Sorry it has been so long since I have
posted anything. I have been really busy with first semester finals and the
holidays. Things are becoming normal again, so I am getting time to write now.
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, Part Four, and A
Proposal. 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: The Return
By Jessika Solo
Han
sat in the pilot's seat of the Millennium Falcon as the ship entered
hyperspace. Luke was sitting next to him, and Chewie and Lando were checking on
the functions of some uncooperative part of the Falcon's mismatched electrical
system. A goofy smile spread across Han's face when the image of the Princess
yelling, "YOU GOT IT, FLYBOY!" entered his head. "What are you
smiling about, General?" Luke joked, flipping a few switches while the
stars blurred by them. Han shook his head and remained silent to relive the
memory a few more times.
As the old ship
chugged out of hyperspace, Han chuckled and said, "How'd you like to have
a scoundrel for a brother, kid?" Smiling slightly in his Jedi way, Luke
said, "So, you finally asked her." Han nodded and shook Luke's
outstretched hand. "Welcome to our family, Han," Luke said, smiling
as he turned back to the controls.
"Gold fleet,
this is Gold Leader, all wings please report in," Luke said when the fleet
of X-Wings had met at the correct coordinates. After all five of the X-Wing
pilots reported in, Luke pressed the comm. button again. "Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to make an announcement before we get started with the
surveying…" he began, smiling at Han. Lando and Chewie made their way to
the cockpit and Luke continued, "Let's all congratulate General Solo on
his engagement to my sister, Princess Leia Organa."
Wookiee growls
filled the air and Lando slapped Han on the back. Wedge replied on the comm. by
saying, "It's about time, Solo. Maybe she'll cook for you instead of
me!" Han's face was red from embarrassment as he tried to bring everyone's
attention back to the mission. "We'll have a huge party as soon as we get
back," Han promised, laughing along with Luke and Lando.
Back on Couriscant,
Leia ran from the hangar to finish her Senate duties for the day. "Why,
Princess, you are so flushed! Are you feeling alright? Should I call a med
droid?" Mon Mothma said, catching Leia by the arm. Smiling, Leia said,
"No, I am fine! In fact, better than fine." Mon looked at her
curiously and raised an eyebrow. Leia blushed even more and excitedly
whispered, " Han asked me to marry him! Just before the fleet left for the
Outer Rim." A smile crossed the older woman's face, and she suddenly
embraced Leia. "I am so glad to hear that Leia! Have you told General
Riekan?" Mon asked, leading Leia down the hall to the offices.
The day and night
flew by for Leia, and soon she was meeting Han at the hangar for his return. A
few people stood waiting, but none as anxiously as Leia. Her green cloak
covered her maroon and gold dress made from heavy fabric. She touched her necklace
that once belonged to her real mother and held her breath as the hangar doors
began to open.
Five X-Wings entered
the hangar followed by the Millennium Falcon. Seconds passed like hours as the
Falcon touched the ground and shut down her engines. Pilots stood around the
hangar while the Falcon's ramp slowly lowered to the hangar floor. It touched
down with a loud thunk similar to the sound Leia heard when Han's carbonite
slab fell to the ground on Bespin. She shivered at the thought of her father
encasing her love in a block of junk. Seeing Luke's feet snapped her to her
senses, though, and she covered her mouth with a shaking hand. Lando and then
Chewie followed Luke. Han stood at the top of the ramp, imagining the look on
Leia's face. He began his slow walk down the ramp, his boots clunking on the
metal.
As soon as Leia
glimpsed Han's brown Bantha leather boots, she let out her breath and ran to
greet him. The pilots gathered around the ship began to clap slowly, bursting
into full applause when Han grabbed the Princess and swung her around in a
circle. "Did you miss me?" he asked her, smiling his crooked smile.
"You scoundrel!" she said, laughing with pure joy in her eyes.
"I'll take that as a yes," Han murmured before kissing her right in
front of the growing group of pilots and mechanics.
Hours later, Luke
visited Han and Leia in Han's apartment. The trio ate a meal that Leia had
fixed while enjoying the holonews. "Look, Leia! It's us!" Han said,
pointing to the holoscreen. Footage of Han and Leia's reunion in the hangar
appeared on the screen as the newscaster spoke, "Two heroes of the
Rebellion announced their engagement today. General Han Solo and Princess Leia
Organa, senator for the New Republic were engaged yesterday just before General
Solo left for a mission to the Outer Rim Territories…" The group laughed
while pictures of the two flashed up. "On a side note," the woman
continued, " Princess Organa's brother, Luke Skywalker remains the most
eligible bachelor in the galaxy." Han and Leia laughed histerically as
Luke stared at his food, obviously embarrassed by his status.
After a short pause
in the conversation, Luke cleared his throat and said, "I have something
to tell you both." Leia looked up curiously and Han continued to eat,
hoping it wasn't going to be a lecture. Folding his hands in front of him on
the table, Luke said, "While on Tatooine last night, I felt a disturbance
in the Force. I experienced several visions. I feel that I must return there
tomorrow to continue my search for Mara Jade." The room was silent except
for the voices on the holoprojector. Han reached over and flicked it off,
watching Leia's smile fade to a frown.
"Why,
Luke?" Leia asked, clearly upset. She took his hand and continued,
"If you feel her there, then that obviously means that she has decided to
leave us alone." Luke smiled at his sister and sent out some comforting
feelings through the Force while he explained himself. "I know it seems
that way," he said, "but things are not always as they seem when the
Dark Side is concerned. Besides, the Force wills me to turn her, and I must
obey the Force." Han silently looked from Leia to Luke, and he was amaized
by the determination in both twins. Kinda like me, Han thought, smiling
to himself.
It was finally
settled; Luke would spend one standard week on Tatooine in Old Ben Kenobi's
place. "Really Leia, I will be fine. The Dark Side is strong, but it is
not stronger. I promise I will contact you at the first sign of trouble,"
Luke said, standing in the doorway of Han's apartment after hours of
discussion.
The next morning,
Han and the Princess accompanied Luke to the hangar. Admiral Ackbar had allowed
Luke to use one of the X-Wings as long as he promised to come back alive.
"Luke, you don't have to go, you know," Leia said, clinging to Han.
"I do have to go, but I will be back. After all, I can't
miss the wedding… I'm in it!" Luke said, starting the engines and smiling
down from the cockpit of the tall ship. "Come on, sweetheart," Han
said, pulling Leia back to a safe distance. Luke and R2-D2 left the main hangar
and quickly jumped into hyperspace.
"Han, why are
people always leaving me?" Leia asked while the pair watched the stars.
"I don't know sweetheart," Han said, holding her close to him. He
felt her sigh as he ran his finger along her tightly braided hair. "Don't
worry though, Luke will be home soon," Han said, leading his Princess out
of the hangar and down the hall. "You know, I believe I owe you an
engagement ring," he said, hoping to cheer her up. "Really?" she
asked, a small smile crossing her tearstained face.
To be continued…