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, Part Three, and Part Four. 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: A Proposal
By Jessika Solo
Han had set his chrono to go off at an early hour. Leia had to be in the Senate building at 0800, and he had to be in a meeting at 0900. An incessant beeping sound woke him from his deep sleep, and he rolled over to turn it off. "Leia," he whispered, giving her a gentle nudge. She groaned, rolling over and covering her head with the blanket. Smiling, Han continued his prodding, "Honey, wake up. You have to go to work!" Throwing the blanket off of her, she sighed loudly. Grumbling to herself, she crawled out of bed to take a shower, slamming the door behind her. Smiling his crooked smile, Han walked up to the closed door. He heard her turn the water shower on, so he opened the door. She turned around, shocked at first, but then delighted when she saw his lopsided smile. "Care to join me?" Leia asked, raising her eyebrows.
Taking their time, they shampooed each other's hair. Han ran his fingers through Leia's long, wet hair and then twisted it up on top of her head. "What are you doing?" she giggled, turning around to kiss him. "Oh, nothing, sweetheart," he said, looking at her lovingly. They stared at each other for a long time, and Leia could feel the love between them. I know it's early, but I know I am ready. However, getting a man who is afraid of commitment to ask me to marry him is going to be quite a task, Leia thought, looking into Han's hazel eyes.
Han, on the other hand, was planning his proposal. Well, I could get Wedge to make dinner again, and I could propose to her here. Or, I could take her out someplace fancy and ask her there. Of course, the Falcon has sentimental value… Rinsing Leia's sudsy hair, he continued to think of places and situations. I hope she says yes! he thought, almost worried that she would be able to resist him.
After their shower, Han and Leia dressed and had cups of kaffe in the living room with Luke. "Any new developments in the Force, kid?" Han said, beginning to believe that the whole Force nonsense actually had something to it. Luke was being unusually quiet, so he simply shook his head. Leia and Han looked at each other, already able to communicate the way married couples could.
Luke, still quiet, left with R2D2 to meditate and continue his search for Mara Jade. As soon as the door shut, Leia looked at Han with a small amount of worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, sweetheart," Han said, kissing her on the forehead.
Both were silent for a few seconds, and the Han said, "Leia, do you remember the first time you told me that you loved me?" Smiling broadly, Leia replied, "Han, how could I forget? They almost killed you that day!" "Just wondering," Han said, smiling to himself.
"What?" Leia pried, "Why did you ask that?" Giving in to her easily, Han said, "Well, I was just wondering if you really meant it or if you just said it because you thought I was going to die." Leia reached over and put her small hand on top of his large, rough hand. "Han, I know that I was quite horrible to you on Hoth, but I always loved you. Always. I said some really mean things to you, but it was only to keep from getting attached to someone I thought would never promise anything to anyone. I thought you were just going to leave the second you got a chance. I know that you wanted me to ask you to stay, but I couldn't. I wanted you to stay on your own terms, not because I asked you to," she said, and then looked down at her chrono. "Oh, Han, I have to get to work! I'll come over when I get done in the Senate today. Have a nice day with the guys, General," Leia said as she ran to gather her things. She kissed him on the cheek before she left, and whispered, "I love you, flyboy." His crooked smile returning, Han said, "I know, Your Highnessness."
Luke was sitting in Admiral Ackbar's office when Han arrived. Surprised to see him, Han said, "Hey, Luke. What are you doin' in the military department?" Luke looked up at Han from his chair and said, "Han, you and I have been volunteered to lead a surveying team to the Outer Rim to check on reports of Imperial activity." Crushed, Han sat down in the chair next to Han. The Admiral and his advisors walked into the office and shut the door. Great. Just great. There go my special plans for tonight. Han thought, clenching his fists.
Immediately after leaving Ackbar's office, Han went to his own smaller office to send Leia a holomessage. "Sweetheart, I know we had plans for tonight, but the New Republic calls. Luke and I have to go on an overnight mission to the Outer Rim to check on some stuff. We will be leaving at 1200. Please meet me in the Main Hangar. I have to see you before I leave," Han said, disappointment filling his eyes. "I have arranged for your apartment to be guarded the entire time that Luke and I will be gone. Please meet me before I go…"
Chewie and Lando were also chosen for the mission. The four men would command the squadron in the Falcon and lead the group of X-Wing fighters to the Outer Rim territories. It would be an easy mission because they had orders to avoid confrontations and report back at the slightest sign of trouble. Han would have been excited about such a mission if he and Leia had not been together, but recently, his priorities had changed. Han wanted to spend all of his time with her, so leaving her would be difficult. Now I have to wait to ask her, Han sighed, checking over the Falcon in the hangar. Lando walked up next to him and slapped his shoulder. "What have you been up to Han old buddy? I haven't seen you in days!" Lando said, assisting him with the inspection. Han smirked at Lando and said, "Can you keep a secret?" Laughing, Lando said, "Have you forgotten who you are talking to?" Laughing along with him, Han said, "You've got a point there, but I'll tell you anyway." Leaning forward and lowering his voice, Han said, "I am going to ask Leia to marry me." Lando grabbed Han's hand and shook it vigorously.
Han worriedly looked at his chrono and sighed. It was 1150 and Leia had not arrived yet. I can't leave until I see her! he said, anxiety building up within him. "All wings, report to your ships!" a voice called over the intercom system. "No!" Han whispered, looking around frantically. Pilots in red and white suits were climbing into X-Wings, and Luke was walking toward Han. "Come on Han, it is time to go," Luke said, feeling what Han was going through. "No, kid! I have to see her!" he said as Luke pulled him toward the ramp of the Falcon. Engines stared up all around them as the time neared 1200. Han walked backwards up the ramp, his eyes filling with tears. "Leia, where are you?" he whispered.
Sensing a commotion near the hangar entrance, Luke pointed to a figure in a long, flowing dress. Her dress flew out behind her as she ran toward the Millennium Falcon. "Han! Han wait!" she screamed, waving her arms. "Leia!" Han yelled, running off the ramp to meet her. He hugged her tightly and kissed her passionately as the whole squadron watched in amusement. "Go!" Leia said, her eyes brimming over with tears. Smiling his crooked smile, Han backed away from her slowly. She watched as he waved at her. He walked up the ramp into the Falcon, and she was about to turn around to leave, but something made her wait an extra second.
Sure enough, Han ran back to the end of the ramp as the hangar doors began to open "MARRY ME, LEIA!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, "PLEASE MARRY ME!" Bursting into tears of joy, Leia screamed back, "YOU GOT IT, FLYBOY!" Han yelled, "WOOHOO!" as the Falcon began to lift off of the hangar floor. "I LOVE YOU!" he yelled at her and her figure became more distant. "I LOVE YOU, TOO!" she yelled back, blowing him a kiss.
To be continued…