Chapter 32: Sleepover.
Leia and Han exchanged a look.
"All right." Leia said, "Han, tell Luke and I where you are
taking me on our date."
Luke concealed a laugh. Boy, lets
see what Han says, especially since he hasn't finished planning it. At last as
far as I know, he thought, Han might've planned something since last time we
talked about it. We were going to do it tonight, after the State Dinner.
"Well, your worshipfulness, its a surprise." And Luke could sense
that Han hadn't planned, much, or he wasn't secure with his planning."
As they landed, they saw General Saum waiting for them. "Your highness,
the duchess has made contact through com-link and requests that you return and
go to sleep. She said, that if the Luke," Luke had told Saum not to use
any titles," has extra rooms, and you would wish you may remain there,
but, you must get some sleep, as especially if you are going to go on your
appointment with General Solo tomorrow evening. Plus, she told me to inform you
that Alderaanian Council President Horm called to inform the House members
there is a meeting tomorrow at noon."
"Thank you, General, please, I know you'd also like to get some rest, don't stay up on my account. I am perfectly safe, so if you and your detail would like you may return to the Embassy and take the night off. "Thank you, your highness, the detail and I shall." Saum and the Honor guard bowed and took a shuttle to the embassy.
"So, Luke, got the space for me." Leia said.
"Me too, don't you siblings forget me." Han chimed.
"Yeah, You can take my room. Han can take the guest room, and I'll take the living room."
"Luke, if that's okay with you..." Leia said.
Luke gave her an incredulous look; "You think I'd rather spend the night alone, then with my sister, and best friend."
Leia laughed, linked arms with him, Han took Leia's other arm, Chewie took Han's other arm and they were off.
At Luke's apartment, Leia fell asleep in a minute, but Luke could feel Han was awake and waiting to talk to him. "Hey, Han, Leia's asleep."
Chapter 33: Date preparations.
As he'd anticipated Han walked into the Living room. "Hey, kid, listen, I think I got the right ring, this is the one Leia was looking at, right." Han said, pulling out the ring Leia had been looking at.
Luke realized it matched her dress. "Yup. But the more important thing, did you plan where you're taking her, make a reservation."
"Another thing I wanted to check with you on. Do you think, the Chaunce V'Kim is good."
Chaunce V'Kin was one of the best, it was usually a place where dignitaries hung out because the place was built with a special rock that destroyed Camera's, electronic recording systems, and most droids. "I think thats excellent, that way the Alderaanian media can't follow you, and you got an excellent dinner, did you talk to the manager."
Han's chest seemed to swell with pride, "Yup, happens to be an old buddy from Corellia, so I've arranged a private room, for no charge, and some music, a little extra. I am begging you to be chauffer and fly us to a romantic spot over a lake on Mon Calamari. I looked at your ship, its got a great glass thing, so the water will reflect, Leia will be at my side, and then I will propose, if everything is going well."
"You do know, that that means you'll have a chaperone." Luke said, cautiously, "I mean, I WILL be in the cockpit unless there is an emergency, but..."
"I know that, buddy, besides, it will make Leia feel reassured of my sterling intentions."
"She KNOWS that."
"Yeah, but if I drop a proposal, and she is not expecting it, and she is thinking of turning me down, or asks for time, she may be nervous in saying so, for fear I may turn violent." He raised a hand, "You say to plan for every contingency and I am."
"All right." Luke said, "but your sterling intentions in this are blasting."
"Now that doesn't mean Leia will say yes, in fact, knowing her I can almost assure you that she will ask for more time. Especially to see whether Alderaanian House protocool will allow her. You've got that covered, as much as you can, but she will still ask them."
Han knew Luke was right. "Now, Han, lets get some sleep, we, you especially will need it, after a second, what will you say if she asks you for more time."
"Leia, I don't want to force you, so take as much time as you need."
Luke smiled. And Han knew he had scored, "Well, kid, you're right, we
should get some sleep."
Chapter 34: The next morning
The next morning Leia awoke bright and early. When she saw the Han was still asleep, she shook her head and smiled evilly. She had something she could now tease Han with. Han was usually up before her. She wondered if she was lucky enough to have Luke still asleep so she could tease him about Jedi sleeping in. Leia knew she and Han were the only ones who could get away with teasing him with something with Jedi in it. She crept into the living room to find Luke gone, his lightsaber away from his bedside. She was puzzled, where was he, she hadn't seen him anywhere else in the medium sized apartment. She searched with the force and found he was not even in the palace, her force skills weren't fine tuned enough that she knew where he was, exactly, but she knew he was on Coruscant, in the business area of it. "What could he be buying, she wondered."
Then she spotted the comm station reading one message, she had a hunch it was from Luke so she opened it, besides, they were twins and didn't twins pry. It was from Luke, though. "Hey, Leia, Han, who ever gets up first and I am pretty sure it will be Leia. I left breakfast with the Kitchen Droids, and I shouldn't be later then an hour, unless the lines are long." The message ended.
Just then Luke walked back inside. "Hey, Leia, I thought you would be the second up. Listen, come outside for a moment."
Leia obliged, puzzled. "You know, I think now that we are twins-"
"-We should act like it." Leia finished, taking his hands.
"You know, Han told me after that phone call that we were starting to act like real twins, I didn't believe him, but I think we are."
"Yes." Leia said, softly, she could tell that Luke felt what she did, Remorse at not being TIGHT. "You know, we can still start to undo the mistake, like by telling each other EVERYTHING."
"Yes, " Luke said, "You start, with the messiest topic of all Love life."
Leia blushed, "Yeah, its so nice to have a brother, someone who will take your side in it." She turned even redder, "Luke, about Han….I know asking me out on a REAL date is an indication, but you tell me, does he really love me."
Luke laughed, "I would think, yes. Leia, you know, Han has also asked me to help him with certain things, since I am helping both of you, I will tell you this, I won't repeat what you tell me to him, and what he tells me to you." Then he put his arm around Leia, "but, I will tell you this, you are ALWAYS my sister, so no matter what happens between you and my best friend, Han. A sister is a sister, and I will always be here for you. NO MATTER WHAT"
"Thanks, Luke." Leia whispered, touched, because she knew he was sincere.
"Leia, Luke," Han said, groggily, "If you two are done, may we all sit down for breakfast."
"Coming, Han." They chorused.
"I will say it again, you two are acting more like twins DAILY." Han said, as they sat down and ate.
They laughed, "that is-." Leia started,
"-the point." Luke finished, "we are going to practice it."
"You know, Luke and Leia." Obi-wan said, appearing, "looks like Ami and I where right, twins that stay together for a period of time develop this CONNECTION, with each other."
"Hello, Ben." Luke said, softly.
"Oh, about connections, Uncle told me this story." And Leia went on and told Luke, Han, and Obi-wan the story about the time Leia had gone to Tatooine.
Obi-wan laughed, "Yes, I remember that. Bail had said for both parties to lie low because he was afraid the Imperials would catch on soon"
"Okay, cut it out, nice story,
but I am starting to feel left out." Han said.