Chapter 12: Return To Coruscant
Then they reached the rendezvous
point, at the same time as Han. Luke thanked the force that it actually came
that synchronized. I mean, he had told Leia that they were on a mission
together, and she would get suspicious if they didn't arrive together. Luke
boarded the Falcon, so when they entered Coruscant space they would be
together. Luke had little doubt that Leia would be watching the computer.
"Hey, Leia, miss us." Han called, being his usual roguish self.
"Why, you nerf-herder. I missed
you, Luke." Leia said, doing HER usual.
"I missed you to." Luke
replied, "So where do you want to rendezvous at?"
"The rebel dream." Leia
replied.
Leia, Han, and Luke all met at the
Rebel Dream.
"Luke, I haven't seen you in
ages." Leia said, rushing to give her brother a humungous hug.
"I missed you too." Luke
said, he noticed that no matter how much Leia tried to hide it, she was crying
against his shirt.
"I...I am so glad you came back
by now, I didn't want to be alone, especially today. Now, my best friends, in
the galaxy are with me. I am not going to feel lonely." Leia said, trying
very hard to get herself under control.
"Hey, what about..." Han
started to say. Then he stopped when he saw Luke raise a hand.
Luke just stood there holding Leia,
until she got herself under control. Luke realized with a start what the
special day was, by Coruscant time it was her birthday. His too, but, for him
birthday's always went unnoticed. He felt terrible not remembering hers. Then
he remembered, Han and told him he would take care of it, and during their
hyperspace conversation's Han had filled him in. Luke had plumb forgotten his
plan to slip off, so Leia and Han could have a private reunion. He also noticed
that Han had slipped off so Leia and Luke could have a private reunion, and he
could get his present. He was pretty sure there was more planned then what Han
had told him.
"Hey, Leia, are you all right
now."
Leia stiffened against him.
"No," Luke said, trying to control his laughter, Leia and Han's
relationship in these matter's always amused him, "Han is gone, and you
don't have to pretend with your brother, we are siblings, we can be open with
one another."
"Here, sit down." Luke
said, guiding her to a seat, "and tell me what's up."
"I convinced Threkin to let me
off the hook. But, I felt as though I was betraying Alderaan."
"Why." Luke demanded.
"Leia, this is YOUR life, all
right, yes you are the Princess of Alderaan, yes that means you have duties, it
does NOT mean someone has the right to tell you whom to get married to. Someone
can suggest it, but not tell or force." Luke turned away for a second,
then realized what he had told Leia about being open applied to him as well,
"Leia, it hurt me to see you being used like that," Leia recoiled at
the word, "yes, used, Leia, I might be being protective, but that is how I
feel."
Leia laughed, "You know, I like
it when you're like this, as long as it doesn't go too far. Makes me feel
special."
"You are special." Luke
said, giving Leia a brotherly kiss on the forehead. "Did you ever wonder
who was older."
"By the way we act, you."
Leia answered.
After a few more minutes of
conversation Han came inside. "Han." Leia shouted, rushing towards
him.