AN: This very next chapter is posted early as "thanks" to BreathingFlames for her very enthusiastic feedback! My thanks to everyone who has been gracious enough to leave feedback for any of my stories! It's appreciated.

However, this is a very short chapter - and I aplogise for that! I'm still scene setting. Oh and please remember this was written pre- prequels and pre-EU!

All previous disclaimers apply!

Missing

VII

"Leaving?" Leia's voice was full of disbelief. Trying to keep her voice as quiet as possible lest the other personnel in the command centre should hear. "But why?"

"There's nothing to keep us here, now." Now that the kid's gone, Han thought. Stupid, dumb kid. I hang around this pit for months, trying to teach him how to save his ass, and the first time he's outta my sight, he gets it shot off. "Nothing," he repeated somewhat sourly. '"Sides, I got things to do, places to go, people to see—and a price tag around my neck to remove."

"What about…" Leia started to protest; but Han cut her off.

"I don't want an argument, so don't start with your 'what about the Alliance?' speech, I've heard it before. I told you, I ain't a Rebel."

"What about Luke?" Leia asked softly watching Han's features darken and harden.

"What about him?"

"He'd want you to stay."

"He's dead."

"We don't know that for sure. Wedge…"

"Wedge told you what happened!" Han snapped, angry at Leia for bringing Luke into their conversation. "Why can't you just accept it?"

"Because I don't believe he's dead!" She realized this was the first time she had fully believed it herself and she wondered where this sudden conviction had come from. "No one was able to check and see if…"

"Leave it!" he shouted, losing control of his short temper. "He's gone. Finished!"

Leia sank down into the nearest chair ignoring the startled looks they were now getting from the others in the room. "Don't you feel anything, Han?" She asked softly.

He turned away from her, to study the star chart on the wall; she spoke to his back. "You spent hours with him, working on the Falcon, going on supply runs and small missions. You taught him to shoot like you, to chat up the girls like you, to fly like you. I can't believe you're ready to dismiss him, just like that."

Han spoke quietly, his anger gone. "You can't allow yourself feelings in my line of business. You can't care for someone, 'cause they're liable to be burned down. You can't allow yourself to get soppy, 'cause the guy who got him may be out to get you, too. You learn not to get involved; that way you don't get hurt. After a while, the guys you flew around with just become faces from your past. It's best that way."

"Is that what Luke is? Just another face?" Leia didn't mean it to sound like she was baiting him, but that's how it came out, and she regretted her quick tongue.

Han hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, that's what he is. I've run into a few like him: stupid kids who thought they could take on the galaxy and win. All of them met the same death."

"Weren't you once like that, Han?"

"Yeah, maybe I was; but I grew up fast." He turned back to face her.

"Did you?" Leia couldn't help smiling.

Han had no answer, but he smiled. "Look, can we just drop this conversation?" He gestured at the Rebel personnel around them.

"There's nothing I can do to make you change your mind?" Leia wanted to ask him to stay — because of her. With Luke and Han she'd been able to be just Leia. Not Princess, not Rebel leader. Just Leia. If Han left her now Leia was afraid she might become lost in the titles once more.

Han shook his head. "No."

Leia nodded with sad resignation. "When will you leave?"

"I'll be around for a while. Wedge asked me to take Luke's place beside him when he weds Kandi I leave after the ceremony."

Leia cheered up slightly. "That's not for several days, would you consider staying for the assault on Minoan? I know it's several weeks away yet, but we could use you."

"I could use me." Han openly grinned. "No thanks, your Highness; I'm not getting involved in another suicide attack." Leia opened her mouth to protest, but he held his hand up, silencing her. "No, no speeches; I don't have the time. Chewie's waiting on me."

"Does he want to go?" Leia questioned with a smile.

"What?"

"Chewie; does he want to leave?"

Han returned her smile. "You just don't give up, do you?"

Leia shook her head, mocking Han's previous gesture and expression. "No."

"I'll see you around, Princess."

Leia watched the door slide shut behind him and she smiled sadly. The Corellian had given away more about himself than he had meant to. She now knew that beneath the hard exterior he was feeling Luke's loss and she felt desperately sorry for him. He had lied about not getting involved; he had broken his own rule and he was hurting badly. She wanted to comfort him, wanted to tell him that she understood but she knew he wouldn't let her. And now he was leaving; because Luke was missing, because he'd let his shield drop, and because he didn't want it to happen again.