Blink said, smiling at him. The farm boy blushed, unaware of his teen throb status. After a few minutes of small talk, Leia escorted Luke to the balcony overlooking the tall buildings. "What did you need, sister?" Luke said, smiling. Leia rubbed her tired eyes and said, "I don't know if this type of life is for me anymore. I am not happy, and I long to be something or someone else." Confused by her words, Luke entered the outskirts of Leia's mind to calm her and understand her. He smiled, confirming his earlier thoughts. "What?" she asked, seeing his amusement. "Leia, it is not what you said, it is what you didn't say. You don't see, do you? You just don't get it," Luke said, feeling older than his twin sister. She tilted her head and looked in his blue eyes. He laughed out loud at her. "It is so simple, yet you must see it for yourself. I cannot tell you where your answer lies; however, the Force will guide you," Luke said, walking back into the house to call for a taxi.
"Come with me," Luke said, "You could use a drink or something." Leia shook her head, but did not walk away. Sighing, she got into the taxi with him. "You'll be glad you came," Luke said to her, seeing an image of the near future. "If you say so," she said, sighing heavily and crossing her arms.
Han was dead drunk after three hours in the hotel lounge. Lando was not sober himself, and Chewie was just getting started. Luke, sensing the situation, cleared his friends' minds just before he and Leia arrived. "Damn, what just happened?" Han asked, rubbing his temples. He looked up at the door to see Luke walk in with a girl behind him. "Some business," Lando laughed, that is, until they both saw who the girl was. "Oh no!" Han groaned, trying to think of an escape. As soon as Leia saw him, though, he knew he was stuck. "LUKE!" she growled angrily at the amused Jedi Knight. Lando was laughing pretty hard and Chewie was making snorting noises as Han attempted to hide behind his glass of whiskey. "What are YOU doing here?" Leia demanded to Han. With hurt in his eyes, he looked up at her and said, "This is a free galaxy, remember? Or have you forgotten what we just did about four weeks ago?" She looked down at the floor silently, and Han continued, "Besides, am I not good enough to be on the same planet as you, Your Highness?" Her eyes met his, and he could see that she was just as upset as him. "I'm outta here," Han said, walking out of the bar briskly. Leia sighed and sat down at the bar with the boys.
When Mon Mothma heard that all of the boys were in town, she insisted that there be a dinner held in their honor. A few days after the bar incident, Luke, Han, Lando, and Chewbacca got into the speeder that Mon had sent for them. The driver was a loyal Rebel technician and recognized the four men as soon as he saw them. "It is an honor to meet you all!" The young man said to them. They all blushed and Han reached out to shake the kid's hand, "Nice to meet you, too."
The large dining room in the new Galactic Senate building was filled with diplomats and pilots. When the men walked in, the crowd erupted into applause for the heroes. Han waved at the crowd and shook hands with the nearest people as young women diplomats from many different worlds surrounded Luke. Chewie and Lando laughed at Luke while Han made his way to General Reeikan. The grey-haired man smiled at the young smuggler-turned-hero. "General," Han said, firmly shaking his hand. "Han Solo, long time no see. What have you four been up to?" the General asked, putting his arm around Han and leading him to a group of people near the center of the large room. Han smiled without saying a word. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like you to meet General Han Solo," the General said to a group of eight to ten people. Han smiled as they shook his hand and asked him many questions.
Across the room, Luke stood with a formally dressed Leia. She sighed, and Luke looked over at her. Tell me what's wrong, Leia, he asked her through the Force. Her diplomatic smile vanished from her face and she replied, Why couldn't it work, Luke? What if the Force means for Han and I to be together? Luke, glad to hear the love in her mind's voice said to her, It can work, sister dear. If it was meant to be, it will be.
The dinner went off without a hitch. There were no press invasions, no death threats, and no snobby guests. Everyone enjoyed the company of Luke, Han, Chewie, and Lando, and the boys enjoyed the changed from their usual bar scene. Han caught Leia staring at him a few times, and she caught him gawking at her just as much. She is so beautiful, Han thought to himself, sighing. Luke had to use some Jedi training to keep from laughing out loud at the two people. Some people think too hard, he thought to himself, giggling behind his hand. He could see Han and Leia's future, but he couldn't tell them about it. He knew Leia would come around soon enough though.
After dinner, Han walked with Reeikan in the Senate building. "General," Han began, clearing his throat, "I was wondering if your offer still stands." A broad smile crossed the older man's face, and he replied, "Han, you are a part of the Rebel family, and you always will be." Han smiled, relieved that someone still liked him. "And the Princess," Reeikan continued, "she would never admit it, but she misses you so much. Many times, I have found her staring at the comm. panel, the frequency of the Falcon typed in, her finger on the send button, but she never presses it. She is so full of pride that she can't admit that what she did was wrong. However, she will see soon. I know it. Especially if you come back to the New Republic and serve as an advisor in the military department." Han smiled, reaching out to shake the General's hand, "You got yourself a new advisor."
It was a hazy dawn on Couriscant, and Han was awake watching it all. He had attempted to sleep, but he merely tossed and turned in his bed. Frustrated, he walked to his balcony to watch the amazing city. It was true. It really never slept. He heard a faint knocking sound, but resolved that is was only a sound of the city. However, the knocking continued. He turned, and noticed that the noise was coming from the door. Confused, he walked to the door to find out who was trying to reach him at this hour of the night. He hit the door panel and the door slid open to reveal a small figure dressed in a green, hooded cloak. "Who are you?" Han asked, stepping back from the door as he remembered the death threats that a lot of the former Rebels had been receiving. The figure reached up and removed its hood. Han gasped as he saw Leia standing before him.
He stared at her for at least two minutes before she smiled and said, "Can I come in?" Han, snapping out of his trance, mumbled something about his room being a mess, but he stepped aside for her to enter. She took off her green cloak to reveal her nightgown and her long brown hair. "Your hair! It is longer than I imagined!" Han exclaimed, reaching out to touch it. He stopped himself just before his hand reached her hair, and he mumbled, "Sorry, I wasn't thinking." Leia smiled and sat down on his bed. Looking up at him, she said, "Can I talk to you for a while, or do you want me to come back in the morning?" "I think it is morning," Han said, sitting down next to her. She burst out laughing, uncontrollable laughter. Han, confused, said, "It wasn't that funny, Your Highness." Gasping for air, Leia said, "I'm sorry, nervous laughter." She smiled and said, "And I thought I told you not to call me that." Still bitter, Han replied, "Well, you told me some other things, too." "Ouch," she whispered, looking away.
After a few minutes of silence, Han asked, "Why are you here? Trying to hurt me more?" "No Han," Leia said, looking up at him, "I am trying to fix something." He looked at her questioningly, and she continued, "I want to try it Han. I want to give us a try." He was shocked at her bluntness and stared at her. "You what?" he asked, making sure he heard her correctly. "You heard me, I want to be with you! I need you in my life Han! I called Luke here because I needed to talk to someone. My life was empty, and I didn't know why. Luke told me that he knew, but could not tell me. And then, tonight, I figured it out!" she said, turning to face him. "You really mean that?" he whispered, looking down at his black boots. "I mean it. You are what was missing in my life, and if I can only see you once a standard month, then so be it. Just knowing that you are mine and I am yours is enough for me!" she said, grabbing his hands. He smiled; now it was his turn to surprise her.
They talked for a little while about Leia's work in the past month, and then she got up to return to her house to get ready to go to the Senate. "Let's try to spend as much time together as we can. Force knows what might happen," she said, turning to put her cloak on. "Leia," Han whispered. She turned to look at him, stopping in the middle of pulling on her cloak. "I'm staying with the New Republic," he said, smiling goofily. She stared at him, just as shocked at him as he had been at her earlier. "General Reeikan offered me a job as an advisor in the military department, and I took the job so I could stay here with you," Han said, walking closer to her. A sob of joy escaped her as she ran to embrace him. They both began to laugh like they had never laughed before. "I love you, Han!" she said, hugging him tighter. "I love you, too, my princess!" he said, picking her up and swinging her around. "Let's go tell Luke," she said excitedly. Han smiled and grabbed her hand as they walked out the door.
To be continued if you all want…