Han was walking away from the party. Most of the Rebels were so drunk they were about to pass out. Now, he liked a good drink every now and then, but getting that drunk wasn't one of his favorite things to do, probably because the last time he got that drunk he ended up outside wearing a dress and makeup. Where they'd gotten the dress he had no clue, but Leia's secretive smile gave him a clue where the makeup had come from. So, he had come to prefer being the one sober enough to play the tricks.

He was almost to the Falcon when he noticed Leia's door was open a crack. He hadn't seen her at the party, not that he had been looking or anything. Wait, yes he had. She'd slipped in pretty early into it and grabbed a bottle from the bar. Then she'd promptly disappeared. Drinking alone was never any fun, he knew from experience. If Leia'd wanted to drink, she could have stayed at the party. Han was about to just walk past and leave her alone, when he heard something that worried him, he heard her soft sobs. "Hey your high and mightiness," he said knocking softly on the door. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"

"Go away Solo," she replied promptly, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I'd rather be left alone…" she began and then dissolved back into tears.

Han took about two seconds to consider that she wanted him to leave, but a hurting heart and a bottle of alcohol could really screw up your thinking; he knew that from experience as well. He pushed the door the rest of the way open and walked in. He was shocked by the sight in front of him. Leia was curled up on the floor with an almost empty bottle of Corellian whiskey clutched in her right hand. Her brown hair was out of the halo style that she seemed to be so fond of and hanging loose around her head. Her white snowsuit had been discarded on the floor and she was wearing a pair of blue plaid pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt that he'd lent her on her last trip on the Falcon. But what worried him the most was the look in her eyes. They were usually so bright and full of fire, but instead they looked desolate, and hopeless. That scared him more than anything. "Hey your worship," he said softly, approaching slowly. "What's wrong?"

"Why do you care?" she asked looking away from him.

Han took a seat on the floor next to her. "Well, you see, I've got this thing against pretty girls crying and drinking alone," he replied trying to pry the bottle loose from the hand. For a princess she had one strong grip.

It took all of Leia's years of 'princess training' to keep her from snorting. "Just go back to the party Han," she said tightening her grip around the bottle, still not looking at him. "I want to be left alone."

"I know from experience when people say they want to be left alone is when they need someone the most," he told her firmly, finally managing to pry the bottle from her hand. He grabbed the cork from its place on the floor and jammed it into the top. It was quite obvious that her high and mightiness had quite enough to drink for one night.

"So now you're going to be my knight in shinning armor?" she asked sarcastically. "If you are, I've got bad news for you. He already came and got blown into oblivion along with the rest of my friends and family. I'm really not looking for a new one any time soon."

"I'm sorry," Han stated simply. "I didn't know…"

"No one here does, except for General Rieekan," she replied, looking at him for the first time since he sat down. "And he's promised that he won't say a word to anyone about it. People already treat me like glass half the time. Alderaanian's, the few that are left anyway, have a higher suicide rate than any other beings in the galaxy," Leia said, her voice growing softer and softer. "I've heard people talking Han. Most of them say it's only a matter of time before I…"

Han's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't be having thoughts of suicide. "Leia look at me," he commanded firmly grasping her shoulders. "You are stronger than that. Giving up is what the Empire wants you to do. The people here need you. If you give up, then the Rebellion will probably just fail. Is that what you want?"

"The people here don't need me," Leia said sadly, looking away from Han. "I'm just a burden to them, a broken princess of a destroyed planet. They don't need me Han!" Leia broke down into another flood of tears.

Han didn't know exactly what happened but the next thing he knew he was cradling Leia in his arms. "Shhh," he whispered softly. "They do need you. General Rieekan needs you. Mon Mothma needs you. The troops need you. Luke needs you. I need you…"

Leia looked up at him shocked. "You need me?" she asked almost hopefully.

"Why do you think I've stuck around for so long?" he asked with a smirk. "It certainly wasn't for the scenery." Leia gave a little laugh and Han smiled wider. "There's that beautiful smileI love to see."

"It hurts so much Han," she admitted snuggling closer to him. "It's hard to keep going some days."

"I know," he replied, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"You missed," she said looking up at him shyly.

"What?" he asked with a slight frown.

"It goes here," she replied pressing a finger on her lips.

Han grinned and leaned down, pressing his lips gentlyto hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her slender waist. The simple kiss soon became a passionate one and Leia buried her fingers in Han's hair. He knew how drunk she was and how she probably wouldn't remember any of it in the morning. He also knew how vulnerable she was feeling and he didn't want to take advantage of the situation. So, he broke their kiss. "I think you should get some sleep," he said scooping her up off the floor and placed her on her bed.

"Han," she said looking up at him, her cheeks stained scarlet. "I don't want to be left alone tonight. Will you stay with me?"

"Sure princess," he replied, tucking the blankets in around her. He walked to the other side of the bed and climbed beneath the covers as well. Sometime during the night she managed to roll over into this arms and he held her tightly, her head pillowed against his chest.

The next morning Mon Mothma sent Luke to go and make sure Leia was awake. He knocked on her door and received no answer. He tried the doorknob and found her door was unlocked. Leia always locked her door. He opened the door and was shocked at the sight in front of him. Leia was there curled up in Han's arms! He was shocked to say the least. But part of him also said 'it's about time.' He knew the Mon Mothma had wanted Leia for something, but he couldn't bear to wake them up. Mon Mothma's yelling would be worth it. Leia and Han needed some time to talk about what had happened between them. So he slipped out just as quietly as he had entered.

About ten minutes later Han yawned and opened his eyes. He grinned when he saw Leia there curled up in his arms. He lay there for a few more minutes just watching her sleep when she woke up as well. Leia's eyes widened in shock and she looked her and Han over, making sure they were both still dressed. "Oh my gosh," Leia said untangling herself from Han's arms and sitting up. "I can't believe I forgot to lock my door."

"Good morning to you too your worship," Han replied sarcastically.

"Oh Han I'm sorry," she said apologetically. "What you did last night was really very… kind of you. And, well… thank you."

"No problem princess," he assured her. "Glad I could help."

"I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone…" Leia began blushing furiously. "It wouldn't be very heartening for the troops to hear one of their fearless leaders was contemplating, well, you know…"

"I understand," Han assured her. "I won't say a word about the whole suicide thing, but about that kiss…"

"Han!" Leia cried, her blush deepening.

"Don't worry," he said with his famous smirk. "I won't say a word about anything that happened last night." Then he suddenly became serious. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "How can I get my revenge if I'm dead?"

Han just smirked and got up as well. "I need to go back to the Falcon, Chewie's probably worried about me."

"Of course," Leia replied. "So I'll see you later?"

"You can count on it," he replied, kissing her softly on the cheek. With that he walked out the door. Just as General Rieekan was walking down the hallway.

"Captain Solo," the general said formally, trying to hide his shock.

"General Rieekan," Han replied. "I was just making sure the princess was awake."

"Of course," Rieekan said with a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "There's a rather worried Wookie looking for you. I would suggest going and calming him down."

"I'm on it General," Han told him and started to walk away.

"Oh and Captain," Rieekan called over his shoulder.

"Yes General?"

"You break her heart and I'll break every bone in your body," Rieekan promised and continued walking down the hallway.

"Yes sir," Han almost squeaked. General Rieekan just continued walking down the hallway chuckling to himself. It might have been abusing his power, but the look on Han's face was priceless. He and Bail Organa had always enjoyed scaring Leia's boyfriends. But Leia could never know that…