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 fanfics, Never the Same Again: Part One, Part Two, Transitions, and Part Three. I try to listen you all of your suggestions, so please help me out by reviewing my work and telling me what you would like to see in the next parts of the series. I really appreciate all of the suggestions you give me, and you all have been very helpful! I hope you like this chapter!
Never the Same Again: Part Four
By Jessika Solo
After she received word from Luke that he was safe, Leia immediately went to Han's apartment. He opened the door just as she ran up to see him. "I had a feeling that you would be coming here," Han said as Leia ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. For the first time in a very long time, they kissed. It wasn't just a kiss; it was more of a complex emotion expressed in one simple action. Time seemed to stand still for both of them, and Leia felt tears welling up in her eyes. The kiss slowly died off, and Han leaned back to look at Leia's face. "You're crying again, sweetheart," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I know," she croaked, smiling adoringly at him. Han picked her up and carried her through the door, and then he sat her down on his couch. She smiled up at him as he kissed her forehead.
"So, tell me," Han yelled from the kitchen as he got them some kaffe, "What happened to Luke. I heard he went out to find Mara Jade." Han walked back into the living room and handed Leia a mug. "Well," she began, sighing, "He wounded her in the leg, but she managed to run off somehow. He has been searching for her with the Force. He thinks that you and I are safe for now, but he wants us all in the same place again tonight." Han looked at her slyly and said, "Well, I know where you can stay tonight." Laughing at him, she said, "Han Solo! You flirt!" He got up from his chair across the table and set his mug down. He looked at her as he slowly walked to the couch. Leaning over the top of her, he said, "You like it and you know it, Your Highness." "Maybe," she said, setting her own mug down, "So what if I do?"
The couple spent the rest of their evening quietly sitting on Han's couch watching holofilms. Just as he was about to doze off to sleep for the second time, Han felt a small hand on his stomach. He looked down to see the Princess looking up at him. "Hey, what are you doing, sweetheart?" Han asked her, placing his large hand over her small, delicate hand. "Han, you love me, don't you?" she asked, sitting up to lean against him. "Of course I do, Leia! Why do you ask that?" he said, beginning to unbraid her hair. Smiling to herself at his affectionate gesture, she said, "Oh, no reason. Just asking." "How 'bout you, Your Worshipfullness?" Han asked, brushing her hair out with his fingers. Turning around to face him, she drew in a deep breath. "Han," she began, "I love you with all of my heart and all of my soul, and Force help me, you and I will never be apart again!" Touched by her emotional outpouring, Han hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry, sweetheart, you and I will always be together, no matter what!" Han whispered into her ear as she ran her fingers through his shiny brown hair.
Carrying her into his bedroom, Han kissed her on the nose and laid her down on his bed. She sat up as he shut the door and turned out the lights. "Han?" she asked, watching him take his blaster belt off and set it on the table. "Yes, sweetheart?" he said and sat down beside her on the bed. She looked in his eyes and sent him a Force message, assuming he wouldn't hear her. He didn't, but he didn't need Jedi training or Force sensitivity to take a guess at her thoughts. Pretending to not understand, he began kissing her slowly at first, but then more passionately as they went on. Marriage, Han thought to himself, I think she wants marriage! Their kisses continued and he was filled with thoughts of a family, children, and their inexhaustible love for one another. Give me a few days, sweetheart, he thought to himself, smiling.
Luke arrived at Han's apartment a few hours later. He sensed an overflow of love and affection as he stood at the door. A small smirk crossed his young features, and he decided to run back to his apartment to get R2D2. They could use some time alone. After all, Han is right. If I want them to be together, I have to give them some time alone, Luke told himself as he jumped into his speeder.
Lying in bed together, Han and Leia held each other close. "You know, I've missed being with you in this way," Han said to her as he ran his fingers through her hair. She smiled and said, "It's been since Bespin, Han. Before the carbon-freeze." Han nodded and said, "Well, I guess we'll have to make up for that." "You really are a scoundrel, you know that?" Leia said, sitting up and wrapping the sheet around her, "And besides, Luke will be here soon." "Oh, yeah, I forgot I am hosting a slumber party again tonight," Han said, running his hand through his hair.
Once Luke felt he would not be intruding on Han and Leia, he returned to Han's apartment and found them sitting on the couch watching holofilms. Han was wearing a t-shirt and some boxers, and Leia was wearing an old t-shirt of Han's. Smiling to himself, Luke walked into the room with R2D2 rolling in behind him. "Hey, kid," Han said, looking up from the screen. Luke laughed at the film they were watching. "That is an old one," he said, pointing at the screen, "I can't believe you two are watching that!" Leia smiled and cuddled up even closer to Han. She had a blanket over her and her head was on Han's leg. They are so lucky to have found each other, Luke thought, smiling proudly at his sister and his best friend.
Less than an hour later, Leia was sleeping quietly on the couch. Luke looked at Han and whispered, "Can we talk in the kitchen?" Han slowly extracted his leg from under Leia and followed Luke into the kitchen. "What's on you mind, kid?" Han asked, sitting down at the table and rubbing his eye. "Do you remember when I said that we had to talk? It was about a week ago," Luke said, trying to think of what he was going to say to Han. Han nodded and looked at him questioningly. "Well, what I was going to say then doesn't really apply now, because I was going to tell you not to give up on Leia. But now that you two are back together, there is no need for that talk. However, I can talk to you about her still," Luke said, lacing his fingers together. "Just say it, kid, whatever it is," Han said, knowing it would not be anything bad.
"Well, I guess I just want to tell you that you have my blessings. I will do anything I can to keep you and Leia together. You are what makes her happy, and she makes you happy. Apart, you are both dynamic people, but together, you are both complete. I have foreseen many things about your life together, and the visions are happy and filled with love. I have no doubt that you are my sister have been brought together by the Force. That much is obvious to me," Luke said and Han smiled. "Luke," Han said, "What are you trying to tell me?" "I have been rambling, haven't I?" Luke said, smiling, "Well, Han, I just want to tell you that you will have a future with my sister, and you have been joined by the Force. That is a bond that no one can break. You and Leia are the only family I have left, and I want to make sure that my family is happy."
Letting Luke's words sink in, Han looked down at his rough hands. He had scars from the thousands of times that he had repaired the Falcon's hyper drive, and he had a few scars from recent battles. He held out his hand and said, "You see this scar?" He pointed to a scar on the palm of his hand. "That scar is from the trash compactor on the Death Star. That is when I fell in love with her. We fought, we yelled, we screamed. It was electric. And, I loved her," Han said, smiling distantly at the memories. Luke smiled and said, "I know Han. I didn't have to be a Jedi to see it. It was always there." Han smiled sheepishly and said, "You got that right, kid."
Just as Luke was about to get up from the table, Han began to speak again. "Hey Luke," he said, looking up from the table, "I want to ask her to marry me. Tomorrow." Luke's eyes widened and he said, "Isn't that a little sudden?" "A little sudden?" Han laughed, "Kid, how long have we all known each other? Around four standard years now?" Luke laughed and nodded his head, "You're right. How could I forget about Hoth and Bespin." Han looked at Luke, waiting for his approval. "You have my blessing. I am sure that our father and our mother would be very proud to have you as a son, and I know I will be very proud to have you as my brother," Luke said, reaching out to shake Han's hand. "Luke, I promise—" Han began but Luke interrupted. "Han, I know," Luke said, smiling proudly.
Han returned to the living room to find Leia still sleeping on the couch. He smiled at her and carried her off to his bed. I have a surprise for you tomorrow, sweetheart, Han thought, smiling as he lay down next to her in the soft, warm bed.
To be continued…