Chapter 8: Epilogue
On the first (and shortest) of two hyperspace jumps to return to Echo Base, Han found Leia sitting on the acceleration couch with her chin resting on drawn knees, watching the holovid Sana had handed them.
"See anything you like?" Han drawled, sitting next to her, close enough their hips touched.
"Mmm. We are disgustingly cute in this thing- have you seen it?" She raised her head to look at him with sweet but exhausted eyes.
Han flicked on the holo with his right hand, and put his left arm around the back of her shoulders.
She watched Han watch the holo utterly captivated by the simple beauty of two people who loved each other (definitely as friends, but possibly as something more) take a moment in war to embrace and appreciate each other after a close call. He was impossibly touched by the scene.
"Are you getting all mushy on me, Captain?" She gently teased, noting how his eyes shone brightly and a parade of emotions crossed his face.
He cleared his throat, turning his head to look at her while he absently grasped her hand.
"S'good stuff, I'm sure everyone will eat it up. Hey Leia, thanks for saving me today. Couldn't have been easy throwing that mission together so quick." He said softly as he gazed at her with a warm intensity, which she returned with a sly smile.
He lifted her hand to brush against his lips before he got up to find some caff and prepare for the next jump.
Leia and Chewie had rejoined Han in the cockpit for the return to sublight, followed by the second hyperspace jump, which would take 10 hours and give them all a chance to rest.
Chewie had just left to sleep in his hammock for a few hours. As he exited, he made sure to give Han a lot of crap about the holo kiss he had watched a dozen times, jokingly demanding they name their first born Chewbacca or Mala.
Han turned to see why Leia wasn't reacting, and saw that she had dosed off, finally succumbing to her exhaustion. The Princess was rarely still and he relished the chance to see her in repose for a moment - achingly beautiful and uncharacteristically untroubled.
Han knelt down beside her. "Leia" He whispered gently, lightly kissing her forehead to wake her up.
"Hhhmm?" She said, not opening her eyes.
"Come to bed."
Her eyes flashed open quickly, searching his for an explanation.
"No funny business, I promise. You can take my bunk, I'll take the other."
She nodded her head, too tired to care about temptation or impropriety, and followed him to the bunk room.
"Can I borrow a shirt? I only packed blasters and detonators."
"That is so hot," He teased (but with sincerity) as he searched for a clean shirt and handed it to her.
She came out of the 'fresher wearing just the t-shirt, which went down to almost her knees and he sucked in a breath as he took in the view.
"You're beautiful."
"You promised, no funny business."
"I'm not really a scoundrel, y'know. I'm a nice man."
"You're both." She said over her shoulder as she climbed into his bunk.
He stripped down to his boxers and cut the light, heading towards the spare bunk.
"Han?"
He approached and sat next to her at the very edge of her bunk.
"I'm here?"
"Would you think about staying longer?"
"I know I'm always sayin' I'm leaving, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm in it for the long-haul."
"Mmm, makes me really really happy to hear that. But I meant, can you stay next to me longer? I feel safe when you are near me."
"I can do that too, Sweetheart, scoot over."
"Just sleeping."
"Just sleeping." He agreed as he wrapped his arm around her to hold her close.
"Sana told me you wouldn't disappoint in bed."
"Did she now? She broke the smuggler code. How am I doing so far?"
"I don't think this is what she had in mind but good so far. Warm"
He chuckled and raised his head to kiss her cheek.
"Is this what you had in mind?"
"For tonight, yes."
He nodded and laced his fingers with hers, drawing her closer to him. "Get some sleep."
"Goodnight," she yawned, melting into his warmth.
